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LONGVIEW — By this time next month, Longview could have a new fire chief. City Manager David Willard will recommend J.P. Steelman as Chief of the Longview Fire Department. Steelman has served as Interim Fire Chief since February. According to Willard, “Throughout the hiring process, J.P. demonstrated that he is the best fit for the job. I have been very pleased with his leadership as Interim Fire Chief, especially during this tough budget cycle.” The request will be presented to the city council at the October 14th meeting.

TYLER – The Tyler school board has approved agreements with Tyler Junior College for Technical Continuing Education Courses and Technical Dual Credit Courses. The agreements, which came at last night’s meeting, allow Tyler ISD students to take TJC college courses which allow them to receive credit in Tyler ISD and TJC. Tyler ISD students may also take TJC Continuing Education (CE) courses for high school credit. The agreement is for specific Automotive Technology Continuing Education Courses; Automotive Technology Dual Credit Courses; Welding Technology Dual Credit Courses; Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology – Dual Credit Courses.

Tyler ISD’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) department funds the tuition, books, tools, materials, and bus transportation for each student accessing these courses at TJC. The CTE Allocation funds are budgeted at $125,000.00 for school year 2010-11. Facilities are not impacted by the expenditure of these funds. TJC houses all of these program offerings.

Also at the meeting Tyler ISD Construction Project Manager, Monte Robinett, provided the Board of Trustees an update on the progress of the school construction projects.

*Orr Elementary School
Phase 2 site work is nearing completion. Items of work remaining are: outside play court; site fence; completion of landscaping; resurfacing existing asphalt parking lot; installation of playground equipment; and completion of the exterior punch list. The next month’s progress will be the completion of the project.

*Woods Elementary School
Phase 2 work is nearing completion. Playground equipment is being installed. Landscaping will be complete within 2 weeks. Installation of site fencing is underway. Site punch list is being addressed The next month’s progress will be the completion of the project.

*Jones/Boshears School
This is the final report. The project has been completed on time and under budget. Contractor is in the process of moving off the site.

*Griffin Elementary
Carpet is being installed in the classroom sections of the building. 80% of the parking areas have been poured. Only the upper parking area by the gym remains to be poured. The extension of 28th street to Broadway has been poured and the exterior brickwork on the building is complete. Wall finishes in the gym are nearing completion. Ceiling is being installed in the cafeteria. Quarry tile has been installed in the kitchen. Next month’s progress should be the start of punch lists in the classroom addition, completion of parking areas and continuation of installation of finishes in the gym and cafeteria.

*Birdwell Elementary
Work is continuing in the administration area; ceramic tile is complete; walls are being painted and ceiling grid is being installed. Foundation walls are being formed at the new gym and cafeteria areas. The structural steel has been erected at the new main entry to the building and masonry and plaster work is underway. Toilet partitions are being installed in the remodeled area. Replacement of plumbing lines under existing building is almost complete. Next month’s progress will be completion of work on the new administration area, continuation of foundations for the new addition and completion of the new main entry to the building.

*Owens Elementary
The administration area has been temporarily relocated into some of the renovated classrooms and renovations to the old administration area have started. Reroofing of the existing building has started. Foundation work at the new gym and cafeteria is nearing completion and structural steel erection will be starting. Masonry work at new classroom addition is nearing completion. The next month’s progress will be the completion of foundations at gym and cafeteria, completion of masonry walls at classroom addition starting of structural erection. Work will continue on the remodeling of the administration area.

TYLER — The Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) will hold two public meetings to obtain input from the public that will assist in the development of a Pedestrian Access Study. The first meeting will be held Tuesday, September 21, from 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., in the Tyler Public Library’s Taylor Auditorium, 201 S. College Avenue. The second meeting’s set for Thursday September 23, from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., in the Tyler Development Center’s Large Conference Room, 423 W. Ferguson Street.

At the meetings, the draft Tyler Pedestrian Access Study will be presented for public input. Officials say the purpose of the study is to identify existing pedestrian infrastructure and recommend priority pedestrian routes and projects that can help to connect destinations around the City and promote access. You can also go to http://www.tylerareampo.org for information.

