KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — East Texas is again expecting very low temperatures this week. So far, this winter, PATH has given out more blankets than ever before. The need for heat during these extreme temperatures will result in higher than normal utility bills for families that simply can’t afford it.

“We don’t have any blankets right now,” said Christina Fulsom, executive director of PATH. “This is really a dangerous scenario. People, especially children, the ill and elderly, are at risk in these extremely low temperatures.”

PATH officials urge supporters to donate new blankets or money towards helping people with their utility bills. “Those on fixed incomes may be inclined to keep their heaters off to avoid the higher utility bills,” she added. “And some may need to purchase propane to keep warm. …Donations towards this kind of assistance are always needed and can literally save lives.”

You are asked to bring new blanket donations to the PATH office, 402 West Front Street Tyler from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Monetary donations can be designated for blankets or heat assistance and can be mailed at the West Front Street address or you can go http://www.PATHhelps.org and make a donation online.

TYLER — A Tyler hospital is among entities paying close attention after Monday’s Florida ruling on health care reform. Physician Hospitals of America (PHA) and Texas Spine and Joint Hospital are challenging the constitutionality of Section 6001 of Healthcare Reform in Texas Federal Court. An official decision is awaited in that case. Section 6001 bans further expansion or construction of Physician Owned Hospitals (POHs).

In response to the Florida ruling, lead attorney Scott Oostdyk of McGuireWoods says, “The Florida federal court has declared the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to be unconstitutional in its entirety. Section 6001 of that law bars expansion by only one type of hospital — those that are physician-owned. We are hopeful that the Florida decision will stop the enforcement by the federal government of all unconstitutional limitations on hospital expansion, and PHA will seek that relief in the courts.” A news release from the hospital says PHA and its attorneys will continue to analyze this ruling and their various options moving forward.

There are currently 285 POHs in 34 states. These hospitals include general acute care, long term acute care, emergency medicine, multispecialty, women’s, children’s, rehabilitation and psychiatric.

JACKSONVILLE (AP) – An East Texas woman cited as the world’s oldest person has died at the age of 114. Patricia Ellis of Boren-Conner Funeral Home of Jacksonville says Eunice G. Sanborn of Jacksonville died Monday morning at her home. A message left with Sanborn’s caretaker, David French, was not returned Monday. The Los Angeles-based Gerontology Research Group in Los Angeles listed Sanborn as the world’s oldest person, based on data from the 1900 census. Robert Young of the group said the title now passes to 114-year-old Besse Cooper of Monroe, Georgia, who is 114 years and five months old. Sanborn acquired the distinction November 4 upon the death of a French nun, Eugenie Blanchard, on the French Caribbean island of St. Barts. She was 114.

TYLER — Tyler police say that it will not be up to the drivers of the vehicles involved in a Monday accident on Highway 271 to file charges against each other. A report on the incident, outside Loop 323, will be sent to a property claims department, where it will be decided whether or not both drivers will face charges.

Witnesses tell officers a Volkswagen was driving too close to a pickup truck, and the driver of the truck began tapping his brake to get the driver of the car to let up. When the VW driver went to pass the truck, witnesses say the driver of the truck jumped to the other lane to prevent the car from passing. Eventually the vehicles hit. One vehicle ran off the road and hit a power pole. No outages were reported. One driver was taken to the hospital but was quickly released. The vehicles were both towed away. Witnesses say both drivers were at fault. Police say it is fortunate that the incident did not cause a head-on collision.

TYLER — Over a month after they were discovered, some good news for a group of abused horses in Lindale. Two of them made their way to a new home in Tennessee on Sunday. In December, after numerous complaints about a herd of malnourished horses, rescuers found 43 emaciated horses and about a dozen skeletal remains. The SPCA of East Texas and the Humane Society brought the horses to the East Texas State Fairgrounds for rehabilitation. For the past month, they’ve been getting good food, exercise and vaccinations, all in preparation to find the horses a new home.

TROUP — Alcohol measures could possibly make the ballot again in East Texas. Troup’s city manager says he’s heard of petitions circulating in his community. He says petitions must have 115 signatures and be turned in by Friday. If the signatures are verified, the measures would be on the May 14th ballot.

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County deputies say a car crashed inches from a house Monday off Highway 110, south of Interstate Highway 20. Officials say the driver was speeding on a curved portion of the highway, lost control and slid off the wet road. The car crashed through a homeowner’s fence and yard, sliding to a halt on its side just inches away from the house. No one was injured during the accident. The driver was ticketed for traveling at an unsafe speed.

