KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Last month, Chris Barrios and Lenard Crabb, native East Texans, were involved in an oil field explosion near San Antonio. According to KETK, both men were critically injured. Fortunately they survived the blast, but now comes to daunting task of rehabilitation along with a growing stack of medical bills. Jarett Stephenson is a friend of the men. He headed up a benefit for Lenard and Chris at Lago del Pino last Saturday. Country music artist Taylor Heard and Felix Vasquez with the Bill Hilly band performed at the benefit. A donation account has also been set up for Crabb and Barrios at Citizens National Bank. On the memo line write in “Barrios and Crabb benefit fund – Split.”

SMITH COUNTY — Hundreds of concerned citizens gathered at Rose City Flying Clays, north of Tyler, Saturday for a “Day of Resistance” rally. The event, similar to others nationwide, is termed a grassroots effort to organize local conservatives to stand up and protect their 2nd amendment rights. Former Smith County Republican chairman and current Grassroots America – We the People member Ashton Oravetz says the power of the American people is potent. He told KETK he was pleased to see the effort happening locally and across the country. Grassroots America executive director JoAnn Fleming spoke about preserving the second amendment and American liberty. “Never let it be said that liberty died on our watch,” said Fleming.

Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith took a stand publicly. Smith told the crowd, “We here in Smith County, Smith County Sheriff’s office, and I assure you every sheriff across the state of Texas, the other 253 of them — I would expect to stand right along beside me in defending your right to keep and bear arms should anyone try and take it away from you.” State Representative Bryan Hughes ran down the list of current bills in our state legislature that he says are aimed at protecting the 2nd amendment and pushing back against Washington.

LONGVIEW — A Gilmer man was placed in the Gregg County Jail on $300,000 bond, accused of sexually assaulting a South Longview store clerk during business hours. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. According to a criminal complaint filed for his arrest, Shawn Michael Willard, 28, entered the Chanel Stop and Shop in the 500 block of Mobberly Avenue just after the store opened at 7:00am February 16. The victim told police “the subject made her uneasy and … she told her manager about the person…The manager came to the store and, when she did, the subject left.”

The man came back once the manager left, according to the complaint. Police said Willard forced the woman into a back room and sexually assaulted her. According to the complaint, Willard threatened to cut the woman if she fought back during the assault, choking her and pressing down on her throat with his foot. The sexual assault was interrupted when customers came into the store, the victim told police. “During the assault, she heard the bells on the front door of the store and started screaming,” the complaint said. “She said that the subject got up and left the room.”

Longview police who arrived on the scene said the woman was crying and her shirt was torn at the neck, her shoulder and back were covered in dirt, and she had what appeared to be a fresh cut over her right eye. Both customers who entered the store told police they heard a woman screaming and crying. They said they saw a man leaving the store, pulling up his pants.

Police found Willard at a barber college in the 2400 block of South High Street after they responded to a call of a “mental subject.” Employees at the shop said Willard was acting delusional. After waiting, police said they saw Willard walk to a blue Dodge Caravan that had a temporary tag, the same vehicle the customers who interrupted the assault described. Willard was arrested by Longview police on Monday and charged with attempted aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault and two counts of aggravated sexual assault.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP/Staff) – A TransCanada spokesman says construction on the Oklahoma and Texas portion of the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline is halfway complete. The larger pipeline still waits for federal approval because it crosses the Canadian border, but TransCanada spokesman David Dodson says construction on the smaller segment should be finished by the end of the year. He says about 850 workers in Oklahoma and 3,000 more in Texas are working on the project in mostly temporary jobs. The pipeline would transport 700,000 gallons of oil daily from the pipeline hub in Cushing, Oklahoma, to refineries near Houston. It will run through much of East Texas, including eastern Smith County. At least 10 Oklahomans have been arrested recently for trespassing in protests against the pipeline at construction sites in the state.

OVERTON — The City of Overton is asking citizens to limit water usage effective today, for 2-3 weeks, while the City works on one of its water storage tanks. Officials say one third of the water storage supply will be out of commission for refurbish work on the tank. They say the work may take 2-3 weeks to complete.

TYLER — Dozens were encouraged Saturday night to look to the past as a way of addressing the present and the future. The occasion was Tyler’s Annual City Wide Black History Program at the Rose Garden Center; the speaker was media figure, author, educator, and philanthropist Dr. Bertice Berry.

