Hopkins County Junior Market Livestock Sale of Champions Final Total $363,882–A Record Total
The Northeast Texas Livestock Association has announced the final total of $363,882 for the 2017 HCJMLS Sale of Champions held Saturday February 25th. This will be the 6th consecutive year that a record total has been spent on the youth of Hopkins County, who worked for weeks and months to prepare their animal projects for showing and judging.
A total of 125 youth from FFA & 4-H chapters all over Hopkins County earned the right to participate in the Sale of Champions.
Prim Stadium Construction On Target for September Home Opener; School Board Approves Batting Cages and Concession Stands for Baseball/Softball
Construction on Gerald Prim Stadium continues as the playing field is put in place and foundation work begins for home-side seating and Press box. According to Athletic Director Greg Owens work at the stadium is currently on target to be completed by the first home game of the 2017 season when the Wildcats host Seattle, Washington’s Garfield High School September 8th.
Work is also progressing at the new construction of a baseball field and the reconstruction for Lady Cat Park. Monday night, the Sulphur Springs school board approved an expenditure of over $84,000 for the construction of two batting cages at the baseball field and a concession stand at both the baseball field and softball fields. The new concession buildings will be bolt-up buildings. The concrete work has already been approved.
Federal Magistrate Seals Proceedings and Award Made in Chance Ross Family Case Against City
When the Sulphur Springs City Council meets Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. in Executive Session, one item discussed will focus on pending litigation. In open session the council will discuss and take action on the Executive Session item regarding pending litigation. That litigation is the decision of a Federal Magistrate handed down Monday in Federal Court regarding the case. The council will be presented the findings of the magistrate and the award given to the family of Chance Ross.
The Ross case was presented to the federal court in February 2016. As reported by KSST, the family of Chance Ross was seeking a jury trial in the Sherman Division of the Eastern District Court of Texas. Shelly and Tony Ross seek damages for emotional distress, medical and funeral expenses, plus attorney fees in case number 4:16-cv-00095-ALM-CAN filed with the court by the David D. Davis Law office of Grand Prairie.
Named in the suit as defendants were the city of Sulphur Springs, Hopkins County, Sulphur Springs Police Lt. Brad Horton and officers Adrian Pruitt, Brandon Mayes, and Joe Scott, county deputies Nick Floyd and Paul Fenimore, as well as jailer Jeff Hightower. The suit claimed these officers used excessive force, failed to protect, and inflicted emotional distress.
Ross died Sunday March 8th in Trinity Mother Frances Hospital where he had been transferred from Hopkins County Memorial Hospital where he had been taken for emergency treatment following what seemed to be a cardiac arrest while in custody at Hopkins County Jail. A Tyler Justice of the Peace ordered an autopsy (complete autopsy found here) immediately following his death.
Ross, 34, was arrested early Friday evening March 6 by Sulphur Springs’ police officers who responded to a call on Whitworth Street of a shirtless man acting erratically (video from arrest found here). Prior to being booked into Hopkins County Jail he was placed in the padded violence cell where he remained for 11 minutes before being found face down and unresponsive. Officers were able to find a faint pulse and called EMS. CPR was stared at the jail and his pulse was stronger but he was not breathing on his own when he arrived at Hopkins County Memorial Hospital.
According to police reports, Ross was arrested when officers encountered him and he was said to have balled his fist and charged an officer. The officer tazed Ross but Ross was able to pull the wires out and fled. The officer pursued and a fight ensued. Officers said Ross was difficult to contain and they were forced to taze him more than once. Ross continued to resist even when taken to jail according to Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jay Sanders.
On April 9, Chief Sanders responded to a question asked during the Tuesday April 7th city council meeting. “Why are the three arresting officers still on duty while an investigation of the death of Chance Ross is being conducted?” This was the question asked by Ross’ brother, Chad Ross Tuesday night April 7th during the city council’s regular session. Ross stated that the family had viewed video of his brother being brought into jail without a shirt and having burn marks on his shoulders that seemed to have been the result of his having been tazed. Ross said his brother was handcuffed and escorted by three Sulphur Springs’ officers and that three county officers assisted those officers in stripping his brother of his pants and placing him in a cell. City officers remained on duty following questions regarding the arrest.
Local Beef Producer Don Smith Elected to Cattleman’s Beef Board
Don Smith of the Starr Ridge Community of Hopkins County has been involved in agriculture on the family farm for a number of decades. First in the dairy business, Don and his wife Marilyn began to shift to beef production in recent years. This week, Don was named to the 100-member Executive Committee of the Cattleman’s Beef Board, a part of the national Beef Checkoff Program. Because of his tireless service to organizations including Texas Beef Council, Texas Association of Dairyman, National Cattleman’s Beef Association, Texas Farm Bureau and others since the 1980’s, his name came up for nomination. The committee selection process actually comes through the White House by the Secretary of Agriculture. Collectively, the members of the committee have backgrounds in and are involved in every aspect of agriculture in the US. Over the next few weeks, Don will be attending a number of meetings as new committee members learn about long-term beef promotion and research projects already in place. He and his wife plan to continue their ranching operation in Hopkins County and their support of local youth-in-agriculture organizations.
