Feb. 6 COVID-19 Update: 23 New Hopkins County COVID-19 Cases, 6 Recoveries
COVID-19 hospitalizations continued to decline across the state on Friday, including Trauma Service Area F, and six additional COVID-19 recoveries were reported for Hopkins County, in DSHS Feb. 6 COVID-19 dashboards. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 23 new novel coronavirus 2019 cases were also reported on Saturday for Hopkins County on Saturday.
Case Counts
Five Hopkins County residents had received positive lab-confirmed molecular COVID-19 test results as of lunch time Saturday, for a total of 57 new confirmed COVID-19 cases this week, Jan. 31-Feb. 6. While still 13 less than in Dec. 31-Jan. 6 and 25 less than Nov. 3-Dec. 6, that’s still nine more cases than Oct. 31-Nov. 6, and 18 more than Sept. 30-Oct. 6. Cumulatively, since last March 1,425 Hopkins County resident have received positive molecular COVID-19 results, according to the DSHS Feb. 6 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard.
Another 18 Hopkins County residents Saturday were reported as having “probable” COVID-19 cases, that is they have either tested positive for COVID-19 on an antigen test or have a combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis. That makes 59 Hopkins County probable cases reported this week, five more than Dec. 31- Jan. 6. Cumulatively, Hopkins County has had 1,425 probable COVID-19 cases since the state began tracking antigen and other probable case data.
Six additional Hopkins County residents had recovered from COVID-19 by noon Feb. 6. That makes 47 recoveries this week. Cumulatively, 2,457 of the 2,854 Hopkins County COVID-19 cases reported since the pandemic began have recovered.
That leave 190 Hopkins County residents who still actively had COVID-19 as of noon Saturday.
COVID-19 Testing
Ninety-one COVID-19 tests were conducted in Hopkins County Friday, 57 viral or molecular tests, 31 antigen tests and three antibody tests. That makes 373 molecular tests, 130 antigen tests and 10 antibody tests conducted Feb. 1-6
Cumulatively, 14,573 viral tests have been conducted in Hopkins County since the pandemic began, and 1,956 antigen tests and 1,784 antibody tests since the state began tracking the data a few months back, for a total of 18,313 COVID-19 tests conducted in Hopkins County, according to the DSHS Feb. 6 COVID-19 Test and Hospital Data dashboard.
Free oral swab COVID-19 testing has been extended through the month of February in Sulphur Springs. Testing is typically offered from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays inside the Red Cross (old Fidelity Express) building in Sulphur Springs.
Free testing is open to anyone regardless of age or address. However, registration is required online at www.GoGetTested.com in order to be tested at 128-A Jefferson Street in Sulphur Springs.
Hospital Reports
Across the state, COVID-19 hospitalizations have continued to decline this week, dropping from 11,002 on Feb. 1 to 10,827 on Feb. 2 and 9,957 on Feb. 5
In Trauma Service Area F, not only did COVID-19 hospitalizations drop from 137 on Thursday to 131 on Friday, overall hospitalizations declined as well from 640 to 627, DSHS reported in the Feb. 6 COVID-19 Test and Hospital Data dashboard. The last time COVID-19 hospitalizations was near that mark was Dec. 11 and 12, when 130 and 133 lab-confirmed COVID-19 patients were reported to be in TSA-F hospitals.
| COVID-19 Hospitalizations | 1/31 | 2/1 | 2/2 | 2/3 | 2/4 | 2/5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In Trauma Service Area F | 152 | 143 | 134 | 134 | 137 | 131 |
| Percent TSA F Capacity | 13.94 | 13.18 | 12.38 | 12.33 | 12.42 | 12 |
| In Texas Hospitals | 11,074 | 11,002 | 10,827 | 10,523 | 10259 | 9,957 |
The overall hospital capacity also declined Friday: with 1,092 total hospital beds staffed and 1,000 total staff inpatient beds on Friday, 11 less than Thursday. Not surprising, COVID-19 hospitalizations also declined in Trauma Service Area F, from 12.42 percent Thursday to 12 percent Friday, according to the DSHS dashboard.
