KTBB News, Weather, Talk

DENVER, Colorado — A new study from HealthGrades again names Tyler’s Mother Frances Hospital among the nation’s top hospitals for patient safety. This is the fifth straight year Mother Frances has made the list. The HealthGrades study found that patients have a 46% lower risk of experiencing a patient safety incident at a top-rated hospital compared to a poorly-rated hospital. The study which analyzed 40 million
Medicare patient records from 2007 to 2009. HealthGrades is considered a top source of physician information and hospital quality outcomes.

QUITMAN — A motion to have former Mineola teacher JoAnn Stephens’s attorney removed from her defense is set to be heard in Wood County District Court in Quitman this afternoon at 1:30. Stephens, 43, has been indicted on five charges that include two counts of sexual assault of a child, two counts of improper relationship between an educator and student, and one count of online solicitation of a minor with intent to engage in sexual activity. The case involves a male student who was 15 years old at the time of the alleged offenses. The student has since graduated.

The motion was filed Tuesday by Attorney Thad Davidson, representing Kerry Duncan and the alleged victim in the case. The motion was the second filed in as many days concerning the case. Dan Wyde, Stephens’ attorney, filed a motion Monday to require the state to reveal any agreement or reason to cause the alleged victim to change his testimony. Wyde’s motion discusses dates on which the boy testified to the grand jury, the most recent being March 1, and the outcome of those sessions.

Wyde stated in his motion that the grand jury is entitled to know if there was any agreement or understanding to cause the alleged victim to change his testimony, such as a grant of immunity against prosecution for perjury. He said refusal to reveal any agreement constitutes violations of Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. Davidson’s motion was ordered sealed after it was obtained by the Wood County Democrat and Mineola Monitor under a Freedom of Information request. The motion states that according to Kerry Duncan, Wyde recommended Ferguson, who is his friend. It also indicates Wyde is representing Ricky Stephens, JoAnn’s husband and principal at Mineola High School.

HUDSON — A Lufkin man believed to be one of the last ranking Aryan Brotherhood members in Angelina County was arrested during a Thursday morning methamphetamine raid in Hudson, according to Angelina County Sheriff’s Office investigator Tom Matthews. For the last two months, the ACSO had been doing surveillance on the Meadowbrook trailer home of Aundria Whitehead Barrett, 39, after noticing AB Sgt. Tommy “Gunz” Smith, 40, coming in and out, according to Matthews. Barrett’s home is in the trailer park, located directly behind the Hudson Police Department off Mt. Carmel Road, which Matthews termed “a gutsy move.”

LONGVIEW – With the aid of a DPS helicopter, two Longview burglary suspects have been arrested. Officers were dispatched to the 100 Block of West Avelon Street for a report of a burglary in progress. Witness told officers that two black males were seen entering a residence and then seen coming back out of the residence with what was believed to be the victim’s property. The two suspects fled the scene. The first suspect was located in the 100 Block of West Avalon. He is identified as Lonnie Sibley Jr., 19, of Longview. After a short foot pursuit a second suspect was apprehended in the 100 Block of Peterson Place. He was identified as Terry Fields, 17, of Longview. Both suspects were arrested for evading arrest and burglary of a habitation.

WASHINGTON — Longview’s East Texas Regional Airport will receive a Federal Aviation Administration grant worth $461,555 for improvements, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn announced Thursday. “These funds will be used to address needed maintenance and safety improvements at East Texas Regional,” Sen. Cornyn said. “In addition, quality transportation services are important for boosting local economic growth. I commend the area leaders who worked to secure this funding.” The grant will provide money for the rehabilitation of an airport terminal entrance road and parking lot. Officials say both pavement surfaces have deteriorated to the point of pavement failure, creating hazardous driving surfaces for passengers. Cornyn says the project will enhance the life of the pavement.

TYLER — If you want to buy a fruit you’ve never heard of, watch a chef create a gourmet meal, or have an adult beverage while you shop, there’s a new store in Tyler offering just that. It’s FRESH by Brookshire’s, which opened Thursday on Tyler’s Old Jacksonville Highway. With 250 different kinds of cheese, fruits and veggies straight from the farmer’s field and dozens of varieties of water, it gives the name “FRESH” a whole new meaning.

