Emergency Management Team Gives Update on COVID-19: 03/20/2020
During a scheduled teleconference with Hopkins County Emergency Management Team, Andy Endsley confirmed as of 3/20/2020 that there are NO confirmed cases of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) from any patient in Hopkins County.
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom encouraged citizens to think about different ways to contact nursing home residents, as all visitors to nursing homes are restricted at this time. “A phone call could make someone’s day as even the residents of these nursing homes are staying away from each other” Newsom said.
Hopkins County EMS Director Brent Smith noted that they have seen an uptick in calls related to COVID-19 symptoms, but also said that call volume overall was down, due to less people moving around. The EMS workers are following newly established protocols as they diagnose patients with similar symptoms to COVID-19. Any patients that present with mild symptoms will be asked to self-isolate at home and contact their medical professional to determine if testing is needed. Hopkins County EMS does not take samples or facilitate testing for COVID-19. If paramedics encounter a patient with COVID-19 symptoms and the patient is in immediate distress, the patient will be transported to CHRISTUS Sulphur Springs but will then follow an updated protocol to ensure isolation from other patients and minimized contact with health care professionals.
As the state-mandated distancing guidelines come into effect, all lobbies of City of Sulphur Springs facilities are now closed. Other options of making payments, or arranging for critical appointments are made at each office. City of Sulphur Springs residents are encouraged to pay their water bill online, or use the kiosk in front of the water department.
Most County offices remain open at this time, but citizens are encouraged to facilitate their business with the county in different ways. Vehicle registration, and other Department of Motor Vehicle business has been postponed and penalties are waived for a 60-day period at this time. Vehicle Titling and Handicap Parking Placard renewals also fall under the 60-day waiver.
The Hopkins County Emergency Management Team cautioned citizens to heed the warnings set out by the CDC, federal, and state governments to practice “social distancing” and minimize all contact with others. The mandated ban on social gatherings of 10 or more is still in effect until April 3rd, and could be extended at any time.
Bodacious BBQ: Hometown Owners Want To Fulfill Their Customer’s Needs
The current owners of Bodacious BBQ have been a part of the Sulphur Springs Community since 2007, and love calling this place home. They want to continue to do all they can to try and help our community during these difficult and uncharted times. They have several employees who work over 30 hours a week and several high school/college students who work part time who depend on their job in order to support their families. With this in mind, they have come up with a plan to ensure their business stays open for them and for the community.
The full menu is still available and they are now offering curbside/carhop service as well as home delivery. Home delivery will be available within city limits, and there will be a $5 delivery fee for orders less than $30. Call 903-885-6456 to place your order. Click on this link for their online menu: Bodacious BBQ Menu
In talking with Jay Isonhood at Bodacious he said, “Our prayers are that we all do our part to help slow the curve of this virus and see that our community returns to normal. We have faith that this too shall pass.” It’s obvious that customers, employees, and family are very important to the Bodacious business. In talking with the owners, the concern for the customers is apparent, as if they are extended family. Jay added, “During this time, in which we have all had to take a step back and slow down, let’s be thankful for our families and value the extra time that we have been given with them.”
The family at Bodacious wants to provide the BBQ while you spend time with your loved ones. From their family to yours, Bodacious is a hometown tradition.
Wildcats, Lady Cats Soccer Stats For 2020 Season
A recent visitor to the ksstradio.com website requested some soccer stats. After a review of reports on all Wildcats and Lady Cats’ soccer games this season, here are some unofficial statistics from KSST Sports Director Don Julian.
For the Wildcats, their leading goal scorer is Omar Hernandez with 11 goals. Kevin Yaniz has 8 goals. Alejandro Diosdado has 7 goals. Other Wildcats scorers include Nabian Ramirez with 3, Angel Andino, David Moreno and Christian Ramirez with 2 each and Manuel Esparza, Uriel Santacruz, Jose Salazar and Isaac Gutierrez with 1 apiece. Top Wildcat in assists is Yanez with 11. Others include Hernandez, Ricardo Torres and Santacruz with 2 each and Christian Palomino and Diasdido with 1 apiece.
The Wildcats have shutout six opponents this season and their season record is 13-6-5 with a district mark of 7-2.
For the Lady Cats, freshman Rebekah Stanley has 21 goals and senior Haley Robinson has 17. Ashley Noe has 9 goals. Janine Yamaguchi has 6 goals. Other Lady Cats goal scorers include Katelyn Robinson with 3, Vanessa Lara with 2 and Lisseth Carmona and Elizabeth Reyes with 1 each. Stanley also tops with Lady Cats with 15 assists. Haley Robinson and Yamaguchi have 5 apiece. Maurie Flecker, Lara and Noe have 2 each. Emily Soto, Reyes, Katelyn Robinson and Carmona have 1 each.
