KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Smith County Judge Joel Baker announced Wednesday that Smith County has been awarded $368,600 in grant funds for sanitary sewer improvements to support job creation by Distant Lands Coffee Company. The grant, made from the Texas Capital Fund Infrastructure Program, is administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture, and consists of federal funds from the HUD Community Development Block Grant Program. The grant-funded improvements will be coordinated with the City of Tyler, enabling the Company to obtain sewer service, and re-purpose land for future expansion that is currently used by its septic system and drain field.

Distant Lands Coffee Company operates a roasting facility at 11754 State Highway 64 West near Tyler, but outside Tyler’s corporate limits. The company currently employs 56 persons in Smith County. Distant Lands is the only vertically integrated coffee company. Founded in 1982, Distant Lands’ operating divisions now include coffee farms, processing mills, multi-national quality control services, green coffee trading, and North American roasting plants. The company supplies approximately one-third of the coffee brewed at McDonald’s worldwide, as well as other chains, including Panera Bread.

Baker says the sponsorship of this project by Smith County and the cooperation of all parties, including the City of Tyler and the Tyler Economic Development Council, has contributed to the success of this grant application. As a result of the grant, the following benefits are projected:
• Will leverage an additional $368,600 in working capital investment by the company
• Will create 19 additional permanent full-time manufacturing jobs
• Will provide and additional annual payroll of $381,680 dollars.
• At least 51% of the new jobs will be filled by low and moderate-income persons.
• Construction of approx. 3,990 LF of new sanitary sewer main from the company’s plant to a nearby City of Tyler sewer interceptor.

The project will be located in Precinct 1 of Smith County. Smith County is thanking the Texas Department of Agriculture and especially Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples for making the grant possible. The team of Traylor & Associates; Rea Boudreaux, P.E.; and the Brannon Corporation worked together in preparing the grant application, cost estimates, and site plans for the project. This is the third Texas Capital Fund grant successfully sought by Smith County since 2000.

LONGVIEW — A nasty piece of pavement in Gregg County is getting a makeover. KETK reports that construction is underway to improve safety measures along a portion of Highway 149. East Texans know the stretch of road as Whiskey Bend, and it’s been the scene of many fatal crashes, including a fatal hit and run earlier this spring. Monday, Gregg County acquired land to help with the project. County Judge Bill Stoudt says added safety isn’t the only thing the project brings. According to Stoudt, “It will open up a large tract of land for development. We’ve had a lot of interest; a lot of national chains have asked about this project and when it’s going to happen.” The land acquired by the county allows Estes Parkway to make a” T ” intersection with Eastman Road. County officials say the project is expected to take about two years to complete.

TYLER — Information from the Texas Comptroller indicates that City of Tyler sales tax revenues deposited for the month of May have increased 2.61 percent as compared to May 2010, resulting in a 3.14 percent cumulative year-to-date increase. The reported revenue of $3,307,846.99 comprises $ 2,205,231.33 general sales tax revenue and $1,102,615.66 half-cent sales tax revenue. The figures represent receipts from March 2011 collections as there is a two-month lag before taxes are reported and remitted back to the City from the State.

“Each month we are seeing steady, incremental growth in our sales tax revenues as compared to where we were last year,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel. “The 3.14 percent year-to-date increase represents about $608,000 in additional revenue, compared to budgeting figures, to provide for General Fund services, like police, fire and parks.”

The City is already into its 2011-2012 budget preparation cycle. Individual departments are preparing budgets that will be submitted to the City Manager in May, and staff-level budget hearings will take place in May and June; the final proposed budget will be presented to the City Council on August 10, 2011. “We anticipate this will be another tight budget year,” added McDaniel. “We made many cuts last year to offset significantly lower revenue – without dramatically affecting service levels. We are still recovering from those cuts in staffing and the delay of projects. Basically, we will be looking at a ‘maintenance budget’ with no new programming or costly initiatives.”

