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TYLER — Opponents and supporters of the Smith County jail plan set for a vote next month are stating their positions after the Tyler Tea Party, Inc., became the first group to announce opposition to the plan. In a news release, local Tea Party chair Tammy Blair cites several reasons including a perceived lack of transparency, timing, and issues regarding the arguments used to support the plan.

According to the news release, “On the issue of transparency, this plan fails on all fronts. This is the fifth jail proposal developed by the Smith County Commissioners Court. The court has released the least amount of supporting documentation for this plan. On the County’s website, the Commissioners have released a power point presentation that is long on promise but short on details.”

The release continues, “On the issue of timing, the most recent jail plan could not come at a worse time. The economy right now is terrible. The Tyler Independent School District just had a school bond election fail and (is) talking about laying off employees. Tyler Junior College is discussing how to fund its expected short fall. Now the County is asking the voters to support a new jail even though the voters just voted against more schools.”

The release additionally states, “The arguments being used to support the bond package are contradictory and rely heavily on assumptions that require the Commissioners Court to realize savings which they have never been able to realize in the past. The primary argument made by the Commissioners to support the bond proposal is that the County has already spent 16 million dollars in housing inmates in other counties. The Commissioners seem to be hinting that these funds could have been spent on constructing a new jail. However, this is not true. By voting no in the last 4 or 5 jail bond elections, the County has actually SAVED money by voting no. Additionally, by voting no to this bond election the County will save money.”

The news release also says, “Further, the County has acknowledged spending $41.00 a day in housing inmates in other counties is less than would be spent in Smith County if a bond election passed and a new jail built. Therefore, Smith County will actually be spending more money to house inmates here than other counties and on top of that the County would have to pay for the cost of construction. This is not a conservative approach in tough economic times.”

Also stated in the release: “Further, some of the arguments currently made do not ring true. When this plan was first announced, the Commissioners Court stated that the plan would not address all of the County’s needs and some inmates might still have to be shipped. However, more recently, the County has announced that it will be able to make substantial income from renting beds to other counties. Both of these statements cannot be true. Further, the history in Smith County is that every jail built was full the day it opened. Four years ago, the County said that it had to have a minimum of 1200 new beds. Two years ago, the County said that it had to have a minimum of around 600 new beds. Now the County says it needs around 300 new beds and can make substantial money renting them out to other counties. These inconsistencies also weigh against supporting the jail plan.”

On this week’s KTBB “Staff Meeting,” County Commissioner Jeff Warr says he took note of failed bond issues in the past — and made sure this time to find out what the community would support. He tells us, “I decided I would go out and start meeting with different civic groups, different organizations, different city councils and leaders in the community and get their input.” He adds that the proposal is cost-effective and addresses safety, his own major concern. The cost is $35 million, and 384 beds would be added.

In a statement issued Thursday morning, Warr added, “It is my hope that Smith County voters will make a decision on this proposal based on factual information. I have personally discussed the development of this plan over the past year during weekly open meetings of the Smith County Commissioners Court. I have personally spoken to at least 20 groups around the county with even more scheduled over the next few weeks. In every meeting citizens have been given the opportunity to make public comment and ask questions about the plan. Their comments and input have been important to ensure that concerns are heard and addressed.

“This plan addresses much-needed safety and security improvements to the current jail facility and includes additional beds to handle the growth Smith County has seen over the past two decades. This proposal means that Smith County can quit renting jail space in other counties at a cumulative cost of $17.5 million dollars of our taxpayers’ money. This is money that is continuing to leave Smith County to fund the operations of other counties throughout east Texas. This plan should stop that loss and bring those taxpayer dollars home.”

You can go to http://www.smith-county.com for more information from the county or to submit questions. You can also go to http://www.ktbb.com/audio to access the “Staff Meeting” show online.

TYLER — As part of the Fit City Challenge, Tyler City Manager Mark McDaniel has challenged local civic, social and business organizations to ditch the dessert during the month of May at luncheon meetings.
“The mission of the Fit City Challenge is to improve the health of our community one step, one bite and one health conscious decision at a time,” explained McDaniel. “This is one small step that we can take to set an example of good eating habits that will put us on the path to a healthier lifestyle.”

All City Departments, the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Tyler Economic Development Council (TEDC) have taken up the ditch the dessert challenge and will be forgoing sweets at their luncheon meetings during May. “We are happy to take part in the ditch the dessert challenge,” said Tom Mullins, CEO and president of the TEDC and Chamber of Commerce. “It is such an easy thing to do but is setting a great example.”

The Fit City Challenge is a community-wide campaign to promote fitter lifestyles in Tyler and the rest of East Texas. You can visit http://www.fitcitytyler.com for more information.

