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/.
Celebrating CTE Month: SSHS Interior Design Class – Architecture Program
February is Career and Technical Education Month, a public awareness campaign that takes place each February to celebrate the value of CTE and the achievements and accomplishments of CTE programs across the country. To help Sulphur Springs High School celebrate CTE Month, KSST’s high school interns have compiled short videos featuring a few of the CTE programs offered at SSHS. One will be featured each week during CTE Month.
Interior Design Class
KSST intern Jamie Cervantes interviewed Christina Davis about the interior design class she teaches as part of the Architecture Program offered at Sulphur Springs High School, and talked with sophomores Julian Jumper and Simon Wallace about what they’ve learned in the program.
In this program, students can learn the principles and elements of design, interior and architectural design, and how design layouts mean more than you think. From learning to draw plans to scale, space planning, interior elevations and how to interview clients and meet their needs, the program covers a broad spectrum in the field. Students need to be organized, ready to learn while doing hands-on work and not afraid to try new things.
They are guided by Davis, who after giving them instruction, encourage them to think creatively and reach outside their norm to come up with original ideas for their designs, according to Wallace.
Students learn to use programs that aid them in their tasks as well as pooling resources to make it all come together in the classroom and life, Jumper explained.
Interior design students are actively involved in designing plans for some pretty big community events, including the Heart of Hope Banquet and the upcoming Freedom Ball. They also will be putting their own stamp on the annual Honors Breakfast.
Be sure to stay tuned to KSST Radio 1230, check out www.KSSTradio.com and the KSST social media accounts to ensure you don’t miss the programs featured weekly during CTE Month.
Oncor Electric Donation Helps Brinker Volunteer Fire Department Fund Air Bags, Advanced Rescue Systems
Oncor Electric donated $5,000 to Brinker Volunteer Fire Department for the purchase of air bags and advanced rescue systems. The air bags, used in vehicle rescues to lift vehicles off of trapped people, were recently obtained and used during extrication training at B & M Auto Salvage.
Brinker VFD Chief Wade McDaniel noted the department is very grateful for that support.
The volunteer firefighters also practiced using stabilization jacks, designed to stabilize a vehicle that’s on its side for safe entry into the vehicle for patient extrication, and performed roof removal and dash rollups, used when a patient is pinned under the dash of a vehicle.
“We constantly strive to improve in all facets of Fire Rescue,” Chief Wade McDaniel stated. “We want what is best for our community and strive to do what we can for Hopkins County.”
Brinker VFD is a registered 501c3 organization. If anyone wishes to make a tax deductible donation to the department, they may do so on the “[email protected]” PAYPAL account or by mail at Brinker VFR, 1415 F.M. 69 South, Sulphur Springs Texas 75482.
“Any and all donations will be greatly appreciated as we depend on donations to survive and get better,” McDaniel said.
The department also is planning to host a Crawfish Boil April 3 at the fire station. Crawfish will be offered for donations to eat at the station or to take home.
Wildcats and Lady Cats Powerlifters Travel to Royse City For Thursday Meet
Wildcats and Lady Cats Powerlifting Teams will compete at their third meet of the season on this game day Thursday (February 4). They will be traveling to Royse City. The Wildcats have a first place finish at a home meet back on January 21 and then finished second in a Paris meet on Saturday. The Lady Cats were second in Sulphur Springs and placed fourth in Paris one week ago. The Lady Cats have had seven different lifters during the first two meets. The Wildcats have had 14 lifters participate during the first two meets. The Lady Cats and Wildcats are attempting to lift enough weight to qualify for regional meets next month. Both meets will take place in Whitehouse, March 3 for girls and March 4 for boys.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Lady Cats Basketball Team to Get Nacogdoches or Lufkin in Bi-District Playoff Game Next Week
Last Friday (January 29), the Lady Cats Basketball Team earned the #1 seed in the playoffs in their district with a home district win against Longview, 59-38. The Lady Cats ended up as district tri-champions with Hallsville and Mount Pleasant. All finished with 9-3 records but the Lady Cats earned the top seed due to head to head competition with the other two. The Lady Cats split with Mount Pleasant and swept Hallsville.
