KTBB News, Weather, Talk

WHITEHOUSE — Smith County Game Warden Chris Green makes an uncommon stop, on land. It happened Saturday afternoon when Green decided to grab a bite to eat near the lake in Whitehouse. He says he came across some driving behavior not commonly seen in the middle of the day. “There was a truck in front of me that was weaving from side to side. I thought they might be on the cell phone or texting. I was gonna stop them and tell them they couldn’t do that,” Green said. Then the truck hit a driver stopped at the red light and veered into oncoming traffic.

After Green forced the young man out of the truck, he cuffed him and sat him down on the side of the road while he cleared traffic and called Whitehouse P.D. “Clearly his eyes were just, you know, they were dialated, going every which way, and clearly impaired on something,” Green said. He says alcohol was found in the vehicle.

The man was to be booked into the Smith County Jail and charged with driving under the influence.

TYLER — A Tyler aggravated robbery suspect has been arrested. Early Monday morning officers responded to 1118 West Gentry Parkway to a report of a robbery in progress. When they arrived, officers saw a suspect running from the store. After a brief foot pursuit, they were able to arrest Ronald Howard, 42, Tyler. Howard was positively identified by the store clerk and was booked into the Smith County Jail on aggravated robbery charges.

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating an aggravated robbery that was reported around 9:45 Sunday night at Super One Foods at 1105 East Gentry Parkway. A woman told officers she was robbed at gunpoint by a black male described as mid 20’s and having a thin build. The suspect left on foot in an unknown direction. No injuries were reported.

LUFKIN – A Lufkin woman has died in a weekend accident in Lufkin. It happened around 9:30 Saturday night on Loop 287 at Lotus Lane. Killed was Connie McKay, 45. A passenger in her car was injured. Lufkin police say she was attempting to cross the loop when her car was broadsided by a car that ran a red light. The driver was arrested after fleeing the scene on foot. He is identified as Leobardo Nieves, 20. He was booked into the Angelina County Jail on a charge of intoxication manslaughter.

LONGVIEW – A traffic stop by the Department of Public Safety has resulted in the arrest of two North Carolina residents on drug charges. Their car was stopped Saturday night on Interstate Highway 20. A K9 unit was called to the scene and the dog found 30 pounds of crack cocaine in the SUV. Arrested were Terry Bumgarner, 47, of Newton, North Carolina and Chelsea Elizabeth McDowell, 25, of Hickory, North Carolina.

TYLER — The Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health) has recently reduced the cost of the seasonal flu vaccine for the general public. The vaccine is now being offered for a fee of $8.00 at 815 North Broadway in Tyler. Medicaid and Medicare Part B are also accepted and cover the cost of the vaccination. The seasonal flu vaccination will be given on a first come, first serve basis until the vaccine supply is depleted. NET Health Immunization Clinic hours are Monday – Wednesday 8:00am till 11:00am and 1:00pm till 4:00pm and Wednesday until 6:00pm.

“It is not too late for citizens to get vaccinated against the flu for this season. We are pleased to be able to offer this protection to our community at a more affordable rate.” says George Roberts, CEO of NET Health.

“Seasonal flu vaccine, available in shot and nasal spray forms, is recommended for people ages 6 months and older. It is especially important for individuals at high risk of complications from the flu to become vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available,” says Dr. Jonathan MacClements, Smith County Health Authority.

The 2010 – 2011 seasonal influenza vaccine will protect against three strains of flu viruses, including the 2009 H1N1influenza virus, which cause so much illness last season. Health officials say flu is unpredictable, but it is very likely that the flu virus will cause illness in the coming months.

TYLER — Warm temperatures over the weekend sent fishing enthusiasts to area lakes, a reminder that bass season is just around the corner. Bass will begin spawning in the spring, when the water temperature consistently stays above 60 degrees. When bass “bed,” or find a place to mate, they stay in shallow waters and tend to stay stagnant, making it much easier for fishermen to come away with a bag limit of bass. Smith County Game Warden Chris Green says when the weather gets consistently warmer, the fishermen will be out bass fishing in full force. Green added that it’s still critical to follow any and all safety guidelines provided when bass fishing this early in the year. Green also says not to exceed the legal bag limit of bass.

UNDATED — Here’s a quick look at events and work planned in the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

LONGVIEW — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repairs in various locations on State Highway 300 (Gilmer Road), Spur 63, and Spur 502 (Judson Road) in and around Longview. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue pavement repair operations on State Highway 31 between Trinidad and Malakoff, followed later in the week by the same work on State Highway 31 Business and State Highway 19 Business in downtown Athens.

A second crew is scheduled to perform edge repairs in various locations on Farm Road 315 and Farm Road 2010 near Chandler. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue fog seal operations on Farm Road 2330 between State Highway 19 and Farm Road 860, and on Farm Road 1817 between U.S. Highway 287 and Farm Road 323.

Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic. Fog seal operations require lengthy lane closures and can cause moderate delays to traffic. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs in various locations on Farm Road 1251 east of Henderson, and of Farm Road 2658 on the west side of Martin Creek Lake. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue resurfacing operations in various locations on Farm Road 858 between State Highway 19 south of Canton and Farm Road 314 south of Van. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

WOOD COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to be at work on the following roadways in and around Wood County:
Farm Road 778 between State Highway 37 in Quitman and U.S. Highway 80; State Highway 37 north of Quitman; Farm Road 857 near Farm Road 1255; and Farm Road 49 east of Farm Road 14. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue several weeks of edge repairs in various locations on U.S. Highway 175 between Jacksonville and Poynor. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

LUFKIN — A man pulled from a burning Lufkin home has died. Richard Browning, 37, died in a Houston Hospital Saturday. The fire was reported around 9:15pm Friday night at 1009 Mitchell Avenue. The house was gutted by the flames. Investigators say Browning was found in a rear bedroom. From the injuries to his head, it appeared as if he had been involved in a fight. Investigators say the cause of the fire remains under investigation, but they term the blaze “suspicious.”

