KTBB News, Weather, Talk

EAST TEXAS — The race for state agriculture commissioner, which features two East Texans, has become a volley of accusations. According to KETK, the fight between incumbent Republican Todd Staples of Palestine and Whitehouse Democrat Hank Gilbert has gone online with competing websites focusing more on the opposing candidates’ faults than on campaign issues. Gilbert’s site is called “Sleazy, Sleazy Staples.” In it, he accuses the incumbent of things like a “$3 million broadband boondoogle” and voting to allow radioactive waste from other states to be dumped in Texas. Staples’s site is called “Guilty, Guilty Gilbert.” It chronicles Gilbert’s run-ins with the law, like driving with an expired driver’s license and driving without a seat belt.

LONGVIEW — One suspect is in custody after a reported burglary. Longview Police responded to 2005 Secretariat Trail A Sunday morning around 7:30 after the resident said his flat screen television had been stolen. About two hours later, officers were notified of a suspicious person on the McWhorter Park walking trail carrying a flat screen television. Upon arrival, officers located the suspect standing next to the television. The suspect reportedly fled when he saw the officers but was caught after a short pursuit. The suspect, a black male juvenile, was placed in custody for burglary of a habitation and transported to the Gregg County Juvenile Detention Center.

TYLER — The City of Tyler hosted a ceremony Monday to unveil the second marker in the Reflections Program in Tyler. The subject marker honors Henry M. Morgan; it can be found at 212 E. Erwin, in front of the Henry M. Morgan Barbers Museum.

Material provided by the City says that in accordance with the Tyler 21 North End Action Plan, in 2009, the City launched a three year program to promote Tyler Historic Landmarks status and the installation of historic markers and plaques at North End locations. The City says the chosen locations are important to city history, including the history of the African-American community. The Reflections Program encourages citizens or interested organizations to submit nominations for the designation in the North End as Tyler Historic Landmarks, Tyler Historic Subject Markers or Half Mile of History markers.

On August 25, 1895, Henry Miller Morgan was born in Tyler�s St. Louis Community to Henry and Alice Ingram Miller. He attended school in the St. Louis Community, completing his education at East Texas Academy later known as Butler College and received a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from Summerville Law College, Dallas, Texas.

In the 1920�s, Texas enacted laws requiring licenses for barbers. Due to segregation, there were no schools that admitted African Americans, so they were excluded from the practice of barbering. In 1929, Morgan conceived the idea of a barber college for African Americans. By 1933, he opened the first college for African Americans and located it on Erwin Street. It opened with only five chairs. Within just 16 years, Mr. Morgan had branches of his barber college located in such cities as New York City; Jackson, Mississippi; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Dallas, Texas.

The Tyler headquarters quickly grew to accommodate the expanding business, and at one time the school reportedly was training a majority of the nation�s African-American barbers. The school�s curriculum included subjects ranging from Scalp and Skin Disease to Electricity, Chemistry and Anatomy. Morgan went on to help found the Texas Association of Tonsorial Artists, a professional barber�s organization. He was vice-president of the Texas Association of Barber Schools.

In addition to his legacy to the barber industry, Morgan was actively involved in many community organizations including:
� Organized the H.M. Morgan Lodge and served as Exalted Ruler;
� Served as President of the Tyler Chapter of the NAACP;
� Served at Vice President of the 1936 Tyler Negro Chamber of Commerce;
� Was elected Chairman of the East Texas District at the State Republican Convention in San Antonio;
� Founded and served as President of the Tyler Chapter of the Democratic Progressive Voters League;
� Served as a Trustee of Butler College.

Additionaly, Mr. Morgan was an active member at St. Louis Baptist Church. He died on May 9, 1961 and is buried in Tyler�s Evergreen Cemetery. Today, he is remembered as a civic and political activist, as well as a leader in his profession.

