KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – Renovations to the exterior of the historic Goodman Museum are underway. Work began earlier this week on Phase One, the east and south sides of the museum. Phase Two will address the west and north sides of the building. During Phase One, the front of the building will be inaccessible, and guests will have to enter from the rear of the building and vice versa during Phase Two of the renovations.

Officials say the renovation project is necessary to maintain the integrity of the structure and is in compliance with national, state and local historical guidelines. The project includes a new roof, painting, wood rot work, shutter and hardware restoration, and downspouts. It is anticipated that the renovation project will be completed at the end of November, weather permitting.

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler College of Engineering and Computer Science has received an endowment from SPEA to create a new computer engineering center within the Department of Electrical Engineering, Dr. James Nelson, College of Engineering and Computer Science dean, announced. School officials say The SPEA Center for Semiconductor Testing in the department will be used to introduce hands-on laboratory semiconductor test procedures into the electrical engineering curriculum so that graduates are prepared for a career in this field. SPEA designs and manufactures automatic test equipment for microchips and electronic boards. Its systems are utilized in all high-tech fields, such as aerospace, aeronautics, telecommunications, automotive, consumer and safety electronics.

“The gift from SPEA will help our college to meet the needs of local industry by preparing our students for successful careers in semiconductor engineering,” said Nelson. “College industry partnerships are the best way to introduce high-tech jobs to invigorate the East Texas economy and we hope to have many such successful collaborations in the near future.” A dedication ceremony will be 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 4 at the UT Tyler Ratliff Engineering and Science Complex Building South, fourth floor suite and terrace. Dr. David Hoe, assistant professor, and Dr. Mukul Shirvaikar, chair and professor of electrical engineering, will oversee the daily activities of the grant.

UT Tyler has also been invited to join the Collaborative Alliance for Semiconductor Testing, including industry bellwethers such as Texas Instruments, IBM, and Intel — and such major universities as Texas A&M, Auburn, and Georgia Tech. UTT officials say this collaboration will inevitably result in high-tech research and development applications, thereby benefiting the East Texas area economy.

TYLER – A 43-year-old Palestine man has pleaded guilty in Tyler to federal drug trafficking violations. Kyle Edward Palmer pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to authorities, beginning in January 2008, Palmer possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it to others in and around the Longview area. A federal indictment was returned on Oct. 7, 2009, charging Palmer and four other individuals with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. At sentencing, Palmer faces a up to 40 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

TYLER (AP) – A former east Texas high school football coach has been sentenced to three years of probation for his role in a dogfighting ring. Jerry Scott Chism of Longview was sentenced Thursday, four months after pleading guilty to a charge of sponsoring or exhibiting an animal fighting venture. He was also fined $2,000. The 36-year-old Chism apologized to U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis, saying he was “raised to respect and obey the law.” Chism’s attorney said his client “will not disappoint.” Chism faced up to five years in federal prison after his arrest along with eight others last year in a five-state raid of dogfighting operations. Chism was an assistant coach at Jacksonville High School.

AUSTIN (AP) – The Texas Supreme Court has ordered a juvenile court to delay a hearing on whether a teenager accused in the 2009 fatal stabbing of his teacher in a Tyler classroom should be tried as an adult. The state’s highest civil court ruled Friday that a mental health evaluation should be completed before the 17-year-old suspect has a hearing that could move his case to adult court. The suspect, who remains in custody, was 16 when authorities say he attacked special education teacher Todd Henry at John Tyler High School in Tyler. A defense attorney’s request for a writ of mandamus was denied by an appeals court. The state’s high court said it would issue a writ only if the juvenile court failed to comply with Friday’s order.

ATHENS — The man who was convicted of killing two Henderson County Sheriff’s Department officers was back in court Tuesday. Randall Wayne Mays was convicted of capital murder, and sentenced to the death penalty for fatally shooting Henderson County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Paul Steven Habelt, 63, and deputy Tony Ogburn, 61 on May 17, 2007. The officers were killed in the shootings after responding to a disturbance at a residence in Payne Springs. A third officer, HCSO Deputy Kevin Harris, was shot in the leg during the May 17 shooting. He did survive. Mays’ attorney, Jeff Haas of Tyler, filed his appeal stating Ineffective Assistance of Counsel. Some of the points he hopes to bring out are the fact that there was no Change of Venue applied to the case, as well as May’s mental state at the time of the trial.

