Clements: Water Restored To North Hopkins WSC Customers, Dike Still Has Lower Water Pressure
Maxwell: Sulphur Springs’ Water Towers Refilled Tuesday Morning
After a weekend of water being shut off more than once by the City Of Sulphur Springs, water has been restored to North Hopkins Water Supply Corporation customers. Those consuming water, however, are recommended to boil it because the pressure did fall below recommended amounts, according to NHWSC General Manager Edgar Clements.
Some Dike residents still have lower water pressure, because the tank there has yet to be filled, according to NHWSC Office Manager Lou Jane Drummond. Clements said NHWSC employees will continue checking today for any leaks or potential problems, but anticipates as soon as the water pressurizes service should soon return to normal — with the boil notice in place.
“We did not have any major breaks. We had two little spews and we fixed those small leaks yesterday,” Clements said Tuesday morning. “We are on top of things.”
Before 10 a.m. Feb. 23, Clements said NHWSC is addressing any issues that are found but, thus far, has had no line actually break completely in two. The biggest problems found required meters to be shut off. Many were shut off over the weekend and a number of additional service meter on customers’ properties were shutoff Monday due to issues there, he noted.
The NHWSC general manager reported one small leak was found in Mahoney. A water main discovered Monday evening on FM 2285 at FM 71 had a little bit of water that had begun going downhill. It spewed from a joint when they got in there. It was dug up and repaired Monday evening, according to Clements.
On Friday, NHWSC issued a boil water notice, noting that “Our usage demand at this time is great. If you are able to conserve/cut back your usage at all, it would benefit NHWSC customers. All of our equipment is working at this time but is having trouble keeping up with the high demand.”
Sulphur Springs City Manager Marc Maxwell cited a significant increase in water usage and low pressure in the NHWSC lines for shutting off the water supply to the district, and the city’s inability to fill their water towers for shutting off NHWSC’s water more than once over the weekend. Maxwell reported Sunday it would remain off except about 2 hours each morning until NHWSC could provide a plan for repairs for suspected major water leaks.
Sulphur Bluff and North Hopkins ISDs cancelled classes on Monday due to the water outage, but had resumed classes on Tuesday.
Both Clements and Maxwell addressed Hopkins County Commissioners Court regarding the issue Monday morning. Clements pointed out that NHWSC, even with increased use had had not exceeded the 1,500,000 gallons per day allowed in NHWSC’s contract with the City of Sulphur Springs. NHWSC and Sulphur Springs city officials then joined forces immediately after the court session Monday to discuss a plan for finding leaks along NHWSC’s system.
NHWSC’s water valves were turned back on at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 22, but officials anticipated it would take several hours until enough was pumped and re-pressurized to reach residents, and depending when the source. In an effort to get water directly to residents, NHWSC has the last few days bypassed filling up the tank in the Dike area. Residents have reported they haven’t had any water in days.
North Hopkins Water Supply Corporation, like the City of Sulphur Springs, offered a 1-million gallon reward to its customers who find a major water leak on their system. A major water leak is defined as a leak on a main line not a service lateral. Additionally, NHWSC is also offering a 100,000-gallon reward for customers who turn in a leak on a service lateral to a vacant building or vacant home. Both reward offers were for a 48-hour period which began at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 22. At that time, the officials asked that people who identify such a leak call it in to the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office at 903-438-4040. The City of Sulphur Springs, Maxwell noted, will back up the Hopkins County Water Supply Corporation with the free water for those customers who identify leaks.
Emergency management officials Monday staged at the corner of FM 71 and State Highway 19, offering two cases of water per household to assist NHWSC until water service returned to normal.
Maxwell around 3:30 p.m. Monday reported the Sulphur Springs water towers were filled and holding water. Tuesday morning, Sulphur Springs’ water towers were reported to be full. Maxwell said NHWSC was using water at a rate of 720,000 gallons per day, which is a lot less than over the weekend.
Clements noted it does take more water to refill the water system after a shut off, but anticipates after filling the Dike tank and getting things back to normal soon, provided water continues to flow normally and pressurizes son. He asks that customers call in any leaks they may discover to the NHWSC office at 903-945-2619.
