Channel 18: Softball Senior Ceremony
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.
TxDOT Urges Drivers to Plan Sober Rides Ahead of Memorial Day Weekend
| TxDOT warns drivers about consequences of drinking and driving |
May 22, 2020
AUSTIN – As COVID-19 orders are relaxed in many parts of the state and more Texans return to the roads, TxDOT’s “Plan While You Can” campaign is reminding drivers to make a sober ride part of their Memorial Day weekend plans.
“The long weekend should be an enjoyable start to summer, and we understand more and more people are beginning to venture out,” said TxDOT Executive Director James Bass. “But if you plan to drink alcohol, please know it is vital that you plan ahead for a sober ride. Without a doubt, planning for a sober ride home, will help prevent senseless tragedies and save lives.”
During last year’s Memorial Day weekend* in Texas, there were 360 DUI-alcohol related traffic crashes in Texas. Those crashes killed 16 people and seriously injured another 34.
Driving under the influence of alcohol not only risks death or serious injuries, but it can also be costly. Drivers can face up to $17,000 in fines and fees, jail time and loss of their driver’s license. Instead of getting behind the wheel, here are some alternative options:
- Designate a sober driver.
- Contact a cab or ride-share service.
- Use public transit.
- Spend the night.
“Plan While You Can” is a key component of #EndTheStreakTX, a broader social media and word-of-mouth effort that encourages drivers to make safer choices while behind the wheel, like wearing a seat belt, driving the speed limit and never driving after drinking or using other drugs. Nov. 7, 2000 was the last deathless day on Texas roadways. #EndTheStreakTX asks all Texans to commit to driving safely to help end the streak of daily deaths on Texas roadways.
For media inquiries, contact TxDOT Media Relations at [email protected] or (512) 463-8700.
*Friday, May 24, 2019 (6:00 p.m.) – Monday, May 27, 2019 (11:59 p.m.). The information contained in this report represents reportable data collected from the Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3). This information was received and processed by the department as of March 18, 2020.
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Hopkins County COVID-19 Testing Update: 467 Negative, 27 Pending, 15 Positive Tests
Of the 509 COVID-19 screenings of Hopkins County residents over the last 68 days, 15 have been confirmed through lab-testing as positive, 467 were negative and 27 test results are still pending, according to the COVID-19 testing update reported May 22 by Hopkins County Hospital District COO and EMS Director Brent Smith.
Hopkins County Stats
May has been the most active month for COVID-19 cases for Hopkins County, due at least in part to the increased number of people being tested. Testing increased from 181 total screenings sent for testing on April 28, to 301 tests on May 5, 346 test on May 12 and 509 tests on May 22. This number will likely continue to grow as all nursing home patients and staff in Sulphur Springs are being tested, with all screenings due by the end of the day Monday for this group.
Six COVID-19 patients have recovered from the virus, according to information provided HCHD/EMS and Hopkins County Emergency Management Team. The first four patients battling COVID-19 were reported April 22 to have recovered, giving Hopkins County 8 days without any active COVID-19 cases, according to officials. Two additional patients have recovered over the last week from COVID-19.
The county’s case count has nearly tripled in May as well, rising from just 4 cases on April 29 to 15 cases confirmed by healthcare providers and Texas Department of State Health Services during the 68 days Brent Smith has been providing regular updates.
The first new confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 reported in Hopkins County since April 4 were reported the afternoon of May 1. Hopkins County officials reported 2 new cases on May 1, then, 1 new case each on May 7 and May 10. Over the last three days alone, 7 new cases have been reported: 3 new cases on May 19, and 2 cases each on May 20 and May 21.
Overall, 509 individuals with Hopkins County addresses had been screened for COVID-19 as of 10:15 a.m. Friday, May 22, 2020. That’s 163 more screenings conducted for Hopkins County residents than on May 12.
Since the May 12 update provided by Smith, 147 additional tests have come back negative for COVID-19, for a total of 467 lab-confirmed negative tests as of the May 22 report.
HCHD/EMS reported 27 test results still pending May 22, 10 more than the May 12 report. Overall, 509 met testing criteria put in place by DSHS and the Centers for Disease Control for screening, according to the May 22 COVID-19 Testing Update provided by Smith.
