Primary Run-off and Photo ID Appeals Court Appearance Tuesday
Early voting for the May 24th Primary Run-off garnered 431 votes total in the two, Democrat and Republican, run-off for various state and one local race. Primary Run-off election is Tuesday from 7 a.m. until 7p.m. at the 5 polling places in the county—Wesley Methodist Church, VFW Bingo Hall, Courthouse, League Street Church of Christ, and, specifically open with Precinct 1 voters, Miller Grove ISD. Voter registration card and a photo ID are required. The Primary Run-off vote will be made on the same day the photo ID requirement goes before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Regarding the photo ID in Texas and 17 other states that require the ID, oral argument will take place Tuesday before the full panel of judges of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Texas’s strict photo ID law. Attorneys for the plaintiffs — including the Texas State Conference of the NAACP and the Mexican American Legislative Caucus of the Texas House of Representatives (MALC) — will argue the ID requirement, the strictest in the nation, violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution by making it harder for African-Americans and Latinos to cast a ballot.
Texas is one of 17 states with new voting restrictions in place for the first time in a presidential election this year. More than 600,000 registered voters lack the specific form of ID required under Texas’s law.
The ID requirement, originally enacted in 2011, was initially blocked under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, on the basis that it discriminates against minority voters. It was implemented in 2013 after the Supreme Court gutted that core provision of the Voting Rights Act.
Since then, the law was ruled discriminatory by a federal trial court in October 2014, which was upheld by a Fifth Circuit three-judge panel in August 2015. Both found that the law violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, denying African-American and Latino voters an equal opportunity to cast a ballot. The requirement has remained in place since then despite these rulings.
Veteran Rides for Recognition..S.S. To D.C.
In his 74th year of life, Sulphur Springs resident and military veteran Dell Francis plans to ride his bicycle to Washington, D.C. to draw awareness to his 74 shipmates who were lost during the Viet Nam conflict. His desire is that their names be added to the Viet Nam Veteran’s Wall where he believes they belong. You can lend support by attending a send-off on Celebration Plaza at 12:30 noon on Friday June 3, 2016. Dell will have support along the trail from his wife who will be following along in their RV. The original section of the Viet Nam Veterans Memorial Wall opened to the public in 1982 in Constitution Gardens adjacent to the National Mall and near the Lincoln Memorial. It is maintained by the U.S. National Parks Service.
Apology For Vandalism Accepted Saturday
veterans memorial vandalism 5/9/16
Public outcry turned into tears as Romeo, the 14-year old who defaced Hopkins County Veteran’s Memorial kiosk faced the public Saturday from noon until 4 p.m. On Saturday, May 21st while Celebration Plaza was filled with families celebrating the 9-1-1 connection of law enforcement, EMS, and fire fighters, Romeo bravely met those who came to receive his apology for his actions and to tell him their stories of family, friends, or personal service in the United States Military.
Romeo and his family kept a commitment Saturday that he had made in a letter seeking the opportunity to speak face to face with those whose family member is named on the Memorial. At the kiosk, he met those who came to receive his apology and offer forgiveness in light of his confession and apology. His family thanked those who came to assist with the greater lesson learned.
It began when scratches of his name and a drawing appeared on the kiosk supports following a church youth event on Celebration Plaza. On May 9th, Police Chief Jay Sanders told KSST News that a suspect had been identified and an arrest was expected the following day. Local police had reviewed video from the scene. On May 11th, the sketchy pieces of the story came together as Romeo and his parents presented him to local police. According to Chief Sanders, the juvenile’s confession was made in the presence of his parents who supported the decisions made regarding the arrest. Sanders said the misdemeanor penalties for a juvenile call for the teen’s case to be turned over to juvenile probation who will handle restitution and punishment. The restitution will reimburse the cost of correcting the damage done to the Memorial kiosk.
veterans memorial vandalism 5/9/16
9-1-1 The Connection Connected Citizens with Public Servants
“Many more than we expected” are the words Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jay Sanders used as he summarized 9-1-1 The Connection an Emergency Medical Services, Fire Department and Sulphur Springs Police Department event on Celebration Plaza Saturday, May 21st. The midday event featured activities for the entire family. Blood pressure and sugar checks, bounce houses, Batman and Superman highlighted the day.
