COVID-19: Hopkins County Offices Open Only By Appointment For Residents
Following discussion among officials Monday, Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom Monday afternoon announced that Hopkins County’s offices will be open by appointment only and for Hopkins County residents only as a COVID-19 precaution.
“To be very clear, the county is not shutting down or closing the offices. County business will continue as usual and county officials will continue to work diligently to assure that access to each respective office is available,” the release stated.
Monday morning during commissioners court, County Clerk Tracy Smith expressed concerns that her office as well as those of other county officials were seeing an increase in business from people coming from outside of Hopkins County. Government offices in those individuals’ counties have been closed to the public except by appointment due to COVID-19 concerns. Smith said her her office and that of Tax Assessor/Collector Debbie Pogue Mitchell have been bombarded over the last week with individuals traveling 45 minutes or more for birth certificates, marriage licenses, registrations and other items.
Hopkins County is one of the few in the area that hadn’t, as of this morning, closed office doors to the public. Others within 50 miles were already requiring those who have business that can’t be handled by phone, electronic or other means to make appointments, it was pointed out during the commissioners court meeting Monday morning.
Smith noted she has two employees who fit the at-risk vulnerability criteria regarding COVID-19. She expressed concerns for the health of county employees due to potential of health risk through contact with individuals driving over from counties where they’ve been instructed to “shelter in place” due to confirmed COVID-19 cases.
The county clerk pointed out that quite a few business services are offered online, by phone, email, mail and/or drop box. A few services, like filing for marriage licenses, do require the couple to be present, but appointments can be made when necessary for Hopkins County residents by contacting the appropriate offices.
Newsom asked elected officials from other county offices to be consulted during a session following the regular court meeting to discuss the matter. The county’s emergency management team also met later Monday to discuss the current COVID-19 situation.
At approximately 4 p.m. Monday, Newsom’s office issued a press release announcing that each office of the county will be open only by appointment to “reduce the amount of traffic in and out of each office, and to reduce the threat of exposure of the COVID-19 Virus.”
Contact information and most paperwork for each officer are available at www.hopkinscountytx.org.
A temporary extension has been allowed concerning the late fees and penalties associated with Vehicle Registration, Vehicle Titling and Vehicle Parking Placards. For more information about those services, contact the Hopkins County Tax Assessor-Collector office.
The closing of county offices to walk-in visitors follows the Commissioners’ Court’s approval Monday morning of a disaster declaration in effect until April 3 due to COVID-19 concerns. The county opted to put in place at that time the same measures established in the Governor’s Executive Order on March 19: restricting nursing home, retirement and assisted care facilities to critical care personnel only; closing schools, gymns and massage parlors until April 3; and closing restaurant and bars to dine-in customers, restricting these types of businesses to drive-through, delivery and curbside service.
The county at that time opted not to impose any additional restrictions as a means to reduce potential spread of COVID-19 into the county.
Hopkins County as of this evening still does not have any confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported to the CDC or TDSHS. Hopkins County Hospital District/EMS over the weekend, reported they were able to confirm that at least 31 screenings for COVID-19 had been conducted in Hopkins County.
Hopkins County Emergency Management Team Updates Public: 03/23/2020
The Emergency Management Team also confirmed that as of 4:00pm on 3/23/2020 that there were still NO positive case results of COVID-19 returned for any residents of Hopkins County.
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom announces the Hopkins County offices will be occupied but are going to appointment only and will be closed to walk-in traffic. Citizens wanting to make an appointment will be asked to prove residency of Hopkins County. As other counties move to “shelter-in-place” and close their offices, residents from other counties are traveling to Hopkins County searching county services. This anamoly not only puts our county workers at an increased risk of exposure, but also bogs down the work that those county workers could be doing for our Hopkins County residents. The county offices will follow this procedure in alignment with the current County Disaster Declaration until April 3rd, and would be extended along with the Disaster Declaration, is it is extended.
Jacksonville Man Jailed For Alleged Sexual Assault Of Hopkins County 14-Year-Old
A 36-year-old Jacksonville man was arrested Saturday morning on Gaskins Street in Como for the alleged sexual assault of a 14-year-old, who he reportedly communicated with online to make the assignation, according to sheriff’s reports.
