Filing For School And Municipal Elections Continues; All Reports So Far Are Of Uncontested Races
With a little less than 2 weeks left in the filing for school and municipal elections, all reports thus far are of uncontested races in Hopkins County.
Sulphur Springs
In Sulphur Springs, the incumbents are the only candidates who had filed candidacy in both the City Council and school board elections.
School Board
On the first day of the filing period, Kerry Wright and Jason Dietze filed candidate applications seeking a place on the May 1 Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees Election. Incumbents Wright and Dietze are seeking another 3-year term on the school board.
Dietze was first elected to the school board in 2009. He was re-elected secretary in 2020. He previously served as vice president and president. Wright was appointed to the board in August of 2017 to fill the unexpired term of Don Sapaugh. Wright was previously on the board for seven years, which included serving as secretary, vice president and president of the school board, but resigned in 2016.
Candidates may obtain and return an application for a place on the May 1, 2021 Election ballot for two full 3-year seats on SSISD Board of Trustees from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday-Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays Jan. 13-Feb. 12 in the Tax Office of the SSISD Administration Building, located at 631 Connally St. All applications filed are public records and open to inspection upon request.
For additional information, contact Sandra Gibby, SSISD Tax Assessor/Collector, at 903-885-2153, extension 1111.
City Council
Also on Jan. 13, the first day of filing, all four incumbents filed candidacy in the May 1, 2021 Sulphur Springs City Council Election. Places 1, 2 and 3 are for a full 3-year term on the City Council each. Place 5 is for a 1-year term.
All four seats were on the 2020 ballot due to the resignations of four council members in the same week in December of 2019. The City Council Election was to be held in spring 2020, but due to COVID-19 was postponed until November 2020.
Incumbents Harold Nash Sr. and Gary Spraggins filed Wednesday morning, Jan. 13, for a place on the May 1 Sulphur Springs City Council ballot.
Nash was appointed in December 2019 by the City Council to fill the Place 2 seat until the 2020 election. He then ran and was unopposed in the Nov. 3, 2020 election for the 1-year unexpired Place 2 seat. Nash is now seeking a full 3-year term on the City Council for Place 2.
Spraggins won the Nov. 3, 2020 election, receiving 71.24 percent of the votes for the Place 5 seat for one year, and is now seeking election to serve the final year of the unexpired term for Place 5.
Jay W. Julian filed later in the day Jan. 13 for a place on the May 1, 2021 City Council Election ballot for Place 1. He was one of four candidates on the November 2020 ballot for the Place 1 seat on the council. A run-off election was called between Julian and Mark Bradley after no one candidate received 50 percent or more of the votes in the Nov. 3, 2020 election for Place 1. Julian won the December 2020 runoff for the remaining months of the unexpired Place 1 term with 55.45 percent of the votes cast. Julian is now seeking a full 3-year term on the City Council.
Oscar Aguilar signed up Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 13, to run for Place 3 on Sulphur Springs City Council. He ran for and drew no opponents in 2020 for Place 3 on the City Council. Aguilar is now seeking a full 3-year term on the City Council.
Candidate filing for the May 2021 Sulphur Springs City Council Elections will continue during regular business hours, 8-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, Feb. 12, at Sulphur Springs Municipal Building, 201 North Davis St. Applications may be mailed to 125 South Davis St.
Yantis
School Board
Only two candidates had filed as of Friday, Jan. 29, for the May 1 Yantis ISD Board of Trustees Election to fill for three seats on the school board, and neither was an incumbent. Stacey Batchelor, a therapy coordinator, and Ashly Vivion, an office/accounting clerk have filed candidacy for the a place on the May 1 election ballot.
Currently serving in those seats are Stacey Wetzel, Michael Burnett and Tyra Kenemore. Wetzel has served two full terms on the school board. Burnett and Kenemore are completing a full term on the school board.
