2 Men Sentenced In District Court
Two men were sentenced in district court in Hopkins County on Thursday, according to court reports.
Probated Sentence
Michael Leslie Copeland appeared before before 8th Judicial District Judge Eddie Northcutt at 9 a.m. Nov. 12 for a sentencing hearing for a 2019 unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon charge. The 39-year-old Yantis man received a felony conviction and 10 years of probation for the third-degree felony offense, according to Assistant District Attorney Matt Harris.
Copeland was arrested on Aug. 27, 2019, following a traffic stop. A sheriff’s deputy, in 2019 arrest reports, alleged the man caught his attention by driving 74 miles per hour in the 55 mph speed zone on SH 11 east at County Road 2417.
When identified the officer recognized the man’s name as that of a person who had been previously been convicted of a felony offense. The deputy obtained consent to search the van. Noting the man to be nervous, the deputy asked to search the car, the 2019 arrest reports alleged.
Copeland allegedly pointed out a pipe used for smoking marijuana on the driver’s side floor; a .22-caliber Mossberg AR-style pistol was found wrapped in a towel in a rear seat and an open Bud Ice beer container was also found, deputies alleged.
He was released from Hopkins County jail Aug. 30, 2020 on the charge, but returned to HCSO custody from Aug. 4-5, 2020 on two Delta County violation of probation warrants for assault and possession of marijuana, and a warrant for violation of probation on a harassment via repeated electronic communication charge. The 39-year-old was also reportedly arrested and released Oct. 22, 2020 for possession of drug paraphernalia.
Prison Sentence
Tom Coy Childress was scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 12 to appear in the 8th Judicial District Court on a trial before the court on a motion to proceed on a 2018 assault of a family or household member that impeded breathing or circulation. He was sentenced in district court to 10 years in prison on the assault charge, according to prosecutors.
The 35-year-old was arrested on Nov. 14, 2018 on the felony assault charge, for allegedly beating on a woman at his Helm Lane residence. Police had been dispatched to a report of a person trying to kick in a door at a Helm Lane apartment. Upon arrival, police reported hearing a female making noise as though in pain and a male yelling. The woman reportedly had visible injuries indicative of having been beaten.
Childress was released from Hopkins County jail Nov. 30, 2018, on a $25,0000 bond on the felony assault charge, according to arrest and jail reports. He was indicted in January 2019 on the charge.
According to Hopkins County jail records, Childress has returned to Hopkins County jail three times since then. He was jailed March 14, 2019 for bond forfeiture on the assault charge; he was released July 11, 2019 on $20,000 bond. Childress also was booked and released from jail April 15, 2019 on a $20,000 on arrant for bail jumping/failure to appear. The 35-year-old Canton resident has remained in custody since he turned himself in at the sheriff’s office and was arrested Aug. 12, 2020 on a warrant for violation of probation on the assault charge, according to jail reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
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.
Woman Jailed On A Money Laundering Charge
A 26-year-old woman was jailed on a money laundering charge early Friday morning, according to police reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Cleve Williams reported stopping a Toyota Rav4 at 10:55 p.m. Nov. 12 at the 128 mile marker on Interstate 30 west for a traffic violation.
The occupant, a 26-year-old woman who told officers she lives in Dallas, reportedly was found to be in possession of nearly $14,000. When asked, the woman was unable to tell officers who the cash belonged to. The interdiction officer reported his narcotics canine alerted on the money for “contamination of an illicit narcotic odor.”
Deras Maria Elizabeth Melara was arrested at 12:18 a.m. Nov. 13 and jailed on a money laundering charge, according to arrest reports.
Deras Melara also allegedly advised she is an El Salvador citizen in the United States illegally. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials were being contacted, according to Williams.
The 26-year-old woman remained in Hopkins County jail late Friday morning. Bond on the state jail felony charge was set at $20,000, 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.
