KTBB News, Weather, Talk

AUSTIN — Wildfire survivors in Cass and Marion counties can meet with state and federal specialists at recovery centers opening in area communities this week and next. Starting Thursday, specialists from the state of Texas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be on hand to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors. They also have brochures and other written materials on disaster recovery.

The schedule is:
Cass County – 851 County Road 1913 – Linden
1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29 & Oct. 6
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30-Oct. 1
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct.7-8

Marion County – Jefferson Visitor Center and Tourism Office
1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 4-5

Any Texan with questions about the recovery process or needing help registering with FEMA is urged to stop by a recovery center. Visiting with a recovery specialist is not a requirement for survivors who want disaster assistance, but the centers are an excellent way for people to get answers to their questions about disaster aid and help applying for it.

Texans can register online at http://www.disasterassistance.gov and via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov, or by telephone via FEMA’s toll-free numbers: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 1-800-621-3362. Assistants are available by phone from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.

LONGVIEW – Longview authorities have arrested a man they accuse of trying to set his brother’s house on fire. Arrested Tuesday was Kevin Darden, 31, of New York City. Longview Fire Marshal Johnny Zackary said Darden was staying with his brother at his home in the 500 block of Oak Street. When the homeowner returned home Tuesday, he said Darden was pouring “an ignitable substance” inside the house. Authorities are also looking into whether Darden could be linked to an early Monday morning blaze in the 500 block of Church Street, which destroyed a small home.

LONGVIEW – Longview police have charged a woman with attacking a man with a small wooden bat that had been drilled out and filled with led. Charged Monday with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon was Wendy Danielle Warren, 39, of Hallsville. The incident happened in the 1300 block of East Marshall Avenue in the parking lot of a bikini bar. The victim told officers that Warren hit him on the elbow with a small bat with a pink handle and punched him in the face. Investigators said the victim had a cut on his eye and had swelling from being hit by the bat.

JACKSONVILLE — The State Department of Child Care Licensing tells our news partner KETK it’s looking into allegations of unnecessary discipline on a three-year-old boy at a Jacksonville day care. The mother says she’s upset and believes an employee at Kids N Motion hit her son in the mouth for saying a bad word. But the owner of the day care says the incident never happened. State officials say with any allegation, they have to get involved and investigate. Right now they’re interviewing staff and reviewing tapes, and they say everyone at the day care is being cooperative.

AUSTIN – Wildfire survivors in Gregg County have one more day to meet with state and federal specialists at a recovery center that opened Monday in Longview. Through today, specialists from the state of Texas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be on hand to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors. They also have brochures and other written materials on disaster recovery.

The location and remaining schedule are as follows:
Maude Cobb Activity Center
100 Grand Boulevard
Longview, TX 75604
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, September 28

Any Texas survivor who has questions about the recovery process or who needs help registering with FEMA is urged to stop by a center. Visiting with a recovery specialist is not a requirement for survivors who want disaster assistance, but officials say the centers are an excellent way for people to get answers to their questions about disaster aid and help applying for it.

Texans can register online at http://www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. They can also register by telephone via FEMA’s toll-free numbers: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 1-800-621-3362. Operators are available by phone from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.

BEAUMONT – The United States Senate has voted and, with unanimous consent, confirmed John Malcolm Bales as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas. Bales is expected to be officially sworn in by a United States District Court Judge in the near future, but the date is not yet set. On June 28, 2011, President Barack Obama nominated Bales to be the 32nd U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas.

Bales, 56, of Nacogdoches, is a career prosecutor who has been the Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas since May 1, 2009. Previously Bales had served as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney and the Chief of the Criminal Division. The Eastern District of Texas is comprised of 43 counties stretching from the Oklahoma border to the Gulf of Mexico. The district includes six fully staffed offices in Beaumont, Plano, Tyler, Sherman, Texarkana, and Lufkin.

