TxDOT to Help Parents as Agency Reports Most Car Seats Are Used Incorrectly
| TxDOT now providing free virtual car seat inspections that are COVID-19 safe | NEWS RELEASE [email protected] (512) 463-8700  Share This  Tweet This  Download Video Download Interviews |
| Sept. 18, 2020 AUSTIN – Texans may think they know how to correctly install and use their children’s car seats, but nearly 60 percent of the time they’re used incorrectly. That’s why TxDOT is helping drivers keep their children safe on the road. TxDOT’s annual “Save Me With a Seat” campaign is hitting Texas airways and roadways as the nation recognizes National Child Passenger Safety week from Sept. 20-26. The campaign highlights the fact that an alarming number of car seats are being installed and used incorrectly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 59% of all child car seats are being misused. This is even more alarming given that vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among children in the nation. “When child car seats are installed correctly they keep children as safe as possible during a crash,” TxDOT Executive Director James Bass said. “We urge parents and caregivers to ensure they are securing their children properly in a vehicle and using the appropriate child car seat for their child’s age and size.” TxDOT is continuing its free safety seat inspections throughout the year, but this year they’ve gone virtual. Starting this month, we will be rolling out virtual car seat checks to enable us to maintain the same level of service and provide education to families while following social distancing guidelines due to COVID-19. For a one-on-one TxDOT virtual car seat check, families can visit SaveMeWithaSeat.org and enter their zip code to email the nearest TxDOT Traffic Safety Specialist to set up an appointment. Families will need a mobile electronic device with video and audio capabilities, like a cellphone, laptop or tablet. Parents and caregivers can also learn if a child should be in a rear-facing car seat, a forward-facing car seat or a booster seat, and get other car seat safety tips by visiting the website. This year’s “Save Me With a Seat” campaign features a branded truck that will traverse Texas, covering more than 3,000 miles and visiting six cities to bring the car seat safety message to communities across the state. The truck will be a no-contact experience with the driver utilizing COVID-19 safety precautions including a mask and gloves. The awareness effort will be supported by radio ads, billboards, digital media and social media. In 2019, 77 children younger than 8 years old died in traffic crashes in Texas, and 26 of those were unrestrained at the time of the crash. Among children ages 8-12 in 2019, 42 died in traffic crashes, with 18 of them unrestrained at the time of the crash. According to NHTSA, child car seats in passenger vehicles can reduce the risk of fatal injury in a crash by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers. TxDOT reminds drivers that Texas law requires all children under 8 — unless they are taller than 4 feet, 9 inches — to be in a car seat whenever they ride in a passenger vehicle. Failure to properly restrain a child can result in a ticket of up to $250. Children under age 13 should ride in the back seat, properly secured in a seat belt or safety seat. “Save Me With a Seat” is a key component of #EndTheStreakTX, a broader social media and word-of-mouth effort that encourages drivers to make safer choices while behind the wheel, like wearing a seat belt, driving the speed limit, never texting and driving and never driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Nov. 7, 2000 was the last deathless day on Texas roadways. #EndTheStreakTX asks all Texans to commit to driving safely to help end the streak of daily deaths. For media inquiries, contact TxDOT Media Relations at [email protected] or (512) 463-8700. The information contained in this report represents reportable data collected from the Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3). This information was received and processed by the department as of June 25, 2020. ### |
Volleyball and Cross Country Are on Tap on This Game Day Friday
On this game day Friday (September 18), there is Lady Cats Volleyball and Wildcats and Lady Cats Cross Country on the schedule.
The Lady Cats Volleyball Team, 0-1 for the season, plays their second match, again on the road. The Lady Cats are at Frisco Heritage, coached by Jeni Maxton, the cousin of Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Bailey Dorner. There will be Freshmen and JV games at 5:30 p.m. Friday with and the Varsity match following at 6:30 p.m.
