KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER � Cuts made by the state to funding for community colleges and no increase in property tax revenues are the main reasons Tyler Junior College is facing a projected $1.5 million budget shortfall. KETK-TV reports the school’s taken action to address the problem.

School officials have instituted a near-hiring freeze, construction projects are being delayed, technology upgrades are delayed, and august graduation ceremonies have been done away with. So far, not too many cuts have affected students, but school officials say if money troubles continue, students could be more directly impacted.

TYLER � A 49-year-old Henderson woman has pleaded guilty in Tyler to federal health care fraud-related charges. Sheena Shelton pleaded guilty to health care fraud and wire fraud Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.

According to officials, from 2003 to 2009, Shelton controlled and operated KC Medical Supplies, a durable medical equipment supplier in Longview. During that time, Shelton devised and carried out a scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid by submitting fraudulent claims for equipment and supplies which had not been prescribed or authorized by a physician. Shelton prepared documents that falsely represented that physicians had prescribed or ordered medical equipment for certain beneficiaries although they had not. Shelton forged the signatures of local physicians to fraudulent claim forms before submitting them to Medicare and Medicaid for payment.

Shelton faces up to 10 years in federal prison for the health care fraud charge and up to 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud charge. A sentencing date has not been set.

TYLER � A 26-year-old Carthage man has pleaded guilty to federal drug violations. During an appearance Thursday in Tyler before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love, Jeremy Kristopher Ivie pleaded guilty to possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. According to information presented in court, on Jan. 31, 2009, Ivie purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a Wal-Mart in Longview in addition to making three other purchases that same day at other stores in the area, all in furtherance of his methamphetamine manufacturing activities. A federal grand jury returned a 256-count indictment on Feb. 2, 2010, charging Ivie with federal drug violations. Ivie faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

TYLER � A bit of a scare, but it could have been much worse as a Tyler restaurant catches fire. According to KETK, the Tyler Fire Department responded to the two-alarm blaze just before 7:15 Wednesday night at Bourbon West, 1523 East Erwin. The fire began in a bucket near an outside grill that was used to store ashes from the grill. Flames then traveled up an outside wall and entered the attic space. There was approximately $1,500 in damages and no injuries were reported.

TYLER — A new $20 million, six-level parking garage with over 950 spaces opened recently on the east side of the ETMC Tyler campus. The skywalk now extends over Hospital Drive to connect to the new east parking garage. �We are now directing visitors to park there,� said Bob Hampton, vice president of property services for ETMC. �The spaces are extra wide so all types of vehicles will easily be able to get in and out of their slot. Visitors will also be able to enter the hospital on the new extension of the skywalk.� The front parking lot where the helicopters are located will now be used for handicap parking, valet and clergy as space allows.

�Another change will be no parking anymore on Hospital Drive, the street that goes around ETMC,� said Hampton. �The street will be converted to a boulevard and will have designated turn lanes. Without cars parking on Hospital Drive, it will be a lot safer for drivers and pedestrians.� Plans for the front of ETMC involve creating a new entry way from Hospital Drive. Over the next several months, sections of the Olympic parking garage will close so the spaces can be redesigned to make them bigger and easier to maneuver like the new east garage. Next to the new parking garage is a new central plant for heating, cooling and supporting the hospital.

Other construction updates for ETMC Tyler:

– ETMC Tyler is also working to beautify the campus with more green spaces. Hospital officials say beautiful plants and trees, native to Texas, were planted around the new east parking garage.

– Behind the hospital, the area used by the construction crews will be converted back into spaces for the Pavilion conference center. A small building was razed, and that area will become green space.

– The physician office on Beckham street across from the hospital moved in mid-July to a new clinic space at Fifth Street and Beckham. The old building will be leveled, and a green space will be created.

JACKSONVILLE (AP) – The nation’s oldest person, an East Texas resident, has celebrated yet another year. But which year is a matter of mild debate. The Gerontology Research Group in Los Angeles lists Eunice Sanborn at 114, validating her as the oldest person in the U.S. and the second oldest in the world. A lady in France has her beat by about five months for top international supercentenarian. However Sanborn, a longtime Jacksonville resident, and her friends say she was actually born on July 20 in 1895, not 1896 as the official record states. That makes her 115. The Tyler Morning Telegraph reports that Sanborn has been resting up since partying with 100 well-wishers at her birthday bash at the First Baptist Church in Jacksonville on Tuesday.

LONGVIEW — The City of Longview Thursday hosted a Grand Opening Ceremony for the newly constructed Fire Station 6, located at 2808 McCann Rd. As part of the Capital Improvements Projects bond election in May 2007, voters approved $2.5 million in bond funds for fire station improvements. Fire Station 6 is a 10,701 square foot building that features sleeping quarters for twelve, four apparatus bays, kitchen, living area, and work spaces. The cost of land and construction was approximately $1.83 million.

According to interim Fire Chief J.P. Steelman, �Fire Station 6 is one of our busiest stations in terms of calls per shift. The size and functionality of the new station will be a great resource for the men and women that serve in the Longview Fire Department.� Prior to construction of the new building, Fire Station 6 was located at 1515 Judson Rd. In addition to the construction of Fire Station 6, bond funds have been used to expand and renovate Fire Station 2, located at 708 N. Eastman Road.

