KTBB News, Weather, Talk

BUFFALO — A Chandler man who admitted he was texting prior to a fatal accident, has been charged with criminally negligent homicide. Jourdan Shadoe Martin, 20, was charged Wednesday in the death of Kerina Bundy, 20, of Tyler. She was not wearing her seat belt when Martin’s pickup hit the rear of a semi stalled on Highway 79 near Buffalo last week. She later died at a East Texas Medical Center in Fairfield. Martin was not seriously injured. The accident happened around 1:30 in the morning. Martin told the investigating state trooper he failed to see the stalled truck because he was texting at the time.

MARSHALL — A Cass County man has appeared in federal court in Marshall and pleaded guilty to drug violations. In an appearance Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Everingham, IV, Chadwick Ray Howe, 23, of Avinger, pleaded guilty to being involved in a conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.

Federal prosecutors say from June 2009 to April 2010, Howe conspired with others to manufacture methamphetamine by purchasing cold pills containing pseudoephedrine in Panola and Harrison counties. A federal grand jury returned a 20-count indictment on May 6, 2010 charging Howe with federal drug violations. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has voted unanimously to adopt the proposed 2010-2011 budget that is $4.8 million less than the prior year budget and that will bring the tax rate to the effective rate of 20.8 cents per $100 valuation. “Since 1994, Tyler’s tax rate has decreased by more than 60 percent,” said Mayor Barbara Bass. “We have one of the lowest tax rates in the state as well as having about the same number of employees that we had in the mid-1980s. I am extremely proud of the work the City has done to keep our expenses down while providing exemplary public safety and services to the citizens of Tyler.”

The budget proposal is the culmination of eight months’ work by the City’s budget committee and departments in response to significantly lower sales tax revenue and slightly depressed property values. Some citizens wanted the tax rate to be even lower. But Councilmember Donald Sanders summed up the Council’s sentiment by saying, “I am proud of the work the staff has done in these trying economic times. We have maintained service levels and are taking care of concerns the citizens have.” You can go to http://ww.cityoftyler.org to read more.

TYLER — The 95th East Texas State Fair comes to Tyler starting today and running through October 3rd. President/CEO John Sykes says there will be innovative new attractions, free concerts with gate admission nightly, all new rides, exhibits, and lots of food.

There will be armband specials every weekday, and on Sunday, September 26th, $2.00 rides. Among the attractions: a NASA Johnson Space Center exhibit in Harvey Convention Center, Swifty Swine Pig Races, a SPLASH! Sea Lion Show, a Eudora Farms Exotic Petting Zoo, Tubs Fritter strolling the fairgrounds, a Sandscapes 50-ton sand sculpture in Harvey Convention Center, AgriWorld in the Youth & Education Building, a Creative Arts Show, and demonstrations in the Creative Arts Building. All are free with gate admission.

The fair also includes a revamped Senior Citizens Day Thursday. Sykes says the programs won’t be repeated as in the past, but there will be morning and afternoon sessions. He says there will be a lot of entertainment in the morning and different entertainment in the afternoon, including a dance. According to Sykes, the day will feature “a whole new level of energy.”

Fair hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00am till 11:00pm. The carnival opens at 4:00. There’s free gate admission until 2:00pm on weekdays. The hours on Saturday and Sunday are 10:00am till 11:00pm, and the carnival opens at noon. You can go to http://www.etstatefair.com and get more information on the daily activities.

Tyler Police advise citizens to slow down and drive cautious around Harvey Hall and surrounding neighborhood streets due to the East Texas State Fair. Tyler Police will provide assistance at a designated cross walk in front of the Main Entrance of the Fair located in the 2000 block of W. Front Street.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has awarded the contract for the renovation of Liberty Hall in the amount of $1.9 million to RPR Construction. RPR was one of five companies that participated in the competitive sealed bid process and was the low bidder.

The City of Tyler purchased the Liberty in 2008 as part of a strategy outlined in the Tyler 21 Master Plan to establish an arts and cultural district in downtown to spur private reinvestment and revitalization. To advance this goal, the City of Tyler entered into a memorandum of understanding with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra Association (ETSOA). The purpose was to lead an effort to raise the funds needed for renovation of the Liberty into a performing arts hall that officials hope will be a destination point for arts and culture in East Texas.

The project will be 100 percent privately funded by donations. In January 2009, the Liberty capital campaign was launched with a commitment of $500,000 from the Genecov Group followed by a $100,000 pledge by KSA/Wisenbaker, Fix, and Associates in July and a $250,000 donation by Brandon Steele of Ryno Corporation in September. An undesignated gift from the Fair Foundation for $25,000 is also being used to fund this project.

The Women’s Symphony League of Tyler pledged $10,000, and additional large pledges and donations have been made totaling $100,000. Also, the Give Me Liberty Seat Sale has raised multiple smaller donations that have been added to the campaign to fund the rebirth of the theatre into a performing arts hall. The seat sale provides the opportunity for citizens to sponsor a seat with a pledge of as little as $1,000. The project is expected to take 210 calendar days to complete once the notice to proceed is issued.

