Jackson Back in Hopkins County to Face Charges
May 27, 2023 – Latira Jackson AKA Sherry Guo, Sherry Watson, Lateisha R. Jackson and Kaneca Tonya Snell is back in Hopkins County Jail this week. A Hopkins County Deputy arrested Jackson as she was released from the Collin County Jail.
Jackson was arrested last year and was charged with several offences including unlawful possession of a firearm, fraudulent use or possession of identifying information, and prohibited substance in a correctional facility. See that story here.
She is being held on a $175,000 bond.
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.
Carry The Load walk set to continue through Sulphur Springs Saturday at EMS Station
Carry The Load is coming to the Hopkins County EMS Central Station.
It is a non profit organization with the mission to provide active ways to honor and remember the nation’s heroes by connecting Americans to the sacrifices made by military, veterans, first responders and their families.
The goals are:
- To raise awareness of those who sacrifice for us daily by providing Americans active ways to remember, honor, and celebrate them.
- To raise funds to provide healing services for the mind, body, and soul of our warriors.
- To inspire patriotism in our youth by educating them about the American flag and the sacrifices made to honor it.
Date: May 27th Time: 5 A.M. SHARP!
Distance walking: 3.1 miles
Location: Hopkins County EMS Central Station Address: 116 Airport Rd Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
The early morning walk Saturday morning starts the final push to Dallas. The New England relay team will start at 5 A.M. in Sulphur Springs and walks continuously through the night into Dallas.
It is the only portion of all the relays that walks uninterrupted.
For more information on Carry the Load, visit their website.
For the New England relay route guide (showing progress thus far and where it is headed) click here.
Increased Enforcement Has Begun For Memorial Day
May 26, 2023 – With Memorial Day around the corner DPS has announced that there will be a increase in law enforcement during the holiday. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is taking this time to remind drivers to celebrate this unofficial kickoff to summer safely so that everyone can enjoy their holiday.
Today through May 29, the Texas Highway Patrol will participate in Memorial Day enforcement efforts including Click It or Ticket and Operation CARE (Crash Awareness Reduction Effort). Click It or Ticket is an enforcement campaign that encourages people to wear their seat belts. Operation CARE is a specialized campaign in which Troopers look for drivers who are speeding, intoxicated or violating other laws. Troopers will also watch for drivers not complying with the state’s Move Over, Slow Down law.
During the 2022 Memorial Day campaign, More that 66 thousand citations and warning were issued by troopers. This also includes 4,790 citations for speeding; 1,184 for no insurance; and more than 718 citations for individuals without seatbelt or child seat restraints. DPS also arrested 195 people on DWI charges, 175 fugitives and 296 people for other felony charges.
DPS encourages drivers to follow these safety tips during Memorial Day weekend and beyond:
- Don’t drink and drive. Make alternate plans if you are consuming alcohol.
- Move Over or Slow Down for police, fire, EMS, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) vehicles and tow trucks stopped on the side of the road with emergency lights activated. Show the same courtesy to fellow drivers who are stopped on the side of the road. So far in 2023, there have been more than 2,430 move over, slow down violations.
- Buckle up everyone in the vehicle — it’s the law.
- Slow down, especially in bad weather, heavy traffic, unfamiliar areas or construction zones.
- Eliminate distractions while driving, including the use of mobile devices. Texas law prohibits the use of portable wireless devices to read, write or send an electronic message unless the vehicle is stopped. If you’re using a navigation device or app, have a passenger operate it so you can keep your eyes on the road.
- Drive defensively, as holiday travel can present additional challenges.
- On multi-lane roads, use the left lane for passing only. Not only is it courteous driving and avoids impeding traffic, Texas law requires slower traffic to keep to the right and to use the left lane for passing only (when posted).
- Don’t cut in front of large trucks and try not to brake quickly in front of them. They can’t maneuver as easily as passenger vehicles and pickup trucks.
- If you can Steer It, Clear It: If you are involved in a non-injury crash and your vehicle can be moved, clear the traffic lanes to minimize traffic impact. Leaving vehicles in a traffic lane increases traffic congestion and leaves those involved with an increased risk of harm or a secondary wreck. On some highways, if you don’t move your vehicle when it’s safe to do so, it’s against the law.
- Keep the Texas Roadside Assistance number stored in your phone. Dial 1-800-525-5555 for any type of assistance. The number can also be found on the back of a Texas Driver License.
- Check your vehicle to make sure it is properly maintained and always ensure your cargo is secure.
- Report road hazards or anything suspicious to the nearest law enforcement agency.
- Monitor weather and road conditions wherever you are traveling. For road conditions and closures in Texas, visit Drive Texas.