Now the Lady Cats are waiting for the dust to settle in District 16-5A to determine who the Lady Cats will face in a bi-district playoff game. The Lady Cats will get that district’s #4 seed.
A check of the records of teams in that district, according to Max Preps, indicates the Lady Cats will face either Nacogdoches or Lufkin. Lufkin is currently third in district with a 5-4 mark. Nac is 4-5. Those two teams play Friday night at Lufkin. A Lufkin win would mean the Lady Cats would face Nacogdoches. If the Lady Dragons win, Nac and Lufkin would be tied for third. The Lady Cats would then face the one that ends up fourth after some tiebreaker. The UIL says a bi-district game must be played between Thursday, February 11 and Saturday, February 13. The Lady Cats’ game may well be at Athens. While the Lady Cats wait, they are likely to play a warm up game, perhaps against Lindale. Meanwhile the Lady Cats will have to wait for results in District 16-5A 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.
Sulphur Springs Fire Department Applying For Homeland Security Grant
City Council Approves Extension Of Temporary Emergency Paid Sick Leave Due to COVID-19 Policy, Zoning Board Appointment
Sulphur Springs City Council approved resolutions for a Homeland Security grant application and an extension of the temporary emergency paid sick leave due to COVID-19 policy were approved, and a new Zoning Board appointment made during the regular February council meeting this week.
Homeland Security Grant
Sulphur Springs Fire Department Chief David James sought approval to submit a grant application to the Office of the Governor’s Homeland Security Division for funding for two ventilator fans.
SSFD is requesting $7,590 to purchase the fans for the department to use during hazardous materials operations as well as daily fire service functions. The fans would assist fire personnel in quickly ventilating structures with positive and negative pressure. If approved, the Homeland Security grant would cover the entire cost of the purchase, with no local match required, James noted.
City staff recommended the City Council approve a resolution allowing the grant application to be submitted to the Office of Governor’s Homeland Security Division for the ventilation fan project. The City Council unanimously approved the resolution.
Emergency Paid Sick Leave Policy
Sulphur Springs Director of Human Resources Gordon Frazier asked the City Council to consider extending the temporary emergency paid sick leave policy, granting additional paid sick leave for city employees who are out because they have COVID-19 or have had a high risk exposure requiring quarantine.
Frazier explained that the original mandate for the policy was enacted by the Family First Coronavirus Response Act, which required certain employers to provide employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. The time frame outlined in the FFCRA ended on Dec. 31. He proposed extending the policy to continue paying city employees out due to COVID-19 as stipulated previously, with the policy to remain in effect as long as the State of Texas Disaster Declaration due to COVID-19 does.
FFCRA stipulated that all employees of covered employers are eligible for two weeks of paid sick time for specified reasons related to COVID-19. Employees employed for at least 30 days are eligible for up to an additional 10 weeks of paid family leave to care for a child under certain circumstances related to COVID-19. Part-time employees would be eligible for the number of hours of leave the employee works on average over a 2-week period.
Qualifying Reasons under the FFCRA for paid sick time if the employee is unable to work (or unable to telework), according to the Department of Labor, include if the employee:
- is subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19;
- has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine related to COVID-19;
- is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and is seeking a medical diagnosis;
- is caring for an individual subject to an order described in (1) or self-quarantine as described in (2);
- is caring for a child whose school or place of care is closed (or child care provider is unavailable) for reasons related to COVID-19; or
- is experiencing any other substantially-similar condition specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretaries of Labor and Treasury.
Currently, funding is not provided by the federal government to help employers make up the extra cost, but having the policy in place would allow the city to apply for reimbursement if federal funding does become available, Frazier noted
This will help all employees, but especial those with young families, not worry about the impact of lost income while out according to the policy due to COVID-19 if they would not have enough sick or paid leave time otherwise.
“Employees will feel very comfortable taking off for sick leave due to COVID-19. We do not want them to try to come back if there’s any possibility of being exposed,” City Manager Marc Maxwell said.
“I think this is a good thing,” City Mayor John Sellers noted during the Feb. 2 City Council meeting.
