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TYLER — One person has been arrested in connection with a Tyler robbery. It happened just before 3:30 Tuesday morning near the area of North Tenneha and M.L. King Boulevard. Authorities say two black male victims advised they had given a ride to a black male, to an unknown address on Tenneha. The suspect exited the vehicle and went to the front porch of a residence. The suspect returned, displayed a handgun at the victims and told them to get out of the car. The suspect took some money from one of the victims, got in the victim’s car and left the area. No injuries were reported.

Officers received information that the person involved in the robbery was seen driving in the area of Greenbriar Road and Coleman Street in rural Smith County. When officers arrived in the area, a white Mercury was spotted. The driver of the vehicle tried to flee by driving back into the city. The chase ended at the Sonic Drive-In on Highway 64 West and Loop 323. The driver was arrested after a brief foot chase. Justin De’Shun Arps, 18, of Tyler, was charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and evading arrest or detention and was booked into the Smith County Jail.

TYLER — Smith County residents have spoken out against a proposed tax increase. Smith County Commissioners are considering a four cent tax hike to help offset a proposed budget $7 million deficit. At a public hearing Tuesday the room was packed as residents voiced their concern about a tax increase. KETK-TV reports the average home in Smith County is valued at $135,000. The proposed tax increase would equal $55 a year for that homeowner.

The public has another chance to address the commissioners’ court on the proposed tax hike. Another public hearing will be held on August 17th at 9:30am in the courthouse annex. The commissioners will meet again next Tuesday with a budget workshop on the agenda.

TROUP – The Troup City Council has voted to ban the incense called K2. The city’s Police Chief Pat Hendrix requested an ordinance banning the use, selling, displaying, and possession the incense. K2 is legal in Texas right now, but Chief Hendrix says it’s 100 times more potent than THC, the active component in marijuana.

KETK-TV reports K2 is marketed as incense however kids are getting their hands on it and are smoking the herb. Chief Hendrix says this causes a series of unpredictable side effects that could lead to permanent bodily damage or even in some cases death. Earlier this week two young men were taken to the hospital, telling officers and hospital staff that they had inhaled K2.

HENDERSON — A Rusk County jury has acquitted 26-year-old Jason Tremaine Horton of evading arrest with a vehicle. According to the Rusk County District Attorney’s Office, two Henderson police officers arrested Horton March 31 following a brief chase that ensued after one officer saw Horton make a turn without using his turn indicator. Prosecutor Richard Kennedy said, “While we understand the jury’s verdict, we respectfully disagree with it. Our office will continue to prosecute persons who fail to stop when police officers ask them to do so.”

TYLER — Tyler police have arrested a suspect following a chase and charged him with two offenses. On Tuesday, officers were searching for a vehicle involved in an overnight robbery. Officers had received information from citizens that a white Mercury Marquis was driving erratically in north Tyler. Officers were unable to locate it.

Around 3:00 p.m., City of Tyler Code Enforcement officers located a white Mercury Marquis driving backwards down a street. A Tyler Police officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but it evaded the officer. A short time later, another Tyler Police officer saw a white Mercury Marquis in the same area. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but the vehicle would not stop. After a short pursuit, police say, the lone occupant got out of the vehicle and ran. Officers say they were able to catch him after a short foot pursuit. Officers report that they smelled a strong odor of marijuana in the vehicle, and that a bag of marijuana was located on the path taken by the fleeing suspect as he was allegedly attempting to get rid of it.

Officers arrested 19-year-old Justin Bush for possession of a controlled substance and evading detention. After further investigation it was determined that this Mercury Marquis is not the same one involved in the overnight robbery.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tyler’s Louie Gohmert joined other Texas House Republicans at a Washington news conference to discuss their opposition to an amendment to H.R. 1586. The bill, passed by the House Tuesday, provides $26.1 billion in new spending, primarily related to education jobs funding and federal matching funds for Medicaid. The congressmen say the proposed amendment singles out only Texas – specifically the Governor – to commit future education spending levels as a requirement to receive funds from this legislation. Gohmert and his colleagues call that a violation of the Texas State Constitution — and Gohmert says it adds unnecessary bureaucracy.

