CDC Study: Evidence for Effectiveness of Wearing Cloth Face Coverings
This CDC study, ‘Considerations for Wearing Cloth Face Coverings” came out June 28, 2020. We are reprinting it here for the benefit of KSST website readers in hopes that everyone, even those who were hesitant to wear face masks at first, will now do so when in public.
- CDC recommends that people wear cloth face coverings in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
- Cloth face coverings may help prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to others.
- Cloth face coverings are most likely to reduce the spread of COVID-19 when they are widely used by people in public settings.
- Cloth face coverings should NOT be worn by children under the age of 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
Evidence for Effectiveness of Cloth Face Coverings
Cloth face coverings are recommended as a simple barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air and onto other people when the person wearing the cloth face covering coughs, sneezes, talks, or raises their voice. This is called source control. This recommendation is based on what we know about the role respiratory droplets play in the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, paired with emerging evidence from clinical and laboratory studies that shows cloth face coverings reduce the spray of droplets when worn over the nose and mouth. COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet), so the use of cloth face coverings is particularly important in settings where people are close to each other or where social distancing is difficult to maintain.
Who Should Wear A Cloth Face Covering?
General public
- CDC recommends all people 2 years of age and older wear a cloth face covering in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
- COVID-19 can be spread by people who do not have symptoms and do not know that they are infected. That’s why it’s important for everyone to wear cloth face coverings in public settings and practice social distancing (staying at least 6 feet away from other people).
- While cloth face coverings are strongly encouraged to reduce the spread of COVID-19, CDC recognizes there are specific instances when wearing a cloth face covering may not be feasible. In these instances, adaptations and alternatives should be considered whenever possible (see below for examples).
People who know or think they might have COVID-19
- If you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might have COVID-19, do not visit public areas. Stay home except to get medical care. As much as possible stay in a specific room and away from other people and pets in your home. If you need to be around other people or animals, wear a cloth face covering (including in your home).
- The cloth face covering helps prevent a person who is sick from spreading the virus to others. It helps keep respiratory droplets contained and from reaching other people.
Caregivers of people with COVID-19
- Those caring for someone who is sick with COVID-19 at home or in a non-healthcare setting may also wear a cloth face covering. However, the protective effects—how well the cloth face covering protects healthy people from breathing in the virus—are unknown. To prevent getting sick, caregivers should also continue to practice everyday preventive actions: avoid close contact as much as possible, clean hands often; avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands; and frequently clean and disinfect surfaces.
Who Should Not Wear a Cloth Face Covering
Cloth face coverings should not be worn by:
- Children younger than 2 years old
- Anyone who has trouble breathing
- Anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance
Feasibility and Adaptations
CDC recognizes that wearing cloth face coverings may not be possible in every situation or for some people. In some situations, wearing a cloth face covering may exacerbate a physical or mental health condition, lead to a medical emergency, or introduce significant safety concerns. Adaptations and alternatives should be considered whenever possible to increase the feasibility of wearing a cloth face covering or to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading if it is not possible to wear one.
For example,
- People who are deaf or hard of hearing—or those who care for or interact with a person who is hearing impaired—may be unable to wear cloth face coverings if they rely on lipreading to communicate. In this situation, consider using a clear face covering. If a clear face covering isn’t available, consider whether you can use written communication, use closed captioning, or decrease background noise to make communication possible while wearing a cloth face covering that blocks your lips.
- Some people, such as people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health conditions or other sensory sensitivities, may have challenges wearing a cloth face covering. They should consult with their healthcare provider for advice about wearing cloth face coverings.
- Younger children (e.g., preschool or early elementary aged) may be unable to wear a cloth face covering properly, particularly for an extended period of time. Wearing of cloth face coverings may be prioritized at times when it is difficult to maintain a distance of 6 feet from others (e.g., during carpool drop off or pick up, or when standing in line at school). Ensuring proper cloth face covering size and fit and providing children with frequent reminders and education on the importance and proper wear of cloth face coverings may help address these issues.
- People should not wear cloth face coverings while engaged in activities that may cause the cloth face covering to become wet, like when swimming at the beach or pool. A wet cloth face covering may make it difficult to breathe. For activities like swimming, it is particularly important to maintain physical distance from others when in the water.
