Cumby ISD Board Considering Calling For A Bond Election For Renovations, New Additions
Cumby ISD Board is considering calling for a bond election to be held May 1, 2021, which would fund safety and security improvements, renovations to the existing high school and elementary building, construction of a new school building and ag shop, and prepare the district for potential future growth.
The school board and administrators presented information regarding the potential bond election during community meeting hosted in the school cafeteria Saturday morning, and made available for streaming on Zoom and livestreamed on the CumbyISD Youtube channel. Approximately 15 people joined the district officials at the school and four more signed into Zoom. The livestream on YouTube was recorded and is available for viewing. As of 7:20 p.m. Monday, 38 people had viewed the community meeting on YouTube, either while it was broadcast or afterward.
The bond, if called for a vote, is expected to be for at least $7.34 million, but could be higher, as additional calculations show the district’s bonding capacity is greater than originally expected, officials reported at a community meeting held Saturday morning, Jan. 30, in the school cafeteria. The proposed location and design of buildings takes into account potential future growth. Relocations and new construction could occur while students remain in current facilities without a disruption to education, the Cumby ISD officials noted.
The board also discussed the possibility of putting two issues on the ballot, one for primary improvements and an additional option which could also provide funding for construction of a track. A proposal is expected to be presented to Cumby ISD Board of trustees during a special meeting on Feb. 11, just before the Feb. 12 deadline to call for an election.
The renovations being proposed at the elementary level would provide two levels of entry at the building entrance before visitors have access to students as an added safety measure, canopies and sidewalks to protect students from the elements when being dropped off or picked up and bus loading and unloading, updating the playground to replace deteriorating equipment and enclosing it to better secure it and address drainage issues that have created flooding and standing water at the cafeteria and football field and has been running under the building, add a break area for elementary teachers, enlarge and renovate the cafeteria to better accommodate student growth and school functions. The current projection of renovation costs for the elementary is estimated at $660,8000.
The district is proposing creating a new high school with labs and career and technology education classrooms, driveways and parking, and a new metal ag shop as the current facility needs more space and ventilation to better accommodate the number of students, necessary equipment and guidelines for ventilation. The most recent estimate for a new high school with labs and CTE facilities and driveways/parking was about $5.28 million. A new metal ag shop is projected to cost almost $1.1 million.
The current high school would then be converted to an intermediate campus, with renovations so the students wouldn’t have to cross the street for lunch and would get students out of portable buildings into buildings with secure entries. The cost to convert the building to an intermediate campus, with interior renovations and added eating space, is projected to be about $224,000.
Several other identified potential projects are also being considered. One potential option being considered is a finished track to provide a safer place for students to run than on the city street, district officials noted Saturday. Other options being considered are a new gym with the football stadium behind it.
Currently, the school’s tax rate is $1.17. If the district calls for a bond election, asking the voters to consider approving a bond for $7,341,000 later this month, the cost would raise the Cumby ISD school tax rate by 29-cents. However, depending on which, if any, projects are chosen, the bond election could be $7.94 million to $8.4 million, which would increase the tax rate by 32 to 34 cents per $100 property valuation.
School officials emphasized passing a bond election would have no affect on the school taxes for citizens age 65 or older who have a homestead exemption filed with the district; their taxes would continue to be the same rate they were frozen at, unless the property owner makes significant improvements to their home which would increase it’s appraised value, unless the property’s value decreases, then the rate would be filed accordingly. Texas law prevents the dollar amount of school taxes imposed on the residence homestead of a person 65 years of age or older from increasing above the amount paid the first year after the person turned 65, regardless of a change in the school tax rate or property value, unless significant improvements are made to the home.
Passing a bond now, instead of waiting would take advantage of historically low interest rates, down as low as 2.14 percent, for repayment of the bond fund over the next 30 years. Depending on the interest rate, tax appraisals, the amount of the bond proposed, the tax rate could potentially be lower than projected, and likely would go down at some point, as other debts are paid off.
If a bond is called and passed by voters on May 1, 2021, ground could potentially be broken on the project as early as the end of 2021, get under way in 2022 with completion in 2023.
One meeting attendee, who has served more than 20 years on the school board, noted that this is the first time the district has had a clear-cut long term plan for structures, as opposed to adding a building as it becomes necessary. This plan factors in future growth, age and rate of deterioration of existing buildings.