WHITEHOUSE — There’s some controversy surrounding the chief of the Whitehouse Volunteer Fire Department. The department met with board members Monday. Fire Chief Ronny Fite tells KETK the board reviewed and dismissed claims in a petition filed by Scott Beu, one of the department’s own. The claims concern alleged lack of training and misappropriation of funds, including questions about Chief Fite’s compensation. Beu says the petition was dismissed because it lost signatures from members who feared retaliation.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council heard a presentation Wednesday about the formation of a Veterans Roundtable appointed by Mayor Barbara Bass. “Tyler has a long history of strong support for our nation’s veterans,” said Mayor Bass. “To continue to grow this tradition and to serve as a model to other communities, I am appointing a Mayor’s Veterans Roundtable with Mayor Pro Tem Ralph Caraway to serve as the Council liaison.” Officials say the intent of the Roundtable is to develop and implement a Community Blueprint for supporting and enhancing Veterans services in the community as well as positively impacting the local economy. The focus of the Roundtable will be on employment, education, housing, medical care and mental health.

Smith County is home to nearly 18,000 veterans and will soon welcome a Super Armory as well as the innovative Texas Veterans Home opening this fall. The economic impact of veterans to the Smith County economy is estimated to be $60.8 million annually. “There is universal support for our warriors and families, and nonprofit services have grown and improved in Tyler and in communities across America,” added Mayor Bass. “Still there remain significant gaps that can only be filled by more focused planning and coordination.”

Officials say the Blueprint that will be created by the Veterans Roundtable will work to address these gaps in a way that is specific to the Tyler community. According to press materials, the goal is to provide a forum to learn and share best practices and to bring key stakeholders together to collaborate in assisting those who have served our country. Members of the Veterans Roundtable will be announced at an event on May 17 at 10 a.m. at the Rose Garden Center. Representatives from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Military Officers of America, and Community Blueprint Leaders will be visiting Tyler as part of the announcement that Tyler will be a pilot community for the Blueprint program.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has unanimously voted to enter into an economic development incentive agreement with North Chase Development, LLC, for the development of the Forest Meadows Subdivision. On March 23, the Tyler City Council created a Neighborhood Empowerment Zone (NEZ) for the Forest Meadows Subdivision in North Tyler. The NEZ was adopted to help reach one of the goals identified in the Tyler 21 Plan: to create 3,000 rooftops in the north Tyler area. To help reach this goal, the NEZ program will focus on the development of an entire neighborhood comprised of at least 20 homes on contiguous lots. It is anticipated that with the increase of affordable housing stock economic development will follow.

“The collaboration of the North Chase Development and the programs offered by the City should create the perfect combination to revitalize this area of our community,” said Mayor Barbara Bass. “Using these public programs in conjunction with private investment is exactly what is needed to bring this portion of the Tyler 21 Plan to fruition.”

North Chase Development will build 20 units that will be sold for use as owner-occupied housing; of those 20 units, seven will meet affordable housing criteria. In exchange, the City will provide funding in an amount up to, but not exceeding $286,000, which will be provided through the CDBG Public Facilities program. These funds will be used to construct streets and utilities during Phase I of the development project. Additionally, the City will provide the following incentives to the developer for the Forest Meadows Development:

* Waive or rebate zoning fees;
* Waive or rebate platting fees;
* Waive building permit fees;
* Waive testing fees;
* Waive tap fees;
* Provide direct access to the Neighborhood Services Department’s First Time Homebuyers Program (first come/first serve basis-pending approved application);
* Provide an infrastructure incentive in the amount of $2000 per unit (single-family attached) or $1,000 per unit (single family detached) up to the maximum of 50 units; and,
* Waive escrow for North Broadway Extension.

“Programs like the NEZ and economic development incentives have been used in other communities to inspire private investment,” said Mayor Pro Tem Ralph Caraway. “We are hoping these programs provide Tyler the same success.” You can go to http://www.cityoftyler.org for more on this story. Visit http://www.NorthChaseTyler.com for more information on the project, or call (903) 617-2020.

