Winnsboro Police Report April 17-23, 2017
Five arrests, one accident investigated 140 calls for service, 39 citations issued and 27 warnings written occupied the time of the Winnsboro Police Department during the April 17-23, 2017 report period.
Ashley Latson, 39, of Winnsboro was arrested April 20th on a Franklin County warrant.
James Kidd, 35, of Winnsboro was arrested April 20th for Public Intoxication.
Steven Bridges, 34, of Winnsboro was arrested April 20th for Criminal Trespass.
Joshua Blackwood, 39, of Caney was arrested for Public Intoxication.
Brandon Mooney, 34, of Winnsboro was arrested April 23rd for Driving While Intoxicated 3rd or more.
A one vehicle accident in the 1000 block of South Walnut occurred when the vehicle left the roadway, traveled through the ditch and struck a chain link fence. There were no known injuries.
First Day of Spring Football “a Very Good Day”
Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens called Monday’s first day of spring football a very good day. He said he was excited by the retention level by players on both sides of the ball. Coach Owens said the athletes practiced with enthusiasm and energy.
He said the players concentrated on fundamentals during this class period Monday. That allowed for inside huddle work and team sessions after school. Coach Owens said the kids were flying around and were having a good time with the cooler weather inside the Multipurpose Building. As expected there were lots of blown plays. Coach Owens said the players would have to settle down a little. There will be video of the practice to see so that mistakes can be cleaned up. He said he is challenging the players to get better every day.
Coach Owens said the players were ready to hit somebody Monday. He said some of the players made him think, “who is that guy? Where did he come from?” The Wildcats also worked on aspects of the kicking game and they lifted weights Monday. Coach Owens said the beauty of spring ball is there is no upcoming game pressure so the coaching staff had the time to slow down and teach fundamentals.
Coach Owens said there were no first day injuries plus practice ended on time at 5:30 p.m. after the 3:50 p.m. Start.
Game Day: Wildcat Baseball Bids Farewell to Eagle Stadium Play Tuesday Night
Perhaps all that is missing is a three ring circus. The Wildcats’ baseball team plays Greenville at 7 p.m. on this Tuesday game night and it’s senior night as well as an evening to bid a fond farewell to historic Eagle Stadium. There will also be an important game to play for the Wildcats. The Wildcats are 9-1 in district play and they have a one game lead over Hallsville with two district games to play. The Wildcats end the district campaign at Hallsville Friday night.
First they need to take care of business against Greenville, winless so far in district play. The Lions scare Wildcats Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack. He doesn’t want the Lions to break into the victory column Tuesday night and spoil the Wildcats party. The Wildcats defeated the Lions by the ten run rule in Greenville earlier this season.
The Wildcats will honor five seniors: Mason Buck, Heston Golightly, Michael Arnold, Easton Silman and Kyle Dodd. PA Announcer Jeff Harris is expected to entertain the crowd with little known facts about Eagle Stadium and recognize some of the past athletes that played there.
We will bring you Wildcats Baseball live on KSST Radio beginning at around 7 p.m. We will also videotape the game for replay on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable at a later date. Should be quite an evening.
Eagle Stadium
Twelve Candidates Run For Mt Vernon School Board
There are officially twelve candidates for the Mt Vernon School Board election. The twelve candidates are after three seats on the board, all looking to create an atmosphere of change within the Mt Vernon school community.
Candidates on the May 6th ballot will be Mellisa Dunavant, Brook Bussell, Josh Jordan, Sal LeBlanc, Colin Clasby, Jeremey Monroe, Claudio Telles, Bill Travis, Lyle Swatsell, Steve Asay, Marie Latortue, and Allison Rios.
In the hurricane of conflict that is creating upheaval within their school district, the Lady Tiger basketball and golf coach Brad Floyd and Athletic Director Joe Thomas find themselves at odds with School Superintendent Dr. Gregg Weiss (weese). The school is under UIL scrutiny due to an investigation into a “secret account” in violation UIL rules. . The case has been before the State Exec Committee and a meeting was held on February 15. The information regarding the case was initiated by the superintendent. In that hearing, Mount Vernon High School and the two Mount Vernon coaches were found to have violated rules related to off-season and non-school participation regulations. Coach Floyd was issued a public reprimand, three years’ probation, a suspension for the first five games of next basketball season and required additional training of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules. Coach Thomas was issued a public reprimand, one-year probation and required additional training of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules. Mount Vernon High School was issued a public reprimand and two years’ probation.
Blue Blazes Spring Show “I’ve Got the Music in Me”
The theme for this year’s spring show, presented by the SSHS Blue Blazes Drill Team, is “I’ve Got the Music in Me.” It will take place this Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. each night in the high school auditorium. Tickets are on sale early from Blue Blazes’ members and at the high school office. Tickets will also be available at the door.
Blue Blazes Director Christie McCullough, in her eleventh year, said this year’s show focuses on the role of music in our daily lives and it’s ability to affect our mood. The show will feature the 55th line of the Blue Blazes, their officers, the Sparks–a dozen new members of the Blue Blazes for next year–and members of Ms. McCullough’s dance classes. Mike Dodd will sing and serve as a crew member. Sydney Hawkins will sing and will serve as an emcee along with Rachel Bramlett and Laney Ashford from the theatre department.
Ms. McCullough said there will be four big production numbers with each being very different. The dancers will have a different costume for each dance number. Expect some smoke and perhaps whistles and bells as Steven Kramer is back working on the production. Former Blue Blazes will be encouraged to come on stage for the end of show Sister Circle.