Due to reduced distribution system pressure, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requires North Hopkins Water Supply Corporation to notify all customers to boil their water prior to consumption to ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes. All water used for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use.
Wildcats Basketball Team Leads From Start to Finish in Bi-District Win Over Jacksonville Monday
The Wildcats Basketball Team never trailed and were never tied in their 59-51 Bi-district win over Jacksonville Monday, Feb. 22 at Hallsville. The Wildcats scored the games first 5 points and led 16-10 after the first quarter. The Indians made up two points in the second quarter outscoring the Wildcats 9-7 but the Wildcats still held on to a 23-19 lead at the half. Both team’s offenses began to click in the third quarter. The Wildcats managed to outscore Jacksonville, 19-17 and the Wildcats lead grew to 42-36 after three quarters. Then the Wildcats caught fire in the fourth quarter early and were up 15 points at one time, 55-40.
During the last few minutes of the game, the Indians fought their way back but they never got closer than five points.
Junior Justin Haire had a big game for the Wildcats and he finished with a game high 18 points. Haire even hit a three-pointer. Senior Boo Wilkerson added 12 points including two threes. Senior point guard Lamodrick Johnson scored 11 points often slashing to the basket. Sophomore Kordrick Turner scored 8 points. Senior Malique Cole and junior Caleb Alexander both had 4 points and each hit a trey. Cason Arrington had 2 points. Sophomore Devin Mccuin led Jacksonville with 15 points.
The Wildcats, now 18-9 for the season, will face the winner of a Forney and Midlothian game, to be played Tuesday night, in the Area round of the playoffs.
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.
Lady Cats Basketball Team Hits Second-Round Roadblock in 43-21 Area Loss to Royse City
The Lady Cats Basketball team never recovered from a slow start in a season-ending 43-21 loss in the Area round of playoffs in Caddo Mills versus the Royse City Lady Bulldogs on Monday, Feb. 22.
Royse City stymied the Lady Cats, putting pressure on Coach Brittney Tisdell’s squad with every step they took. While the Lady Cats tried their best to develop a rhythm, the Lady Bulldogs defense would not budge an inch. At halftime, Royse City held a 21-8 lead over Sulphur Springs, with the deficit increasing to 20 at the end of the third quarter, 32-12 in favor of the Lady Bulldogs. While the Lady Cats were able to score late to begin to chip into Royse City’s lead, the damage was already done, and Royse City cruised to a demanding 43-21 win over the Lady Cats.
All three Seniors for the Lady Cats; Bre’asia Ivery, Nylah Lindley, and Dalanee Myles all scored 6 points each. Addyson Wall rounded out the scoring with 3 points, hitting a shot from behind the arc late in the game.
The Lady Cats could not seem to recover from losing starter Kenzie Willis to injury.
Willis, a sophomore for the Lady Cats, went down with an injury with 9.2 seconds to go in the Lady Cats 56-54 Bi-District win over Nacogdoches on Feb. 12.
Coach Tisdell’s squad did what they could in preparation for this game without one of their starting, major contributors in Willis, but Royse City seemed a step ahead on every Lady Cats offensive possession. Several times on offense, a Sulphur Springs player would send the ball to a teammate, only for the pass to be intercepted at the last second and turned into potential fast-break opportunities for the Lady Bulldogs.
It was a disappointing end to an otherwise fantastic season.
The Lady Cats finish their season with a 17-8 (9-3 district) record, having been crowned Tri-Champs of District 15-5A for the 2020-21 regular season, and were the #1 seed from the district in the playoffs. The Lady Cats won their warm-up game, and Bi-District match-up, before falling in the playoffs to Royse City in the Area round.
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.
Feb. 13 to Feb. 22 COVID-19 Update: 1 Fatality, 67 New Cases, 80 Recoveries
While most area residents were busy dealing with the extreme frigid weather since Valentine’s weekend, 67 Hopkins County residents also battled COVID-19 and 80 others were reported to have recovered from the novel coronavirus 2019 from Feb. 13-22, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services Feb. 22 COVID-19 updates. A total of 1,823 additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered in Hopkins County during that time, and one additional Hopkins County resident has been confirmed to have died from COVID-19.
