U S Marine Corps Celebrates 245th Birthday November 10
Members of the Hopkins County detachment of the US Marine Corps League Detachment 1357 celebrated with a breakfast reception and birthday cake on November 10, 2020, commemorating the Corps’ 245th birthday.
According to member Tommy Allison, the USMC League is a Congressionally chartered organization made up of local Marine Corps detachments across the United States. There are 40 members in the Hopkins County detachment, and Commandant is Derb Goodman. The detachment meets monthly on the third Thursday at 6pm at Shooks Chapel.
On Veterans Day November 11, 2020, members of the detachment will be present near the Veterans Memorial in downtown Sulphur Springs, to serve by raising and lowering the flags during the brief ceremony at 11am. The public is invited
The mission of the Marine Corps League is to promote the interest and to preserve traditions of the United States Marine Corps; strengthen the fraternity of Marines and their families; serve Marines, FMF Corpsmen, and FMF Chaplains who wear or who have worn the Eagle, Globe and Anchor; and foster the ideals of Americanism and patriotic volunteerism.
The Marine Corps League perpetuates the traditions and spirit of ALL Marines and Navy FMF Corpsmen, who proudly wear or who have worn the eagle, globe, and anchor of the Corps. It takes great pride in crediting its founding in 1923 to World War I hero, then Major General Commandant John A. Lejeune.
Nurses Sought For 12-Week Winter Surge Contracts For CHRISTUS Health-Northeast Texas Team
Coming Up This Week At CHRISTUS: Blood Drive, Flu Shot Clinic, Free Sports Clinic For School Athletes
By Holly Ragan, Senior Market Development, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs, [email protected]
Sulphur Springs, Texas, Nov. 10 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs has ONE mission: To Extend the Health Ministry of Jesus Christ.
Winter Surge Nursing Plan
‘Tis the season to join the CHRISTUS Health – Northeast Texas team for a 12-week contract. For a limited time, you can earn premium pay rates with our Winter Surge Nursing Plan.
Requirements:
- 1-year recent acute care RN experience
- 12-week contract bonus at completion, and highly competitive pay
- Contact Jennifer Sudduth or Wintor Waffer for more details:
- Wintor Waffer, 903.439.4052
- Jennifer Sudduth, [email protected]
- Contact Jennifer Sudduth or Wintor Waffer for more details:
Flu Shots: Upcoming Saturday Clinic
Take advantage of our Saturday Flu Shot Clinic on Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. You do not need to call ahead, but should bring your insurance card with you, if you are not an existing CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic patient. The location of the Saturday Flu Shot Clinic is 105 Medical Plaza.
Hospital Visitation
For the safety and health of the community and our ministry, CHRISTUS Health is screening all associates and visitors to our hospitals to help lessen the risk of infectious disease transmission among our patients, associates, and guests.
- 1 Entrance to hospital through Emergency Department 24/7
- 1 Visitor per patient
- Visitors must be between the ages of 16-years old and 65-years old
- All visitors are screened at the door, including a temperature taken
- All associates are screened at each shift, including a temperature taken
- Visiting hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (subject to change)
- ALL hospital visitors are required to wear a mask. Visitors should bring their own mask; homemade cloth masks are acceptable.
Local Services
Carter BloodCare Blood Drive
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs will be hosting a blood drive on Wednesday, Nov. 11, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Please call ahead to schedule an appointment at 903.438.4380. You may also go online to carterbloodcare.org. COVID-19 Antibody Testing now available for all donors.
Orthopedic Surgery | Sports Medicine
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital- Sulphur Springs is excited to welcome Dr. Chris Meltsakos, our new Orthopedic Surgeon with fellowship training in Sports Medicine. Dr. Meltsakos is now accepting new patients of all ages, at 103B Medical Circle in CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Medical Building 5B.
FREE Sports Clinic for School Athletes
FREE Saturday Walk-In Clinic for school athletes is close to wrapping up! The Saturday sports clinic will be held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. through Nov. 14. Athletes will get an exam and free x-ray to determine a plan of care to treat their injury. The location will be the CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Orthopedic Office at 103B Medical Circle in Sulphur Springs.
For more information about our Sports Medicine program, or Orthopedic services, please call our office at 903.885.6688.
COVID-19
Experiencing Symptoms?
If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, cough, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, chills, muscle pain or headache, or diarrhea, please call your provider for either a face-to-face appointment or a telemedicine consultation. If your provider determines you need to have a COVID-19 test, they will send you to the appropriate outpatient location for testing.