Texas COVID-19 Update
Overall, 225 of Texas’ 254 counties have reported positive cases of COVID-19, which is six more counties reporting cases than on May 12, according to Texas Department of State Health Services and Texas Health and Human Services COVID-19 case counts data, which was last updated at 4:55 p.m. May 21.
Overall, 80,433 total tests have been conducted in Texas, with 49,313 antibody tests as of May 20, according to the state report. Texas as a whole has had 52,268 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 31,223 recoveries and 1,440 fatalities, according to he May 21 DSHS/HHS data.
Some areas of Northeast Texas are doing better than others as far as number of cases reported, and recoveries, with only three counties in the area reporting fewer overall confirmed cases of COVID-19 than Hopkins County.
Delta County, as of the 4:55 p.m. DSHS/HHS report on May 21, continued to be the only Northeast Texas counties with only 1 case, and that individual has recovered.
Rains County remained has one more COVID-19 case, for a total of 3 cases total. However, both of the earlier cases have recovered.
Franklin County only had 8 patients as of the May 21 reporting, and three of those patients have recovered from COVID-19.
Rains, Delta and Franklin counties, like Hopkins County have reported no fatalities from COVID-19.
Two additional counties match Hopkins in case numbers, with 15 cases each as of the May 21 reporting data, and no fatalities. Morris County reported 8 recoveries as of the May 21 DSHS/HHS report, up from 9 cases and 4 recoveries on May 11. Marion County had 13 recoveries according to hte May 21 data.
Uphur County as of the DSHS/HHS report had 18 cases, with 15 recoveries.
Red River County’s case count rose from 9 cases to 42 cases, with four fatalities and only one recovery from COVID-19, as of the May 21 reporting data.
Camp County’s case count increased from 7 cases and five recoveries as of May 11 to 32 COVID-19 cases and 7 recoveries on May 21, according to the DSHS data.
Wood County is up to 22 COVID-19 cases, with 10 recoveries and one fatality, according to the May 21 DSHS/HHS data.
Titus County now has 189 positive cases and 20 recoveries on May 21.
Harris County continues to lead the state with 10,095 confirmed COVID-19 cases, up from 7,878 cases on May 11, and 210 fatalities. Dallas and Tarrant Counties have the second and most COVID-19 cases in the state, with 7,904 and 4,711 cases respectively. Dallas has had 191 fatalities and Tarrant 132 fatalities from COVID-19, according to the May 21 DSHS/HHS data. Dallas leads for recoveries with 4,029 people recovered from COVID-19. Harris County reported 3,914 recoveries and Tarrant County 1,716 recoveries.
The number of other counties across the state that have more than 1,000 cases rose from 5 on May 11 to 7 on May 21: Travis County 2,644 cases, Bexar County 2,322 cases, Potter County 2196 cases, El Paso County 2,046 cases, Fort Bend County 1,621, Denton County 1,161 cases and Collin County 1,090 cases
An additional 340 COVID-19 deaths were reported in Texas in the last 10 days, for a total of 1,440 fatalities reported to DSHS and HHS, as of the May 21 report.
State Highway 19 Disturbance Complaint Results In Arrest
A State Highway 19 disturbance complaint resulted in a 28- year-old Sulphur Springs man’s arrest Thursday morning on a felony warrant, according to arrest reports. The arrest was the second time the man has been arrested this month.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Aaron Chaney and Sgt. Shea Shaw responded at 7:23 a.m. ay 21 to a report of an active disturbance on State Highway 19 south. A female was reportedly trying to leave, but the male resident would not allow her to get her belongings.
Deputies contacted 28-year-old Kyle Anthony Fox of Sulphur Springs upon arrival. A records check showed an active Franklin County warrant for Fox’s arrest. Wilkerson and Shaw took Fox into custody at 8:01 a.m. May 21 for violation of probation, which he was on for tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, according to arrest reports.
Fox remained in Hopkins County jail Friday morning, May 22, on the Franklin County charge, according to jail reports.
