KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The City�s Tyler Against Graffiti (TAG) team and Keep Tyler Beautiful Board kick off a partnership with the Smith County Juvenile Services office to put young offenders to work cleaning up the City�s graffiti. The TAG team began putting the partnership into action Monday morning. Organizers say the partnership is aimed at using young people who have been found guilty of violating Tyler�s graffiti ordinance to clean up the tags found around the city. The youth range in age from 14 to 17.

�This is a very exciting opportunity to get at-risk youth involved with the community in a positive way,� said Marjorie Mustard, board chairperson for Keep Tyler Beautiful. �We are hoping that this program will show young offenders that graffiti is harmful to the community; it takes hard work to clean up and it is expensive.� By engaging these young offenders in cleaning up graffiti, it is also hoped that they will take on some ownership and have some pride in their work, Ms. Mustard added.

Smith County Juvenile Services Director Ross Worley says he is very excited about the program and is optimistic over its future. �We look forward to being involved with the TAG program again and partnering with the City of Tyler to help eradicate graffiti while fostering a sense of responsibility and community with our juvenile offenders.� The City of Tyler spends nearly $24,000 per year on graffiti abatement through the TAG team efforts. The team averages about 40 reports per month. The TAG program is sponsored by Keep Tyler Beautiful.

TYLER � Tyler held its Juneteenth celebration over the weekend, honoring the day in 1865 when Texas slaves learned of their freedom. The Juneteenth parade grand marshal was Texas College�s board chairman, Bishop Henry Williamson Sr. Williamson noted the participation of such community leaders as Mayor Barbara Bass and County Commissioner JoAnn Hampton in Juneteenth festivities. He urged continued work in the Juneteenth spirit of freedom and unity for all people �so that the things that we need to accomplish together, in Tyler, in Texas, and across the nation, can take place.� Williamson hopes the community will start using the celebration and other holidays �to address the dreams and hopes of this community and be solution-based rather than problem-centered.� A gospel celebration and a Woldert Park gathering were other Juneteenth highlights.

A Longview man has been found guilty of exposing himself in a Longview restaurant in May 2010. Roger Dale Brigmon Jr., 43, was convicted of third-degree felony indecency with a child Friday in Gregg County�s 124th District Court. A sentencing hearing will be held later.

A Gregg County Sheriff’s Deputy was working off-duty security at The Butcher Shop May 26th when a customer reported to restaurant management that a man was touching himself under the table while looking at a young girl. When the deputy walked toward the booth, the customer, later identified as Brigmon, had his hands under the table and appeared to be zipping up his pants.

JACKSONVILLE — A county-wide burn ban was issued Wednesday for Cherokee County. The ban is effective for seven days. The Cherokee County Commissioners Court will vote on whether to instate a 90-day burn ban on Monday. During a burn ban, Cherokee County residents are prohibited from burning outdoors and tossing lit cigarettes. The penalty for violating the burn ban is a $565 fine.

LUFKIN — The Lufkin Police Department is investigating an apparent attempted car-jacking incident that ended with the death of the suspect and a victim being treated at an area hospital for gunshot wounds. It started around 1:15 Sunday morning when police received a report of a disturbance at Applebee’s restaurant in Lufkin. The caller told dispatchers that her ex-boyfriend, Jackie Doyle Clay Jr., 34, threatened her and discharged a firearm into the air. The caller stated that she fled the area by vehicle and did not know his location. While officers were responding to the area, dispatchers received a call requesting emergency medical assistance for a gunshot-wound victim at a Whataburger restaurant.

The responding officers soon learned that the Applebee’s and Whataburger incidents were connected. Officers believe that Clay walked from Applebee’s to the intersection of South First Street and South Medford Drive in Lufkin where he attempted to carjack a vehicle. The victim resisted and was reportedly shot in the shoulder, chest, and face. He was transported to a hospital for treatment. His condition is unknown.

Lufkin Police, along with the Angelina County Sheriff’s Department, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Department of Public Safety and a TxDPS helicopter searched a wooded area. Around 4:15, authorities found Clay in that wooded area, dead from a single, apparently self-inflicted, gunshot wound to his head.

TYLER — Tyler Police arrest a suspected drunk driver after he wrecks into a house. It happened around 5:40 Saturday morning on the 300 block of north Parkdale Ave. When officers arrived, they learned the suspect had fled the scene on foot, leaving his tan 2000 Ford F150 in front yard of the residence. Authorities say they found the intoxicated suspect, Jair Zarate-Cobos, 25, Tyler, a short time later near the 1300 block of Bellaire Drive. Zarate-Cobos is the registered owner of the wrecked truck and officers determined he was the operator of the truck at the time of the incident. He was arrested, booked into the Smith County Jail and charged with DWI and leaving the scene of an accident. A resident was injured as a result of the crash and transported to the East Texas Medical Center emergency room for minor injuries.

KILGORE (AP) � Five graduates will face misdemeanor charges over dozens of damaged school buses that forced classes to be canceled for a day in an East Texas district. Kilgore police initially said the students could face felony criminal mischief charges. Gregg County District Attorney Carl Dorrough says the former Kilgore High School students have been charged with misdemeanor vandalism offenses. The Kilgore Independent School District called off classes April 8 after 39 buses were discovered with valve stem damage. All five seniors were then sent to an alternative school, but were allowed to graduate June 3. The students have apologized and agreed to pay the $3,100 in damage. The misdemeanor charges carry a sentence of up to a $500 fine.

