KSTV News

For the first time in many, many months, Erath County reported zero positive daily tests for COVID-19 on Friday. The number of active cases continues to trend downward, as well. The county now reporting just 84 active cases of coronavirus in the community. That’s the lowest number in at least six months. The number of people hospitalized with coronavirus illnesses stands at just three, whiole the number of people who have died of complications caused by COVID-19 stands at 62.

The Stephenville Rotary Club is sponsoring a blood drive from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 19, at Wal-Mart, 2765 W. Washington St. The Carter BloodCare Bus will be on hand to take donations. Social distancing, masks and other COVID-19 guidelines will be followed and COVD-19 antibody testing is available for all donors. For more information, contact Joe McFarland at (254) 592-5695. Potential donors can also visit carterbloodcare.org for more information.

Just six new positive cases of COVID-19 were identified in Thursday’s report from Erath County. Three patients from Stephenville and three patients from rural parts of the county. The number of people who have died from complications of th eillness remained the same, at 62. The number of people hospitalized also remained the same, at three. Some really good news is that the number of active cases of coronavirus in the community has now dropped below 100 for the first time since the middle of last year. There are now 94 people in the community who are considered active cases. The total number of people infected since the pandemic began now stands at 3,042.

Induction ceremonies for Tarleton State University’s Rodeo Hall of Fame have been moved to Friday, Feb. 19, due to anticipated winter weather. Originally scheduled for this Friday, Feb. 12, festivities will celebrate six new members — Cody Horwedel, Clayton Jackson, Bray Armes, Blake Teixeira, Ryan Watkins and York Gill — all part of the 2005 men’s national championship team.

A Brownwood City COuncil member has submitted a letter of resignation. On Tuesday, the council accepted the resignation of Ward 3 Councilman Larry Mathis. Mathis said in the letter that he and his wife will soon be moving to the Georgetown area in order to be near family. Mathis said he would remain on the council until his successor is chosen. The council has scheduled a special election to be held May 1st. Mathis served on the council since 2015 after retiring as the director of Brownwood High School’s Theater Department.

Westchester COunty continues to see much lower daily positive tests for COVID-19. Most days in the past couple weeks have seen fewer than ten new positive tests each day, so the rolling 7-day average has dropped dramatically. That’s definitely good news. However, there will still 7 new casdes identified yesterday, while two more people died of complications cause dby the coronavirus. Erath County’s death toll now stands at 62 since the pandemic began almost one year ago. Three people are currently hospitalized.

A Stephneville murder case will be featured on the NBC show Dateline. On February 12th, Dateline NBC will feature the case of Susan Woods. Woods was killed in the late 1980’s. The case was not solved until 2006, when Lieutenant Don Miller of the Stephenville Police Department, used DNA evidence that was found at the crime scene – with new technology that has come into play over the last decade. The DNA linked a man named Scott Hatley to the killing. Hatley was also linked to the rape of a young girl in Erath County. When he was arrested for that crime, he confessed that he had killed another woman, but a grand jury did not indict him. The full story will be told in the Dateline special on February 12th.

Erath County opened its first mass vaccination clinic on Thursday at 2900 West Washington Street. That’s the old JCPenney store and FFO Furniture. A statement from the city of Stephenville says the clinic is accepting appointments for residents of Erath County that currently fall in the 1a and 1b groups. Those include health care workers, anyone age 65 and older, and anyone 16 and older who has a chrinic health conidition as outlined by the Texas Department of State Health Services. You can find that list at dshs.texas.gov. You must make an appointment. Walkups will not be accepted. The number to call is 254-459-5053.

Eight new positive cases of coronavirus were identified yesterday in Erath County. Seven of the patients are in Stephenville, while the remaining one is in Dublin. There were no positive test results returned yesterday from rural residents of the county. Sadly, the number of people who have died from coronavirus complications rose by two on Wednesday. That number now stands at 54. The number of people hospitalized stands at four. The county says there are currently 161 people who are considered to have active coronavirus in Erath County right now.

Sad news to report today, as we learn that Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer Paul Mayo has died in Stephenville. Mayo had a style of bareback riding that revolutionized the sport. Mayo died January 24th at the age of 78. He was a two-time world champion and 12-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier who was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2010. A celebration of Mayo’s life is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Cowboy Church of Erath County in Stephenville.