COVID-19 Vaccine
As of 11:59 p.m. Feb. 5, doses of the vaccine had been administered to 2,264 people in Hopkins County, that’s 39 more than on Thursday: 29 who received the first dose of the vaccine, increasing that total to 1,906, and 10 who received the second dose of the vaccine, for a total of 358 who’ve been fully vaccinated for COVID-19, according to the DSHS Feb. 6 COVID-19 Vaccine Data dashboard.
Two providers in Hopkins County are listed among the 358 across the state allocated to receive some of the 401,750 first doses of COVID-19 vaccine the federal government is due to send to the state for distribution the week of Feb. 8. Brookshire’s and Walgreens pharmacies have each been allocated 100 doses from the first-dose supplies of Moderna vaccine the state is slated to receive during Week 9 of vaccine distribution.
To see if you are eligible to have the COVID-19 vaccine at a Walgreens location, visit walgreens.com/schedulevaccine. For information about Brookshire’s vaccine waiting list, visit https://www.brookshires.com/covid-19-information. The full list of vaccine allocations for the week of Feb. 8, vaccination hub providers with contact information, the DSHS/Texas Department of Emergency Management map of vaccine providers, and the Texas Vaccine Data dashboard can all be accessed by clicking the links. More information on the COVID-19 vaccine can be found at dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/immunize/vaccine.aspx.
Wanted Man Charged With 3 Additional Offenses After Running From Deputy
Sulphur Springs Woman Jailed On Warrant
A wanted man was charged with three additional offenses after running from the deputy who attempted to take him into custody, and having syringe loaded with methamphetamine, sheriff’s officers alleged in arrest reports. The arrest was the third time in less than a year that the 49-year-old Sulphur Springs man has been booked into Hopkins County jail on felony charges.
Two other were also booked into Hopkins County jail on unrelated possession charges, a teen for possessing marijuana in a drug-free zone and a woman on a controlled substance-related warrant.
Man Runs From Deputy
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office deputies, aware of a warrant for his arrest, went to Richie Wayne Porter’s FM 71 west residence around 1:10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, to serve it. Deputy Drew Fisher went to the rear of the residence while others went to the front door in an attempt to contact the 49-year-old Sulphur Springs man.
Fisher reported hearing noise behind a vehicle parked in the back yard of the residence. Seeing feet on the other side of it, the deputy instructed the person to show their hands. The man reportedly stepped around the front of the vehicle, then took off running from the deputy. Fisher said he instructed the man if he didn’t stop running he would be tased. The deputy got within range and deployed the Taser, but the man’s jacket prevented it from being effective, Fisher noted in arrest reports. The man did, however, stop and drop to his knees. The man, identified in arrest reports as Porter, was taken into custody.
After deputies walked the man back to the residence, Fisher retraced the path Porter took and found a metal container with a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine and a glass pipe commonly used to smoke meth wrapped in a cloth rag. Porter was transported to jail, where staff reportedly discovered he had a loaded hypodermic syringe containing suspected methamphetamine. The suspected meth weighed 4.66 grams.
Porter was booked into jail not only on the warrant for violation of parole but also for evading arrest or detention on foot, tampering with evidence and possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, according to arrest and jail reports. Porter remained in custody later Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, on the parole warrant. His bond was set at $35,000 on the controlled substance charge, $15,000 on the tampering with evidence charge and $2,000 on the evading arrest charge.
Saturday was the third time he’s been booked into Hopkins County jail in less than a year. She was also jailed on May 27, 2020, for possession of grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and failure to identify; and again on Oct. 16, 2020 for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance.
Additional Arrests
HCSO Deputy Drew Fisher and Sgt. Tanner Steward located Jenny Lacresha Slater around 12:15 a.m. Feb. 6, at her State Highway 11 west residence and took her into custody for surety off bond on a possession of controlled substance charge.