Hopkins County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched at 9:10 a.m. March 21 to a Como address, where a woman reported her daughter missing. The 14-year-old was reportedly last seen at 9:30 p.m. March 20. The mother told deputies the teen was supposed to have spent the night at a friend’s home, but never made it to the friend’s residence, Hopkins County Sheriff‘s Deputy Alvin Jordan and Sgt. Shea Shaw alleged in arrest reports.
Another juvenile alleged the missing youth had been talking with an older white male online and was possibly with him. The mother reportedly denied any knowledge of the online communication. While deputies were on scene, the missing youth reportedly called her mother and advised she was OK and on her way home, according to arrest reports.
Deputies located a red Chevrolet Cavalier traveling on Gaskins Street shortly thereafter; a white male was driving and what appeared to be a female covering her face was seen in the passenger seat, the deputies alleged in arrest reports.
When deputies made an “investigative traffic stop on the vehicle,” they determined the passenger was the missing youth. The driver was identified was Andrew Curtis Hostetler of Jacksonville. He was taken into custody at 10:12 a.m. Saturday for further investigation, according to arrest reports.
After being advised of his rights, Hostetler allegedly admitted to having sexual intercourse more than once in the early hours of March 21 at a Sulphur Springs motel. He also allegedly admitted it wasn’t the first time he’d met with the juvenile. He allegedly admitted he’d had sexual intercourse with the teen more than once, and to paying for the hotel room each time. He claimed he didn’t know she was 14, but did know her mother did not approve of her dating older men, so he had planned to drop her off down the street as he had done before, Jordan and Shaw alleged in arrest reports.
The 36-year-old Jacksonville was arrested around 10:12 a.m. Saturday on two counts of sexual assault of a child, according to arrest reports. He remained in Hopkins County jail Monday. Bond was set at $75,000 per charge, according to jail reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Hopkins County Commissioners Extend Disaster Declaration Until April 3rd
The Hopkins County Commissioners court extended the disaster declaration from last week until April 3rd, which will align with the State of Texas declaration.
The County declaration that was announced last week, limited groups of social gatherings to no more than 10, as well as closing all restaurant dining rooms, and restricts visitation to nursing homes and longterm care facilities. The commissioner’s court fulfilled their requirement to review the declaration within 7 days, and adding changes set forth by the Governor in his executive order March 19. The Hopkins County disaster declaration will remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. April 3.
The Governor left it to local officials whether they would take extra steps, like the shelter in place designation put in place by Dallas County. At that time 200 Texas County had no positive cases, including Hopkins County, so he opted not to require such steps for all of Texas. Hopkins County Monday morning, and as of the noon March 23 report from the CDC, continued to have no positive case reports. Thus, measures adopted in the Hopkins County public health emergency disaster declaration go along with the Governor’s March 19 Executive Order, Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom explained.
The disaster declaration, like the Governor’s Executive Order, includes four orders in accordance with guidelines from the CDC and President:
- Every person in Texas shall avoid social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people.
- People shall avoid eating or drinking at bars, restaurants, and food courts, or visiting gyms or massage parlors, provided, however, that the use of drive-thru, pick up, or delivery options is allowed and highly encouraged throughout the duration of the order.
- People shall no visit nursing homes or retirement or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance.
- Schools shall temporarily close.
The order doesn’t prevent people from visiting grocery stores, gas stations, parks and banks, so long as the necessary precautions are maintained to reduce transmission of COVID-19.
All critical infrastructure is to continue operations, and domestic travel is to remain unrestricted in Texas. Governmental entities and businesses are to continue providing essential services, according to the Governor’s Executive Order. Working from home is encouraged where possible, as are practice of good hygiene in work places that remain open.
Taking these measures in Hopkins County should help “flatten the curve,” that is reduce potential for spread of the COVID-19 or other illnesses in Hopkins County, according to CDC guidelines.