There are a lot of factors still to be considered, including whether to or not to call for a bond, whether to include extras, and if they are included on the ballot, whether they should be presented as one bond package or separately as included pieces, to be considered. Regardless of the school board’s decision regarding the potential bond election, the board and Superintendent Shelly Slaughter emphasized Cumby ISD will remain open and will continue to serve those students enrolled in the district.
That means a lot of work is still planned before a bond proposal is ready to be considered by the school board. The Facilities Committee chaired by community members Bobby Yarbrough and Joe Salinas plans to meet again before the planed Feb. 11 Cumby ISD Board of Trustees meeting at which time the board is expected to consider calling for a bond election. Community members should also watch the online and the district account, for places for community comments and concerns regarding a potential bond election.
If Cumby ISD Board of Trustees does call for a May 1 bond election, it would be the second time the board has called for a bond election for facilities improvements. Cumby ISD voters were asked during the Nov. 5, 2019 election to consider approving a school bond. In the early ballots, 60 percent of voters were in favor of the bond for school improvements and 40 percent voted against it. However, once Election Day totals were in, the bond was defeated by only 10 votes.
Superintendent Shelly Slaughter noted that district officials listened to community concerns voiced in 2019, including a need for parking, funding for concessions and restrooms, an unfinished track, and wording of the 2019 bond proposal which included the football field but did not seem to outline the full scope of the planned project at that time. She said some asked previously why not just tear down the existing elementary and/or cafeteria and build a new one. That was not proposed because of the amount the district has invested in the cafeteria; the cost to construct a new one would be very expensive.
The plans under consideration this year differ from those presented for voter consideration in 2019 in that the football stadium will remain in its current location instead of being moved to allow for construction of an elementary addition. This plan to does not call for an addition, but renovations at the elementary campus, and reorganization of grade levels with elementary housing only prekindergarten through second grade. Intermediate/middle school would house students in grades 3-8, and the high school campus as currently proposed would house grades 9-12, Slaughter noted.
Additional information would be communicated by Cumby ISD to the community regarding what, if any, bond proposal or proposals would fund, and what that would mean for tax payers, before May 1.
Public Notice: City Of Cumby Resolution No. 2021-01
Cumby City Council approved the follow, Resolution No. 2021-01, at a special Jan. 28 meeting. The City of Cumby is also currently accepting applications for a city secretary. The application is available on Indeed.com.
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report – Jan. 25-31, 2021
The Winnsboro Police Department media report for the week of Jan. 25-31, 2021, included the following activity:
Arrests
- James Courson, 54 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on 1/26/2021 for driving while license Invalid with previous convictions.
- Justin Thomas, 43 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on 1/27/2021 for driving while license invalid with previous convictions.
- Daniel Boswell, 23 years of age, of Durant, Oklahoma was arrested on 1/28/2021 for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
- Gage Lewendt, 22 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on 1/31/2021 for DWI.
Calls for Service
The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 126 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations
The Winnsboro Police Department issued 26 citations and 23 warnings during this reporting period.
Mayor Declares February CTE Month In Sulphur Springs
Sulphur Springs Mayor John Sellers helped Sulphur Springs High School kick off its month-long celebration of career and technical education programs Monday morning by declaring February CTE Month in Sulphur Springs.
As has been the case for many things since March 2020, this year’s CTE kickoff was a little bit different at SSHS in order to provide social distancing protocols in place due to COVID-19. Instead of speaking before a library room filled with students from CTE classes and organizations, Sellers’ proclamation was videoed for virtual attendance by students.
“This is probably the fourth or fifth time I’ve had the privilege to present this over my career over City Council and as mayor,” Sellers said. “It’s always exciting to me come my alma mater. I graduated from high school here. My son graduated from high school here. My parents graduated from high school and even a grandmother graduated from high school here. So I have a long history with Sulphur Springs Independent School District and as some of y’all know, I love history. But, I also know how important these careers are and the kinds of training you are receiving in high school.”
