KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW — Longview Officers respond to the 500 Block of North Eastman Road around 3:10 Friday morning for a one vehicle accident. Authorities found that a silver Nissan had been traveling Northbound in the 500 Block of North Eastman Road when the driver lost control upon crossing East Marshall Avenue. The vehicle rolled several times before stopping in a restaurant parking lot. Longview Fire/EMS responded and transported both occupants of the vehicle to Good Shepherd Medical Center. The driver was transported with non-life threatening injuries and the passenger was transported with life threatening injuries.

The passenger Richard King, 20, White Oak, was pronounced dead at the hospital by Gregg County Justice of the Peace B.H. Jameson. The driver, Joshua Cowart, 21, White Oak, has been arrested for intoxication manslaughter and will be booked in to the Gregg County Jail upon his release from the hospital. The accident investigation is ongoing.

TYLER — Tyler school trustees have been briefed on the new State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) Program. STAAR will replace the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), which is the state assessment program that has been in place since 2003. STAAR includes 12 End of Course tests and the new grade
3-8 tests. STAAR will test students over the content they study each year as opposed to testing the content studied over multiple years. School superintendent Dr. Randy Reid told school trustees last night the new assessment system will be significantly more rigorous than the current TAKS assessments. The new system will also have additional tests and the requirement that high school students pass all 12 EOC exams in order to graduate. The student’s score on the assessment must be worth 15% of student’s final grade for that course.

Dr. Reid said while there are many unanswered questions at this point as to the content and testing specifics, they are confident that many of the curriculum and instructional pieces that are in place in Tyler ISD will assist in the preparation of TISD students. He said the school district will continue to inform the students, staff, and parents as questions are answered by TEA regarding this new system as they develop and share the district’s transition plan for STAAR.

Dr. Reid also discussed high school graduation ceremonies at last night’s meeting. They are looking at the possibility of moving graduation ceremonies from the Oil Palace to Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium. Each high school will hold graduation on either the Friday or Saturday evening during the first weekend in June of next year. Rain contingency plans will be in place as well. Moving the ceremony to Rose Stadium could save the school district up to $20,000. The District will draft a plan and layout for the ceremonies to be presented to the Board at next month’s meeting.

TYLER — Keeping our families safe and warm during the cold winter weather is always a top priority. But if you plan to use alternate heating sources, you may be putting your family at risk of fire. The Red Cross in Tyler urges all residents to take some steps to reduce the risk of heating-related fires.

All heaters need space. Officials say you should keep all things that can burn such as paper, matches, bedding, furniture and clothing, at least three feet away from heating equipment. Turn off space heaters when you go to bed or leave the room. Plug power cords directly into outlets and never into an extension cord. Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home. Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.

Also, every home needs two important things: a working smoke alarm on every level of the residence and inside all bedrooms, as well as a fire escape plan so that every family member knows how to get out of harm’s way quickly. Red Cross staffers say the plan should identify at least two exits from every room and a place to meet outside that is located a safe distance from your home.

If a fire does occur, the Red Cross will be there. Last year the Smith County Chapter responded to 146 home fires, providing food, shelter and emotional support to the families affected. You can visit http://www.redcross.org/homefires to learn more about how you can reduce your risk of home fires and help your neighbors recover after a fire.

LINDALE — A wreck on I-20 Wednesday leaves one person dead and sends another to a local hospital. it happened just after 2 p.m. near mile marker 552 in Lindale. Firefighters tell KETK the wreck involved two trucks and a pickup pulling a trailer. I-20 westbound lanes in the Lindale area were shut down for awhile until hazmat crews cleaned up oil and Diesel that spilled on the road. The man killed in the wreck was
34-year-old Brandon Scott Merrick of Grand Prairie. Lindale Police say Merrick was heading west and rear-ended another truck, causing a domino effect. Traffic was already at a stand-still because of another wreck. An investigation is underway.

TYLER — A 49-year-old former municipal court judge has pleaded guilty to making a false statement to federal investigators in the Eastern District of Texas announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales Thursday. Monica Lynn Corker, of Kemp, pleaded guilty Nov. 17 to making a false statement. The plea came in Tyler before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie.

