Hopkins County Commissioners Court Jan. 11 Meeting Agenda
TIME: 9:00 A.M.
DATE: Monday, January 11, 2021
PLACE: In The Commissioners’ Courtroom On The First Floor Of The Hopkins County Courthouse Located At 118 Church St., Sulphur Springs, TX.
I. Invocation
II. Pledge Of Allegiance To The Flag
- AMERICAN FLAG:
- TEXAS FLAG: “Honor The Texas Flag; I Pledge Allegiance To Thee, Texas, One State Under God, One And Indivisible.”
The Following Items Will Be Considered By Commissioners’ Court For Discussion And/Or Action: The Court May Go Into Executive Session To Discuss Legal And/Or Personnel Matters.
ORDER OF BUSINESS
- The Court To Declare A Quorum.
- Consent Agenda.
- Approve Previous Meeting Minutes.
- a) Regular Meeting – 11/09/2020, Special Session – 11/16/2020, Work Session – 11/23/2020, Work Session – 12/17/2020, Regular Meeting – 11/23/2020, Special Session – 01/01/2021, Work Session – 12/03/2020, Work Session – 12/21/2020, Regular Meeting – 12/07/2020, Work Session – 11/09/2020, Work Session – 12/07/2020, Regular Meeting – 12/21/2020 Work Session – 11/16/2020 Work Session – 12/14/2020
- Approval Of Utility Easements, Burial Of Telephone Cables And Construction Of Water Distribution Facilities:
- a) The Court To Consider And Approve A Request From Farmers Electric Cooperative To Construct Electrical Power Distribution Facilities Which Will Cross County Road 1126 Which Is Located 4600 Feet East Of Highway 275 In Precinct 1
- Approve Previous Meeting Minutes.
- The Court To Consider Citizens Comments.
- Other County Business.
- The Court To Consider And Approve Financing For Precinct 4 Reclaimer.
- The Court To Consider Approving Budget Amendments And Line Item Transfers.
- The Court Will Consider And Act On Payment Of Bills, Revenues And Expenses, Payroll And Financial Statements.
- The Court To Consider Approving Grants.
- The Court To Consider Accepting Donations.
- The Court To Consider Contracts.
- The Court To Consider And Approve An Interlocal Agreement With Van Zandt County.
- The Court Will Consider And Act On Personnel Matters.
- The Court To Consider Disposal Of Asset Request.
- The Court To Approve Resolutions And Proclamations.
- The Court To Consider And Approve The Submission Of The Grant Application For The Victim Assistance Coordinator Services And Legal Assistant Services To The Office Of The Governor.
- The Court To Adjourn.
DSHS Announced 28 COVID-19 Vaccine Hubs; CMFH-SS Among 206 Other Providers Allocated Doses As Well
The Texas Department of State Health Services has instructed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ship first doses of COVID-19 vaccine to 234 providers this week. That includes 28 hub providers that will focus on large community vaccination efforts as Texas vaccinates health care workers, people 65 and older and those with medical conditions that put them at greater risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19.
While no Sulphur Springs provider made the hub list for mass distributions, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital has been allocated another allotment of 100 doses of the vaccine during Week 5 of distribution, according to the DSHS announcement Sunday, Jan. 10.
The hub providers are scheduled to receive 158,825 doses of vaccine, based on the number of people each provider estimated it could serve in a week. The nearest providers to Hopkins County are in Tyler and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area.
For additional information about vaccinations at Northeast Texas Public Health District (the region serves Wood County and Rains Counties as well as Smith, Gregg, Van Zandt, Henderson, and Anderson Counties), including registering or being placed on a waiting list, click here. For additional information about vaccinations at UT Health Science Center Tyler, click here.
Appointments for community members in 1A and 1B to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at CHRISTUS Clinic are conducted online only at christushealth.org, by clicking the yellow chat icon on the homepage to connect with the “virtual assistant Christy. After answering screening questions to regarding 1A and 1B status, community members can then select the nearest CHRISTUS location and if any appointments are available, schedule at that time.