Candidate filing will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, Jan. 13 to Feb. 12, 2021, at 111 South Main Street in Yantis. Applications for a place on the ballot may be mailed to 105 West Oak Street in Yantis 754597.
Additional information is available on the school website (http://www.yantisisd.net/) or by clicking here, or contacting Kristy Beech at [email protected]t or 903-383-2462.
Como
The City of Como partners with Como-Pickton Consolidated ISD every 2 years to hold elections, each sharing costs for equipment and hosting an election.
City Council
The City of Como is scheduled to hold an election on May 1 for all three places on the City Council.
The City of Como had received no candidate applications as of Friday, Jan. 29, for City Council.
Currently, Jerry Radney serves as mayor. As mayor pro temp, he stepped up to mayor when Darla Henry resigned the position in August 2020, due to a move out of the city. Austin Baxley, a teacher at Como-Pickton school, was then appointed to the council as commissioner. Steve Smith was serving in the other commissioner seat on Como City Council until his recent resignation. Instead of appointing someone to serve in the second commission seat for a few months, the Council has opted to leave that seat empty until the election.
Filing for the two commissioner seats and mayor continues Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Feb. 12, 2021, at City Hall, 104 Mill Street in Como. For additional information about the May 1 Como City Council Election, call 903-488-3434.
School Board
Como-Pickton CISD will also be holding trustees elections on May 1, a regular election for three four-year term seats on the board and a special election to fill a two-year unexpired term seat on the CPCISD Board of Trustees. As of Monday morning, incumbents DJ Carr and Shiloh Childress were the only candidates who had filed.
Currently, Mark Humphrey, Shiloh Childress and Jessica Pegues currently serve in the full term seats. A special election has also been called to fill the remaining two years of DJ Carr’s seat, according to the C-P CISD Elections Officer.
Candidates may pick up applications in the CPCISD Administration Office, 13017 Highway 11 east of Como, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays through Feb. 12. Additional information, including requirements and eligibility are available on the school website, https://www.cpcisd.net/, under District and School Board menu options or by clicking here.
Bennett Back In Jail for Second Time In 5 Months
Aaron Cole Bennett is back in jail for to the second time in 5 months, according to arrest and jail reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Justin Wilkerson was made aware of a felony warrant for the 33-year-old Sulphur Springs man’s arrest. Acting on information received that the man had been staying at a residence in town, Wilkerson went to the Texas Street residence Friday evening. Wilkerson did indeed contact Bennett at the address and took him into custody shortly after 6 p.m. Jan. 29. Deputy Aaron Chaney arrived to assist.
Consequently, Bennett was jailed for the second time in 5 months on Friday, this time on a family violence assault that impeded the breathing or circulation of a family or household member warrant. The offense, according to arrest reports is alleged to have occurred on Jan. 26, 2021.
Prior to that, he was arrested on Sept. 1, 2020 on a burglary of vehicles charge, but was released from the county jail later that day on a $2,000 bond. His jail records show he had been in custody nearly a dozen times, including commitments in 2008 to be served in a substance abuse felony punishment facility for violating probation on two burglary charges and one possession of controlled substance 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.
Woman Jailed For Third Time In 6 Months For Violating Parole
A 38-year-old Sulphur Springs woman early Saturday morning was jailed for the third time in 6 months for violating terms of her parole, according to jail and arrest reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Silas Whaley reported seeing Charla Nicole Tillery walking down the railroad tracks in the 700 block of Man Street at 2:18 a.m. Jan. 30, 2021 and contacted her. A records check showed Tillery to have an outstanding warrant for violation of parole, so he took her to jail on the charge, Whaley noted in arrest reports.
Hopkins County jail records show Tilley was jailed twice during the second half of 2020 for violation of parole. She spent Aug. 15-18 and Nov. 26-Dec. 27, 2020 in the county jail for violation of parole as well.