Meal A Day Menu For March 23-27, 2020
Below is the most recent menu provided to KSST Radio for the Meal A Day Menu for March 23-27, 2020
Monday — Chicken Patties, Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, Green Beans and a Roll
Tuesday — Beef Spaghetti, English Peas and Garlic Toast
Wednesday — Sliced Ham, Scalloped Potatoes and California Blend Vegetables
Thursday — Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole, Pickled Beets and Tomato Wedges
Friday — Sloppy Joes, Cole Slaw and Potato Chips
The Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center is a place where Senior Citizens age 50 and over can have a good time with old friends and make some new ones. Meal-A-Day is just one service the center provides. The coffee pot is always on and a smile is on each face. The SCC has a full library with all different kinds of reading books that can be taken, read and returned. Take as many as you like and bring some of your books in to share with others. Click here to find more information for seniors citizens.
2 North Carolina Men Jailed On Wood County Aggravated Assault Charge, 5 Others Jailed On Felony Warrants
Sulphur Springs Teen To Serve Commitment In ISF On Firearm Charge
March 21, 2020 – At least seven men people were booked into Hospital County jail March 18-20 on felony charges, including two North Carolina men wanted on Wood County aggravated assault charge. A Sulphur Springs teen was also taken into custody earlier this week to serve a commitment in an intermediate-sanctioned facility. according to arrest and jail reports.
Raekwon Desean Gasaway, 18, of Sulphur Springs was taken into custody by Sheriff’s Officer Melvin Jackson at 4:30 p.m. March 18, in the District Courtroom. He was assessed a commitment in an intermediate-sanctioned facility for a theft of a firearm charge, according to arrest and jail reports. The offense, according to arrest reports, occurred on Sept. 8, 2019.
Gasaway was originally arrested on Sept. 18, 2019 a warrant for the firearm charge as well as an evading arrest or detention warrant. He was released from jail two days later on $5,000 on the firearm charge and $2,000 on the other. He spent Jan. 30 in jail for failure to appear on a traffic charge, according to jail reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Officers were contacted by Wood County Sheriff’s Officers regarding two North Carolina men wanted on one Wood County aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge each. After receiving confirmation of the warrants, the officers reportedly went to a Bellview Street residence, where they and located Ronald Kelby Gore, 43, and Ansel Reid Gossett II, 40, both of Zirconia, North Carolina, according to arrest reports.
Both Gore and Gossett were taken into custody at 10:24 p.m. March 20 on the warrant, Sulphur Springs Police Sgt. Josh Shufeldt and Lt. Eddie Moon on the felony assault charge. Bond on the charge was set at $50,000. They were held at Hopkins County jail until Saturday, March 21, according to jail reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office personnel were notified that Alejandro Gamez was in custody in Smith County on Hopkins County warrants. Deputy Elijah Fite was dispatched to Smith County, where he took the 29-year-old Longview man into custody at 3:48 p.m. March 18 on both outstanding charges, according to arrest reports.
The 29-year-old Longview man remained in Hopkins County jail Saturday, March 21, for bond forfeiture on a September 2018 possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge and a bail jumping/failure to appear charge. His new bonds were set at $50,000 on the bail jumping/FTA charge and $40,000 on the controlled substance charge, according to jail reports.
Gamez’s arrest March 18 marked the second time in less than 5 months he has been jailed locally on charges related to the two original charges, according to jail reports. Police reported seeing him walking on Fuller Street on Oct. 30 and, aware he was wanted on multiple charges, and took him into custody on nine misdemeanor warrants as well as two felony charges, according to arrest and jail reports. He remained in custody until Nov. 1 on the charges, according to jail reports.
Fite was also alerted Eric Lynn Johnson was in custody at Smith County jail and transported him Hopkins County jail March 18 as well. The 31-year-old Kilgore man remained in Hopkins County jail March 21, 2020 on a warrant for violation of probation, which he was on for theft of property valued at $1,500 or more but less than $20,000, according to arrest reports.
