KTBB News, Weather, Talk

KILGORE – Harrison County Judge Richard Anderson announces receiving a letter of intent from Amtrak officials that TxDOT and Amtrak will soon be requesting the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) to move forward with a feasibility study for additional passenger rail services along the 1-20 / US 59 corridors in East Texas. According to KETK, Anderson is the East Texas Corridor Council’s (ETCC) governmental affairs chair. The information comes in a news release from the East Texas Council of Governments.

A letter from Amtrak’s Vice President, Transportation, Richard Phelps, received on August 17, states an agreement should be reached in the next several weeks to finalize reimbursement of capacity modeling expenses during the study. Phelps states Amtrak is fully prepared to then finalize an agreement with TxDOT and progress with the feasibility study. At that time, officials say, UP will also be able to provide Amtrak and TxDOT with an estimated timing for completion of its portion of the study, which will permit Amtrak to progress with the development of the scope and cost of capital expenditures that may be required to begin the service. This will also include an analysis of projected ridership and revenues for the new service.

“Not since the reintroduction of passenger rail service to East Texas in 1974 has TxDOT, Amtrak and the public need all been in agreement on the importance of moving forward with this project,” says ETCC Chair Tim Vaughn. “This is the most significant event in passenger rail service in East Texas since 1974,” says Anderson.

TYLER — Another case of rabies in Smith County. On Friday, the Texas Department of State Health Services advised the Northeast Texas Public Health District that one bat submitted for analysis tested positive for rabies. The bat was found in the 3800 block of Lake Forest Drive, Tyler. This is the ninth laboratory confirmed case of rabies in Smith County and the sixth rabid bat found in the City of Tyler this year. Authorities say the known individuals with possible exposure have been identified and addressed.

Citizens are advised not to handle bats, skunks, raccoons, or other wild animals. Health officials say it is important for children to tell their parents of any contact with wild animals or any sick animals. Anyone who knows of a person being bitten by an animal must report the bite incident to the Smith County Rabies Control Authority for proper investigation.

The Smith County Rabies Control Authority advises all citizens to confirm that their dogs and cats are currently vaccinated for rabies. City of Tyler Ordinance and Smith County Ordinance require annual rabies vaccinations for all dogs and cats. Officials say preventive immunization for rabies is the only effective defense against this always fatal disease. Anyone with questions on rabies control may contact City of Tyler Animal Control at 903-535-0045.

TYLER — Smith County will receive the Texas Association of Counties Best Practices Award for cost reductions made through the County’s Compensatory Time Management Program. According to a county news release, each year TAC’s Leadership Foundation recognizes and highlights county programs for outstanding innovation, achievement and delivery of services.

The Smith County Compensatory Time Management Program began in 2008 as a joint effort of the Auditor’s Office and Sheriff’s Department, to reduce what officials term the ever increasing and costly payout and accrual of employee earned compensatory time. At that time, Smith County had more than $735,000 in accrued liability recorded for comp time, and more than $600,000 of the accrual was solely attributed to the Sheriff’s department and the Jail. Today, the comp hours have been reduced by 48% in the Sheriff’s office and 41% in the jail for a total reduction of more than 44% department wide. That substantial reduction in hours has reduced the county’s accrued liability by more than $350,000.

“We are very proud of the leadership in our Sheriff’s Office and Auditor’s Department. They stepped up and thought outside the box to reduce our accumulated comp time and ultimately save hundreds of thousands of dollars for the County,” said Comp Time Committee Member and Smith County Precinct 4 Commissioner JoAnn Hampton. Representatives from Smith County will be presented with the award during a ceremony at the TAC Annual Conference in Austin Sept. 2.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — One suspect is in custody after a stabbing in Van Zandt County. It happened last night around 9:30 on VZCR 2807. Sheriff’s deputies say the suspect was reportedly involved in a burglary of a habitation earlier in the evening, in which firearms were stolen. Deputies say Gary Wayne Pritchett, Jr. of Mabank went to confront the reporting party and stabbed him in the back several times with a screwdriver. Pritchett was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, retaliation against witness/informant. He’s being held at the Van Zandt County Justice Center awaiting arraignment by a Justice of the Peace.

