KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — PATH officials today are putting a special emphasis on the PATH Week Prayer Luncheon. Executive Director Christina Fulsom is encouraging everyone to make a reservation for the free event. It’s to be held on Tuesday, September 14th, at noon, at Tyler’s all-new Green Acres CrossWalk Conference Center. A number of speakers are on the docket, and the event will also feature presentation of PATH’s Faith in Action Award and Community in Action Award. For a reservation, or more information, you can call Mitzie at 903-597-4044, ext. 125. You can also log onto to http://www.pathhelps.org for more information on the luncheon, other PATH Week activities, and PATH in general.

EAST TEXAS– The recent rain isn’t enough to lift burn bans across some East Texas counties. Even though temperatures have dropped, officials say it’s still too dry. They also say the threat of wildfires is still in existence. According to KETK, Burn bans remain in effect in Cass, Harrison, Marion, Morris, and Panola counties.

TYLER — An agency that helps Tyler-area families receives a check for $2,500 from Bank of America. The money, given Wednesday to Tyler Rescue Ministries, follows a $2,500 donation last week from Cavender’s Boot City in Tyler. Founder/CEO Maurice Barnes says the funds are for the agency’s Catch the Vision…Save a Family expansion campaign. According to Barnes, “This expansion when complete will allow us to provide assistance to intact families. This is an area of great need as there were 453 homes lost to foreclosure in Tyler and Smith County in 2009. That is potentially 1600 – 1800 people facing homelessness.”

Barnes adds, “We will be the only agency that will allow the intact family remain together in northeast Texas. Currently we are only providing assistance to single women and women with children at our Kathryn’s House facility. Everyone is invited to help.” You can log on to http://www.tylerrescueministries.org for more information about Tyler Rescue Ministries.

TYLER — The Mineola child sex ring case is back in a Smith County courtroom. Patrick Kelly’s attorney filed another motion saying Judge Jack Skeen is not fit to hear the case. It was a bail hearing for Kelly, who’s on trial for his alleged involvement in the 2007 “Mineola Swingers Club”. The allegation is Kelly forced children to perform sex acts in front of an audience. His original conviction was thrown out. According to KETK, Kelly’s attorney is challenging a regional attorney’s decision to keep Skeen on the case.

JACKSONVILLE — Authorities credit Jacksonville Middle School students and local police with quick response in an incident that caused some concern following football practice Tuesday afternoon. School officials say several students witnessed a student in possession of what was perceived to be a gun and was later determined to be a cigarette lighter that was shaped like a gun. According to a school district news release, students reacted promptly and alerted the coaching staff of the incident. Officials say coaches took immediate action by contacting the Jacksonville Police Department. The cigarette lighter was immediately secured.

The news release says, “JISD administration appreciates the quick action and dedication of the Jacksonville Police Department in doing their part to keep our students safe. For the safety and security of the Jacksonville ISD students and staff, we take any perceived threats seriously. JISD prides itself in creating a safe learning environment and any incident that threatens that environment is handled firmly and promptly.”

LONGVIEW — Longview Firefighters answer the call for help at structure fire at the Parkway Garden Apartments on McCann Road. According to KETK, the fire was caused by a skillet left on the cook top which resulted in fire spreading to the cabinets and ceiling of the apartment. The apartment had smoke damage throughout; the smoke entered 3 other adjoining apartments. The fire caused approximately $5,000.00 in damages. There were no injuries.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department has arrested 50-year-old Jerdene Boyd of Tyler for intoxication manslaughter in a fatal September 2 crash. Bond was set at $250,000 by Judge Jack Skeen. Police say investigators received lab results back from East Texas Medical Center that indicated Boyd tested positive for the presence of cocaine, cannabinoids, and opiates in her system.

Officials say a Nissan driven by Boyd crashed into the rear of a White Toyota Camry that was sitting in the outside traffic lane, waiting for the light to change at South Broadway and Heritage. The driver of the Toyota was deceased in the overturned vehicle when emergency personnel arrived on the scene. The driver was a 55 year old man from Plano.

Police say before the crash occurred, a Tyler Patrol Officer was conducting radar enforcement on Highway 69 South and checked Boyd’s speed at 71 mph on radar. According to police, Boyd was observed driving in a reckless manner through heavy traffic and wet road conditions prior to the crash. Police say the officer was unable to catch up to Boyd to conduct a traffic stop due to speed, distance, traffic and weather conditions.

Investigators tested the vehicle driven by Boyd for any mechanical malfunctions in the brake system. The inspector found no indication of any brake failure. According to authorities, investigators also determined that Boyd has never been issued a Texas Drivers License and had no insurance. Boyd was arrested Tuesday at 4:30 p.m., transported to the Smith County Jail, and processed.

AUSTIN (AP/Staff) – With Tyler’s Leo Berman already in the running, a second conservative legislator is mulling a challenge to moderate Texas House Speaker Joe Straus. That raises the specter of a Republican leadership battle as lawmakers grapple with a huge budget shortfall early next year. State Rep. Warren Chisum told The Associated Press Tuesday that he would decide before the November elections whether to mount a challenge to the top House leader. Chisum is a Republican from Pampa. Berman earlier announced his decision to run against Straus when lawmakers return to Austin in January.

