CPS Child Endangerment Investigation Leads To Arrest Of Cooper Residents
Raelynn Danielle Arney, 20, and Taliaferro Samory Prince, 33, were both arrested Monday afternoon on felony charges for Endangering a Child. The warrants issued for Arney and Prince came as the result of an approximately two-month long investigation by Hopkins County Special Crimes Unit Sergeant Mark Estes and Child Protective Services agents.
According to arrest reports, the investigation found that a 1-year-old child tested positive for methamphetamine. Arney and Prince, who are both from Cooper, had been residing with the child at the Spanish Trails Apartments located at 1531 East Industrial Drive in Sulphur Springs.
SCU officers arrested Arney and Prince at the CPS office located on College Street and transported them to the Hopkins County Jail where they were both placed on $40,000 bond for Abandonment and Endangerment of a Child with Imminent Danger.
A third arrest has been made (see story here).
KSST Has Outgrown Our Server!
Demand for KSSTLivestream has finally overwhelmed our current server. A new streaming server is on it’s way.
The good news, soon even more people can listen live to all of KSST’s programming.
The bad news is, if you use one of our Apps to listen, it will not work. New apps are under construction. Until they are ready you can always go to ksstradio.com/ksstlivestream on any device to listen live.
Watch for updates. We will do everything humanly possible to keep you connected.
Dramatization of current server. Engineer Cat never works during the day.
Sevier’s Seize Opportunity to Give Back to Community
Gloria Mitchell, Donna Rudzik and Polly Swatsell, 2015-2016 Lights of Life Campaign & Gala Chairs have officially passed the chairmanship torch (Lights of Life signature gala tree) off to the 2016-2017 Chairs, Sam and Sher Sevier.
Gloria Mitchell, Donna Rudzik and Polly Swatsell, 2015-2016 Lights of Life Campaign & Gala Chairs have officially passed the chairmanship torch (Lights of Life signature gala tree) off to the 2016-2017 Chairs, Sam and Sher Sevier. “2016 starts a new decade for the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation as we begin preparing for the 21st anniversary of the Lights of Life tree lighting and the 11th anniversary of the Gala. We are excited that Sam and Sher Sevier are going to chair the campaign this year. The Seviers have been a part of the medical community in Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County for almost 35 years. Sam operated his own physical therapy clinic with Sher’s help for many years. He was also instrumental in setting up the current physical therapy department at Hopkins County Memorial Healthplex. Under the leadership of the Seviers we know we will have yet another successful and exciting year. Our committee chairs and volunteers always go above and beyond in their efforts to have a great campaign. Their dedication, along with the generous support of our community allows the foundation to fulfill its purpose: to help our hospital provide quality health care for the residents of Hopkins County,” said Bob Weaver, board chairman of the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation.
Sevier responded by saying, “Sher and I feel especially honored to be a part of this 11th Gala. We feel blessed to be in such a special community. The Gala and Foundation activities present a theme and time that brings all elements of our community together in support of the hospital and the medical resources so vital to every community. From the beginning we have felt there are many more capable and deserving people to lead this event, especially as we consider those who have gone before us. But looking back over 35 years and considering all that this community and the medical area specifically have meant to our professional and family lives we felt perhaps it was an opportunity to give something back. We also realize the Gala is not at all about the chairpersons but is about the generosity and unity of this special community.”
“The amount of work and planning that make up this effort is amazing and already many pieces of the elaborate puzzle that bring the Gala to fruition are being assembled into place. The projects to be funded will be a great asset to the hospital and its ability to serve at an even higher level,” said Sher Sevier.
“Polly, Gloria and I have been so honored and blessed to have co-chaired the Gala in January 2016. We enjoyed being a part of the celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Gala and the 20th Anniversary of Lights of Life campaign. It is with great excitement that we are passing the torch to Sam and Sher Sevier who will be an awesome couple to take the Gala to even greater heights in the upcoming year. We wish them luck and we assure our commitment and dedication to them and to the Foundation.” said Donna Rudzik on behalf of the trio.
