KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Tyler Pounds Regional Airport’s control tower is on a list of towers tabbed for closure in the near future by the FAA. It’s part of federal cost-cutting measures under the sequestration process. The FAA will conduct a four-week phased closure of the 149 federal contract towers April 7. East Texas Regional Airport in Gregg County is not on the closure list. Tyler Pounds Manager Davis Dickson has said the Tyler airport will remain open even without its tower, with air traffic control duties shifted to other area facilities. But The Jet Center of Tyler, located on the old airport grounds, tells KETK it fears it will lose customers who want the control tower in place. And airport officials say the move could back up traffic and could discourage some fliers.

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at 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 continue base pavement repairs in various locations on Interstate Highway 20 between U.S. Highway 69 and Farm Road 14. A second crew is scheduled to perform edge repairs on Farm Road 849 between Lindale and IH 20. 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.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform surface-sealing operations on Interstate Highway 20 in various locations between Farm Road 1255 east of Canton and the Smith County Line. Elsewhere, a contract crew is scheduled to continue several weeks of base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 773 between IH 20 and Ben Wheeler. Also in Van Zandt County, construction work has resumed on Farm Road 17 between IH 20 near Canton and State Highway 110 in Grand Saline, and on Farm Road 2339 between Farm Road 1861 and Farm Road 773. Both projects are scheduled for completion this summer. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers and pilot vehicles will control traffic.

RUSK COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 782 between Farm Road 1716 in Oak Hill and State Highway 149 near the Gregg County Line. 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 Farm Road 1801 east of Mineola and on Loop 564 in Mineola. A second crew is scheduled to make pavement and edge repairs in various locations on Farm Road 779 northeast of Mineola. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

GREGG COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform resurfacing operations in various locations on Farm Road 1252 between State Highway 135 and State Highway 42. Daytime lane closures will be in effect 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 perform resurfacing operations on Farm Road 773 at its intersection with State Highway 31 in Murchison. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 1910 between Farm Road 2138 south of Lake Jacksonville and Farm Road 347 in Dialville, and on Farm Road 855 between Farm Road 3198 and U.S. Highway 69 in Mount Selman. 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 make base and pavement repairs in various locations on Farm Road 2419 between U.S. Highway 287 south of Palestine and State Highway 294 east of Elkhart. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

LONGVIEW –The Longview Municipal Court has deemed the recent warrant round-up a success. Sally Rees, Director of the Municipal Court, released these figures:

Total Number of Warrants Cleared: 1945
Money Collected: $ 425,062.93
Arrests Made: 197
Brought to Court to Pay Instead of Booking into Jail: 54

The total number of warrants cleared includes those where a Police Officer or Warrant Officer either made an arrest or brought the defendant to the court to pay his or her fine. Police say the majority of the warrants cleared were due to the defendant coming to the Court Office to take care of the warrant. The round-up was part of a statewide effort.

Active Warrants As of March 20, 2013: 15,456
Dollar Value: $ 7,819,187.18

TYLER — Starting Monday, March 25, the City of Tyler’s Recycling Center will be open six days a week to enhance accessibility for area residents. The center will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. “We are looking for ways to optimize the recycling center and will be making more changes in the near future,” said Russ Jackson, Solid Waste manager. “Our goal is to identify strategies that allow our visitors to have more options for recycling.”

In addition, the center will start accepting rinsed tin and steel food cans, along with any steel or copper products on March 25. “We accept tin cans in our curbside collection program, so we want to see how it will work to collect them at the center,” Jackson said. “One of the key elements to this will be for citizens to rinse the cans, since they usually contain food products. This will help us minimize the pests that may be attracted by the smell of food.”

The City’s Recycling Center is a joint project shared by the Solid Waste Department and Keep Tyler Beautiful. “I hope our area residents will take notice of these changes and make the most of this great facility,” said Keep Tyler Beautiful Board Chair Phyllis Carlyle. She said the center is a good place for renters to recycle since they do not have access to the City’s Curbside Recycling Service. The center opened in 1992 and is located in a “recycled” fire station at 418 N. Bois D’Arc Ave. This free drop-off facility serves approximately 4,000 area residents per year.