- People who are engaged in high intensity activities, like running, may not be able to wear a cloth face covering if it causes difficulty breathing. If unable to wear a cloth face covering, consider conducting the activity in a location with greater ventilation and air exchange (for instance, outdoors versus indoors) and where it is possible to maintain physical distance from others.
- People who work in a setting where cloth face coverings may increase the risk of heat-related illness or cause safety concerns due to introduction of a hazard (for instance, straps getting caught in machinery) may consult with an occupational safety and health professional to determine the appropriate face covering for their setting. Outdoor workers may prioritize use of cloth face coverings when in close contact with other people, like during group travel or shift meetings, and remove face coverings when social distancing is possible. Find more information here and below.
Cloth face coverings are a critical preventive measure and are most essential in times when social distancing is difficult. If cloth face coverings cannot be used, make sure to take other measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread, including social distancing, frequent hand washing, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.
Face Shields
It is not known if face shields provide any benefit as source control to protect others from the spray of respiratory particles. CDC does not recommend use of face shields for normal everyday activities or as a substitute for cloth face coverings. Some people may choose to use a face shield when sustained close contact with other people is expected. If face shields are used without a mask, they should wrap around the sides of the wearer’s face and extend to below the chin. Disposable face shields should only be worn for a single use. Reusable face shields should be cleaned and disinfected after each use. Plastic face shields for newborns and infants are NOT recommended.
Surgical Masks
Cloth face coverings are not surgical masks or respirators. Currently, those are critical supplies that should continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance. Cloth face coverings also are not appropriate substitutes for them in workplaces where masks or respirators are recommended or required and available.
Recent Studies:
- Rothe C, Schunk M, Sothmann P, et al. Transmission of 2019-nCoV Infection from an Asymptomatic Contact in Germany. The New England journal of medicine. 2020;382(10):970-971. PMID: 32003551external icon
- Zou L, Ruan F, Huang M, et al. SARS-CoV-2 Viral Load in Upper Respiratory Specimens of Infected Patients. The New England journal of medicine. 2020;382(12):1177-1179. PMID: 32074444external icon
- Pan X, Chen D, Xia Y, et al. Asymptomatic cases in a family cluster with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The Lancet Infectious diseases. 2020. PMID: 32087116external icon
- Bai Y, Yao L, Wei T, et al. Presumed Asymptomatic Carrier Transmission of COVID-19. Jama. 2020. PMID: 32083643external icon
- Kimball A HK, Arons M, et al. Asymptomatic and Presymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Residents of a Long-Term Care Skilled Nursing Facility — King County, Washington, March 2020. MMWR Morbidity and mortality weekly report. 2020; ePub: 27 March 2020. PMID: 32240128external icon
- Wei WE LZ, Chiew CJ, Yong SE, Toh MP, Lee VJ. Presymptomatic Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 — Singapore, January 23–March 16, 2020. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2020;ePub: 1 April 2020. PMID: 32271722external icon
- Li R, Pei S, Chen B, et al. Substantial undocumented infection facilitates the rapid dissemination of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV2). Science (New York, NY). 2020. PMID: 32179701external icon
- Furukawa NW, Brooks JT, Sobel J. Evidence Supporting Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 While Presymptomatic or Asymptomatic [published online ahead of print, 2020 May 4]. Emerg Infect Dis. 2020;26(7):10.3201/eid2607.201595. Link
- Oran DP, Topol Prevalence of Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Narrative Review [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jun 3]. Ann Intern Med. 2020;M20-3012. PMID: 32491919external icon
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Rapid Expert Consultation on the Possibility of Bioaerosol Spread of SARS-CoV-2 for the COVID-19 Pandemic (April 1, 2020). Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25769external icon.
