KTBB News, Weather, Talk

EAST MOUNTAIN — Fire officials allow residents on Burnam Road, located east of Highway 300 in East Mountain, to return home. That’s after a fire sparked in the area on FM 1844 near Highway 300. Westbound traffic on FM 1844 was shut down at Hamby Road, and eastbound traffic on FM 1844 was shut down at Highway 300. The fire had been contained by late Wednesday afternoon, but crews remained on the scene putting out hot spots. About 25-30 acres have been scorched.

TYLER — Tyler Police responded to a report of a dead body Wednesday afternoon. Officers were called to 400 Southtown #205 around 4:50 and reportedly found the body of a 59-year-old man. Investigators said it appears that the man had fallen and hit his head. Authorities do not suspect foul play. They say it appears to be an unfortunate accident. The body was sent to Southeast Texas Forensic Center in Tyler for the autopsy. The man’s identity has not been released.

TYLER — PATH Week continued in Tyler Wednesday night with the annual Philanthropy Dinner. Guests heard a keynote address from Barbara Elliott, president of the Houston-based Center for Renewal and author of the book “Street Saints.” Elliott urged attendees to become “street saints” — people who don’t just give, but meet the needy face-to-face. She says such volunteers change the hearts of the people they work with. Elliott said PATH is full of street saints, and she’s on a mission to find more.

Also last night, longtime PATH volunteers Ovada Horne and C.C. Baker took home the dinner’s annual honors, the Stone Soup and Gertrude Windsor Awards. And Baker presented an update on PATH’s “Faith in Our Future” campaign, designed to set up a $1 million emergency fund for the agency. Baker said the effort has now raised
$500,000. PATH Week continues through Sunday. You can go to http://www.pathhelps.org to learn more.

HENDERSON — Area firefighters are overwhelmed with wildfires lately, but some help is on the way. A benefit is set for Saturday from 11 to 5 at the Wal-Mart in Henderson for the Rusk County Firefighters’ Association. According to KETK, the county’s fire departments, like others in the area, are hurting. The Rusk County departments have gone through two years’ worth of their fuel budget in the last couple of weeks alone.

WHITEHOUSE — Linda Jean Owens is identified as the person who died in a Saturday accident in Whitehouse, and there’s been an arrest in that case. KETK reports Owens, a passenger in one of the vehicles, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her husband, James Milton Owens, was driving at the time. The driver of the other vehicle, Eulacio Milan Garcia from Tyler (pictured), was arrested Wednesday morning at a local hospital for intoxicated manslaughter. He has been booked into Smith County Jail on $400,000 bond.

Three people were injured in the wreck, which happened just south of Cain Elementary on State Highway 110 just after 6:15 Saturday morning. The wreck is said to have occurred when a southbound car veered into the northbound lane and collided with a pickup hauling a trailer. The truck is said to have burst into flames. The injured were said to have been hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — East Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert rips into the president’s jobs plan — and files a jobs bill of his own. Gohmert calls the Obama bill a “job killer” and says it shouldn’t be considered at all. Among other things, the Tyler lawmaker says it completely destroys independent oil. He also says it adds bureaucracy to government through a new infrastructure financing agency. According to Gohmert, the bill additionally creates a “big brother” agency for broadband. He also claims the measure would unnecessarily add the unemployed as a class protected from hiring discrimination. Gohmert says just cutting corporate tax and bringing manufacturers back to America will create more jobs than the president’s bill.

As for the bill he’s filed, Gohmert released the following statement after introducing the “American Jobs Act of 2011” which he says will create jobs by taking the corporate tax rate to zero.

“We have heard a lot of rhetoric about job creation from President Obama over the last several days. After waiting to see what the President would actually put into legislative language, and then waiting to see if anybody would actually introduce the President’s bill in the House, today I took the initiative and introduced the “American Jobs Act of 2011.” It is a very simple bill, which will eliminate the corporate tax which serves as a tariff that our American companies pay on goods they produce here in America.

