KTBB News, Weather, Talk

VAN — Van High School is still battling a staph outbreak, so parents are invited to a meeting to help guard their children from the dangerous infection. Many of the students are infected, most being football players. According to KETK, it’s because football players are more likely to have open wounds. The type of staph infection found at Van, MRSA, is resistant to many types of drugs and can be deadly. The meeting for parents will be at the Van High School library tonight at 7:00 p.m.

MARSHALL — East Texas Baptist University has announced it has received a $500,000 gift from the estate of Frances Louise “Peggy” Nehls. The Nehls Nursing Scholarship will be used to help worthy students to achieve their goal of becoming a nurse. “We are so thankful for the gift that Peggy Nehls has left ETBU and the School of Nursing,” said Leslie Borcherding, ETBU Interim Dean of the Nursing Department. “The scholarships will benefit nursing students tremendously.”

According to the school’s website, Frances Louise “Peggy” Nehls passed away on June 20 in Longview. She lived in Graham and Kilgore before moving to Marshall in the late 1930s. Ms. Nehls, was affectionately known to her many friends as “Peggy.” According to her friends she was a very generous and kind person, helping many throughout her life.

The ETBU nursing program began in 1992 and has produced 319 graduates. Many graduates remain in East Texas to work. The last three graduating classes have achieved a 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) examination. The NCLEX-RN examination is the national licensing exam that students must pass to legally work as a Registered Nurse.

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

HENDERSON COUNTY — Preliminary construction work is scheduled to begin this week on the State Highway 198 bridge at Twin Creek Lake just south of Gun Barrel City. The $21 million Twin Creek project, which is being built by the same contractor, Concho Construction Company, Inc., of Garland, will be nearly identical to the Caney Creek project, which was completed in August. The Caney Creek project, which was the first of the three SH 198 bridges on Cedar Creek Reservoir to be rebuilt, called for building a new, two-lane bridge next to the old, existing bridge, then shifting traffic to the new bridge while the original bridge was replaced. The end result is four lanes of traffic on SH 198, with the northbound and southbound traffic running on separate bridges.

“We’ve been very fortunate with our funding when it comes to bridges,” Krantz said. “We’ve had these SH 198 bridge projects ready to go as soon as funding was available, and now we’re working on the second of the three bridges.” No funding has been identified for the third bridge, which is between Twin Creek and Caney Creek.

Also this week in Henderson County, TxDOT maintenance crews are scheduled to continue base and pavement repairs on Ranch Road 2588 south of LaRue, and to perform resurfacing operations on Farm Road 2010 between Farm Road 279 near Edom and Farm Road 315 in Chandler. 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 continue several days of resurfacing operations in various locations along State Highway 43 between Henderson and Tatum before moving to U.S. Highway 84 later in the week.

A second crew is scheduled to perform shoulder repair work on U.S. Highway 259 south of Kilgore. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on U.S. Highway 287 between Cayuga and the Freestone County Line. A second crew is 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. 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 base and pavement repair operations on Farm Road 751 in the northwest corner of the county between the Hunt County Line and Farm Road 47 in Wills Point. 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 perform resurfacing operations in various locations on U.S. Highway 80 in and around Hawkins. Crews are also scheduled to perform edge repairs on State Highway 154 east of Farm Road 312, and on Farm Road 778 between Farm Road 49 and US 80. 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.

TYLER — Tyler developer Ed Thompson is kicking his North Chase project into high gear. Thompson says he wants to revitalize Tyler’s north side through affordable housing along with retail, commercial, office, and green space. On KTBB “Staff Meeting,” Thompson said he’s had success with other northside efforts that initially met with skepticism. Now he’s inviting the public to support his new effort at North Broadway and the Loop. As one example, Thompson says he’d like to hear from you if you know of organizations that might be willing to relocate. According to Thompson, North Chase will kick off with a pair of quality affordable housing communities. The development has drawn lots of support from the city. You can go to http://www.northchasetyler.com for more information. The “Staff Meeting” show can be heard online at http://www.ktbb.com/audio beginning early Monday.

