Lady Cats Soccer Team Defeats Life Waxahachie and Wins Terrell Tournament on Saturday
Perhaps the Lady Cats Soccer Team won one for their coach Saturday (January 23) at the Terrell Winter Classic. Lady Cats Coach Javier Aguayo could not attend the tournament Friday or Saturday due to illness. First Saturday the Lady Cats won their group with a 9-3 win over Life Waxahachie. Then they were declared Champion of the Tournament when other possible opponents in the tournament final game were not able to play. In an offensive explosion against Life Waxahachie, Lady Cats sophomore Rebekah Stanley had a three goal hat trick and also assisted on three other goals. Freshman Anna Willams scored two goals and had an assist on another. Freshman Haylee Shultz also scored two goals and assisted on another. Sophomore Emily Soto and freshman Kylie Clarke also scored goals for the Lady Cats. The Lady Cats ended up with two wins and a tie in the three-day tournament. They improved their season record to 5-4-3. The Lady Cats play next on Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. against Spring Hill at Gerald Prim Stadium.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Saltillo Lions Basketball Team Picks Up Another District Win
The Saltillo Lions Basketball Team continues on a good roll in district play. The Lions got another lopsided win Friday (January 22) against Bloomberg. The Lions outscored Bloomberg in every quarter leading 31-7 after one period, 47-18 at the half, 67-30 after three quarters and 84-41 at the end. The Lions are now 7-0 in district play and 12-7 for the season. The Lions’ Andrew Redburn had a huge game against Bloomberg scoring 30 points. Chris Boekhorst had 13 points. Gunner Tarver scored 11 points. David Whitworth and Landon Gilbreth both scored 8 points. Caden McGill added 6 points. Coy Collins and Ridge Johnson both had 3 points. Colby McCoy had 2 points. Next the Lions play CHESS on Tuesday.
Hopkins County Continued To Have Lowest Unemployment Rate In Area In December
Hopkins County continued to have the lowest unemployment rate in the area, 1.8 percent lower than the state average and 1.6 lower than the average for the Northeast Texas workforce area, according to the Texas Labor Market Information and Texas Workforce Commission. While the unemployment rate fell from 5.8 in November 2020 to back to the 5.3 percent of October 2020, the December 2020 unemployment rate was still nearly twice the 2.8 percent posted in December 2019 (the second lowest monthly unemployment rate in the last 3 years, only 0.1 percent more than in April and May 2019).
The December 2020 unemployment rate for Hopkins County was still 3 percent lower than in April, the worst unemployment rate the last 3 years due to so many businesses having to close or significantly reduce staffing due to COVID-19.
Unemployment the first two months of 2020 was steady at 3.2 percent. In March, as the pandemic began spreading in Hopkins County, unemployment rose to 4.5 percent. After climbing to 8.4 percent in April, it fell for four straight months, dropping to 7.8 percent in May, 5.7 percent in June, 5.4 percent in July and 4.6 percent in August. Unemployment rose again in September to 5.7, fell to 4.7 in October, spiked again to 5.8 in November and 5.3 in December. Overall, the annual unemployment rate was 5.4 percent.
Around the area, Delta County was a close second to Hopkins County for lowest with an unemployment rate of 5.4 percent in December 2020, down from 6.3 percent in November 2020 but still 2.1 percent higher than in December 2019.
Next was the 6.3 percent unemployment rate experienced in December 2020, down from 6.8 percent in November 2020 but still 3.1 percent higher than in December 2019.
Bowie and Lamar County each had a December 2020 unemployment rate of 6.5 percent, a 0.8 percent decline from November 2020 for Bowie County and a 0.4 percent decline for Lamar County. The December 2020 unemployment rate is still 2.7 percent higher than Bowie County’s December 2019 unemployment rate and 3.4 percent higher than Lamar County’s December 2019 unemployment rate.
Titus County has a 7 percent unemployment rate in December 2020, still 3.1 percent higher than in December 2019, but 0.5 percent lower than in November 2019.
Red River’s unemployment rate was 7.1 percent, down from 7.5 percent, but still 2.7 percent higher than in December of 2019.
Cass County’s unemployment rate was 8.6, down from 9.4 percent in November 2020 but still 4.6 percent higher than in December 2019.