The City of Tyler serves as the administrative agency of the MPO. The MPO, in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), is responsible for carrying out the urban transportation process as required by federal legislation. Officials say the MPO is intended to provide a forum for cooperative decision making concerning transportation issues.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP/Staff) – The trial of an Oklahoma warden’s wife accused of helping a convicted killer escape from the Oklahoma State Reformatory in Granite has been postponed. Bobbi Parker’s trial for allegedly helping Randolph Dial escape in 1994 was set to start on Monday in Greer County District Court. But her attorney, Garvin Isaacs, says the trial was postponed on Wednesday by District Judge Richard Darby. Isaacs says attorneys asked for the delay following the discovery of FBI investigative files about the case that neither prosecutors nor defense attorneys had ever seen. Assistant District Attorney David Thomas did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment. Defense attorneys maintain that Dial kidnapped Parker and held her hostage until she was rescued by authorities in the Campti community in Shelby County, Texas, in 2005.

LONGVIEW — Longview Police and additional officers serve a warrant and seize a pound of crack. It happened Wednesday around 4:00 at 1925 Lilly Street.. According to authorities, Longview Police Department Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team assisted the Gregg County Organized Drug Enforcement (CODE) Unit by serving a narcotics search warrant and located two handguns, approximately $1500.00 and over one pound of crack cocaine during their search. CODE investigators arrested Gerald Templeton, 50, Longview, for manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Templeton has been booked into the Gregg County Jail.

TYLER — A few months after the East Texas Rescue Mission is forced to shut down, the homeless are making a new part of Tyler their home. Salvation Army says they have had a large increase in the number of homeless people, but some are staying in other places–like downtown Tyler. According to KETK, out of concern for both the city’s safety and the homeless people, Mayor Barbara Bass says they’ll continue to work with organizations like the Salvation Army and Path to help.

TYLER — To help defray funeral expenses, The Amanda Anderson Memorial Fund is now open at Beacon Federal Credit Union in Tyler. The 19-year-old Anderson was found slain at her Chapel Hill home this week. For more information on making a donation, call 888-815-3800, ext. 2000. Visitation will be held Sunday from 2 until 6 p.m. at Tyler Gospel Chapel, located on Highway 31 East in Tyler. Funeral services was held at the same location at 2 p.m. on Monday.

Smith County investigators are continuing to look into the death of Anderson, who also worked at Mother Frances Hospital. The killing happened Wednesday night at a home on County Road 2273. Officials said Anderson’s brother returned from a jog to find his sister with a gunshot wound to the forehead around 7:00 Wednesday night. According to KETK, there were signs of forced entry into the home.

TYLER (AP/STAFF) — A young Smith County boy is hospitalized in Dallas after accidently shooting himself in the head. It happened at the Sportsmans’ Club on Highway 31 West. Sheriff J.B. Smith says business is owned by Chonda McClean and her husband.

He says McClean was caring for Jaden McClean, 2, at her home when the bartender called to say he had to leave work. McClean took the child with her, and while she was busy he apparently toddled into a back room, crawled up to a desk, got a handgun and shot himself in the forehead.

Jaden is the grandson of the club’s owners, whose son was murdered a couple of years ago in a still-unsolved case. Jaden’s been flown to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas in critical condition. Smith said the case will be referred to the Smith County District Attorney’s Office for a decision on whether to submit it to a grand jury.

TYLER — Seven persons were injured when a car rear-ended a Tyler school bus. The accident happened shortly after 4:15 Wednesday afternoon in the 3500 block of the van highway. A police report said six persons on the bus and the 18 year old driver of the car were injured. The injuries were not serious. The car’s driver was cited for failure to control speed.

SMITH COUNTY — A tragic accident at the Sportsmans Club on Highway 31 West in Smith County. Sheriff J.B. Smith says he was told 2-year-old Jaden McClean had wandered from in front of the bar area into the back office, found a handgun — and accidentally shot himself in the head. Jaden is the grandson of the club’s owners, Charles and Chanda McClean — whose son Dexter was murdered a couple of years ago in a still-unsolved case. Jaden’s been flown to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas in critical condition. Smith says it will be up to the DA whether any charges are filed.

TYLER — A second person has now been arrested in connection with a Monday night home invasion. Yesterday, Tyler Police Investigators arrested Torriunte Jacoby Pollard, 20, of Tyler. Bond was set at $150,000. Previously arrested in the case was Channing Javier House, 17. His bond is also $150,000.

Police say the incident happened around 11:30pm at the Dovetree Apartments at 1600 Rice Road. The victims say they thought a friend was at the door when three black males aged about 18 to 21, with bandanas over their faces, forced their way into the apartment. Victims told officers the suspects had a gun and rummaged through the apartment, taking an undisclosed amount of property before fleeing in an unknown direction. Investigators are still attempting to identify other suspects involved in the incident.