The arrest was the second time this month HCSO Deputy Aaron Chaney has arrested the 28-year-old man. Fox was also arrested on May 7 by Chaney and Sgt. Tanner Steward on a possession of drug paraphernalia charge, according to jail and arrest reports.
Fox was stopped at 5:35 p.m. May 7 on State Highway 11 west at the Hopkins-Hunt County line for driving a Honda Civic despite the fact that the vehicle’s registration expired in January of 2018. When asked if he had anything illegal in the car, he allegedly admitted to having a marijuana joint. A probable cause search of the car revealed not only the marijuana joint but also additional drug paraphernalia, and a pill bottle with a crystal-like residue in it in the car door, Steward alleged in reports.
Consequently, the 28-year-old (who listed a Detroit address at the time) and the other occupant form the vehicle were arrested May 7, according to the arrest report. Fox was released from Hopkins County jail the next day on the drug paraphernalia charge, 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.
Tips Lead To 3 Arrests, Discovery Of Controlled Substances At 2 Locations
Tips lead to three arrests after controlled substances were found at two different rural addresses Wednesday morning, according to sheriff’s investigators.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office investigators, after receiving information of suspected narcotic activity in the Saltillo area, launched an investigation in to the alleged sale and use of controlled substances. That took the investigators to two different addresses, HCSO Chief Investigator Corley Weatherford and Investigators Wade Sheets and Michael Russell noted in arrest reports.
Investigators contacted occupant Ryan Albert Shores around 8:40 a.m. at a County Road 3531 address. Shores allegedly agreed to allowed the investigators to search the residence.
The HCSO investigators allegedly found used syringes and a metal spoon containing suspected methamphetamine on it. Shores admitted the substance belonged to him and was taken into custody around 9:20 a.m. for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, Sheets alleged in arrest reports
Shores remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday, May 21; bond on the controlled substance charge was set at $20,000, according to jail reports.
Investigators also contacted occupants at a County Road 3604 location Wednesday morning. One reportedly invited the officers into the residence, then, walked them Ray Griffith’s bedroom, and advised the cops were there to search.
Investigators reported seeing 66-year-old Ray Griffith throw a plastic wrapper and a glass pipe of the kind commonly used to smoke methamphetamine into a trash can.
Griffith agreed to let officers search his room, Russell alleged in arrest reports. Sheriff’s investigators retrieved the pipe and wrapper that had 0.036 gram of methamphetamine inside of it from the trash can beside the bed. A shotgun located on the bed beside Griffith was confirmed to have been stolen, the investigator noted in the report.
Investigators reported finding additional suspected methamphetamine elsewhere in the residence. Consequently, both Griffith and 55-year-old Robert Earl Smith were taken into custody just after 9:33 a.m. Wednesday, May 20, at the CR 3604 residence.
Griffith was booked into Hopkins County jail for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone, tampering with evidence and theft of a firearm, according to arrest reports. Griffith too was found to be wanted in Franklin County on a theft by check warrant; he remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday, May 21, according to jail reports.
Smith was booked into Hopkins County jail on possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone, according to arrest reports.
Smith remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday, May 21; bond on the felony controlled substance 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.
2 New COVID-19 Cases, 1 Additional Recovery In Hopkins County On May 21
Hopkins County Emergency Management Team reported 2 new COVID-19 cases and 1 additional patient has recovered from COVID-19 in Hopkins County as of May 21.
Of the total 15 cases reported in Hopkins County since mid-March, 6 people have recovered and 9 cases are still active, according to County Judge Robert Newsom.
“The Local Health Authority has been in contact with these patients to see if they have any other needs. They were in isolated at that point and are being treated,” Hopkins County Emergency Management Coordinator Andy Endsley said. “These two cases did not come from drive through last Friday. We are still awaiting results of testing from that.”
The county judge noted that testing of patients and employees at local nursing home is ongoing, with all to be completed by Monday. No results from those tests have been reported yet either. He anticipated having more information about the May 15 mobile test collection results and the nursing home testing by the middle of next week.
Newsom said with 11 new patients diagnosed this month, including 7 reported this week, some individuals have expressed concern to him whether the local hospital would be able handle a surge in COVID-19 cases.
