KTBB News, Weather, Talk

KILGORE — The East Texas Council of Governments has announced the appointment of Charles Cunningham to the ETCOG management team as the Director of Finance. In this position Cunningham will be responsible for directing, planning, and coordinating financial activities; ensuring fiscal accountability to state and federal laws, regulations, and policies; developing funding forecasts; and preparing and monitoring budgets.

Cunningham brings with him over 30 years of experience in financial management and analysis in both the public and private sectors. He also served a number of years overseas working on development projects in Latin America and the Far East. Cunningham was most recently the Assistant City Manager / Director of Finance for the City of Kyle, Texas.

“Charles brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from both public and private sectors that make him an ideal director for ETCOG,” said ETOG Executive Director David Cleveland. “His extensive body of work with performance budgeting systems, various accounting systems and information technology combine to form the diverse skill set he will need to lead ETCOG’s Finance Team in the years to come. He also has a proven managerial, organizational development, and leadership track record that will benefit staff and customers alike. We are fortunate to have Charles and enthusiastically welcome him to the ETCOG Team!”

PALESTINE — On a 5 to 2 vote, the Palestine city council has fired city manager Dale Brown. The action is effective immediately. The vote came late Monday night following an executive session in which the city council discussed Brown’s performance. Brown has been the Palestine city manager for six years. His contract was scheduled to expire next January. In addition to his severance pay, Brown will also receive salary and benefits through the remainder of his contract.

TYLER — The annual Texans Against Crime (T.A.C.) night out event took place last night from 6:00 to 10:00. Celebrations were held throughout East Texas, and in the City of Tyler, 70 block parties were registered for this year’s event. According to police, the Texans Against Crime program is an annual event designed to unite neighbors and communities to encourage neighborhood communication, community involvement and crime prevention to create safer neighborhoods. T.A.C. encourages neighborhoods to host block parties as an opportunity to get to know your neighbor and fight crime.

Police say T.A.C. promotes neighborhood alliances to strengthen communities and preserve the quality of life in East Texas. Police add that the program helps to educate families, friends and neighbors about crime prevention and inform residents that communities are safer when neighbors work together. According to law enforcement authorities, getting to know your neighbors is an important step in keeping your community safe.

LONGVIEW — A man who was struck during an argument on October 10 has died at a Longview hospital. 48-year-old Darron Thomas was pronounced dead by Gregg County Justice of the Peace B.H. Jameson on October 11 at around 4:20 p.m. Thomas’s body has been sent to Southeast Texas Forensics Center in Tyler for an autopsy.

Longview Officers responded to a fight in progress call at 1504 Timpson Street on October 10 at around 6:55 p.m. Officers arrived and found 48-year-old Darron Thomas lying on the ground unconscious. Witnesses told officers that Thomas and another man had gotten into an argument when the man punched Thomas. After being punched, Thomas fell to the ground and struck his head on the pavement. 40-year-old Andre Neal of Longview was arrested around 3:00 p.m. Tuesday and charged with manslaughter.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Longview native Leona Gage, who in 1957 was named Miss USA but had the title stripped the next day when pageant officials learned she was married and a mother of two, has died in Los Angeles. She was 71. Gage died of heart failure after spending several weeks at a Sherman Oaks hospital, her son Robert Kaminer told the Associated Press.

Like Vanessa Williams and Carrie Prejean decades later, Gage’s pageant scandal probably brought her more fame than if she had kept the crown. Born Mary Leona Gage, she appeared as Miss Maryland USA in the competition in Long Beach, California. Gage also lied about her age, telling pageant officials she was 21 when she was 18.

After losing the trophy, prize money, trips and studio contracts that went to first runner-up Miss Utah, she pursued an acting career. But that didn’t take off. She had a difficult life in subsequent decades: Six failed marriages, lost custody of her five children, two of whom died before her, drug abuse and suicide attempts.

TYLER — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White takes up ethics in advance of a midday visit to Tyler today. White told KTBB on Tuesday that one of his concerns is “taking the governor out of the decision-making to grant taxpayer subsidies to private funds.” He adds, “This has been abused in the past. We’ve asked Rick Perry to list all the names of the investors of these companies; we’ve known many were donors. One thing I’ll do as governor is make sure there’s a clear separation between politics and the business of government.”

Perry spokesman Mark Miner responds, “It’s unfortunate that Bill White has failed to offer anything of substance during this campaign. Governor Perry will continue talking about issues that matter to Texans, like job creation, growing our economy, border securities and other issues that matter to the people of Texas. Bill White has failed to offer one new idea that would move Texas forward.”

TYLER — A local citizen group wants some town hall meetings scheduled on next month’s Tyler ISD bond issue. Grassroots America – We the People Executive Director JoAnn Fleming says, “Time is running out with early voting beginning on Monday, October 18. It’s time to give voters a chance to see TISD’s bond plan, hear the pros and cons of the plan, and let the people ask questions!” Fleming added, “We are concerned that no town hall meetings have been planned by Tyler ISD since the board called the bond election a month and a half ago.”

