Sulphur Springs ISD Celebrates School Board Recognition Month This January
Sulphur Springs – The Sulphur Springs ISD joins 1,024 school districts throughout Texas to celebrate January as School Board Recognition Month, according to SSISD Superintendent Michael Lamb.
“Our school board members are volunteers who shoulder critical responsibilities and often make difficult choices for our district, all without pay. Their goal is always focused on the future success of the children in our district,” Lamb said. “Celebrating School Board Recognition Month is one way to say thanks for all they do.”
Serving as a link between the community and classroom, school board members are elected to establish the policies that provide the framework for public schools. The SSISD board is responsible for an annual budget, 4,300+ students, 710 employees, and 9 campuses.
Board members currently serving SSISD are: Robert Cody, President (7 years); Craig Roberts, Vice President (2 years); Jason Dietze, Secretary (12 years); John Prickette (9 ½ years), Leesa Toliver (8 years), Robbin Vaughn (7 years), and Kerry Wright (11 ½ years).
“It’s more important than ever before that communities support public education so that today’s students are prepared to be productive citizens and the leaders of tomorrow. Please take a moment and tell school board members ‘thanks for caring about our children and giving so much to our community.’ Let them know we support them and that their dedicated service is recognized and truly appreciated,” Lamb said.
SSISD board members will be formally recognized at a special board meeting to be held on Monday, January 25, 2021.
Jan. 7 COVID-19 Update: 15 New Cases, 3 Recoveries, 209 Active Cases
As COVID-19 counts continue to rise, not surprisingly, so too do COVID-19 hospitalizations. In fact, the highest COVID-19 patient count in not only the local COVID unit but across Trauma Service Area F were reported in Texas Department of State Health Services and Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management’s Jan. 7 COVID-19 updates.
Case Counts
The 13 new confirmed COVID-19 cases increase the total number of new molecular so far this week to 87, which officially has January outpacing the first week of all other months so far during the pandemic. Even October and December, the two months with the highest total new confirmed COVID-19 cases, had fewer confirmed cases during the first seven days of the month than January.
While October had 323 total new confirmed COVID-19 cases, only 38 Hopkins County residents had received positive molecular novel coronavirus 2019 results during the first seven days of the month. Even December, which started at a fast clip with 44 new cases reported on the third alone, concluded with only 290 new molecular cases, 81 of which were reported during the first seven days of the month.
Cumulatively, 1,209 Hopkins County residents have received lab-confirmed positive molecular COVID-19 tests results. Two additional new probable cases were also reported on Jan. 7 for Hopkins County, for a total of 55 new probable cases identified so far this this month and 1,172 probable cases since the state began tracking the data in the fall.
Combined, that’s 142 new COVID-19 cases reported during the first seven days of 2021. Cumulatively, 2,381 COVID-19 cases have been reported to DSHS for Hopkins County since the pandemic began in March 2020, including 2,099 cases that have recovered from the virus and 209 active cases.
Hospital Data
HC/SSEM officials this week have daily reported one additional patients in the COVID unit, beginning with 29 patients on Jan. 4 up to the 32 patients (34.59 percent of the hospital capacity) reported in the Jan. 7 COVID-19 update. The hospital has up to 35 beds that can be utilized for COVID-19 patients. Until this month, the most patients reported to be in the CMFH-SS COVID Unit at one time was 30 on Dec. 30.
COVID-19 hospitalizations continued to be high in Trauma Service Area F on Jan. 6 as well, with 218 COVID-19 patients accounting for 20.32 percent of 1,073 staffed hospital beds in hospitals across the Northeast Texas area. That’s up from 18.92 percent on Jan. 5, when COVID patients took up 206 of the 1,088 staff hospital beds in TSA F hospitals. That eclipses the 20.21 percent reported on Jan. 4, when COVID-19 patients occupied 210 of the 1,039 staffed hospital beds, and the 216 patients reported on Dec. 31, when they COVID-19 patients made up 19.03 percent of the 1,135 staffed beds in TSA F.
