Feb. 23 COVID-19 Update: 100th COVID-19 Fatality Confirmed For Hopkins County
Hopkins County reached a new milestone Tuesday, the 100th COVID-19 fatality confirmed on Feb. 23, a day in which only two new probable cases and one recovery were reported. That’s 100 Hopkins County residents whose cause of death during the 11 months of the pandemic has been listed as COVID-19 or novel coronavirus 2019, according to Texas Department of State Health Services Feb. 23 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard.
While that represents only 0.27 percent of the total Hopkins County population who have died from the virus, the 100 fatalities are out of 1,488 COVID-19 cases confirmed by molecular testing. The fatality rate among the 4.01 percent of Hopkins County residents who have had confirmed COVID-19 cases, however, is 6.72 percent.
The l00th COVID-19 fatality is the second reported to have occurred in February and second reported this week. One Hopkins County resident died Feb. 7 and the latest on Feb. 10 from COVID-19, according to the DSHS Feb. 23 COVID-19 County Trends dashboard.
Lamar County also received confirmation of another COVID-19 fatality on Tuesday, increasing the total to 141 COVID-19 deaths out of 2,541 positive cases. That’s 5.1 percent of Lamar County population who have had COVID-19, and 0.28 percent of the total population who have died from COVID-19. The fatality rate among confirmed COVID-19 positive cases, however, is 5.55 percent.
Lamar is one of three counties in the 8-county area surrounding Hopkins that have had more COVID-19 fatalities, each also has a larger population and has had more confirmed COVID-19 cases as well. Only one county in the region has a higher fatality percentage among confirmed COVID-19 positive cases, however.
In Hunt County, 138 of the 5,255 confirmed COVID-19 cases have died from the virus. That means, 2.63 percent of the confirmed COVID-19 positive cases in Hunt County died from the virus.
A total of 114 COVID-19 fatalities have been confirmed from among the 1,837 confirmed COVID-19 positive cases in Wood County. That’s a fatality rate of 0.25 percent of the total population and 6.21 percent among confirmed COVID-19 positive cases, according to the DSHS Feb. 23 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard.
Red River County, which includes Clarksville, is the only county in the eight surrounding Hopkins that has a higher fatality rate among COVID-19 positive cases and one of only two counties whose fatality rate among the total population is higher than the 0.27 percent reported for Hopkins County. The 390 confirmed COVID-19 cases reported for Red River County represent only 3.24 percent of the population and the 34 fatalities represent 0.28 percent of the total population. However, the fatality rate among COVID-19 positive cases is 8.72 percent.
In Titus County, 8.05 percent of the population has received lab-confirmed positive molecular COVID-19 tests results, higher than Hopkins and all other counties in the area. Of the 2,635 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 75 Titus County residents have died from the virus. That’s a fatality rate of 2.85 percent among confirmed COVID-10 cases in Titus County.
Delta County has had only 167 confirmed COVID-19 cases (3.13 percent), 10 of whom died from the virus (5.99 percent). Franklin County has had 479 confirmed COVID-19 cases (0.22 percent), including 24 who died from the virus (5.01 percent). Twenty-three of the 390 Rains County residents confirmed to have COVID-19 have had died as of Tuesday afternoon Feb. 23; that’s a fatality rate of 6.05 percent among virus infected individuals.
| County | Confirmed Positive Cases | COVID-19 Fatalities | Fatality to Positive Cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopkins | 1,488 | 100 | 6.72% |
| Titus (Mt. Pleasant) | 2,635 | 75 | 2.85% |
| Hunt (Greenville) | 5,255 | 138 | 2.63% |
| Lamar (Paris) | 2,541 | 141 | 5.55% |
| Franklin (Mt. Vernon) | 479 | 24 | 5.01% |
| Delta (Cooper) | 167 | 10 | 5.99% |
| Red River (Clarksville) | 390 | 34 | 8.72% |
| Wood | 1,837 | 114 | 6.21% |
| Rains | 380 | 23 | 6.05% |
Pleasant Hill Water Supply Boil Notice Cancelled
The Pleasant Hill Water Supply Number Two boil water notice enacted on Feb. 19 has been canceled, effective at 6 p.m. Feb. 22, according to Dwight Clayton, PHWS manager.
