PBR World Finals Moves to Fort Worth, Texas in 2022 after Las Vegas Hosts Final Premier Series Championship Event in 2021
2022 season to run January-May, concluding at Dickies Arena for seven-day PBR World Finals spanning two weekends
PBR (Professional Bull Riders) today announced that bull riding’s most prestigious event, the PBR World Finals, will move to Fort Worth, Texas, and Dickies Arena starting in 2022 as part of a comprehensive schedule restructure for its premier series. The new PBR Unleash The Beast regular season will span from January-May, culminating with a seven-day championship festival, spanning two weekends of bull riding and fan activities, in Fort Worth.
The changes will go into effect immediately after the 2021 PBR World Finals which will conclude the current season in Las Vegas, Nevada, at T-Mobile Arena Nov. 3-7.
“We were excited to host the 2020 PBR World Finals in Texas, and we are proud to now welcome the most intense bull riding competition with the most engaged fans back to the Lone Star State in the 2022 season,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “Fort Worth is the Modern West, and there is no better place for the PBR World Finals to call their new long-term home. I congratulate the PBR, the City of Fort Worth, and Mayor Mattie Parker on this world champion partnership that will showcase Texas as the premier sports-entertainment destination, spur continuing tourism and travel, and bring new jobs to Fort Worth and beyond.”
“This has been an incredible team effort with PBR, Governor Abbott, our Fort Worth Sports Commission and so many others,” Mayor Mattie Parker said. “Fort Worth is the gold standard for public-private partnerships and we are marshaling all our resources to roll out the red carpet for the PBR World Finals.”
“This is a historic win for Fort Worth. Powered by Dickies Arena and a community committed to hospitality, we are excited to announce this latest, significant sports event for our city. Welcoming the PBR World Finals beginning in 2022 shows how Fort Worth is attracting the most exciting and important events in professional sports,” said Jason Sands, director of the Fort Worth Sports Commission, a division of Visit Fort Worth. This year the Sports Commission welcomed more than 40 events worth more than $100 million in economic impact.
“These landmark changes give the PBR season greater continuity and allow the league to hold our crown jewel, the World Finals, in the heart of cowboy country surrounded by exciting fan entertainment activities,” said Sean Gleason, PBR CEO and Commissioner. “PBR World Finals will now have a two-week presence throughout Fort Worth, making the Metroplex the must-visit, sports-entertainment destination, every May. We are ecstatic to work with our incredible partners in Fort Worth, as we usher in a new era adding to the rich history of our World Finals and continue to bring new programming to Fort Worth. We look forward to the many opportunities to grow the PBR World Finals and sport as a whole here in Texas.”
The schedule changes follow PBR’s announcement in June of a landmark joint venture with Stockyards Heritage Development Co. and ASM Global to bring dozens of annual new western sports, music and entertainment events to Cowtown Coliseum and the historic Stockyards District.
The inaugural PBR World Finals in Fort Worth will be held from May 13-22, 2022, at Dickies Arena, headlining an action-packed two weeks of activities across Fort Worth.
Harkening back to a past format of the World Finals, reminiscent of when the year-end event was split between Mandalay Bay and Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, the first three rounds of the 2022, PBR World Finals will be held May 13-15, with the final five rounds held from May 19-22.
“Dickies Arena is proud to welcome the World Finals to Texas and celebrate 30 years of PBR in our new state-of-the-art facility. We are excited to host PBR in another national capacity and look forward to showcasing the city of Fort Worth to PBR fans from across North America,” said Matt Homan, president and general manager of Dickies Arena.
In addition to Dickies Arena, the league will also bring World Finals-related events and programming to Cowtown Coliseum, Fort Worth Convention Center and the Will Rogers Complex in Fort Worth, and the flagship PBR Bar at Texas Live!, boasting a 7,000 square-foot balcony overlooking Arlington Backyard, one of the region’s top concert venues, in nearby Arlington.
