KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Apple is backing its first Texas school and second in the country — and it’s Tyler’s Cumberland Academy. According to KETK, the charter school will start the school year with about 400 iPod touches and more than 200 electronic math books. But even with so much high tech, the traditional notebooks, textbooks, paper, and pencils aren’t out the window. School officials say the new addition is just another way to engage students on their level. Apple is buying all the technology, and the tuition is free. Enrollment at Cumberland has doubled since last year.

TYLER – A 28-year-old Longview man has pleaded guilty in Tyler to federal drug violations. Leslie Dewayne Butler pleaded guilty to possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. Authorities say on Jan. 10, 2009, Butler purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a Walgreens in Longview in addition to making four other purchases that same day at other stores in the area, as well as numerous other purchases at other stores on other days. According to authorities, it was all in furtherance of his methamphetamine manufacturing activities. A federal grand jury returned a 256-count indictment against Butler on Feb. 2, 2010. Butler faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

TYLER — Police are renewing their call for help in solving a robbery earlier this month. On July 3, shortly after 3:30 a.m., Tyler Police responded to the CVS Pharmacy located at 1702 South Broadway Avenue on the report of a robbery. Officers arrived and spoke to employees at the scene. They told officers that an unknown male approached the sales counter and told them he had a gun. He then fled the area on foot with an undisclosed amount of merchandise. The suspect (shown here in surveillance video released Tuesday) is described as a tall black male, possibly bald. He was last seen heading eastbound on foot.

Anyone with information about the suspect 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 an arrest and charges filed against the suspect, or any suspect in a felony case.

TYLER — Smith County Commissioners meet for a special jail meeting this afternoon at 3:00. According to KETK, the court will be discussing Jeff Warr’s 33 million dollar jail renovation and expansion proposal. Smith County official’s say it may bypass voter approval. The meeting is scheduled for the Smith County’s Commissioners Courtroom.

MINEOLA — Authorities report the weekend drowning of a three-year-old in a Mineola swimming pool. According to KETK, Wood County deputies were dispatched to FM 1801 Saturday in reference to the accidental drowning. Mineola Fire Department First Responders were first on the scene and administered medical attention until East Texas Medical Center Emergency Medical Technicians transported the victim to the ETMC Emergency Room in Quitman. The victim is Crisslyn Thompson, the daughter of Joshua and Tammantha Thompson of Mineola. The investigation indicates that the child accidentally entered the family’s outdoor swimming pool and was unconscious when discovered. The child was later flown to Medical City Children’s Center in Dallas, where she was pronounced dead by attending physicians.

TYLER – A home invasion, in which a woman was injured, is being investigated by Tyler Police. It was reported around 11:30 Monday night in the 3300 block of Garden Valley Road. The residents told officers three black males had knocked on their front door. When a woman answered the door, one of the men began to raise a gun and attempt to come into the house.

According to police, a man in the house got his own gun and kicked the door into one of the suspects. Shots were exchanged between the suspects and the man. The woman received a minor gunshot wound. The suspects left the area in a four door passenger car.

CADDO MILLS (AP) — It was raining marijuana in a rural area of east Texas. Hunt County Under-sheriff Joe Knight says rural homeowners near Greenville reported hearing duffel bags filled with what appeared to be marijuana thud onto their roofs early Monday.

Knight said his department was advised about 5:30 Monday morning to watch for a low-flying aircraft. A single-engine plane was found abandoned in a field beside a runway at Caddo Mills Municipal Airport about two hours later.

No injuries or damage was reported. Knight said the public has turned in four black nylon duffel bags filled with what appeared to be high-grade, hydroponic marijuana. Deputies found two other bags of pot in the plane.

A man is in custody for questioning, but no charges have been filed in the case.

CARROLL — The Carroll Water Supply Corporation has issued a boil water notice for all its customers. According to KETK, the company will notify the public when the boil notice has been lifted. An answering machine at the business says it is due to numerous situations that have happened simultaneously including pressure and quality of water. For more information call 903- 963-5559.

CANTON — In an effort to help authorities fight nuisance crimes such as the theft or destruction of road signs, Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers is offering rewards for information leading to the arrest of people involved in these crimes. The group is offering a $100 reward per tip, plus $50 for each sign that is recovered from the thief or thieves. To qualify for the reward, anyone with information about sign-related crimes can call Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers at 903-567-STOP (567-7867) and give that information without identifying themselves. Once an arrest is made, the caller will be able to collect their Crime Stoppers reward.

“People who steal or damage county road signs may not realize the harm they can cause,” said Andy Flowers, president of Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers. “The lack of a road sign or a stop sign can hinder sheriff, police, fire, or ambulance response and put lives at risk. It also costs the county taxpayers a significant amount of money every year to replace these signs.” According to the Van Zandt County Commissioners, it cost taxpayers nearly $20,000 in 2009 to buy and install signs and posts to replace those that were stolen or damaged. So far this year, sign replacement has cost the county about $12,000, not counting a recent rash of sign thefts in Precinct 3.

Flowers said Crime Stoppers is targeting road sign thefts and vandalism at this time because of the damage these crimes do to citizens at large and to the county treasury. He said Crime Stoppers has an ongoing reward program for callers who provide tips about other criminal mischief and property damage crimes such as mailbox destruction or mudding.

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. By calling 903-567-STOP (567-7867), you can anonymously provide information about a crime. When you call, you are given a special code number. After the crime is solved or the individual arrested, you can use that code number to arrange to collect your cash reward. Crime Stoppers callers never have to give their names or any identifying information.

Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers uses cash from criminal court fines and donations to finance its rewards of up to $1,000 for anonymous tipsters. More information about Crime Stoppers is available online at http:www.vanzandtcrimestoppers.org or by calling the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office.

