The Wildcats Soccer Team Edges By Texas High, 3-2 to Get in the District Win Column Friday
With tongue firmly in cheek, Wildcats Soccer Coach Alexi Upton said his team always likes to keep it interesting when they are at Texas High. That was the case again Friday night. February 5, as the Wildcats just squeezed by the Tigers, 3-2 in Texarkana.
Jorge Santacruz scored the Wildcats first goal assisted by Omar Hernandez. Joel Pasion had an unassisted goal for the Wildcats’ second score. The Wildcats’ winning goal was special. According to Coach Upton, it was the first ever goal by Garrett Reams.
The win gives the Wildcats a 1-2 district record and they are now 10-6-1 for the season. Next, the Wildcats play Marshall on Tuesday at Gerald Prim Stadium. The Mavericks are 1-1 in district play with a 5-1 home win over Texas High and a 3-1 home loss to Pine Tree.
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.
Saltillo Lions Basketball Team Rolls Over Union Hill Friday, 69-33
The Saltillo Lions got another impressive district win, 69-33 against Union Hill Friday, February 5.
The Lions started rather slowly and led Union Hill only 13-9 after one quarter. Saltillo outscored Union Hill, 18-7 in the second quarter to make it 31-16 at the half. The Lions had a big third quarter scoring 27 to Union Hill’s 7 and it was 58-23 after the third period. The Lions also just outscored Union Hill 11-10 in the fourth quarter.
The Lions remain unbeaten in district play at 8-0. They are 15-7 for the season and are ranked #13 in Class 1A in a TABC Poll.
Friday Chris Boekhorst led the Lions with 29 points. David Whitworth had 18 points, Andrew Redburn scored 9 points, Gunner Tarver added 7 points and Colton McGill and Colby McCoy had 3 points each.
On Tuesday, the Lions host Avery on Senior Night.
Wildcats And Lady Cats Powerlifting Teams Finish Second At Royse City Meet Thursday Night
The Wildcats and Lady Cats Powerlifting Teams acquitted themselves well as both finished second to host Royse City in a meet Thursday. Coach Casey Jeter said a lot of the Wildcats’ team Thursday consisted of freshmen and first-year lifters.
Five Lady Cats took first in their weight class. Czhela Moya was 1st in the 97 pound weight class lifting 350 pounds. Kenia Herrera was 1st in the 123 pound weight class lifting 395 pounds. Addy Lamb took 1st in the 132 pound weight class with 615 pounds total. Reese Offutt was 1st in the 259 pound weight class with 555 pounds. Machelle Allen took 1st in the 259+ weight class lifting 830 pounds. Trinity Sickles was 2nd in the 97 pound weight class with 305 pounds lifted. Markida Hood was 2nd in the 198 pound weight class with 515 pounds total.
For the Wildcats, Cable Glenn was 1st in the 181 pound class. Ben Brown took 2nd in the 132 pound weight class. Jesse Bailey was 2nd in the 148 pound weight class. Josh Sutton finished 2nd in the 242 pound weight class. Acie Simmons was 2nd in the 198 pound weight class. Brandon Vazquez was 2nd in the 308 pound weight class. Maddox Miller took third in the 148 pound weight class. Ayden Whittle was 3rd in the 181 pound weight class. Zac Thomas placed 4th in the 220 pound weight class. Daylon Hall finished 4th in the 242 pound weight class.
The Wildcats and Lady Cats lift next at a Greenville meet next Thursday.
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. 5 COVID-19 Update: 3 Fatalities, 18 New Cases, 10 Recoveries, 35 Vaccine Doses Administered
The Texas Department of State Health Services Feb. 5 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard showed three additional confirmed COIVD-19 fatalities and 18 new cases on Friday. On the other hand, 10 people had recovered Friday, COVID-19 hospitalizations remained low, 36 additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered to people in Hopkins County on Thursday and 200 additional doses have been allocated to two Hopkins County providers next week to distribute to qualified Hopkins County residents. Health and Human Services reported no active COVID-19 cases at any Sulphur Springs nursing home, assisted living facility or licensed child care center.
COVID-19 Case Counts
DSHS reported a total of 98 Hopkins County COVID-19 fatalities. That means three additional Hopkins County residents had been confirmed Friday by cause on death certificate to have died from COVID-19.
