Make Plans to Attend “Gala Unmasked: A Virtual Event” of the H C Healthcare Foundation
The annual fundraising Gala is an important and exciting wintertime feature in Hopkins County. Shannon Barker, Executive Director of the Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation, along with the Foundation Board of Directors, will be hosting a fun and entertaining ‘virtual Gala’ adapted to the challenges of COVID-19 and necessary social distancing, while raising dollars and awareness for our hospital and honoring the real heroes of the pandemic, our physicians and nurses.
In a modified style, the Gala Unmasked virtual event is set for Saturday,February 20, 2021 with entertainment, silent auction and other fun features to be viewed and enjoyed at home. The purpose of the Gala, as always, is to raise funds for needed additions to the hospital, and this year is no different. Because the Gala will not be attended in person, the Foundation Board asks that you support the hospital just as you have done in the past. Or, consider donating money you would have spent on a dress, tux, on hair and nails or on a babysitter for the evening. You can give a gift to the Foundation this year as you participate virtually on YouTube or on the HCHF Facebook page., as well as by bidding on silent auction items on your phone.
In a future story here, you’ll find out about the 11 Silent Auction items which include a new vehicle plus fishing, hunting and golf trips, and you’ll find out about needed equipment selected for purchase. These items will better equip mothers and babies in the Labor and Delivery department and will assist stroke and other patients in need of CT Scan, as our hospital continues to offer exceptional care to this community.
Teen Arrested For Stealing His Grandparents’ Van
A Sulphur Springs teen was arrested Monday morning, Feb. 8, for stealing his grandparents’ van, police alleged in arrest reports.
Sulphur Springs Police received a report shortly before 7 a.m. Feb. 8 regarding a stolen van. Officer Sean Hoffman, while on patrol, was looking for the missing Chevrolet uplander. He reported seeing the white van at 7:34 a.m. making a quick turn from Bill Bradford Road onto Gilmer Street. Hoffman initiated a traffic stop; the van stopped in the 700 block of Gilmer Street.
Upon contact, the driver was instructed to exit the vehicle and placed into handcuffs. The driver, identified as 17-year-old Javier Isaiah Crutchfield of Sulphur Springs, reportedly told police he wanted to go see his girlfriend but his grandparents wouldn’t allow it. He admitted to taking his grandparents vehicle while they were asleep, without their permission.
Crutchfield was booked Monday morning into Hopkins County jail, where he remained Tuesday morning, Feb. 9 on the unauthorized use of a vehicle charge. Bond was set at $5,000 on the felony charge for stealing his grandparents’ van.
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.
Feb. 8 COVID-19 Update: 13 New Cases, 9 Recoveries, 81 Vaccine Doses Administered
While no new COVID-19 cases nor recoveries were reported in Hopkins County on Sunday, 13 new cases and nine recoveries were reported on Monday, according to Texas Department of State Health Services Feb. 8 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard. Another 81 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were also administered and COVID-19 hospitalizations remained low over the weekend.
COVID-19 Case Counts
Three Hopkins County residents Monday received lab-confirmed, positive molecular COVID-19 test results, increasing the total so far this month to 59 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and the cumulative total since the pandemic began last March to 1,428.
Ten probable COVID-19 cases were reported Monday, increasing the total so far this month to 69 Hopkins County residents who have either received a positive antigen test result or wh have a combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis. Cumulatively, 1,330 probable COVID-19 cases have been reported for Hopkins County, according to the Feb. 6 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard.
Nine additional Hopkins County residents tested positive for COVID-19. That makes 50 residents who have recovered from COVID-19 this month. Cumulatively, 2,466 of the 2758 Hopkins County residents who’ve had COVID-19 are reported to have recovered from the virus.
That left 194 Hopkins County residents reported to still actively have COVID-19 Monday afternoon.
Hospital Reports
COVID-19 hospitalizations remained relatively low in Hopkins County and continued to decrease across Trauma Service Area F and the state.
Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management, in the Feb. 8 COVID-19 update, reported the patient count in the COVID Unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs was 14 on Feb. 8, the same as Monday, Feb. 1, but four more than on Friday.
COVID-19 hospitalizations dropped form 131 Friday to 123 Saturday and 118 on Sunday in TSA-F, according to the DSHS Feb. 8 COVID-19 Test and Hospital Data dashboard. The last time the COVID-19 hospitalizations across TSA-F was that low was in October and November; 115 lab-confirmed COVID-19 patients were in TSA-F hospitals on Nov. 8, 119 on Oct. 31 and 110 on Oct. 30, according to the Feb. 8 Combined Hospital Data over Time by Trauma Service Area report.
COVID-19 patients made up on 10.95 percent of the total hospital capacity in TSA-F on Sunday, down from 12 percent on Friday and 11.1 percent on Saturday. COVID-19 cases have continued to represent less TSA-F hospital capacity daily since Jan. 31.
COVID-19 Testing
HC/SSEM reported 9,402 COVID-19 tests had been performed at 128-A Jefferson Street since the Red Cross building was converted to a free testing center in the fall. That means a total of 134 additional tests were performed at the site Friday and Saturday.
Cumulatively, 14,734 molecular COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Hopkins County since the pandemic began.
On Saturday and Sunday, 56 antigen tests and five antibody rers were performed in Hopkins County on Saturday and Sunday, increasing the total since DSHS began tracking the data to 2,006 antigen tests and 1,789 antibody test performed in Hopkins County.
Cumulatively, that’s at least 18,529 COVID-19 tests conducted in Hopkins County since the pandemic began and DSHS began requiring reports for testing.
Free oral swab COVID-19 testing has been extended through the month of February in Sulphur Springs. Testing is typically offered from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays inside the Red Cross (old Fidelity Express) building in Sulphur Springs.
Free testing is open to anyone regardless of age or address. However, registration is required online at www.GoGetTested.com in order to be tested at 128-A Jefferson Street in Sulphur Springs.
COVID-19 Vaccine
At least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine has been administered to 2,345 people in Hopkins County. On Saturday and Sunday, 19 additional people received the first dose of the vaccine and 62 received the second dose of the two-dose COVID-19 vaccine.
Two providers in Hopkins County are listed among the 358 across the state allocated to receive some of the 401,750 first doses of COVID-19 vaccine the federal government is due to send to the state for distribution the week of Feb. 8. Brookshire’s and Walgreens pharmacies have each been allocated 100 doses from the first-dose supplies of Moderna vaccine the state is slated to receive during Week 9 of vaccine distribution.
To see if you are eligible to have the COVID-19 vaccine at a Walgreens location, visit walgreens.com/schedulevaccine. For information about Brookshire’s vaccine waiting list, visit https://www.brookshires.com/covid-19-information. The full list of vaccine allocations for the week of Feb. 8, vaccination hub providers with contact information, the DSHS/Texas Department of Emergency Management map of vaccine providers, and the Texas Vaccine Data dashboard can all be accessed by clicking the links. More information on the COVID-19 vaccine can be found at dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/immunize/vaccine.aspx.
Lady Cats Basketball Team Ekes Out A Win In A Warm Up Game at Caddo Mills, 50-49, In OT
The Lady Cats Basketball Team has not had a game for 10 days so they knocked off some rust in a playoff warm up game at Caddo Mills Monday night, February 8. The Lady Cats squeezed by the Lady Foxes, 50-4, in overtime.
The game was not decided until the Lady Cats made a steal in the game’s final few seconds. Addisyn Wall appears to be ready for the playoffs as she led the Lady Cats with 18 points on six made 3-point baskets. Wall’s three at the buzzer in regulation tied the game, 43-43 and sent it into overtime. Wall also hit a three in overtime to give the Lady Cats an early boost in the extra time. Kenzie Willis had 12 points that included two baskets in overtime. Nylah Lindley added 8 points, Bre’Asia Ivery had 6 points, Dalanee Myles scored 4 points and Addy Lamb scored 2 points.