According to Gohmert, “All in all, we keep adding bureaucrats, and you know where the responsibilities end up falling? It’s on the teachers” — who Gohmert says must supply data to the bureaucrats. At least one solution he proposes: “Let’s get rid of a bunch of the bureaucrats here and in Austin and in the school districts, hire lots more teachers, give ’em 50 per cent more pay — then you will help teachers.”

TYLER — Mayor Barbara Bass and other officials will rally Wednesday at noon on the downtown square for support of keeping the Downtown Tyler Post Office open. According to city press materials, the post office is being evaluated for possible closure. The City of Tyler and Heart of Tyler, Inc., will host the rally. Mayor Bass and other public officials will urge the public to take action to help save the downtown post office. There will be petitions to sign and to take for the public to be able to gather additional signatures.

A web page has been created to give the public information on what actions one can take to support keeping the Downtown Post Office open. At http://www.heartoftyler.com visitors can click on the Save the Downtown Tyler Post Office icon and go to a page with tips on what to do. The web page contains an online petition and the addresses of public and Post Office officials.

TYLER — The Literacy Council of Tyler’s Annual Corporate Spelling Bee is set for today at Harvey Convention Center. The public is invited to attend the Bee and celebrate the council’s 20th anniversary. Admission is $20 to the Bee, a major fundraiser for the agency. Staffers say the council’s work targets the one in every four adults in Smith County who are undereducated and functionally illiterate. Tickets to the Bee may be purchased in advance by calling 903-533-0330. Lunch will be catered by Traditions, and coffee will be served compliments of Starbucks. Silent Auction bidding and lunch began at 11:00am with opening ceremonies beginning at 11:45.

TYLER — The Tyler Area Builders Association (TABA) has been recognized by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) for its “New Home Bonanaza – an Open House Extravaganza” public relations campaign. Tyler-based Krantz PR’s promotion of TABA’s “Bonanza” event in October 2009 received the NAHB Association Excellence Award for Best Public Relations Campaign Conducted. The awards were handed out at the national NAHB conference on Aug. 6 in Santa Fe, NM.

The Bonanza was a five-day open house event that featured new houses and lots in a variety of sizes and price ranges. To further entice buyers, the homebuilders and TABA members offered additional incentives. Krantz PR made use of TABA President Ricky Casey, casting him as a wandering cowboy looking for a good home. Casey donned his cowboy hat, duster and boots for commercials and billboards advertising the event. “We are thrilled to add a national award to our resume’,” said Krantz PR President
Laura Krantz. “It is gratifying to have something that was a fun project turn into such high praise for our creativity. I’m proud of my team.”

TYLER — Leadership Tyler, a non-profit organization established in 1986 to equip leaders to enrich the Tyler community, has selected Colleen Colby as its new executive director. “I feel privileged to be selected for this opportunity to work with people who are so committed to leadership,” said Colby. “I am delighted to be part of this historic organization as we approach Leadership Tyler’s 25th anniversary. My plans are to work with the team to continue to offer insightful programs for leaders in the community.”

Colby said her fondness for Leadership Tyler began when she applied to the program while residing in Maryland. “The first people I met when I moved to Texas were people in my Leadership Tyler class,” says Colby. Joan Andrews, current president of the Leadership Tyler board of directors, said, “We are very excited to have someone with Colleen’s skills and leadership experience to lead our organization.”

Colby has an extensive background in development, training, education and communications with several companies, including her present position with the professional services firm PBS&J. She was a journalist and a second class petty officer in the United States Navy and served on board the USS Puget Sound off the coast of Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm. She has an executive MBA from the University of Delaware and a B.A. in mass communications and political science from Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania, and she attended an international business school in the Netherlands.

