Jan. 13 COVID-19 Update: 1 Fatality, 17 New Cases, 16 Recoveries, 239 Active Cases Reported For Hopkins County
Texas Department State Health Services and Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management officials in Jan. 13 COVID-19 updates reported one additional COVID-19 fatality, 17 new cases, 16 recoveries, and a slight rise in hospitalizations in the local COVID unit.
Case Counts
The DSHS Jan. 13 COVID-19 Texas Case Counts dashboard showed a total of 1,260 Hopkins County residents have received positive molecular COVID-19 test results since the pandemic began in March 2020. That means six additional confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported on Jan. 13, which is half as many new confirmed cases as were reported daily on the three prior days this week. That makes 43 new confirmed COVID-19 cases so far this week and 138 new cases during the first 13 days of January.
Eleven new probable cases were reported on Wednesday, increasing the total this week to 14 probable or suspected cases and this month to 80 probable cases. That’s 1,198 probable cases reported since the state began tracking positive antigen tests and those who have a combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis. Although DSHS did note that one of the probable cases reported on Jan. 13 was an older case that has just been reported by the lab to DSHS.
Sixteen additional Hopkins County residents had recovered from COVID-19 on Jan. 13, for a total of 30 recoveries so far this week, 84 so far in January 2021. Cumulatively, 2,137 of the 2,458 Hopkins County residents who’ve had COVID-19 since March had recovered as of the DSHS Jan. 13 COVID-19 Case Counts update.
DSHS also showed another confirmed COVID-19 fatality for Hopkins County. That’s 82 Hopkins County residents who died as a direct result of COVID-19. The latest death, according to the DSHS Jan. 13 COVID-19 County Trends dashboard occurred on Jan. 2, marking the second fatality on that date and the fourth this month: one death each also occurred on Jan. 3 and Jan. 5, according to DSHS reports. So far, 20 COVID-19 deaths have been recorded for December, but that number could still potentially rise as death certificates are filled and processed by the state.
That leaves 239 Hopkins County residents who Wednesday afternoon were reported to still actively have COVID-19.
Hospital Reports
HC/SSEM officials, in the Jan. 13 COVID-19 update, reported 24 patients in the COVID Unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs Wednesday, two more than were reported on Monday and Tuesday, but still seven less than were reported last Wednesday. The patient count in the COVID unit was at its highest reported level, 32 lab-confirmed COVID-19 patients, on Jan. 7 and 8.
Although not quite as high as Jan. 11, Trauma Service Area F continued to have high hospitalizations. That is COVID-19 patients have continuously made up 15 percent or more of the overall hospital capacity in TSA-F since Dec. 26. Because COVID-19 hospitalizations exceeded the 15 percent threshold for more than 7 consecutive days, Trauma Service Area F has been subject to certain COVID-19 restrictions since Jan. 2, including requiring businesses in counties within the region that were allowed to open at 75 having to reduce capacity to 50 percent and halting all elective surgeries (except Delta, Morris and Red River Counties which have had less than 30 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in 14 days). TSAs must have seven consecutive days in which COVID-19 hospitalizations remained below the 15 percent threshold before businesses can reopen at 75 percent and elective surgeries can be performed again.
On Jan. 12, there were 231 COVID-19 hospitalizations, 10 less than on Jan. 11, but a dozen more than on Jan. 10. A total of 1,022 hospital beds staffed inpatient beds, in TSA-F on Jan. 12. Overall, there were 615 hospitalizations. That left only seven ICU beds, 315 general beds and 77 ventilators available on Jan. 12 in Trauma Service Area F hospitals.
Overall, COVID-19 hospitalizations made up 22.6 percent of the total hospital capacity in TSA-F on Jan. 12, down from 23.42 percent on Monday, but still 0.5 percent higher than on Sunday and 0.06 percent higher than on Jan. 8.
COVID-19 Testing And Vaccinations
HC/SSEM also in the Jan. 13 COVID-19 update reported a total of 7,934 COVID-19 tests have been performed at 128-A Jefferson Street since the Red Cross building was first utilized as a free testing location. That means 65 COVID-19 tests were performed on Jan. 12, about 10 less than the two previous days. That makes 390 oral swab tests performed in the last 7 days at the testing center and 966 in the last 2 weeks.
Cumulatively, DSHS’ Jan. 13 COVID-19 Test and Hospital Data dashboard showed 15,708 COVID-19 tests have been performed in Hopkin County, including 12,66 viral (molecular) tests, 1,353 antigen tests and 1,686 antibody tests. Of those, six antibody tests and seven antigen tests were also conducted on Jan. 12.
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.
A total of 973 vaccinations have been administered in Hopkins County, including eight people who have received both doses of the vaccine.
Additional information about the COVID-19 vaccine, vaccine provider and hub locations map and contact information and the COVID-19 vaccine dashboard is available on the DSHS website.
