“Corrected” Smith Trial Underway
May 11, 2015 – Monday morning in the 8th Judicial District Courtroom in the Hopkins County Courthouse, a jury panel began hearing testimony from witnesses in the trial of Jarrod Arnold Smith. Smith, 41, is being tried on three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. According to Hopkins County Criminal Investigator Lewis Tatum, Smith is on trial for shooting a man in the chest with 45 caliber pistol. The incident...
New Jail 18 Days Behind Schedule
Progress continues to be made on the new Hopkins County Jail despite a tremendous number of rain days since construction began. County Judge Robert Newsom expects the roof over the new facility to be completed by May 20th. He bases his statement on commitments made by the contractor. Hampered by rain days, construction is 18-days behind schedule. Yet, Newsom expects the building to be completed some time in October. When the outside...
County Seeks Participation in State Pilot Program
Hopkins County government is excited about the prospects of being a part of a pilot program through the Texas Secretary of State’s Office that will reduce the number of county polling sites but will also allow voters to cast a ballot at any polling spot in the county on Election Day. County Judge Robert Newsom stated that county government is excited about the concept and he is sure the citizens of the county will love it. The...
Senate Finance Committee Meets But No Discussion of SB1158
Time seems to be running out on SB1158. The Bill, authored by District 2 State Senator Bob Hall has been left pending in the Senate finance committee since April 21st, has had no further movement. The Senate Finance Committee met yesterday on May 6th, but Hall’s bill was not on the agenda for discussion. The Bill, recommended by Hopkins County Commissioners would allow local voters to choose whether or not to increase local...
Copy of the Complete Autopsy Report for Tony Chance Ross
The complete March 9, 2015 autopsy of Tony Chance Ross performed by David L. Zimmerman, M.D. at the request and written authorization of the Honorable Gary Alfred, Precinct #2, Smith County, Texas can be found below. Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Previous Article Previous Article Previous Article
Allen Waives Appeal; Ruiz Sentenced
District Attorney for the 8th Judicial DistrictWill Ramsey praised his team of assistants for their hard work and dedication that has recently resulted in the sentencing of three individuals to state jail time. On Tuesday, May 5, 2015, Robert Dwayne Allen appeared before the court and announced his intention to waive appeal in his recent life sentence for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. In exchange for his waiver of appeal, the...
Senator Hall Seeking Committe Support for SB1158
SB1158, which would give citizens in Hopkins County the opportunity to vote to approve or disapprove an increase in county sales tax up to one-half percent and remove the 7% per $100 dollar valuation property tax increase currently adopted to fund a new jail under construction, is currently in the Senate Finance Committee with no current movement. According to Senator Bob Hall’s Chief of Staff Amy Lane, “At this time, we are working...
Memorial Hospital Board Hears Reports; Pursues Lease
Although March revenue was up, the deductions and expenses for Hopkins County Memorial Hospital created a little more than a one million dollar loss to the hospital district for the month, according to Donna Wallace, hospital CFO. She said that cash-on-hand is holding strong with 83-days of cash-on-hand. The hospital board met Monday night in the hospital plaza board room for their regular March meeting. During the meeting, the board...
Time Running Out on SB1158
Having received no new word on the progress of SB1158 in the Texas Senate Finance Committee, Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom notes that time is running out on the bill that would allow county voters to approve or disapprove an increase in sales tax up to one-half percent to pay for the new county jail. The sales tax would take the place of a property tax increase this year and could be used only for the cost of the jail. Although...
