SSHS Losing Two Assistant Coaches, School Board Hires One Assistant
The Sulphur Springs School Board, at a special meeting Monday evening (June 22), accepted the resignations of two SSHS assistant coaches and hired a new assistant. Assistant Lady Cats Soccer Coach Kristov Martinez and Assistant Lady Cats Basketball Coach Katelyn Webster have resigned. Both are math teachers. Wildcats Athletic Director Greg Owens is working to find their replacements. The board Monday also approved Jacob Sexton as a coach and Spanish Teacher at the high school. Sexton will be a Wildcats freshman basketball coach and freshman football coach. Coach Sexton is filling in for basketball assistant coach Joe Garcia, who is on military leave with the National Guard.
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.
Tira News – June 25, 2020
By Jan Vaughn
John Martin has retired from his position as the Tira Volunteer Fire Department Chief. We want to express our appreciation for his years of service to our community.
Robert, Yvonne, and Wesley Weir met Dustin and Everly Weir at Juan Pablo’s on Friday, June 12. Dustin and Everly spent Friday night with them, and then Dustin and Robert went to the gun show at the Civic Center the next day. Yvonne said, “I got to keep Everly. She’s a doll!”
Yvonne added, “Everyone but Destri came to see Robert for Father’s Day. We visited out on the patio, because our lights went out. We ate ice cream that was melting for a snack and played Corn Hole and watched the kids play. We visited Destri in Sunnyvale last week.”
Landon and Laiken Joslin spent a few days camping and hiking at Mount Nebo, Petit Jean and Mount Magazine State Parks in Arkansas last week. Landon, also, enjoyed bike riding on the trails. Dixie, Rylan, Brailon and Slaiden stayed with Tiffany and Perry Gilbert and their aunt, Jaidyn (11), in Malvern. The kids enjoyed playing together and they got to swim at Lake
Catherine State Park a couple of times.
Tiffany and Jaidyn came in for Father’s Day weekend. Perry had to work all weekend and didn’t get to come with them. Jaidyn was with her dad, Malcolm Joslin, and his fiancée Melinda, in Princeton, from Saturday afternoon until Sunday afternoon. Malcolm and Melinda visited with us when they dropped Jaidyn off, and then they went to Landon and Laiken‘s house and spent some time with their family. Tiffany and Jaidyn returned to Malvern on Monday.
Our son, Delayne, is spending most of his time at home in Waco. He is able to work from home, so he doesn’t get out much.
Our grandson, Kenden Joslin, and his girlfriend, Emma Hall, had Father’s Day lunch with Emma’s family. They came by and visited with us, too.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-438-6688 or [email protected]
New Equipment, Vehicle Updates Approved For Hopkins County EMS
Hopkins County Hospital District Board of Directors considered four capital expenditure requests and a contract renewal. New equipment purchases and vehicle updates were approved for Hopkins County EMS, along with a modified EMS contract with Franklin County.
Lucas Devices
HCHD COO/Hopkins County EMS Director Brent Smith asked the board to consider the purchase of three new Lucas devices. If purchased this month can be obtained at a discounted rate of $4,000 off the cost of each Lucas device.
The devices were factored into the current budget, but Smith had planned to ask for the chest compression devices in the 2020-21 budget which begins in October. However, the devices are only available through a special federal program due to COVID-19 through June 30 at that rate based on a subsidy. Thus, he asked the hospital district board to consider approving the device, at a $12,000 savings, before the end of the month.
HCHD Board of directors approved the purchase of 3 Lucas devices at a total cost of $39,099 for EMS.
LTV 1200 Ventilator
Smith also asked the board to consider the purchase of a LTV 1200 Ventilator for EMS.
This will allow more than one unit to have one of the highly specialized critical care ventilators, which health care professionals can “dial in the settings” from the hospital ICU in order to better prepare to care for individuals on which the device is needed.
It was noted these are the same types of devices used on medical helicopters.
Smit reported it is not uncommon to have a need for two ventilators on ambulances at the same time. For instance, one may be in use and another has to wait to be transferred from the hospital to other facilities, such as Tyler.