TYLER — September is Firefighter Appreciation Month, and throughout the period, Carter BloodCare offers the community an opportunity to say thank you to firefighters through blood donation. Donors will be given the opportunity in September to donate the Life Plan credit they receive for donating blood to the fire department of their choice. Those Life Plan credits can then be used, within the year, by that fire department to assist should anyone from their department need blood or blood product. Blood drives will be hosted at the Tyler Donor Center as well as at several Smith County fire stations throughout the month.

A press conference was held Tuesday at Carter BloodCare’s Tyler Donor Center to kick off the month-long campaign. In attendance were Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass, Tyler Fire Chief Neil Franklin, Carter BloodCare staff, and Fire Chiefs from surrounding fire departments.

According to press information, the Carter BloodCare Life Plan assures blood donors that they will receive financial assistance toward uninsured blood product fees if they or their immediate family members require blood transfusions within 12 months of their donation. The Individual and Family Life Plan offers up to $1000 credit toward uninsured blood product fees for the donor and the donor’s tax dependents. The Group Life Plan allows donors to donate an individual credit to a group of their choosing, while still maintaining their Individual Plan. That donor group receives a $10 credit, valid for one year for every registered donor. The donor group can then assign those credits as necessary to those within the group who need them to assist with the cost of used uninsured blood product. You can visit http://www.carterbloodcare.org for more information about Carter BloodCare.

TYLER – The 20th annual Pantry Raid competition between Robert E. Lee and John Tyler High School students is underway. For two decades, the students at each school have had a friendly competition to feed hungry East Texans. The students collect food during Pantry Raid for the East Texas Food Bank. The school that collects the most food will earn bragging rights and proudly display the traveling trophy at their school.

In the past 19 years, the students have collected over 862,000 pounds of food. The Pantry Raid results will be announced at the Robert E. Lee and John Tyler football game on Friday at the beginning of halftime. “We are so thankful to the students who have continued the tradition of taking action against hunger in our community,” said Dennis Cullinane, executive director of the East Texas Food Bank. “The food collected by the students will be given to children, families and seniors who are struggling to put food on their tables.”

TYLER — Police in Tyler are encouraging residents to sign up for the annual Texans Against Crime (T.A.C.) night out. The event will take place on Tuesday, October 12th , 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. T.A.C. celebrations are held throughout East Texas on the second Tuesday in October. Last year the City of Tyler had approximately 90 block parties throughout the City to promote the program, and they’re hoping for a similar number, or more, this year. Community Response Officer James McCraw says he hopes you’ll sign up as soon as possible so police can start establishing their list of parties. You can register online at http://www.tylerpolice.com or call the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1096.

Police say the T.A.C. program is an annual event designed to unite neighbors and communities to encourage neighborhood communication, community involvement and crime prevention to create safer neighborhoods. T.A.C. encourages neighborhoods to host block parties as an opportunity to get to know your neighbor and fight crime. McCraw says he knows things like buying food for a block party can pose a financial burden. He says one answer is just to keep your party simple — perhaps nothing more than a small gathering on the street.

Police say T.A.C. promotes neighborhood alliances to strengthen communities and preserve the quality of life in East Texas. According to police, the program helps to educate families, friends and neighbors about crime prevention and inform residents that communities are safer when neighbors work together. Police add that getting to know your neighbors is an important step in keeping your community safe.

JACKSONVILLE — A Jacksonville couple are riding their horses — all the way to El Paso. Bob and Sharon Slayden will stay in the saddle though the end of the month as they trek 764 miles on their quarter horses to raise awareness and money for the American Cancer Society. Sharon says this is personal, noting, “My mom died of pancreatic cancer; I have a sister-in-law right now who’s going through brain cancer; and my husband’s mother and daddy died of cancer.” According to Sharon, research is so fantastic today “that a lot of people are getting healed and they’re ‘getting more birthdays,’ as we call it. You know, we’re susceptible to it, because genetically, it moves forward in the family. So we have to know this, and we have to let people know about it — that they can be helped.”

Sharon says she and Bob are covering 25 to 30 miles a day. This is their second such ride; last year they raised a little more than $3,000, and Sharon thinks they’ll do better this year.

TYLER — A man dies in a fall from a tree in Tyler. Police say on Monday at about 12:30 p.m., an accidental injury was reported to Tyler Police Department Dispatchers. According to authorities, a man had been trimming a tree in the 1300 block of South Kennedy Ave. and had fallen from the tree — a distance of approximately fifty feet to the ground.

A witness had observed the accident and called the Tyler Police Department. An ambulance and a Tyler Fire Department first responder unit were dispatched to aid the victim. They prepared the victim for transport to East Texas Medical Center, and he was immediately transported. Shortly after his arrival at the hospital he was pronounced dead from his injuries. An investigation and inquest were conducted, and the case was closed as an accidental injury. Next of kin were notified at the hospital. The victim is identified as 48-year-old Gabino Torrescano of Tyler.