TYLER — According to Smith County officials, 16-year-old Nathaniel Anderson’s trial has been set for October 24. KETK has learned that Anderson has been indicted in his sister’s murder. Amanda Anderson, 19, (pictured) was found shot to death in their Chapel Hill home in September of last year. A short time later, her brother, then 15, was taken into custody. Indictment records obtained by KETK also show that Anderson’s bond has risen to $1.5 million dollars.

AUSTIN – More than $5.8 million in state and federal grants is on its way to eligible Texans, just two weeks since the state requested, and received, a federal disaster declaration for the historic wildfires. Officials from the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) say the money is headed toward eligible homeowners and renters in 13 Texas counties, including several in Northeast Texas. Those counties are Bastrop, Cass, Colorado, Gregg, Grimes, Houston, Leon, Marion, Montgomery, Travis, Walker, Waller and Williamson.

Officials say to date, nearly $4.7 million in Housing Assistance has been approved for Texans and nearly $726,000 in Other Needs Assistance (ONA). Almost $379,000 in Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) has been allocated for Texans whose jobs were lost or disrupted by wildfires. As of Friday, more than 3,000 Texas individuals and families had registered for that aid. Meanwhile, nearly 2,300 Texans had received answers to their questions about recovery programs or help with registering from specialists at six recovery centers in affected communities — and more centers are opening regularly.

MARSHALL — After years of overcrowding at the Harrison County Jail, the sheriff’s department will not have to house inmates in neighboring counties any longer. A new jail annex facility has been completed and passed its final inspections Friday. Sheriff Tom McCool says staff reported for last-minute training Monday, a day ahead of inmates’ anticipated arrival.

NACOGDOCHES — A fire that started in the vicinity of FM 343 and CR 839 Monday afternoon is believed to have been ignited when a truck caught fire, according to local authorities. About 10 acres and an out structure at Caney Creek Moulding at the intersection of Farm Road 343 and County Road 839 were consumed by fire, but firefighters’ quick response kept homes from being destroyed, according to County Sheriff Thomas Kerss.

At last report, firefighters appeared to be getting the fire on CR 839 under control. But as Sheriff Thomas Kerss said, “that could change at a moment’s notice.” Very few houses had to be evacuated. Officials said the residents weren’t being allowed to return home yet, just as a precaution.

TYLER – Tyler police are investigating an aggravated robbery at the Woodland Hills Apartments, 400 Grande Boulevard. It happened around 8:45 Monday night. A woman told officers she answered a knock at her door to find three men, who were armed, and who demanded money and valuables. They took several items and then fled in an unknown direction. No injuries were reported.

The suspects are described as black males in their early to mid 20s. One was about six feet talk with white tank top, tan shorts and gold bottom teeth with a do-rag on his head. The second was described as short with a white tank top and tan shorts. The third suspect was also wearing a white tank top with tan shorts and also wearing a do-rag.

LONGVIEW – Longview High School’s UIL coordinator resigned Monday after allegations of misconduct were made, district officials said. English teacher and University Interscholastic League Coordinator Josue Diaz’s resignation was immediately accepted by administrators, said Longview ISD spokesman Adam Holland. “At this time, the district is reviewing allegations to determine what, if any additional action might be necessary,” Holland said. Details on the nature of the allegations weren’t immediately available.

LONGVIEW – An uninhabited Longview home has been destroyed by fire. The fire was reported around 1:30 Monday morning the 500 block of Church Street. The home was being used for storage. No injuries were reported and the cause remains under investigation.

NACOGDOCHES – A two vehicle accident near Nacogdoches has left one person dead. The head-on collision Sunday night occurred on State Highway 7. Dead at the scene was Clarence Braddock III, 28, of Center. The Department of Public Safety reports his pickup, which was east bound, veered across the center stripe and hit a one ton pickup towing a 2009 Big Tex utility trailer. That driver was not injured.

TOPEKA, KAN. (AP) — Environmentalists are lining up in Kansas to tell State Department representatives they oppose the $7 billion Keystone XL pipeline, which would move oil to the Texas coast from Canada. The pipeline would go through eastern Smith County.

