SSISD Trustees Approved Band Trailer, Custodial Contract
Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees approved a band trailer and custodial contract during their monthly meeting conducted via Zoom Monday evening.
Custodial Contract
Based on the recommendation of SSISD Director of Maintenance Dan Froneberger and Superintendent Michael Lamb opted to once again contract with The Faulk Company for custodial services.
Lamb explained that the district sought bids for custodial services. Four businesses submitted bids for the three-year contact. The Faulk Company bid a total of $2,738,424, PBS of Texas $2,682,000, AHI Facility Services $3,472,002.76 and McLemore Building Maintenance $4,566,912.66.
While the bid from PBS of Texas’s bid was the lower of the four, closer study of the bid showed it did not meet the request for the proposal due to staffing differences, Froneberger noted in a memo regarding the bids. PBS of Texas’ bid has a few more people and a lot more who would work at night. The district’s preference is not for night custodial. He said he is comfortable with the service The Faulk Company has provided for SSISD in the past. Based on the service and bid estimate, Lamb recommended offering the contract to The Faulk Company to provide custodial services for another three years.
Trustees unanimously agreed to renew with The Faulk Company for another three years.
Band Trailer
SSISD Band program will be getting a heavy duty tractor trailer as requested by district Director of Bands Spencer Emmert at the February 2020 school board meeting. Emmert noted the band now has multiple apparatus in which the equipment is carried, some of which is older and has been experiencing mechanical difficulties. This will allow the all of the equipment and instruments needed for the band program to be carried in one reliable vehicle to games, contests and other performances.
The district sought bids for a heavy duty tractor trailer through March 16. One bid was received for the trailer. The Clubhouse Trailer Company of Oklahoma, City bid $97,769.36. Sixty percent or $58,661.62 will be due at the time the order is received.
The trailer will not be delivered until September so that expense will be deferred to the 2020-2021 school year budget. This will allow the trailer to arrive in time for of the 2020 marching season. The new truck will go into service for the fall and spring, Lamb reported.
Trustees unanimously agreed to the purchase of the heavy duty tractor trailer for SSISD Band program.
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report
The Winnsboro Police Department media report for the week of April 13-19, 2020, included the following activity:
Arrests
No Arrests
Calls For Service
The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 98 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations
The Winnsboro PD issued 5 citations and 2 warnings during
this reporting period.
Sulphur Springs Man Found Slumped Over Steering Wheel On County Road 3505
A 23-year-old Sulphur Springs man found slumped over the steering wheel of a vehicle in the middle of the road Sunday night ended up in jail on a driving while intoxicated charge. This marked the second time he has been charged with DWI, officers alleged in arrest reports.
Sulphur Springs Police responded at 7:39 p.m. April 19, 2020 to a call from someone expressing concern for a person who appeared to be unconscious and slumped over the steering wheel of a Ford F150 pickup on County Road 3505.
According to police reports, EMS and fire personnel gained entry to the pickup, which they were then able to turn off. EMS was able to revive the 23-year-old man inside of it.
Officers, in arrest reports, alleged a strong alcohol odor emitted from the man’s breath and he also exhibited signs and indicators of intoxication. He was taken into custody for DWI. He allegedly refused to submit a blood sample for analysis. The officers sought and obtained a search warrant requiring the blood draw. The samples were reportedly taken at 9 p.m. April 19, 2020. The man was then booked into Hopkins County jail for second offense DWI, and on two warrants for not taking care of consumption of alcohol by a minor charge and one for exhibition of acceleration charge.
The 23-year-old Sulphur Springs man was released from Hopkins County jail Monday, April 20, on the DWI charge. Bond was set at $2,000, according to jail reports.
Main Street Altercation Started Over A Man’s Dislike Of A Woman’s Friendship
A Main Street altercation allegedly started over a man’s dislike of a woman’s friendship with someone else, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a disturbance report at 9:22 p.m. Saturday, April 18, 2020, in the 2000 block of Main Street. Upon arrival, deputies were told that a woman and the 28-year-old Main St resident had gotten into an argument about her spending the day with a friend he didn’t like.
The man allegedly ‘grabbed the woman’s arms and threw her across the living room onto the floor.’ The woman involved in the Main Street altercation had visible red marks, allegedly from the man’s hands.