Pictures and ID for children, free themed coloring books, pencils, cups, and plenty of food highlighted the day. A medical helicopter landed on the parking lot of Alliance Bank and drive thru on Church Street.
Officers, firemen, and EMS personnel met children and adults introducing them to vehicles utilized by the various services.
Adults and children enjoyed the day as did the public servants who were featured at the event.
How Do Local Students Feel About Obama’s “Bathroom Decree”?
On Friday, May 13, 2016, the Obama Administration sent out a decree for all public schools in the nation. The decree stated that all public schools must allow transgender students to use the bathroom they identify with or lose federal funding. On average, the nation’s K-12 school districts receive around 10% of all their funding from the federal government. The decree won’t just impact funding for K-12 public school districts though, if a college or university is labeled non-compliant those students are in danger of not being able to use their awarded grants or loans at that specific school. The guidance letter itself does not state the extent the government will go to if a district or school does not comply, but it is projected that most colleges and universities won’t wait to find out.
While the decree has been steeped in controversy by most adults, KSST News wanted to hear from the students themselves on their take of the “Bathroom Decree”. In interviews with a total of eight students, all from different backgrounds, genders, and grade levels, they were asked the same four questions with a only one individual present after a quick reminder of what the joint letter was, when it was sent out, and the consequences that would follow if a state or district did not comply.
In favor of the “Bathroom Decree”:
Three of the students that were interviewed were completely in favor of the “Bathroom Decree”. “I have always been sort of pro-LGBT. I’ve never understood any anti-LGBT rhetoric or anything. I think if they cut federal funding because the school tries to tell someone who is transgender that they can’t use the bathroom they identify with then they deserve it. If it helps teach a lesson to those trying to stop it, I’m okay with funding being cut,” stated a male, freshman.
After asked her opinion, a female senior stated, “I think it’s fine. I think that everybody should be able to use the bathroom they’re comfortable with. I have a lot of friends who are gender binary, transgender, it’s never bothered me. I feel like if funding needs to be cut then that’s what needs to be done. They had to do that during the Civil Rights Movement so it is what it is. If people didn’t get the message beforehand they should get it now. I don’t feel like there’s anything else you can do, it mostly affects young students, young people, who are transgender. There are people getting hurt because of this. I have a friend, who I’ll leave nameless, but he’s afraid to go into the bathroom that he’s comfortable with because of the fear of being assaulted so yeah, I’d do the same thing the President has done.”
A female freshmen added, “It’s past due, transgender kids should’ve been able to use the bathroom they identify with sooner. I have a friend here that’s transgender and I know that she has struggled with not being able to use the bathroom she wanted to use.”
Not in favor of the “Bathroom Decree”:
Three of the other students interviewed disagreed with the “Bathroom Decree”. A male junior weighed in with, “I feel like if you don’t have those specific body parts, you shouldn’t be allowed to go into that restroom. It just makes sense, like it’s not right. I feel like cutting federal funding is forcing it on people, you don’t have a choice in it anymore. I mean you do, but if they don’t like your choice then you’re getting punished for it. It’s an issue but the government is taking the wrong side.”
A female junior said, “I don’t agree with the letter. I think it should be more on a state to state basis than the President just ordering something like this. If funding is cut there’ll definitely be damage done, it’ll be controversial of course. Everyone deserves happiness, everyone deserves to be treated equal but when other people feel uncomfortable then there’s the problem.”
A female sophomore replied, “I don’t agree with letting the transgenders go into the school restrooms. I feel like it’s uncomfortable for not only me, but others. I wouldn’t do something like this. I would make a bathroom for transgenders, for their comfort and for ours. People have different views, this whole thing is unfair to those who agree with it and to those who don’t.”