Rabbi Moti Rieber, coordinator of Kansas Interfaith Power & Light, joined the orderly procession of speakers Monday. The religious and environmental group leader called the 1,700-pipeline “a direct threat” to Kansas’ natural resources because of possible spills.

Gov. Sam Brownback says he supports the pipeline because it would boost national security by giving the U.S. a steady source of oil from a “friendly nation that’s next door.”

Labor union members support the pipeline because of the jobs it would create.

The State Department also is holding hearings in Texas, Montana, and elsewhere this week before deciding whether to approve the pipeline.

JACKSONVILLE — A recent attack near a Jacksonville elementary school, in a normally quiet neighborhood, has some on edge. And the biggest concern is that a small child could be next. According to KETK, Brady Street in Jacksonville was the scene of a horrific attack last Tuesday. One man says he came home from vacation to find several of his goats dead, and a few that were beyond saving, after a pack of wild dogs went after the animals. Neighbors say wild dogs in the area are nothing new, but an attack like this so close to a school is concerning. It’s reported that a few of the dogs have already been captured, and the city has allowed traps to be set up in the area near the incident in case the dogs return.

LONGVIEW — A traffic stop leads to weekend drug arrests in Longview. Sunday afternoon just before 4:15, Officer Kerry Higginbotham reportedly observed a silver Toyota Corolla fail to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Page Street and West Marshall Avenue. Officer Higginbotham stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as Joshua Laubenstein 20, of Longview. Officer Paul Montoya arrived on scene as well. There were four other passengers in the Corolla with Laubenstein. During the traffic stop, one of the back seat passengers, identified as Danquail Dequann Carter, 20, of Longview, allegedly attempted to conceal what police say was later determined to be illegal narcotics.

According to reports, Carter and Officer Montoya struggled over the narcotics and Carter was taken into custody. Following a search of the other occupants of the vehicle, two more suspects were taken into custody on drug charges. Laubenstein was found to be in possession of suspected illegal narcotics and was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Carter was arrested for Resisting Arrest, Tampering with Physical Evidence, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and two outstanding warrants for No Insurance and No Driver’s License.

Also arrested during the traffic stop was Demarquinez Sterling, 19, of Longview, for Possession of Marijuana more than 4 ounces but less than 5 pounds, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Gernarrow Montrell Patton, 21, of Longview, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of Marijuana under 2 ounces. Officers from the CODE (County Organized Drug Enforcement) Unit also responded to the scene.

LONGVIEW — A pedestrian goes to the hospital following a weekend accident in Longview. On Sunday at 7:33 p.m., officers were dispatched to an accident with injuries in the 1700 Block of East Marshall Avenue. When officers arrived, they found the victim, 59-year-old Lewis Castillo of Longview, still lying in the roadway. According to witnesses, the victim was attempting to cross the roadway where there was not a crosswalk. A 2010 red Ford Focus, driven by Delia Rivera Vega of Longview, was traveling east on East Marshal Avenue. Castillo apparently walked into the roadway in front of Vega’s car. Castillo was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

HOUSTON (AP) – A former Texas inmate who once cooked the final meals for condemned prisoners is offering to continue the practice at no cost to the state now that prison officials have announced they’ve stopped the special meals. Brian Price now runs a restaurant on Houston County Lake in East Texas. He says he’s extending his offer to any condemned inmate in the state and taxpayers will be out nothing. Price is author of a book called “Meals to Die For,” a cookbook that references his previous duties. Officials who oversee the country’s busiest death chamber stopped the practice last week after a prominent state senator complained about a hefty request from a man executed for his role in the notorious Jasper dragging death. Inmates now are to get only what other inmates eat that day.