Trauma Service Area F has had “high hospitalizations,” defined by DSHS as days in which COVID-19 hospitalizations account for 15 percent or more of the total hospital capacity for a trauma service area, for 12 days so far, starting Dec. 26 and continuing through Jan. 6.
The DSHS Jan. 7 COVID-19 Testing and Hospital Data dashboard also showed there to be just four ICU beds available in the entire trauma service area, the same as on Jan. 1 and Dec. 4, but three more than on Jan. 2 and Jan. 3.
On Jan. 2, after the seventh consecutive day of high hospitalizations, businesses, libraries, museums and restaurants in counties in Trauma Service Area F that had been allowed to operate at 75 percent capacity were required by Governor’s Order GA-32 to scale back to 50 percent capacity. That order is in effect for 17 of the 22 Trauma Service areas in Texas. In order to return to 75 percent capacity, TSAs must have seven consecutive day in which COVID-19 hospitalizations remain below the 15 percent total capacity threshold.
In Trauma Service Area F, Hopkins, Bowie, Cass, Lamar and Titus Counties have a least seven more days before that is possible. Delta, Morris and Red River Counties can remain at 75 percent capacity because they have filed the property paperwork attesting teach has had less than 30 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days.
Testing Data
HC/SSEM officials in the Jan. 7 COVID-19 update reported 7,544 molecular COVID-19 tests have been conducted at 128-A Jefferson Street since the facility was converted to a free testing center, including 86 tests on Wednesday and 576 tests in the last week.
DSHS reported a total of 15,124 COVID-19 tests have been in Hopkins County: 12,202 viral (molecular) tests; 1,252 antigen tests; and 1,670 antibody tests. That’s an increase of 115 additional tests conducted on Jan. 6.
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.
HHS Reports
Texas Health and Human Services reported another resident of Carriage House Manor had died as a result of COVID-19 on Dec. 23. The facility also had still had 12 resident cases and four active employee cases on Dec. 23, the most recent data available from HHS as of the Jan. 7 COVID-19 nursing facility report as data was not recorded on Dec. 24-25, which were holidays, nor is it recorded on weekends.
The HHS report also showed 19 active employee and 40 active resident COVID-19 cases for Rock Creek Health and Rehabilitation LLC, and three active employee cases at Sulphur Springs Health and Rehab, on Dec. 23.
Wesley House also was reported on Dec. 23 to have one active employee COVID-19 case on Dec. 23, according to HHS’ Jan. 7 COVID-19 assisted living facility report.
COVID Vaccine
Nineteen additional people in Hopkins County had received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 6. Of the 329 vaccines administered, 213 were female and 113 male, with three unknown. A total of 126 people ages 16-49 years, 102 ages 50-64 years, have been vaccinated in Hopkins County, 77 ages 65-79 years and 24 ages 80 and older, according to the DSHS COVID-19 Vaccine dashboard.
Wildcats Soccer Team Continues Slow Start To Season With Tourney Loss Thursday
The Wildcats Soccer Team opened play at the Forney Kickoff Tournament Thursday afternoon, January 7, with a 4-0 pool play loss to Ennis at City Bank Stadium at Forney High School.
Wildcats Soccer Coach Alexi Upton said the Wildcats fell apart early in the match and gave up a goal on a penalty kick. He added the Wildcats overall just could not finish to score a goal.
In pool play Friday, the Wildcats will face Mesquite Poteet at 10:30 a.m. and Dallas South Oak Cliff at 4:30 p.m. Both games will be at Falcon Stadium at North Forney High School.
The Wildcats are off to a slow start this season. With the Thursday loss, the Wildcats slipped to 0-2 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.
Wildcats and Lady Cats Soccer Teams Begin Tournament Play Thursday
Both the Wildcats and Lady Cats are in early season soccer tournaments on this game day Thursday (January 7). Both teams come in 0-1 after season opening losses on Monday. The Wildcats were edged out at Terrell, 3-2. The Lady Cats lost at home to Kilgore, 5-3.
