TYLER — This Friday, downtown Tyler will turn into an art exhibit. Tyler’s fourth Artwalk event will feature thirteen artists. According to KETK, those who attend are allowed to walk to various locations around downtown Tyler to check out the art, which uses various media. It all takes place from five to nine in the evening.
Find more information at: http://www.cityoftyler.org/Home/tabid/36/ctl/NewsArticle/mid/865/CategoryID/11/NewsID/1128/Default.aspx
NACOGDOCHES COUNTY — A double homicide-suicide in Nacogdoches County Friday was prompted by an ongoing property dispute and numerous past civil disputes, Nacogdoches County Sheriff Thomas Kerss said. Two women, Connie Moses, 58, and Helen Meeler, 59, were discovered fatally shot in the front yard of their Appleby home on CR 262 after a property dispute with their neighbor, 73-year-old Preston Skelton. Skelton was found hours later in the woods near his home, dead from a self-infliced gunshot wound, Kerss has said.
“There had been an ongoing dispute over a property line,” Kerss said. “The ladies that were shot had hired an individual to help them construct a fence along the boundary line, which would have passed into the driveway of the actor.” When the individual the women hired began to put the fence up, the actor exited his residence armed with a rifle, Kerss said.
According to the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinal, deputies had been sent out to the area numerous times over the past few months and weeks to respond to civil complaints, Kerss said.
The Tyler Junior College Apaches fell in their season opener Saturday night losing to Coffeyville,KS 27-10 on the road in Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Apaches trailed 20-3 at halftime before cuttingt the lead to 20-10 in the 3rd but could never get any closer.
The Apaches lone touchdown came on a five yard grab from Lufkin’s Quin Trimble in 3rd. Trimble lead all receivers in the contest with six grabs for 107 yards.
Up next for TJC will be a home date with rival Kilgore at TMF Rose Stadium next Saturday. The Ravens stay home to face Dodge City.
BULLARD — Police investigate a fatal shooting in Cherokee County. It happened in the Shadybrook subdivision in Bullard around 7:00 Friday night. The home is located at the intersection of Elizabeth Drive and Jackie. According to KETK, Sheriff James Campbell says a 52-year-old man is dead from a gun shot wound. Foul play is suspected. The victim’s name has not been released.
TYLER — A 22-year-old is arrested after Tyler Police respond to a burglary call. It happened Friday night around 10:45 at Bruno’s Pizza, 1400 South Vine. Officers arrived and found a sliding glass door had been broken out. While officers were securing the scene, they located Danny Keith Jackson, Tyler, inside. Police say Jackson had entered the restaurant and began destroying items within the business. Jackson fled the scene when he noticed the officers and after a short foot pursuit, was arrested. He was booked into the Smith County Jail for criminal trespass, criminal mischief and evading arrest.
KILGORE – Harrison County Judge Richard Anderson announces receiving a letter of intent from Amtrak officials that TxDOT and Amtrak will soon be requesting the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) to move forward with a feasibility study for additional passenger rail services along the 1-20 / US 59 corridors in East Texas. According to KETK, Anderson is the East Texas Corridor Council’s (ETCC) governmental affairs chair. The information comes in a news release from the East Texas Council of Governments.
A letter from Amtrak’s Vice President, Transportation, Richard Phelps, received on August 17, states an agreement should be reached in the next several weeks to finalize reimbursement of capacity modeling expenses during the study. Phelps states Amtrak is fully prepared to then finalize an agreement with TxDOT and progress with the feasibility study. At that time, officials say, UP will also be able to provide Amtrak and TxDOT with an estimated timing for completion of its portion of the study, which will permit Amtrak to progress with the development of the scope and cost of capital expenditures that may be required to begin the service. This will also include an analysis of projected ridership and revenues for the new service.
