KTBB News, Weather, Talk

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

UNDATED — The Texas Department of Transportation’s annual preventative maintenance program known as “District-Wide Seal Coat” kicked off Monday in Cherokee County, followed by the same work in Anderson County. Crews were scheduled to apply a seal coat to State Highway 110 in Cherokee County between U.S. Highway 79 in New Summerfield and U.S. Highway 84 in Rusk on May 2, then move to US 84 in Palestine between U.S. Highway 287 and Farm Road 3266 east of town.

Staying in Anderson County, the work is scheduled to move to Farm Road 645 between Farm Road 320 and U.S. Highway 79, Spur 324 between US 287 and Farm Road 321, and US 287 between the Freestone County Line and FM 321.

Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two lane areas. Loose gravel may be present for several days following a seal coat application. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

The District-Wide Seal Coat program, which will seal approximately 300 miles of roads as it passes through all eight counties in the Tyler District before the end of August, uses a two-step process of spraying down hot asphalt and covering it with rock to add years of life to existing pavement.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Beginning Monday, Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to make pavement repairs on U.S. Highway 79 at its intersection with U.S. Highway 69 (Rusk Street and South Jackson Street), and then move east on US 79 making the same repairs in various locations. This work is scheduled to last throughout the week: US 69 and US 79, working in and around the intersection; and US 79 east of US 69. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform resurfacing operations on SH 19 north of Palestine between Farm Road 860 in Bois D’Arc and the Henderson County Line. The work is being performed in advance of a seal-coat application in May. Daytime lane closures will be in effect 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 resurfacing operations on Farm Road 85 between the Navarro County Line and State Highway 274 in Seven Points. A second crew is scheduled to perform the same work on Farm Road 2892 between Farm Road 2495 and the end of state maintenance. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

GREGG COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to conclude pavement-repair operations on Spur 63 in Longview. The work is being done 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. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone. Also this week in Gregg County, the overnight lane closure on State Highway 149 in the Whiskey Bend area has been extended to last through May 16.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base repairs in various locations on U.S. Highway 259 north of Henderson between State Highway 322 and Farm Road 850. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

WOOD COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repair operations in various locations on State Highway 37 in Winnsboro between State Highway 11 and Farm Road 515, and south of Winnsboro near Farm Road 1647. A second crew is scheduled to perform edge repairs on Farm Road 69 between Farm Road 515 in Coke and the Hopkins County Line. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location 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 perform resurfacing and edge-repair operations on State Highway 198 between State Highway 64 in Canton and Farm Road 1651. The work is being done in advance of a seal coat application later this month. A second crew is scheduled to perform fog seal operations on Farm Road 858 between State Highway 19 and Ben Wheeler. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

NOONDAY — Tasty treats mixed with serious business as the Noonday Volunteer Fire Department held a community fish fry Saturday, largely to raise funds. The fire department gets tax money through an emergency services district. But Assistant Fire Chief Jonathan McClish says there are always a few expenses that the ESD does not cover, “and that’s where the donations come in.” McClish says such events, held several times a year, also promote awareness among residents. According to McClish, “They come out and introduce themselves and see where their tax dollars have gone.”

It all happened as Texans continued to deal with wildfire-prone conditions. McClish and a colleague recently helped battle a devastating wildfire in West Texas. McClish encourages residents to drop in any time and get to know their firefighters. He says his department stays busy and has grown substantially in recent years.

TYLER — Early voting in the May elections got underway today. One high-profile item is the Smith County jail bond. 384 beds would be added under the $35 million plan, which calls for expansion and renovation of the existing jail. Early voting continues through May 10, and Election Day is May 14.

TYLER — A high-speed chase that started in Longview made its way to Tyler Saturday evening. Authorities tell KETK the car being pursued made its way on down U.S. Highway 271 onto Loop 323 in Tyler. Smith County sheriff’s deputies picked up the chase on the Smith County line. After driving on the loop, police were able to stop the car south of Grande and highway 155 in Tyler. The suspect is currently in custody in the Smith County Jail. We’ll have more details as they’re made available.

