Woman Accused Of Having Methamphetamine In Her Undergarments
September 18, 2020 – A 41-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was accused of having methamphetamine in her undergarments Thursday morning, according to arrest reports.
Sulphur Springs Police reported stopping a white Ford F150 pickup at 11:11 a.m. Sept. 17 for a seat belt violation.
Passenger Kayla Nicole Williams was allegedly found to have a methamphetamine pipe in her waistband and was taken into custody for possession of drug paraphernalia, SSPD Officer Tyler Frances and Special Crimes Unit Lt. Mark Estes alleged in arrest reports.
While being processed into the county jail, Williams was searched by jailers. The corrections officers alleged finding 3.81 grams of suspected methamphetamine in Williams’ bra; the substance was handed over to Estes. Consequently, the 41-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was booked on a possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge instead of a possession of drug paraphernalia charge, according to arrest reports.
Williams remained in Hopkins County jail Friday morning, Sept. 18; bond on the controlled substance charge was set at $10,000, according to jail reports.
Thursday was the second time in the last 2 months that Williams has been in custody at Hopkins county jail. She was also arrested July 26 for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to jail reports.
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.
HHSC To Expand Visitation Options At Long-Term Care Facilities
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott today directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to expand visitation options for eligible nursing, assisted living, and intermediate care facilities, home and community-based service providers, and inpatient hospice, effective Thursday, Sept. 24.
HHSC’s updated emergency rules will allow a designated essential caregiver to provide supportive, hands-on care to facility residents who do not have COVID-19.
“It is critical to the health of residents that we provide opportunities wherever possible for families to reunite, while continuing to take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of disease,” said HHS Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young. “Safely visiting with family and friends is the best medicine and most reassuring act we can provide for our most fragile Texans during these challenging times.”
It should be noted that this will not go into effect immediately, nor does it mean that all facilities will be eligible or prepared on Sept. 24 to offer the additional visitation options. Check with the resident’s individual care facility for specifics regarding visitation.
Under the new rules, HHS reports, residents will be allowed to designate up to two essential family caregivers who will be provided necessary training to allow them to safely go inside a facility for a scheduled visit, including in the resident’s room, to help ensure their loved one’s physical, social and emotional needs are being met. Designated caregivers will not be required to maintain physical distancing, but only one caregiver can visit a resident at a time.
According to the governor’s latest orders to facility, a long-term care facility resident (or legal representative) can designate the essential caregiver, who can be a family member, friend or other individual. Facilities are required to train essential caregivers on the proper use of personal protective equipment and other infection control measures. Proper PPE must be used at all times during these scheduled visits, and the caregiver must test negative for COVID-19 within the previous 14 days before the initial visit.
HHSC is updating these rules after closely monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak, consulting with the Department of State Health Services, and receiving feedback from families, providers and other stakeholders. It make take a while for facilities to receive and prepare staff for the latest state announced options.
For general visitors who are not a designated essential caregiver, these updated emergency rules will allow approved nursing facilities scheduled indoor visitation with the use of plexiglass safety barriers to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Physical contact between residents and general visitors is not permitted. Facilities also must continue to meet all additional visitation requirements outlined in the emergency rules, according a Sept. 17 HHS release.
Long-term care facilities, including nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities, that serve residents without COVID-19 but also have dedicated COVID-19 isolation units will be eligible for outdoor and indoor general visitation with plexiglass barriers. This visitation is only allowed for residents who are COVID-negative and must be held outdoors or in a COVID-free area of the facility. Facilities previously were required to be entirely COVID free to allow outdoor or indoor visitation, the HHS release stated.
The updated emergency rules will be posted on the HHSC COVID-19 provider web page.
For more information about how HHSC is helping Texans affected by COVID-19, visit the HHSC website.
