Feb. 10 COVID-19 Update: 16 Additional Cases, 21 Recoveries
Texas Department of State Health Services’ Feb. 10 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard showed 16 additional COVID-19 cases and 21 additional recoveries for Hopkins County. The Vaccine Data dashboard also showed the county has had 356 fewer cases than were reported on Tuesday.
While DSHS added four confirmed COVID-19 cases to the overall case count, one of the cases was reported to be an older case just reported to DSHS by a lab. So far this week, 19 lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported. That increases the total number of confirmed cases this month to 75. Since the pandemic began, 1,444 Hopkins County residents have received positive molecular COVID-19 results.
Although DSHS reported a dozen additional probable cases on Wednesday, only 11 were new cases. One older probable case was also reported by a lab to DSHS and counted on Wednesday. That makes 24 probable cases so far this week and 83 this month. Since the state began tracking probable cases, those in which a person has either tested positive on an antigen molecular test or has had a combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis, 1,344 probable cases have been reported for Hopkins County.
Twenty-one additional Hopkins County residents were reported to have recovered from COVID-19 on Wednesday, increasing the total so far this week to 39 and this month to 80. Of the cumulative 2,788 Hopkins County residents reported to have had COVID-19 2,496 had recovered from the virus as of Wednesday afternoon.
That leaves 194 Hopkins County residents reported to still actively have COVID-19 on Wednesday.
The free testing center at 128-A Jefferson Street performed only 35 molecular COVID-19 tests on Tuesday, increasing the cumulative total since the facility opened in the fall to 9,489 as of 6 p.m. Feb. 9, according to the Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management Feb. 10 COVID-19 update. However, a total of 83 viral or molecular COVID-19 tests were reportedly performed in Hopkins County on Tuesday, an indication 48 viral tests were performed at other sites.
Four additional antigen and four additional antibody COVID-19 tests were also performed in Hopkins County on Tuesday, increasing the cumulative total since the state began tracking those testing types to 2,019 antigen and 1,794 antibody performed in Hopkins County, according to the DSHS Feb. 10 COVID-19 Test and Hospital Data dashboard.
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 molecular COVID-19 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.
Twenty-three additional Hopkins County residents had received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, increasing the total to 455 Hopkins County residents who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19. However, the DSHS Feb. 10 Vaccine Data dashboard showed 379 less first-doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to Hopkins County residents than were reported Tuesday, reducing the total from 1,932 to 1,553 who’ve gotten the first dose of the two-dose vaccine. That changed the total number of vaccines administered from 2,364 to 2,008.
A toll free phone number has been established through Ark-Tex Council of Governments, so that individuals who reside in the ATCOG area who meet 1B criteria but don’t have a computer or internet access, or who aren’t skilled with them, can call 1-800-372-4464, Someone in the ATCOG office help them set up an appointment if one is available in their area or to get on a waiting list for COVID-19 vaccines in their area. That call is toll free, and residents will need to provide some information so the ATCOG help can complete the process for them.
HC/SSEM also reported 13 patients in the COVID Unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs as of 9:30 a.m. Feb. 10, one less than on Monday and Tuesday, but the same as on Feb. 3.
In Trauma Service Area F, there continued to be 121 lab-confirmed COVID-19 patients in hospitals across the region for the second day in a row. However, because the total hospital capacity expanded, with 14 more general hospitalizations and 10 more beds staffed, COVID-19 hospitalizations accounted for only 10.92 percent of the overall hospital capacity in TSA F on Feb. 9. That’s down from 11.02 the day before. Four fewer beds, eight fewer ICU beds and six fewer ventilators were available Trauma Service Area F on Tuesday than on Monday, according to the DSHS Feb. 10 COVID-19 Test and Hospital Data dashboard.
SSISD To Offer Telemedicine Services For Students
Sulphur Springs Independent School District will soon be offering telemedicine services for students. District trustees this week gave approval to the proposal to utilize Hazel Health telemedicine services at no cost to the district and, at least initially, no out-of- pocket cost to students.