“This bill will actually create jobs in America. Right now, American manufacturing jobs are shipped overseas. What is really insidious about this tax is that corporate taxes are paid by the consumer – built in to the cost of the good or service. Corporate taxes are paid for by people in the form of lower wages to American workers and less money paid out in dividends in everything from 401K retirement accounts and to those who would risk their capital in business ventures. This type of capital investment is where jobs come from.

“Unlike President Obama’s bill, which clocks in at 155 pages, the American Jobs Act is only two pages. The American people want to see jobs and economic growth and this bill guarantees that outcome. America would instantly become a safe haven for businesses resulting in an explosion in revenue increases. If we really want to create jobs and grow the economy, we must pass ‘The American Jobs Act’ now.” You can use this link — http://gohmert.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Gohmert_American_Jobs_Act.pdf — to view Gohmert’s bill online.

TYLER — Smith County Precinct 2 Commissioner Jeff Warr announces he’s running for a second term. Warr, a Republican, says he “has a proven history of public service accomplished with integrity and effectiveness coupled with a strong commitment to teamwork and mutual respect.” Warr adds, “Though I was fortunate enough to be elected to public office, I have always thought of myself as a public servant, not a politician. It has been my honor to serve as County Commissioner.” According to press materials, Warr believes that the growing needs of Smith County require good planning and an environment of cooperation and mutual respect. He pledges to work toward both.

Warr continues, “While serving on the Commissioner’s Court, I have been fortunate enough to be part of a team that succeeded – through a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect – in passing a taxpayer-first, commonsense jail proposal, passed an ordinance prohibiting Commissioners from giving themselves raises, and continued to improve county assets on a pay-as-you-go basis while staying committed to Constitutional, small government. I love to work hard, love Smith County, want to help create a future that is good for all its citizens and would consider it an honor and privilege to be re-elected to a second term.”

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has voted unanimously to enter into a contract with Lee Construction for six single-family dwellings to be built along Hunter’s Court. As part of the initiative to assist eligible low-income homebuyers with the purchase of modest and affordable single-family dwellings, the City sponsors the New Construction and Homebuyers Assistance Program funded with federal CDBG and HOME funds. The primary purpose of the program is to construct new, affordable housing units and to assist low-income homebuyers with down payment and closing costs.

“A lack of affordable housing can be a significant hardship for low-income households, which makes it difficult for them to meet other basic needs, such as food, clothing and healthcare,” said Mayor Barbara Bass. The houses each have three bedrooms and two baths, with an attached two-car garage. The homes will be built on lots owned by the City, located in the Hunter’s Glen Revitalization Area. “The construction of these homes will not only provide more housing options for low- to moderate-income families but will also help revitalize this area of our community,” said Bass. “Creating these options is exactly what is needed to reach the goals laid out in the Tyler 21 plan.”

TYLER — In August 2011, the Tyler City Council approved the purchase of a five pickup trucks that will be converted to operate on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as part of the City of Tyler’s CNG Pilot Program. Local businesses were offered the opportunity to sponsor these vehicles and, to date, three trucks have been sponsored by two local businesses. EOG Resources has agreed to sponsor two of the trucks and Tanos Exploration, LLC will sponsor the third. Sponsored CNG vehicles will be identified with a customized wrap that will include the sponsor’s logo. These trucks are part of a pilot project that will convert part of the City of Tyler’s fleet from unleaded and diesel fuel to CNG fuel. If this project is successful, each year the City will add additional vehicles and equipment that operate on CNG under the regularly budgeted vehicle replacement plan.

“This program to start moving the City’s fleet to alternative fuel is an example of how innovation can save money and preserve the environment,” said Mayor Barbara Bass. “CNG vehicles are environmentally friendly and cause less wear on vehicle engines.” The CNG conversion project is an outcome of the Industry Growth Initiative, a plan adopted by Tyler to enhance industry growth. One of the major industries that is identified in the plan is 21st Century Energy, due to the prevalence of natural gas in the Barnett and Haynesville Shales that are in close proximity to Tyler. It is estimated that the Haynesville Shale contains enough natural gas to fuel our country for the next 100 years.