Wildcats and Mount Pleasant Play To 14-14 Tie In 3 Quarter Scrimmage At The Prim Thursday Night
In a 3-quarter football scrimmage that reminded Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens of the old Clint Eastwood spaghetti western “The Good, The Bad and the Ugly,” the Wildcats and Mount Pleasant battled to a 14-14 tie at Gerald Prim Stadium Thursday night.
The Wildcats offense got off to a great start scoring the first two times they had the ball. The Wildcats had the opening drive of the game and went 75 yards for a touchdown. Quarterback Kaden Wallace completed 4 of 5 passes on the drive spreading the ball around to receivers C.J. Williams and Bryant Sanchez. A pass to Williams went down to the Tigers’ two yard line and set up back Caden Davis’ 2 yard TD run. Josh Tavera’s extra point gave the Wildcats a 7-0 lead with 6:16 to go in the first quarter.
Mount Pleasant answered with a 75 yard TD drive of their own. The Tigers converted twice on third and long plays using completed passes. The score was a 43-yard run by a back that took an option pitch from the Tigers’ quarterback. With the good extra point, the game was tied 7-7 with 2:28 to go in the first quarter.
The Wildcats scored again on their second drive of the game going 75 yards. The Wildcats got rushing yards from Davis and 215-pound back Douglas Deloney. Wallace completed four of four passes utilizing Davis, Williams and receiver Matthew Sherman. Wallace’s 24-yard TD pass to Sherman was a thing of beauty as the junior wide receiver made a one-handed catch in the end zone. Kicker Uriel Santacruz added the extra point and the Wildcats led 14-7 with 9:03 left in the second quarter. Both defenses kept the offenses in check for the rest of the quarter.
On the Tigers second drive, they went for it on fourth down but ended up turning over the ball on downs at the Wildcats’ 36 yard line. On the Wildcats’ third drive, a center snap sailed over Wallace’s head. He recovered but the Wildcats took a big loss. The Wildcats ended up punting from their own 33 yard line.
The Tigers then drove to the Wildcats’ 46 yard line, before they stalled again, turning over the ball on downs after an unsuccessful fourth down attempt. On the Wildcats’ next drive, the Tigers picked off a Wallace pass.
There were just 44 second left in the second quarter. The Tigers launched several long passes toward the Wildcats end zone. Wildcat defense back Matthew Mitchell appeared to have an interception, but it was negated by pass interference. The Wildcats picked up another pass interference call later. With just 4 seconds left in the quarter, a long Mount Pleasant pass was broken up by defensive back Dominique Sims. After two quarters, the Wildcats led 14-7.
After a brief break, the Tigers tied the game going 75 yards for a touchdown to open the third quarter. The score was set up by a long scramble down the right sideline by the Tigers’ quarterback. This time, it was Mount Pleasant making an acrobatic catch in the end zone to complete an 8 yard TD pass. The good extra point evened the score at 14-14 with 8:30 left in the third quarter.
The Wildcats then drove down to the Tigers 38 yard line before turning over the ball on downs. Mount Pleasant was forced to punt on their next drive. Then, the Wildcats were forced to punt. Again the drive was stymied by a bad center snap. With less than two minutes to play, Wildcats safety Wiley Bennett stopped a Tigers’ drive with an interception.
With one last chance, the Wildcats drive was again crippled by a bad snap. The scrimmage ended after three quarters with things knotted up at 14-14.
The Wildcats now open the regular season on the road on Friday, Sept. 25, at 7:30 p.m. against Frisco Wakeland at Toyota Stadium in Frisco.
5,000 Head Of Cattle Sold At Wednesday’s NETBIO Sale
By Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission Public Information Services
Producers sold over 5,000 head of cattle at the September Northeast Texas Beef Improvement Organization’s (NETBIO) Sale held Wednesday, Sept. 16, at the Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission.
“It was a good sale and the market was good all the way through the sale,” said David Fowler, co-owner of the livestock commission and a NETBIO director.
A total of 226 producer/members consigned 5050 head of preconditioned cattle to the sale.