TYLER — One person is in custody after stealing a Tyler police car and leading officers on a chase over two counties. Shortly after 6:45 yesterday morning, officers responded to the 2500 block of Old Noonday Road on a report of a robbery of two women. Dispatchers were advised that the suspect robbed them at gunpoint. A witness stopped to assist the women when the suspect turned to him and demanded that he get out of his vehicle. The witness was able to drive away and contacted the police.

Police say Officer Clay Allen was responding to the robbery and spotted the suspect, later identified as Isaac Garcia, 24, of Tyler, on Frankston Highway near Sunnybrook. According to police, Garcia lost control of and wrecked his vehicle in the 2600 block of Frankston Highway around 6:30. Police say Garcia left his vehicle and proceeded on foot over to Old Noonday Road where he allegedly robbed the two females.

According to authorities, Garcia spotted Officer Allen approaching and attempted to hide in a ditch. Police say when Allen attempted to arrest Garcia they got into a physical altercation. A citizen stopped to assist the officer when he observed Garcia allegedly resisting arrest. Authorities report Garcia was able to escape from custody and had one handcuff attached to his wrist. According to police, Garcia the stole the officer’s patrol car and headed south on Frankston Highway towards Loop 323.

Tyler Officers responding to assist Officer Allen spotted the stolen patrol vehicle and began to pursue it around WSW Loop 323. The pursuit proceeded west on Spur 364 and continued onto Highway 31 West heading towards Chandler. Police say the pursuit ended when officers forced Garcia off of the roadway. According to a police news release, Garcia then exited the vehicle and attempted to elude the officers. Garcia was taken into custody on Third Street in Chandler. The Smith County Sheriff’s Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Chandler Police Department assisted with the pursuit and apprehension.

Garcia was transported to East Texas Medical Center for medical evaluation due to allegedly being under the influence of a narcotic and for any possible injuries. Garcia has been released from the hospital and transported to Smith County Jail. He has been charged with aggravated robbery and evading arrest. Judge Christi Kennedy set his bonds at $250,000 on the aggravated robbery charge and $100,000 on the evading arrest charge. According to police, this is still an ongoing investigation, and further charges are pending.

TYLER — Tyler Police are investigating an early morning mugging. It was reported just before 3:30 yesterday morning at 3900 Old Troup Highway, behind the old Wal-Mart. Authorities say the victim told them he was meeting an ex-girlfriend when he was approached by two black males who reportedly beat him up and stole his shoes and wallet. The victim sustained minor injuries during the incident.

MOUNT PLEASANT — Authorities have released the names of two truck drivers who were killed when their rigs collided and caught fire in Titus County. They are Javier Galvex, 34, of Winfield and Tommy Gilbert, 51, of Wichita, Kansas. Investigators feel Galvex may have fallen asleep at the wheel early Monday morning and his truck drifted over into the oncoming lane of traffic. The two rigs hit head on around 4:45am on Highway 49, eight miles east of Mount Pleasant.

NACOGDOCHES — Twelve persons have been arrested in a Nacogdoches theft ring and three more suspects are still being sought. The Precinct 4 constable’s office started serving arrest warrants Tuesday morning. The investigation into numerous thefts and burglaries began in April after authorities received an anonymous tip about possible stolen property. Besides the arrests, authorities have recovered a couple of rifles and chain saws, a flat screen TV, an all-terrain vehicle, flat bottom boat, and some property from a drilling rig site.

TYLER — An Anderson County man was killed after his motorcycle and a car collided in front of the Broadway Square Mall Tuesday morning. According to investigators the car, driven by Helen Rice Turner, 71, of Lindale, was traveling northbound on South Broadway and was in the left turn lane at Independence. She turned left on a yellow blinking light towards the Mall and was struck in the right front passenger side by the motorcycle, which was traveling southbound in the outside lane. The motorcycle and Kendrick Lee Clark, 23, of Palestine, caught on fire upon impact.

