KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER � A 24-year-old Lawrenceville, Georgia man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas. Dannis Ivan Villarreal pleaded guilty on Sep. 30, 2010, to being involved in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison Tuesday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.

According to information presented in court, on Jan. 25, 2010, Villarreal was stopped for a traffic violation on Interstate 20 near Longview. A search of the vehicle revealed 13 lbs. of methamphetamine hidden in a secret compartment built into the vehicle. Villarreal was transporting the drugs from Dallas to Georgia. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6, 2010, and charged with drug trafficking violations.

SULPHUR SPRINGS � Bond has been set at $220,000 for a man accused of on-line solicitation of a minor and assault on a peace officer. He is identified as Brian Chad Martin, 36, of Sulphur Springs. The 16 year old girl�s parents tipped off authorities after noticing text messages she had received. Instead of the girl, officers were waiting for the suspect in a church parking lot around midnight Sunday. Authorities say when he noticed the officers he jumped in his car and tried to flee, trying to run over the officers. They had to shoot out his cars� tires to get the vehicle to stop and to take Martin into custody.

At his arraignment yesterday, bond was set at $200,000 on two counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer. His bond was set at $20,000 for one count of on-line solicitation of a minor. But that is just part of his problem. At the time of his arrest, Martin was out on bond after being indicted for sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault and manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance. The bonds on those charges could be revoked at a hearing scheduled for Thursday.

EAST TEXAS — U.S. Senator John Cornyn makes a pair of East Texas stops Tuesday. In Tyler, Cornyn visited the FRESH by Brookshire’s grocery store, termed an innovative concept in grocery stores that utilizes many local growers and vendors. Cornyn toured the new store; met with Brad Brookshire, Chairman of the Board, and Rick Rayford, President and CEO, along with several employees; and discussed the impact of the new store on the local economy � including the creation of 350 new jobs. Cornyn also drew attention to the store’s supply of fresh, health foods, saying, “Taking care of ourselves in terms of how we eat and exercising can have a big impact on our health, particularly with regard to chronic diseases like diabetes.”

Sen. Cornyn additionally heard from Brookshire�s executives on their concerns about new federal health care legislation, which turns a year old on Wednesday. They discussed their concerns with the paperwork burden and costs they will be expected to shoulder as the law takes effect and how the new mandates could hinder their growth. Cornyn remarked, “The price of health insurance is going through the roof, and employers are having to pay a lot more…making it harder for them to hire new people.”

In Nacogdoches, Cornyn visited a drilling site in the Haynesville Shale. According to the senator, the rig represents the latest in horizontal drilling technology. He says it’s being used to tap into a natural gas play that has the potential to increase energy self-sufficiency and serve as a significant source of clean energy for the nation, while also providing revenue and jobs for the local economy. Cornyn says that means “paying taxes to help support our school kids when we’re seeing a lot of serious budget cuts across the board.” Cornyn was joined by Nacogdoches Mayor Roger Van Horn and County Judge Joe English as he toured the rig site and met with representatives from local small business, Sonerra Resources, and international oil and gas company EOG Resources, who have partnered to develop the Haynesville Shale site.

TYLER � The Tyler Parks and Recreation Department celebrates the completion of the exterior renovations at the 1859 Goodman-LeGrand House and Museum with a midday ribbon cutting event and reception. Renovations on the museum started in October 2010 and are now complete thanks to the efforts of the City of Tyler Parks and Recreation Department, Project Manager Billy Bartush with Ron Mabry and Associates, and project supervisor Michael Burke with Mikasa Construction, Inc. �The results achieved are a substantial improvement in the preservation of this historic Tyler landmark,� said Museum Curator Patricia Heaton. �This maintenance helps us ensure that the Goodman Home will stand as a showplace for many years to come.�

Refreshments will be served on the grand front porch of the Goodman, while music will be played for the enjoyment of those attending. The ceremony includes Mayor Barbara Bass and City Manager Mark McDaniel. The event is free and the public is invited to attend. Officials say the renovation project was necessary to preserve and maintain the integrity of the original structure. According to press materials, all specifications of the project were in compliance with national, state and local historical guidelines.

TYLER � Smith County Commissioners Tuesday signed a resolution pledging future revenue resulting from jail improvements to the early retirement of jail debt. Last month the Commissioners Court unanimously voted to place a $35 million bond proposal on the May ballot which would alleviate jail overcrowding issues in Smith County. The proposed bond would cost taxpayers one cent per $100 of assessed property value for 15 years, an average household cost of $13 per year. The resolution pledges that any surplus revenue above actual costs incurred from housing inmates from outside counties will be applied toward paying off the jail debt faster than originally planned.

