KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Smith County Commissioners Court will adopt their new 2011 budget which will include plans to reduce overcrowding at the Smith County Jail. According to KETK, tax payers wonder if adding electronic monitoring ankle bracelets would solve jail overcrowding issues and reduce the cost on tax payers. Judge Joel Baker says he’s in favor of the devices, but that it’s up to the Smith County Sherriff’s Department to buy them. Whether they’re used to track a person’s whereabouts or their alcohol intake, monitoring devices are used nation-wide. In East Texas, GPS ankle bracelets are used as an alternative to incarceration programs to help keep track of people on probation. The bracelets monitor more than 300 people on felony misdemeanor or civil probation charges costing less than $6 per day.

TYLER (AP) – An 11-year-old boy has testified that he performed videotaped sexually explicit skits for paying adults as part of an alleged child sex ring. The testimony Wednesday in Tyler came on the second day of the criminal trial for a Mineola man charged with forcing three siblings to dance and engage in sexual acts. 47-year-old Dennis Boyd Pittman is one of six defendants facing charges of forcing three siblings as young as 5 to dance and engage in sexual acts for a paying audience in 2005. An alleged victim testified Tuesday that God told her the sexual acts she previously said happened didn’t really occur. After further questioning, the 11-year-old girl said she was given “silly pills” and danced for boys wearing a “sexy outfit.”

TYLER – A Whitehouse man has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges. Jose Zavala, 32, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie. According to information presented in court, from an unknown date to January 13, 2010, Zavala conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas. Zavala was arrested on January 20, 2010 and charged with federal drug trafficking crimes. Zavala faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

WHITEHOUSE — Smith County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating an apparent shooting at Outlaws, a club on State Highway 110 just north of Whitehouse. Details are sketchy, but KETK-TV reports it appears to have stemmed from “a gun deal gone bad.” Authorities are looking for a person who fire shots at a person or vehicle during Tuesday night’s incident.

JACKSONVILLE — A one vehicle accident in Cherokee County has left one person dead and one injured. Both were not wearing their seat belts. Killed was Amber Bird, 24, of Jacksonville. The driver, James Dillard III, 25, Jacksonville, is being treated at Tyler’s East Texas Medical Center. The Department of Public Safety reports Dillard’s pickup was southbound when it left the road, hit a dirt embankment, and overturned. The accident happened just before 6:45 Sunday afternoon on Farm Road 2138 South of Jacksonville.

TYLER — The United Way of Tyler/Smith County kicks off its 70th anniversary campaign with a public celebration on the Square in downtown Tyler today from 11:30-1:00. Guest speaker is Mayor Barbara Bass. There will also be check presentations by companies that have “set the pace” for this year’s campaign. A free hot dog lunch is being provided by Brookshire’s and Super 1 Foods, as long as supplies last. Frito Lay is providing chips; drinks are being provided by Coca-Cola, Community Coffee, Tyler Beverages, and Pepsi. The 2010 campaign will continue to remind everyone to “Live United.” You can go to http://www.unitedwaytyler.org to learn more.

TYLER — A suspected homicide at Winters Park in Tyler is still under investigation. Officers say they found the body of Ronnie Kemp, 48, Tyler, Monday night in the park on Peach Street. According to KETK, family members say Kemp called them and told them he was in trouble. Neighbors to the park say they are concerned for their safety. Police say they believe Kemp knew his attacker and that he had a criminal history in Smith County.

TYLER — Investigators say a toddler who died Monday afternoon accidently drank paint thinner. According to authorities, 18-month old Nathaly Velazquez was riding in a vehicle containing paint supplies. The paint thinner was in a water bottle and investigators believe the youngster drank it, thinking it was water. The youngster’s father drove her to the Mother Frances Hospital emergency room where she died. The Tyler Police Department and Smith County Child Protective Services continue to investigate the death.