Blood Drive On Wednesday, Dec. 23, At CMFH-SS Will Help Bolster Extremely Low Blood Supply
By Holly Ragan, Senior Market Development, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs, [email protected]
Sulphur Springs, Texas, Dec. 22 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs has ONE mission: to extend the Health Ministry of Jesus Christ.
From our family to yours, we wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
Local Blood Drive: Need a COVID-19 antibody test?
What is a better gift for Christmas, than to give the gift of blood? The blood supply is extremely low, and the need is great.
CarterBloodcare will be hosting a blood drive on Wednesday, Dec. 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs. The CarterBloodcare bus will park in the hospital parking lot, and every donor will receive a holiday food voucher, and be entered for a chance to win a Chevrolet Trax.
For more information on how to sign-up, call/text 800.366.2834 or visit: https://ww3.greatpartners.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/120339
Hospital Visitation
For the safety and health of the community and our ministry, CHRISTUS Health is screening all associates and visitors to our hospitals to help lessen the risk of infectious disease transmission among our patients, associates, and guests.
- 1 Entrance to hospital through Emergency Department 24/7
- 1 Visitor per patient
- Visitors must be between the ages of 16-years old and 65-years old
- All visitors are screened at the door, including a temperature taken
- All associates are screened at each shift, including a temperature taken
- Visiting hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (subject to change)
- ALL hospital visitors are required to wear a mask. Visitors should bring their own mask; homemade cloth masks are acceptable.
COVID-19
Experiencing Symptoms?
If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, cough, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, chills, muscle pain or headache, or diarrhea, please call your provider for either a face-to-face appointment or a telemedicine consultation. If your provider determines you need to have a COVID-19 test, they will send you to the appropriate outpatient location for testing.
If you are experiencing an emergency, please present to the Emergency Room. At this time, we are preserving our Emergency Room COVID-19 tests for those who are experiencing an emergency. Otherwise, we would ask that you follow the steps above.
If you do not have a healthcare provider, CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic welcomes new patients. Please call 903.885.3181 to talk to one of our associates about setting up an appointment.
Don’t Delay Care
We want to be perfectly clear – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances remains a safe place for all to receive quality care. Go to the Emergency Department or call 9-1-1 if you are urgently ill. While COVID-19 is new, our processes and procedures in place for infection prevention and preventing the spread of illness are not.
To learn more about COVID-19, go to ChristusTMF.org or www.cdc.gov.
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CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System includes CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospitals – Tyler, South Tyler, Jacksonville, Winnsboro and Sulphur Springs, the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital – Tyler, CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital a partner of Encompass Health, Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, a long-term acute care facility, and CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic. CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic is the area’s preferred multi-specialty medical group, with more than 400 Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers representing 36 specialties in 34 locations serving Northeast Texas across 41 counties. For more information on services available through CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System, visit christustmf.org
- Bed count – 402 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler
- Bed count – 8 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – South Tyler
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville
- Bed Count – 96 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Winnsboro
- Bed count – 94 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital
- Bed count – 96 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart – Tyler
- Bed count – 51 – Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital
People 65, Older Or With Certain Medical Conditions In Next Phase For COVID-19 Vaccine
The state of Texas will prioritize people who are at the greatest risk of severe disease and death from COVID-19 for the next phase of vaccination. More than 70 percent of COVID-19 deaths in Texas have occurred in people 65 and older, and scientific evidence shows that adults of any age with certain medical conditions have an increased risk of hospitalization and death if they get sick with COVID-19.
At a meeting Dec. 17, the Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel recommended vaccinating these diverse groups in Phase 1B of vaccine distribution to limit the loss of life from COVID-19 and help reduce the burden on the state’s hospitals. Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD, has approved that definition.
“The focus on people who are age 65 and older or who have comorbidities will protect the most vulnerable populations,” said Imelda Garcia, EVAP chair and DSHS associate commissioner for laboratory and infectious disease services. “This approach ensures that Texans at the most severe risk from COVID-19 can be protected across races and ethnicities and regardless of where they work.”
The state is currently in Phase 1A of vaccine distribution, which includes residents of long-term care facilities and front-line health care workers. With an estimated 1.9 million Texans in those groups, it will likely be at least a few weeks before a transition to Phase 1B occurs. The timing will depend on the amount of vaccine provided to Texas and the uptake of vaccine among the priority populations.
