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AUSTIN – With the start of pre-legislation filing for the upcoming legislative session in Austin, Senator Robert Nichols of Jacksonville has file bills to protect homeowners from escalating property taxes and abuses of eminent domain.

The first bill Nichols filed is to slow rapidly rising taxable values on Texas homes. “Escalating tax appraisals make homeownership less and less affordable,” Nichols said. “We need to keep citizens from being taxed out their homes and significantly limit increasing tax appraisals, which result in larger tax bills.”

Currently, an appraisal district may raise the taxable value of a home by 10% a year, or up to 30 percent if there was no increase in the previous two years. This results in homeowners paying 10 to 30 percent more in property taxes from one year to the next, even if the tax rate stays the same.

Senate Bill 175 cuts the maximum rate of increase in half, from 10% to 5%. Nichols pointed out how important it is to limit the resulting increase in people’s property taxes, even when the value of their home increases.

Nichols’ other bill, Senate Bill 174, would prohibit state or local government from taking private land for the purpose of recreational projects such as city parks and trails. “No homeowner should lose the roof over their heads so others can have a place to play,” said Nichols. “Eminent domain should never be used for recreation projects, period.”

Ending eminent domain abuse continues to be a priority for Nichols. In his first session as senator he co-authored legislation creating a Landowners’ Bill of Rights and he has consistently voted for landowner protections.

TYLER — With deer hunting season underway, “Hunters for the Hungry” is working with Lynch’s Food Store on East 5th Street and the Salvation Army to provide venison for the hungry. Hunters donate their deer to participating meat processors and pay a reduced processing fee, the processors distribute the meat to area food assistance providers, and those agencies serve it to people in need.

The Salvation Army says the extra meat is a God-send. They serve over 900 meals a day at The Salvation Army Center of Hope, so donations like those from “Hunters for the Hungry” are indispensable. Last year in Smith County alone, hunters donated 1,200 pounds of venison through the program. That equals 4,800 servings for people in need.

Hunters who would like to learn more about the program can go to http://www.tacaa.org/hunters.htom or contact Lynch’s Food Store or the Salvation Army.

LINDEN — Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has reached an agreement with a Cass County horse seller that misrepresented the nature and health of its animals. Under the agreed final judgment, the defendant must pay restitution to customers who purchased sick or unhealthy animals. The agreement also prohibits the defendant from continuing to engage in the horse business.

Monday’s resolution stems from the State’s 2009 investigation and enforcement action against E-Tex Equine Co. and its owner, Patricia Wilson. State investigators found the defendant unlawfully sold horses that were blind, injured, sick and lacked up-to-date documentation proving that individual animals had been tested for infectious disease. Wilson conducted business with customers in several states without disclosing the animals true health conditions.

The agreed final judgment and permanent injunction requires Wilson to restore $65,300 to customers who were misled about the animals and her services. Wilson must also pay $10,000 in civil penalties and $15,000 in state attorney’s fees under the judgment.

TYLER — The City of Tyler Neighborhood Services Department and representatives from several other City departments will hold a neighborhood meeting tonight with residents of the Fall 2010 Neighborhood Empowerment Works (NEW) focus area. Departments that will be represented include Police, Fire, Code Enforcement, Engineering, Traffic, Animal Control, Water Utilities, Streets and Parks. Officials say the meeting is an opportunity for neighbors to share their concerns and help identify projects that the City can address during the focus period. The gathering is scheduled for 6:00 at North Tenneha Church of Christ, 1701 N. Tenneha Ave. Refreshments will be provided.

The NEW neighborhood’s boundaries are from West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard between Moore and Border Avenues to Franklin Street between Moore and Palace Avenues to West Vance Avenue between Palace and Border Avenue. “Resident input is critical to this program,” said Neighborhood Services Director Brenda Johnson. “The residents know their neighborhood better than anyone and are in the best position to identify opportunities for improvement.”

According to press materials, the NEW program enhances the quality of life for Tyler residents – one neighborhood at a time – by intensely concentrating City services in a specific area for three weeks. Various City departments use information gathered from the neighborhood meeting as well as an examination of the area to identify services that could make an immediate impact on the neighborhood. This will be the 10th NEW neighborhood since the City started the program in 2006.

NACOGDOCHES — One woman is dead and a mother and daughter are in the hospital after a two-vehicle head-on collision on Highway 7 near Nacogdoches County Road 641 Sunday afternoon. The accident happened at about 2:50 p.m. when an eastbound 2007 Ford Expedition driven by Teodora Ocon-Barraza, a 25-year-old day care teacher from Nacogdoches, crossed the center stripe and hit a westbound gray 2008 BMW, according to a Texas Department of Public Safety report. Barraza was pronounced dead at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital at 4:15 p.m. Sunday. She had been wearing her seatbelt, a DPS spokeswoman said.