Morris County’s 13.5 percent unemployment rate was the worst in the nine-county region, down from 14.8 percent in November 2020 but still 8.1 percent higher than in December 2019
Paris District Road Report for the Week of January 25, 2021
Paris — Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the week of Jan. 25, 2021. These
schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other
unforeseen issues. Motorists are advised to remain alert and pay special attention to all signs,
barricades and traffic controls, and reduce their speed as they approach and travel through
work zones. They should also avoid distractions such as cell phones, eating, drinking, or car
audio or navigation systems.
Sherman Area (Fannin, Grayson Counties)
Contacts: Sherman Area Office (903) 892-6529; Grayson Co. Maintenance (903) 893-8831;
Fannin Co. Maintenance (903) 583-7566.
US 75, Grayson County: from FM 1417 to SH 91 (Texoma Parkway). Watch for shoulder
closures and lane shifts on northbound and southbound US 75 between Center Street and FM
1417 as crews work on building new main lanes and the new South Travis Street Bridge. Watch
for lane closures on the frontage roads between FM 1417 and SH 91 as crews work on building
detours and installing drainage structures. The northbound exit ramp for Houston and Lamar
Streets (SH 56) is currently closed, and exiting traffic is requested to use the Park Avenue exit
ramp. The northbound exit ramp for Pecan Street and Washington Street is currently closed,
and exiting traffic is requested to use the next exit ramp for North Travis Street. The southbound
exit ramp for Park Avenue is currently closed and exiting traffic is requested to use the
Houston/Lamar Street (SH 56) exit. The southbound Washington Street exit ramp is currently
closed, and exiting traffic is requested to use the North Travis Street exit. The northbound
frontage road from South Travis Street to near Park Avenue is closed for crews to work on
building the remaining portion of the retaining wall along US 75 at the South Travis Street
intersection. Traffic is requested to use the US 75 mainlanes during this closure. A reduced
speed limit of 60 mph on the US 75 mainlanes has been set for this construction project.
The westbound US 82 exit ramp for Loy Lake road is currently closed for crews to work on
widening the US 82 frontage road. This exit ramp is expected to be closed through July 2021.
Traffic wishing to access Loy Lake Road is requested to take the SH 91 exit ramp (643), or the
US 75 exit ramp.
During the week of February 1 through 7, the Washington Street intersection at US 75 will be
closed to through traffic in order for crews to perform pavement improvements in the left lane of
the northbound and southbound frontage roads. Traffic on Washington Street will be able to
make a right turn only onto the frontage road and will detour to the next intersection. This same
process will occur for the Houston and Lamar Street intersections in subsequent weeks. This
work is weather dependent and may be adjusted due to unfavorable weather.
Beginning at 7:30 pm on February 1, both lanes of the US 75 northbound frontage road will be
closed in order to demolish a portion of the old railroad bridge structure. The frontage road will
be reopened to traffic on February 2 at 6:30 am.
The US 75 pedestrian bridge near Pecan Street in Sherman is closed to pedestrian traffic. The
east side over the frontage road has been removed. The remaining pedestrian bridge will be
removed at a later time. Pedestrians wishing to cross US 75 are advised to cross at the Houston
Street signalized intersection.
FM 1417, Grayson County: from US 82 to SH 56. Watch for lane shifts and shoulder closures
between US 82 and SH 56 while crews are working to construct a portion of the new Sand
Creek bridge and the approaches to the bridge. Weather permitting, the week of February 1 we
will move traffic onto the new portion of the Sand Creek bridge in order to begin construction on
the other half of the bridge. Watch for occasional daytime lane closures as crews perform utility
work. A reduced speed limit of 45 mph has been set for this construction project.
FM 121, Grayson County: from Jim Jones Road to FM 3356. Watch for occasional daytime lane
closures as crews work to build portions of the new bridges and roadway. Watch for lane shifts
and narrow lanes throughout the project as crews have moved traffic to the temporary detour
section. The ultimate roadway will be a five-lane section consisting of concrete pavement when
the project is completed.
US 377, Grayson County: Willis Bridge at the Oklahoma State line. Watch for occasional lane
closures on the existing bridge as workers pour concrete for the new bridge structure.