TYLER — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White’s wife, Andrea, is talking up her husband’s trip to East Texas this week. Mrs. White says the campaign is going well, but her husband is still trying to introduce himself to Texans. She says, “A lot of people still haven’t heard of him, so that’s one reason he’s working so hard — but then, he works hard all the time.” Mrs. White is also promoting “Expectation Graduation” — a program Bill White started in his hometown of Houston, where he once served as mayor. The object is to get kids to re-enroll in school. Mrs. White explains that in September, project workers go door-to-door and ask kids who have dropped out to consider returning. So far, she says, the program has gotten over 8,000 Houston-area kids back in school — and has now spread to other towns.

Bill White’s East Texas swing includes stops Thursday in Tatum, Carthage, Longview and Henderson. He’s set to host education town hall meetings at 2 p.m. in Carthage; 4:30 p.m. at the Greggton Community Center; and 7 p.m. at the Henderson Civic Center on Thursday. He kicks off the day at noon, when he tours Tatum Independent School District facilities before a community lunch of grilled burgers at the Tatum High School Cafeteria. On Wednesday, White plans stops in Palestine, Rusk and Jacksonville before a stop Thursday in Tyler prior to his Tatum visit. White faces Republican Rick Perry in the Texas governor’s race in November. Perry has been governor since 2000.

TYLER — The identity of a man killed in a conveyor belt accident Saturday morning in Tyler has been released. Eric Ferguson, 41, Big Sandy, was employed by C and C Trans Load Company. Tyler Police say they responded to a call in the 1000 block of East Commerce after an incident involving a man trapped in a conveyor belt. Officers say Ferguson became trapped while loading sand like material from a railroad train hopper car onto a conveyor belt into a container mounted on the back of tractor trailer truck. The Tyler Fire Department was able to eventually free him and he was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead. All details and witness statements of this incident indicate that this was an accidental death. OSHA officials will also conduct an investigation.

LONGVIEW – A two vehicle accident in a construction zone on Interstate Highway 20 in Gregg County has killed one person and injured two. The wreck happened around 1:45 Friday afternoon at the State Highway 31 bridge. Killed was Dennis Thomas, 63, of Fort Worth. A passenger in his car, Gwendolyn Clark of Fort Worth, and the driver of the other car Robert Dinsmore of Fort Hood, 47, were injured. The Department of Public Safety reports Thomas had slowed his car in the construction zone when he was hit from behind by Dinsmore’s car.

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

UNDATED – The Texas Department of Transportation’s annual preventative maintenance program known as “District-Wide Seal Coat” is scheduled to continue this week in Henderson and Gregg counties. The crews are scheduled to be at work this week in the following locations in the order they appear, weather permitting:
First Crew
* Farm Road 2495 east of Athens between State Highway 31 and Farm Road 317 near the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center;
* Farm Road 317 in Henderson County between State Highway 31 northeast of Athens and Farm Road 1803;
* Farm Road 2494 in Henderson County between U.S. Highway 175 near TVCC and Farm Road 753 west of southwest of Athens;
* Farm Road 3441 in Henderson County between State Highway 31 in Malakoff and Farm Road 59 in Cross Roads; and
* State Highway 334 in Henderson County between State Highway 274 in Seven Points and U.S. Highway 175 east of Gun Barrel City

Second Crew
* State Highway 31 in Gregg County between Longview and Kilgore;
* Farm Road 2208 in Longview between U.S. Highway 80 and the Upshur County Line;
* U.S. Highway 259 in Longview between North Loop 281 and Farm Road 1844; and
* U.S. Highway 271 in Gladewater between the Upshur County Line and State Highway 135;
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. Loose gravel may be present for several days following a seal coat application. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

SMITH COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue resurfacing work on Farm Road 2493 (Old Jacksonville Highway) between Lynch Drive and U.S. Highway 69 in Bullard, followed by the same work on Farm Road 346 in Flint between Farm Road 2868 and U.S. Highway 69. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

GREGG COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to begin several weeks of base and pavement repairs on State Highway 149 between State Highway 322 in Lakeport and Farm Road 2906 (Easton Road).
Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas. Some overnight lane closures are possible with this work.

HENDERSON — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue pavement repair operations on State Highway 64 between the Henderson Star and State Highway 42. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to begin several days of resurfacing operations on U.S. Highway 175 between Jacksonville and Farm Road 855 in Cuney. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and traffic will be controlled by flaggers in two-lane areas.

WOOD COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to begin several weeks of resurfacing work on U.S. Highway 80 between East Loop 564 and Farm Road 778. Crews will also be making base repairs in the same work area. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists should be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base repairs on Farm Road 1255 northeast of Canton. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

HENDERSON — A motorcycle accident in Henderson has left one person dead. The wreck happened early Sunday morning on State Highway 43. Henderson police did not release the victim’s name. The Longview News Journal, citing a pending obituary notice from Rader Funeral Home of Henderson, identified him as Trey Glaser, 36, of Henderson.

REDLAND — The DeSoto-based American Indian Cultural Society remembered the Battle of the Neches during a weekend ceremony in Van Zandt County’s Redland community. The pivotal battle spurred the wholesale exodus of Native Americans from Texas in 1839. Key event organizer Eagle Douglas says there’s a renewed emphasis on maintaining the land where the battle ended –which the society now owns, and where the ceremony is held each July. “The land needs to be self-sufficient so the history that is here can go on to future generations,” says Douglas. The society’s also working to add some new touches, possibly a library, a visiting center, and a wellness center, according to Douglas. For more information or to learn how you can help, you can contact Douglas at NDN1839@gmail.com or 214-914-1516.