The Phase 1B priorities are below, and additional information is available at dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/immunize/vaccine/EVAP-Phase1B.pdf. The full EVAP will continue to meet and make recommendations about the prioritization of additional groups for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Texas Phase 1B COVID-19 Vaccine Priorities
- People 65 years of age and older
- People 16 years of age and older with at least one chronic medical condition that puts them at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19, such as but not limited to:
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies
- Solid organ transplantation
- Obesity and severe obesity (body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or higher)
- Pregnancy
- Sickle cell disease
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report Dec. 14-20, 2020
The Winnsboro Police Department media report for the week of Dec. 14-20, included the following activity:
Arrests
Kolton Huie, 19 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on Dec. 19, 2020, for assault by contact- family violence.
Calls for Service
The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 88 calls for
service during this reporting period.
Citations
The Winnsboro Police Department issued 4 citations and 22 warnings during this reporting period.
Dike Residents Express Concerns Regarding Planned Dike Solar Farm
A handful of Dike residents Monday expressed concerns regarding the planned Dike, TX solar farm to Hopkins County Commissioners during their regular meeting Monday morning, Dec. 21.
Cynthia Martin of Dike said residents of the area hadn’t been properly notified in advance of the planned solar farm. She said they learned of it after hearing that county officials had recently granted the company an extension of time to construct the solar facility, pushing back other dates on the agreement by another year for Hopkins Energy LLC.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley pointed out a public meeting was held at Sulphur Bluff school last year regarding the matter. The Dike resident said they were told notice for the meeting was posted in the newspaper. The Dike residents said they don’t read the paper and, thus, didn’t know about it.
Martin’s son and Dike resident Robert Joslin both claimed they weren’t aware of the meeting held in 2019 in Sulphur Bluff when the school district was asked to agree for an application to be sent to the comptroller regarding the project, to see if it qualified for a tax incentive, nor prior to its approval by local axing entities.
Martin presented several sheets with approximately 150 names, signatures and addresses from area residents she and Robert Joslin said were collected in one day, attesting that the residents were never notified of the planned project.
“No one was notified. No one knew it was coming until I raised the flag. Now, how do you look at your citizens of Dike and tell them that’s OK?” Martin asked. “These people didn’t know. They had no way to come up here and protest because they didn’t know at any point in time.”
The project was first brought to school district officials in the summer of 2019, to request permission for an application to be completed and sent to the Texas Comptroller to see if Hopkins Energy LLC qualified for a Chapter 313 agreement before Sulphur Springs and Sulphur Bluff school districts were asked to consider a tax incentive request. It was present to the schools in December 2019 and January of 2020 for approval, and an extension for the starting the project was granted recently.
Martin expressed concern regarding two sentences she said were from project developer an Alpine Sun use agreement regarding the planned farm: rented land typically has “no or few trees, level to moderate sloping without flood-prone land or ponds and encumbered by mineral surface restrictions. This excludes land that is highly wooded; heavily sloping; has creeks, ponds wetland or flood planes.”
“This is exactly where they should not be putting a solar company, because that describes Dike, Texas — everything they claim is not appropriate for a solar company,” Martin told Hopkins County Commissioners Court.
She asked why the company was planning to build a solar farm on an environmental landscape that they officially claim is excluded from acres they will build on. She said Dike is not environmentally appropriate for a solar company.
Martin said she’d talked to the Army Corps of Engineer about the area being located in a flood zone. The area already floods, she said, and expressed concern that cutting down the many post-oak trees on the properties to clear the way for solar panels to be installed would caused the already flood prone area to wash away. She said cutting down post oaks over such a wide area also goes against climate change. The “rare post oak forest,” she said, has already been 70 percent destroyed.
The revised reinvestment zone map approved by the court recently, Martin said, would include her land and that of her brother-in-law. That is not accurate, she said.
“I would like to see that copy of that flood zone map that you have. A lot of this stuff, it’s the first time I’m hearing about it. I did attend the meeting they had at Sulphur Bluff school. There were at least two that I can think of, maybe three, of the neighbors of the adjoined properties. How did they find out about it? I don’t know how it was presented to notify anyone ahead of time. It was all done without us knowing about it before hand. I would like a little bit more of that information you have. I’d like to look at it,” Bartley told Martin.
Martin also expressed concern that an environmental impact assessment study should have been done in that area before the project was ever considered by the county, school and hospital districts for tax incentives.
“This is one of the largest solar complexes in the state of Texas. The fact that no environmental inspection was every done is a travesty to the community members of Dike. You’ve got people who will live across the fence line from panels, thousands of panels, the heat coming off of them, the glare, the noise of the substation that are going to go all across the KP line. The only reason this thing is being built in Dike is the KP line and the tax break 313,” said a man identified during the meeting only as Cynthia Martin’s son.