- Schwartz KL, Murti M, Finkelstein M, et al. Lack of COVID-19 transmission on an international flight. CMAJ. 2020;192(15):E410. PMID: 32392504external icon
- Anfinrud P, Stadnytskyi V, Bax CE, Bax A. Visualizing Speech-Generated Oral Fluid Droplets with Laser Light Scattering. N Engl J Med. 2020 Apr 15. doi:10.1056/NEJMc2007800. PMID: 32294341external icon
- Davies A, Thompson KA, Giri K, Kafatos G, Walker J, Bennett A. Testing the efficacy of homemade masks: would they protect in an influenza pandemic? Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2013;7(4):413-8. PMID: 24229526external icon
- Konda A, Prakash A, Moss GA, Schmoldt M, Grant GD, Guha S. Aerosol Filtration Efficiency of Common Fabrics Used in Respiratory Cloth Masks. ACS Nano. 2020 Apr 24. PMID: 32329337external icon
- Aydin O, Emon B, Saif MTA. Performance of fabrics for home-made masks against spread of respiratory infection through droplets: a quantitative mechanistic study. medRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.19.20071779, posted April 24, 2020.
- Ma QX, Shan H, Zhang HL, Li GM, Yang RM, Chen JM. Potential utilities of mask-wearing and instant hand hygiene for fighting SARS-CoV-2. J Med Virol. 2020. PMID: 32232986external icon
- Leung, N.H.L., Chu, D.K.W., Shiu, E.Y.C. et al.Respiratory virus shedding in exhaled breath and efficacy of face masks. Nat Med. 2020. PMID: 32371934external icon
- Johnson DF, Druce JD, Birch C, Grayson ML. A quantitative assessment of the efficacy of surgical and N95 masks to filter influenza virus in patients with acute influenza infection. Clin Infect Dis. 2009 Jul 15;49(2):275-7. PMID: 19522650external icon
- Green CF, Davidson CS, Panlilio AL, et al. Effectiveness of selected surgical masks in arresting vegetative cells and endospores when worn by simulated contagious patients. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2012;33(5):487‐494. PMID: 22476275external icon
COVID-19 Update: 2 New Cases Reported July 12 For Hopkins County
The Hopkins County Emergency Management Team at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 12, gave a brief COVID-19 update. The officials reported they have been notified of 2 new positive COVID-19 cases for Hopkins County.
That brings the total of positive COVID-19 cases reported since March for Hopkins County to 86. So far, 51 Hopkins County patients have recovered from COVID-19. That leaves 35 active cases of COVID-19 for Hopkins County.
Both patients that were in the COVID-19 unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs earlier in the week have been discharged. There are currently no patients in the COVID-19 unit at the hospital.
Sulphur Springs Emergency Management Coordinator/Police Chief Jason Ricketson said local officials have not been notified of any COVID-19 deaths for Hopkins County. HCEMT has seen the Texas Department of State Health Services website which shows one COVID-19 fatality for Hopkins County on its COVID-19 dashboard, and have been in contact with state officials about the report.
SSISD Superintendent To Report On Back-To-School Options For Fall 2020
Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees have a full agenda Monday night. SSISD Superintendent Michael Lamb is expected to report on back-to-school options for fall 2020 during Monday night’s regular July school board meeting. While several items being presented for discussion and approval by the school board are routine for this time of year, some vary this year due to and others items are presented as a result of COVID-19.
In addition to his report on back-to-school options, Lamb is also scheduled to present on behalf of SSISD Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams a review of the employee handbook, an application to be sent to Texas Education Agency for a Reading Diagnostic Instrument Waiver, final District of Innovation Plan, change to local board policy CRD(LOCAL) regarding Group Health Benefits, the 2020-2021 Student Code of Conduct.
Lamb is also slated to ask the board to consider approving an application to be sent to TEA for a “COVID At Risk of Passing Notification Waiver.”
Also to be discussed and submitted for board consideration is a 2020 Engagement Agreement for attorneys and school financial consultants to assist SSISD in the annual compliance reporting and maintenance of existing Appraised Value Limitation Agreements under Chapter 313 of the Texas Tax Code. This would allow Powell Youngblood & Taylor LP to continue representing the district in figuring these matters related to Solemo LLC and Hopkins Energy LLC solar projects.
SSISD Business Manager Sherry McGraw is slated to address the board regarding student accident insurance coverage for the 2020-2021 school year and present information for budget amendments for the period of September 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. A budget work session is also slated during the 6 p.m. board meeting.
Trustees will be asked to select a delegate and alternate for the 2020 Texas
Association of School Boards Delegate Assembly scheduled Saturday, Oct. 3, in Dallas, Texas.