Anyone with information about the suspects involved in this crime or any felony case is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department, at 903-531-1000, or Tyler-Smith County Crimestoppers, at 903-597-CUFF (903-597-2833). Tyler-Smith County Crimestoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to arrests and charges filed against the suspects in this or any felony case

TYLER — Tyler Police say a reckless driving incident caused injuries to a pair of girls. According to press materials, police, fire and EMS personnel responded to the French Quarter Shopping Center located in the 4500 block of S. Broadway after learning the incident had occurred around 7:50 a.m. Wednesday.

Police were told that a 16 year-old driver pulled into the parking lot driving a pick-up and towing a small trailer with a 4-wheel ATV strapped down on the trailer. Two girls in the parking-lot, who were with other students, asked for a ride on the ATV while it was strapped to the trailer. According to police, the girls were riding on the ATV when the driver was observed driving too fast to negotiate a sharp turn in the parking lot. A strap securing the ATV broke and caused the ATV to flip off the trailer with the two girls on it. The girls were thrown to the pavement with the ATV falling onto one of the girls.

The girls were identified as Chelsea Rowland and Jessica Godfrey, both 15. Godfrey suffered abrasions with no serious injuries. Rowland was transported to East Texas Medical Center with cuts, abrasions and an internal injury. Police say the case has been referred to investigators for further follow-up.

TYLER – A second guilty plea in a Tyler federal court case involving oil field explosives theft. Brandon Keith Uzzel, 30, of Tyler pleaded guilty to an information charging him with theft of explosives from a federally licensed dealer. According to information presented in court, on September 25, 2009, Uzzel was involved in the burglary of a locked storage unit at Owens Oil Tools, a Tyler oil field equipment company. The secured storage unit contained approximately 400 pounds of explosives, which were taken from the property and hidden. All of the explosives have since been recovered and secured. Craig Elroy Knight, 34, of Tyler, pleaded guilty to the same charges on September 8. Uzzel faces up to 10 years in federal prison and is in custody pending sentencing.

MINEOLA (AP/Staff) — Investigators say a pilot inolved in an East Texas plane crash did not have a pilot’s license. The small plane crashed in a wooded area, slightly injuring the pilot. Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman Tom Vinger says the accident happened Wednesday morning near Mineola. Vinger says Mark England, 54, of Tyler sustained minor injuries in the crash of the Bearcat Airplane. The DPS has turned the investigation of the case over to the Federal Aviation Administration.

JACKSONVILLE — After several calls to the Police and weekend gang fights involving college students, Jacksonville residents beg for more security. Now, they may finally be getting it. According to KETK, President Miles McCall is laying down some rules, starting with a curfew at the Inn. It’s 11 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends. Other security measures being taken are barricades to block off back entrances and more student expulsions. “One thing is in a small town like Jacksonville, things get more attention. It puts more burden on us to do a better job and we drop the ball sometimes.” The school is also hiring more security officials. Dr. McCall says they will expel any students involved in this week’s fights once police release names.

BUFFALO — A Tyler mail carrier has died in a two vehicle accident On U.S. Highway 79 in Buffalo. The accident, around 1:30 yesterday afternoon, occurred as the driver of a pickup was texting and hit the rear of a stalled 18-wheeler. Killed was Kerina Kaybee Bundy, 20, a passenger in the pickup. She was not wearing her seat belt. The Department of Public Safety reports she died about an hour after the accident at East Texas Medical Center in Fairfield. The pickup’s driver, Jourdon Shadoe Martin, 20, a mail carrier from Chandler, is listed in stable condition at the Fairfield hospital.

GARRISON — A Nacogdoches County man has died while trying to put out a fire that had gotten out of control. Authorities report finding the body of Bill Franklin Smith, 78. He was still holding a rake when his body was found yesterday afternoon on County Road 282 near Garrison. It is felt that he either suffered smoke inhalation or a heart attack. The fire, which spread because of the dry conditions, burned down Smith’s home.

WICHITA, KAN. (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department has targeted more than 60 hunters nationwide for allegedly poaching deer during guided hunts at a Kansas club run by two Texas brothers from Nacogdoches County. The scope of the grand jury investigation was revealed in a court filing in a related case involving the facility called Camp Lone Star.

The brothers are James Bobby Butler and Marlin Jackson Butler, both of Martinsville. A federal grand jury in Wichita, Kansas, returned a 23-count indictment against the brothers on May 25th. Federal prosecutors contend the two sold guided hunts to non-resident hunters for the purpose of illegally hunting and killing white-tailed deer and mule deer. Federal authorities say James owned the club while his brother served as a guide.

