KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The City of Tyler will hold a public meeting tonight at 6:00 at the UT Tyler Ornelas Activity Center to present the preliminary outcomes of the UT Tyler Area Development Plan. Participants will have the opportunity to hear conclusions on the Area Development Plan including the planning team’s findings and recommendations. The City of Tyler initiated the plan study last October to build upon recommendations set forth in the Tyler 21 Comprehensive Plan. City officials say the purpose of the Area Development Plan is to further develop UT Tyler, neighborhoods and surrounding areas as a vibrant district. Officials say the findings and recommendations cover long term growth, pedestrian friendly corridors, and ideas to enhance the UT Tyler area.

TYLER – The Northeast Texas Public Health District (NETPHD) announces that Harold Higgins, Senior Deputy Director, received the 2010 Janet Emerson Public Health Servant Award at a dinner Wednesday evening in Austin. This award is the Texas Association of Local Health Officials’ (TALHO) highest accolade for demonstrated extraordinary performance with an exemplary commitment to local public health. Health officials say the Emerson award is a means of expressing gratitude, recognition and encouragement of professional accomplishment in public health at the local level. As nominator and NETPHD CEO George Roberts noted, “Harold’s steady ‘can do’ spirit and willingness to work with many people and many different organizations has enabled NETPHD to grow, sustain and be recognized as experts in public health.”

Higgins serves as the Senior Deputy Director of Public Health Preparedness, Immunization and Tuberculosis Control Departments at NETPHD. Local health officials say Higgins has contributed outstanding service and dedication to protect and promote the health of the community for more than 30 years. During his public health career, Higgins has worked at the state, regional and local levels. In 2009, the Immunization Department, in which he serves as Director, had a record year by giving almost 17,000 immunizations in Smith County, as well as leading the vaccination of over 20,000 area citizens with the H1N1 vaccine.

Officials say due to Higgins’s actions, NETPHD received a Model Practice Award from the National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO) for establishing a partnership with UT Tyler for Medical Special Needs Sheltering. He was also deemed instrumental in the sheltering of thousands of special needs evacuees during Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike. “Mr. Higgins has been a rock solid, reliable public health worker for over three decades now, and I am sure Mr. Higgins will continue to make great contributions in the field of public health for years to come,” says Dr. Paul McGaha, Regional Director, Texas Department of State Health Services.

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University has named Scott Fossey as the new senior director of development, responsible for managing the university’s fundraising staff and reporting to the vice president for development. In recent years, Fossey has served as a president and chief development officer in private education and as morning meteorologist at Tyler CBS affiliate KYTX-TV. His plans are to continue his role as a weatherman at the TV station.

“Scott Fossey is one of the most familiar faces in East Texas,” said LETU President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford. “I have had the pleasure of working with both Scott and (his wife) Leslie in the past and look forward to the years ahead. LeTourneau University is one of the most significant Christian universities in the nation and Scott will be effective at sharing our vision with others.”

“We are excited and humbled to be a part of the LeTourneau University family and to share in the university’s mission to equip students to impact every workplace in every nation for Christ,” Fossey said. “We look forward to forming new relationships throughout East Texas and around the country as we meet those who have also been touched by LETU and are looking for a way to give back to the university through a number of opportunities.”

KILGORE — Questions about the Senior Nutrition Program around East Texas cause the state to audit the program. The senior nutrition program for 14 local counties is run by the East Texas Council of Governments. Director David Cleveland says recently, the program was struggling and was down to just three contractors. KETK says after six months, the state auditor found no wrong doing. The agency says they will keep better records in the future.

TYLER — Smith County will extend its two-week warrant amnesty campaign through the entire month of August due to the early success of the program, according to county officials. The Smith County Collections Department, Justice Courts, and Sheriff’s and Constables’ Offices originally declared an amnesty period for August 1 – 15. That was to allow anyone with outstanding fines or warrants for Class C Misdemeanors in Smith County to contact the County Collections Department (903-590-4624) and make arrangements to pay the fine without fear of arrest.

A Warrant Round-Up will begin on September 1, 2010, and all remaining cases will be moved into active warrant status with additional costs and fees added. Once the Warrant Round-Up begins, defendants will be actively pursued at home and their places of work and arrested. Anyone operating a motor vehicle at the time of their arrest will have the vehicle towed.

The Smith County Collections Department and the Smith County Justice Courts will be available to take payments, workout payment plans and in some cases offer discounts during normal business hours, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday – Friday during the amnesty period. To find out if you have a warrant in Smith County visit http://www.smith-county.com and select “Do you owe a court fine?” at the top of the home page. This site will allow you to search for your name in Smith County database.

WASHINGTON — East Texas Regional Airport will receive a federal grant worth $500,000 for airport improvements, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn announced Thursday. The funding comes through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). “These funds will be used to address needed maintenance and safety improvements at East Texas Regional Airport,” Sen. Cornyn said. “In addition, quality transportation services are important for boosting local economic growth. I commend the area leaders who worked to secure this funding.” This grant will provide Federal funding for several rehabilitative projects at East Texas Regional Airport including airport terminal entrance road and parking lot construction, both deemed important to improving passenger safety.

TROUP – Tuesday night the Troup city council voted unanimously to permanently ban the sale and use of K2 within city limits. However, KETK reports water pipes can still be sold for tobacco use. Troup Police Chief Pat Hendrix says K2 is 100 times more potent than THC, the active component in marijuana.