TYLER – Two Gilmer women have been sentenced to federal prison for drug violations. It’s part of a sweeping case involving alleged methamphetamine trafficking. Sarina Cherea Danner, 22, pleaded guilty on July 14 to possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. She was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael Schneider. Sharon Kay Marsh, 47, pleaded guilty on July 15 to the same charge. She was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison by Judge Schneider.

According to information presented in court, the defendants were involved in a methamphetamine manufacturing and distribution criminal enterprise in the East Texas area and traveled to multiple pharmacies to purchase numerous boxes of cold pills containing pseudoephedrine in order to manufacture large quantities of methamphetamine for personal use and distribution to others. Danner and Marsh were indicted with 16 co-defendants on May 5 and charged with federal drug trafficking crimes.

LONGVIEW — Two wanted Longview men have been arrested by the United States Marshal’s Service. 27-year-old Keilan Doshea Tate was arrested September 15 in Carrollton. His cousin, 39-year-old Willis Earl “Toby” Tate, was arrested September 20, 2010 in Houston. Both Tates were wanted in connection with an assault of a Gregg County Deputy and the subsequent assault of a Longview Police Officer, who was struck by a vehicle allegedly driven by one of the two. Once Longview Investigators determined the Tates were no longer in Longview, the Marshal’s Service was contacted. Through the Marshal’s investigative efforts, both men were located and arrested.

TYLER — Oscar Arias brings his message of peace to UT Tyler at a Tuesday Distinguished Lecture. The former Costa Rican president and Nobel Peace laureate said the choice to value human life over destruction is the key to moral leadership in today’s world. For Arias, that largely means reducing military spending — and putting more money into such resources as food, education, and health care. Arias added that each of us can do our part. He noted that his country voluntarily abolished its army — though he said he’s not naive enough to believe that can happen everywhere.

LONGVIEW — Two suspects are apprehended after a home invasion. 28-year-old Byron Houston was booked into the Gregg County Jail and charged with burglary of a habitation. The second suspect was taken to a local hospital for a claimed medical condition. He has not been arrested, although charges have been filed on the second suspect.

It happened Tuesday around 3:20 at 1408 South 12th Street. Longview Police say the victim told officers she left her home for a few minutes to go to the store, but upon returning, found someone had entered her home and had stolen her laptop computer. While officers were taking a report from the victim, an observant citizen called police and reported that two men were running with a laptop computer in the 1800 block of Eubanks Street. Officers were able to recover the stolen laptop computer.

LONGVIEW — The owner of a bait shop who was robbed on July 31 has died. John Morris, 80, was seriously injured and hospitalized after being assaulted during the robbery of his bait shop located next door to his home in the 400 block of West Pliler Precise Road. Mr. Morris was pronounced dead at Good Shepherd Medical Center around 2:30 Tuesday afternoon. An autopsy has been ordered.

The robbery investigation is open and ongoing, but no arrests have been made at this time. Detectives are asking for anyone with information about the robbery to contact Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP or online at http://www.greggcountycrimestoppers.com. A reward of up to $1000.00 may be paid for information leading to the arrest of the suspect in this case. Any information given will remain confidential.

SMITH COUNTY — A Constable’s idea of diverting money from the state into Smith County can help fix up the roads. Right now, the state will sell an overweight vehicle permit for $400. Smith County Commissioners are taking steps to charge a $100 fee for overweight vehicle permits for those vehicles that operate within the county. County roads have a weight limit of 30,000 pounds. Any vehicle over that weight needs a permit. They will use that money to go into the weight and license program, which helps the county know who is operating legally. According to KETK, some big truck owners say it’s just another tax.

TYLER — For the second time in just over a month the Metro PCS store at 1700 SSE Loop 323 has been robbed. Shortly before 5:15 Tuesday afternoon, two men entered the business and one of the suspects produced a handgun and demanded money. There was one employee inside the business. The suspects ordered the employee to the rear of the business. They then took an undetermined amount of money from the register and fled. No injuries were reported in the robbery.

Both suspects were described as 18-19 years of age. One suspect was approximately 5’10” and the other 6’ – 6’2”. The suspects fled the scene south on foot.

On August 18th, around 6:00pm, two men, one with a handgun, robbed the store. The suspects in that robbery were described as black males between 16 and 21. One suspect was between 5’5” – 5’7” wearing a red shirt and khaki shorts. The second suspect was described as being between 5’10” – 6’ wearing a light color plaid shirt and blue jean shorts.

BULLARD — Hundreds gathered in Bullard Tuesday night to pray for our country, its leaders and its people. The event was called Come Pray With Me and was held at the Bushman Celebration Center. Pastor Dan Cummins of Bridlewood Church came up with the event. He tells KETK-TV He wanted an event that would transcend politics and the heat and rhetoric that dominate our public dialogue these days. Instead, he said he wanted something we could all agree on…the power of prayer. Cummins said he would like to see it held several times a year. He would like to see the next one on November 1st, the day before the national elections.