The latest fatalities, according to the DSHS Feb. 5 County Trends dashboard occurred on Jan. 23, Jan. 24 and Jan. 27. That makes two deaths each on the 23rd and 24th of January, increases the month’s total to 15 COVID-19 deaths. That’s a fatality rate of 6.9 percent among Hopkins County residents who have had confirmed COVID-19 cases, but only 0.26 percent of the overall population.
As of Friday, 2,731 Hopkins County residents are reported to have had COVID-19 since March, 1,420 who received lab confirmed COVID-19 positive molecular tests results and 1,311 people who are considered to have “probable” cases, that is they either received positive antigen test results or had a combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis. That means 7.36 percent of Hopkins County residents have had COVID-19 since March, 3.83 percent confirmed cases and 3.54 percent probable cases.
So far this week, 52 people have received lab-confirmed positive molecular COVID-19 results, including two new cases on Thursday and 11 on Friday. Fourth-one Hopkins County residents were reported to have probable cases this week, including 10 new cases on Thursday and seven on Friday.
Ten additional Hopkins County residents had recovered from COVID-19 on Friday, increasing the total number of recoveries so far this week to 41. On Friday, 2,451 of the 2,731 people who have had COVID-19 since March had recovered, according to the Feb. 5 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard.
Because there have been more than twice as many new cases as recoveries so far this week, the active COVID-19 case has been steadily rising all week from 130 on Sunday to 146 Monday, 163 Tuesday, 174 Wednesday, , 177 Thursday and 182 on Friday.
COVID-19 Testing
Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management reported a total of 9,268 molecular COVID-19 tests had been performed since the Red Cross building first opened as a free testing center in the fall. Testing at the center has tapered off over the this week from 95 on Monday, 81 on Tuesday, 66 on Wednesday and 44 on Thursday,
Thirteen additional viral tests were apparently performed elsewhere in Hopkins County on Thursday because the case count rose by 57 for a total of 14,516 molecular COVID-19 tests conducted in Hopkins County since the pandemic began in Hopkins County just after spring break last March.
Thirty-five additional antigen tests were conducted in Hopkins County on Thursday, increasing the cumulative total since the state began tracking antigen tests to 1,925. DSHS’ Feb. 5 COVID-19 Test and Hospital Data dashboard also showed at least 1,781 antibody tests have been conducted in Hopkins Count, just not on Thursday.
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.
HHS and Hospital Reports
HHS, in the Feb. 5 COVID-19 Nursing facilities report, showed there were no active novel coronavirus 2019 cases in either staff or residents at the four nursing facilities in Sulphur Springs from Jan. 19-22, the most recent data available from the state.
HHS also reported no active cases at either of the assisted living facilities in Sulphur Springs nor at the licensed child care centers, school-age programs, and before- or after-school programs in Hopkins County.
HC/SSEM reported the patient in the CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs COVID Unit declined again on Friday, from 12 on Thursday to 10 on Friday. The last time HC/SSEM reported a patient census in the COVID Unit that low was Oct. 26.
As a whole there were fewer COVID-19 hospitalizations in Texas on Thursday, dropping from 10,523 on Wednesday to 10,259 on Thursday. In fact, Texas COVID-19 hospitalizations have declined daily since Jan. 26, when the count dropped from 12,851 to 12,795, which was still more than 1,300 less than on Jan. 11, when the count peaked at 14,218, according to DSHS reports.
The COVID-19 patient count across Trauma Service Area F rose slightly from 134 to 137 patients, which comprised 12.42 percent of the overall hospital capacity on Thursday.
COVID-19 Vaccine
Over the last 8 weeks, 2,225 people in Hopkins County have received doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, including 35 doses administered Thursday, according to the DSHS Feb. 5 COVID-19 Vaccine Data dashboard. On Feb. 4, nine people received the second dose of the vaccine and 26 received the first dose. Cumulatively, 1,877 people had received the first dose of the vaccine and 348 are fully vaccinated.
While no providers in Hopkins County have been allocated additional first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in two weeks, 500 doses were allocated for those who received the first dose 4-6 weeks ago. 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.