According to the DSHS Feb. 22 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard a total of 1,489 Hopkins County residents (4.02 percent of the population) have had lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases since March of last year That’s 36 additional Hopkins County residents who have been confirmed by molecular lab-testing to have COVID-19 in the last 10 days: seven on Feb. 13; six each on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 15 and Feb. 16; one on Feb. 18 and five on Feb. 20. That makes 122 Hopkins County residents who have received lab-confirmed positive molecular COVID-19 results during the first 22 days of February.
Another 31 probable cases of COVID-19 were also reported from Feb. 13-22 for Hopkins County: four new probable cases each on Feb. 13, Feb. 14, Feb. 16 and Feb. 22; one on Feb. 15; 17 on Feb. 20; and two on Feb. 21. That brings the total number of Hopkins County residents who have either tested positive for COVID-19 on an antigen test or have had a combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis this month to 130 and since the state began tracking the data to 1,391, according to the DSHS Feb. 22 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard.
One additional Hopkins County resident has been confirmed by cause on death certificate to have died from COVID-19, increasing the total since March 21 of last year to 99 confirmed COVID-19 deaths (0.27 percent of the total population, but 6.65 percent of confirmed COVID-19 cases), according to the Feb. 22 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard. The latest COVID-19 death, according to the DSHS Feb. 22 COVID-19 County Trends dashboard, occurred on Feb. 7. A total of 15 COVID-19 deaths occurred in January, the last on Jan. 27; the January total was still 10 less than in December and 14 less than in October, but four more than in November and September.
Eighty Hopkins County residents are reported to have recovered from COVID-19 between Feb. 13 and Feb. 2, increasing the total so far in February to 187 recoveries. Since March, 2,597 of the 2,880 residents who’ve had confirmed and probable cases have recovered. That leaves 184 Hopkins County residents who actively had COVID-19 on Monday, according to the DSHS Feb. 22 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard.
At total of 19,323 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Hopkins County: 15,177 viral or molecular tests, 136 more than on Feb. 13; 2,334 antigen tests, 91 more than on Feb. 13; and 1,812 antibody tests, nine more than on Feb. 13.
According to the DSHS Feb. 22 COVID-19 Vaccine Data dashboard, a total of 1,319 people have been fully vaccinated in Hopkins County as of 11:59 p.m. Feb. 21, up from 528 who’d received both doses of the vaccine on Thursday, Feb. 11. Cumulatively, 2,667 people had received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Hopkins County on Sunday, up from 1,635 on Feb. 11. That’s 3,986 people who’ve receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Hopkins County, the equivalent of 4.52 percent of the Hopkins County population age 16 years and older who have been fully vaccinated.
After 2 weeks with no first-dose allocations at all designated to Hopkins County, Texas Department of State Health Services has allocated the Centers for Disease Control to ship 100 first-doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to Brookshire’s Pharmacy at 809 Gilmer Road in Sulphur Springs and 200 first-doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to Christus Trinity Clinic – Sulphur Springs, located at 105 Medical Plaza in Sulphur Springs during the week of Feb. 22. The last time any local provider was allocated first-doses of COVID-19 vaccines was the week of Feb. 8.
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report – Feb. 15-21, 2021
The Winnsboro Police Department media report for the week of Feb. 1-7, 2021, included the following activity:
Arrests
- No Arrests
Calls for Service
- The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 141 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations
- The Winnsboro Police Department issued 10 citations and 4 warnings during this reporting period.
SSHS Choir Advancing 5 Ensembles, 30 Soloists From Region To State Solo & Ensemble Contest
Sulphur Springs High School Choir students participated in a regional UIL Solo & Ensemble Contest on Friday, February 8, with five ensembles and 30 soloists advancing to Texas State Solo & Ensemble, which will be held virtually May 29-30.
Among the students earning medals and advancing as part of both a solo and an ensemble are Alan Guzman, Madison Martin, Lausen Ost, Aidyn Rogers, Sean Dial, Jatavion Hall, David Moreno, Colbie Glenn, Bailey Early, Haylee Fletcher, Savannah Lilley, Rose Marie Oyad, Danielle Verlander, Isabella Hill, Chloe Kerns and Litzy Chacon.