The 43-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was booked into and remained in Hopkins County jail later Saturday. Bond was set at $10,000 on the charge.
Slater, who is also known by Jenny Lacresha Blanton, Jenny Blaton and Jenny L. Smith, was arrested Aug. 11, 2020 on a possession of controlled substance charge.
Just after 2:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, Sulphur Springs Police Officer Francisco Castro stopped a black Chrysler 300 on Woodlawn Street for a traffic violation, and upon contact with the occupant, reported smelling a marijuana odor emitting from the vehicle. A search revealed a bag with a green, leafy substance suspected to be marijuana in the vehicle. The 17-year-old driver admitted he’d received multiple tickets for possession of drug paraphernalia. The suspected marijuana weighed less than 2 ounces but was located within 1,000 feet of a school property, a drug-free zone. Consequently, the teen was jailed on a Class A misdemeanor possession of marijuana in a drug-free zone charge, according to arrest reports. He remained in jail later Saturday. Bond on the charge was set at $2,000.
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.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Lady Cats Softball Explodes in Scrimmage Shutout at McKinney North, 11-0
On Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, the Sulphur Springs Lady Cats Softball team traveled out to the DFW metroplex for a scrimmage against McKinney North. While both teams featured stout pitching through the first third of the game, the visiting Lady Cats offense proved to be too much for the Lady Bulldogs as Sulphur Springs cruised to an 11-0 shutout scrimmage victory.
What looked like a scrimmage that featured pitching at its finest through 3 innings, quickly changed when the Lady Cats walked up to the plate in the fourth inning. Sulphur Springs put a run on the board in the fourth inning, breaking the 0-0 tie up to that point, and never looked back: the visiting Lady Cats exploded in the 5th inning, putting four more runs on the board to make it a 5-0 lead as the scrimmage grew closer to an end.
Coach David Carillo and his squad weren’t done there, though, for they managed to get another assurance run in the sixth, and a few north in the seventh en-route to a smashing 11-0 shutout scrimmage victory at McKinney North.
These two teams played last year, before the COVID-19 pandemic broke-out, and while this game wasn’t exactly the 20-6 home defeat the Lady Bulldogs suffered last year versus the Lady Cats, an 11-0 scrimmage victory against a fellow 5A school is big nonetheless for Carrillo’s squad.
The Junior Varsity team also emerged victorious against the Lady Bulldogs, in a 11-5 victory filled with offensive fireworks.
Next up, the Lady Cats will travel out to Royce City for another scrimmage on Tuesday, Feb. 9, with JV playing the Bulldogs at 5 P.M. and the Varsity following at 6:30 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 Basketball Team Captures Second Place In District With Win Over Texas High Friday
A Texas High team with nothing to play for but pride just almost upset the Wildcats Basketball Team Friday night, February 5, but the Wildcats made some plays down the stretch to record a 74-68 win in the Main Gym at Sulphur Springs High School.
On Senior Night, senior point guard Lamodrick Johnson made two key plays late in the game on defense. On both occasions, Johnson stripped the ball from a Tiger player without fouling. Johnson also hit a fourth quarter three. The Wildcats also got big fourth quarters from Justin Haire, senior Boo Wilkerson and Kordrick Turner to hold off the pesky Tigers.
The game was tight throughout. The Wildcats led by three, 21-18 after one quarter. The score was 40-40 at the half. The Wildcats led by a single point, 56-55 going into the fourth quarter. The Wildcats outscored Texas High 18-13 in the last quarter to get the win.
The win gives the Wildcats a 9-3 district mark, good enough to second place in the final district standings. The Wildcats improve to 16-9 for the season. Texas High ends with a 4-8 district record.