She was also jailed Dec. 13, 2018-March 11, 2019, after an investigation by the Special Crimes Unit resulted in her arrest on a warrant for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone and a warrant for violation of probation on an assault of a public servant charge, according to arrest and jail reports. Tillery was arrested Sept. 16, 2017 and remained in the county jail until May 18, 2018 on an assault of a public servant charge.
Tilley has been booked into Hopkins County jail on more than 20 times, starting in 2003, on charges ranging from public intoxication, failure to identify, criminal trespass, theft and possession of drug paraphernalia to manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance in a drug-free zone, family violence assault causing bodily injury and assault of a public servant. She also was jailed on two Wood County warrants for unauthorized use of a vehicle and to serve a two-year sentence in 2014 for manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance charge.
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.
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.
Paris District Road Report for the Week of February. 1, 2021
Paris — Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the week of Feb. 1, 2021. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Motorists are advised to remain alert and pay special attention to all signs, barricades and traffic controls, and reduce their speed as they approach and travel through work zones. They should also avoid distractions such as cell phones, eating, drinking, or car audio or navigation systems.
Sherman Area (Fannin, Grayson Counties)
Contacts: Sherman Area Office (903) 892-6529; Grayson Co. Maintenance (903) 893-8831; Fannin Co. Maintenance (903) 583-7566.
US 75, Grayson County: from FM 1417 to SH 91 (Texoma Parkway). Watch for shoulder closures and lane shifts on northbound and southbound US 75 between Center Street and FM 1417 as crews work on building new main lanes and the new South Travis Street Bridge. Watch for lane closures on the frontage roads between FM 1417 and SH 91 as crews work on building detours and installing drainage structures. The northbound exit ramp for Houston and Lamar Streets (SH 56) is currently closed, and exiting traffic is requested to use the Park Avenue exit ramp. The northbound exit ramp for Pecan Street and Washington Street is currently closed, and exiting traffic is requested to use the next exit ramp for North Travis Street. The southbound exit ramp for Park Avenue is currently closed and exiting traffic is requested to use the Houston/Lamar Street (SH 56) exit. The southbound Washington Street exit ramp is currently closed, and exiting traffic is requested to use the North Travis Street exit. The northbound frontage road from South Travis Street to near Park Avenue is closed for crews to work on building the remaining portion of the retaining wall along US 75 at the South Travis Street intersection. Traffic is requested to use the US 75 mainlanes during this closure. A reduced speed limit of 60 mph on the US 75 mainlanes has been set for this construction project.
The westbound US 82 exit ramp for Loy Lake road is currently closed for crews to work on widening the US 82 frontage road. This exit ramp is expected to be closed through July 2021. Traffic wishing to access Loy Lake Road is requested to take the SH 91 exit ramp (#643), or the US 75 exit ramp.
During the week of February 1 through 7, the Washington Street intersection at US 75 will be closed to through traffic in order for crews to perform pavement improvements in the left lane of the northbound and southbound frontage roads. Traffic on Washington Street will be able to make a right turn only onto the frontage road and will detour to the next intersection. This same process will occur for the Houston and Lamar Street intersections in subsequent weeks. This work is weather dependent and may be adjusted due to unfavorable weather.
Beginning at 7:30 p.m. on February 12, both lanes of the US 75 northbound frontage road will be closed in order to demolish a portion of the old railroad bridge structure. The frontage road will be reopened to traffic on February 13 at 6:30 a.m.
The US 75 pedestrian bridge near Pecan Street in Sherman is closed to pedestrian traffic. The east side over the frontage road has been removed. The remaining pedestrian bridge will be removed at a later time. Pedestrians wishing to cross US 75 are advised to cross at the Houston Street signalized intersection.
FM 1417, Grayson County: from US 82 to SH 56. Watch for lane shifts and shoulder closures between US 82 and SH 56 while crews are working to construct a portion of the new Sand Creek bridge and the approaches to the bridge. Weather permitting, on February 4 we will move traffic onto the new portion of the Sand Creek bridge in order to begin construction on the other half of the bridge. Watch for occasional daytime lane closures as crews perform utility work. A reduced speed limit of 45 mph has been set for this construction project.