Also advance with as solo or as part of an ensemble are medalists Adam Peckham,Will Sims, Caleb Massey, Brooklyn Arneson, Lorelai Lilley, Sallee Spraggins,Mika Boren, Misti Taylor, Katie Henderson, Trinity Marie Shavers, Sarah Draper, Ashland Hooten, Adriana Espinoza-Upton, Kaylee Pennebaker, Mikel Godwin, Acie Simmons and Freddy Botello.
Congratulations to these young vocal musicians on their achievements at the regional competition.
2 Free Packages Of Bottled Water Offered Per Household For NHWSC Customers In Need
Two free packages bottled of water are being offered per household as long as supplies last for North Hopkins Water Supply Corporation customers to assist them until water levels and pressure are sufficiently improved to pump water to all customers, according to Hopkins County Emergency Management Coordinator Andy Endsley. Look for the pallets stacked with cases of water at Joe Bob’s at the corner of State Highway 19 and FM 71.
The City of Sulphur Springs, twice over the weekend, turned off North Hopkins WSC’s water, leaving residents who receive water from NHWSC’s 2,500 meters on more 300 miles of lines without water. City Manager Marc Maxwell said the decision was due to the low water pressure and high water usage by NHWSC following last week’s storms, typically an indicator or significant water leaks. The above normal amount of water being pumped from Sulphur Springs to NHWSC had drained the water towers in Sulphur Springs. Until a plan was devised by NHWSC and provided to the City of Sulphur Springs, Maxwell reported Sunday, the water in NHWSC would only be turned on for about 2 hours each morning.
NHWSC reported shutting off over 100 meters that had leaks on the customer side of the meter and have been looking for leaks on their supply lines as well. NHWSC has received help from area volunteer fire departments and the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office as well. Shutting off these meters has helped alleviate some of the problem but still more needs to be done.
The lack of water Monday resulted in Sulphur Bluff and North Hopkins schools having to cancel classes for the day.
City and NHWSC officials discussed the matter during Hopkins County Commissioners Court, then joined forces immediately afterward to develop a plan for finding leaks. NHWSC’s water valves were turned back on at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 22, but officials said it could be several hours until enough is pumped and re-pressurized to reach residents, and depending when the source(s) of the low pressure is(are) determined it could take even longer. In an effort to get water directly to residents, NHWSC has the last few days bypassed filling up the tank in the Dike area. Residents have reported they haven’t had any water in days.
North Hopkins Water Supply Corporation, like the City of Sulphur Springs, is now offer a 1-million gallon reward to its customers who find a major water leak on their system. A major water leak is defined as a leak on a main line not a service lateral. Additionally, NHWSC is also offering a 100,000-gallon reward for customers who turn in a leak on a service lateral to a vacant building or vacant home.
Both reward offers are good for the next 48 hours beginning at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 22. People who identify such a leak should call it in to the Hopkins County Sheriff’s office at 903-438-4040. The city will back up the Hopkins County Water Supply Corporation with the free water for those customers who identify leaks.
County emergency management team was slated to send a small army of people to North Hopkins to look for leaks. Since they can’t find leaks if the water is not on, the city restored water to the district starting at 10 a.m. It was expected to take a few hours to pressurize the entire system.
It would seem the efforts being made Monday to locate water leaks have been successful, with at least a four located Monday. Maxwell reported while NHWSC’s usage was still pretty high, the City of Sulphur Springs’ water towers had filled by about 3:30 p.m. and were still holding water at 7:15 p.m. Feb. 22.
Just before 8 p.m., what appeared to be a NHWSC main line rupture was reportedly located on FM 2285 at FM 71, which officials said should help with the WSC’s water issues.
NHWSC asks that customers conserve water when it is restored they can so that the system can fill back up more quickly and leaks can be identified.