DPS would also like to remind Texans about the iWatchTexas program. This is a critical resource for reporting suspicious activity within the community in order to help prevent dangerous attacks. Everyone is urged to download the free iOS or Android mobile app. Tips can be reported via the website, the mobile app or by calling 844-643-2251. All reports are confidential.
For information on how to use iWatchTexas, you can view this how-to video. Remember, iWatchTexas is not for emergencies. If there is an emergency, call 911 immediately.
FDA Approves First Oral Treatment For COVID-19 In Adults
May 26, 2023 – Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the oral antiviral Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir tablets and ritonavir tablets, co-packaged for oral use) for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death. Paxlovid is the fourth drug—and first oral antiviral pill—approved by the FDA to treat COVID-19 in adults.
Paxlovid manufactured and packaged under the emergency use authorization (EUA) and distributed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will continue to be available to ensure continued access for adults, as well as treatment of eligible children ages 12-18 who are not covered by today’s approval. Paxlovid is not approved or authorized for use as a pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis for prevention of COVID-19.
“While the pandemic has been challenging for all of us, we have made great progress mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on our lives,” said Patrizia Cavazzoni, M.D., director for the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Today’s approval demonstrates that Paxlovid has met the agency’s rigorous standards for safety and effectiveness, and that it remains an important treatment option for people at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including those with prior immunity. The FDA remains committed to working with sponsors to facilitate the development of new prevention and treatment options for COVID-19.”
Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, approval of a new drug requires, among other things, substantial evidence of effectiveness and a demonstration of safety for the drug’s intended use(s). In considering approval of a drug, the FDA conducts a benefit-risk assessment based on rigorous scientific standards to ensure that the product’s benefits outweigh its risks for the intended population.
The efficacy of Paxlovid was primarily supported by the final results of the EPIC-HR clinical trial. EPIC-HR was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial studying Paxlovid for the treatment of non-hospitalized symptomatic adults with a laboratory confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients were adults 18 years of age and older with a prespecified risk factor for progression to severe disease or were 60 years and older regardless of prespecified chronic medical conditions. All patients had not received a COVID-19 vaccine and had not been previously infected with COVID-19. Paxlovid significantly reduced the proportion of people with COVID-19 related hospitalization or death from any cause through 28 days of follow-up by 86% compared to placebo among patients treated within five days of symptom onset and who did not receive COVID-19 therapeutic monoclonal antibody treatment. In this analysis, 977 patients received Paxlovid, and 989 patients received placebo, and among these patients, 0.9% who received Paxlovid were hospitalized due to COVID-19 or died from any cause during 28 days of follow-up compared to 6.5% of the patients who received the placebo.
Benefit of Paxlovid was observed in patients with prior immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19. Among patients in EPIC-HR who were antibody positive at trial enrollment, the risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization or death from any cause during 28 days of follow-up was 0.2% among the 490 patients treated with Paxlovid compared with 1.7% of the 479 patients receiving placebo. EPIC-SR was another clinical trial that enrolled vaccinated patients with at least one risk factor for progression to severe COVID-19. Although not statistically significant, among these vaccinated patients, there was a reduction in the risk of COVID-19 related hospitalization or death from any cause.
EPIC-HR and EPIC-SR were randomized controlled trials and provide information about COVID-19 rebound. Data from these two trials showed that rebound in SARS-CoV-2 (RNA or virus) shedding or COVID-19 symptoms occurred in a subset of patients and happened in both the patients receiving Paxlovid and the placebo. Based on the data currently available to the FDA, there is not a clear association between Paxlovid treatment and COVID-19 rebound.
Because of the importance of reducing the risk of significant drug-drug interactions with Paxlovid, the approved label and authorized Fact Sheet for Health Care Providers for the Paxlovid EUA come with a boxed warning with instructions for prescribers. Prescribers should review all medications taken by the patient to assess for potential drug-drug interactions and determine if other medicines that a patient may be taking require a dose adjustment, interruption and/or additional monitoring. Prescribers should consider the benefit of Paxlovid treatment in reducing hospitalization and death, and whether the risk of potential drug-drug interactions for an individual patient can be appropriately managed.
In conjunction with today’s approval, the FDA is providing all prescribers with important information for prescribing Paxlovid properly and safely, such as dosing instructions, potential side effects and information regarding drugs that may cause drug-drug interactions with Paxlovid. The most common side effects of taking Paxlovid include impaired sense of taste and diarrhea. Patients should discuss with their health care provider whether Paxlovid is right for them.
Dr. Deana Steeber Hired As Sulphur Springs ISD New Superintendent
May 25, 2023 – Sulphur Springs ISD School Board has officially hired Dr. Deana Steeber as the new superintendent during a special board meeting, Thursday May 25, 2023.