HENDERSON COUNTY – After weeks of rehabilitation at Lindale-area rehabilitator Wild and Free Again, an American bald eagle took back to the skies of East Texas recently. That’s according to Dr. Steve Wilson, a veterinarian who helped nurse the eagle back to health at Tyler’s Glenwood Animal Hospital. Wilson, who also works at Caldwell Zoo, tells us the 5-year-old-plus bird was originally found stuck in a mud pit in Henderson County. It was taken to the bird rehabilitator by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game wardens to regain strength before being released.

Wilson’s granddaughter, 10-year-old Ainsley Cotton, saw the bird when it was originally taken to Glenwood Animal Hospital after being recovered. Ainsley was also invited to watch the release. “I recalled my mom (Stephanie) assisting Beverly (Grage, Wild and Free Again owner) that Sunday afternoon to clean the bird that the game warden had brought to her. They worked to scrub the mud from the feathers of the eagle for quite a long time,” she said.

This is the youngster’s account of the release: “As we drove over to the other side of the lake where she would be released, I was hoping she was ready to fly. It was amazing that today, September 17, 2011, was the 224th anniversary of the signing of The Constitution of America, and here we were about to release the symbol of our freedom. Quietly, we stepped out of the car and waited patiently for Beverly to take the magnificent bird out of the carrier. Beverly carefully covered her with a towel and took hold of the massive talons. The eyes of the eagle were constantly on Beverly as if to say, ‘Thank you for this beautiful land I see before me and the care you have given to me.’

“The sun was shining. The sky was blue with a few clouds floating above. A red tail hawk flew over us sailing in the wind. As Beverly held the bird, its eyes looked at the treetops and the beautiful lake below. Quietly, the eagle turned once more, gazing into Beverly’s eyes. As Beverly released the eagle, it opened her wings and effortlessly flew away. It landed in a nearby oak tree where she was able to see land for miles. Beautiful trees and a lake full of water with tons of fish seemed the perfect place for the bald eagle.”

The eagle was one of two taken to Wild and Free Again this summer. A second bird that was recovered in Nacogdoches County at the facility being nursed for injuries, and was then taken to a rehabilitation facility near San Antonio to be further strengthened for flight.

NORTHEAST TEXAS — Crews are winding down their work on the massive Northeast Texas Fire Complex, made up of numerous wildfires that sparked earlier this month. According to the Texas Forest Service, a Type I Incident Management Team – the Southern Area Blue Team – will assume command of the entire complex on Thursday at 6 a.m. A transition with Pacific Northwest Team 2-Northeast Texas Fire Complex will occur on Wednesday. Authorities say unless significant changes occur, this will be the last information update provided by the Forest Service.

CANTON — To better handle anonymous tip calls, and to relieve the burden on emergency 911 dispatchers, Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers has contracted with a call center that specializes in such tips. Calls to Crime Stoppers at 903-567-STOP (567-7867) are now answered at the Crime Scene Information call center in La Porte, Texas, near Houston. Previously, dispatchers at the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office had to juggle Crime Stoppers calls along with emergency calls and their many other duties. Now, trained operators at the call center receive the crime tip information from anonymous callers and forward it to sheriff’s investigators in Van Zandt County for follow-up.

“Callers probably won’t notice any difference, and they can be assured that this whole process is designed to make sure they remain anonymous at every step of the way,” said Andy Flowers, president of Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers. “Their phone number is never identified, for example, and the trained operators never get any information that could identify the callers.” Flowers said the change was made as part of an overall effort by Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers to improve its call handling processes and increase its outreach to the community, to make sure everyone knows about Crime Stoppers and its benefits.

Crime Stoppers will have booths at the Ben Wheeler Feral Hog Festival in October and the Edgewood Heritage Festival in November, offering information about the group and accepting donations to continue its crime-fighting work. Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers always offers cash rewards for anonymous tips that lead to the arrest of a criminal offender, someone who has either just committed a crime or is wanted on a warrant. Rewards of up to $1,000 are financed by criminal court fines and donations. More information about Crime Stoppers is available online at http://www.vanzandtcrimestoppers.org or on Facebook.

