KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Two suspects are picked up in a Tyler robbery that happened weeks ago. Tyler Police Investigators received a tip on the identity of one of the suspects involved in the robbery of a donut shop located at 1627 S. Vine St. that occurred on September 2. As a result of the information that was given, an investigator was able to identify both suspects who were allegedly responsible for the armed robbery. Arrested were 21-year-old Jeremy Antoine Black and 22-year-old Marquette Bernard Johnson. Both suspects have been charged with aggravated robbery and placed in Smith County Jail on a $300,000 bond.

TYLER — Another drug bust in Smith County. According to KETK, a warrant was served for Eugene Cook Gordon at a house on Highway 14 Thursday. Deputies found 60 pounds of marijuana and a couple of ounces of meth and cocaine — all with an estimated street value of $37,000. They also found two firearms and $4,000 in cash. Gordon is already out of jail.

GILMER — The Gilmer Fire Chief steps down. Mike Melton resigned earlier this week following an investigation into allegations of misuse of money and credit cards belonging to the Gilmer Fire Department. According to KETK, no charges have been filed against Melton and it’s unclear the dollar amount involved.

KILGORE — A wreck kills a pregnant teenager in Kilgore, but the baby survives. Suzanne Williams, 16, died from severe head injuries on Saturday after a wreck forced her to deliver her baby 2 months early. According to KETK, Williams and her fiance were slowing down to make a left-hand turn when another vehicle hit them from behind. Despite being born early, the nearly 3 pound baby boy is said to be doing o-k. Funeral services for the teen are set for Saturday in Kilgore.

TYLER — Organizations from across East Texas join hands to start Tyler’s Fit City Challenge with a kickoff event today from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. at Bergfeld Park. According to the Northeast Texas Public Health District, “The national epidemic of obesity has drastically increased over the past few years, and Tyler is not immune.” Officials say the Fit City Challenge’s purpose is “to help combat the scourge of obesity.” According to NETPHD CEO George Roberts, “The Northeast Texas Public health District views the concurrent epidemic of obesity and sedentary lifestyles as the greatest threat to the health of Tyler. Doctors who care for children are concerned because kids being born right now are not expected to live as long as their parents.”

Roberts says the Fit City Challenge is a community-wide campaign to promote healthy, fitter lifestyles for Tyler and Smith County residents. According to Roberts, the kickoff event is designed to give community members the information they need to make healthier choices. He says the event will feature healthy activities for all ages, cooking demonstrations, guest speakers, health and nutrition information, fitness and exercise demonstrations, and health screenings.

TYLER — Tyler school trustees have amended some of the day polling locations for the November 2nd election. Thursday night’s action was needed because Smith County had indicated some of them were no longer available for election day voting. The county had indicated that the polling locations for precinct 39 and for precincts 48, 65, and 66 are no longer available. The polling place for election precinct 39 shall be combined with precincts 34, 57, 73, 3401 and 7301 which shall vote on at the Jones/Boshears Elementary School, 3450 Chandler Highway. The polling place for election precincts 48, 65 and 66 shall be Wilhite Landscape Company, 13186 Highway 64 West.

TYLER – Both sides have now rested in a hearing have State District Judge Jack Skeen removed from the upcoming retrial of the man convicted in the Mineola child sex ring case. KETK-TV reports Patrick Kelly’s defense lawyer, Thad Davidson, says that Judge Skeen had favored the prosecution During Patrick Kelly’s trial. Davidson tell KETK-TV that a final decision on Skeen’s future in the case will not be made until November 5th. Presiding over the hearing is retired State District Judge Alvin Khoury of Longview.

TYLER — A Tyler man has been convicted of selling drugs in a drug-free zone and sentenced to life in prison. It took around 30 minutes of deliberations before the jury in Tyler’s 7th State District Court convicted Richard Charles Carter, 50. It took about 45 minutes of deliberations before they agreed upon the sentence. Carter had been accused of selling crack cocaine to an undercover officer near Austin Elementary back in February.