TYLER — The League of Women Voters of Tyler/Smith County holds a candidate forum for the November elections tonight at 7:00 at the TISD Plyler Complex, 807 West Glenwood. The League’s Shirley Hightower says, “We see this as part of our most important mission of informing voters and encouraging voters to have a voice.” She adds that this is your chance to meet the candidates, find out what they’re all about, and then make up your own mind on how you’re going to vote. Local candidates for Congress and the state legislature have been invited, as well as hopefuls for agriculture commissioner and State Supreme Court Place 9. The League will also present the winners of a student video competition on getting out the vote. You can go to http://www.lwvtexas.org to download the League’s statewide Voters Guide. Don’t forget, today’s the last day to register to vote in the November elections.

NEW YORK CITY — The chairman and CEO of Tyler-based Southside Bancshares, Inc., presided over the NASDAQ Opening Bell ceremony Monday morning. B. G. Hartley did the honors at the NASDAQ MarketSite in New York City’s Times Square as part of Southside’s 50th anniversary celebration. Hartley says, “We are honored to celebrate this milestone with one of our most valued partners. Our association with NASDAQ has been extremely positive, providing Southside Bancshares, Inc. increased exposure that has been an integral part of our growth.”

GREGG COUNTY — A brush fire near Longview closes streets and sends smoke in the air visible for miles. According to KETK, it happened Saturday near the intersection of Pliler Precise and Airline. Several fire departments were on hand to put out the blaze, which burned through a pasture across the street from a neighborhood. The cause of the blaze is unknown. The intersection of East Pliler Precise and Airline was closed Saturday afternoon. The fire has been brought under control.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert is weighing in on border security following a recent shooting. That’s according to KETK. David and Tiffany Hartley were sightseeing on jetskis on the Mexican side of Falcon Lake when a group of pirates shot David in the back of the head. Tiffany tried to rescue her husband but could not. Saturday morning Gohmert appeared on “Fox and Friends,” where he said if the border were more secure, this wouldn’t have happened. “If we had people on this 16-mile lake who are out there to protect American citizens, then the bad guys know they gotta go somewhere else. You see that all the time in police action. If people know that you are going to defend your land, then they go somewhere else.”

Gohmert is the co-sponsor of a bill that calls for 10,000 more national guardsman along the Mexican border. “It would be really shocking except this is like the fifth reported incident this year, this is not anything new,” Gohmert said.

TYLER — It’s the final day of the East Texas State Fair, and spokespeople say you can “have one last blast” today. Gate hours are 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.; the carnival is open beginning at 11:00 a.m. $25 at the gate gets you admission and unlimited rides; it’s $4 gate admission without an unlimited-ride armband. You can go to http://www.etstatefair.com to learn more.

TYLER — According to East Texas health officials, the national epidemic of obesity has drastically increased over the past few years, and Tyler is not immune. To help combat obesity, organizations from across East Texas have come together to start Tyler’s Fit City Challenge and will be hosting a kick-off event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23, at Bergfeld Park. “The Northeast Texas Public Health District views the concurrent epidemic of obesity and sedentary lifestyles as the greatest threat to the health of Tyler,” said George Roberts, CEO of the Northeast Texas Public Health District. “Doctors who care for children are concerned because kids being born right now are not expected to live as long as their parents.”

Roberts says the Fit City Challenge is a community-wide campaign to promote healthy, fitter lifestyles for Tyler and Smith County residents. Roberts adds that the kick-off event is designed to give the community the information they need to make healthier choices. According to health district press materials, the event will feature healthy activities for all ages, cooking demonstrations, guest speakers, health and nutrition information, fitness and exercise demonstrations, and health screenings. Booth space at the kick-off event is still available. If your organization would like to participate, you can go online to http://www.FitCityTyler.com and complete the application.

TYLER — A missing senior citizen has been located in good condition. James Howard Marshall was earlier reported missing from a family outing at Caldwell Zoo. Police say church members who had been alerted by family went by Mr. Marshall’s residence and located him there.

MARSHALL – A 47-year-old Marshall man has been sentenced to federal prison — and ordered to pay millions in restitution — for his role in a multi-million dollar oil and gas Ponzi scheme. Richard W. McFarland, Jr., pleaded guilty on Mar. 26, 2010, to mail fraud and was sentenced Friday in Marshall to 97 months in federal prison. McFarland was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $8,861,160.34.