TYLER — The City of Tyler Police Department received notification yesterday that they have been awarded a grant from the United States Department of Justice COPS Hiring Program (CHP) for four police officer positions. The estimated federal funding to be awarded over the three-year grant period is $853,988.

Currently, the City of Tyler has 187 officers and the additional four officers will bring the total to 191. The new officers will be assigned to the Community Response Unit which provides community policing. The Unit consists to six officers and will grow to 10 with this grant.

The recruitment for the new officers will begin in the next few weeks with the scheduling of a civil service test to identify potential candidates for the positions. For information about the test, please visit http://www.cityoftyler.org

VAN — Van school officials are battling Staph Infections and MRSA. Officials with the Northeast Texas Public Health District say a large portion of high school students are infected, most of them varsity football players. They say football players are more susceptible because they are more likely to have open wounds. Officials say MRSA can be deadly because of its resistance to drugs. According to KETK, that’s why, they say they’re doing everything they can to make sure there are no new cases. Officials say washing your hands is the best way to prevent it from spreading.

Van school officials have addressed the student body. As for parents, a meeting will take place at the Van High School Library on Monday, October 4th at 7:00.

ATHENS — A woman remained in the Henderson County Jail Thursday after scuffling with police at the East Texas Medical Center Gun Barrel City facility. Pamela Jeanne Struble, 47, was charged with two counts of assault on a public servant, possession of a prohibited substance in a correctional facility and criminal mischief. According to KETK, she was also held for disorderly conduct and public intoxication. Total bond on Struble was set at $57,500. Gun Barrel City Chief of Police Damon Boswell said Struble entered the hospital Monday, and began screaming that she was going to kill herself.

TYLER (AP) — A federal judge has lifted a 39-year-old statewide school desegregation order from all but nine rural Texas public school systems in what is now largely a symbolic move.

U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider of Tyler found that all but nine of the school systems have either been released from desegregation orders by other federal judges, or are under separate desegregation orders issued in different cases, or weren’t parties to the 1970 suit that spawned the statewide order.

In a four-page order issued this week, Schneider noted that he has neither examined nor determined whether the freed districts are fully desegregated. The districts remaining under the order are mostly small-town districts in east Texas. They are the Buffalo, Colmesneil, Daingerfield, Fairfield, Malakoff, Nacogdoches, Oakwood, Smithville and Whitewright school districts.

TYLER — Two men, one from Rusk County, have entered guilty pleas in Tyler federal court in separate methamphetamine trafficking cases. Derrick Duwayne Walker, 23, of Henderson pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to prosecutors, on Jan. 21, 2009, Walker was found in possession of methamphetamine which he intended to distribute to others. Walker was also indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6 and faces up to 20 years in federal prison when sentenced.

In a separate case, Dannis Ivan Villarreal, 24, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to being involved in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to information presented in court, on Jan. 25, 2010, Villarreal was stopped for a traffic violation on IH-20 near Longview. A search of the vehicle revealed 13 lbs. of methamphetamine hidden in a secret compartment built into the vehicle. Villarreal was transporting the drugs from Dallas to Georgia. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6 and charged with drug trafficking violations. Villarreal faces a minimum of 10 years in federal prison. Sentencing dates have not been set for either man.

TYLER – Two men enter guilty pleas in Tyler federal court in separate methamphetamine trafficking cases. 24-year-old Dannis Ivan Villarreal of Lawrenceville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to being involved in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to information presented in court, on Jan. 25, 2010, Villarreal was stopped for a traffic violation on IH-20 near Longview. A search of the vehicle revealed 13 lbs. of methamphetamine hidden in a secret compartment built into the vehicle. Villarreal was transporting the drugs from Dallas to Georgia. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6 and charged with drug trafficking violations. Villarreal faces a minimum of 10 years in federal prison.

In a separate case, Derrick Duwayne Walker, 23, of Henderson, Texas, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to prosecutors, on Jan. 21, 2009, Walker was found in possession of methamphetamine which he intended to distribute to others. Walker was also indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6 and faces up to 20 years in federal prison when sentenced. Sentencing dates have not been set for either man.