The Lady Cats Softball Team Will Finally Open the Regular Season After Weather Cancellations
You don’t have to tell Lady Cats Softball Coach David Carrillo that Mother Nature always bats last. Last week’s icy weather caused cancellation of the Lady Cats planned home opener against Wylie East on February 15 and the entire three-day Sulphur Springs Tournament was also a victim to the weather.
On this Tuesday, Feb. 23 game day, with nice weather in the forecast, the Lady Cats will now open the regular season at Richardson Pearce. There will be a JV game at 5 p.m. The Varsity game will follow at around 6:30 p.m. The Lady Cats were able to get in three of their scrimmages this season. Last year before the pandemic canceled all high school sports activity, the Lady Cats compiled a record of 9-9.
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.
Wildcats and Lady Cats Soccer Schedules Have Been Modified for Next Two Weeks
Soccer fans adjust your schedules for the next two weeks. District 15-5A has decided to play three games a week instead of two for the next two weeks to make up for last week’s postponements due to snow and ice. Games for the next two weeks will be on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
This week, both the Wildcats and Lady Cats will get a bye on this Tuesday game day. The teams will play Hallsville Thursday with the Wildcats at home and the Lady Cats on the road. Games will occur at the usual time of 5:30 p.m. for the JV and 7:15 p.m. for the Varsity.
On Saturday, the Lady Cats are at home against Longview. The Varsity will play first at 10 A.M. with the JV game to follow at around noon. The Wildcats travel to Longview Saturday with the JV game at noon with the varsity to follow at around 1:30 p.m. Next week the Wildcats and Lady Cats will play Mount Pleasant, Texas High and Marshall.
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 Players Earn All-District Honors
The tri-champion Lady Cats Basketball Team fared very well on the All-District list released Tuesday (February 23) by Lady Cats Basketball Coach Brittney Tisdell. Sophomore Kenzie Willis was named the district’s MVP while senior Bre’Asia Ivery was selected as the district’s Defensive MVP. Coach Tisdell was selected by her peers as Coach of the Year. Seniors Nylah Lindley and Dalanee Myles were chosen to the All-District First Team. Sophomore Addisyn Wall was named to the All-District Second Team. Junior Baylie Large was chosen Honorable Mention All-District. Five Lady Cats made the All-District Academic Team: Wall, Ivery, Large, Aubrey Williams and Aaliyah “Lili” Harrison.
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.
Free Cases Of Bottled Water Available For Families In North Hopkins Area
Hopkins County Emergency Management Coordinator Andy Endsley reported 20 more pallets of bottle water were being trucked Tuesday afternoon to FM 71 at State Highway 19 north Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 23. Cases of bottled water are available free to assist families who still have low water pressure, no water or are still under a boil water notice from 3 p.m. and after Tuesday.
Endsley reported a 500,000-gallon reduction on the NHWSC meter today. Sulphur Springs’ water has stabilized and the city’s elevated water towers are almost full, he noted.
I-30 Hunt County West Virtual Public Meeting Set on February 25
PARIS – The Texas Department of Transportation will host an online virtual public meeting from 5 p.m. Feb. 25 through 11:59 p.m. March 12 to gather public input on proposed improvements to I-30 in the western portion of Hunt County.
A pre-recorded audio and video presentation will be available. After viewing the online presentation, residents can provide comments and input on this proposed roadway through 11:59 p.m. March 12.
The proposed improvements are designed to reconstruct and widen I-30 from four lanes to six, reconfigure access ramps, and incorporate one-way frontage roads from FM 2642 to State Highway 34. The proposed conversion of frontage roads to one-way, and adding capacity to the freeway with the 12.34-mile project area are needed to improve safety and reduce congestion between FM 2642 and SH 34.
