KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW — The project to expand a portion of Silver Falls Road to four lanes is nearing completion. Beginning today, Silver Falls Road will reopen to two-way traffic from Marshall Avenue, U.S. Highway 80, to Pine Tree Road. One southbound lane will remain closed between Birch and Pine Tree Road while minor construction continues for several weeks.

The purpose of the construction was to widen the road from two lanes to four lanes between Birch Drive and Pine Tree Road. The project was approved by voters as part of the Capital Improvements Bond Election in May 2007. Construction began in August 2009 by Longview Bridge and Road of Longview.

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

SMITH COUNTY — The Texas Department of Transportation is scheduled to begin a
month-long closure of Farm Road 16 beginning Wednesday, August 25 so a pair of functionally obsolete bridges can be upgraded. The two bridges to be upgraded are located just west of Farm Road 757 on FM 16 near Starrville. FM 16 will be open to local traffic only while the bridges are undergoing the upgrades, but closed to all traffic at the bridge under construction.

“Completely closing a roadway while work is in progress is always the last option,” said TxDOT public information officer Larry Krantz. “But in this case, due to the narrow width on the bridge and the potential time savings closing the road offers, we decided closing the roadway would be our best option.”

Before the project begins, TxDOT will post the following detour: Eastbound traffic should take State Highway 155 south to U.S. Highway 271, then north on US 271 to Farm Road 757. Westbound traffic should take FM 757 south to US 271, then take US 271 south to SH 155, then north on SH 155 to Winona.

Motorists also have the option of using Interstate Highway 20 between SH 155 and US 271. Once the two bridges west of FM 757 have been upgraded, two additional bridges between FM 757 and US 271 will undergo similar upgrades. That section of FM 16 will also be closed to thru-traffic while work is in progress.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs in various locations on Farm Road 13 between Loop 571 in Henderson and State Highway 42. Crews are also scheduled make base repairs on Farm Road 1251 between Farm Road 3231 and Farm Road 2658 in far eastern Rusk County, and on FM 2658 between State Highway 43 and FM 1251. 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.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 1255 between Farm Road 17 and Interstate Highway 20, and on Farm Road 1653. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers and a pilot vehicle will control traffic. Loose gravel may be present for several days following a seal coat application.

TYLER — The start of classes Monday in most Texas schools may mean a change in your drive time routine. The City of Tyler notes that the Tyler Independent School District has adopted a new bell schedule for middle and high schools. Middle schools now will start at 8:25 a.m. and release at 3:40 p.m.; high schools begin at 8:40 a.m. and end at 4:10 p.m. All elementary schools will still begin at 8 a.m. and release at 3 p.m. You’re asked to please keep this information in mind when planning local trips.

School flashers will be in operation in marked school speed zones beginning Monday, August 23, 2010, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., with the following exceptions:
* West Loop 323 near John Tyler High School – This school speed zone will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
* South Donnybrook near Robert E. Lee High School – This school speed zone will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
* Copeland Road at Hubbard Drive – This school speed zone will be in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Additionally, a new school speed zone with a speed limit of 35 mph has been added on West Front Street just east of West Loop 323 for the new Jones Boshears Elementary School.

School crossing guards will be on duty in designated locations during the hours of the school flasher operations. Crossing guards will raise a hand-held stop paddle and enter the crosswalk in preparation for allowing pedestrians to cross safely. Motorists are required to stop at pedestrian crossing locations while the school crossing guard is in the street; all vehicles should wait until the crossing guard returns to the curb before continuing through the crossing. Citizens are asked to review their commute route to avoid unnecessary delays.

“The first three weeks of a new school year are always very hectic as everyone adjusts to their new routines, especially when we have new schools opening,” commented City of Tyler Traffic Engineer Peter Eng. “Give yourself extra time to get where you need to go and be patient with other drivers. Safety is more important that anything else. Each school has developed a traffic flow plan available to all parents to provide for the safe loading and unloading of students and also to get cars in and out of the school property as efficiently possible.” Drivers are also asked to please remember that the use of hand-held communication devices like cell phones is prohibited in school speed zones under state law. Hands-free devices are permitted.

You can go to http://www.tylerisd.org for more information about Tyler ISD schools and school schedules. A list of designated school speed zones is located at http://www.cityoftyler.org in the City of Tyler’s code of ordinances.

Meanwhile, the Longview Police Department is weighing in with some tips of its own:
• School zones will be closely monitored by patrol and traffic units and not all school zones have signs with flashing lights.
• Watch for children at crosswalks and other areas near schools where they may be attempting to cross the street.
• Under state law, when school buses are stopped for loading or unloading and their red flashing lights are activated, it is illegal to pass a bus.