TYLER — The Christian Men’s Job Corps has been up and running in Tyler for just seven months, but it’s already getting great results. That’s the word from Executive Director Charles Smith. On KTBB “Staff Meeting,” he says the agency offers “Christian-based life and employment skills training to men who desire a positive change in their life.” The agency, modeled after the long-running Christian Women’s Job Corps, also offers one-one-one mentoring. Smith says his organization combines practical training, relationship building, emotional healing, and spiritual growth “to meet a man’s eternal needs.”

It took two years of planning and organizing to get the Christian Men’s Job Corps off the ground. Some, but not all, of its clients have served time in prison. Volunteers and donations are needed. You can go to http://www.christianmensjobcorps.org to learn more. Beginning early Monday morning, you can also go to http://www.ktbb.com/audio to check out the “Staff Meeting” show online.

TYLER — The Smith County Wide Clean-Up is underway and runs through July 31. The event is an opportunity for county residents to bring trash and bulky items to the Greenwood Farms Landfill for free. The Smith County Environmental Crimes Unit, precinct constables, and Commissioners Court are working together to host the event.

The County is providing vouchers to the public that are good for up to three cubic yards per person, about a full-sized truck bed. Smith County residents can pick up vouchers at all justice of the peace and constable precinct offices or the Commissioners Court Office in the Courthouse Annex. Vouchers can be picked up during normal business hours, Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm. There is a limit of one voucher per household, and businesses may not participate in the voucher program. The vouchers come with a list of items that the Greenwood Farms Landfill, an Allied Waste Company, will not take. Directions and a map to the landfill are provided with the vouchers.

Items not accepted during the County Wide Clean-Up include hazardous waste, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, gasoline, oils, paint, acid, batteries, asbestos, Freon, whole tires, refrigerators, freezers, televisions, and computers. For more information or to pick up your voucher, please call: (Tyler) Pct. 1 Constable Henry Jackson, 903-590-2609; (Noonday) Pct. 2 Constable Andy Dunklin, 903-590-4840; (Troup) Pct. 3 Constable Dustin Rust, 903-842-2664; (Winona) Pct. 4 Constable John Smith, 903-590-4879 or (Lindale) Pct. 5 Constable Dennis Taylor, 903-590-4901.

TYLER — The Texas Department of State Health Services will host a community event in Tyler as part of a 15-city “Ready or Not?” outreach tour to encourage Texans to get prepared for hurricanes. The event will feature a large tent filled with informational displays, a sample disaster supply kit, and interactive kiosks where visitors can begin or continue their emergency planning. Waterproof document bags, emergency supply checklists, and other items will be distributed. It’s all going on now and continues till 2:00 this afternoon at Broadway Square Mall. Other partners in attendance may include local fire, police, emergency management, and public health departments, as well as community organizations involved in disaster preparedness.

According to officials, hurricanes threaten Texas at this time of year, and some people may have put off planning. While it�s best to get prepared early, it�s not too late. “Ready or Not?” � or “�Est�s Listo?” in Spanish � uses radio, television, newspaper, and online advertising; community outreach events; and its website to encourage every Texan to create an emergency plan now. The goal is to help Texans be ready to respond to and recover from hurricanes as well as other natural and man-made disasters.

You can go to http://www.TexasPrepares.org, or in Spanish, to http://www.TexasPrepara.org for more information. Officials say these sites offer people a way to build a custom plan step by step. Go to
http://ww.texasprepares.org/English/outreach-tour_7-10.htm to see the complete tour schedule.

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

Tyler — The Texas Department of Transportation’s annual preventative maintenance program known as “District-Wide Seal Coat” is scheduled to possibly conclude this week with crews working extensively in Smith and Wood counties. Crews will move to Farm Road 14 inside Tyler’s Loop 323 on Monday, and finish the contract with several days’ work on Farm Road 515 in Wood County between State Highway 154 south of Yantis near Lake Fork, and State Highway 37 in Winnsboro.

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. Loose gravel may be present for several days following a seal coat application. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays. The District-Wide Seal Coat program, which will seal approximately 300 miles of roads as it passes through all eight counties in the Tyler District before the end of August, uses a two-step process of spraying down hot asphalt and covering it with rock to add years of life to existing pavement.