Wildcats and Lady Cats Basketball Teams Are in Playoff Games on Game Day Monday
The Wildcats Basketball Team opens the playoffs with a bi-district contest with the Jacksonville Indians at Hallsville Monday (February 22) at 7:30 p.m. The Indians are the number three seed in District 16-5A and the Wildcats are the runner up in District 15-5A. The Wildcats have a season record of 17-9. It’s been a while since the Wildcats last played. They won a warm up game at Anna, 64-56 back on February 13, nine days ago. The winner of the Wildcats and Indians contest will face the winner of a Forney and Midlothian game that is being played Tuesday evening. KSST Radio will bring you the Wildcats and Jacksonville live Monday at 7:30 pm. The broadcast will feature streaming audio. Don Julian will be doing the game from Hallsville.
Meanwhile the Lady Cats Basketball Team will be taking on a familiar foe, Royse City, at Caddo Mills in an Area game Monday at 6:30 p.m. The Lady Cats, the top seed from District 15-5A, won their bi-district game with Nacogdoches, 56-54 at Athens back on February 12. Royse City shocked state ranked Midlothian, 42-38 in bi-district. The Lady Bulldogs, a former district foe of the Lady Cats, are the #3 seed from District 13-5A. The Lady Cats enter the game with a season record of 17-7. The winner of the Lady Cats and Lady Bulldogs game will face the winner of a North Forney and Huntsville game also being played Monday. KRVA-FM, 10-7.1, will have the broadcast of the Lady Cats and Lady Bulldogs live from Caddo Mills beginning at 6:30 p.m. Ross Labenske will do play by play.
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.
Titus County Man Arrested On Methamphetamine Possession Charge
Local authorities arrested two people over the weekend following State Highway 19 traffic stops, a Titus County man on methamphetamine possession and weapon charges and a Sulphur Springs woman on a DWI charge, according to arrest reports.
Traffic Stop On SH 19 North At CR 4578
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Drew Fisher stopped a white Mercedes around 9:45 p.m. Feb. 20, for speeding and failing to drive in a single lane. Upon contact with the 30-year-old Cookville man inside, deputies noted him to appear very anxious and talkative. The man’s license was found to have expired in 2014. The deputies reported seeing a rifle on the passenger’s seat of the 1998 vehicle.
Fisher reported asking the man to exit the vehicle. While talking with Colton Jacob Logan, the deputy alleged the Titus County man became deceptive about his criminal history. When Logan refused to let the deputy search his car, Fisher retrieved his Certified Narcotics Detection K-9. Maly indicated to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle, Fisher noted in arrest reports. A probable cause search of the car revealed 0.99 grams of suspected methamphetamines under the driver’s seat, Fisher alleged.
Consequently, the Titus County man was arrested just after 10 p.m. Feb. 20, 2021, and transported by Deputy Nick Marney to Hopkins County jail, where. Logan was booked for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and unlawful carrying of a weapon. The 30-year-old Cookville man remained in Hopkins County jail Monday, Feb. 22. Bond was set at $5,000 on the controlled substance charge and $2,000 on the weapon charge, according to arrest reports.
SH 19 DWI Arrest
A Sulphur Springs woman reportedly got her car stuck in a bar ditch on State Highway 19 at County Road 1116 after unsuccessfully making a U-turn after driving past her SH 19 house around 12:25 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 21. She admitted to a trooper that she was driving the Volkswagen Jetta from her sister’s house after drinking 1 1/2 beers, the Texas Department of Public Safety officer alleged in arrest reports.
The woman reportedly displayed indicators of intoxication during a roadside interview and showed clues of intoxication during roadside field sobriety testing. She was placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated. When request for a breath or blood sample for analysis, the woman refused, so the trooper obtained a blood search warrant signed by 8th Judicial District Judge Eddie Northcutt. The woman was transported to the hospital, where a blood specimen was collected, then taken to jail. The woman had already called for a wrecker prior to the highway patrol’s arrival and released it to her sister and the wrecker service.
The 57-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was booked into Hopkins County jail at 3:15 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, on the misdemeanor DWI charge. She was released no a $1,000 bond on the charge later Sunday, according to jail reports.
KSST does not publish the names or photos of people charged with misdemeanor crimes in staff-generated reports, only those accused of felony 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.