Dike resident Cindy Joslin said she has an daughter who has Downs syndrome and noise sensitivity. Thus, the amount of noise they have been told will be made, she said, is a big concern for her family.
“That scares me to death, knowing these are going to be in my front yard and they follow the sun, so at some point during the day they are going to be blinding us. We can’t be outside whatsoever, so I have a big problem with this coming in in my front yard. I think something needs to be done about it,” Cindy Joslin added.
Martin expressed concern that Dike residents who do not have agriculture property exemptions would have to pay commercial taxes if the project moves forward the most recent agreements outline. She said they are truck drivers, factory workers, barbers and restaurant workers who can’t afford commercial taxes and didn’t understand why they would be placed in a reinvestment zone established for the solar farm.
Martin too indicated worry that the solar panels will damage the land and water with toxic substances when broken, that the electric rates will rise, that nearby property owners if they choose will not be able to sell the land because it is near a solar farm, that it’s to be located in the middle of Dike community.
“You sold us out,” Martin told the Commissioners Court.
“I’ve lived out there for over 50 years, judge, and it’s going to ruin my property,” Robert Joslin said. “This, the panels’, going to back right up to my place.”
Joslin too was anxious the solar farm might change his property value, which will impact taxes.
“Your taxes, if you’re not contacted, should remain whatever they are now,” Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom said. “They’ll go up on the people that contracted, yes. If you’re not contracted your taxes should not go up, only that of those leasing their ag exemption that they’ve had for years.”
Joslin express concern that it would interfere with the cattle his son is raising and would be directly across from where his son lives.
“I just don’t think that this is fair, what is happening out in our community right now,” Mr. Joslin said.
“Can we ask the County Commissioners why an environmental impact assessment was never done for this area?” Martin’s son asked.
Newsom said he understood “where you’re coming from.” The company made the lease agreements before ever approaching county and school governing boards; the deals were struck with the land owners before he was ever aware of it, Newsom said.
“Taxing aside, the flooding, the trees, surely there’s some way — you can’t just let these companies come in and just take over. Do we not have some rights, somewhere? Don’t you all have some say in what goes on, just allowing some foreign solar company to come in and hit up some big land owners because KP power line runs through there? Fine, cut down our forest, flood out the area, throw it in the middle of the community as if children, fish, ponds doesn’t matter. Our roads out there are already horrible. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like when trucks go through there. I think I’ve made my point. I will keep coming back,” Martin told the court.
Shari Mohl, who lives across the road from a portion of the Solemio solar farm planned for construction in Arbala, said some residents have contacted Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regarding the planned farm in her area.
“They got on their maps and said absolutely no way should those things be put where they are putting them,” Mohl said.
The Arbala resident added that even if companies make deals with landowners to lease property on which to locate a solar farm, ultimately, the governing bodies such as the Commissioners Court, make decisions on whether the proposed project receive tax incentives.
“These companies have said, ‘We won’t go unless we get tax abatements.’ So really, whatever they do with the landowners, they can do. And, if they do come, even if that’s true and you can’t stop them from coming, they darn sure better be paying the taxes the rest of us are paying,” Mohl said. “So that’s where y’all come in. You have that power. You also have a responsibility to us as your citizens to let us have a chance on this, and that’s all we’ve been asking.”
Daniel Bobay, a resident of FM 1567 west, said a wise study session should have been done before the matter was even brought to the commissioners for approval. That would give the public an opportunity to hear all sides and issues raised and raise issues of their own in a public session, so everyone would understand the impact or lack thereof before the projects are put on property governed by the Commissioners Court, he noted.
Bobay suggested that if the county doesn’t already perhaps they should consider setting aside in an industrial complex where industrial complexes can be located during annual strategic planning.
“If you drive through places like McKinney. They used to be like this. They aren’t like this. It’s coming your way. I know you know it, but some kind of planning really needs to be put in place so that you don’t have industrial complexes springing up next to residential farms and family property that it’s going to impact,” Bobay said.
Bobay too expressed concern the environmental impact of people who are living on the property next to his in what he described as a “homeless camp,” specifically what they might be putting into the creek. He said he ended up in a “big circle with the last environmental county person” and wasn’t even able to leave a message to talk to someone about the matter. He thanked Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker for answering his email recently about the topic and suggested the county look into the matter.