FM 121, Grayson County: from Jim Jones Road to FM 3356. Watch for occasional daytime lane closures as crews work to build portions of the new bridges and roadway. Watch for lane shifts and narrow lanes throughout the project as crews have moved traffic to the temporary detour section. The ultimate roadway will be a five-lane section consisting of concrete pavement when the project is completed.
US 377, Grayson County: Willis Bridge at the Oklahoma State line. Watch for occasional lane closures on the existing bridge as workers pour concrete for the new bridge structure.
US 75 Ramp Reversal in Denison, Grayson County: on the southbound US 75 main lanes and frontage road between Spur 503 and FM 691. Watch for occasional daytime lane closures on the southbound US 75 frontage road while construction crews work on completing the remainder of the project. The new FM 691 exit ramp is open to access FM 691. The new entrance ramp to southbound US 75 has been opened to traffic.
US 377, Grayson County: from US 82 to FM 901. Watch for temporary daytime lane closures and shoulder closures as workers install safety treatments on fixed objects.
US 75 debris pickup, Grayson County: from Collin County line to Oklahoma State line. Watch for mobile lane closures as workers pick up debris from the roadway every Monday and Thursday during the daytime.
FM 697, Grayson County: between FM 2729 and US 69. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews blade level the roadway.
FM 1753, Grayson County: between FM 1897 and FM 120. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews work on performing base repairs.
FM 1753, Grayson and Fannin County: from FM 1897 to SH 78. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
FM 898, Fannin County: from the Grayson County line to SH 121. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
FM 1743, Fannin County: from SH 56 to FM 1550. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
FM 824, Fannin County: from SH 56 in Honey Grove to the Lamar County line. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
FM 1550, Fannin County: from County Road 3330 to SH 34. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
US 69, Fannin County: from FM 981 to FM 896. Watch for temporary daytime lane closures as workers perform base repairs on the roadway.
SH 121, Fannin County: from the Collin County line to SH 56. Watch for temporary daytime lane closures and shoulder closures as workers install safety treatments on fixed objects.
US 82, Fannin County: from SH 121 to the Lamar County Line. Watch for slow moving construction equipment as crews work on widening US 82 from a two-lane roadway to a four-lane divided roadway. Westbound US 82 traffic has been shifted to the new pavement for the entirety of the project from the Lamar County line to SH 121. Eastbound traffic will remain in its current lane, while crews work on the inside lane to build crossovers and turn lanes and overlay the future left lane. Drivers who frequent this roadway are advised that all driveways, county roads and farm-to-market roads approaching the new westbound main lanes on US 82 will have a full stop before crossing over to the median.
US 69, Fannin County: from SH 11 to SH 121. Watch for daytime lane and shoulder closures as maintenance crews work on backfilling the edge of the roadway.
FM 274, Fannin County: from FM 1753 to SH 78. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews work on blade leveling the roadway.
FM 1552, Fannin County: from SH 78 to end of maintenance. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews work on a drainage pipe repair.
FM 100, Fannin County: at the CR 2780 intersection. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews work on a drainage pipe replacement.
Sulphur Springs Area (Hopkins, Franklin Counties):
Contacts: Sulphur Springs Area Office (903) 885-9514; Franklin Co. Maintenance (903) 537-4976; Hopkins Co. Maintenance (903) 885-4031.
I-30, Hopkins & Franklin Counties: From Titus County Line to Hunt County Line. Watch for lane closures and short traffic delays as crews upgrade metal beam guard fence.
FM 3389, Hopkins County: From IH 30 to FM 1567. Watch for lane closures and short traffic delays as crews begin work on rehabilitation of the roadway.
