KTBB News, Weather, Talk

AUSTIN — September unemployment in the two major East Texas markets follows a statewide improvement trend. Tyler’s rate dipped to 7.3 percent from 7.8 in August — and 8.1 percent in September of last year. In Longview, unemployment fell to 7.1 percent; it was at 7.6 in August and, like Tyler, 8.1 percent in September of 2009.

TYLER — Police are investigating a Tyler accident that injured a child. Around 4:40 p.m. Friday, police received a report that the youngster had been struck by a vehicle at Townsend and Line. Responding officers determined that a van was traveling south when two small children riding bicycles rode out in front of the van and one child was struck. The child was transported to East Texas Medical Center for examination and treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

TYLER — The citizen activist group Grassroots America – We the People is again responding to TISD bond supporters as the group continues its stand against the bond, which is on the November ballot. According to the group’s executive director, JoAnn Fleming, GAWTP “is a bit shocked” and “a little bit confused” at the reaction to word that 50% of the newly built elementary schools will be overcrowded in less than five years. Fleming says, “We certainly didn’t expect to have the new schools be overcrowded so soon. So GAWTP is asking Tyler ISD to take seriously the consulting report that tells them they need to redraw attendance lines so that we can get the population of Tyler ISD dispersed around so that we can maximize the use of the facilities we have, including the new ones.”

Vote Yes Committee spokesman Andy Bergfeld had responded that if the schools do go over capacity, it can be dealt with when it happens — perhaps by building more schools. He even said that would be a good thing — that it would mean the school district is growing and doing some things right. Bergfeld added, “We know overcrowding is an issue – that is why we need to stay the course and build these schools.” At last report, Vote Yes had yet to respond to Fleming’s latest comments.

LONGVIEW — Longview police admit serving a narcotics warrant at the wrong location. On October 20 at around 11:10 p.m., the Longview Police Department SWAT Team assisted the Gregg County Organized Drug Enforcement (CODE) Unit by serving a narcotics search warrant at 825 Beaumont Street. As the SWAT Team approached the residence, one of the narcotics suspects was outside standing in the street in front of 823 Beaumont Street. According to police, this caused Team members to mistakenly believe 823 Beaumont was the target location, instead of the house next door at 825 Beaumont Street. SWAT made entry into 823 Beaumont Street and detained the residents inside. Police say no one was injured during the incident and it was discovered quickly that SWAT was at the wrong location.

Authorities say the Longview Police Department has issued a formal apology to the residents at 823 Beaumont Street and is currently working to repair any damages to the home. According to police, an internal investigation is being conducted to ensure this type of mistake does not occur again.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP/Staff) – UT Tyler gets to keep an administrator who’d been in the running for the top post at another university. The Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System has chosen the system’s vice president for business and finance as the next president of the University of Louisiana at Monroe. System spokeswoman Jackie Tisdell says the board voted Friday for Nick Bruno. One of the three finalists interviewed Friday was Peter J. Fos, provost and executive vice president at UT Tyler. Bruno will replace James Cofer, who left ULM at the end of July to become president at Missouri State University in Springfield.

TYLER — Two suspects are picked up in a Tyler robbery that happened weeks ago. Tyler Police Investigators received a tip on the identity of one of the suspects involved in the robbery of a donut shop located at 1627 S. Vine St. that occurred on September 2. As a result of the information that was given, an investigator was able to identify both suspects who were allegedly responsible for the armed robbery. Arrested were 21-year-old Jeremy Antoine Black and 22-year-old Marquette Bernard Johnson. Both suspects have been charged with aggravated robbery and placed in Smith County Jail on a $300,000 bond.

TYLER — Another drug bust in Smith County. According to KETK, a warrant was served for Eugene Cook Gordon at a house on Highway 14 Thursday. Deputies found 60 pounds of marijuana and a couple of ounces of meth and cocaine — all with an estimated street value of $37,000. They also found two firearms and $4,000 in cash. Gordon is already out of jail.

GILMER — The Gilmer Fire Chief steps down. Mike Melton resigned earlier this week following an investigation into allegations of misuse of money and credit cards belonging to the Gilmer Fire Department. According to KETK, no charges have been filed against Melton and it’s unclear the dollar amount involved.

