KSST Video Interns: Abandoned Store Fronts
KSST is proud to support local students by offering intern opportunities throughout the school year. It’s a tradition that reaches back to the early days of KSST radio in Hopkins County. This semester we have a total of 6 interns working with our stations.
Interns are encouraged to work together to create projects that have a positive impact on our community. On the whole they are allowed to pursue topics they choose. We do give them a nudge every now and then.
They would love to hear feedback on all their work. Feel free to email feedback and/or story ideas to [email protected].
Hopkins County Stew Drive-Thru Is This Saturday, Oct. 24
By Lezley Brown, President/CEO, Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
The time has come to get your stew in this year’s Stew Drive-thru! On Saturday, October 24, you can drive through to choose chicken or beef stew. All quarts are $10 and will include cheese and crackers. No tickets for park admission will be sold, but the drive-through will be available while supplies last. See you soon on Saturday, October 24 … 2020 Stew, We’re Driving Through!
The Chamber of Commerce is currently selling our 2020 Hopkins County Christmas ornament. This ornament is the third of our series and features our beautiful Dairy Museum. It is dated with the year, made with 24 karat gold, shatterproof, and VERY limited in number. They are quite beautiful and the perfect addition to a rare collection. They are $40 each and literally flying out the door. If you would like to purchase one, please call the Chamber at (903) 885-6515, or come by soon.
Business Highlight
During the year 2020, The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is highlighting a business each week. Please join me in congratulating our Business of the Week for Oct. 15, Help-A-Child. You can read biographical stories at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page and Instagram page.
Short-Handed Wildcats Pull Out Dramatic, Come-From-Behind Victory Tuesday in 3-2 District Win
On Tuesday, Oct. 20, the Lady Cats Volleyball team traveled out to Longview to play the Lady Lobos.
The Lady Cats left Sulphur Springs short-handed as Sadie Washburn and Caroline Hurley were unavailable for today’s game against Longview.
The absence of the two varsity squad members was felt early by the Lady Cats, with the Lady Lobos at one point taking a 21-9 lead. It did not stop there, as the home squad blitzed through set one, 25-13.
The Sulphur Springs varsity squad had another hand tied behind their back in the form of a phantom scoreboard, as two or three points that should have been rewarded to the Lady Cats, ended up going to the Lady Lobos. Add in some errors, and it was not a pretty set for the visiting Lady Cats.
Set two was the opposite, however, for it started hot for the Lady Cats, as they began the set taking a 0-3 lead. But the Lady Lobos fought back, tying set two twice at 7-7 and 9-9. The Lady Cats never quit, though, taking the slugfest second set by a score of 21-25.
Set three was more of the same at the start, as the teams traded the lead multiple times; 4-4, 13-13, and 16-16. After the Lady Cats tied to make it 16-all, the Sulphur Springs varsity squad could not match the tenacity of Longview as the Lady Lobos let their momentum carry them to a 25-19 set three win.
The Lady Cats dominated set four, beating the Lady Lobos by a score of 16-25, making the match dead even going in to set five.
Set five was another back-and-forth affair, as the teams tied at 8-8 and 9-9. From there, though, it was all Lady Cats, all the time as Sulphur Springs scored six straight to pull-out the dramatic, come-from behind win at Longview, 2-3.
Coach Dorner said her squad was kind of “Helter-skelter, all over the place,” with starters Hurley and Washburn not-available for today’s game, but was proud of the way her team found strength through adversity.
“They rose to the occasion,” Coach Dorner said about her short-handed squad versus Longview, but added that the team played for Hurley and Washburn, wishing them a speedy recovery.
“They really stepped up,” Varsity volleyball coach Bailey Dorner said about her squad’s performance, and added that she was really glad to see her team step up tonight as their match went to 5-sets as well.
The Lady Cats Volleyball team now has two 5-set wins in as many weeks. Prior to their Oct. 6 win versus Marshall, the Sulphur Springs varsity squad had not won a match that had gone to five sets since August, during the preseason — of 2019.
On top of that, the Lady Cats have now won five straight games, all of which have been district match-ups.
“It was just a great win tonight,” Coach Dorner said about the victory over Longview, and “to see them step up [like that]… I’m really, really proud of them.”