Haire led the Wildcats with 18 points. Turner had 17 points. Johnson and Wilkerson both scored 11 points. Senior Malique Cole added 9 points. Caleb Alexander had 5 points. Senior Jatavian Hall had 3 points. The Tigers got big points from two players as senior Ben DePriest had 23 points and junior Michael Thomas had 22 points.
In about two weeks, the Wildcats will play a bi-district playoff game against the #3 seed in District 16-5A.
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.
Paris District Road Report for the week of February 8, 2021
Paris — Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the week of Feb. 8, 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 expected to be reopened to traffic on February 8. With the reopening of the Washington Street exit, the North Travis Street exit ramp (FM 131) will be closed on February 8 in order for crews to work on the frontage road. Exiting traffic is requested to use the Washington Street exit ramp. 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.
The US 82 main lanes will be closed to traffic beginning at 7:30 pm on Friday, February 12 in order to pour the new bridge deck for the southbound US 75 frontage road. All traffic will be detoured onto the frontage road at the US 75 exit ramp and will be able to re-enter US 82 at the following on-ramp. The main lanes are expected to be reopened to traffic by 6 a.m. on February 13.
Beginning at 7:30 p.m. on February 19, 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 20 at 6:30 a.m.
The US 75 pedestrian bridge near Pecan Street in Sherman is closed to pedestrian traffic. The east side over the frontage road has been removed. The remaining pedestrian bridge will be removed at a later time. Pedestrians wishing to cross US 75 are advised to cross at the Houston Street signalized intersection.
FM 1417, Grayson County: from US 82 to SH 56. Watch for lane shifts and shoulder closures between US 82 and SH 56 while crews are working to construct the second portion of the new Sand Creek bridge and the approaches to 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.
US 69/US 75, Grayson County: at the Red River bridge. Work is expected to begin on February 17 on this project which will upgrade and replace the existing bridge railing on the bridge and approaches on both the northbound and southbound bridges. This work will require occasional daytime lane closures for some stages of construction, and will require lane shifts to be implemented during construction.
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 sloped end treatments on pipes and install guardrail.
US 75 debris pickup, Grayson County: from Collin County line to Oklahoma State line. Watch for mobile lane closures as workers pick up debris from the roadway every Monday and Thursday during the daytime.
FM 697, Grayson County: between FM 2729 and US 69. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews blade level the roadway.
FM 1753, Grayson County: between FM 1897 and FM 120. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews work on performing base repairs.
FM 1753, Grayson and Fannin County: from FM 1897 to SH 78. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
FM 898, Fannin County: from the Grayson County line to SH 121. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
FM 1743, Fannin County: from SH 56 to FM 1550. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
FM 824, Fannin County: from SH 56 in Honey Grove to the Lamar County line. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
FM 1550, Fannin County: from County Road 3330 to SH 34. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
US 69, Fannin County: from FM 981 to FM 896. Watch for temporary daytime lane closures as workers perform base repairs on the roadway.
SH 121, Fannin County: from the Collin County line to SH 56. Watch for temporary daytime lane closures and shoulder closures as workers install sloped end treatments on pipes and install guardrail.
US 82, Fannin County: from SH 121 to the Lamar County Line. Watch for slow moving construction equipment as crews work on widening US 82 from a two-lane roadway to a four-lane divided roadway. Westbound US 82 traffic has been shifted to the new pavement for the entirety of the project from the Lamar County line to SH 121. Eastbound traffic will remain in its current lane, while crews work on the inside lane to build crossovers and turn lanes and overlay the future left lane. Drivers who frequent this roadway are advised that all driveways, county roads and farm-to-market roads approaching the new westbound main lanes on US 82 will have a full stop before crossing over to the median.
US 69, Fannin County: from SH 11 to SH 121. Watch for daytime lane and shoulder closures as maintenance crews work on backfilling the edge of the roadway.
FM 272, Fannin County: from US 69 to the Hunt County line. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews work on cleaning ditches.
Business US 69, Fannin County: in Trenton. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews work on cleaning ditches.