“The buyers look for quality cattle at the NETBIO sales, and it was again evident that our producers offered the quality cattle they were looking for,” Fowler said. “We had a lot of bidding and buying activity over the Internet.”
Fowler pointed out that some buyers who had not attended the sale in person for a while due to COVID-19 restrictions were back at the market center.
When the sale concluded, a total of 37 buyers had paid an average of $797.31 per head for the cattle.
Fowler and Livestock Commission co-owner and NETBIO Director Joe Don
Pogue remind producers and buyers that beginning in January 2021, NETBIO board members have changed the sale days from the third Wednesday to the third Friday of months in which sales are held.
In addition, NETBIO will require that cattle consigned to the sale be weaned 60 days instead of 45 days. Producers should keep in mind that in view of the change, Nov. 15, 2020, will be the last day to wean calves for the Jan. 15, 2021 sale — and the last boosting date for that first sale of 2021 will be Dec. 15, 2020.
The NETBIO Pre-Conditioned Stocker and Feeder Calf Sale gives producers a
market to offer their pre-conditioned calves and yearlings in load lot quantities.
NETBIO holds eight pre-conditioned calf sales per year, which is the marketing arm for members of the organization.
The next NETBIO sale will be held at the Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission market center on Oct. 21, and the final sale of 2020 will be the anniversary sale event slated for Nov. 18.
For information, call 903-885-2455 or go to www.sslivestockauctions.com.
Governor Announces Expanded Occupancy Levels For Some Texas Businesses, Services
Executive Order Re-Authorizes Elective Surgeries For Majority of Texas
Texas Governor Greg Abbott today announced that Texas is expanding occupancy levels for select businesses and services and re-authorizing elective surgeries for a majority of the state. Plans for both are outlined in 2 new Executive orders.
Executive Order No. GA-30 expands occupancy levels for restaurants, retail stores, office buildings, manufacturing facilities, gyms and exercise facilities and classes, museums, and libraries.
Executive Order No. GA-30 re-authorizes elective surgeries for a majority of the state of Texas allows 19 of the 22 hospital regions (Trauma Service Areas) in Texas to immediately resume elective surgeries while maintaining the threshold of beds for COVID-19 patients, Abbott announced.
Three of the 22 TSAs (S-Victoria, T-Laredo, and V-Lower Rio Grande Valley) must remain at 50 percent occupancy and continue postponing elective surgeries until the hospitalization metric requirements are met. These three TSAs contain the counties of Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Lavaca, Victoria, Jim Hogg, Webb, Zapata, Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy, according to Abbott.
On Sept. 21, the same regions may increase occupancy levels to 75 percent for restaurants, retail stores, office buildings, manufacturing facilities, gyms, exercise facilities and classes, museums and libraries.
“With the medical advancements we have made and the personal hygiene practices we have adopted, Texans have shown that we can address both the health and safety concerns of COVID-19 while also taking careful, measured steps to restore the livelihoods that Texans depend on,” Abbott said. “Achieving both goals requires safe standards that contain COVID-19, emphasize protecting the most vulnerable, and establish clear metrics that the public can depend on. That is why today we have announced expanded occupancy standards for a variety of services.
The Governor also Sept. 17 announced new guidance related to visitations at nursing homes and long-term care facilities across the state, that is to become effective on Sept. 24. Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s updated emergency rules will allow a designated essential caregiver to provide supportive, hands-on care to residents of eligible nursing, assisted living, and intermediate care facilities, home and community-based service providers, and inpatient hospice, provided the resident does not have COVID-19.
on the Texas Health and Human Services Commission website HHSC COVID-19 provider web page.
Abbott also cautioned Texans that “a steady and significant decline in COVID-19 cases is not a sign to let up in our vigilance against the virus.”
“Instead, Texans must continue to heed the guidance of medical experts by wearing a mask, social distancing, and practicing proper sanitation strategies. By maintaining health and safety standards that are proven to mitigate COVID-19, we can continue to slow the spread while opening up the Texas economy,” Abbott said.
