KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler Department of Biology has received a $75,000 Endangered Species Section 6 Grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Dr. Neil Ford, professor of biology; Dr. Lance Williams, associate professor of biology; and Marsha Williams, research associate; will study threatened and endangered mussels and fish of four Northeast Texas rivers.

The group will use global satellite information to determine landscape features of Cypress Creek and the Sulphur, Sabine and Neches Rivers to predict where rare mussels and fish should occur. They will then conduct surveys in those sites to determine which habitat features are best at predicting where threatened species occur. Such information will improve the ability of natural resource managers to find and protect rare species of mussels and fish and their habitats.

“These four rivers differ in large scale factors that impact fish and mussels such as channelization, impoundments, sedimentation and pollution,” said Ford, principal investigator of the two-year project. “Comparing the occurrence of threatened fish and mussels in each river helps to determine which specific factors impact the habitats that are important to fish and mussels.”

Section 6 grants are funded by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for states to gain information about their endangered species.

TYLER — The Tyler Municipal Court has announced that it will extend the deadline for the Second Chance Program to Oct. 15. Officials say that’s due to the program’s success in assisting citizens who have been unable to pay past due court fines because of economic conditions. The program, launched in August, was scheduled to end on Sept. 9. During this time, 583 people took advantage of this program and paid their fines, clearing 1140 warrants.

“Some people went ahead and took care of the whole warrant amount instead of opting for the payment plan,” commented Court Administrator Cam McCabe. “Consequently, even more warrants were cleared than we expected. We had predicted that about 200 to 250 people would pay their fines and take care of their warrants during this time period. The reality is that more than twice the warrants were cleared than we anticipated.”

The Second Chance Program enables persons who have had warrants issued for non-payment of fines to reestablish a payment plan and bring their accounts current. “We have seen an increase in the number of people who have warrants issued for their arrest due to the economy,” said McCabe. “This program provides a second chance for violators to become current and take care of their fines.” A $300 down payment is required to reestablish the payment plan. Warrants will be removed once the $300 is received and a payment plan is signed. To take advantage of this Second Chance Program, defendants must visit the cashier’s window at the Municipal Court to make the down payment and sign the payment agreement no later than the Oct. 15 deadline.

TYLER — A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Thursday for the new East Texas Christian Academy campus at 2448 Roy Road in Tyler. The 34,000-square-foot school contains 21 classrooms and a 7,000-volume-plus library. There’s also a gym with a full basketball and volleyball court, and a high school regulation baseball field. ETCA had been housed at the Shiloh Road Church of Christ since the school started in 1979. ETCA President Wayne Boshears says the move was necessary to continue expansion of the school and its programs. ETCA has 215 students in grades Pre-K through 12.

HENDERSON (AP) – A federal SWAT team this week raided a sprawling east Texas property belonging to a family accused of selling drugs, firearms, prostitutes and fake identification documents. Thirty-year-old Victor Hernandez Jr. faces a federal charge of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamines. His public defender says the charges could change after a federal grand jury meets in about two weeks. Hernandez was arrested early Wednesday morning on his family’s property near Henderson. The FBI was assisted by the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, which initiated the investigation. Authorities say Hernandez smuggled drugs from Mexico and weapons into Mexico.

HOLLY LAKE RANCH — The Wood County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal stabbing. It happened around 10:35 Thursday morning at Holly Lake Ranch. The victim, 55-year-old Cecil Fulfer, Jr., was pronounced dead at the scene. The Wood County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division has been processing the scene and collecting evidence. According to KETK, as part of the ongoing investigation, they’ve also been interviewing neighbors and potential witnesses. Fulfer’s body has been sent off for autopsy, but the sheriff says he died of a single knife wound to the chest.

TYLER — Thursday marked the one year anniversary of the death of John Tyler teacher Todd Henry. The John Tyler campus began the day with a moment of silence in memory. In a statement, TISD says, “As we remember the one year anniversary of his death, we focus on how the Tyler ISD family – students and staff members throughout the District, as well as the surrounding community, pulled together to support one another during a tragic moment. Through the inspiration of Mr. Henry who himself entered education to reach our youth and positively impact their lives – we continue to encourage our students with hope and promise of their accomplishments to come.” A special moment will be set aside at the John Tyler High School football game on Friday, to remember Mr. Henry.