Berry told the audience, “In order to change the world, we have to change ourselves,” adding, “You can’t go forward without looking back.” She said past experiences often keep people from where they need to be, so it’s necessary to look back and deal with those experiences. She also advised attendees to draw on the wisdom of their elders. The importance of forgiveness and gratitude were two other themes addressed by Berry. Toward the end of her speech, she urged the audience to celebrate the past while learning from it, adding, “Black History Month is every month, and every day is black history day.”

Also at the gathering, postal Service representatives unveiled the 36th Black Heritage stamp, featuring civil rights icon Rosa Parks.

CORPUS CHRISTI — Tyler ISD recently received a total of 30 awards for distinguished achievement in school communications. The awards were announced this past week at the Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) Star Awards Celebration during the association’s annual conference in Corpus Christi. “I am extremely humbled that the TISD-TV department was one of the top three school districts in the state to earn recognition in the video and cable TV categories,” said Angela Jenkins, Coordinator of TISD-TV and Video Operations. Jenkins, by the way, was inducted as Vice President of the TSPRA East Texas Region. Her new term will continue until February 2015. Jenkins has served as vice president on the TSPRA executive committee since 2010.

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler is now offering accelerated degree tracks that allow students to earn a degree faster and begin working sooner. Officials say these programs allow students to complete a bachelor of science in just three years and include the flexibility of a summer schedule that is entirely online. For more information, contact Kimberlie Carrell, health sciences adviser, at [email protected] or (903) 565-5926; or Amanda Ritchie and Stephanie Long, business advisers, at [email protected] or (903) 566-7363.

In a separate move, UT Tyler is currently accepting students for a program developed to meet the growing demand for more engineers in Texas. UTT, in partnership with Houston Community College, has established the UT Tyler Houston Center for Engineering to help engineering students earn a four-year degree. Beginning this fall, Houston area students will have the convenience of taking HCC and UT Tyler courses at the new center, located on the HCC Alief-Hayes Campus. For more information, contact Jennifer Scott, UT Tyler engineering recruiter, at [email protected] or 903-565-5716; or Dr. James Nelson, UT Tyler College of Engineering and Computer Science dean, at [email protected] or 903-566-7267.

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at 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 resume pavement-repair work on State Highway 42 between Farm Road 2206 west of Longview and Farm Road 1252 north of Kilgore. Recent work in this location has produced lengthy delays for traffic and motorists are strongly encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

WOOD COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to resume spot resurfacing operations on U.S. Highway 69 at the Sabine River and in various locations on Loop 564 in Mineola.Also in Wood County, construction crews are scheduled to continue resurfacing work in various locations on State Highway 182 between Alba and Quitman, and on Farm Road 1804 (Hoard Road) between U.S. Highway 80 and the Smith County Line in preparation for a seal coat application later this summer. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location 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 base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 782 northeast of Henderson between Farm Road 1716 in Oak Hill and State Highway 149 near the Gregg County Line. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

Looking ahead to March 4, TxDOT construction contractor Longview Bridge and Road is scheduled to close Farm Road 1798 to all traffic on either side of U.S. Highway 259 between Henderson and Mount Enterprise so crews can begin building the overpass structure across US 259. The work is scheduled to be completed by July 4, but meanwhile traffic will be unable to access Farm Road 1798 from US 259. Marked detours will be in place.

HENDERSON COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to resume spot resurfacing operations on Farm Road 2326 south of Malakoff. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue fog seal operations on Interstate Highway 20 frontage roads between Farm Road 1255 and Farm Road 16. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers and pilot vehicles will control traffic.

SMITH COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to clean drainage ditches on Farm Road 2767 between Farm Road 2908 and Farm Road 757, followed by the same work on Farm Road 3053 just south of IH 20 near Liberty City. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to make base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 343 east of U.S. Highway 69 in Rusk, and continue edge work on FM 855 near Mount Selman. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

ANDERSON COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to resume spot resurfacing work on FM 321 in Yard. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

RUSK COUNTY — Plans for a refinery to be built in western Rusk County have been jettisoned by the group that’s been working on the project for more than a year. However, a different group is working to obtain financing for a refinery to be built in the same area near New London, a spokesman said. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Ken Williams, owner of Gregg County Refinery and principal agent for the group that was pushing the original development plan, confirmed Thursday the effort had ended. The plan called for utilizing the long-idled Longview Refinery on Premiere Road as a terminal and portions of the refinery equipment being dismantled and used at the new site.