EAST TEXAS — East Texas wildfires destroyed $97 million worth of timber in the past 10 months, according to the Texas Forest Service. Firefighters continue to monitor carryover fires in the area through Sunday.

Since November, East Texas firefighters have responded to 2,151 wildfires that charred 207,763 acres and destroyed 175 million cubic feet of timber, according to Texas Forest Service economists and analysts. The value of all those trees as they stood in the forest, referred to as stumpage value, was $97 million.

The Bear Creek fire in Cass and Marion counties, which is still being monitored, has been tabbed as the largest fire in East Texas history, said Holly Huffman with the Texas Forest Service. The fire destroyed 40,979 acres, 66 homes and 17.3 million cubic feet of timber with a stumpage value of $8.8 million, Huffman said.

The timber in Cass and Marion counties could have produced $159 million worth of forest products, spurring $349 million into the East Texas economy, Huffman said. In 2007, forest industries funneled $427 million into the economy in Cass and Marion counties, employing 1,330 people with a payroll of $72 million, she said.

A fire in Nacogdoches and Cherokee counties burned 6,554 acres of land and 2.9 million cubic feet of timber with a stumpage value of $1.5 million, Huffman said. Another fire in Grimes, Waller and Montgomery counties burned 18,960 acres of land and 20.8 million cubic feet of timber with the stumpage value of $12.8 million, she said.

NACOGDOCHES — A Nacogdoches police officer is in serious condition at a Tyler hospital after police say he was hit by a drunk driver early Monday morning. Sgt. Keith Hawkins was on his way to a non-emergency call when his car was hit by a truck around 12:20 at the intersection of South and Seale streets.

Tarcisio Chan-Ramirez, 31, is charged with intoxicated assault with a vehicle and remained in the Nacogdoches County Jail on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold. Bond on the third-degree felony charge had not been set. Hawkins was taken to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital and then taken by ambulance to a Tyler hospital. He’s said to have serious injuries to his jaw and pelvis.

JACKSONVILLE – Several acres have been burned by a wildfire in the valley east of Love’s Lookout near U.S. Highway 69. A barn was also destroyed by the Sunday fire. No injuries were reported. The fire, which is contained, is said to have started from sparks from a downed power line.

KILGORE – A Kilgore wildfire, which burned around five acres, is now fully contained. The fire was reported near the intersection of Fritz Swanson Road and Rabbit Creek Drive. No word on how the fire started.

HALLSVILLE – Several fire units, along with the Texas Forest Service, have contained a fire near Hallsville. The Harrison County fire was reported around noon Sunday. The fire, said to have started when a tree limb came in contact with a power line, burned about ten acres.

TYLER – The City of Tyler wraps up its Bulky Items Week activities this week. Last week it was for home owners who have their garbage collected on Monday and Thursdays. This week it is for homeowners whose garbage is collected on Tuesday and Fridays.

The City of Tyler Solid Waste Department and Keep Tyler Beautiful sponsors the free bulky item collection for City of Tyler residential customers as a part of Fall Cleanup Weeks. Bulky items that will be picked up at no charge include: furniture, appliances, carpet, fence material, up to four noncommercial vehicle tires, old toys and other large items that would normally require a special fee. No liquid waste, limbs or brush will be picked up. Paint must be dried out with oil dry or kitty litter.

If your garbage is normally collected Tuesday and Friday, you’re asked to place your bulky items on the curb on Monday, September 26 and leave them there until they are picked up. There is no need to call the Solid Waste Office when you set out your bulky garbage. Items may be collected on a different day from your regular collection

Residents are encouraged to contact the Habitat for Humanity ReStore or Goodwill Industries before disposing of unwanted items that are in good condition. Computers and other electronics can be recycled at any Tyler Goodwill Drop Off on weekdays or at the Tyler Recycling Collection Center from Wednesday through Saturday. You can go to
http://www.tylersolidwaste.com and get more information on the bulky item collections.