If you are experiencing an emergency, please present to the Emergency Room. At this time, we are preserving our Emergency Room COVID-19 tests for those who are experiencing an emergency.
Otherwise, we would ask that you follow the steps above. If you do not have a healthcare provider, CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic welcomes new patients. Please call 903.885.3181 to talk to one of our associates about setting up an appointment.
Don’t Delay Care
We want to be perfectly clear – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances remains a safe place for all to receive quality care. Go to the Emergency Department or call 9-1-1 if you are urgently ill.
While COVID-19 is new, our processes and procedures in place for infection prevention and preventing the spread of illness are not. To learn more about COVID-19, go to ChristusTMF.org or www.cdc.gov.
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
- Bed count – 402 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler
- Bed count – 8 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – South Tyler
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville
- Bed Count – 96 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Winnsboro
- Bed count – 94 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital
- Bed count – 96 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart – Tyler
- Bed count – 51 – Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital
Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens Enjoys Talking About Win On Saturday Morning Coach’s Show
Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens, on KSST and Cable Ch. 18’s Saturday Morning Coach’s Show, said is was good to get a win. Friday night, Nov. 6, at The Prim on Senior Night, the Wildcats defeated Corsicana, 28-21 to improve their zone record to 1-1 and their season mark to 1-3.
Coach Owens said the win affirmed all the hard work done by players and his coaches. Despite a loss last week, Coach Owens said the Wildcats did get better against North Forney and he added they got better still against Corsicana.
He said he was glad to have Senior Night. He said he knew his players would be super emotional and would play hard and he said the Wildcats needed that during these key zone games.
Coach Owens said the game could not have started any better. Corsicana fumbled on the opening kickoff and the Wildcats recovered at the Tigers’ 13 yard line. He said senior Chandler Johnson caused the fumble. When the Wildcats punched the ball into the end zone, Coach Owens said, his team was able to relax and get into a good rhythm.
Coach Owens said Corsicana’s second lost fumble occurred when a player went in motion and had the center snap hit him in the leg.
The Wildcats also had to overcome adversity to win. A Wildcats fourth and one play near the Tigers’ end zone was not converted and the Tigers’ then scored to tighten the game to 21-7. Still the Wildcats kept making plays to earn the win.
Coach Owens praised the defense for keeping the Tigers’ from making a long run. Meanwhile, the Wildcats used two long runs to score twice. Quarterback Kaden Wallace ran 58 yards and back Caden Davis went 68 yards. Coach Owens said Wallace had perhaps his best game running and throwing while remaining calm and playing with confidence.
Coach Owens said the offensive line did a good job protecting Wallace in the pocket. He said the wide receivers did a good job blocking and catching critical balls. Coach Owens praised the offensive line play of right tackle Sean Dial, right tackle Alfredo Olavide and left tackle Somjai Pryor.
On defense, the head coach mentioned safety Wylie Bennett, inside linebackers Wyatt Smithson and Ryan Carrillo, cornerback Kaden Eaton, defensive tackle Nick Cantillo and safety Korderrion “Bull” Turner, who Coach Owens said probably played his best game.
Now, comes zone game #3 with a playoff spot to the winner. The Wildcats travel to Greenville Friday night. Coach Owens noted that the teams always seem to meet with the playoffs on the line and that has caused a tremendous rivalry to develop.
Coach Owens said Greenville has great speed. He said the Wildcats have to try and bottle them up. He said the Lions work to get the ball in the hands of playmaker and wide receiver senior Miles Denson. He returned a Wildcats’ kickoff for a touchdown last year. He said colleges are also interested in senior receiver Caleb Johnson. Coach Owens said the veteran Lions’ quarterback senior Brandon Stephens is very athletic.
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.
Nov. 9 COVID-19 Update: 1 Fatality, 14 New Cases, 42 Recoveries, Antigen Tests
Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management officials for the second consecutive update reported COVID-19 recoveries outpaced new cases several times over on Monday. Officials in the Nov. 9 COVID-19 update also began weekly state reporting regarding antigen positive COVID-19 tests and cases.
There were 14 new positive COVID-19 cases, 10 more than were reported on Friday, but they do include any lab-confirmed molecular positive results HC/SSEM have been notified of since the Friday report. A total of 42 Hopkins County residents also were reported in the Nov. 6 COVID-19 update to have recovered from COVID-19 over the weekend. That’s three times as many recoveries as new cases on Monday, not as big a difference as on Friday, when 4 new cases and 21 recoveries were reported.