SMITH COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to conclude resurfacing work on Farm Road 344 east of Bullard between Farm Road 756 and State Highway 110 south of Whitehouse, followed by the same work on Farm Road 850 east of Tyler between Farm Road 2607 and Farm Rad 3053 in Overton. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

GREGG COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue several weeks of base and pavement repairs on State Highway 149 between State Highway 322 in Lakeport and Farm Road 2906 (Easton Road). Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas. Some overnight lane closures are possible with this work.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue pavement repair operations on State Highway 64 between the Henderson Star and State Highway 42. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

ATHENS — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews on Monday are scheduled to resurface various locations on State Highway 31 east of Farm Road 317, then move the operation to Farm Road 1616 between Loop 7 and Farm Road 773 near Murchison. 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.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue several days of resurfacing operations on U.S. Highway 175 between Jacksonville and Farm Road 855 in Cuney. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

WOOD COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue several weeks of base-repair work on U.S. Highway 80 between Farm Road 778 and the Upshur County Line. A second crew is scheduled to perform edge and ditch maintenance on Farm Road 1804 (Hoard Road) just south of U.S. Highway 80. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and motorists should 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 base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 1255 northeast of Canton between Interstate Highway 20 and Farm Road 773, followed by the same work on Farm Road 773 between Farm Road 16 and State Highway 64. 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 perform resurfacing operations in various locations on U.S. Highway 287 between Farm Road 645 and Bethel. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers and pilot vehicles will control traffic.

TYLER — A teenager remains in custody today following a weekend incident at the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center. Shortly after 12:15 Saturday morning officers responded to a call at the center of shots being fired. The officers found a 16 year old from Kansas City, Missouri in a secured hallway within the facility. The youth had a gun to his head attempting to get officers to shoot him. They were able to convince him to put the gun down.

The youth had been arrested Friday night at the Tyler bus station. Around 9:00pm, Tyler Police received information that the juvenile was on a bus from Kansas City, Missouri to Tyler and he had outstanding warrants. He is wanted for assault, failure to appear, and being a runaway. Officers contacted the teen on the bus and took him into custody.

He was transported him to the Tyler Police Department and then to the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center. While the he was being held in a secured intake room in the facility, he gained access to his personal duffel bag that contained a handgun hidden in his clothing. He took the handgun from the bag and fired several shots within the intake holding room. The intake officer took cover and was not injured. Tyler police spokesman Don Martin says no juveniles housed in the facility were in any danger during the incident. The teen had been searched at the time of the arrest; however his bag was not searched prior to being placed into the trunk of the patrol vehicle.

The juvenile was transported to East Texas Medical Center for minor injuries he sustained by cut glass during the incident. He was treated and released back into the custody of officers. The youth was charged with aggravated assault on a public servant, possessing a deadly weapon in a penal institution, possession of controlled substance marijuana and directive to apprehend from Missouri.

LONGVIEW — Funeral services will be held in Longview tomorrow for longtime businessman and restaurateur Spiro S. Mijalis. Mijalis died Saturday from a heart attack. He was 72. Mijalis started Fisherman’s Market in 1973 and the Butcher Shop in the early 1980s. Funeral services for Mijalis will be Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 in the chapel at Rader Funeral Home in Longview. Burial will follow in Rosewood Park.

KILGORE � Three dozen young women are the newest members of the world-famous Kilgore College Rangerettes dance and drill team. The announcement, made in a closed ceremony in Dodson Auditorium on the Kilgore campus, culminates a week-long tryout process that saw 107 hopefuls vying for a coveted position on the 71st Rangerette line. The new Rangerettes will join 35 sophomores to make a line of 71.

The Rangerettes were the first of their kind when they began in 1940 as a vision of the late Gussie Nell Davis. The organization created a unique combination of dance moves and precision drills that quickly earned them the reputation not only as the originators of dance/drill teams, but as the best in the world. Known for their high kicks and the jump splits, the organization has traveled around the world and entertained millions.

