LOCAL NEWS

Latest Church Fire Deemed Arson

WILLS POINT -- ATF agent Tom Crowley says the latest church fire in Wills Point has been deemed arson, according to KETK. The seventh church fire this year in East Texas destroyed the sanctuary of Russell Memorial United Methodist Church in Wills Point. The fire was reported around 5:23 a.m. last Thursday. No injuries were reported in that blaze. Signs of forced entry were found. ATF has said six church fires since Jan. 1 in East Texas are blamed on arson.

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Warrants Issued in Club Shooting

TYLER -- Tyler Investigators have obtained arrest warrants on two suspects allegedly involved in the shooting and assault on Markeeth Williams that occurred at Club Skyy shortly after midnight Monday. Tyler police are looking for two black males: Joseph Dewayne Williams, 25, for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Gerald Wayne McGee, 26, for Assault Causing Bodily Injury.

Gunfire at the club on Pointe North Road left Markeeth Williams wounded. Authorities say the victim, 27, was shot in the throat. Police say members of Williams's family showed up at the club after the shooting and were taking him to the hospital when officers located Williams on Gentry. They called EMS to transport him to ETMC for serious but non-life threatening injuries. Anyone with information is asked to contact Tyler Police or Smith County Tyler CRIMESTOPPERS.

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One Injured in Tyler Accident

TYLER -- A vehicle-pedestrian accident remains under investigation in Tyler. The accident happened just before 9:00 Sunday night in the 7200 block of south Broadway. According to Patrol Sgt. Jason Burton, the pedestrian was struck in the north bound inside lane of Broadway and received life threatening injuries. He was transported to East Texas Medical Center by EMS and his condition is not known at this time. The victims name has not been released.

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Kara Camp Files for City Council

TYLER -- Kara Hodges Camp, registered pharmacist and community volunteer, filed Monday for the District 6 position on the Tyler City Council. Camp, 47, is running on a platform that focuses attention on the needs of Tyler homeowners to protect their property values, maintain neighborhood integrity, and improve safety and traffic. Camp said she also hopes to help the city better promote Tyler to businesses looking to relocate and to public events looking for new venues. In addition to chairing the city of Tyler Board of Adjustment, Camp has also served on the City of Tyler Public Library Board for six years, including serving as chairman of the Library Board. She was also organizer of Tyler’s first Neighborhood Conservation District (NCD) under the Tyler 21 plan.

Camp said she is seeking input from citizens in District 6 to voice their priorities for Tyler’s future. Her supporters are hosting a Kick-Off Campaign event February 25th to which the public is invited; call 903-520-2117 for details. You can go to http://www.karacamp.com to learn more. District 6 is currently represented by Charles Alworth, who must resign in May due to term limits. Businessman Jason Wright announced last July that he is also seeking the seat.

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Guilty Plea in Child Porn Case

TYLER - U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced Monday that a 37-year-old Tyler man has pleaded guilty to child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas. Christopher Hull pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with possession of child pornography Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love. According to information presented in court, on Mar. 12, 2009, Hull was found to be in possession of equipment that contained visual depictions of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Hull admitted to using his personal computer to view child pornography.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Hull faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set. Hull is currently in custody.

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White Oak Fatality Accident

WHITE OAK -- One person has been killed and two injured in a two vehicle accident in White Oak. It happened around 3:00 Saturday afternoon on U.S. Highway 80 near Willow Lake Road. The names of the persons involved in the wreck have not been released. Investigators say it appears the wreck occurred when a driver of one of the vehicles attempted to pick up a cell phone and drifted into the other lane of traffic. The investigation into the wreck is continuing.

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Fatal Lufkin Fire

LUFKIN -- An electric heater coming into contact with combustibles may be responsible for a fatal Lufkin fire. It was reported around 5:30 Sunday morning in the 2100 block of Sayers Street. Dead at the scene was Clementee Parker Jr., 53. A passerby pulled his mother from the burning house. Berline Parker, 85, was uninjured.