Vehicle Burglaries And Thefts End In 3 Crashes, 1 Arrest, 1 Reported Fatality
Friday, Nov. 13 has been a busy one for local law enforcement. In a three hour span early this morning, local officials responded to what is believed to be a crime spree involving 3 stolen vehicles and several vehicle burglaries ended in 3 crashes, 1 arrest and one reported fatality, according to law enforcement reports.
The activity began around 1:02 a.m. Friday with a report of a suspicious vehicle, possibly vehicle burglaries in progress, in the area of Sulphur Springs Public Library.
Upon arrival, officer spotted a truck. While police were turning around, the occupants fled at a high rate of speed in what was believed to be an attempt to evade police. The truck continued to Main Street, where it crashed into a light pole behind the police department, according to Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jason Ricketson.
When officers arrived at the truck, the two previously observed occupants of the truck had fled on foot. Attempts to locate the pair were unsuccessful at that time. The vehicle was determined to have been stolen.
A short wile later, Ricketson reported, officers responded to a report of a possible vehicle burglary in progress on Houston Street. While checking that report, additional suspected vehicle burglaries were reported in the area of North Locust Street and Main Street, police reported seeing a Honda Accord being driven with no lights on. SSPD Cpl. Chris Rosamond attempted to stop the car. The driver allegedly continued traveling a “significant distance” in the vehicle until the Accord crashed, reportedly into a concrete divider or road control device, on Houston Street at North Hillcrest Drive where the car around 2:50 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13.
Officers removed the sole occupant, identified in police reports as 19-year-old Sunny J Lea Sweatman of Dallas, out of the car at gunpoint and took her into custody for evading arrest or detention in a vehicle. Officers later discovered the Honda Accord had been stolen from a residence on Main Street, resulting in the Dallas woman also being charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle.
Sunny Sweatman remained in Hopkins County jail later Friday morning; her bond was set at $10,000 on the evading arrest or detention with a vehicle charge and $5,000 on the stolen vehicle charge.
According to Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office reports, a Toyota 4-Runner reportedly went off the north Interstate-30 service road, up an embankment and impacted the US Business 67 bridge near the 120 mile marker just west of Sulphur springs. The vehicle reportedly landed upside down between the north service road and Interstate 30 west, according to sheriff’s reports. A male, identified only as a 36-year-old, was reportedly ejected from the vehicle and died as a result of the crash.
The vehicle came back to a Lee Street address. Officials determined the vehicle was stolen and notified SSPD. After additional investigation, authorities found information indicating the the deceased man to be a 36-year-old who has had a connection to Hopkins County.
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Arturo Ugalde is leading the investigation into the crash, reported at 3:50 a.m. Nov. 13. No additional information regarding the crash had been released at 10:40 a.m. Friday by DPS.
“We think the stolen vehicle cases and motor vehicle burglaries are related. The investigation is ongoing by law enforcement,” Ricketson said late Friday morning.
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.
Canned Food Donations For Tira Food Pantry Always Appreciated
By Jan Vaughn, Tira News columnist, [email protected]
Robert and Yvonne Weir’s granddaughter, Everly (Dustin and Natalie‘s daughter), along with their daughter, son-in-law, and grandson, Destri, Eben, and Nico, spent the weekend with them. On Monday, Yvonne met Dacy and Destri in Mesquite for Dacy’s birthday lunch and shopping. Robert and Yvonne celebrated their 47th anniversary on Tuesday with lunch at Redneck Café in Sulphur Springs.
Veterans were honored with a drive-through parade at North Hopkins School on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11. The band played and students cheered for them as they passed by. We appreciate their service and dedication to our nation.
Chip and I spent last week (first week in November) in Tennessee enjoying the fall weather and scenery. We stayed at Fairfield Glade Resort near Crossville and made day trips to several waterfalls in the area. On Wednesday, we drove into Alabama and followed the Lookout Mountain scenic drive from Gadsden, Alabama to Chattanooga, Tennessee. The fall colors were a little later than usual and were more beautiful at the end of the week than when we arrived. Grace Vaughn, Chip’s mother, stayed with Jim and Sandra Vaughn in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, while we were gone. We came back by way of the Talimena National Scenic Byway, in western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma, and visited with them before heading home on Sunday afternoon.