The new freshman members of the 2010-11 Rangerettes, listed by hometown:
Austin � Kimberly Hookanson, Alyssa Hutcheson and Kayla Kopp
Beaumont � Katie Canant
Buda � Amanda Bailey
Dallas � Bethany Ford and Malia Freitas
Friendswood � Jacquelyn Garza, Ashley Cupples and Amanda Nobles
Frisco � Cara Rzucidlo
Garland � Hope Boyd and Elise Smith
Grand Prairie � Jennifer Aguinaga
Houston � Rachel Bruno, Ellen Dutton, Ivette Armenta and Angela Lozzi
Keller � Lindsay Early
Kingwood � Jessica Pike
Longview � Carson Latus
Orange � Katelyn Norman
Pasadena � Rachel Keller
Plano � Kimberly Hackler
Richmond � Alli Schneider and Erica Trull
Rowlett � Gina Cross and Logan Roesle
San Juan � Ariana Salazar
The Woodlands � Mary Pennington and Kirstie Tullis
Tyler � McKenzie Robinson
Victoria � Lauren Chapman
Waco � Sydne Miller
Waxahachie � Kate Basinger
Whitehouse � Sarah Leonard

TYLER — A teenager is facing a variety of charges following an incident at the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center. Shortly after 12:15 this morning officers responded to a call at the center of shots being fired. The officers found a 16 year old from Kansas City, Missouri in a secured hallway within the facility. The youth had a gun to his head attempting to get officers to shoot him. They were able to convince him to put the gun down.

The youth had been arrested Friday night at the Tyler bus station. Around 9:00pm, Tyler Police received information that the juvenile was on a bus from Kansas City, Missouri to Tyler and he had outstanding warrants. He is wanted for assault, failure to appear, and being a runaway. Officers contacted the teen on the bus and took him into custody.

He was transported him to the Tyler Police Department and then to the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center. While the he was being held in a secured intake room in the facility, he gained access to his personal duffel bag that contained a handgun hidden in his clothing. He took the handgun from the bag and fired several shots within the intake holding room. The intake officer took cover and was not injured. Tyler police spokesman Don Martin says no juveniles housed in the facility were in any danger during the incident. The teen had been searched at the time of the arrest; however his bag was not searched prior to being placed into the trunk of the patrol vehicle.

The juvenile was transported to East Texas Medical Center for minor injuries he sustained by cut glass during the incident. He was treated and released back into the custody of officers. The youth was charged with aggravated assault on a public servant, possessing a deadly weapon in a penal institution, possession of controlled substance marijuana and directive to apprehend from Missouri.

PALESTINE — Both of the suspects in the Thursday night robbery of the Palestine Wal-Mart Supercenter are now in custody. The suspects have been identified as Terrance Lavar Williams, 31, and Michael-Anthony J. Darkins, 21. Both are from Palestine. They have been charged with aggravated robbery. The robbery happened around 10:30 Thursday night. Reports indicate a shot was fired inside the store, but not injured.

MARSHALL — An inmate of the Harrison County Jail has died after hanging himself in his jail cell. Jecori Montra White, 34, of Marshall, was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with aggravated assault-family violence. He was believed to be under the influence of narcotics at the time of his arrest. According to a news release from the sheriff�s department, White was found hanging in his cell around 5:20 Thursday afternoon. He was rushed to Good Shepherd Medical Center-Marshall, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later.

TYLER – Tyler police have confirmed the suspect in the July 14 robbery of the BBVA Compass Bank has been arrested. According to KETK, Tyler FBI officials say 61-year-old Eddie Ray Myers was arrested without incident. Shortly after his arrest he was taken to East Texas Medical center after complaining of chest pains. Precinct 5 constables were doing surveillance when they saw Myers enter a house. Deputies pulled him over and arrested him. Myers was on parole in Arkansas, but was living in Tyler. It is unknown when Myers will be moved to a jail.

TYLER — The Sonic Drive-In on South Broadway in Tyler is temporarily closed. According to KETK, a spokesman for the chain says local health and police departments are investigating an allegation the restaurant may be involved in a food-borne illness or food tampering incident. No other information was immediately available.