With the increase of COVID-19 patients across the state, having the additional unit could prove beneficial if the hospital and EMS receive more than 1 patient needing transport with a ventilator.
The HCHD Board approved the request for the $11,600 LTV 1200 ventilator.
Medic 4 Remount
HCHD Board also were asked to approve the remounting of Medic 4. The purchase had been included in the budget. However, after one ambulance was involved in a crash, the board in December agreed to delay the remount of one medic in favor of purchasing two demo medic units at a $60,000-$80,000 long-term savings instead of one unit that would have to be constructed and would take several months to put into services. Smith in December recommended applying $125,000 that’d been previously allocated for a remount project to be paired with the amount received from insurance on Medic 2 and applied to the purchase of the two demo trucks.
Smith asked for the remounting of the unit now due to the high mileage on the unit and a potential cost savings. The company had agreed to honor the quote provided last year for this model unit. Based on the current production schedule, the expense isn’t anticipated to be billed out until October or later. Waiting until later to put in the order would likely cost more, he explained.
HCHD Board of Directors approved the $124,000 remounting cost.
Chevrolet Tahoe
The HCHD Board was also asked to consider the purchase of a 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe for $35,000, including decals. The current vehicle in use has 84,000 miles on it, which Smith said in the EMS service typically should be rates at double the mileage due to the type of use.
Smith said the old vehicle could be retired if a new one is put into service. However. he recommended keeping the 2015 model as a second available vehicle, particularly during this time in which his and others involvement with regional groups can mean deployment to other areas to assist with things like testing.
Smith reported that through some of those deployments and other participation in operations and services EMS is expected to receive a $120,000-$130,000 reimbursement in funding through June 20; that is saving HCHD $23,000 in payroll and benefits costs alone.
The older SUV could also be used by employees when they are required to travel to attend classes. If using the company vehicle, HCHD would not have to pay for mileage.
The hospital district board approved the purchase of a new Chevrolet Tahoe for $35,000.
Franklin County EMS Contract
Franklin County officials requested a modification of their contract with Hopkins County EMS to provide ambulance services in that county. Smith said Franklin County Judge Scott Lee had talked with other EMS services as well, but received good feedback from others regarding Hopkins County EMS’ service and cost.
Judge Lee asked if the contract could be modified so that Franklin County makes monthly payments instead of one large payment each year. Smith said HCEMS asked Franklin County to agree to a 5-year contact. The new contract would begin Jan. 1.
Franklin County would still provide housing for HCEMS. Franklin County is currently working on a new multi-use building largely funded through a grant that would house a clinic and physicians office and provide housing and two drive-through bays for the EMS, the HCEMS director reported.
The modified contract had already received approval of Franklin County Commissioners Court.
HCHD Board of Directors approved the modified EMS contract with Franklin County.
FM 2653 Traffic Stop Results In Controlled Substance Arrest
A FM 2653 traffic stop Wednesday night resulted in a 47-year-old Winnsboro woman’s arrest on a controlled substance charge, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff‘s Deputy Aaron Chaney reported stopping a southbound Honda Civic at 8:46 p.m. June 24, 2020 on FM 22653 at County Road 4717. The stop was for a defective tail light.
He alleged the woman’s hand were shaking when she provided her license and insurance information as requested. The woman also reportedly stuttered when answering Chaney’s questions during the stop. The deputy reported obtaining permission to search the car due to signs of nervous behavior exhibited by the woman.
Several small baggies containing a crystal-like substance suspected to be methamphetamine were allegedly found in a used cigarette pack in a duffle bag on the rear passenger’s seat. A glass pipe of the kind commonly used to smoke methamphetamine with a burnt residue on it and two torch lighters were also located during the search, Chaney alleged in arrest reports.
HCSO Deputy Nick Marney arrived to assist in the vehicle inventory, he remained with it until a towing service arrived to impound the car. Chaney transported the woman to jail, where the suspected methamphetamine was weighed at 2.78 grams, including packaging. The substance field tested positive for meth, according to arrest reports.
Consequently, Mindy Lynne Robinson was booked into Hopkins County jail for possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. She remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday morning, June 25. Bond on the felony charge was set at $10,000, 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.
