as of Tuesday, April 14

County sees fifth, sixth cases as more events pushed back

Posted 4/15/20

County Judge Lucy Hebron has announced the fifth and sixth confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Wood County.

The sixth came Monday after the fifth was announced on Thursday, April 9.

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as of Tuesday, April 14

County sees fifth, sixth cases as more events pushed back

Posted

County Judge Lucy Hebron has announced the fifth and sixth confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Wood County.

The sixth came Monday after the fifth was announced on Thursday, April 9.

Winnsboro Mayor Cam Wilcox announced the fifth case is in the 75494 ZIP Code outside of the city.

On Tuesday the Northeast Texas Public Health District released a map showing cases in the area by ZIP code.

In Wood County there were two each in 75773 (Mineola) and 75497 (Yantis) and one each in Quitman (75783) and Winnsboro.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced Sunday he is extending the state’s disaster declaration for one month, to May 13. This is not the stay-at-home order, which remains through May 1, closing schools and businesses deemed non-essential.

The Wood County stay-at-home order was issued April 1 to match the state restrictions.

With schools closed until May 4, the University Interscholastic League has suspended all sanctioned events, plus rehearsals, practices and workouts, until at least May 4.

All county school districts are offering free meal services. Check with each district about pickup days and hours as well as deliveries. Most have cut the number of delivery days for safety precautions, still offering a week’s worth of free meals for any school-age children.

All districts have online learning underway, including methods of access for students who do not have home Internet.

Mineola High School prom April 18 is postponed.

Events and venues

The Mineola Fire Dept. rodeo scheduled in mid-July has been canceled. The department cited challenges for business sponsors among the reasons.

The Wood County Junior Livestock Show, scheduled April 2-4, has been switched to a video model, with students sending in videos of them displaying their animals.

The Alba City Council April meeting has been postponed and the council plans to take up city business at the next regular meeting date May 4.

Girls Night Out in Mineola each second Saturday is canceled until further notice.

The annual Farm and Ranch Day for special kids that was planned April 24 in Golden has been canceled.

Mineola League of the Arts is closed and all events canceled. The annual Art Show has been rescheduled for Sept. 11.

APET-SPCA animal rescue in Mineola is closed until further notice.

Bread of Life Ministries food pantry in Mineola has resumed services as of April 7 (see related story, Page 1).

Mineola Youth Foundation has closed the ballpark until further notice and delayed the season.

Quitman Youth Foundation spring ball season is on hold.

Alba-Golden Youth Foundation ball season is on hold.

Mineola Soccer Association youth season is on hold.

Quitman Public Library is closed to the public.

Mineola library programs are canceled and library is closed.

Forever Young Activity Center in Quitman is closed until further notice.

Alba library and museum is closed until further notice.

The Mineola Historical Museum is closed until further notice.

Mineola Civic Center - Meredith Hall closed (except for MISD students using Internet access). Outdoor spaces remain open but playground and courts closed. All gates locked at night.

The city of Mineola has closed all city parks.

Historic Select Theater and Lake Country Playhouse suspended operations until further notice.

Mineola Railers square dancers have suspended activities.

Wood County Arboretum in Quitman, mini-workshops canceled but the gardens remain open.

Check with individual churches to learn their plans. Most have gone to online services and events and some drive-up events.

Local service and civic clubs and organizations have suspended meetings. Lake Fork Lions have canceled their May 9 fish fry. Lake Fork Kiwanis have rescheduled their golf tournament to Oct. 3.

The Yantis Catfish Classic benefitting the Yantis Fire Dept. has been postponed until October.

Highway 80 garage sale in mid-April is canceled.

The annual child abuse awareness candlelight vigil April 21 has been postponed.

Master Gardeners garden tour May 2 is canceled.

The Memorial Day ceremony at the veterans memorial at the county courthouse May 25 has been canceled.

May Fiesta in Mineola May 2 is under discussion for postponement.

Major retailers have temporarily adjusted store hours to allow additional time for restocking and cleaning and allowing special times for senior citizens and medical and first responders to shop. Some restaurants have added to-go and/or delivery services with the end of onsite dining after March 20.

Government

The city of Mineola has suspended all committee and advisory board meetings other than city council.

The city hall lobby and drive through closed. Staff remains at work and providing services.

Bulk trash pickup in Mineola was suspended effective March 25.

The Wood County Republican Party has postponed the county convention, scheduled March 21, to some time in May. State convention is delayed until July.

City of Quitman has suspended all municipal court activity. City hall lobby and drive-through are closed.

Mineola has also suspended municipal court.

Wood County district court trials have been canceled until at least May 1. County court has suspended all non-essential hearings until May 8.

Visitation at the Wood County jail is restricted.

Most county offices have been closed to the public, as well as the county appraisal district. Visit individual offices online to learn alternate payment and communication options.

Non-critical visitors are restricted for nursing homes.

Cities and schools have been given the option by the state to postpone the May 2 elections. So far Quitman city and ISD, Mineola ISD, Alba-Golden ISD and Yantis ISD have postponed.

Gov. Abbott postponed the primary runoffs set for May 26 to July 14. Wood County has two Republican runoffs.