DPS To Increase Traffic Enforcement For The Holidays
AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced its annual Christmas and New Year’s holiday traffic enforcement campaigns will kick off on Wednesday, Dec. 23. DPS is reminding drivers to celebrate the holiday season responsibly by practicing safe driving habits and obeying all traffic laws.
“Another year is drawing to a close, and while there are many reasons to celebrate, we must all remember to do so responsibly to help keep our roadways safe,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “DPS Troopers will increase patrols over the holidays, as will many of our fellow law enforcement partners across the state, and we will be on the lookout for drivers not obeying the law and endangering others. Public safety is our top priority, and we encourage all drivers to put safety first as you celebrate this holiday season.”
As part of two Operation Holiday initiatives, DPS Troopers will be increasing enforcement beginning on Wednesday, Dec. 23, through Saturday, Dec. 26, as well as Thursday, Dec. 31, through Friday, Jan. 1. Simultaneously, the nationwide Operation CARE (Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort) initiative will run from Dec. 23 through Jan. 3.
The goal of these efforts is to increase safety on Texas roads. DPS Troopers will be looking for drivers who violate the law, including those who are speeding, driving while intoxicated, failing to wear a seat belt, driving without insurance and not complying with the state’s Move Over, Slow Down law, among other traffic violations.
During DPS’ 2019 Christmas and New Year’s holiday enforcement efforts combined, a total of more than 169,000 warnings and citations were issued, including 15,786 speeding citations; 2,105 seat belt and child seat violations; 3,465 citations for driving without insurance; and 1,300 for violations of Move Over, Slow Down. Last year’s enforcement efforts also resulted in 787 DWI arrests, 609 felony arrests and 555 fugitive arrests.
DPS offers the following safety tips for the holiday season:
- Don’t drink and drive. Make alternate plans if you are consuming alcohol.
- Move Over or Slow Down for police, fire, EMS, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) vehicles and tow trucks stopped on the side of the road with emergency lights activated. Show the same courtesy to fellow drivers who are stopped on the side of the road. This year alone, between Jan. 1 and Dec. 8, DPS issued 12,457 warnings and citations for violations of this law.
- Buckle up everyone in the vehicle — it’s the law.
- Slow down, especially in bad weather, heavy traffic, unfamiliar areas or construction zones.
- Eliminate distractions while driving, including the use of mobile devices. Texas law prohibits the use of portable wireless devices to read, write or send an electronic message unless the vehicle is stopped. Also, if you’re using a navigation device or app, have a passenger operate it, so you can keep your eyes on the road.
- Drive defensively, as holiday travel can present additional challenges.
- Don’t drive fatigued — allow plenty of time to reach your destination.
- On multi-lane roadways, use the left lane for passing only. Not only is it courteous driving and avoids impeding traffic, Texas law requires slower traffic to keep to the right and to use the left lane for passing only (when posted).
- If you can Steer It, Clear It: If you are involved in a non-injury crash and your vehicle can be moved, clear the traffic lanes to minimize traffic impact. Leaving vehicles in a traffic lane increases traffic congestion and leaves those involved with an increased risk of harm or a secondary wreck. On some highways, if you don’t move your vehicle when it’s safe to do so, it’s against the law.
- Check your vehicle to make sure it is properly maintained and always ensure your cargo is secure.
- Report road hazards or anything suspicious to the nearest law enforcement agency.
- Monitor weather and road conditions wherever you are traveling. For road conditions and closures in Texas, visit Drive Texas.
Dec. 21 COVID-19 Update: 1 Fatality, 3 New Confirmed And 12 New Probable Cases
Texas Department of State Health Services’ Dec. 21 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard showed one additional COVID-19 fatality, three confirmed cases and 12 probable cases for Hopkins County Dec. 20-21. The patient count in the COVID unit rose again as did the number of people tested at the free testing center on Jefferson Street on Saturday.
Case Counts
DSHS reported two new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Sunday and one on Monday. That makes 211 Hopkins County residents who have received lab-confirmed COVID-19 tests so far this month, and 1,043 since March.
Confirmed cases are those in which an individual has tested positive through a molecular test that looks for the virus’s genetic material.
The DSHS case counts dashboard also showed a dozen probable cases not previously reported, six each on Dec. 20 and Dec. 21. That makes 130 new probable cases from Dec. 11, when the state began daily reporting probable statistics, and Dec. 21, cumulatively, there have been 1,053 probable COVID-19 tests reported for Hopkins County since June. However, DSHS notes that one older probable case was reported Monday to DSHS by a lab.