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University will launch a new Master of Science in Engineering program in the Fall 2011. The school will become one of the first Christian colleges in the nation offering a graduate degree in engineering. LETU’s new master’s degree is a residential, research-oriented graduate engineering program. Applications are already being accepted, with a January 15, 2011 deadline for consideration for the Fall 2011 term. LETU recently received approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which accredits the university programs.

“With our strong undergraduate engineering research tradition totaling $4.5 million in external funding in the past decade, this new Master of Science in Engineering program moves us that much closer to being one of the best, comprehensive engineering schools in the country,” said LETU President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford. “The expansion of our programs greatly contribute toward fulfilling our vision to have an impact for Christ in every workplace in every nation.”

“This new graduate engineering degree is designed so that currently enrolled engineering students can take dual-credit classes in their senior year and complete a master’s degree in five years,” said LETU Engineering Dean Dr. Tom Hellmuth.

The new graduate degree program in engineering adds to the university’s three existing graduate degree offerings: the Master of Business Administration, the Master of Education and our Master of Strategic Leadership.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department was informed Thursday that Magic, one of the department’s two black Labrador K-9 dogs, died Thursday due to kidney failure. Police say Magic had been with the police department for approximately nine years and did an outstanding job in detecting drugs for the Narcotics Unit. The handler and partner for Magic was Officer Steve Black, who was the third handler in Magic’s career with the department. Police say a special service will be held next week in honor of Magic’s service to the police department and citizens of Tyler.

TYLER — Grassroots America – We the People is giving Tyler ISD officials a failing grade on facility planning. Grassroots America has already come out against the school district’s November bond proposal. Now Executive Director JoAnn Fleming says, “It is time for some answers from TISD officials! Documents on TISD’s own website prove the point Grassroots America has been making about Tyler ISD’s ill-conceived $145 million bond package. Tyler ISD and the Vote Yes Committee are asking the taxpayers to just trust the district again and vote themselves more debt. Information we’ve discovered leaves us no choice but to give the District a failing grade on its facility planning, and to declare that we now are in a place where we simply can no longer trust the direction Tyler ISD’s leaders are taking us.”

Fleming continues, “After analyzing information found on Tyler ISD’s own website under the “Bond 2010” section and documents we requested from the District, we found that eight out of sixteen elementary schools or 50% of the elementary school construction projects passed in 2004, 2008 and proposed in this 2010 bond package will be at capacity or overcrowded in less than five years! That is unacceptable and a good way to lose the trust of the people! To imagine that these new schools may soon have portables sitting outside them is shocking.

“We also discovered that in spite of the fact that TISD is saying this bond election will “finish the elementary schools” and begin the middle schools, they’ve neglected to tell us that based on the size schools we are building and the consulting report they have posted in the bond information section of their website, the district will need at least two more elementary schools by 2013! It is now abundantly clear to that this “pay me now and we’ll give you the details later” plan is WRONG! It is wrong for the taxpaying families and businesses, wrong for the teachers, wrong for the parents, and wrong for the school children of Tyler ISD.”

Vote Yes Committee spokesman Andy Bergfeld responds that if the schools do go over capacity, it can be dealt with when it happens — perhaps by building more schools. He even says that would be a good thing — that it would mean the school district is growing and doing some things right. Bergfeld adds, “We know overcrowding is an issue – that is why we need to stay the course and build these schools. They come with no tax increase.” Also, TISD says the actual bond cost is about $89.8 million.

TYLER — A group of faith-based leaders Friday announced their support and endorsement of the TISD Bond Proposal slated for vote in the November 2 election. Included in this group are: Dr. David O. Dykes, Green Acres Baptist Church; Rabbi Neal Katz, Congregation Beth El; Rev. Ralph E. Caraway, Sr; Charles Dodson, Breckenridge Village of Tyler; President Rev. Charles Faulks; The Rev. Canon Dr. Robert DeWolfe, St. Francis Episcopal Church; Anwar Khalifa, Islamic Society; Rev Dr. Archie Hicks; Rev Darryl B. Bowdre; Dr. Stuart Baskin, First Presbyterian Church; Rev. Rob Fisher, Pollard United Methodist Church; Bishop David Houston; Rev. Valita F. Waits; Rev. Charles Burns; Rev. John R. Hinton; Bishop C.F. Porter; Rev Robert L. Davis; Dr. John Robbins, Marvin United Methodist Church; Superintendent Rev Melton R. Timmons; and Chris Pulliam, First Christian Church.

