2 Additional COVID Deaths, 99 New Cases, 33 Recoveries Reported For Hopkins County
Although all three COVID-19 vaccines – including the Pfizer product officially approved as a vaccine by the FDA this week – are available at no charge at multiple locations in Sulphur Springs for individuals age 12 and older, COVID-19 continues to spread among Hopkins County residents, resulting in two additional COVID deaths, Texas Department of State Health Services reported on Aug. 24.
That makes 8 COVID deaths for Hopkins County so far this month and 122 cumulatively since March 2020. The two latest deaths announced for the county are reported to have occurred on Aug. 19, a day in which 25 total new COVID-19 cases and 31 recoveries were reported, and on Aug. 7, when six new lab-confirmed cases were reported. While high, January is still unarguably the worst month for county residents in 2021, with 15 COVID deaths. Since the pandemic began in March of 2020, however, the worst month in Hopkins County was October; 29 residents died as a result of COVID-19, according to DSHS and Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management reports.
On Tuesday, Texas Department of State Health Services reported 34 new COVID-19 cases, including 16 lab-confirmed and 18 probable cases, increasing the total for the first 3 days of the week to 36 new lab-confirmed cases and 22 probable cases. On Wednesday, 43 additional Hopkins County residents were reported to have tested positive for the virus, 25 lab-confirmed cases and 18 probable cases.
That increases total to 459 Hopkins County residents who have had COVID-19 in August, 311 lab-confirmed molecular cases and 148 probable cases, defined by the CDC and DSHS as cases in which either the individual “tested positive through an antigen test or has a combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis.”
That means August is also now officially the worst month so far in 2021 in terms of overall new COVID-19 cases and the most lab-confirmed molecular cases. Until this week, January had the worst record in 2021 with 400 new cases overall, including 247 lab-confirmed cases and 153 probable cases.
The worst month since the pandemic began was October 2020, when 323 new lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported. At that time, the state was not tracking probable cases; those were not reported daily until Dec. 11. December 2020 concluded with 483 new cases, 290 lab-confirmed cases and 193 new probable cases.
Cumulatively, 4,128 Hopkins County residents have had COVID-19 during the pandemic, 2,307 lab-confirmed cases and 1,879 probable cases. A total of 3,758 of the 4,128 cases were reported to have recovered from the coronavirus as of Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 24, 2021.
That leaves 305 Hopkins County residents who still actively had COVID-19 on Aug. 25, 2021, down from 308 active cases on Tuesday, the most active cases reported during any one day in Hopkins County since the state began tracking active case counts on April 7, 2020.
A total of 26 COVID-19 patients were reported to be in the COVID Unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs Aug. 24, one more than the day before, Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management officials reported. That’s up from 15 patients on Aug. 3, making Tuesday’s patient count the highest reported for the local COVID Unit since January 26, when the COVID unit census was 26 for the third consecutive day.
The 26 patients at CMFHSS help make up the overall patient count in Trauma Service Area F hospitals, which held 208 lab-confirmed coronavirus patients Monday and 199 Wednesday. TSA-F COVID patients also help make up the 13,666 COVID patients being treated in Texas hospital on Aug. 23 and the 13,928 in TSA-F on Aug. 24, according to Texas Health and Human Services Commission “Lab-Confirmed COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients By Trauma Center” report.
On Aug. 23, 5 ICU beds were available across TSA-F and 365 across the state, with a total of 52 ventilators available in Region F and 6,174 in hospitals across Texas Monday. On Tuesday, the number of available ICU beds in TSA-F, had dwindled to three; across the entire state, only 306 ICU beds were available Aug. 24.
Wildcats Football Head Coach Greg Owens Discusses Scrimmages and Upcoming Frisco
Up until Tuesday afternoon, the Wildcats football team were set to host the Frisco Wakeland Wolverines for both teams’ season openers.
However, on Tuesday, Aug. 24, Wakeland head coach Marty Secord contacted Coach Greg Owens informing him his Wolverine team would have to pull out of Friday night’s contest with Sulphur Springs due to the coronavirus.