FM 151, Fannin County: from the Grayson County line to US 69. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews work on cleaning ditches.
Sulphur Springs Area (Hopkins, Franklin Counties):
Contacts: Sulphur Springs Area Office (903) 885-9514; Franklin Co. Maintenance (903) 537-4976; Hopkins Co. Maintenance (903) 885-4031.
I-30, Hopkins & Franklin Counties: From Titus County Line to Hunt County Line. Watch for lane closures and short traffic delays as crews upgrade metal beam guard fence.
FM 3389, Hopkins County: From IH 30 to FM 1567. Watch for lane closures and short traffic delays as crews begin work on rehabilitation of the roadway.
SH 37, Franklin County: At Winnsboro City Limit. Watch for lane closures and short traffic delays as crews perform work on cross drainage structure.
Paris Area (Delta, Lamar, Red River Counties)
Contacts: Paris Area Office (903) 784-1357; Delta Co. Maintenance (903) 395-2139; Lamar Co. Maintenance (903) 785-4468; Red River Co. Maintenance (903) 427-3561.
FM 137 at Loop 286, Lamar County: Watch for lane closures while crews mill existing pavement and place new hot mix surface.
FM 1507, Lamar County: from South Collegiate Drive to Loop 286. This roadway is closed while crews rehabilitate and resurface the existing roadway.
Loop 286, Lamar County: from US 82 W to 0.5 mi. south of US 82 E. Watch for lane closures while crews perform full-depth concrete repairs.
BU 82H (Bonham Street/Lamar Avenue), Lamar County: from 19th Street SW to 33rd Street SE. Watch for crews performing safety improvements to traffic signals.
FM 1487, Red River County: from FM 909 to FM 910. Watch for temporary lane closures while crews widen and rehabilitate the existing pavement and improve drainage structures.
FM 911, Red River County: from BU 82K (Avery) to FM 44. Watch for temporary lane closures while crews rehabilitate the existing pavement and improve drainage structures.
SH 37, Red River County: from US 271 (Bogata) to Franklin County Line. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews mill existing pavement, upgrade bridge rail, and place new hot mix.
BU 271D, Red River County: from US 271 to SP 38 (Bogata). Watch for daytime lane closures while crews rehabilitate the existing roadway.
US 82, Red River County: from FM 1159 to Bowie County Line. Traffic is shifted to the north side of the roadway between FM 44 and FM 1699 while crews perform pavement widening work on the south side.
Greenville Area (Hunt, Rains Counties)
Contacts: Greenville Area Office (903) 455-2363; Hunt Co. Maintenance (903)455-2303; Rains Co. Maintenance (903) 473-2682.
SH 276, Hunt County, from FM 36 to SH 34 (Quinlan Bypass): The contractor has begun placing project barricades and will begin preparing the right-of-way, and clearing and grubbing the project limits.
FM 499, Hunt County: at Lynn Creek. Road closures began on Nov. 30 and will continue throughout the duration of this project. The contractor is placing rock gabions and rip-rap for drainage protection. 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 placing the first course surface treatment of the proposed roadway on a two-mile stretch of roadway rehabilitation beginning at FM 272. Please be aware of lane closures, and watch for work zones and workers when traveling in this area.
SH 66 at FM 1570, Hunt County: The contractor will be finishing prepping the right-of-way for this project. Roadwork will begin on February 8. 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 north and south I-30 frontage roads. Please be careful when traveling in these areas, watch out for workers and maintain a safe distance from work crews.
Maintenance crews in Rains County will be performing various sign installations, potholing and debris removal. Maintenance crews will perform patching on FM515 from FM 2795 to Wood County Line. Please watch for lane closures, work zones and workers along the roadway, and maintain a safe distance from work crews.
SH 34 bridge, Hunt County: 3.5 miles south of Quinlan. TxDOT has placed a temporary concrete traffic barrier to protect travelers from the damage caused by an 18-wheeler accident. The bridge and road is now open to both lanes of traffic. Please drive cautiously and safely in this area.