For the first 9 days of November, that’s 45 new cases and 82 recoveries. Not only is that nearly twice as many recoveries as new cases so far this month, but that’s also 6 fewer new cases and 42 more recoveries than during the first 9 days of October.
That reduced the overall active case count to 107, that’s the first time since Oct. 13 that the number of active cases lab-confirmed by molecular testing has been that low. Oct. 14 was close with 108 cases. Oct. 13 there were only 100 active cases, according to the daily updates provided by HC/SSEM.
Cumulatively, since March, 729 Hopkins County residents have received positive molecular COVID-19 test results, including 622 residents who have recovered from the novel coronavirus 2019.
Also, starting today, authorities provided Texas Department of Public Safety antigen “probable” and recovery figures.
“The state is not referring to these as positive cases but probable cases. This probable number only reflects Hopkins County residents and dates back to testing starting on June 23. The state is only reporting the antigen probables on Mondays and that is when we will provide them as well, instead of Fridays,” the Nov. 9 COVID-19 update from HC/SSEM stated.
According to the DSHS, Hopkins County has had 556 cumulative “probable” cases and 430 resulting in probable recoveries since the state began tracking antigen COVID testing results on June 23. That leaves 125 probable active cases, according to the HC/SSEM Nov. 9 COVID-19 update.
The COVID Unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital Sulphur Springs housed 14 patients, one less than on Friday and the same as on Nov. 3.
On Saturday, 137 COVID-19 tests were administered at the free testing site on Jefferson St. That’s 522 tests conducted at the site so far in November and a cumulative total of 2,915 tests since the free testing site opened on Sept. 25.
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. 9 COVID-19 update.
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.
The Nov. 9 COVID-19 update also reflects the DSHS COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard which shows 44 Hopkins County residents have been confirmed by cause of death certificates to have died from COVID-19. That includes one additional death reported by DSHS on Sunday, Nov. 8. The death, according to the Nov. 9 DSHS County Trends report occurred on Oct. 28, making 2 Hopkins County resident who died on that day and 25 COVID-19 fatalities reported to have occurred in October.
According to Texas Health and Human Services’ Nov. 9 nursing facility report, two additional residents of Carriage House Manor died between Oct. 23 and Oct. 26, for a total of 24 resident COVID-19 fatalities at the facility and 2 active resident COVID-19 cases. There continued to be one active employee case reported for the facility.
Sulphur Springs Health and Rehab reported 1 additional resident COVID-19 death, for a total of 3 resident fatalities at SSH&R as of Oct. 26, the most recent nursing facility data available from HHS on Nov. 9. SSH&R continued to have 8 active resident cases, which would indicate 1 additional resident had tested positive for COVID-19 between the Oct. 23 and Oct. 26 reports to the state. Eight additional SSH&R employees also tested positive for COVID-19, for a total of 9 active employee cases on Oct. 26, according to the HHS data.
Rock Creek Health & Rehab on Oct. 26 reported one additional resident had tested positive for COVID-19, making the second resident case reported at the facility since March, and the only active case at the facility, according to the Nov. 9 HHS report.
Sunny Springs Nursing & Rehabilitation reported 2 fewer active employee cases, reducing the count to 15. All 18 residents who were reported on Oct. 23 to actively have COVID-19 had recovered from the virus on Oct. 26, according to the HHS Nov. 9 nursing facility report.
There continued to be one active resident COVID-19 case at Wesley House on Oct. 26.
Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta Called Saturday Scrimmage A Good Experience For His Team
The Wildcats Basketball Team had a win, a loss and a tie at their first scrimmage on the season Saturday, November 7, at Irving MacArthur.
Coach Clark Cipoletta said the Wildcats came out on top against the host school, who he noted won the state championship in Class 5A in 2015. The Wildcats ended up tied with Class 6A playoff team Southlake Carroll. They came up short against a new school, Prosper Rock Hill. Coach Cipoletta said Rock Hill was loaded with a lot of good talent.
He said the scrimmage went really well for the Wildcats and he called it a really good experience for his mostly young team. Coach Cipoletta said only three of his players have a lot of varsity experience. He said he would have to be patient with this group. He said in the past several seasons, his teams have been experienced at the beginning of the season and were able to get better quicker. Coach Cipoletta said this year’s team could be just as talented as those past teams but, he said, they have to get used to the speed of varsity ball. He said when they do, the sky is the limit for them.
