KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — A Van Zandt County man has pleaded guilty in Tyler federal court to child pornography violations. Jeremy Erwin, 37, of Fruitvale, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. According to information presented in court, on September 29, 2009, law enforcement agents executed a federal search warrant at Erwin�s residence and seized a personal computer. A forensic analysis of the seized items revealed 600 images or visual depictions of child porn. Erwin was indicted by a federal grand jury on last October and charged with federal child pornography violations. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

LUFKIN — Lufkin Police investigate a possible injury to a child after hospital personnel reported a suspicious injury. Authorities received a call Saturday morning from an emergency room staff member that Julia Goodwin, 30, Lufkin, brought in an unresponsive 1-year-old child. Testing showed the child may have ingested a dangerous amount of some type of drug. The toddler was taken to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston for further treatment. The investigation is ongoing and so far no charges have been filed.

AUSTIN — The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) recovered nearly $4 million in fraudulently obtained Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits in Calendar Year 2010. TWC investigates and refers to local district attorney offices cases in which UI benefits are obtained through fraud or deception. These funds will be returned to the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund from which TWC pays unemployment benefits to those who lose their jobs through no fault of their own.

In addition to restitution orders, individuals who commit UI fraud can be ordered to pay fines, perform hours of community service and some serve jail time. One Upshur County individual was prosecuted for state UI fraud in 2010 and ordered to pay $4,626 in restitution.

TWC�s Regulatory Integrity Division is charged with detecting and preventing fraud, waste and abuse. The division enforces all regulatory statutes within the jurisdiction of the agency, including Tax, Workforce, Trade Act, Skills Development, Self-Sufficiency, Child Care and all other programs that TWC administers. Prevention, detection and elimination of fraud, waste and abuse in the UI program are top priorities, ensuring that funds are available exclusively to those who meet the eligibility requirements.

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University online education student Jasmine Cierra Starling of Waco has named a Gates Millennium Scholar. Starling has completed all of her coursework toward her teaching certification to teach Early Childhood through sixth grade and is in her final semester of a one-year internship. The award is renewable for up to five years in any undergraduate discipline and throughout graduate school to a doctoral degree in the disciplines of computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics public health or science.

Funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Gates Millennium Scholars Program began in 1999 to provide outstanding African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American, and Hispanic American students with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education in any discipline area of interest. The program has awarded more than $630 million and produced more than 14,000 scholars who have attended more than 1,500 institutions of higher education. The program also provides leadership development services, which has helped to achieve a six-year 90% graduation rate over the past decade, which is double the national average of students from similar backgrounds.

LONGVIEW — A lane closure began Monday for the Reel Road Widening Project at Gilmer Road and Reel Road. The outside southbound lane of Gilmer Road will be closed for a few weeks. Traffic detours and delays will continue in the Reel Road construction zone. Please consider alternate routes. This project was approved by voters as part of the Capital Improvements Bond Election in May 2007. This project is being constructed by East Texas Bridge of Longview, Texas.

ATHENS — The Texas Transportation Commission, the Texas Department of Transportation’s governing body, awarded Athens Municipal Airport a grant of approximately $140,000 at its regular meeting last week for the installation of an automated weather observation system. A contract for the project is expected to be awarded this spring. Project costs will be funded through TxDOT�s Aviation Facilities Grant Program, which preserves and improves the state�s general aviation system, and the city of Athens.

This year, TxDOT expects to provide approximately $60 million in funding for planning, constructing and maintaining community airports. Approximately 275 community airports in Texas are eligible for funding. Arrivals and departures from community airports account for more than three million flight hours per year and provide aircraft facilities for agricultural, medical, business and commuter use.

Also this week in Henderson County, TxDOT maintenance crews are scheduled to continue pavement repair operations on State Highway 31 Business and State Highway 19 Business in downtown Athens, followed by the same work on SH 19 south of Athens. A second crew is scheduled to perform edge repairs in various locations on Farm Road 315 between Farm Road 279 and SH 31 in Chandler. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

UNDATED — Here’s a quick look at other work planned in the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

LONGVIEW — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repairs in various locations on Spur 63 in and around Longview. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs in various locations on Farm Road 1662 between Farm Road 1798 in Laneville and Farm Road 2753 near Anadarko.