The Wildcats are playing in the Forney Kickoff Tournament. They open the tournament with a pool game against Ennis getting underway at 2:30 p.m. Thursday. The Wildcats also have Mesquite Poteet and Dallas South Oak Cliff in their pool. They are scheduled to play them on Friday. Games on Saturday will be determined by pool game results.
The Lady Cats are playing in the Kilgore Tournament 2021. They open with two Thursday games at the Kilgore Varsity Stadium. A match with Pleasant Grove got underway at 10:30 a.m. The Lady Cats are also scheduled to face Nacogdoches at 4:30 p.m. The Lady Cats also have games scheduled Friday and Saturday. Lady Cats Soccer Coach Javier Aguayo said early Thursday morning that a JV game against Tyler Legacy JV at the grass field at Kilgore scheduled for Thursday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. has been canceled.
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 Man Caught On CR 3355 With Psychedelic Mushrooms
A deputy reported finding suspected psychedelic mushrooms in a truck that appeared to be out of place parked on the side of County Road 3355 late Wednesday morning, resulting in one arrest. A traffic stop early Thursday morning also reportedly revealed drug paraphernalia and resulted in two arrests, according to sheriff’s reports.
CR 3355 Suspicious Vehicle Investigation
While on patrol, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jason Lavender noticed a silver pickup parked on the side of County Road 3355 in a parking area county precinct workers frequently use to park road paving equipment. So, he stopped at 10:40 a.m. Jan. 6 in front off the truck to check on it and noticed movement inside the truck, the deputy noted in arrest reports.
As he exited his patrol vehicle to approach the pickup, Lavender noted the passenger side door on the pickup opened. The deputy alleged as h e spoke with the passenger, identified as 32-year-old Omar Ochoa of Saltillo, he detected a strong marijuana odor coming from inside the GMC Sierra.
Lavender reported finding a bag containing suspected psilocybin, otherwise known as psychedelic mushrooms, during a probable cause search of the truck. He detained both the Ochoa and the driver while he completed his search. Ochoa claimed the contraband and was taken into custody, Lavender alleged in arrest reports.
Ochoa remained in Hopkins County jail late Thursday morning, Jan. 7, on the possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance charge. Bond on the third-degree felony charge was set at $10,000, according to jail reports.
Church Street Traffic Stop
A sheriff’s deputy reported stopping a silver Pontiac Firebird at 1:30 a.m. Jan. 7 on Church Street for a defective brake light. Upon contact with both occupants, the deputy alleged both occupants displayed signs of slurred speech and nervous behavior.
Additional deputies arrived to assist and, after obtaining permission, conducted a search of the car. Deputies reported finding a glass pipe of the kind commonly used to smoke methamphetamine with suspected meth residue on it and a suspected prescription narcotic in the front driver’s seat.
When neither claimed the contraband, deputies took both the 45-year-old Sulphur Springs man and 48-year-old Lone Oak woman into custody just before 2 a.m. for possession of drug paraphernalia, according to arrest reports.
An alcohol odor reportedly emitted from the woman who, deputies report, admitted to consuming an alcoholic beverage prior to the traffic stop. She was also charge with public intoxication.
Both had been released from jail by noon Thursday, according to jail reports.
KSST does not publish the names or photos of people charged with misdemeanor crimes in staff-generated reports, only those accused of felony offenses.
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.
Lezley Brown Set To Resign From Hopkins County Chamber: New Applicants Sought
PRESS RELEASE: Chamber to hire new President/CEO
Lezley Brown, the current President/CEO of the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
announced to the Chamber Board of Directors Thursday, January 7, that she will be resigning her
position at the Chamber in the middle of April. Brown told the Board, “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. When I joined the
Chamber team five years ago, I walked in completely wild-eyed and excited. You need to look
for someone with that excitement. That excitement and love for the Chamber is what gets me
through the hardest days here. I can’t wait to see who you will choose next to carry out the big
dreams of our wonderful Chamber, and I can’t wait to see the big things that are destined to
happen in our community.”