The 30,000-barrel-a-day facility was to be financed mainly with $182 million in low-interest Hurricane Ike bonds channeled through the Angelina-Neches River Authority. The total project was estimated to cost more than $300 million. But the effort stalled in late 2012 after the group failed to meet deadlines to receive the tax-exempt bonds. Since then, a new ownership group has been formed, said consultant Duane Gordy, a spokesman for the group that has taken the working name of Rusk County Refinery. Tulsa oilman Coleman Ferguson is the principal agent, he said.

“When we didn’t get the Hurricane Ike bonds, it changed the funding mechanism,” said Gordy, who also was involved in the original effort. “We still want to work with the Angelina-Neches River Authority, and we are still looking at the same location.”

AUSTIN (AP) – A former Texas Capitol staffer has received a suspended sentence a day after being convicted of a 2011 hit-and-run that left a pedestrian dead. A jury Friday recommended Gabrielle Nestande receive a suspended 10-year sentence and be issued a $10,000 fine. The Travis County jury convicted the 25-year-old Nestande on Thursday of criminally negligent homicide. The Austin woman worked for state Rep. Wayne Christian of Center at the time of the May 2011 accident that killed 30-year-old Courtney Griffin. Griffin’s body was discovered in a driveway. Officers located a nearby car with a broken windshield. The vehicle was traced to Nestande. Judge Karen Sage has ordered a pre-sentencing review, and the final terms of Nestande’s punishment will be determined at a hearing March 25.

HEMPHILL (AP/Staff) — One woman is dead after a tornado whipped through rural East Texas. According to KETK, weather officials have determined that the twister was an EF-1. That category includes tornadoes with winds of 86-110 mph. Sabine County Sheriff Tom Maddox says the storm streaked across the southwestern corner of the county on the Louisiana border about 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Maddox says the storm dropped a tree limb onto a mobile home, fatally injuring 74-year-old Louise Pillow Stringer. Maddox says 25 homes were damaged.

EAST TEXAS — Surveys from Monday’s storms have finally been completed, and the official tornado count for East Texas has risen to 13, which brings the total for the week to 14. KETK reports the vast majority of these were small, weak, short-lived EF-0 tornadoes with top winds of only 70-75 mph that only damaged trees. But an EF-1 with winds of 90 mph struck Monday in extreme southeast Rusk County near the community of Caledonia and damaged one mobile home. Seven EF-0s had already been confirmed in the area that day, striking near Kilgore, Backville, Tatum, and Carthage. Monday’s storms caused no injuries.

EAST TEXAS (Staff/AP) — Two East Texas airport managers say their airports could continue to operate if their air traffic control centers closed. That word comes in the wake of a federal announcement that both airports’ control centers are on a list of possible closures if automatic federal spending cuts take effect next week. Roy Miller of East Texas Regional and Davis Dickson of Tyler Pounds Regional Airport both say contingency measures are used at airports when the control centers are not operational. Dickson notes that his airport already closes at night. He says he anticipates that air traffic control duties for Tyler would fall to facilities in Fort Worth and Shreveport if Tyler’s tower were closed due to the spending cuts.

Both men say they have yet to receive any official notification from the FAA. But Miller adds that even if an airport is tabbed for closure, the feds would provide notice and offer a comment period — a process that could take from 3 to 6 months. Dickson agrees that such a process would likely be implemented. And neither manager thinks East Texas Regional or Tyler Pounds would be high on any list of possible control center closures. Dickson adds that he thinks any such closure for Tyler “would be a short-term thing, if at all.”

TYLER — Tyler school trustees have unanimously approved sending to voters in May a $160.5 million bond proposal. The measure was approved at Thursday night’s meeting. The bond proposal would create a career and technology center that offers cosmetology and health science classes. It also calls for the renovation of Dixie and Rice Elementary Schools and building three new middle schools. The last school bond issue went before voters in 2010. The proposal was rejected.