On the fence:
The last two students interviewed proposed ideas that didn’t oppose the idea of equality or government intervention, but they didn’t agree with the consequence of federal funding for education being cut. A male freshman proposed, “When it comes to transgender access to school restrooms I personally believe that all transgenders have the right to use the bathrooms they identify with but, the way the letter has been presented is a little rash because the students impacted can’t control what the government chooses to do with transgender rights. Even though I believe they all deserve rights, we all know there are a lot of ways this could go against us and effect our education if we aren’t careful in how we implement this. Sure, Obama’s intention’s are good but he should be a little more careful in how it’s implemented. I don’t know what I would do in his shoes because I believe we should fight for transgender rights but, I don’t know that cutting federal funding is the best way to go about it.”
The last student interviewed, a male senior, touched on a few aspects that most did not. “This shouldn’t have been an issue. Not in the sense that it wasn’t an issue to begin with, but that making bathrooms gender neutral shouldn’t have been an issue. Overall, it really doesn’t change that much. A lot of people say that it just opens up more windows for assaults in bathrooms, but assaults in bathrooms were already happening. It doesn’t really make bathrooms safer but it doesn’t make them anymore at risk, it’ll just change who you see in the bathroom. I can definitely see why some people would be concerned if they have younger children or wives and the possibility of them being attacked by people who are pretending to be transgender but there’s always that risk. You are never guaranteed one hundred percent safety in life. In the recent cases of assault that have happened since the transgender bathroom bill has been put in place it hasn’t been perpetrated by transgender people, it has been perpetrated against transgender people. If you read the news, you hear some Republican leaders say that ten billion dollars is not something that Texas can afford. This is something Texas Republicans should take very seriously. Issues with education are already rough enough as it is and if we lose ten billion dollars that’ll be devastating. What I would do is focus on the language of how we address this issue, I think one of the reasons this didn’t have a flawless execution is because of the language the government chose when framing it. By saying ‘gender neutral’, ‘trans-positive’, or ‘trans-friendly’, they throw around this language that is foreign to Republicans and sorta makes them uncomfortable and alienated from the whole situation. The best way to do it would rebrand this just as ‘bathrooms’. If you want to have still boy and girl bathrooms and then a gender neutral bathroom just labeled as ‘bathroom’ I think that’ll be fine just as long as you avoid these big words that make people uncomfortable. There’s always people using good changes for their own bad purposes, that’s always been true.”
After a total of eight interviews, a wide spectrum of beliefs were presented and reminded us why freedom of speech in the United States is so great.
Allen Sentenced to 50 Years for Franklin County Murder
Friday morning in Franklin County 8th Judicial District Court, Christopher Wayne Allen was sentenced to 50 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice after he pled guilty to the May, 2015 murder of Wendy Gail Valentine at Logans Point, a neighborhood in Mt Vernon. Allen was 25-years of age when he murdered the 36-year old Valentine. Allen, according to Franklin County law enforcement was the person that made the 9-1-1 call to report Valentine’s death.
Christopher Wayne Allen
Allen also acknowledged his guilt in two other cases—the stabbing in the head with a pen of convicted burglary Stanton Yates and for making a stabbing object while inside the Franklin County jail. The two extra cases were dismissed as a part of his plea bargain. Allen also waived his rights to appeal. He will be eligible for parole in 25 years.
SSISD Board Approves Final Steps of 10 Year Improvements
Superintendent Michael Lamb addressed the Sulphur Springs School Board Friday at noon during a special meeting in the Superintendent’s Conference Room at the Administration Building on Connally Street. Lamb focusing opening remarks on a variety of construction projects in recent years providing adequate space for a variety of programs from a new Fine Arts Wing to the remodel of buildings and new academic programs and personnel added because of the improvements. He commended the success of the health science services that has been added along with other upgraded programs including math and science courses. He acknowledged that the local board has focused on all facets of school life while making improvements to facilities over the past 10 year period (see list of improvements below). With those opening remarks, the Sulphur Springs School Board discussed several projects that are sports related during the special meeting.
