“Updated with Video” Texas Rangers Investigate Death of Inmate
Texas Rangers are investigating the death of Tony Chance Ross, age 34, who died at Trinity Mother Francis Hospital in Tyler following his arrest by Sulphur Springs police and a 11 minute stay in the violence cell in Hopkins County Jail according to SSPD Chief Jay Sanders. Ross was arrested early Friday evening after police responded to a call on Whitworth Street of a shirtless man acting erratically.
As officers responded, a second call was received regarding a door kicked in at a residence on the street. The description given of that man matched the first description received. The first officer on the scene did not find the individual at the residence but the second officer responding did find Ross down the street.
When approached, Ross is said to have balled his fist and charged the officer. The officer tazed Ross but Ross was able to pull the wires out and fled. The officer pursued and a fight insured. Officers said Ross was difficult to contain and they were forced to tazed him more than once. Ross continued to resist even when taken to jail according to Chief Sanders. Ross was placed in the padded cell at Hopkins County jail. Eleven minutes after he was placed in the cell, an officer heard a noise and went to check on Ross. He was 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. Ross was transferred to Trinity-Mother Francis Hospital in Tyler where he died from what was at that time called cardiac arrest.
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Herbalife International Breaks World Record
On Saturday, March 7, Herbalife International broke the world record for the largest recorded continuous workout within a 24 hour period, making the Guinness Book of World Records. Herbalife International is spread out across 92 countries, each having stations that took part in the record breaking workout.
“The idea for the record breaking workout actually came from Herbalife Corporate,” Wendi Armstrong said. “The main location for the workout was in Los Angeles at our annual president summit event. There was about 5,000 people gathered there in LA and because of the international exposure of Herbalife, independent distributors were encouraged to gather groups of members, clients, and guests to further the number in order to break the world record globally.”
As with all world records, certain guidelines and parameters had to be met in order for the record to be legitimized. Representatives of The Guinness Book of World Records played witness to the event over the weekend.
“For every 25 participants, we had to have one witness that was not working out that observed the workout and made sure that we followed the guidelines as far as everybody doing the exact same thing across the board and that everyone was participating,” Virgina Blakes said. “We had to have two witnesses here in Sulphur Springs, and we had one other person who was called the ‘steward’ that also observed the workout and signed a document stating we followed the guidelines that Herbalife put out for us.”
42 people took part in the event in Sulphur Springs at 9am. Herbalife International plans to beat their own record next year in 2016.
Spring Fever Bicycle Rally Saturday
Spring Fever Bike Rally, sponsored by the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce, is Saturday. As of Tuesday, over 65 riders from across the area have signed on to participate in their choice of a 10, 27, 37, or 58 mile course. More riders are expected to arrive Saturday as temperatures rise to the mid-60’s under partly sunny skies. Meredith Caddell, President and CEO of the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce, said 250 to 300 riders are expected for Saturday’s event.
The ride begins at Celebration Plaza at 9 a.m. and concludes between noon and 2 p.m., depending on course chosen and speed of the riders. The public is welcomed to be present at the start and conclusion of the ride to cheer on the riders. Parking at First Baptist, First United Methodist and other parking areas off the square are available to those who attend. The plaza will be blocked off in the morning.
Last year over 100 riders participated but more are expected this year after good reviews were given by those who rode. Security given by local law enforcement as they lead and follow riders, rest stops, the downtown area, Alliance Bank cooking burgers, and Southwest Dairy Museum had donated chocolate milk as a recovery drink all contributed to the rave reviews according to Caddell.
Growth for the event is also attributed to the good work of the Pilot Club, who had previously sponsored the event Caddell said.
A New Tool for Middle School Students
Exercising a desire to teach Middle School students how to use Office Suite including Excell, Word, and OneNote as a tool, the SSISD board voted Monday night to purchase 240 2-in-1 computer tablets for students in eight classes at Sulphur Springs Middle School. The board voted to spend $156,000 for the tablets to be used in the pilot program for the campus. This action by the board will complete phase two of a plan to purchase computers for SSISD students, according to Superintendent of Schools Mike Lamb. He said that with this step, Middle School students can do something that has never been done before.