SSISD Assistant Superintendent Kristin Monk explained that Hazel Health is currently working with funding sources to cover copays and fees of that nature for the program this semester. A small copay fee could be charged for use of the telemedicine service in the fall semester, but those details have yet to be worked out. Typically, there is a $20 copay charge to students without insurance or Medicaid per service. Families would only be charged what their typical copayment amount is for service.
Parents will be given the opportunity to opt in or opt out of the telemedicine program, with information available in English or Spanish, electronic or paper.
“Current health data shows districts that they are currently working in already show a 97 percent participation rate because it is a very valuable service,” Monk said.
Hazel Health works closely with school nurses, providing campus clinics with an iPad to access the service and an iPod Touch for nurses to use to input of the students’ patient information. Hazel Health will also provide each campus clinic with a medicine cabinet the size of a small file cabinet stocked with 12 kinds of over the counter medications and supplies, like lice shampoo and hair combs, antibiotic ointment, ibuprofen and acetaminophen as appropriate. Nine of the 12 items the district currently stocks and provides, so receiving the medicine cabinet would be a savings to the district of those medication fees, Monk noted. These OTC medications would be offered free to students if the medical professional recommends them, which would assist the student with medication until the parent is able to get their child to their primary care physician if a visit is recommended.
All providers within the Hazel Health system are medical providers licensed in the state of Texas and will be Texas medical doctors, nurse practitioners and physicians assistants. The medical professionals will not issue a prescription if a student needs ADHD medication, but can help connect them with a provider if their prescription has expired. Hazel Health staff can issue a prescription for an EpiPen or inhaler if the student’s has expired or been exhausted.
SSISD Board of Trustees member Robbin Vaughn, who serves on the School Health Advisory Committee, sat in recently on a presentation made to the SHAC regarding the program. She said she was very impressed and excited by it, and believes it is going to be good for the district to be able to offer the telemedicine service.
“To know that you have a student that’s not feeling well at school, the nurse can initiate that and get that student seen immediately and get for them and not have to wait for the parent to come get them if the parent can’t get away. It just shortens the time that child has to not feel well and not be seen,” Vaughn said. “I can’t believe we haven’t done this before.”
Monk noted it can be a time saver for working parents as well. For instance, Monk said, a kindergarten student is suspected to have pink eye. Currently, the parents would be contacted, have to stop everything, go pick up their child and take the child to the doctor, then get the child’s prescription filled if the student needs one. A parent who opts to allow their student to use telemedicine would likely be able to cut out the step of taking the child to the doctor to await an appointment. The child could be seen immediately by a Hazel Health professional, and if the child did have pink eye, the medical provider could call in a prescription to the family’s pharmacist. The parent would only need to pick up the child and stop by the pharmacy to get the child’s medication on the way home.
Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams has been working on a memorandum of understanding with Hazel Health. SSISD staff have been working closely with the Hazel Health representatives to work out specifics needed for the sessions, which would be initiated by a nurse or counselor or the nurse is already engaged in assisting a student, the campus CIS worker will also be trained to do so. The district will have the option at any time to discontinue use of Hazel Health telemedicine services if they are not satisfied with the service or decide it is not a good fit for the district.
The service will also be available to the SSISD Virtual Academy students from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the school week. For instance, if a VA student wakes up in the middle of the night or school morning, the parent can dial in and talk to a doctor or other medical professional. Those who will need to miss their class time due to illness will be given a doctor’s excuse from the Hazel Health professional, just as they would from their primary care physician. Any referrals would be to the student’s physician.
Information regarding the availability of the program is expected to be distributed to parents during a two-week campaign launched by the school, which will be followed by a campus campaign.