Coach Secord did inform Coach Owens that a team from his district, Frisco High School, needed an opponent for Friday after Garland’s Naaman Forest, like Frisco Wakeland, had to cancel their season-opener due to COVID-19.
So with that, the stage was set for the Wildcats football team to host the Frisco Raccoons for Friday’s season-opener at Gerald Prim stadium.
Frisco High lost almost two dozen players to graduation, so this will be something of a retooling team coming in to Gerald Prim stadium.
And with only two scrimmages of film to go off of, Coach Owens said he is not exactly sure what to expect of this incoming Frisco team, however he said that the Raccoons operate a wing-T set, featuring plays such as the buck sweep and traps.
Fortunately for Coach Owens and his staff and players, the offense they will see from Frisco is a similar one to the offense they hosted last week in Pleasant Grove in the Wildcats’ second and last scrimmage of regular season play.
The Wildcats were fortunate enough to get a taste of the wing-T offense in their scrimmage loss to Pleasant Grove, which Coach Owens says is particularly advantageous considering Frisco’s offense is a system predominantly used in the 1980s.
The mid-week change of opponents is never a welcome sight, but Coach Owens said in this day and age of the pandemic it has become something of an occupational hazard.
The change in Frisco opponents, with the notable change of offenses, has the defensive staff a bit anxious for Friday’s game due to the difficulty of defending such an offense.
Speaking on Frisco’s wing-T offense, Coach Owens said the Raccoons are going to bring it, adding that Frisco High has a good ball club, losing in the Regional Quarterfinals to Aledo, but are really good, the Wildcats head football coach said.
Coach Owens said Frisco High knows what they’re doing and have been operating the same system for a long time, saying that Friday’s game will be a challenge for him and his squad.
Coach Owens said he put the new game plan for Friday’s game versus Frisco in, and will continue to work on it today, Wednesday, Aug. 25, and will continue to get more fresh on their new opponents.
The Wildcats football coach said he does not imagine making a ton of adjustments in-game, saying that him and his staff have not seen a whole lot of the Raccoons, nor is Frisco a common opponent that the Wildcats have played over the course of several years (like Frisco Wakeland).
With all that being said, Coach Owens expects there to be things that him and his players are not ready for, but said that him and his players will have to adjust on the fly the best they can in-game.
One thing is for sure; both Frisco High School and Sulphur Springs are as ready as can be for their football season-openers on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021 at Gerald Prim stadium.
The home-opener for the Wildcats is set to kick-off on Friday at 7:30 P.M.
Friday’s regular-season home-opener will be broadcasted over the radio on KSST 1230 AM, and if allowed, will be broadcasted on to KSST’s Youtube channel.
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.
Rob Stanley, Director of SS/PJC: Registration Still Open with Sign-up Incentives for Full, Part-time Students
PJC offers a wealth of career path courses for the 2021/2022 school year, and registration is going on through at least August 30, 2021. Long-time administrator in Hopkins County Rob Stanley has been Campus Director at PJC/SS for the past five years, and loves helping adults of all ages to make a difference in their lives and finding careers in interesting fields. Stanley is also Coordinator of Dual Credit Studies, so he gets a chance to also assist high school students who want to begin their college careers early. Incentives being offered now are $1,000 to full-time students who plan to get their degree through PJC, and $500 for part-time students.
Among courses being offered are Nursing, Industrial Welding, Cosmetology, Truck Driving and more. In the Medical field, there’s specialty training in Radiology, Surgical Tech, and Medical Aide. There’s CAD classes where students learn 3-D printing; there’s also Dental Assistant training, Music Career instruction, and even Cyber-Security, in addition to many more different courses of study. According to Stanley, getting your education at PJC has many advantages; it’s close to home as well as affordable. There’s face-to-face learning in the classroom as well as classes completed on the computer at home. And PJC’s array of courses is rated 8th by the Texas Higher Education Curriculum Board.
PJC has programs for Academic Transfer for students heading to 4-year colleges, as well as those seeking Continuing Education with accelerated entry into the job market. Adults who want to train for a new career, as well as Senior Citizens who would like to take tuition-waived courses can be accommodated at PJC/SS. Check out the video of Stanley’s visit to the KSST Good Morning Show on the KSST Youtube channel.