Consequently, the 28-year-old Sulphur Springs man was taken into custody at 9:35 p.m. Saturday, April 18. Deputies transported the man to Hopkins County jail, where he was booked for family violence assault, according to arrest reports. He was released from Hopkins County jail Class A misdemeanor family violence assault charge Sunday, April 19; bond was set at $5,000.
Saturday marked the second time the man has been accused of family violence assault. He was also booked into Hopkins County jail Sept. 4, 2016 on an family violence assault charge.
Sydney Washburn Announced As Valedictorian Of SSHS Senior Class of 2020
Sydney Washburn was announced Monday as valedictorian of Sulphur Springs High School Senior Class of 2020.
SSHS Principal Derek Driver made the announcement for the top honor graduates at a small gathering, with social distancing observed, in front of the high school Monday morning.
She expressed appreciation to her teachers, who has not only helped her to be successful but has helped her to grow as a person as well. She gives special credit to Renee Maeker, her Spanish teacher for the last three years. This year, she was in a very small class of two, which allowed them to become close.
“It’s just nice. She’s very involved. She cares about me as a person as well as a student,” Washburn said of Maeker.
During high school, Washburn competed in academic UIL her junior year. She also enjoyed working with friends in putting on a dress code talent show the first day of senior year.
Washburn has been active in athletics during her time at SSHS, playing volleyball, and running cross country and track, and considered participating in games and meets fun.
She said her sports activity in college will likely be through participation in intramural events and she will probably run on her own. She said she considered running in college, but decided to focus more on academics when she attends Baylor University in the fall.
She has been awarded three scholarships to apply toward her studies at Baylor, where she will major in medical humanities and religion. She wants to become a pediatrician, so she can work as an international missionary.
“I’ve always been interested in health care. A missionary came to our church a few years ago and I just knew that that’s what I wanted to do. We went to Kenya in December and January, and I just loved it. So I knew that is where I wanted to be and what I wanted to do,” Washburn said.
While she loved Kenya, she said is will go “wherever the Lord sends me.”
The 2020 valedictorian likes children and views becoming a pediatrician as “an opportunity to provide a more general care in areas that need it.”
Washburn offers appreciation to her family, for their support and encouragement. They help calm her when her homework get hard. She comes from a large immediate family: two sets of parents, three sisters and a brother were in attendance at the honors announcement Monday to show see her recognized. She expressed appreciation to her siblings, who have a knack for making her laugh.
“I really have just enjoyed being able to grow up with them and having some of my best friends be my siblings. My parents, they are just the best. They sacrifice so much for me my siblings. I am so thankful for all that they have done for us,” she said.
When congratulated for being named valedictorian, Washburn is quick to point out where credit for the honor is due. She said it’s important to her that people known, “It’s not about me. Truly the Lord has put me in this position, and I just want to give all the credit to Him, because without Him, this means nothing,” Washburn said, adding, that for her it’s an opportunity to be “thankful for this opportunity to recognize that it is from the Lord.”
Sulphur Springs High School also announced Andrew Westlund as the SSHS Senior Class of 2020 salutatorian. Westlund was unable to attend the announcement Monday.
CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System To Resume Elective Procedures And Surgeries April 22
CHRISTUS Health will certify all of its Texas facilities to resume elective care, and CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System is preparing to resume elective procedures and surgeries on April 22, consistent with the provisions of the Governor Greg Abbott’s original order on April 17.
Our facilities have secured the personal protective equipment (PPE) and excess capacity necessary to safely care for the full spectrum of medical conditions and patient needs that we have worked so hard to address in our communities for more than 150 years.
We are working with physicians now to reschedule their patients for medical and surgical procedures they were forced to postpone due to the initial order. While we all understand the reason that these procedures had to be postponed, waiting has imposed a hardship on many of these patients, as many can no longer delay care for heart disease, cancer, pain, vision problems and other conditions. We are working to avoid a surge in illness and suffering as a result of deferred and delayed care.
CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Sulphur Springs is expanding its surgery scheduling for patients’ convenience and to ensure it is ready to provide care that has been delayed.