Probable cases are those in which an individual either tests positive through an antigen test or has a combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis.
No new COVID-19 patient recoveries were reported for Hopkins County on either Dec. 20 or Dec. 21. So far this month, however, there have been 1,162 recoveries reported.
While that sounds like a lot, it should be noted that this figure includes recoveries reported for both probable and confirmed cases. Prior to Dec. 11, only molecular cases were reported daily, with antigen probable cases relayed to local emergency management officials once a week. So December’s new recoveries count also includes 810 probable recoveries that had previously tracked by DSHS but not previously reported in daily case counts until Dec. 11.
From Dec. 12-21, 236 Hopkins County residents were reported to have recovered from the novel coronavirus 2019. Cumulatively, 1,856 Hopkins County residents have recovered from COVID-19.
That leaves 172 active COVID-19 cases in Hopkins County on Dec. 21.
COVID-19 Fatalities
DSHS’ Dec. 21 COVID-19 dashboard showed 68 Hopkins County residents have been confirmed to have died from COVID-19, that’s one more than reported on Saturday and Sunday. The latest COVID-19 fatality occurred on Dec. 11, and was one of only 67 fatalities across the state newly reported to DSHS on Dec. 21, according to the DSHS County Trends report.
That makes 10 COVID-19 fatalities that have occurred so far in December. Two deaths were reported on Dec. 3, and one each on Dec. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13 and 14. That’s as many deaths confirmed as of Dec. 21 during the first two weeks of December as were reported during the entire month of November, and is one more COVID death than during the first two weeks of October; the 10th month of the year finished with a total of 29 Hopkins County COVID-19 fatalities.
COVID-19 fatalities are deaths for which COVID-19 is listed as a direct cause of death on the death certificate. A medical certifier, usually a doctor, determines the cause(s) of death. DSHS does not include deaths of people who had COVID-19 but died of an unrelated cause. Fatalities are reported by where the person lived as listed on the death certificate.
Hospital Reports
Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management Officials in the Dec. 21 COVID-19 update reported 25 patients in the COVID unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs, five more than during the last report on Friday. Patient counts are only reported Monday-Friday.
During the month of December, patient counts in the CMFH-SS COVID Unit have been highest each week on Mondays. The most patients so far this month in the COVID unit on a single day was 26 on Dec. 14.
The lab-confirmed COIVD-19 patient count across Trauma Service Area F hospitals has continued to rise over the last two days from 138 on Saturday to 148 Sunday and 154 on Monday. The most COVID patients on a given day over the past 2 weeks in TSA-F, which includes Hopkins County and almost all of Northeast Texas, was 157 on Dec. 8 and 9, and the fewest was 124 on Dec. 11. COVID-19 patient hospitalizations have accounted for 13.99 percent of the total hospital capacity on Dec. 20 and 14. 42 percent on Dec. 21.
A total of 1,068 hospital beds were staffed on Monday, 10 more than were reported Dec. 20, but 14 less than on Dec. 19, and 52 less than on Dec. 12 in TSA-F. DSHS reported 614 total hospitalizations on Dec. 21, seven more than on Dec. 20. A total of 976 inpatient beds were staffed on Dec. 21, 10 more than the day before, but 14 less than on Dec. 19 and 39 less than on Dec. 6.
Available on Dec. 21 in TSA -F were seven ICU beds, one more than the day before, but four less than Dec. 19. On Monday, 77 ventilators were available throughout TSA-F, one less than Dec. 20 but 9 more than on Dec. 19. In fact, the most ventilators available on any given day since Dec. 4 has been 78 on Sunday. A total of 362 hospital beds were available in TSA-F on Dec. 21, three more than on Dec. 20 but four less than on Dec. 19.
Testing Update
HC/SSEM in the Dec. 21 COVID-19 update reported 180 molecular tests were conducted Dec. 18-19 at the free testing center in Sulphur Springs. That makes 610 oral swab tests performed at 128-A Jefferson Street over the last week, 1,534 so far this month and 6,065 since the free testing site opened on Sept. 25.
Cumulatively, there have been 12,868 COVID-19 tests conducted in Hopkins County: 10,726 molecular or viral tests (PCR), 1,017 antigen tests and 1,125 antibody tests. That’s 704 total COVID-19 tests conducted in Hopkins County from Dec. 13-20.
Free molecular testing continues to offered inside the Red Cross building weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 9 a.m. until about 5 p.m. on Saturdays through January, emergency officials reported last week. Online registration at www.GoGet Tested.com is required, however. Testing is available for anyone, regardless of address or age. Children should be registered and accompanied by an adult.