US 75 Ramp Reversal in Denison, Grayson County: on the southbound US 75 main lanes and
frontage road between Spur 503 and FM 691. Watch for occasional daytime lane closures on
the southbound US 75 frontage road while construction crews work on completing the
remainder of the project. The new FM 691 exit ramp is open to access FM 691. The new
entrance ramp to southbound US 75 has been opened to traffic.
US 377, Grayson County: from US 82 to FM 901. Watch for temporary daytime lane closures
and shoulder closures as workers install safety treatments on fixed objects.
US 75 debris pickup, Grayson County: from Collin County line to Oklahoma State line. Watch
for mobile lane closures as workers pick up debris from the roadway every Monday and
Thursday during the daytime.
US 82 & US 69, Grayson County: from FM 131 to FM 1897 on US 82, and from SH 56 to US 75
on US 69. Watch for temporary daytime lane closures and shoulder closures as workers install
safety treatments on fixed objects.
FM 697, Grayson County: between FM 2729 and US 69. Watch for daytime lane closures as
maintenance crews blade level the roadway.
FM 1753, Grayson and Fannin County: from FM 1897 to SH 78. Watch for temporary one-lane
closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
FM 898, Fannin County: from the Grayson County line to SH 121. Watch for temporary one-lane
closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
FM 1743, Fannin County: from SH 56 to FM 1550. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as
workers rehab and widen the roadway.
FM 824, Fannin County: from SH 56 in Honey Grove to the Lamar County line. Watch for
temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
FM 1550, Fannin County: from County Road 3330 to SH 34. Watch for temporary one-lane
closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
SH 121, Fannin County: from the Collin County line to SH 56. Watch for temporary daytime lane
closures and shoulder closures as workers install safety treatments on fixed objects.
US 82, Fannin County: from SH 121 to the Lamar County Line. Watch for slow moving
construction equipment as crews work on widening US 82 from a two-lane roadway to a four-
lane divided roadway. Westbound US 82 traffic has been shifted to the new pavement for the
entirety of the project from the Lamar County line to SH 121. Eastbound traffic will remain in its
current lane, while crews work on the inside lane to build crossovers and turn lanes and overlay
the future left lane. Drivers who frequent this roadway are advised that all driveways, county
roads and farm-to-market roads approaching the new westbound main lanes on US 82 will have
a full stop before crossing over to the median. The on-ramp to westbound US 82 from SH 78
has been reopened to traffic. The westbound exit ramp for SH 121 has also been reopened to
traffic.
FM 68, Fannin County: from SH 78 to SH 34. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance
crews work on backfilling the edge of the roadway.
FM 1552, Fannin County: from SH 78 to end of maintenance. Watch for daytime lane closures
as maintenance crews work on a drainage pipe repair.
FM 100, Fannin County: at the CR 2780 intersection. Watch for daytime lane closures as
maintenance crews work on a drainage pipe replacement.
Sulphur Springs Area (Hopkins, Franklin Counties):
Contacts: Sulphur Springs Area Office (903) 885-9514; Franklin Co. Maintenance (903) 537-4976;
Hopkins Co. Maintenance (903) 885-4031.
I-30, Hopkins & Franklin Counties: From Titus County Line to Hunt County Line. Watch for lane
closures and short traffic delays as crews upgrade metal beam guard fence.
FM 3389, Hopkins County: From IH 30 to FM 1567. Watch for lane closures and short traffic
delays as crews begin work on rehabilitation of the roadway.
SH 37, Franklin County: At Winnsboro City Limit. Watch for lane closures and short traffic
delays as crews perform work on cross drainage structure.
Paris Area (Delta, Lamar, Red River Counties)
Contacts: Paris Area Office (903) 784-1357; Delta Co. Maintenance (903) 395-2139; Lamar Co.
Maintenance (903) 785-4468; Red River Co. Maintenance (903) 427-3561.
FM 1507, Lamar County: from South Collegiate Drive to Loop 286. This roadway is closed while
crews rehabilitate and resurface the existing roadway.
Loop 286, Lamar County: from US 82 W to 0.5 mi. south of US 82 E. Watch for lane closures
while crews perform full-depth concrete repairs.