“We are excited about the theme we have selected and will be sharing more about the theme after our meeting with the committee members in May. Eddie Deen will again be at the helm of a delicious meal and this year we have selected a new band that I think will be a great addition. We are working on a few new twists that we hope will add to an already special event. The Foundation Board has again set the goal for $250,000. That always seems so ambitious but the community and sponsors have always so graciously risen to the challenge. It is also exciting to see not only the special projects this money funds but also to realize the growing endowment that will perpetuate the Foundation’s ability to serve our medical community. With the changing medical environment this will provide a much-needed resource for the future. In addition to the Gala, there are several upcoming events throughout the year that are sponsored by the Foundation and we are looking forward to each of them,” added Sam Sevier.
“The sponsorship letters will go out in June to repeat sponsors because they get first right of refusal option. As in previous years, we are hopeful for and expect a quick response and commitment from the community,” said Sher Sevier.
The annual Lights of Life Campaign will kick-off on Tuesday, November 1st at 10a.m. in the hospital lobby. Memorial and honor donations of $25 can be made to help light the Lights of Life Christmas tree. Each donation is represented by a light on the Christmas tree that is placed in The Gardens at Memorial. The tree lighting celebration is scheduled for Thursday, December 1st at 6 p.m. in The Gardens.
The Lights of Life gala is scheduled for Saturday, January 28, 2017, 6:00 p.m. – 12:00 midnight, at the Civic Center and it promises to be another fun filled evening of fine dining, dancing to a great band and bidding on amazing live and silent auction items. For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please call the Foundation office at 903-438-4799.
Flynn Appointed to Sunset Advisory Commission
Dan Flynn
AUSTIN – Texas House Speaker Joe Straus made three new appointments to the Sunset Advisory Commission on Monday and chose Rep. Larry Gonzales of Round Rock to serve as the Commission’s new Chairman. Speaker Straus appointed Reps. Dan Flynn of Van and Senfronia Thompson of Houston to the Commission. He also named William Meadows of Fort Worth as the House’s public appointee. Meadows is Chairman Emeritus of HUB International Insurance Services. The three new appointees will join Gonzales, as well as Reps. Cindy Burkett of Sunnyvale and Richard Peña Raymond of Laredo, as the House’s representatives on the Commission.
“These appointees have a very important job,” Speaker Straus said. “I am confident that their review and recommendations will help state agencies serve taxpayers better. Their work will also help the House continue to make state government more transparent and efficient.”
The Sunset Commission was created so that legislators and members of the public could periodically review state agencies and decide whether they should continue to exist. The Commission’s work provides the foundation for legislation that is needed to keep the agencies operating. The process also allows legislators to reform agencies’ operations and review their core missions.
“I’m going to work with the Members of the House to ensure that Sunset bills stay specifically focused on improving the agencies that have been under review,” Speaker Straus said. “These agencies serve important functions, and we don’t often get the chance to give them this kind of comprehensive review. We owe it to taxpayers to make sure this process is only about making our government operate better.”
The Commission will review 24 agencies in the current cycle, including the Texas Department of Transportation, the Railroad Commission and the Texas Medical Board.
“I am honored to be appointed by Speaker Straus to the Sunset Commission to review various agencies. This is a place in government where we can really make a difference for the people of Texas,” said Dan Flynn
Trojans Score 15 Runs in First Inning
Last Friday, the Cumby Trojans picked up a solid, 16-0 win over Saltillo at home. The game was called due to the 15-run rule after two and a half innings. The Trojans scored 15 runs in the first inning and added one more run in the second. Cumby had 14 hits. Triston Hearn was three for three with three runs scored, two RBIs and he had a double. Travis Taylor was also three for three with two runs scored, an RBI and a double and triple.
Ethan Coble, Cole Sprague and Triston Hearn all pitched an inning of no hit ball for Cumby.
The Trojans are 10-1 in district play.
