March 4 COVID-19 update: 3 Fatalities, 22 New Cases, 3 Recoveries So Far This Week
Daily COVID-19 case and patient counts in COVID hospital units across the state have continued to decline over the last few week, but new cases do continue to be reported daily at the county, regional and state level. From March 1 to March 4 COVID-19 case counts in Hopkins County increased by 22, while only three recoveries were reported; three COVID-19 fatalities have also been confirmed for Hopkins County in the last seven days.
COVID-19 Case Counts
Since Monday, a dozen Hopkins County residents received positive molecular COVID-19 tests results — three each on March 1 and 4, four on March 2 and two on March three. That’s 49 less than the first four days of December, 33 less than Jan. 1-4, 28 less than Feb. 1-4, its still nearly twice as many as were reported July 1-4. In the last seven days, 22 new lab-confirmed molecular COVID-19 cases have been reported for Hopkins County, increasing the cumulative total since March 27, 2020, the day Hopkins County officials were notified of the first known case of COVID-19 in a county resident, to 1,523 on March 4, 2021, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services March 4 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard and Confirmed Cases Over Time By County report.
Ten additional probable COVID-19 cases were also reported for Hopkins County during the first four days of March, which is 25 fewer new cases than were reported Feb. 1-4 and 32 less than from Jan. 1-4. Cumulatively, 1,523 probable COVID-19 cases have been reported for Hopkins County. That’s 1,523 Hopkins County residents who have either received a positive antigen COVID-19 test result or who have had a combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis. That number likely should be higher as DSHS did not initially require healthcare providers to report antigen and probable cases when the additional testing methods first became available and and were utilized.
That’s 7.93 percent of the population reported to have had either a lab-confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 since March 21, 2020, the date the state began tracking and reporting COVID-19 cases to counties.
Only three Hopkins County residents were reported March 1-4 to have recovered from COVID-19, two on Wednesday and one on Thursday. That’s significantly less than in previous months: 25 recoveries were reported from Feb. 1-4, 42 from Jan. 1-4 and 82 from Dec. 1-4. Cumulatively, 2,664 of the combined 2,942 Hopkins County residents reported since March 27, 2020 to have COVID-19 have recovered from the virus, according to DSHS March 4 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard and the New Probable Cases over Time by County report.
Over the last week, three additional Hopkins County COVID-19 fatalities were confirmed by cause on death certificates. Cumulatively, that’s 103 Hopkins County residents (0.28 percent of the total population) who have died in just under a year as a direct result of COVID-19. Three of the last four deaths reported occurred in February, increasing the total so far for February to four — one each on Feb. 7, Feb. 10, Feb. 20 and Feb. 26. The fourth death is an older case that had not yet been reported to DSHS; it reportedly occurred on Dec. 23, one in a stretch from Dec. 22-25 in which daily COVID-19 deaths occurred, according to the DSHS March 4 COVID-19 Fatalities over Time by County report. That’s a 6.76 percent fatality rate of confirmed COVID-19 cases and 3.5 percent among all COVID-19 cases, confirmed and probable.
That left 175 Hopkins County residents who, as of Thursday afternoon, March 4, still had COVID-19.
The patient count in the COVID unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs has continued to decrease from 10-14 patients in February down the last three days to single digit numbers: nine on Tuesday, seven Wednesday and six Thursday.
The 54 COVID-19 patients accounted for only 4.87 percent of the total hospital capacity on March 3 in Trauma Service Area F, which includes most of Northeast Texas including Hopkins County, and has remained below 14 percent (143 cases) since Jan. 31. TSA-F hasn’t had a COVID hospital percentage that low since July 17, 2020, according to the DSHS report. On Feb. 3 the 134 COVID patients accounted for 12.33 percent of the hospital capacity in TSA-F. On Jan. 3, 210 COVID-19 patients accounted for 20.21 percent of the area hospital capacity.
COVID hospitalizations across the state have continued to decline over the last 2 months, declining from 13,308 patients in Texas hospitals on Jan. 4 to 10,523 on Feb. 2 and 5,263 on March 3.
Determination Regarding Masking Requirements At SSISD Announced
Sulphur Springs ISD officials, after consideration of Texas Education Agency Guidelines and consulting with the Local Health Authority, announced a determination regarding masking requirements at SSISD. Masking will continue at SSISD school and school events for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year. The district noted that while the Governor Tuesday announced the lifting of mask requirements for the general public and capacity limits on businesses, Governor’s Executive Order GA-34 refers districts to Texas Education Agency regarding COVID-19 requirements for school.
