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TYLER – A Smith County Jail inmate was discovered dead in his cell Wednesday. According to KETK, Sheriff J.B. Smith says Duantes Harrison of Mineola committed suicide Wednesday afternoon. He claimed to be sick and stayed in his cell when the other prisoners went to the roof for recreation. When they returned, they found him hanging from the shower by his bed linens. Sheriff Smith says Harrison had just been sentenced to 25 years for aggravated robbery. Six other charges were pending against him, including possession of drug paraphernalia, credit card abuse, theft, aggravated robbery and forgery. As protocol requires, the sheriff notified both the Texas Rangers and the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. An autopsy has been ordered.

TYLER — The City of Tyler will hold a public meeting to present the preliminary outcomes of the Texas College Area Development Plan. The gathering is set for Thursday at 6 p.m. at Austin Elementary School, 1105 W. Franklin Street. Participants will have the opportunity to hear conclusions on the Area Development Plan including the planning team’s findings and recommendations. The City of Tyler initiated the Texas College Area Development Plan study in October, 2009, to build upon recommendations set forth in the Tyler 21 Comprehensive Plan. City officials say the purpose of the Area Development Plan is to further develop Texas College, neighborhoods, and surrounding areas as a vibrant district. Officials say the plans cover long term growth, pedestrian-friendly corridors, and ideas to enhance the Texas College area.

CHAPEL HILL – Jackson Heights fire officials confirm a Chapel Hill elementary school was briefly evacuated Wednesday morning. The fire department says the evacuation was due to a gas leak about one mile from campus. According to KETK, officials say the students’ safety is not at risk, and they returned to class. No injuries were reported.

TYLER — The Tyler Junior College Board of Trustees today is set to adopt its 2010-2011 budget and tax rate during an 11:00am meeting. Trustees propose to increase total tax revenues from properties on the tax roll in the preceding tax year by 33.57%. College officials point out that your individual taxes may increase at a greater or lesser rate, or even decrease, depending on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property and the tax rate that is adopted. As KETK explains, if the tax increase passes, it will go toward paying back $28 million taken out by the board last year for maintenance tax notes. The public’s reaction to the tax hike proposal has been sharply mixed.

LONGVIEW – LeTourneau University (LETU) has received a $5 million gift to establish an endowed scholarship fund for home-schooled students. The gift, from an anonymous donor, was announced Wednesday at the university convocation by LETU President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford. It’s believed to be the single largest endowment for home-school scholarships ever established. “The generous donor sees the critical need to endow scholarships for future generations and believes deeply in the value of the kind of quality Christian education that LeTourneau University offers,” Lunsford said.

According to LETU press materials, the endowment places LETU on the leading edge of a rising trend seen across campuses, as more students are graduating from a home-schooled environment. Officials say LETU’s mission over the past year has been to increase endowments for scholarships across the board. This $5 million gift, added to the nearly $1.5 million for other new scholarships endowed this year, brings the school to nearly $6.5 million in new endowed scholarships this year alone.

The annual award of LETU’s Home-school Scholarship Fund is set at $3,000 and is renewable over four academic years. For the 2010-2011 academic year, 15 students have been selected for the LETU Home-school Scholarship. “Students and their families who are interested in applying for these home-school scholarships can contact us at [email protected] to request information,” said Vice President for Enrollment Services Linda Fitzhugh.

TYLER — A scam is underway in Smith County. Sheriff’s Lt. Tony Dana says some Lindale-area residents have been getting calls soliciting funds for the East Texas Peace Officers’ Association. Dana warns that neither the East Texas Peace Officers’ Association nor the Smith County Peace Officers’ association solicits money over the telephone. Dana says if you get such a call, don’t give out any information — and certainly don’t send the caller any money. He says just hang up your phone and don’t respond to the caller.

TYLER — Repair workers get busy quickly after a car drives into Tyler’s Fish City Grill in the Macy’s shopping center. The accident caused the restaurant to close for the day Wednesday. According to KETK, no one was injured. There was some damage to the front of the restaurant, but crews were able to repair the storefront within several hours. Officers say the driver either got his foot stuck on the pedal or accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake.

