KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler has recorded its highest enrollment with a 4.5 percent increase over last fall, President Rodney H. Mabry announced. Total headcount for this fall is 6,483. The fall 2009 figure was 6,201. Students also are enrolling in more courses as semester credit hours for 2010 are 69,779, a 2.5 percent increase over 68,106 in 2009. “We are very pleased with these figures. Enrollment management is working diligently to improve many of our procedures and services to better recruit, admit and retain the students, and we are seeing the results,” said Charlie Hutchins, assistant vice president for enrollment management, marketing and customer service.

Officials say in the last two years, enrollment at UT Tyler has been flat due to the economy. “The effects of the economy made it difficult for some students to return to school and prevented some from beginning their education,” Hutchins said.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man is sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated robbery. According to KETK, police say 22-year-old Richard Allen Wofford Jr. shot a 52-year-old man in the leg April 1. They say they were arguing over a debt. Wofford originally faced five years to life, but he accepted a plea deal.

KILGORE — The Kilgore City Council passed an ordinance earlier this week banning the sale and possession of K2 in city limits. Kilgore is just one of many east Texas cities that have recently banned the synthetic marijuana. Kilgore officials say if someone is caught trying to sell or posses K2 it will be a Class C Misdemeanor and can result in a fine up to $2,000. According to KETK, the ban goes into effect September 18.

JACKSONVILLE — The Lon Morris College President says the number of students has more than doubled in the last two years–which means less housing for the students. Now, more than 300 students live in a local inn. However, neighbors say it’s not a good idea. One neighbor says students tore her fence down and she had to replace it. Another says the students’ music is too loud and she fears she won’t be able to sell her house. According to KETK, students say they sometimes walk down the street to the park and play a little ball. The Lon Morris President says, “College students will be college students.” The school says for serious complaints, residents should call the police.

TYLER — After almost ten years of rescuing and re-homing homeless dogs and cats, East Texas Animal Rescue Fund announces plans for the dissolution of ARF as they join forces with the newly formed SPCA of East Texas. According to media materials, Since 1991, ARF volunteers have spent countless weekends in front of Petsmart adopting dogs to loving homes. Although it was termed “a difficult and bittersweet decision,” ARF board members recently voted to make the SPCA of East Texas the recipient of their non-profit assets. To ensure all their years of hard work would continue to benefit homeless animals in East Texas, ARF officials say, the 28 acre ARF headquarters/facility/ranch will be sold to assist with funding the recently launched SPCA Animal Services Center building campaign. Currently, neither the city of Tyler nor Smith County has a local facility to house, rescue and adopt stray or neglected dogs and cats.

The formal dissolution of ARF is expected to take place by the end of this year. In the meantime, SPCA volunteers are assisting ARF with re-homing their adoptable animals at the National Adoptathon to be held this weekend, September 11th and 12th.

When: September 11 & 12, 10:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

Where: PetSmart, 5610 S. Broadway in Tyler

The community is invited to view and visit adoptable animals. The adoption fee of $60.00 is tax deductible and will be used to provide food and medical care to other homeless animals.

JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville’s West Side Elementary and Fred Douglass Elementary Schools were two of the twenty-five Texas schools that have been named 2010 Blue Ribbon Schools award winners by the U.S. Department of Education. JISD officials say the two schools are the only East Texas schools to be awarded the prestigious designation. According to the officials, with only 25 statewide qualifying, the award puts two of the top 1% of elementary campuses in the state in Jacksonville ISD. The award honors schools that achieved academic excellence or made significant progress in closing the achievement gap.

Schools that receive the award will be recognized at the Blue Ribbon Schools conference in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 15-16 — where each recipient will receive a plaque and a flag signifying its status as a Blue Ribbon School.

TYLER — Information from the Texas Comptroller indicates that City of Tyler sales tax revenues deposited for the month of September have increased 2.95 percent as compared to the same period in 2009. Officials say Tyler compares favorably to the statewide average improvement of 2.66 percent. This is the second consecutive month of improved collections versus those reported in the same month in the prior year.

The reported revenue of $2,613,396 comprises $1,742,264 general sales tax revenue and $871,132 half-cent sales tax revenue. The figures represent receipts from July 2010 collections, as there is a two-month period before revenue is reported.

“In the proposed 2010/2011 budget, the City planned for a two percent increase in sales tax collections,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel (pictured). “It is gratifying to see that at the end of this fiscal year, the local economy is showing signs of recovery. The City currently has more than 100 positions frozen and these positions will not be refilled until we see several months of growth in our sales tax revenue. We will continue to take a conservative approach and ensure we are operating in a positive financial position; however, we remain cautiously optimistic about the coming year.”

TYLER — A big change on the way for one popular downtown Tyler road. According to KETK, the city’s approving a two-way stretch of road on East Erwin. Drivers making their way between North Spring Avenue and Center Street will now be able to go both ways. Traffic engineers say it’ll make for a safer drive down the congested road. Changes should come by the spring.

TYLER — A 43-year-old Longview man has been sentenced to federal prison for child pornography violations. Anthony Quinn Steward pleaded guilty on Mar. 30, 2010, to possession of child pornography. He was sentenced Thursday in Tyler to 78 months in federal prison. According to prosecutors, on Dec. 18, 2009, Steward had been living at the Contessa Inn in Longview with his sister and her two children for about 4 months when it was discovered he was in possession of computer equipment which contained visual depictions of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.