The school board also is scheduled to hold an executive session to discuss any personnel or real property matters which fall under Title 5, Chapter 551, of Texas Government Code, Section (.072), (.074), that have been presented for discussion or consideration. The board would then reconvene in open session to take any action that might be needed related to those items.
SSISD Trustees held special meeting July 8 in which trustees spent 2 hours in executive session to discuss a Title 5, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, Section (.074). matters. This can include deliberation of an appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline or dismissal of a public officer or employee; or to hear a complaint or charge against an officer or employees. The July 8 meeting adjourned without any action taken.
The July 13 meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the Board Room of SSISD Administration Building, 631 Connally St.
Election Day Is Tuesday, July 14, In Party Primary Runoffs
Election Day is Tuesday, July 14, in Republican and Democratic Party Primary Runoff Elections. Already 1,525 of the 23,351 registered voters in Hopkins County took advantage of the early voting period to cast their choices in Democratic and Republican runoffs.
Early Voting
That’s 6.53 percent of registered voters in Hopkins County casting ballots during the early voting period either in person at the polling center or by mail-in ballot, according to county election information reported to Texas Secretary of State’s Office.
In the Republican Party runoff, 1,209 ballots were cast, 1,099 in person and 110 by mail. That accounts for 5.18 percent of the total ballots cast when early voting ended on July 10.
Overall, 316 ballots had been cast in the Democratic runoffs in Hopkins County when early voting concluded on July 10, accounting for another 1.35 cumulative percent of early voting. That’s 151 votes cast by personal appearance ad 165 mail ballots, according to data supplied to the Secretary of State’s Office.
On The Ballot
The two runoffs on the Hopkins County Democratic primary runoff ballot are between Roberto R. “Beto” Alonzo or Chrysta Castañeda for Texas Railroad Commissioner and Royce West and Mary “MJ” Hegar for United States Senator.
The winner of the Democratic nomination for Railroad Commissioner will face Republican James “Jim” Wright on the ballot in November. The Democratic candidate winning the US Senator nomination will face incumbent John Cornyn on the November election ballot.
The Hopkins County Republican ballot features only one runoff, between incumbent Dan Flynn and challenger Bryan Slaton for State Representative District 2. The winner of the Republican nomination for District 2 State Representative will face Democrat Bill Brannon in the General Election in November.
Election Day Voting
The polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Election Day, Tuesday, July 14, at the four consolidated voting centers. Registered Hopkins County voters who have yet to cast ballots in either the Republican or Democratic runoffs may vote at any of the four voting centers:
- Our Savior Lutheran Church, 100 Texas St., Sulphur Springs;
- Morning Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 208 Fuller St., Sulphur Springs;
- Hopkins County Courthouse, 118 Church St., Sulphur Springs; and
- League Street Church of Christ, 1100 South League Street, Sulphur Springs.
Voters will be required to present any 1 of the 7 approved forms of photo ID to election officials at the voting center. Acceptable forms of ID include:
- Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (License is not required to be REAL ID compliant),
- Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS,
- Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS,
- Texas Handgun License issued by DPS,
- United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph,
- United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph, and
- United States Passport (book or card).
Voters who do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of the approved photo IDs may execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration form, available to them at each polling location, and provide a supporting form of identification.
With the exception of the U.S. Citizenship Certificate, which does not expire, the acceptable photo ID must be current or, for voters aged 18-69, have expired no more than 4 years before being presented for voter qualification at the polling place. A voter 70 years of age or older may use a form of acceptable photo ID listed above that has expired for any length of time if the identification is otherwise valid.
Those completing a Reasonable Impediment Declaration form will be required to present an original copy or 1 of the following supporting forms of identification:
- a government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, including the voter’s voter registration certificate
- a current utility bill
- a bank statement
- a government check
- a paycheck
- a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate
- a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document)
The address on an acceptable form of photo ID or a supporting form of ID, if applicable, does not have to match the voter’s address on the list of registered voters, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
For more information on voting in Texas, visit www.votetexas.gov.