Those testing should refrain eating, drinking or using tobacco products for 20 minutes to an hour prior to arrival at the free testing center. A photo ID and the number sent electronically to the registrant is also required at the time of testings.
Year in Review: 2020 Hopkins County Livestock and Forage Education
Trainings, Tours and Field Days
By Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Hopkins County
Relevance
Livestock and forage production is a 3.96-billion-dollar industry in the Central Region. Livestock and forage enterprises are affected by climate and market variability.
Hopkins County currently has more than 100,000 head of beef cattle with 27,000 head of dairy cattle Due to environmental requirements of federal and state authorities, Hopkins County dairy operators must maintain environmental requirements for operation. This plan will collaborate with dairy (Dairy Farmers of America, Southwest Dairy Museum) and beef organizations (NETBIO) to determine and conduct educational efforts needed for the successful operation of livestock farms and ranches.
Texas livestock and forage producers and related agribusinesses effectively evaluate and adopt research-based technology applications and best management practices for sustainable and profitable livestock management systems. Livestock producers improve knowledge of production and management systems to improve quality, profitability, and sustainability.
This plan had the goal of providing educational experiences to 350 beef producers, 150 private applicators, 60 dairy producers and 60 landowner seeking private applicator accreditation.
Response
During 2020, the world responded to a human viral disease denominated COVID-19. Several response mechanisms were developed to mitigate the disease impact in the human population.
The term business essential was coined to determine business operations during the response of the early onset of the disease. The Hopkins County Extension office was determined as business essential by county officials and continued normal operation, supporting cattle sales and financial emergency support to farmers and ranchers.
A dairy-producers task force was created statewide by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension to determine emergency response priorities to dairy producers, support to workforce and financial aid to dairy farmers. A series of online meetings were conducted during this period with several outcomes (reported in result section).
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension response to the emerging situation during COVID-19 included the participation of County Extension Agents to aid with the securing of funding during the implementation of the CARES Act. A series of trainings in coordination with local municipal officials and city managers were planned and conducted. As pandemic conditions due to COVID-19 evolved, Hopkins County relaxed face-to-face meeting requirements and three face-to-face programs were conducted: Homeowners Septic System Training (September, 2020), North East Texas Fall Dairy Conference (October 2020) and Private Applicator CEU session (November 2020).
Results
A series of educational trainings directed to dairy producers was determined to be essential during the COVID -19 response in 2020. Three major components were determined as a priority:
A short-term reduction of milk production strategies were developed and promoted due to the challenges in the food distribution chain of liquid milk during the first stage of COVID-19 response strategy. Three mass media press releases were created and distributed during this phase. The strategy included nutritional, management and animal husbandry protocols directed to reduce milk production with minimal animal well-being impact. An online training with 350 participants nation-wide was planned and implement by Texas A&M AgriLife Diary specialists (J. Pineido and J. Spencer) in March 2020 using an online platform (zoom).
A second component was the creation of a COVID-19 response campaign to provide education to the Hispanic workforce training directed to communicate the Center of Disease Control (CDC) strategies to prevent COVID-19 adapted to dairy environments. Three factsheets were developed and distributed to dairy producers to re-distribute and post at their facilities. A series of monthly podcasts were developed to provide educational material to the Hispanic workforce (Manejo Lechero).
A third component was the dissemination of financial resources available to dairy and beef producers under the CARES Act from federal and state authorities. Weekly meetings with county and city officials during 24 consecutive weeks were conducted with county and city personnel to facilitate the utilization of federal and state funding to mitigate expenses in the cities and county due to COVID-19 during the implementation of CARES Act.
The results of the retrospective post evaluations of the Homeowner Septic System, Private Applicators CEU and North East Texas Fall Dairy Conference were as follows:
- 88% (14/16) of respondents were mostly or completely satisfied with the activity (Homeowner Septic System Training).
- 94% (15/16) of respondents were mostly or completely satisfied with the physical setting’s contribution to ease of listening and participation (Homeowner Septic System Training).
- 81% (13/16) of respondents anticipate benefiting economically as a direct result of what they learned from this Extension activity (Homeowner Septic System Training).
- 100% (16/16) of respondents would recommend this activity to others. (Homeowner Septic System Training).
- 100% (60/60) of respondents plan to take actions or make changes based on the information from this Extension activity (Private Applicators CEU training).