Please be careful when traveling in these areas, watch out for workers and maintain a safe distance from work crews. Debris and litter operations are ongoing throughout multiple parts of the county. Please be careful when traveling, and watch out for workers.
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Lady Cats Basketball Team Now Has A Date With Nacogdoches In A Bi-District Playoff Game Next Week
Friday night, February 5, the Lady Cats Basketball Team learned who they will meet in a bi-district playoff game next week.
When Lufkin won their Senior Night game at home against Nacogdoches, they put the Lady Dragons in fourth place in the District 16-5A standings. Nac will be playing the Lady Cats next week at Athens.
The Lady Dragons finished 4-6 in district play and Max Preps has Nacogdoches with an 8-14 season record.
The Lady Cats, the #1 seed in District 15-5A, were 9-3 in district play and 15-7 for the season. They may play a warm up game for the playoffs, perhaps with Lindale, sometime before the playoffs. The UIL has said a bi-district game must be played between Thursday, February 11 and Saturday, February 13.
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.
The Wildcats Soccer Team Edges By Texas High, 3-2 to Get in the District Win Column Friday
With tongue firmly in cheek, Wildcats Soccer Coach Alexi Upton said his team always likes to keep it interesting when they are at Texas High. That was the case again Friday night. February 5, as the Wildcats just squeezed by the Tigers, 3-2 in Texarkana.
Jorge Santacruz scored the Wildcats first goal assisted by Omar Hernandez. Joel Pasion had an unassisted goal for the Wildcats’ second score. The Wildcats’ winning goal was special. According to Coach Upton, it was the first ever goal by Garrett Reams.
The win gives the Wildcats a 1-2 district record and they are now 10-6-1 for the season. Next, the Wildcats play Marshall on Tuesday at Gerald Prim Stadium. The Mavericks are 1-1 in district play with a 5-1 home win over Texas High and a 3-1 home loss to Pine Tree.
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 Friday, 69-33
The Saltillo Lions got another impressive district win, 69-33 against Union Hill Friday, February 5.
The Lions started rather slowly and led Union Hill only 13-9 after one quarter. Saltillo outscored Union Hill, 18-7 in the second quarter to make it 31-16 at the half. The Lions had a big third quarter scoring 27 to Union Hill’s 7 and it was 58-23 after the third period. The Lions also just outscored Union Hill 11-10 in the fourth quarter.
The Lions remain unbeaten in district play at 8-0. They are 15-7 for the season and are ranked #13 in Class 1A in a TABC Poll.
Friday Chris Boekhorst led the Lions with 29 points. David Whitworth had 18 points, Andrew Redburn scored 9 points, Gunner Tarver added 7 points and Colton McGill and Colby McCoy had 3 points each.
On Tuesday, the Lions host Avery on Senior Night.
Wildcats And Lady Cats Powerlifting Teams Finish Second At Royse City Meet Thursday Night
The Wildcats and Lady Cats Powerlifting Teams acquitted themselves well as both finished second to host Royse City in a meet Thursday. Coach Casey Jeter said a lot of the Wildcats’ team Thursday consisted of freshmen and first-year lifters.
Five Lady Cats took first in their weight class. Czhela Moya was 1st in the 97 pound weight class lifting 350 pounds. Kenia Herrera was 1st in the 123 pound weight class lifting 395 pounds. Addy Lamb took 1st in the 132 pound weight class with 615 pounds total. Reese Offutt was 1st in the 259 pound weight class with 555 pounds. Machelle Allen took 1st in the 259+ weight class lifting 830 pounds. Trinity Sickles was 2nd in the 97 pound weight class with 305 pounds lifted. Markida Hood was 2nd in the 198 pound weight class with 515 pounds total.