July 13-17 Meal A Day Menu
While the Senior Citizens Center remains temporarily closed due to COVID-19, the dedicated Meal A Day volunteers continue to work five days a week preparing and delivering meals to shut-in elderly in the community. The July 13-17 Meal A Day menu for includes:
Monday – BBQ Chicken Legs and Wings, Scalloped Potatoes, Normandy Vegetables and a Roll
Tuesday – Beef Patty, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans and a Roll
Wednesday – Chicken Spaghetti, English Peas and Garlic Toast
Thursday – Corny Dogs, Cole Slaw and Baked Beans
Friday – Poppy Seed Chicken Over a Bed of Rice, California Blend Vegetables and a Roll
The Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center is a place where Senior Citizens age 50 and over can have a good time with old friends and make some new ones. Meal-A-Day is just one service the center provides. The coffee pot is always on and a smile is on each face. The SCC has a full library with all different kinds of reading books that can be taken, read and returned. Take as many as you like and bring some of your books in to share with others. Click here to find more information for seniors citizens.
Paris District Road Report for the Week of July 13, 2020
Paris — Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the week of July 13, 2020. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Motorists are advised to remain alert and pay special attention to all signs, barricades and traffic controls, and reduce their speed as they approach and travel through work zones. They should also avoid distractions such as cell phones, eating, drinking, or car audio or navigation systems.
Sherman Area (Fannin, Grayson Counties)
Contacts: Sherman Area Office (903) 892-6529; Grayson Co. Maintenance (903) 893-8831; Fannin Co. Maintenance (903) 583-7566.
US 75, Grayson County: from FM 1417 to SH 91 (Texoma Parkway). Watch for shoulder closures and lane shifts on northbound and southbound US 75 between Center Street and FM 1417 as crews work on building new main lanes and the new South Travis Street Bridge. Watch for lane closures on the frontage roads between Park Street and North Travis Street as crews work on building detours and installing drainage structures. A reduced speed limit of 60 mph has been set for this construction project.
The pedestrian bridge near Pecan Street is closed for pedestrian traffic. The east side over the frontage road has been removed. The remaining pedestrian bridge will not need to be removed at this time, but will be removed later in the project. Pedestrians wishing to cross US 75 are advised to cross at the Houston Street signalized intersection.
FM 1417, Grayson County: from US 82 to SH 56. Watch for lane shifts and shoulder closures between US 82 and SH 56 while crews are working to construct a portion of the new Sand Creek bridge. Watch for occasional daytime lane closures as crews are performing utility work. A reduced speed limit of 45 mph has been set for this construction project.
FM 1417, Grayson County: at the OB Groner / West Travis Street intersection. Watch for occasional lane closures as crews work on installing flashing beacons at the intersection.
FM 691, Grayson County: from FM 131/Loy Lake Road to US 75. Watch for lane closures as workers install signals at the FM 131 intersection. The intersection of FM 691 with FM 131/Loy Lake Road has been converted to a four-way stop intersection and will become a signalized intersection at the conclusion of the construction project.
FM 121, Grayson County: from Jim Jones Road to FM 3356. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to widen the roadway to provide a detour section. The ultimate roadway will be a five-lane section at the conclusion of the project.
US 377, Grayson County: Willis Bridge at the Oklahoma State line. Watch for occasional lane closures on the existing bridge as workers pour concrete for the new bridge structure.
US 75 Ramp Reversal in Denison, Grayson County: on the southbound US 75 main lanes and frontage road between Spur 503 and FM 691. Watch for a lane closure on the southbound US 75 frontage road as well as the westbound Spur 503 ramp while construction crews work on building the new southbound US 75 entrance ramp. A new traffic pattern has been implemented where westbound Spur 503 will be shifted to the southbound US 75 frontage road and will travel through the FM 691 intersection and then enter southbound US 75 using the on-ramp after FM 691. The new FM 691 exit ramp is now open to access FM 691.
US 75 Slope Repair at Randell Lake Road, on the southbound US 75 frontage road between SH 91 and Randell Lake Road, Grayson County: on the southbound US 75 frontage road between SH 91 and Randell Lake Road. The southbound frontage road and Randell Lake exit ramp are closed due to a slope failure. Crews are working to construct the new pavement section.
US 75 debris pickup, Grayson County: from Collin County line to Oklahoma State line. Watch for mobile lane closures as workers pick up debris from the roadway every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the daytime.