A sheriff’s deputy reported seeing Anthony Joseph “Tony” Pease walk down Houston Street. Officials went to a Church Street address at 5:36 p.m. March 19 and allegedly found the 32-year-old Cooper man hiding inside of a bedroom closet at the address, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Sgt. Tanner Steward and Sgt. Scott Davis noted in arrest reports. He was taken into custody on a warrant related to a possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. He remained in jail Saturday, according to jail reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Richard Brantley located Meldrick Dewayne Roland at his Sulphur Springs address and took him into custody at 6:15 p.m. March 20 on a felony warrant, according to arrest reports. Roland was transported to Hopkins County jail, where the 29-year-old remained Saturday, March 21, on the warrant for violation of parole.
Roland had an extensive criminal history, which includes being booked into Hopkins County jail more than 30 times since 2008 on numerous misdemeanor charges and other offenses as well, according to jail reports. His most recent stay in the county jail was from July 8 to Oct. 12, 2017, after being sentenced to three years in prison on a firearm charge, according to jail reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office was alerted Jason Reyna was in custody in Johnson County on a Hopkins County warrant. The 21-year-old Mesquite man was transported at 2:30 p.m. March 20 to Hopkins County jail, where he was booked for bond forfeiture on a possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge, Deputy Richard Brantley noted in arrest reports.
Jail records show Reyna was previously booked into Hopkins County jail on June 20, 2018, for possession of 4-200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance as well as a theft of firearm charge. The offense stemmed from an Interstate traffic stop by Cumby Police that allegedly resulted in location of a bag of suspected marijuana, a revolver, a loaded pistol that’d been reported stolen in Mesquite, five suspected Xanax pills and a large amount of suspected methamphetamine; and both Reyna and another man’s arrest, Cumby police alleged in reports at the time of Reyna’s arrest. Reyna was then released from the county jail the next day (June 21, 2018) on a $20,000 bond on the controlled substance charge and a $5,000 bond on the firearm charge, according to jail reports.
Reyna remained in Hopkins County jail Saturday, March 21, on the bond forfeiture charge. His new bond was set at $40,000, according to jail reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Hopkins County Clarifies COVID-19 Testing
As nationwide testing for Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to increase, so do the complexities of accurate numbers of overall tests and positive results. With both private labs, and state-run labs doing testing, accurate numbers of how many people have been tested in one county is almost impossible. Adding in the possibility that Hopkins County residents may go outside the county for testing, or other residents not living in Hopkins County come into our count for testing, the numbers get confusing quickly. Also, we have a number of health professionals working for different providers. If and when, a POSITIVE test result is returned from someone living in Hopkins County, the State of Texas will be notified immediately, no matter if a public or private lab, and then Hopkins County officials will be notified. The limited public dissemination of any information will then follow HIPPA guidelines to protect patient’s privacy but any CONFIRMED cases in Hopkins County will be known to authorites immediately after State notification, and that confirmed report will be announced through normal media outlets.
At this time, an estimated 31 screenings have been sent in for testing. Again, none have been returned with positive results. Testing, at this time, can take up to 3-7 days for a result. The testing turnaround time is expected to get shorter soon.
The following is a formal statement on estimated number of COVID-19 screenings.
Angry Como Woman Accused Of Endangering 3 Kids By Striking Gate With Truck
A 28-year-old Como woman was accused early Friday morning of endangering her three young children by striking a gate so hard it caused significant damage to the pickup she was driving. She allegedly told sheriff’s officers she acted in anger at her boyfriend.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Thomas Patterson and Deputy Chris Baumann were dispatched at about 11:35 p.m. March 19 to a Main Street address in Como, TX. Upon arrival deputies observed where a vehicle had left the driveway, after impacting a pipe gate entrance.
Sabrina Nicole Floyd was reportedly transported to an area hospital for a physical evaluation. After being released from the hospital, Floyd was transported to Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, where she agreed to be interviewed by Patterson and Baumann.
The woman was alleged to have been under the influence of alcohol when she put the vehicle in reverse; her three children, ages 3, 6 and 8 years, were in the vehicle.