Next up, the Sulphur Springs Lady Cats (5-1 district, 8-6 overall) will travel to Mt. Pleasant on Friday to take on the Tigers.
Wildcats Team Tennis Wraps Up District Play With 18-1 Win at Marshall, Playoffs Next
Wildcats Team Tennis tuned up for the playoffs with a workmanlike 18-1 district win over an undermanned Marshall team on the road Tuesday (October 20). Reportedly the Mavericks had only three boys and three girls available to play. The victory improved the Wildcats to 3-3 in district play and 4-3 for the season. Next for the Wildcats will be a bi-district match against the District 16-5A champion. The Wildcats will face the winner of a Tyler and Whitehouse match played Tuesday evening. Both teams come in undefeated in district play. The bi-district match is expected to be played next Tuesday, October 27 at a site and time to be determined. Last season, the Wildcats lost to Whitehouse in a bi-district match that was played on indoor courts at Texas High due to rainy weather. Early weather reports for next week call for much colder weather.
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.
Hopkins County Oct. 20 COVID-19 Update: 2 Additional Nursing Home Deaths Reported
Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management officials in the Hopkins County Oct. 20 COVID-19 update reported no new positive COVID-19 results were reported, great news following a report of 77 new cases on Monday. However, Texas Health and Human Services reported 2 deaths as of Oct. 6 were residents of a local nursing home.
HC/SSEM Reports
No new patient recoveries were reported on Oct. 20 either, so the active case count continues to be 127, according to the Hopkins County Oct. 20 COVID-19 update. The cumulative case count of Hopkins County residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 since March remains 541, with 414 of those Hopkins County residents recovering from the virus.
The number of patients in the COVID-19 unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs increased to 11 on Tuesday, one more than HC/SSEM officials reported was in the COVID-19 unit on both Monday and Friday. That’s the most patients the unit has housed this month, HC/SSEM noted in the Oct. 20 COVID-19 update.
An additional 127 COVID-19 tests were performed at the free COVID-19 testing site at 128-A Jefferson St. That makes 1,322 COVID-19 tests conducted at the site so far this month. Since the site first opened on Sept. 25, a total of 1,606 tests have been performed, the HC/SSEM officials reported.
Free testing is offered at the site starting at 9 a.m. and continuing until around 6 p.m. Mondays-Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 31. Anyone can be tested. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Register online at GoGetTested.com. The Sulphur Springs location can be found by scrolling down. Register by clicking the green BOOK Now button and follow the links.
State Reports
Texas Health and Human Services’ Oct. 20 nursing facility report showed 2 additional residents of Carriage House Manor had died as a result of COVID-as of Oct. 6. That makes 15 residents who died from COVID-19 at the facility.
Carriage House Manor on Oct. 6 was reported to have 7 active employee cases and 22 active resident cases. Overall, 39 employees and 57 residents of CHM have tested positive for COVID-19 since March.
One resident of Sulphur Springs Health and Rehabilitation was reported to have recovered from the virus on Oct. 6. Two active employee cases were also reported for the facility. Cumulatively, SSH&R has had 2 employees cases and 12 resident cases, including 2 residents who died as a result of COVID-19, according to the Oct. 20 HHS report.
Sunny Springs Nursing & Rehab continued to have 5 active staff and 4 active resident cases on Oct. 6. Cumulatively, the facility has had 8 staff cases and 8 resident cases since March, according to the Oct. 20 HHS nursing facility report.
According to the Oct. 20 HHS assisted living facility report, Wesley House reported an employee who had tested positive on Sept. 30 continued to have COVID-19 on Oct. 6. That increases the facility’s total to 5 staff cases and 7 residents who have recovered from COVID-19 since March.
Three were no active cases among students or staff reported by the Hopkins County licensed child care, school-age or before/after school programs on Oct. 19.
Texas Department of State Health Services reports showed no additional deaths were assigned to Hopkins County on Oct. 20, so the overall fatality total for Hopkins County remains 23.
Updates Given On SSISD COVID-19 Cases, Enrollment
Sulphur Springs ISD administrators provided updates Monday evening on COVID-19 cases and enrollment in Virtual Academy and face-to-face learning.
COVID-19 Cases
Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams reported the district has had a total of 78 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases, 46 students and 32 staff members who have tested positive for COVID-19 since school started on Sept. 1.