For the Wildcats, Cable Glenn was 1st in the 181 pound class. Ben Brown took 2nd in the 132 pound weight class. Jesse Bailey was 2nd in the 148 pound weight class. Josh Sutton finished 2nd in the 242 pound weight class. Acie Simmons was 2nd in the 198 pound weight class. Brandon Vazquez was 2nd in the 308 pound weight class. Maddox Miller took third in the 148 pound weight class. Ayden Whittle was 3rd in the 181 pound weight class. Zac Thomas placed 4th in the 220 pound weight class. Daylon Hall finished 4th in the 242 pound weight class.
The Wildcats and Lady Cats lift next at a Greenville meet next Thursday.
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.
Feb. 5 COVID-19 Update: 3 Fatalities, 18 New Cases, 10 Recoveries, 35 Vaccine Doses Administered
The Texas Department of State Health Services Feb. 5 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard showed three additional confirmed COIVD-19 fatalities and 18 new cases on Friday. On the other hand, 10 people had recovered Friday, COVID-19 hospitalizations remained low, 36 additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered to people in Hopkins County on Thursday and 200 additional doses have been allocated to two Hopkins County providers next week to distribute to qualified Hopkins County residents. Health and Human Services reported no active COVID-19 cases at any Sulphur Springs nursing home, assisted living facility or licensed child care center.
COVID-19 Case Counts
DSHS reported a total of 98 Hopkins County COVID-19 fatalities. That means three additional Hopkins County residents had been confirmed Friday by cause on death certificate to have died from COVID-19.
The latest fatalities, according to the DSHS Feb. 5 County Trends dashboard occurred on Jan. 23, Jan. 24 and Jan. 27. That makes two deaths each on the 23rd and 24th of January, increases the month’s total to 15 COVID-19 deaths. That’s a fatality rate of 6.9 percent among Hopkins County residents who have had confirmed COVID-19 cases, but only 0.26 percent of the overall population.
As of Friday, 2,731 Hopkins County residents are reported to have had COVID-19 since March, 1,420 who received lab confirmed COVID-19 positive molecular tests results and 1,311 people who are considered to have “probable” cases, that is they either received positive antigen test results or had a combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis. That means 7.36 percent of Hopkins County residents have had COVID-19 since March, 3.83 percent confirmed cases and 3.54 percent probable cases.
So far this week, 52 people have received lab-confirmed positive molecular COVID-19 results, including two new cases on Thursday and 11 on Friday. Fourth-one Hopkins County residents were reported to have probable cases this week, including 10 new cases on Thursday and seven on Friday.
Ten additional Hopkins County residents had recovered from COVID-19 on Friday, increasing the total number of recoveries so far this week to 41. On Friday, 2,451 of the 2,731 people who have had COVID-19 since March had recovered, according to the Feb. 5 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard.
Because there have been more than twice as many new cases as recoveries so far this week, the active COVID-19 case has been steadily rising all week from 130 on Sunday to 146 Monday, 163 Tuesday, 174 Wednesday, , 177 Thursday and 182 on Friday.
COVID-19 Testing
Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management reported a total of 9,268 molecular COVID-19 tests had been performed since the Red Cross building first opened as a free testing center in the fall. Testing at the center has tapered off over the this week from 95 on Monday, 81 on Tuesday, 66 on Wednesday and 44 on Thursday,
Thirteen additional viral tests were apparently performed elsewhere in Hopkins County on Thursday because the case count rose by 57 for a total of 14,516 molecular COVID-19 tests conducted in Hopkins County since the pandemic began in Hopkins County just after spring break last March.
Thirty-five additional antigen tests were conducted in Hopkins County on Thursday, increasing the cumulative total since the state began tracking antigen tests to 1,925. DSHS’ Feb. 5 COVID-19 Test and Hospital Data dashboard also showed at least 1,781 antibody tests have been conducted in Hopkins Count, just not on Thursday.
Free oral swab COVID-19 testing has been extended through the month of February in Sulphur Springs. Testing is typically offered from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays inside the Red Cross (old Fidelity Express) building in Sulphur Springs.