Proposed improvements to CR 2511 and 2646, FM 1565, FM 36, FM 1903 and FM 1570 at their intersections with I-30 would also enhance connectivity within the project area. Additional right of way would be required, but no residential or non-residential structures are anticipated to be displaced at this time.
To view the pre-recorded presentation, go to www.txdot.gov and click on Inside TxDOT. Then click on Get Involved, followed by Hearings-Meetings. Then select the Paris District.
Residents can also copy/paste this link into their browser:
https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/get-involved/about/hearings-meetings/paris/022521.html
Comments can also be written and mailed to: Mahi Naga PE, TxDOT Paris District Office, 1365 N. Main Street, Paris, TX 75460. Comments may also be sent via email to:
TxDOT’s Paris District includes Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Grayson, Hunt, Hopkins, Lamar, Rains and Red River counties.
For more information, contact [email protected] or (903) 737-9213.
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Dinner Bell Menu For Feb. 24, 2021
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital is this week’s Community Partner.
The Dinner Bell menu for Feb. 24, 2021 includes:
- Red beans and rice
- Fried cabbage
- Cornbread muffins
- Bread pudding
Distribution of meals is still grab and go under the covered driveway on the northeast corner of the First United Methodist Church campus starting at 11 a.m. on Wednesday.
Dinner Bell cares for you and reminds everyone to wear a mask when in public, wash your hands often and keep a safe distance from others.
County Commissioners Consider Request For A Property Tax Payment Refund
Hopkins County Commissioners were asked to consider a request for the county to refund a property tax payment made by one man on someone else’s taxes.
Hopkins County Tax Assessor/Collector Debbie Pogue Mitchell explained that Carlos Whitaker paid someone else’s property taxes because there was a tax suit on it. She said she received a letter asking that the payment be refunded to Whitaker. The letter said Whitaker had previously been informed that paying the taxes owed to Sulphur Springs ISD would entitle him to a deed. There was a significant amount of taxes due on the account; Whitaker paid the county taxes.
“Someone had told the man if he paid the taxes, it was going to be his. He didn’t pay Sulphur Springs ISD because they were quite a bit more than ours, but he did pay Hopkins County for three accounts in the amount of $5,367.16. So, they are asking for a refund of that money back to Mr. Whitaker,” Mitchell noted.
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom explained that Pogue directed the request to the Commissioners Court because the paid tax amount is over $500; any refund above $500 requires a ruling by the Commissioners Court.
“I have to do refunds all the time for things from the Appraisal District but I don’t ever have customers that pay other people’s accounts that come back and ask for a refund. That’s also very unusual,” Pogue noted.
“So basically, Mr. Whitaker paid someone else’s taxes? Those taxes were due and he willingly provided us those funds to pay for those taxes?” Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker asked.
“Was it with the intent that he was going to own that property if he paid taxes?” Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price asked.
“Yes,” Mitchell affirmed to both enquiries. “It wasn’t my office; apparently somebody else told him if he paid back taxes it would be his.”
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley asked why he didn’t go through his attorney to handle that transaction.
“I don’t know,” Mitchell replied to Bartley. “I didn’t wait on him. I don’t know what his intent was. The first story that I was kinda involved with this man, he thought his house would build on one of these tracks. It is not, had nothing to do with it. The one acre that his house is on is like three tracts over. I don’t know where he got his information. I have no idea what the man had in his mind.”
Bartley pointed out the man did not go through the proper channels regarding the matter.
Mitchell recommended that the $5,367.16 paid by Whitaker on the other person’s taxes be refunded to him.
“He should get his money back. He’s not going to get the property,” Mitchell said, noting that approximately $10,000 in taxes are still owed to Sulphur Springs ISD for the properties in question. “Just because he paid me, he’s not going to get the property, and it wouldn’t matter if he paid the school, he’s not going to get the property. It does have a suit on it, but he was way out of line in paying the taxes.”
Barker asked if the county has been in contact with the Linebarger firm noted in the letter regarding the firm’s recommendation regarding the matter. Mitchell noted that county officials has contacted the firm, but did not ask for their suggestion regarding the matter.