Dr. Dykes said, “Cindy and I are both supporting the TISD Bond election. We believe that Tyler should have the very best facilities for our children. An investment in the lives of children is a wise investment in the future of our nation.” Reverend Caraway said, “This is a bond proposal that must pass for the future of education in TISD and to make sure we finish the job we started. We have completed 14 of the 16 elementary building projects…only two are left. Join me in voting YES to keep building schools that are being built on time and under budget. Remember, this proposal does not raise our tax rate.”

Rabbi Katz added, “The TISD School Bond is yet another way to show our students how much we care about them and their places of learning. With this election, the community has an opportunity to finish a major overhaul of our school facilities that began some five years ago. We are all proud of Tyler ISD, so let us vote YES with pride to fund our next generation of schools.”

“The most important commodity we have in life is our future in the form of our children. They are the legacy that needs to be nurtured, formed, and prepared for carrying on a fruitful society that will continue the improvement of quality of life for all of our people. And, we need adequate facilities to prepare our children for this future role of enhancing our society. I heartily support the passage of the bond issue that will make this possible.” said The Rev Canon Dr. Robert Wolfe.

Dr. Robbins continued, “Schools are a reflection of the community as a whole. That’s why it is critical that we have the best and most technologically advanced schools. Quality schools mean a quality community.” Anwar Khalifa said, “New schools give Tyler a great image for those looking at Tyler to live. They will help our economy as a whole.”

And Dr. Baskin concluded, “As a pastor, I know a thing or two about good stewardship. I know that aging buildings eat up a lot of money in high utility costs and maintenance that could otherwise go to instruction. The TISD bond proposal is simply good stewardship. It will help us devote a higher percentage of our tax dollars to teaching our children rather than repairing old buildings. And that is good for Tyler.” The TISD Bond Proposal includes the replacement of the final two elementary schools and the construction of a new middle school relief campus for overcrowding and growth.

GILMER — One of East Texas’s showcase fall events, the 73rd Annual East Texas Yamboree, continues in Gilmer through Saturday. Today’s highlights include band performances; the yam pie judging, results, and sale; and a street dance. You can get more details at http://www.yamboree.com or by calling 903-843-2413.

BEN WHEELER — The Ben Wheeler community is putting itself on the map with an unusual collection of fun and games. The town’s inviting everyone to take part in the 2010 Fall Feral Hog Festival, today and Saturday in downtown Ben Wheeler. It includes a quirky follies show, hog queen pageant, live music, a parade, World Championship Wild Hog Cook-Off, pig races, dress a pig contest, kid’s play area, games and food. You can go to http://benwheelertx.com or http://facebook.com/FallFeralHogFestival for more information. You can also e-mail hogfest@bwdc.net or call 903-833-1070.

LONGVIEW — Today’s the deadline as the Longview Race Relations Committee, sponsored by the City of Longview Partners in Prevention, seeks nominations from the community for citizens to be honored at its Seventh Annual Unity Awards Luncheon in January 2011. The purpose of the Unity Award is to honor individuals, living or deceased, in the Longview community who have stood against prejudice and mistrust and who have demonstrated leadership in promoting racial harmony and understanding. Those persons can be current or past residents of the Longview area.

Award nomination forms are available at: the Partners in Prevention Office, 140 E. Tyler St., Suite 400; 300 W. Cotton St.; Longview Public Library, 222 W. Cotton St.; and Broughton Recreation Center, 801 S. MLK Blvd. You can also go to http://www.LongviewTexas.gov to access a form. You can contact Partners in Prevention at 903-237-1019 for more information.