LONGVIEW — Two men charged with sexually assaulting children entered guilty pleas Thursday. Willie Markham III, 29, of Longview accepted a four-year prison sentence under a plea agreement. Markham admitted to having sex with a girl in August 2009 when she was 14, making it a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. If Markham is convicted of another sexual offense involving children, he could face an automatic life sentence, according to a stipulation in his plea agreement.

Also Phillip �Bubba� Hudson III, 20, of Longview entered a guilty plea to indecency with a child. A Gregg County grand jury in September indicted Hudson on second-degree indecency charges for touching a girl younger than 17 around Christmas 2009. Sentencing was set for July 5 to allow Hudson to find suitable employment and housing. Hudson is eligible for parole because this is his first felony conviction. Hudson is out of jail on $11,000 bond.

LONGVIEW — Longview police have arrested a second teen in connection with a May 5 aggravated robbery at a local park. Officers took 19-year-old Erica Angela Pena of Longview into custody on Thursday, charged in the robbery and beating of a man and woman at Willow Park, in the 300 block of East Birdsong Street. Pena remained in the Gregg County Jail without bond on Friday.

Seventeen-year-old Eunice Abigail Zavalla remained jailed Friday on $50,000 bond following a Tuesday arrest related to the case, authorities said. The women are charged with aggravated robbery, punishable by up to 20 years in prison upon conviction.

LUFKIN � A ban on burning and fireworks has been filed by Angelina County Judge Wes Suiter due to drought conditions across the county. According to KETK and the Lufkin Daily News, Suiter said the burn ban must be extended by county commissioners within seven days and the fireworks ban must be approved by Gov. Rick Perry’s office within 60 hours. As for the yearly city display, Suiter said he is exempting organized fireworks shows under fire department supervision.

TYLER � The teen accused of stabbing and killing John Tyler High School teacher Todd Henry in 2009 is headed back to a mental health facility. According to KETK, a judge ordered 18-year-old Byron Truvia to spend a maximum of 120 days in the facility. It’s all in an effort to try and get Truvia to regain competency, and see if he’s fit to stand trial. He could be tried as an adult on capital murder charges.

TYLER — Smith County is encouraging Internet safety for minors by providing East Texas parents with free parental Internet monitoring software, according to officials. The software, called Computer COP, is available at most Smith County offices including all constable and JP offices, the Courthouse Annex, Sheriff�s Office and Cotton Belt Building. �This provides parents insight into who their children are talking to online,� Sheriff J.B. Smith said. �Parents have a responsibility to monitor and protect their children online just as they do in real life.�

According to a county news release, the software helps parents monitor what their children are doing online by compiling an image review and text review which flags key words and phrases from emails and online conversations. The software runs off a disc and does not need to be downloaded onto the computer�s hard drive. It is compatible with Windows 95 through Vista. �Consistent monitoring and awareness of our children�s activities are critical to their safety,� County Judge Joel Baker said. �This is a tool that can help parents combat on-line predators and encourage Internet safety.�

The Smith County Sheriff�s Office purchased the programs with drug forfeiture funds. More than 3,000 copies are available on a first come, first serve basis. Organizations wishing to pick up multiple copies of the program can contact Public Relations Liaison Adrienne Graham at 903-590-4607.

TYLER — After what was termed an extensive national search, Total Healthcare Center appointed Stephanie Jones-Theaker as its new Chief Executive Officer. According to press materials, the center is Federally Qualified and in 2010 served 8,416 patients with 16,969 visits from thirteen counties. The center�s mission is to provide a medical home for patient-centered access to affordable, quality primary and preventive health care. The center accepts patients with Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP, private insurance, and no insurance.

Theaker, daughter of Bessie and Willie T. Jones, is a native of Columbus, Mississippi. Theaker was the former Chief Operation Officer of Tampa Family Health Centers, Inc. Tampa, Florida, which is also a Federally Qualified Health Center. She was in charge of the day to day operations of seven health centers and 250 employees. Theaker also served as the chairperson of the Health Education and Social Services committee in East Tampa. She has been in the healthcare field for fifteen years.

Total Healthcare Center spokespeople say Theaker worked her way up the ladder, originally starting out as the office manager of a clinic. During her time with Tampa Family, she was promoted from Office Manager to Administrative Manager, Director of Administrative Services, Deputy Chief of Operations and finally Chief Operations Officer. THC officials say Ms. Theaker wrote many grants for the organization that provided additional services in the East Tampa area and throughout Hillsborough County. Officials say she attended many community meetings in order to help educate the community about the healthcare services in Tampa. During her time at Tampa Family, Ms. Theaker earned her MBA from the University of South Florida in 2009, and she holds a Bachelor of Science, Health Care Management, from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.

Spokespeople say the Total Healthcare Center organization is excited about having a CEO who has extensive Federally Qualified Health Center experience. A special reception is being planned later this month to introduce Theaker to the entire community.

SMITH COUNTY — Department of Public Safety Officials are investigating a wreck Friday morning that sent one man to the hospital. Authorities say alcohol was a factor in the wreck. It happened a little before 8:00 on Hwy 110 near County Road 2234 south of Whitehouse. DPS officials say a truck was driving northbound on Hwy 110, when it was struck by a driver heading westbound on County Rd 2234 who failed to yield. The driver who failed to yield right of way had reportedly been drinking. One man was pinned in his vehicle and had to be removed.

TYLER — The teen arrested for an arson fire in Tyler was in a Smith County courtroom Thursday. The judge ordered the teen to undergo a mental health evaluation and to be detained at the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center until the next hearing, set for June 27. The teen has been charged with arson. The fire was reported around 9:15 Wednesday morning at Dollar General Store on Erwin. Tyler Fire Department spokesman Paul Findley said damage was minimal.