Sulphur Springs Woman Jailed On Felony Warrant
A 29-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was jailed on a felony warrant late Wednesday night.
Brittany Leigh George reportedly arrived at Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office lobby and turned herself in at 11:02 p.m. Sept. 16, 2020, on a warrant for manufacture or delivery of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. She was escorted into the jail by Deputy Nick Marney and booked on the charge. The charge was alleged to have occurred in May of 2019, according to arrest reports.
George remained in the county jail Thursday, Sept. 17, on the warrant, according to jail reports.
3 Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinics Offered For CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Patients
By Holly Ragan, Market Development, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs, [email protected]
Are you an existing patient of CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic? Take advantage of our drive-thru flu shot clinics on:
- Friday, September 18, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Thursday, September 24, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Friday, October 2, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
You do not need to call ahead, but should be an existing patient, and bring your insurance card with you. The location of the drive-thru is the circle drive under the awning, directly in front of the hospital by the main entrance.
CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System includes CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospitals – Tyler, South Tyler, Jacksonville, Winnsboro
and Sulphur Springs, the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital – Tyler, CHRISTUS Trinity Mother
Frances Rehabilitation Hospital a partner of Encompass Health, Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, a long-
term acute care facility, and CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic.
CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic is the area’s preferred multi-specialty medical group, with more than 400 Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers representing 36 specialties in 34 locations serving Northeast Texas across 41
counties.
For more information on services available through CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System, visit christustmf.org
DSHS, TEA Launch Webpage With Texas Public Schools COVID-19 Case Data
The overall number of COVID-19 cases reported by Texas public schools was reported Sept. 17 on the Texas Department of State Health Services website. Beginning Sept. 23, Texas Education Agency, working in collaboration with DSHS, will weekly provide public schools COVID-19 case data by school district on the TEA website.
The reported count of on-campus student cases of COVID-19 in the state’s public schools is 2,344 out of an estimated 1.1 million students who have been on campus for instruction or activities since the beginning of the 2020-21 school year. The total count of on-campus staff cases during the same period is 2,175, according to press releases from TEA and TDSHS.
The number of student and staff COVID-19 cases in Texas public schools will be updated each Wednesday, and starting next week will include data by school district on TEA’s COVID-19 website.
TEA previously directed all school districts to submit information about COVID-19 cases going back to the start of the school year. Information is submitted via an online form each Monday by those school systems that were notified in the previous week that a student, teacher, or staff member who participates in any on-campus activity has tested positive for a current COVID-19 infection. Antibody tests, which indicate a previous infection, are not required to be reported.
The data, according to the state agencies, is intended to “provide an overview of the burden of disease in Texas schools over time and inform public policy decisions about COVID-19.”
Reporting this information to the state does not replace the legal requirement that schools notify public health officials in their area of all cases, for Hopkins County, notification would be made to the Local Health Authority. Schools will also still be required to inform all parents, teachers, and campus staff of any positive cases tied to their on-campus instruction or activities, per TEA guidelines.
When a student or employee case is reported to the school district, the designated school personnel begin a case investigation, which includes contacting any individuals determined to be in “close contact” with the infected individual.
According to the LHA, “close contact” is defined as being “within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more to an infected person.” LHA Nurse Brynn Smith noted that not all exposures are the same. High-risk exposures require a “14-day quarantine no matter what.” Critical Infrastructure personnel may differ.
The LHA recommends waiting at least 3-5 days or until symptoms begin before being tested to ensure accuracy. Most favorable is 5-7 days after the last known exposure.
Students and staff determined by the school or LHA to have been in close contact with a COVID-19 infected person will be directly notified as soon as possible; they will be required to remain off campus for up to 14 days to ensure they do not have the virus, so that there will not be any further spread.
An exposed household (considered high-risk exposures) needs to quarantine as well. Proper isolation and quarantine is key to reduce spread.
For those with symptoms, isolation may end after 10 days, provided the individual has had no fever and or symptoms without medications for 24 hours. The length of isolation may also depend on severity of symptoms and person’s health history.
