KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW — $4 million of left over money from a Longview ISD bond issue will be used to make repairs to Longview High School. According to KETK, the nearly $267 million bond was passed two years ago to build new schools and make necessary repairs. In September, taxpayers were promised the left over money would go back to them. However, Longview ISD hasn’t received any extra state funding this year, so school board members thought it necessary to dip into the extra bond money. Former school board president Sam Satterwhite is not fond of that plan. He says, “I was against using bond funds for these projects, but I was on the short side of a vote.” The taxpayer money will go toward repairing the high school’s roof, new stadium lights, and repairs to the track.

LUFKIN — A Lufkin couple is facing charges following a fake kidnapping. Last week we told you how Lufkin police were called to a store on North Timberland Drive by a woman reporting seeing a man forcibly shove a woman into the trunk of a car. The witness said she tried to follow the car when it sped away. That started search by a contingent of law officers.

About an hour later a woman returned to the store to tell officers she and her boyfriend had been watching the movie “Jackass” and thought it would be funny to see the reaction to a faked kidnapping. The boyfriend later told officers a similar story.

Sunday, authorities identified the couple as William Short, 25, and Tamara Day, 23. They will be charged with interfering with public duties.

TYLER — Carol Johnson is the facilitator of a peer support group, “Touched by Suicide,” which has been gathering since last August in Mt. Sylvan. On this week’s KTBB “Staff Meeting,” Johnson said it’s for anyone who has lost someone they care about to suicide. Johnson was moved to start the group after her son took his own life. She also aims to create more awareness of suicide and how to prevent it.

Right now, according to Johnson, there’s a need for better services to deal with the problem in East Texas. But her group is growing. It recently received a grant that Johnson hopes will allow it to expand its scope, including achieving 501(c)3 status. Touched by Suicide is also planning a couple of awareness events for this fall. You can call Johnson at 903-574-3127 or e-mail her at caroljohnsonami@gmail.com for more information. You can also go to http://www.ktbb.com/audio to listen to the “Staff Meeting” show beginning early Tuesday.

LONGVIEW — Beginning Tuesday in Longview, Birch Drive between Scenic and Silver Falls Road will be temporarily closed. The closing is needed because of construction work on the Silver Falls Road Widening Project. The road closure will continue through late July. Silver Falls Road will also be limited to southbound traffic only from Pine Tree Road to Spring Street. Northbound traffic on Silver Falls will detour along Spring Street. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes during this construction period.

The Silver Falls Road Widening Project was approved by voters as part of the Capital Improvements Bond Election in May 2007. This project is being constructed by Longview Bridge and Road.

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at events and work planned in the Tyler District this week.

TYLER – The Texas Department of Transportation’s annual preventative maintenance program known as “District-Wide Seal Coat” is scheduled to resume on Tuesday in multiple locations around the district, including Anderson, Cherokee and Rusk counties. The crews are scheduled to be at work this week in the following locations in the order they appear, weather permitting:
First Crew
* U.S. Highway 79 from the Neches River Bridge north to Farm Road 747 north, just west of Jacksonville; and
* U.S. Highway 69 in Cherokee County between Farm Road 2493 in Bullard and U.S. Highway 175 in Jacksonville.
Second Crew
* State Highway 21 in Cherokee County between Alto and the Houston County Line;
* State Highway 204 in Cherokee and Rusk counties between U.S. Highway 84 and the Nacogdoches County Line;
* Farm Road 1798 in Rusk County between Farm Road 839 in McKnight and Farm Road 225 in Laneville;
* Farm Road 840 in Rusk County between U.S. Highway 259 in Henderson and State Highway 315; and
* State Highway 322 in Rusk County between Farm Road 1249 and U.S. Highway 259 in Henderson.
Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two lane areas. Loose gravel may be present for several days following a seal coat application. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

SMITH COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement-repair operations on State Highway 135 north of Arp between Farm Road 838 and the Rusk County Line. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