Lavern Considered Stolen From Animal Shelter
Lavern is on the right.
Lavern is considered stolen from the Sulphur Springs Animal Shelter, according to Barbi Mitchell, Animal Control Officer. Lavern was to have joined her mate Shirley in traveling to a Pit rescue in Oregon in May. She is on medication and really needs it, according to Mitchell. If you see the dog, contact Barbi at 903-348-1868 or Annie, 903-348-3122.
Lavern and Shirley are a bonded pair. Lavern is a Pit mix and Shirley is an Aussie mix. Both range in 1-3 years of age, have tested heart-worm negative, and are not yet spayed. They were found together at the Pilot station and brought to the Animal Shelter shortly after Christmas 2015. Both dogs are energetic and love people, unable to stand still for more than one second unless there was something to sniff. Both dogs spent a lot of time in the outdoor play area.
“Nobody’s claimed them; we thought the owner was out of town for the holidays,” Animal Shelter Officer Barbi Blanch said. “Both came in with collars and they were very friendly and they get along with other animals.”
The pair was featured for adoption on ksstradio.com in January of this year.
Saltillo Lady Lions 3rd in District
Saltillo Softball Lady Lions team is 3rd in district!
Team kneeling L to R: Kasey Sanders, Christie Gurley, Jordan Sustaire, Ana Gallegos, Melissa Groenewold. Standing L to R: Coach Dexter Ivy, Brenda Castro, Shelby Matlock, Madison Simmons, Tori Mobley, Lorena Castro, Calli Callahan, Melissa Tawil and Coach Erika Littrell.
When Hail Happens
In recent weeks, KSST has been asked to assist listeners with dates of hail storms in their communities. The listeners have desired the information to assist with insurance claims regarding damage to the roof of their home and/or an outbuilding. Although we are happy to assist when possible, here are some specific steps you might want to remember should a hail storm damage your roof.
Your personal safety and preparation is the key to a less stressful experience if your roof is damaged by a severe storm. If your roof is severely damaged by hail or wind damage, there are specific steps you may wish to consider as you seek to repair or have the roof repaired.
Care should be taken when attempting emergency repairs and should often be left to the experts. Proper tools to do the work, materials used, and experience are important when doing roof repair.
However, one should also consider who will do the repair. The proper contractor should be chosen. One should interview more than one contractor. Questions to ask include the location of business, do they carry liability and worker’s comp insurance, can they provide references, do they have credentials that identify them as having been trained in storm damage repair, and are they licensed with the state (is the state does license roofing companies). You can also find the status of various contractors at Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Before hiring the contractor, prepare for your insurance adjuster’s visit. Take photos and notes on the damage to your home. Use this to compare to the insurance company’s findings. Check outside for blown off shingles, damaged gutters, and large branches that may have fallen onto the house. If you can safely access your attic, examine the underside of the roof for damage or leaks. Check your policy to ascertain if your insurance company requires specific materials to be used in the repair process.
Hopkins County Man Charges Deputies To Take Their Weapons
Billy Carl Chapman, 27, was arrested Sunday afternoon after an altercation with Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputies. Chapman’s mother made a 911 call to report that her son was “tearing up the house.” When law enforcement arrived on the scene, Chapman verbally requested for the deputies to hand over their weapons. Chapman then charged the deputies and attempted to take their guns, wrapping his arms around one deputy. Cpl. Todd Evans then deployed a taser that struck Chapman in the chest and dropped him to the ground. Chapman was then placed in handcuffs and escorted to a patrol unit.
During questioning by deputies, Chapman’s mother stated that her son had been drinking and was in possession of a firearm, but she took the weapon from him before law enforcement arrived. Chapman was then transported to the Hopkins County Memorial Hospital to be checked where it was discovered that he had been admitted to the hospital in the past for a head injury. After being cleared at the ER, Chapman was transported to the Hopkins County Jail where he now sits on a $10,000 bond for Attempting to Take a Weapon From an Officer which is a state jail felony.