TYLER — Over 6,000 people poured into the downtown Tyler Square on Saturday afternoon for the 4th Annual Cause For The Paws event — an event envisioned by award winning country artist Miranda Lambert, a native East Texan. The event was originally meant just to help the Humane Society of East Texas, but now it’s growing — while still including its original beneficiary. “Now that we’ve gotten the Humane Society of East Texas so built up, we wanted to start branching out and going across the United States, so we started the foundation (Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation) to sort of put all the money we raise in one pot and be able to help more than just our hometown…but spread it out,” Lambert told KETK Also at Saturday’s event, there were performances by Stoney Larue and Josh Kelley.

Lambert says Saturday’s show is actually the last show she’ll be performing for a while due to some other plans she has coming up. “Ready to get married, it’s been a year in planning so it kind of consumes everyone’s life for a year and so I’m ready to experience it and then move on,” Lambert said. Lambert’s people says they raised over $50,000 Saturday night in just the live auction alone. Lambert’s fiance is fellow country star Blake Shelton.

FORT WORTH (AP) – The Humane Society of North Texas just received some new tenants – 79 nonvenomous snakes. An East Texas judge granted custody of the snakes, all constrictors, to the nonprofit this week. Tammy Roberts of the agency says they include a rock python, anacondas and “a few things in between.” They are 2 to 14 feet long and weigh up to 70 pounds. The reptiles were seized by the Wood County sheriff last week from a snake dealer in a cruelty investigation. He has 10 days to appeal. The serpents are living in the Humane Society’s area for exotic animals, each in a 10- to 12-inch-high bin that is about 4 feet long and 2 feet wide. They will be fed thawed rats or rabbits by workers who use 4-foot tongs.

LINDALE — Local citizens and law officers are expressing dismay over the activities of a body shop owner. Smith County Constable Dennis Taylor says law officers have already taken three cars from Alvey’s Body Shop in Lindale this week for drivers who were tired of waiting for their cars to get fixed. “We’ve been getting complaints about cars not being worked on,” he says. According to KETK, Taylor says David Alvey, the owner, makes about $30,000 in insurance checks every month, but the cars aren’t getting fixed. “His electricity and water are shut off. The cars aren’t getting fixed. So where’s the money going?” Taylor says.

One driver says she took her truck to Alvey’s to get a new bumper. When she went to pick it up, she says it had no bumper and Alvey had messed up other parts on the truck. She also says her rims and tires were taken off of her truck and put on Alvey’s truck, so she called the Constable. Alvey was arrested for theft of property, but was released just a couple of hours later on a $4,000 bond. Since she gave Alvey her insurance check and he already cashed it, she says the $7,000 to fix the damage is coming from her pocket.

Several East Texans also say they went to Alvey’s and gave him money, but their cars never got fixed. Some people say just a couple of years ago, they took their cars to Alvey and he fixed them well. Now the Better Business Bureau rates Alvey’s Body Shop with an “F” after a customer filed a complaint that his mirror was replaced with a shiny piece of cardboard.

Constable Taylor says if anyone has a car at Alvey’s, he will go get it. Unfortunately, he says customers will probably not get their cars fixed or get their money back. The Constable also says they searched Alvey’s car, business, and home for drugs, but none were found.

TYLER – TJC’s board of trustees recently approved an across-the-board tuition increase. In addition to a higher tuition, officials say students can expect increases in other areas such as a higher general education fee, registration fee, and campus meal plans. According to KETK, officials say a full time student can expect a grand total 9% increase in tuition and fees starting in the fall.

FORT WORTH (AP) – A former Miss USA’s claims of being groped during a pat-down at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport could be a criminal matter under a bill sponsored by Republican Representative David Simpson of Longview. The measure’s gaining momentum in the Texas Legislature. If it becomes Texas law, it would be a felony for a security officer to intentionally touch someone’s private areas – even on top of clothing – unless they have probable cause. Susie Castillo says the pat down left her feeling molested and violated. Castillo, who was crowned in 2003, was in tears following the April 21st experience. She says a female Transportation Security Administration worker who checked her touched her crotch area several times.