General manager Steve DeLello says a lot of people have been traveling outside the area to get items they can’t find in East Texas, and he wants to keep more of that traffic local. Shelves are lined with everything from regular Ragu to homemade secret sauces. DeLello adds, “You’ll see that on the grocery aisle you’ll have gourmet items right next to the every-day items. If you get confused by all the gourmet names, you can find someone with lime green shoes and they’ll give you all the answers you need.”

FRESH also has a wine and beer selection. According to DeLello, “You actually can purchase a glass of wine and have it while you’re shopping, but the intent is with a meal.” DeLello promises affordability and business to local farmers. He says the store will stock “everything from tomatoes to strawberries to onions when they’re in season,” adding, “We’ll do our best to support the local vendor.”

TYLER —Tyler’s sales tax revenues deposited for the month of March have increased 1.38% as compared to March 2010, resulting in a 3.43% cumulative year-to-date increase. The figures come from the Texas Comptroller. Officials say the current month increase was 2.60%; however, an out-of-period audit adjustment resulted in the 1.38% increase. The reported revenue of $2,525,125.45 comprises $1,683,416.97 general sales tax revenue and $841,708.48 half-cent sales tax revenue. The figures represent receipts from January 2011 collections as there is a two-month lag before taxes are reported and remitted back to the City from the State.

“During this same month in 2010, we saw a 4.19% decrease and were running 9.49% percent down for the year,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel. “To say we are pleased with the recovery this year would be an understatement.” The city budgeted for a two percent increase in sales tax revenue for 2010-2011, so remains in a good financial position at the midpoint in the fiscal year. “We are watching gas prices closely as well as the State budget process,” added McDaniel. “For the first half of the fiscal year, the City was under budget on our gas expenditures. However, as gas prices have risen, we are edging closer to the budget threshold. Should prices continue to rise, we will be implementing additional conservation activities and possibly looking to biodiesel to control our costs.”

One of the other budget concerns is potential ramifications from budget cuts at the State level. The city received more than $1.1 million in state funding this fiscal year, of which $722,000 came from Federal grants passed through the state. Officials say state funding only represents 1.2% of the city’s operating budget. They add that although the cessation of the grants would not result in staffing decreases, there is concern that the state could choose to require cities to continue the programs without providing the funding, thereby creating an unfunded mandate. “We have worked diligently to balance our budget and make the cuts needed to stay within our means through these tough economic times. Mandates to continue state programs with local resources could be devastating to city budgets,” added McDaniel.

In 2010, the city of Tyler froze more than 125 positions mid-year, delayed capital expenditures, renegotiated contracts, launched a Lean Sigma efficiency program, limited salary adjustments and took many other actions to ensure the city ended the year in a positive financial position. “Because we have no general obligation debt and pay cash for most capital improvement projects, we are able to respond to changing financial conditions,” said McDaniel. “Thanks to our Blueprint, Called to SERVE and Lean Sigma programs, Tyler has maintained its culture of continuous improvement for greater efficiencies.”

OVERTON — An East Texas officer gets into a verbal and physical fight this week with a man who officers say was drunk. It began as a domestic disturbance between a mother and son. Overton police thought it had died down. But when Captain Clayton Taylor arrived at the scene, the fight was far from over. Authorities say Jonathan Earl Stuckey, 27, lashed out at Taylor as he was trying to calm Stuckey down. Taylor got Stuckey to the ground. But while handcuffing him, Taylor realized he was badly hurt, so he called for backup and an ambulance. A broken knuckle is fortunately the worst of Taylor’s injuries.

As for Stuckey, he was booked in the Smith County Jail that night. Later transferred to the Rusk County Jail, he faces multiple charges of assault on a public servant, assault family violence, and resisting arrest. And this isn’t the duo’s first encounter with the law. They both have a rather extensive rap sheet for causing trouble in the past.

