KTBB News, Weather, Talk

JACKSONVILLE — District 11 State Representative Chuck Hopson announces his bid for re-election. Hopson is based in Jacksonville. According to current redistricting maps, Hopson will represent Cherokee, Nacogdoches, and Rusk Counties; he will no longer represent Houston and Panola Counties. Hopson, a Republican, says, “My top three priorities have always been our children, our community, and our conservative values.”

GILMER — A visiting judge on Friday denied a motion to dismiss and quash an indictment against Upshur County Judge Dean Fowler. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Judge Richard Davis ruled that Fowler’s charge of official oppression will go to trial in Wood County on Oct. 11. A prosecutorial misconduct charge filed by Fowler’s lawyers against District Attorney Billy Byrd remains on the table, as well as a motion to dismiss a charge of abuse of official capacity against Fowler.

LONGVIEW — Some Upshur County Republicans believe already-indicted party Chairman Ken Ambrose could face official misconduct charges related to the upcoming primary election. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report that Republican Madaline Barber has been accepting candidate applications, acting as the party’s secretary. Barber said she is the duly-elected Republican Party Upshur County secretary. Ambrose said she is not, and that any applications accepted by her might not be valid. Ambrose has filed a complaint against Barber with the Texas Ethics Commission saying Barber is misrepresenting herself.

“Be advised that your failure to post my notice to accept candidate applications on the Upshur County Commissioner’s Court bulletin board opens you up to potential official misconduct charge(s),” Barber wrote in a letter to Ambrose, which she also provided to the News-Journal. “Furthermore, your failure to accept any applications I have received will prompt an immediate district court action against you under the new ‘Loser Pays’ law adopted by the 82nd Texas Legislature.”

Ambrose already faces charges of theft of more than $1,500 and less than $20,000 and misappropriation of fiduciary property related to using the Republican Party’s primary funds to pay for an attorney. His trial is slated to start Oct. 3 in Upshur County’s 115th District Court.

NORTHEAST TEXAS — As resources continue to demobilize, a smaller contingent of firefighters will remain in northeast Texas to monitor and mop up a number of fires as needed. The Texas Forest Service says these include the Magnolia Complex, Bear Creek, Rhonesboro, Dodson, Bowles, Johnson, Gethsemane, Angelina River Bottom, Marietta, Diana and Marshall fires — and numerous smaller fires scattered across a wide expanse. Mop up activities are expected to take several days to complete. Resources remaining include 23 engines, four 20-person hand crews, one dozer and two water tenders and three helicopters.

Officials point to cooler, breezy conditions that moved into the picture Friday. “With the fuels still extremely dry, if we get a new start, it could grow quickly. We are encouraging firefighters to be alert for rapidly changing situations and the ongoing potential for very active fire behavior,” said Incident Commander Mike Morcom. Dead and live vegetation remains dangerously dry; the public is asked to continue to use extreme caution and remember county burn bans remain in effect.

The Texas Forest Service and the local Volunteer Fire Departments are asking the public to continue to work on defensible space around their homes and property to lower risk in their community from wildfire. They suggest you take responsibility for the safety of your family and animals, and develop your evacuation plan. You can go to http://www.wildlandFireRSG.org and http://www.firewise.org for additional information on defensible space and evacuation preparedness.

Disaster Assistance and Donations

The Red Cross has arranged for local charities to access the Coordinated Assistance Network (CAN) system for those needing disaster assistance. Through CAN, caseworkers have access to secure client information providing collaboration and ease of referral between agencies. Call 800-RED-CROSS for additional information.
Officials ask that you contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross for a list of agencies that are currently accepting donations.

Recovery for Displaced Livestock Winding Down

Texas Animal Health Service, AgriLIFE Marion and Cass County Extension Service offices and the Texas Department of Agriculture is phasing out of recovery operations for livestock. Contact Eddie Hayes at 903-277-3979 for additional information. For small animal recovery, contact Caroline Weddings 903-790-9012 at the Marion County Humane Society.

LONGVIEW — Permitted alcohol use at Heritage Plaza was approved Thursday. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, City Council members voted 5-1 to allow alcohol sales and consumption at the downtown park. In another move, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board members will begin a months-long process Monday to set criteria for all Longview parks, after one resident suggested expanding alcohol use to Teague Park.

Don’t take a six-pack to the Heritage Plaza brown bag lunch series just yet. Organizers of the series and any event wishing to serve alcoholic beverages must obtain permits from the city and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. The Longview Chamber of Commerce and the Main Street Advisory Board recommended the idea of Heritage Plaza alcohol sales to parks advisory board members two months ago. On Aug. 22, the parks board unanimously recommended the ordinance change to the City Council.

TYLER — A heated meeting Thursday night in Tyler. KETK reports the debate comes during the worst wildfire season East Texas has ever seen. Awhile back, the Smith County Emergency Services District no. 2 board decided to cut property taxes. Since then, firefighters have been fighting for cash. The meeting featured testy exchanges between firefighters and the ESD Board. One involved the Flint-Gresham Fire Department, which claims it doesn’t even have the proper wild-land gear to fight wildfires.

Another heated moment came when the board tabled a fuel reimbursement request by Jackson Heights. The reason? Members from Jackson Heights couldn’t come to the meeting because they were fighting a fire. The board questioned why the fuel bill was 5 times more expensive than in previous months. Firefighters protested that Jackson Heights has seen the worst of the East Texas fires. Soon before the meeting ended, Jackson Heights firefighters returned from the blaze they’d been battling. The board tried to adjourn, but the firefighters objected. Jackson heights explained its fuel request and finally got its reimbursement.