Career and technology education programs offer students the option to gain academic, technical and employability skills necessary for career readiness. CTE classes and experiences provide students with career exploration opportunities earlier in their educational experience, enabling them to make informed and beneficial decisions about their academic course work and pursue established patterns of study in career pathways. CTE helps connect qualified individuals with available careers in CTE-related fields, including health care, energy, advanced manufacturing, cyber security and information technology. CTE programs helps link secondary and postsecondary fields of study and leads to industry related credentials and provides employers with access to a qualified workforce to ensure a fair and competitive economy, Sellers noted from the proclamation.
“This is such an important part of these young people’s education. More and more we are realizing that there are emerging technology, emerging careers, some career things we don’t know what to call them yet that are going to be happening in our future.”
Sellers said while it’s important to teach the fundamental of education, such as reading, history and English, skills that are so important to students’ future must also be taught. Whether the students choose to go from high school to college or technical school or straight into the work force, it’s most important that “we are trained do what we need to be a beneficial part of our society.”
Sellers encourages all citizens to become familiar with the services and benefits offered in CTE programs to this community, and to become involved with and support the programs designed to enhance these students skills.
“Here at Sulphur Springs High School, we have a tremendous career and technical education program. About 96 percent of our students are involved in a CTE course at some point and most have endorsements in career technical education fields of study. We are very excited to promote CTE Month for the month of February, to promote our students to promote our teachers and to promote our programs here at Sulphur Springs High School,” said Jenny Arledge, SSHS Director of College & Career Readiness/ Career & Technical Education.
To help SSHS celebrate CTE Month, KSST has enlisted the help of our high school interns to compile short videos featuring a few of the CTE programs offered at SSHS. Be sure to stay tuned to KSSTradio.com, check out www.KSSTradio.com and the KSST social media accounts so you don’t miss these weekly CTE features.
Emory Pair Arrested Over Weekend On Possession Charges
An Emory pair was arrested over the weekend on possession charges and a Sulphur Springs man was arrested on an warrant for violating probation on a possession charge, according to arrest reports.
SH 19 South Traffic Stop
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Drew Fisher and Sgt. Scott Davis reported stopping a Ford E-150 van at 11:25 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31 on State Highway 19 south for expired registration.
Deputies conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle based on an odor of marijuana they detected emitting from inside the van upon contact with the occupants. They alleged finding more than one item of drug paraphernalia. A records check also showed 63-year-old Margaret Gunter of Emory to be wanted in Wood County, thus, the Emory pair was arrested around 11:45 p.m. Jan. 31.
The 43-year-old Emory an was booked into jail on the misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia charge. At the jail, Gunter was found to have 0.317 grams of methamphetamine in her wallet; she was booked into jail just before 1 a.m. Feb. 1, 2021 on a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance as well as the Wood County possession warrant.
Gunter remained in Hopkins County jail late Monday morning, Feb. 1, 2021 on both charges. Bond was set at $5,000 on the controlled substance charge and $20,000 on the Wood County charge. The 43-year-old Emory man remained in jail on the paraphernalia charge.
Wood County jail reports show Gunter was booked into the jail Sept. 17, 2020, on a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge and was released from custody later that day on a $20,000 bond.
Warrant Arrest
Sulphur Springs Police Department Special Crimes Unit Sgt. Joe Scott and Lt. Mark Estes, during an investigation of a West Spence Street address, reported seeing “a large amount of traffic.” When they stopped a vehicle as it was being driven from the location, the SCU investigators reported finding marijuana, which they believed based on their investigation, was being sold at the location.
The owner of the residence was contacted and gave permission for the officers to search the residence. They located 21-year-old Cristian Alan Cortez of Sulphur Springs inside the residence. A records check showed two active warrants for Cortez’s arrest.
Consequently, Cortez was taken into custody around 8:50 p.m. Jan. 30 and remained in Hopkins County jail Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, on warrants for violating probation, which he was on for possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a controlled substance and possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana.
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.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Animal Complaint Investigation Results In Firearm Charge
An animal complaint investigation resulted in a 29-year-old Sulphur Springs man’s arrest on a firearm charge, deputies noted in arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Bobby Osornio and Sgt. Richard Greer Saturday afternoon contacted Colton James Holguin at his rural residence while conducting the animal complaint investigation, specifically, allegations that Holguin shot and killed a dog the previous day.