Council members have been taking care of filling the Tira Food Pantry. Donations of canned food are always appreciated. If you’d like to help with the cause, please call Joyce Dodd at 903-348-8754.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
Nov. 11-12 COVID-19 Updates: 2 Fatalities, 10 New Cases
Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management officials in their Nov. 11-12 COVID-19 updates reported 10 additional Hopkins County residents have received positive COVID-19 test results. State reports also show 2 additional COVID-19 fatalities for Hopkins County.
HC/SSEM Nov. 11-12 COVID-19 Updates
HC/SSEM in their Nov. 11-12 updates reported seven new cases on Wednesday and three on Thursday. That makes 63 Hopkins County residents who have received positive molecular COVID-19 test results this month, 20 less than the first 12 days of October but still 25 more than Sept. 1-12 and 10 more new cases than Aug. 1-12.
While there have been no recoveries reported during the last three days, 82 residents were reported Nov. 2-9 to have recovered from novel coronavirus 2019. A total 622 of the 747 county residents who have tested positive for the virus since March have recovered, according to the Nov. 11-12 COVID-19 updates from HC/SSEM officials.
The COVID Unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs had one less patient daily Nov. 11-12. That left 15 patients in the CMFHSS unit Thursday, the same as on Friday, Nov. 6. The lowest patient census reported this month has been 13 patients on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
At the free testing site on Jefferson Street, 103 free tests were performed on Tuesday and 79 on Wednesday, according to the HC/SSEM Nov. 11-12 COVID-19 updates. That makes 781 molecular tests conducted at 128-A Jefferson Street during the first 11 days in November and 3,174 since testing was first offered on Sept. 25 at the testing location.
The Jefferson Street COVID testing site is scheduled to remain open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays during November, HC/SSEM officials reported in the Nov. 11-12 COVID-19 updates.
To book a test, go online to GoGetTested.com, select “Red Cross/old Fidelity Express — Texas Emergency Management building at 128-A Jefferson St. in Sulphur Springs” or other desired location, then, click “Book Now,” and follow the prompts. Walk-ins are also accepted.
Sulphur Springs ISD COVID-19 Update
Seven additional people who were on Sulphur Springs Independent School District campuses within the last week had tested positive for COVID-19 as of Wednesday, Nov. 11, Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams reported in notices sent out shortly after 3 p.m. Nov. 11 to students and their families, teachers and staff at the appropriate campuses
One additional student at Sulphur Spring High School and one at Bowie Primary had tested positive for the virus.
Five additional staff members also tested positive: two at Lamar Primary and one each at Douglass Early Childhood Learning Center, Sulphur Springs Elementary and Sulphur Springs Middle School.
Monday night, Williams reported there were seven active cases among students (one each at Douglass ECLC and Barbara Bush Primary, two at SSES, and three at SSHS), and 11 active staff cases (1 each at Douglass, Bush Primary, SSMS and one other; three at SSES; and four at Lamar.)
Another 205 students and 16 staff members were not COVID-19 positive, but in quarantine as a precaution due to a high-risk exposure or because they are displaying symptoms, according to the COVID-19 snapshot Williams presented to the school board Monday night.
Since school started, the district has had 71 students and 55 staff who have tested positive for COVID-19, according to Williams’ Nov. 9 report.
Hopkins County COVID-19 Fatality Reports
The Texas Department of State Health Services dashboard showed 47 Hopkins County residents have died as a result of COVID-19. That’s 2 additional COVID-19 deaths confirmed by cause on death certificates in the last 2 days and 5 Hopkins County COVID-19 deaths announced in the last 7 days.