DSHS is encouraging providers to make accommodations for people 75 and older, who remain at the highest risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. As an example, DSHS notes, providers could set aside a certain number of doses for older adults, serve them during special hours, help them move through vaccine clinics more quickly, or work with local partners to facilitate in-home vaccination. This emphasis, however, does not change the groups eligible for vaccination: health care workers, residents of long-term care facilities, people 65 and older and those with medical conditions that put them at greater risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19.
Vaccine supplies are limited to the capacity of the manufacturers to produce it, thus, state officials anticipate it will still be a while yet before Texas receives enough of the vaccine for all the people in the priority populations who want to be vaccinated. Currently, there is not enough vaccine to supply every provider with vaccine every week, DSHS noted in a release Friday.
However, a third vaccine which requires only one shot, could be available in a matter of weeks. Johnson & Johnson Thursday officially filed with the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization to distribute its single-dose vaccine. The FDA will consider that application over the next few weeks. If approved, that should speed up the process, and depending on the company’s production capability, could making it available to twice as many people as the two-dose Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.
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.
Hopkins County Records – Feb. 5, 2021
Land Deed Transactions
- Hazel Maria Skeen Estate, Shanna Smith independent executor, to Kenneth N. Barker Jr. and Shannon C. Barker; tract in the Santos Coy survey
- Lauren Miller and Heath Robinson to Danrick Troy Gaspard and Laura Jean Gaspard; tract in the Jose Y’Barbo survey
- City Cemetery Society Sulphur Springs to Cheryl Arrington and Nathan Arrington; tract in the Sunset South
- Joe W. Clair and Ricky Lynn Conway to Joe W. Clair; tract in the Jose Y’Barbo survey
- Duane J. Franzen and Vicki L. Franzen to Marie Foreman and Marion Foreman; tract in the Juan Palvadore survey
- 100 MPH+ Property Management LLC to Ashley Nicole Likout and Ryan Likout; tract in the Jose Y’Barbo survey
- Donna Jo Abbott, Michael Wayne Abbot, Bobby Joe Griner, Tonya Griner and Jo Dean Pendergrass to Shadul Shashanka Koneru Naga; tract in the Ira Stephenson survey.
- Pense Ranch Properties LLC to Craig Harlan Pense; tract in the Samuel Perkins survey
- Ronnie Miller to Amber Nichole Ford; tract in the Agaton Caro survey
- David McCaig and Lisa McCaig to Andrew Larson and Renee Larson; tract in the MA Bowlin survey
- Christopher Rosamond and Rosey74 Inc. to Heath M. Robinson, Sherry Bolton and Teddy Jennings; tract in the Jose Y’Barbo survey
- Texas Republic Acquisitions LLC to Leonardo C. Aguilar Garcia; tract in the Mary Ann Bowlin survey
- Chelsey Waters and Jordie Waters to Janusz Kras Grzegorz, Sara Ann Kras, Diana Hubbard Robbins and Matthew Lloyd Robbins; tract in the John Petty survey
- Bonnie Lee Pilson and James Robert Pilson to EEE Development LLC; tract in the LP Dikes survey
- State of Texas Veterans Land Board to Ronnie P. Bouldin and Nina R. Gregg; tract in the Elizabeth Mitchell survey
- Ricardo Chavarria to Jose Santacruz; tract in the Jane Russell survey
- Barbara Phillips and Don W. Phillips to Robin D. Hall; tract in the Jane Russell survey
- Jose L. Estrada to Nuebia Montesdeoca and Omar Velazquez; tract in the MA Bowlin survey
- Gary Lewis to Romerico E. Temporal; tract in the Santos Coy survey