Meanwhile the Wildcats and Lady Cats Cross Country Teams are having their second meet of the season on this game day Friday. They will compete at the Pine Tree Puddle Jump at Lear Park in Longview.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens Said He Saw Good and Bad During Thursday Scrimmage
The good, the bad and the ugly. That’s how Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens described the Wildcats scrimmage with Mount Pleasant Thursday night (September 17) at Gerald Prim Stadium. The two teams tied 14-14 in the scrimmage, which went 3-quarters with controlled kicking situations. He said it was about what he expected from a scrimmage where his team was seeing someone for the first time. It was live action and he said everyone got a little juiced up. Coach Owens said after he’s able to look at tape of the scrimmage, he would find that it’s never as bad as you thought nor as good as you thought. It’s somewhere in between. He said the Wildcats’ offense just needs to fix a few little things so they would be clicking. He said he was happy with how they moved the ball. Coach Owens said the Wildcats’ defense started slowly but then picked up the pace, got their motor running, and figured out what Mount Pleasant was doing. He said it took some time to get used to the Tigers’ speed on the edge. He said the defense also had to get used to some option plays from the Mount Pleasant offense. Coach Owens said he wasn’t sure what to make of a personal foul and a couple of pass interference flags called on the Wildcats. He said overall the scrimmage was good and he said it was good to be playing someone else. Coach Owens, putting on his Athletic Director hat, said he wanted to visit with Superintendent Michael Lamb on how the ticket process worked for the scrimmage. He said the videotape of the game would be very valuable as his coaching staff breaks it down and to show to the players so the kids know what to improve on. Coach Owens said he and his staff would be able to scout game one opponent, Frisco Wakeland, without leaving town. The Wolverines are coming to The Prim for a Friday evening scrimmage against Marshall. The Wildcats open the regular season next Friday at 7:30 p.m. against Wakeland at Toyota Stadium in Frisco.
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.
HCSO: Wilmer Man Caught In Hopkins County With Gun Stolen From Denton
A 22-year-old Wilmer man was caught in Hopkins County with a gun stolen from Denton, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Thomas Patterson reported stopping a 2013 Mercedes C250 at 7:20 p.m. Sept. 17, 2020 on Interstate 30 east at mile marker 136 for traveling in the left lane, disregarding a traffic control device.
During the course of the traffic stop, Patterson conducted a search of the vehicle. The deputy reported finding a black handgun that a records check showed had been reported to Denton authorities as stolen. Consequently, the driver, 22-year-old Jerry Dwayne Cohns of Wilmer was arrested for theft of a firearm, according to arrest reports.
Cohns remained in Hopkins county jail late Friday morning, Sept. 18, in lieu of $5,000 on the felony theft of firearm charge, according to jail reports.
Man Accused Of Drunk Driving During Crash On Hillcrest Drive Overpass
A 66-year-old Sulphur Springs man was accused of drunk driving during a crash on the Hillcrest Drive overpass early Friday morning, sheriff’s deputies alleged in arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Aaron Chaney reported seeing as southbound black Ford F-150 pickup drive straight from the right turn lane on the Hillcrest Drive overpass and collide with the concrete lane separator at 12:05 a.m. Sept. 18. Chaney alleged the vehicle became “slightly airborne, clearing the concrete barrier and deflating the passenger’s side tires” on the truck.
Chaney reported attempting a traffic stop. The truck was reportedly driven into a travel center parking lot on the west side of the Hillcrest Drive.
The man, upon stopping, “immediately jumped out of the truck to observe the damage” cause to his vehicle during the crash on the Hillcrest Drive overpass. He also allegedly walked “as if his feet were heavy and almost fell down upon exiting the vehicle,” Chaney noted in arrest reports. When asked the man admitted to having a 9mm pistol on his hip. Chaney disarmed him and secured the firearm.
When asked if he had consumed alcoholic beverages, he man allegedly admitted to consuming 4-5 beers. He allegedly exhibited 6 clues of intoxication on horizontal gaze nystagmus tests and five clues of intoxication on one standard field sobriety test. He then refused to perform any other standard sobriety test, Chaney alleged in arrest reports.
A records check reportedly showed three prior driving under the influence convictions in Georgia for the 66-year-old man. Consequently, Roy Stephen Dyer was arrested at 12:19 a.m. Sept. 18 for third or more driving while intoxicated offense and unlawful carrying of a weapon, according to arrest reports.
HCSO Deputy Bobby Osornio arrived to assist in inventorying the man’s vehicle prior to impound.
Dyer reportedly agreed to a blood draw, which was taken at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital. The man was then transported to the county jail, where he was booked at 3:38 a.m. Sept.18 on the felony DWI and weapon charge.
Dyer remained in Hopkins County jail late Friday morning. Bond was set at $10,000 on the DWI charge and $2,000 on the weapon charge, according to jail reports.
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.