“It’s not about just having technology for the sake of having technology,” stated Lamb. He said the tablets are a tool. “It’s like a kid having a ruler, a pencil, like a kid having a notebook.” Lamb said the students will be taught to use the tablets to “write research papers, look up things online, and use the note taking feature.” Hoping that students will learn to use the tablets to their full capacity, Lamb said he is aware there are concerns about Internet usage but there are risks in all learning.
Last year SSISD purchased more than 1,000 iPads to be used by students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. Superintend of SSISD Mike Lamb told the board that those iPads are being used almost daily this year. Lamb said that ultimately, school administration would be asking for 1,000 of the 2-in-1 tablets to be used throughout the middle school by 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.
Twelve middle school teachers recently attended a conference to prepare for the use of the tablets in the classroom. Lamb says that the trained teachers are excited about the opportunity and that he hopes to capitalize on the excitement with the purchase of the tablets putting them into the hands of these teachers.
Hannah Kirby Chosen for Blake Shelton’s Team on The Voice
Blake Shelton, who fishes Lake Fork and knows Sulphur Springs thanks to a small bait shop near Wal-Mart, chose Hannah Kirby for his team on The Voice.
As the evening progressed, the crowd grew as over 70 friends, former classmates, family, and community members gathered in the Fellowship Hall of First United Methodist Church for a watch party in support of Hannah Kirby, a Sulphur Springs High School Class of 2010 graduate, a member of FUMC, and a Monday night a contestant on The Voice. Local anticipation has been growing for a couple of weeks regarding her appearance on the NBC network program.
Hannah and her mother, Nancy Kirby, were thrilled at the response of the town. The Downtown Business Alliance planned the watch party when it became apparent that Monday night would be the evening she appeared. The exact date of her appearance could not be revealed until the previews of tonight’s program aired.
Monday night’s program was the final Blind Audition of the season as each of the four judges filled their team for the competition.
Pictured above: Hannah Kirby and Sulphur Springs Community Events Coordinator, Gus Gustafson.
Hannah Kirby Watch Party
Everyone is invited to a Watch Party tonight (Monday) at 7pm in the gym of the First United Methodist Church as Hannah Kirby audition will air on The Voice. Hannah is a graduate of Sulphur Springs High School and has appeared locally in several musical venues including the Reilly Springs Jamboree. The Downtown Business Alliance will host the party and the church will have chairs set up along with the video system ready to broadcast the show live according to Rita Edwards, Chair of the DBA. KSST will post the result of her auditiion.
“Updated” Alyssa Cockrum Found
As of 3 p.m. Monday afternoon Alyssa Cockrum was found and was being returned to her family at the Hopkins County Sheriff’s office. She was reported missing to local law enforcement and by her family through social media.
Oscar Aguilar wins coin toss
Incumbent Oscar Aguilar and challenger Charles Oxford, running for Place 3 on the Sulphur Springs City Council, gathered in the City Secretary’s Office Friday morning to draw for places on the ballot. Aguilar won a coin toss to pull a slip out of a hat and drew #1. The ballot will read Oscar Aguilar and then Charles Oxford.
Toyota Texas Bass Classic Preview
Memorial Day weekend event to mix music, outdoor activities and big bass
ATHENS—The Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) will return to Lake Fork on Memorial Day weekend, May 23 – 25, 2015. The top 35 professional bass anglers will compete for the world championship in a tournament benefitting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) fishing programs. So far the TTBC has raised more than $2 million for such programs as Neighborhood Fishin’ and the Texas State-Fish Art Contest.
While the pros are battling it out on the water, attendees can enjoy a variety of games and activities at the TPWD Outdoor Adventures Area, dine on food from a number of vendors, and shop for fishing gear and accessories.
A feature attraction of TTBC is a star-studded lineup of daytime and evening concerts. Concerts will be headlined by Billy Currington on Saturday, May 23; Lee Brice on Sunday, May 24; and Rodney Atkins and Joe Nichols on Monday, May 25.