GREGG COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repairs in various locations on Interstate Highway 20 in Gregg County and on State Highway 149 between Lakeport and the Rusk County Line. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

ATHENS — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement-repair operations on SH 31 in various locations between Loop 7 in Athens and Farm Road 314 in Brownsboro. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zones.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 1255 between Interstate Highway 20 and Farm Road 773. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

WINNSBORO — Beginning Monday, July 12, Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews are scheduled to perform pavement repairs on State Highway 37 between Farm Road 515 and State Highway 11 in Winnsboro. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists should be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

LONGVIEW — The body of a woman found at a Longview motel has been sent to Tyler for Autopsy. The body was found around 11:30 Friday morning at Express Inn, in the 3200 block of Estes Parkway. Authorities say there were empty pill bottles found near her body and they do not believe foul play was involved.

TYLER — Tyler police are looking for the man who robbed the CVS Pharmacy at 1702 South Broadway. It happened around 3:30 Saturday morning. Employees told officers a man came to the sales counter and told them he had a gun. He was given an undisclosed amount of merchandise and then fled. No one was injured. The suspect is described as a tall black male, possibly bald, wearing a white polo-style shirt and black pants. He was last seen heading eastbound on foot.

NACOGDOCHES — Authorities in Nacogdoches have found explosive devices and taken a teenager into custody. According to KETK, police responded at approximately 9:00 Thursday night to a noise complaint near the dead end of Woodcreek Drive. Complainants reported gunshots or small explosions. Officers said they confronted a suspect carrying a backpack exiting the wooded area in the 4800 block of Woodcreek. Police say the man was found to have what appeared to be improvised explosive devices in the backpack, along with chemicals that were believed to be components of the devices.

The man, John Michael Otis, Jr., age 18, of Nacogdoches, was taken into custody, and the devices were left at the secured scene. Officers immediately secured the area and contacted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, who responded to the scene. A bomb disposal unit from the Bossier City, Louisiana, Fire Department also responded to the scene. The scene was contained by local police, with the Nacogdoches Fire Department and the Nacogdoches County EMS on the scene as a precaution.

Once on the scene, the Bomb Disposal Unit assessed the situation and made the decision to destroy the devices in place. A controlled detonation of the devices was conducted on the scene at approximately midnight Thursday night. John Michael Otis, Jr. has been charged with possession of a prohibited weapon, a third degree felony. He was taken to the Nacogdoches County Jail.

TYLER – A 41-year-old Holly Lake Ranch woman has pleaded guilty to federal counterfeiting charges. Dana Michelle Blackburn pleaded guilty Friday in Tyler to making counterfeit $100 bills. According to information presented in court, Blackburn admitted to making approximately one hundred $100 bills by copying the notes on a printer. Some of the bills were passed in the Upshur County area. Blackburn and another woman were indicted in February 2010 and charged with counterfeiting violations. Blackburn faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

JEFFERSON — Just in time for the holiday weekend, two beach areas on Lake O’ the Pines have been reopened. Seven beach areas had been closed because of high bacteria levels in the water. After favorable test results came in, officials reopened Brushy Creek Campground and Johnson Creek Campground. Samples will again be taken next week in an effort to reopen the remaining beaches.

The beaches were closed June 18th when unhealthy levels of E. coli bacteria were found. Only the swimming areas have been affected. The U.S. Corps of Engineers said the main body of the lake was safe for recreational use. It is thought that rains in early June washed the bacteria into the lake. The source is thought to be Chicken houses and other commercial animal operations.

TYLER — Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass and the East Texas Symphony Orchestra Association hosted a “marquee lighting ceremony” Friday to mark the beginning of the renovations of the former Liberty Theatre in the heart of downtown. The Tyler 21 Master Plan called for Downtown Tyler to become an arts and cultural district as a strategy to spur private reinvestment and revitalization. To advance this goal, the City of Tyler purchased the former Liberty Theatre in 2008 and entered into a memorandum of understanding with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra Association (ETSOA). The city and ETSOA agreed to lead an effort to raise the funds needed to renovate the theatre into a performing arts hall that they hope will be a destination point for arts and culture in East Texas.