The following notice was disseminated Thursday afternoon via Blackboard to parents, students and staff regarding masking requirements at SSISD:
Pursuant to our Governor’s Executive Order GA-34, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has updated its Public Health Planning Guidance which requires school districts to continue to comply with masking requirements unless an exception is evoked. The University Interscholastic League has issued the same guidance. TEA’s guidance essentially requires the District to enforce the same masking rules that it has enforced all year per our Governor’s recently rescinded executive order. We acknowledge that these rules have been a key component of our Health and Safety Plan which has enabled us to have school without interruption since August. After carefully considering the guidance, its prior effect on our year, and the advice of our Local Health Authority, SSISD has determined that we will continue to require masking at school and school events per TEA’s guidelines for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year.
Seven Wildcats Make All-District Basketball Team Including One Superlative
Wildcats junior post player Justin Haire was chosen as the Offensive MVP on this year’s All-District Basketball Team in District 15-5A.
Haire was one of seven Wildcats on the team selected by the district’s coaches who could not vote for their own players. Senior guard Boo Wilkerson and sophomore post Kordrick Turner were named to the All-District First Team.
Senior point guard Lamodrick Johnson and junior guard Caleb Alexander were chosen on the All-District Second Team. Senior guard Malique Cole and sophomore guard Parker Whidenhunt were selected Honorable Mention.
Three Wildcats also earned Academic All-District honors: Haire, Wilkerson and Johnson.
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 Cat Freshman Powerlifter Machelle Allen Qualifies For State Meet at Regional Meet Wednesday
For only the second time in Sulphur Springs High School history, a girl powerlifter has qualified for the State Meet. Freshman Machelle Allen qualified for state with a second place finish in the 259+ pound weight class at the Regional Meet Wednesday at Whitehouse. Allen had a 375 pound total in squat, a 135 pound bench press and a 320 pound dead lift.
2020 SSHS graduate Sable Erdmier qualified for state last year but was unable to compete after the State Meet was canceled due to coronavirus. Allen will compete at Corpus Christi on March 20.
In other results Wednesday, senior Czhela Moya finished third in the 97-pound weight class with 145 pounds in squat, 70 pounds in bench press and 150 pounds in dead lift. Senior Trinity Sickles placed fourth in the 97-pound weight class with 135 pounds in squat, 65 pounds in bench press and 160 pounds in dead lift.
Powerlifting Coach Casey Jeter said he was proud of all eight of his Lady Cats’ lifters that qualified for the Regional Meet. He said every lifter had a personal best lift either in squat, bench press of dead lift or all three.
Other Lady Cats’ competitors included junior Addyson Lamb, senior Rorie Young, sophomore Markida Hood, senior Kenia Herrera and freshman Reese Offutt.
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.
Thursday Game Day Includes Soccer, Golf, Baseball, Softball, Powerlifting and Track
The Wildcats Soccer Team continues district play Thursday night (March 4) as they play host to Texas High. The Tigers are coached by former Lady Cats Soccer Coach Jesus DeLeon. There will be a JV match at 5:30 p.m. with the Varsity game to follow at around 7:15 p.m.
The Wildcats need a win badly to bolster their playoff chances. They are 3-5 in district play and 12-9-1 in district play. Max Preps has the Tigers at 0-8 in district play and 5-14 for the season.
When the two teams played in Texarkana back on February 5, the Wildcats squeezed by the Tigers, 3-2. KSST Radio will bring you the Wildcats and Texas High live from Prim Stadium at around 7:15 p.m.
The game will feature live video and audio streaming. The game will also be videotaped for replay later on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
The Lady Cats Soccer Team travels to Texarkana Thursday night to play Texas High. The Lady Cats helped their playoff chances Tuesday with a 4-2 win over Mount Pleasant. The Lady Cats are 4-4 in district play with one of those wins a shootout win.
The Lady Cats season record is 9-8-4. Max Preps has the Lady Tigers at 2-5 in district play and 7-7-1 for the season. When the two teams met in the first round at The Prim on February 5, the Lady Cats got a 1-0 win over Texas High.
The Wildcats Baseball Team and the Lady Cats Softball Team are in three-day tournaments starting Thursday.