TYLER — Schools around the area, including the Tyler school district have been busy today ushering in the first day of classes, but there’s other business to attend to as well. Following a 6:00 executive session, the school board meets this evening at 7:00 in open session — and could call a November bond election. Earlier this month, trustees looked over renovating or replacing Rice and Dixie elementary schools as well as building a new middle school in southwest Tyler. It is estimated that building the three new schools would cost around $90 million. Also, the board is poised to approve its 2010-2011 financial package. The TISD budget is on track to be supported by a total tax rate of $1.375 per $100 valuation, the same rate as this year’s.

Along with all that, TISD got a running start on the school year yesterday with ribbon cuttings for its two newest facilities: Boshears/Jones Elementary and Orr Elementary. Two other replacement elementary schools, Clarkston and Orr, had their ribbon cuttings the previous weekend. All four facilities were paid for by a previous bond issue.

LONGVIEW — A free “come and go” benefits fair for Texas veterans will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, August 28, at the Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center, 100 Grand Blvd., Longview. The fair, targeting all northeast Texas veterans, is one of several throughout the state. It’s presented by the Texas Veterans Land Board and Texas Veterans Commission.

State Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson is chairman of the Texas Veterans Land Board. He says officials from the Land Board will be on hand to provide information on state programs including land, housing, and home improvement loans as well as Texas state veterans cemeteries and nursing homes for veterans. Joining the Land Board officials will be representatives from the Texas Veterans Commission, the Small Business Administration, the Social Security Administration, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Also on hand: local realtors and lenders specializing in veterans loans who will be available to discuss federal benefits and pending claims.

Patterson says veterans wishing to discuss pending claims with VA officials should bring pertinent case information, including claim numbers if available. Veterans are encouraged to drop in to learn more about their benefits any time between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and are not required to stay for the duration of the event. For more information on the benefits fair, you can call Michelle Davis with the Texas Veterans land Board at 214-498-8174 or Tito Garcia at 214-450-3092. For more information on benefits available only to Texas veterans, such as low-interest land and home loans, visit http://www.texasveterans.com or call 1-800-252-VETS (1-800-252-8387).

TYLER — Tyler police are seeking help finding suspects in an early Sunday shooting. Just before 3:00 yesterday morning the Tyler Police Department received a telephone call regarding a shooting on West Gentry Parkway. Officers quickly arrived on scene, but were unable to locate the victims or any witnesses. Within minutes officers learned that the victims had traveled to an address on W. Martin Luther King Blvd. Officers contacted the victims: Lindale Shinette, 20, from Galveston; Melvin Harris, 19, also from Galveston; and Kendrick Staley, 21, from Tyler. All stated the incident occurred at the Shell gas station located at 1118 W. Gentry Parkway.

According to the victims, they were talking with some women when they were approached by several black males who wanted them to leave the area. In an attempt to avoid a confrontation the victims agreed to leave, but before exiting the parking lot the suspects opened fire on the victims. The victims’ vehicle was struck several times, but none of the victims sustained any injures as a result of the incident. Tyler Police Department investigators were notified and responded to the scene. The case remains under investigation.

Anyone with information about the suspects involved in this crime is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department, at 903-531-1000, or Crimestoppers, at 903-597-CUFF (903-597-2833). Crimestoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to arrests and charges filed against the suspects in this, or any, felony case.

LONGVIEW — Longview authorities continue today their search for the vehicle involved in a fatal hit and run accident. It happened around 11:30 Saturday night, in the 600 block of East Marshall Avenue. Killed was Pagan L. Newsome, 60, of Longview. She had attempted to cross East Marshall Avenue and was struck by a vehicle that had been traveling westbound. After striking Newsome, the vehicle then fled the scene.

Newsome was pronounced dead at the scene by Gregg County Justice of the Peace Arthur Fort. Investigators believe the vehicle that struck Newsome could possibly be a white pickup truck that may have hood and windshield damage. Newsome had been at Good Shepherd Medical Center attending to a family member at the emergency room when she left to possibly walk to a nearby store. Anyone with information about this accident is urged to contact Gregg County Crime Stoppers at http://www.greggcountycrimestoppers.com or 903-236-STOP. A reward of up to $1000 could be paid for information leading to the arrest of the driver that fled the scene.

SMITH COUNTY — Firefighters in Lindale responded to a blaze at a plant nursery late Friday afternoon. KETK reports it happened at Blalock Wholesale Nursery on Highway 110 North just south of Interstate 20. Authorities say it spread from a smoldering burn pile that workers thought was extinguished. The fire spread to huge stacks of plastic pots, which shot out giant plumes of black smoke as they burned. No reports of injuries.

BULLARD — An update on a man who has been arrested and charged with having sex with a minor. Authorities now tell our news partner KETK 26-year-old Steven Wayne Morris was let go from the Bullard Police Department in June. Morris met the 15-year-old girl while he was a patrol officer at her high school. However, Morris told the Texas Rangers he did not know the age of the girl. Morris was placed on paid leave in May. He had served as an officer for the Bullard Police Department for two years.