Individuals who test positive but do not have COVID-19 symptoms may be able to end isolation 10 days after test results are received, if they experience no onset of symptoms for the duration of their isolation.
3 Additional COVID-19 Cases Reported For SSISD Campuses
By Ross LaBenske
Sulphur Springs ISD Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams over the past three days received information regarding 3 additional COVID-19 cases reported for SSISD campuses.
On Sept. 17, Williams reported a student who was lab-confirmed to have COVID-19 was present at Douglass ECLC during the week of Sept. 7-11.
On Sept. 11, a Sulphur Springs Middle School student was lab-confirmed to have COVID-19. The student was reported to be at SSMS. This marks the first middle school student to be confirmed to have COVID-19 since school started Sept. 1.
On Sept. 14, a Sulphur Springs Middle School student was lab-confirmed to have COVID-19. The student was reported to have been present at SSMS, with 2 students confirmed to have COVID-19 in almost as many days.
On Sept. 13, 2 middle school teachers who were present on campus during the week of Sept. 8-11 were lab-confirmed to have COVID-19.
Two Bowie Primary students — one who was on campus Sept. 1-3 and another who was on campus Sept. 1, 2 and 4 — were reported to have tested positive for COVID-19.
On Sept. 9, a Travis Primary School student and Sulphur Springs Elementary teacher, who were each on their respective campus the week before, tested positive for novel coronavirus 2019.
On Sept. 8, a SSISD bus driver also was reported to have COVID-19. The individual drove a bus Sept. 1-4, according to SSISD reports.
| SSISD Campus | Student | Employee |
| Austin Academic Center | 0 | 0 |
| Barbara Bush Primary | 0 | 0 |
| Bowie Primary | 2 | 0 |
| Douglass Early Childhood Learning Center | 1 | 0 |
| Lamar Primary | 0 | 0 |
| Travis Primary | 1 | 0 |
| Sulphur Springs Elementary | 0 | 1 |
| Sulphur Springs Middle School | 2 | 2 |
| Sulphur Springs High School | 3 | 0 |
| Other (bus driver, special services, admin. etc.) | 0 | 1 |
Wildcats Team Tennis Coach Finds Silver Lining in Loss at Texas High
The Wildcats Team Tennis squad absorbed a 19-0 loss to district juggernaut Texas High in Texarkana Tuesday afternoon. Wildcats Tennis Coach Tony Martinez found some things to like in his players. He said all of his players came off the court saying that they played better than usual. He said no one’s head was down and there was no complaining. Coach Martinez said a common theme was that players said they got to deuce in a lot of points but could not get the next big ones. He said the players were also discussing things they need to improve on in their games. Coach Martinez said they lost on the court but won mentally off the court. He said that’s all he can ask of the players. Several Wildcats did better than 6-0 or 6-1 scores. The boys doubles’ team of Tate Smith and Alex Romero lost a 6-2 game. The mixed doubles’ team of Jeauxleigh Cantu and Carlos Lopez-Sardinas lost 6-2, 6-2. Lopez-Sardinas lost his boys singles match, 8-3. Romero lost a set of boys doubles, 6-2. Cantu and Harleigh Stegient both lost in girls’ singles, 8-4. Coach Martinez said you can’t help but notice all the signs of past successes when you visit Texas High. He said Texarkana is a great tennis town and he said Texas High has had great coaches. He said Tigers’ players play just about every weekend. Coach Martinez said that concept can be a hard sell for him with kids that enjoy doing other things. Still he said he is trying to build the sport here. He hoped an event last Monday becomes the start of something big. Coach Martinez had a middle school practice that usually draws a half dozen kids or so. Last Monday he was amazed when 24 kids showed up. He said that’s how something big for local tennis can get started. The Wildcats, 1-1 in district play and 2-1 overall, continue district play next Tuesday at 4 p.m. against Longview at the Wildcat Tennis Center.
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.