Starting Monday, the center will accept the following:

* Tin and steel cans (rinse and crush please)
* Any steel products (scrap steel, automotive wheels, kitchen appliances just to name a few)
* Any copper products (damaged electrical extension cords or electrical wiring)
* Electronics (including cell phones)
* Newspaper, junk mail, magazines and phone books
* Aluminum cans (rinse and crush please)
* Office paper
* Cardboard (both brown corrugated and single layer cardboard, such as cereal boxes)
* Clear, green and brown glass bottles
* #1 plastic containers (soda and water bottles rinsed)
* #2 plastic containers (milk jugs, laundry and fabric softener bottles rinsed)

For more information go to http://www.TylerRecycles.com or call Special Projects Coordinator Gary Lynch at (903) 531-1348.

LONGVIEW — A popular Longview-area restaurant was destroyed before dawn Friday when a fire occurred in the kitchen. The Elderville Lakeport Volunteer Fire Department responded to a blaze at T. Blanco’s Mexican Cafe around 12:20 a.m. KETK reports firefighters were able to extinguish the flames and cleared the scene at 4:54 a.m. According to T. Blanco’s Facebook page, flames were sparked by an electrical fire that happened after business hours in the kitchen. Fire officials have not released a cause at this time. No injuries were reported. The restaurant will be closed for repairs until further notice.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Road 230 in the Arp area reopened Friday morning after bridge repairs were completed. A portion of CR 230 approximately 2.5 miles south of Highway 64 was closed in November to allow for repairs and for Smith County Road and Bridge crews to address safety issues. This is a frequently traveled road, and officials say full traffic flow has been restored.

UPSHUR COUNTY — One person is dead after a wreck in Upshur County. It happened Thursday morning on FM 2454, near Toad Road about half a mile north of Union Hill School. State troopers tell KETK an SUV headed northbound crossed into the southbound lane and collided with a Brookshire’s grocery truck. The driver of the SUV was killed. The driver of the truck was not hurt.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Sheriff’s Deputies arrest a man wanted on a parole violation. It happened early Thursday morning in the 23,000 block of Pine Drive in Smith County. Officials, in conjunction with the U.S. Marshal Service, served an arrest warrant on Brandon Kyle Smith, 28, Mineola. He was arrested without incident on a Governor’s Blue Warrant on a parole violation for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Smith was previously arrested on numerous other charges, including assault on a public servant, aggravated robbery, and possession of a controlled substance. Three others were at the residence at the time of Smith’s arrest. No charges are expected to be filed against them. The arrest was the result of a month-long investigation.

TYLER — The sun was to blame for a crash that seriously injured 18-year-old Katelin Sikes Wednesday evening in Tyler. Tyler Police tell KETK it happened when Sikes, driving westbound on 5th Street, was “blinded by the sun” and ran a red light at the intersection of Golden Road. She was then t-boned by another car and was taken to a local hospital, where she was last reported in serious condition. The other driver was unharmed.

LONGVIEW — Gregg County Sheriff Maxey Cerliano announced that an investigation has been initiated into the death of jail inmate Bobby Madewell Jr., a 51 year old Longview man who died Thursday. Madewell had been in custody at the Gregg County Jail since his arrest by deputies on March 12. He was charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Bond Forfeiture and had been booked into the Gregg County jail 16 times for various charges. Sheriff Cerliano advised that the inmate was housed in a separation cell and exhibited erratic behavior about 12:40 am. According to a news release, officers interacted with the inmate and he began to resist and became extremely violent.