Officials say the 2011 plan to alleviate jail overcrowding features the addition of 384 beds to the current downtown site, addresses public and employee safety issues, and includes an infirmary to cut inmate hospital expenses by an estimated $600,000 to $800,000 per year. According to press materials, Smith County currently spends $2.3 million annually on out-of-county inmate transport and housing.

NACOGDOCHES — Nacogdoches Public School employees thinking about an early retirement have a little incentive now. At a special meeting Monday, NISD’s board unanimously approved a $5,000 early notice resignation incentive. The board hopes the move will help the district deal with any red ink in their pending budgeting process. Before spring break began, NISD Superintendent Dr. Rodney Hutto sent out a letter and budget strategies, which included the incentive, to all district employees so they could think about their options.

SULPHUR SPRINGS � The city swimming pool in Buford Park in Sulphur Springs will not open this summer. The pool has been in operation for over 50 years. In a prepared statement issued Monday, the city said current use patterns have rendered continued operation of the pool increasingly economically non-viable.

According to the prepared statement, �During the past few years, pool use has continued to decline while operating expenses, like expenses in other areas, have increased. In this era of budget cuts and tighter governmental operating budgets, the perpetuation of progressively larger operating shortfalls at the city pool would be imprudent. In our continuing efforts to maintain low municipal taxes while providing quality services, we will continue to evaluate all municipal services to ensure that City of Sulphur Springs taxpayers receive the best value possible for each tax dollar.�

City officials declined to comment on the announcement, citing pending litigation. They also did not indicate what would be done with the pool site.

AUSTIN — An East Texan is one of three persons appointed by the governor to the Commission on Jail Standards for terms to expire January 31, 2017. The commission establishes standards for the care and treatment of county prisoners, construction, maintenance and operation of county jails.

Among those named to the panel was Allan Cain of Carthage, an independent business property owner and former police officer for the City of Longview. He is a member of the Texas Self Storage Association, Marine Corps League, Marine Corps Association, Carthage Chapter of the American Legion, and Lions Club of Carthage. He is also a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and National Rifle Association, an ambassador and past board member of the Panola County Chamber of Commerce, volunteer coordinator with Mike Barber Prison Ministries, and a past member of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education. Cain served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He received a bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University.

The governor also named to the panel Taylor County commissioner Stanley Egger of Tuscola and Michael Seale of Houston.

NACOGDOCHES � About 500 bales of hay were destroyed, and a litter of puppies died, during a fire on Sunday. It happened on County Road 233 east of Nacogdoches. Fire officials say a barn filled with hay caught fire and they were unable to put it out. Besides the puppies, which were living in the hay, there were no injuries. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

TYLER — Police in Tyler are issuing some auto burglary prevention tips. In 2010, the Tyler Police Department investigated 1,200 auto burglaries. That total is almost cut in half from the previous year of 2,104 auto-burglaries in 2009. With summer fast approaching and more people getting out shopping and enjoying outdoor activities, police say it’s an especially good time to remind you to secure your belongings inside your vehicle. Police say most auto burglaries involve smashed windows or other forcible means to gain entry to locked vehicles in order to get access to valuables.

Thefts from vehicles occur at all hours, day and night. Police say all auto burglaries generally have one thing in common: something to steal — something valuable left in the car. And many auto burglaries are “crimes of opportunity”; they could have been avoided had simple preventative steps been taken. According to police, auto burglary prevention, like all crime prevention, involves limiting the criminal’s ability and/or opportunity to commit the crime. With very little time and effort, police say, you can make a huge difference in your vulnerability to auto-burglary. It generally takes a mere few seconds to secure your valuables, but it will take only a few seconds more for a thief to break in and steal valuables left in plain sight.

The first thing you can do to help, according to officers: don’t leave valuables in your car – particularly in plain sight. They say the last thing you need is to find your vehicle’s window broken or items missing. Police suggest taking these simple but important steps to maintain your car’s safety:

* Don’t leave valuables in your car.
* If you must leave valuable items in your car while out and about, place items in your trunk or out of sight.
* Leave no trace of connector cables.
* Try to park in busy, well lighted areas.
* Lock ALL your vehicle’s doors.
* Set any alarm or anti-theft device.

