KTBB News, Weather, Talk

RUSK COUNTY — Before the cold air arrived Tuesday, a line of strong thunderstorms moved through the area. They were responsible for one tornado that formed in the Oak Hill area in Rusk County. The small EF-1 tornado caused damage to a couple of houses and some trees shortly before 6:15 Tuesday morning. The Shreveport National Weather Service reported the damage path was 1/2 mile long and 100 yards wide. No injuries were reported.

KILGORE � Kilgore is getting a new police chief. Jasper Police Chief Todd Hunter has announced he has accepted the post. Hunter announced Monday his last day on the job will be February 19. He has served as the Jasper Police Chief for six years.

TYLER � The Tyler Police Department has a new Sergeant. Tuesday, Chief Gary Swindle promoted Investigator Brian Bulman, on the left, to the position of Sergeant.

Brian Bulman was hired by the Tyler Police Department on May 30, 2000. He attended the Tyler Junior College Law Enforcement Academy and was assigned to the Patrol Division upon graduation. Officer Bulman worked midnight shift patrol from 2001 until July 2004.

In July 2004 Officer Bulman was selected as an Investigator in the Special Investigations Unit. Detective Bulman worked in this capacity until February 2008 when he was assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration to work as a DEA Task Force Officer. He has served in this capacity as the DEA Task Force Officer until his promotion to Sergeant today.

Detective Bulman holds a Masters Peace Officers Certification through TCLEOSE and has been the recipient of the Life Saving Award, the Expert Marksman Award, the Safe Driving Award, and the Plainclothes Officer of the Month Award.

AUSTIN � A Tyler lawyer is running for the state bar of Texas. He is F.R. �Buck� Files, a shareholder in criminal-defense firm Bain, Files, Jarrett, Bain & Harrison. At a recent meeting the board approved candidates for the 2011-2012 State Bar president-elect race. According to a state bar news release, the other candidate is Guy Choate, a partner in personal-injury law firm Webb, Stokes & Sparks in San Angelo.

AUSTIN — Texas Mutual Insurance Company has awarded a combined $300,000 in grants to Kilgore College, Midland College and College of the Mainland in Texas City. The grants will continue to fund free workplace safety courses for employers, employees and the general public through the colleges risk management institutes.

�We are grateful for the support that Texas Mutual continues to show Kilgore College and the emphasis the company places on safety education,� said William Holda, president of Kilgore College. �Since the beginning of our partnership, we were confident that the KC Risk Management Institute would be a valuable resource for area employees and employers. It has not only proved to be an important educational tool, but has also helped to make participants more competitive in today’s job market.�

Courses at the safety institutes include general topics, such as back safety and OSHA standards, but students may also choose to attend courses tailored to the dominant industries in the Houston, Midland and Kilgore areas.

GLADEWATER (AP) � The mother of Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith has died in an East Texas hospital at the age of 77. Mae Smith had long suffered from diabetes. Gregory Dearion of Dearion & Davis Funeral Parlor in Gladewater said her funeral is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins, Texas. Dearion said Smith’s husband died in 1996.

Born in the small East Texas town of Big Sandy, Mae Evelyn Chalk Smith was a longtime resident of nearby Tyler. In a 2007 interview with the Tyler Morning Telegraph, she said she had been a Dallas Cowboys fan until her son became the Bears coach. Lovie Smith, a former Tulsa University football star, led the Bears to that year’s Super Bowl, where they lost to Indianapolis.

NASHVILLE (AP) � Lindale�s Miranda Lambert has so many nominations for Academy of Country Music Awards that Ronnie Dunn jokes it seems like she has 35. She actually leads with seven and she says that’s “awesome.” Lambert and Dunn announced many of the nominations Tuesday morning on “The Early Show” on CBS. Lambert will compete for entertainer of the year with Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Toby Keith and Jason Aldean. Carrie Underwood won that top award the past two years, but isn’t nominated this year. Lambert’s fiance Blake Shelton has two nominations and will co-host the ACMs with Reba McEntire on April third.

LONGVIEW — Longview police say they’ve arrested a Gilmer man on burglary charges. On Saturday, around 10:00 p.m., Officers received information that the suspect in several area commercial burglaries was seen in the area of North Eastman Road and East Marshall Avenue. When officers arrived they located the subject walking in the 1900 Block of East Marshall Avenue. Police say the suspect led officers on a short foot pursuit. The DPS helicopter was also deployed, and the suspect was apprehended a short time later. The suspect was identified as Keir Jacques Harris, 40, of Gilmer. Harris was arrested for evading arrest and two counts of burglary. The investigation continues, and more charges may be filed at a later date.