EAST TEXAS — East Texas takes up the battle against prescription drug abuse. The Tyler Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) host a Prescription Drug Take Back Day today from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Super One Foods located at 3000 WNW Loop 323 in Tyler. Police say there will be “no questions asked.”

In Longview, The Region 4 Prevention Resource Center, a program of East Texas Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (ETCADA), conducts a similar effort — also today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can drop off your prescription drugs at Louis Morgan Drug #4, located at 110 Johnston St. To find a site near you, simply visit the DEA website at http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov or by contacting Linda Moyer with ETCADA at (903) 247-9646.

According to authorities, the purpose of this National Take Back Day is to provide a venue for persons who want to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs. Police say a prior take back effort was a huge success in removing potentially dangerous prescription drugs, particularly controlled substances, from the nation’s medicine cabinets. There were approximately 3,000 state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the nation that participated in the event. All told, the American Public turned in more than 121 tons of pills on the first National Take Back Day.

Due to what’s termed the overwhelming success of the first event, DEA has scheduled the second National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Police say it’s a great opportunity for those who missed the first event, or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted or unused prescription drugs, to safely dispose of them.

Police say the initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Each day, approximately, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.

MARSHALL — A 44-year-old Linden man has pleaded guilty to sexual assault-related charges in the Eastern District of Texas. Rodney Ray Hayes pleaded guilty to the transportation of minors with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity Friday in Marshall before U.S. District Judge T. John Ward.

According to information presented in court, Hayes, also known as the Texas Kid, had a professional rodeo act which was based out of Linden. As part of his rodeo act, Hayes had children under the age of eighteen years old performing and traveling with him. Hayes would travel with these children in interstate commerce to other states to perform their act at various rodeos. An investigation revealed that at various times between March 2005 and June 2008, Hayes engaged in illicit sexual contact with at least one minor. Hayes was indicted by a federal grand jury on Sep. 7, 2010.

In addition to facing federal prison time, Hayes will be required to register as a sex offender and is prohibited from having any contact with his victims. A sentencing date has not been set. The case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.

EAST TEXAS — East Texans hit the road Friday morning in Red Cross emergency response vehicles to help out with the tornado devastation that hit nine states. Hundreds of Red Cross volunteers have either headed in that direction or are already on site — providing food, shelter, relief supplies, blood products and equipment. Sonya Meador is an experienced Red Cross volunteer who showed up Friday morning to be deployed. She told our news partner KETK, “All I can do is what I’ve been trained to do, is to be available — whether it’s staffing a shelter or feeding, running a vehicle through neighborhoods, helping people clean up, whatever — just to be available.” Forty Red Cross emergency vehicles are involved in the response effort. More than 1600 people already have taken advantage of Red Cross shelters following the tornadoes and flooding. This is believed to be the deadliest tornadio outbreak in more than 35 years.

HENDERSON – Three East Texas suspects were arrested Thursday for theft of livestock after allegedly stealing two head of cattle from a pasture near Reklaw. KETK reports John Frederick Hinds II, 26, Reklaw; his wife, Kellie Dawn Hinds, 22, Reklaw; and Bobby Addrian Askew, 24, Jacksonville, were admittedly high on methamphetamine at the time of the theft. The suspects hired a commercial hauler to transport the cattle to a livestock auction barn in East Texas. Livestock company employees immediately saw multiple signs of possible theft and reported it. The cattle were later identified as stolen and returned to the owners.

“These cattle were quickly identified and returned to their owners because employees at the livestock market stepped forward and voiced concerns they had about the sellers,” said Larry Hand, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) special ranger. “Thanks to the collaboration between TSCRA and sheriff deputies, we were able to track down the suspects and take them into custody.” Hand advises ranchers to brand their cattle and count them regularly, especially now that cattle prices are at record highs. Hand led the investigation in cooperation with deputies from the Panola and Rusk County sheriff’s departments, the Rusk County district attorney’s office, TSCRA Market Inspector Pat McGuigan and TSCRA Special Ranger Jimmy Dickson.