The Wildcats were without one of their most experienced players. Senior guard Boo Wilkerson was taking the SAT Test on Saturday. Coach Cipoletta said another veteran player, senior point guard Lamodrick Johnson, entered the scrimmage a little beat up. He said he has high expectations for the player he calls LJ and he added he knew Johnson would rise to the occasion.
Junior post Justin Haire was outstanding according to Coach Cip. He said he was also impressed with senior Malique Cole, a 6-foot-2 guard. Coach Cipoletta said Cole really held his own on defense. He also liked the way 6-foot junior guard Caleb Alexander handled the ball against pressure. 6-foot-7 sophomore post Kordrick Turner, a JV player last year, got to experience the much faster varsity game according to Coach Cipoletta.
He said these scrimmages also give younger players a chance to shine and earn his trust. That group includes Parker Whisenhunt, Cason Arrington and Jackson Darrow. Senior Jatavian Hall is also expected to compete for playing time.
The Wildcats will have their second and last scrimmage Wednesday. Wildcats Freshmen, JV and Varsity players will all be involved in scrimmage action at Frisco Lebanon Trail. Play gets under at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
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.
Two Lady Cats Basketball Home Games Are Canceled After Positive COVID-19 Test
Lady Cats Basketball Coach Brittney Tisdell said Monday, November 9, that the Lady Cats Varsity Basketball Team is quarantined for two weeks after a team member tested positive for coronavirus.
The Lady Cats next two homes games, against Mount Vernon Tuesday, November 10, and against Paris next Monday have been canceled. A home game last Friday against Sherman was also canceled last week when the entire Sherman team was quarantined due to the virus.
The next games on the schedule now for the Lady Cats are during the week of Thanksgiving. The Lady Cats are scheduled to play at Liberty-Eylau on Monday, November 23 and, then, at home against Mineola Tuesday, November 24.
Lady Cats and Wildcat Evan Patrick Compete at Regional Cross Country Meet Monday
The entire Lady Cats Cross Country Team and Wildcat Evan Patrick are taking part in the UIL Region II-5A Cross Country Championship on this game day Monday, November 9. The tough regional cross country competition is taking place at the Jesse Owens Sports Complex in Dallas.
The Lady Cats qualified for the regional event by winning the district championship in District 15-5A at Mount Pleasant on October 26. It is believed to be the first district championship for a Lady Cats Cross Country Team.
The Lady Cats team includes freshman Haylee Shultz, third in district, as well as sophomore Laney Hurst, fourth in district, senior Kenia Herrera, seventh in district, sophomore Mattie Bridges 10th in district sophomore Emily Soto, 13th in district, senior Maurie Flecker, 15th in district and sophomore Rebekah Stanley, 16th in district.
Wildcat Patrick, qualified for regional as an individual by finishing eighth at the district meet.
Emergency Management Officials Give Update On COVID-19 Reporting, Impact In Hopkins County
Hopkins County and Sulphur Springs Emergency Management officials, along with the Local Health Authority will soon be increasing the amount of COVID-19 data included in the COVID-19 reporting for Hopkins County. The county officials also gave a quick update on the COVID-19 situation in Hopkins County, and how it is impacting the community as a whole as well as emergency responders and law enforcement personnel.
Reporting Changes
In addition to daily updates, the county will also be sharing additional information Texas Department of State plans to begin providing on Mondays. This will include a more compete picture of positive antigen testing, identified in state reports as new probable cases, as well as recovery and active status of “probable” antigen cases, Local Health Authority Nurse Brynn Smith explained.
The local officials have for the last 2 months been providing positive antigen test results for Hopkins County residents tested by partnering healthcare facilities in Hopkins County. Those results have been reported weekly on Fridays.
The local emergency management officials will now report all positive antigen results for Hopkins County residents reported from facilities across the state or any other source reported to the the state. This can include individuals who are tested at facilities outside of Hopkins County.
That means the initial number of positive antigen results for Hopkins County residents will be significantly higher, because not only of the broader reach but because the cumulative antigen total includes all results since June 23.
Positive antigen cases in which patients fit priority demographics are being investigated by a state contractor. That means in some cases, the individuals have already been contacted by someone representing the state when Smith calls to for contact tracing purposes for other tests, according to Nurse Smith.