Lamb calls the improvements to the sports fields an endcap to the 10 year improvements that have been made in the local district.
A new baseball field west of the current high school track was approved by the board. The baseball need is an outgrowth of the use of Prim Stadium for soccer and for a remodel of the stadium that will include additional parking. Scheduling is difficult with the proximity of both baseball and soccer. Foul balls hit out of the baseball stadium onto the soccer pitch create dangerous moments. The new baseball field will also allow more practice space for junior varsity and freshmen teams. The new baseball field will be an in-house project and also utilize local sub-contractors. Lamb said the work may not be completed by next season but being able to start on the project will speed the process. He said it is probable that the 2017 baseball season will be at the present field. However, construction steps can get underway for the new field. With the new baseball field, 250 parking spaces will be added for Prim Stadium.
The board also approved a two-step process that includes addressing the drainage issue and building a new field. Drainage at Lady Cats softball field will be answered by a new design for the field according to Lamb. He said a temporary fix is not enough. Lamb said engineers will design improvements that will create a long term answer to the need. Water coming off the tennis courts is only part of the problem. Some first steps should be accomplished prior to the 2017 season. Again, he noted that the completed new field would probably not be finished prior to next season but the new field should be in place for the 2018 season. Lamb did point out that any drainage fix performed this year would fit into the future field that will eventually be put in place. New bleachers, dugouts, and lighting will be a feature of the new field for the Lady Cats.
Remodeling of Prim Stadium will include a new home side, pressbox, and a turf field as well as additional parking. The board approved Gallagher Construction Services, called by Lamb a well-known builder of stadiums, to serve as construction manager agent. Potter Architects, who designed the remodel of the school/civic center auditorium was chosen for design services for the remodel of the football stadium.
Financing for a parking lot improvement and for a portion of the football stadium remodel will use local money as it begins. Lamb told the board that funds have been managed well over the years. He pointed out that over the past few years, $8 million dollars have been spent in improvements but the reserve funds have only fallen $2 million. The school funds used in the remodel will be repaid by a future financing.
Lamb stated that one means of future financing is a maintenance tax note allows the school to borrow money at a low rate of interest for repairs and remodeling. A maintenance tax note cannot be used for new facilities. Redoing parking lots, the remodel of the football field and of Lady Cat Park qualifies for this type of financing. Only the pressbox at Prim Stadium and the baseball field cannot be covered by the maintenance tax note. The resolutions for reimbursement of General Fund from proceeds of a future financing were approved by the board.
Projects over the past 10-years include:
New Fine Arts Wing 2006
Douglas Remodel/Classroom Addition 2012
Multipurpose Building 2012
Middle School 2012
Upgrades to SS Elementary 20012
Remodel Austin School 2012
Upgrades to both High School gyms 2013
Remodel and Renovation to Culinary Kitchen 2013
Remodel Training Room/Cheerleader Practice 2013
Lamar and Bowie Abatement 2014
Tennis Courts 2015
Auditorium Renovation 2016
Commitment to Personnel:
Special Education Services (19)
Academic Support (4)
Career and Technology Education (3)
Double Blocked Math (6)
Police Force (3)
Instructional Technology (4)
Counseling Services (4)
Behavior Support 2
Upgraded Programs:
Spalding Phonics Curriculum
Reading A-Z Program
I-Station Program
Esparonza for Bilingual and ESL
Daily 5—Reading Process
Capturing Kids Hearts Training
New Security Vehicles
Career Cruising
PJC Partnerships
Read 180 Program
Double Blocked Math Class
Three Young Men Arrested For Possession and Intent To Sell Controlled Substances
Isaiah Bryant-Lacy, left. Cameron Davis, right. Eduardo Torres not pictured.