The Old Saltillo Cemetery Association Cancels July Memorial Day, Biz Meeting
———————-
In a press release from Vivian Monzingo, Board President of the Old Saltillo Cemetery Association, the annual Memorial Day and Business Meeting has been cancelled for 2020.
The OSCA Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to cancel the association’s annual business meeting and Memorial Day program, originally scheduled for July 19, 2020. Considering the recent trending of local and statewide COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates, and observing actions taken by other local cemeteries, we make this decision in the interest of our association members’ health and safety. Nevertheless, we appreciate that certain traditions must persist!
Please note that the Board of Directors will provide a written annual report in early July, to all OSCA newsletter recipients. If you are uncertain about your newsletter registration status, or if you have recently incurred a change of address, please email your full name and current mailing address to [email protected].
At your convenience, and within your personal risk tolerance, we encourage you to update the floral arrangement(s) at your loved one’s grave(s), as is tradition at this time of year. The OSCA board will likewise coordinate to rid the cemetery of dilapidated arrangements and place new floral bouquets at the cemetery’s many aged, unattended graves.
Of course, your financial support remains essential to the maintenance and beautification of our beloved cemetery. This year, we encourage you to mail your monetary donation to the Old Saltillo Cemetery Association, at P.O. Box 123, Saltillo, TX 75478.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support!
OSCA Board of Directors
Hopkins County COVID-19 Testing Update: 889 Negative, 50 Positive, 99 Pending
The single day record for new COVID-19 cases in Texas continues rose for the second day in a row to 5,489 and the single day total for people in Texas hospitals rose for the 13th day in a row for a new high of 4,389 cases on June 24, according to state data. Hopkins County, however, has had no reports of new COVID-19 cases since Monday, June 22, leaving the total for the 101 days the county has been tracking the data at 50 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases, according to the weekly Hopkins County COVID-19 testing report provided by Hopkins County Hospital District COO/EMS Director Brent Smith.
Of the 50 confirmed cases, 7 were reported in the last week, the same rate of increase reported from May 12-22. The largest increase in cases during a single reporting period was the 13 cases recorded from June 3-10. Overall, during the weekly reporting periods, Hopkins County saw an increase of 17 new cases during May and 29 so far in June.
While that’s a significant increase for Hopkins County, where only 4 cases had been reported and all had recovered by the end of April, that’s still less than 5 percent of tests sent for testing that have come back positive.
While positive cases went up, so did screenings and the number of negative test results. Over the last week, while 7 tests were positive, another 107 test results have come back negative. That’s a total of 889 tests negative for Hopkins County residents since March.
Another 87 met people criteria for screening, with samples for testing since between June 17 and June 24., for a total of 1,058 reported by the “majority of health care partners in Hopkins County for the past 101 days.”
Notable is that some private businesses and health facilities that use private organizations to screen workers and are not required to report those screening numbers to the hospital district. Those private screening counts are reported to DSHS and not included in the weekly screening report from the hospital district, according to Smith.
Following another mobile testing over the weekend, that leaves only 99 test results were still pending for Hopkins County at midday Wednesday, 32 fewer than last week.
Five additional Hopkins County residents recovered from COVID-19 over the last week, for a total of 20 recoveries so far. Recoveries are released according to the Centers for Disease Control guidelines and a local physician authority
The weekly testing report showed no confirmed deaths of Hopkins County residents due to COVDI-19, despite fluctuating numbers reported since the weekend on the Texas Department of State Health Services/Health and Human Services COVID-19 Case Counts daily report.
The state COVID-19 dashboard first reported one COVID-19 fatality in Hopkins County on June 20 then a second one on June 21. That number had been reduced to one COVID-19 fatality for Hopkins County by Wednesday afternoon, June 24.
According to Smith, any deaths reported by the state are still under review by DSHS.
This is not the first time that the numbers on the state COVID-19 dashboard varied from those released by local officials. Sometimes, the state data lags behind county data and others it shows more cases than confirmed and reported by county officials.
The Local Health Authority discovered a miscounting in the state data on June 8. One patient had been counted twice by the state. The error had been corrected by June 10, local emergency management officials reported.