- 88% (53/60) of respondents anticipate benefiting economically as a direct result of what they learned from this Extension activity (Private Applicators CEU training).
- 98% (59/100) of respondents would recommend this activity to others (Private Applicators CEU training).
- 98% (59/100) of respondents would attend another subject offered by Extension if it addressed a specific need or interest of theirs (Private Applicators CEU Training).
- 87% (53/100) of respondents said that the information and programs provided by Extension were quite or extremely valuable to them (Private Applicators CEU Training).
- 100% (10/10) of respondents plan to take actions or make changes based on the information from this Extension activity (Northeast Texas Dairy Fall Conference).
Acknowledgements
The Hopkins County Agricultural and Natural Resources Program recognizes the support of Master Gardener volunteers, county officials and episodic volunteers during the development of programs, creating training materials and maintaining programmatic activities during 2020.
County Seeking Legal Help In For Costs Of Repairing County Roads Damaged By 2019 Pipeline Fuel Spill Cleanup
Hopkins County is seeking legal for costs of repairing county roads damaged by the 2019 pipeline fuel spill cleanup in Turkey Creek.
Hopkins County Commissioners Court Monday morning considered a retainer agreement with Allison, Bass & Magee LLP to assist with legal action in attempts to get Delek Logistics to pay for damages reportedly caused by heavy trucks using county roads in Precincts 1 and 4 while responding to the Oct. 3, 2019 fuel spill in Turkey Creek.
Background on the 2019 Pipeline Fuel Spill
Local officials on Oct. 4 reported, Hopkins County Fire Department responded at 6:44 p.m. Oct. 3, 2019, “in the area of County Road 1130 in Miller Grove for a six inch rupture in a pipeline that occurred after diesel was pushed through the pipeline after a two month maintenance program. While the diesel was being pushed the pipeline burst causing the diesel to run into the nearby waterway. The pipeline was shut down and mitigation was started to contain the diesel. The creek bed was dry and contained before getting into any other water way.”
A remediation company was contracted to place a boom to prevent the spill from traveling downstream. Local community volunteers under the direction of the Hopkins County Office of Emergency Management built a temporary earthen barrier in the event the boom was insufficient, emergency management officials reported Oct. 4, 2019.
The State of Texas State Operations Center on Oct. 4 reported 10,000 to 15,000 barrels of product were to have been released during the incident.
Much of the creek bed along the 1.25-mile stretch of Turkey Creek was dry, with only a few pockets of water, which helped stop the spread before it got into the drinking water. Some fish in those small pockets of water were found dead after the first day or response, officials reported.
On Monday, Oct. 7, 24,186 barrels of substance had been removed from the area. However, Hopkins County emergency management officials reported not all contained product, some were mostly water. An estimated 10,048 barrels were diesel.
According to EPA officials at the command center on Oct. 11, the quick response to contain the spill and remove the product so quickly, was expected to result in no long term damage to the creek and surrounding environment. An area of soil around the pipeline leak would have to be replaced, but the creek itself wasn’t expected to have to be remediated, according to the EPA official.
Retainer Agreement
“Hopkins County employees and their equipment did a lot of work the night of that spill to keep that flow of diesel from going into Lake Fork. We provided anything they asked for and we did have a gentlemen’s agreement that they would take care of our roads, which now they are not following through,” Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker said during the commissioners court.
“His crew did really save the day for us out there. It was hours out before they ever got any equipment in there. His crews already had it stopped, diked and dammed. They did an outstanding job,” Hopkins County Fire Marshal Andy Endsley said.
Once crews contracted by the company arrived, they began to clean up the fuel that was spilled, requiring heavy trucks to travel on county roads.
Endsley emphasized the subcontractors who performed the cleanup did a “good job on it” and “were on top of their game.” He said he has no complaint with their efforts.
“It’s still an ongoing spill. They have not closed it out. And, they need the local authority and county judge to sign of that it is completed. We’re still months, maybe even a year or more, before we have a clean bill on that creek being complete. They’re out there at least once a month,” Endsley said.
Reimbursement has been paid for materials and manpower of fire department, emergency management and county employees during the biggest part of the clean up effort, Endsley noted.
However, Delek Logistics has not honored the agreement to restore county roads damaged in the cleanup effort, county officials contend. In addition to the gentlemen’s agreement, federal environmental regulations regarding hazardous material incidents stipulate that the company is responsible for paying 100 percent back to take care of damages, including county roads, county officials contended.