US 82 & US 69, Grayson County: from FM 131 to FM 1897 on US 82, and from SH 56 to US 75 on US 69. Watch for temporary daytime lane closures and shoulder closures as workers install safety treatments on fixed objects.
FM 120, Grayson County: from FM 131 to US 75. Watch for nighttime and daytime lane closures as workers repair the concrete pavement.
SH 56 (Lamar St.), Grayson County: from Binkley Park Drive to Tolbert Avenue. Watch for daytime lane closures as workers perform erosion repair work at the bridge over Sand Creek.
SH 289, Grayson County: between FM 121 and US 82. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews work on performing base repairs.
US 69, Grayson County: between SH 56 and SH 11. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews work on performing base repairs.
FM 1753, Grayson and Fannin County: from FM 1897 to SH 78. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
FM 898, Fannin County: from the Grayson County line to SH 121. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
FM 2815, Fannin County: from FM 1629 to SH 11. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
FM 1743, Fannin County: from SH 56 to FM 1550. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
US 82, Fannin County: from SH 121 to the Lamar County Line. Watch for slow moving construction equipment as crews work on widening US 82 from a two lane roadway to a four lane divided section. Weather permitting, on July 17 crews will perform a traffic switch on the eastern end of the project. Crews will move westbound US 82 traffic to the new westbound mainlanes at the Fannin and Lamar County line, where they will remain for approximately 10 miles. Eastbound traffic will remain in their current lane. Drivers who frequent this roadway are advised that all driveways, county roads and farm-to-market roads approaching the new westbound main lanes on US 82 will have a full stop before crossing over to the median.
County Road 2250, Fannin County: at Coffee Mill Creek. County Road 2250 is closed in order for crews to remove the existing bridge and build a new bridge. Traffic on CR 2250 will need to use an alternate route during construction.
County Road 4250, Fannin County: at Freeman Creek. County Road 4250 is closed in order for crews to remove the existing bridge and build a new bridge. Traffic on CR 4250 will need to use an alternate route during construction.
FM 2456, Fannin County, in Ladonia from SH 50 to the Delta County line: Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to apply a fog seal to the roadway.
FM 3321, Fannin County: from FM 274 to the end of state maintenance: Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to apply a fog seal to the roadway.
FM 814, Fannin County: from the Grayson County line to FM 815 in Trenton. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to apply a fog seal to the roadway.
FM 3297, Fannin County: from SH 11 to FM 898. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to apply a fog seal to the roadway.
Sulphur Springs Area (Hopkins, Franklin Counties):
Contacts: Sulphur Springs Area Office (903) 885-9514; Franklin Co. Maintenance (903) 537-4976; Hopkins Co. Maintenance (903) 885-4031.
SH 11, Hopkins County: From SH 19 to White Oak Creek. Traffic will be shifted to the new roadway while the existing section is being repaired. Watch for lane closures and short traffic delays.
SH 11, Hopkins County: From 1.5 miles east of FM 3134 to 0.82 miles east of FM 2653. Watch for lane closures and short traffic delays as crews perform striping operations.
IH 30, Hopkins & Franklin Counties: From Titus County Line to Hunt County Line. Watch for lane closures and short traffic delays as crews upgrade metal beam guard fence.
Paris Area (Delta, Lamar, Red River Counties)
Contacts: Paris Area Office (903) 784-1357; Delta Co. Maintenance (903) 395-2139; Lamar Co. Maintenance (903) 785-4468; Red River Co. Maintenance (903) 427-3561.
BU 271D, Red River County: from US 271 to State Spur 38 (Bogata). Watch for temporary lane closures while crews install new end treatments on drainage structures.
SH 37, Red River County: from US 271 (Bogata) to Franklin County Line. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews mill existing pavement and place new hot mix.
US 82, Red River County: from FM 1159 to Bowie County Line. Traffic is shifted to the south side of existing roadway between FM 44 and FM 1699 while crews perform pavement widening work on the north side.
FM 195, Red River County: from FM 410 N to SH 37. Watch for temporary lane closures while crews upgrade metal beam guard fence and complete cross culvert extensions at 2 locations.
SH 37 safety upgrades, Red River County: from the Texas-Oklahoma state line south to the Red River-Franklin County line. Watch for temporary traffic signals at bridge locations while crews upgrade bridge rail from Clarksville to Bogata.