The City Council unanimously voted in favor of extending the policy until the state disaster declaration ceases.
Zoning Board Appointment
Following an executive session that lasted about 40 minutes, Sulphur Springs City Council reconvened in regular session with only action taken on only one item.
Twila Gill was nominated to serve on a city Zoning board.
Sulphur Springs Woman Returned To Hopkins County Jail On Warrant
A 22-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was returned to Hopkins County jail Wednesday morning on a felony warrant, according to arrest reports.
A Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office employee took custody of Harleah Irene Petrea at an Intermediate Sanction Facility around 8:45 a.m. Feb. 3 and transported her to Hopkins County jail. She was booked at 10:30 a.m. Feb. on a warrant for abandoning or endangering a child.
Petrea was jailed on Sept. 2, 2020 and remained in Hopkins County jail until Nov. 4, 2020, on a violation of probation-credit or debit card abuse warrant and a no driver’s license warrant. She was indicted and jailed on the credit or debit card abuse charge from June 23-July 27, 2017, according to jail reports. She has most recently been serving time at the ISF facility.
The 22-year-old Sulphur Springs woman and remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday morning, Feb. 4, 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.
Kentucky Woman Arrested In Hopkins County On Dallas County Warrant
A 29-year-old Fort Mitchell, Kentucky woman was arrested in Hopkins County on a Dallas County warrant Wednesday evening.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Colt Patterson conducted a traffic stop on a white Kia passenger vehicle at mile marker 136 on Interstate 30 around 6:50 p.m. Upon contact, the driver was identified as Lauren Elizabeth Wolper. A computerized check using her information was conducted by dispatchers. The records check showed a Dallas County warrant for Wolper’s arrest.
Deputy Chris Baumann arrived at the traffic stop and took custody of Wolper for Patterson, a canine handler, and transported her to jail. Wolper was booked into jail around 7:45 p.m. Feb. 3, on the Dallas County assault of a family member with previous convictions, which enhances the assault charge to a third-degree felony. The offense, according to arrest reports, is alleged to have occurred on Jan. 27, 2021 in Dallas County.
Wolper remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday morning, Feb. 4, 2021, 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.
Social Security Scammers Calling Hopkins County Residents
A KSST listener reported two phone calls to his home phone number on Monday February 1, 2021. After reporting the disturbing calls to the police, the listener called KSST to relay the information in the hopes that other local residents would be prepared in case the scammers call their number too.
The homeowner let the answering machine pick up the calls, listened to them later, and let us know the basic content of the message. The caller had identified himself by name as an officer of the Social Security Administration, calling to inform the homeowner that suspicious activity relating to their Social Security number had been detected. He advised that the homeowner should act immediately for the safety of their Social Security account. He then advised the homeowner to contact the legal department of Social Security by ‘pressing 1’, and if they do not, their Social Security account would be discontinued permanently. According to the homeowner, one of the phone numbers used by the scammer was a Commerce number, and the other one registered ‘unknown’.
If you receive phone calls claiming to be the Social Security Administration, you should regard them with caution. ss.gov helpful information regarding scammer calls. Below is some information from the Social Security Administration.
Feb. 3 COVID-19 Update: 1 Fatality, 28 New Cases, 16 Recoveries, 174 Active Cases
While the COVID-19 hospitalizations remain low across the state this week, Hopkins County is experiencing a spike in new COVID-19 cases, increasing the overall active case count to rise from 130 on Sunday to 174 on Wednesday, according to the Department of State Health Services Feb. 3 COVID-19 dashboards.
Case Counts
On Wednesday, a total of 28 new COVID-19 cases were reported, increasing the total so far this week to 63.
Over the last four days, 39 Hopkins County residents have received lab-confirmed positive molecular COVID-19 tests results, one on Sunday, 14 Monday, 10 Tuesday and 14 Wednesday. Twenty-four probable COVID-19 cases, determined either by a positive antigen test or a combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis, have also been reported this week: two on Monday, eight on Tuesday and 14 on Wednesday.
Since March of 2020, a total of 1,407 Hopkins County residents have been confirmed by lab tests to have COVID-19 since the pandemic began in Hopkins County in March and 1,294 probable cases since the state began tracking the data.