Dallas Man Jailed On Felony DWI Charge
A 43-year-old Dallas man was jailed on a felony DWI charge early Thursday morning, according to sheriff’s reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chris Baumann stopped a blue Saturn Vue just before 2 a.m. Feb. 10, on West Industrial Drive at mile marker 122 for failing to stop at the designated stop point at a stop sign. Deputy Justin Wilkerson arrived as a back up unit.
The driver, identified in reports as 43-year-old Phillip Lynn Wilson of Dallas, when asked to exit the car reportedly walked unsteadily and “as if his feet were heavy.” He reportedly had incoherent speech when officers attempted to have a conversation with him and also had red eyes. Alcoholic beverages were seen reportedly located in the vehicle, but not detected on Wilson. Based on Wilson’s “erratic behavior and emotions during conversation” the deputies believed the man to possibly be intoxicated and under the influence of of a controlled substance or drug.
Wilkerson administered sobriety tests. Wilson allegedly showed six of six clues of intoxication on horizontal gaze nystagmus tests, had vertical nystagmus in both eyes and was unable to perform other standard field sobriety tests such as the waka nd turn and one-legged stand on which he was unable to follow instructions.
Wilson was taken into custody for suspicion of driving while intoxicated and the vehicle was impounded. He reportedly agreed to provide a blood sample for testing. Two specimens was taken from Wilson in CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs at 2:55 a.m. Feb. 10, 2021. Wilson was then transported to the county jail, where he was booked on the felony third or more driving while intoxicated offense charge, deputies noted in arrest reports. He remained in jail later Wednesday. Bond was set at $10,000 on the third-degree felony DWI charge, according to jail reports.
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.
Parent Expresses Concerns Regarding SSISD Students’ Use Of iPads, Electronics
A parent addressed Sulphur Springs Independent School District Board of Trustees his concerns regarding iPads being given to all students and students’ use of iPads as part of their school assignments.
Timothy Perkins told the school board at their regular meeting this week that he objections to all students being issued an iPad or tablet. He said his son was issued an iPad, and over the objections of his parents, and brought it home.
“At first, the school said, ‘Well, it’s required and you have to sign this paper, and you are liable to for up to $400 worth of damage if he breaks it. That didn’t seem like a great idea, you know, because his son had previously broken a tablet,” Perkins told the school board Monday night during the public forum portion of the regular February school board meeting.
Perkins noted that cost could be potentially “detrimental to a family of lesser income than I have,” particularly a single earner household in which a child breaks a tablet. Such a loss could be devastating, he pointed out.
He then noted that said while Travis Primary Principal Michelle Wallace conceded to their request not to agree to the policy, a device is still being sent home with his child anyway. The nature of students’ use of iPads is troubling to Perkins as well.
Perkins said his son routinely comes home once to twice a week with the tablet to “play games.”
“A tablet is strictly for games. Even his math homework he is given a math problem and he is given three possible answers. That’s not bad. He drags a puzzle piece over to the answer. He gets it wrong, drag the second one. He gets it wrong, drags the third one. He’s got it. That’s not math. That’s a game,” Perkins contents. “He’s being taught how to play video games.”
Perkins offered to the school board copies of what he said were several articles, including one from Psychology Today, “about how electronics are damaging to young minds – addictive.”
“That is my concern. These kids are being forced these devices in an attempt to teach them technology. Trust me, I know technology,” Perkins said. “I have a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from A&M Commerce right up the road. I have a masters of science degree in the information systems from Western Governor’s University. I’ve got six or eight different IT certifications, ranging from very basic Network Plus on up to the highly coveted, highly respected Certified Information Systems Security Professional certification (CISSP). It concerns me that this school or this school district wants students to play video games on tablets.”
SSISD Board of Trustees President Robert Cody thanked Perkins for his words and told him that if he cared to share the articles he mentioned they’d take it under advisement, with no further comment on students’ use of iPads.