SCOTTSVILLE — Two workers have been injured in a small explosion at Penn Virginia Oil and Gas LLP, in the Harrison County town of Scottsville. The accident happened around 12:15 Tuesday afternoon as the men were welding on a damper device that was filled with a nitrogen bladder. Investigators say the explosion occurred when the device possibly overheated. One worker was airlifted to LSU Medical Center in Shreveport. The other worker is being treated at Good Shepherd Medical Center-Marshall. Their names have not been released.

TYLER — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White makes another visit to Tyler, this time to promote business growth. He stopped at Stanley’s Famous Pit BBQ to make his case. White supports re-examination of the Texas Enterprise Fund, created to support job creation projects. The former Houston mayor says many firms that took money from the fund have not added jobs. White says economic development money should be put in the hands of chambers of commerce, other professionals, and business people representing their regions — not the hands of politicians.

JACKSONVILLE — Some Lon Morris students have been sent packing following a weekend fight. KETK-TV reports Jacksonville Police responded to a fight at the Inn, which houses more than 300 Lon Morris students. The makeshift residency hall is the Best Value Inn on East Rusk Street. According to Lon Morris President Dr. Miles McCall, “We’ve already sent eight students home; It’s not that we’re not trying to do what we need to do. When you have a lot of kids, you have some that don’t behave right.” Following the incident, school officials enacted a curfew for students living at the inn. It’s from midnight to dawn on Fridays and Saturdays and 11:00pm till dawn on Sundays through Thursdays. McCall is also having a closed meeting with residents in the surrounding neighborhood this week, and he added that security is being increased in the area.

LUFKIN — A woman caught in the middle of a couple’s fight is still recovering. It happened in the 1400 block of Warrant Street Saturday. According to KETK, Lufkin police say the woman was visiting a friend when an argument broke out between the couple. At one point, police say, the woman tried to stop it, but the man got angry and hit her on the back of the head with a glass beer bottle.

JACKSONVILLE — Jury selection began Monday for a Jacksonville man accused of beating a toddler to death. According to KETK, Jamie Backshire faces capital murder charges. He allegedly hit 18-month-old Michael Alexander on his head, torso, arms and legs. His trial is underway today.

TYLER — Tyler Police make one arrest and continue to search for other suspects after a reported robbery Monday night. It happened around 11:30 at the Dovetree Apartments 1600 Rice Road. Police say the victim thought a friend was at the door, when the suspects forced their way into the apartment. The suspects reportedly had a gun and rummaged through the apartment, taking an undisclosed amount of property before fleeing the apartment.

Tyler Police Investigators now say they’ve been able to identify suspects in the case and Channing Javier House, 17, has been arrested on a charge of aggravated robbery. Judge Christi Kennedy, who issued House’s arrest warrant, set bond at $150,000. Investigators say they anticipate additional arrests. Anyone with information is asked to contact Tyler Police.

TYLER — Two persons are in custody in connection with an aggravated assault that occurred just before 7:00 Monday night in the area of Front and Glenwood. The victim told officers that a man assaulted him and threatened him with a firearm. The victim was able to provide a vehicle description, vehicle license plate and indicated that the suspect may live on Outer Drive. The suspect vehicle was located in the 1600 block of Outer Drive.

Officers identified two of the occupants of the suspect vehicle as Liwatha Moore, 49, and Lawetha Swindell, 29. Moore was transported to the Smith County Jail and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Swindell was transported to jail and charged with “false statement/report to a police officer, possession of marijuana less than 2 ounces and “assault A, from the earlier incident.

KEMP (AP) — An east Texas man is jailed on a murder charge in the shooting death of his 23-year-old son after he allegedly spat on his mother. Marcus Russell Sides, 50, of Kemp remained in the Kaufman County Jail in Kaufman on Monday with bond set at $500,000 in the Sunday shooting of Tyler Reed Sides.

A statement issued Monday by the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office says the son had allegedly been drinking heavily all day and became belligerent toward his mother, even spitting on her several times. The ensuing fight between father and son ended with the son shot once in the abdomen. Tyler Sides died later Sunday after being transferred from a Kaufman hospital to one in Dallas.