One additional Hopkins County resident has been confirmed by death certificate to have died from COVID-19, according to the DSHS COVID-19 Feb. 3 Case Count dashboard. The latest death occurred on Jan. 20. That makes a dozen COVID-19 deaths confirmed to have occurred in January and 95 total COVID-19 fatalities since the pandemic began.
On the other hand, 16 Hopkins County residents had recovered from COVID-19 on Wednesday, increasing the total number of recoveries so far this week to 22; two recoveries were also reported on Monday. Since March, that makes at least 2,432 recoveries out of the cumulative 2,701 COVID-19 cases recorded since March.
Factoring in both the new cases, recoveries and fatalities, the active COVID-19 case count for Hopkins County has continued to rise this week from 130 on Sunday to 146 Monday, 163 Tuesday and 174 on Wednesday.
Hospital Data
The count in the COVID Unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs increased by one to 13 on Wednesday, which is still one less than on Monday, Feb. 1, and six less than on Monday, Jan. 25; 16 less than on Tuesday, Jan. 19; nine less than on Monday, Jan. 11; and 16 less than on Monday, Jan. 4.
Over the last week, COVID-19 hospitalizations across Texas have continued to decline almost steadily since Jan. 18, dropping from 13,928 to 12,899 on Jan. 23, 11,981 on Jan. 28 and 10,827 on Feb. 2.
In Trauma Service Area F, COVID-19 hospitalizations have declined from 241 on Jan. 11 to 186 on Jan. 19 and 161 on Jan. 23, 142 on Jan. 29 and 134 on Feb. 2. The last time there were fewer COVID-19 hospitalizations in TSA-F was Dec. 11, when the patient count dipped to 130.
| Day | Date | COVID Hospitalizations | COVID-19 % Hospital Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | January 28 | 158 | 14.73 % |
| Day 2 | January 29 | 142 | 12.91 % |
| Day 3 | January 30 | 163 | 14.89 % |
| Day 4 | January 31 | 152 | 13.94 % |
| Day 5 | February 1 | 143 | 13.8 % |
| Day 6 | February 2 | 134 | 12.38 % |
Feb. 2 was also the sixth consecutive day COVID-19 hospitalizations accounted for less than 15 percent of the overall capacity in TSA-F. In fact, on Tuesday, COVID-19 hospitalizations accounted for only 12.38 percent of the overall hospital capacity, which has also declined over the last week. If Trauma Service Area F has one more consecutive day below the 15 percent threshold, the area will no longer be considered to have high hospitalizations. The count would reset and the restrictions on retail businesses and restaurants will be lifted, allowing them to reopen at 75 percent, and would allow hospitals to resume elective surgeries.
COVID-19 Testing
Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management reported a total of 9,158 COVID-19 tests had been performed at the testing center in Sulphur Springs as of Feb. 2, including 81 tests performed Tuesday and 95 on Monday.
Another 25 viral (molecular) tests were apparently performed elsewhere in Hopkins County on Tuesday as the cumulative total increased by 106 tests to 14,369 on Feb. 2.
Four antigen tests also were reported to have been conducted in Hopkins County on Tuesday as the total increased from 1,837 to 1,841 on Tuesday. No additional antibody tests were reported for Hopkins County, so the total number of antibody COVID-19 tests remains 1,775, according to the DSHS Feb. 3 COVID-19 Test and Hospital Data dashboard.
Cumulatively, that’s 17,985 COVID-19 tests that have been performed in Sulphur Springs and reported to DSHS.
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
Three fewer vaccines were administered to people in Hopkins County than was previously reported in the COVID-19 Vaccine Data dashboard. DSHS on Feb. 3 had removed one dose previously counted among those who have received the first dose of the vaccine in Hopkins County and two from the count of people fully vaccinated for COVID-19 in Hopkins County.
That reduces the total number of people in Hopkins County who’ve received doses of the vaccine to 2,125 showed only 2,126 have been administered to people in Hopkins County: 1,796 who’ve received the first dose of the vaccine and 330 who are fully vaccinated with both doses of the vaccine.