SH 37, Franklin County: At Winnsboro City Limit. Watch for lane closures and short traffic delays as crews perform work on cross drainage structure.
Paris Area (Delta, Lamar, Red River Counties)
Contacts: Paris Area Office (903) 784-1357; Delta Co. Maintenance (903) 395-2139; Lamar Co. Maintenance (903) 785-4468; Red River Co. Maintenance (903) 427-3561.
FM 137 at Loop 286, Lamar County: Watch for lane closures while crews mill existing pavement and place new hot mix surface.
FM 1507, Lamar County: from South Collegiate Drive to Loop 286. This roadway is closed while crews rehabilitate and resurface the existing roadway.
Loop 286, Lamar County: from US 82 W to 0.5 mi. south of US 82 E. Watch for lane closures while crews perform full-depth concrete repairs.
BU 82H (Bonham Street/Lamar Avenue), Lamar County: from 19th Street SW to 33rd Street SE. Watch for crews performing safety improvements to traffic signals.
FM 1487, Red River County: from FM 909 to FM 910. Watch for temporary lane closures while crews widen and rehabilitate the existing pavement and improve drainage structures.
FM 911, Red River County: from BU 82K (Avery) to FM 44. Watch for temporary lane closures while crews rehabilitate the existing pavement and improve drainage structures.
SH 37, Red River County: from US 271 (Bogata) to Franklin County Line. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews mill existing pavement, upgrade bridge rail, and place new hot mix.
BU 271D, Red River County: from US 271 to SP 38 (Bogata). Watch for daytime lane closures while crews rehabilitate the existing roadway.
US 82, Red River County: from FM 1159 to Bowie County Line. Traffic is shifted to the north side of the roadway between FM 44 and FM 1699 while crews perform pavement widening work on the south side.
Greenville Area (Hunt, Rains Counties)
Contacts: Greenville Area Office (903) 455-2363; Hunt Co. Maintenance (903)455-2303; Rains Co. Maintenance (903) 473-2682.
SH 276, Hunt County, from FM 36 to SH 34 (Quinlan Bypass): The contractor has begun placing project barricades and will begin preparing the right-of-way, and clearing and grubbing the project limits.
FM 499, Hunt County: at Lynn Creek. Road closures began on Nov. 30 and will continue throughout the duration of this project. The contractor is forming and tying steel for the bridge deck and bridge approaches. Please be aware of lane closures, and watch for workers and work zones when traveling in this area.
FM 1566, Hunt County: from FM 272 near Celeste to State Highway 34. The contractor is currently preparing to seal coat the proposed roadway on a two-mile stretch of roadway rehabilitation beginning at FM 272. Please be aware of lane closures, and watch for work zones and workers when traveling in this area.
SH 66 at FM 1570, Hunt County: The contractor will be prepping the right-of-way and placing and extending culverts for this project. Please be aware of lane closures, and watch for work zones and workers when traveling in this area.
Maintenance crews in Hunt County will be performing pothole repairs, mowing and metal beam guard fence repairs around the county, and removing debris from I-30 early this week. Maintenance crews will overlay various section of I-30 frontage roads and FM 36. Please be careful when traveling in these areas, watch out for workers and maintain a safe distance from work crews.
Maintenance crews in Rains County will be performing various sign installations, potholing and debris removal. Maintenance crews will perform patching on FM515 from FM 2795 to Wood County Line. Please watch for lane closures, work zones and workers along the roadway, and maintain a safe distance from work crews.
SH 34 bridge, Hunt County: 3.5 miles south of Quinlan. TxDOT has placed a temporary concrete traffic barrier to protect travelers from the damage caused by an 18-wheeler accident. A project pre-construction meeting was held on Jan. 7. The bridge and road is now open to both lanes of traffic. Please drive cautiously and safely in this area.
Please be careful when traveling in these areas, watch out for workers and maintain a safe distance from work crews. Debris and litter operations are ongoing throughout multiple parts of the county. Please be careful when traveling, and watch out for workers.