Free testing is open to anyone regardless of age or address. However, registration is required online at www.GoGetTested.com in order to be tested at 128-A Jefferson Street in Sulphur Springs.
HHS and Hospital Reports
HHS, in the Feb. 5 COVID-19 Nursing facilities report, showed there were no active novel coronavirus 2019 cases in either staff or residents at the four nursing facilities in Sulphur Springs from Jan. 19-22, the most recent data available from the state.
HHS also reported no active cases at either of the assisted living facilities in Sulphur Springs nor at the licensed child care centers, school-age programs, and before- or after-school programs in Hopkins County.
HC/SSEM reported the patient in the CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs COVID Unit declined again on Friday, from 12 on Thursday to 10 on Friday. The last time HC/SSEM reported a patient census in the COVID Unit that low was Oct. 26.
As a whole there were fewer COVID-19 hospitalizations in Texas on Thursday, dropping from 10,523 on Wednesday to 10,259 on Thursday. In fact, Texas COVID-19 hospitalizations have declined daily since Jan. 26, when the count dropped from 12,851 to 12,795, which was still more than 1,300 less than on Jan. 11, when the count peaked at 14,218, according to DSHS reports.
The COVID-19 patient count across Trauma Service Area F rose slightly from 134 to 137 patients, which comprised 12.42 percent of the overall hospital capacity on Thursday.
COVID-19 Vaccine
Over the last 8 weeks, 2,225 people in Hopkins County have received doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, including 35 doses administered Thursday, according to the DSHS Feb. 5 COVID-19 Vaccine Data dashboard. On Feb. 4, nine people received the second dose of the vaccine and 26 received the first dose. Cumulatively, 1,877 people had received the first dose of the vaccine and 348 are fully vaccinated.
While no providers in Hopkins County have been allocated additional first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in two weeks, 500 doses were allocated for those who received the first dose 4-6 weeks ago. Two providers in Hopkins County are listed among the 358 across the state allocated to receive some of the 401,750 first doses of COVID-19 vaccine the federal government is due to send to the state for distribution the week of Feb. 8. Brookshire’s and Walgreens pharmacies have each been allocated 100 doses from the first-dose supplies of Moderna vaccine the state is slated to receive during Week 9 of vaccine distribution.
DSHS is encouraging providers to make accommodations for people 75 and older, who remain at the highest risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. As an example, DSHS notes, providers could set aside a certain number of doses for older adults, serve them during special hours, help them move through vaccine clinics more quickly, or work with local partners to facilitate in-home vaccination. This emphasis, however, does not change the groups eligible for vaccination: health care workers, residents of long-term care facilities, people 65 and older and those with medical conditions that put them at greater risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19.
Vaccine supplies are limited to the capacity of the manufacturers to produce it, thus, state officials anticipate it will still be a while yet before Texas receives enough of the vaccine for all the people in the priority populations who want to be vaccinated. Currently, there is not enough vaccine to supply every provider with vaccine every week, DSHS noted in a release Friday.
However, a third vaccine which requires only one shot, could be available in a matter of weeks. Johnson & Johnson Thursday officially filed with the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization to distribute its single-dose vaccine. The FDA will consider that application over the next few weeks. If approved, that should speed up the process, and depending on the company’s production capability, could making it available to twice as many people as the two-dose Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.
To see if you are eligible to have the COVID-19 vaccine at a Walgreens location, visit walgreens.com/schedulevaccine. For information about Brookshire’s vaccine waiting list, visit https://www.brookshires.com/covid-19-information. The full list of vaccine allocations for the week of Feb. 8, vaccination hub providers with contact information, the DSHS/Texas Department of Emergency Management map of vaccine providers, and the Texas Vaccine Data dashboard can all be accessed by clicking the links. More information on the COVID-19 vaccine can be found at dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/immunize/vaccine.aspx.