An additional 38,300 doses will go to other providers, such as CMFH-SS, to continue vaccination in communities statewide. Providers in 104 counties have been allocated vaccine shipments this week, bringing the cumulative number of counties that have received quantities of the vaccine to 222 as of Week 5 of the vaccination allocations. Vaccine has been administered to residents of all 254 Texas counties, DSHS reports.
In addition to CMFH-SS, other vaccine providers in counties around Northeast Texas approved to receive a smaller shipment of vaccine this week include: Ut Health Quitman Hospital in Quitman, Paris Regional Medical Center, Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital and DSHS PHR 4/5N HQ in- Tyle and Prmc Healthcare Group, Inc – Clarksville.
Texas has also reserved 121,875 doses for the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care program. This will complete the first doses the state has been required to set aside, which should free up more vaccine to be shipped to providers each week in the future. Texas providers will also receive about 500,000 doses intended as the second dose for people first vaccinated a few weeks ago, DSHS noted in the Jan. 10 announcement.
Vaccine remains limited based on the capacity of the manufacturers to produce it, so it will take time for Texas to receive enough vaccine for all the people in the priority populations who want to be vaccinated. The supply is expected to increase in the coming months, and additional vaccines are in clinical trials and may be authorized by the Food and Drug Administration.
More information on the COVID-19 vaccine can be found at: dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/immunize/vaccine.aspx.
Additional helpful links:
- Vaccination hub providers with contact information – Contact a provider in your area to learn about vaccination. Some may already have a waiting list for appointments.
- DSHS/TDEM map of vaccine providers
- Full list of vaccine allocations for the week of Jan. 11
Jan. 11-15 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 Jan. 11-15 Meal A Day Menu includes:
Monday – Poppy Seed Chicken, On a Bed of Rice, Malibu Vegetables and a Roll
Tuesday – Ham and Potato Casserole, California Blend Vegetables and a Roll
Wednesday – Chicken Noodle Casserole, Winter Blend Vegetables and Pickled Beets
Thursday – Taco Soup, Crackers and Tossed Salad
Friday – Sloppy Joe Sandwiches, BBQ Potato Chips and Cole Slaw
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.
Wildcats Basketball Team Loses Heartbreaker to Longview on 3-Pointer At The Buzzer
Just before time expired, Longview guard Tyree Hale banked in a 3-point basket to give the Lobos a 56-54 win over the Wildcats Basketball Team at the Main Gym at Sulphur Springs High School Saturday afternoon, January 9.
The Wildcats had maintained a lead throughout most of the fourth quarter before the final shot. It marked the second time this season that the Wildcats have lost a game right before the buzzer on a 3-point basket.
The Wildcats got off to a good start against Longview hitting 3-three pointers and they led 19-14 after one quarter. The Lobos hit five three point baskets in the second half and the score was tied at 29-29 at halftime. The Lobos took a 40-38 third quarter lead into the fourth quarter. Once again, for the Wildcats, they used their height advantage to good effect.
Junior Justin Haire scored 16 points before fouling out. Sophomore Kordrick Turner scored 14 points. Senior Boo Wilkerson scored 12 points. Senior point guard Lamodrick Johnson had 6 points. Junior Caleb Alexander had 4 points. Cason Arrington scored 2 points. Longview senior Kybrien Jackson-Jamerson led all scorers with 21 points.
The Lobos are now 3-2 in district play and 8-9 for the season. The Wildcats slip to 3-1 in district play and 10-7 for the season. The Wildcats continue district play Tuesday as Mount Pleasant comes to town.
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 Uses Big Second Half to Defeat Longview On The Road, 49-26, Saturday
The Lady Cats Basketball Team found themselves stuck in a 12-12 tie at halftime on the road in a district game at Longview Saturday night, January 9.
The Lady Cats then went out and had a very big last two quarters as they pulled away from the Lady Lobos taking a 49-26 win.
Sophomore Kenzie Willis led the Lady Cats with 14 points. Sophomore Serenity Lewis scored 10 points. Senior Bre-Asia Ivery had 8 points. Senior Dalanee Myles and sophomore Addisyn Wall both scored 6 points. Senior Nylah Lindley scored 5 points.