After being read his rights, Holguin allegedly admitted to shooting the dog and being in possession of a firearm. Aware the man is a convicted felon and believing that the fifth anniversary of his release from confinement hasn’t occurred yet, the deputies placed Holguin into custody at 2:31 p.m. Jan. 30, for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
Holguin was released from custody on Jan. 31, 2021 on the 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.
February is a Cool Time to Experience the Wonders of Nature (and Catch a Rainbow Trout!) at Cooper Lake State Park
Cooper, TX— Cooper Lake State Park is a “cool” place to experience winter in Northeast Texas. During the month of February, fishing begins to heat up on those warm sunny afternoons. Also, all trails are open for hiking (horse riders please call before heading out due to trail conditions). Winter hikers experience a completely different invigorating landscape from those during your spring and summer hikes.
The highlight for the month is our “Kids Trout Fishing Event” on February 6th from 9:00am to 4:00pm at the South Sulphur Unit. Come try your luck catching rainbow trout! Fish with a ranger and learn all about fishing during this daylong event! Social distancing will be observed this year. Also, we will not be running a shuttle van as in past years due to COVID protocols. Please be prepared to walk over half a mile one way to access the trout pond. Another option is to have a family member drop you off at the trailhead to save time and miles. Maps will be available at HQ to direct you to parking and the trout pond. At the conclusion of this event, the trout pond will remain open for all anglers till spring. No fishing license is required and there is a five trout limit per person.
February is a great time to go camping with your family and friends and enjoy a crackling campfire at the park! Campfires are part of our collective human DNA. The flickering light and warmth of a winter campfire will lift your spirit and reconnect you to feelings shared by past generations.
Bring a picnic and enjoy the day-use area on a warm winter afternoon. Fish off our pier at Doctors Creek or the metal wall at South Sulphur. Other than rainbow trout in our trout pond, crappie, bluegill, bass, and catfish are caught during the winter season on Cooper Lake. Relax under a giant oak tree in our day use area; “rough it” in one of our beautiful cabins overlooking the 20,000-acre lake; skip a rock on the lake; play on our playgrounds, basketball or volleyball courts, all the while recharging your soul!
Park entrance fees are $5 for adults with kids 12 and under always free. Senior Texans 65 or older will only pay $3 to enter the park daily with a Bluebonnet Pass. Unlimited park entrances for you and everyone in your vehicle can be accomplished with the purchase of a Texas State Park Annual Pass for $70 which is good for over 12 months. All events are free with paid entrance fees. For more information on this or other events and programs at Cooper Lake State Park, please visit and like our Facebook pages (Cooper Lake State Park – South Sulphur 903-945-5256 and Cooper Lake State Park – Doctor’s Creek (903) 395-3100).
Hicks: Make Every Bite Count
By Johanna Hicks, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Family & Community Health Agent, Hopkins County
Make Every Bite Count
As an Extension educator, I try to take advantage of learning opportunities that come my way. Health/wellness, nutrition, and diabetes education are my main areas of focus. Recently, I sat in on a virtual seminar about the newly released Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The theme is, “Make every bite count.”
There are four driving principals behind the dietary guidelines:
- Follow a healthy dietary pattern at every life stage. The new guidelines have added a chapter on infant and toddler nutrition, along with the usual sections on Children & Adolescents, Adults ages 19-59, and Older Adults.
- Customize and enjoy nutrient-dense food and beverage choices to reflect personal preferences, cultural traditions, and budgetary considerations.
- Focus on meeting food group needs with nutrient-dense foods and beverages, and stay within calorie limits
- Limit foods and beverages higher in sugar, saturated fats, and sodium; limit alcoholic beverages.
A copy of the dietary guidelines is available in my office, or you can view it at www.dietaryguidelines.gov
Beginning at the earliest stages of life – infancy and toddlerhood – a healthy dietary pattern can hep people achieve and maintain good health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. However, it is never too late to make improvements. People at any stage of life an benefit by changing to nutrient-dense forms of foods and beverages across all food groups – in recommended amounts and within calorie limits.
2021 Better Living for Texans calendar
I’m happy to announce that Hopkins County is featured in a calendar that has been distributed to Extension Offices all across the state of Texas! Several months ago, Family & Community Health Extension agents were given the opportunity to submit a recipe and photo that represents their county. Since my office is located next door to one of our county’s popular visitor destinations (Southwest Dairy Museum and Center), I decided to submit a recipe and photo.