LONGVIEW – A Longview home has been destroyed by fire. It was reported Friday afternoon in the 900 block of Pecan Street. A woman and her three children were not at home when the fire broke out at the home, which was not equipped with fire detectors. Investigators say the fire started on the porch and quickly spread throughout the house. The blaze even spread to the yard, setting some curbside furniture on fire.

TYLER — A teacher at Tyler’s Robert E Lee High School has been found dead in his home. The body of Mark Chennault, who was in his 40s, was found Saturday morning. A social studies teacher, this was his first year in the Tyler school district. Investigators say it appears as if he had died of natural causes. An autopsy has been ordered.

MARSHALL (AP) — A federal jury in Texas has ordered Johnson & Johnson and a subsidiary to pay $482 million to an inventor who claimed the company infringed on his patent for a cardiac stent. Jurors found that a stent built and distributed by Cordis willfully infringed on plaintiff Dr. Bruce Saffran’s patent.

NACOGDOCHES — A motorcycle driver has been killed in a Nacogdoches accident. Killed Friday night was Justin Shank, 28, of Nacogdoches. He died soon after arriving at a Nacogdoches hospital. His motorcycle burst into flames after colliding with a pickup on North Street. A Winnsboro woman driving the pickup was uninjured.

YANTIS – One person is being Treated at Tyler’s East Texas Medical Center following a stabbing in Yantis. A suspect is in custody. Charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, injury to a child and felon in possession of a firearm is Tommy Jones, 36, of Yantis. Stabbed in the left shoulder is Nathan Jenkins, 25, of Yantis. He is listed in stable condition.

TYLER — The Texas Department of Transportation’s Tyler District has announced it expects contractor Knife River Corp. to begin work on the long-awaited State Highway 149 widening project south of Longview by mid-February, and that another widening project, on Farm Road 14 north of Tyler, was nearing completion.

“The SH 149 project always seemed to be in a funding blind spot,” said TxDOT spokesman Larry Krantz. “The need was clearly there, but the right kind of funding was never available in large enough quantities to make a significant upgrade to the situation. Not anymore. The county, the city of Longview and the Longview MPO worked with TxDOT to fully fund the project and move it to the starting line. We absolutely would not be building this project today without significant financial backing from our partners.”

Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt, who oversaw the county’s nearly $6 million contribution to the project and another $2 million for a similar project on SH 42, was awarded TxDOT’s Road Hand Award on November 30, the highest award given to non-employees, for his dedication to the two projects and the continued safety of
the traveling public in Gregg County.

“These projects don’t happen without him,” Krantz said. “Period.” The SH 149 project will be conducted in two phases, the first of which calls for adding street lights and widening to accommodate continuous left-turn lane through Whiskey Bend area; repair and resurface between SH 149/State Highway 322 split and two miles south of Farm Road 2906; and adding centerline rumble strips between the Sabine River Bridge and Rusk County Line. The approximate $3.3 million project let in October.

The next phase, which is scheduled to let April, calls for realigning the SH 149 intersection with SH 322 and resurfacing between Interstate Highway 20 frontage and the railroad tracks, and widening and resurfacing SH 322 between IH 20 frontage and SH 149. The intersection realignment and the subsequent resurfacing are 100% funded
by Gregg County. The project also calls for upgrading various large Interstate guide signs in Gregg County. The estimated $3.1 million project, $2.6 million of which is funded by Gregg County, is scheduled to begin construction after the first phase has been completed.

Also beginning in February, TxDOT contractor Longview Bridge and Road, Ltd. is scheduled to begin work to add a left-turn lane on State Highway 110 on either side of Farm Road 1805 in Van to allow better turn access into the Van ISD Sports Complex. The $779,000 project is scheduled to take approximately six months to complete.

On the other end of the construction spectrum, TxDOT contractor R.K. Hall is scheduled to complete its $1.5 million project to add shoulders and resurface Farm Road 14 between Interstate Highway 20 and Loop 323 in Tyler. The project began last July.

The Tyler District also let one project to contract in January, awarding a $1.2 million contract to contractor A.L. Helmcamp to repair and resurface Farm Road 2329 between Farm Road 316 and U.S. Highway 175 in Henderson County. A start date for this project has no been determined.

Finally, the district has plans in to let to contract three bundled projects totaling an estimated $3.9 million in February, all in Wood County. The first project calls for adding shoulders and resurfacing Farm Road 17 between U.S. Highway 69 and Farm Road 779; Farm Road 514 between the Lake Fork Reservoir bridge and Farm Road 17; and Farm road 2659 between Farm Road 2911 and U.S. Highway 80 east of Hawkins, all for an estimated $1.5 million.

The second calls for adding shoulders on State Highway 154 between Farm Road 14 and Farm Road 312, and seal coating State Highway 154 between State Highway 37 in Quitman and the Upshur County Line for an estimated $1.7 million.

The final project calls for adding shoulders and resurfacing Farm Road 14 between Farm Road 2869 and Farm Road 1795 north of Hawkins, and adding centerline rumble strips on Farm Road 14 between State Highway 154 and the Smith County Line for an estimated $1.6 million. Construction on all three projects should begin sometime this summer.