Volunteers Needed For Texas CARES, COVID-19 Serological Testing, Survey Program
Texas CARES Could Help Determine How Many Have COVID-19 Antibodies, Potentially Some Degree of Immune Protection
Researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston are partnering with Texas Department of State Health Services to launch the Texas Coronavirus Antibody Response Survey, Texas CARES, in an effort to help public health professionals and scientists better understand the spread of COVID-19 in Texas and the immune response it causes in individuals.
The health officials hope Texas CARES will help them determine the proportion of people throughout Texas who have COVID-19 antibodies, indicating a past infection and presumably some degree of immune protection.
DSHS worked with UTHealth to develop and fund the antibody survey to broadly describe the experience Texans are having with COVID-19. With antibody testing purchased by the state, funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the expertise of UTHealth researchers, the collaboration aims to learn more about the number of people who have been infected in Texas, follow how infections spread over time, understand risk factors for the disease, and inform planning for future health care needs due to COVID-19.
Participation In Texas CARES
Survey participants will be asked to complete a brief survey about their health and environmental factors that affect it. The survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete.
Participants then visit a participating clinic to have their blood drawn by a phlebotomist. The nearest Clinical Pathology Laboratories locations are in Paris, Texarkana, Longview, Tyler, Rockwall, Sherman, Mesquite, Allen, McKinney and other locations throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Three to four months after the first blood test (T1), the participant is required to visit one of the participating Clinical Pathology Laboratories locations, where a phlebotomist will draw blood a second antibody test (T2). The participant will also complete a brief 5-minute survey.
After the requisite time period has passed, the participant is to again visit a participating health clinic to have their blood drawn for a third antibody tests (T3). The participant also at that time is asked to complete a 10-minute survey.
“Texans who participate in this survey will provide valuable information about who has and who has not been infected and how that is changing over time,” Eric Boerwinkle, PhD, dean and M. David Low Chair in Public Health at UTHealth School of Public Health, was quoted in a DSHS press release. “I’m asked all the time about how a person can help in this fight against COVID-19. Well, participating in this survey is one way all Texans can help,” Boerwinkle added.
Volunteers Needed
The survey team wants to enroll a diverse population of participants to gather more insight on why some individuals infected with the virus are asymptomatic and if that affects their antibody response. Those who have tested positive, negative, or have never been tested for COVID-19 are eligible to enroll in this assessment.
“DSHS saw a need to better understand how COVID-19 is affecting people across our state,” DSHS Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD, was quoted in the DSHS press release. “We are excited to partner with UTHealth on this effort that will give us an in-depth look at COVID-19 in Texas and help us continue to plan and respond to the pandemic.”
The assessment team plans to enroll approximately 100,000 people making it one of the largest COVID-19 antibody surveys in the U.S. Texas CARES will focus on several specific groups: 20,0000 children 5 to 17 years old; 31,500 teachers and education professionals; 31,500 employees within retail, business, or service industries; and 23,000 patients and staff at community clinics.
“We believe Texans across these groups will provide a snapshot of Texas as a whole. Focusing on these groups will allow us to better understand COVID-19 antibodies and how they impact our neighbors across different age groups and communities,” Melissa Valerio-Shewmaker, PhD, an associate professor of health promotion and behavioral sciences at UTHealth School of Public Health in Brownsville, was quoted in the DSHS press release.
Program Partners
Texas CARES is managed by a collaborative team of researchers from UTHealth School of Public Health and DSHS in partnership with Clinical Pathology Laboratories and The University of Texas System. Other survey team members from UTHealth School of Public Health include Ashraf Yaseen, PhD; Stacia DeSantis, PhD; Steven Kelder, PhD; Bill Kohl III, PhD; Sarah Messiah, PhD; and Michael Swartz, PhD. Team members from DSHS are Jennifer Shuford, MD, and Stephen Pont, MD.
For more information or to sign up for this survey visit the Texas CARES website or email [email protected].