KETK did speak with board member Sharon Guthrie, who said the board is there to make sure taxpayers’ money is spent wisely. In press materials issued earlier, Guthrie said the board has over $1.3 million in reserve for necessary or emergency expenditures. She claimed there is absolutely no danger of running out of tax funds to fight fires. Guthrie added that the board appreciates and values the work the firefighters are doing.

DALLAS — An investigation into a fatal stabbing of a former Jacksonville resident is underway. Jacksonville native Shearl Bennett was fatally stabbed after attending a church service at Pilgrim’s West Baptist Church in Dallas on Wednesday night. Bennett, 50, had driven home from the service and was walking toward her condominium from her vehicle when the attacker struck. A neighbor said Bennett crawled to an area near her door before she died. Officers responded to calls before 10:30 p.m. Investigators said they did not believe Bennett knew the attackers. Bennett’s purse was not located near the body.

ANGELINA COUNTY — A Zavalla man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly showing a homemade sex tape to a 6-year-old girl. Matthew Fuller, 31 was taken into custody Wednesday on state jail felony endangering a child, according to an arrest affidavit. The child’s mother contacted the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office to report Fuller on Aug. 29. The same day, the child told her mother Fuller asked her sit in his lap and then showed her a video on the computer of a sexual act. After he made her watch it, the girl said Fuller then told her to go play and closed out of the video, according to the affidavit. In a forensic interview with Harold’s House, the girl told the same story of what happened and described a homemade sex video featuring people she knows.

According the affidavit, he put the girl in imminent danger of mental impairment by showing her the video. He was booked into the Angelina County Jail Wednesday and released the same day on a $5,000 bond. If convicted, he faces up to two years in state jail, served day for day.

LUFKIN – An Angelina County man has been arrested after he allegedly showed a six year old girl a homemade sex tape. Currently free on a $5,000 bond is Matthew Fuller, 31,of Zavalla. He has been charged with endangering a child, a state jail felony. The girl told authorities Fuller asked her sit in his lap and then showed her a video on the computer of a sexual act, which featured people she knew.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With the possibility of another government funding showdown on the table, East Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert is wasting no time ensuring that military pay will not be used as a bargaining chip. And KETK reports he’s taking on his own party to do so. Gohmert has introduced a bill to avoid a repeat of the shutdown debate last spring. That was when GOP leaders portrayed approval of a massive funding bill as a vote for or against U.S. troops. Gohmert says the military ought to be off the table.

TYLER — Officials say it’s a great way to kick off Tyler Junior College’s 85th anniversary year. According to press materials, total fall enrollment at TJC is at an all-time high, thanks to a special 12-week session added to meet student demand. As of Tuesday, enrollment for all fall courses was 12,062, TJC President Dr. Mike Metke reported. In Fall 2010, the College reported an enrollment of 11,738. The increase is roughly 2.7 percent, with all fall terms reported.

“Our course offerings continue to be in great demand, even to the extent that we were unable to accommodate every student for the regular fall semester,” Dr. Metke said. “With the establishment of the additional 12-week term, we were able to accommodate most, if not all, of the students who wish to be enrolled at TJC this fall.”

TYLER – A Tyler man has been sentenced to federal prison for health care fraud violations. Nicodemus Udofia, 51, pleaded guilty in May to health care fraud and illegal remunerations charges. He was sentenced Thursday in Tyler to 12 months and one day in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider. Udofia was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $50,994.53 to the Medicare program and forfeiture of the proceeds of the fraud scheme.

According to federal authorities, from 2006 to 2008, Udofia, the owner of a medical equipment business in Tyler, submitted claims to Medicare and Medicaid for medical equipment and supplies which were not provided to beneficiaries. As a result of these claims, Udofia unlawfully obtained more than $50,000 from Medicare and Medicaid. Udofia also offered to pay illegal remunerations, or cash kickbacks, in exchange for patient information that he could use to submit claims to Medicare and Medicaid. Udofia was indicted by a federal grand jury in June of last year.

TYLER – After a four year investigation, a Cherokee County licensed deer breeder has been sentenced for illegally transporting wildlife in East Texas and then lying about it to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife agent. Billy Powell,77, pleaded guilty in June to the felony offense of smuggling at least 37 whitetail deer, over a 3 year time span, from Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio into Texas in violation of state and federal laws. Powell also admitted that he made a false statement and submitted a false document to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife special agent who was looking into the matter.

Thursday in Tyler, Powell was sentenced to serve 3 years probation with six months home confinement to be monitored with an electric anklet. Powell was also ordered to pay a $1 million fine, to be deposited into the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Lacy Act Reward Fund, as well as $500,000 in restitution to Texas Parks and Wildlife. During the term of probation, Powell will be prohibited from participating in any manner in commercial deer breeding. Additionally, Powell must forfeit any illegally imported deer, any progeny of those deer, and any biological material derived from said deer, which would include any semen, antlers, mounts, and cloned deer. Powell has already forfeited over 1,300 straws of frozen semen valued at approximately $961,500 to U.S. Fish and Wildlife

PALESTINE — Officials say a worker’s injuries are non-life-threatening after a bridge collapsed Wednesday in Palestine. It happened on North Loop 256 near East Lacy. Injured was Jose Luis Alva. He is said to have driven machinery on the bridge and started jack hammering the concrete. Within seconds, the bridge collapsed, and Alva and the machinery fell with the collapsed bridge. Alva was eventually extracted from the machinery, and was checked out by EMS.

SMITH COUNTY — Several Smith County fire departments battle a fire that destroyed a mobile home Wednesday afternoon. It happened on the 100 block of Patton Lane near Highway 64 West. The homeowner told KETK he saw flames coming out of the refrigerator, so he tried to put the blaze out with a water hose. But that didn’t help at all, and then the whole house started to burn down. The man’s pet cat was also lost. No word on any injuries, and still no word on exactly what caused the fire.