KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — State Representative Leo Berman (R-Tyler) received the endorsement of the Texas Right to Life PAC for his re-election to the Texas House of Representatives. Director Elizabeth Graham wrote, “Thank you for your votes and your commitment to protect the sanctity of innocent human life while serving the people of Texas. Texas Right to Life PAC endorses strong leaders who possess a high moral character and an unyielding resolve to protect innocent human life. You meet our criteria, and your voting record on Right to Life issues is outstanding.” Berman faces Libertarian Jon Fitts in the November election.

QUITMAN — Officials say anyone interested in Lake Fork should plan to attend a public meeting on Thursday, October 28. On that date, according to KETK, the Wood County Industrial Commission and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will be hosting the “State of the Lake II” (SOTL2) meeting. It’s a follow-up to the first “State of the Lake” meeting, which took place in February. Similar to the first meeting, the SOTL2 will feature presentations by TPWD Inland Fisheries biologists, TPWD Law Enforcement personnel, and Sabine River Authority representatives. Topics will include, but are not limited to: the status of invasive aquatic vegetation control, water pumping activities, and the rapid expansion of the white bass population in the reservoir. A large portion of the meeting will be reserved for attendees to ask questions in a “town hall” format.

All local business owners, lake homeowners, fishing guides, recreational anglers, and any others with an interest in the resources at Lake Fork are invited to attend. The meeting will take place from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Quitman United Methodist Church’s J.O.Y. Center located at 406 E. Lane St., Quitman, TX 75783. Officials say this new venue for the meeting can comfortably accommodate 400 attendees and features ample parking close to the facility. For questions or additional information concerning the upcoming meeting, you’re asked to contact TPWD Inland Fisheries management personnel in Tyler at (903) 593-5077.

TYLER — A former cafeteria worker at Lindale High School has been given a 10 year probated sentence for improper relations between an educator and a student. Lisa Walker, 41, had pleaded guilty to the complaint. A hearing will be held in several weeks to determine if she will have to register as a sex offender. The incident between Walker and the 15 year old student, which is said to have offs school property, was reported back in January. The 15 year old male student has since moved out of state.

BULLARD — An ordinance is under consideration that would ban new billboards within the city limits of Bullard. Bullard Mayor Teresa Adams-Wilks says prohibiting new billboards will help the health, safety, and welfare of people who live there. She also says it will “prevent eye sores and maintain Bullard’s beauty.” KETK-TV reports there is another reason for the billboard ban. Adams-Wilks says if the alcohol measures pass in next month’s elections, she doesn’t want alcohol advertised.

TYLER — The American Red Cross, Smith County Chapter, is participating in the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. Red Cross officials say the Veterans History Project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the first-person accounts of American wartime veterans and civilian workers who supported the war efforts by preserving their stories of service to our country.

The Library of Congress and the American Red Cross are offering free training for volunteer interviewers to collect veterans’ stories on behalf of the Library of Congress. The Smith County Chapter will host the training on Thursday, November 4, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and again from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at the American Red Cross office located at 320 E Rieck Rd., Tyler. The training is to be conducted by Stephen Sloan, Oral Historian at Baylor University. It’s open to anyone in 10th grade or older wanting to become a part of the project. Seating is limited, so you’re advised to reserve your space today by emailing the Red Cross’s Linda Edwards at linda.edwards@suddenlinkmail.com or calling 903-581-7981.

Edwards says, “Every day we all get older, and every day more and more stories are lost. This is one way that everyone can help capture this information. She urges residents to “join us and keep our veterans’ voices alive for future generations.” You can visit http://www.loc.gov/vets to learn more about the Veterans History Project.

TYLER — Former President George W. Bush is tonight’s Distinguished Lecturer at U.T. Tyler — and the event is now sold out. The Joseph Z. and Louise H. Ornelas Lecture will begin at 7:30 p.m. KTBB is among the media sponsors and will be on hand for the speech. The evening will also include a dinner to aid the university’s scholarship program.

TYLER — The next hearing is about two months away in the custody fight over Jaden McLean. According to KETK, two-year-old Jaden is recovering from a near-fatal head wound suffered when he found a loaded gun in the sports bar owned by his grandparents. Now, his divorced parents are fighting for custody, and proceedings continued Friday. Among other things, Accusations of drug use and excessive drinking flew back and forth as family members watched. Judge Carole Clark ruled Jaden will remain in foster care while both parents are drug tested and treated for anger management and co-dependency.

LONGVIEW — A 22-year-old Gilmer woman dies in a Longview accident. Monday morning just before 12:40, Longview Officers responded to a one-vehicle crash that occurred in the 1200 Block of West Marshall Avenue.