BU 82H (Bonham St./Lamar Ave.), Lamar County: from 19 th St. SW to 33 rd St. SE. Watch for
crews performing safety improvements to traffic signals.
FM 1487, Red River County: from FM 909 to FM 910. Watch for temporary lane closures while
crews widen and rehabilitate the existing pavement and improve drainage structures.
FM 911, Red River County: from BU 82K (Avery) to FM 44. Watch for temporary lane closures
while crews rehabilitate the existing pavement and improve drainage structures.
SH 37, Red River County: from US 271 (Bogata) to Franklin County Line. Watch for daytime
lane closures as crews mill existing pavement, upgrade bridge rail, and place new hot mix.
BU 271D, Red River County: from US 271 to SP 38 (Bogata). Watch for daytime lane closures
while crews rehabilitate the existing roadway.
US 82, Red River County: from FM 1159 to Bowie County Line. Traffic is shifted to the north
side of the roadway between FM 44 and FM 1699 while crews perform pavement widening work
on the south side.
Greenville Area (Hunt, Rains Counties)
Contacts: Greenville Area Office (903) 455-2363; Hunt Co. Maintenance (903)455-2303; Rains Co.
Maintenance (903) 473-2682.
SH 276, Hunt County, from FM 36 to SH 34 (Quinlan Bypass): The contractor has begun
placing project barricades and will begin preparing the right-of-way, and clearing and grubbing
the project limits.
FM 499, Hunt County: at Lynn Creek. Road closures began on Nov. 30 and will continue
throughout the duration of this project. The contractor is forming and tying steel for the bridge deck and bridge approaches. Please be aware of lane closures, and watch for workers and
work zones when traveling in this area.
FM 1566, Hunt County: from FM 272 near Celeste to State Highway 34. The contractor is
currently working on compacting flexbase and prepping material on a two-mile stretch of
roadway rehabilitation beginning at FM 272. Please be aware of lane closures, and watch for
work zones and workers when traveling in this area.
SH 66 at FM 1570, Hunt County: The contractor will be prepping the right-of-way and placing
and extending culverts for this project. Please be aware of lane closures, and watch for work
zones and workers when traveling in this area.
Maintenance crews in Hunt County will be performing pothole repairs, mowing and metal beam
guard fence repairs around the county, and removing debris from I-30 early this week.
Maintenance crews will overlay various section of I-30 frontage roads and FM 36. Please be
careful when traveling in these areas, watch out for workers and maintain a safe distance from
work crews.
Maintenance crews in Rains County will be performing various sign installations, potholing and
debris removal. Maintenance crews will perform base repair on FM1567 from US 69 to the
Hopkins county line. Please watch for lane closures, work zones and workers along the
roadway, and maintain a safe distance from work crews.
SH 34 bridge, Hunt County: 3.5 miles south of Quinlan. TxDOT has placed a temporary
concrete traffic barrier to protect travelers from the damage caused by an 18-wheeler accident.
A project pre-construction meeting was held on Jan. 7. The bridge and road is now open to both
lanes of traffic. Please drive cautiously and safely in this area.
Please be careful when traveling in these areas, watch out for workers and maintain a safe
distance from work crews. Debris and litter operations are ongoing throughout multiple parts of
the county. Please be careful when traveling, and watch out for workers.
#
Lady Cats Basketball Team Gets Solid Win At Home Against Pine Tree, 60-17
Every game counts for the Lady Cats Basketball Team as they work to make the playoffs and earn the highest seed they can get. Friday night, January 22, the Lady Cats took care of business beating a team they were heavily favored to beat. The Lady Cats topped Pine Tree, 60-17 in the Main Gym at Sulphur Springs High School.
The Lady Cats started out slowly but still were up 9-3 after the first quarter. The Lady Cats took control of the game in the second quarter outscoring the Lady Pirates, 18-2 to take a 27-5 halftime lead. The Lady Cats cruised in the second half outscoring Pine Tree, 33-12.
Sophomore Kenzie Willis hit 4 three-point baskets and led the Lady Cats with 18 points. Sophomore Addisyn Wall had 4 threes in the third quarter and ended up with 12 points. Senior Dalanee Myles had 8 points. Seniors Bre’Asia Ivery and Nylah Lindley both had 7 points. Ivery hit a three-point basket. Addy Lamb and Jasmine Taylor both had a three-pointer for 3 points. Baylie Large had 2 points.