TYLER — A suspect is sought in a Monday morning aggravated robbery. Just before 10:00, Tyler Police responded to Henderson Chicken at 2122 North Grand. A male employee told officers he was working inside the business when two black males entered, pointing guns and yelling it was a robbery. The suspects were wearing all black and black ski masks. According to police, the employee gave them an undetermined amount of cash, and the suspects left in a black station wagon, unknown type or model. The employee was not harmed.

NACOGDOCHES — A crash in Nacogdoches claimed the life of a Stephen F. Austin student. Justin Shank, 28, was killed Friday night after a truck reportedly collided with his motorcycle. It happened along the 2700 block of North Street around 7:00. Police said Shank was pronounced dead at Memorial Hospital.

WHITEHOUSE — Smith County Game Warden Chris Green makes an uncommon stop, on land. It happened Saturday afternoon when Green decided to grab a bite to eat near the lake in Whitehouse. He says he came across some driving behavior not commonly seen in the middle of the day. “There was a truck in front of me that was weaving from side to side. I thought they might be on the cell phone or texting. I was gonna stop them and tell them they couldn’t do that,” Green said. Then the truck hit a driver stopped at the red light and veered into oncoming traffic.

After Green forced the young man out of the truck, he cuffed him and sat him down on the side of the road while he cleared traffic and called Whitehouse P.D. “Clearly his eyes were just, you know, they were dialated, going every which way, and clearly impaired on something,” Green said. He says alcohol was found in the vehicle.

The man was to be booked into the Smith County Jail and charged with driving under the influence.

TYLER — A Tyler aggravated robbery suspect has been arrested. Early Monday morning officers responded to 1118 West Gentry Parkway to a report of a robbery in progress. When they arrived, officers saw a suspect running from the store. After a brief foot pursuit, they were able to arrest Ronald Howard, 42, Tyler. Howard was positively identified by the store clerk and was booked into the Smith County Jail on aggravated robbery charges.

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating an aggravated robbery that was reported around 9:45 Sunday night at Super One Foods at 1105 East Gentry Parkway. A woman told officers she was robbed at gunpoint by a black male described as mid 20’s and having a thin build. The suspect left on foot in an unknown direction. No injuries were reported.

LUFKIN – A Lufkin woman has died in a weekend accident in Lufkin. It happened around 9:30 Saturday night on Loop 287 at Lotus Lane. Killed was Connie McKay, 45. A passenger in her car was injured. Lufkin police say she was attempting to cross the loop when her car was broadsided by a car that ran a red light. The driver was arrested after fleeing the scene on foot. He is identified as Leobardo Nieves, 20. He was booked into the Angelina County Jail on a charge of intoxication manslaughter.

LONGVIEW – A traffic stop by the Department of Public Safety has resulted in the arrest of two North Carolina residents on drug charges. Their car was stopped Saturday night on Interstate Highway 20. A K9 unit was called to the scene and the dog found 30 pounds of crack cocaine in the SUV. Arrested were Terry Bumgarner, 47, of Newton, North Carolina and Chelsea Elizabeth McDowell, 25, of Hickory, North Carolina.

TYLER — The Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health) has recently reduced the cost of the seasonal flu vaccine for the general public. The vaccine is now being offered for a fee of $8.00 at 815 North Broadway in Tyler. Medicaid and Medicare Part B are also accepted and cover the cost of the vaccination. The seasonal flu vaccination will be given on a first come, first serve basis until the vaccine supply is depleted. NET Health Immunization Clinic hours are Monday – Wednesday 8:00am till 11:00am and 1:00pm till 4:00pm and Wednesday until 6:00pm.

“It is not too late for citizens to get vaccinated against the flu for this season. We are pleased to be able to offer this protection to our community at a more affordable rate.” says George Roberts, CEO of NET Health.

“Seasonal flu vaccine, available in shot and nasal spray forms, is recommended for people ages 6 months and older. It is especially important for individuals at high risk of complications from the flu to become vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available,” says Dr. Jonathan MacClements, Smith County Health Authority.

The 2010 – 2011 seasonal influenza vaccine will protect against three strains of flu viruses, including the 2009 H1N1influenza virus, which cause so much illness last season. Health officials say flu is unpredictable, but it is very likely that the flu virus will cause illness in the coming months.