TYLER — A Tyler woman is sentenced to 8 years in prison for hurting her step-daughter. According to KETK, 43-year-old Martha Lorena Camargo pleaded guilty to cutting the eight-year-old with a butcher knife because she wasn’t eating a meal fast enough. Authorities maintain Camargo also jammed her fingers down the girl’s throat and pulled her hair.

TYLER — A 29-year-old Kilgore man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales Friday. Russell Eugene Shepherd pleaded guilty on Sep. 2, 2010, to possession of pseudoephedrine knowing it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine and was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison Tuesday in Tyler.

According to information presented in court, Shepherd admitted to purchasing cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at various stores in Longview, Kilgore and Henderson between March of 2009 and January of 2010. These pills were purchased in furtherance of a conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine utilizing these pills with other co-defendants. Shepherd was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6.

RUSK COUNTY — A Henderson man was sentenced to five years in prison Thursday morning in connection with the aggravated robbery of a convenience store almost a year ago. Phillip Wayne Moss Jr., 19, was arrested July 2010 and charged with aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony and possession of marijuana. Officials said Moss pleaded guilty before District Judge Clay Gossett Thursday morning and took “full responsibility for his conduct.”

According to previous reports, Moss used an air pistol, which resembled a firearm, threatened the clerk and demanded money from the cash register. Police officials said Moss, and an accomplice who was identified as a minor, took money from the cash register and fled. Officials had said the minor’s case was being handled through the juvenile center.

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University students and faculty will be in Kenya from May 5 through May 31 to work with disabled children and conduct research to assess how well the children’s wheelchairs work for them. LETU Assistant Professor of Biology Karen Rispin and two students, Taylor Geyman of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and Sam Nemati of Altadena, California, will travel to partner with Bethany Kids at Joytown Special Primary School for the Disabled as part of the Wheels project at LETU. Wheels team members made a preliminary trip to Joytown in June of 2010 and have facilitated the donation and shipment of two types of pediatric wheelchairs to the school.

“What is really exciting is that our Wheels team’s research study has the potential to make a huge difference, not only to the children being fitted with these donated wheelchairs, but to children around the world using wheelchairs provided by the organizations with the same wheelchairs in this study,” Rispin said. David N’gan’ga, who is an administrator at Bethany Kids, said, “The one thing that most impressed me about the Wheels project was their commitment to follow up and do research to see if their donations work well for the children.”

While in Kenya, the Wheels team will collect data on maneuverability, ease of rolling and durability, as well as gain questionnaire input on how well each type of wheelchair worked for the kids as they played with friends and went to school. Kris Riseling, a physical therapist from Ontario, and Janet Welch, a wheelchair seating specialist from North Carolina, will accompany the Wheels team and will repair wheelchairs and ensure the chairs are fitted properly for the children. The organizations that manufacture the two types of wheelchairs are both eager for feedback that will inform their design and help them to provide more functional wheelchairs.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Economic Development Corporation (LEDCO) announced Thursday that American Home Patient, Inc., one of the nation’s largest home health care providers, will be expanding its Patient Contact Center Operations into Longview. LEDCO officials say the company will occupy an existing building in Longview and will employ up to 220 people when fully operational.

“The economic impact to the Longview area will be significant,” said Steve Metcalf, president of LEDCO, the economic development arm of the City of Longview. “American Home Patient will invest in new equipment and facilities in the City of Longview, Gregg County and the Longview Independent School District. The total payroll, benefits, capital investment and taxes paid will reach $80 million over the next ten years.” Local governments and LEDCO worked together for several months to attract the company to the area. LEDCO will provide a $1.1 million performance grant over a 7-year period.