TYLER — “Living Green: A Sustainability Symposium” will be held at Harvey Convention Center on Saturday, Sept. 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost for the second annual symposium is $5 at the door; entrance is free to children under 12 and any student with an I.D. card. The program is presented by the City of Tyler, Keep Tyler Beautiful, and the Texas Conservation Alliance. Organizers say it will include presentations from experts on recycling, conservation, and sustainability issues; “green” vendor displays and exhibits; and food vendors.

“This symposium is the perfect opportunity to learn more about ways that each and every one of us can make a contribution toward making our planet healthier,” said Cheryl Roy, Keep Tyler Beautiful board member and Symposium chair. “The symposium will cover a variety of subjects from recycling to green building to energy conservation.”

Presentations include:
· “What is Sustainability?” by Jim Bundscho, Ben Wheeler Development;
· “Recycling Concrete” by Hal Williams, Hal Williams Enterprises;
· “Clean Living with Natural Gas” by Claude Figueroa, CenterPoint Energy;
· “Does Your Home Make You Sick?” by John Vaselli, UT Tyler TxAire Project;
· “You CAN Afford to Build Green!” by Anwar Khalifa, Pyramid Homes;
· “Lower Your Energy Bill Without Spending a Penny” by John Stowe, StoneBridge Heating & Air;
· “Composting Made Easy” by Debbie Shafer, Keep Whitehouse Beautiful;
· “How EarthKind Landscaping Can Save you Money” by Mark Chamblee, Chamblee’s Rose Nursery;
· “Every Child Should” by Alan Byboth, Camp Tyler Foundation;
· “Where Does My Trash Go?” by Kristi Boyett, City of Tyler;
· “Tree City USA” by Stephanie Rollings, City of Tyler; and,
· “Trash to Treasure” by Jim Wooldridge, Habitat ReStore.

“The unique thing about this symposium is that you will find ideas, products and companies from right here in East Texas,” Ms. Roy continued. “We want to provide a one-stop shop for people to find out how to live green.”

RUSK — The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department is going through records of Precinct 3 Commissioner Katherine Pinotti — and the results may be brought before a grand jury. According to KETK, the questions begin with Patterson Road. The commissioner says after much research, she discovered it’s mislabeled as private on county maps — that it’s actually County Road 3427. So at the request of residents, she had the road resurfaced.

But County Attorney Craig Caldwell is questioning the move, so an investigation is underway. And Sheriff’s Captain John Raffield, who’s leading the investigation, says, “The deeds have been pulled and all the documentation from the county. And the information we’ve gathered so far indicates that it is not a county road in Cherokee County.” A warranty deed for the developer of that subdivision says the road is private — and if residents want the county to maintain it, they must file for formal approval from the commissioners court. The investigation should reportedly take a couple more weeks and be ready for the DA in early October.

TYLER — Tyler’s Dr. Bryan C. Jack Elementary School is selected as one of the best academically performing schools in the state. Jack Elementary has made the 2010 Texas Business and Education Coalition (TBEC) Honor Roll for sustained, academic excellence. According to Tyler ISD officials, the honor roll recognizes less than 4% of the more than 8,000 Texas public schools across the state. “We are honored at Jack to be given this unexpected recognition,” said Jack Elementary Principal Shauna Hittle. “We are pleased to be recognized but we plan to keep working diligently each and every day to help every single student succeed at high levels because they each can and deserve to.”

TYLER – A 26-year-old Athens man has been sentenced to prison for federal firearms violations. Paul Ray Jackson pleaded guilty on Feb. 1, 2010, to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced Thursday in Tyler to 100 months in federal prison.

According to information presented in court, on Nov. 28, 2008, an Athens police officer attempted to stop a vehicle being driven by Jackson for speeding. Jackson refused to stop and led the officer, and ultimately several additional patrol units, on a high speed chase before being stopped by a DPS spike strip in Kaufman. Jackson then fled the scene on foot. A search of the vehicle revealed a fully loaded .22 caliber pistol.

Not long after Jackson fled the scene, he was arrested by Kaufman County Sheriff’s deputies on marijuana charges. A review of police video footage of the car chase enabled officers to positively identify Jackson as the perpetrator in both incidents. On Dec. 2, 2008, Jackson voluntarily surrendered to authorities at the Athens Police Department and confessed to being the driver of the car in the Nov. 28, 2008 incident. Further investigation revealed Jackson was a convicted felon having been previously found guilty of possession of marijuana in 2007 in Parker County, Texas. As a convicted felon, Jackson is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.

Authorities say, “This conviction is yet another important outcome from Project Safe Neighborhoods, a national priority of the United States Department of Justice. PSN is designed as a partnership between federal and local law enforcement to reduce violent crime and gun-related crime through the vigorous enforcement of the criminal provisions of the federal firearms laws.”

TYLER– After one Florida pastor said his church will burn copies of the Koran on Saturday, religious leaders in East Texas have been working even harder to build relationships with one another. Wednesday, we spoke with Christian pastors in our community who say burning the Koran isn’t showing the love of God.

Imam Faisal is a Muslim leader in Tyler, and he says burning the Koran is burning down bridges between Muslims and Christians. He says, “I wish he (the Florida pastor) could learn a little about what the Koran teaches about being kind to our neighbors and being friends with Christians and Jews.” According to KETK, Rabbi Neal Katz says the Muslim community should be offended. He says, “Burning the Koran is like burning the New Testament or Torah.” The religious leaders’ comments came before Pastor Terry Jones’s announcement that he has called off the Koran burning. We’ll have more details on that as the story develops.