TYLER – The Tyler City Council adopted an ordinance Wednesday morning to prohibit the use, purchase, possession, and sale of illegal smoking products that mimic the effects produced by smoking marijuana. Such substances are commonly known as “K2” and “Spice.” According to KETK, fines for violating are now $2,000. Whitehouse is next to consider a K2 ban. Whitehouse Police Chief Rick Waller says he hasn’t found anyone selling K2 in the city, but one or two places sell paraphernalia. Whitehouse Mayor Danny Hodgen says that he’s not willing to wait on the state legislature to pass a ban. The Whitehouse City Council will vote on the ordinance in September.

LUFKIN (AP/STAFF) — Authorities continue to await autopsy results on a 3-month-old girl found dead in a hot SUV in downtown Lufkin. Detective J.B. Smith says the girl apparently was left in the vehicle for “a good part of the day.”

Lufkin police say Christopher W. Stanaland, 27, of Huntington dropped off his son at school and went to work around 8:30. Shortly before 3:15 he returned to his SUV to find Isabella Marie Stanaland still strapped in her car seat. He had forgotten to drop her off at a day care center. The National Weather Service says temperatures topped 100 degrees Tuesday afternoon in Lufkin

TYLER — There will not be a Smith County Jail bond issue on the November ballot. County officials had considered putting a $33 million bond proposal before voters. The measure called for construction of a 384 bed jail. The county decided not to put the proposal on the ballot because of a school bond issue that will also go before voters. The Tyler School Board on Monday approved a nearly $90 million bond issue. County officials feel the jail proposal is valid, only the timing is wrong.

LONGVIEW – A big announcement is anticipated when LeTourneau University holds its fall convocation today. It will begin at this morning at 10:50 in the S. E. Belcher Jr. Chapel and Performance Center. A school news release says President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford will make a major announcement with national implications during his welcome of incoming students. He will also share his annual State of the University report with students, faculty and staff, expanding on the university’s new initiatives and programs for this coming year.

TYLER — Wednesday offers another chance for Tylerites to weigh in on the city’s 2010-2011 budget. One of three remaining opportunities for public input on the budget is set for at 9 a.m. at City Hall. Citizens can also make their voices heard at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8, and Wednesday, Sept. 22; the 22nd is the date scheduled for final budget adoption. The proposed budget calls for maintaining the existing “effective tax rate,” which is essentially the tax rate calculated to generate the same amount of revenue that was received in the last fiscal year. The effective rate is 20.8 cents per $100 valuation. You can go to http://www.cityoftyler.org for more information.

CANTON — Van Zandt County authorities follow up after a bomb is found in a mailbox. On Tuesday the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to VZCR #4404 on a report of a bomb being placed in a mailbox. Upon arrival a deputy advised that he observed a long pipe like object which was wrapped in black electrical tape and appeared to have a fuse on one end. The Sheriff’s Office, with the help of the Ben Wheeler Fire Department and Van Zandt County Posse members, blocked off the road in an attempt to keep anyone from getting close to the device. The Garland Bomb Squad and ATF were notified of the situation. ATF Agents from Tyler arrived at the scene and were able to safely remove the explosive device and secure it for transport. ATF then removed the device to their facility for further investigation.

TYLER — First day enrollment numbers for Tyler ISD indicate a decrease in enrollment compared to first day numbers last school year. Total enrollment for the 2010-2011 school has started with 17,530 students compared to 17,559 on the first day in 2009. Officials say it is not unusual for first day numbers to fluctuate from year to year. “We anticipate enrollment going up in the coming weeks,” said Randy Reid, Superintendent of Schools.

LONGVIEW — A pair from Gladewater and one suspect from Longview were arrested Monday for theft of copper. The three were arrested near FM 1845 and Bacle Road after deputies responded to an in-progress theft call. “Monday morning, field deputies were dispatched to an oil field company storage yard off FM 1845 north of Longview after a theft in progress was reported,” Gregg County Sheriff’s Captain Mike Claxton said Tuesday. An employee of a local production company saw a man run from a cart loaded with stolen copper and called law enforcement.

“Two of the three were located and detained when deputies arrived, and the third was found south of the theft site after running into some woods while deputies were en-route,” Claxton said. Michael Dennis Harnden, 50, and Julia Loraine Dodd, 39, both of Gladewater; and Jeffrey Wayne Prichard, 62, of Longview, were charged by probable cause affidavits with one count of theft of copper, a 4th degree felony. Officials say the copper taken from the company was recovered at the arrest location. “Some damage was caused to several electrical transformers when this group removed the copper,” Claxton said. The cost of the damage has not been determined. On Tuesday, Harnden, Dodd, and Prichard were arraigned before Judge B.H. Jameson. Bond was set on each suspect at $10,000. All three remain in jail.