He acknowledged that there were some cases before school started, but they are not included in these numbers. The district began having to report COVID-19 case information to Texas Education Agency, Texas Department of State Health Services and the Local Health Authority about the time school began, so Sept. 1 is the date used for the district reports.
Student cases span 5 different campuses: 1 case each at Douglas Early Childhood Learning Center and Travis Primary, 2 at Bowie Primary, 6 at Sulphur Springs Middle School and 36 at Sulphur Springs High School.
Staff cases have been reported on 6 different campuses: 3 each at at Douglass, Sulphur Springs Elementary and another district facility; 7 at middle school; and 8 each at Bush Primary and high school.
As of Monday, SSISD reported 3 district students have are home with positive COVID-19 cases, one at middle school and 2 at high school. The district also on Oct. 19 had 10 active staff cases: 1 at Douglass ECLC, 4 at Barbara Bush Primary (3 reported on Monday), 2 each at middle school and high school and one at another district facility.
“These are folks who have not cleared the protocol yet and are in quarantine and are home from school,” Williams said.
The active case count would have been higher if the census were for last Wednesday and Thursday. However, several followed protocol over the weekend and were able to return to school Monday.
The report shows the highest positivity rate on Monday was 1.07 percent at Bush Primary. Douglass’ positivity rate was 0.38 percent, middle school 0.27 percent and high school 0.28 percent. The positivity rate is derived by taking the total number of active positive cases (student and staff) and diving it by the sum of the number of students and staff enrolled at or working on that campus, Williams explained.
“The bottom line is our highest percentage is 1.07 percent. I think the highest percentage we have seen has been 1.4 percent at high school,” Williams said of the campus positivity rates. “That translates to an awful lot of kids who are going to school either on buildings or the remote learning academy.”
The district also has 206 students and 16 staff members who have not tested positive but were in quarantine on Oct. 19 due to a high-risk exposure to or have been sent home with symptoms of COVID-19. A high risk exposure is being within 6 feet, while unprotected, to a person who has COVID-19 for a period of 15 minutes or more.
SSHS has 70 students in quarantine, many of whom are varsity football players who had a high risk exposure and are expected to be back on campus on Friday. High school also had 3 staff members in non-positive quarantine on Monday.
Barbara Bush Primary, however, has had the most recent activity; 60 students were in quarantine on Monday, most had to go home due to high risk exposure from a teacher who has tested positive for COVID-19. On Oct. 19, Bush Primary had 5 staff members in non-positive quarantine as well.
A couple of weeks ago, middle school would have had the highest number when the 8th grade football players were in quarantine. The campus as of Monday had 20 students and 4 staff members in quarantine.
Also in quarantine were 8 students and 2 staff from Bowie Primary, 9 students from Lamar Primary, 1 student from Travis Primary, 18 students and 2 staff members at Sulphur Springs Elementary.
Austin Academic Center is the only SSISD campus that has had neither active cases nor any students or staff in quarantine.
“It’s constantly changing, literally from hour to hour,” Williams said. “I can’t say enough about our nurses and what a great job they are doing. They are working their tails off to keep this straight and put up with me, to get through it and all the different pieces that we have. They are really doing a really great job.”
Enrollment Update
Superintendent Michael Lamb Monday night reported there are 3,501 students attending face-to-face classes on SSISD campuses and another 826 students are enrolled in Virtual Academy. That’s a change of 20-30 students since his last report to the board, but still about 100 less students in 2020-21 than during the 2019-20 school year.
“That’s not bad compared to where we thought we would be. We feel good about our enrollment. It is increasing,” Lamb said.
The biggest decreases in enrollment from last year are in Douglass and kindergarten classes, SSISD Board of Trustees President Robert Cody noted.
“Yes, as we’ve seen all over the place, a lot of parents kept their kindergarteners and pre-kers home this year, all over the nation, and are going to wait a year before they enroll,” Lamb said.
Overall, 279 students are enrolled in kindergarten as of Oct. 19, 2020, two more than during the second week of school.
The superintendent pointed out that the total number of SSISD students enrolled in Virtual Academy has been reduced from 20 to 19 percent.