The latest deaths are reported to have occurred on Oct. 21 (a day in which 42 new cases were reported, increasing the active case count to 169) and Nov. 5 (a day with 152 active cases, the highest active case count so far this month). That makes 27 Hopkins County residents confirmed to have died from COVID-19 in October and one in November. There were also 11 COVID-19 fatalities in September, six in August and two in July.
HHS Nursing, Assisted Living Facility Reports
Wesley House still had one active resident COVID-19 case on Oct. 29; the case was first reported on Oct. 27, the most recent data available in the Nov. 12 Health and Human Services assisted living facility report.
Two additional nursing home deaths, one each at Sulphur Springs Health and Rehabilitation and Sunny Springs Nursing & Rehab, were reported Oct. 29 to HHS. That makes 34 residents who have died at Sulphur Springs nursing facilities from March through Oct. 29: 24 at Carriage House Manor, 4 at Sulphur Springs Health and Rehab and six at Sunny Springs Nursing & Rehab, according to the Nov. 12 HHS nursing facility report.
There were 19 active employee cases at Sulphur Springs nursing home on Oct. 29: 1 at Carriage House Manor, 10 at SSHR and 8 at SSN&R. That means 1 CHM employee tested positive on Oct. 29.
The Nov. 12 HHS nursing facility report also showed 24 active resident cases at Sulphur Springs nursing facilities on Oct. 29, 1 at Rock Creek Health and Rehab and 21 at SSHR. That means 6 additional residents tested positive had tested positive for COVID-19 on Oct. 29.
Wildcats’ Friday Football Foe Greenville Led By Fifth Year Head Coach Darren Duke
The Greenville Lions will play host for the Wildcats Football Team in a zone game with playoff implications Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Cotton Ford Stadium in Greenville. For the fifth year, the Greenville Head Coach is Darren Duke, who took over from his mentor, Marvin Sedberry Sr., in 2016. Coach Duke said his goal is to have opponents not look forward to see the Lions get off their bus either at home or on the road. Last year, the Lions made the playoffs for the first time since 2003. Coach Duke wants making the playoffs to become a Greenville tradition. He said when a program is down, the players find it hard to know what it takes to make the playoffs. Coach Duke said his current team now knows what it takes. He said they have confidence and know they can play and compete, even in a tough district. Coach Duke said the Lions this season returned a lot of players on offense. He added he had to fill some holes on defense where two all-state players and a total of three college bound athletes graduated. Coach Duke said it took a couple of games for his defense to work the kinks out. On offense, the Lions have a third year player at quarterback, senior Brandon Stephens, who Coach Duke said is a great leader. The Lions are scary fast at the skill receiver positions. They feature senior big play guys Miles Denson, Shawn Brown and Caleb Johnson. Coach Duke said defensive standouts include senior inside linebackers Carlos Belteton and Davian Wallace. The secondary includes senior Kenton Anderson. Defensive line standouts include an all district selection last year in junior defensive tackle Dyshaun Grigsby and junior defensive end Mike Surface. Wildcats Coach Greg Owens has mentioned that Greenville and Sulphur Springs always seem to meet with a playoff spot on the line. Coach Duke agreed saying the important games add to a rivalry where the teams get up more for each other. He said it adds to the fun. The team that wins this last zone game will move into the playoffs while the other will be left behind.
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.
Good and Bad For Injury Plagued Wildcats Basketball Team at Scrimmage Wednesday
Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta said his team had two good quarters and two he described as terrible during a scrimmage at Frisco Lebanon Trail Wednesday evening (November 11). Coach Cipoletta noted he’s trying to find players to put on the court during a rash of injuries. Wednesday the Wildcats had to do without two expected starters: senior point guard Lamodrick Johnson and post Justin Haire. A third player with varsity experience, senior guard Boo Wilkerson, toughed it out and played on a gimpy ankle. Coach Cipoletta said Boo was not 100% but is tough and gritty and wanted to play. He said the team did a good job on executing what the team wants to do on offense. However Coach Cip said the Wildcats did not shoot the ball particularly well. He said they did handle pressure better than they have before. Coach Cipoletta loves defense and he said the team needed to be grittier on the defensive end adding they did not play the Wildcats’ style of defense. He praised the play of sophomore post Kordrick Turner. Coach Cip said he was outstanding and did a good job posting up hard, catching the ball and finishing. He said Caleb Alexander played the point and shot pretty well. Ready or not, the Wildcats open the regular season at home Saturday at 4 p.m. against Tyler Legacy. Coach Cipoletta said he is grateful for any opportunity to play. He said he was not grateful that the Wildcats will be short handed due to injuries and illness. He said he would play the players he has and he added they will have to step up. Coach Cipoletta has seen Tyler Legacy on tape and he said they are pretty good.