Aguilar Files For Place 3 In Sulphur Springs City Council Election
Oscar Aguilar signed up Wednesday afternoon to run for Place 3 on Sulphur Springs City Council. Aguilar currently serves in the seat. He ran for and drew no opponents in 2020 for Place 3 on the council, one of four seats left vacant when four council members resigned in December 2019. Aguilar is now seeking a full 3-year term on the City Council.
Aguilar is the fourth incumbent to file Wednesday for a place on the May 1 City Council Election ballot. Seeking reelection to a full term on the council are Jay W. Julian filed for Place 1 and Harold Nash Sr. for Place 2. Gary Spraggins also filed seeking reelection to the final year of the unexpired term for Place 5.
Julian was elected during a December 2020 run-off election to the serve the 1-year unexpired term in Place 1 on the Council. Nash was appointed in December 2019 to the Place 2 seat, then ran unopposed in the Nov. 3, 2020 election for the 1-year unexpired Place 2 seat. Spraggins won the Nov. 3, 2020 election for one year of the unexpired Place 5 seat.
Candidate filing for Places 1, 2, 3 and 5 on the May 1, 2021 Sulphur Springs City Council Election ballot continues during regular business hours, 8-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, through Feb. 12, at Sulphur Springs Municipal Building, 201 North Davis St. Applications may be mailed to 125 South Davis St. 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.
Julian Files Candidacy For Place 1 In Sulphur Springs City Council Election
Jay W. Julian Wednesday filed candidacy for Place 1 on Sulphur Springs City Council. Julian currently serves in the seat. He was elected in December, coming out ahead of Mark Bradley in a runoff election last month for the remaining months of the unexpired term. Julian is now seeking a full 3-year term on the City Council.
The Place 1 seat was one of four on the 2020 ballot due to the resignations of four council members 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. A runoff 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 with 55.45 percent of the votes cast.
Councilman Julian is the third candidate to file candidacy in the May 1, 2021 City Council Election. Gary Spraggins and Harold Nash Sr. filed candidacy Wednesday morning for reelection to their seats on the council.
Spraggins was elected in November to serve one year of the unexpired Place 5 seat and is seeking the remaining year of of that term. Nash Sr. was appointed in December 2019 to Place 2 on the council, and drew no opponent in the Nov. 3, 2020 election for Place 2.
As of 12:45 p.m. Jan. 13, no candidates had yet filed for Place 3 on the City Council; Oscar Aguilar drew no opponent in the 2020 election for the remaining year in the Place 3 seat.
Candidate filing for Places 1, 2, 3 and 5 on the May 1, 2021 Sulphur Springs City Council Election ballot continues during regular business hours, 8-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, Jan. 13-Feb. 12, at Sulphur Springs Municipal Building, 201 North Davis St. Applications may be mailed to 125 South Davis St. 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.
Nash, Spraggins Sign Up For Election for Places 2 and 5 On Sulphur Springs City Council
Candidate filing got under way Wednesday morning, with two candidates signing up, one each for Places 2 and 5 on the May 1, 2021 Sulphur Springs City Council Election ballot. Harold Nash Sr. is seeking a full 3-year term on the City Council for Place 2 and Gary Spraggins is seeking election to the 1-year unexpired term for Place 5. Both currently serve on the City Council.
Nash was appointed in December 2019 to the Place 2 seat, following the the resignations of the Place 2 councilman as well as Place 1, 3 and 5 council members in the same week. Nash then ran and was unopposed in the Nov. 3, 2020 election for the 1-year unexpired Place 2 seat.
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.
As of 10:45 a.m. Jan. 13, no candidates had yet filed for Place 1 and 3 on the City Council.
Candidate filing for Places 1, 2, 3 and 5 on the May 1, 2021 Sulphur Springs City Council Election ballot continues during regular business hours, 8-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, Jan. 13-Feb. 12, at Sulphur Springs Municipal Building, 201 North Davis St. Applications may be mailed to 125 South Davis St.
Drug Paraphernalia, Methamphetamine Found During SH 11 Traffic Stop
A State Highway 11 traffic stop resulted in the arrest of a 40-year-old Leesburg woman for possession of methamphetamine found during a State Highway 11 traffic stop.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chris Baumann reported the woman was one of three passengers in a Chevrolet Silverado stopped around 8 p.m. Jan. 12 on State Highway 11 east near the county line for a defective license plate. The Leesburg woman and other female passenger were alleged to exhibit nervous behavior, but were talkative.
The owner of the truck, who was in the back passenger’s seat, agreed to let officials search the vehicle. More than one item of drug paraphernalia was alleged found in the front passenger area. A shoulder bag had an over-the-counter pill bottle with a baggy containing a crystal-like substance Baumann suspected to be methamphetamine, the deputy noted in arrest reports.
When asked who the shoulder bag belonged to, 40-year-old Tiny Marie Hogue of Leesburg claimed the bag and was taken into custody for possession of a controlled substance, according to arrest reports. Bauman reported Hogue also admitted there was another bag in the rear seat. He removed a backpack containing an ankle sock with a used hypodermic syringe and a plastic container with an additional baggy of suspected crystal meth.