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Lady Cats Clinch Tri- District Basketball Championship And #1 Playoff Seed With Friday Win
What a big night for the Lady Cats. With a solid 59-38 win at home over Longview Friday evening, January 29, the Lady Cats won a part of the district basketball championship with Hallsville and Mount Pleasant.
Because of having the best head-to-head record against the other two teams, the Lady Cats will go into the playoffs as the #1 seed from District 15-5A. Mount Pleasant is the #2 seed, Hallsville the #3 seed and Texas High is the #4 seed. The top three teams all ended the district campaign with 9-3 records.
The Lady Cats are 15-7 for the season. They will play the #4 seed in district 16-5A in a bi-district playoff game sometime between February 11 and February 13.
The Lady Cats got off to a blazing start against Longview Friday. The Lady Cats were up 17-3 after the first quarter and 27-5 at the half. They extended their lead to 42-17 after three quarters and then withstood a Lady Lobos three point barrage in the final quarter for the 59-38 win.
Kenzie Willis led the Lady Cats with 19 points. Dalanee Myles scored 11 points. Bre’Asia Ivery and Addisyn Wall both scored 9 points. Baylie Large had 6 points. Addy Lamb had 3 points. Nylah Lindley had 2 points. Longview’s Cree McLemore hit 7 three-point baskets and finished with a game high 22 points.
Friday was also Senior Night for the Lady Cats and they honored three: Bre’Asia Ivery, Nylah Lindley and Dalanee Myles.
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 Basketball Team Uses Strong First Half to Get Big District Win At Longview Friday
In a district battle for second place Friday night, January 29, at Longview, the Wildcats Basketball Team blitzed the Lobos over the first two quarters and then coasted to victory, 62-44.
The Wildcats opened strong and led 17-6 after one quarter. The second quarter was almost a perfect copy of the first as the Wildcats outscored Longview 18-6 to go up 23 points at halftime, 35-12. The Lobos could only trim 5 points off the lead over the last two quarters.
The Wildcats had three players in double figures as sophomore Kordrick Turner poured in 18 points. Senior Boo Wilkerson scored 12 points. Junior Justin Haire had 10 points. Sophomore Parker Whisenhunt had 8 points. Junior Caleb Alexander scored 5 points. Senior Lamodrick Johnson added 4 points. Senior Malique Cole scored 3 points. Ben Hatcher had 2 points.
The Wildcats improved their district record to 8-2. They are two games behind first place Mount Pleasant and two games up over third place Longview in the loss column. The Wildcats travel to Mount Pleasant next Tuesday. Then they close out the district season at home on Senior Night against Texas High next Friday. The Wildcats season record is now 15-8.
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 Soccer Team Opens District Play With Narrow 1-0 Loss At Home To Longview
The Longview Lobos, preseason ranked #8 in the region, scored a goal and then utilized a tough defense to stifle the Wildcats Soccer Team and hang on for a 1-0 win at Gerald Prim Stadium Friday night, January 29.
Wildcats Soccer Coach Alexi Upton said it was not a good game for the Wildcats. He said there were lots of turnovers and mistakes. He said he hopes the Wildcats can rebound against Mount Pleasant at The Prim Tuesday as district play continues.
The Wildcats, 0-1 in district play, are 9-5-1 for the season.
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 Soccer Team Is Outscored 5-3 In Longview In District Opener Friday
The Lady Cats Soccer Team did their best to match goals with Longview Friday night, January 29, in the district opener for both teams at Longview.
The teams were tied 2-2 at the half. The Lady Lobos had the advantage 3-1 in the second half to take a 5-3 win. The Lady Cats, 0-1 in district play, are now 6-5-3 for the season.
The challenging start to district play continues next Tuesday night as the Lady Cats travel to Mount Pleasant. The Lady Cats home district opener will take place next Friday as Texas High comes to Gerald Prim Stadium.