PBR has held its annual championship in Las Vegas since the sport was founded, with the exception of 2020 when the World Finals were held in Arlington, Texas due to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The PBR will continue to visit Las Vegas with significant, to be announced events.
“We would like to thank the City of Las Vegas for being such an incredible host to the PBR World Finals for nearly three decades,” said Gleason. “While we are excited about the move to Texas, Las Vegas will continue to hold marquee PBR events, which will be announced in the coming months.”
The 2022 PBR season will now span January-May, with subsequent seasons starting in 2023 lasting from November-May.
The 2022 campaign will include a minimum of 20 elite Unleash The Beast events, stopping in stalwart venues in cities such as Madison Square Garden in New York City, STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City and MetraPark in Billings, Montana.
Ticketing information for the 2022 PBR World Finals in Fort Worth and regular season Unleash The Beast events, in addition to a complete season schedule, will be announced in the coming weeks.
PBR will hold events in the months following the 2022 PBR World Finals in May until the next Unleash The Beast regular season begins in January 2023. The league will provide updates on those plans in the near future.
Tickets are still available for the 2021 PBR World Finals.
Marking the year-end event’s final time in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena, tickets for the five-day event range in price from $27 to $351. Fans can purchase tickets at the T-Mobile Arena Box Office, pbr.com, at AXS.com, or by phone through the PBR Customer Service Department at 800-732-1727.
About PBR (Professional Bull Riders):
PBR is the world’s premier bull riding organization. More than 500 bull riders compete in more than 200 events annually across the televised PBR Unleash The Beast tour (UTB), which features the top 35 bull riders in the world; the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT); the PBR Touring Pro Division (TPD); and the PBR’s international circuits in Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico. PBR’s digital assets include PBR RidePass on Pluto TV, which is home to Western sports. PBR is a subsidiary of IMG, a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media. For more information, visit PBR.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/PBR, Twitter at Twitter.com/PBR, and YouTube at YouTube.com/PBR.
Hopkins County’s Highest Monthly COVID Case Count Recorded In August 2021
August 2021 has been the worst month yet, with the highest monthly COVID case count of 397 confirmed cases and 573 total cases reported for Hopkins County, and September is already off to a fast pace as well with 61 new COVID-19 cases reported by Texas Department of State Health Services on Sept. 1, 2021.
Prior to August 2021, the most lab-confirmed cases recorded for Hopkins County during a single month this year was 247 in January. The 397 lab-confirmed COVID cases recorded for Hopkins County in August even exceeds the previous pandemic high 323 lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in October 2020.
If the first day of September 2021 is anything to go by, this month’s case count could be even higher than August, with 43 new lab-confirmed cases reported on Wednesday. The last time that many Hopkins County residents were reported to have lab-confirmed cases of COVID in a single day was Dec. 3, 2020; a total of 44 new confirmed cases were recorded that day. In fact, that’s more cases confirmed among Texans with a Hopkins County zip code on Sept. 1, 2021, than the cumulative 32 new confirmed cases reported during the entire month of April 2021. Overall, from Jan. 1-Sept. 1, 2021, 1,393 Hopkins County residents have receive lab-confirmed positive COVID-19 test results. Cumulatively, since March of 2020, 2,472 lab-confirmed COVID cases have been reported for Hopkins County.
So far, the most probable COVID cases reported in a single month since the state on Dec. 11 began daily reporting the number of cases identified through antigen testing or a combination of symptoms and a known exposure without a more likely diagnosis was 193 in December, followed by the 176 in August 2021 and 153 in January 2021. Eighteen new probable cases were logged for Hopkins County on Sept. 1, one more than on Aug. 4; the most probable cases reported for Hopkins County in a single day in 2021 so far has been 21 on Jan. 1, and so far during the pandemic has been 22 on Dec. 16, 2021. Overall, that’s 824 probable COVID cases reported in 2021 and 3,906 since the state began tracking the data last fall.