“I’ve already spent quite a bit of money repairing my roads. I know Joe has also,” Barkers said of Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price. “We’ve had over 500 overloaded trucks going up and down our county roads, that have at some places destroyed the road and at other places destroyed the base underneath the road. We just feel like it’s time to move forward with this. It’s been over a year now.”
According to Price, about 4 miles of county road in his precinct have been damaged as well. Heavy overloaded trucks “compromised the top of that road and it’s not going to get any better,” Price said. “I’ve spent $10,000 just on a short strip where the trucks and stopped to enter [FM] 275. That doesn’t even scratch the surface on what I need to do.”
“I’ve spent about $30,000 in material and on some culverts that were crushed, and that’s just patching, that’s not completely repairing the roads,” Barker said. “Citizens out there are getting very upset and I don’t blame them one bit, but we are very limited in what we can do.”
Price made the motion, which was seconded by Barker, to approve a retainer agreement with Allison, Bass & Magee LLP. The motion received unanimous approval from the Commissioners Court during the 9 a.m. regular court session Monday, Dec. 21, 2020.
Barker and Endsley said they and Price have gone beyond the call of due diligence, trying to resolve the matter with the company without legal action.
Endsley recommended the commissioners court put Allison, Bass & Magee, LLP, “the finest law firm in the state of Texas,” on retainer to help move the process forward.
“I believe that they will help us move forward and get the county roads back where they need to be. We’ve really done our due diligence with Delek trying to be no so aggressive with them, but I think we’re at that point where we have got to move forward and get some more legal advice,” Endsley.
“We’ve all tried to handle this is situation. Delek has chosen to turn this over to their insurance lawyers. We just feel that it’s time that we get someone else involved that can understand a little more of the legal lingo and push to get our roads repaired,” Barker said.
Brookshire’s Pharmacy: Ready For Vaccine
Brookshire’s pharmacy wants to keep supporting each local community by distributing the vaccine for COVID-19. They made the committment as soon as they were able to apply to receive the vaccine. Not knowing when they signed up which vaccine would be readily available, they now know they will receive the Moderna vaccine as early as Tuesday, December 22nd, at the Sulphur Springs store. Although they could receive it as late as Thursday. Brookshire’s Pharmacy will be the first non-hospital affiliated outlet to receive the vaccine in the Sulphur Springs area.
Before you rush to make the required scheduled appointment, you should know that these first doses are reserved for “front-line healthcare workers” and those making an appointment to receive their first dose will have to have documentation proving they are in this group. With only 100 doses being received this week, it is unclear how many doses the pharmacy will receive in future weeks. But, they do know that they will receive 100 of the “second dose” in approximately three weeks for those that receive the 100 first doses this week.
Brookshire’s was ready to accept whatever vaccine the federal government decided to send, and in any quantity. The first vaccine approved by the FDA, from Pfizer, has more rigourous storage temperature protocols, but Brookshire’s already had a plan in place to meet the temperature protocols. Once approved, the Moderna vaccine was chosen to be sent to the Brookshire’s chain. Although it has less stringent temperature requirements, the Moderna vaccine has a six hour “shelf life” once each 10-dose vial is opened. Those adminstering the vaccine locally are confident they will be able to schedule appointments close enough to meet this six hour protocol while still providing social distancing protocols.
The general public awaits their turn to be able to receive the vaccine, and it may be sooner rather than later. These 100 doses and the 600 doses that will received locally by CHRISTUS (also this week), will be made available to front line healthcare workers in and around Hopkins County. The next wave, after healthcare workers that choose to take the vaccine are giving their chance, is believed to be residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities. The CDC has also mentioned including an age group in the next wave and that age group currently is 74 and over. These criteria will most certainly change as will the availability of the vaccine dependent upon how many doses are sent to which facility locally. Several more local clinics, pharmacies and other outlets are awaiting approval to receive the vaccine.
If you are a healthcare worker and qualify for the COVID-19 vaccine you can call your local Brookshire’s pharmacy and then press “0” to make an appointment. KSST News will continue to publish information about the availability of the vaccine from all sources.
Saltillo Lions Basketball Team Drops A Game To McLeod Saturday
The Saltillo Lions Basketball Team took a loss against McLeod on Saturday, December 19.
The Lions had the lead after one quarter but McLeod rallied over the next three periods to take a 57-40 win.
Chris Boekhorst led the Lions with 19 points. David Whitworth scored 8 points. Andrew Redburn added 6 points. Coy Collins had 4 points. Colton McGill scored 3 points.
The Lions record for the season is now 3-6. The Lions play Savoy Monday afternoon.