“Not since the reintroduction of passenger rail service to East Texas in 1974 has TxDOT, Amtrak and the public need all been in agreement on the importance of moving forward with this project,” says ETCC Chair Tim Vaughn. “This is the most significant event in passenger rail service in East Texas since 1974,” says Anderson.
TYLER — Another case of rabies in Smith County. On Friday, the Texas Department of State Health Services advised the Northeast Texas Public Health District that one bat submitted for analysis tested positive for rabies. The bat was found in the 3800 block of Lake Forest Drive, Tyler. This is the ninth laboratory confirmed case of rabies in Smith County and the sixth rabid bat found in the City of Tyler this year. Authorities say the known individuals with possible exposure have been identified and addressed.
Citizens are advised not to handle bats, skunks, raccoons, or other wild animals. Health officials say it is important for children to tell their parents of any contact with wild animals or any sick animals. Anyone who knows of a person being bitten by an animal must report the bite incident to the Smith County Rabies Control Authority for proper investigation.
The Smith County Rabies Control Authority advises all citizens to confirm that their dogs and cats are currently vaccinated for rabies. City of Tyler Ordinance and Smith County Ordinance require annual rabies vaccinations for all dogs and cats. Officials say preventive immunization for rabies is the only effective defense against this always fatal disease. Anyone with questions on rabies control may contact City of Tyler Animal Control at 903-535-0045.
TYLER — Smith County will receive the Texas Association of Counties Best Practices Award for cost reductions made through the Countys Compensatory Time Management Program. According to a county news release, each year TAC’s Leadership Foundation recognizes and highlights county programs for outstanding innovation, achievement and delivery of services.
The Smith County Compensatory Time Management Program began in 2008 as a joint effort of the Auditors Office and Sheriffs Department, to reduce what officials term the ever increasing and costly payout and accrual of employee earned compensatory time. At that time, Smith County had more than $735,000 in accrued liability recorded for comp time, and more than $600,000 of the accrual was solely attributed to the Sheriff’s department and the Jail. Today, the comp hours have been reduced by 48% in the Sheriffs office and 41% in the jail for a total reduction of more than 44% department wide. That substantial reduction in hours has reduced the countys accrued liability by more than $350,000.
We are very proud of the leadership in our Sheriffs Office and Auditors Department. They stepped up and thought outside the box to reduce our accumulated comp time and ultimately save hundreds of thousands of dollars for the County, said Comp Time Committee Member and Smith County Precinct 4 Commissioner JoAnn Hampton. Representatives from Smith County will be presented with the award during a ceremony at the TAC Annual Conference in Austin Sept. 2.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY — One suspect is in custody after a stabbing in Van Zandt County. It happened last night around 9:30 on VZCR 2807. Sheriffs deputies say the suspect was reportedly involved in a burglary of a habitation earlier in the evening, in which firearms were stolen. Deputies say Gary Wayne Pritchett, Jr. of Mabank went to confront the reporting party and stabbed him in the back several times with a screwdriver. Pritchett was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, retaliation against witness/informant. He’s being held at the Van Zandt County Justice Center awaiting arraignment by a Justice of the Peace.
WHITEHOUSE Whitehouse is next to consider a ban on K2, a controversial substance that mimics the effects of marijuana. Whitehouse Police Chief Rick Waller says he hasnt found anyone selling K2 in the city, but one or two places sell paraphernalia. Whitehouse Mayor Danny Hodgen says that hes not willing to wait on the state legislature to pass a ban. The Whitehouse City Council will vote on the ordinance in September.
WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security is reviewing thousands of pending immigration cases. Officials say they are moving to dismiss cases on those filed against suspected illegal immigrants who have no serious criminal records. Many are disappointed with the action, including Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert.