The Lady Cats are now 7-3 in district play and 13-7 for the season. They have a bye Saturday and then travel to Hallsville for a big district showdown Tuesday evening.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Wildcats Soccer Team Wins A Pair Of Games Against Good Class 4A Teams In Terrell Tiger Winter Classic Friday
The Wildcats Soccer Team wrapped up group play Friday, January 22, 2021, in the Terrell Tiger Winter Classic with wins over Sunnyvale and Paris, both preseason top 10 ranked in the region in Class 4A.
The Wildcats defeated Sunnyvale 3-0 and outscored previously unbeaten Paris, 3-1. Against Sunnyvale, David Moreno scored the first Wildcat assisted by Alejandro Diosdado. Omar Hernandez scored the Wildcats second goal assisted by Joel Pasion. Moreno also scored the Wildcats third goal, an unassisted one.
Against Paris, Angel Andino opened the scoring for the Wildcats with a goal. Diosdado had the Wildcats’ second goal assisted by Alex Yanez. Edgar Salazar had the Wildcats’ third goal, an unassisted one. Commenting on the Paris game, Wildcats Coach Alexi Upton called it an amazing game. He said the Wildcats came out and got after it. He said he was so proud of his team for winning against a Paris team that came into the game without a loss.
The Wildcats improved their season record to 7-4-1. Coach Upton said he should find out at around 4:30 p.m. Saturday if the Wildcats, 2-1 in group play, will qualify for the final game in the Tiger Winter Classic. The boys final game in the Terrell tournament is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Saturday.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Wildcats Basketball Team Picks Up a Road District Win at Pine Tree, 65-35 Friday
In the past, some Clark Cipoletta-coached Wildcats teams have had some close calls in Pine Tree. That was not the case Friday night, January 22, as the Wildcats Basketball Team surged past the Pirates, 65-35.
The district win improved the Wildcats district record to 6-2. Their season record is now 13-8.
Senior point guard Lamodrick Johnson again led the way for the Wildcats with 18 points. Junior Justin Haire poured in 16 points. Senior Boo Wilkerson had 9 points. Parker Whisenhunt scored 7 points. Sophomore Kordrick Turner had 6 points. Junior Caleb Alexander scored 5 points. Cason Arrington had 4 points.
The Wildcats have a bye Saturday and, then, play host to Hallsville Tuesday night.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Lady Cats Soccer Team Earns 1-1 Tie With Paris In Terrell Tournament Friday
The Lady Cats Soccer Team has opened group play with a win and a tie after the first two days of the three-day Terrell Winter Classic tournament. Friday the Lady Cats fought back to tie Paris 1-1. The Lady Cats defeated host Terrell on Thursday, 3-0.
Lady Cats Coach Javier Aguayo said the Lady Cats had a slow start Friday and gave up an early goal to Paris. He said that hurt because, after that, Paris concentrated on containing the Lady Cats’ offense. However, Coach Aguayo said that in the second half, the Lady Cats looked more alive. He said they had lots of scoring chances, but only managed to put one in the net at the 16:00 minute mark of the second half. Katelyn Robinson scored the tying goal for the Lady Cats.
The Lady Cats season record is now 4-4-3. The Lady Cats wrap up group play Saturday at 2 p.m. against Waxahachie Life. If the Lady Cats qualify, they will play in the tournament girls’ final game Saturday at 5 p.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.
Wildcats Powerlifters Finish First, Lady Cats Second In Sulphur Springs Meet
Sulphur Springs Powerlifting Coach Casey Jeter was pleased with his Wildcats and Lady Cats’ lifters at the Sulphur Springs Meet held Thursday, January 21, in the SSHS Multipurpose Building. Coach Jeter called it a wonderful way to start off the 2021 powerlifting season as the Wildcats Powerlifters finished first and the Lady Cats second at the meet. He added his 12 Wildcats all earned top three place medals.