Rusty Posey, current Chairman of the Chamber Board, replied with the following statement:
“We are incredibly proud of the job Lezley has done as President of the Chamber of Commerce
in the last five years. Her infectious personality and visionary leadership have taken the Chamber
to new heights. In those five years, with her leadership, we have relocated the Chamber offices to
the Square, started our Grow-n-Go program for new businesses, and celebrated the 50th Stew
Contest with our biggest Stew ever. We are grateful for these five years and believe we are
poised and ready for continued success.
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 th 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.
Send Birthday Cards To Help Grace Vaughn Celebrate Her 100th Birthday
By Jan Vaughn, Tira News columnist
We want to express our sympathy to the family of Charlie Williams, who passed away on Sunday. Charlie was married to Tina Belz Williams. Also, Yvonne Weir shared that Bart Benefield passed away recently. Bart was the son of the late Floyd Benefield of Tira. We extend our sympathy to his family. Please remember these families in your prayers.
Grace Vaughn will be 100 years old on January 18, 2021. We will not be having a large gathering, so we are hoping that she will get lots of birthday cards. If you would like to send her one the address is 776 FM 1536, Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482.
Kenden Joslin and Emma Hall visited Malcolm and Melinda Joslin and their family in Princeton on December 27, which was Kenden’s birthday. It was, also, a late Christmas visit, due to Malcolm’s family being in quarantine during the holidays. Kenden and Emma stopped by and visited with us for a little while before they went.
Our great-granddaughter, Dixie, spent several days with Landon, Laiken, Rylan, Brailon, and Slaiden Joslin. They all had pizza with us on Saturday, December 26, and then Dixie opened her Christmas gifts, since she wasn’t with us on Christmas Day.
Linda Ellen Vaughn spent New Year’s weekend with us. Our niece AbbyGale Shell and her husband Sanford came for a visit on Saturday afternoon and brought Grace her Christmas present. Dixie and her brothers came and enjoyed playing on their riding toys in the driveway later that day. Laiken visited with us, too. Landon had to work that afternoon. Charlie Vaughn, also, came by for a little while. On Sunday the 3rd, Chip and I took Dixie to meet her mother in Mount Enterprise, and then Chip and I went to the Mineola Nature Preserve. We enjoyed walking on the trails and watching the sunset. We spent the night in Lindale and returned the next morning. Linda Ellen stayed with Grace while we were gone. Tim and Lori Vaughn and Mitchell and Nikki Vaughn visited Linda and Grace on Sunday afternoon.
I hope the New Year is off to a good start for you all and I look forward to having more to report soon.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
Jan. 6 COVID-19 Update: 3 Fatalities, 30 New Cases, 1 Recovery
Texas Department of State Health Services and Texas Health and Human Services’ Jan. 6 COVID-19 reports showed three additional COVID-19 fatalities, continued high COVID-19 hospitalizations in area hospitals, only 1 recovery in the last three days, with 25 vaccination administered Jan. 3-11:59 p.m. Jan. 5 for Hopkins County.
Jan. 6 COVID-19 Case Counts
Twenty people received positive COVID-19 results from lab-confirmed molecular testing on Jan. 6. That increases the total for the first six days of the 2021 to 75 confirmed cases: one case each on Jan. 1 and Jan. 4, eight cases on Jan. 2, 35 cases on Jan. 3 and nine cases on Jan. 5. The 20 new cases increases the cumulative total to 1,196 confirmed COVID-19 cases among Hopkins County residence since the first case was reported on March 26.
Ten additional probable Hopkins County cases were also reported on Jan. 6, increasing the number probable cases reported so far this month to 53. Cumulatively, since the state began tracking the data, 1,170 probable Hopkins County cases have been recorded. Probable cases are those in which a person has either tested 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.
One additional Hopkins County resident was reported Jan. 6 to have recovered from COVID-19, the first recovery reported in three days. Recoveries have been reported in only two of the first six days of this month: 42 recoveries were also reported on Jan. 3. Cumulatively, 2,096 of the total 2,366 Hopkins County COVID-19 cases (probable and confirmed) have recovered.