TYLER — Democratic gubernatorial candidate BIll White spends a couple of days touring East Texas. Though the area’s a Republican stronghold, White tells KTBB he’s confident of his chances here. He says, “I’m a traditional Texas Democrat, a fiscal conservative.” White also mentioned the success he enjoyed as mayor of Houston. He pointed out that in two re-election contests, he won over 80 per cent of the most conservative Republican precincts in that city. White added that a lot of fiscal conservatives like the idea of having someone in public office who’s met a payroll and been a successful business person.

MABANK — A Mabank baseball coach has been arrested and charged with indecency with a child. Arrested Wednesday was Kevin Reed, 34, of Gun Barrel City. He turned himself in to authorities after an arrest warrant was issued. The warrant was issued after a woman alleged that Reed inappropriately touched her ten year old son. Reed is currently free on a $10,000 bond.

LONGVIEW � The suspect charged with murder in the death of Brian Keith Burnett on Tuesday surrendered at the Gregg County Sheriff’s office Thursday afternoon. KETK reports his surrender was arranged through Longview Attorney Lance Larison. “James Nathan Alexander charged by a criminal complaint Wednesday with this offense, some 22 hours after investigators, Texas Rangers and ATF agents, worked had around the clock on the case examining evidence and conducting interviews,” Captain Mike Claxton said. After his surrender Alexander was taken to an arraignment hearing in Judge B.H. Jameson’s courtroom. His bond was set at $100,000. Alexander, of Harrison County, remains in custody. Burnett’s body was found around 7:30 Tuesday night at Riverside RV Park.

Meanwhile, the investigation continues in an apparently unrelated case after the body of a woman was found around 4:00 Tuesday afternoon wrapped in a blanket near the Sabine River. She has been identified as a missing Longview woman, Sygunda Yvette Williams, 34. She wasn�t reported missing to police and it was only discovered when investigators pursued leads as to the identity of the body. Fingerprints obtained during an autopsy at the Tarrant County Medical Examiner�s Office were used to confirm Williams� identity late Wednesday afternoon and her family was officially notified by investigators. Longview Police Detectives have reason to believe her death may have been caused in Longview and are awaiting the official cause of death to be announced. Detectives are currently interviewing family members, friends and associates of Williams and are submitting items for forensic testing. Authorities have not named any suspects in Williams� death.

TYLER — The weekend death of a Smith County woman appears to be accidental. Anjanette Herring, 40, was found dead under a lawn mower Sunday afternoon. The accident occurred off County Road 26. According to KETK-TV, the woman�s husband told deputies his wife had been mowing an overgrown trail down to the creek. He says he had turned around to do something else when the incident occurred. Investigators say the case is still an open investigation, but all indicators point to it being an accident.

WASHINGTON (AP/Staff) � Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert was among the speakers as the new Tea Party Caucus got off the ground Wednesday in Washington. Gohmert says the purpose is �to try to get both parties back on track, back to the things that made America great.� Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota says she founded the Tea Party Caucus so it could be a �receptacle� for the views of average citizens, not to push an agenda. She says Congress is not listening to the Tea Party movement and her caucus is designed to clear the way so that members can be heard.

Gohmert mentioned some harsh remarks directed at him during the health care debate. He said he didn�t complain to the media because �we move on, we got elected to do a job.� Bachmann says the just-formed caucus has 24 members, including the third-ranking GOP member of the House, Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana. She says she also hopes Democrats will join the caucus. House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio has declined to join the caucus.

TYLER � A 45-year-old San Antonio man has been sentenced in Tyler to federal prison for counterfeiting violations. Mark Merryman pleaded guilty on March 8, to counterfeiting and was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. Judge Davis also ordered Merryman to pay restitution in the amount of $440 to area merchants and to forfeit ownership in office equipment used in the scheme. According to information presented in court, on December 23, 2008, Merryman used a printer/scanner/copier to counterfeit and alter approximately 16 counterfeit $20 bills in Palestine.

TYLER � Another big year for the Tyler Cattle Barons� Gala is announced at a wrap-up party. The final take: over $531,000 for the American Cancer Society. Spokesperson Kristi Boyett says attendees loved headliner Lee Ann Womack, the silent auction, and all the fun and games. Also getting rave reviews: the air conditioned tents, which Boyett says will be back next year. Boyett adds that the gala had �wonderful volunteers� and �very generous sponsors.� The gala was held June 12 at The Park of East Texas, future home of the East Texas State Fair.

CORSICANA � The fourth member of a multi-county mortgage fraud scheme has pleaded guilty to a first-degree felony for his role in a multimillion dollar enterprise that defrauded government-backed mortgages. Darrell Lynn Marriott, 57, of Gun Barrel City in Henderson County, was sentenced in Navarro County District Court to 28 years in prison for securing the execution of a document by deception. Under the terms of the plea deal, the defendant will now enter an identical plea in Kaufman County.

In a separate but related matter last month in Wilbarger County, Marriott pleaded guilty to the same charge involving a single home purchase. The district court sentenced him to nine years in prison.

The defendant�s wife, Kandace Y. Marriott, 54, is currently serving a 99-year sentence after a Navarro County jury in March 2009 found her guilty of first-degree mortgage fraud. In July 2009, she was also sentenced to two 20-year terms after pleading guilty in Kaufman County. Her sister, Karen Hayes, 59, of Henderson County, is currently serving an 18-year sentence for falsifying documents to obtain property or credit. The Marriotts� daughter, Kally Marriott, 24, of Rockwall, was also charged with engaging in organized criminal activity for securing the execution of a document by deception. She pleaded guilty to a third-degree felony last December and served four months in jail as a condition of her probation.