TYLER — The citizen group Grassroots America – We the People (GAWTP) endorses the Smith County jail bond proposal on the May 14 ballot. According to a statement from the group, the sheriff and commissioners court have more than adequately demonstrated the need for the jail beds to be added under the plan. The group also says the sheriff and commissioners court have done a good job communicating the details of the plan well in advance of early voting, which starts Monday.

Among the key points made by GAWTP in its statement:

“Smith County has been under a remedial order since 2004 from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards for non-compliance due to overcrowding. Smith County has tried on three different occasions to get in compliance with jail plans that included much higher bed counts to meet long-range 10 – 20 year projections, but the voters have said ‘No’ because the plans were too expensive or included court facilities that drove up the costs. Now is the opportunity, at a reasonable cost, to remove the remedial order for a jail – not a courthouse – with approval of the $35 million jail bond proposal.

“We well understand the economic challenges made worse by out-of-control government spending that piles up debt. Our members are actively at work on those issues; however, this jail project is not about ‘wants.’ It is about a ‘need’ to house inmates locally at the lowest possible price and to stop spending millions of dollars in other counties. It is about saving tax dollars on lower medical costs for inmates and lower transportation costs by having our inmates housed locally next to the courts. Most importantly, this jail plan is about assuming responsibility for the safety of the men and women who wear the law enforcement uniform and are now having to manage inmates in unsafe conditions.”

GAWTP defines itself as a non-profit, non-partisan, conservative group of citizen activists. The only announced opposition to the jail plan comes from the Tyler Tea Party. That group cites several reasons including a perceived lack of transparency, timing, and issues regarding the arguments used to support the plan.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has unanimously adopted the Lake Tyler Master Plan. The plan, which was compiled by Freese and Nichols and Planning Concepts, took nearly two years to complete and includes input received from stakeholder meetings, town hall meetings, a public survey, the Lake Tyler Roundtable and City staff. “The Lake Tyler Master Plan came about from concepts laid out in the Tyler 21 plan,” said Councilman Sam Mezayek, chair of the Lake Tyler Roundtable. “Lake Tyler is truly a jewel and this plan will help us shine it up and make it more enjoyable for the residents of Tyler.”

Officials say the Lake Tyler Master Plan was designed to complement existing amenities and enhance the lake for Tyler residents. The plan contains 19 major recommendations and approximately 60 sub-recommendations as well as long- and short-term implementation plans. These recommendations are broken down into three categories: Planning and Development, Recreation, and Water Quality. Highlights of the plan include:

* The addition of way finding signage to guide visitors to amenities and public access areas;
* Mechanisms for managing development and to restrict new uses that do not contribute to the desirable character of the lakes;
* Access and thoroughfare planning;
* Options for programming and marketing the lakes;
* Expanding water quality sampling and monitoring;
* Continuing aquatic vegetation management; and,
* Evaluating development standards throughout the watershed.

“Like the Tyler 21 Plan, we received and incorporated citizen input when developing the Lake Tyler Master Plan,” said Mayor Barbara Bass. “This input is vital to ensuring that we are creating the best plan possible for all of our residents.” Recommendations included in the Master Plan are:

* Development of hiking and bike trails in the vicinity of the marina, Hill Creek and East Side Drive;
* Enhancements to the East Side recreation facilities;
* A timber management program;
* The addition of camp sites, improved picnic stations, restrooms and security lighting;
* The addition of canoe and kayak facilities; and,
* The addition of a Lake Tyler East Marina and convention facility.

LUFKIN — A Lufkin city planner who had used his public Twitter feed to express derogatory feelings about the city and region resigned Wednesday morning after being confronted by city officials about the comments, City Manager Paul Parker said Thursday. That’s according to KETK and the Lufkin Daily News. Attempts to reach City Planner Trent Cantrell for comment Wednesday were unsuccessful. Cantrell in late March posted the message “Lufkin is an armpit. I know (…) I have to live here temporarily.” Months earlier he posted, “Hello there. Just waiting for the heat to leave for good. Of course, Deep East Texas will still be a (expletive) hole.”