The DSHS Jan. 6 COVID-19 Texas Case Counts Dashboard shows 73 Hopkins County COVID-19 fatalities, which means three additional Hopkins County residents have died from COVID-19. That means “COVID-19 was listed as a direct cause of death” on their death certificates. “A medical certifier, usually a doctor, determines 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,” according to DSHS.
The deaths were reported in the Dec. 6 COVID-19 Fatalities Over Time By County report to have occurred on Dec. 22 and Dec. 29 of 2020, and Jan. 1, 2021. That makes 14 Hopkins County residents confirmed to have died in December, a month in which 290 confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported, and 193 probable cases were reported from Dec. 11-31.
Cumulatively, 1,122 Hopkins County residents tested positive on molecular COVID-19 tests and 1,117 probable COVID-19 cases were also assigned to Hopkins County in 2020; 2,053 of the 2,239 cumulative COVID-19 cases reported from March 26-Dec. 31 of last year recovered, with 72 deaths confirmed in 2020, although the fatality count could rise as additional death certificates are filed with the state.
That leaves 197 active COVID-19 cases in Hopkins County on Jan. 6, according to the DSHS Case Counts Dashboard.
Also, 310 people are reported to have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by 11:59 p.m. Jan. 5, including 204 women and 104 men. That’s 16 more people receiving the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination in Hopkins County on Jan. 5 than the day before and 25 vaccination administered from 12 a.m. Jan. 3-11:59 p.m. Jan. 5 for Hopkins County, according to the COVID-19 DSHS Vaccine Data dashboard.
Testing Data
Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management officials reported a total of 7,458 COVID-19 tests have been performed at the Red Cross building since its designation on Sept. 25 as a free testing site. That means another 85 people were tested at 128-A Jefferson St. on Tuesday, Jan. 5. That’s 490 tests conducted over the last seven days at the testing center.
Cumulatively, DSHS on Jan. 6 reports 15,005 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Hopkins County since March, including 12,164 viral (molecular) tests, 1,248 antigen tests and 1,593 antibody tests. That means 26 antigen tests, 4 antibody tests and 106 viral tests were conducted in Hopkins County on Tuesday; and 626 viral tests, 85 antigen tests and 11antibody tests so far this month.
Free oral swab(molecular) COVID-19 testing will continue to be offered free from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays in January inside the Red Cross (old Fidelity Express Building) in Sulphur Springs. Free testing is open to anyone regardless of age or address. Registration is required online at www.GoGetTested.com in order to be tested at 128-A Jefferson Street in Sulphur Springs.
Hospital Data
As the COVID-19 hospitalizations have continued to increase across the state so too has the patient count in the CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs COVID Unit. In fact, the Jan. 6 COVID-19 patient count at CMFH-SS was 31, the highest patient count thus far for the hospital since the pandemic began. Although, the hospital is equipped to house as many as 35 COVID-19 patients, Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management and CMFH-SS representatives have reported.
DSHS’ Jan. 6 COVID-19 Test and Hospital Data dashboard shows Tuesday as the 11th consecutive day in COVID-19 hospitalizations accounted for 15 percent or more of the overall hospital capacity in Trauma Service Area F, which includes Sulphur Springs and most of Northeast Texas; it’s also the seventh consecutive day in which COVID-19 hospitalizations exceeded the 15 percent threshold set by the governor in GA-32. That means for the past four days Hopkins, Bowie, Cass, Lamar and Titus counties within TSA F have been required to reduce capacity at many businesses from 75 to 50 percent until TSA F has seven straight days in which the COVID-19 percent is less than 15 percent of capacity.
Only Delta, Morris and Red River Counties in Northeast Texas have qualified and submitted an attestation to the state certifying that their county has had fewer than 30 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days. All three had filed the proper paperwork for their businesses to continue to remain open at 75 percent capacity.