| COVID Category | 8/31/21 | 9/1/21 |
|---|---|---|
| New Molecular Cases | 22 | 43 |
| Confirmed Cases | 2429 | 2472 |
| New probable Cases | 10 | 18 |
| Cumulative Probable Cases | 1926 | 1944 |
| Active Cases | 324 | 368 |
| Daily Recoveries | 16 | 17 |
| Total Recoveries | 3906 | 3923 |
| Cumulative Total cases | 4355 | 4416 |
| COVID Unit | 27 | 25 |
| Deaths | 0 | 0 |
| Total Fatalities | 125 | 125 |
That’s 573 Hopkins County residents reported to have COVID-19 during the month of August, even more than the 483 new cases reported in December 2020 and 400 in January 2021. Cumulatively, since March 2020, a total of 4,416 COVID-19 cases have been recorded for Hopkins County, including the 61 new cases reported on Sept. 1.
Unfortunately, for the first time in more than 2 months COVID fatalities were reported for Hopkins County. Prior to Aug. 6, the last time a county resident died from COVID was May 30. While only four county residents died from the virus in May of 2021, 11 Hopkins County residents’ deaths in August have been confirmed by death certificate as a direct result of COVID-19 – the same number of COVID deaths reported for Hopkins County in both September and November of 2020. In 2021, the only month so far with more COIVD-19 deaths was January, when 15 died for the virus. The worst months of the pandemic so far in terms of deaths were October and December when 29 and 26 Hopkins County residents died from the virus. That brings the total number of COVID fatalities to 41 so far this year and 125 since the pandemic began during spring break in March of 2020 for Hopkins County.
A total of 368 Hopkins County residents were estimated to have recovered from COVID-19 as of Aug. 31, 2021, five more than in January 2021, but as many as reported in December, which included 810 recoveries on Dec. 11, the day DSHS started included probable new cases and recoveries. Overall, that’s 1,849 COVID recoveries in 2021 and 3,923 cumulatively for Hopkins County since the pandemic began in 2020.
That left 324 people who still actively had COVID-19 on Aug. 31, the most Hopkins County residents reported to actively have COVID during the first seven months of the year was 263 active cases on Jan. 23, 2021, and the most Hopkins County residents said to actively have COIVD-19 on any previous day during the pandemic was 273 on Dec. 14, 2020. The 324 active cases is quite a jump from the 108 on Aug. 1, 2021. In fact, July 31 was the first time since April 6, 2021 that the active case count has been a three digit number – the active case count for Hopkins dropped from 136 on April 6 to no cases from April 7-20, 2021. The active case count on Sept. 1 rose to 368.
Como-Pickton High School Principal Kelly Baird Recognized As TASSP Region 8 Outstanding Principal
Como-Pickton High School Principal Kelly Baird was recognized as Texas Association of Secondary Principals’ Region 8 Outstanding High School Principal of the year today (Sept. 1, 2021). He received his award in front of representatives of the 46 different schools in the region. Congratulations to Mr. Baird on this recognition.
Kelly Baird in July 2017 accepted the top campus job at CPHS, which allowed him to work closer to his home in Mount Vernon. Prior to that, he had been driving to Texarkana to work as the 9th grade principal. He’d considered retiring after 26 years in education, but decided he enjoys it too much to give it up, and accepted the position in Texas High School. When a former colleague recommended him for the CPHS job, Baird interviewed in 2017 with Dr. Greg Baird, who hadn’t been on the job too long himself. He said he had heard about the heard a lot of great things about the students and staff, the community at Como-Pickton and was excited to become part of that tradition.
While Baird’s official duties are to serve as the top administrator for his campus, Baird in an interview after being hired at CPCISD in 2017 said had is not averse to pitching in to help in the classroom or whatever capacity, if needed. He said he loves the classroom, and working with kids and teachers. He believes it’s important for kids to see their administrators at games and competitions, to know someone is there for them.
He spent 10 years in construction, before deciding at age 30 to attend college to become a teacher. After earning a bachelor of science from East Texas State University, Baird’s first teaching job allowed him to share his love of math by teaching everything from algebra to AP calculus, at Quitman ISD.