Cantrell, who had been an employee with the city since April 2009, apparently removed the posts from the online social networking site Wednesday morning, after The Lufkin Daily News sought comment from city officials about the posts. Cantrell did not return a request for comment left in his office. His Lufkin home phone number is unlisted.

Assistant City Manager Keith Wright said Wednesday that the issue had been addressed but that he could not comment further. “We don’t condone this, and we regret that one of our employees feels that way,” Wright said. “We think our city is a great place to live, a great environment and a great place to have a family.”

LONGVIEW — After seeking a second opinion on the autopsy report for Amy Lynn Cowling, 33, her cause of death was officially ruled seizure due to methadone and Xanax withdrawals. Justice of the Peace B.H. Jameson ruled the manner of death undetermined. Jameson noted that he didn’t think there was any foul play involved. “Nothing was done improperly,” he said.

Cowling, of Gilmer, was pronounced dead at 12:48 a.m. on December 29 after she was found unresponsive in her Gregg County Jail cell. She was removed from the cell after hours of seizures said to be symptoms of withdrawal from methadone, former jail Cpl. Kashena Davis said at the time. Jameson, who pronounced Cowling dead at the hospital, said he sought a second opinion from a Tarrant County pathologist with Cowling’s autopsy results because the manner of death was left up to Jameson to decide and the cause of death was listed as “probable.” Jameson said his precinct was closing Cowling’s case at this time.

TYLER — The City of Tyler hosted a ceremony Thursday to unveil three new Half Mile of History Stones in downtown Tyler. The stones are part of the Half-Mile of History heritage trail and honor W.E. Stewart, D.K. Caldwell and Walter Connally.

W.E. Stewart organized a total of 10 banks in Texas and Louisiana, including the First National Bank of Lindale in 1907. Stewart also served as the first president of Medical Center Hospital, now ETMC. The first Stewart blood bank building, equipment, and furnishings were donations of Stewart and his wife. The blood bank is now a facility of Carter BloodCare.

While working for Smith County, D.K Caldwell was influential in the formation of the State Highway Commission and the Texas Highway Department. He was a driving force in formation of the Smith County / Tyler Youth Foundation, which established Camp Tyler, and established the Caldwell Playschools, which existed for 41 years. Caldwell and his wife, Lottie, also started Caldwell Zoo. Additionally, he was responsible for building the first residential home for the elderly in Tyler.

Walter Connally’s business, Walter Connally and Company, grew into the largest machinery firm in East Texas, and one of the best-known firms of its kind in the South. Connally also operated a facility which became one of the largest private experiment farms in the Southwest. Connally Peninsula at Lake Tyler was once part of a large tract of land that he purchased in 1917. Portions of that acreage are now included in both Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East.

The City of Tyler’s historic preservation program, the Half Mile of History, resulted from a recommendation that came out of the Tyler 21 planning process. City officials say the goal of the Half Mile of History is to pay tribute to people, places and events that have contributed to the rich history of Tyler and Smith County. The Half Mile of History is a permanent, outdoor, half-mile loop that surrounds the square in the heart of downtown Tyler. Stone plaques are placed in the sidewalk along the Half Mile of History to commemorate significant people, places or events. You can go to http://www.cityoftyler.org/ to read more about the Half Mile of History program and the most recent honorees.

CUNEY (AP/STAFF) — The founding pastor of Times Square Church in New York City and author of the best-selling book, “The Cross and the Switchblade,” David Wilkerson, has died in a Cherokee County crash. Wilkerson, 79, died yesterday when his car smashed head-on into a tractor-trailer rig. His wife Gwen, 80, was critically injured. She is being treated at Tyler’s East Texas Medical Center. The truck’s driver, Fredrick Braggs, 39, of Beaumont, is being treated at ETMC in Jacksonville.

The accident happened on U.S. Highway 175 at the Neches River Bridge. The Department of Public Safety says, for some reason, Wilkerson’s car, which was east bound, swerved into the west bound lane and hit the truck.