“I checked on it today. Our hospital is in good shape to handle anything that comes along from this crisis and are getting busy with elective surgeries,” Newsom said.
COVID-19 Testing Required At 23 Psychiatric Hospitals, Living Centers
COVID-19 testing is required at 23 psychiatric hospitals and living centers now too. Texas Governor Greg Abbott May 21 directed Texas Health and Human Services Commission to test all patients, residents and staff at the 23 state-operated inpatient psychiatric hospitals and living centers throughout Texas.
HHSC operates 13 state supported living centers (SSLCs) that provide 24-hour residential care, medical services, and vocational training for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The agency also operates 10 state hospitals that provide acute inpatient psychiatric care for adults, children and adolescents.
Abbott said requiring testing at these facilities will better equip the state “to identify and mitigate these potential hot spots and protect our most vulnerable populations.” It will also “further assess the scope and extent of possible infections at facilities statewide.”
“Many patients and residents in our care are medically fragile and rely on our frontline healthcare heroes for the important care they receive. By expanding testing to everyone in our facilities, we will increase our ability to further protect everyone who lives and works in our facilities and prevent the spread of the virus throughout our system,” said HHS Executive Commissioner Phil Wilson.
Previously, residents and patients were tested only if they displayed symptoms or had possible exposure to the virus. This testing is to include individuals with no signs of COVID-19 and those who haven’t been tested within the last 30 days, according to a press release from the Governor’s Office.
HHSC and Texas Department of State Health Services are to work together to test the 4,700 patients and residents, and 18,000 employees at these facilities. Testing kits are already making their way to the facilities and several local health departments have offered their assistance, according to the news release from the Governor’s Office.
As of May 20, a total of 161 patients and residents had tested positive for COVID-19. Of those, 107 individuals had recovered from the virus and fewer than 10 had died, according to the release.
All facilities are to continue following the strict CDC guidelines in place. All staff are required to wear masks and be trained in infection control procedures, proper use of personal protective equipment and social distancing measures. Visitor restrictions remain in place. All employees will continue to be screened for fever and respiratory illness prior to entering its facilities. Any person with a fever or unexplained signs of respiratory illness will not be allowed in HHSC facilities, according to the Governor’s directive.
Clayton Sulphur Springs Closed For 2nd Time After Employee Tests COVID-19 Positive
The Clayton Sulphur Springs Building Facility closed Wednesday, after an employee tested positive for COVID-19, Clayton Media Relations Manager Caitlyn Crosby confirmed Thursday afternoon. The employee is the second employee from the Sulphur Springs facility to test positive for COVID-19 and May 20 marked the second time the Sulphur Springs plant has temporarily closed recently, the media official clarified later Thursday afternoon.
Over a week ago, the facility closed for deep cleaning and sanitizing after a team member tested positive for coronavirus. The business remained closed for one day during the cleaning process at the facility at that time, Crosby said.
“The health and safety of our team members and their families is extremely important to our company. A Clayton team member at our Clayton Sulphur Springs home building facility in Texas has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). We are committed to supporting this team member as well as protecting their privacy,” Crosby said Thursday of the most recent notification.
Clayton notified team members and closed the facility May 20, until further notice, to perform a deep cleaning and sanitization after the second employee tested positive, according to Crosby.
The facility had already taken several precautions, including establishing a task force that has been monitoring COVID-19, as well as implementing increased sanitization procedures and policies, social distancing, daily temperature screenings and requiring face coverings to help protect the health of team members, according to the media relations manager.
The facility is in the process of being cleaned, and the company as yet has not determined a date for the facility to reopen.
Clayton is providing free testing for all team members before reopening the facility. The business has also provided team members with additional paid time-off that may be used during this temporary closure, according to Crosby.
The home building industry was designated an essential business by the Department of Homeland Security, which allowed the business to continue operating as a “critical for public health, public safety, economic security or national security” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were also called upon by many government leaders at the state level to continue providing affordable housing during these uncertain times and we are doing so with the utmost caution for the safety and health of our team members, their families and communities,” Crosby said.
Company officials wish the team members affected a quick recovery, according to the media relations director, and plan to keep the team informed as they learn more about the current case and make decisions regarding operations.