Fast forward six months. I received a phone call from the Better Living for Texans office (BLT is a nutrition education program provided by Extension), stating that my recipe and photo would be featured in the calendar for the month of April!
We received 100 calendars and only have a few left, so if you would like to have one, please drop by our office, 1200-B W. Houston Street, Sulphur Springs. We’ll be glad to give you one!
Closing Thought
Don’t let your worries get the best of you; Remember, Moses started out as a basket case! – Christian One Liners
Contact Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, P.O. Box 518, 1200-B W. Houston St, Sulphur Springs, TX, 75483; 903-885-3443; or [email protected]
Feb. 1-5 Meal A Day Menu
Although the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center remains closed due to COVID-19, volunteers continue to work five days a week preparing and delivering meals to shut-in elderly in the community.
The Feb. 1-5 Meal A Day Menu includes:
Monday – Beef Stroganoff, English Peas and Garlic Toast
Tuesday – King Ranch Chicken, Corn and Broccoli
Wednesday – Sliced Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Green Beans and a Roll
Thursday – Mexican Quesadilla Casserole, Chips and Salsa, and Tossed Salad
Friday – Chicken Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Sonoma Vegetables and a Roll
The Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center is a place where Senior Citizens age 50 and over can have a good time with old friends and make some new ones. Meal-A-Day is just one service the center provides. The coffee pot is always on and a smile is on each face. The SCC has a full library with all different kinds of reading books that can be taken, read and returned. Take as many as you like and bring some of your books in to share with others. Click here to find more information for seniors citizens.
Jan. 30 COVID-19 Update: 12 New Cases, 4 Recoveries
Texas Department of State Health Services Jan. 30 COVID-19 dashboards show COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to decline both in Trauma Service Area F and across the state. While there continue to be new COVID-19 cases, recoveries and the number of people vaccinated in Hopkins County continue to rise daily this week as well.
Jan. 30 COVID-19 Case Counts
A dozen additional COVID-19 cases were reported for Hopkins County on Friday, increasing the number of county residents who have had been reported to have COVID-19 cases to 7.11 percent, according to data in the DSHS Jan. 30 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard.
Nine additional Hopkins County residents had received positive lab-confirmed molecular COVID-19 results on Friday, increasing the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases this week to 30, and this month to 153. Cumulatively since March 2020, 153 Hopkins County residents have been confirmed by molecular test to have COVID-19, which is 3.69 percent of the Hopkins County population.
Three additional probable COVID-19 cases were reported for Hopkins County on Friday, two new cases and one older probable case just reported to DSHS by a lab, according to the DSHS Jan. 30 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard. A total of 31 probable cases have been reported this week and 157 this month. Cumulatively, since the state began tracking the data a few months ago and reporting it daily on Dec. 11, a total of 1,270 probable cases have been recorded for County; that’s another 3.42 percent of the county population.
Four additional Hopkins County residents were reported to have recovered from COVID-19, increasing the total this week to 67 recoveries, and this month to 357. Cumulatively, 2,410 of the 2,638 Hopkins County residents who have had COVID-19 have recovered.
No additional COVID-19 fatalities were attributed to Hopkins County on Saturday, so the total stands at 93 Hopkins County COVID-19 deaths, according to the DSHS Jan. 30 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard.
Factoring in the 12 new cases and four new recoveries, that leaves 135 Hopkins County residents who still had COVID-19 on Saturday, according to the DSHS Jan. 30 COVID-19 Cas Counts Dashboard.
Jan. 29 Hospital Reports
COVID-19 hospitalizations across Trauma Service Area F continued to decline Saturday, down from 177 on Sunday to 167 on Monday and Tuesday, 158 on Thursday and 142 lab-confirmed COVID-19 patients in TS-F hospitals on Friday. That’s the least number of COVID patients reported in TSA-F since mid December, when the case count went from 138 patients on Dec. 18 to to 148 patients on Dec. 19.
The overall hospital capacity rose from 1,073 to 1,100 total staffed hospital beds and from 981 to 1,008 staffed in patient beds in TSA-F, with hospitalizations declining from 620 to 608.