TYLER — Southside Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBSI) is announces that Chairman and CEO B. G. Hartley will preside over the NASDAQ Opening Bell ceremony at the NASDAQ MarketSite in New York City’s Times Square on Monday October 4, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. CDT. “We will be ringing the Opening Bell at NASDAQ as part of Southside’s 50th anniversary celebration,” said Hartley. “We are honored to celebrate this milestone with one of our most valued partners. Our association with NASDAQ has been extremely positive, providing Southside Bancshares, Inc. increased exposure that has been an integral part of our growth.”

TYLER — Senator Kevin Eltife and former Mayor Joey Seeber have announced that the VOTE YES Committee will again support the Tyler Independent School District Bond election set for November 2. The VOTE YES Committee comprises a community-wide group of citizens voicing their support of TISD and the proposed bond package. The committee was originally formed in 2004 in support of the successful Phase 1 bond proposal, and VOTE YES also worked for the successful passage of the Phase 2 bond in 2008. Eltife and Seeber co-chaired the past two VOTE YES committees in both the 2004 and 2008 bond elections.

As part of the Master Facilities Plan, Phase 3 includes replacement schools for Dixie Elementary and Rice Elementary, which will conclude all of the elementary work by either rebuilding or remodeling all elementary campuses within TISD. With all elementary work completed, the District takes its first step in Phase 3 to include a new middle school which will be located in Southwest Tyler. Eltife and Seeber say based on the age, capacity for growth and condition of the aging portable buildings on their campuses, it becomes more cost effective to build and maintain replacement schools. The 2010 Bond proposal totals $89.85 million, and Eltife and Seeber say it’s projected to come with no change in the tax rate.

Eltife says, “We fully recognize that these are tough economic times and we hope to educate the voters on the need to continue with our phased approach to upgrading our school facilities. School bond issues are a way for the local voters to have input in the process and we fully respect the will of the voters. We hope we can earn their support. And we welcome anyone who would like to join our VOTE YES Committee.” Seeber added, “No great community is built without great public schools. I am proud to enthusiastically endorse this Bond Proposal and encourage others to join me and the VOTE YES Committee.” For more information, you can call the VOTE YES campaign office at 903-360-VOTE (8683).

TYLER — On Thursday, Tyler Police Investigators arrested a second suspect in connection to the homicide of Ronnie Kemp that occurred in Winters Park. The suspect is 18-year-old Amie Catherine Dean of Tyler. She’s the daughter of 60-year-old Sharieff Hussein Dean, who was arrested on Wednesday. Amie Dean was charged with capital murder for retaliation, and her bond was set at $1,000,000 by Judge Judge Skeen. The elder Dean was charged with the same crime, and his bond was set at the same amount. Police say Kemp’s murder occurred on July 5. That night, officers were dispatched to the park at 910 S. Peach Street in reference to a welfare concern. Upon arrival, officers located the body of the 48-year-old Kemp, a Tyler resident.

TYLER — The Texas Association of Regional Councils announces that one of its Citizen Corps Custom Trailers is being awarded to the Smith County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) serving within the East Texas Council of Governments region. “This award is given in recognition of outstanding community outreach work by the Smith County CERT Program, under the direction of Emergency Management Coordinator Oren Hale,” Executive Director of the Texas Association of Regional Councils Penny Redington said. The Smith County CERT program has been recognized as an outstanding program for their Citizen Corp services and local outreach efforts. The trailer will be used by the Smith County CERT team for transporting equipment during deployments, for training and drills and for public awareness events.

TYLER — Two persons are in custody in connection with a south Tyler robbery. It happened just before 5:30 Wednesday afternoon in the 5500 block of South Broadway. The victim told officers he was robbed at gunpoint of an undetermined amount of money. The victim, in his vehicle, then followed the two suspects to the 4600 block of Plauxy Drive. That’s where officers first located the vehicle. They stopped it in the 2400 block of McDonald Road. The two suspects were arrested and charged with aggravated robbery and placed in the Smith County Jail pending arraignment. No injures were reported.

TYLER — A Gregg County man has been sentenced to federal prison for money laundering. Dantrel Robert, 28, of Longview, pleaded guilty in January and was sentenced Wednesday to 60 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis. Robert was also ordered to forfeit $30,000.00.