One group, ‘”No More Excuses, Tyler ISD,” opposes the bond. Activist JoAnn Fleming tells KETK the district’s priorities do not make sense, and that Tyler ISD needs to focus on the low academic performance in the district. Cedrick Granberry, a parent and member of the opposition group, says, “New schools don’t teach children, good teachers and stable administration does teach children.” Tyler ISD tells KETK infrasructure and academics go hand- in-hand when it comes to the best learning performance. School officials say they value the safety and security of students as much as academics. Tyler Proud is a citizen group supporting the bond issue. According to the group’s Facebook page, “Great schools make a great community and it’s time for 21st century schools in Tyler!”

TYLER — Fire has destroyed the M&M Beauty Supply and Music Store at 1114 West Bow Street. Five engines and a Ladder company responded to the blaze shortly after 11:00 Thursday morning. No one was at the business when the fire broke out and no injuries were reported. Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire, which may have started from a space heater.

LONGVIEW — Acting on a tip, Longview police have arrested a Louisiana murder suspect. Michael Gregory, 30, of Vivian, Louisiana, was arrested in the 1700 block of Alpine Road because of a tip to the United States Marshals Service. He was taken into custody with out incident. He will remain in the Gregg County Jail until he is transferred to Caddo Parish in Louisiana.

HENDERSON — An update on a fatal shooting last weekend at the American Legion post in Henderson. The victim Roy Lee Moore, 53, and the alleged shooter, Joe Travis Watley, 60, were involved in a previous incident involving a gun. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report the incident happened in the 80s. Watley is currently free on bond.

GREGG COUNTY — A Kilgore man has been charged with his third DWI after leading local law enforcement on a chase. According to KETK, a Kilgore Police Department officer pulled over a vehicle with two alleged drunk passengers. When the officer approached the driver, later identified as Nicholas Scott Cline, 23, of Kilgore, and asked him to step out of the automobile, he sped away. The officer pursued Cline until he lost control and crashed into a field. The driver was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital and later booked into the Gregg County Jail. Cline was charged with driving while intoxicated, third offense, evading arrest and possession of marijuana.

MT. PLEASANT — Mount Pleasant police are looking for a man who they said attacked a teenage girl in her backyard in January. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, police said the assault took place about 6:00pm on January 17 in the 200 block of Bluebird Street. The girl was cut on her upper body and legs during the assault, but was able to escape and run to her house for help, Mount Pleasant Police Chief Wayne Isbell said. The Mount Pleasant-Titus County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of $750 for the arrest of the attacker. You can call call Crime Stoppers at 903-572-2833, go online at http://mountpleasant.crimestoppersweb.com or text your tip to “CUFF plus your message” at 274637 (CRIMES).

WELLS — The severe storms that passed through parts of East Texas on Thursday caused some damage in the Wells area of Cherokee County. Wells Fire Chief Robert Kalka tells KETK the damage is similar to that caused by a tornado; however, the National Weather Service has not yet confirmed that a tornado passed through the area. Kalka says that most of the damage occurred just after noon on Thursday. He says there were several residential areas affected from FM 1247 to Hwy 69. Several houses were damaged, and trees were knocked down. Some eyewitnesses claimed that they saw a tornado, but authorities must complete their investigation before they can determine whether one occurred.

EAST TEXAS — The U.S. Department of Agriculture seeks public comment on proposed Farm Service Agency community boundaries in East Texas. The Smith and Upshur-Gregg FSA offices combined in 2012 when the Upshur-Gregg county office closed. The combined Smith-Upshur-Gregg County Committee proposes the following area community boundaries for the 2013 county committee election. The proposal decreases the existing eight local administrative areas (LAAs) to the required seven LAAs for the new combined Smith-Upshur-Gregg county office. Eligible voters are encouraged to submit public comments by March 8 to the Smith-Upshur-Gregg county FSA office at 4209 Republic Drive Tyler, TX 75701 or call 903-561-6042 ext. 2.

The proposed local administrative areas are as follows:

Community A Smith Co. (LAA 1) comprises the area of Smith County that is North of US 64 from the Van Zandt County line to Tyler and the area West of a line located West of FM 14 from Tyler to Wood County.

Community B Smith Co. (LAA 2) comprises the area of Smith County that is East of a line located West of FM 14 from the Wood County line South to Tyler and the area North of a line from the East side of Tyler South to the intersection of FM 2964 and CR 2307 and extending East to the Rusk County line.