The Lady Cats have three shutouts. Their season record is 10-9-1 and their district mark is 6-3.
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.
Big Smith’s Is Up For The Challenge
A Hopkins County tradition for 31 years, Big Smith’s has always provided the best food, service and quality to their customers. They remain very concerned about the current health crisis and the effects it will have on our community, customers, employeees and their families. Big Smith’s was quick to limit their dining room capacity as this crisis began and now will follow state restrictions by only offering Take-Out only. Their full menu is available as “Front-Door” pickup by calling 903-438-1547. They also have some specials available to help their customers through these tough times. You can find the full menu and specials on their facebook page by clicking here: Big Smith’s Bar-B-Q Facebook.
North Hopkins ISD To Remain Closed Through April 3
Elementary To Begin Distance Learning To Begin Next Week
North Hopkins ISD will remain closed until April 3, per Governor Greg Abbott’s announcement today.
NHISD officials will continue to monitor the situation to determine if closure will need to continue past April 3.
While the school is closed, NHISD will still provide instructional supports and provide distance learning for students.
NHISD teachers and staff began contacting students’ homes March 16 to try to assess their nutritional needs and instructional capabilities. The information was used for meal preparation and will be utilized for instructional plans in the near future.
The meal program began Wednesday. The school is delivering about 100 student meals per day, according to Jolly. Breakfast and lunch will continue to be delivered from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday from the school.
“We are consistent with other schools in distance learning online/packets beginning Monday, March 23,” Dr. Darin Jolly, NHISD superintendent, stated.
Elementary will be using specific sites that will be listed on the elementary and teachers’ page on the school website. Families can check the various sites in each subject area and decide which ones best fit their students and families. Teachers are able to monitor the students’ time spent working in each subject on these sites.
The goals for elementary students, according to Elementary Principal Kodi Wright, beginning next week are as follows:
- Grades Pre-K-6th: 2 hours on math programs
- Grades Pre-K-6th: 2 hours on reading programs.
- 4th-6th Graders: 1 hour on science programs
Secondary students next week for distance learning will go to the district webpage, select their campus and view their teachers’ individual webpages from the directory, where they can access resources. They may also email them from there as well.
Anyone who has questions for NHISD staff related to COVID-19 may email them to [email protected].
Sulphur Bluff ISD To Remain Closed Through April 3
School Meal Program, Home Work To Begin
Sulphur Bluff ISD will remain closed until at least April 3, due to the unprecedented situation of the Novel Coronavirus and the many health concerns surrounding our community at large, SBISD Superintendent Dustin Carr posted in a letter to “Bear Family” to the school website and Facebook page at 3:20 p.m. Thursday.
Students will still be required to do school work, however. Instructional materials will be delivered Monday morning for all paper-based students. Families who have not already done so and are able, may fill out the home technology survey on the school website.
Edmentum is available and functional today (March 19) for all Secondary students to help provide online instruction. Information on accessing online materials is located on the SBISD website. Students who have never accessed the online platform will receive login information from the district.
School meals will be provided free for all students under 18. Pickup is Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Delivery is available if needed. Contact SBISD at 993-945-9303 for questions. Anyone who has not been in contact with the school regarding meals for their children during the extended closure may call SBSID or fill out the survey on the school website.
UIL activities are canceled until at least May 4. No games, meets or practices are allowed at school facilities until that time, per UIL.
All other school activities, including planned trips and prom, are on hold at this time as well.
Como-Pickton CISD To Be Closed Until At Least April 10
Meals Available For Children, Prom Cancelled, Graduation Still On
Como-Pickton CISD Thursday afternoon made several announcements Thursday afternoon, including extending closure of schools to April 10, the availability of meals for children, prom, high school and eighth grade graduations.
School Closure, Instruction
Due to the ever increasing spread of COVID-19 in Texas, the closure of Como-Pickton schools has now been extended beyond the initial March date. CP schools will remain closed through April 10. April 13 is eyed as a possible restart date, but that will depend on the cornonavirus situation at that time, according to Dr. Greg Bower, CPCISD superintendent.
Teachers will begin contacting their students’ parents within the next few days to “determine the most effective way in which to deliver your child’s instruction,” Bower noted in a letter address to Como-Pickton students, parents and community Thursday. That may include online resources for some and hard-copy materials for others.