According to information presented in court, on Sep. 17, 2009, Corker was the municipal court judge for the City of Seven Points, when she was interviewed by federal agents. During the interview, Corker was specifically asked if she had ever deleted from the computer server of the Seven Points Municipal Court entries concerning criminal misdemeanor cases pending, or that had been pending, before the municipal court. Corker told the FBI that she had only deleted entries that were duplicates or erroneous entries, a statement which she knew to be untrue. Corker was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 3, 2010. Corker faces up to 5 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

TYLER — A car-pedestrian accident in Tyler has left one person injured. It happened shortly before 8:15 Wednesday night in the 100 block of the NNW Loop 323. Taken to East Texas Medical Center for treatment was Lorenzo Robles, 19, of Tyler. According to investigators, Robles was crossing the loop westbound from the area of CiCi’s Pizza when he was struck by a vehicle in the center southbound lane. The car’s driver was not injured. No charges are expected to be filed.

TYLER – The Smith County Animal Shelter has received a donation to help feed the over 125 animals they have to feed. Brookshires and Pedigree teamed up to donate dog food and more than $8,000. In January when they became a no-kill shelter, The Humane Society lost its funding.

Gayle Helms, the Humane Society Executive Director, told KETK-TV, “A check of this size just secures our future and allows us to continue to pay staff to buy vaccinations, to spay and neuter and then to just buy the dog food that we don’t get donated.” Helms said this is the second year for a donation like this.

Machelle Good with Brookshires added, “It’s hard to see all these dogs out here without homes, so coming out here and helping them makes them feel better and lets them know that there are people out there that care about them.”

TYLER — There could be changes in Tyler’s bus stops. A consulting company has been looking at Tyler’s current bus routes. The city has more than 200 stops for the five buses. The routes are nearly ten years old. Barbara Holly, with Tyler’s metropolitan planning organization, tells KETK-TV the new plan cuts the number of stops down almost in half. Plus, there will be changes in the routes. The plan also includes 20 new bus station shelters. Holly says the cost for new shelters will be paid for with the American Recovery Act.

AUSTIN — Leaders of the Alliance for I-69 Texas will push for continued development of I-69 in a presentation before the Texas Transportation Commission this morning at 9:00 in Austin. The Alliance, comprised of public and private sector leaders from thirty-four counties along US 59, 77 and 281, will focus on several short term objectives including:

*Completion of the master development plan for I-69, based on the work being done by the five I-69 Segment Committees and the I-69 Corridor Advisory Committee in conjunction with TxDOT.
*Securing interstate signage for segments of the corridor that are currently at interstate standard.

Alliance Chairman Judge John Thompson of Polk County will stress during the presentation that the development of I-69 is critical to each of the communities along the corridor. The Alliance remains committed and focused on seeing that US 59, 77 and 281 are upgraded as quickly as possible so that these communities and the state as a whole will reap the benefits of a seamless interstate from Texarkana to Laredo and the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Texas needs the missing pieces of I-69 completed to extend the geographic reach of the ports at Houston, Victoria, Corpus Christi and Brownsville and inland markets and production centers. Texas needs I-69 completed to better connect the Lower Rio Grande Valley with the rest of Texas. Texas needs I-69 completed to open up East Texas to new industry and economic growth.

TYLER — Two East Texas men have been sentenced to federal prison for money laundering convictions.

Tony Harris, also known as California Red, 33, of Marshall, and Lakendrick Miller, also known as Pee Wee, 26, of Longview, were convicted in February of money laundering following a three-day trial. They were sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. Harris was sentenced to 293 months in federal prison and Miller received 252 months in federal prison. They were also both assessed forfeiture judgments of $1.5 million and ordered to relinquish assets which were seized from them at the time of their arrests, including several luxury cars and over $17,000 in cash.

Federal prosecutors say from April 2007 to June 2009, Harris and Miller were involved in a drug trafficking scheme which involved money being sent to California where it was used to buy illegal prescription drugs, such as codeine and hydrocodone. The prescription drugs were then smuggled from California to East Texas for distribution. After the illegal prescription drugs were sold in East Texas, the money was sent back to California to purchase more drugs, luxury cars, and other property. During trial, prosecutors presented evidence showing that more than $2 million was laundered through this scheme. A 14-count federal indictment was returned by a grand jury on June 3, 2009, charging Harris, Miller and 5 other individuals with conspiracy to commit money laundering.