Following policy and procedures, officers used a TASER and attempted to apply restraints to control the inmate, according to the release. Officials say Madewell became unconscious and was immediately assisted by staff as well as medical staff on duty. Longview Fire EMS responded, and the inmate was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center. Madewell was later determined to be deceased at 2:09 am. Justice of the Peace #1 B.H. Jameson conducted an inquest. Judge Jameson ordered an autopsy to be performed at the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Texas Rangers Todd Martin and Jay Womack along with Gregg County Sheriff’s Investigators are conducting the investigation. Officials say the completed investigation will be forwarded to the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office for review. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards was notified, and authorities say reports will be filed with TCJS as well as the Office of the Attorney General.

Sheriff Cerliano advised that all documents, reports, logs, and electronic recordings are under review by Investigators. Cerliano stipulated that the investigation is ongoing and the autopsy report is pending. According to the news release, the public and the news media will be informed as information becomes available and is released by Sheriff Cerliano, Texas Rangers, and the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office.

LONGVIEW — The Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed a bat captured in Longview has tested positive for rabies. The bat was found around midnight Tuesday at the Hidden Hills Apartments. It is not believed that the any residents had exposure to the bat.

This is the first positive rabies case in the City of Longview since 2007. “It is possible that the bat entered the apartment through a door that was left open for some period of time that evening. We believe this was an isolated incident at the apartment complex; however, we are working closely with the management of the apartment complex to take all precautionary measures and inform the other residents,” said the Environmental Health Farrar, Buck Farrar.

Farrar also reminds citizens to always refrain from touching wild animals, especially those that appear sick or injured. In the Longview area, bats, skunks, and raccoons are the most common carriers of the rabies virus, but caution should be used with any wild animal. Household pets should also have current rabies vaccinations in case the animals come in contact with wildlife. If someone encounters a bat or other wild animal, please contact the Environmental Health Department at 903-237-1285. If the event occurs at night or during a weekend, please contact the Longview Police Department non-emergency number at 903-237-1199.

TYLER — On March 20, Horacio Gurrusquieta, 33, turned himself in to authorities in Dallas County in connection with a murder warrant for his arrest related to a June 3, 2012 shooting which claimed the life of Jose Alfredo Sanchez. That news came Thursday from the Smith County Sheriff’s Department. Horacio Gurrusquieta is the nephew of Natalio Gurrusquieta, who was arrested on March 18 in Tyler on the same charge for the same crime. Smith County Sheriff’s Office officials said that Horacio Gurrusquieta would be transported to the Smith County Jail. The homicide took place at a private residence on County Road 37 in northern Smith County. Two other individuals suffered gunshot wounds during this incident, including Natalio Gurrusquieta.

TYLER — Twenty-five Texas airports could face major cuts by the end of the week. The reason is the sequestration. One of those airports is Tyler-Pounds Regional. If the cuts do go into affect, the funding for the air traffic control tower will be cut. According to KETK, that will cause airport delays and, according some businesses owners, a cut back in the local economy. The air traffic control tower operator is the first one pilots call as they prepare to land at any airport.on the runway.

Mark Leathers is pilot from Austin who has been using the Jet Center of Tyler for nearly a decade. He says, if that tower is no longer operational, it will force many pilots to find other stops. If the military, and other aircraft decide not to stop in Tyler because of the sequester, it will have a chain reaction in East Texas. But among air traffic delays, Randa Conner from the Jet Center of Tyler feels it will increase the possibility of major accidents on the runway.

But no matter what decision is made, officials at Tyler-Pounds say the airport will remain open. The city of Tyler has already sent a letter to Washington, making the case why the Tyler-Pounds control tower should not lose funding, and why the airport is a big part of not just East Texas travelers, but travel across the state, and the country.

MINEOLA — Law enforcement is investigating a crash Thursday morning that resulted in the death of one person. According to the Mineola Police Department, the one-vehicle wreck happened at 11 a.m. on East McDonald Street between Graham Street and Circle Drive. The driver, Jay Forrest Corley, 54, was dead at the scene. Police officials report the man’s vehicle left the roadway, but they could not provide a cause for the incident. Investigators suspect the driver suffered from a medical emergency.