The Wildcats are in the Wylie East Raider Classic. The Wildcats have two pool play games Thursday taking on North Forney at 3 p.m. and then host Wylie East at 5 p.m. The Wildcats are 0-5 so far this season.
The Lady Cats Softball Team is in a Canton tournament, Their Thursday games include a Royse City contest at 4 p.m. and then one with Mineola at 6 p.m. The Lady Cats are 5-1 so far this season.
Nine Wildcats’ powerlifters have qualified for Thursday’s Regional Powerlifting Meet at Whitehouse beginning at 4:30 p.m. Top lifters will qualify for the State Meet in Abilene on March 27.
Wildcats qualifiers include senior Austin McCain in the 114 pound weight class, junior Juan Hernandez in the 132 pound weight class, junior Jesse Bailey in the 148 pound weight class, junior Brandon Fink in the 165 pound weight class, senior Ryan Carrillo and sophomore Matthew Mitchell in the 181 pound weight class, junior Chad Maynard in the 242 pound weight class, sophomore Sean Dial in the 275 pound weight class and junior Jakobe Yarbrough in the 308 pound weight class.
The Lady Cats Golf Team is playing in their third tournament of the semester Thursday. The Lady Cats are at a Hallsville sponsored tournament at Tempest Golf Club in Gladewater.
Finally the Wildcats and Lady Cats Track Teams compete in their second meet of the season on this game day Thursday. The teams are at a meet in Royse City.
Events begin at 4 p.m. There will be JV and Varsity competition.
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.
Three HOSA Members Advance To State Competition
The Sulphur Springs High School Chapter of HOSA Future Health Professionals organization has 111 members, 29 of whom competed at the area contest. Three HOSA members recently were notified that they were advancing to the state contest.
At the Area Spring Leadership Conference, Kate Monk won first place honors and Alex Botello second place honors in the in the Speaking Skills competition. Harley Speed also won first place honors in the Health Career Photography contest during the area leadership conference. The results from their participation in those events at the state conference will be confirmed on March 26.
HOSA Future Health Professionals is a national student organization that promotes career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. HOSA Offers 56 Competitive Events that are aligned to the National Healthcare Foundation and Accountability Criteria outlined by the National Consortium for Health Science Education. HOSA members are encouraged to take full advantage of the HOSA National Competitive Events Program, a constantly expanding and improving series of health care related competitive events. Competition within a state is held in the spring as a means of identifying those members eligible for competition at the HOSA National Leadership Conference.
The SSHS students began selecting and preparing for their events in October, with the area contest in January.
Congratulations to Monk, Botello and Speed on their achievements, as well as their advisors, Mandy Hutchings, Brianna Williams and Karla Martinez.
For more information about HOSA Future Health Professionals and other career and technology student organizations’ (CTSO) activities at Sulphur Springs High School, check out the video, compiled by KSST Intern Kelsea Meadows, featuring presentations made to the Sulphur Springs ISD school board by CTSO officers as part of the school’s CTE Month celebration.
New Hopkins County Of Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Announced
The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce announced in January that Lezley Brown will be resigning her position at the Chamber in the middle of April. The Board of Directors began their selection process and late Thursday morning, March 4, announced their final candidate. Butch Burney will assume the role of president/CEO of the Hopkins County Chamber in April.
Burney is a native resident who, with his wife Karen, have raised their children here as well.
He told the selection committee recently, “I am grateful to be working with the Chamber’s Board of Directors and the hundreds of businesses, large and small, in Hopkins County to enhance the climate where businesses and families thrive. Lezley positioned the Chamber perfectly for its next season, which will be one of growth and outreach.”
“The Chamber of Commerce is a servant organization, here to provide businesses and individuals with the best possible experience when it comes to working and living in Hopkins County. That directive won’t be lost or forgotten as we partner together to continue the positive direction we are heading,” Burney explained.
“We are excited about Butch joining the Chamber as our President/CEO,” Rusty Posey, current chairman of the Chamber Board, replied. “Butch is no stranger to Hopkins County or the Chamber of Commerce. His wealth of experience and passion for our community will be a tremendous asset as the Chamber continues to support the businesses of our county!”
Burney will join the team in April just in time to help lead the 32nd Annual Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament.
Burney explained, “We have big things planned for the Chamber, its members and our community. If you’re not part of the Chamber, now is an excellent time to get in and help us help you. Please stop in at our office on the south side of the square and say ‘Hello.’”