Wilkerson’s World Challenge Inc. ministries confirmed on its website that he “went to be with Jesus.” Wilkerson founded the non-denominational Protestant church in 1987 in an area of Manhattan that was then riddled with X-rated movie houses, strip clubs, prostitution and drugs. Wilkerson also founded Teen Challenge, which uses a biblically based recovery program for drug addicts.

BEN WHEELER (AP) — The National Weather Service says a moderate tornado damaged more than 100 structures in an East Texas storm that left one woman injured. The agency said Wednesday a tornado with winds in the range of 90-100 mph hit a rural area in Van Zandt County on Tuesday. The weather service said three structures were destroyed. That included the mobile home of a woman who was hospitalized after the storm rolled her home and turned it into a pile of debris. Van Zandt County emergency management spokesman Chuck Allen says the tornado left a 1-mile-wide, 8-mile-long path of destruction between the towns of Ben Wheeler and Edom.

LONGVIEW — A late afternoon shooting at a West Longview trailer park sent one man to the hospital with gunshot wounds and another to the Gregg County Jail.

Gregg County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Riverside RV Park in the 3700 block of Texas 42 just after 3 p.m. Wednesday for a reported shooting.

Gregg County officials said they could not confirm the name of the victim or the man who was arrested, but said a man was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries for a gunshot wound to the leg. Initial radio reports indicated the victim had been shot twice in the leg.

Officers were advised the victim and man arrested both lived at the RV park, 10 lots away from one another.

This is the second call sheriff’s deputies have responded to in the past nine months for a shooting at the RV park.

Officers were dispatched to the park July 21 after 34-year-old Brian Keith Barnett was found shot in the head near his trailer. James Nathan Alexander, 34, was arrested a few days after Barnett’s death after an attorney arranged for him to surrender.

Alexander was released from Gregg County Jail on $100,000 bond after two days. He was indicted in October for murder and is awaiting a trial date.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has adopted a resolution urging the Texas Legislature to support the continuation of the high-cost gas investment tax credit. In 1989, the Legislature created the credit to encourage natural gas exploration and production in areas that are difficult and expensive to develop. The credit was extended several times and made permanent in 2003. Under the current credit, natural gas producers receive a partial tax reduction for each qualifying gas well, certified as “high-cost” by the Texas Railroad Commission, based on the actual drilling and completion costs for that well. “The Oil & Gas industry is important to Tyler’s economic future,” said Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass. “We have a vested interest in ensuring we are proactive in supporting its success because it means jobs and revenue for our community.”

It is estimated that the high-cost gas tax credit currently generates $4 of economic growth for every dollar invested and generates nearly 40,000 jobs a year. City officials say the investment tax credit is critical to the state’s position as a national energy leader. They say it has encouraged the development of important new sources of Texas natural gas. Between 1990 and 2009, high-cost gas production, as a percentage of statewide gas production, increased from 5.5 percent to 56 percent. During this time, according to city officials, Texas was the only major producing state to increase natural gas production.

In early 2010, the Tyler City Council and several other community boards and elected bodies came together to jointly adopt a measure to support the Industry Growth Initiative (IGI). The IGI is a twenty-year plan that contains strategic tactics focused on achieving an Innovation Economy which brings higher paying jobs, economic growth, job creation and a higher standard of living. One of the IGI’s ten building blocks is 21st Century Energy.

“For generations, the Oil & Gas sector has been a mainstay in the Tyler economy; it has provided jobs and stability when other areas of the country have struggled in tough economic times,” added Mayor Bass. “This legacy industry still has so much more in store for us. With the development of horizontal drilling and the discovery of the Haynesville Shale, the Oil & Gas sector will play an important role in Tyler’s economic future.”