During this meeting board president Craig Roberts announced that the board would consider hiring Dr. Deana Steeber, and she was quickly voted in unanimously.
Board President Craig Roberts also presented to Dr. Steeber her own name plate that will sit on the board along with her as she joins the School Board.
Deana Steeber comes from Argyle Tx, previously working at Argyle ISD as assistant superintendent. Before arriving in Argyle ISD, Dr. Steeber served as a principal in Carroll ISD and Sanger ISD. She has 27 years of experience in public education and 11 as a principal at the high school, middle school and elementary levels.
Deana Steeber has worked before as a superintendent assistant and knows the inner working of the job that is superintendent. Dr. Deana Steebers husband, Dr. Robert Steeber, is the current superintendent at McAlister Oklahoma ISD.
During the meeting Dr. Deana’s parents and husband joined the members of the audience in congratulating Dr. Steeber on her new position within the school. Also during the meeting her son facetimed to congratulate his mother, causing sweet comments from the audience and member of the board.
Steeber expressed that she is very grateful for the opportunities and wishes to work well with the community as well as those within the school district.
Barrett Arrested on Sexual Abuse Warrant
May 26, 2023 – Danny Wayne Barrett, Jr was arrested by Sulphur Springs Police on Thursday this week. Barret, age 40, is charged with Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child Under 14.
Barrett was arrested without incident at his residence south of Brashear, TX.
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.
Ms. Hopkins County Senior Pageant Contestants
May 25, 2023 – The 2023 Ms. Hopkins County Senior Pageant is about to be underway as the 10 contestants have been named and preparation for the event can begin. These lovely contestants are as follow:
The pageant will be held June 3rd at the Civic center, located on 1200 Houston St, at 6pm.
There will be tea on June 2nd at 1 pm for contestants, former queens, judges, and all parties involved in the pageant.
Mahoney Memorial Day Homecoming
May 25, 2023 – Memorial Day Homecoming service will be held at Mahoney Cemetery and Old Mahoney Methodist Church on June 11th starting at 10:30am. During this service, reports from the Christmas 2022 “Wreaths Across America” will be discussed for their vets.
The special speaker during this event is Ridley Briggs from Mt Vernon a former USAF fighter pilot and Texas Aggie.
At noon, basket lunches will be passed out and people will be encouraged to visit and share each others food. It is also encouraged that you bring a freezer of homemade ice-cream to share!
Statement from the Board:
“As your board, we are proud of our cemetery. Do take time to visit your loved ones graves: Mowing, filling in, with fill dirt, ant control, general maintenance , etc, keeps Mahoney Cemetery one of the best in kept in the Country Cemeteries around, especially with our aging Board!”
If you are Unable to attend and wish to send a donation, make your check out to: Mahoney Cemetery (in care of) Pinky Cooper, 3240 CR 3504, SS TX. 75482.
Plans Underway for the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation’s 4th Annual Designer Handbag Bingo
Sulphur Springs, TX – The Hopkins County Health Care (HCHC) Foundation has scheduled the Designer Handbag Bingo for Thursday, August 3.
Sponsorships are available now while reserved tables for 8 will go on sale June 24, and individual tickets will be available on July 1. Last year, this event sold out in record time. “We expect tickets to go quickly, so those wishing to play will want to make their reservations as soon as they are released,” says Foundation Chair Maleta Reynolds.
There are two sponsorship levels, $2,500 and $1,500. Those two sponsorship levels include tickets for 8 players at a reserved table. Two additional sponsorships levels, $500 and $250, are for handbag sponsorships only, with no tickets. Table reservations include tickets for 8 players and cost $550. Individual tickets are $55 each.
Reynolds added, “This is a really fun evening for ladies to share with friends. But it is also an evening that makes a real difference for others in our community, as proceeds will benefit healthcare in Hopkins County.” This event is a fundraiser for the Foundation. Proceeds are used locally to support healthcare. Sponsorships are on sale now at handbagbingo23.givesmart.com. Or email [email protected] or call 903-438-4799 for a sponsorship form or more information.
Harp Arrested for Driving Stolen Vehicle
May 25, 2023 – Shreveport, LA Police notified the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office of a stolen vehicle possibly traveling westbound on I-30. Deputies took up observation positions along I-30 and waited for the stolen Mercury to pass.
The vehicle was spotted at mile marker 131. Deputies immediately began following the sedan and attempted to perform a traffic stop.
The driver slowed, but did not pull over until traveling approximately 4 more miles. Hopkins County Deputies performed a felony take down, and assisted the driver from the car.
Thirty-nine year old HEATH JUSTIN HARP, a resident of Groves, TX, was arrested and transported to Hopkins County Jail without incident. Harp is charged with:
31.07 UNAUTH USE OF VEHICLE
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.