“Often, these procedures that have been delayed or deferred are related to quality of life issues in our patients in the community,” said Paul Harvey, Chief Executive Officer, CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Sulphur Springs.
“Looking beyond just the present moment, quite a few of these procedures will even help patients live longer, healthier, happier lives. Getting patients who need these procedures back into the operating room as quickly as possible is so important, but we must ensure our patients, Associates and physicians are safe, above all. That’s how we’ve operated at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Sulphur Springs since the very first day,” Harvey said.
CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System practices infection prevention every day. In addition, the CHRISTUS Health system is leading the Northeast Texas community, and the country, by recently announcing the rolling out antibody testing for some patients, Associates and physicians in its ministries. This new screening tool allows the hospital to test these groups for antibodies related to the COVID-19 virus, helping it to identify how each patient should receive care and how to keep its caregivers safe.
Not only that, but CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances has been steadily working and planning to continue providing necessary, non-COVID care to keep people safe and healthy. To keep all who enter our facilities safe, CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances continues to have these following precautions in place:
- Limiting visitors;
- Screening everyone who comes through our doors;
- Isolating COVID-19 patients to one area of the facility;
- Temperature checks at every shift change for Associates;
- Requiring everyone on our campuses to wear masks;
- Using telemedicine to treat active COVID-19 patients, so their caregivers and support staff limit the number of times they enter their rooms.
This may be an unprecedented time, but we have experienced many of these since CHRISTUS was founded 154 years ago. In fact, the first three Sisters who started the CHRISTUS ministry in Galveston faced an epidemic of Yellow Fever within the first six months of opening the very first hospital. Epidemics and tragedies have been part of CHRISTUS’ history, and so too has the resolve, after each of those challenges, to move on in love and service to those in need.
“CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Sulphur Springs is answering the call to help our community – today and tomorrow. In all that we do, we are devoted to keeping patients, their families, our caregivers and our Associates safe. And we are here when you need care. We are ready,” Harvey said.
CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System includes CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospitals – Tyler, South Tyler, Jacksonville, Winnsboro and Sulphur Springs, the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital – Tyler, CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital a partner of Encompass Health, Tyler ContinueCARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, a long-term acute care facility, and CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic.
CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic is the area’s preferred multi-specialty medical group, with more than 400 Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers representing 36 specialties in 34 locations serving Northeast Texas across 41 counties.
For more information on services available through CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System, visit christustmf.org
- Bed count – 427 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler
- Bed count – 8 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – South Tyler
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville
- Bed Count – 96 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Winnsboro
- Bed count – 94 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital
- Bed count – 96 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart – Tyler
- Bed count – 51 – Tyler ContinueCARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital
— Submitted by William Knous, Manager Media – Public Relations, CHRISTUS Health: Northeast Texas | Louisiana, [email protected]
Hopkins County COVID-19 Update: 3 Recovered; 130 Negative, 7 Pending Tests
Three of the four people with Hopkins County addresses who tested positive for COVID-19 have now recovered and 15 additional test results have come back negative, according to Hopkins County Emergency Management officials and the regular Hopkins County COVID-19 testing update from Hopkins County Hospital District/EMS Director Brent Smith.
The third recovery was confirmed shortly after 1 p.m. Monday, April 20, to the Hopkins County Emergency Management Team.
No new cases were reported since the last HCHD/EMS update, marking a total of 15 days without any new positive cases of COVID-19 confirmed for Hopkins County.
While 15 more screenings were sent for testing, 15 additional cases were confirmed to be negative. That’s a total of 141 COVID-19 screenings from Hopkins County, and 130 confirmed negative cases. As was the case five days ago, the results of 7 tests are still pending, according to Smith’s report.
| HOPKINS COUNTY COVID-19 TESTING TOTALS AS OF: | March 21, 2020 | March 27, 2020 | March 30, 2020 | April 2, 2020 | April 6, 2020 | April 10, 2020 | April 15, 2020 | April 20, 2020 |
| Total Confirmed Positive Cases | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Total Confirmed Negative Tests | NA | NA | 16 | 41 | 65 | 97 | 115 | 130 |
| Total Pending Cases As Of | NA | NA | 44 | 32 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 7 |
| Total Screenings Sent for Testing As Of | 31 | 53 | 62 | 76 | 89 | 114 | 126 | 141 |
| Total Confirmed COVID-19 Patients who Have Recovered | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| COVID-Related Deaths | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Overall, 190 of Texas’ 254 counties have reported positive cases of COVID-19, which is 14 more than reported on April 15. All counties in Northeast Texas had reported cases, including Red River and Marion Counties, which had no confirmed cases on April 15. Red River now has 1 case and Marion County now has three cases, according to the April 20 Texas Department of State Health Services and Texas Health and Human Services data.