Greenville Area (Hunt, Rains Counties)
Contacts: Greenville Area Office (903) 455-2363; Hunt Co. Maintenance (903)455-2303; Rains Co. Maintenance (903) 473-2682.
SH 66, Hunt County: from near FM 6 to near FM 2642. A project to widen the pavement, install continuous left-turn lanes, and safety-treat fixed objects is underway. The contractor is surface-treating the roadway, striping the road and placing signs. Please be aware of lane closures, and watch for work zones and workers in this area.
FM 2194, Hunt County: between Merit and FM 903. This project will widen the shoulders and apply safety treatments to fixed objects. The contractor is currently working on driveways, mailboxes and turn-outs. Please be careful when traveling in this area.
SPUR 264, Hunt County: in Quinlan. Sidewalk improvement project. The contractor is currently seeding and watering, sidewalk construction is complete. Please be careful when traveling in the area and watch out for workers.
FM 1566, Hunt County: from FM 272 near Celeste to State Highway 34. Project barricades and signs will be set soon, and construction on culverts will follow. Detours are required to complete this work. Please be careful when traveling in this area and watch out for workers.
Hunt County mowing contractors are working at various locations in Hunt and Rains Counties.
Hunt County maintenance crews are applying seal coating on FM 1532; watch for lane closures, work zones and workers along this roadway. Please be careful when traveling in these areas, watch out for workers and maintain a safe distance from these work crews.
Debris and litter operations are ongoing throughout multiple parts of the county. Please be careful when traveling, and watch out for workers.
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1 New Positive COVID-19 Case Reported For Hopkins County
The Hopkins County Emergency Management Team at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 11, reported they were notified of 1 new positive COVID-19 case for Hopkins County.
That brings the total of positive COVID-19 cases reported since March for Hopkins County to 84. Of those, 51 Hopkins County patients have recovered. That leaves 33 active cases of COVID-19 for Hopkins County.
One patient was in the COVID-19 unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs. One of the two patients in the COVID-19 unit the last two days was moved to a regular room, the emergency management officials reported.
Commissioners Court To Consider Reinvestment Zone For Pine Forest Solar Farm
Hopkins County Commissioners Court will be asked to consider establishment of a reinvestment zone for Pine Forest Solar LLC.
The Court will first hold public hearing regarding the proposed reinvestment zone, then will be asked to consider approving establishing a zone by and between the county and Pine Forest Solar LLC.
The Commissioners Court in late December approved a Chapter 318 agreement granting tax incentives for the solar project, construction on which was originally projected to begin in April.
The Pine Forest Solar project, officials were told at the 2019 meeting, will cover 2,155 acres, and is dependent on the tax incentives from the county, school and hospital districts. It is projected to bring in more than $9,248,800 in revenue into Hopkins County over the 10 years of the tax incentives, Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Roger Feagley reported at the December 2019 meeting.
When the court approved tax incentives for PFSI, the agreement also included a stipulation that the business pay a specified fee the first year to help cover cost of any damages to county roads during the construct phase of the project.
The annual payments the county is projected to receive for the project are estimated to be $342,000 a year. The first year with the road maintenance fee, the county would receive just over $514,300. Over the 10 years of the agreement the county would receive over $3.6 million.
This project as proposed would bring in $110,000 to the hospital district annually, for a just over $1,104,900 over the 10 years of the agreement. Revenues for Como-Pickton CISD are estimated at more than $4,543,000, according to information provided about the proposed project.
The July 13 Commissioners Court Agenda also includes consideration of Texas Association Of Counties Health And Employee Benefits Pool (TAC HEBP) Plan For 2020 For Hopkins County, a “contract for transportation of mental health individuals” and a resolution related to the County Transportation Infrastructure Grant Program (CTIF).
The regular meeting of Hopkins County Commissioners Court will begin at 9 a.m. July 13 in the Commissioners Courtroom on the first floor of Hopkins County Courthouse, 118 Church St. in Sulphur Springs.
Immediately following the regular meeting the Commissioners Court is slated to adjourn to the third floor Meeting Room inside the courthouse to conduct a work session with the sheriff to discuss department operations, review revenues, expenditures. and proposed improvements and repairs presented for discussion The commissioners also have the option of conducting a budget work session as well.