LONGVIEW (AP) – A Gregg County commissioner has resigned amid allegations that crews assigned to road and bridge duties did unapproved work at baseball fields and a school. Commissioner Bob Barbee of Kilgore resigned Monday. Barbee did not immediately return a message Tuesday to The Associated Press. The Longview News-Journal reported Tuesday that Barbee admitted having crews do unauthorized work at baseball fields in Kilgore and at Maude Laird Middle School. District Attorney Carl Dorrough says he received complaints from county employees. Dorrough met with Barbee after Monday’s commissioners court meeting. He says they discussed the allegations and Barbee resigned. Dorrough also says a county ice machine, at Barbee’s personal business, has been recovered. Dorrough did not immediately return a message Tuesday to AP.

TYLER — Everyone’s invited to come meet the Muslim Community of East Texas. There’s an open house and community dinner tonight at the East Texas Islamic Society Mosque at 10659 State Highway 64 East, across from the Oil Palace on the outskirts of Tyler. Organizers say it’s a chance to learn about the basics of Islam & the Ramadan holiday currently being celebrated. According to materials from the Islamic Society, People can “come ask questions they have always wanted to ask a Muslim. Come see how Muslims pray and worship. Come enjoy our Fast Breaking Dinner (Iftaar) and join us for some good ethnic food.”

Itinerary for Open House
o 6:00pm – 6:15pm – Arrival to Mosque
o 6:15pm –Intro to Islam/Q&A Session
o Sunset (7:56pm) – Break Fast
o 8:05pm – Enjoy the Food
o 8:30pm –Mosque Tour & Thank you for coming

All activities will take place at the Mosque. Organizers ask that no shorts or short skirts be worn in the Mosque.

TYLER — State Representative Leo Berman of Tyler makes an appearance on Fox News Tuesday morning to discuss his goal of ending birthright citizenship. 96 million dollars is the price tag to provide health care to the almost 2 million illegal immigrants in Texas. Each year, an additional 60,000 babies are born to illegals. Rep. Berman says, at the state level, he’s introducing a bill which will prohibit the state of Texas from issuing a birth certificate to the child of illegal aliens. He says that instead, they’ll be given a notice of birth with instructions to take it to their local consulate or embassy to receive a birth certificate from the country of their parents.

Berman says if the bill passes, a suit will likely be filed against the bill and he ultimately hopes the issue ends up in front of the Supreme Court. Berman stated that the 14th amendment does not guarantee automatic citizenship. He says it does not apply to foreigners as stated in the Constitution.

TYLER — If Smith County Commissioners want to move forward with the November jail bond election, this morning is their last chance to put it on the ballot. According to KETK, Commissioner Jeff War will give information about a 33 million dollar proposal. Commissioners will then decide if they want to put it on the ballot. The meeting starts at 9:30 this morning in the Smith County Commissioner’s Courtroom.

PALESTINE — A 34-year-old Tyler man was arrested Friday afternoon by Anderson County authorities and charged in the rape of a 19-year-old woman on the Neches River near the Lake Palestine dam. According to KETK, Paul Erwin Chamberlain II was arrested at a Tyler business around 2:30 Friday afternoon by an Anderson County sheriff’s Sgt. and a Smith County peace officer. As of late Friday afternoon, Chamberlain remained in the Anderson County Jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond. Authorities have alleged that Chamberlain sexually assaulted a Smith County woman late Monday night/early Tuesday morning.

PAYNE SPRINGS — Investigators are trying to determine the cause of a fire that killed a young Henderson County girl. Dead at the scene Sunday morning was Kolbee Ann Moss, 10. Her body was found in her fire destroyed home at Cherokee Shores. Three other persons in the home when the fire broke out were able to flee unharmed. They were unable to get back into the home and rescue the young girl. Her body has been sent to a Dallas lab for autopsy.

LONGVIEW — A Gregg County woman has been arrested after being accused of allowing her three children to ride on top of her vehicle. Taken into custody was Elizabeth Iglesias, 27, of White Oak. She is being charged with three counts of child abandonment/endangerment. He bond was set at $20,000. Authorities say all three children were under 12 years of age.

TYLER — In just over two months, voters in the Tyler School District will decide the fate of a, $89.95 million school bond issue. School trustees Tuesday approved putting the issue on the November 2nd ballot.