City officials say discontinuing the investment tax credit would increase taxes on natural gas – termed one of the state’s most vital economic engines – and have what officials call negative consequences. Officials say it would discourage investment in new production and expansion of natural gas operations and would put Texas at a competitive disadvantage with states like Louisiana and Arkansas that have substantial high-cost gas incentives.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has voted unanimously to authorize the City Manager to award a $5,125,344 contract to S.J. Louis Construction of Texas, Ltd. for the construction of the Highway 69 /Interstate 20 Corridor Sanitary Sewerage System improvements. “It is gratifying to see Tyler move forward with economic development projects that are designed to spur private investment,” commented Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass. “Development follows the path of infrastructure and this project will pave the way for growth in this area. Tyler is taking an important step to ensuring we are prepared for future growth and fulfilling the vision outlined in Tyler 21.”

A total of 10 proposals were received during this competitive sealed process. S.J. Louis was recommended for award of the contract based upon the following criteria:
· Proposal price;
· Experience with projects of this specific type and magnitude;
· Experience and references of key personnel;
· Company profile and general experience;
· Ability/commitment to respond to City needs in a timely fashion; and
· Safety record and financial profile.

Funding for the project was allocated from the 2008 Tyler Water Utilities Revenue Bond Fund and will be paid for from revenues collected from the sale of water and sewer services – not from property taxes. The City paid off all general obligation (tax supported) debt in 2008. “We are pleased with how competitive the pricing on this project came in,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel. “It will allow the project to come in well under budget.” The project was first identified during the Tyler 21 planning process, which called for the revitalization of North Tyler as well as balanced growth in all areas of the community.

TYLER – Officials with Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics broke ground Wednesday on the region’s first freestanding heart hospital. The Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital, named after the Tyler couple that donated $18 million toward the cost of construction, is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2012. It will be located on the campus of Mother Frances Hospital-Tyler.

The Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital is a two-phase project. Phase One, located in the Ornelas Tower, was completed in December. Construction is underway on Phase Two, a freestanding structure located between Saunders Street and South Fleishel Avenue. The hospital will be six stories; include comprehensive cardiac, thoracic, and vascular services; and stand east of and adjacent to Mother Frances Hospital. It will connect to the main hospital and to the Medical Arts Plaza building in several locations, allowing specialists and clinical personnel to easily access both buildings.

“Our administrators, physicians and many others have worked very hard over the last five years to gather the best ideas for delivering cardiac care, and today, construction is underway,” said Lindsey Bradley, FACHE, president, Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics. “Building the Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital is the crowning achievement of cardiac care, not only for our patients, but for us as proud medical providers.”

Hospital officials say Phase Two will include:

• Three floors with 72 ICU-capable patient rooms dedicated exclusively to cardiac patients and designed to provide all levels of care, from admission through discharge
• New dedicated cardiac and thoracic OR suites, with ability to expand to more rooms as technology changes
• On-site Cardiac Rehabilitation Center
• Inpatient and Outpatient Cardiac Diagnostics
• Conference Center for community events and heart screenings
• Separate entry and driveway accessible from East Dawson Street with valet parking and patient assistance available
• Connectivity at all times to the Ornelas Tower of Mother Frances Hospital to allow for access to other hospital based services
• Spacious multi-level lobby with amenities including gift shop and dining
• Meditation Room/Chapel to meet spiritual needs of patients, families and caregivers
• Patient and Family Education Center and Resource Center
• A single one-stop registration using a new electronic medical record that supports all in and out patient offices
• Room Service dining

WOOD COUNTY — A former Mineola teacher, JoAnn Stephens, has been sentenced for having an improper relationship with a student. Stephens received 180 days in the Wood County Jail and 10 years probation. If Stephens were to violate her probation, she would receive an additional 5 years confinement.

The 43-year-old was arrested December 16 after a four month investigation into the relationship. Mineola Police say they started the investigation after receiving a complaint from Child Protective Services on August 4. The alleged relationship was between Stephens and a male student who has since graduated. Stephens and the student reportedly were communicating by cell phone calls and text messages on a trac phone that she provided for the student.

Stephens had resigned as an elementary and middle school physical education teacher at Mineola ISD.