According to KETK, the driver of the BMW, 16-year-old Montgomery student Morgan Taylor McLeod, was listed in critical condition at the hospital with numerous broken bones and a ruptured spleen. She had also been wearing a seatbelt. Kerri Ann McLeod, 42, also of Montgomery, was listed in stable condition with a fractured ankle.

TROUP — A one vehicle accident in northern Cherokee County has left one person dead. The accident occurred shortly after 7:20 Saturday night on Cherokee County Road 4625, just east of Troup. Dead at the scene was Caleb Benjamin Turner, 19, of Troup. The Department of Public Safety report says he was not wearing a seat belt. Investigators say his pickup was heading south southwest when it left the road to the east. The driver over corrected and came back across and off on the west side of the road when he hit a tree.

TYLER — A fish fry helped kick off a week of activities honoring veterans called Hometown Heroes Week. Hundreds turned out Sunday for the 3rd Annual Veterans Appreciation Fish Fry honoring East Texas veterans.

Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass was on hand with a proclamation declaring this week Hometown Heroes week. Also on hand with special presentations to the veterans were Congressman Louie Gohmert and State Representative Leo Berman.

The organizer of the fish fry was Karl Little. When KETK-TV asked him what people could do to help veterans these days, his answer was simple, “Show them respect, that’s the most important thing.”

TYLER — A couple of noteworthy events are on tap as the Alzheimer’s Alliance of Smith County observes National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. The “Light a Candle of Care” service is set for November 14 from 2:00 till 3:00pm at Marvin United Methodist Church. Alliance spokeswoman Jamie Huff says that’s a time for reflection “on loved ones that have passed away with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, as well as just praying for those and remembering those who have the disease currently, and remembering their caregivers.” Huff appears on this week’s KTBB “Staff Meeting.” She also says National Memory Screening Day is set for November 16 at sites throughout the county. Who should come? Huff says “anyone in the general public who has memory loss issues or concerns of any type.”

You can go to http://www.alzalliance.org or call (903) 509-8323 for more information. You can also go to http://www.ktbb.com/audio to listen to the “Staff Meeting” show online beginning early Monday morning.

TYLER — Gateway to Hope (formerly the Smith County Coalition for the Homeless) will be sponsoring the third annual One Night Without A Home as part of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week Friday, November 12, beginning at 5:00pm National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (November 14 – 20) is a national endeavor to promote education, action, and awareness about hunger and homelessness. The 13-hour event will include a Face of Homelessness Forum. This forum provides an opportunity to hear the stories of homeless or formerly homeless persons, and information from service providers on how participants can get involved.

Anyone interested in learning more about this issue and how to address it is invited to participate. Registration fee is $15 which includes a t-shirt, meals and will help with event expenses. You can go to http://www.PATHhelps.org to obtain a registration forms are online. Click on the “One Night Without a Home” link on the homepage. Follow to the registration form link on the ONWH page. Submit the registration form online and a secure “Donate Now” page will follow. Choose the “One Night Without A Home” option. Or print the forms and mail to PATH, ONWH, 402 W. Front St., Tyler, TX, 75702.

The evening schedule begins at 5:00pm with registration and dinner at the Salvation Army, followed by a march to Bergfeld Park, “Music for Hope,” The Face of Homelessness” forum, a candlelight vigil and sleeping at the park. The following morning, the day begins at 5:00am with breakfast by the Salvation Army Canteen followed by “Lessons Learned,” and then a march to the Salvation Army. Participants should dress in comfortable warm clothing and bring only what can be carried. Organizers say do not bring money, cell phones or electronics. You may bring a sleeping bag. Security will be provided.

Anyone having trouble paying the $15 fee should call Christina at 903-617-2807. If the temperature reaches 42 or below, participants will march back to the Salvation Army and sleep in the Emergency Shelter. Call 903-597-4044, ext. 107, or email christina_fulsom@tylerpath.org for more information.