- Jose Roberto Mejia and Juana Mejia to Daniel Hanson and Shannon Standridge; tract in the Elizabeth Mitchell survey
- Patricia Marie Bergh and Shannon Michael Bergh to Colton Andrew Frazier and Shelby Dian Frazier; tract in the S. Young survey
- Donald S. Groezinger and Shawni Groezinger to Maribel Arreguin and Enrique Arreguin Tamayo; tract in the EP Gaines survey
- Charlotte Ruth Wilson to Bonnie Rose Singh, Robyn Elaine Wilson and Ronnie E. Wilson; tract in the Juan Palvedore survey
- Ronnie E. Wilson to Bonnie Rose Singh, Robyn Elaine Wilson and Ronnie E. Wilson; tract in the Juan Palvedore survey
- Charlotte Rose Wilson to Jason Petty and Vanessa Petty; tract in the Juan Palvedore survey
- Colton Andre Frazier and Shelby Frazier to Tyler Foster and Carly Parker; tract in the Santos Coy survey
- Jessica Ann Askins and Jonathan Brent Askins to Dakota Paul Martin; tract in the BF Burkham survey
- Kenneth N. Barker and S. Barker to Amy Marie Maker and Joshua Tellekamp Maker; tract in the J. Pettyjohn survey
- Matilde Camilo and Roberto Gregorio to Joseph Adam Gatewood and Gillian Kay Thomas; tract in the E. Melton survey
- Timothy M. Kelty trustee for the Timothy M. Kelty 2020 Trust to Sergio Mendez; tract in the E. Melton survey
- Delayne Dillard, independently and as remaining shareholder, and Kim Dillard to Martha Stribling; tract in the Santos Coy survey
- Peggy M. Price to Patti Froneberger; tract in the MA Bowlin survey
- Gaylon C. and Peggy M. Price Revocable Living Trust and Peggy M. Price; tract in the MA Bowlin survey
- Margie Davis to Deborah Anderson, Marla Gaines and Connie Jones; tract in the MA Bowlin survey
- Donna L. Barton and Johnny R. Barton to Marlanea Vicks and Ricky Vicks; tract in the John Clark survey
- John Wilbur and Stacie Wilbur to Margaret Alberts and William Alberts; tract in the Anastacio Caro survey
- Karen Marie Hamilton and Robin Eileen Tittle to Tani Michelle Hamilton and William Sean Hamilton; tract in the FR Turner survey
- Linda K. Hart and Marvin Hart to William E. McGlamery; tract in the Ocela Barb survey
- Alan J. Tiemeyer and Bonnie S. Tiemeyer to Garrett Steven Hubbard and Joran Brooke Hubbard; tract in the Jasper County School Land survey
- Gloria Gonzalez and Fernando Montes De Oca to Jose Miguel Martinez and Diana Perez; tract in the MA Bowlin survey
- Jacy Heinrich known as Jacy Roan and Cole Roan to Alan J. Tiemeyer and Bonnie S. Tiemeyer; tract in the Jose Y’Barbo survey
- Bob H. Neal to Linda Ayala Solis and Richard Williams Jr.; tract in the Isaac C. Burson survey
- Andrew John Kuiper to William Coggins and Stephanie Coggins; tract in the Elizabeth Melton survey
- Louis M. Hathcoat and Nina Gail Hathcoat, independently and as trustees, Jimmy Duncan and Millie Duncan to Janie Linneberger; tract in the Hayden Arnold survey
- David Carr Barington and Jennifer M. Barington to Norma Lynn Barington; tract in the William HH Hopkins survey
- Monica Littlefield and Steve Littlefield to Kyle Dane Smith and Mitchell Smith; tract in the JM Steiner survey
- Glenna Jo Hargrave Family Trust, Tina Howse successor trustee, to Tina Howse; tract in the RR Hargraves survey
- Glenna Jo Hargrave Family Trust, Tina Howse successor trustee, to James Leslie Howse; tract in the RR Hargrave survey
Applications for Marriage Licenses
- Boyce Mark Garrett and Tia Lanee Nolan
- Billy Ray Howard and Alejandra Guerrero Torres
- Damon Bradley Davis and Aja Noelle Lafleur
SSISD To Hold Public Hearings Feb. 8 Regarding Use Of Telemedicine Services, 2019-2020 Texas Academic Performance Report
Sulphur Springs Independent School District will hold two public hearings Feb. 8 during the public forum portion of regular school board meeting.