Como Pickton FFA Stew n Auction Postponed til 2021
Como Pickton CISD FFA Advisor Michael Bowen and his students enjoyed success recently at the Help a Child Benefit, with the 2nd Place Chili plaque and First Place Award for Ag Mechanics now on the chapter’s awards shelf. At the same time, the FFA Chapter makes an announcement about postponement of a much-anticipated annual Autumn event for the Chapter. Bowen posted this announcement on October 19, 2020.
CP FFA Members, Parents and Supporters,
In speaking with our administration team, and out of an abundance of caution, we are going to postpone our FFA Stew and Auction for this current year and schedule it for March 11, 2021. The goal this year is to keep our school open as long as possible. We are thankful for your constant support of our FFA Students and hope to see you at our FFA Stew and Auction on March 11, 2021. Our school year is one-fourth of the way over, and we couldn’t have gotten through it without our students and staff diligently following the protocols in place to minimize the spread of the COVID.
Thank you,
MBowen
Chili for a Chilly Morning at the Help a Child Benefit
Wade Bartley’s 13th annual Help a Child Benefit started out cooler than expected on Saturday October 17, but the warm hearts of Hopkins County folks brought them out by the droves! The Chili Cookoff, a tractor pull inside the arena, an Ag Mechanics Show and Auction on the grounds and a Reilly Springs Jamboree going on the outdoor stage made a good combination for a successful fundraiser. Results from the fundraiser will be published here soon, but meantime, here are some highlights from the day!
Sulphur Springs ISD Board To Appoint Head Start Policy Council Rep, Consider Renewing Legal Contract
The Oct. 19 Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees meeting agenda is light on action items, but heavy on administrative and informational reports. A special recognition, Red Ribbon Week, the bilingual and English as a second language program, and Head Start training are among the the items listed under the latter heading.
Superintendent Michael Lamb is scheduled to recognize the City of Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County for contributions to SSISD during the administrative and administrative reports portion of the meeting.
Craig Toney is scheduled to report on Educational Performance of the Bilingual/ESL program for the 2019-2020 school year.
Assistant Superintendent Kristin Monk is slated to present a report on activities planned at the various campuses for Red Ribbon Week, Oct. 26-30.
Wrapping up the informational portion of the meeting, a PowerPoint of required Head Start training will be presented to the board.
Trustees will then be asked to consider appointing a school board representative to the Head Start Policy Council and renewing membership in Walsh, Gallegos, Trevino, Russo & Kyle, PC legal retainer program for 2020-21 school year. For a set membership fee the district will have access to certain consolation services as well as additional legal resources.
The board then will have the option to enter into an executive session to discuss and consider any confidential personnel or real property matters submitted for trustees’ consideration since the last board meeting. Afterward, the trustees will reconvene in open session to vote on any items pushed forward from the closed session.
The regular school board meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, in the Board Room of Sulphur Springs ISD Administration Building, 631 Connally St. This is one week later than the usual scheduled.
Oct. 19-23 Meal A Day Menu
Although the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center remains closed due to COVID-19, volunteers continue to work five days a week preparing and delivering meals to shut-in elderly in the community. The Oct. 19-23 Meal A Day Menu includes:
Monday — Manager’s choice
Tuesday — Cheeseburger Casserole, Corn and Sonoma Blend Vegetables
Wednesday — Chicken Enchilada Casserole, Refried Beans, Chips and Salsa and Tossed Salad
Thursday — Lasagna, English Peas and Garlic Bread
Friday — Chicken Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Green Beans and Roll
Officers Make 6 DWI Arrests In 6 Days
Local officers made 6 DWI arrests in six days, including 2 on Saturday and two involving wreck, and arrested a 36-year-old for violating probation on a felony DWI charge, according to arrest reports.
East Shannon Road Crash
Included among the individuals named in the DWI arrests was a 38-year-old Sulphur Springs man reported to have crashed a Lexus at 11:10 p.m. Friday night on East Shannon Road.