The local emergency management team have on numerous occasions during press conferences said they only release information regarding COVID-19 cases only after that information has been confirmed.
Smith and local health officials urge everyone to continue practicing social distancing and proper hand washing.
Sulphur Springs Girls Soccer Edge Program Is Underway
The Edge conditioning program plus skill work for Sulphur Springs girls soccer players began Wednesday morning. The girls, from entering 7th graders to entering 12th graders, worked out from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m on the warm artificial turf at Gerald Prim Stadium.
The Monday through Friday sessions are scheduled through the end of July with a few UIL mandated off days next month.
Lady Cats Soccer Coach Javier Aguayo, in his second year as head coach, said he was excited to see some new faces among the 30 attendees Wednesday. Included were 7 or 8 middle schoolers.
Coach Aguayo said he started the girls off with skill work, including getting touches on the ball to warm them up and get them into a rhythm, then, came agility and strength work and lots of running around the field.
Coach Aguayo said it felt good to get back with players especially after the Lady Cats season abruptly came to a halt due to a UIL suspension of athletic activities due to coronavirus concerns in March. He said the Lady Cats were left wondering how far they could have gone last season as their season ended with one district game and the playoffs still to play.
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.
3 Jailed On Felony Assault Warrants
At least 3 people were jailed from June 18-23 on felony assault warrants, including a man accused of assaulting a pregnant person. Another man was also arrested June 23 on a misdemeanor assault charge, according to arrest and jail reports.
Felony Assault Arrests
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Investigator Wade Sheets took Garrett Chase Spigner into custody at his Pickton residence at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 23 on a warrant for assault of a family or household member that impedes breathing or circulation. The offense, according to arrest reports, is alleged to have occurred on June 11 at his residence.
Officials saw the 35-year-old Pickton man on the front porch while passing his residence. Aware of the warrant, Sheets contacted and took Spigner into custody, according to arrest reports.
Spigner remained in Hopkins County jail Wednesday morning, June 24, in lieu of $10,000 bond on the third-degree felony charge, according to jail reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff‘s Deputies Justin Wilkerson and Richard Brantley arrested John Taylor Woods on June 18 at 5:05 p.m. June 18 at a sand and gravel business on a warrant for assault on a pregnant person. The offense is alleged to have occurred on June 17.
He was released from jail June 19 on $10,000 on the third-degree felony warrant.
Also on June 18, Eva Maria Vargas was arrested at 9:40 a.m. at her Sulphur Springs residence by Sulphur Springs Police Officer Robble Acosta and Sgt. Brandon Mayes on a warrant for assault of a family member that impeded breathing or circulation.
Officers, with warrant in hand, went to the 34-year-old Sulphur Springs woman’s residence and took her into custody on the charge, police noted in arrest reports. Vargas was released from Hopkins County jail June 22 on a $10,000 bond on the third-degree felony charge, according to jail reports.
Misdemeanor Assault Arrest
On Tueusday, Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 46-year-old Pickton man. Deputies responded at 10:41 p.m. June 23 at a County Road 2386 residence, to what was reported as a physical disturbance.
Upon arrival, deputies were told the male resident pushed a female onto a bed and tried to slap the phone away from her ear and hand while she was using it. In the process, the man was alleged to have contacted the right side of the female’s face and upper arm, deputies noted in arrest reports.
The man initially denied the allegations when questioned about it, but later admitted he may have grazed her arm. He was taken into custody at 11:11 p.m. June 23 and transported to jail on the family violence assault charge, deputies alleged in arrest reports.
The 46-year-old Pickton man remained in Hopkins County jail Wednesday morning, June 24. Bond on the Class A misdemeanor assault charge was set at $2,000, according to jail reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Hospital District Board Approves Asbestos Mitigation Fees
Hopkins County Hospital District Took action Tuesday evening on three items toward construction of a new EMS/Hospital District Building. Hospital Board members were also sworn in and officers selected at the 6 p.m. meeting June 23.
Board Election
Hopkins County Hospital District Board of Directors at the close of filing had only 4 candidates for 4 seats – Dr. Bill Dietze, Tim Kelty, Kristi Shultz and Chris Brown. Thus, the board was able to cancel the spring election.