“Some are coming back, slowly but surely,” Lamb said.
The number fluctuate by campus, as does overall enrollment.
At Douglas ECLC, enrollment has increased from 198 to 207 students, with 4 fewer students attending VA and 13 additional students attending classes on campus. This campus previously had 224 students last year.
Three fewer students were enrolled at Bowie Primary on Oct. 19 than the 312 reported the second week of school. Overall, 258 students attend classes on campus, two more than in September, while 51 students attend VA, which is 5 fewer students overall. That decreases the VA population at Bowie from 18 to 17 percent.
Barbara Bush Primary has an overall enrollment of 328, which is 8 fewer students attending than in September. Seven fewer students were enrolled in VA and 5 more were enrolled in face-to-face classes. That decreased the VA percent from 18 to 14 at Bush Primary.
Lamar Primary had 293 students, 59 less enrolled overall on Oct. 19 than in September. Overall, 264 students were enrolled in face-to-face classes, 21 more students than in September. VA enrollment declined 21 percent to 10 percent. Only 29 Lamar students enrolled in virtual classes on Oct. 19 compared to 109 taking VA classes the second week of school.
Travis Primary had 1 less student in October than the enrollment of 290 reported in September. VA enrollment dropped from 61 to 58 in October, while enrollment in face-to-face classes grew from 229 students in September to 233 in Otober, a 1 percent decrease to 20 percent overall.
Enrollment in VA increased 1 percent at middle school, where the overall enrollment was 1,013 on Oct. 19, an increase of 4 students. Only 809 students were enrolled face-to-face classes, down from 816 the second week of school. The district had 204 VA students on Oct. 19, up from 193 in September.
At high school, 3 percent more students are attending VA in October. Enrollment on that campus as a whole decreased from 1,271 to 1,259 on Oct. 19. Enrollment went from 1,011 on-campus and 260 VA students the second week of school to 956 on-campus and 294 VA students Oct. 19.
SSES’ student population increased by 15 students to 627. A dozen more students were attending face-to-face classes in October than the 505 reported in September, while 110 students were enrolled in VA, 3 more than in September. That increased the VA population by 1 percent to 18 percent.
At Sulphur Springs Country Club Golf Tourneys Monday, Wildcats Take 1st and Lady Cats are 2nd
There’s no place like home. Wildcats Golf Coach Jeremy DeLorge and Lady Cats Golf Coach Whitney Spigener enjoyed opening their fall golf season with small tournaments at their home course, at the Sulphur Springs Country Club, on Monday (October 19). Both local teams had good days.
The Wildcats, playing in a six team field, shot 304 and took first place, Two Wildcats seniors, Kip Childress and Grant Mohesky, both shot the day’s best score of 3-under 69. Childress was declared the winner due to a scorecard playoff. Senior Rylan Brewer and sophomore Caleb Kesting both shot 83’s and ended up tied for 11th place. Junior Luke Dietze carded a 95 for 23rd place. The Wildcats 304 first place team score topped district foes Mount Pleasant, Hallsville and Longview. The Wildcats came in 6 shots ahead of the Tigers, a dozen shots better than the Bobcats and 44 strokes ahead of the Lobos. Coach DeLorge said all of his golfers bettered scores that they shot there last year. He said they have worked hard this fall to get better. Coach DeLorge said they did what they were expected to do on their home course and now he wants them to have similar success at the Rockwall Golf and Athletic Club course next Monday.
The Lady Cats, playing in a four team field, finished second with a team score of 422. Longview took first with a 384 score. Lady Cats senior Mariam Tran took first place with a 74, 4 shots ahead of the field. Sophomore Mykylie Meador was fifth with her personal best round of 91. Coach Spigener said Meador shows tremendous potential and improvement over last year’s results. Sophomore Mattye Schmidt was 14th shooting 128. Makayla Pullen was 15th shooting 129. After only taking up golf very recently, freshman Autumn Allen also finished her first round as a Lady Cat. Coach Spigener said to Allen’s credit she did not have to take the 9 stroke limit on several holes during the round. The Lady Cats topped Mount Pleasant and Lindale. Just like the Wildcats, the Lady Cats will also play in a tournament at the Rockwall Golf and Athletic Club next Monday.