The Lady Cats started nicely and led 14-8 after the first quarter. By halftime, the Lady Cats lead shrunk to 1 point as they led 24-23. Both teams managed just 9 third quarter points and the Lady Cats continued to be up by one, 33-32. The Lady Foxes surged ahead in the fourth quarter and at one point had an 8 point lead.
The win improves the Lady Cats season record to 16-7. The stakes go up quite a bit for the Lady Cats in their next game as they open the playoffs with a bi-district game with the Nacogdoches Lady Dragons Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Athens.
Atmos Energy Donated Multi-Gas Detector To Hopkins County Fire Department
Atmos Energy donated a multi-gas detector to Hopkins County Fire Department to help keep them and the company’s crews work safer when dispatched to an incident involving any type of gas leak.
“We received this a few months back, but due to COVID, we were not able to do an official presentation. Atmos has really stepped up this past year. We’ve actually had some training done at the fire department in cooperation of Sulphur Springs Fire Department. We’re able to keep all first responders, including the workers at Atmos, safer on scenes,” Hopkins County Fire Marshal Andy Endsley said.
The device could be used in a number of situations, including a vehicle backing over a gas meter or a gas line that breaks under ground. The device detected four different types of gases including propane.
“That way we can help one another. The agencies know what they are needing from each other. This multi-gas meter actually helps us when we’re going out, whether there’s a gas odor, or whatever it might be. It helps us detect what kind of gas it might be that way we’ll know the appropriate channel to take on that. It’s a very much needed tool that goes in our toolbox. Atmos donated that to us. We are very appreciative of that and want to recognize that for what all they did for us,” Endsley said.
“We really appreciate our partnership. Chief Endsley has been really wonderful to us too as well as in the county. We did do a training. We offer that just as a service. It’s really a service to us. I know that it’s a service to them to, but it helps us when our guys get a hit line, whether it’s from a contractor or a community worker or anything. I always tell people nine times out of 10 its somebody building a fence in their backyard and they don’t call locates,” said Beth Dattomo, Atmos manger of public affairs. “This helps us. This is the detector that our guys, every single one of them, has on their truck. So it helps us for you guys to use it on yours.”
Atmos also offers for the department to calibrate the devices at the Atmos offices, which they’ve done with both Hopkins County and Sulphur Springs Fire Departments, according to the Atmos public affairs manager. That, Endsley said, was very beneficial not only in the service but also financially, as the department was not out the cost of having the device calibrated.
“Anything else we can contribute or donate, I always tell them, please reach out if they are working on something. We just appreciate our partnership with you guys,” Dattomo said.
“They are always out there to help us. We always appreciate Atmos and what they do for us,” Endsley said.
The meter matches the one donated last year to Sulphur Springs Fire Department. Endsley said they asked that they be the same so that regardless of which personnel grabs it, they’ll know from their training how to read and work them during situations involving gases.
Atmos was recognized for the donation during the regular Feb. 8 meeting of Hopkins County Commissioners Court.
Other Business
Also during the meeting, Endsley asked the Court to approve a memorandum or understanding with Statewide Interoperability Coordination (known as SWIC). Endsley said officials were made aware of the MOU last year when they were finishing up a no match Homeland Security grant that allowed the county to purchased six mobile radios to go in the county’s mobile command trailer. SWIC makes sure that all frequencies are in check and that the county has all of the required licensing. During that, he did not realize that the county was required to have an MOU with SWIC for that. The MOU is an administrative formality to have that in place. The court approved the MOU with SWIC.
Endsley also asked the court to consider approving a Homeland Security grant application to be sent to the Office of the Governor requesting $18,315 to purchase two thermal imaging cameras to be used not only by the fire department but also by the law enforcement on the SWAT team. Thermal imagers are “very useful tools” that could be utilized for hazardous materials situations, structural firefighting and for the SWAT team as well.