In 2000, Baird transferred to Mount Vernon ISD, In 2000, where he added coaching to his list of duties. He remained at Mount Vernon ISD until 2016. He also attained his middle management and master’s degrees from Texas A&M University-Commerce, and event went on to earn a superintendent’s certificate TAMUC while employed at the school, and eventually became and administrator there. However, Baird says, once teacher always a teacher. As a principal he still works with students and teachers, just in a different capacity.
That love of job, students and staff, and willingness to work as needed wherever, whenever to become the puzzle piece needed for the good the students hasn’t gone unnoticed by students, staff, parents an colleagues.
Lady Cats Volleyball Fights Hard But Falls in Five Sets to Paris
Coach Bailey Dorner’s Lady Cats volleyball team fought tooth-and-nail, never wishing to relent momentum, but it ultimately was not enough as the volleyball team lost a good, back-and-forth five set affair in Paris on Tuesday, Aug. 31.
Sulphur Springs lost set one 25-17 before rebounding to take sets two and four.
The score nearly flipped in set two, with the visiting Lady Cats beating Paris 25-18 to tie the game up at one a piece.
Set three proved to be another victory for the Paris Lady Cats in a nail-biter, 26-24 as Coach Bailey Dorner’s team were now just one set-loss away from ceding victory to the home Lady Cats.
Realizing that they were not too far removed from defeat, Sulphur Springs kicked it in to high gear, winning set four in another close set at 25-22.
With the set four victory, the game was tied at two sets a piece with set five deciding the victor.
The deciding set five would prove to be another close one, as both teams fought relentlessly to leave Paris with a five set win.
Set five would go about the same way as sets one and three, as Paris won set five versus the Sulphur Springs Lady Cats 15-11 to clinch a five set, 3-2 victory over Coach Dorner’s team.
The loss drops the Lady Cats volleyball team’s season record to 12-10.
Coach Dorner and her squad will be off from tournament play this weekend, but the junior varsity and freshman teams will be participating in the Forney tourney on Thursday and Saturday.
They will be playing Forney, Plano and Ferris on Thursday.
Even with varsity volleyball being off tomorrow, they will be back in action this Friday when they take on Edgewood at the SSHS Main Gym starting with the varsity at 4:30 P.M.
JV and freshmen will take on the Lady Bulldogs afterwards at 6 P.M.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Meet Two CHRISTUS HealthPlex Therapists
Magan Bradford was born and raised in Hopkins County, went off to North Texas colleges to obtain the training she needed to pursue her chosen career path, and is now loving her job as an Outpatient Speech and Language Therapist at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in her hometown. Brittani Mills came from Lake Jackson near Houston, studied at Texas Tech in Lubbock and always thought she would live and work in ‘the city’. But today she is happily settled with her husband in Winnsboro,Texas, and commutes daily to CHRISTUS Sulphur Springs. Brittani loves her job as a Pediatric Therapist. Both these professionals cite ‘observation’ as the motivating reason they pursued the field of Therapy. As youths, they were each able to observe a therapist at work and see the benefit to the young patients, and that helped to develop an early interest into an occupation.
Magan actually works with children as well as with adults. Since the CHRISTUS Healthplex offers Physical, Speech and Occupational therapies, she gets to work with persons who need help in developing, improving or regaining speech and communication skills. In adults, it maybe a stroke survivor who needs assistance in expressing themselves understandably to others once again. She admits it’s hard work for these patients, but perseverance and dedication to the exercises and therapy can really be worth the effort, and that there is joy in seeing someone improve these basic skills for daily living. “Now when it comes to the kids, we might employ reading, talking and singing. Often, they think we are playing! but we are actually training their speech and language skills. For some children, there maybe a problem with hearing which causes speech sound disorders. Our department offers improvement in skills involving both expressive and receptive language in children. Most often our patients come to us as referrals from their primary care physician or from pediatricians”.