Community C Smith Co. (LAA 3) comprises the area of Smith County that is South of US 64 East from the Van Zandt County line to the East side of Tyler and South to the intersection of FM 2964 and CR 2307 and extending East to the Rusk County line.

Community D Upshur Co. (LAA 4) comprises the area of Upshur County that is West of SH 155 from the Smith County line to Gilmer then North on US 271 to the Camp County line.

Community E Upshur Co. (LAA 5) comprises the area of Upshur County that is East of US 271 from the Camp County line to Gilmer then the area North of SH 154 East to FM 726 South to FM 1650 East to the Gregg County line.

Community F Upshur Co. (LAA 6) comprises the area of Upshur County that is East of SH 155 from the Smith County line to Gilmer and the area South of SH 154 East to FM 726 South to FM 1650 East to the Gregg County line.

Community G Gregg Co. (LAA 7) comprises the entire area of Gregg County.

For more information, you may contact the Smith-Upshur-Gregg County FSA office at 903-561-6042 or visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/tx online.

TYLER — Tyler school trustees tonight are due to consider and possibly call a bond election for this May. Proposed items include construction of a new Career Technology Center; construction of three new middle schools (to replace Boulter and Moore middle schools and to construct a new middle school in the Three Lakes area); and renovation and repair of Rice and Dixie elementary schools. Even in advance of the board meeting, the possible bond issue has already drawn vocal supporters and opponents. The school district’s last bond proposal was narrowly defeated in November 2010.

EAST TEXAS — The National Weather Service has finished its surveys of damage from the thunderstorms that rolled through East Texas Monday. According to KETK, NWS officials concluded that seven tornadoes touched down in our region.

Tornado #1 was reported 7 miles southeast of Kilgore just after 5:00pm. It was rated an EF-0 with peak winds of 70 mph. Several large branches and a hardwood tree were snapped along County Roads 281 and 283. Tornado #2 occurred just after 5:15pm 9 miles east-southeast of Kilgore. It was also rated an EF-0 with peak winds of 70 mph. A brief touch-down snapped the tops out of several pine trees along Highway 322 near Barnes Creek. Tornado #3 was 9 miles west of Tatum just before 5:30pm. Winds peaked at 70 mph and it was also rated an EF-0. A pine tree was uprooted along with several tops of pine trees snapped along County Road 2126 and Farm Road 782.

Tornado #4 was reported just before 6:00pm 4 miles north-northeast of Beckville. Just slightly stronger, this tornado was still rated an EF-0, but had peak winds of 75 mph. Numerous large limbs and a few trees were snapped along Farm Road 1794. Several pictures of the funnel were also captured by witnesses. Tornado #5 occurred just after 6:00pm 9 miles north of Carthage. It was rated an EF-0 with winds peaking at 70 mph. Numerous large limbs and a few pine trees were snapped along FM 1794 just south of the Sabine River.

Tornado #6 touched down 10 miles north-northeast of Carthage. Winds peaked at 70 mph and it was also rated an EF-0. The brief touch-down snapped a small hardwood tree along County Road 307. Tornado #7 was 9 miles northeast of Carthage. Also an EF-0, winds peaked at 75 mph. Two pine trees were snapped along Farm Road 31 near the County Road 316 intersection.

EAST TEXAS — It continues to generate its share of controversy. But KETK reports a lot of people are moving to East Texas to work on the Keystone XL Pipeline. That’s giving our local economy a boost. After working all day, the laborers spend their hard-earned money in local restaurants. Dick’s Cajun Bar and Grill in Mt. Selman is a favorite spot for the pipeline workers to hang out. Also, the area’s drawing positive comments from the newcomers. Laura Grife is from Minnesota, but she’s made East Texas her temporary home; she currently resides in Jacksonville. Grife says, “I love Texas; this winter has been really nice. When you look at all the weather like where I’m from, Minnesota, this has been like a summer.” Another worker says the “people are wonderful; Southern hospitality is awesome.” Yet another is struck by the East Texas scenery.