As of the April 20 report, 131 additional COVID-19 deaths were reported in Texas, for a total of 495 fatalities reported to DSHS and HHS. The number of Texas patients who have recovered from COVID-19 rose from 3,150 as of the April 15 state report to to 5,706 as of the April 20 report.
Throughout the state, 38,584 additional COVID-19 screenings have been sent for testing over the last five days, up to 190,394 total screenings for Texas as of the noon April 20 reporting.
An additional 3,966 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed throughout the state during the last five days, brings the total of Texas confirmed positive COVID-19 cases to 19,458. There were 117 fewer lab-confirmed COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals as of the April 20 report, reducing the number to 1,411.
| TEXAS Reports (DSHS/HHS) | April 10, 2020 | April 15, 2020 | April 20, 2020 |
| Total tests | 115,918 | 151,810 | 190,394 |
| Cases reported | 11,671 | 15,492 | 19,458 |
| Lab Confirmed COVID-19 Patients Currently In Texas Hospitals | 1,532 | 1,538 | 1,411 |
| Estimated Number of Patients Recovered | 1,366 | 3,150 | 5,706 |
| Fatalities | 226 | 364 | 495 |
While the number of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases remains small and unchanged for the last 11 days in Hopkins County, all four cases are presumed to be community spread, Hopkins County Emergency Management Team reported over the last 30 days.
Thus, local officials urge everyone to continue practicing social distancing, proper hand-washing techniques, good hygiene, and the stay at home, stay safe guidelines established by Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Executive Orders, and in the Hopkins County public health emergency disaster declaration. Doing so will help keep the Hopkins County positive number low by helping to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 through the community during the duration of the stay home, stay safe order.
County Judge Has Updated The Disaster Declaration To Match Governor’s Orders
The county judge has updated the disaster declaration to match the Governor’s April 17 orders regarding COVID-19 measures. This marks the second time that the judge has amended the local local public health emergency disaster declaration.
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom said the order won’t mean many changes for Hopkins County, aside from those awaiting certain medical procedures.
“The elective surgeries opening up on Wednesday should be a blessing to patients, doctors, nurses and our hospital,” Newsom said.
The amendment is the second one made by the judge, and will remain in effect for 7 days. The county judge, Emergency management team and local health authority, however, urge Hopkins County Commissioners Court to adopt the Executive Order issued By Governor Greg Abbott on April 17.
The Governor issued more than one orders April 17, including one creating a strike force who will “advise the governor on safely and strategically restarting and revitalizing all aspects of the Lone Star State—work, school, entertainment, and culture.”
One order issued last week requires all schools in Texas to remain closed through the end of the 2019-2020 school year. However, teachers and staff can return to schools to conduct remote video instruction and perform administrative duties under certain restrictions.
Many schools are trying to figure out ways to honor seniors and other award recipients, while maintaining social distancing guidelines and state and national orders enacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees are slated to discuss COVID-19 related matters at their next meeting, to be conducted at 6 p.m. tonight (April 20) via Zoom.
More than 1 million unemployment claims have been made by Texans who at least temporarily lost their jobs due to COVID-19 measures implemented at the national, state and local levels. This should allow some of those individuals to return to work.
Retail businesses will be among the first step in reopening business in Texas, according to the governor and president’s plans to reopen the economy. Retail businesses starting Friday, April 24, can reopen for “pick-up and delivery services.”
Several local businesses have been operating in this fashion, thanks to the locked business clause added in the disaster designation approved by Hopkins County Commissioners Court on April 6.