TYLER — KTBB’s Garth Maier had a chance Thursday morning to speak with former Arkansas Governor and 2008 Republican Presidential Candidate, Mike Huckabee, who is currently on tour promoting his new book, “A Simple Government”. Huckabee says government today is overly complicated. He says it’s important for people to recognize that the government the founders created was a simple government. He says the Constitution was 20 pages long and the Obama Bill is 2,300 pages long, so that’s an indication of how different things are approached.

Huckabee goes on to talk about the Tea Party movement saying he thinks it’s the greatest thing that’s happened in the American political theater since he’s been born. He explains that it’s an indication that people recognize that they are the bosses and not slaves, servants and surfs. Huckabee will be in Tyler Sunday, March 13, 2:00, at Hastings for a book signing. Click on the link below to listen to the full interview.

Listen to the Mike Huckabee Interview

LONGVIEW — A man arrested for a Longview murder is related to a pro football player. Dexter Levi Prince is the brother of Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Demorrio Williams. Longview Police arrested Prince, 19, Tuesday for two violation of probation warrants. Late Tuesday night he was charged with the murder. Police are continuing their investigation. Just after 10:00 Monday morning, officers were dispatched to a shooting in the 100 block of East Melton Street. Upon arrival they located 25-year-old Danielo E. Nelson of Longview, dead inside the house.

NACOGDOCHES — Two suspects are under arrest in Nacogdoches after a drug sweep. The Nacogdoches County Constable’s office searched a mobile home off County Road 408. During the search, they found more than a pound of methamphetamine. Two people are charged with possession with intent to manufacture a controlled substance.

TYLER – One person has been killed and five injured as the result of a two vehicle accident on Tyler’s southeast side. It happened shortly after 4:15 Thursday afternoon at the intersection of University Boulevard and Patriot Drive.

Witnesses tell investigators a GMC SUV and a Ford SUV were westbound on University with the Ford in the inside lane and the GMC in the outside lane. The driver of the Ford attempted to turn right onto Patriot and turned into the path of the GMC. The vehicles collided and the Ford overturned and caught fire. Two bystanders tried to rescue the driver of the burning vehicle but were unable to before the vehicle was engulfed with flames.

The driver of the Ford SUV was dead at the scene. The victim’s name has not yet been released. The occupants of the GMC SUV were treated for minor injuries. The two witnesses that attempted the rescue received minor burns.

BROWNSBORO – Two persons have died in a house fire near Brownsboro. The fire was reported just before 10:45 Wednesday morning on Farm Road 317 just south of Brownsboro. Once firemen extinguished the blaze, they found the victims. The names of the victims have not been determined and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

TYLER — Following the receipt of preliminary census data, the city of Tyler has taken the initial steps to address redistricting based upon changing population patterns since the last census. Redistricting is the adjustment of electoral district boundaries to ensure that the number of voters in each district is the same; this process brings the city in compliance with the Federal Constitutional Goal of one person, one vote.

The City has hired the same consulting firm that will be used by Smith County and the Tyler Independent School District, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP, to evaluate the population information in an effort enhance coordination and ultimately make the voting process easier for the community. Preliminary data was released to the consulting firm in early March, and the firm is in the process of creating GIS maps and initial demographic reports for the city to assess. It is anticipated that an introductory proposal will be released to the public for comment by June and a public meeting will be held to gather community feedback. The final plan will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice by July 31 with an expected effective date of January 1, 2012.

“Federal law requires the City to move forward with the redistricting process even though we are not necessarily in agreement with the preliminary numbers we have been given,” shared Planning Director Barbara Holly. “Based upon the number of households that the City submitted to the Census Bureau, we believe that the final census will be higher than the preliminary count. We are working with the regional Census office to address the issue.”

DIANA — A Diana couple is under arrest in connection with a burglary. Jason Paul Warlick, 30, and Wendy Day, 28, were arrested after Upshur County Deputies reportedly caught them burglarizing Jim’s Car Wash in Diana. Deputies say the cash taken during the burglary was found in the couple’s vehicle. They’re charged with burglary of a building.