Brittani’s passion is for helping children of all ages with difficulties in movement and use of muscles. “In Outpatient Pediatric Therapy, we look at gross motor development in our referrals. Some may have delays in sitting up or crawling, or in walking, jumping or running. We notice gait patterns, like toe-walking and toes-in or toes-out walking habits, and develop programs of therapy. In small babies, we may get a referral of tight neck muscles, which allows the baby to only turn their head one way, or to sleep only in one position. We offer help in this, sometimes with use of a special helmet that helps with correction of these muscles. By addressing and correcting the neck muscles before the child is old enough to crawl, he or she may go on to normal development of childhood physical skills. For best results, we also need the parents learn the exercises and habits needed for their child, to use these at home, between visits to therapy or the doctor”. CHRISTUS has excellent doctors and pediatricians who truly care about the patients they refer to the Healthplex Rehabilitation and Therapy Center.
When you need rehabilitation and therapy services, the more convenient, the better. That’s why CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation provides outpatient services with many convenient locations, and convenient parking for our patients. Find out more online about the Healthplex Rehabilitation and Therapy Center at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Sulphur Springs.
Search Warrant Nets Suspected Meth, Firearm, Felony Arrest
Execution of a search warrant at a Sulphur Springs residence netted suspected methamphetamine, a firearm and a felony arrest, according to sheriff’s reports.
Deputies and investigators served the search warrant at the city address. While doing so, officers located Chase Craig Hudson in his bedroom. As the investigators approached from the hallway, Hudson allegedly ran into his bedroom and locked the door. When told to open the door, the 40-year-old Sulphur Springs man refused, so the door was breeched by the officers. Hudson was removed from the room by Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Todd Evans and Deputy Jason Lavender.
Investigators alleged finding a small amount of suspected methamphetamine and a firearm in Hudson’s bedroom. The suspected meth weighed 0.39 gram and field-tested positive as meth. Consequently, Hudson was placed under arrest for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, then transported to the county jail on the charge.
Hudson’s Hopkins County jail record shows he was booked in after being sentenced to a 2-year commitment for a 2006 impersonating a public servant conviction and a 20-year sentence for a 2014 injury to a child, elderly or disabled person conviction, violation of parole in 2020 and a Franklin County 2020 aggravated perjury charge. The felony convictions would prohibit the 40-year-old from having a firearm.
Authorities also reportedly seized several electronic items during their search of the home and investigation into potential online offenses.
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.
Chamber Connection – August 31, 2021: Registration Deadline For Stew Cooks Approaching
By Butch Burney
The deadline is approaching for all stew cooks to get their registration forms in for the 52nd Annual World Championship Hopkins County Stew Contest, which will be held Saturday, Oct. 23, at Buford Park.
Come by the chamber office or send us an email and we will get the registration form to you or download one off our website, hopkinschamber.org. We are expecting a big turnout for this year’s event, so be sure and get your spot.
The deadline is also approaching for businesses that would like to sponsor some of the winning stew pots.
For this opportunity, call or email Butch Burney at [email protected].
Additionally, the Camber is still accepting vendors for the Stew Fest Market, which will be located on the south side of Buford Park during Friday night and Saturday Stew Contest activities. This is a great opportunity to sell goods or to promote your business to 7,000 people who attend the Stew Contest annually. Vendors may rent booth space to sell goods or distribute information about their business. Booths will be assigned on a first-paid basis. Access to electricity is not guaranteed. Generators are permitted. Vendors who are interested in purchasing booth space, call the Chamber of Commerce at 903-885-6515 email us at [email protected]
Register to Hear Hall and Slaton
The Texas State Legislature has been in the national news, and you will have a chance to get the inside scoop when State Sen. Bob Hall and State Rep. Bryan Slaton will be in town for a Lunch and Learn from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15. Registration forms are on our website, so sign up to learn how laws passed (and not passed) by the Texas Legislature will affect your business. Lunch will be provided at the Sulphur Springs Country Club. Tickets are $15 for Chamber members and $20 for nonmembers. Thanks for Atmos Energy and Oncor for sponsoring this important luncheon.