The drop in COVID-19 hospitalizations and increased capacity meant a nearly 2 percent drop in amount of total hospital capacity COVID-19 hospitalizations make up, according to the DSHS Jan. 30 COVID-19 Test and Hospital Data dashboard. In fact, that’s makes three of the last seven days and two consecutive days in which COVID-19 hospitalizations dropped below the 15 percent threshold established by Governor Greg Abbott in GA-32 in October denoting high hospitalizations: 14.81 percent Saturday, Jan. 23; 14.73 percent Thursday, Jan. 28; and 12.91 percent Friday, Jan. 29. Friday was the first time since Jan. 18 that the COVID-19 percent of hospital capacity has been below 13 percent; it was 12.75 percent on Dec. 18.
TSA-F has been subject to GA-32 restrictions on business capacity and elective surgeries since Jan. 2. If TSA-F remains below 15 percent for five more days, the restrictions will be lifted, allowing businesses that had previously to once again reopen at 75 percent capacity and lifting the stay on elective surgeries as well.
| In Trauma Service Area F | 1/23 | 1/24 | 1/25 | 1/26 | 1/27 | 1/28 | 1/29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Staffed Hospital Beds | 1,087 | 1082 | 1096 | 1068 | 1068 | 1073 | 1100 |
| Available Hospital Beds | 411 | 387 | 392 | 346 | 351 | 361 | 400 |
| Available ICU Beds | 12 | 16 | 30 | 22 | 24 | 15 | 26 |
| Available Ventilators | 79 | 78 | 76 | 75 | 78 | 82 | 81 |
| Lab-Confirmed COVID-19 Patients in Hospitals | 161 | 177 | 167 | 167 | 168 | 158 | 142 |
| Total Hospitalizations | 584 | 603 | 612 | 630 | 625 | 620 | 608 |
| Total Staffed Hospital Beds | 995 | 990 | 1004 | 976 | 976 | 981 | 1008 |
| Percent Capacity | 14.81 | 16.36 | 15.24 | 15.64 | 15.73 | 14.73 | 12.91 |
Jan. 29 COVID-19 Vaccines
Fifty-three additional COVID-19 vaccines were administered on Friday, increasing the total number of people receiving vaccines to 2,093.
Cumulatively, over the first 7 weeks the vaccine has been made available in Texas, a total of 1,771 people in Hopkins County had received the first dose of the vaccine as of 11:59 p.m. Jan. 29, according to the DSHS Jan. 30 COVID-19 Vaccine Data dashboard. That means 32 additional people received the first dose of the vaccine as of Friday.
Another 27 people in Hopkins County received the second dose of the vaccine on Friday, increasing the total of fully vaccinated individuals to 3222.
The Jan. 30 COVID-19 Vaccine Data dashboard also shows that more females than males have received doses of the vaccine, 1,291 females and 795 males. Data for five individuals was unknown. More people ages 65-79 had received the first dose of the vaccine while more people ages 16-49 had been fully vaccinated, 708 to 129, according to the DSHS Jan. 30 COVID-19 Vaccine Data dashboard.
According to the list posted Friday afternoon by DSHS, Hopkins County has not been allocated any additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to offer it to more people, only those required doses to complete the second dose of the vaccine. The week of Feb. 1 will be the second consecutive week Hopkins County has been left off of the COVID-19 vaccine allocation list.
People can find more information on COVID-19 vaccine at dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/immunize/vaccine.aspx or the Texas Vaccine Data dashboard.
Click here a full list of vaccine allocations for the week of Feb. 1.
For a list of vaccination hub provider and their contact information, click the link above.
Click this link to see the DSHS/Texas Department of Emergency Management map of vaccine providers.
Jan. 29 COVID-19 Testing
At least 17,550 COVID0-19 tests have been conducted in Hopkin County as of Friday night, including 137 tests conducted on Friday. That number includes 14,011 molecular tests, 95 of which were conducted on Friday, and 1,770 antigen tests, 44 of which were conducted Friday.
Free oral swab COVID-19 testing has been extended into February. Testing is typically ffered 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 at is open to anyone regardless of age or address. Registration is required online at www.GoGetTested.com in order to be tested at 128-A Jefferson Street in Sulphur Springs.