Officers found that Destiny Boyle had been westbound on West Marshall Avenue when her vehicle left the roadway in a curve and struck a utility pole. There were no other occupants in Boyle’s vehicle and no other vehicles were involved. Boyle was pronounced dead at the scene, and it was determined that she was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

TYLER — Tyler Rescue Ministries has a couple of fundraising events scheduled in its continuing effort to help the area’s homeless. Founder/CEO Maurice Barnes invites everyone to a concert Thursday featuring Casey Rivers and Beyond the Ashes. It’s set for 7:00pm at First United Methodist Church of Lindale. Saturday, it’s the ministry’s 13th Anniversary Banquet, featuring Congressman Louie Gohmert. That event will take place at 6 p.m. at Tyler’s Southside Baptist Church. Barnes says you must make a reservation for the banquet; to do that, you can e-mail maurice@tylerrescueministries.org or call 903-877-9252. Both events are free, but love offerings will be taken.

Tyler Rescue Ministries currently consists of Kathryn’s House, a facility for single women and women with small children. But the organization’s “Catch the Vision – Save a Family” capital campaign, which includes the two upcoming events, seeks to raise funds for expansion of the ministry’s work. That involves purchasing an additional 40 acres to provide care for eight intact families at one time. Barnes says once the campaign’s work is done, “We will be the only Christian ministry shelter in nine counties that will allow the entire family to learn, to grow, and to serve together as a family.” You can go to http://www.tylerrescueministries.org for more information.

TYLER — The Tyler District Office of the Texas parole division is seeking volunteers. The office’s chaplain and volunteer coordinator, Jesse McLendon, said on KTBB “Staff Meeting” that parolees have various needs. Current parole programs address such issues as literacy, life skills, parenting, and substance abuse. McLendon says it’s all with an eye on keeping former prisoners from returning to prison. If you’d like to help, you can email McLendon at jesse.mclendon@tdcj.state.tx.us or call him at 903-581-8311 or 903-312-7780. McLendon also discussed other aspects of the parole division’s work. You can go to http://www.ktbb.com/audio to hear the “Staff Meeting” show online beginning early Monday.

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

SMITH COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform edge repairs on Farm Road 346 between U.S. Highway 69 in Flint and State Highway 110 in Whitehouse. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

LONGVIEW — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repairs in various locations on Spur 63 in Longview. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

QUITMAN — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue approximately two weeks of resurfacing operations on State Highway 154 east of State Highway 37 near Quitman High School, and begin base-repair operations on Farm Road 2966 north of Quitman. 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.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform edge and pavement repairs on Farm Road 3062 between Malakoff and Star Harbor, and on Ranch Road 2588 between LaRue and the end of state maintenance. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to conclude several days of resurfacing operations in various locations on U.S, Highway 84 east of U.S. Highway 259 in Mount Enterprise, followed upon completion by the same work on Farm Road 13 between State Highway 42 and Loop 571. 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 perform resurfacing operations in various locations on Farm Road 315 between U.S. Highway 175 in Poynor and Farm Road 837 in Brushy Creek, and on Farm Road 837 between State Highway 19 and U.S. Highway 175.

A second crew is scheduled to make pavement repairs on U.S. Highway 287 between the Trinity River Bridge and Cayuga, and on Farm Road 2054 between Farm Road 321 and the Coffield Prison Unit. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

BOSTON (AP) — Native East Texan Mildred Jefferson, the first black woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School and a nationally recognized leader of the anti-abortion movement, has died at age 84. Anne Fox, the president of Massachusetts Citizens for Life, says Jefferson died Friday in Cambridge. She says Jefferson recently became ill.

Jefferson helped establish the National Right to Life Committee. Communications director Derrick Jones says she was its at-large director when she died. Jefferson was born in Pittsburg, Texas, in 1926, the daughter of a schoolteacher and a minister. She grew up in Carthage and graduated from Texas College in Tyler and earned a master’s degree from Tufts University in Medford, Mass.

Jefferson had also taught as an assistant clinical professor of surgery at Boston University Medical School. She was given honorary degrees by 28 schools.

JACKSONVILLE — An accident at the Mud Creek off-road park in Jacksonville has killed a Tyler man. Michael Chad Gray, 26, had become separated from his group. He was found around 12:15 Saturday morning with a severe head injury. Attempts to resuscitate him failed. His body was sent to Tyler for autopsy.

TYLER — A Tyler man is hospitalized after firefighters rescued him from his burning home. The man was found in the bedroom of his duplex at 3907 McDonald Road around 4:30 Saturday morning. Firemen reported smoke and fire billowing from the home when they arrived. The cause of the fire, which is believed to have started in the living room, remains under investigation.

TYLER — Ideal weather brought out thousands who lined the streets for the Texas Rose Festival Parade. The parade, which helps end the annual rose festival, starts at Glenwood and West Front and then proceeds into Trinity Mother Francis Rose Stadium. Capping off Saturday’s parade was the Queen’s Float with Rose Queen Mary-Lawson Bracken Walden. This year’s festival theme is “A Tapestry of Blessings.”

In other activities, the Ladies’ Brunch featured New York Times best-selling author Sandra Brown. Legendary financier T. Boone Pickens keynoted the Men’s Luncheon. Both of those events were held Friday. Also on Friday were the Queen’s Coronations.