SMITH COUNTY — A Smith County homicide is under investigation. It happened around 6:00 Wednesday evening on CR 1295. 50-year-old Richard Rico Ramos was found dead at the scene from multiple stab wounds. 17-year-old Alejandro Silva, Tyler, is charged with murder. According to authorities, Silva was at the home visiting his girlfriend when he heard Ramos fighting with his girlfriend’s mom. Smith County Sheriff’s Lt. Tony Dana said Silva took a kitchen knife to the back bedroom where the two were fighting and confronted Ramos. Dana said Ramos reportedly took a swing at Silva, when Silva stabbed him multiple times. Bond has been set at $1,000,000.

Authorities say the original call that came in was regarding a sexual assault that had allegedly happened and the murder was in response to the reported assault. Lt. Dana said there was no evidence that any sexual assault ever happened or was attempted.

RUSK COUNTY — A Henderson man pleads guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. 21-year-old Trenton Ferguson was sentenced Wednesday to 12 years in prison for the felony. He will have to serve 1/4 of the sentence before being eligible for parole.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department is sharing its memories of a retired Tyler police officer killed in a one vehicle accident in Wood County. Pronounced dead at the scene were Dan Ross, 54, and Southern Trace Glaspif, 7. The accident happened around 12:45 Wednesday afternoon on Farm Road 14, about a mile north of State Highway 154. Their bodies have been sent to Dallas for autopsy. According to the Department of Public Safety, the victim’s truck left the road and hit a dirt embankment and then caught fire.

According to a statement from the Tyler Police Department, Ross began his career in law enforcement on January 23, 1978, with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department. On July 1, 1979, he was hired by the Tyler Police Department. Ross served with the Tyler Police Department for 23 years and retired on June 24, 2002. During his tenure with the department he received his Advanced Peace Officer License, TCLEOSE Instructors License, Commendation Bar, and Certificate of Merit Bar, and was named Officer of the Year in 1993.

Ross was a Field Training Officer and a member of the Hostage Negotiation Unit. He was assigned to the Narcotics Unit for a good portion of his career, and during that assignment he was appointed to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Task Force for a period of time.

The statement adds, “The Tyler Police Department personnel were saddened at the news of Dan and his grandson’s death from yesterday’s vehicle accident. Dan was well liked by police personnel who worked with him and knew him. Even though Dan retired several years ago, he is still part of the Tyler Police family and will be missed.”

TYLER – The Tyler square was crowded as citizens gathered to hold a rally in support of the downtown Tyler Post Office. The postal service is conducting a study to see which of its facilities can be closed or consolidated in an effort to cut its losses. They are discussing closing the downtown facility. The Postal service recently reported a loss of $3.5 million.

KETK-TV reports those who gathered at the rally gave a variety of reasons why the postal facility should remain open. Several businesses say they rely on the office, and most agree that having a post office downtown is convenient. One person says the other post offices are already congested enough.

Among those on hand for the rally was Mayor Barbara Bass. She told the crowd, “We have a huge group, and a huge momentum. It’s going to build as we support this initiative to keep our downtown post office.” She said keeping the post office is environmentally friendly since some people can walk to the post office instead of driving.

CARTHAGE — They’re gearing up for production of a movie in East Texas, but the plans have some residents feeling a little uneasy. In 1997, Carthage resident Bernie Tiede was charged with the murder of Marjorie Nugent, an elderly woman with whom he was involved. Tiede was the heir to Nugent’s estate, worth millions of dollars. For many months he hid her body in a deep freeze while spending her money. Her body was discovered in August of that year. She had been shot with a 22-caliber weapon. Many Carthage residents are afraid the release of the movie might present the city in a negative light. The movie, called “Bernie,” is set to be a dark comedy. Filming is set to begin in September.

TYLER — Tyler Metro Children’s Center on Highway 110 South was shut down Wednesday morning, after the area lost its water supply. KETK reports parents were called to pick up their children, due to the day care center’s closing. The day care reopened today. Health department officials confirm there was a problem with the area’s water supply, possibly a water main break or leak.

TYLER — The City of Tyler today holds two public meetings to gather input on Tyler Transit’s 2010 Paratransit Plan. One meeting began at 2:30 p.m., and the other kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Both are in the Taylor Auditorium of Tyler Public Library, 201 South College Avenue. The input will be used to update the Paratransit Plan, the document that describes how the City provides transportation to elderly and disabled residents as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008.

Previously, the City of Tyler has held several public meetings to gather input on the future of Tyler Transit fixed routes and to update the City’s plan for how it serves citizens with ADA-accessible transportation needs (paratransit service). Officials say the Aug. 12 meetings are intended to collect additional information from groups including other transportation providers, paratransit users, regulatory agencies and advocacy groups about how the Tyler Transit paratransit service should be operated in the future. As a part of this Plan update, Tyler Transit has requested information from area transportation providers about their available resources and future plans. The City is encouraging any who have not responded to provide that input.

A copy of the 2010 Paratransit Plan is available online on the Transit page of the City’s website at http://www.cityoftyler.org and at the Tyler Transit office at 210 E. Oakwood. Anyone unable to attend these meetings can provide comments on the Transit page of the City’s website, at the Tyler Transit office (during business hours), or by calling the Transit Office at (903) 533-8057.

“It is important to update Tyler Transit’s paratransit plan,” said Director of Airport and Transit Services Davis Dickson. “The Paratransit Plan is a guide for our customers to understand the paratransit services we provide. It is critical that we receive public input as we move forward to ensure that we meet the transportation needs that enhance the social and economic quality of life for people with disabilities.”

Currently Tyler Transit operates five fixed bus routes and provides paratransit service within the city limits of Tyler. Service hours are Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tyler Transit office hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Transit passes can be purchased Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Transit office.