According to information presented in court, McFarland was founder and President of Delta Interest, Inc., a company based in Marshall, which purportedly obtained working interests in oil and gas wells located within Texas and then offered portions of those interests for sale to the public. From 2003 to 2009, McFarland devised a scheme in which he falsely represented to investors that they were purchasing interests held by Delta Interest in wells located on various leases, when in fact, no such wells or leases existed. To further facilitate the scheme, McFarland sent investors fraudulent monthly production statements which contained fictional production and sales figures as well as supposed investor revenue amounts related to the non-existent wells.

McFarland used a significant portion of the investor funds to make purported revenue payments on a regular basis to earlier-in-time investors. This funneling of proceeds received from new investors to previous investors induced new investors to participate and, in some instances, existing investors to contribute additional sums. He expended the remainder of investor monies for his own business and personal use. As a result of this scheme, McFarland fraudulently obtained in excess of $30 million from more than 350 investors who were residing in approximately 25 different states. This law enforcement action is part of President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force.

LINDALE – Officials say the victim of a Friday afternoon robbery in Lindale is okay after being set upon by three men who remain at large. They also identify the suspect vehicle as a white Jeep Cherokee. Police have obtained surveillance video from the Lindale Walmart that may show one of the suspects. Lindale Police say officers are continuing to look for the Jeep, two white men, and a black man involved in the robbery at Posado’s Café. According to KETK, it happened outside the restaurant, in the parking lot.

Officers say the suspects grabbed an older man, threw him into the SUV, and took his money before throwing him out on the pavement. Police report that the two white men then drove away, heading west. They say the black man ran off, possibly to Walmart. The alleged attacker shown in the Walmart surveillance video is wearing a white Sherwin Williams shirt. He goes into the restroom at the front of the building and changes into a black shirt which police say he stole from Walmart. No word yet on whether the victim knew the suspects. If you have any information, you’re asked to call Lindale Police.

TYLER – Renovations to the exterior of the historic Goodman Museum are underway. Work began earlier this week on Phase One, the east and south sides of the museum. Phase Two will address the west and north sides of the building. During Phase One, the front of the building will be inaccessible, and guests will have to enter from the rear of the building and vice versa during Phase Two of the renovations.

Officials say the renovation project is necessary to maintain the integrity of the structure and is in compliance with national, state and local historical guidelines. The project includes a new roof, painting, wood rot work, shutter and hardware restoration, and downspouts. It is anticipated that the renovation project will be completed at the end of November, weather permitting.

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler College of Engineering and Computer Science has received an endowment from SPEA to create a new computer engineering center within the Department of Electrical Engineering, Dr. James Nelson, College of Engineering and Computer Science dean, announced. School officials say The SPEA Center for Semiconductor Testing in the department will be used to introduce hands-on laboratory semiconductor test procedures into the electrical engineering curriculum so that graduates are prepared for a career in this field. SPEA designs and manufactures automatic test equipment for microchips and electronic boards. Its systems are utilized in all high-tech fields, such as aerospace, aeronautics, telecommunications, automotive, consumer and safety electronics.

“The gift from SPEA will help our college to meet the needs of local industry by preparing our students for successful careers in semiconductor engineering,” said Nelson. “College industry partnerships are the best way to introduce high-tech jobs to invigorate the East Texas economy and we hope to have many such successful collaborations in the near future.” A dedication ceremony will be 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 4 at the UT Tyler Ratliff Engineering and Science Complex Building South, fourth floor suite and terrace. Dr. David Hoe, assistant professor, and Dr. Mukul Shirvaikar, chair and professor of electrical engineering, will oversee the daily activities of the grant.

UT Tyler has also been invited to join the Collaborative Alliance for Semiconductor Testing, including industry bellwethers such as Texas Instruments, IBM, and Intel — and such major universities as Texas A&M, Auburn, and Georgia Tech. UTT officials say this collaboration will inevitably result in high-tech research and development applications, thereby benefiting the East Texas area economy.