“We need this resolution to move forward on this Homeland Security grant. It’s a great program that we do it every year. We have done some years joint with the City of Sulphur Springs. They have since then stopped the regional grant, and are just moving forward with individual counties and cities doing their own. It’s a very good program. The City of Sulphur Springs actually did this same grant last year for thermal cameras for their fire department and haz-mat team,” Endsley said. “It’s a very useful tool”
The court gave unanimous approval of the resolution approving the submission of the grant application for the imaging devices.
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report – Feb. 1-7, 2021
The Winnsboro Police Department media report for the week of Feb. 1-7, 2021, included the following activity:
Arrests
- Justin Cable, 31 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on Feb. 7, 2021 on a Smith County warrant for DWI and for possession of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance, four grams or more but less than 400 grams, in a drug free zone.
Calls for Service
- The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 135 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations
- The Winnsboro Police Department issued 36 citations and 45 warnings during this reporting period.
COVID-19 Vaccinations Distributed At Some CHRISTUS Locations By Appointment For Patients Who Meet Phase1B Criteria
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs Business News
By Holly Ragan, Senior Market Development, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs
Sulphur Springs, Texas, February 8, 2021 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs has ONE mission: To Extend the Health Ministry of Jesus Christ. In honor of American Heart Month – the month of February – we encourage you to check on your heart!
For a flat rate of $75, you can have a Coronary Calcium Screening. To see if you require a referral and/or to schedule, call our team at 903.438.4543. It could save your life.
Blood Plasma Donation Interest
If you have had COVID-19, but not yet received the Covid-19 vaccine, and would be interested in donating plasma, please contact Holly Ragan via email at [email protected] for more information. Blood supplies are in a shortage, and all donations would be greatly appreciated.
Hospital Visitation
For the safety and health of the community and our ministry, CHRISTUS Health is screening all associates and visitors to our hospitals to help lessen the risk of infectious disease transmission among our patients, associates, and guests.
- (1) Entrance to hospital through Emergency Department 24/7
- (1) Visitor per patient
- Visitors must be between the ages of 16-years old and 65-years old
- All visitors are screened at the door, including a temperature taken
- All associates are screened at each shift, including a temperature taken
- Visiting hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (subject to change)
- ALL hospital visitors are required to wear a mask. Visitors should bring their own mask; homemade cloth masks are acceptable.
Clinic Services
New Staff
CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic is excited to welcome Family Practice Physician, Laura Kosub, MD to our team. Dr. Kosub will see patients at the CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Primary Care Building 1, three days per week. Nikki Collins, Family Nurse Practitioner will be available to care for her patients on other days. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kosub or Nikki Collins, FNP, please call the clinic at 903-885-3181.
Our hearts are here for yours
Advanced Heart Care and CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances have delivered heart care in Northeast Texas for over 40 years. Together we will continue to provide leading-edge heart care to the communities we serve. You can be confident that your heart is in the best hands with the experienced team of board certified cardiologists at Advanced Heart Care. The scope of their services include: Cardiology, Heart Rhythm Specialists, Concierge Services, Heart Attack & Stroke Prevention, and Second Opinion Clinic. Within the hospital, we have 24/7 STEMI coverage and 24/7 Cath Lab. If you are experiencing signs of a heart attack, don’t wait – come see us and our team of specialists at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital. To reach Advanced Heart Care local office, call 903.885.3059.
COVID-19 Vaccines
At this time, vaccinations will be distributed by appointment only, and only for those patients who meet the Phase1B criteria. Vaccine appointments can be made by visiting christushealth.org and clicking on the yellow chat icon on the homepage to connect you with Christy, our virtual assistant. If you agree to the terms, when she asks, “how can I help you” select “Vaccine information.” Next, choose, “Am I eligible for the vaccine?” You will then be prompted to answer a few screening questions prior to choosing a location nearest you and scheduling an appointment. As of January 4, 2021, vaccinations are being offered by appointment only. If appointments are full, you can select other locations or check back regularly, as appointments are being added as supplies become available.