Any parent who has a new phone number, email or address is asked call 903-488-3671, to speak to someone at their child’s campus between 8 a.m. and noon Friday, March 20, to update their records. This will allow the school to effectively communicate with parents regarding their child’s instruction and instructional needs.
Meal Program
During the school closure, Como-Pickton CISD will offer lunch and breakfast for students starting Monday. A drive-up pick-up service will be available between 10:15 and 11:15 a.m., Monday through Friday, at the front entrance of the elementary school. All are to remain in their vehicles and wait to be served at the designated pick-up point.
In order for prepare the correct number of meals each day, families are asked to call our School Closure Student Meal Hotline, 903-488-8895, the day prior to picking the child’s meals. The hotline will be answered Friday for our Monday meal pick-up. Hotline hours will be from 8 to 11:30 am, Monday-Friday each week.
While all who are able are encouraged to participate in the pick-up process, the school realizes there are instances where that’s not possible.The district will deliver meals if it’s “impossible for you to make arrangements to pick them up, district “understandably very thing” delivery resources permitting. In these instances, the person who calls in for the child daily will need to make sure the call taker knows delivery is needed.
In delivery instances, meals will be brought to the driveway entrance, where the child will be located that day. Someone will be required to meet the delivery team member to accept the meal delivery, as delivery teams will not be leaving their vehicles.
Any further questions may be made to the Student Meal Hotline from 8-11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday, or may be emailed to the child’s campus principal.
Graduations
At this time, both the high school and 8th grade graduations are still on the school calendar. However, as is the case with all things, especially school-related activities, all scheduling will depend on the COVID-19 situation.
“It is my intention that Como-Pickton will hold a high school graduation ceremony. As of right now, that ceremony is still scheduled for May 22nd. If in the event that we are unable to hold a gathering still at that date, I intend on pushing our graduation ceremony to the earliest possible date for us to have it. As I know more, I promise to keep each of you informed,” school administrators stated in a Facebook post Thursday afternoon.
The 8th grade graduation is still scheduled, if CPCISD is able to gather during its scheduled time. If we are not, CP will forgo the 8th grade ceremonies. The traditional 8th grade dance will not be held, even if graduation is. If held, the dress code will be a casual dress code of jeans.
Prom
After much deliberation, CP officials opted to cancel the prom this year. Below is what CPCISD officials stated in a Frequently Asked Questions post regarding the matter:
Eagle students, one of the most difficult decisions that we have had to make regarding this troubling time is whether or not to cancel prom. We have been postponing that decision in hopes that everything will be ok and back to normal in a week or two. It appears that will not be the case. If we cancel prom, then we run the risk of parents who have bought expensive dresses already to have no occasion for their child to wear the dress. If we postpone cancelling prom, then we run the risk of even more parents doing the same thing all the while knowing that we will probably have to cancel. At this point, and as much as we hate to do it, we are making the decision to cancel our prom this year.
Pizza Inn in Sulphur Springs is Ready to Deliver
Joe Crouch told KSST that his Pizza Inn team is ready to deliver the full menu to Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County. Pizza Inn has trained delivery drivers ready to go.
Although inside dining may be temporarily banned by the State Of Texas, Pizza Inn’s staff is geared up for increased delivery demand.
“We have solid safety and cleanliness practices already in place, but we have increased some of the more critical sanitizing tasks as an extra precaution.” said Crouch. Joe is particularly attune to health and safely issues. Joe takes a medication that reduces his ability to fight illness. Crouch can no longer go into his own restaurant; his physician advised him to “Cover in place”.
Customers can reach Pizza Inn of Sulphur Springs by calling 903 885 1549 or click here for their website.
UIL Suspends All Activities Until May 4
The University Interscholastic League on the official UIL Facebook page has just announced that all UIL activities will continue to be suspended until May 4 due to COVID-19. That means no practices, contests, rehearsals and workouts until at least May 4, potentially longer, depending on the situation regarding COVID-19.
Governor Abbott Shuts Down All Gyms, Bars, And Restaurant Dining Rooms In State
A statewide declaration goes into effect at midnight tomorrow (March 20th, 2020) and will be re-evaluated April 3rd. The declaration calls for restaurant dining rooms to be closed to the public and those restaurants to offer drive-thru or curbside pick-up only. Also gyms will be closed for this two week period.
This is the first public health disaster issued in Texas in more than 100 years. This will give the state and local officials the tools and resources they need to combat coronavirus. The order also closes all Texas schools until April 3rd. The governor noted that, “this is not a shelter in place.” But stated that it is essential that all Americans comply with the CDC standards.
The order begins on Friday March 20th and will end on April 3rd. It will be evaluated at that time.