LONGVIEW � The Longview Police Department has a new chief and assistant chief today. Yesterday morning, Don Dingler, pictured here, took the oath of office as the new Chief of Police. Chief Dingler has served in a variety of capacities during his 37 years with the Longview Police Department, including serving as Assistant Chief since 2003. Dingler succeeds Chief J.B. McCaleb who recently retired.

Following the swearing in of Chief Dingler, the Police Department also swore in Michael Bishop as an Assistant Chief for the department. Serving in the position previously held by Dingler, Assistant Chief Bishop will provide oversight to the Administrative Bureau.

LONGVIEW — Three persons have been arrested and a Longview massage parlor has been shut down. An undercover officer entered Sakura Spa at 2010 Gilmer Road and made arrangements for a 2 person massage. When it was agreed upon, officers entered the business and requested to see the massage therapist licenses. Two women who did not have licenses through the state of Texas to perform massages were detained. The owner, Sam Gee, 60, of Bellerose, New York, was arrested for operating a massage establishment without a license. The women, Thye Ng, 51, and Vivan Huang, 46, both of Longview, were charged with massage without a license.

MARSHALL � One East Texas city is taking steps to help out its most vulnerable citizens during this cold snap. The city of Marshall is opening an emergency shelter for residents who can�t escape the cold on their own. City Manager Frank Johnson says the shelter will be open until the weather warms up, probably sometime this weekend.

TYLER — Austin Bank was recently selected as one of the Best Companies to Work for in Texas 2011. This is the third year for Austin Bank to receive the award. The awards program is a project of Texas Monthly magazine. “Austin Bank is especially proud to receive this honor because it came from the input of our employees,” said Jeff Austin III, Vice Chairman of the Board. “The success of our bank has been built by a wonderful team of dedicated, professional employees.”

TYLER � With the snow and freezing temperatures, the City of Tyler is recommending continued precautions. Residents are encouraged to wrap exposed faucets, use caution if driving and turn off any irrigation and sprinkler equipment that could potentially reach streets and sidewalks.

�Commercial faucet covers and pipe insulation are available to reduce the chances of freezing,� explained Public Works Director Greg Morgan. �However, if commercial products are not available residents can also use newspaper or towels duct taped around the faucet to provide some protection from the freezing conditions and help prevent breakage.�

During episodes of freezing temperatures, residents are encouraged to avoid driving if possible. Overpasses and bridges are typically the first areas that freeze, so extreme caution should be taken in these locations. Sand trucks have been fully loaded and stand ready should icy conditions manifest. However, the Police Department advises avoiding the following areas should the temperature fall below freezing:

Beckham Street Overpass near Gentry Parkway; Fifth Street Overpass near Beckham; Fleischel and Saunders Overpass; Shiloh Road east of Paluxy (sloping road) and Loop 49 at overpasses.

The airport has completed all winter storm preparation procedures, including ensuring that de-icing materials are available, checking all generators to confirm they are operational, preparing sidewalk cleaning equipment and materials, and readying tractors for quick response. Travelers are urged to check the City web page at
http://www.cityoftyler.org for the latest flight information.
In the event of extreme weather, Transit service may be briefly postponed or cancelled. Check the City web page for the latest information.

LUFKIN — A Lufkin man accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl was found not guilty by an Angelina County jury Monday afternoon. Felix Aguirre, 46, stood accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a girl in his family from the time she was age 13 to age 16. The girl testified last week that Aguirre would come into her room after her mother went to sleep and force her to have sex with him about three times a week.

The jury heard a recording the girl made of her and her mother confronting Aguirre about the abuse was brought into evidence. At one part in the tape, the mother can be heard asking Aguirre for money, $15,000 and she would �keep her mouth shut,� according to testimony. Aguirre took the stand Friday, saying he never sexually assaulted the girl and he believed it was about money to the girl and her mother.

TYLER — A Rusk County woman has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges. Ivana Robinson Adkins, 35, of Mt. Enterprise, pleaded guilty to possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love. She faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the violation. A sentencing date has not been set. Federal prosecutors say Adkins traveled to various pharmacies in the East Texas to purchase cold pills containing pseudoephedrine to aid her in her methamphetamine manufacturing activities.