For the Lady Cats, the school’s first girl powerlifter, Addy Lamb, took first place in the 132 pound weight class. Markida Hood took first in the 198 pound weight class. Reese Offutt was first in the 259 pound weight class, Machelle Alen was first in the 259+ pound weight class. Alen was impressive with a 300 pound squat, a 125 pound bench press and a 300 pound dead lift for total lifts of 725 pounds. Rori Young was second in the 148 pound weight class.
For the Wildcats, Austin McCain took first in the 114 pound weight class. Juan Hernandez was first in the 132 pound weight class. Miller Maddox was a top three lifter in the 148 pound weight class. Brendan Fink was first in the 165 pound weight class. Matthew Mitchell was first and Cable Glenn was third in the 181 pound weight class. Ryan Carrillo was first and Connor West was second in the 198 pound weight class. Carrillo had a 320 pound lift in bench press. Chad Maynard was first in the 220 pound weight class. Maynard had a 600 pound squat and ended up with an impressive total of 1320 pounds. Alfredo Olavide was first in the 242 pound weight class. Sean Dial was first in the 275 pound weight class. Dial lifted 480 pounds in dead lift. Jakobe Yarbrough was second in the 308 pound weight class.
Coach Jeter said Athletic Director Greg Owens and his staff did a great job hosting the meet. The Wildcats and Lady Cats will lift next at Paris, the Lady Cats on Thursday and the Wildcats on January 30.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Jan. 22 COVID-19 Update: 17 New Cases, 56 Additional Vaccines Administered, COVID Hospitalizations Decrease
Although nearly twice as many new COVID-19 cases were reported on Friday than on Thursday, the COVID-19 hospitalizations decreased both locally and across the region, according to the Jan. 22 COVID-19 reports from Texas Department of State Health Services and Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management. While there were no new recoveries reported on Friday, there also were no new fatalities announced, but 56 additional doses of vaccine were administered in Hopkins County.
Case Counts
DSHS’ Jan. 22 COVID-19 Texas Case Counts dashboard showed a total of 17 new Hopkins County COVID-19 cases, 10 confirmed cases and seven probable cases.
So far this week, 35 Hopkins County residents have received lab confirmed molecular COVID-19 test results. From Jan. 1-22, a total of 202 Hopkins County residents have tested positive on molecular tests for COVID-19. That brings the cumulative total since March 2020 when the pandemic began spreading across Hopkins County to 1,324 residents who have had COVID-19. That’s 3.57 percent of the total population of Hopkins County who have had confirmed cases of COVID-19 from March-Jan. 22.
Since Sunday, 23 Hopkins County residents have also been reported as having “probable” COVID-19 cases either through a positive antigen test or by having combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis. That increases the total so far this month to 115 new probable cases. Cumulatively, since the state began tracking probable cases, Hopkins County has had 1,232. That’s 3.32 percent of the Hopkins County population who have been reported as having probable COVID-19 cases.
Combined, that’s 2,556 Hopkins County COVID-19 cases, or 6.89 percent of the total population who have had COVID-19. Of those 2,556 cases, 2,343 have recovered and 89 have died from COVID-19. That leaves 124 active COVID-19 cases in Hopkins County as of 4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22.
Hospital Reports
HC/SSEM officials in the Jan. 22 COVID-19 update reported six less patients in the COVID unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital Sulphur Springs on Jan. 22 than the 26 reported Tuesday-Wednesday, Jan. 18-21. That’s the first time since Dec. 18 that the patient count reported by HC/SSEM Monday-Friday (except holidays) has been below 22 in the CMFH-SS COVID Unit.
COVID-19 hospitalizations declined across Trauma Service Area F, which spans across most of Northeast Texas to Hopkins and Lamar counties, declined for the second consecutive day on Thursday. The overall COVID-19 patient count for TSA-F dropped from 236 on Jan. 19 to 186 on Jan. 20, according to the Combined Hospital Data over Time by Trauma Service Area (TSA) report and the DSHS Jan. 22 COVID-19 Test and Hospital Data dashboard.
On Thursday, the count dipped to 182 COVID-19 hospital patients, 123 occupying general hospital beds and 59 in ICU beds. In fact, there were seven more ICU beds available Thursday than the nine reported on Wednesday. That’s the most ICU beds available across TSA-F since Dec. 27, but is still 14 less than on Dec. 26.