LONGVIEW — An East Texas family is heartbroken after family members learned their dog was stolen from their backyard in broad daylight. Around 3:00 Tuesday afternoon, the act was caught by a neighbor’s security camera on the 300 block of East Branch and Rodden Street, located in the Pine Tree area of Longview. KETK spoke with family members who plan to put up a reward for their pet. The dog, Zeus, is described as a 5-month-old male English Bull Terrier or “Spuds McKenzie dog.” “We would do anything to get him back,” said Katie Worden, the dog’s owner. The family has already filed a police report and contacted the Humane Society of Northeast Texas.

AUSTIN — Tyler’s state senator addresses the need to find more money for highway funding. Traditionally, according to KETK, the gas tax has been used. Acknowledging that the money has to come from somewhere, Kevin Eltife says, “Choose your poison. None of us like taxes.” But according to Eltife, the state could raise the gas tax a dime, possibly expand the sales tax base, or raise the sales tax rate.

Since the gas tax hasn’t been touched in over 20 years, Eltife says we’ve been financing our roads simply with debt, and as far as he’s concerned, that’s not very conservative. “The answer,” says Eltife, “is to find a dedicated revenue stream and pay cash.” According to Eltife, that’s not a new idea from him; he says he’s been putting it out there since he first joined the Senate and compares it to the city of Tyler’s half-cent sales tax. As to possible political repercussions, he says, “All I know to do is name the problems, tell people how I would solve them, tell the truth, and let the chips fall where they may.”

AUSTIN — The Texas State Railroad has been named by Preservation Texas, Inc. to its tenth anniversary retrospective list of Texas’ Most Endangered Historic Places. Originally named to the 2007 list of Texas’ Most Endangered Historic Places, the railroad is designated as saved on the 2013 list.

Preservation Texas officials announced the selections yesterday on the steps of the Texas State Capitol on Preservation Day. The annual announcement is part of Preservation Day activities organized by Preservation Texas. Advocates from all over the state come to participate in informational sessions, meet with legislators at the Capitol and get an in depth look at lessons to be learned from the sites named to the list.

“Inclusion of lost sites is important because it illustrates some of the very real obstacles communities face in their efforts to preserve the historic resources of Texas,” said Charlene Orr, president of Preservation Texas, Inc. “And by including threatened sites, we hope to generate additional support that will take them to the next level in their preservation process.”

The Texas State Railroad (TSRR), designated the “official railroad of Texas” by the Texas Legislature, is recognized as one of the nation’s largest and most unique steam train operations The Railroad began in the 1880s as a way to deliver pig iron produced by the prison located in Rusk. It was converted to a heritage railroad attraction in 1976 by the Legislature and became a major tourist attraction. However, it was scheduled to become a static display when the Legislature refused to fund its operation, and the local community had almost exhausted its financial resources. In 2007 management of the TSRR was privatized with a contract with American Heritage Railways. In conjunction with this, the state formed the Texas State Railroad Authority, to oversee the railroad and to ensure that this Texas treasure continues to function as it always has.

HENDERSON — The man charged with killing another person at the American Legion post in Henderson has been released from jail. KETK reports that Joe Travis Watley (pictured), 60, who is charged with murder, was released from the Rusk County Jail Tuesday on $150,000 bond. Shortly after 12:15 Sunday morning, in the 600 block of Sand Street, Watley allegedly shot Roy Lee Moore, 53, of Henderson, multiple times in his upper body. The victim later died at a Kilgore hospital from his wounds. Witnesses on scene told police that the victim and the shooter had both been attending a function at the American Legion Hall.

HARLETON — An East Texas man remains hospitalized after he was shot during a heated dispute over vehicle repairs. According to KETK, shortly after 10:00 Sunday night, Harrison County dispatchers received a call for help on the 12,900 block of Highway 154 in Harleton. When authorities arrived at the scene, they found Johnny Deskus, 49, suffering from a gunshot wound to his left thigh.

The suspect, Chance Godwin (pictured), 28, had stopped at a house on Highway 154 and told the owner he was going to fix a power steering pump before he could drive. The homeowner, Deskus, told Godwin to go ahead with his plans. Officials say while both men were working on the vehicle, an argument broke out between the two on the work being done to the vehicle. Deskus reportedly showed a stun gun, allegedly prompting Godwin to pull a pistol from the truck and shoot Deskus in his left thigh.

The victim was taken to a Marshall hospital for his wounds. Godwin was arrested and booked into the Harrison County Jail on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The gun was later recovered at the scene. Godwin’s bail was set at $50,000.