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TYLER — Jobs are on the list of things Smith County is considering to cut as part of its $8 million budget gap. But tuesday night, as KETK reports, county employees had their shot at defending themselves. Commissioners are looking at 34 full-time county positions to cut. One county employee told the packed house she fears for her job. District clerk’s office worker Terry Morrow says, “If I was to get cut from work today, I do not have a job to fall onto like the Commissioner’s Court does.” Morrow also notes, “What’s gonna happen when you call 911? Who’s gonna be there?” But some county citizens say the court should be loyal to the taxpayers, not just employees. According to one, “I don’t know what you’re gonna do about the budget. I just care about the taxes.”

At a different meeting Tuesday morning, it was hard to convince the crowd that a tax increase is the answer to the budget gap. Commissioners say there’s no other choice. But taxpayers argue raising taxes is not the answer. One Tea Party activist says she is watching, and any commissioner who votes for raised taxes will not be re-elected. One attendee, James Blair, says the county should be aware of what a tax increase will do to small businesses. Says Blair, “If you live in a lower-tax county and you’re a competitor of our, they’re gonna beat us out. They will have lower costs.” Smith County is two weeks away from a vote that could increase property taxes.

TYLER — Meghan Searer, 20, a patient with cystic fibrosis at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, is recognized for being awarded a $2,500 SolvayCARES college scholarship. She’s one of just 40 people in the United States to receive this scholarship, which was created 18 years ago to honor young adults with CF as they pursue their education past high school. The scholarships are awarded based on creativity, academic excellence, community involvement, and ability to serve as a positive role model for the CF community.

As part of the application process, Searer submitted an original drawing. During a Wednesday event, UTHSCT President Dr. Kirk A. Calhoun presented her with the framed drawing and a book published by SolvayCARES with the names and profiles of the 2009 winners. Searer also received a Rotary Club Scholarship and a Patriot Scholarship, as well as a scholarship for being valedictorian of Hawkins High School in 2008.

CF is a chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States. A defective gene causes the body to make thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and causes serious lung infections. CF also hinders how the body breaks down and absorbs food. Solvay Pharmaceuticals, which is now part of Abbott Laboratories, funds the annual scholarships. For more than 20 years, Solvay has manufactured drugs to help people with CF manage their disease.

TYLER — Beginning Thursday, the Northeast Texas Public Health District is extending its immunization hours as the first day of school draws nearer. Immunization requirements change for students as they move from pre-school into kindergarten and from 6th grade into 7th grade. In an effort to assist parents in meeting these requirements, the Northeast Texas Public Health District will extend their hours on the dates and at the times listed below.

8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on each date below:
Thursday, August 19
Friday, August 20
Thursday, August 26
Friday, August 27

In addition to the dates/times above, the Northeast Texas Public Health District is open each Monday and Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and each Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for immunizations. No appointment is required. A parent or guardian must accompany the student at the clinic. On August 23, 2010 students not having provided the school nurse with proof that these requirements have been met will not be allowed to attend school.

TYLER — The Tyler Junior College Board of Trustees Thursday will hold the second of two public hearings on a proposal to increase total tax revenues from properties on the tax roll in the preceding tax year by 33.57%. College officials point out that your individual taxes may increase at a greater or lesser
rate, or even decrease, depending on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property and the tax rate that is adopted. The second public hearing will be held Thursday at 11:00 a.m. in the Board Room of the White Administrative Services Center on the TJC main campus.

The average taxable value of a residence homestead in the Tyler Junior College District last year was $129,446. Based on last year’s tax rate of .136950 per $100 of taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed last year on the average home was $177.28. The average taxable value of a residence homestead in the Tyler Junior College District this year is $125,771. If the governing body adopts the effective tax rate for this year of .138983 per $100 of taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed this year on the average home would be $174.80. If the governing body adopts the proposed tax rate of .182926 per $100 of taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed this year on the average home would be $230.07. College officials say members of the public are encouraged to attend the hearing and express their views.

TYLER (AP) — A licensed deer breeder from Austin must serve three years of probation for illegally transporting wildlife in east Texas. U.S. Attorney John Bales says 41-year-old Lance Clawson was sentenced Wednesday in Tyler. Clawson on April 14 pleaded guilty to smuggling whitetail deer from Oklahoma into Texas. He also was fined $15,000 and must pay $7,250 in restitution to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation.

Investigators say Clawson, who operates a ranch and deer breeding facility near Goldthwaite, traveled to Muskogee, Okla., on Oct. 15, 2008, to buy fawns from a breeder. Clawson’s vehicle was stopped the following day by Texas game wardens as he returned with eight fawns. Texas law bans importing live whitetail or mule deer due to the threat of transmittable diseases.

JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville Police say a 4-month-old baby boy is found dead Monday morning. According to KETK, it happened along the 1000 block of Border Street. Police say the mother of the child noticed he was not breathing and called 911. The baby’s body has been taken to Dallas for autopsy. No word yet if foul play was involved. The case remains under investigation.

CANTON (AP) – Starving horses and donkeys were among nearly 30 animals rescued in a raid at a home near Canton. A tip led Van Zandt County deputies and the SPCA of Dallas to the rural property where six horses, 14 donkeys, four cows, three miniature horses and two dogs were seized. SPCA spokeswoman Maura Davies says some of the animals rescued Tuesday were “skeletal” after not receiving proper food, water or shelter, especially during the summer heat. The 29 animals have been transported to a care center in McKinney. A custody hearing will be held Aug. 24. The owner also could face criminal neglect charges.