According to information presented in court, Robert was involved in a drug trafficking scheme which involved money being sent to California where it was used to buy illegal prescription drugs, such as codeine and hydrocodone. The prescription drugs were then smuggled from California to East Texas for distribution. After the illegal prescription drugs were sold in East Texas, the money was sent back to California to purchase more drugs, luxury vehicles and other property. A 14-count federal indictment was returned by a grand jury on June 3, 2009, charging Robert and 6 other individuals with conspiracy to comment money laundering.

TEXARKANA (AP) — A Mount Pleasant man is to report to federal prison on Veterans Day for falsely claiming blindness to get veterans benefits. Former U.S. Marine Jim Bob Shipp begins his 63-month sentence on November 11, and must repay more than $800,000. Shipp maintains his innocence and says he’ll appeal.

RUSK — A woman has lost her life in a Cherokee County fire. The body of Anita Perry was found in the wreckage of her burned home Tuesday night. The house is located outside of Rusk on Farm Road 768. The mobile home was fully engulfed in flames when firemen arrived on the scene. Along with Perry, her pet dog and cat were also found dead in the wreckage. The cause of the fire, which is believed to have started in a bed room, remains under investigation.

TYLER (AP) — A Tyler man must serve 45 years in prison over a fatal stabbing during a party at a Smith County deputy sheriff’s home. Prosecutors say Joshua Dwain Barnes on Wednesday pleaded guilty to murder in a plea agreement. Barnes also apologized over the Dec. 27, death of James Brandon Lee.

Barnes, who served in the U.S. Army in Iraq, originally claimed self defense, but prosecutors said his recorded confession to police would be used at trial. Barnes and Lee had argued at a party of then-Deputy Terry Helms Lindsey of Tyler.

Lindsey in June was sentenced to 10 years of probation and six months in jail after pleading guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Investigators say Lindsey, who was off duty, beat Barnes after Barnes stabbed Lee. Lindsey was fired after his arrest.

TYLER — Tyler federal judge Michael Schneider sets a December 9 trial date for a case filed against the federal government by Texas Spine and Joint Hospital and Physician Hospitals of America. Plaintiffs’ attorney Scott Oostdyk says it will be a “provisional,” or bench, trial, with no jury. The plaintiffs are fighting the health care reform law provision limiting expansion rights for physician-owned, and partially physician-owned, hospitals. Along with claiming that it’s arbitrary and vague, they say the provision violates their due process and equal protection under the law. There’s at least one proceeding before the trial. Oostdyk says on October 8, briefs will be filed, and the judge will hear more briefing from the parties about the legal issues.

AUSTIN — As part of an ongoing effort by the Texas Secretary of State’s Office to inform Texans about their rights as voters, the 2010 VOTEXAS Road Tour will be visiting the East Texas State Fair this Thursday. Visitors can learn more about the voter registration and elections processes and will have an opportunity to explore the newly-designed VOTEXAS.org website. Along with representatives from the Texas Secretary of State’s office, local election officials will be on hand to answer questions.

According to state officials, the 22-stop VOTEXAS Road Tour is partnering with local election officials throughout the state to inform Texans about the “when, where and how” of voting to make sure that lack of information is never a reason that one does not register to vote or cast a ballot. The VOTEXAS booth will be at the fair from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday. It will be located outdoors, and officials say some tall VOTEXAS.org banners should make it easy to spot.

TYLER — One person is killed, one injured in a northeastern Tyler accident. Tyler Police, Fire and EMS responded to the two vehicle crash in the intersection of Hwy. 271 and NNE Loop 323 around 11:00 a.m. Wednesday. Accident Investigators determined that a 2007 Chevy Trail Blazer driven by an elderly couple from Twelve Mile, Indiana, was southbound on 271, turning left onto Loop 323 on a yellow flashing arrow. A 2008 Ford F-350 pick-up was northbound on 271 on a green light and entered the intersection, striking the Trail Blazer in the passenger side doors.

The occupants of the Trail Blazer were identified as driver Clarence Bechdol, age 79, and his wife Margarett Bechdol, age 80, who was the front seat passenger. Mrs. Bechdol was transported to East Texas Medical Center, where she died from injuries sustained in the crash. Mr. Bechdol was also transported to ETMC for non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Ford pickup was identified as John Ainsworth of Longview and was not injured. The Bechdols were traveling from Indiana to Tyler to visit a granddaughter who attends a local college. Mr. Bechdol was determined to be at fault in the crash for failure to yield right of way/left turn.