State Senator Kevin Eltife, chair of the pro-bond Vote Yes Committee, says town hall meetings are already being held. He says says TISD Superintendent Dr. Randy has already done about eight and has another ten to 15 lined up. But Fleming claims, “According to news reports, Superintendent Randy Reid’s presentations on campuses are thus far limited to district employees, PTA members, and parents with children at the school (where the presentation is being made). We keep wondering when other voters and taxpayers will get a chance to see the plan and ask questions; therefore, we started the ball rolling today by issuing the following invitation.”

Fleming says the ensuing invitation was issued at 9:15 Tuesday morning to Reid, TISD President Ron Vickery, and Eltife, along with Vote Yes Committee Co-Chair and former Tyler Mayor Joey Seeber:

“The Grassroots America — We the People organization invites Tyler ISD and the Vote Yes Committee Chairs to co-sponsor with us two townhall meetings on the TISD bond issue. These events will give voters an opportunity to hear the facts about TISD’s bond package, hear the opposing points of view about the ballot measure, and ask questions.

“Location: We propose both townhalls be held at the Dr. Jack L. Davidson Conference Center located in the Plyler Instructional Complex due to its central location, ample parking, and available audio/visual equipment.

“Dates/times: We propose one townhall meeting to be held the week of October 18 – the first week of early voting — any date and any time convenient for TISD officials and the Vote Yes Chairs. We propose a second townhall meeting the week of October 25 — the second and final week of early voting — on a date and at a time convenient for TISD officials and the Vote Yes Chairs. Our only request is that the townhalls be scheduled for the evening, commencing at a time which will allow people who work during the day to attend.

“Format: We recommend TISD officials make the presentation on the bond package, followed by a presentation of the points of view of the Vote Yes Committee and GAWTP. Grassroots will yield to the preference of the Vote Yes Committee as to the order of the presentations.

“Question & Answer moderators: We recommend inviting a representative from each local media outlet to form a panel of moderators. They will be given an opportunity to ask questions of the presenters. This should be followed by an ample Q&A period from the public in attendance.

“Timing of townhall segments: GAWTP requests the District and Vote Yes Committee draft a proposed duration plan for the timing of each segment of the townhall meetings. We will be happy to work toward an agreement on the time allotted to each segment.

“Please let us hear from you by 10 AM on Thursday, October 21, so that we can plan accordingly.

“We look forward to working with you on these important townhall meetings as an effort to give voters the opportunity to be fully educated on the bond proposal before they vote.

“Best regards,

“JoAnn Fleming, Executive Director
Grassroots America – We the People.”

Eltife says, “It’s not as if there aren’t gonna be any (town hall meetings) without Ms. Fleming’s involvement.” He adds, “We’re gonna do what we can to get the public informed, and we’ll look at her request.”

TYLER — Two drug suspects are arrested by Tyler police. On Tuesday, the Tyler Narcotics Unit had an apartment under surveillance located at 2601 SSE Loop 323 (Fox Run Apartments) for alleged drug activity. Around 2:15 p.m., a suspect was observed exiting the apartment with two bags and talking to a female in the parking lot of the apartments.

Investigators believe that a marked unit was spotted in the area by the male suspect. The suspect then walked over to a dumpster and placed the two bags into it, allegedly so that he would not be in possession of the contents. The male and female got into a vehicle, left the apartment complex, and were followed by investigators. The bags in the dumpster were searched immediately after the suspects left the area and police say they recovered three handguns, narcotics, and drug paraphernalia.

Officers conducted a felony traffic stop on the suspects in the 3000 block of Santa Elena, where police say narcotics were recovered upon search of the vehicle. The suspects are identified as 28-year-old Christopher Browning of Tyler and 23-year-old Latrice Danelle Whitaker of Jacksonville. Both suspects are charged with possession of narcotics, and other charges are pending.

BEAUMONT — A 53-year-old former youth club leader from Lufkin has been sentenced in Beaumont to federal prison for child pornography violations. Patrick Sanders pleaded guilty on April 22 to possession of child pornography and was sentenced Tuesday to 57 months in federal prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield. According to information presented in court, on May 4, 2009, law enforcement officers received information that Sanders possessed images of child pornography on his computer at the Boys and Girls Club in Lufkin, where he worked as the Director. A forensic examination of the computer confirmed it contained images of child pornography. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.

TYLER — Police in Tyler say they’re trying to locate a suspect they term dangerous. On Tuesday, Tyler Police responded to a 9-1-1 call around 5:30 a.m. from a female victim who stated her ex-husband came to Tyler and threatened to kill her and her son, who is a college student in another city in Texas. The suspect, identified as 52-year-old Michael Lee Hail, was reportedly driving around Tyler in an attempt to locate his ex-wife. Police say Hail had located her in south Tyler and pursued her in his vehicle. According to authorities, Hail fired a round from a shotgun, striking his ex-wife’s vehicle, but she was not struck from gunfire. Police say Hail was last seen driving a gray 2010 Ford F-150 truck bearing Texas license plate AP70782.