TYLER — The Democratic challenger in the race for Texas Agriculture Commissioner is charging that incumbent Todd Staples is derelict on the issue of gas pump inspections. But Staples is challenging the allegation. At a news conference Monday, Hank Gilbert of Whitehouse (pictured) said Staples has let too many stations fall through the cracks. The news conference was held Monday at an abandoned gas station on Loop 323. According to Gilbert, “We’re finding routinely 20-40% of the stations that are out of compliance.”

KETK-TV reports as Gilbert spoke to the press, an inspector pulled up and began checking the pumps at that very station. “If you’ll look at the station behind me,” Gilbert told reporters, “it looks like the Texas Department of Agriculture is doing their inspection on those pumps. Because, when we did our Dallas Morning News interview Friday, I highlighted a sticker off of that gas station.”

According to Gilbert, The result of a lax inspection regime is possible overcharging, a problem found in almost 40% the gas pumps in the state between 2007 and now. “We have seen reports and instances filed in particular stations in particular pumps, where people were getting gouged by 12-14 cents a gallon.” He said in Smith County, nearly half were found out of compliance in that period. And how many were referred for enforcement? Only 11%, according to Gilbert. And for that, he blames politicians.

Late Tuesday, the Ag Department released a response to what it terms “recent misleading and inaccurate statistics” regarding TDA consumer protection activities. According to a department news release:

· Since Jan. 1, 2007, TDA inspections have found that 94% of fuel pumps inspected in Texas are accurate. During this same period, TDA’s oversight of ensuring accuracy within the state’s Weights and Measures program has resulted in 379,922 fuel pump inspections statewide.

· During this same time period, the compliance rate for Smith County fuel pumps inspected was also 94%, with 3,675 fuel pumps inspected.

· The unregistered Smith County fuel operator identified in the media this week was found with 6 fuel pumps being accurate; 4 pumps dispensing too much fuel; 1 pump dispensing too little fuel; 4 pumps malfunctioning prior to dispensing fuel; and 11 pumps not in operation. The inaccurate pumps have been shut down, the company is now registered, and further enforcement is pending final investigation.

· Since Jan. 1, 2007, the average amount of time between inspections of registered fuel pumps in Texas has been 2.6 years.

· Since 2007, TDA has quadrupled fines for violations of fuel pumps.

· TDA posts violators on http://www.texasagriculture.gov — the agency website.

· TDA encourages the public to report concerns regarding fuel pumps by calling the 1-800-TELL-TDA hotline.

TYLER — Texas Bank and Trust has selected 14 Tyler Independent School District seniors to serve on its 2010-2011 Student Board of Directors. A reception introducing the Student Board of Directors will be this evening at 7:00 at the Texas Bank and Trust, located at 2323 West Grande Boulevard in Tyler.

TB&T Student Board is a prestigious program recognizing outstanding high school seniors in the community. The students from John Tyler and Robert E. Lee high schools are Maria Araujo, Mickey Cheavens, Meredith Cozby, Raymond Cozby IV, Jessica Emery, Nicholas Freeman, Samantha Hudson, James Landes, Alexandra Lange, Elise Martin, Kaitlyn Martin, Jason McCloskey, Marco Retana and De’Anna Wheeler.

Students were selected based on their grade point average, extra-curricular activities, and afterschool work activities. Students must submit an essay with their application as well as two letters of recommendation from either a faculty member or administrator from the high school the student attends to be considered for the program.

The Tyler ISD seniors who qualified for this year’s program join with 12 other seniors from All Saints, TK Gorman, and Grace Community Schools to make up the senior class for the TB&T program in Tyler.

The student directors will attend meetings throughout the school year where they will learn about banking, budgeting, credit, the stock market, trust and brokerage services, job interviewing, as well as serve as advisors to the bank on three areas of banking technology, the redesign of the bank’s website and the use of social media.

KILGORE — The water in Kilgore has developed a bad taste and odor and an unusual color. City officials tell KETK-TV the problem can be traced back to the dry weather. Kilgore officials say the bad smell and taste results when the Sabine river gets low and algae grows. Kilgore City Manager, Jeff Howell says nature has to work out this problem. And he says even though the water doesn’t taste or smell that great, it is safe to drink.

TYLER — An attempt to change the second trial for a man accused in a 2007 child sex ring has failed. According to KETK, defense attorney Thad Davidson wanted State District Judge Jack Skeen of Tyler off the case. Davidson claimed Skeen used his own special rules of evidence and procedure in his courtroom during Patrick Kelly’s last trial. The state now says Davidson has a personal vendetta against Judge Skeen. So the trial will continue as planned.