TYLER — Police have made an arrest in a July homicide at a Tyler park. On Wednesday, Tyler Police Investigators arrested 60-year-old Sharieff Hussein Dean pursuant to an arrest warrant for capital murder for retaliation. The warrant was issued Wednesday by State District Judge Jack Skeen, Jr., who set bond at $1,000,000. The arrest is in connection with the murder of Ronnie “Goldie” Kemp that occurred at W.E. Winters Park on July 5. Investigators say they anticipate additional arrests in the case. On the night of July 5, officers were dispatched to park at 910 S. Peach Street in reference to a welfare concern. Upon arrival at the scene, officers located the body of the 48-year-old Kemp, a Tyler resident.

Anyone with information about the suspects involved in this crime is asked to contact the Tyler Police Department, at 903-531-1000, or Crimestoppers, at 903-597-CUFF (903-597-2833). Crimestoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to arrests and charges filed against the suspects in this, or any, felony case.

TYLER — The East Texas Communities Foundation announces the recipients of a $100,000 grant from the Retail Merchants Association of Tyler Charitable Fund. A foundation news release says the merchants’ fund provides annual grants to support designated charities benefiting Smith County. Here’s a list of this year’s grant recipients and where the money will go:

Boys & Girls Clubs of East Texas – After-school program scholarship assistance
City of Tyler Communications Department – Community branding and marketing campaign
Discovery Science Place – Arts and Science Integration Program
East Texas Area Boy Scout Council – Leadership EASTEXAS Program
East Texas Regional Food Bank – BackPack Program
Goodwill Industries – Purchase equipment for recycling program
Salvation Army – H.E.L.P. Program
Tyler ISD Foundation – Teacher and Campus Grants Program
Living Programs Foundation – School of Tyrannus programs
United Way of Tyler/Smith County – Professional training and consulting to area nonprofits

The East Texas Communities Foundation is a nonprofit corporation serving 16 counties in East Texas. In 2009, the Foundation distributed over $3.4 million and manages over $40 million in 167 unique charitable funds which support non-profit organizations and student scholarships. The mission of the Foundation is to support philanthropy by offering simple ways for donors to achieve their long-term charitable goals. For more information about the Foundation, you can contact Kyle Penney at 903-533-0208.

TYLER — The 23rd Annual Festival on the Square is headed back to the brick streets of Downtown Tyler, and organizers are issuing the call for volunteers to help operate the event. Festival on the Square is set for Saturday, Oct. 9, 5:30 p.m. to midnight, in the area surrounding the T.B. Butler Plaza in downtown Tyler. The event will feature some of the hottest names in Texas Music like Casey Donahew, Sean McConnell, J.B. and the Moonshine Band and Ryan Beaver.

“We depend on literally hundreds of volunteer hours to make this event happen,” said Beverly Abell, director of the City of Tyler’s Main Street Department. “Without the volunteers, there is no way possible we could produce events such as this,” she added. Volunteers are needed in a variety of areas, including front and back gate, soft drink sales and souvenir sales. Those interested in volunteering should go to
http://www.FestivalOnTheSquare.com and follow instructions to go to the volunteer sign-up link. All volunteers will receive a free Festival T-shirt and a ticket to the concert, Abell said, adding that online advance ticket sales information is also available on the site. You can go to http://www.cityoftyler.org to read more.

GREGG COUNTY — A wreck involving a motorcycle in Gregg County injures one person. According to KETK, it happened at the intersection of Hwy 149 and FM RD 2906. Officials say the motorcyclist was taken to a local hospital.

LUFKIN — A Lufkin man is now in jail after police say he had a tube of lip balm that stored crack. Police say Jacob Alexander Woodard, 17, ran from officers and when the did arrest him, they we unable to find the lip balm. Officials originally thought he had swallowed it. According to KETK, police say they later found the tube of crack while making a separate arrest.

TYLER — Tyler Police say they have located a missing person. Officers were called to Melrose Nursing Center, 1501 W. 29th Street, after the staff reported resident, Frankie Hademenos, missing around 10:00 last night. They say she suffers from Schizophrenia and Delusion.