The woman allegedly admitted to the deputies that she had become infuriated that her “short time boyfriend” had locked the front gate to the property. In a fit of rage she then loaded her three children into the vehicle and “reversed into the gate, causing significant damage to the vehicle on the passenger’s side, including causing the skin of the vehicle to be opened up near where the juvenile 8-year-old child was seated,” Baumann and Patterson alleged in arrest reports. After hitting the gate, the vehicle reportedly slid into the SH 11 embankment.
To inflict the amount of damage caused, the vehicle had to have been accelerated at an aggressive rate. This particular stretch of State Highway 11 is routinely busy with large semi truck tractors hauling loads of cattle feed and milk.
The Interview
In the interview the female admitted to being in a rage. She also admitted to knowing there were tools just feet from where the vehicle was parked which could have opened the gate. “The accused did have other means or egress that would not have endangering the three children. The accused by her actions and recount of the night’s events, knowingly and recklessly placed her 3 children in imminent danger of death, bodily injury or physical or mental impairment. With the female’s admittance of these actions, she was placed into immediate custody to protect the children from her actions,” Patterson and Baumann wrote in arrest reports.
Sabrina Floyd was booked into Hopkins County jail at 2:15 a.m. March 20 on three counts of endangering of a child-criminal negligence, a state jail felony offense. She remained in Hopkins County jail Saturday morning. Her bond was set at $5,000 per charge, according to jail reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Ohio Man In Hopkins County Jail On Firearm, Controlled Substance Charges
A 26-year-old Cleveland, Ohio man remained in Hopkins County jail Saturday morning on firearm and controlled substance charges resulting from an Interstate 30 traffic stop.
Hopkins County Sheriff‘s Deputy Jason Lavender reportedly initiated a traffic stop at 5:40 a.m. March 19 on a westbound Toyota Accent with Ohio license plate that was being driven in the inside lane of Interstate 30 for about 1 1/2 miles for traffic violations.
On contact, the driver was was identified at as Earnest Martin Crawford IV. Lavender alleged seeing “loose marijuana all over the center console” of the car while obtaining the man’s Ohio driver’s license. After obtaining consent, Lavender allegedly located a small amount of marijuana and a single Ecstasy tablet in the console and a tactical rifle in a bag and three magazines in the trunk of the car during a vehicle search.
A records check reportedly showed Crawford to be a convicted felon, resulting in his arrest at 7:30 a.m. March 19 for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance, according to jail reports. Bond was set at $50,000 on the third-degree felony firearm charge and $15,000 on the state jail felony controlled substance charge, according to jail reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Elementary Study Packets Ready For Pick Up March 21 At Sulphur Bluff ISD
Online Class Materials For Sulphur Bluff ISD Students Now Available
Sulphur Bluff ISD announced information regarding distance learning instructional plans for elementary and secondary levels while school remains closed as required by the state due to COVID-19 concerns.
Online classes were made available starting Friday, March 10.
Elementary study packets are ready and may be picked up curbside between 10 a.m. and noon Saturday, March 21, at the school’s entrance.
Paper Based Assignments will be delivered on Monday March 23, during the mid morning by staff members, to students. Guidelines and instructions for online logins will be hand delivered as well, but additional information is below for ease of access.
To access K-6 Learning Plans, click on the website link for the plans.
All secondary students (grades 7-12) will be enrolled in online classes through Edmentum to complete second semester if the class is offered. Some classes may need to be offered through Google Classroom.
To access the account, the students should go online to Edmentum. The Account login is SBISD1. Students will have their login credentials or can get them from instructors. The student’s user name is the student’s ID number followed by @sulphurbluffschool.net (Example: [email protected])
Those needing paper based or low-tech options will be accommodated by instructors who will prepare engaging lessons.
IXL also has an app that is user friendly.
Elementary teachers will distribute usernames and passwords.
Students will receive or have received a class code from instructors in order to access Google Classroom. Assignments and information on lessons can be uploaded by teachers directly to the class. Students can turn in assignments through this medium as well.
Sulphur Bluff ISD administration and teachers will be on hand to assist with any questions on assignments or expectations. Teachers will be available for office hours at designated times to help with instruction.
