Community mourns local boy’s death
A Siloam Springs boy who was involved in a suspected drunk driving accident on Jan. 3 that ended with the vehicle submerged upside down in the fountain near the city’s welcome sign has died, according to Benton County Prosecutor Nathan Smith.
Tyner Levi Hammett, 11, died Tuesday at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Okla., Smith said. His stepfather, Michael Guest, 38, was arrested in connection with driving while intoxicated and endangering the welfare of a minor after the accident, according to a Jan. 4 press release from the Siloam Springs Police Department.
Guest has been released from the Benton County Jail on bond as of Wednesday and will have a court date on Feb. 11. Smith said that it is “highly” likely that Guest’s charges will be upgraded to DWI, negligent homicide, which is a felony that carries from five to 20 years in prison.
The Siloam Springs Police and Fire departments responded to a call of a traffic incident at the intersection of U.S. Highway 412 and East Main Street around 10 p.m. on Jan. 3, the press release states. Upon arrival, they found an overturned and submerged vehicle in the pond and fountain area. The emergency responders located the boy’s stepfather outside of the vehicle, later identified as Guest, who told officers that his stepson was still inside the vehicle.
Members of the fire and police departments quickly entered the water and in a joint effort, managed to turn the vehicle on to its side and successfully remove the child, the release states. Guest was then taken to Siloam Springs Regional Hospital to receive treatment and was then taken into custody at the Benton County Jail, the release states.
Hammett was also transported to the Siloam Springs Regional Hospital and shortly after, he was transferred to St. Francis Hospital.
Tim Hornbuckle, who is the principal at Siloam Springs Intermediate School said that this is
football coach. In total, he spent 29 years working in school administration.
“I love education,” Ramey told school board members. “I’ve been working since I was nine years old. I don’t know how to not work, but I’m going to start figuring it out.
“Siloam Springs has been a great place for me to work. It’s a great community, it has so much for me to offer families and kids, and I get to work with the best people in the world.”
School board president Brian Lamb, who has served on the board since 1998, said he took part in hiring Ramey as superintendent.
“I’m very proud of the accomplishment there,” he said. “He has brought trust, honesty, transparency, everything, love for kids. (For Ramey) it’s all about the kids, it’s all about public education and moving it forward, and it’s just been an honor and a pleasure to work with him.”
Roger Holroyd, who formally announced his resignation from the board on Thursday, said he hated to be the one to make the motion to accept Ramey’s resignation. Holroyd gave the board notice last month that Thursday would his last meeting since he has accepted a job as the president of Arvest’s Fort Smith market.
“It’s been amazing to watch Ken work with this community and not just run the school, but be an ambassador to this community in a way that has really just been masterful honestly,” he said.
Holroyd said that Ramey made the school district well respected and an integral part of the community.
“That’s going to be part of your legacy and as we talked tonight, it’s going to be like following Bear Bryant at Alabama, for whoever takes this position,” Holroyd said.
Board member Audra Farrell gave a tearful second to Holroyd’s motion.
“You look at this leadership in this district and Ken, it’s been your doing,” said board member Connie Matchell, who also grew emotional.
Matchell, who is also the head of the teacher education department at John Brown University, retired from Siloam Springs School District in 2015 as the curriculum coordinator.
She said Ramey served as a mentor to her and gave her confidence to transition from teaching to administration. Looking across the room, it was evident the number of lives and careers Ramey has impacted, she said.
Travis Jackson, who was appointed to the board in August, said he first got to know Ramey when he worked to start a soccer organization in Siloam Springs in 1994.
“You made a real impact in my life and Monica’s life,” he said.
Ramey thanked the school board for their support and dedication, both during the meeting and in his resignation letter. He also thanked school staff, patrons, parents and the community for their support, noting that “wonderful things happen when we all work together as a team with a singular focus — what is best for students.”
“I began my career as a teacher and I believe that teachers are the heart of all school districts,” he wrote. “Knowledge is power, and an educated person can change the world. Teachers make that happen. They are never paid what they deserve so we must value, respect and thank them often for the commitment they make to children. As I prepare to leave this role, I give my sincere best wishes to all of the employees, past and present, who have dedicated their lives to helping children grow into worthy adults.
“It has been my honor and privilege to serve the Siloam Springs School District and I will miss it dearly.”