Former Jailer Arrested For Official Oppression
A former Hopkins County jailer, wanted on a Misdemeanor A warrant, turned himself in to Sheriff’s Deputies Tuesday morning. The man was fired two weeks ago by Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum when the jailer’s supervisor caught him in the act of official oppression of a female inmate.
Inappropriate comments made by the man to the inmate were noted, investigated, and found to be sufficient to terminate employment immediately and to file the charges. After conferring with the County Attorney, the Sheriff’s office obtained a warrant for his arrest.
This incident was found to be the first inappropriate action for the jail employee. Sheriff Tatum stated that there will be no cover up during his administration and that any Sheriff’s Office employee, at any level, will be arrested as would anyone else who breaks the law.
The individual’s name was not released due to the fact the charge is a misdemeanor.
Sign Up Underway for 5th Annual Warrior Run
The 5th Annual Tanner Higgins Warrior Run is Saturday, April 8, 2017, at Cooper Lake State Park, South Sulphur Unit. The Warrior Run honors the memory of Sergeant Tanner Stone Higgins, who at age 23 was killed by enemy forces during a heavy firefight while conducting combat operations in Logar Provice, Afghanistan in 2012. Higgins was a team leader for 1/75th Ranger Regiment, Delta Company.
The benefit race raises money for the Tanner Higgins Military Memorial Fund, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to offering financial and social support beyond what the government offers to veterans, gold star families, wounded warriors, transitioning soldiers, and active military men and women.
The 5-mile Trail Challenge and the 1-mile Grunt run begins at 8:30 a.m. Registration begins at 7 a.m. on April 8th. Opening ceremonies at 8:15 a.m. features the Hopkins County Military Coalition posting of the colors.
Registration of the 5-mile challenge is underway. Register before March 26th for $35; March 27-April 7 for $40; $50 on the day of the race. The 1-mile run registration fee is $25.
Pre-registration guarantees an event T-shirt. Those completing the 5-mile race and who preregister will receive a Finisher bracelet.
Wildcats Golf Finished 12th at Twisted 54 Tourney
The Wildcats’ golf team finished in twelfth place in the 2-day Twisted 54 Golf Tournament last Friday and Saturday in Longview. The unusual format calls for 36 holes on Friday with a final 18 on Saturday.
Wildcats Golf Coach Chris Owens said the weather was really nice. He said the Wildcats did pretty well during the first round Friday at Wood Hollow Golf Course. Coach Owens said the Wildcats struggled some during the second round Friday and the final round Saturday. The team shot a total of 942. Coach Owens said the team had some work to do.
Next for the Wildcats is a tournament at Indian Creek Golf Course in Carrollton on Wednesday.
Saltillo Season Ends in Regional Tourney Loss
A good Saltillo Lions’ basketball season came to an end last Friday as the Lions lost to Graford, 79-49 at the regional tournament in Mansfield. Graford made six of their first 7 shots and jumped out to a 27-7 first quarter lead.
Leading the Lions in scoring was Michael Simmons with 13 points. Other Saltillo scorers included Ryan Prewitt with 7, Lyle Bench with 6, Walker McGill with 5, Trevor Moore and Clayton Wilson with 4, Adam Valenzuela and Matthew Gurley with 3 and Logan Camp and Dakota Patridge with 2.
Coach Bill Giles said his team played hard and did some things well in the loss. He complimented the teams seniors: Dakota Patridge, Clayton Wilson, Logan Camp and Adam Valenzuela for their leadership, commitment to team and their attitude.
Two SSHS Power-lift Team Members Qualify for State; Two Others Qualify as Alternates
At the regional power-lifting meet in Lindale Saturday, the Wildcats finished fourth as a team, two Wildcats qualified for the state meet, and two others earned alternate status at state.
Junior Cor’Tavius Pruitt had an incredible meet. He qualified for state by winning the 181 pound weight class. Pruitt also received awards for Outstanding Squat and for Outstanding Tournament Lifter. Junior D’Idrec Dugan in the 220 pound weight class finished fourth but qualified for state by achieving the automatic qualifying total in weight lifted. Senior Isaiah Neal in the 181 pound weight class and junior Ian Blanch in the 275 pound weight class both finished three and both qualified as alternates for the state tournament.
The state meet takes place in Abilene on March 25. Wildcats Powerlifting Coach Casey Jeter said the regional meet was a great meet and great success for the Wildcats. He ended up taking 11 lifters to regional. Freshman Hayden Keller, in the 148 pound weight class, got to participate in the meet after qualifying as an alternate. Other Wildcats who participated at the regional meet were Oscar Yanez and Alex Rodriguez in the 114 pound class, Cason Goodson in the 132 pound weight class, George Greenway V in the 148 pound weight class, Carson Bridges in the 165 pound weight class and Vincent Morales, who finished sixth, in the 181 pound weight class. 