Ms. McCullough said this has been a fun show to do. She’s glad to be in the auditorium after having to do the show in the tight quarters of the high school gym last year while the auditorium was being renovated.
Sulphur Springs ISD own Blue Blazes
Dinner Bell Menu April 26th, 2017
Our Community Partner
Served at 11:45 AM at the First United Methodist Church in Sulphur Springs, TX.
Missing Arkansas Child Found in Franklin County
Franklin County Sheriff, Ricky Jones, reported he and his deputies assisted the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, in the recovery of a missing child from Searcy County, Arkansas on Wednesday, April 19th.
According to Sheriff Jones, the FBI had received a tip of the possible location of a Missing Child just north of the Winnsboro city limits in Franklin County, TX. Upon receiving the tip, FBI Agents and Deputies from Franklin County Sheriff’s Office proceeded to the residence on HWY 37 and made contact with the owner. Officers received consent to search the premises during which the missing Child was located
After locating the Child, Sheriff said, the Child was removed from the residence and taken to the Child Advocacy Center in Winnsboro, TX. The Child was then taken to CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Sulphur Springs, TX. According to Sheriff Jones around 10:00 PM, the Child was released to Arkansas State Police who had flown into the Sulphur Springs Airport in a State of Arkansas’ private plane. The Child was reunited with their family later in the evening.
Sheriff Jones stated the individual the officers first encountered was taken into custody on a warrant issued out of Searcy, AR for the Kidnapping of the Child.
Sheriff Jones said “Locating a missing child over such a great a distance requires cooperation of multiple agencies, jurisdictions and organizations. I would like to commend the professionalism and teamwork of the FBI, Mount Vernon Police Department, Winnsboro Child Advocacy Center, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Sulphur Springs, Texas Department of Public Safety-Texas Rangers Service, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas State Police and Searcy County, Arkansas Sheriff’s Office for making the recovery and safe return of this child possible.
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office will continue to work with the FBI in this ongoing investigation.
More information will be released as it becomes available and safe to do so.
Regents Approve Higher Background Check Fee; Lower Meal Rates
Students who live in Paris Junior College residence halls should have an added measure of protection next year, as well as improved food services at lower costs thanks to actions taken by the Board of Regents Monday evening.
Regents voted to increase a fee to $35 for a comprehensive background check of residence hall applicants. The current $25 check only included the state of Texas. The new fee will include Texas counties and other states in the background check.
PJC students living on campus should also see lowered room and board rates starting in the fall. Regents chose to keep residence hall room rates the same for the coming year, and adopted one 19-meal plan at a lower rate than two-meal plans currently being offered.
In other business, the Regents:
- Modified the financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress policy to reflect accounting changes in the new ERP system.
- Accepted a one-year extension to the Aramark contract which will include the addition of a chef.
- Approved a three-year phone application contract to provide Pathways student support. The app will link students to their account and allow Student Success Coaches easier access to students.
- Received an update from Regent Dr. Clifton Wilkerson on the Board of Trustees Institute he attended recently, along with Board of Regents President Curtis Fendley. The meeting focused on the Pathways Project and how boards of regents can better support the initiative to increase success of students.
- Received an update on the local bill currently in the state legislature, which would change the board of regents from a nine- to a seven-member board to implement annexation representation. The House Higher Education Committee is considering a version of the bill allowing seven regents to represent Lamar County, but the Senate Higher Education committee appears to favor nine regents. PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin will follow up with the Legislature this week.
- Received a list of end of semester events as follows: May 9 – GED Graduation, 7 p.m. in the Ray E. Karrer Theater; May 10 – Retirement Reception from 2-4 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom, May 11 – Jewelry Awards Ceremony, 10 a.m., Associate Degree Nursing Pinning, 5 p.m., and Licensed Vocational Nursing Pinning, 7 p.m. all in the Ray E. Karrer Theater; and May 12 – PJC Graduation at 7 p.m. in Noyes Stadium (or in the Hunt Center if there is inclement weather).
- Accepted the reassignment of Emergency Medical Services Instructor Brad Bolton as Licensed Vocational Nursing Instructor effective Aug. 18; the resignation of Computer Information Systems Instructor Wayne Snelling effective May 12; and the retirements of Biology & Geology Instructor Mike Barnett and Developmental Mathematics Instructor Pam Hunt effective Aug. 31, and Arts Instructor Susan Moore effective May 12.
Sulphur Springs Woman Confirmed as Murder Victim
April 25, 2017 – Lana Canada, recently known as Lana McAree, has been confirmed as the victim in the Dallas high rise office building shooting, according to the medical examiner’s report. Lana, mother of 7, recently married Dennis Canada in March of this year. Her daughter, Bailey Haggerty, is a pitcher for the Sulphur Springs High School Lady Cats.
On Monday, 60-year-old Matthew Kempf, of Allen, fatally shot Canada, his work supervisor, then killed himself at an office tower in Lake Highlands, near the High Five. Dozens of officers — including a SWAT team and ATF officers — responded to the the building along LBJ Freeway, near Schroeder Road, as workers were evacuated from the building about 10:45 a.m. Monday.
Assistant police Chief Randall Blankenbaker said the man came into the office and shot the woman before killing himself. Police shot a locked glass door with a shotgun to get into the office — the only shot fired by police, Blankenbaker said. One officer suffered a minor injury from broken glass during the incident and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Officers found the man and woman dead in a meeting room in that office.SWAT officers searched the building floor by floor to make sure there were no other gunmen and to evacuate everyone who had taken shelter indoors. The building was declared safe at 12:49 p.m., police said.
Lana Canada