Fan,Water Drives For Senior Citizens Very Successful
Thanks to the generosity of the community seniors won’t go without means to help cool down during the hot months of summer. Two fan drives and a water drive to benefit senior citizens were “very successful” with a total of 231 fans and 40 cases of water donated.
This year, Jennifer Scroggins with Angels Care Home Health, Sherry Cotten with the Potato House, Shawna Driggers with Hearts and Hands Home Care and Nicole Warlow with True Hearts and Hands Hospice also partnered to hold a Beat the Heat fan and bottled water drive.
Cotten offered $1 off of meals when someone donated a fan or water at Potato House. Other businesses in town donated gift cards. When someone donated a fan or water, their name went into a drawing for the gift cards.
When the drive concluded Friday afternoon, July 10, 75 fans and about 40 cases of water donated to benefit senior citizens in the community.
“Sherry Cotten is keeping a few of the Fans at the Potato House on Connally Street in case someone comes by and needs a fan. If you don’t get by the Potato House and need a fan, I have the rest of them here at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center,” Senior Citizens Center Program Director Karon Weatherman said.
That’s on top of the 6th annual fan drive sponsored by Sulphur Springs Corvette Club in June to benefit senior citizens in the community. This year, a total of 156 fans were collected during the Corvette Club Fan Drive.
Weatherman extends thanks to the Corvette Club, as well as the ladies and businesses hosting the fan and water drives and donated gift cards for the drawing for hosting the event, and to the many community members who contributed this year to help senior citizens.
“I appreciate all these wonderful people so much for working tirelessly to help the seniors beat the heat this summer,” Weatherman said. “Please come by and pick up a fan if you need one. We don’t want anyone to be hot this summer.”
HCSO: Emory Man Said Contraband Found In Pocket, Pants Not His
Brashear, TX July 10, 2020 – Hopkins County Sheriff’s deputies arrested an Emory man who not only denied the contraband found in the pocket of the pants he had on were his, but claimed the pants were not his either, according to arrest reports.
While completing a phone call just before 2 a.m. July 10, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Sgt. Scott Davis reported a dark colored car pull into Brashear Post Office parking lot off FM 2653 where he was parked. The driver of the Chevrolet Cruse appeared to Davis to be lost. The car was driven forward, then reversed, as if unfamiliar with the area, the deputy alleged in arrest reports.
Davis drove up to the car and contacted the driver. The 21-year-old Emory man, Davis alleged in arrest reports, had glassy, bloodshot eyes and appeared possibly intoxicated on narcotics. The man reportedly told the sheriff’s officer that he was trying to get from Emory to Greenville. When the deputy advised he’d traveled the wrong direction, the man attempted to hand the officer his cell phone to enter an unknown address into his GPS navigation system, according to arrest reports.
A records check was conducted using the man’s information; Devan Dale Munoz did not have a driver’s license. Davis asked the man to exit the car and empty his pockets. A cigar packet containing a green, leafy substance the deputy believed to be marijuana was revealed, Davis alleged in arrest reports.
Deputy Bobby Osornio, also with Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, arrived to assist. Davis then searched the car while Osornio completed a search of the man. A small bag containing a crystal-like substance the deputies believed to be methamphetamine was allegedly found in Munoz’s pants watch pocket. No additional contraband was located, according to Davis.
After being taken into custody, Munoz adamantly stated the illegal contraband was not his, that the pants he was wearing did not belong to him, Davis alleged in arrest reports. Munoz was transported to jail, the car was impounded and the alleged contraband collected as evidence.
At the jail, the substance had a positive reaction for meth when a field-test kit was used and weighed more than 1 gram. Consequently, Devan Dale Munoz was booked into Hopkins County jail at 3:20 a.m. July 10 on a possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge, according to jail reports. Munoz was released from Hopkins County jail later July 10 on a $10,000 bond, according to jail reports.
The arrest marks the second time this year that Munoz has been jailed locally. He also jailed Feb. 26 on misdemeanor warrants for leaving the scene of an accident, no driver’s license-second offense and failure to maintain financial responsibility, 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.