TYLER — Tyler police need help solving an aggravated robbery. Friday at 3:46 p.m., officers responded to a report of the incident at 1922 ESE Loop 323 Ste. # 1912 (Cash Store). Upon arrival officers determined that a black male entered the business, produced a handgun, and demanded money. There were two employees inside the business with no other customers in the store. The suspect took what police term an undetermined amount of money. The suspect then left out the front door on foot. The two employees exited the rear of the business and sought assistance in another business in the same shopping area. No injuries were reported in the robbery.

The suspect is said to be in his early to mid 20s, 6’2” – 6’4.” Major Crimes Investigators, Crime Scene Investigators and a K-9 Unit responded to the scene for further investigation. There were apparently two unidentified witnesses at the scene who pointed out to the initial officer in which direction the suspect left on foot. These witnesses left the scene before officers could obtain their information. Police say they would like to contact these witnesses and ask them to call Tyler PD at (903) 531-1090 or Crime Stoppers at (903) 597-2833.

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Martha Hernandez of Diboll to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct for terms to expire Nov. 19, 2015. The commission investigates allegations of judicial misconduct or judicial disability and disciplines judges. Hernandez is vice president of First Bank and Trust East Texas. She is a board member of the Corporate Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Deep East Texas, the United Way of Angelina County, and the Housing Authority of Diboll. She also serves as a board member of the St. Patrick School Advisory Board, Our Lady of Guadalupe Financial Board, Angelina Beautiful Clean, and the Katherine Sage Temple Child Care Center.

LONGVIEW — A Longview police officer has sustained non-life-threatening injuries at the hands of a hit-and-run driver. Officials say Officer Dennis Phillips was driving eastbound on Cotton at Fredonia when he was struck by a pickup that ran a red light. Authorities say the driver fled the scene, but a suspect was located shortly thereafter at the county courthouse, where he was scheduled to appear in court on an unrelated charge. 37-year-old Michael Louis Boyd of Longview, who is pictured here, was charged with failing to stop and render aid, expired driver’s license, failure to maintain financial responsibility, and failure to stop for a red light.

TYLER — Officials with Brookshire’s Friday announced plans for another Brookshire’s WWII Heroes Flight that will take 36 World War II veterans to Washington D.C. to visit the World War II Memorial and other sites. The company met with the veterans, as well as guardians that will assist them, Thursday night to explain the details of the trip. The second flight will take place on October 5-6. There is no charge for the veterans selected for the trip.

“Our first trip to Washington with World War II veterans was so rewarding for all of us we’ve decided to do it again with a new group of east Texas veterans,” said Rick Ellis, chief marketing officer for Brookshire Grocery Company. Ellis added that the response from the veterans desiring to go in May was overwhelming. “We received more applications for our May trip than we could possibly take,” Ellis said. “In fact we received so many that our October flight is already full from those who applied earlier and we still have additional applicants.”

In addition to the World War II Memorial, the group is expected to visit the Iwo Jima Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and the United States Capitol. “We are very grateful for the service provided by these veterans,” said Ellis. “The freedoms we enjoy today were defended by these veterans and many others from different conflicts.” Veterans participating in the trip are from many different communities, including Tyler, Longview, Kilgore, Wills Point, Overton, Gladewater, Pittsburg, Canton, Whitehouse, Hideaway, Chandler and Mineola.

While the October flight is already full, veterans interested in participating in possible future opportunities can apply by calling (903) 534-3076 and requesting an application. Noting that the World War II Memorial was not built until 2004, Ellis added, “Most of these veterans have never had a chance to see their memorial. We’re thrilled to provide this opportunity to these 36 from our market area.” “We realize time is of the essence for this generation,’ Ellis said. “While there’s no way of having an exact figure, the estimates are that we are losing them nationally at a rate of about 1,000 per day. We don’t have a lot of time left to honor them in this way.”

TYLER — Heated debate Thursday as TJC held the second of two public hearings on raising the tax rate more than 33 percent. One former student spoke up for it, saying, “I wanted a better opportunity. I got my GED, I came to TJC. I still support the tax increase for maintenance and infrasrtructure needs.” Others, like George Stephenson, weren’t so supportive. “Sometimes we lose sight of the fact that we can just rely on somebody else and take their money,” said Stephenson. “Well, some people call that stealing.” As KETK explains, if the tax increase passes, it will go toward paying back $28 million taken out by the board last year for maintenance tax notes.

LUFKIN — A woman accused of killing a Lufkin man in a drive-by shooting is out of jail. Kendall Thompson, 19, posted $100,000 bond Wednesday. She’s accused of firing the shots that killed Joseph Cooper outside of his home in January. According to KETK, Thompson’s trial starts in October.