While COVID-19 hospitalizations went down, the total hospital capacity in Trauma Service Area F was expanded from 1,028 no Wednesday to 1,079 on Thursday, and the total number of staffed inpatient beds rose from 936 on Wednesday to 987 on Thursday. Total hospitalizations rose from 619 on Wednesday to 647 on Thursday, which is still 11 less than on Jan. 14 and 70 less than on Dec. 31.
Those changes resulted in another notable drop in the percent hospital capacity COVID-19 hospitalizations comprise. On Jan. 21, COVID-19 hospitalizations made up only 16.87 percent of the total hospital capacity in Trauma Service Area F, that’s down from 18.09 percent on Wednesday, 22.35 percent on Tuesday and 23.42 percent on Jan. 11. In fact, the Jan. 21 COVID-19 percentage is the lowest it’s been in 23 days. The last time it was lower was Dec. 29, when it dipped to the 15 percent.
While the 16.87 percent still puts TSA-F on the “high hospitalizations” list and subject to GA-32, Trauma Service Area F will need to be below for seven consecutive days before the business capacity and surgical restrictions are lifted. Jan. 21 marked the 27th day COVID-19 hospitalizations in Trauma Service Area F have matched or exceeded the 15 percent threshold set by the governor in his executive order in October. In fact, in only six of the first 21 days of this year has the COVID-19 hospital percentage been below 20 percent, Jan. 1-3, Jan. 5 and Jan. 20-21.
COVID-19 Testing
According to the Jan. 22 COVID-19 update released by HC/SSEM, only 57 molecular COVID-19 tests were conducted at 128-A Jefferson Street on Thursday, that’s down for 74 tests on Wednesday and 83 tests on Tuesday. Since Jan. 2, a total of 1,278 oral swab COVID-19 tests have been performed at the free testing center. Since the Red Cross building (old Fidelity Express building) was converted into a testing center on Sept. 25, a total of 8,475 molecular COVID-19 tests have been conducted at the free Sulphur Springs testing site.
Cumulatively, since the pandemic began in March, a total of 13.459 viral (molecular) COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Hopkins County, DSHS reported in the Jan. 22 COVID-19 Test and Hospital Data dashboard.
Since DSHS began tracking all COVID-19 tests several months ago, 1,560 antigen tests have been conducted in Hopkins County, including 45 antigen tests logged and reported to DSHS for Jan. 21. Five antibody tests were conducted on Thursday, increasing the total conducted in Hopkins County and reported to DSHS to 1,760.
All combined, that’s 16,560 COVID-19 tests that have been conducted in Hopkins County and reported to DSHS through Jan. 21, according to the dashboard.
Free oral swab COVID-19 testing will continue to be offered from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays in January inside the Red Cross (old Fidelity Express Building) in Sulphur Springs. Free testing is open to anyone regardless of age or address. Registration is required online at www.GoGetTested.com in order to be tested at 128-A Jefferson Street in Sulphur Springs.
COVID-19 Vaccines
A total of 1,422 people in Hopkins County had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 21, 56 more than the day before. On Jan. 21, 14 people in Hopkins County received a second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, increasing the total number of people who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to 193. Forty-two people in the county had received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, raising the total who had received the first half of the two-shot vaccine to 1,229 as of 11:59 p.m. Thursday, according to the Jan. 22 COVID-19 Vaccine Data dashboard.
Eighty-one of the fully COVID-19 vaccinated people in Hopkins County were 16-49 years of age, 66 were 50-64 years old, 37 ages 65-79 years and 9 age 80 or older. This can be attributed largely to the fact that initially vaccinations were only offered to the 1A group comprised of front-line healthcare workers, first responders and residents of long-term care facilities. A short time later, vaccinations were made available to people age 65 or older and those age 16 and up who have certain underlying health conditions such as cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), heart conditions (including 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 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus, that puts them at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19.
A total of 430 people age 65-79 years had received the first dose of the vaccine on Thursday, making that group the largest in the first dose category. A total of 338 people ages 16-49 years, 304 people age 50-64 years, and 155 people age 80 or older had gotten the first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday.
(Graphic: DSHS Jan. 22 COVID-19 Vaccine Data dashboard)
