On the crime beat, down in Brownwood, polcie are searching for a man they say broke into two homes on Thursday, then barricaded himswelf in one of the homes before escaping a SWAT Team standoff. 35 year-old Selse Ortiz Martinez should be considered armed and dangerous, police say. Brownwood Police said in a statement that officers had been searching for Martinez because of a felony warrant for drug charges. When they encountered him at the public library, Martinez fled to a home in the 2300 block of 12th Street, where he broke in and pulled a gun on the occupant. He then fled out the back of that home, down the alley and into a second home in the 2400 block of 13th Street. As officers were trying to get the woman and small children inside to safety, they say Martinez got away. If you know where he is, call police.
Baker Named Dean Of Tarleton’s College Of Graduate and Global Studies
Dr. Credence Baker has been named dean of Tarleton State University’s College of Graduate and Global Studies following four months as interim dean. In a prepared statement, Tarleton Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Karen Murray said that Dr. Baker has been instrumental in developing and implementing strategies for growing graduate enrollment. Her strong commitment to innovation in recruitment and program delivery has resulted in much-needed growth, leading the university to combine graduate studies and global campus offerings under her leadership, Murray said. An associate professor in the College of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Technology, Baker has served in several key leadership roles in her 15 years at Tarleton, including director for the Center for Instructional Innovation and certification officer for the university.
Tarleton Officially Joins NCAA Division One, Western Athletic Conference
Reclassification from NCAA Division II to Division I is complete as
Tarleton State University becomes the ninth full-time member of the Western Athletic Conference
effective today, July 1, 2020.
Tarleton accepted an invitation to join the WAC and move to NCAA Division I in November 2019.
The Texans were in the Lone Star Conference (NCAA Division II) from 1994-2020 and won 36 LSC
championships, nine LSC tournament championships and 14 NCAA regional championships across
14 NCAA sports. The Texans also have eight individual national championships in track and field.
Tarleton joins California Baptist University, Chicago State University, Dixie State University, Grand
Canyon University, New Mexico State University, Seattle University, the University of Texas Rio
Grande Valley and Utah Valley University. Dixie State also is transitioning from Division II to Division
I.
Thirteen of Tarleton's 14 sports will compete in the WAC, while the football program will compete as
an independent at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. Tarleton is expected to add
more NCAA intercollegiate sports during the transition, including women's soccer.
The Texans will not immediately be eligible for WAC postseason competition in any sport in which
the winner is the league's automatic qualifier for an NCAA championship. Tarleton will be eligible for
cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field conference championships beginning in 2020-
21.
The university may participate individually in the WAC women's golf championships beginning in
2021, but only as unattached entries. In golf, Tarleton will not be eligible for the league's automatic
team or individual qualifier to the NCAA Division I women's championship.
Tarleton will be immediately eligible, however, to win regular-season titles in all sports sponsored by
the WAC.
The WAC was formed in 1962 and crowns team and individual champions in 19 sports — eight
men's, 11 women's. Headquarters is in the Denver metropolitan area.
Erath County Mobile Coronavirus Testing Site Offered Monday, 7/6
Here’s the latest update on the sudden rise in coronavirus cases locally. A statement from Stephenville City Manager Allen Barnes Wednesday said that, of the nine positive cases identified on Tuesday, one of the cases involves an infant within the city limits. The child is quarantined at home. Erath County is now tracking COVID-19 cases daily, but only providing media updates twice per week. As of Tuesday, June 30th, the report showed 152 total coronavirus cases since the outbreak began. 121 of those were considered active and 30 patients had fully recovered. One person has died. The majority of cases continues to be in the 20-to-29 age group. More than 60 percent of all the cases around Erath County have been in patients under the age of 40.
Additionally, Erath County will provide a mobile testing site on Monday, July 6th. In order to be tested, you must be showing at least one symptom of COVID-19. There is no cost for the test and all tests will be scheduled in advance. You must call for an appointment at 512-883-2400 to be screened. However, you can drive-up and register on site. The mobile testing site will be at Cornerstone Assembly of God, located at 950 Glen Rose Highway in Stephenville. Hours will be 10am to 5pm.
Local Officials Strongly Urge Precautions As Coronavirus Cases “Explode”
The city of Stepehnville deciding to delay all 4th of July festivities due to the sudden increase of positive coronavirus tests. In a statement Tuesday, Erath County Judge Alfonso Campos said there have been 86 positive tests results just in the past week. The increase in cases has included an increase in hospitalizations, as well. Campos is strongly recommending everyone take some measures to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. That includes wearing a face covering in public, practicing social distancing of at least six feet, washing your hands often, and stay home if you don’t need to be out.
As for the upcoming holiday weekend, Stephenville city leaders held an emergency meeting Friday and voted 6-2 to delay all city-sponsored holiday events. The city council says it hopes to be able to hold celebrations over Labor Day weekend if conditions have improved. The postponed events include the fireworks display and a live concert scheduled for City Park, as well as the downtown parade. A previous motion made by council member Brady Pendleton to postpoone everything BUT the fireworks was rejected on a 5-3 vote.
Erath County COVID-19 Cases Total 143; 11 New Since The Weekend
More positive coronavirus cases are surfacing in Erath County. Multiple statements from County Judge Alfonso Campos show as many as 11 new cases since the weekend. The latest cases are from residents in Stephenville, Dublin and rural Erath County. The county says there have now been a total of 143 positive test results since the outbreak began in March. However, there are currently 112 cases considered active. Campos says the trend continues to show many of the newest cases in patients in the 20-to-29 age range.
CASE Honors Tarleton’s Division Of Institutional Advancement
Tarleton State University’s Division of Institutional Advancement has received the Overall Improvement Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). The award is in the category of public comprehensive institutions with endowments over $45 million that demonstrate significant program growth across three years of data. The Educational Fundraising Awards annually recognize exemplary development programs based on a blind review of data submitted to the CASE Voluntary Support of Education (VSE) survey.
Brown County Also Seeing Uptick In COVID-19 Patients
In nearby Brown County, the health department says one of its latest two COVID-19 patients is a teenager. A statement from the city says there are now 68 total psoiotives in Brown COunty out of a total of over 19-hundred tests. 50 patients have fully recovered and eight patients are considered as active and in isolation at home. Only three of the patients are currently requiring hospitalization.
Erath County COVID-19 Cases Hit 100
Stephenville City Manager Allen Barnes announced that eleven
more residents of Stephenville had tested positive for the COVID 19 virus. One resident has been hospitalized for treatment, while the other residents are quarantining at home for 14 days. Today’s positive tests bring the total number of positives in the county to 100 with 77 of those considered active at this time.
City officials continue to encourage residents to take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. Wearing masks in public protect both the wearer and the others around them. Washing hand regularly and using hand sanitizer with an alcohol content of 60 percent or more. Do not touch your face, nose, or mouth. Observe social distancing at all times and sanitize surfaces regularly. The precautions become more important as people are beginning to be in public and our lives become more normal.
Two SHS Athletes Among Latest Positive COVID-19 Tests
Stephenville ISD also confirms that two student athgletes in the summer strength and conditionin camp at SHS have tested psotive for COVID-19. District officials were notified of the positive test on Tuesday at noon after workouts had been completed. Starting today, SISD says the strength and conditioning works will remain closed until the facilities are cleaned and sanitized and affected atghletes are notified. All athletes should receive an email today from their head coaches. The email will specify whether that athlete can return on June 29th or will need to quarantine for two weeks.