Bond Set On Murder Charge
Bond has been set at $1,500,000 for the 30-year-old Sulphur Springs man arrested Saturday evening on a first degree murder charge, according to jail reports.
Ronald David Bailey is accused of the stabbing death of 25-year-old Kendale Shawn Qualls of Sulphur Springs Saturday, April 18.
Sulphur Springs Police responded to a reported stabbing shortly after 7 p.m. Saturday in the 1500 block of College Street. Qualls was reportedly being treated for injuries. Police learned the suspect, Ronald David Bailey, was also at the location, according to Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jason Ricketson.
“During the course of investigation, we learned the two men were involved in an altercation, and the suspect at that time stabbed the victim. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he passed away from injury,” Ricketson said.
Bailey “advised that he stabbed the victim,” Sulphur Springs Police Sgt. Josh Shufeldt alleged in arrest reports. Bailey was interviewed at the police station, then, taken into custody at 10:40 p.m. Saturday, April 18, and transported to Hopkins County jail on a first-degree murder charge, according to arrest reports.
Bailey remained in Hopkins County jail Monday morning on the murder charge, according to jail reports.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Cooper Lake State Park Re-Opens to the Public!
Complex Supervisor Steve Killian is thrilled to open the gates for fishing and day-use park-goers as of Monday April 20, 2020. The state-mandated closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic turned out to be a brief one, thankfully. And for the two Cooper Lake parks, that downtime allowed staff to work full-time on some needed projects delayed due to excessive rainfall. The few sites around the park which had sustained damage due to flooding are now repaired and open to visitors just in time for re-opening!
Governor Greg Abbott’s written order stated:
The Governor today also directed state parks to reopen on Monday, April 20 with strict guidelines to reduce transmission of COVID-19—including requiring visitors to wear face coverings, maintain a six-foot distance from individuals outside of their party, and prohibiting the gathering of groups larger than five.
The Texas Parks & Wildlife website says:
Texas State Parks will begin reopening for day use on Monday, April 20.
All state parks that can reopen will be open for day use only.
Advanced day-use reservations are required.
Reservations will be taken starting at noon on Sunday, April 19.
While at a state park, customers are asked to help avoid the spread of the coronavirus.
Face coverings are required in state parks.
Six-foot social distancing is required.
Gathering of groups is limited to no more than five people.
Yes, the April 20 State Parks re-opening has some limitations for visitors, in compliance with COVID-19 restrictions. According to Killian, Cooper Lake State Park, “both the South Sulphur Unit and the Doctors Creek Unit, are open as of April 20, 2020 for day-use and fishing only at this time. Camping and playground areas remain closed to visitors at this time. Visitors must get their day-use permit online through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Reservations option on the tpwd website. Also, if you are a Parks Pass owner, you will now have an extra two months to use the pass, and you must also make a reservation online prior to your visit dates. The Park’s headquarters staff, who once met everyone in person as they came through the gates, will remain inside the headquarters facility and visitors will remain in their vehicles as their permits and passes and ID’s are checked before entering the park. And our staff of Rangers will be out in the Park making sure your experience is a good one. At this time, however, certain precautions must be kept in place for the safety of the public and the park staff during the COVID-19 pandemic”.
Killian stated that certain other restrictions will also apply at this time. In addition to wearing face covering and maintaining social distance from others, no groups larger than 5 persons will be allowed, other than immediate family. And in order to limit numbers of persons inside the State parks, Cooper Lake State Park has set some attendance maximums as well. There is a daily limit of 250 vehicles per day entering the South Sulphur Unit, and there is a daily limit of 125 vehicles per day entering the Doctors Creek Unit.
Killian is excited about the parks’ re-opening, even on the initial limited basis. “We have 3,000 acres of wilderness and hiking areas and it’s there for you to enjoy. These are your parks! If your favorite hiking trail is too muddy on the day you visit, you can hike the roadways and still see plenty of scenery. Bank fishermen will be glad to know we have installed fish feeders at some of the most popular fishing areas, and that’s new for Cooper Lake. We also have fish attracters installed on both the South and North sides of the park, and we think the fishing will be a big draw for you and your family this Spring and Summer”. Killian and his staff of professional Park Rangers hope you fully enjoy YOUR State Parks during 2020!