Saltillo Lions Basketball Team Emerges Victorious on Senior Night
The Saltillo Lions got another tough district win on Senior Night, 83-74 against Avery Tuesday, February 9.
It was a slow start for both teams as Saltillo led Avery 13-6 after one quarter. Even though the Bulldogs outscored the visiting Lions in the second quarter, Saltillo still managed to lead at the half, 32-29. The Lions’ offense came alive in the second half as Saltillo just outscored Avery 23-20 to make it a 55-49 lead at the end of three quarters. While Avery (9-12) did its best trading blows, barely being outscored 28-25 in the final quarter, it still was not enough for the Bulldogs as Saltillo left Senior Night with a tough 83-74 win over Avery.
The Lions remain unbeaten in district play at 10-0. They are 16-7 for the season and are ranked #13 in Class 1A in a TABC Poll.
Tuesday Andrew Redburn led the Lions with 39 points. Chris Boekhorst had 17 points, David Whitworth scored 13 points, Gunner Tarver added 9 points and Colby McCoy and Coy Collins rounded out the scoring for the Lions with 3 and 2 points, respectively.
Next up, the Lions (16-7 overall, 10-0 district) will travel out to Sulphur Bluff to take on the Bears (16-10 overall, 8-3 district) in the final regular season game for Saltillo as the Lions will hope to keep their undefeated district season intact.
Hopkins County, Several Cities To Benefit From Opioid Lawsuit Settlement
Hopkins County and several local cities will benefit from an opioid lawsuit settlement reached and funneled down through the State of Texas and Texas Political Subdivisions Opioid Abatement Fund Council. The funds are to be applied to help with expenses related to programs used to help reduce or do away with opioid abuse in Hopkins County, according to Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom.
The funding is part of a $573 million settlement reached last week with McKinsey, a company that provided consulting services to opioid companies, “including selling deceptive marketing plans, programs, and advisement to OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma for more than 15 years,” a news release earlier issued by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office noted.
The agreement is between 47 states, the District of Columbia, five U.S. territories and McKinsey. Texas is to receive $38.4 million in the settlement to be handed down to municipalities that participated in the settlement, according to the AG’s Office.
“This settlement is the result of ongoing, aggressive action to hold opioid manufacturers and marketers accountable for their deceptive advertisement of highly-addictive pain pills, which spurred an epidemic that left victims and their families with unimaginable consequences. Prescription opioids continue to kill over a thousand Texans every year, and thousands more suffer from health consequences or the addiction or death of a beloved family member,” Attorney General Paxton said in a news release. “Texas will not stand by as countless lives are affected by misleading marketing and dangerous prescriptions. I will continue to do everything I can to protect Texans and help our state heal from this crisis.”
Among the nearby cities that joined the lawsuit and designated to receive funding from the settlement, according to information posted by the Attorney General’s Office, were: Sulphur Springs $124,603, Como $415, Cumby $5,320, Tira $5,320, Winnsboro $28,791 and Yantis $2,072.
Additional nearby counties designated to receive funding from the settlement, according to the AG report, included Hunt County $309,851, Wood County $267,048, Rains County $53,190, Delta County $30,584, Lamar County $141,598, Red River County $29,306 and Franklin County $25,783.
Health Care Region 1 which includes Anderson, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Freestone, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Houston, Hunt, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Panola, Rains, Red, River, Rusk, Smith, Titus, Trinity, Upshur, Van, Zandt and Wood Counties is to benefit from $38,223,336 from the settlement, according to the Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council and Settlement Allocation Term Sheet posted by Paxton’s office.
“When we went into this lawsuit, it was several years ago, our county actually entered into a suit against the opiate companies for the damage that opiate abuse has done in Hopkins County. It’s been a long time coming,” Newsom said Sunday.