According to Gohmert, the action is devastating to those who follow the rules by trying to bring loved ones here legally. It is also a position that tells the world we are not exerting our sovereignty as a nation. It says to the potential billion or more people who would like to come here to do so illegally and get our welfare, our healthcare, and our benefits that taxpayers are funding, because even if you get caught here illegally, this administration has decided that there will be no consequences. This utter disregard for the rule of law
is so hurtful to people of every race, gender, religion, and national origin who have worked so hard to follow the law. It also moves us ever closer to being like those countries which immigrants are fleeing because of their disregard for the rule of law.”
LONGVIEW — Authorities say a cooking accident in Longview seriously injured a resident Thursday. Around 12:09 p.m., the Longview Fire Department responded to 1805 Paver Stone. Authorities say 2nd and 3rd degree burns covered approximately 60% of the victim’s body. The call came in as a medical alert button activation which notified the family. On arrival, crews and investigators determined that clothing had caught fire at or near the electric cook top, where the victim’s clothes burned completely off. The victim had managed to move to a bedroom which was about 15 feet away from where the burn occurred. The victim was the only person at the residence at the time of the incident. The Longview Fire Department transported the resident to Good Shepherd Medical Center. The victim was then flown to Parkland Hospital in Dallas.
TYLER Two Carthage residents have pleaded guilty in Tyler to federal drug violations. Michael Lewis Galyean, 49, and Christie Renee Tull, 27, pleaded guilty to possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.
According to information presented in court, on Dec. 11, 2008, Galyean purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a Walgreens in Kilgore, in addition to making three other purchases that same day at other stores in the area. On Apr. 22, 2009, Tull purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a CVS in Tyler, in addition to making another purchase on another day at a store in Henderson. The purchases were all in furtherance of their methamphetamine manufacturing activities. A federal grand jury returned a 256-count indictment on Feb. 2, 2010 charging Galyean and Tull with federal drug violations. Galyean and Tull each face up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. Sentencing dates have not been set.
TYLER — The Tyler Junior College Board of Trustees voted unanimously Thursday to adopt a property tax rate increase of 31.62%. The tax increase is less than the hike originally proposed — 33.57%. The board also adopted its budget for the coming fiscal year. According to KETK, the college is working to pay back $28 million taken out last year for maintenance tax notes. Reaction to the proposed tax hike was sharply divided during recent public hearings.
SMITH COUNTY — Bigger isnt always better — but in the case of Azleways new David L. Haberle Distribution Center, it certainly is, say Azleway officials. The ribbon-cutting celebration was held Thursday at the Azleway Boys Ranch near Tyler. Azleway has been operating four food and clothing pantries throughout its system with each location limited in its storage capabilities. The 7,200 square foot, centrally located Haberle Distribution Center will enable Azleway to purchase and store food and clothing at bulk rates and receive donations of large pallets of food and merchandise.
Officials say Azleways new, stronger infrastructure has benefits throughout the community. In addition to feeding the boys on the Ranch and providing groceries to the more than 500 children in sponsored foster care, the Haberle Distribution Center will also provide food assistance to more than 8,700 people who live near the Boys Ranch per year, through a partnership with the East Texas Food Bank. Azleway officials say these families live outside of the city limits and are unable to access food assistance from other sources within the city limits due to a lack of transportation.
The clothing pantry provides clothes for Azleways more than 1,000 residential and foster care children. Officials say clothing this many growing children each year can only be achieved purchasing in bulk. According to Azleway officials, like all children, the resident and foster clients served by Azleway deserve clothes that fit and look good — and the expanded clothing storage at the Haberle Distribution Center allows more variety in clothing styles and sizes.
Support for the Haberle Distribution Center was provided by David L. Haberle and the David L. Haberle estate, Mabee Foundation, Louis and Peaches Owen Family Foundation, Southside Bank, Plunkett Fund, Tyler Oilmens Benefit Association, Bob Herd Foundation, Anonymous, and countless individual donors. The new distribution center is named in recognition of David L. Haberles support of Azleway, not only during his lifetime, but with a generous bequest upon his death. You can go to http://www.azleway.com to learn more about Azleway and its programs for at-risk kids.