A second crew is scheduled to be at work on Farm Road 13 west of State Highway 42 in Price. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

SMITH COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue resurfacing operations on Farm Road 850 east of Tyler between State Highway 31 and Farm Road 2607. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue fog seal operations on Farm Road 1817 between U.S. Highway 287 and Farm Road 323, and on Farm Road 2330 between State Highway 19 and Farm Road 860. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

Fog seal operations require lengthy lane closures and can cause moderate delays to traffic. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue resurfacing operations in various locations on Farm Road 858 between State Highway 19 south of Canton and Farm Road 1653, and on Farm Road 1861 between SH 19 and Farm Road 2339. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

WOOD COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to be at work on the following roadways in and around Wood County:
*Farm Road 2088 east of Farm Road 312;
*Farm Road 778 north of Farm Road 49;
*Farm Road 857 south of U.S. Highway 80; and
*Farm Road 49 east of Farm Road 312.

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.

LONGVIEW — A Longview Fire Department recognition and promotional ceremony is set for this afternoon at 3:00. Honoree Wayne Oldham was recently appointed to the position of Battalion Chief. Oldham was recognized as Fire Fighter of the Year in 1994 and Fire Officer of the year in 2007. Another honoree, Jon Eric Johnson, began his service to the city in December 2006 and was promoted to driver in January 2011.

The following service awards will also be handed out Monday:
25 Years – Ron Clower
20 Years – David Bates, Will Edwards, Hilton Jay
10 years – Matt Bryan, Olan Doxey
5 Years – Spencer Wolf, Wes Teague, Ed Thomas

JACKSONVILLE – Tiffany Arnold from Mixon has cerebral palsy. According to KETK, when she was born, doctors told her parents she wouldn’t live past 3. But she did. She’s now 17 years old, and she’s outgrown the minivan her family has used to take her places for the past 17 years. That’s where Brownsboro man Glenn Miller and the “BAM Foundation” come in. They hope to give back to the community by helping others, just as they were helped.

Until May, Miller and the foundation will be selling raffle tickets for a 1967 Chevelle donated by a friend of Miller’s. The car was on display in Jacksonville over the weekend. For $25 a ticket, the car will be given away in May after 1,000 tickets are sold. The money will be used to buy the Arnold family a bigger van, and the old van will be donated to another East Texas family in need. You can go to http://www.cansacrossamerica.net/ to learn more about the BAM Foundation.

TYLER — Rev. Orenthia Mason says if she’s re-elected, her next term on the Tyler ISD Board of Trustees will be her last. Mason made the announcement as she keynoted Saturday’s City Wide Black History Program at the Rose Garden Center. Mason has represented the board’s District 2 since 2005 and is up for re-election this May, with no announced opposition thus far. Mason says board membership can very rewarding but also very stressful. In particular, she cited likely personnel cuts as part of the board’s budget-trimming efforts tied to financial constraints in Austin. Mason is a longtime minister and educator who currently works as director of teacher education at Texas College.

TYLER — The League of Women Voters invites area residents to a free water and water rights seminar today in Tyler, featuring Texas environmental writer Joe Nick Patoski. Spokespeople say the purpose is to learn how Texas water is managed — and to discuss whether new laws and regulations are needed to keep it flowing in ways that protect quality of life.

According to League materials, Patoski will talk about Texas�s rather unique water law and the impact it wields on the future water supply. He’ll be joined by panelists Greg Morgan of Tyler Water Utilities and Glenda Kindle of the East Texas Regional Water Planning Group. Among the questions to be addressed: Who owns Texas water? Have water rights ignited true wars in the West? Will East Texas be next? Is Texas water just a commodity for sale to the highest bidder? It all happens this evening at 7:00 in the fellowship hall of First Christian Church, 4202 South Broadway.