Tyler police say they’ve confirmed that Hail also fired a weapon at a female in Nacogdoches Monday night, but she was also not struck by the gunfire. The Nacogdoches Police Department has an outstanding warrant as a result of the reported crime. The Tyler Police Department is in the process of securing an arrest warrant for Hail on the charge of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. If anyone knows the location of the suspect, you’re asked to contact your local police department and not approach the suspect since he is considered armed and extremely dangerous.

TYLER — The annual Texans Against Crime (T.A.C.) night out event will take place tonight from 6:00 to 10:00. Celebrations will be held throughout East Texas, and in the City of Tyler, 70 block parties have registered for this year’s event. According to police, the Texans Against Crime program is an annual event designed to unite neighbors and communities to encourage neighborhood communication, community involvement and crime prevention to create safer neighborhoods. T.A.C. encourages neighborhoods to host block parties as an opportunity to get to know your neighbor and fight crime.

Police say T.A.C. promotes neighborhood alliances to strengthen communities and preserve the quality of life in East Texas. Police add that the program helps to educate families, friends and neighbors about crime prevention and inform residents that communities are safer when neighbors work together. According to law enforcement authorities, getting to know your neighbors is an important step in keeping your community safe.

GREGG COUNTY — Gregg County Commissioners are extending the county’s burn ban. Last week, the county issued an emergency burn ban after brush and wild fires charred several acres in the county. According to KETK, County Judge Bill Stoudt says they will be monitoring the situation this week and will address the burn ban again at next week’s meeting.

TYLER — The City of Tyler Engineering Department has advised that the installation of a new traffic signal at the intersection of WNW Loop 323 and Silver Creek Drive / Charlotte Drive is complete and the signal is in operation. The City will monitor the timing of the signal to maximize traffic flow on Loop 323 while addressing turning movements onto Silver Creek from vehicles traveling to and from Orr Elementary, which is located northwest of this intersection.

As part of the signal installation, new pedestrian features were installed that will improve safety for students traveling to and from Orr Elementary.

LONGVIEW — A Longview woman is jailed after a weekend shooting. Jennifer Rae Cox, 30, is charged with shooting and seriously injuring another person. The incident happened around 2:30 Sunday morning in the 1200 block of W. Marshall Avenue. Authorities could not confirm who was shot, or if there was more than one victim. According to KETK, police also charged Cox with carrying a handgun without a license on premises that sell alcohol and carrying a prohibited weapon. Her bond totaled $25,000.

TYLER — Funeral services will be held on Thursday for Dr. George Hamm, former president of the University of Texas at Tyler. Dr. Hamm, who was 79, died Sunday following a lengthy illness. He served as president of U.T. Tyler from 1981 to 1998. Services are scheduled for Thursday morning at 11:00 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler. Visitation is Wednesday evening from 6:00 till 7:00 at the Stewart Family Funeral Home.

President Rodney Mabry says on the school website, “President Hamm influenced the university and the community in such important ways. Among his major achievements were such things as getting permission for downward expansion and building the wonderful R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center. He was a major force in the development of the university, and students, faculty and staff will be forever in his debt.” Mabry took office following Hamm’s retirement in June 1998.

During Hamm’s tenure as president, legislation was passed to transition UT Tyler from an upper-level university serving juniors, seniors and graduate students to a comprehensive four-year university enrolling its first freshman class in August 1998.

According to the obituary at the Stewart Family Funeral Home web site, when he announced plans for retirement, Hamm described his years at UT Tyler “as the best and happiest years of my professional life,” and stated, “With each succeeding year, Janie and I have accumulated greater numbers of friends and more enduring relations. The university has grown significantly in stature because of its ever increasing numbers of generous benefactors.”

Hamm was responsible for raising private gifts to supplement university funds for construction of the R. Don Cowan Center Fine and Performing Arts Center at UT Tyler. He established the university’s Distinguished Lecture Series, which has featured such speakers as Henry Kissinger, Coretta Scott King and William F. Buckley.

During his presidency, Hamm secured approval for establishment of the college of engineering, the first at a state university in East Texas. He worked to create UT Tyler’s campuses in Longview and Palestine. New degree programs included master’s degrees in nursing, history, mathematics, biology and political science. His commitment to building and retaining faculty excellence brought scholars from leading universities around the nation to UT Tyler.

Hamm’s leadership also led to construction of UT Tyler’s first on-campus student housing, the University Pines complex. The complex was one of the first in Texas to be built entirely with private funds.

In honor of his contributions to the development of UT Tyler, the UT System Board of Regents conferred on him the title of President Emeritus in 2003, stating: “One of Dr. Hamm’s most significant accomplishments was his leadership in working with the legislature and other community leaders in elevating UT Tyler to four-year status in 1997.”