Smith said the numbers are “monumental” because they give a broader picture of COVID-19 in the Hopkins County community.
“We’ve been very limited to what our true probable numbers are. We are relying on transparency with testing entities so we are limited to probable positives,” Smith said, referring to facilities in Winnsboro and Paris where some Hopkins County residents are reported to have had antigen tests conducted.
“Probable is a really large number. We do not want to create unneeded panic, these are cumulative,” Nurse Smith said. “They are true positives in our county.”
COVID-19 in Hopkins County
The numbers daily numbers reported by HC/SSEM are the cases “confirmed” by molecular tests. Hopkins County has seen a spike in those case over the last 1 1/2 month.
Hopkins County Emergency Management officials reported the COVID-19 positivity rate is over 9 percent, about 2.15 percent less than the two biggest “hot spots” for the virus.
“It is scary right now. El Paso right now is on shutdown because of COVID. The Panhandle is also seeing significant spikes, so much so they are shipping patients out to other states and other hospitals. Our hospitals in our region are also getting fuller by the minute, so much so that we can’t take on extra patients from those regions,” Local Health Authority Nurse Brynn Smith said Monday.
The positivity rate for El Paso is about 15 percent, the Panhandle over 11 percent.
“We are only 2.15 percent away from the Panhandle’s positivity rate right now and its increasing, so we are starting to see that bulge,” Brynn Smith.
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom said he has heard nothing from the governor’s office and is unaware of any future mandates or restrictions for Hopkins County or the state at this time. The focus in Austin at this time, the judge said, seems to be on the election. There could be action at a later time, but currently, he is aware of no planned COVID related actions or restrictions from the state level.
He said if the latest reports that Joe Biden follows through on reports for a federal mask mandate, the county will follow federal law.
Brynn Smith said the only authority the LHA has is to say whether or not someone should be in quarantine.
She said that the cumulative COVID-19 molecular case count is over 700 for Hopkins County. She emphasized the need to continue practicing social distancing and wearing face masks to try to help slow the continued spread of the virus in Hopkins County.
“It is so wide-spread that, yes, we have certain entities named as hot spots, but there is not a place that hasn’t been affected,” the LHA nurse said.
She said one way the virus can continue to be spread is through individuals who are asymptomatic, those who have symptoms of allergies or sinuses, who keep working even when presenting symptoms of illness, and don’t get tested.
“You can’t help spread a virus that you don’t know you have. It is being spread. It’s everywhere, every age group, schools businesses, every entity is affected,” Smith said.
“It is a significant of an amount that people will be concerned and rightfully so. I think it’s going to show what we’ve been emphasizing on how many true positives there are in our county,” the LHA nurse said.
Smith encourages those who are in public to wear masks and social distance, especially in places of work, anywhere they will be around others for a total of 15 minutes. That recommendation includes servers at restaurants that offer outdoors dining, who visit for 5 minutes at a time to take an order, serve or check on their customers and at the end of the meal.
When asked about the absence of elected officials and employees at the courthouse, county officials cited HIPPA for not commenting on any potential COVID cases among county employess.
Hopkins County Fire Chief Andy Endsley said the courthouse is cleaned every Saturday. It was sanitized four times last week — before, during and after the election, as well as on Saturday. The disinfectant is supposed to be good for 45 days once applied, but Endsley said the county firefighters on Saturdays “go the extra mile” weekly to disinfect the courthouse from top to bottom.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office personnel disinfect Hopkins County Law Enforcement Center, which houses the sheriff’s offices and jail, as well as the District Court and other District offices in the Rosemont Street complex.
Extra fire department staff are called in if the department does not have a full crew to staff the extra Saturday cleaning work. They also disinfect the fire station, which includes the TRAX bus service and south side EMS, as well as the Hopkins County Annex Building and County Clerk/Attorney’s buildings.
Hopkins County Civic Center staff perform their own disinfecting, on an almost daily basis, Endsley noted.
Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County firefighters have worked with local nursing homes. The city fire chief has assisted one facility with a decontamination area. DSHS has a department specifically dedicated to long term care facilities.
“We do what we an from the local end. I feel the situation is improving,” LHA Nurse Smith said.
Emergency Response
When asked whether first responders and law enforcement have tested positive for COVID-19, Brynn Smith replied yes, and emphasized that there hasn’t been any place or entity that hasn’t been affected by COVID-19.