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.
Jan. 29 COVID-19 Update: 1 Fatality, 18 New Cases, 6 Recoveries
While all COVID-19 counts in Hopkins County rose on Friday, the overall COVID-19 hospitalizations in Trauma Service Area F were down the lowest they’ve been since Dec. 21 , according to the Texas Department of State Health Service Jan. 29 COVID-19 dashboard. And, Hopkins County was left off the list of providers allocated new first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for the week of Feb. 1.
Case Counts
DSHS reported that 93 Hopkins County COVID-19 fatalities. That 1 more Hopkins County resident has been confirmed by death certificate to have died from COVID-19. The latest death, according to the Jan. 29 COVID-19 County Trends dashboard, occurred on Jan. 23. That is the 10th Hopkins County resident who has been confirmed to have died in January for COVID-19.
A total of 1,359 Hopkins County residents have received lab-confirmed positive molecular COVID-19 results since March, including six new cases on Friday. That makes 22 new confirmed cases so far this week, six less than the first six days of last week and 38 less than Jan. 10-16, and 22 less than Jan. 3-9. Overall, 237 new confirmed CVOID-19 cases had been reported for Hopkins County during the first 29 days of January, but still 50 less than Dec. 1-29. The only other month with more new cases than December was October when 323 new cases were reported.
Twice as many new probable cases were reported on Friday as confirmed cases. The 12 new probable cases increases the total so far this week to 28, DSHS Jan. 29 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard, eight more than during the first six days of last week, a dozen more than Jan. 10-5 and 21 less than Jan. 3-8. So far this month, 150 new probable cases have been reported for Hopkins County. Since the state began tracking positive antigen results and those of people who have or had a combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis, according to the Jan. 29 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard.
Six additional Hopkins County residents had recovered from COVID-19 on Friday, increasing the total so far this week to 63 recoveries. This month 353 Hopkins County residents have recovered from COVID-19. Of the 2,626 Hopkins County COVID-19 cases, 2,406 recovered.
That leaves 127 Hopkins County residents who still had COVID-19 on Friday, Jan. 29.
Hospital Reports
The patient count in CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs increased from 18 on Wednesday and Thursday to 20 on Friday, the same as on Jan. 22, but still a dozen less than on Jan. 7 and 8, according to the Jan. 29 COVID-19 update from Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management.
Across Trauma Service Area F the COVID-19 patient count dropped from 168 on Wednesday to 158 on Thursday, the lowest patient count since Dec. 21, when the patient count rose from the 154 reported on Jan. 20 to 159.
The decrease in COVID-19 patients, coupled with a rise in staffed beds from 1,068 to 1,073 and in staffed inpatient beds from 976 to 981 on Thursday, lowered the percentage of hospital capacity COVID-19 patients comprise from 15.73 on Jan. 27 to 14.73 on Jan. 28. Six more consecutive days below the 15 percent threshold and businesses will be able to again open at 75 percent capacity and restrictions on elective surgeries will be lifted throughout TSA-F.
COVID-19 Testing
HC/SSEM’s Jan. 29 COVID-19 update also reported 8,887 molecular COVID-19 tests have been conducted at 128-A Jefferson Street since the Red Cross building was opened as a free COVID-19 testing center on Sept. 25, including 71 tests performed on Thursday.
A total of 13,916 viral or molecular COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Hopkins County since March. Since the state began tracking the data, 1,728 antigen tests and 1,769 antibody tests have also been conducted in Hopkins County, including the 36 antigen tests performed on Thursday. No additional antibody tests have been performed since Tuesday, and only three then. Cumulatively, that’s at least 17,413 COVID-19 tests performed in Hopkins County.
Free oral swab 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.
COVID-19 Vaccine
Texas has been allocated 520,425 first doses of COVID-19 vaccine from the federal government for the week of Feb. 1. DSHS has instructed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ship those doses to 344 providers in 166 counties across Texas.