On Jan. 5, the 206 COVID-19 patients in Trauma Service Area F hospitals collectively accounted for 18.93 percent of the total hospital capacity, a 1.28 decrease from Jan. 4. In fact, the lowest percentage and least number of COVID-19 patients reported since TSA F officially was considered to have a “high hospitalization” percentage on Jan. 2 were reported on Jan. 5.
Only four ICU beds were reported to be available in all of TSA F, that’s one more available on Jan. 5 than on Jan. 4 and three more than on Jan. 2 and 3.
Man Accused Of Dumping Near Lake Sulphur Springs
A 26-year-old man is in custody at Morris County jail Wednesday night on felony Hopkins County warrants for allegedly dumping debris and trash near Lake Sulphur Springs earlier this week. The arrest is the third time he has been arrested on Hopkins County felony charges.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office was notified earlier in the week that debris and trash had been dumped near Sulphur Springs Lake, at the dead end of County Road 4703. The debris, hauled away Tuesday in a dump truck, weighed more than 4,000 pounds. A joint investigation of the dumping was under way Tuesday by HCSO and Hopkins County Fire Department was launched.
“After the initial cleanup and investigation an arrest has been made in Morris County. Assistant Fire Marshal Mike Matthews, tracked down the suspect and he is now in custody,” HCSO Chief Deputy Tanner Crump noted in a news release Wednesday night.
According to law enforcement reports, Justen Blake Saffel was taken into custody late Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 6, 2021, in Omaha. The 26-year-old Hopkins County man was arrested and taken to Morris County jail, where he was held on the Hopkins County warrants for illegal dumping and intentionally or knowingly unauthorized discharge of the debris adjacent to the water way, in connection with the dumping near Lake Sulphur Springs, according to sheriffs reports.
Wednesday is the second time Saffel has been arrested by County fire marshals and third time he has been jailed on felony Hopkins County charges.
In September of 2016, County fire marshals arrested Saffel on an arson charge. Saffel was accused of setting a house that had been vacant for several years in Birthright on fire. A 6-month member of North Hopkins Volunteer Fire Department, Saffel’s membership in the department was terminated following the incident, NHVFD wrote in a statement following Saffel’s arrest in 2016.
Saffel was arrested Sept. 11, 2016, by Hopkins County Fire Marshals; indicted Oct. 17, 2016, and was released Nov. 29, 2016, on 10 years probation on the arson charge, according to court and jail records.
The 26-year-old was also jailed Sept. 7, 2015, for allegedly pointing a gun at his mother and cousin during a disturbance at a Locust Street residence. Saffel remained in jail until Dec. 14, 2015 in Hopkins County jail on the aggravated assault of a date, family or household member with a weapon, 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.
Count Of Electoral Votes Resumes Wednesday Night, Following Storming Of Capitol By Protesters
Protesters forced their way into the U.S. Capitol Wednesday afternoon, disrupting and delaying, but did not stop the counting of Electoral College votes. Congress reconvened the joint session shortly after 8 p.m. Jan. 6, 2021 to continue the process of counting and certifying the Electoral College votes.
Capitol the protesters, stormed the U.S. Capitol Wednesday afternoon, entering the building, reportedly yelling and waving Trump and United States flags as they marched through the halls, disrupting the count of Electoral College votes Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 6, 2021.
When alerted police and other law enforcement stood guard at the doors, barred from the inside with furniture and stood guard at doors, photos posted by protesters and media in Washington, D.C. depicted. Congress members were reportedly rushed to secure locations.
A woman was reportedly shot inside the Capitol and later died.
The D.C. mayor enacted a curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., allowing only essential personnel to be outdoors during those hours; a curfew was also declared by the Governor for nearby Alexandria and Arlington.
The entire D.C. National Guard was activated and responded, along with other local, state and federal law enforcement.
President Donald Trump has reportedly been locked out of or suspended, at least temporarily, from his Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts.
After the Capital building was declared clear of protesters and safe, elected officials returned to resume the counting and certifying of the Electoral votes shortly after 8 p.m. EST. Jan. 6, 2021.