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

GREGG COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 1844 north of Longview between State Highway 300 and U.S. Highway 259. Once that work is complete, the crew is scheduled to move to Farm Road 918 south of Kilgore between US 259 and State Highway 42 in Sexton City. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 839 between U.S. Highway 79 and Farm Road 1798. 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.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform shoulder work on Ranch Road 2790 between Farm Road 753 and the end of state maintenance, an don FM 2709 between State Highway 19 and Farm Road 316. 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 on Farm Road 320 between West Loop 256 in Palestine and Farm Road 645. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

WOOD COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue resurfacing operations on Farm Road 2088 between Farm Road 14 in Oak Grove and the Upshur County Line. Crews will also be at work on U.S. Highway 80 near Farm Road 1799 west of Mineola, and east of Mineola between Farm Road 2422 and Farm Road 3056. 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 resume resurfacing operations in various locations on Farm Road 13 between Troup and Price, and on Farm Road 1911 south of Alto. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

LONGVIEW — Saturday marked two years since local firefighters battling a Longview house fire discovered the body of Kelvin Muckleroy, who was shot to death. This week, defendant Toronto Eldermek Lockridge again faces a Gregg County jury.

Jury selection began at 9:00 this morning in 124th District Court for Lockridge, who faces a possible life sentence. He is charged with killing Muckleroy on September 24, 2009, then setting fire to Muckleroy’s home in the 1200 block of Chappell Street. Almost seven months ago, Judge Alfonso Charles was forced to declare a mistrial because of a jury deadlock.

Horne remains in the Gregg County Jail awaiting sentencing. Neither his attorney, Kevin Settle, nor prosecutors have said whether they are awaiting a verdict from Lockridge’s trial before sentencing Horne. Neither prosecutor nor attorney Hayward Rigano have announced any new evidence in the Lockridge case. Rigano was appointed Lockridge’s attorney in May because the defendant could no longer afford to pay for counsel. Lockridge remains in the Gregg County Jail on $285,000 bond, charged with murder, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, after authorities said he threatened a witness in the Muckleroy case. Opening statements are expected to begin at 9:00 tomorrow morning.

TYLER — East Texans supported their local veterans at the Country For Our Country benefit concert. The annual event supports the East Texas non-profit, which gives wounded warriors the tools they need to rebuild their lives. It’s the third annual fundraising event for the local nonprofit, which was held at Villa di Felicita in Tyler, sponsored by Tyler Ford. Performances included Chase and The New South, Derek Sholl and Sara Evans. The event raised an estimated $100,000.

KETK spoke with native East Texan, Andy Burnett, 25, who serves on the Country For Our Country committee. Burnett is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan. He was shot by a stray bullet at the end of his deployment last year. The hit paralyzed him from the chest down. Burnett is thankful for what this organization has done for him since returning home. “It accomplishes a valuable mission,” Burnett said. “And a lot of people see me, and so it kind of puts a face on what they’re trying to do. If that’s my role to play, I’m happy to play it. And I’ve enjoyed it.”

For more on how you can give back to Country For Our Country, visit http://www.countryforourcountry.org/.

TYLER — UT Tyler hosted a fundraiser Saturday to assist those affected by the tornado in Joplin, Missouri. The event had east Texans dancing for three hours straight in the school’s rec center gym. Mission Tyler partnered with area Zumba instructors for a marathon of the Latin-dance inspired fitness class. About 60 east Texans came out to work up a sweat for a good cause. Cori Moore of Mission Tyler tells KETK the event raised about $500 on entry fees alone. Moore says the idea started after visiting Joplin on a recent mission trip. She says Saturday’s proceeds will go specifically to a single mother in Joplin who lost everything she had in the devastating tornado that struck the town in May.

“There are so many natural disasters that are occurring, it’s kind of hard to keep up with it and remember,” Moore said. “And by now, so much news has passed by, people are kind of forgetting about it. But it’s going to take years for them to restore.”