“I didn’t ask if they suggested, this is what we should do. We should give the man his money back,” Mitchell said.
Barker asked where the mix-up occurred. She said the letter alleges someone else had previously told Whitaker that he would be entitled to the deed if he paid SSISD the taxes owed by the end of the year, that he would be entitled to the deed for it.
“My opinion is he was not trying to pay the taxes for someone. His intent was was not to pay the taxes for someone. His intent was to gain the land so he was misinformed,” County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook said.
“It needs to have the step to have a judgement put on it and sold on the courthouse steps. If he wants to come buy it there, so be it,” Mitchell said, noting that the property owner did not receive the money paid on the property by Whitaker. “I’ve got the money and I want to give it back to him.”
Bartley said he’d like to have more time to think about the matter, and made a motion to table the matter. Price seconded the motion. The Commissioners Court unanimously agreed to table the request until a later time
NETLA Market Show Feb 23-27, 2021
What is the benefit of the 4-H Livestock Project? According to Texas 4-H publication by Marty Vahlenkamp, “The experience I am sure it is different for every 4-H’er depending on their goals and personal situation.
As I write this short article, I could give you the typical answer of it builds character, creates discipline, teaches youth about agriculture, teaches sportsmanship, etc., etc. While all of that is true and right on point, I am not sure that it does justice to the core of what the 4-H Livestock Project can and does do for our youth.
To me one of the greatest values of the 4-H Livestock Program is that it allows 4-H’ers the opportunity to gain confidence in themselves by caring for something that is 100% dependent on them. I remember a young 4-H’er who was uncomfortable getting in a pen with the heifer that was to be his show heifer that year, but he had to because without him the heifer could not eat or drink and could not have a clean place to live. Over time, he gained the confidence he needed to complete the project. In the years since that heifer he has showed steers at our county show and major shows. Today, he no longer shows cattle, but is routinely asked to show for other exhibitors when they have multiple animals in the same class. While this 4-H’er learned how to show cattle, the important life lesson is the self-worth and confidence he gained that will help him get through tough spots in his life and challenges that lie ahead.
The other major value I see in the 4-H Livestock Project can be said in one word: “Family.” When it is done right there is no better activity that promotes family time and the opportunity for a family to work side by side on a common goal. As surveys and reports keep pointing out the fact that families spend less time together, families that participate in 4-H Livestock Projects together have the opportunity to spend time together. As a 4-H dad I love Saturday and Sunday mornings feeding with my son and just sitting there watching animals eat. What better time to talk about school, his dreams, goals, and problems. Finally, as the project year comes to an end and we put his animal on the truck I get to help celebrate our success and also comfort him through the loss of a friend, just one more life lesson that will stick with our 4-H’ers throughout their life.”
Hopkins County will be celebrating our NETLA Junior Market Show from February 23-27 at the Regional Civic Center. There will be more than 300 livestock projects presented by 4-H and FFA participants looking for an opportunity to place at the 2021 Sale of Champions scheduled for Saturday February 27!.
After an executive meeting from NETLA a decision was taken to grant an additional 10% weight variance on the minimum weights for all species due to the extreme cold and just trying to keep animals alive.
- Steers: 890 Lb
- Pigs: 202 Lb
- Goats: 54 Lb
- Sheep Southdown: 81 Lb
- Sheep all others: 90 Lb
Thursday February 25, 2021
- 2:00 to 3:00 PM Lambs and Goats Weight in
- 4:00 PM Lamb Show
- Goat show after Lamb Show.
There will be a slightly adjusted the schedule with respect to broilers and pigs. All broiler activities will begin 30 min early and pigs will slide 30 min later. Steers are also not required to be in place till noon. Friday February 26, Friday February 26 2021
- 6:30 AM broiler check in and in place
- 7:30 AM Broiler Show
- 8:30-10:30 AM swine weights due
- 11:30 AM Swine Show
- 12:00 Steers in place
- 12:30 PM Steer weights due
- 3:00 PM Steer Show
- Heifers after Steers
