KTBB News, Weather, Talk

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.

LINDALE – A car crashed into a wall at a local business in Lindale on Wednesday. According to KETK, police officials say the driver accidentally pressed the wrong pedal and took out a portion of a wall at the Lindale Cleaners. The damage to the business is minimal. Nobody was hurt in the accident.

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.