Newsom said attorneys have been working on the opioid lawsuit for a number of years. The judge pointed to a stack of papers that he’d received from the attorneys over the years in regard to the lawsuit, each of four stacks of papers displayed on a table in front of the Commissioners Court bench appeared contain a few reams of paper each. A settlement was reached last week, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
“Hopkins County should receive a little over $149,000 that we wouldn’t have had otherwise. So, I’m glad that we went ahead and entered the suit. There was some question as to whether it was even of value to enter into this lawsuit and some others chose not to, but we did. This money will have to be used particularly for the remedy of the opiate abuse that we’ve experienced and the problems that it caused. So, we will have to use this money correctly; that is there’s a specific way to use it. Perhaps the sheriff’s office will be able to assist us with it to make sure we properly to come against opiate abuse in our community,” Newsom explained.
To view a copy of the opioid lawsuit settlement posted on the Attorney General’s page, click here.
Saltillo Students Observe FCCLA Week as Part of Career and Technical Education Programs
Johnna West, a Saltillo educator with a 35-year teaching tenure, enjoys helping high school students who are planning their careers. She has seen many positive changes in how public school prepares students for employment and careers in adult life. Through Saltillo ISD’s involvement with the Texas Association of Family Career and Community Leaders Association, study courses and planned events help students get hands-on experience within the communities where they live. During FCCLA Week, Mrs. West arranged for the co-Presidents of the school chapter, Garrett Tarver and Christina Wade, to be interviewed by KSST about the benefits of FCCLA activities.
Garrett Tarver is a Senior at Saltillo High School who has plans to attend University of Oklahoma to study Meteorology towards a career in Broadcast Meteorology. He said “FCCLA has helped me with my people skills and leadership skills. It’s given me opportunity to have this radio interview today, and to prepare to meet employers and community leaders which I feel will be useful in college and in the workplace”. Garrett has joined class members during FCCLA Week by preparing and delivering Valentine gifts to staffers of a Mt. Vernon nursing home and the Sulphur Springs Hospital and clinics.
Christina Wade is also a Senior at Saltillo High School. She said, “I plan to enter Texas A&M University Commerce this Fall to major in Kinesiology to become a Physical Therapist Assistant. Then I plan to work toward earning a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy. I enjoy the contact with people of the community as part of FCCLA studies in high school, like with the CASA Cookie Walk. In spite of it’s cancellation for 2021, her class still got to do fundraising and handed over a check to CASA for over $1,000 in support of their work with abused and neglected children in Northeast Texas”.
Both Garrett and Christina have teamed up with class members during FCCLA Week by preparing and delivering Valentine gifts to staffers of a Mt. Vernon nursing home and the Sulphur Springs Hospital and clinics.
Mrs. West concluded by saying that even though the Pandemic has made learning different than in other years, the school has striven to provide meaningful activities for the FCCLA students. She hopes to take them to compete at State FCCLA in person, but if not, they can still have the competition experience on-line with students in other schools across the State.
Frisco Man Allegedly Caught With PCP, Heroin, Cocaine, Marijuana, Gun, Cash
A 57-year-old Frisco was allegedly caught with PCP, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, a gun and cash at the I-30 rest stop early Tuesday morning, according arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Aaron Chaney responded shortly after 3 a.m. Feb. 9 in the area of the 110 mile marker on Interstate 30. Motorists had reported a white car parked in the westbound lane of travel. He did not spot the car in the area. While still in the area, dispatchers received additional calls reporting the car was stopped in the lane for the I-30 rest area exit. Another report said someone had assisted the driver in getting the car off the road and into the rest area parking. The driver was reported to be slumped over possibly lost and intoxicated.
Upon arrival at the rest stop, Chaney reported seeing a white Audi A4 with a male slumped over toward the driver’s window. The man appeared to be asleep with the vehicle still in the drive position. The deputy attempted to awaken the man through the open window.
Cumby Police Officer Nick Geer arrived to assist Chaney. When the man woke, officers attempted to ask him questions, but reported the man seemed lethargic, incoherent and had trouble answering.