- A public hearing on the 2019-2020 Texas Academic Performance Report is slated to be conducted by Jason Evans, who oversees SSISD State & Federal Programs, during the 6 p.m. meeting. The TAPR is essentially the school district report card and is always one year behind as Texas Education Agency gathers and reviews material for the report. Typically, the hearing focuses on District Accreditation, Campus Performance Objectives, information on violent or criminal incidents, the performance of previous year graduates in their first year of college based on the state board’s report. This year’s report may be a bit different as state tests were halted after spring break 2020. A link to district accountability ratings can be found on the district website at http://www.ssisd.net/page/accountability
- A second public hearing regarding potentially utilizing Hazel Health telemedicine services for SSISD students is scheduled to be conducted by SSISD Assistant Superintendent Kristin Monk.
Community members are invited to attend these public hearings to receive information about both, and to ask questions or relay any comments they may have regarding the TAPR and use of telemedicine on campus.
Also on the Feb. 8 agenda, during the administrative and information reports portion of the meeting, SSISD Police Chief Glynda Chester give the required racial profiling report, presentations from Career and Technical Education organizations as part of the school’s observance of CTE Month, and a local policy manual update.
During the action items portion of the school board meeting:
- Tax Collector/Election Officer Sandra Gibby has submitted a notice calling for a May 1 trustees election for two seats on the school board currently held by Jason Dietze and Kerry Wright, who as of Friday were the only candidates who had filed for a place on the ballot, setting early voting locations and times, and appointing an election judge and alternate. Candidate applications are available in the tax office from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday-Thursday, Feb. 8-11, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12. If no other candidates file, the board should able to cancel the May 1 election, and the seats would go to the incumbents.
- Monk is scheduled to present for board consideration a proposal to use of Hazel Health telemedicine services for SSISD students.
- Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams plans to discuss and present for trustees consideration an application to be submitted to Texas Education Agency for a foreign exchange student waiver for five or more students.
The board then will have the option to enter into executive session to discuss any personnel or real property matters presents for discussion since the Jan. 25 board meeting. They would then reconvene in open session to take action on any items pushed forward from the executive session for a vote.
The SSISD Board of Trustees meeting is slated to begin at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, 2021 in the Board Room of SSISD Administration Building, 631 Connally St.
Basketball, Soccer, Golf, Tennis and Softball on Friday Game Day
The Wildcats Basketball Team wraps up district play at home on Senior Night against Texas High on this game day Friday (February 5). There will be a freshmen game at 5 p.m., a JV contest at 6:15 with the varsity game at 8. With a win, the Wildcats can take second place in the district The Wildcats are 8-3 in district play and 15-9 overall Texas High is 4-7 in district play and in fifth place. They have no path to the playoffs. The Wildcats will honor four senior players tonight: Boo Wilkerson, Lamodrick Johnson, Malique Cole an Jatavian Hall. The first time the two teams met in Texarkana back on January 15, the Wildcats got a 67-58 win in overtime. KSST Radio will bring you Wildcats Basketball with Texas High with streaming video and audio. The game will also be videotaped for replay later on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
The Wildcats Soccer Team will be looking to break into the win column in district play as they travel to Texarkana to face Texas High Friday. The Tigers are coached by former Lady Cats Soccer Coach Jesus DeLeon. Both teams have opened district play with two losses. The Wildcats dropped home games to perhaps the district’s top two teams losing to Longview, 1-0 and to Mount Pleasant, 2-0. The Tigers lost at Marshall, 5-1 and at Pine Tree, 4-1. The Tigers are 5-8 for the season according to Max Preps and the Wildcats come in 9-6-1. There will be a JV contest at 5:30 p.m. and a varsity match to follow at 7:15 p.m.
The Lady Cats Soccer Team will be playing their home district opener at Gerald Prim Stadium Friday. The Lady Cats opened district play on the road with a wild 5-3 loss at Longview and a shootout win at Mount Pleasant. The Lady Cats and Mount Pleasant were scoreless through regulation and overtime. The Lady Cats won the shootout making three penalty kicks to Mount Pleasant’s two The Lady Cats are 6-5-4 for the season. Texas High is 2-0 in district play with home wins over Marshall, 13-0 and over Pine Tree, 3-2. There will be a JV game at 5:30 p.m. with the varsity match to follow at 7:15.
The Wildcats Golf Team opens play this semester in a tournament at a familiar site: the Rockwall Golf and Athletic Club on Friday. The two day tournament offers another look at the course that will be the site of the regional tournament planned for April 21-22 this season. To prepare for spring competition, the Wildcats played three fall tournaments including one at the Rockwall course.