The game marked the end of the first half of district play for the Lady Cats and they are 4-2 so far. The Lady Cats have won 4 games in a row and their season record is now 10-6.
The Lady Cats open the second half of district play Tuesday with a road contest at Mount Pleasant. The Lady Cats topped the Lady Tigers at home back on December 11, 41-36.
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 Teams Even Their Season Records With Tournament Wins Saturday
The Sulphur Springs Wildcats and Lady Cats Soccer Teams evened their season records with tournament wins Saturday.
Wildcats Soccer
The Wildcats Soccer Team ended up winning two games, losing one and tying one in their first tournament of the season at the Forney Kickoff Tournament Thursday through Saturday, January 7-9.
The Wildcats ended their participation in the tourney with a Saturday morning 1-0 win over Seagoville. The Wildcats unassisted goal was scored by Uriel Santacruz.
Wildcats Coach Alexi Upton said his team could have won by a larger margin but he noted they missed two penalty kicks.
The Wildcats did even their season record with the Saturday win and they are now 2-2-1 for the season.
Next, the Wildcats will play in the 2021 Wylie ISD Men’s Soccer Showcase this Thursday through Saturday. The Wildcats are scheduled to play Princeton, Mesquite Horn and Wylie East in the tourney.
Lady Cats Soccer
The Lady Cats Soccer Team wrapped up their play in the Kilgore Tournament Saturday afternoon with a solid 5-1 win over Tyler Chapel Hill. During the tournament, the Lady Cats won two, lost one and tied one.
The Lady Cats’ season record is now 2-2-1.
The Lady Cats play next at home against Princeton on Tuesday 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.
Saltillo Lions Remain Unbeaten In District Play With Home Win Over Avinger Friday
The Saltillo Lions came out ready to play in their home district game against Avinger Friday, January 8.
The Lions roared out to a 25-2 first quarter lead and led 47-10 at halftime on their way to a 74-35 win. The Lions had a phenomenal night at the free throw line canning 19 of 23 shots.
The win improved the Lions’ district mark to 3-0 and they are now 8-8 for the season.
For the Lions, Chris Boekhorst led the way with 25 points. Andrew Redburn had 20 points. Gunner Tarver added 13 points. David Whitworth scored 9 points. Colton McGill scored 5 points. Coy Collins had 2 points.
The Lions play next on Tuesday against Union Hill.
Jan. 9 COVID-19 Update: 5 Fatalities, 9 New Cases, 4 Recoveries, 217 Active Cases
Five additional COVID-19 fatalities, 9 new cases and four recoveries were reported for Hopkins County in the Texas Department of State Health Services Jan. 9 COVID-19 dashboard for Texas Case Counts.
Case Counts and Fatalities
A total of 1,217 molecular COVID-19 cases have been reported for Hopkins County since March, which means two additional Hopkins County residents received lab-confirmed molecular COVID-19 test results as of 2:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9. The week ends with 86 total new COVID-19 cases reported for Hopkins County and the month with 95 new cases, according to DSHS Jan. 9 COVID-19 dashboard for Texas Case Counts.
Seven additional Hopkins County residents are reported to be “probable cases” of COVID-19, that people who tested positive through an antigen test or have a combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis. Thirty-five probable cases were reported this week and 68 new probable cases this month. Cumulatively, since the state began tracking probable cases, Hopkins County has had 1,185 probable cases.
Combined, that’s nine new novel coronavirus 2019 cases reported Jan. 9, 123 new cases this week and 163 new cases reported so far this month.
The DSHS Jan. 9 COVID-19 Texas Case Counts Dashboard showed 78 Hopkins County COVID-19 fatalities since the pandemic began in March, which means five additional Hopkins County residents were confirmed Jan. 9 by death certificate to have died from COVID-19. That’s a fatality rate of 0.21 percent of the overall population in Hopkins County. The fatality rate among Hopkins County COVID-19 cases, however, is 3.25 percent.