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Lake Palestine Drowning

LAKE PALESTINE -- One person has drowned in Lake Palestine after his boat started taking on water and sank. It happened Friday morning. Killed was Roland Shelton Junior, 49. Authorities say bystanders pulled Shelton from the water, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Itinerant Worker Scams

TYLER -- Itinerant workers are at the top of the list of scammers preying on East Texans these days. Often victimizing the elderly and stay-at-home moms, they'll drop by your house and tell you your gutters or paving need work. If you agree, they'll proceed with the job, and then hand you an exorbitant bill. On KTBB "Staff Meeting," Mechele Agbayani of the Central East Texas Better Business Bureau issued a warning about such people. Agbayani says one itinerant worker showed up at a woman's door and offered to do some repair work. She accepted, and got hit with a $5,000 bill. The victim refused to pay the full amount, but did end up paying $2,000.

Agbayani says such scammers have turned up lately in Kilgore and Frankston. She advises you to stick with workers you know and trust, and work you know needs to be done. And you can always call the Better Business Bureau or law enforcement. You can listen to the entire "Staff Meeting" show online at http://www.ktbb.com/audio beginning early Monday.

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Great Decisions Discussions Begins

TYLER -- It's time to make plans for the 2010 Great Decisions Discussions. They begin at noon on Feb. 10 and continue each Wednesday through April 7, except for Spring Break, at the Tyler Public Library. Organizers say each of the eight discussions will take you beyond the headlines by providing a look at eight of the most significant and far-reaching challenges facing the world, and U.S. policy, today. A program of the Foreign Policy Association (FPA), Great Decisions was launched in 1954 to broaden understanding of, and participation in, global affairs. It is widely considered one of the longest-running and largest non-partisan grassroots education program on foreign policy in the United States.

Each year, the FPA publishes a Great Decisions briefing book which provides essential information on current U.S. policy, examination of alternative policy options and relevant discussion questions. The local Great Decision Steering Committee identifies experts to lead the discussions on these topics in Tyler. Participation is open to the public and is not limited to those with an expert knowledge of foreign affairs. According to organizers, Great Decisions Discussion Groups are composed of any interested individuals who want to expand their knowledge of international relations, as well as engage in active discussion of crucial global issues.

The schedule of topics and speakers follows:

*Feb. 10 - The U.S. and the Persian Gulf - Dr. Mohamed Elibiary, Freedom and Justice Foundation, Dallas: Now more than ever, the Persian Gulf region offers many difficult challenges to U.S. policymakers. How will Obama's direct appeal to Arabs and Muslims impact U.S. foreign policy in the region? What will the fallout of withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq be? Can the U.S. and its allies prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons?

*Feb. 17 - Europe's "Far East": The Uncertain Frontier - Dr. Marcus Stadelmann, Political Science Chair, UT Tyler: Russia's policy of maintaining a "sphere of influence" in former Soviet satellites has been challenged in recent years by movements against pro-Russia regimes. Russia has pushed back by cutting Ukraine's natural gas supply and intervening in Georgia's campaign in South Ossetia. Will Russia regain its traditional
leadership role in the region?

*Feb. 24 - Enhancing Security Through Peace Building - Blake Bailey, Attorney Activist: U.S. campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan have shown that military force alone cannot ensure peace in all conflicts. How can the U.S. successfully integrate the tools of peace building into its statecraft? At what point do poverty, disease and climate change threaten national security? What role can non-governmental actors play in supporting government led efforts?

*March 3 - Transnational Crime - Special Agent Jeff Millslagle, FBI: From the booming sex trade in Eastern Europe, to online fraud syndicates in Africa and the drug cartels of Asia and Central America, crime is becoming increasingly organized and globalized. How can countries better protect citizens seeking the benefits of a globalized world from being exploited? What international actors can effectively fight global organized crime?

*March 10 - No discussion due to Spring Break

*March 17 - Kenya and R2P (Responsibility to Protect) - Benson Kioko, activist and volunteer to Mercy Ships: Post-election rioting in Kenya in December 2007 brought pressure on Nairobi, from international and regional diplomats, to end tensions and avert bloodshed on a massive scale. What lessons can be learned from the intervention in Kenya? What does it mean for the UN's emerging responsibility to protect doctrine?

*March 24 - China Looks at the World; The World Looks at China - John C. Cole, U.S. Army Retired, Army War College: China's influence is growing, along with its military expenditures. How will this growth affect China's relations with its neighbors and with the U.S.? Will China's expanding military and economic power affect traditional U.S. roles and U.S. alliances in East Asia? How will countries like Japan, South Korea and India respond?