The proposal calls for rebuilding Dixie and Rice elementary schools and building a new middle school off the Old Jacksonville Highway. The new middle school would be built on a 30 acre tract of land the district owns. If approved by voters, it would open in August of 2012.

At Tuesday’s meeting school officials announced approval of the bond proposal would not affect the district’s tax rate.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the school board approved the budget for 2010-2011. The $136,859,437 million is slightly higher than the current budget. The tax rate remains the same at $1.375 per $100 valuation. But not everyone supports the package. The citizen group Grassroots America – We the People is against it, in their words to the board, “because you have not made any real effort to cut spending, and you are balancing this budget with $5 million in federal stimulus funds you have applied for out of the State’s Rainy Day Fund.”

HOUSTON (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld a jury’s verdict that actor-screenwriter Tyler Perry didn’t steal material for his 2005 movie “Diary of a Mad Black Woman.”

Two years ago, jurors in federal court in Marshall found actress and writer Donna West failed to support her copyright infringement claim.

West appealed the verdict. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday there was nothing improper in the way the trial was conducted.

West wrote a play titled “Fantasy of a Black Woman” that was performed three times in 1991 in Dallas. She claimed Perry could have seen the script when he presented his plays at the Dallas Black Academy of Arts and Letters in 1998.

Perry testified his screenplay was an original work. The $5 million film grossed more than $50 million.

TYLER – A 31-year-old Athens man pleaded guilty Monday in Tyler to federal firearms violations. Robbie Devon Wilkins pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen firearm before U.S. District Magistrate Judge John D. Love. According to information presented in court, on Dec. 22, 2009, Wilkins sold a semi-automatic rifle to another individual for $500. The rifle had been stolen during a burglary of the WULF Outdoor Sports store in Athens on Dec. 14, 2009. Wilkins admitted that he knew the rifle was stolen property when he sold it. Wilkins was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6, 2010, and charged with federal firearms violations. Wilkins faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative. Officials say Project Safe Neighborhoods is aimed at reducing gun and gang violence; deterring illegal possession of guns, ammunition and body armor; and improving the safety of residents in the Eastern District of Texas. Participants in the initiative include community members and organizations as well as federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

CRAFT — Due to conditions which have occurred recently in the water system, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required Craft-Turney Water Supply to notify all the customers involved in the repair area to boil their water prior to consumption. According to KETK, the area included in this boil water notice is:

**From the Intersection of Loop 456 & FM 768, the area 2 miles South on FM 768, All of CR 1404, All water services on Drip Rock Road, and All water services on the South East Loop 456.

To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to consumption. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes. In lieu of boiling, you may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source. When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, water system officials will notify you. If you have questions regarding this matter you may contact Rhonda Briggs, Office Manager, at 903-586-9301.

TYLER — Officials with the Community Builders say they’re rewarding hard working Smith County nonprofit organizations with the extra funding they need to support strategic projects and programs to help people in need in Smith County. The Community Builders is a collaborative effort between East Texas Communities Foundation and the United Way of Tyler/ Smith County. The two organizations will host the 2010 Smith County Community Builders Grant reception Thursday at 9:00 a.m. in the Genecov Room of the Blackstone Building (315 N. Broadway, Tyler). Officials say the nine organizations were chosen because they demonstrated compelling needs and strategic opportunities to benefit many members of the community. Committee members chosen by ETCF and United Way of Tyler/Smith County assist with the grant selection process.

This year’s outstanding organizations receiving grants are as follows:
Bethesda Health Clinic
Purpose: Funding to purchase equipment/supplies for full or partial dentures

Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County
Purpose: Purchase of a new computer system

Christian Men’s Job Corps of Tyler
Purpose: Support the employment skills training program

Christian Women’s Job Corps of Tyler, Inc.
Purpose: Purchase student books for job and life skills program

East Texas Food Bank
Purpose: Funding to supply food for Senior Servings program

Kings Storehouse Food Bank
Purpose: Purchase of capital equipment

Meals on Wheels
Purpose: Funding for fuel cost related to meal deliveries

Ninos de Promesa Preschool
Purpose: Purchase 4 computers and educational software for two older preschool classes

North Tyler Day Nursery
Purpose: “Brain Gym” training by Champions for Children

Total Amount Awarded: $30,000.00

ETCF and United Way say they would like to thank the Genecov Foundation for making a special gift to support the Community Builders which funded projects for Smith County Precinct 3 and the Literacy Council of Tyler.