If you have been thinking of going back to school or getting training, stop in at PJC/SS and talk with Stanley or Ms. Joslin. Call first if you like, at 903-885-1232, or stop in at 1137 Loop 301 East.
Winnsboro 2nd and Sulphur Springs 10th in Texas in the America’s Best Farmers Market, Vote til Sept. 19
According to the American Farmland Trust’s annual Best Farmers Markets in America, the Winnsboro, Texas is holding second place in 2021 voting. The Sulphur Springs Farmer’s Market is now 10th in Texas, as of August 23, 2021. Both markets are held on Saturday mornings. You can vote for your favorite through September 19, 2021, one vote person. The top three markets will win cash prizes of up to $2,500. To vote, go to American Farmland Trust and click on Find My Market.
From the American Farmland Trust website, we learn that from June 21 to September 19, 2021, America’s Farmers Market Celebration showcases the essential markets across the nation making a difference for farmers, ranchers and communities. During this time, market shoppers and supporters can vote for their favorite market by visiting markets.farmland.org. In addition to recognizing the top markets in each region of America, AFT and FMC will offer cash prizes for the markets that finish in the top three of the “People’s Choice” category— $2,500 for first, $1,500 for second and $1,000 for third. These funds will be awarded to markets for marketing, communications and other needs that help expand the market’s reach and impact.
Since 2008, the celebration has highlighted the important role farmers markets play in communities across the nation. As we head into the second summer of the coronavirus pandemic, the role of farmers markets as both a vital venue for farmers to sell their goods and consumers to access local, healthy food is being recognized like never before. If the last year has taught us anything, it is that farmers markets are not a luxury to communities. They are essential businesses that provide a vital service and should be celebrated. “No Farms, No Food” is a slogan frequently used to impart the importance of small and large farm food production in the United States.
P&Z Commission Considers Oak Avenue Zoning Change
Sulphur Springs Planning and Zoning Commission was asked to consider a request for an Oak Avenue zoning change.
Kris and Cason Childress proposed rezoning a 0.21-acre property at 618 Oak Avenue, at the Oak Avenue and Gilmer Street split, from multifamily to light commercial, to accommodate commercial development on the property. The applicants want to convert the home located on the property to an office, Sulphur Springs Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director Tory Niewiadomski told the Planning and Zoning Commission on Aug. 23, 2021.
The property in question is surrounded by a mix of zoning designations. To the east of the property is zoned multifamily, to the south heavy commercial and to the west a strip center zoned light commercial. Other homes converted to law offices are located north in a professional office designated area, a tire shop within a heavy industrial zone to the south, and vacant land zoned multifamily to the east.
“Given the context of the area, commercial is an appropriate use along the Oak Avenue corridor. It also fits in with the land use plan of commercial along Oak Avenue,” Niewiadomski noted.
The city sent out certified letters to surrounding property owners within 200 feet of the property. Four were returned and all were in favor of the zoning change, Niewiadomski reported. Based on those factors, Niewiadomski said, city staff recommended the granting the request for the Oak Avenue zoning change.
The Planning & Zoning Commission members present for the meeting agreed the with city staff and are recommending the request to change the zoning for 618 Oak Avenue from multifamily to light commercial be granted. The zoning change is expected to be presented to the City Council at their next meeting on Sept. 7, and if approved, would be presented again at the Oct. 5 council meeting for second reading and final approval.
PBR Ticket Giveaway on KRVA
KRVA is giving away PBR tickets for Sunday August 29th at Dickies Arena! To enter to win like the post on KRVA! It’s that easy.
Forty men will compete, but only one can be the Iron Cowboy. Don’t miss your chance to see history in the making!
Winners will be announced on Thursday August 26th.
Tickets will be available for pick up at will call.
New HCSO Trucks, Election Judges, Updated County Calendar Approved
New trucks for the sheriff’s office, an updated county holiday calendar, appointment of election judges and alternates, two agreements with governmental entities and the county-maintained road mileage inventory were among the items discussed and approved by Hopkins County Commissioners Court during their regular meeting earlier this week.