“The energy sector has been an important part of Tyler’s economic prosperity in the past and will continue to be critical to our future,” continued Mayor Bass. “Demonstrating our commitment to the use of CNG is just one way we can promote this local industry that has the potential to be a regional economic driver.” Sponsorship opportunities are still available at a cost of $15,000 for one vehicle or $25,000 for two vehicles. For more information on becoming a sponsor, please contact Dan Brotton, director of Solid Waste at (903) 531-1388.

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University is again ranked in the top tier nationally in the U.S. News and World Report’s annual rankings of “America’s Best Colleges.” LETU was also listed among the 2012 “Up-and-Comers” listing and the 2012 “A-Plus Schools For B-Students” listing. LeTourneau University was ranked among the top 8 private schools in Texas and was ranked above all state universities in Texas in the same category of “Best Regional Universities.” LETU is ranked 39th among all the Best Regional Universities in the West in the 2012 U.S. News rankings. For the first time, LeTourneau University was listed in the top three “2012 Up-and-Comers” schools cited most often by college presidents, provosts and admissions deans as the “up-and-coming” schools in their category.

MANGUM, Okla. (AP/Staff) – Greer County, Oklahoma, prosecutors have ended their case in the East Texas-linked trial of a former Oklahoma prison warden’s wife charged with helping a convicted killer escape 17 years ago. Prosecutors say Bobbi Parker fell in love with inmate Randolph Dial and helped him escape 17 years ago from the Oklahoma State Reformatory in Granite where Parker’s husband was deputy warden. Defense attorneys say Dial kidnapped Parker and held her hostage until they were found at a chicken ranch in Campti, in Shelby County, Texas, in 2005. Wednesday’s testimony included the unit manager of the Lawton Correctional Facility. Gifford Barnard said he considers an inmate who testified earlier that he saw Parker drive Dial out of the prison on the day they disappeared “truthful and honest.” Defense attorneys pointed out the inmate is a convicted killer.

RUSK COUNTY — A fire has been contained after it began burning again on CR 316D near CR 314, also known as FM 3310, in Rusk County. KETK says officials had evacuated two homes at the end of the road but have since been allowed to return. Rusk County Sheriff’s Department Public Information officer Viki Penny said that it’s a dead end road, so they were worried that residents could be trapped if the fire spread. The Henderson, Mt. Enterprise, Eastside, and Laneville Fire Departments and the Texas Forest Service responded.

UPSHUR COUNTY — Officials have been working to extinguish hot spots after an Upshur County grass fire destroyed several homes. Upshur County Fire Marshal Paul Steelman said Wednesday morning the fire burned between 320 and 350 acres. The blaze began about 4:00 Tuesday along Texas 154 near FM 1002. the fire quickly spread into the Rain Tree Lake subdivision, Steelman said. The fire has destroyed about 12 homes in the area. Officials ordered residents in the area to evacuate and are asking them to remain away from their homes while firefighters continue to work in the area. Nearby Harmony ISD canceled classes for the day.

The Texas Forest Service has drawn a fire line, but Steelman said he is not yet calling the fire contained. Steelman said wind was a major factor in the spread of the fire. Several volunteer departments have assisted in battling the blaze.

EAST TEXAS — Officials say a wanted East Texas sex offender is on the loose. Eric Carlos Moyeda was arrested for aggravated assault of a 12-year-old girl back in 2004. He was handed a 5 year probation sentence. According to KETK, his last sex offender registration verification was back in September of last year. Anyone with his location or any information is asked to contact Lufkin Police.

TYLER (AP) – An East Texas woman and her boyfriend have been indicted over the 2010 death of her year-old son. A Smith County grand jury on Tuesday indicted 20-year-old Emma Torres and 26-year-old Simon Lopez on capital murder charges. An autopsy determined Jeremy Silva died from blunt force trauma. Investigators say Lopez was watching the child last November in Tyler, while the mother was at work, when he called one of her relatives to say the boy wasn’t breathing. Police say Lopez left the youngster with the relative and fled. He was caught in July in Queretaro, Mexico. Bond was set at $2 million each for Torres and Lopez. Prosecutors have not said whether they’ll seek the death penalty.