Neal McCoy Concert
A concert featuring country music artist Neal McCoy is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 10, to benefit the “Wall That Heals” that will be stopping in Sulphur Springs in November.
Concert tickets may be purchased at outhousetickets.com for $40-75.
The Wall That Heals is a mobile replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC. It will be making the only stop in Texas here the first week of November. Help defray the costs of bringing this tribute to Sulphur Springs and enjoy a great concert at the same time.
Go to Hopkins County Freedom Ball or Wall that Heals Sulphur Springs on Facebook for more information.
Postcards are in!
People ask about Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County postcards, and now the Chamber has them in. We have five different postcards featuring the landmarks and events of the county.
Come in, they are for purchase for $2 each.
Christmas Ornaments
Our annual Christmas ornaments are for sale for $40 at the Chamber office. They feature the City Hall at Christmastime, and are the fourth in our series of ornaments featuring county scenes.
Ribeye Roundup
The Ribeye Roundup, kids zone and evening concert are coming to Celebration Plaza on Saturday, Oct. 2. You can purchase tickets at Texas Heritage National Bank.
You can also buy t-shirts to promote the event for $12 at the Chamber office, 110 Main St. Come by and pick up your shirt today.
Arts and Crafts Show
The 2021 Hopkins County Fall Festival Arts & Crafts Show will take place in the Sulphur Springs High School cafeteria and north entry way on Friday, Oct. 22 and Saturday, Oct. 23. This event is open to anyone with hand-made, hand-crafted items to sell. Unique items, including handmade soaps and lotions, greeting cards, Christmas and seasonal decorations, jewelry, wood carvings, and much more will be available for purchase. Contact Johanna Hicks at 903-885-3443 for more information..
Business Highlight
The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is highlighting a member of the Chamber each week. Please join me in congratulating our Business of the Week for Sept. 1, Buff City Soaps. You can read biographical stories at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page and Instagram page.
Ribbon Cutting
Merle Norman, 212 North Davis St., hosted a ribbon cutting on Friday to introduce patrons to not only their beauty products but their boutique as well.
2 Arrested On Felony Warrants
At least two people were served and arrested on felony warrants, according to arrest reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Special Crimes Unit Lt. Mark Estes and Sgt. Joe Scott served Jesus “Chewy” Manuel Escobedo-Fernandez Jr. at 4:05 p.m. Aug. 30, 2021, with a warrant for manufacture or delivery of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone. The officers reportedly, while investigating the man, used a confidential informant to purchase a quantity of methamphetamine weighing more than 1 gram. This led to the warrant and arrest of the 24-year-old Sulphur Springs man. He was released from jail on Aug. 31, 2021, on a $25,000 bond.
SSPD Sgt. Brandon Mayes and Office Dustin Green took Bret Kevin Albrecht into custody at 12:15 p.m. Aug. 30 at the hospital emergency room on a warrant for violation of parole. Officers learned he was at the ER, took him into custody when he was released and took him to jail.
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.
3 Local Schools Closed Until Sept. 7 Due to COVID, Illnesses
At least 3 local school districts that serve Hopkins County students are closed for at least a week due to COVID-19 cases and related absences.
North Hopkins ISD
North Hopkins ISD officials were the first Hopkins County school to make the decision this week to close. District officials posted a notice at 5:31 p.m. Aug. 30 that the campus would be closed due to COVID-19.
“Due to an increase in Covid related absences and infection levels and symptoms, North Hopkins ISD is cancelling all classes and extra-curricular activities for the remainder of this week to allow for deep cleaning of facilities and everyone a chance to separate and recuperate. Classes will resume on Tuesday, September 7, 2021,” the notice from the school stated.
NHISD officials ask families to report any new COVID concerns to the school nurse by email at [email protected] or by phone at 903-945-2192, ext. 8014.
Cumby ISD
Cumby ISD Superintendent Shelly Slaughter distributed a letter at 1 p.m. to families and scheduled an “all-call” notification Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 31, notifying them that the district will be closed starting Wednesday, Sept. 1 due to illness and COVID case. All classes and extracurricular activities are suspended until Tuesday, Sept. 7, with the next week’s activities pending until further notice.