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.
Virtual “Rossum’s Universal Robots” Opens Thursday at Paris Junior College
The Paris Junior College Drama Department will open the free drama “Robert’s Universal Robots” or “RUR” on a virtual stage this Thursday. The play will be performed live on Zoom Nov. 12-14 at 7:30 p.m. and at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 15.
Everyone knows the word, “robot,” but not everyone knows it was first introduced to the world in the 1920 science fiction play “RUR” by the Czech writer Karel Čapek, which premiered in 1921. The play begins in a factory that makes artificial people, called roboti (robots), from synthetic organic matter.
As the robots develop into beings closer to humans, conflict grows and the play explores the themes of anger and hatred, class conflict, duty and responsibility, the human condition and individuals versus machines.
Putting on a virtual performance comes with challenges, according to PJC Drama Instructor and play director Will Walker. In addition to face-to-face rehearsals, there have been three Zoom rehearsals to work on simple things such as an actor in one screen handing an object to an actor in another screen.
“We’re trying to make it as real as possible to our audience,” Walker said. “That’s been a huge challenge.”
Students have also risen to the challenge.
“Working on ‘R.U.R.’ was an amazing experience,” said Maddy Stuckey, a freshman from Anderson, Texas attending PJC on a drama scholarship, “showing me a new world of acting with peers and friends, and giving me lots of deep thoughts as well as memories I won’t soon forget.”
The “R.U.R.” cast includes Alquist: Andy Johnson; Helena: Madeline Stuckey; Primus: Hunter Anderson; Nana: Jodi O’Connell; Dr. Gall: Lisa Martin; Robot Helena: Annabel Doss; Fabry: Jimmie Sanders; Marius: Kaleb Speakman; Sulla: Juli Salter; Radius: David Forward; Busman: Ivey Barr; Hallemeier: Courtney Hampton Reed; 1st Robot: Robyn Huizinga; 2nd Robot: Brenna Mills; and 3rd Robot: Sarah Rodriguez.
The “R.U.R.” crew includes Stage Manager Kayla Freelen and Background Designer Connor Kirkley.Each performance will be capped at 100 attendees in order to manage Zoom’s online “waiting room” prior to the show starting. For questions, email [email protected]. To register to attend the digital performance, go to https://parisjc.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMsce6gqz8oH9xsRXWUxxWGwDsgxigDIZvx.
Photo virtual cutline:
RUR-II: Robot Helena looks through a journal as Robot Marius looks on after the robot revolution in which most humans have been eliminated.
Photo virtual cutline 2:
Working on the “R.U.R” production and other projects from a stagecraft class are, from left, Annabel Doss, Kayla Freelen, David Forward, Maddy Stuckey, PJC Drama Instructor Will Walker, Kaleb Speakman, Connor Kirkley, Hunter Anderson, and Brandon McCormick.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
Sulphur Springs City Council To Call For Run-Off Election For Place 1
The Sulphur Springs City Council is scheduled to call for a run-off election for a Place 1 during a special noon meeting on Nov. 17.
The City Council will first be asked to discuss and act on canvass of the Nov. 3 City Council Election for Places 1, 2, 3 and 5 on the Sulphur Springs council.