Urgent Care
CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Urgent Care, located at 1339 South Broadway St. in Sulphur Springs, is open. The Urgent Care hours are Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The phone number to reach Urgent Care is 903.951.1001. The Urgent Care offers rapid COVID-19 tests, with results in 15 minutes.
COVID-19
Experiencing Symptoms?
If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, cough, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, chills, muscle pain or headache, or diarrhea, please call your provider for either a face-to-face appointment or a telemedicine consultation. If your provider determines you need to have a COVID-19 test, they will send you to the appropriate outpatient location for testing. If you are experiencing an emergency, please present to the Emergency Room. At this time, we are preserving our Emergency Room COVID-19 tests for those who are experiencing an emergency. Otherwise, we would ask that you follow the steps above. If you do not have a healthcare provider, CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic welcomes new patients. Please call 903.885.3181 to talk to one of our associates about setting up an appointment.
Don’t Delay Care
We want to be perfectly clear – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances remains a safe place for all to receive quality care. Go to the Emergency Department or call 9-1-1 if you are urgently ill. While COVID-19 is new, our processes and procedures in place for infection prevention and preventing the spread of illness are not. To learn more about COVID-19, go to ChristusTMF.org or www.cdc.gov.
# # #
CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System includes CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospitals – Tyler, South Tyler, Jacksonville, Winnsboro and Sulphur Springs, the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital – Tyler, CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital a partner of Encompass Health, Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, a long-term acute care facility, and CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic. CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic is the area’s preferred multi-specialty medical group, with more than 400 Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers representing 36 specialties in 34 locations serving Northeast Texas across 41 counties. For more information on services available through CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System, visit christustmf.org
- Bed count – 402 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler
- Bed count – 8 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – South Tyler
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville
- Bed Count – 96 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Winnsboro
- Bed count – 94 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital
- Bed count – 96 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart – Tyler
- Bed count – 51 – Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital
Noise, Material Inside, Maintenance Of Panels Among Residents’ Concerns Regarding Planned Dike Solar Farm
A few Dike residents expressed to Hopkins County Commissioners Monday morning their displeasure and concerns regarding the planned Dike solar facility, Hopkins Energy LLC, in their community Monday morning
Michele Barnes said she and her husband moved 18 months ago from the Houston area to Dike, were they enjoy their country life, away from the cities and towns, where they are able to see the stars at night and watch a family of deer cross the field next to her property at dusk and twilight. She said she now wonders, if by approving a request for tax incentives for a solar farm to be constructed in the Dike area, the Commissioners Court has changed that for her, if there will even be any animals in the area after the solar farm is put into operation in Dike.
She contends that solar panels have not been around long enough for people to see if there would be any potential long-term effects to the area surrounding the solar farm.
“After doing just a little bit of research, the biggest risk to any environment is the maintenance of the solar panels. These panels are made of harmful materials that are contained in the panels, but if not properly maintained, this lead and cadmium can seep into the ground and affect our water supply. What assurances are the Dike residents to receive from you our commissioners that you will not let this happen to us? Will you be paying for the health costs of the Dike residents when exposed to these harmful toxins? Will you reimburse the farmers for the loss of their wildlife or their animals they are raising due to the exposure of these toxins?” Barnes asked.
Barnes questioned what if any systems the Commissioners Court has put into place to ensure that the panels installed in Dike are not harmful, to ensure the company doesn’t use “inferior product materials” which would make leaks more likely. She asked if the county would be performing random water and soil testing to be sure no leakage occurs or if the company responsible for the planned Dike solar farm will provide samples, with results reported to the Commissioners Court.