NACOGDOCHES — The Nacogdoches Police Department is investigating the death of a 4-month-old Nacogdoches infant after an autopsy revealed trauma, Public Information Officer Greg Sowell said. The police department was notified at about 5:15 yesterday morning by the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office, which performed the autopsy. “The child was originally taken to a hospital here in Nacogdoches, then died in Dallas and was released to the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office,” Sowell said. “As part of their protocol, they observed some kind of trauma and they called the Nacogdoches Police Department, which is where the child was first taken to the hospital.”

Police responded to the 400 block of Drewery Drive early Tuesday to investigate the scene. “We have begun an investigation, and at this point, it is just that, a death investigation and nothing else,” Sowell said. “Right now we don’t have any further information. We have no autopsy report or anything at this point.”

LUFKIN — A Lufkin man has been arrested in connection with the stabbing of two men during a fight Saturday night. Gerald Acevado was taken into custody by Lufkin Police for allegedly stabbing two men after coming to a home on Garvan Street Saturday.

Acevado reportedly arrived at the home with his brother who was trying to fight friends and family at the home. After an exchange of words and after Acevado’s brother was told to leave, Acevado ran up and began fighting with a man who was soon to become one of his victims, according to a complaint filed by Lufkin Police. During the fight, Acevado pulled out a knife and reportedly stabbed the first man. The second man then tried to pull Acevado off the injured man and was also stabbed, the complaint stated. The two bleeding men ran into the home and locked the door.

Acevado then began kicking and beating on the door of the home, according to the complaint. When the men would not let him inside, he reportedly walked over to a 2004 Dodge Ram truck and keyed the paint with the knife. He then fled down Andrews Street where he was spotted by a Lufkin Police officer who held him. He was later identified by his two victims and taken into custody on two counts of first-degree aggravated assault.

He was being held in the Angelina County Jail as of 1 p.m. Tuesday on a collective $15,000 bond, according to jail records. If convicted, Acevado faces up to life in prison.

CHAPEL HILL — Authorities continue to investigate a one-vehicle accident in the Chapel Hill area that killed a Smith County woman. Killed in the Tuesday morning crash on Highway 64, about a mile east of Chapel Hill, was Pamela Ward, 53, of Tyler. Officials say she was wearing a seatbelt when she lost control and ran off the road. Her car hit two culverts, became airborne and then rolled, ejecting her from the vehicle. Witnesses say they saw Ward texting just minutes before the wreck, but officials are still investigating whether she was texting and driving when the wreck happened.

TYLER — Tyler Police investigate a report of shots fired Wednesday morning. Officers say they were called to Grand Manor Apartments at 2700 North Grand and say 6 shots were fired through the living room window of apartment F67. At the time of the incident, the residents were sleeping on a couch in the living room. No injuries were reported. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Tyler Police Department or Crimestoppers.

PALESTINE — An autopsy into the death of an Anderson County girl has been inconclusive and the investigation into her death is continuing. Sunday evening, Tori Blair Wilson, 8, said she had forgotten something and went outside her home. When she didn’t return, her family started searching for her. She was found, unresponsive, around 8:30pm in a wooded area about 80 yards from her home. She was rushed to Palestine Regional Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. Anderson County Sheriff Greg Taylor told the Palestine Herald-Press the girl’s death did not appear to be from natural causes or homicide. He said they should have the toxicology report back in two to three weeks.

HENDERSON — A suspect in a Henderson shooting remains in the Rusk County Jail under a $100,000 bond. Victor Luna, 19, of Henderson, was arrested a short time after the Monday night shooting. It occurred around 7:30pm in the parking lot of the Kroger grocery on U.S. Highway 79 south. Hit several time was Evert Almazan, 35, of Henderson. He is listed in critical condition at Tyler’s East Texas Medical Center. Witnesses tell officers Almazan had been shopping and he and his wife were walking to their car. They say Luna pulled up in another vehicle, the men exchanged words, and the suspect opened fire.

NEW BOSTON (AP) — The suspect in the fatal shooting of a part-time northeast Texas sheriff’s deputy has waived extradition and been returned to Texas to face justice. Tucker Strickland, 21, is charged with capital murder in the Monday shooting of Bowie County Sheriff’s Deputy Sherri Jones. Bowie County District Attorney Jerry Rochelle says Strickland waived extradition in Ashdown, Ark., was returned to Bowie County on Tuesday.

Rochelle says Strickland’s booked into the Bi-State Justice Center in Texarkana pending transfer to a Texas jail outside Bowie County to avoid apparent conflict with the Bowie County Sheriff’s Office. Strickland’s accused of overpowering the 54-year-old deputy while being escorted from the Bowie County Courthouse in New Boston, grabbing her gun and shooting her dead Monday.