Four additional Hopkins County residents are reported to have recovered from COVID-19 on Saturday, Jan. 9, for a total of 54 recoveries this week and 68 recoveries so far this month. Cumulatively, 2,107 of the 2,402 Hopkins County residents who’ve had COVID-19 are reported to have recovered from the virus. That leaves 217 active COVID-19 cases at 2:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, the same as on Friday because the deaths and recoveries matched the new case count.
Testing Reports
A total of 15,274 COVID-19 tests have been performed in Hopkins County, including 12,292 viral or molecular tests, 1,307 antigen tests and 1,674 antibody tests. That means 84 more COVID-19 tests were performed in Hopkins County on Friday, 51 viral tests, 33 antigen tests and one antibody test on Friday.
That’s 691 total COVID-19 tests conducted this week: 497 viral tests, 107 antigen tests and 87 antibody tests performed this week in Hopkins County, according to the DSHS Jan. 9 COVID-19 Test and Hospital Data dashboard.
Free oral swab (molecular) COVID-19 testing will continue to be offered from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays in January inside the Red Cross (old Fidelity Express Building) in Sulphur Springs. Free testing 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.
Hospital Reports
COVID-19 hospitalizations continued to rise on Friday, Dec. 8, as did all hospitalizations in Trauma Service Area F, which includes hospitals across an eight county region that spans from Hopkins north to the Oklahoma border and east to Bowie County, with the exception of Franklin County, which is in Trauma Service Area G.
Trauma Service Area F hospitals were treating 240 COVID-19 patients on Friday, which is five more than the previous high for COVID patients. Eleven more hospital beds were staffed throughout the region for a total of 1,065 staffed beds in TSA-F. That includes 11 additional staffed inpatient beds, which numbered 973 on Jan. 8, and left a total of 315 hospital beds available throughout TSA-F on Jan. 8, according to the DSHS Jan. 9 COVID-19 Test and Hospital Data dashboard.
Overall, COVID-19 hospitalizations made up 22.54 percent of the total hospital capacity in TSA-F on Jan. 8, up from 22.32 percent one day before. That makes 14 consecutive days in which COVID-19 hospitalizations made up at 15 percent or more of the total hospital capacity in TSA-F. Because of the continued high hospitalizations, many businesses including retail and restaurants in five of the eight counties in TSA-F and 16 other TSAs in Texas have been subject to GA-32. TSA-F, per the Governor’s Executive Order, had for 7 consecutive days had high hospitalizations and on Jan. 2 were required to scale back capacity from 75 to 50 percent. TSA’F’s hospitalizations have remained above 15 percent since then. In order to reopen at 75 percent occupancy, TSA-F’s COVID-19 hospitalizations have to be below the 15 percent threshold for seven consecutive days.
2 East Texas Men Jailed On A Firearm Charge Following Traffic Stops
Two East Texas men were jailed on a firearm charge each following two different traffic stops on Friday, according to arrest reports.
I-30 East Traffic Stop
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Justin Wilkerson reported stopping a red Chevrolet Tahoe at 8:55 p.m. Jan. 8 after observing it being driven in the left lane of Interstate 30 east at mile marker 125 (Bill Bradford Road) and not passing other vehicles and failing to be driven in a single lane.
Upon approach of the SUV, Wilkerson alleged he smelled an odor of burnt marijuana emitting from the vehicle and could see a firearm in plain view in the center front seat. He removed the weapon and had the 22-year-old Pittsburg, Texas man step out of the driver’s seat while a probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted. The deputy then asked dispatchers to conduct a records check on the man and weapon.
Deputy Chris Baumann arrived to assist. The deputies noted the 2-year-old in a car seat in the back seat. Dispatchers reported the weapon came back as having been reported stolen in Morris County. Consequently, Marketihan Javard “Ke-Ke” Cleveland, was taken into custody. Baumann transported Cleveland to jail.
Deputies contacted the child’s mother and arranged to meet her at the sheriff’s office. Wilkerson put the toddler in his patrol vehicle, waiting until the SUV was towed then transported the 2-year-old to the sheriff’s office. Child Protective Services was called to stay with the child until the mother arrived. Deputies met with the mother and CPS case worker, who released the child to the mother.