*March 31 - The Global Financial Crisis and Its Effects - Dr. Guillermo Covarrubius, Economics Professor, UT Tyler: According to "Great Decisions" organizers, the global financial crisis that began in late 2007 revealed major deficiencies in the regulation of markets and institutions, all of which came perilously close to collapse. Emergency measures to prevent a full collapse of the global financial system have led to mixed results. How will governments and the world community respond to this challenge?

*April 7 - The Special Envoy in American Foreign Policy - Dr. Dan Murphree, History Professor, UT Tyler: Special envoys can help bring attention and diplomatic muscle to resolve conflicts and global challenges but they also bring with them their own "special" problems. Will the Obama administration's reliance on special envoys increase the ability of the U.S. to deal with major international issues or complicate our diplomatic
options?

In every Great Decisions briefing book are copies of opinion ballots for each topic. The opinion ballots are filled out by participants after they have read and discussed the topics presented in Great Decisions. Results from groups across the county are analyzed by a Foreign Policy Association polling expert, who writes the National Opinion Ballot Report for the Association to send to the President and the Congress at the end of the discussion season. You can also go to http://www.greatdecisions.org to complete opinion ballots.

The American Association of University Women - Tyler Branch, the League of Women Voters of Tyler/Smith County, and the Tyler Public Library are the local sponsors. Tom Tucker is chair of the Great Decisions Steering Committee. Briefing books are available now at the Tyler Public Library for $18. Photos of some presenters and biographies are available upon request. For more information email programs@tylertexas.ccom or contact the Tyler Public Library at 903-593-7323.

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STATE NEWS

Palin Stumps for Gov. Perry

CYPRESS (AP) -- Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is adding some national Republican star power to Governor Rick Perry's re-election campaign. She appeared with Perry yesterday at a rally in suburban Houston. She told a crowd the connections between Texas and Alaska include "wide open spaces" and many residents who, quote, "proudly cling to our guns and religion."

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From Hair-Care Magnate to Governor?

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Farouk Shami, a Palestinian born just outside Jerusalem, made a fortune selling hair-care products, including a hair-straightening iron called a CHI, or ceramic heating iron. Now he's bent on straightening out state government, seeking the Democratic nomination for governor. He plans to use $10 million of his fortune, plus the paltry $60,000 in contributions so far, to blanket the airwaves with commercials.

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Three Killed in Helicopter Crash

EL PASO (AP) -- Investigators are trying to figure out what caused a medical helicopter to crash during a training exercise at Fort Bliss, leaving three crew members dead. The victims of the Friday crash included paramedic Anthony Archuleta of nearby El Paso.

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Missing Baby Case a Homicide

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- San Antonio police are investigating the case of a missing 8-month-old as a kidnapping and homicide. They say that allows them to search a landfill for a body. The baby was last seen December 26 in San Antonio with his mother.

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Judge Questions Immigration Prosecutions

AUSTIN (AP) -- A federal judge in Austin questions U.S. prosecutors for seeking criminal convictions against some illegal immigrants. U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks noted in an order that like many of the defendants prosecuted under the federal illegal re-entry law, the three Mexican citizens had no significant criminal history. He says it has cost more than $13,350 to jail the three.

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Wedding Brawl Pleas

GALVESTON (AP) -- Former Houston Astros pitcher Brandon Backe and two others accused in a 2008 fight with police that broke out at a post-wedding party have pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges. Through their attorneys, Backe, Christopher Cornwell and Calvin Silva entered pleas to charges of interfering with a police officer and failing to appear in court.

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Main News page »

Who Dat Super Bowl Champion?!!!

The ultimate underdogs, they ain’t. Not anymore. The Saints are Super Bowl champions now. Who Dat? Try Drew Brees, Sean Payton and a team that has reversed its embarrassing past, carrying an entire city to the top with it. Put away those paper bags forever.
Brees and the Saints rallied to upset Peyton Manning and the [...]

JT, Lee Players Included in TXSWA 5A All-State Team

John Tyler Offensive Tackle Gerron Anthony and Robert E. Lee Punter Brady Jones earned first-team all-state honors as the 58th Annual Collin Street Bakery/Texas Sports Writers Association all-state football team was announced Saturday in Bryan.
Anthony (6-4, 315) was All-East Texas first-teamer and signed a letter of intent to attend Oklahoma State this past Wednesday. [...]