Upon arrival, officers contacted the man, on whom they reported smelling a strong alcoholic beverage odor. The man also was alleged to have slurred speech, glassy eyes and to have been unsteady on his feet.
When police attempted to administer standard field sobriety tests, the man allegedly refused to attempt them. He was taken into custody by Sulphur Springs Police for further investigation of DWI; the car was impounded.
The 28-year-old allegedly refused to submit to breath or blood tests, resulting in police seeking and obtaining a blood search warrant requiring the draw. The warrant was executed and the man was booked into Hopkins County jail on a Class A misdemeanor charge of DWI with previous conviction.
He was released from Hopkins County jail later Saturday, Sept. 17, on a $2,000 bond on the DWI-second offense charge.
State Highway 11 West Arrest
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office deputies stopped to check out a Dodge Ram pickup left running in a driveway a State Highway 11 west driveway at 2:25 a.m. Oct. 17. The passenger side tires and rims of the truck appeared to the deputies to be damaged.
Upon approach, a deputy reported seeing a man asleep in the driver’s seat and an odor of alcohol emitted from the pickup. Upon awakening, the man appeared disoriented and confused as to where he was, claiming he had pulled over to take a nap.
The man was asked to step out of the truck to be arrested for public intoxication. He stepped out and allegedly admitted to having a pistol in the truck. As he stepped out, he was unsteady on his feet. When asked to perform standard field sobriety tests, the 25-year-old rural Sulphur Springs resident admitted he had consumed alcoholic beverages and wouldn’t be able to pass.
The man agreed to allow a blood sample to be drawn for testing, then was transported to jail, where he was arrested for driving while intoxicated and unlawful carrying of a weapon. He was released from jail later Saturday on a $1,000 bond on the DWI charge and a $2,000 bond on the weapon charge.
Jail records show Saturday wasn’t the first time he’s been jailed in Hopkins County on intoxication and weapons charges.
He was jailed Jan. 10, 2016 for unlawful carrying of a weapon and DWI with an open container, and Feb. 9, 2020 for public intoxication.
FM 1537 Crash
A sheriff’s deputy responding to a report of a traffic crash on FM 1537, east of County Road 3505, found what appeared to be an overturned Toyota Camry in the ditch on the south side of FM 1537 at 3:09 a.m. Oct. 16. Upon approach, the airbags in the car appeared to be deployed.
Upon contact with the driver, the deputy alleged he could smell an alcohol odor on the woman. The 30-year-old Sulphur Springs woman complained of chest pains, so she was transported by EMS to the hospital for treatment.
The deputy contacted the woman at the hospital; she displayed 6 clues of intoxication on horizontal gaze nystagmus tests. Due to her complaints of major chest pain she was unable to perform standard field sobriety tests.
She allegedly refused to submit to a blood draw for analysis so the deputy sought and obtained a blood search warrant requiring the blood draw. The sample was taken. After she was discharged for the hospital, she was transported to Hopkins County jail and booked for DWI.
She was released from Hopkins County jail Saturday on a $1,000 bond on the misdemeanor DWI charge.
Interstate 30 East Traffic Stop
A Department of Public Safety trooper reported seeing a Chevrolet Malibu traveling at 98 miles per hour on Interstate 30. The trooper caught up to the eastbound car at mile marker 141 around 11:50 p.m. Oct. 15; it was reportedly being driven erratically, swerving all over the road and had sped up to 112 miles per hour in a 75 mph speed zone. The car was reportedly slowed, almost stopping in the middle of I-30 before eventually moving onto the shoulder and stopping.
Upon contact, the highway patrol trooper reported seeing a large open glass bottle of Patron Silver directly behind the driver’s seat. The driver, a 24-year-old Mount Pleasant man, was reported to have red, glassy eyes, and slurred speech. Alcohol emitted from the driver, according to arrest reports. The driver allegedly exhibited numerous clues of intoxication during standard field sobriety testing. He tested 0.149 on a portable breath test, well over the 0.08 legal limit.