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 Volleyball and Wildcats Team Tennis Have District matches on Tuesday Game Day
On this Tuesday (October 20) game day, there is district volleyball and team tennis.
The Lady Cats Volleyball Team will wrap up the first half of district play with a road match at Longview. The Lady Cats JV Gold Team plays Longview at 4:30 p.m. Then the Lady Cats JV Blue Team plays the Lady Lobos at 5:30 p.m. The Lady Cats Varsity plays Longview at around 6:30 p.m. The Lady Cats are 4-1 in district play and 7-6 for the season.
The Wildcats Team Tennis squad completes district play at Marshall at 4 p.m. on this Tuesday game day. The Wildcats are 2-3 in district play and 3-3 so far this season. Wildcats Tennis Coach Tony Martinez says the Wildcats will be in the playoffs. Three weeks ago, the Wildcats won a crucial match at Pine Tree that secured the district’s fourth playoff spot.
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.
TxDOT Urges Drivers to ‘End The Streak’ of Daily Deaths on Texas Roads as 20TH Anniversary Approaches
| NEWS RELEASE PARIS DISTRICT Tim McAlavy (903) 737-9213 [email protected] | |
| TxDOT URGES DRIVERS TO ‘END THE STREAK’ OF DAILY DEATHS ON TEXAS ROADS AS 20TH ANNIVERSARY APPROACHES November 7, 2000 was the last deathless day on Texas roadways AUSTIN – The sound of baseball and the smell of barbecue fills a North Austin neighborhood. It’s the start of a new summer and 14-year-old Alexei Bauereis is walking his best friend home through a crosswalk. Filled with the excitement only a new summer can bring, Alexei likely didn’t see the car speeding toward the crosswalk. The 19-year-old driver didn’t see Alexei either, because he was changing the music on his phone. Alexei died instantly, along with his dream of becoming a world class ballet dancer. “It’s a terrible tragedy not just for the person involved and not even just their family, but a much broader community,” said his father, Eric Bauereis. This November 7, Texas marks 20 years of daily deaths on our roadways with more than 70,000 innocent lives like Alexei’s lost to preventable fatal crashes. Texas Transportation Commissioner Laura Ryan, a champion for road safety and TxDOT’s #EndTheStreakTX campaign, believes ending this streak is attainable, but will require every Texan’s commitment. “Last year, 20 Texas counties actually had zero deaths on their roadways – that tells me we can end the streak of daily deaths in Texas,” Ryan said. “This is why in 2019 the Texas Transportation Commission adopted a new goal of having zero deaths on our roadways by 2050, and to cut the number of fatalities in half by 2035. We will do our part; and we need drivers to do theirs.” An average of 10 people die every day in crashes in the state. “The effort to end the streak of daily deaths in Texas is a shared responsibility and we are committed to including safety enhancements in every project we build or maintain,” said TxDOT Executive Director James Bass. “It’s going to take education, engineering and enforcement to get this done, and that’s why this call to action to every Texan is so imperative.” What we’re asking is simple: when you get behind the wheel buckle up; pay attention and avoid all distractions like phones; never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs; watch your speed, and always drive to the conditions around you. Because #EndTheStreakTX is a social media, grassroots and word-of-mouth effort, Texans are being asked to do any or all the following to raise awareness: • Post pictures on social media with this downloadable sign displaying the hashtag #EndTheStreakTX • Use one of our social media profile filters • Join the #TexasTagTen challenge on social media and tag ten family members or friends and encourage them to say what they will do differently to avoid a fatal crash on our roads. Earlier this year, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, traffic levels on Texas highways dropped nearly 44 percent in some parts of the state. This decrease in traffic encouraged TxDOT to think the horrific streak might finally come to an end. Instead, the death rate was unchanged, even with fewer drivers on Texas roads. “We can and we must do better,” said Ryan. For media inquiries, contact TxDOT Media Relations at [email protected] or (512) 463-8700. ### |
Winnsboro Police Department Report For Oct. 12-18, 2020
The Winnsboro Police Department media report for the week of Oct. 12-18, 2020, included the following activity:
Arrests
No arrests
Calls for Service
The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 127 calls for
service during this reporting period.
Citations
The Winnsboro Police Department issued 18 citations and 37 warnings
during this reporting period.
