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TYLER – Smith County Commissioner Terry Phillips is offering a brief response after his son Lance (pictured) got probation in a visual recording case. According to KETK, the elder Phillips did not want to go on camera, but he says in a statement: “The court handed down the sentence they thought was appropriate. Now, it’s time for my son to abide by the court’s decision. No matter what, we stand by our son and love him.” He also says his son’s actions will not affect the way he serves the county.

Earlier, Lance Phillips of Tyler pleaded guilty to improper visual recording with intent to gratify. Phillips, 27, was sentenced to two years in prison; that sentence was suspended, and he was given 5 years probation. Phillips turned himself in to authorities in March of last year. A woman had found a hidden camera in her bedroom. Other electronic devices were also located. She said the camera had been placed there by Phillips, who was her landlord. Phillips’s mother is County Clerk Karen Phillips.

BULLARD — The Texas Rangers say former Bullard police officer Steven Morris has been indicted on a charge of sexual assault of a child. In September 2010 Morris confessed to having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old. According to KETK, Morris is out on a $100,000 bond.

TYLER — Officials from the Texas Rose Festival Association and the city of Tyler have signed an agreement to join together to launch “Investing in our Legacy of Roses.” Spokespeople say it’s a campaign designed to provide proceeds from the Association back to the city to enhance what’s termed Tyler’s most public destination, the Tyler Rose Garden. The Rose Festival Association has committed to contributing proceeds from each year’s festivities back to support the enrichment of the Rose Garden. In addition, other opportunities will be made available to interested benefactors to contribute to the community project.

“Tyler is already known as the Rose Capital; however, we want to offer a U.S. destination that is like no other — one that will attract visitors to Tyler from near and far,” said Tom Ramey, president of the Texas Rose Festival Association for 2011. “The Rose Festival executive committee wanted to establish a way to give back to the community in a way that benefits all of the citizens of Tyler.”

Partnership spokespeople say a committee is being assembled to develop a strategic plan to support the endeavor with thoughtful planning and tactics. The group will comprise master gardeners and community leaders, along with representatives from the city and the Rose Festival Association. “Our goal is clear – to enhance Tyler’s most public forum, the Tyler Rose Garden,” said Ramey. “The Texas Rose Festival Association, over the next several years will support the facility that benefits every citizen in Tyler. We want this destination to be something that each and every Tylerite is proud to share with visitors to our area.”

TYLER — The city of Tyler is putting in a new water and sewer line along U.S. 69 North up to Interstate 20. According to KETK, Tyler Economic Development Council CEO Tom Mullins says the infrastructure is to make Tyler have a presence on I-20 for the first time. One local developer, Bob Garrett, says, “There’s every reason in the world to grow up there and now that there will be new infrastructure, I think you will see it more and more.” Garrett says his company has been interested in building on U.S. 69 for a long time, and now he’s considering using 800 acres there. “The main reason development hasn’t occurred any more than it has up there is because we just didn’t have the infrastructure,” he says.

The new pipes are part of the Tyler 21 plan to expand the city, and when you pair it with Toll 49, officials say growth around Tyler is bound to happen in every direction. “Growing north becomes more possible and growing west becomes more possible,” says Mullins. City officials expect areas where Toll 49 crosses major highways like Highway 64, Highway 31, and Highway 110 will attract houses, businesses, and retail. “It’ll create more investment by the private sector, it’ll create more jobs, it’ll create a new tax base,” says Mullins. With Tyler still expanding the most south, Garrett says, “I think 10 or 20 years from now, the map of Tyler is going to look significantly different.”

LUFKIN (AP) – The head of an East Texas biomass plant says the unit could begin producing power this spring by converting logging debris into electricity. Aspen Power president Danny Vines says the plant in Lufkin is expected to do its first burning during the final commission phase scheduled for May. The Lufkin Daily News reported Friday that Vines, in a telephone interview, said electrical work at the 50-megawatt plant is nearly finished and the operating platform is “going well.” Aspen Power, touted as the first biomass plant of its kind in the state, faces testing of emissions levels to abide by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality standards.

DAINGERFIELD – One person has been killed in a one vehicle accident north of Daingerfield. Dead at the scene of the Wednesday night crash was Douglas Flowers, 33, of Lone Star. The Department of Public Safety report the Flowers’ vehicle hit a guard rail and the driver lost control. The accident occurred on State Highway 49.

TYLER — Tyler police say a citizen helped them round up a suspect who allegedly had some potentially crime-related items in his possession. Around 2:50 Thursday morning, police say, the citizen was on his way to work when he spotted a man between two homes in the area of College and Second Street. The witness stated that the man lay down on the lawn to keep from being spotted. The witness drove up to a patrol vehicle in the area and told the officer what he’d observed. Officers converged on the Bergfeld Park area to search for the suspect and found him near the restrooms in the park.