Hogue was transported to jail, where the crystal-like substance field-tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed 2.63 grams, including packaging. Consequently, Hogue was booked into Hopkins County jail shortly before 10 p.m. Jan. 12 on a possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of the Penalty Group 1 controlled substance methamphetamine found in her bags.
Hogue, who is also known by Tiny Jones, remained in Hopkins County jail on the third-degree felony 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.
Applications For Chamber Of Commerce President/CEO Position Now Available Online
By Lezley Brown, President/CEO, Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
I wanted to let you all know that after five wonderful years here at the Chamber, I will be resigning my position in the middle of April. These five years have been some of my favorite in all of my career. I have met amazing people and learned more than I ever imagined I would.
I want, very much, to be helpful in this transition. It is already time for that transition process to begin.
The Chamber is currently accepting applications for the President/CEO position. A job description and list of qualifications can be found on the Chamber Facebook page and on the Chamber website. Additionally, interested applicants may call the Chamber at (903) 885-6515 to receive these documents via email. All applications, resumes, and cover letters must be received at the Chamber by Friday, February 12, at noon to be considered. Application packets may be submitted via email to [email protected] , or by mailing them to 110 Main Street in Sulphur Springs.
Ribbon Cutting
Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial is hosting a ribbon cutting
Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial is hosting a ribbon cutting celebration on Wednesday, January 20, at noon. They are located at 1428 South Broadway Street in Sulphur Springs. Please make plans to attend!
Business Highlight
The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is highlighting a member of the Chamber each week. Please join me in congratulating our Business of the Week for January 14, Pilgrim Bank.
You can read biographical stories at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page and Instagram page.
Wildcats Basketball Team Suffers Loss Again As Three Point Shot Goes In Against Them At Buzzer
For the third time this season, the Wildcats Basketball Team suffered a tough loss as an opponent’s three point shot went in right before the buzzer. It was the second straight game it happened.
Mount Pleasant’s Xzavier Brown hit the timely three pointer to give the Tigers at 44-41 win in overtime in the Main Gym at Sulphur Springs High School Tuesday night (January 12). Brown scored all five of the Tigers’ points in overtime. Wildcat junior Justin Haire hit two overtime free throws. In regulation, Wildcats junior Caleb Alexander hit a floater late in the fourth period to force overcome. The score was 39-39 after regulation.
Both teams struggled to score in a defensive battle for the first three periods. The score was tied 8-8 after one period. Mount Pleasant went up 15-11 at halftime. The score was 23-23 after three quarters. Both teams scored 16 fourth quarter points.
The Wildcats had three double digit scorers. Senior Boo Wilkerson led all scorers with 13 points. Haire and Alexander both had 12 points. Tigers junior William Hills led Mount Pleasant with 12 points.
If it’s true that all things even out over time, the Wildcats Clark Cipoletta and his Wildcats have a lot of good fortune coming their way.
The Wildcats are now 3-2 in district play and 10-8 for the season. They wrap up the first half of district play at Texas High on Friday night. #14 ranked Mount Pleasant remains unbeaten at 5-0 in district play and 16-0 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 Tops Princeton, 2-1 Tuesday Night At The Prim
After a scoreless first half, the Lady Cats Soccer Team outscored Princeton in the second half to take a 2-1 non-district win at Gerald Prim Stadium Tuesday night, January 12.
The Lady Cats took a 1-0 lead in the second half on a Rebekah Stanley goal assisted by Emily Soto. The Panthers then scored to tie the game at 1-1. Stanley put the Lady Cats back up 2-1 on a free kick goal from about 20 yards out with about 6 minutes left to play. The Lady Cats’ defense made it stand up as the winning goal.
Lady Cats Coach Javier Aguayo said the game was an intense one. He said the Lady Cats worked hard and played good defense all night.
The Lady Cats improve to 3-2-1 for the season. The Lady Cats play next in the three day Princeton tournament that starts Thursday. The Lady Cats draw Sherman in the tournament Thursday bright and early at 8 a.m.
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 Basketball Team Rolls Over Union Hill Tuesday
The Saltillo Lions Basketball Team overwhelmed Union Hill in a district game, 84-27 Tuesday, January 12.
The Lions got off to a fast start leading Union Hill, 24-8 after one quarter and 48-11 at the half. The Lions got big games from Chris Boekhorst and David Whitworth who scored 19 points each. Coy Collins added 16 points. Andrew Redburn had 12 points. Gunner Tarver scored 11 points. Colby McCoy had 4 points. Ridge Johnson scored 3 points.
The Lions remain unbeaten in district play at 4-0 and their season record is now 9-7. The Lions play next at Avery on Friday.
Wright And Dietze Seeking Reelection To Sulphur Springs School Board
Kerry Wright and Jason Dietze filed candidate applications Wednesday morning, the first day of the filing period, 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.