WHITEHOUSE — Whitehouse is next to consider a ban on K2, a controversial substance that mimics the effects of marijuana. Whitehouse Police Chief Rick Waller says he hasn’t found anyone selling K2 in the city, but one or two places sell paraphernalia. Whitehouse Mayor Danny Hodgen says that he’s not willing to wait on the state legislature to pass a ban. The Whitehouse City Council will vote on the ordinance in September.

WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security is reviewing thousands of pending immigration cases. Officials say they are moving to dismiss cases on those filed against suspected illegal immigrants who have no serious criminal records. Many are disappointed with the action, including Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert.

According to Gohmert, the action is devastating to those who follow the rules by trying to bring loved ones here legally. “It is also a position that tells the world we are not exerting our sovereignty as a nation. It says to the potential billion or more people who would like to come here to do so illegally and get our welfare, our healthcare, and our benefits that taxpayers are funding, because even if you get caught here illegally, this administration has decided that there will be no consequences. This utter disregard for the rule of law
is so hurtful to people of every race, gender, religion, and national origin who have worked so hard to follow the law. It also moves us ever closer to being like those countries which immigrants are fleeing because of their disregard for the rule of law.”

LONGVIEW — Authorities say a cooking accident in Longview seriously injured a resident Thursday. Around 12:09 p.m., the Longview Fire Department responded to 1805 Paver Stone. Authorities say 2nd and 3rd degree burns covered approximately 60% of the victim’s body. The call came in as a medical alert button activation which notified the family. On arrival, crews and investigators determined that clothing had caught fire at or near the electric cook top, where the victim’s clothes burned completely off. The victim had managed to move to a bedroom which was about 15 feet away from where the burn occurred. The victim was the only person at the residence at the time of the incident. The Longview Fire Department transported the resident to Good Shepherd Medical Center. The victim was then flown to Parkland Hospital in Dallas.

TYLER – Two Carthage residents have pleaded guilty in Tyler to federal drug violations. Michael Lewis Galyean, 49, and Christie Renee Tull, 27, pleaded guilty to possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.

According to information presented in court, on Dec. 11, 2008, Galyean purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a Walgreens in Kilgore, in addition to making three other purchases that same day at other stores in the area. On Apr. 22, 2009, Tull purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a CVS in Tyler, in addition to making another purchase on another day at a store in Henderson. The purchases were all in furtherance of their methamphetamine manufacturing activities. A federal grand jury returned a 256-count indictment on Feb. 2, 2010 charging Galyean and Tull with federal drug violations. Galyean and Tull each face up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. Sentencing dates have not been set.

LONGVIEW — A free “come and go” benefits fair for Texas veterans will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center, 100 Grand Blvd., Longview. The fair, targeting all northeast Texas veterans, is one of several throughout the state. It’s presented by the Texas Veterans Land Board and Texas Veterans Commission.

State Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson is chairman of the Texas Veterans Land Board. He says officials from the Land Board will be on hand to provide information on state programs including land, housing, and home improvement loans as well as Texas state veterans cemeteries and nursing homes for veterans. Joining the Land Board officials will be representatives from the Texas Veterans Commission, the Small Business Administration, the Social Security Administration, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Also on hand: local realtors and lenders specializing in veterans loans who will be available to discuss federal benefits and pending claims.

Patterson says veterans wishing to discuss pending claims with VA officials should bring pertinent case information, including claim numbers if available. Veterans are encouraged to drop in to learn more about their benefits any time between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and are not required to stay for the duration of the event. For more information on the benefits fair, you can call Michelle Davis with the Texas Veterans land Board at 214-498-8174 or Tito Garcia at 214-450-3092. For more information on benefits available only to Texas veterans, such as low-interest land and home loans, visit http://www.texasveterans.com or call 1-800-252-VETS (1-800-252-8387).