Police say upon interviewing the suspect, they found several items considered to be instruments that could be used in committing a criminal act such as residential burglary or assault. The items included a folding knife, black gloves, a canister of OC spray, a black ski mask, a screwdriver, a folding mirror, and two small flash lights. The suspect was identified as Bryan Wynn, 25, of Tyler. Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Wynn that was issued by Judge Carole Clark. Wynn was charged with unlawful use of criminal instrument, a third degree felony and released on a $10,000 bond. According to police, “Thanks to the alert and quick response of the citizen, we believe a more serious crime was prevented.”

TYLER — With its heavy health care industry concentration, Tyler stands to be especially affected by possible legislative cuts in funding for hospitals and other components of the health care sector. That’s the word from Texas Hospital Association President Dr. Dan Stultz, who discussed the issue Thursday during a visit to Tyler. Stultz says in the Tyler community, “those ripple-down cuts, those ripple-down effects in state funding for local hospitals will touch everybody.” Stultz points out that health care is one of Tyler’s four largest industries — and he says that sector provides a cutting edge that helps attract employers and families to the area. He also pointed out that the funding cuts would lead to federal match loss for Texas — “so that we’re gonna leave money behind that’ll go to California, Massachusetts, New York, and Florida.” Stultz is urging local residents to be aware of the issue and contact their legislators about it.

AUSTIN (AP) – An East Texan is in the forefront as Republican lawmakers push legislation to oppose federal health care mandates in Texas. One bill, by Representative Leo Berman of Tyler, attempts to outright “nullify” the federal reforms. Asserting national-like sovereignty in some cases, the lawmakers were debating a variety of bills Thursday in a State House Committee aimed at the sweeping federal health care legislation signed by President Barack Obama last year. Many Republican lawmakers say the health care reforms are unconstitutional, particularly the provision requiring people to buy health insurance or face a penalty by 2014. Another bill, by Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, would allow states to form alliances, or “compacts,” to take over certain federal health care responsibilities.

RUSK — A Rusk man is behind bars after he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman. KETK reports that Michael Parker was arrested Monday. He’s being held in the Cherokee County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

TYLER — Smith County Commissioners will consider pledging revenues from the proposed jail addition to pay down the $35 million debt the project would require. It means, the county will promise to use money generated by housing non-Smith County inmates, like federal prisoners. The expansion could increase jail capacity by almost 400 beds. The bond issue for the jail expansion is on the May 14th ballot.

LUFKIN — A Lufkin woman was arrested Monday on a robbery charge, according to a police report. Earline Garcia, 26, allegedly attempted to steal three packages of Orajel and a bottle of BC pain relief from Brookshire Brothers on North Timberland Monday. She managed to walk out of the store with the items in her purse, but after being confronted by a store employee in the parking lot, she gave them back. When the employee told her police had been called she fled the parking lot in her car, attempting to hit him with her vehicle twice, a police report stated. Garcia was later arrested at her home on Hoskins Street and taken to the Angelina County Jail, charged with second-degree robbery.

She also had 13 outstanding warrants through Lufkin Municipal Court for offenses including unrestrained child, speeding, no driver’s license and expired inspection.
Her bond is set at a collective $6,861 on the outstanding warrants, according to jail records. At last report she remained in the Angelina County Jail.

HENDERSON — A motorcyclist was injured in a head-on collision in Henderson. Rusk County DPS officials say the man was traveling on Highway 43, near Farm Road 2658 in Henderson, when he was struck by an SUV. The man was taken to the hospital with head injuries. The driver of the SUV is said to be okay. The Wednesday morning accident is still under investigation. No word yet on whether any charges will be filed.

TYLER – An Ellis County podiatrist has been indicted and arrested for health care and income tax fraud. Shannon Gallentine, 45, of Maypearl, was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 9 and charged with 24 counts of health care fraud and 2 counts of failing to file federal income tax returns. Gallentine was arrested Tuesday and made an initial appearance before Tyler U.S. Magistrate Judge Amos L. Mazzant that afternoon. If convicted, Gallentine faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each count.

According to the indictment, from January 2004 through May 2007, Gallentine, a podiatrist, owned and operated Ambulatory Foot Care in Lancaster, Texas. During this time, Gallentine is alleged to have submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare seeking reimbursement for procedures which he did not perform. As a result of these false claims, Gallentine is alleged to have received in excess of $365,000.00 to which he was not entitled. Additionally, it is alleged that Gallentine willfully failed to file federal income tax returns for calendar years 2004 and 2005.

TYLER – Funeral services will be held on Monday for Jerry Kidd, founder of the Kidd Jones convenience stores. He died Tuesday, two weeks after his 77th birthday, following a lengthy illness. Visitation will be Sunday from 6:00 to 8:00pm at the Stewart Family Funeral Home. Services will be held Monday morning at 10:00 at the first United Methodist Church of Chandler.