Shultz, Brown and Dietze again took the oath of office Tuesday to continue serving on the board for a full term. Kelty wasn’t present at the meeting.
Dietze and Kelty have served prior terms on the board. This begins the first full term for Brown and Shultz, who were appointed in May and August of 2019 to fill vacancies created with the resignations of Dan Roper and Suzanne Bankston Thomas.
HCHD Board also at the June 2020 meeting voted for Kerry Law to continue serving as president, Dr. Dietze as vice president and Dr. David Black as secretary.
EMS Station
A contract of $37,904 was awarded to Garrett for asbestos mitigation for two houses on Airport Road. The hospital district board at a February meeting approved Garrett Demolition of Burleson for demolition of three dilapidated houses on Airport Road on district-owned property for $37,875.
After asbestos evaluation, two of the houses were found to have asbestos, which must be removed before they can be demolished.
“They bid it out internally and they sent us the lowest bid,” HCHD COO Brent Smith explained to the board.
Board member Chris Brown asked if records for all three bids had been submitted.
“We picked these guys (Garrett) and then now they’re coming back and saying, ‘OK we’re going to do the demolition but we’ve got to get the asbestos removed first,'” said HCHD Board President Kerry Law.
Brown noted that in his role as executive director of Ark-Tex Council of Government, 3 bids are required when spending public money. He asked attorney Tommy Allison if the regulations were the same for the hospital district as ATCOG.
Allison said it would be a good idea to document that there were 3 bids.
Brown made the motion to accept the bid as presented by Garrett, with proof of the other bids. Board member Bill Dietze seconded the motion, which receive unanimous approval of the board.
The board also approved a resolution appointing board members Shultz, Dietze and Brown to represent HCHD Board of Directors on a subcommittee for planning design and construction of a new EMS headquarters/HCHD building. Since HCHD Board of Directors only meets regularly every other month, authority was also granted to HCHD CEO Ron Folwell and Board President Kerry Law to execute related agreements related to those processes between board meetings.
Rees was also approved at the February meeting the HCHD Board as architect for the project, provided an agreement could be reached regarding the firm’s fees. At the June 23 meeting, HCHD board reviewed and approved Rees Architectural and Engineering Service fees, which includes consulting services, as well as cost plus 20 percent for transportation and lodging related fees.
Due to COVID-19, Smith reported a teleconference has been held with Rees representatives to discuss details of what the new EMS facility needs versus wants. Smith, who also serves as Hopkins County EMS director, said the EMS leadership team had met to discuss space and functional needs and requirements for a new EMS headquarters/facility. They have run ideas by their staff as well, and the shift crews are excited about the new building, Smith noted.
Among the topics discussed were needs for male and female locker areas and showers, living quarters and common areas to be shared by EMS and HCHD administration and need for different office spaces, the HCHD officers reported.
Smith said the area where the houses are being demolished logistically appears to be the best location for the new EMS headquarters/HCHD administrative offices.
The area by the current EMS station has also been pitched as a possible site for the new building. However, that property is in an area that frequently floods and would require a lot of dirt work to elevate it to prevent flooding and water retention. That property also has a large gas pipeline spanning across the front of the property, which would require paving over in order to build the station,
The property on which the dilapidated structures is at a higher elevation. It also already has access for utilities, the HCHD officials pointed out.
“Rees did give us a proposal. It was $12,000 to do site survey of the two different sites, $12,000 encompasses both. Where they would come in, look at the utilties, survey, those kind of things. We don’t have to do that. That’s something that if we want to do that, just tell them and it’s a $12,000 price tag. They’ll evaluate both locations and tell which is more suitable to build on,” Smith said.
“I’m happy with committee making that decision,” Law said.
Brown said with a survey and information, he feels confident the committee can make that decision.
Law said he initially supported building on the site nearest the current facility but, after learning of the large gas pipeline running across the front of the property, had concerns. The site across the street, does seems like a more suitable location,
Allison asked what the area on which the property sits is zoned by the city, and suggested verifying that the EMS station and offices fits the zoning, and if not to ascertain what if any additional steps would be needed so that it meets zoning requirements.