Endsley said the county has had a few emergency responders who have remained off duty until they tested negative for COVID-19, but it has not caused any staffing issues for the county.
Sulphur Springs Police Chief/Emergency Management Coordinator Jason Ricketson said COVID is not currently affecting any city emergency responders and there are no shortage issues at this time.
Hopkins County EMS Director of Services Brent Smith said the EMS service has had a couple of COVID-19 cases, and others who have quarantined, which can present a staffing challenge, but has not caused any response issues.
“We have been dealing with this since March. It was inevitable,” Brent Smith said. “We are fortunate to make it until November until we had a positive case.”
Smith said the EMS staff mitigate as appropriate, decontaminating the ambulance and station daily, often multiple times a day to reduce risk of contamination and spread of the virus.
The EMS director said transport volumes related to COVID-19 have been relatively level the past couple of weeks. There have not been a tremendous amount of COVID calls. The hospital is keeping many patients who do come in, with primarily only the patients who need care for more complicated cases being transferred to other facilities.
Part-Time Employee Approved To Assist Judge’s Office With Extra Duties Due to COVID, Indigent Defense
A part-time employee was approved to assist the 8th Judicial District Judge’s office with extra duties due to COVID-19 and indigent defense. Hopkins County Commissioners Court approved the request to be allowed to employee additional staff and a budget amendment to cover the cost.
Hopkins County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook presented the request on behalf of 8th Judicial District Eddie Northcutt, who was unable to attend because he was overseeing jury selection for a trial slated to begin Tuesday at Hopkins County Civic Center.
Indigent defense costs and additional work required for COVID-19 measures required for court operations were cited as reasons for he request.
Coordinating indigent defense attorneys, scheduling and coordinating Zoom meetings with attorneys, defendants and the court have become necessary as fewer people are allowed to be in the district courtroom at a given time due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Previously, the court could set a heavy docket, then work all day and sometimes into the evening with a full courtroom to get through all of the cases. Now, due to COVID-19 restrictions and the size of the can be scheduled on a docket at a time, Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom noted during the Nov. 9 Commissioners Court session.
The extra work has been especially taxing on Northcutt’s court coordinator, who Aulsbrook noted for the last 3 weeks has still been at work when she left at 6 p.m.
She said e-filing has added additional work for the court as well. There are more documents the court coordinators is having to scan and upload into the system that she previously has not been responsible for.
Newsom said Northcutt requested funding to help with the increased work load, then for the court to consider potential long term funding for the position in the summer during the next budget cycle. Giving the district judge a part-time person should help move dockets more quickly, which in turn would help out at the jail.
Sheriff Lewis Tatum noted that there are 40-50 inmates in custody waiting for a court date on motions to revoke probation. These defendants cannot be released on personal recognizance or probation, but are required to go before a judge for disposition. An extra person who could help with the work in the judge’s office could allow more people to come before the judge quicker.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley asked if there was any CARES funding currently available to help with costs related to the extra work due to COVID-19.
Aulsbook said funding for the position will need to come out of general or contingency funds. However, there is a possibility that the county could receive some reimbursement for some of that amount from an indigent defense grant the county is applying for. The county paid out over $100,000 last year for indigent defense, and received $32,000 from the grant, officials noted. Aulsbrook said when she was filling out the application, it did ask questions that could result in additional funding due to COVID.
Currently, the CARES Act funding the county has qualified for is already spoke for. However, if any additional federal funding related to COVID-19 becomes available which the county and court are eligible to apply for, the funding would be sought.
Newsom proposed, on a temporary basis, the hiring of an additional employee for the 8th Judicial District Judge’s Office, for up to 30 hours a week. That would mean the individual would only be part-time and so the individual would not be eligible to apply for certain county benefits afforded to full-time employees.
The Commissioners Court, comprised of Newsom, Bartley and Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Anglin as Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker and Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price were both absent for the meeting, approved the additional part-time employee as proposed.
Endsley Appointed County Fire Marshal, Homeland Security Director
Dec. 1 Is Deadline for Volunteer Fire Departments To Return Agreements To The County
Hopkins County Commissioners Court approved a number of items during the regular 9 a.m. session Monday. A deadline for volunteer fire departments to return signed contracts, appointed a county fire marshal and homeland security director, an agreement with the hospital for reimbursement of the Local Health Authority Nurse’s pay and an increase in indigent cremation fees were also approved at the Nov. 9 meeting.