New HCSO Trucks
Hopkins County sought bids for two 2021 model or newer half-ton pickup trucks to serve as inmate transport vehicles for Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Deputy Tanner Crump noted the two that the department has been using are having to be refurbished back to patrol, so new HCSO trucks are needed to get inmates from on jail to another, court or medical care.
“With the current market the way that it is, we felt like it would be best to purchase the vehicle instead of ordering the vehicle, which could take longer to get,” Crump said.
County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook reported the county received two bids. Brian Toliver Ford bid $37,866.26 for 2-wheel drive pickups and $41,555.76 for 4-wheel drive trucks. Texas Country submitted bids for 4-wheel drive vehicles at a cost of $40,000 for both. The preferred choice, according to Crump, is to go with the bids from Texas Country for 4-wheel drive trucks.
“Just to put it on the record, one would be paid for from commissary and the other will be paid for from their federal housing revenue,” Aulsbrook said during the Aug. 23 meeting, referring to the inmate commissary fund and and the $70 per day per inmate fee paid for housing federal inmates at the county jail. “It’s not taxpayers’ dollars.”
Precinct 2 Commissioner Joe Anglin made a motion, which Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price seconded, to accept the bid from Texas Country for the purchase of the trucks to serve as HCSO transport vehicles.
Budget Amendment
Aulsbrook noted a budget amendment was needed to move $40,000 out of the fund with fees the county receives for housing other facilities and agencies’ inmates into the sheriff’s auto expense account to cover that portion of the HCSO new truck purchase.
“I just want to put in the record, the money he’s received from to-date has brought in $703,491.66 from housing federal inmates. After you take give this $40,000, there will be $563,491.84 left of it. He’s bringing in funds every month,” Aulsbrook noted, then turning to Sheriff Lewis Tatum, added, “I just want to thank you. We couldn’t have done this budget without the help of your programs, what you’re. It’s awesome, what you are doing.”
Tatum credited Jail Administrator Kenneth Dean for overseeing the jail programs.
“We recognize that you worked harder to make this happen, and we say thank you Sheriff’s Office; as a whole, you make it happen,” County Judge Robert Newsom said.
The Commissioners Court unanimously approved the budget amendment to move the funding for the sheriff’s truck
Election Judges
County Clerk Tracy Smith asked the court to approve appointment of election judges. She noted election judges and alternate judges serve a 2-year term. The next term will begin Sept. 1, 2021, and end Aug. 31, 2023. All of the recommended judges had indicated a willingness to serve in the position.
The Commissioners Court approved an order appointing Barbara Grubbs as early voting judge and Michael Wolfe as alternate for early voting. Also appointed by precinct voting place, judge and alternate were:
- 1 Lutheran Church – Doug McCool Tiffany Yarbrough
- 2A Morning Chapel Missionary Baptist Church – Gena Prickette Michelle Gasaway
- 3 Courthouse – Sheila Funderburk Patsy Neal
- 3A Grace Family Church – Caz Kivell Mack Pitts
- 4 Civic Center – D’Anne Chaney Brenda Sabbagh
- 4A League Street Church of Christ – John Berning Angela Zahn
- 5 Saltillo ISD – Melinda Daniel (no alternate listed)
- 11 Cumby Municipal Building – Menzie Chase Art Romanant
- 12 Sulphur Bluff ISD – Kim Willhite David Larkin
- 13 Como-Pickton CISD – Peggy Childs Gary Littrell
- 16 Miller Grove ISD – Mary Anne Spears Debbie Young
- 17 North Hopkins School -Katie Joslin Darrell Johnson
Holiday Calendar
An updated 2021-2022 County Holiday Calendar was approved by Hopkins County Commissioners Court. Newsom noted that the county has always historically had 11 holidays, which they will continue to enjoy. The calendar has been adjusted, however, to incorporate Juneteenth. President Joe Biden signed into law on June 17, 2021, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act passed by Congress.
June 19, Juneteenth as it’s become known, is the day in 1865 word reached Galveston that the Civil War had ended and that the Emancipation Proclamation issued 2 years before set the enslaved free. The day recognizes the end of slavery in the Unites States.