TYLER — A Tyler police officer on a motorcycle was involved in a Wednesday evening wreck. KETK reports Officer Dion Reed was on duty around 9:00 when he struck another car at the intersection of Loop 323 and Hwy 271. Officer Reed was stopped behind four vehicles at the intersection when he witnessed a driver running a red light. He turned on his lights and siren and attempted to go around the four vehicles in front of him. When Officer Reed tried going through the intersection, he hit one of the cars in front of him. No major injuries were reported.

TYLER — For the first time this year, Tyler is among 23 Texas cities on the March National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI). The index identifies metropolitan areas that have shown improvement from their respective troughs in housing permits, employment and house prices for at least six consecutive months. Texas was second only to California in the largest number of improving markets on the list. “The point is that economic conditions have been consistently strengthening in a diverse array of individual markets nationwide,” said NAHB Chairman Barry Rutenberg.

“As the economy is improving, our builders are seeing more and more clients who may have been watching and waiting for the last few years,” said Libby Simmons, executive vice-president of TABA. “These numbers are a continuing sign that things are improving.”

According to a news release from the Tyler Area Builders Association (TABA), the IMI is designed to track housing markets throughout the country that are showing signs of improving economic health. The index measures three sets of independent monthly data. Go to http://www.nahb.org/imi for a complete list of all 274 metropolitan areas currently on the IMI, and separate breakouts of metros newly added to or dropped from the list in March.

NACOGDOCHES — Two Stephen F Austin University students have been arrested for prescription fraud. The two Nacogdoches residents are identified as Tyler Lee Lokey, 20, and Morgan Whitney Reeves, 19. They were arrested in the 1400 block of North Street and charged with fraudulent delivery of a controlled substance or prescription.

KILGORE — Before a student is accepted into on-campus housing in Texas, he or she could be required to undergo a criminal background check, thanks to a bill now headed to the full Senate for a vote. It’s something that has the support of Edward Williams, student life director with Kilgore College. “If a person were to live in Section 8 housing, or any government housing project, whether a small or a large project, they would have to undergo a background check, using the DPS secure site,” says Williams. “The only way that folks have access to that is if Texas Legislature grants permission for them to do so.” Williams says if KC had had access to the DPS secure site, it would have prevented $40,000 in damage caused by a student who had disorderly conduct and assault charges pending.

TYLER — The Women in Tyler Planning Committee honored the 2013 honorees, “Women Who Do Amazing Things,” Thursday at a luncheon held at the Rose Garden Center. Women in Tyler was founded in 1999 as a way to celebrate Women’s History Month and to honor women who have contributed to the quality of life in the community. Each year, a planning committee has gathered to select women who are then honored at a celebratory luncheon held each March.

“This year we are recognizing women, from all walks of life, who do amazing things,” said Jackie DeNoyelles, event co-chair. “Tyler is blessed to have such a diverse community of talented, giving, and hard working women worthy of this special honor.” Past honorees have included women who have made their mark in the arts, in business, through volunteerism, in historic preservation, health care, education and many other areas.

The 2013 honorees are:
Martha Berry – A nationally acclaimed Indian bead artist. She is a registered tribal citizen of the Cherokee Nation and taught herself the lost art of beadwork. She is exhibited in galleries and museums around the country and divides her time between research and creating beadwork that is inspired by the styles of the Southeastern Woodland Native American Indians.

Dr. Jeanette Deas Calhoun – An extraordinary community volunteer, according to Women in Tyler, as well as Executive Director for Tyler AIDS Services. She has a master’s degree in counseling and a doctorate in administrative services which the committee says made her the ideal candidate for leading the AIDS Services in Tyler. Among her many accomplishments since moving to Tyler with her husband, Dr. Kirk Calhoun, is her role as the founding chair of Jack and Jill of East Texas.

Betty Edwards – Leads the North Tyler Day Nursery, which committee members say has been serving Tyler for 74 years to provide a safe, clean, and educational day care for working parents and parents attending Texas College.