“What assurances do Dike residents have that a panel fire will not occur and cause extensive damage to our area? What protocols have been put into place by you, the Commissioners, to the solar company that these panels will be disposed of properly and quickly so as not to damage the land and surrounding wildlife and water supply?” Barnes asked, then requested a private meeting with each commissioner to discuss here concerns and their plan to ensure their constituents are safe.
County Judge Robert Newsom asked if any of the commissioners would like to respond, and noted a meeting is being organized regarding the planned Dike solar farm.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley said county officials have been in contact with representatives of the company to hold a meeting to address community concerns regarding the planned Dike solar farm, Hopkins Energy LLC. A venue in the Dike area is being sought that can handle a large crowd with proper distancing observed due to COVID-19. As soon as that decision is made, Bartley said, he will let everyone know about it so those who wish to may attend.
Michael Pickens, the officials spokesperson for Save Dike from Solar, said he had also spoken to the same gentleman from the French power plant company that he believed Bartley had spoken to.
Pickens said the community would not be OK with having people file in one at a time to talk to the company representative. A group setting such as an auditorium is needed for the meeting.
“I just want to make sure everybody understands what’s going in. It’s not a solar farm. It’s a power plant. It’s a solar industrial power plant complex,” Pickens said.
He said the company representative he talked to told him that there will be 80 inverters that make 80 decibels a piece, and “the noise would be roughly like a major highway going through Dike.” There also will be two substations, which he described as “massive buildings the size of office buildings” across the fence from two residents’ properties. He said as he understands it, the operation will be a “massive power
“I just want to make that very clear. This is not a couple hundred acres of panels and grass fields — It’s a massive power plant operation,” Pickens said.
Andrew Froneberger, who says he’s lived in the area for 25 years and married into a family who has lived in Hopkins County for generations. He said he is “personally ashamed of the Commissioners Court for allowing this to happen and ashamed of the school districts for what seems to appear to me as a get rich quick scheme because of the taxes it’s going to generate.” The Dike resident expressed concern for the quality of life in Dike if the area does have the kind of noise issues Pickens described.
“I didn’t work all my life to buy a piece of property to have it disrupted, because I’m 15 miles from Sulphur Springs, the property that I bought. I don’t want it disrupted by bringing the city to the country. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to bring this power plant into place,” Froneberger said. “For one, it does not generate local jobs. The construction is not local jobs. It is all out of state construction. I know from a guy that I work with, they are building one north of Wolfe City; all the construction is either out of Kansas or Nebraska or somewhere, all the guys that are building that. So I’m just real disappointed that we have come to this situation where we are having to fight for to maintain our way of life that we’ve worked all of our life to have.”
Sports: SSHS Odds And Ends On Monday, Feb. 8
Some schedule changes were announced Monday, February 8, by Sulphur Springs Athletic Director Greg Owens. He announced that a Lady Cats Softball Team scrimmage at Royse City has been moved up from Tuesday to Monday, February 8, due to weather concerns. Play begins Monday at 5 p.m. with a JV scrimmage to be followed by the Varsity scrimmage.
In addition, a Lady Cats Golf tournament that was scheduled on Wednesday hosted by Bullard at Emerald Bay has been moved up to Tuesday, February 9.
With the Wildcats Basketball Team nailing down second place in the district race with their 74-68 win at home Friday over Texas High, next for them will be a bi-district game with the #3 seed in district 16-5A next week. On the Saturday morning, February 6, Coaches Show on KSST Radio and Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable, Wildcats Coach Clark Cipoletta said things are less than clear over in District 16-5A. That district still has games taking place this week.
The Lady Cats Basketball Team now has firm information concerning their bi-district playoff game. The Lady Cats will meet Nacogdoches Friday, February 12, at 6:30 p.m. at Athens. The Lady Dragons are the #4 seed in District 16-5A after losing to Lufkin Friday night on the road. The Lady Dragons finished district play with a 4-6 record and Max Preps has them with an 8-14 season record. The Lady Cats will play a warm up game Monday night, February 8, at 6:30 p.m. at Caddo Mills. The Lady Cats are tri-champs of District 15-5A with a 9-3 district mark. They earned the #1 seed in the playoffs due to their head to head competition with Hallsville and Mount Pleasant.