In 2022, Juneteenth falls on a Sunday, a day county offices are closed. Thus, Hopkins County will observed Juneteenth by designating Monday, June 20, 2022 as a county holiday.
County-Maintained Road Mileage
Newsom noted that county administrative staff and commissioners have worked hard for weeks, staying late many afternoons, to compose the County Road Inventory for Hopkins County-Maintained Road Mileage for certification funding through Texas Department of Transportation.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker express appreciation to Newsom’s administrative assistant Donna Goins for all that she does. The other commissioner too offered thanks to her for her work.
Newsom reported the county recorded 827.04 miles total: including 233.225 miles in Precinct 1, 219.91 miles in Precinct 2, 210.2 miles in Precinct 3 and 218.7 in Precinct 4. That’s an increase over time due to new roads, including for subdivisions and development.
Agreements
The Commissioners Court also approved an interlocal agreement between the county and Ark-Tex Council of Governments for E9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Point Services and PSAP equipment as well as a state case registry cooperative agreement between the Office of the Attorney General of Texas and the county for state case registry. Both are agreements that have to be renewed annually to continue the services.
Chamber Connection – August 25, 2021
By Butch Burney
We are currently accepting applications for stew cooks for the 52nd Annual World Championship Hopkins County Stew Contest on Saturday, Oct. 23. Letters to past cooks were mailed out a couple of weeks ago.
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.
We have also opened up our sponsor call for businesses that would like to sponsor some of the winning stew pots.
We also have two important partnership opportunities for a title sponsor and platinum sponsor. Contact me at [email protected] to find out more.
Stew Fest Market Vendor Call
The Chamber is excited to announce our vendor call for the Stew Fest Market! The Chamber is currently 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]
Stew Contest Drink Sales
Every year, the Chamber allows a non-profit organization to sell drinks at the Stew Contest. If you are interested in placing your organization’s name in the hat, please call the Chamber. You will be asked to come in and sign an understanding agreement in regard to rules and expectations. The deadline is Aug. 31. Once we have all our volunteers in place, we will literally pick one out of a hat and award drink sales to that organization. Please call if you have any questions.
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.
Photography Contest
We are accepting entries in the 6th Annual Chamber of Commerce Photography Contest! Anyone of any age can enter as we have a children’s category. The picture must be newer than January 1, 2019, and must have been taken in Hopkins County. The contest will be open from Aug. 2 to Aug. 31. There are seven categories you may enter: Natural World, Travel, People, The Hopkins County Experience, Altered Images, Mobile, and Children’s Category. Only digital images are accepted (no prints). To submit your photograph, email the picture to [email protected] or upload on our website. Rules and releases will be available on the Chamber of Commerce website.
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.
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 Aug. 25, Hopkins County Fire Extinguisher. You can read biographical stories at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page and Instagram page.
Ribbon Cutting
A ribbon cutting is scheduled for Merle Norman Cosmetics at 212 North Davis St. at noon on Friday, Aug. 27. Please join us for this event.
Achievement Banquet Honors 4-H’ers with Gold Star Award, Scholarships and Volunteer Recognition
Each year, the Achievement Banquet honors Hopkins County 4-H students who have excelled in their chosen areas of interest during the past 12 months. Now, just as a new 4-H enrollment year is beginning, these students were recognized for hard work and success during 2020/2021.
All five 4-H clubs of Hopkins County had a number of students involved in the special recognition of the evening. Texas Agri-life Extension agents Johanna Hicks and Mario Villarino hosted the event but it was actually the students who carried out the awards and recognition of their peers.
Guest speaker Patrick Johnson of Harleton, Texas gave an uplifting talk on ‘doing the right thing’ and respect for parents and elders. Johnson, a USAF Sgt. Major and former chaplain now represents J-Star Ministries. He is married to Shanna Clayton Johnson, a native of Sulphur Springs.
Hopkins County 4-H Adult Volunteer of the Year is Stephanie Stewart. Stephanie is a busy mom who also began teaching archery as a brand new club project. Her 4-H students have learned the basics of archery and are now competing across the region in contests with other 4-H’ers. Stephanie helps them have fun, cultivate new interests and learn to excel at the same time.