Consequently, the Mount Pleasant man was arrested for DWI-open container. He refused to provide a blood sample for analysis, so the trooper obtained a search warrant requiring one. The sample was taken at the hospital, and the man was taken to jail. He was released from Hopkins County jail at 3:25 a.m. Oct. 16 and released later Oct. 16 on a $1,000 bond.
I-30 West Traffic Stop
A 33-year-old Douglassville man was arrested for DWI with open container at 9:19 p.m. Oct. 14 on I-30 west near mile post 137.
A DPS trooper spotted a Toyota Tacoma traveling 98 miles per hour in a 75 mph speed zone. Before he could catch up to the truck to initiate a traffic stop, the trooper alleged seeing the truck erratically changed lanes, swerving out of its lane and almost sideswipe an 18-wheeler as it passed the truck-trailer rig. The pickup was also alleged to be traveling too close to other traffic, almost running into the back of another 18-wheeler. When the trooper turned on his patrol vehicle’s emergency light, the car was immediately pulled off the road into the grass next to the shoulder.
The trooper alleged smelling an alcohol odor on driver, who he claimed spoke with slow, heavily slurred speech and had red, glazed eyes. A cold, open can of Busch beer was visible in the cup holder. The man, upon exiting the vehicle appeared to the trooper to be slow and unsteady on his feet. The man was unable to complete standard field sobriety tests. The Douglassville man reportedly flopped onto the ground and began convulsing and screaming that he was having a panic attack and “couldn’t do this.”
The trooper reported controlling the man on the ground and got him calmed down. Believing based on previous testing and observing that the man was intoxicated, the trooper determined it would be unsafe for the man to try to continue testing.
He was advised he was under arrest. EMS arrived to evaluate the man and determined he was fit for jail. The man reportedly agreed to a blood sample for analysis. A blood specimen was taken by the EMS on scene, packaged, and the man was jailed around midnight or DWI-open container.
The 32-year-old was released from Hopkins county jail later Oct. 15 on a $1,000 bond on the charge.
Airport Road Traffic Stop
A 31-year-old Sulphur Springs man was arrested at 2:44 a.m. Oct. 13 on Airport Road at Church Street for driving while intoxicated. A deputy reported stopping him for failure to signal 100 feet prior to a turn.
A records check showed the driver to have an active Hopkins County warrant for DWI. The Sulphur Springs man was taken into custody and jailed on the warrant; the Ford Taurus he was driving was impounded.
He was released from Hopkins County jail later Oct. 13 on a $1,000 bond on the Class B misdemeanor DWI charge.
Warrant Arrest
Matthew William West, 36, of Sulphur Springs turned himself in on a felony warrant at the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office lobby at 6:41 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12.
West was escorted by Deputy Justin Wilkerson into the jail, where he was booked on the warrant for violation of probation which he was on for a June 15, 2019 driving while intoxicated with a child under 15 years of age charge. The offense was alleged to have occurred on Oct. 7.
The 36-year-old Sulphur Springs man remained in Hopkins County jail on the charge Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020.
KSST does not publish the names or photos of people charged with misdemeanor crimes in staff-generated reports, only those accused of felony offenses.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
20 Percent Of Registered Hopkins County Voters Cast Ballots In First 4 Days Of Early Voting
More than 20 percent of registered Hopkins County voters had cast ballots during the first 4 days of early voting in the Nov. 3 elections, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
That’s 4,885 of the 23,954 registered voters in Hopkins County casting ballots by the close of business on Friday, Oct. 16. This number includes 4,208 in person voters (17.57 percent) and 677 voters (2.82 percent) submitting ballots by mail.
Early voting got off to a brisk start with 1,020 voters, 4.26 percent of registered voters, visiting The ROC on Oct. 13 to vote in person, and another 254 voters had submitted mail ballots, for a total of 5.32 percent of Hopkins County voters selecting their choice of candidates on the first day of early voting. That’s the least number of ballots cast so far.