Wildcats Tennis Coach Tony Martinez announced changes to a planned tournament at Mount Pleasant originally scheduled for later this week. The varsity competition is now scheduled to take place Monday, February 8, while the JV tournament has been moved up to Tuesday. The Wildcats’ varsity got in their second tournament of the year Friday at Kilgore. Coach Martinez said there were 15 other teams there including some highly regarded Class 4A programs. Jeauxleigh Cantu took first in girls singles and senior Harleigh Stegient was fourth in girls singles. Coach Martinez said the girls doubles team of Mykylie Meador and Trynity Luckett also played well. He called it a very productive day and he added he liked what he saw.
The Wildcats Baseball Team will have their first scrimmage of the season at Sherman Monday night, February 8. Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack has also consolidated his players into just two teams instead of three. There will continue to be a JV Royal squad along with the Varsity. The JV Gold Team schedule has been canceled. At Sherman, the Wildcats JV Royal Team will scrimmage at 4:30 p.m. The Wildcats Varsity will then scrimmage at 6:30 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.
Sulphur Bluff VFD Received Community Builder Award
Sulphur Bluff VFD received a Community Builder Award from Sulphur Bluff Masonic Lodge No. 246, presented by Wade Bartley during the public forum portion of the Feb. 8 Hopkins County Commissioners Court meeting.
The award recognized outstanding non-Masons who have distinguished themselves through their service to the community; to local, state and national governments; to the church or to humanity, and may be found in service clubs, through public school systems, religious activities and office in military or patriotic organizations, through all sorts of volunteer work, Bartley noted.
“They do a lot of things you don’t see. They are out there protecting no only just their neighbors but the county as a whole. They’re there to serve everyone. They do it without any fanfare and they don’t expect any recognition. They just go out there and they help take care of their neighbors, and that is what this is all about,” Bartley noted. “The volunteer fire department has gone through many changes since 1975, and today, they’re still there serving their community members, their neighbors, to help save their property, lives or whatever the need there may be. So, it is with great pleasure that I get to present this Community Builder award to Sulphur Bluff fire department for distinguished service and contribution to the community of Sulphur Bluff and Hopkins County.”
Bartley presented the award, on behalf of Masonic Lodge No. 246 and the Grand Lodge of Texas, to Sulphur Bluff VFD Chief Chris Bassham, and extended thanks and appreciation to him and all the members of SBVFD for all of their help.
Sulphur Bluff Volunteer Fire Department has a heritage of providing fire protection in Hopkins County following a disastrous fire at the Sulphur Bluff School gym. Over a dozen community members gathered in 1974 to begin organizing the department to provide fire protection for Hopkins County. Some of those citizens and/or family members continued to serve a volunteers for the department. Sulphur Bluff VFD was founded in late 1975 as one of the first Volunteer Fire Departments to serve Hopkins County;
T.L. Sanderson supported these efforts by lending a 1968 Chevy milk truck to serve in hauling water to the site where volunteers operated with buckets and water-soaked feed sacks.
In 1976, with revenue sharing money and the assembly of units in Wichita Falls, Sulphur Bluff received the first of five fire trucks purchased as 1976 one-ton chassis by Hopkins County through Price Ford Sales of Sulphur Springs. In their efforts to generate revenue toward the purchase of land and construction of the Sulphur Bluff Volunteer Fire Department facility, the volunteer firemen hauled a 1976 half-ton pickup truck to area events throughout northeast Texas to sell tickets. As of 2020, SBVFD had 13 members supporting six fire apparatus who continue to serve and protect the Sulphur Bluff community and Hopkins County.