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler led the nation this year in training new Project Lead The Way middle and high school teachers, UT Tyler President Rodney Mabry announced. University officials say PLTW teachers learn to teach engineering and technology courses in schools, thereby causing more students to choose engineering careers. “I am proud of UT Tyler’s full commitment to enabling more teachers to teaching engineering concepts and encouraging their students to pursue engineering in universities,” President Mabry said. The university had 243 participants who successfully completed training and will be qualified to teach PLTW engineering courses at their schools. UT Tyler offered two Texas Project Lead The Way Summer Training Institutes in 2010.

FORT WORTH (AP) – An agreement has been reached to build a $1.6 billion pipeline to provide water from East Texas to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The board of the Tarrant Regional Water District on Tuesday approved the deal. The Dallas City Council approved the agreement last week. Board members approved a financing agreement with Dallas for the 149-mile pipeline from Lake Palestine to Benbrook Lake. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports the board also approved paying $16.3 million to five contractors for engineering work on nearly 95 miles of the pipeline. Construction could begin by 2013, with the goal of having the water available by 2018. Water district planning director Wayne Owen says the work serves as a blueprint for cooperation on future projects.

TYLER — Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) East Texas kicks off its 6th annual “Tie One On For Safety” Campaign. Spokespeople say it honors outstanding community leaders and law enforcement for saving lives and being “Difference Makers.” In addition to a Wednesday awards luncheon, the holiday “Tie One On For Safety” PSA campaign urges motorists to tie a MADD red ribbon, place a MADD decal or put a MADD red ribbon magnet on the side of their vehicle as a pledge to “drive safe, sober & buckled up” and remind other motorists to do the same. You can pick up the materials in Tyler at the MADD office, 215 Winchester Drive, or at Julian’s restaurant.

Difference Makers Award Honorees include J. B. Smith, Sheriff of Smith County; R. Scott McKee, District Attorney for Henderson County; and Tammi Branch, Victim Volunteer. MADD East Texas Executive Director Leslie Watson says the soon-to-retire Smith was honored for his ongoing service. Watson says she thinks Smith County “is probably one of the toughest place as far as DWI enforcement.” McKee was given credit for his close work with MADD’s victim advocates — and for serving in Iraq for about ten months, while keeping his DA post and continuing to support MADD. Branch has helped raise funds and handled speaking engagements for MADD since losing her son in a 2009 drunk driving crash. Watson terms Branch “an inspiration and a role model.”

Keynote speaker was Kimberly Earle, CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Also attending was Mayor Barbara Bass and other community leaders. MADD leaders point out that Texas continues to lead the nation in drunk driving fatalities. In 2009, 1,235 Texans lost their lives in drunk driving crashes, 40% of the total driving fatalities that year. Drunk driving is a 100% preventable crime.

GLADEWATER — A woman crossing the railroad tracks in Gladewater has been struck and killed by an Amtrak train. The victim is identified as Crystilla Devorra Houston, 36, of Gladewater. She died instantly. Investigators say the warning signals at the crossing were working properly. The accident happened shortly before 6:00 Tuesday night on Walter Derrick Avenue in downtown Gladewater.

CANTON — Van Zandt County Sheriff R. P. “Pat” Burnett, Jr. has been appointed to three committees of the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas. He has been appointed as Vice Chairman of the Jail Advisory Committee. This committee will provide input as to the daily problems confronting the Sheriffs in maintaining a safe jail and complying with Commission rules and regulations. The second committee, the Legislative Committee, enables the Sheriffs to actively participate in the legislative process and to insure that all bills introduced which affect the duties, responsibilities, training, court and jail functions of the Sheriffs are given proper consideration. When a particular bill affects the Sheriffs, they will be notified so that they may contact their Senators and Representatives concerning their views. The third committee that Sheriff Burnett has been appointed to is the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education Advisory Committee. This committee provides input as to the education, training and curriculum of the training program.