KILGORE — A wreck kills a pregnant teenager in Kilgore, but the baby survives. Suzanne Williams, 16, died from severe head injuries on Saturday after a wreck forced her to deliver her baby 2 months early. According to KETK, Williams and her fiance were slowing down to make a left-hand turn when another vehicle hit them from behind. Despite being born early, the nearly 3 pound baby boy is said to be doing o-k. Funeral services for the teen are set for Saturday in Kilgore.

TYLER — Organizations from across East Texas join hands to start Tyler’s Fit City Challenge with a kickoff event today from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. at Bergfeld Park. According to the Northeast Texas Public Health District, “The national epidemic of obesity has drastically increased over the past few years, and Tyler is not immune.” Officials say the Fit City Challenge’s purpose is “to help combat the scourge of obesity.” According to NETPHD CEO George Roberts, “The Northeast Texas Public health District views the concurrent epidemic of obesity and sedentary lifestyles as the greatest threat to the health of Tyler. Doctors who care for children are concerned because kids being born right now are not expected to live as long as their parents.”

Roberts says the Fit City Challenge is a community-wide campaign to promote healthy, fitter lifestyles for Tyler and Smith County residents. According to Roberts, the kickoff event is designed to give community members the information they need to make healthier choices. He says the event will feature healthy activities for all ages, cooking demonstrations, guest speakers, health and nutrition information, fitness and exercise demonstrations, and health screenings.

TYLER — Tyler school trustees have amended some of the day polling locations for the November 2nd election. Thursday night’s action was needed because Smith County had indicated some of them were no longer available for election day voting. The county had indicated that the polling locations for precinct 39 and for precincts 48, 65, and 66 are no longer available. The polling place for election precinct 39 shall be combined with precincts 34, 57, 73, 3401 and 7301 which shall vote on at the Jones/Boshears Elementary School, 3450 Chandler Highway. The polling place for election precincts 48, 65 and 66 shall be Wilhite Landscape Company, 13186 Highway 64 West.

TYLER – Both sides have now rested in a hearing have State District Judge Jack Skeen removed from the upcoming retrial of the man convicted in the Mineola child sex ring case. KETK-TV reports Patrick Kelly’s defense lawyer, Thad Davidson, says that Judge Skeen had favored the prosecution During Patrick Kelly’s trial. Davidson tell KETK-TV that a final decision on Skeen’s future in the case will not be made until November 5th. Presiding over the hearing is retired State District Judge Alvin Khoury of Longview.

TYLER — A Tyler man has been convicted of selling drugs in a drug-free zone and sentenced to life in prison. It took around 30 minutes of deliberations before the jury in Tyler’s 7th State District Court convicted Richard Charles Carter, 50. It took about 45 minutes of deliberations before they agreed upon the sentence. Carter had been accused of selling crack cocaine to an undercover officer near Austin Elementary back in February.

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University will launch a new Master of Science in Engineering program in the Fall 2011. The school will become one of the first Christian colleges in the nation offering a graduate degree in engineering. LETU’s new master’s degree is a residential, research-oriented graduate engineering program. Applications are already being accepted, with a January 15, 2011 deadline for consideration for the Fall 2011 term. LETU recently received approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which accredits the university programs.

“With our strong undergraduate engineering research tradition totaling $4.5 million in external funding in the past decade, this new Master of Science in Engineering program moves us that much closer to being one of the best, comprehensive engineering schools in the country,” said LETU President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford. “The expansion of our programs greatly contribute toward fulfilling our vision to have an impact for Christ in every workplace in every nation.”

“This new graduate engineering degree is designed so that currently enrolled engineering students can take dual-credit classes in their senior year and complete a master’s degree in five years,” said LETU Engineering Dean Dr. Tom Hellmuth.

The new graduate degree program in engineering adds to the university’s three existing graduate degree offerings: the Master of Business Administration, the Master of Education and our Master of Strategic Leadership.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department was informed Thursday that Magic, one of the department’s two black Labrador K-9 dogs, died Thursday due to kidney failure. Police say Magic had been with the police department for approximately nine years and did an outstanding job in detecting drugs for the Narcotics Unit. The handler and partner for Magic was Officer Steve Black, who was the third handler in Magic’s career with the department. Police say a special service will be held next week in honor of Magic’s service to the police department and citizens of Tyler.