Gold Star Award winner Rylie Carroll is on the District 4-H Council and competed in Food Challenge and Consumer Education categories. During the last school year, Rylie earned honors on the District and State Level, taking 1st place at State in her Record Book on Consumer Education, 3rd Place at State level in Fashion Show, and 5th place at State level in Public Speaking. Rylie also accrued honors at the Houston Livestock Show in the Public Speaking Contest. She applied and was selected to a state-level position as a Healthy Texas Youth Ambassador, and will be working alongside Johanna in the local office in program development for Hopkins County health and wellness.
Hopkins County had double winners in two scholarship categories. The Janie Crump Award, a $500 local scholarship, went to Miss Jorja Bessonett (in Food, Fashion and Family Life categories) as well as to Miss Savannah Allen, (in Livestock Exhibition). Then, each of the girls also received a state-level scholarship category called Texas 4-H Opportunities, for $20,000 each. Hopkins County had 2 recipients in this prestigious award!
Penelope Deterding announced Record Book
Penelope Deterding caught onto 4-H real fast when she joined. She got involved in Fashion and Interior Design projects and is a member of the County 4-H Council. She first began on sewing projects, then attended a quilting workshop where she fell in love with quilting. Since then Penelope has completed a quilt on her own which received recognition at State, and she joined the Lone Star Heritage Quilt Guild as their youngest member!
An Installation of Officers was overseen by 4-H Volunteer Peggy Childs as she reminded them of their leadership responsibilities for the coming year.
New officers are:
President, Rylie Carroll of Infinity 4-H Club
Vice President of Programs, Ethan George of Miller Grove 4-H Club
Vice-President of Recreation, Kaden Mabe of Infinity 4-H Club
Secretary-Treasurer, Blaine Allen of Infinity 4-H Club
Reporter, Diego Childs of Infinity 4-H Club
Parliamentarian, Lena Reyes of Infinity 4-H Club
These are just a few of the outstanding 4-H students who live and go to school in Hopkins County. Adult volunteers play a big role in helping the students learn, stay focused and excel in their projects. Can you volunteer? National 4-H Week is coming up in October 2021. Find out how you can help, and get involved!!Contact Extension agents Johanna Hicks or Mario Villarino at 903-885-3443 or drop by the Extension office at 1200 B West Houston Street in Sulphur Springs, Texas.
Commissioners Court Considers 2 Building Projects, Gutter Repairs, Roof Renovations
Hopkins County Commissioners Court had a full agenda during their regular meeting this week, including discussion requests for qualifications for engineering and architectural services for two building projects, roof repairs, gutter and downspout replacements and a replat request.
Courthouse Roof Repairs
The county sought bids to remove and replace existing cooper gutters and downspouts on Hopkins County Courthouse. Hopkins County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook reported that Horne Brothers bid of of $66,766 was the only one the county received for the project, which required bidders to attend a mandatory pre-bid meeting on Aug. 12, 2021, to discuss the project and receive the bid specifications and deadlines.
“We will receive insurance proceeds to cover this. To date, we’ve received, $35,497 for the gutters and $27,695 for hail damage to the slate. Once we’ve done these repairs, accept this bid, then we’ll receive the rest of that money,” Aulsbrook said. “We do need to accept that one bid so they can get the material.”
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley made the motion, which was seconded by Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Anglin the unanimously approved at the Aug. 23 meeting by the Commissioners Court, to accept the lone bid for the gutter removal and pairs at at the courthouse.
Courthouse Annex Roof Renovation
The Commissioners Court also sought bids for a roof renovation at the Hopkins County Courthouse Annex building. However, after reviewing them, Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price, who is overseeing that project for the court, asked that the court to temporarily table making any decisions on the project.
“We’ve looked at these bids and had a little problem possibly with the material that was going to be used. It wasn’t really fair on how we did it, so we put it back out for bids again,” Price explained.
Bartley second the motion, with the rest of the court following suit, voting in favor of temporarily tabling that agenda item.
A special court session has been scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26, to consider and accept a bid for the annex building room renovation.
