KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW — At an animal disposition hearing held Thursday, City of Longview Municipal Court Judge Larry Merriman ordered that two dogs seized by Longview Animal Control officers be turned over immediately into the care and custody of the Humane Society of Northeast Texas. Three dogs were seized on October 25, when Longview Animal Control officers responded to a welfare complaint at a residence located in the 500 block of Idylwood Drive. One of the three dogs died shortly after being picked up by the animal control officers. Officials say all investigation findings from the City of Longview Animal Control Department will be turned over to the Gregg County District Attorney�s office for consideration of possible criminal animal cruelty charges.

TYLER — Texas College honors City Councilman Rev. Ralph Caraway in the first of a series of monthly community breakfasts planned by the college. TC President Dr. Dwight Fennell says the theme is “Building Community Through Partnerships.” Fennell says the event was a celebration of thanks, but also a celebration of giving the college back to the community in a small way. He encourages the public to attend the breakfasts. Caraway was recognized for his support of the college and his service to the Tyler area, which includes a number of local affiliations. Caraway says he’s honored and that he supports the planned get-togethers. The councilman, also the city’s mayor pro tem, says he’s very hopeful that other citizens will be a part of the partnership as the college reaches out to the community “to better the college and also to better the community as a whole.”

TYLER — The Hispanic Business Alliance Advisory Committee has voted to support Tyler ISD’s $89.85 million bond package in the November election. The move came following a presentation by TISD Superintendent Dr. Randy Reid and school trustee Eleno Licea. The alliance’s Price Arredondo says the alliance “recognizes the need to replace the final two elementary schools and build a new middle school relief campus given the current overcrowding and growing student population.” Alliance members also said the TISD board and administration “have proven to be good stewards of the bond funds and have demonstrated a commitment to academic improvement.”

The Hispanic Business Alliance’s mission is to support and enhance the Hispanic business community. Opposition to the bond issue includes the citizen group Grassroots America – We the People, along with a new group concerned about possible relocation of Rice Elementary School.

CHAPEL HILL — Smith County Sheriff’s deputies tell KETK the investigation continues for the murder of Amanda Anderson. Anderson, 19, was shot and killed last month in her parent’s house. Her brother found her inside a bedroom, shot in the back of the head. Police say although it’s been six weeks since the homicide, and no arrests have been made, it isn’t a cold case. A reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest in the case.

TYLER � A Tyler man has pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine. According to information presented in court, up until May 6, Lucio Adan, 34, conspired with others to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine throughout East Texas. Adan was indicted by a federal grand jury in May. He faces at least 10 years and up to life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set. Adan agreed to forfeiture of cash, firearms and a judgment in the amount of $50,000 representing the illegal proceeds of methamphetamine distribution.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department held a Memorial Service in front of the police department Thursday in Honor of Magic. Magic, who died due to kidney failure last week, was one of the department’s two black Labrador K-9 dogs. Magic was with the police department from 2001 to 2010, and police say he did an outstanding job in detecting drugs for the Narcotics Unit. The handler and partner for Magic was Officer Steve Black, who was the second handler in Magic’s prestigious career with the department.

TYLER — One person is in custody after a snatch and grab and a Tyler pursuit. Arrested Wednesday was Decarlton Wilson, 31, of Tyler. He is accused of entering a dentist�s office in the Albertson�s Shopping Center at Troup and the loop, and grabbing some items. He then fled in what witnesses described as gaudy, red, customized car.

KETK-TV reports he was spotted him on Paluxy Drive, but he refused to stop. A sheriff�s deputy chased him down Paluxy past FM 346 where he lost control of the car. He was arrested in a nearby house. Had he not run he would have only been facing a class B theft charge. Now he is in the Smith County Jail on charges of theft, marijuana possession and 3 counts of evading arrest.

LUFKIN — Fire has damaged the old Abitibi paper mill at Lufkin. Firefighters from Lufkin and area volunteer fire departments brought the blaze on Highway 103 east under control around 1:00 yesterday afternoon. Investigators say a demolition crew was cutting pipes in a building of the plant around 9:00 Wednesday morning. It is thought smoldering embers finally caught fire shortly after 11:30. There were no injuries.

TYLER � A 66-year-old Yuba City, California, man has been sentenced to federal prison for insider trading violations in the Eastern District of Texas. Stanley Swanson pleaded guilty Wednesday in Tyler to insider trading of a publicly traded security and was then sentenced to 30 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.

According to the information presented in court, Swanson was the CEO and President of Safescript Pharmacies, also known as RTIN Holdings, Inc., a publicly traded company that marketed itself as an electronic prescription technology company. In 1999, Swanson resigned from his positions, and his son, Curtis Swanson, assumed control of RTIN holdings.