The Wildcats Tennis Team is also in action on this game day Friday as they will play in a Kilgore tournament. The Wildcats faced Sherman in a dual meet back on January 22 and won a majority of their matches.
Finally, the Lady Cats Softball Team will have their second scrimmage of the season this evening at McKinney North. The Lady Cats scrimmaged at Gilmer on Tuesday.
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.
Canada Ban On Cruise Ships Could Kill Alaska Cruises For 2021
An archaic U.S. law known as The Jones Act, is coming into play as Canada just announced their ban on any cruise ships stopping at Canadian ports or traveling through Canadian waters until after February 28, 2022. At first glance, you wouldn’t think this could affect an Alaskan cruise leaving from and returning to Seattle, but it is just not that simple. As part of The Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (yes, over 100 years ago) Section 27 known as The Jones Act prohibits “foreign flagged ships” from leaving from and returning to a U.S. port without stopping in a foreign country first. Now you know why all Alaskan cruises either start from a Canadian port such as Vancouver, or visits a Canadian port during their journey.
This law when written was designed to protect U.S. owned ships (and protect U.S. jobs) but has become obsolete over the years as 99% of cruise ships are registered in other countries. Norewegian Cruise Line has one ship, Pride of America, that is registered as a U.S. flagged ship since it makes round trips through Hawaiian islands and never visits a foreign port. All other cruise lines choose to have their ships registered in other countries mainly to avoid higher taxes, and have less stringent regulations. Known as a “flag of convienience” most cruisers have no idea where their cruise ship has been registered. This system has worked well for many years, as the cruise companies don’t have to fight the Jones Act as they just find ways to visit foregin countries on each itinerary before returning to a U.S. port. That system just changed.
As Canada continues to tighten up their travel restrictions, their government is trying to discourage non-essential travel to and from their country. Recently, Canada has restricted international air travel down to only four Canadian airports. They have also announced that travelers arriving in Canada will have to quarantine in a hotel (of Canadian government choosing) for at least three days until a negative COVID-19 test is returned. This process could set those travelers back an estimated $2,000. for the test and hotel stay. It only stands to reason that Canada would now ban cruise ships with all of the other restrictions in place.
The only hope now for cruise companies and their passengers is for the U.S. government and it’s administration to step in and either place a moratorium on The Jones Act for the next year or change the Act altogether. By allowing the cruise companies to continue with the Alaskan cruise season, and not requiring a stop in Canada the U.S. travel industry affected by cancellations could recapture literally billions of dollars of potentially missed revenue. A moratorium has been placed on the Jones Act before, although for emergency supplies headed to Puerto Rico after hurricane damage. That short-lived moratorium allowed non-U.S. ships to carry supplies from other U.S. ports straight to Puerto Rico without the added expense of stopping elsewhere on their journey. This not only saved money on the shipping costs, but sped the delivery of the much needed supplies to the decimated island.
Wanted Woman In Possession Of Methamphetamine When Arrested Third Time In 3 Months On Felony Charges
A wanted woman was in possession of methamphetamine when arrested for the third time in three months and fourth time in less than a year on felony charges, according to arrest and jail reports.
When Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Aaron Chaney and Chris Baumann arrived at Mary Elizabeth Walker’s Sulphur Springs residence at 8:50 p.m. Feb. 4 to take her into custody on a parole warrant, the 26-year-old woman indicated she wanted to grab some of her belongings from inside her bedroom before being taken to jail. They complied, escorting her to her room to gather her belongings.
While there, they reported seeing in plain view a burned glass pipe of the kind commonly used to smoke methamphetamine that had a residue on it. A ceramic dish next to it contained a crystal-like substance that tested positive on a field test kit for methamphetamine.
Walker was taken into custody just before 9 p.m. Feb. 4, 2021, and transported to jail, where she was booked not only for violation of parole, which she was on for a burglary conviction, as well as a new charge for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. According to jail reports, she was arrested on July 12, 2013 on a burglary warrant, then returned to jail Nov. 18, 2013 on a warrant for violation of probation on a burglary charge, as well as three traffic tickets and a possession of controlled substance charge. She was booked into Hopkins County jail again on April 11, 2017 to serve a five-year sentence for violating probation on the burglary charge; that followed her arrest on April 7, 2017, and released the next day on a driving while intoxicated with a child passenger charge.