A teen accused in the attack on the special education teacher remains in custody. The boy was 16 last September when authorities say he stabbed Henry.

TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for a third suspect wanted in the robbery of a local cell phone store. Two suspects are in custody in connection with the Tuesday afternoon robbery of the Metro PCS store at 1700 SSE Loop 323. The suspects were located at 3088 Old Omen Road. Arrested Wednesday were Cashton Taylor Jones, 19, and Jason Cornelius Connally, 19. Both were booked into the Smith County Jail on aggravated robbery warrants. Jones’ bond is $450,000 and the bond for Connally is $400,000. The third suspect, Markest Montrel Mason, 19, Dallas is thought to possibly be in the Dallas area to elude police. Judge Baker has issued an arrest warrant for Mason and set his bond at $500,000 dollars.

The suspects are thought to be the men who entered the business around 5:00 Tuesday afternoon. One of the suspects produced a handgun and demanded money. There was one employee inside the business. The suspects ordered the employee to the rear of the store. They then took an undetermined amount of money from the register and fled. No injuries were reported in the robbery.

It was the second time the business had been robbed in just over a month’s time. On August 18th, around 6:00pm, two men, one with a handgun, robbed the store. The suspects in that robbery were described as black males between 16 and 21. One suspect was between 5’5” – 5’7” wearing a red shirt and khaki shorts. The second suspect was described as being between 5’10” – 6’ wearing a light color plaid shirt and blue jean shorts.

TYLER — A motorcyclist has been critically injured in a two vehicle accident in Tyler. It happened Wednesday night at New Copeland Road and Barbara Street. Investigators say an SUV had pulled away from a stop sign on Barbara and was hit by the motorcycle. The driver of the motorcycle, 27-year-old Christopher Ray Benkowsk of Tyler, was taken by ambulance to East Texas Medical Center. He remains there in critical condition. Police say his injuries appear to be life-threatening. The driver of the SUV was taken to the hospital via private vehicle.

Police say prior to the accident, a patrol officer saw the motorcycle run a stop sign at Amherst and Donnybrook. When the officer tried to stop the motorcycle it allegedly fled north on New Copeland Road. The officer did not pursue the motorcycle. A short time later the accident occurred.

BUFFALO — A Chandler man who admitted he was texting prior to a fatal accident, has been charged with criminally negligent homicide. Jourdan Shadoe Martin, 20, was charged Wednesday in the death of Kerina Bundy, 20, of Tyler. She was not wearing her seat belt when Martin’s pickup hit the rear of a semi stalled on Highway 79 near Buffalo last week. She later died at a East Texas Medical Center in Fairfield. Martin was not seriously injured. The accident happened around 1:30 in the morning. Martin told the investigating state trooper he failed to see the stalled truck because he was texting at the time.

MARSHALL — A Cass County man has appeared in federal court in Marshall and pleaded guilty to drug violations. In an appearance Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Everingham, IV, Chadwick Ray Howe, 23, of Avinger, pleaded guilty to being involved in a conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.

Federal prosecutors say from June 2009 to April 2010, Howe conspired with others to manufacture methamphetamine by purchasing cold pills containing pseudoephedrine in Panola and Harrison counties. A federal grand jury returned a 20-count indictment on May 6, 2010 charging Howe with federal drug violations. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has voted unanimously to adopt the proposed 2010-2011 budget that is $4.8 million less than the prior year budget and that will bring the tax rate to the effective rate of 20.8 cents per $100 valuation. “Since 1994, Tyler’s tax rate has decreased by more than 60 percent,” said Mayor Barbara Bass. “We have one of the lowest tax rates in the state as well as having about the same number of employees that we had in the mid-1980s. I am extremely proud of the work the City has done to keep our expenses down while providing exemplary public safety and services to the citizens of Tyler.”

The budget proposal is the culmination of eight months’ work by the City’s budget committee and departments in response to significantly lower sales tax revenue and slightly depressed property values. Some citizens wanted the tax rate to be even lower. But Councilmember Donald Sanders summed up the Council’s sentiment by saying, “I am proud of the work the staff has done in these trying economic times. We have maintained service levels and are taking care of concerns the citizens have.” You can go to http://ww.cityoftyler.org to read more.