The project bid notice posted on July 28, 2021, called for those interested to attend a mandatory pre-bid meeting, then to receive bid specification. The project calls for an EPS Flute Fill and 80 mil TPO Roof Retrofit over the standing roof of the annex building. The applicant also is required to be a certified manufacturer installer capable of a 20-year material and labor warranty.
RFQs for 2 Construction Projects
Hopkins County Commissioners also put out requests for qualifications for architectural and engineering services for a Community Safe Room as well as architectural services for a county jail trustee housing facility. At the Aug. 13 deadline, the county had received two RFQs for each project.
A Selection Committee consisting of the Commissioners Court, Aulsbrook, grants facilitator Beth Wisenbaker, Fire Marshal Andy Endsley, Sheriff Lewis Tatum graded the RFQs on the 16th. Scoring criteria included experience, work performance and capacity to perform.
DRG received 775 points and Grace Herbert Curtis (GHC) receive 763 points, out of a possible 900 points. The committee’s recommendation was to go with DRG, which scored the highest number of points, for services for a Hopkins County Community Room.
DRG and Cutright responded to the RFQ for the Hopkins County Trustee Facility. DRG barely came in ahead of Cutright for the trustee housing project, receiving 823 points to Cutright’s 818 points, Aulsbrook reported.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley made the motion to accept DRG as the highest grade for the Trustee Housing facility. Anglin second the motion, which then receive unanimous approval of the court. Bartley also made the motion to accept DRG’s high grade for the Community Safe Room. Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker seconded the motion, which also received unanimous approval of the Commissioners Court.
The county is applying for Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Program/Building Resilience Infrastructure and Communities Program grant, funded by FEMA through Texas Department of Emergency Management, with a goal of constructing a Community Safe Room. If approved, the grant requires a 80/20 percent match, with 80 percent of funding coming from the grant and the county providing a 20 percent match.
The Community Safe Room would serve multiple purposes. It could serve as a community shelter in times of extreme weather or a site for certain types of mass distributions, such as a safe space from which vaccines could be administered. The Community Safe Room too would likely serve as a new Emergency Operations Center for the entire county.
In order to make it as safe a location as possible, the Community Safe Room would be built much like the portion of Hopkins County Law Enforcement Center where inmates are housed. It would have solid concrete floors, as well as solid walls and ceilings to make it sturdy, able to withstand extreme weather such as a tornado. It would be located across from the county jail, would include restrooms and a kitchenette.
Construction of the safe room depends on the county being approved for funding to use for that purpose.
Hopkins County officials plan to use a portion of the $7-plus million the county has been awarded in American Rescue Plan Act to construct a 48-bed Trustee Housing facility to keep the male jail trustees who work in the community separate from other inmates as a safety precaution against COVID-19 or any other illness being spread, and to better keep contraband such as snuff or controlled substance out of the county jail. Tatum estimated 35-36 trustees can be found on any given day on work detail.
The project would require four additional jailers, whose salaries would not be covered by the American Rescue Plan funding, to be in compliance with inmate-officer requirements. Those salaries would not be paid out of the ARP, state and local fiscal recovery funds, however, Aulsbrook noted. Tatum said jail revenues should cover the cost of the extra jail staff.
County officials are proposing cleaning up county-owned property on the north side of Houston Street across from the sheriff’s office and jail and building the Trustee Housing Facility on the site.
Having the male inmates at a separate facility would be easier for jail staff and those individuals who pick the inmates up for their work detail. The trustee facility would allow for better monitoring during the pick up and drop off process without causing congestion in the main booking area at the jail, which could potentially present a safety issue.
The Penn Addition Replat
The Commissioners Court was asked to replat Lots 1-4 of The Penn Addition, an old plat that originated in the 70s. The request was to combine turn the four lots and an area where a road was supposed to have been built but wasn’t into two larger lots of land and taking in the nonexistent road.
“He spoke to me about it. Really, it looks like a better deal than what we originally had. He’s got two lots here. They’ve all got 200 feet or more of frontage to the highway, so it didn’t require a subdivision plat, just a plat,” Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price said, making a motion approve the replat request.
Bartley seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved by the Commissioners Court.