While talking to the man, Chaney reported seeing what appeared to him to be two marijuana cigarettes in the ashtray near the console. Chaney had the man, identified in reports as Keith Ali of Frisco, get out of the car and stay with Geer while he conducted a probable cause search of it. Chaney reported finding a burnt glass pipe of the kind commonly used to smoke crack cocaine with residue on it. Ali was placed into handcuffs at 3:20 a.m. Tuesday for possession of a the controlled substance.
Chaney continued searching the car. He alleged also finding during the search:
- a metal cardholder with a white rock-like substance suspected to be crack cocaine;
- a bottle with a baggy containing a white powder-like substance believed to be cocaine and two bags containing a tar-like substance believed to be heroin;
- a medicine bottle with a brown powder-like substance believed to be heroin;
- a black travel case with six rubber-band bound bundles of cash;
- a large suitcase with bags of a green, leafy substance suspected to be marijuana, a dark glass bottle with a medicine dropper and a clear liquid substance suspected to be PCP in the trunk; and
- a Rossi Magnum revolver.
All of the items were seized, the car was impounded and Ali was transported to Hopkins County jail. The contraband was weighed and included:
- 8.52 grams of suspected cocaine,
- 1.02 grams of suspected crack cocaine,
- 3.42 grams of suspected black tar heroin,
- 0.39 grams of suspected brown powder heroin,
- 67.8 grams (including container) of suspected PCP, and
- 3.8 ounces of suspected marijuana.
The cash was found to have been bundled in increments of $1,000 and totaled $6,100, Chaney noted in arrest reports.
Ali was booked into Hopkins County jail at 10:20 a.m. Feb. 9 on six charges:
- possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone,
- two charges of possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone,
- possession of 1 gram or more but less than 1 gam of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone,
- possession of 4 grams or more but less than 400 grams of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance in a drug-free zone, and
- possession of 2 ounces or more but less than 4 ounces of marijuana in a drug-free zone.
Ali remained in Hopkins County jail on Wednesday morning, Feb. 10, 2021.
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.
Wildcats Soccer Team Evens District Mark With Solid Shutout Of Marshall At Home Tuesday
The Wildcats Soccer Team won their second straight district game as they defeated Marshall, 3-0 at Gerald Prim Stadium Tuesday night, February 9.
After dropping a couple of district games, perhaps to the top two teams in the district, the Wildcats have rebounded with wins over Texas High and the Mavericks.
Veteran players found the net for the Wildcats. David Moreno scored the first two first half goals by heading the ball into the net from right out in front. Uriel Santacruz assisted on the first goal and Omar Hernandez’s corner kick set up with second. Hernandez scored the third goal in the second half on a free kick from about 24 yards out. Goalkeepers Tai Nguyen and Alex Rodriquez shared the shutout each playing a half.
Wildcats Coach Alexi Upton called it a solid win adding it was a great one in freezing weather.
The Wildcats are 2-2 in district play and 11-6-1 for the season. The Wildcats play at Pine Tree in a big district game on Friday night.
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.
Veteran Wildcats Baseball Coach Is Pleased With His Wildcats’ Performance In First Scrimmage
Wildcats Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack is beginning his 16th season in Sulphur Springs. At his team’s first scrimmage of the year Monday evening, January 8, at Sherman. Coach Hammack found a lot to like.
He said he was not aware of the score but he noted that the Wildcats did score more runs than the Bearcats. Coach Hammack is a stickler for bat discipline and he said the Wildcats performed very well in that department Monday. He pronounced the Wildcats to be in mid-season form. He said the Wildcats swung at very few bad pitches and had several hits with two strikes on them. Coach Hammack said overall he has some talented arms on the mound who would get better with time and experience.
The Wildcats Baseball Coach said he looks forward to the next outing if the weather cooperates. The Wildcats are scheduled to scrimmage Terrell Friday at 6 p.m. at Wildcat Park.
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.