Colby has an extensive history of community service including Wilmington, Delaware, Habitat for Humanity; Junior Achievement; Wilmington Food Bank; Delaware Children’s Museum; and in East Texas, CASA, Discovery Science Place Museum, South Tyler Rotary, Tyler Executive Women’s Network, Girl Scouts & Boy Scouts of America, and Leadership Tyler class 21. She replaces Cindy Klein, who has served Leadership Tyler since 2004 and recently accepted a new position with Mentoring Minds.

LONGVIEW — The City of Longview has begun the process to search for and hire a new fire chief. As the head of the Longview Fire Department, the Fire Chief is responsible for 167 staff members, 8 fire stations, and a $15.9 million budget. Officials say the City is utilizing Strategic Government Resources, Inc. (SGR) to help broaden the scope of the search and to assist with initial evaluation. During the search process, according to officials, SGR will identify and evaluate a variety of highly qualified prospects; provide a recommended list of five qualified candidates for interview; and design an assessment process for top candidates.

The City of Longview will conduct the interviews of the top candidates. As with all of the City’s director-level positions, the City Manager is responsible for selecting the final candidate, which is subject to approval by City Council. You can go to http://www.LongviewTexas.gov to view the fire chief job announcement. City officials add that you’re encouraged to contact SGR at http://www.GovernmentResource.com if you’re an interested, qualified candidate. Resumes should be submitted to SGR by Friday, August 20. It is anticipated that the hiring process will be completed within two to three months.

TYLER — The date has been set for the annual Texans Against Crime (T.A.C.) night out. The event will take place on Tuesday, October 12th , 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. T.A.C. celebrations are held throughout East Texas on the second Tuesday in October. Last year the City of Tyler had approximately 90 block parties throughout the City to promote the program. Tyler police say it’s time to register your block party by registering online at http://www.tylerpolice.com or calling the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1096.

Police say 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. According to police, the T.A.C. program encourages neighborhoods to host block parties as an opportunity to get to know your neighbor and fight crime. Police say the program promotes neighborhood alliances to strengthen local 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 police, getting to know your neighbors is an important step in keeping your community safe.

WHITE OAK — Another East Texas city will soon decide whether or not they’ll allow alcohol sales in their town come November. A petition by some White Oak citizens was approved and confirmed during Monday’s Gregg County County Commissioner’s meeting, meaning that it will go on the upcoming November ballot. According to KETK, more than 400 residents of White Oak signed the petition.

TYLER (AP) – A Tyler campus where a teacher was fatally stabbed in 2009 will be more secure when classes begin Aug. 23. A teen accused in the attack on special education teacher Todd Henry, at John Tyler High School, remained in juvenile custody Tuesday. The boy was 16 last September when authorities say he stabbed Henry. A wrought iron fence, surrounding nearly 90 acres, is nearly finished. The fencing is part of $247,000 in security improvements for John Tyler and for Robert E. Lee High School. Tyler Independent School District spokeswoman Angela Jenkins says the goal is to provide a perimeter for the school and prevent students who are unauthorized pedestrians to enter or exit the grounds. Portable metal detectors will be used for random checks at both high schools.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Commissioners battled out their thoughts on job cuts and raised taxes last week. This week, however, they are just going to listen. As the county tries to scrape up $7 million in budget cuts, County Judge Joel Baker proposes a tax increase. Now, taxpayers get a chance to voice their thoughts on the matter. A public hearing was held today. According to KETK, the increase would bring in an extra $4 million for the county.

Commissioner Terry Phillips says they have to build a reserve back up that they spent last year. He says there will probably be some kind of tax, because it’s the only way to get the county budget where it needs to be. Since sales tax is down, the county is not taking in as much money as last year. Phillips says, “To balance the budget, we either have to raise taxes or reduce the budget.” Another public hearing will be held on August 17th.