Emmitt Immortalized! Smith, Rice Lead 5 Others into Hall

Here’s how you stop Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith: Put them in the Hall of Fame and watch them break down and cry.
The men who tore apart NFL defenses couldn’t handle the emotions Saturday when they were elected to the shrine along with five others.
“They told me, ‘Don’t cry,’ ” Rice said, his eyes wet [...]

Cowboys’ Owner Looking into FB’s Arrest

Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones didn’t sound eager to speak with starting fullback Deon Anderson regarding his misdemeanor charge of deadly conduct, after the player allegedly threatened a restaurant employee with a gun during a dispute early Tuesday.
Jones, attending the Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremonies Saturday in which former Cowboys [...]

UT Tyler Tops LeTourneau For Season Sweep

The UT Tyler Patriots finished off a season sweep of the LeTourneau Yellow Jackets on Saturday night at Solheim Arena in Longview, using senior forward Hakeem Kareem’s third 20-point effort in the last four games and two clutch 3-pointers from Neal Welch down the stretch to earn a hard-fought, 71-66 victory.
In a game that featured [...]

Lady Patriots Get Big Road Win at LeTourneau

Freshman Paige Parrish pumped in a game-high 26 points and the UT Tyler Lady Patriots rallied during the final minutes to claim a 66-51 win over LeTourneau on Saturday afternoon at Solheim Arena in Longview.
Trailing 29-28 at the half, the Patriots (10-11, 8-8) turned to Parrish who went 8-for-10 in the second half and made [...]

OU Edges Struggling UT, 80-71

Willie Warren showed it when he limped his way in for a key layup in the final 2 minutes. Tommy Mason-Griffin and Cade Davis did, too, in the way they cramped up but came back to help Oklahoma hold off a charge from No. 9 Texas for an 80-71 victory Saturday in Norman.
On a [...]

SFA Drops Heartbreaker at Lamar, 49-46

Stephen F. Austin got two looks at a game-tying 3-pointer on its final possession, but neither fell as Lamar held on for a 49-46 win Saturday in the Montagne Center in Beaumont. The three-point loss snaps SFA’s five-game win streak.
SFA falls to 16-6 on the season and 6-3 in Southland play, while Lamar improves to [...]

A&M Aggies Rally Past #20 Baylor

Texas A&M hasn’t made 3-pointers with any consistency all season. But that doesn’t stop the Aggies from taking them. The stubbornness paid off Saturday in a 78-71 victory over No. 20 Baylor at Reed Arena in College Station.
Keyed by B.J. Holmes’ key three 3-pointers late, the Aggies (17-6, 6-3 Big 12) overcame a 12-point [...]

Texas Tech Handles Visiting OSU

John Roberson scored a season-high 28 points to lead Texas Tech past Oklahoma State 81-74 on Saturday.
The win halted a two-game skid for the Red Raiders (15-7, 3-5 Big 12) and extended the Cowboys’ losing streak to three.
The Red Raiders started the second half with a 13-4 run to go up 48-30 with about 15 [...]

TJC Apaches Knock Off Trinity Valley, Apache Ladies Edge Lon Morris

The Tyler Junior College Apaches picked up a huge Region 14 Conference victory on Saturday as they defeated the Trinity Valley Cardinals 76-67 at Wagstaff Gymnasium.
The win moves the Apaches into a third place tie with the Cardinals in the North Zone of Region 14, as they are both now 8-5 in conference action. [...]

Region 14 Basketball Scores – 2/6

Men’s Games
TJC 76 Trinity Valley 67
Kilgore 66 Panola 63
Lon Morris 73 Lamar St.-Pt. Arthur 63
Jacksonville 90 San Jacinto 76
Navarro 81 Lee 61
Paris 87 Bossier Parish 70
Women’s Games
TJC 60 Lon Morris 57
Kilgore 86 Panola 56
Jacksonville 79 San Jacinto 65
Angelina 66 Blinn 62

Lee Gored By Horn, JT Runs Past North Mesquite

Coming off an overtime thriller on the road, The Robert E. Lee Red Raiders failed to hold serve on senior night Friday at REL Varsity Gymnasium, as they fell to visiting Mesquite Horn 69-64. Meanwhile, the John Tyler Lions captured a 66-51 victory at North Mesquite.
The Red Raiders squandered a three-point halftime lead and [...]

Mavs Sink Lower, Fall to Wolves

Kurt Rambis had seen his young Minnesota Timberwolves unravel many times late in tight games. On Friday night, the suddenly surging Timberwolves were the ones who made the key plays in the fourth quarter.
With Dirk Nowitzki not starting after he was late for a pregame shootaround, rookie Jonny Flynn scored 19 points and Minnesota [...]