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at events and work planned in the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

GREGG COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repairs on eastbound Interstate Highway 20 between the Smith County line and State Highway 42. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

SMITH COUNTY — Construction crews this week are scheduled to continue resurfacing work on Farm Road 14 between North Loop 323 in Tyler and Interstate Highway 20. Delays caused by the work may be lengthy, and motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

Also this week, Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews are scheduled to continue resurfacing operations of Farm Road 3271 northwest of Tyler between State Highway 110 and US Highway 69, and perform pavement-repair operations on State Highway 135 south of Overton. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue edge and pavement repairs on Ranch Road 2588 between LaRue and the end of state maintenance. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform continue edge repairs on US Highway 84 east of Rusk. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue several days of resurfacing operations in various locations on Farm Road 13 between State Highway 42 and Loop 571 before moving to perform the same work in various locations on SH 42 north of Farm Road 13. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue base and pavement repair operations on Farm Road 1395 between Farm Road 47 and Farm Road 859 north of Edgewood. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

TYLER — District 6 Tyler City Councilman Jason Wright has made good on a campaign promise. He is holding town hall meetings with Tyler residents. The first one was held Saturday night.

Wright told KETK-TV, “I don’t want to wait until there’s some burning issue that we all need to kind of react to, instead I want to make sure that our citizens are better aware of what we do at the city, what’s going on and most importantly, I want to know the concerns that they have.”

Topics ranged from the budget to Tyler’s traffic congestion. Their were questions about heavy traffic on South Broadway and the loop and the medians TxDOT installed. According to Wright, statistics show that traffic fatalities have gone down since the medians were put into place. He also said roads like the Grande Boulevard extension and Loop 49 are meant to relieve some of Tyler’s traffic congestion.

TYLER — No injuries were reported when a man drives his car into a home on Tyler’s southeast side. It happened at the intersection of Tanglewood and Pinecrest around 8:00 Friday night. The home’s owner, Bob Corn tells KETK-TV when he went outside, the car’s driver was trying to back out. According to Corn, the young driver, who was arrested by Tyler police, had no driver’s license and no insurance.

LINDALE — The Lindale Independent School District and four of its campuses have been awarded Gold Performance Acknowledgments by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The Gold Performance Acknowledgments (GPA’s) were released in the TEA’s final 2010 Accountability report. GPA’s recognize districts and campuses for high academic performance on various indicators, such as commended performance on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), the Texas Success Initiative (TSI), and comparable improvement.

Commended means at least 30 percent of students in sub-groups (economically disadvantaged, minority, special education) scored a 90 or above on that portion of the TAKS test. The district also received GPA’s for meeting requirements in the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) in both English-Language Arts and math. TSI is a state law that requires all students entering college to be assessed for college readiness in mathematics, reading, and writing unless the student qualifies for an exemption. Comparable improvement recognizes gains in TAKS passing rates from year to year.

*Lindale ISD received GPA’s in three categories: college-ready, commended social studies, and TSI Mathematics.
*Lindale High School received GPA’s in four categories: college-ready, attendance, TSI Mathematics and commended social studies.
*Lindale Junior High School received GPA’s in four categories as well: commended reading/English-Language Arts, commended mathematics, commended writing and commended social studies.
*E.J. Moss Intermediate School also received four GPA’s: comparable improvement in reading, commended reading/English-Language Arts, commended mathematics and commended science.
*Velma Penny Elementary School received one GPA for comparable improvement in mathematics.

In July, the TEA first issued its accountability ratings, awarding an exemplary rating to the Lindale ISD. Lindale Junior High School, E.J. Moss Intermediate School, Velma Penny Elementary School and Lindale Primary School also received exemplary ratings at the campus level. Lindale High School was rated recognized.

“We are very excited about the 16 Gold Performance Acknowledgments that Lindale ISD earned,” Superintendent Stan Surratt said. The GPA’s are a reflection of our students’ academic successes. Much credit goes to our great teaching staff. They work tirelessly to prepare and motivate our students.”

MARSHALL — Marshall police have arrested a suspect in a series of robberies. They occurred early Friday morning at a couple of businesses. Taken into custody after a brief car chase was Carlyle Cooper III, 23. Investigators charged him with the two Friday robberies as well as three other holdups. He was booked into the Harrison County jail on five counts of aggravated robbery and evading arrest/detention in a vehicle. His bonds total $520,000.

WINNSBORO — The Winnsboro Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing man. He is Timothy Douglas Tate, 20, who was last seen around 11:30am on October 28th at the Winnsboro post office. Officers say they have been told Tate has a history of mental illness and is not taking his medication. It is also reported that he has expressed suicidal thoughts and is considered a danger to himself. KETK-TV reports Tate was last seen driving a 1999 red Dodge truck with a dent in the left front bumper. The truck’s Texas license plate is 49S-JN7.