Candidates in only two of the four election drew challengers. The special election was called to fill four seats on the council left vacant when four council members resigned from the City Council in December 2019.
While Gary Spraggins was the clear winner for Place 5, receiving 3,206 votes to Ricardo Chavarria’s 1,294 votes, no Place 1 candidate received 50 percent or more of the overall vote, according to the unofficial election results.
Jay W. Julian received 1,943 votes, Mark Bradley 1,094 votes and Vanessa Diosdado 1,012 votes and Justin M. Brown 399 votes, according to the unofficial election results. Thus, a run-off between the top candidates is needed to determine who will win the seat.
Although unchallenged, Harold Nash Sr. received 4,242 votes in the Nov. 3 Election for Place 2. Nash was appointed Dec. 13 to serve in the Place 2 seat until the election.
Oscar Aguilar, also unchallenged for Place 3 on the City Council, received 4,437 votes in the Nov. 3 Election. Aguilar was appointed to fill the Place 3 seat in May.
After the election canvass determination Tuesday, Sulphur Springs City Council the will be asked to consider approving a resolution calling for a run-off election for Place 1, to name election judges and set dates for early voting.
The noon meeting Nov. 17 will be conducted via Zoom video conferencing and streamed on the City of Sulphur Springs Meetings YouTube channel.
Yantis ISD Closes Campuses, Switches To Virtual Learning As COVID-19 Precaution
Less than 1 month after suspending all online learning, Yantis ISD announced the decision to close all school campuses and switch to virtual learning until after Thanksgiving as a COVID-19 precaution.
Yantis ISD Superintendent Tracey Helfferich cited the effectiveness of face-to-face instruction compared to online learning, and the stress of the extra workload for staff in an Oct. 13 letter notifying ISD families that the district would be suspending online learning starting Oct. 16. Some remote learners had already begun returning to campus for face-to-face instruction. Overall, 28 percent of students enrolled in the online learning program were failing at least one class at the end of the first 9 weeks of school, Helfferich noted.
According to the Nov. 5 TEA/DSHS public schools COVID-19 case report, Yantis ISD had 1 new active case of COVID-19 among staff that was contracted off-campus during the week of Oct. 26-Nov. 1. Previously, YISD had reported 1 elementary student and 2 staff had tested positive for COVID-19, with the source of infection for all 4 cases off campus.
Last Thursday, Nov. 5, Helfferich also notified parents and guardians that two elementary staff members had received lab-confirmed positive COVID-19 results. One YISD employee was reported to have last been on the campus Oct. 21 and the other Oct. 30. The superintendent noted that daily cleaning and additional procedures in classrooms continued, but reminded of the need for face coverings and social distancing to help limit potential for spread of the virus.
Around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, Helfferich posted a notice to parents and guardians on the school Facebook page that the entire district would be switching to all virtual learning starting today (Nov. 12) and continuing through Nov. 30.
“This is a decision that was not made lightly and with the advisement of TEA and the Health Dept. we will transition to online learning beginning tomorrow. We will return after Thanksgiving Break on Monday, November 30. If you have questions please call the campus offices. PLEASE keep it positive for us all during this difficult time,” administrators posted on the Yantis ISD Facebook page on Nov. 11.
The superintendent’s Nov. 10 letter to parents and guardians cites the decision to close all campuses Nov. 11-12 and Nov. 16-20 was made out “out of an abundance of caution. Campuses were already scheduled to be closed Nov. 23-26 for Thanksgiving. Being closed 12 days should help contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus” and “better ensure the heal and safety of our children, staff, and the Yantis community.”
The school will be deep cleansed and sanitized during the campus class closure, in readiness for the re-opening of face-to-face classes on Nov. 30. Students began working virtually Nov. 11 from school, then were to remain off campus working on lessons virtually until after the Thanksgiving break, according to Helfferich.
A one-time lunch pick up as scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to noon Nov. 12 behind the school cafeteria, to allow families to obtain enough school meals to cover the days YISD is closed due to COVID-19.