NFL Unveils Logo For 2011 Super Bowl

The North Texas Super Bowl Committee and the NFL unveiled the logo for Super Bowl XLV on Thursday morning, displaying Cowboys Stadium in the background with the Vince Lombardi Trophy sitting on top of the Roman numerals for the game.
There is a new logo for every Super Bowl, but starting with the 2011 Super Bowl, [...]

National Signing Day: 2010 East Texas Signings

2010 SIGNING DAY LIST
Name Position High School College
Jamal Anderson RB Mar Kilgore College
Jacolby Alexander DL Van Tyler Junior College
Gerron Anthony OL JT Oklahoma St.
Keyordrick Black RB JT Tyler Junior College
Matt Brousard DB Lin Tyler Junior College
DaDa Brown RB REL Tyler Junior College
Taylor Burns K WH Kansas Wesleyan
Carrington Byndom DB Luf Texas
Coby Coleman DL Frank Texas Tech
Ricky Collins WR JT SMU
Lavochea Cooper S Arp Oklahoma St.
Jeremy Chappell WR Brook Stephen F. Austin Signing Thursday
Alonte’ Darden CB LV Central Arkansas
Anthony Davenport LB Mar Kilgore College
Justin Davis WR Jack Kilgore College
Desmond Dean DE JT Hawaii
Jesse Diaz K JT Tyler Junior [...]

National Signing Day: 10 REL Red Raiders To Play College Football

10 Robert E. Lee Red Raiders officially signed Tuesday to play College Football. This includes 4 Red Raiders who signed with Division I Schools.
Blake Roberts, LB – TCU
Austin Wilson, LB – Houston
Chris Dinkins, ATH – Oklahoma State
Thomas Lacey, OL – Alcorn State
Luke Wagner, QB – Texas A&M-Commerce
Greg Holston, OL – East Texas Baptist
Hunter Hogan, OL [...]

National Signing Day: 10 JT Lions To Play College Football

10 John Tyler Lions officially signed Tuesday to play College Football. This includes 6 Lions who signed with Division I Schools.
Jeremy Johnson, QB/ATH – SMU
Ricky Collins, WR – SMU
Ashton Dorsey, DL – UT
Gerron Anthony, OL – Oklahoma State
Darrien Starling, DB – UT-San Antonio
Desmund Dean, DE – Hawaii
Courtland Nickelberry, WR – Mary Hardin-Baylor
Ky’Ordrick Black, RB [...]

REL, JT 2010 Football Schedules

Robert E. Lee 2010 Schedule
Non-District
Game 1 – Euless Trinity
Game 2 – Lufkin
Game 3 – John Tyler
Game 4 – The Woodlands
Game 5 – Beaumont Westbrook
District 11-5A
Game 6 @ Mesquite Horn
Game 7 @ DeSoto
Game 8 vs. Mesquite
Game 9 @ Longview
Game 10 vs. North Mesquite
John Tyler 2010 Schedule
Game 1 – vs. Lufkin
Game 2 – @ Longview
Game 3 – [...]

UIL Realignment Released, JT Drops to 4A

District 11-5A
Tyler Lee
Longview
De Soto
Mesquite
Mesquite Horn
North Mesquite
District 14-5A
Lufkin
Conroe
Conroe Oak Ridge
Conroe The Woodlands
Conroe Woodlands
College Park
Humble Atascocita
Humble Kingwood
District 14-4A
John Tyler
Whitehouse
Jacksonville
Kilgore
Longview Pine Tree
Hallsville
Marshall
Nacogdoches

East Texas Traffic Report

TYLER--

=E. Loop 323 at Commerce--repaving work.
=Hwy 69 north of Mineola--construction to widen the roadway.
=Hwy 69 at FM 344--ongoing overpass construction.
=I-20 between Hwy 271 and Joy-Wright Mountain Rd.--repaving work scheduled.

LONGVIEW--

=Hwy 31 north of I-20--construction scheduled.
=Judson Rd. between Loop 281 and Hwy 80--roadwork.
=Silver Falls between Birch and Pine Tree--road widening project.
=I-20 at Hwy 31--ongoing construction.
=Loop 281 between FM 1845 and Judson Rd.--construction.

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