Jail records also show, Walker was arrested for the third time in the last three months and fourth time in less than a year. The 26-year-old Sulphur Springs woman spent May 7-8, 2020 in Hopkins County jail on a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge; Dec. 2-4, 2020 on a warrant for possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance; and Jan. 4-6, 2021 on a warrant for abandoning or endangering a child. She was previously jailed locally from April 8-10, 2013, on another abandoning or endangering a child-criminal negligence charge, a manufacture of delivery of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge and engaging in organized criminal activity charge.
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.
After 32 Days, GA-32 Restrictions Lifted For Trauma Service Area F
Newsom: “We are back to 75% occupancy in small businesses and bars can reopen under GA-32”
Trauma Service Area F, which spans across Northeast Texas, is no longer under Executive Order GA-32 restrictions as COVID-19 hospitalizations had remained under 15 percent of the total hospital capacity for seven consecutive days as of Wednesday, according to Texas Department of Public Safety’s Feb. 4 COVID-19 dashboards and reports. Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom reports he received a letter affirmed Thursday afternoon by email from Dr. John Hellerstedt, Commissioner, Texas Department of State Health Services, affirming the rolled back capacity limits and halt of elective surgeries enacted on Jan. 2 has been lifted.
“The letter states that we are back to 75% occupancy in small businesses and bars can reopen under GA-32,” Newsom said Thursday afternoon, Feb. 4.
In addition to reopening at higher level, Hellerstedt noted that “all licensed hospitals in the TSA may resume elective surgeries as set forth in Executive Order GA-32.” Health and Human Services Commission will be providing notice directly to affected hospitals in TSA F of the facility’s ability to resume elective surgeries.
TSA-F entered the New Year on a high note, but not a positive one. All counties in Trauma Service Area F (with the exceptions of those counties filing paperwork affirming they’d had less than 30 new confirmed COVID-19 cases 14 days prior to filing) have been under restrictions outlined in Governor’s Executive Order GA-32 since Jan. 2, after the COVID-19 hospitalization made up 15 percent of the total hospital capacity for six of seven days and was at 15 percent one day during the week spanning from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1. That automatically triggered the restrictions outlined in GA-32 for TSAs deemed to have “high hospitalizations,” and was affirmed the next day in a letter county officials received from the state.
COVID-19 hospitalizations continued to increase, peaking at 23.42 percent of the total capacity on Jan. 11, and remained above 20 percent through Jan. 19. The COVID patient count began decreasing, but didn’t fall below 15 percent until Jan. 23, when it dipped to 14.81 percent. While the COVID-19 case counts remained lower, COVID-19 hospitalizations made up 16.36 percent of the total hospital capacity on Jan. 24. COVID-19 hospitalizations continued to decline, but still exceeded the 15 percent threshold for the next three days.
On Jan. 28, COVID-19 patients made up only 14.73 percent of the overall hospital capacity in TSA F, dipped to 12.91 percent on Jan. 29, then rose to 14.89 percent on Jan. 30. COVID-19 hospitalizations have continued to comprise less than 15 percent of TSA F’s total hospital capacity, dipping to 13.94 percent on Jan. 31, then 13.18 percent on Feb. 1 and 13.38 percent on Feb. 2. On Feb. 3, the COVID-19 percentage was 12.33; after just over a month under GA-32 restrictions, TSA F marked seven consecutive days in which COVID-19 hospitalization were below 15 percent. That means the restrictions are lifted. Businesses that had been allowed to open to 75 percent capacity per GA-32 enacted in October are now allowed to reopen to that capacity again. Elective surgeries, which were put on hold, can now be scheduled in TSA F.
The lift of GA-32 restrictions in TSA F applies to businesses and medical facilities in Bowie, Cass, Delta, Hopkins, Lamar, Morris, Red River counties.
Data on COVID-19 hospitalizations, including counties in Trauma Service Areas that are currently under Executive Order GA-32 restrictions, can found at: dshs.texas.gov/ga32/.