Eight more voters turned out in person on Oct. 14 to vote in Hopkins County and another 319 mail ballots were received, increasing the overall early vote total to 2,621 or 10.94 percent on the second day of early voting.
Only 2 fewer county residents showed up in person to vote on the third day of early voting than the 1,028 who cast in-person ballots on Oct. 14. Another 153 mail ballots came in as well. That increased the cumulative early voting total to 15.54 percent, with a total of 3,750 early votes.
On Friday, Oct. 16, a whopping 1,134 Hopkins County residents visited the early voting center and 1 more mail ballot came in, increasing the overall total of early ballots cast to 4,885, which is 20.39 percent.
That’s more ballots cast during the first 4 days of early voting in 2020 than during the entire early voting period in 2010, when only 4,002 early votes were cast during the full early voting period (18.48 percent) and only 8,797 votes were cast during the the entire election (40.62 percent of the 21,657 residents voters), according to Texas Secretary of State’s Office.
In 2014, only 3,569 ballots were cast during the early voting period and 7,633 of the 21,234 registered voters (35.54 percent cast ballots.
During the 2018 election, 11,901 of the 22,842 registered voters (52 percent) cast ballots, including 6,681 (29 percent) early voters.
Voter turn out is traditionally higher during Presidential Elections. In 2016, 13,533 of the county’s 22,495 registered voters (60.16 percent) voted, including 8,696 during early voting (38.66 percent.
In 2012, early voting accounted for 34.75 percent (7,378 voters) of the overall 60.04 percent (12,749 voters) of votes cast during the election.
Como Man Arrest For Failure To Comply With Sex Offender Duty To Register
A 39-year-old Como man was arrested at 4:07 p.m. Oct. 15 at his residence on a felony warrant, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Richard Greer transported David Allen Woolverton Jr. to jail on the outstanding failure to comply with sex offender duty to register charge. Woolverton was released from Hopkins County jail Oct. 16 on a $10,000 bond on the charge, according to jail reports.
Woolverton was last jailed on March 9, 2017 for prohibited sexual conduct, according to jail reports. He reported was charged on seven counts of prohibited sexual conduct with a family member, which reported began in 2011 and continued until the 2017 arrest, with one count charged per year, although arrest reports at the time indicated he was accused of committing the offense 50 or more times during those year. Jail reports show Woolverton was sentenced to serve a 90-day state jail sentence for on count of prohibited sexual conduct.
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.
Hopkins County Records — Oct. 17, 2020
Land Transactions
- Richard Fielden and Rose Mary Fielden to Marsha Cochran and Fred Fielden; tract in the Henry Hopkins survey
- David Cochran, Marsha Cochran and Fred Fielden to Richard Fielden; tract in the Henry Hopkins survey
- Carla Reichle who was known as Carla Renee Walters to Joe Mack Walters; tract in the Winnie Jewell survey
- Gwyneth Larry Argenbright and Rhonda Sue Argenbright to Coltin B. Argenbright; tract in the O Barb survey
- Debbie Busby, who is also known as Deborah Busby, and Jerry Mack Busby to Brian Keith Busby and Cynthia Kay Busby; tract in the WB Jordan survey
- Roy King and Yvonne King to Shing Investment Group LLC; tract in the Mary Ann Bowlin survey
- Everett Jennings to Brian Shurtleff; tract in the J. Ybarbo survey