TYLER – A young boy was slightly injured when hit by a car’s mirror in the 200 block of West Houston. Investigators say the boy was coughing as he walked into the street and was struck by the car’s mirror. The car was going only 5 or 10 miles and hour and he suffered only minor injuries.

TYLER – Federal authorities in East Texas continue their crackdown on cold pill-and-methampetamine violations. Tina Lynn Fox, 44, of Carthage was sentenced to 135 months behind bars during a Tyler appearance Tuesday before Judge Michael H. Schneider. Fox was convicted by a jury on November 29, 2010, for being involved in a conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine and several counts of possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine.

According to information presented in court, from February 2008 to August 2009, Fox traveled to various pharmacies in East Texas to purchase cold pills containing pseudoephedrine in order to manufacture large quantities of methamphetamine for distribution. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on Apr. 8, 2010 charging Fox with federal drug violations.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Ray Nix, 36, of Daingerfield has been sentenced to 78 months in prison. He also appeared Monday in Tyler before Judge Schneider. Nix pleaded guilty on September 1, 2010, to possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine. According to prosecutors, on April 27, 2009, Nix purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a Walgreens in Longview, in addition to making four other purchases that same day at other stores in the area, all in furtherance of his methamphetamine manufacturing activities. A federal grand jury returned a 256-count indictment on February 2, 2010 charging Nix with federal drug violations.

HUDSON (AP) – A 71-year-old East Texas woman doesn’t mince words with a sign posted outside her house warning criminals to stay away. It says: “TRY TO BREAK INTO THIS HOUSE AGAIN, YOUR HEAD WILL BE BLOWN OFF!” An image of a gun is also on the sign. Claudia Holland was unharmed earlier this month when someone kicked in her front door. She thinks her barking dogs scared off the late-night intruder. The Lufkin Daily News reported Tuesday that Holland says it’s the first time in more than 40 years in the home to have something like this happen. She later found out that a house a couple of miles away was broken into around the same time. Holland’s son, who lives with her, helped arrange for the warning sign.

KILGORE (AP) – Five East Texas students will be prosecuted after 39 district buses had their tires flattened and school had to be canceled for a day due to lack of transportation. Kilgore police on Tuesday announced five high school students are expected to be charged with felony criminal mischief. The damage to the buses, discovered before dawn on April 8, forced the Kilgore Independent School District to call off school for the day. Nearly every bus serving the six-campus district had the valve stems removed from some tires. Police estimate the vandalism caused about $3,100 in damage.

LONGVIEW — A grass fire burns over 10 acres in Longview over the weekend on Eastman Road. According to KETK, the Texas Forest Service was called in to plow a fire line to help prevent the flames from spreading. No injuries were reported, but investigators are looking into what might have sparked the fire.

TYLER – Fifty new jobs are coming to Smith County due to a $6 million expansion of a Midland-based oil and gas chemical manufacturing and services company, Reef Services LLC (“Reef”). According to local economic development officials, the economic impact of the new facility is anticipated to be felt in the local community and throughout rural areas in this region of the state. Officials say the planned facility will additionally better facilitate growth opportunities for the company, as it is centrally located to current and future operations of Reef Services.

Clay Baten, Reef’s CEO stated, “After an extensive search in our target area, the Tyler facility was found to be an ideal opportunity.” Reef worked closely with the Tyler Economic Development Council (TEDC) to locate a suitable facility and gather information on the Tyler/Smith County area. Baten elaborated, saying, “Tyler has a terrific work force of experienced and qualified manufacturing and technical people. Tyler is approximately 300 miles closer to our major raw material suppliers. This allows for significantly reduced time between order and receipt of product, which will benefit our customers and our company. We are excited to become part of this community.”

TEDC officials say Reef Services has been experiencing the benefit of recent growth, through acquisitions and organic opportunities in the industry. According to officials, the opening of the Tyler manufacturing facility in the 134,000-square foot former Nautilus facility, on SH 155 North near Interstate 20, will lend an opportunity to increase the geographic footprint of the company, as well as enable the company to accommodate this growth.

The new Tyler manufacturing facility will be used mainly for the production of and blending of products used by the oil and gas industries and is expected to be operational in early 2012. Reef is looking for experienced and qualified applicants in manufacturing, administration, laboratory, and logistics. TEDC’s Tom Mullins says the jobs’ pay will “average between $40,000 and $45,000 each, plus a very generous fringe benefit package.”

You’re asked to submit any job inquiries to:
Reef Services, LLC
Erin Roland
[email protected]
PO Box 11347
Midland, Tx 79702