Statement by Clarksville Police Chief Jarrett Ehlinger

On January 24, 2019 at approximately 8:52 pm Clarksville Police, Fire, Red River County Sheriffs Office and Life Net responded to a 911 call in the 400 block of East Broadway Street, Clarksville, Texas.

First Responders found an individual in an unknown type of medical distress. Medical personnel made every attempt on the individual to sustain life; however, first responders were unsuccessful on the individual. The individual did not survive.

At this time there is an ongoing investigation of an unknown / unexplained death. No more information at this time is available.

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The Clarksville Times will have a complete and up-to-date story in Thursday's paper.

Cypress Basin Hospice Awarded CHAP Accreditation

Community Health Accreditation Partner, Inc., (CHAP) has announced that Cypress Basin Hospice has been awarded CHAP Accreditation under the CHAP Hospice Standards of Excellence. By achieving CHAP Accreditation. Cypress Basin Hospice has also been deemed to meet the Medicare Conditions of Participation and is certified . a Medicare provider.

CHAP Accreditation demonstrates that Cypress Basin Hospice meets the industry's highest nationally recognized standards. The rigorous evaluation by CHAP focuses on structure and function. quality of services and products. human and financial resources and long term viability.

Sirnply stated, adherence to CHAP, standards leads to better quality care. By achieving CHAP Accreditation, Cypress Basin Hospice has shown a commitment to excellence; said Karen Collishaw, CHAP President & CEO. "This is the third time Cypress Basin Hospice has achieved CHAP Accreditation, and we are excited to continue our partnership by offering support in its commitrnent to providing quality care and continuous improvement."

Cypress Basin Hospice has been a CHAP accredited agency since 2012 and provides a variety of hospice services to patients and their families in Mount Pleasant, Paris, Sulphur Springs and the 16 county surrounding area of Northeast Texas.

CHAP is an independent, not-for-profit, accrediting body for community-based health care organizations. Created in 1969, CHAP was the first to recognize the need and value for accreditation in community-based care. CHAP is the oldest national, community-based accrediting body with rnore than 9,000 agencies currently accredited nationwide.

For more information about the CHAP Accreditation process. please visit the CHAP website at www.chapinc.org.

For additional information about Cypress B.in Hospice, please contact Niki Haynes at 903-577-1510.

Sydney the kangaroo hops into the sunset

Courtesy Photo

Cookie and William Sampson with their adopted daughter, Sydney

By LOU ANTONELLI

Managing Editor

One of Clarksville’s cutest – and most unusual – residents, Sydney the kangaroo, passed away last Friday, Jan. 4, 2019.

Her mom, Cookie Sampson, reported Sydney, 17, died of old age and cancer. The average age of a kangaroo is 15.

Sydney Ruth Sampson lived in Clarksville since November 2002, when she was adopted by Cookie and William Sampson. She was well-known over the years as a visitor to schools, day care centers, and nursing homes.

Cookie said adopting the Australian Red Kangaroo was the fulfillment of a dream she held since childhood. “I always wanted one, for as long as I can remember,” she said.

Sydney was named for the Australian city where her ancestors came from, but she was born in the U.S. and sold to the Sampsons by a Texas veterinarian licensed to sell exotic animals.

Cookie said her middle name, Ruth, was taken from the Biblical figure because the name means friend or companion.

Over the years Sydney met many people and made many friends in Clarksville. Cookie said when the kangaroo was new in town, she was quite the novelty.

“The police department asked The Clarksville Times to do a story about her,” said Cookie. “People saw me walking with Sydney on a leash and thought they were seeing things!”

Sexual assault suspect sought

The Red River County Sheriff’s Office needs your help locating the man in the photograph. Jacob Mckindle Benson of Red River County is wanted for Aggravated Sexual Assault, which is a felony. Jacob Benson is 30 years old and is described to be 5’7 inches tall, 165 lbs, with blond hair and blue eyes.

Lamar County/Red River County Crime Stoppers wants to pay you for the information that leads to the arrest of this man. If you can lead investigators to this man, and wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Lamar/Red River County Crime Stoppers. If the information that you provide to Crime Stoppers leads to the arrest of this person, you could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 and you will remain anonymous.

Persons with information about this, or any other felony crime can contact Crime Stoppers four different ways, 24 hours a day- 7 days a week and remain anonymous.

1. By phone at (903) 427-TIPS (8477).

2. By going online and logging onto www.785-tips.com and submitting a tip. There, persons can also get more information about other featured crimes.

3. By logging on to www.p3tips.com

4.  And with a smart phone by downloading the mobile app;“P3 Tips”.

Visit the Crime Stoppers website for details.

Crime Stoppers will not pay rewards for information provided through any source other than calls to its program. Tips may be made to Crime Stoppers by any methods mentioned above

Constable cleared of charge following arrest

By LOU ANTONELLI
Managing Editor

Red River County Constable Barnaby Resendiz will not face any charges as a result of his New Year’s Day arrest for deadly conduct.

District Attorney Val Varley said he decided to drop the charge after going over all the reports and statements related to the incident.

Resendiz was arrested after shooting a gun indoors, but Varley said his determination was that it was an “accidental discharge.”

“He didn’t commit a crime,” said Varley. “It’s not an offense to accidentally discharge a gun indoors.”
While the Red River County Sheriff’s Office may have had probable cause for the deadly conduct arrest – a Class A misdemeanor - it is the District Attorney’s decision whether to pursue charges, said Varley.

The crucial point is that for there to be deadly conduct, someone has to be “in imminent danger of serious bodily injury, and that didn’t happen here,” said Varley. “There was no reckless behavior.”

The arrest and dismissal should have no effect on the status of Resendiz’s peace officer certifications, he added.

Varley said he was “infuriated” by gossip, on Facebook and elsewhere, that Resendiz received preferential treatment.

“I don’t treat law enforcement and peace officers different than anyone else,” he said, adding that he’s prosecuted many people in law enforcement over the years and sent some of them to jail.