- Charles Edwin Johnson, Donna Drucill Johnson Estate, Micael Lynn Johnson independent executor, Michael Lynn Johnson and Richard Marc Johnson to Everett Jennings; tract in the J. Ybarbo survey
- Joshua Ferrell to Dawn R. Ferrell; tract in the W. Lewis survey
- Mary Jo Glover and Ruth M. Hawkins, AIF, to Holly L. Hileman; tract in the Lemuel Brackeen survey
- Jayla B. Patel to Anjali Shairavkumar Gandhi and Bhairavkumar and Hamukhlal Gandhi; tract in the MA Bowlin survey
- Larry Grayson Matlock, Tammy Mills Matlock, David Mills, Joe Minick and Teresa A. Minick same person as Teresa Mills Minic to Robin Felicity Grafton Castro and Salvador Perez Castro Jr.; tract in the Henry A. Reel survey
- Michael Johnson to Everett Jennings; tract in the J. YBarbo survey
- Brenda K. Obrien and Cynthia N. Thomison to Bryan De La Cruz; tract in the RN Scaff survey
- AK GIllis & Sons I LTD and AK Gillis LLC to AKG Real Estate LLC; tract in the Mary Ann Bowlin survey
- Billy Joe Beer, Doris M. Teer who is also known as Merelen Teer, and Valton Teer who is also known as Valton D. Teer to Maria C. Ortega Barrientos and Rolando Guerrero; tract in the JG Procello survey
- Thomas J. Gibson to Kathleen Gibson; tract in the R. Marlor survey
- Ninja Investments LLC to Bailee K. Hilderbrand and Keith A. Hilderbrand; tract in the Elizabeth Melton survey
- Janet Basham and Billie Stone to Jo S. Littlefield
- Jo S. Littlefield, also known as Thelma Jo Littlefield, to Dewey Ramsey and Sandy Ramsey; tract in the Daniel Halbrook survey
- Gary L. Mott to Hollie Loftis, Mary E. Mott and Michael A K Mott; tract in the William Ewing survey
Applications for Marriage Licenses
- Jose E. Gutierrez and Martha Francisca Gomez
- Laron Deon Pannell and Ericka Monique Perry
- Michael Roy Harbert and Tammy Renee Green
- Garrett Brent Sustaire and Brooke Elaine Shirley
- William Alan Burns and Cassie Michelle Mund
- Leldon Owen Momon and Linda Renee Schroder
- Bradley James Geffers and Amanda Katheryn Edwards
- Marcus Damian Campbell and Jenna Rae Lambe
- Gary Lee Swift and Astacia Nicole Hoxie
- Bradley Ross West and Audra Lynn Phipps
- Eric Michael Rose and Steffannie Dawn Llewellyn
- Dakota Hunter Parker and Kayci Odell Nymeyer
- Coen James Price and Lauren Ashley Helm
- John Ralph Stark and Lacie Denae Brandenburgh
- Maxwell Holland Garvey and Kathryn Elizabeth Shelby
- Cade David Lansou and Elizabeth Marie Shadwell
- Devin Christian Brown and Lauren Ashley Cheatham
- Noah Gregory Rohmer and Kayla Jane Carney
- Gary Fullton Reiber and Kathrine Lynn Matthews
- Bily Ray Pierson and Stephanie Leann Farmer
- Daniel Matthew Johnson and Stacy LLynn Harp
- Jeramie Ryan Burns nad Lacy Kay Waldern
- Justin Lee Pellam and Kimberly Michelle Noe
- Toby Buie and Krandy Spruiell Jones
- Blake Dalton Parker and Megan Negus
- Nathaniel Lee Webb and Kristal Lynn Greinert
- Tanner Garrett Caraway and Betty Jean Altieri
DSHS Reports 2 Additional, 23 Total COVID-19 Fatalities For Hopkins County
Texas Department of State Health Services Saturday, Oct. 17, reported 2 additional and 23 total COVID-19 fatalities for Hopkins County.
According to the DSHS “County Trends” and “Case Counts” reports, one of the deaths was reported to have occurred on Sept. 29 and the other on Oct. 5.
That makes 10 Hopkins county residents confirmed by official cause of death on death certificates submitted to the state’s Vital Statistics office to have died from COVID-19 in September and Hopkins County residents who are 5 so far in October, including three on Oct. 5. Six deaths were also reported in August and 2 in July, according to DSHS.