Police add that if you see suspicious activity, report it immediately. “Suspicious Activity” would include:

* Persons walking up and down aisles of parking lots looking into cars or trying door handles, vehicles cruising parking lots at very slow speeds for extended periods while observing parked cars.
* Persons sitting in running parked cars for protracted periods, and vehicles dropping one person off while continuing to cruise the same area.

LUFKIN – A Lufkin man pleads guilty to dumping waste. David Overdorf, 48, pleaded guilty last Friday in Lufkin to disposing of hazardous wastes without a permit. According to information presented in court, Overdorf was the former owner and president of H.O.T. Transport, Inc. (HOT), a Lufkin-based chemical transportation business which offered commercial transportation of industrial liquids such as caustics, ethanol, methanol, hot wax, cresol, and formaldehyde. During the normal course of business, Overdorf directed HOT employees to wash out the interiors of trailer mounted tanks at HOT’s place of business knowing that the tanks contained hazardous wastes. Overdorf also directed HOT employees to pump the wash wastewater containing hazardous wastes from a catch basin into a trailer mounted tank labeled “wastewater” at the business.

On Mar. 10, 2006, Overdorf directed a HOT employee to transport approximately 45,000 tons of tank wash wastewater containing hazardous wastes in a trailer mounted tank from the business to Quala Wash in Houston for disposal and authorized payment of $450 to Clinton Promise for the disposal. These wastes possessed the hazardous characteristic of Ignitability.

As part of his plea agreement with the government, Overdorf has agreed to pay a $50,000 fine. He must also hire an independent environmental engineering firm within four weeks to determine the full extent of soil contamination at HOT’s former business site. Overdorf must also spend up to $250,000 towards the costs of cleaning up any contamination left at the site. HOT is no longer in business. Overdorf faces up to five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

EDOM — Authorities in Van Zandt County are asking for the public’s help in solving a vandalism case. According to the Edom Mayor, Barbara Crow, “Someone spray-painted graffiti, consisting of words and offensive drawings in blue paint, at the children’s playground area of the Edom Community Park.” The vandalism reportedly took place around March 1, and Crow is hoping that volunteers can help clean the playground within the next week.

Crime Stoppers did not specify an amount for this reward and will determine that following the arrest of the persons responsible. The organization does offer rewards of up to $1,000 to anonymous callers who provide information that leads to an arrest. Call 903-567-STOP.

LONGVIEW � A weekend accident on Interstate Highway 20 in Gregg County has killed two persons. The wreck was reported shortly before 1:45 Saturday morning about 4� miles south of Longview. Killed were Jerry Maurice Johnson, 43, and Justin Keith Blanchie, 38, both of Longview. The Department of Public Safety report says Johnson�s car was east bound in the west bound lane when it collided head on with a truck driven by Zachery Scott Collins, 20, of Kilgore. He is listed in stable condition at Longview�s Good Shepherd Medical Center. The DPS report said none of the persons involved in the wreck were wearing their seat belts.

LUFKIN � A one vehicle accident in Angelina County has left one person dead. The Department of Public Safety says Sean Christopher Simoneaux, 19, of Lufkin, was not wearing a seat belt when his car left the road and hit a tree. The accident happened shortly after 3:15 Sunday morning on Farm Road 842, about four miles north of Lufkin. He was pronounced dead at a Lufkin hospital about two hours after the accident.

LONGVIEW — A portion of Spring Hill Road will be closed this morning from 9:00 to 11:00 for a vehicle-accident dramatization at Spring Hill High School. The mock accident will take place at 10:00 in front of Spring Hill High School, 2700 Spring Hill Rd. Known as Shattered Dreams, the dramatization is a program designed to demonstrate the devastating effects of drinking and driving. The two-day event will display the work of emergency responders, highlight the effects of the accident on family and friends, and show the consequences of arrest and criminal charges.

Spring Hill School officials coordinated the event as an educational opportunity for their students. Several local organizations are providing assistance, including the Longview Police Department, Longview Fire Department, Joe Boys U-Pull It, Radar Funeral Home, Flight for Life, Mobberly Baptist Church, Alpine Church of Christ, Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission, and Good Shepherd Medical Center.

According to Spring Hill Superintendent Wes Jones, �This demonstration is a good opportunity to showcase to students how dangerous drinking and driving can be. We hope they realize that the choices they make don�t just affect themselves, but impact their family, friends, and classmates.