“It is an exciting musical lineup this year,” said Lenny Francoeur, tournament director. “Combining country music’s biggest stars, the best bass anglers in the world, a large outdoor expo and fan-friendly activities, the ninth year of TTBC promises to be one of the most exciting yet.”
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, March 11, 2015, and will be available online at ToyotaTexasBassClassic.com or at your local Toyota dealership, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Brookshire’s Grocery Stores and Kim’s Convenience Stores throughout East Texas.
TTBC sponsors include Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, NITRO Boats, Wood County Industrial Commission, Leer Truck Caps, GoPro, Holt CAT, Republic Services, Tellespen, Geico, Lamar Advertising, The Links at Land’s End, Brookshires, Kim’s, TLC Radio, KYKX 105.7, KMMO 99.9, 104.1 The Ranch, the Coca-Cola Company and the Sabine River Authority.
For additional information or to volunteer at the tournament, visit ToyotaTexasBassClassic.com or call (866) 907-0143.
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On the Net:
www.ToyotaTexasBassClassic.com
“Texting is the King of Distraction,” Lobbyist Tells Panel
by Eva Hershaw, The Texas Tribune – March 5, 2015
Doctors, law enforcement officers, and family members of crash victims gathered Thursday at the Capitol to testify in support of a statewide texting-while-driving ban.
The House Transportation Committee did not take a vote on House Bill 80 by state Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland, which would make texting while driving a misdemeanor across Texas, punishable with a fine of up to $99 on first offense and up to $200 for additional infractions. A companion bill, Senate Bill 25, has been filed by Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo.
“Texting is the king of distraction,” Beaman Floyd, executive director of the Texas Coalition for Affordable Insurance Solutions, an alliance of insurance providers, told the panel. “It is time to change the culture that considers it acceptable to use electronic devices while behind the wheel.”
Forty-four states now ban text messaging while driving. In Texas, 38 cities have local bans on texting while driving.
The father and grandfather of Brandon Abrams believe a statewide texting ban could have saved the life of the 6-year-old boy, who was killed in a distracted driving accident in 2013. Both men testified at the hearing.
“I remember the seat belt law, and I was against it until I got my first ticket. Now I click it. It’s as simple as that,” said Steve Abrams of San Antonio, Brandon’s grandfather. “We will teach the people to do it. Saving one life is substantial.”
Troy Abrams delivered emotional testimony replaying the events surrounding his son’s death – the phone call he received from his daughter, finding his son wrapped around a fence in front of their house, and watching him receive CPR to no avail. Several panel members were visibly moved. “Today, you have the opportunity to affect millions of lives, positively or negatively,” he told the committee.
In a written statement, the Texas Medical Association expressed its support for the bill, noting that more than 95,000 crashes and 460 deaths in Texas were attributed to distracted driving in 2013.
“By eliminating texting while driving across the state and promoting distracted driving education for Texas drivers, HB 80 will help reduce costly and preventable injury and make our roads safer for all Texans,” the association said in the statement.
Warren Diepraam, an assistant to the Waller County district attorney, emphasized that distracted driving incidents still go largely underreported.
“We are only scratching the surface in the number of fatalities and damage happening as a cause of distracted driving,” Diepraam told the committee. “This bill will go a long way to addressing those fatalities. People will understand that it is not only bad, which they understand now – they will understand that it is a crime, and that will change behavior.”
Critics have called such legislation a misguided attempt to control behavior. Former Gov. Rick Perry vetoed similar legislation in 2011, and another bill in 2013 failed to gain traction. Gov. Greg Abbott indicated last year while campaigning that he did not support a statewide ban, saying that it would “micromanage adult driving behavior.”
But Craddick, a former House speaker, said he feels positive about the measure passing this year, in part because Abbott’s staff members have attended hearings and briefings on the proposal.
“More people are seeing the accidents happen, they are seeing the deaths mount, they are seeing people texting and weaving all over the road in front of them,” Craddick said.
Disclosure: The Texas Medical Association and the Texas Coalition for Affordable Insurance Solutions are corporate sponsors of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.