Dawn Franks – President and CEO of Fourth Partner Foundation, where she works primarily with individuals, couples, and families interested in philanthropic giving in Tyler. She also serves as the executive director of the Ben and Maytee Fisch Foundation. Dawn was co-founder of the East Texas Crisis Center, served as its executive director for 15 years, and also served five years as the president of the United Way of Tyler/Smith County.

Mary Ann Girard – During her leadership, committee members say, she has made Champions for Children a premier early childhood center that is recognized across the state for its quality pre-school curriculum. Ms. Girard was the primary author and developer of therapeutic techniques that are used throughout Texas.

Christy Roach – Grew up two blocks from Douglas Elementary School and dreamed of going to college and becoming a teacher at Douglas. She did earn a bachelor’s and got the opportunity to teach third grade at Douglas. After completing her Masters of Education at UT Tyler, she was promoted to assistant principal. She has now been the principal for five years, and committee members say she’s making a difference in the lives of her students.

Ella Tucker – Dazzles her fellow church members with her extensive hat collection, according to Women in Tyler. Ms. Tucker’s hat collecting began when she was 12 – wearing her first hat to an Easter service. By the time she was 18, she was a serious collector. Now she owns more than 200 hats which fill up most of her closets and some of her rooms.

Dr. Syntha West – An alumna of Baylor University, Dr. West was a head majorette for its band. Today, she hasn’t let go of that ability and continues to perform at Baylor homecomings, even at age 73. Dr. West is also a counselor and helps children caught between divorcing parents. She taught for 36 years in the public schools before going into private practice. In 2008, Dr. West was crowned Ms. Texas Senior America as well as Ms. Congeniality. She continues to travel the state giving motivational speeches and entertaining groups with her music and twirling.

TYLER — A Tyler man who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing young children at a mobile home park received a life sentence on Wednesday morning in a Smith County courtroom. KETK reports Thomas Harold-George Brookbank was arrested in July of 2012 at the Shiloh Pines mobile home park on the 2500 block of Shiloh Road in Tyler. At the time, the mother of a 9-year-old female victim said that Brookbank had sexually assaulted the girl and her friends at a clubhouse in a nearby wooded area. There were multiple young victims reported.

Following the incident, even Brookbank’s half-sister, Jeanne Morrison, told KETK that she was wary of him. “I hope he does get a conviction. And I hope he does a long time serving, because if he gets out, I know he’ll do it again,” Morrison had said. Jason Parrish, the prosecuting attorney in the case, says, “Several years ago state legislation adjusted the parole statute in the law, as it pertains to the sexual assault of younger kids.” If a victim is 6 years old or younger, a conviction will automatically shift from 25 years to life.” Brookbank will have no opportunity for parole

MARSHALL — A Marshall jury has sentenced a Longview man to prison for murder stemming from a fatal auto accident in November, 2010. The jury on Tuesday found Charles Ray Owens Jr., 37, guilty. On Wednesday, Owens was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

Owens was involved in a traffic accident in which Robert Smith, 62, of Longview was killed. The Department of Public Safety reports Owens was fleeing from a state trooper when his car ran through a stop sign and crashed into Smith’s vehicle. The officer had been trying to stop Owens for speeding. The accident occurred at the Intersection of Loop 281 and Paige Road, on the Harrison County side of Longview.

TYLER — An early Wednesday morning duplex fire has left two families homeless. It happened just before 1:45 at 318 Saunders Avenue. Tyler Fire Investigators believe the blaze started in the front of the home in an area being used as a bedroom. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Tyler Fire Marshal’s Office. One firefighter suffered second degree burns while battling the blaze. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment and was released a short time later. The Red Cross was notified for assistance for the residents.

TYLER — An apartment at the Hollyview Apartments at 7101 Waljim Street, has been damaged by fire. The two alarm blaze was reported just after 2:00 yesterday afternoon. Five engines and one Ladder Company, along with a district chief and an investigator, responded to the scene. The fire was quickly brought under control.