TYLER � A three-car pileup shuts down parts of one of Tyler�s busiest and most dangerous intersections for almost two hours. Police, paramedics, and firefighters responded to South Broadway and Loop 323 just after 10:00 Saturday morning. Nathan Warren was inside the vehicle deemed at fault for the accident. He says it only took a few seconds of not paying attention to the road for the collision to happen. His mom was driving. Nathan says he and his mother were talking as the car crossed an intersection, and they �got sidetracked.� Nathan says that�s when they saw the other cars appear, whereupon his mother slammed on her brakes and drove to the left.

Officials say such wrecks usually result in major injuries, but luckily, in this case, no one was hurt. Warren, though, was still a bit shaken up moments after the crash. He does point out that everyone involved was wearing a seat belt, which police say is a key to preventing injuries in such collisions. In the past few weeks, four East Texas motorists have been killed in accidents, and authorities say none of the victims were buckled in.

LONGVIEW — The City of Longview is encouraging residents to apply to serve on a variety of council-appointed boards, commissions, and committees. Volunteer members advise the City Council on issues ranging from cultural activities to community development. To be considered for appointment, residents are encouraged to apply by March 14, 2011.

According to Mayor Jay Dean, �The volunteers on our boards and commissions play a vital role for the City of Longview. As a Council, we can delegate some amount of oversight to boards and commissions. They are able to look at particular issues and then make recommendations for council consideration. It is helpful to the city, and it is a great way for the volunteers to get involved and learn more about the community.�

Officials say the city needs several new people to apply to serve this year. According to City Manager David Willard, �All new appointments will be made for the recently created Longview Historic Preservation Commission.” Willard also notes that several volunteers on existing boards reach the end of their terms this March. “As a result,” he adds, “we have more than twenty openings available on various committees this year, which is a larger number than usual.�

Openings are available on the following committees: Certified Retirement City Committee, Construction Advisory and Appeals Board, Cultural Activities Advisory Commission, Longview Historic Preservation Commission, Partners in Prevention Steering Committee, Planning and Zoning Commission, Public Transportation Advisory Board, Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Board, and the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

The City Council plans to select committee appointments during the regular council meeting on Thursday, March 24. It should be noted that not all who apply will be appointed. Some restrictions apply. Residents are encouraged to go to http://www.LongviewTexas.gov to apply online. Applications are also available at City Hall, 300 W. Cotton St. For more information, you can contact the City Manager�s Office at 903-237-1021.

LUFKIN — A woman is pulled over in Lufkin on Thursday — but allegedly not by an officer. Officials say Justin McDonald, 19, put a red and blue emergency light on his car and pretended to be an Angelina County sheriff’s deputy. According to reports, he told the woman her headlights were too dim, but his sheriff’s shirt and hat didn’t fool the woman. She says she recognized him as one of her neighbors. McDonald was later arrested for impersonating an officer, a third degree felony. He could get up to 20 years in prison.

So, the question is: how can you tell if an officer is legitimate? Angelina County law enforcement tells our news partner KETK that while officer impersonations are rare, they do happen. So, officials say, remember to look for official vehicle markings. But if an officer is in an undercover vehicle, he or she is still required to wear a visible badge — so keep on the lookout for it. Authorities also suggest that you try to pull over into a well-lit and busy area. Officers say they’ll understand if you want to drive a little further to ensure your safety.

SMITH COUNTY — A bicyclist is dead after being chased into traffic by a dog Friday on FM 2767, four miles east of Tyler. The accident happened shortly before 5:30 p.m. Troopers say a bicycle ridden by 19-year-old Damien Armand Carter of Tyler was eastbound on the westbound side of the highway when the dog chased him into oncoming traffic. Carter was then struck by a Nissan driven by Efrain Vega Chavez of Kilgore — and by a Chevy pickup driven by Jimmy Glenn Hawkins of Tyler. Carter was pronounced dead at the scene; he was not wearing a helmet. The accident remains under investigation.