Kendrick was transported to East Texas Medical Center by EMS where he died from injuries. Turner was also transported to East Texas Medical Center for observation. The crash is currently under investigation.

AUSTIN — The sanctuary cities bill sails through the Texas House after several more hours of debate. Democrats like Austin’s Eddie Rodriguez argued hard against the bill, saying it takes away time from police to deal with real crime problems. But Republicans like Tyler’s Leo Berman say it’s vital to get criminal immigrants out of Texas. Says Berman, “One of the biggest problems in the city that I live in is drive-by shootings, and it’s drug dealing, by gangs. And the gangs are made up of illegal aliens in Tyler.” The bill now goes to the Senate.

TYLER – A 26-year-old Malakoff man has pleaded guilty to federal charges in a massive credit card scheme that stretched through much of East Texas and beyond. Christopher Michael pleaded guilty to attempting to access device fraud Tuesday in Tyler before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.

According to information presented in court, on Aug. 18, 2010, a federal search warrant was executed at Michael’s residence. During the search, law enforcement officers recovered counterfeit charge card making equipment, hundreds of counterfeit charge cards, and cash value cards. A forensic analysis of the equipment revealed that over 6,500 victim entries were fraudulently obtained by Michael.

According to prosecutors, further investigation revealed that Christopher Michael; his brother, Nathan Michael; Elizabeth Pickrell; and Corey Davis conspired together to commit access device fraud in Henderson and Smith counties. The four defendants allegedly obtained goods and services by using fraudulent credit card account numbers obtained through the Internet and at Chicken Express in Tyler, where Pickrell was employed at the time of the fraud. According to evidence, over 500 accounts were compromised in Tyler alone. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on Nov. 3, 2010, charging the four individuals with federal crimes.

Christopher Michael faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing and possible restitution in the amount of $100,000. A sentencing date has not been set. Pickrell pleaded guilty on Apr. 5 and is awaiting sentencing. Nathan Michael and Corey Davis are set for trial on June 7.

TYLER — A spokesman for the Smith County Sheriff’s Office has revealed details of Monday night’s shooting near the Pilot truck stop. Officials say the shooting happened around 8:15 on County Road 310 near Farm Road 14. When deputies arrived on scene, Thomas Morrow, 24, of Tyler, was conscious and was able to tell the authorities about the incident.

The victim says he was attacked by four men, one of whom he knew, named “Chopper.” His real name is unknown and he is described as a 5’10” black male. Officials say one of the attackers shot him 4 times, family members tell us 6, and the group stole his car, a 2001 gray Saturn 4-door with a black hood, license plate LLS624.

After he was shot, Morrow got up and went to a known nearby neighbor’s house, but no one was home. He then walked about a mile to the truck stop, where he was expected to meet some other people from Dallas that he knew. Morrow was reportedly covered in blood when he reached the truck stop, and someone called 911. Morrow is in a local hospital and is expected to recover. He was also the victim of robbery a few weeks ago that he reported to Tyler police.

MOUNT PLEASANT (AP) – Police in East Texas are looking for a second vehicle after an alleged hit-and-run that killed a 4-year-old boy and landed an unlicensed driver in jail on a manslaughter charge. The weekend incident in Mount Pleasant also critically injured the boy’s 13-year-old cousin, who remained in a Dallas hospital Tuesday. Mount Pleasant police Chief Jay Burch tells the Longview News-Journal that 21-year-old Edward Joseph Moya is suspected of driving the vehicle that hit Kameron Jones and his older cousin, Joclyn Roberts, when they were crossing a street Saturday night. Witnesses told police a second vehicle struck Kameron. Burch says the first vehicle was traced to Moya. Titus County sheriff’s Lt. Michael Garcia tells The Associated Press that Moya refused a court-appointed attorney and remained jailed Tuesday on $2 million bond.