The court proceeded with just 3 members on Monday, as both Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker and Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price were both out. The county judge also noted that his administrative assistant has been out for the last week as well.
Indigent Cremation
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom proposed increasing the amount paid to a local business that performs cremation for the county.
Newsom explained that for many years, dating back longer than his time as county judge, the county has paid $500 to the business for cremation when a Hopkins County resident dies in the county and has left no resources for burial, and who either have no family or whose family is unable to afford the cost to bury the deceased.
Typically, the business charges individuals and families who seek the crematory services far more. The business asked for an increase in the amount the county pay to reimburse their fees.
“This is a necessity, one of the things we do as a county,” Newsom said, when making the motion that the amount paid to the business be increased from $500 to $700. The motion was seconded by Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Anglin. Wade Bartley also voted in favor of the increase, passing the matter unanimously by the three court officials present.
Fire Department Changes
The Commissioners Court approved requests for Hopkins County Fire Chief Andy Endsley to be appointed as County Fire Marshal, Emergency Management Coordinator and director of Homeland Security for Hopkins County.
Endsley explained that when HCFD was established 21 years ago, the department started not with a chief but a fire administrator. That carried over into the second top HCFD official’s time in office, then was changed to fire chief. At that time, the department had a part-time fire marshal, a position most recently held by Mike Matthews, who was officially appointed fire marshal in a full time capacity in June.
Endsley said county officials previously thought the fire marshal had to be triple certified, in firefighting, emergency medical services and law enforcement. However, it was learned that does not necessarily have to be the case.
After study of administrative laws, Endsley reported, having him appointed as fire marshal would actually be beneficially to the county. The marshal would just need to be appointed and bonded. He said he would still be doing the same jobs he’s been doing. Having the titles will fit better with the administrative code and laws.
Newsom noted the Hopkins is one of only about 5 counties in the state that have a county fire department. Most of the rest of the state rely on city and volunteer departments. Instead of requesting a change or exception to the statutes, the county opted to make the change to better fit current statutes. While the county judge typically is the emergency management officials, Newsom appointed Endsley to serve as coordinator and director of homeland security for the county.
The oath of office as county marshal was issued to Endsley, who heads the fire department, which oversees all three operations. He signed the required paperwork after the meeting as well.
The court then approved Matthews’ appointment as assistant fire marshal, assistant emergency management coordinator and homeland security marshal for Hopkins County. Matthews was not present for the meeting, but the judge noted, but would not be required to we re-sworn in and thus, did not have to be at the meeting.
VFD Contracts
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley asked that the court set Dec. 1, 2020 as the deadline for volunteer fire departments to sign and return agreements with the county for the 2020-21 operating year. Bartley noted that while some have gotten their agreements in promptly in the past others have lagged in the length of time before returning the annual agreements.
Having those in by a certain day will help with recordkeeping and other business purposes. For instance, if a department does not have an agreement with the county they could be denied insurance, or if the VFD doesn’t have one and tries to file an insurance claim, it could be denied due to lack of contract with the county for services.
The court approved Dec. 1, 2020 as the deadline for department to get their agreements with the county in. This allows the VFDs as contractors under the county to be dispatched and respond to calls and receive benefits such reimbursement for vehicle insurance and fuel costs, providing workers compensation if a VFD member is injured on a call and monthly stipends.
Newsom said so far he has received only 1 contract that has been signed and submitted for court approval. Dike VFD’s agreement was approved during Nov. 9 session as well.
Budget Amendment
Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook asked the court to consider approving a budget amendment which would put $20,976.50 into Precinct 2’s road building fund. The amount was received from the City of Como as reimbursement for repairs made by a Precinct 2 crew on McBride Street. The court approved the budget amendment.
CHRISTUS Agreement
The court was asked to approve an interlocal agreement with CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital.
Essentially, Endsley explained, the agreement allows for reimbursement of all or part of the salary for the Local Health Authority nurse, who was brought on in the spring to assist Dr. IL Balkcum with contact tracing, answering questions from county officials and residents related to COVID-19, and obtaining information that is needed that only they have access to due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
The LHA nurse was already in the payroll system at CMFHSS, so the hospital has been paying her check. This would allow for some reimbursement of of pay as the LHA nurse, Endsley noted.
“They can’t pay her without this. It needs to be retroactive,” Aulsbrook noted.
The agreement received approval of the three members of the court present at the Nov. 9 meeting.