The fire was contained to one apartment unit with actual flame damage contained to the bathroom. The occupants of the apartment unit were displaced. Investigators believe the fire originated in a bathroom as a result of a candle being left unattended. One person suffered possible smoke inhalation and EMS treated them at the scene.

LONGVIEW — The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission has closed their investigation into Longview’s Lodge Sports Bar and Billiards stemming from the July beating death of a man outside the bar and will seek to cancel the bar’s permit to sell liquor. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Sgt. Marcus Stokke, supervisor for the Longview office of the TABC, said the commission is in talks with Daniel Haislip, the owner of the restaurant, due to the investigation’s findings. Stokke and Haislip said they believe the Lodge’s case will go before a hearing in Austin at the State Office of Administrative Hearings. “I feel confident that we will retain our liquor license, but I feel there will be some kind of penalty involved,” Haislip said.

The investigation stemmed from the beating death of Sean Drake, 39, in the bar’s parking lot after closing in the early morning hours of July 12. Drake was punched in the head and later died. Drake’s autopsy ruled the death a homicide, but a Gregg County grand jury declined to issue an indictment in connection with the death.

Haislip said one of the major questions to determine the bar’s responsibility is whether the establishment is responsible for what happened in their parking lot after closing. “The responsibility of the parking lot is at question, and that’s where I’ve got some heartburn with it. I was told I should send employees out there to break this up. My first responsibility is to the safety of my employees,” Haislip said. Haislip added that the bar only served Drake three beers the night of his death and that the bar has been in good standing with TABC for its five years of existence.

Stokke said the TABC spoke with Drake’s family to see if they wanted a heavy fine or the cancelation of the permit as they made their decision. Additional information was expected to be released soon by the TABC.

WASHINGTON D.C. — Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert challenged at a judiciary hearing decisions made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton. As reported by the Associated Press, a few weeks ago, the federal organization released around 2,000 immigrants awaiting deportation from detention facilities across the country in preparation for sequestration. Another 3,000 are expected to be set free sometime in March. According to KETK, Gohmert referred to Texas officials being left in the dark on what could be considered a dangerous decision. “They would really like to know that you are about to release those people in their state so they can give their law enforcement a heads up.”

The congressman then proceeded to question Morton on whether there are requirements to notify state and local authorities when criminals and suspected criminals are let go free. Morton replied, “There are no blanket notification requirements. Generally speaking, the notification that we will give is through the victim notification system.” He went on to confirm local law enforcement is not made aware of ICE detainment releases.

During his allotted time to speak, Gohmert slammed the Obama administration for its handling of illegal immigrants. “The number one biggest problem in this administration, of a federal felony nature, is the re-entry by deported illegal immigrants after they’ve been deported.” Representative Gohmert also referred back to his time as a district judge explaining the hurdles the state must jump when dealing with immigration. “It was an ongoing problem. I had a guy with nine DWIs, never would be deported, was constantly deported to the federal authorities. This was when Bill Clinton was president , and finally, he hit somebody again.”

He also went on to point out what he terms the egregious amount of money spent in the court system handling these cases and pleaded with Morton to use our nation’s capital more wisely, stating, “This administration should do everything they can to secure the border.” Gohmert closed with, “Secure the border and we’ll have all the saving we’ll ever need.”

WASHINGTON – Tyler Congressman. Louie Gohmert has been awarded with Freedom Works’ second annual “Freedom Fighter Award.” According to a news release from Gohmert’s office, the award is given to members of the House and Senate who consistently vote in defense of economic freedom.

“Freedom Works is a powerful voice in America for principles of liberty giving rise to innovation and opportunity. They emphasize the critical need for individual freedom and adherence to the constitutional limitations on our ‘big brother’ government in Washington. It is an honor to be awarded the ‘Freedom Fighter Award’ again this year since it represents a finding by a valued and well respected organization that analyzes the issues that I represent the core beliefs held by most east Texans. Voting with the mindset of hardworking American taxpayers is essential if we are going to leave our children and their children at least as good of a gift as our parents and grandparents left us,” said Rep. Gohmert.