CISD too will spend the time to clean all facilities. CISD also asks that families social distance their children from group situations, wear masks as a precaution and continue good handwashing and health and safety protocols while away from school.
Anyone who has COVID symptoms is asked to be tested and not to return to school after it resumes until either they receive a negative test result or have gone to the doctor and received a different diagnosis.
Rapid COVID testing at the school is currently suspended. Testing will resume on Sept. 7 on an as needed basis. Parents are asked to please return their students’ form either giving or denying consent for the test so the school can respond accordingly for their students. This is required to be on file regardless of the parents’ preference. Any Cumby student who does not have a form on file by Sept. 7, will be required to quarantine if they are flagged as having a high risk exposure.
While not currently mandated, Cumby ISD is also asking and highly encouraging everyone to wear masks when indoors and around crowds upon return to campus on Sept. 7, 2021. Screening will resume each morning and visitors to campus will be limited.
Yantis ISD
Yantis ISD posted a notice just after 4:15 p.m. Aug. 31, 2021, notifying parents that the district will be closing and suspending all extracurricular activities until Sept. 7, citing an increase in COVID cases and other illnesses. The district will use the time to thoroughly clean all facilities. Families are asked to social distance their children from others and and “out of group situations” and to be mindful of safety protocols in the mean time to better reduce potential spread of illness.
Superintendent Tracey Helfferich asks families to contact hte school nurse at 903-383-2462, ext. 111, or [email protected] if they have a student who tests COVID positive.
Several others school districts’ activities are being impacted as other schools are closing or having to miss games due to COVID and other illnesses.
Sheriff’s Officers Still Investigating Reports Involving Similar Type Of Vehicle
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating reports of possible crime involving similar vehicles. The reports were made Monday afternoon and Tuesday, including one alleged child abduction, and two reports of suspicious activity.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office at 4:20 p.m. Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, received a report of an attempted abduction of a juvenile on County Road 4586 in the North Hopkins area. The child was reportedly able to reach safety. The suspect vehicle was described as a black two door passenger car, possibly a Honda Civic. The suspect was described as a white male estimated to be in his 30s or 40s, with what appeared to be a shaved-bald head, seen on Monday wearing a blue short sleeve shirt and blue jeans.
Deputies actively searched the area Monday and continued to check on Tuesday. Other law enforcement agencies were also notified and asked to check their records for similar incidents, according to HCSO investigator.
Anyone who has property in the area of CR 4586 with video cameras is asked to please check to see if they have video with a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle. If so, they are asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 903-438-4040 to share the video with HCSO officers.
A suspicious vehicle was reported just before 9 p.m. Aug. 30 on FM 71 east in the North Hopkins area; a male in a similar style vehicle, described as possibly being a 2-door dark gray Honda or Nissan, was reportedly asking people for gas for the vehicle.
Because an Amber Alert was also issued by Cherokee County Monday night for two children reported to be missing, who were thought to be in a vehicle with a similar description as the one said to have been involved in the reported child abduction attempt in North Hopkins, HCSO did check into the matter to see if the instances were connected. The car in that case was reported to be a Honda Civic, and the suspect a white male.
That Amber Alert was canceled Tuesday afternoon, with the location of the missing Cherokee County children.
“Our situation appears to be unrelated but we are not ruling anything out based on the limited information we have. Our hope is that someone saw our suspect’s vehicle in the area or knows the suspect from our incident based on the information released,” sheriff’s investigators reported.
Tuesday morning, Saltillo ISD posted a notice on social media to families, notifying them of a suspicious person report. A male reportedly parked a black Honda Civic around 7 a.m. Aug. 30 on FM 900 at U.S. 67 near Saltillo ISD. The car was reported to be missing one headlight, have damage on the back bumper, to have paper tags and a faded front bumper.
While it appears all of the reports are unrelated, HCSO deputies and investigators are looking into these claims.
