Friday morning saw a new active case of COVID-19 in Freestone County confirmed by local officials.
As of 11:13 a.m., City of Fairfield shared information from state officials about a fifth active case in the county. The Freestone number is now comprised of eight confirmed cases and three recoveries.
No other information is known about the case as of Friday afternoon.
Teague will be hosting a drive-thru COVID-19 testing clinic Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 887 W. Hwy 84. Those with symptoms can register beginning today by visiting txcovidtest.org, or by calling 512-883-2400.
Other Notes:
-The Freestone County Sheriff’s Office was part of an area-wide sting of suspected child predators during April, with warrants issued for 20 suspected predators. As of Thursday, 18 of the 20 had been arrested as the result of an April investigation.
The online operation, headed by the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, focused on targeting the men attempting to engage in the commercial sexual exploitation of children.
“Throughout the operation, men either solicited paid sex from children, or enticed children to engage in the manufacturing and distribution of child pornography,” said McLennan County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy David Kilcrease.
As of Friday, one of the two remaining suspects is out-of-state, and is cooperating by returning to Texas. The other suspect remains at large.
“Freestone County may be a small, rural county, but we stand ready to assist whenever possible,” Freestone County Sheriff Jeremy Shipley wrote. “Good work to all those involved.”
-Fitness centers in the area will be allowed to reopen Monday, with Lott Physical Therapy and Fitness Center opening with limited hours. For the week of May 18-23, the gym will be open Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturdays 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. The gym will be closed Sunday, May 24.
Personal training will be available beginning Monday. Classes will not resume this week, returning at a date to be determined.
Staffed hours will be extended at Lott’s to follow safety guidelines laid out by Governor Greg Abbott. Other safety precautions include:
-Members must wear gloves to the wrist while in the facility.
-There is a max of 19 members in the gym at a time.
-There will be extra disinfectant bottles throughout the gym.
-All members must sign a waiver prior to working out.
“We are thankful for your patience during this time,” Lott’s Facebook page wrote. “We can’t wait to see you!”
-Cooper Farms Peaches is now open in Fairfield, as well as Waco, Huntsville and Conroe. For more information, call 903-389-5500.
-Beau Chastain, Agency Manager at Texas Farm Bureau Insurance, is looking for individuals to join the Bureau. Chastain is “looking for someone who is a self-starter and motivated.” For more information, call 903-389-4125 or email bchastain@txfb-ins.com.
-Simpson Fireworks will be open to celebrate the Memorial Day weekend. They will be open from May 21 through May 25 at both Fairfield and Mexia locations. Operating hours are yet to be determined.
-Tri-County Golf Club will be hosting two events in the coming weeks. On May 22, the Club will host a “night time golf tournament” in a four-person scramble format. Tee time is 5:30 p.m., with fees being $35 per person. Play an 18-hole game, as well as a nine-hole night tournament for prize money. Fees include a cart, two “constant light” LED balls, a light stick for each cart, glow necklaces and dinner following the first nine holes.
The Club will also be hosting a Crawfish Boil on May 30 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person in advance, or $30 per person at the door. Contact the Club at 254-739-5600 for more information.
-Incommons Bank announced Friday that through the Paycheck Protection Program, the bank’s loans have helped 1,252 employees in local communities. “We are happy to help so many people during this difficult time,” Incommons wrote on its Facebook page.