East Texas Communities Foundation is a nonprofit corporation serving 16 counties in East Texas. In 2009, the Foundation distributed over $3.4 million and manages over $40 million in 167 unique charitable funds which support non-profit organizations and student scholarships. The mission of the Foundation is to support philanthropy by offering simple ways for donors to achieve their long-term charitable goals.
Press packets will be available at the event.

LONGVIEW (AP/Staff) – Not long ago, we told you a movie’s being made about the Bernie Tiede case — involving the 1996 fatal shooting of an elderly Carthage woman and the hiding of her body for months in a freezer. Casting calls were held over the weekend in Carthage and Longview for extras for “Bernie,” a project of Austin-based filmmaker Richard Linklater starring Jack Black and Shirley MacLaine. Bernhardt Tiede II was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison over the death of 81-year-old Marjorie Nugent. (The two are pictured here.) Investigators said the funeral home worker became the woman’s companion after her millionaire husband died. Tiede, who’s now 52, remains in the McConnell Unit in Beeville. Casting agent Sheila Steele says the casting call reached Texas towns because “we want the interesting people, and we want the real people.”

TYLER — University of Texas at Tyler officials presented faculty awards during the 2010-11 Opening Convocation Aug. 23, UT Tyler President Rodney Mabry announced.
Recipients and their awards are:
· 2010 Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award – Suzanne Pundt, senior lecturer in biology; Dr. Blake Bextine, assistant professor of biology; and Dr. Jill Blondin, associate professor of art history.
This honor recognizes the nominees’ overall commitment and excellence in undergraduate teaching among UT System faculty members. Nominees are recommended by the President of each UT System and are reviewed by an external committee comprised of academic administrators, faculty, students and the UT System Board of Regents.
· President’s Scholarly Achievement Award – Dr. Mary Fischer, associate dean and professor of accounting.
This award recognizes outstanding scholarly achievements by a faculty member. Selections are made by a university committee.
· 2010 Provost’s Excellence in Teaching Award – Dr. Paul Roberts, associate professor of human resource development.
The Provost’s Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes faculty whose excellence in undergraduate teaching resulted in their nomination for the Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award.
· White Fellowship for Teaching Excellence – Dr. Kathy Missildine, assistant professor of nursing.
This honor recognizes excellence in teaching. Nominations are made by both university faculty and students.
· 2010-11 Piper Professor nominee and White Fellowship for Teaching Excellence – Dr. Eric Stocks, assistant professor of psychology.
This honor focuses on the nominee’s overall excellence in both teaching and scholarly achievement at UT Tyler. Nominees are made by UT Tyler faculty and become the university’s candidate for the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation Excellence in Teaching award, which annually recognizes 15 professors for superior teaching at the college level in Texas. This nominee also automatically receives UT Tyler’s White Fellowship.

TYLER — The continued incorporation of technology into the university’s product is The University of Texas of Texas at Tyler’s biggest initiative for the 2010 – 11 academic year, President Rodney H. Mabry announced at Monday’s opening convocation ceremony. UT Tyler will be using the Tegrity course capture and delivery software through which faculty will record lectures for students.

“This is an important step for UT Tyler to take because we’re serving students who have grown up with technology and use it as a natural way to communicate and learn. We should use more technology because students are immersed in it and expect us to use it. Most important of all, we should use it because it has been shown that students actually learn more,” Mabry said. Hybrid courses, which comprise about two-thirds traditional, face-to-face lecture and discussion sessions and one-third anytime online instruction, are the way to go even though adaptability of each course varies, he added.

Tegrity software will allow faculty to capture certain lectures right at their desks and put them directly online. University staffers say faculty can meet fewer face-to-face classes, and that ultimately allows them to spend more time helping students individually or answering questions online. University officials say this technology initiative, which includes Blackboard course management software and Tegrity, is intended to make the university a leader in the use of technology. The initiative is just one major element of the new Center for Faculty Excellence in Teaching and Learning that is developed by Dr. Peter Fos, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.

“Becoming known as the university in Texas where students get to take hybrid classes and where their penchant for using technology is recognized and encouraged by faculty would create a very important market distinction for UT Tyler itself. This distinctive reputation would help attract more of the high-ability students we seek,” said Mabry.

The convocation highlighted achievements of the past year such as sponsored research topping the $12 million mark. Also at the convocation, 35 new UTT faculty members were introduced. Mabry concluded his presentation by acknowledging an upcoming milestone birthday for UT Tyler. On June 10, 2011 the university will celebrate its 40th year.