TYLER — A Tyler man has pleaded guilty to child pornography. William Robert Pate, 62, pleaded guilty in Tyler to possessing child pornography before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie. Pate faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

According to information presented in court, in March, investigators executed a search warrant at Pate’s home for suspected child pornography after images were reported being uploaded to an Internet website from Pate’s IP address. During the investigation, Pate admitted to downloading child pornography over the Internet and consented to a search of his computer. An analysis of the computer revealed approximately 97 images and 7 videos of child pornography. Some of the material depicted children less than 12 years of age engaged in sadistic or masochistic conduct. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on April 8, 2010 charging Pate with child pornography violations.

TYLER — A Carthage man has pleaded guilty to federal drug violations. Michael Odell Shires, 27, pleaded guilty yesterday to possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine in an appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.

Federal prosecutors say, on May 11, 2009, Shires purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a Walgreens in Longview in addition to making three other purchases that same day at other stores in the area, all in furtherance of his methamphetamine manufacturing activities. A federal grand jury returned a 256-count indicted on Feb. 2, 2010 charging Shires with federal drug violations.

Shires faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

MARSHALL — A Marion County man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Marshall to drug violations. Travis Earl Shelton, 35, of Jefferson, pleaded guilty yesterday to possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Chad Everingham.

According to federal prosecutors, on July 20, 2009, Shelton purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a Walgreens in Marshall in addition to making two other purchases that same day at other stores in the area, all in furtherance of his methamphetamine manufacturing activities. A federal grand jury returned a 27-count indictment in May, charging Shelton with federal drug violations.

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University has again ranked in the top tier nationally in the U.S. News and World Report’s annual rankings of “America’s Best Colleges.”

LeTourneau University is ranked in the top 10 among private schools in Texas and above all state universities in Texas in the same category. LETU is ranked 35th among all of the Best Universities – Master’s in the Western Region in the 2011 U.S. News rankings.

For 17 years, the university has been listed in the magazine’s top tier rankings. U.S. News ranks colleges and universities among other schools with similar programs and degree offerings. Indicators used to determine the rankings include small class sizes, high SAT and ACT scores of incoming freshmen, the student-to-faculty ratio, average graduation rates and assessments by administrators at other peer universities.

“We are always pleased to receive national recognition for our quality academic programs,” said LETU President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford. “We believe new programs in air traffic control, nursing and civil engineering will only increase our national recognition in the future.”

JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville school trustees have called a bond election for November 2nd. At a meeting yesterday, trustees approved a nearly $50 million dollar package. If approved by voters, it would increase taxes around 19 cents per $100 valuation.

MARSHALL — Two East Texas men have pleaded guilty in separate child pornography cases in federal court in Marshall. Corey Robert Collins, 31, of Marshall, and Terry Don Briant, 49, of Gilmer, each pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Chad Everingham.

According to prosecutors, on May 19, 2010, investigators executed a search warrant at Collins’ home for suspected child pornography. During the investigation, Collins admitted to downloading child pornography over the Internet using his laptop, and consented to a search of his computer. A forensic analysis of the computer revealed 24 complete downloaded videos of child pornography. Some of the material depicted children less than 12 years of age engaged in sadistic or masochistic conduct.

Also, on May 19, 2010, investigators executed a search warrant at Briant’s home for suspected child pornography and seized several digital cameras and computers. A forensic examination of a laptop was found to contain about 86 videos and 17 pictures of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Some of that material also depicted children less than 12 years of age engaged in sadistic or masochistic conduct. Collins and Briant each face up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. Sentencing dates have not been set.

TYLER — A 62-year-old Tyler man has pleaded guilty to child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales. William Robert Pate pleaded guilty in Tyler to possessing child pornography before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie.

According to information presented in court, on Mar. 26, 2010, investigators executed a search warrant at Pate’s home for suspected child pornography after images were reported being uploaded to an Internet website from Pate’s IP address. During the investigation, Pate admitted to downloading child pornography over the Internet and consented to a search of his computer. An analysis of the computer revealed approximately 97 images and 7 videos of child pornography. Some of the material depicted children less than 12 years of age engaged in sadistic or masochistic conduct. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on April 8, 2010 charging Pate with child pornography violations.

This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Pate faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford unveiled the university’s new logo before a crowd of nearly 500 employees Monday. The new logo includes the university colors of blue and gold and features a shield shape that is recognized as a traditional symbol of academic quality for universities. Inside the shield is a globe with latitude and longitude lines that form a stylized cross. University officials say the globe represents the university’s global vision to equip students to make an impact for Christ in every workplace in every nation. The officials add that the cross provides a visual element of the school’s core identity as an unapologetically Christian university. Also, according to officials, the letters “LETU” inside the shield are designed to be easily recognizable and unique identifiers for those for whom the name “LeTourneau” is difficult to spell.

“We are, as part of our strategic plan, going to do some new marketing initiatives, and so it was the right time to update our university logo,” Lunsford said. “The ‘LETU’ inside the shield is important as we begin to communicate with audiences that cannot pronounce or spell ‘LeTourneau,’ so they need to know us as ‘LETU.’ There are many ‘LU’s’ out there, but we are the only ‘LETU.’” Lunsford said the new logo will be rolled out within the next year. Officials say the logo was designed by Encore Multimedia of Longview to be representative for both the traditional and nontraditional students, as a gateway to a world experience.