TYLER — The 95th East Texas State Fair comes to Tyler starting today and running through October 3rd. President/CEO John Sykes says there will be innovative new attractions, free concerts with gate admission nightly, all new rides, exhibits, and lots of food.

There will be armband specials every weekday, and on Sunday, September 26th, $2.00 rides. Among the attractions: a NASA Johnson Space Center exhibit in Harvey Convention Center, Swifty Swine Pig Races, a SPLASH! Sea Lion Show, a Eudora Farms Exotic Petting Zoo, Tubs Fritter strolling the fairgrounds, a Sandscapes 50-ton sand sculpture in Harvey Convention Center, AgriWorld in the Youth & Education Building, a Creative Arts Show, and demonstrations in the Creative Arts Building. All are free with gate admission.

The fair also includes a revamped Senior Citizens Day Thursday. Sykes says the programs won’t be repeated as in the past, but there will be morning and afternoon sessions. He says there will be a lot of entertainment in the morning and different entertainment in the afternoon, including a dance. According to Sykes, the day will feature “a whole new level of energy.”

Fair hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00am till 11:00pm. The carnival opens at 4:00. There’s free gate admission until 2:00pm on weekdays. The hours on Saturday and Sunday are 10:00am till 11:00pm, and the carnival opens at noon. You can go to http://www.etstatefair.com and get more information on the daily activities.

Tyler Police advise citizens to slow down and drive cautious around Harvey Hall and surrounding neighborhood streets due to the East Texas State Fair. Tyler Police will provide assistance at a designated cross walk in front of the Main Entrance of the Fair located in the 2000 block of W. Front Street.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has awarded the contract for the renovation of Liberty Hall in the amount of $1.9 million to RPR Construction. RPR was one of five companies that participated in the competitive sealed bid process and was the low bidder.

The City of Tyler purchased the Liberty in 2008 as part of a strategy outlined in the Tyler 21 Master Plan to establish an arts and cultural district in downtown to spur private reinvestment and revitalization. To advance this goal, the City of Tyler entered into a memorandum of understanding with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra Association (ETSOA). The purpose was to lead an effort to raise the funds needed for renovation of the Liberty into a performing arts hall that officials hope will be a destination point for arts and culture in East Texas.

The project will be 100 percent privately funded by donations. In January 2009, the Liberty capital campaign was launched with a commitment of $500,000 from the Genecov Group followed by a $100,000 pledge by KSA/Wisenbaker, Fix, and Associates in July and a $250,000 donation by Brandon Steele of Ryno Corporation in September. An undesignated gift from the Fair Foundation for $25,000 is also being used to fund this project.

The Women’s Symphony League of Tyler pledged $10,000, and additional large pledges and donations have been made totaling $100,000. Also, the Give Me Liberty Seat Sale has raised multiple smaller donations that have been added to the campaign to fund the rebirth of the theatre into a performing arts hall. The seat sale provides the opportunity for citizens to sponsor a seat with a pledge of as little as $1,000. The project is expected to take 210 calendar days to complete once the notice to proceed is issued.

TYLER – Two Gilmer women have been sentenced to federal prison for drug violations. It’s part of a sweeping case involving alleged methamphetamine trafficking. Sarina Cherea Danner, 22, pleaded guilty on July 14 to possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. She was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael Schneider. Sharon Kay Marsh, 47, pleaded guilty on July 15 to the same charge. She was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison by Judge Schneider.

According to information presented in court, the defendants were involved in a methamphetamine manufacturing and distribution criminal enterprise in the East Texas area and traveled to multiple pharmacies to purchase numerous boxes of cold pills containing pseudoephedrine in order to manufacture large quantities of methamphetamine for personal use and distribution to others. Danner and Marsh were indicted with 16 co-defendants on May 5 and charged with federal drug trafficking crimes.

LONGVIEW — Two wanted Longview men have been arrested by the United States Marshal’s Service. 27-year-old Keilan Doshea Tate was arrested September 15 in Carrollton. His cousin, 39-year-old Willis Earl “Toby” Tate, was arrested September 20, 2010 in Houston. Both Tates were wanted in connection with an assault of a Gregg County Deputy and the subsequent assault of a Longview Police Officer, who was struck by a vehicle allegedly driven by one of the two. Once Longview Investigators determined the Tates were no longer in Longview, the Marshal’s Service was contacted. Through the Marshal’s investigative efforts, both men were located and arrested.