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. 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 $68,000 that has 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 architect for the renovation project is Mike Butler, AIA, of Butler Architectural Group in Tyler. Renderings of the project have been drafted and depict an adaptive reuse that officials say retains the flavor of much of the building’s façade. The theatre’s interior will seat 300. Management and ownership of the theater will be transferred to the ETSOA upon completion of all renovations, with the City maintaining some oversight related to funding for tourism related activities. It is anticipated that the construction contract for the project will be awarded in the next month.

TYLER – A 41-year-old Holly Lake Ranch woman has pleaded guilty to federal counterfeiting charges. Dana Michelle Blackburn pleaded guilty Friday in Tyler to making counterfeit $100 bills. According to information presented in court, Blackburn admitted to making approximately one hundred $100 bills by copying the notes on a printer. Some of the bills were passed in the Upshur County area. Blackburn and another woman were indicted in February 2010 and charged with counterfeiting violations. Blackburn faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

NACOGDOCHES — Authorities in Nacogdoches have found explosive devices and taken a teenager into custody. According to KETK, police responded at approximately 9:00 Thursday night to a noise complaint near the dead end of Woodcreek Drive. Complainants reported gunshots or small explosions. Officers said they confronted a suspect carrying a backpack exiting the wooded area in the 4800 block of Woodcreek. Police say the man was found to have what appeared to be improvised explosive devices in the backpack, along with chemicals that were believed to be components of the devices.

The man, John Michael Otis, Jr., age 18, of Nacogdoches, was taken into custody, and the devices were left at the secured scene. Officers immediately secured the area and contacted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, who responded to the scene. A bomb disposal unit from the Bossier City, Louisiana, Fire Department also responded to the scene. The scene was contained by local police, with the Nacogdoches Fire Department and the Nacogdoches County EMS on the scene as a precaution.

Once on the scene, the Bomb Disposal Unit assessed the situation and made the decision to destroy the devices in place. A controlled detonation of the devices was conducted on the scene at approximately midnight Thursday night. John Michael Otis, Jr. has been charged with possession of a prohibited weapon, a third degree felony. He was taken to the Nacogdoches County Jail.

TYLER — The United Way of Tyler/Smith County kicks off its 70th anniversary campaign with a celebration on the Square in downtown Tyler on Wednesday, July 7, from 11:30-1:00. Guest speaker is Mayor Barbara Bass. There will also be check presentations by companies that have “set the pace” for this year’s campaign. A free hot dog lunch is being provided by Brookshire’s and Super 1 Foods, as long as supplies last. Frito Lay is providing chips; drinks are being provided by Coca-Cola, Community Coffee, Tyler Beverages, and Pepsi. The 2010 campaign will continue to remind everyone to “Live United.” You can go to http://www.unitedwaytyler.org to learn more.

TYLER — Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass and the East Texas Symphony Orchestra Association hosted a “marquee lighting ceremony” Friday to mark the beginning of the renovations of the former Liberty Theatre in the heart of downtown. The Tyler 21 Master Plan called for Downtown Tyler to become an arts and cultural district as a strategy to spur private reinvestment and revitalization. To advance this goal, the City of Tyler purchased the former Liberty Theatre in 2008 and entered into a memorandum of understanding with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra Association (ETSOA). The city and ETSOA agreed to to lead an effort to raise the funds needed to renovate the theatre into a performing arts hall that they hope will be a destination point for arts and culture in East Texas.

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. 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 $68,000 that has 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 architect for the renovation project is Mike Butler, AIA, of Butler Architectural Group in Tyler. Renderings of the project have been drafted and depict an adaptive reuse that officials say retains the flavor of much of the building’s façade. The theatre’s interior will seat 300. Management and ownership of the theater will be transferred to the ETSOA upon completion of all renovations, with the City maintaining some oversight related to funding for tourism related activities. It is anticipated that the construction contract for the project will be awarded in the next month.