In September 2003, the Securities and Exchange Commission began to investigate Curtis Swanson’s fraudulent activities, specifically that Curtis Swanson and others fraudulently inflated RTIN’s publicly-reported revenues and income. Over the following six months, Swanson was aware of the SEC investigations, which was not known to the investing public; sold over 500,000 shares of RTIN stock; and received proceeds of approximately $2,017,277.20. In a separate proceeding, Curtis Swanson pleaded guilty to securities fraud and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.

TYLER — The citizen activist group Grassroots America – We the People says there’s more to Tyler ISD’s financial situation than meets the eye. GAWTP continues to oppose the TISD bond issue on the November ballot. According to the group, “Those urging voter approval of Tyler ISD bonds eagerly point to the AA rating by Standard & Poor�s, the ‘Superior’ Financial rating by the Texas Education Agency, and Certificates of Excellence in Financial Reporting as everything taxpayers need to know when it comes to how well the District spends our tax dollars.”

A statement from GAWTP Executive Director JoAnn Fleming continues, “While Grassroots agrees these ratings are important, the truth is � the S&P rating is based on the district�s financial strength, which is based on the ability of local taxpayers to foot the bill. The legal language in any bond proposition asserts the authority of the taxing district to levy the tax rate necessary to ensure the timely payment of bonded indebtedness. Holding steady the tax rate on the debt service side of the property tax rate is always dependent upon the stability of the local tax base, property values, and new debt. Superior financial ratings and excellence in financial reporting does not ensure commonsense spending priorities, the wisest, highest and best use of tax dollars, or cost-efficiency.”

Fleming adds, “For example, details found on the Texas Education Agency website spell out disturbing Tyler ISD trends in light of the rapidly growing overall tax burden on local taxpayers from all levels of government.” Fleming says in the last six years, central administrators have seen a 45% increase in pay, total tax revenue per pupil has increased 62%, and total Tyler ISD tax revenue has gone up 71%.

Fleming continues, �This information demonstrates the high level of investment taxpayers are already making in Tyler ISD. Given the growing cost to taxpayers and the outrageous increases in Tyler ISD administrative salaries � much beyond that of classroom teachers and even the state average � taxpayers clearly deserve answers on the bond package and improved facility planning. This ‘pay now and get answers later’ approach is wrong. We cannot and will not overlook it.� The pro-bond Vote Yes Committee did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

ATHENS (Staff/AP) – The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office has received an official cause of death concerning Ben Gill Clements, the son of former Gov. Bill Clements. According to KETK, officials with the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas ruled Clements’s cause of death as a result of apparent gunshot wounds and the manner of death as homicide. Clements’s body was unearthed on Howard Granger�s property on County Road 4609 and later positively identified. Clements, a neighbor of Granger�s, was first reported missing last Thursday. When authorities on Friday went to search Granger�s ranch, officials say he began shooting at them and Granger was killed. Officials later found Clements�s body in a shallow grave on Granger�s property.

TYLER — Tyler Police search for a suspect involved in a reported aggravated assault. It happened Wednesday morning in the area of Palmer and Arnold street. Police say the victim claims he was in the area looking for rental property when a verbal argument broke out with another motorist, who reportedly threatened him with a semi automatic handgun. The suspect was described as a black male between 27 and 34 years of age, driving a dark colored 2 door passenger car. Anyone with information is asked to call Tyler Police.

LUFKIN — A Livingston man is on trial on charges of intoxication manslaughter in the deaths of his two passengers in a crash in Hudson early Halloween morning 2008. A jury will determine John Lee Wade�s fate this week. On Oct. 31, the 22-year-old was traveling west on FM 706 at Stephenson Brown Road just after midnight when his red sports car left the road, crashed into a tree and caught fire. According to KETK, passengers Arturo DeJesus, 19, of Diboll, and Tomas Martinez, 19, of Lufkin, died from their injuries. Wade survived the wreck with internal injuries and burns and was released from the hospital two weeks after the accident.

TYLER � A new group called “Why Relocate Rice” is joining the opposition against the Tyler School District bond issue. The group formed when it was learned Rice Elementary might be relocated. TISD officials say a decision has not been made on moving Rice Elementary and that can be done after the election. KETK-TV reports that�s the problem. School officials say after the election is over they plan meeting with residents on what should be done with the school.

TYLER — A Kilgore woman has been sentenced to federal prison for using the mail to embezzle funds from her employer. Deborah Ogden Williams, 47, pleaded guilty on April 12 to mail fraud. She was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison yesterday by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. Williams was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $626,717.99.

Federal prosecutors say Williams began working as a bookkeeper for K-K Mobbs Construction in 1994. During this time, Williams devised a scheme to defraud her employer and steal $626,717.99 from the company by writing checks on a company account to pay off her personal student loan, purchase gift cards, make payments on unauthorised credit cards, and pay off other personal debts.