According to DSHS, “That includes 82 hub providers that will focus on broader community vaccination efforts including the hardest hit populations and areas in exchange for a steady supply of vaccine from week to week. 262 other providers will receive doses next week, including more than 100 federally qualified health centers, community health centers, and rural health clinics that typically provide primary care for underserved populations.
Unfortunately, when the lists by county were released Friday afternoon, no providers in Hopkins County made the state list to administer a first dose of the vaccine to more people.
The state is also ordering 188,225 doses intended as the second dose for people first vaccinated a few weeks ago. People should return to the same provider to receive their second dose.
Texas providers have administered nearly 2.2 million doses of vaccine. More than 1.75 million people have received at least one dose, and more than 410,000 have been fully vaccinated. People are not required to be vaccinated in their county of residence, and vaccine has been administered to residents of all 254 counties, DSHS reported Friday.
In Hopkins County, 2,040 people have received at least the first half of the COVID-19 vaccine, which means 28 additional people received at least part of the vaccine on Thursday. So far 295 people have received both doses of the vaccine in Hopkins County, including 20 who received their second dose on Jan. 28, and 1,745 have received the first dose of the vaccine, including eight new people on Thursday.
In Texas, the vaccine is currently open to health care workers, residents of long-term care facilities, people 65 and older and those with medical conditions that put them at greater risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19.
Supplies of the vaccine are limited based on the manufacturers’ ability to produce it. Thus, DSHS reports, there currently is not enough vaccine to supply every provider with vaccine every week.
DSHS said of the other vaccines in clinical trials, Johnson & Johnson is likely the closest to requesting authorization for its vaccine from the Food and Drug Administration. In fact, the state agency reports, J&J could make the request as early as next month.
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.
2 Sulphur Springs Residents Sentenced In District Court This Week
Two Sulphur Springs residents were sentenced in district court this week on unrelated charges, according to court reports.
Jennifer Lee Lindsay of Sulphur Springs arranged and pled open during the Nov. 24 court session on an April 20, 2020 abandoning or endangering of a child-criminal negligence charge and a Jan. 17, 2020 forgery financial instrument charge.
Lindsay was arrested on a forgery warrant on Feb. 13, 2020, and released from jail the next day on a $5,000 bond, according to jail reports.
The child endangerment charge stemmed from an investigation by Sulphur Springs Police Department Special Crimes Unit and Child Protective Services in which the 27-year-old Sulphur Springs woman and her 8-month-old allegedly tested positive on April 20 for methamphetamine. Lindsay was arrested May 6, 2020, on a warrant for the child endangerment-criminal negligence charge, and was released from jail June 26 on a $10,000 bond, according to jail reports.
Lindsay was scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 27 for a sentencing hearing on both charges. She was sentenced in district court this week to 10 years deferred probation on the felony forgery charge and 10 years deferred probation on the abandoning or endangering of a child-criminal negligence charge, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Paul Shane McCool of Sulphur Springs was accused of engaging in organized activity, a charge on which he was arrested on Nov. 7, 2019.
Acting on a tip, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office deputies and investigators reported finding at least $14,000 worth of property that’d been reported to Dallas Police earlier in November 2019 as stolen at a County Road 3502 residence, which McCool told officials he had rented only a few weeks before. On Nov. 7, 2019, sheriff’s officials located a cargo trailer obscured with items on top of it, and about $10,000 in new auto parts reported to Dallas authorities as stolen, sheriff’s officers alleged following McCool’s arrest. A truck allegedly used in the Dallas thefts was recovered in Greenville, where it had been abandoned. Interviews and investigation revealed information implicating McCool and two others in the thefts.
McCool arranged to plead guilty during a Jan. 26, 2021 court session to theft, a state jail felony offense, and was sentenced in district court to three years deferred probation and a $500 fine, according to the DA’s office.
