KSTV News

Six new daily cases of COVID-19 were reported in Erath County on Tuesday. Two from STephenville, three form rural parts of the county and one patient fron Dublin. The bad news in Tuesday’s report was the the death toll from the pandemic rose by one. It now stands at 66. Four people are currently in the hospital with COVID-19 illnesses, while the county says there are currently 42 people who have active coronavirus in the community.

Tarleton State University says it has received an additional 200 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to be used for qualifying students and employees. The shots will be administered by Tarleton’s Health Services staff and School of Nursing students. Students and employees must meet phase 1A or 1B requirements. Registration information was shared in a university notice. FOr all the information on vaccine requirements, go online to dshs.texas.gov. The Department of State Health Services oversees vaccine distribution for Texas, and the CDC determines the number of doses a state receives.

A Dublin man is identified as the victim of a deadly crash north of Lampasas. It happened sixes miles north of the city on US 281 on Saturday, according to Texas Department of Public Safety. The report shows a 2001 Chevy HHR sedan driven by Florencio Gonzalez Rodriguez, of Dublink, was headed south on 281 when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle left the roadway and struck a provate driveway, rolling over several times. Investigators say it did not appear as if Rodriquez was wearing a seat belt.

Tarleton State University’s 2005 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association champion men’s team members were guests of honor Friday at the university’s Rodeo Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Honorees Cody Horwedel, Clayton Jackson, Bray Armes, Blake Teixeira, Ryan Watkins and York Gill were inducted at the annual dinner and induction event, which benefits Tarleton rodeo’s scholarship fund. The Rodeo Hall of Fame made its first induction in 2012 and now includes 48 high-achieving student-athletes and others instrumental in the success of the university rodeo program.

The city of Stephenville is waiving some plumbing permit fees in response to the winter storm from last week. The move will allow for repairs to be made quicker and without so much red tape. Mayor Doug Svien signed a declaration of local disaster on Friday due to the historic weather event. Until further notice, all plumbing permit fees will be waived for plumbing damage caused by the extreme cold weather. Plumbers will still need to apply for permits online, and approval will be posted as quickly as possible, but there will be no fees. The requirement for on-site inspections is also waived and plumbers can send pictures to permits@stephenvilletx.gov for approval.

Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) are encouraging Texans to complete the Self Reporting Damage Survey to help the state identify damages across Texas and help emergency management officials gain an understanding of damages that occurred during the recent winter weather. This data is also needed to provide information to FEMA and highlight the need for federal disaster assistance for individuals.

The voluntary survey, available in both English and Spanish, can be accessed by visiting: www.TDEM.texas.gov/warm. Reporting damage to the Texas Division of Emergency Management is a voluntary activity, is not a substitute for reporting damage to an insurance agency, and does not guarantee disaster relief assistance.

Meanwhile, Governor Gregg Abbott is demanding an investigation into ERCOT, the group that oversees the state’s electric grid, to determine what caused the mass power outage problem. ERCOT President and CEO, Bill Magness, said Tuesday that he welcomes the probe. Hundreds of thousands of North Texans were still without power in the middle of the coldest snap the state has seen in many decades. Magness did say that power had been restored to around 400-thousand customers by Tuesday evening. However, it’s estimated that as many as 3 million Texans were knocked in the dark.

Due to the extreme cold conditions and power outages, the following buildings will be closed until the weather clears and the power grid becomes stable again: Courthouse, Donald R. Jones Justice Center, Stephenville and Dublin Tax Offices.

The Tarleton State University College of Business hosts its 2021 Executive in Residence, John Avila, at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, via Zoom. Avila chairs the board of directors at Byrne Construction Services. He became Byrne’s majority stockholder in 1995 after a distinguished career as a senior executive at several of the nation’s
top commercial contractors. He retired as a Brigadier General from the United States National Guard after 32 years of service. He is a 1974 graduate of UT Austin and 1997 graduate of the United States Army War College. You can find the Zoom credentials by visiting Tarleton State University’s website.

A hard freeze warning, winter storm warning and wind chill warning continue through TYuesday morning for the Stephenville area. SNow should come to an end this morning, but extreme cold will persist. Additional snow accumulations of 1-3 inches can be expected, according to the National Weather Service. This is for mainly across Central Texas on top of what has already fallen. For the Wind Chill Warning, dangerously cold wind chills. Wind chills as low as 20 below zero this morning and 15 to 20 below zero on Tuesday morning.

Travel will be dangerous through the morning.
Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility.
The hazardous conditions could impact the morning commute.
Extreme wind chills as low as 20 below zero will become life
threatening to people and animals outside without adequate
warmth or shelter! The cold wind chills could cause frostbite on
exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.