Cleveland, who is also known by Markeithan Javard Cleveland, was booked into Hopkins County jail shortly after midnight then released later Saturday, Jan. 9, on a $5,000 bond on the theft of firearm charge.
Davis Street Traffic Stop
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Drew Fisher reported stopping a silver Nissan Frontier just after 9 p.m. Jan. 8 on Davis Street at Houston Street for a traffic violation.
Fisher reported seeing Randy Dale Hargrave discard a pill bottle out the passenger side window of the truck. He detained the 45-year-old Cooper man and collected the bottle. It contained 6.832 grams of suspected methamphetamine. A firearm was found during a search of the truck.
A records check of Hargrave’s criminal history showed he has prior felony convictions. Consequently, Hargrave was taken into custody and transported by Sgt. Tanner Steward to jail, where he was booked for possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
Hargrave remained in Hopkins County jail Saturday, Jan. 9. Bond was set at $30,000 on the controlled substance charge, which jail reports show has a drug-free zone enhancement; $10,000 on the tampering with evidence charge; and $10,000 on the firearm charge.
Jail records also show Hargrave was jailed in 2015 on warrants for violating probation on controlled substance and engaging in organized criminal activity charges, and to serve a three-year prison sentence for a controlled substance charge. In all, he has been jailed in Hopkins County more than a dozen times and has more than two dozen charges on his record, which spans from 1994 to 2021, jail reports show.
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.
Interstate 30 Traffic Stop Nets Bundles Of Cash, Marijuana, Pill, 3 Arrests
An Interstate 30 traffic stop netted bundles of cash, marijuana, a pill and the three arrests, according to arrest reports.
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Arturo Ugalde reported stopping a white Dodge 1500 pickup just before 6 p.m. Jan. 8 on Interstate 30 west at mile marker 136 for a defective tail light.
Upon contact with the occupants, Ugalde alleged he detected the overwhelming odor of fresh marijuana. All three occupants of the vehicle gave the highway patrolman different, conflicting stories regarding their travels and destination, Ugalde alleged in arrest reports.
Passenger Erik Maray Williams claimed to have a medical marijuana card and admitted to possessing marijuana, the trooper alleged in arrest reports. A probable cause search of Williams’ luggage allegedly revealed a usable quantity of marijuana and a large amount of US currency, which the 38-year-old Cincinnati, Ohio claimed was about $20,000 in cash. The bundles included bill of all denominations, all secured with rubber bands, Ugalde noted in arrest reports.
Driver Ronald Floyd Jr. allegedly admitted to possessing a jar of marijuana. A usable quantity of marijuana and large amounts of currency the 36-year-old Cincinnati, Ohio man to the trooper amounted to about $43,000 in cash. Those bundles too included bills of all denominations secured with rubber and paper bands, according to arrest reports.
A search of passenger Alexanndria C. Green’s purse allegedly revealed two halves of a broken pill identified as acetaminophen oxycodone, which the 32-year-old Cincinnati, Ohio woman claimed Floyd gave her for pain caused by braces that were recently put on, Ugalde noted in arrest reports.
DPS Criminal Investigations Division Agents Phillip Alston and Daniel Kelly were contacted. All three Ohio residents were taken transported to Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, where they were interviewed by the agents. A DPS canine also alerted on the currency, which Ugalde noted, was an indication the currency had been within close proximity to narcotics.
Based on the totality of circumstances, DPS believed Williams and Floyd were in possession of suspected proceeds from criminal activity and actively transporting them in order to further the criminal activity, Ugalde alleged in arrest reports.
Thus, Williams and Floyd were arrested for money laundering and possession of marijuana and Green was charged with possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, according to arrest reports.
Green was released from Hopkins County jail Saturday morning, Jan. 9, 2021, on a $10,000 bond on the controlled substance charge. Floyd was also released from jail Saturday, Jan. 9 on a $20,000 bond on the money laundering charge and a $1,000 bond on the possession of marijuana charge, according to jail reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