Tira City Council Meeting Slated Sunday Afternoon
By Jan Vaughn, correspondent
We want to express our sympathy to the family of Vaden Richey. His funeral was held at Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home on Sunday, February 28, 2021, with burial in Tira. Please remember the family in your prayers.
The Tira City Council Meeting has been rescheduled for Sunday, March 7, at 4 p.m.
I guess not much is happening in Tira this week. I hope to have more to report next time.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
Ecstasy Pill Located During Early Morning Traffic Stop
An ecstasy pill located during an early morning traffic stop resulted in one felony arrest, according to police reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Silas Whaley stopped De Shaun Keith Denmark for speeding in a Jeep Liberty at 1:45 a.m. March 4 on Gilmer Street. During a probable cause search of the vehicle, a reddish pink pill later identified as Ecstasy weighing less than one gram was located, Whaley alleged in arrest reports.
Consequently, the 27-year-old Sulphur Springs man was arrested at 2:28 a.m. for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance, the pill found during the early morning traffic stop. Denmark remained in Hopkins County jail late Thursday morning, March 4, on the felony charge; his bond was set at $2,000 on the charge, according to arrest and jail reports.
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.
‘Recognition for Accomplishments Presented to Judy Moore, Retiring Director of Hopkins County Community Chest
In 2009, following three decades of military service, Judy Moore came on board the Hopkins County Community Chest as Director. Since that time, Moore has implemented needed changes a little at a time as the county’s population has grown and the community has evolved. Through constant networking and seeking avenues to expand services, Moore’s diligent and untiring work has brought the non-profit agency into a new era of providing assistance to persons in need, from residents of the city of Sulphur Springs tp those residing in the far flung communities of Hopkins County. On March 3, 2021, a proclamation by the Sulphur Springs City Council noting her accomplishments was presented by Mayor John Sellers and council members present in the Council chambers to Moore for her record of excellent service. Following her retirement, Moore plans to relocate to San Antonio, the city where she began her military career.
CITY OF SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEXAS
PROCLAMATION
RECOGNIZING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF JUDY MOORE
WHEREAS, Judy Moore has many amazing accomplishments and we really do not want to lose
her to San Antonio, Texas, but we know she will be incredible wherever she is located; and
WHEREAS, she introduced the Shopping Program where clients were able to come in and
select foods that suited their family and individual needs; and
WHEREAS, she introduced produce into the program and included the PAN Program for
seniors to allow them to get additional food aside from their normal distribution; and
WHEREAS, she partnered with TXU, FEC and Reliant to provide managed funds to the
Community Chest to assist with clients bills without depleting the General Fund; and
WHEREAS, she created the “Reach Out” program so clients without the ability to travel to the
foodbank could meet monthly to receive food close to their homes; and
WHEREAS, Judy was responsible for creating a database for clients so services could be
maintained and updated with every visit to ensure fairness and consistency; and
WHEREAS, she partnered with NTFB and the local schools to facilitate a program for students
to receive additional meals to take home if they were struggling with hunger; and
WHEREAS, she partnered with local schools, businesses, and organizations every year to
facilitate multiple food drives and partnered with local churches to facilitate the Thanksgiving
boxes with over a thousand given out last year; and
WHEREAS, she partnered with MET to provide employment for seniors looking to get back in
the workforce and with MHMR to provide employment for clients; and
WHEREAS, she has provided free Notary services, partnered with local businesses to provide
vouchers for clients in need of services, remodeled their facility by partnering with Lowe’s,
worked yearly with United Way, started the yearly Health Fair, and made sure the community
was aware of the program they offered.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOHN A. SELLERS, Mayor of the City of Sulphur Springs do
hereby deem it an honor to recognize Judy Moore for all of her accomplishments.
It is so proclaimed this the 2 nd day of March 2021.
John A. Sellers, Mayor
KSST’s Channel 18 TV held an enlightening interview with Judy Moore about her career prior to serving as Director of Community Chest in Sulphur Springs, and the military and civilian trainings which have uniquely equipped her to make a difference here. She hates to leave Sulphur Springs, because for one thing, she has lived here longer than anywhere else she’s ever lived! But her adult life has been spent on the move, thus she looks forward to the next phase of her life back in San Antonio. The link below will take you to the interview.