Each “Freedom Fighter” recipient earned a minimum score of 90 percent on the Freedom Works Congressional Scorecard during the 2012 legislative session. According to a news release, that score exhibits a strong stance to defend liberty and strengthen the economy across the country. “Congressman Louie Gohmert took a stand against the Washington special interest machine and proved himself a true defender of economic freedom with a 94 out of 100 percent on the Freedom Works Congressional Scorecard. Freedom Works encourages Congressman Gohmert to keep fighting the good fight to protect Texas taxpayers, and bring back fiscal sanity and accountability to the federal government,” said Freedom Works President Matt Kibbe.

ELKHART — The Texas Rangers and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the death of a man in custody of the sheriff’s department. KETK reports authorities in Elkhart got a suspicious call from a local store just before 3:00 Saturday morning. When officers arrived, they found Jeffery Mallachi Eastman, 50, who they say appeared to be intoxicated. An officer took Eastman to jail for public intoxication after he refused treatment from an ambulance, according to the sheriff’s department. A few hours later, Eastman was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead at around 7:00.

Authorities are waiting for the autopsy and toxicology results, stating that Eastman did have a history of drug abuse, but they cannot be certain that was the cause of his death.

HENDERSON — Two people were arrested on Tuesday in an ongoing investigation into copper wire thefts in Rusk County. Rusk County Sheriff’s officials tell KETK they executed an evidentiary search warrant at a house on the 11000 block of Farm Road 2151 near Henderson just before 5:00 Tuesday afternoon. In the house, authorities say they found transformer tanks, cores, ground wires, meters, clamps, fuse doors, copper and aluminum lines. After further investigation, officials reportedly discovered a stolen gun and 2005 Dodge pickup truck, along with drug paraphernalia and some marijuana.

Jason Bartley, 36, and Ashley Story, 26, were both arrested at the scene for charges including unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of marijuana, and theft. Bartley is being held on a $16,000 bond, while Story is held on a $1,000 bond. Both remain in the Rusk County jail.

JACKSONVILLE — During a recent city council meeting, control of the rodeo arena, once part of the Lon Morris campus, was officially handed over to the city of Jacksonville. City Manager Mo Raissi tells KETK getting control of the rodeo property turned out to be a big job. He added the city is working on plans for the next two months to present to the board, a name change, and to build a recreation center. “On the arena side, talking with the rodeo association, they decided they wanted to go ahead, do whatever possible to keep it up and keep it going,” said Raissi. “The rodeo’s been going on for the last fifty years, so they would like to have it for another 50 years.”

TYLER — The Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health) and Smith County received some encouraging news about residents’ health in a national report Wednesday, though it also shows that much more needs to be done in some vital areas. That’s according to NET Health CEO George Roberts. In a news release, Roberts says, “The release of the County Health Rankings Report, by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin, shows us what may be keeping people from being healthy and living their best life and doing things they enjoy like spending time with family and friends.”

In the study, Smith County ranked 83 out of 232 counties for Health Outcomes – Today’s Health, and a rank of 50 out of 232 in Health Factors – Tomorrow’s Health. The County Health Rankings allow counties to see how they compare on a range of factors that influence health including high school graduation rates, obesity, smoking, and family and social support. “Change begins by bringing people from all walks of life together – from education, transportation, public health, business, and other sectors – so we can develop and implement strategies that improve health,” says Roberts.

According to Roberts, “The County Health Rankings continue to reinforce that where we live matters to our health; Lighten Up East Texas, 5210 Goes to School, and the East Texas Food Coalition are examples of how our community is taking action to improve health. While we have taken important steps to improve the health of our community, there is more we can do to help our residents lead healthier lives.

“NET Health encourages residents, community leaders and officials to respond positively to the report by carrying out their individual roles to help everyone live healthier, longer and more satisfying lives, as the data suggest. Where we live, learn, work, and play influences how healthy we are and how long we live.” You can visit http://www.countyhealthrankings.org or http://www.healthyeasttx.org for more information.