Sulphur Springs Special Crimes Unit officers arrested three young men who were in possession of and intending to sell narcotics to high school students in two separate incidents on Thursday. On Thursday morning Sulphur Springs High School officers discovered that Cameron Blayne Davis, 17, was in possession of a approximately 13 Xanax pills. Davis was attempting to sell the pills to other students at the high school. SCU Sergeant Mark Estes arrived at the school and arrested Davis and transported him to the Hopkins County Jail where he was placed on $5,000 bond for Possession of a Controlled Substance Level 3 less than 28 grams in a Drug Free Zone. Davis posted bail on Friday morning.
Thursday evening SCU officers made a traffic stop at a convenience store on Broadway Street in Sulphur Springs. Inside the vehicle were Isaiah Deonte Bryant-Lacy, 19, the driver, and Eduardo Austin Torres, 17, the passenger. Upon contact, Sgt. Estes and Sergeant Crouse could smell a strong odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. Sgt. Estes asked about the smell at which time the driver stated that they were in possession of illegal narcotics. Bryant-Lacy handed Sgt. Estes a large white container which had an undisclosed quantity of marijuana and a clear bag containing several green pills identified as Xanax. The two men were within 1000 feet of a Christian School located on Lee Street which enhanced the charge to being within a Drug Free Zone. Upon further questioning, Torres admitted to selling Xanax pills to Davis who was arrested earlier on Thursday. Bryant-Lacy and Torres were then transported to the Hopkins County Jail.
Bryant-Lacy was placed on $7,000 total bond: $5,000 for Possession of a Controlled Substance Level 3 less than 28 grams in a Drug Free Zone and $2,000 for Possession of Marijuana less than 20 ounces in a Drug Free Zone. Torres now sits on $17,000 total bond: $10,000 for Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance Level 3 less than 28 grams in a Drug Free Zone, $5,000 for Possession of a Controlled Substance Level 3 less than 28 grams in a Drug Free Zone, and $2,000 for Possession of Marijuana less than 20 ounces in a Drug Free Zone. As of Friday morning, neither Bryant-Lacy or Torres have posted bail.
Hopkins County EMS Receives AHA Mission:Lifeline EMS Gold Award
Hopkins County EMS has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Award for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks. Hopkins County EMS provides 9-1-1 ambulances to approximately 6500 requests for service annually in Hopkins and Delta Counties in Northeast Texas.
Every year, more than 250,000 people experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) the most deadly type of heart attack caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment. To prevent death, it’s critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication.
Unfortunately, a significant number of STEMI patients don’t receive this prompt reperfusion therapy, which is critical in restoring blood flow. Mission: Lifeline seeks to save lives by closing the gaps that separate these patients from timely access to appropriate treatments. Mission: Lifeline’s EMS recognition program recognizes emergency medical services for their efforts in improving systems of care and improving the quality of life for these patients.
Emergency Medical System providers are vital to the success of Mission: Lifeline. EMS agencies perform 12-lead ECGs which measure the electrical activity of the heart and can help determine if a heart attack has occurred. They also follow protocols derived from American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines. These correct tools, training, and practices allow EMS providers to rapidly identify suspected heart attack patients, promptly notify the medical center, and trigger an early response from the awaiting hospital personnel.
Agencies that receive the Mission: Lifeline Gold award have demonstrated at least 75 percent compliance for each required achievement measure for two years.
“EMTs and paramedics play a vital part in the system of care for those who have heart attacks,” said James Jollis, M.D., Chair of the Mission: Lifeline Advisory Working Group. “Since they often are the first medical point of contact, they can shave precious minutes of life-saving treatment time by activating the emergency response system that alerts hospitals. We applaud Hopkins County EMSfor achieving this award that shows it meets evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of people who have severe heart attacks.”
Hopkins County EMS is dedicated to making our service among the best in the country, and the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program is helping us accomplish that by implementing processes for improving systems of care with the goal of improving the quality of care for all acute coronary syndrome patients,” said Brent Smith, Director of EMS. “We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in emergency medical care for all cardiac patients.”
