KTBB News, Weather, Talk

JEFFERSON — Just in time for the holiday weekend, two beach areas on Lake O’ the Pines have been reopened. Seven beach areas had been closed because of high bacteria levels in the water. After favorable test results came in, officials reopened Brushy Creek Campground and Johnson Creek Campground. Samples will again be taken next week in an effort to reopen the remaining beaches.

The beaches were closed June 18th when unhealthy levels of E. coli bacteria were found. Only the swimming areas have been affected. The U.S. Corps of Engineers said the main body of the lake was safe for recreational use. It is thought that rains in early June washed the bacteria into the lake. The source is thought to be Chicken houses and other commercial animal operations.

TYLER — Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass and the East Texas Symphony Orchestra Association hosted a “marquee lighting ceremony” Friday to mark the beginning of the renovations of the former Liberty Theatre in the heart of downtown. The Tyler 21 Master Plan called for Downtown Tyler to become an arts and cultural district as a strategy to spur private reinvestment and revitalization. To advance this goal, the City of Tyler purchased the former Liberty Theatre in 2008 and entered into a memorandum of understanding with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra Association (ETSOA). The city and ETSOA agreed to lead an effort to raise the funds needed to renovate the theatre into a performing arts hall that they hope will be a destination point for arts and culture in East Texas.

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. 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 $68,000 that has 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 architect for the renovation project is Mike Butler, AIA, of Butler Architectural Group in Tyler. Renderings of the project have been drafted and depict an adaptive reuse that officials say retains the flavor of much of the building’s façade. The theatre’s interior will seat 300. Management and ownership of the theater will be transferred to the ETSOA upon completion of all renovations, with the City maintaining some oversight related to funding for tourism related activities. It is anticipated that the construction contract for the project will be awarded in the next month.

TYLER – A 41-year-old Holly Lake Ranch woman has pleaded guilty to federal counterfeiting charges. Dana Michelle Blackburn pleaded guilty Friday in Tyler to making counterfeit $100 bills. According to information presented in court, Blackburn admitted to making approximately one hundred $100 bills by copying the notes on a printer. Some of the bills were passed in the Upshur County area. Blackburn and another woman were indicted in February 2010 and charged with counterfeiting violations. Blackburn faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

NACOGDOCHES — Authorities in Nacogdoches have found explosive devices and taken a teenager into custody. According to KETK, police responded at approximately 9:00 Thursday night to a noise complaint near the dead end of Woodcreek Drive. Complainants reported gunshots or small explosions. Officers said they confronted a suspect carrying a backpack exiting the wooded area in the 4800 block of Woodcreek. Police say the man was found to have what appeared to be improvised explosive devices in the backpack, along with chemicals that were believed to be components of the devices.

The man, John Michael Otis, Jr., age 18, of Nacogdoches, was taken into custody, and the devices were left at the secured scene. Officers immediately secured the area and contacted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, who responded to the scene. A bomb disposal unit from the Bossier City, Louisiana, Fire Department also responded to the scene. The scene was contained by local police, with the Nacogdoches Fire Department and the Nacogdoches County EMS on the scene as a precaution.

Once on the scene, the Bomb Disposal Unit assessed the situation and made the decision to destroy the devices in place. A controlled detonation of the devices was conducted on the scene at approximately midnight Thursday night. John Michael Otis, Jr. has been charged with possession of a prohibited weapon, a third degree felony. He was taken to the Nacogdoches County Jail.

TYLER — The United Way of Tyler/Smith County kicks off its 70th anniversary campaign with a celebration on the Square in downtown Tyler on Wednesday, July 7, from 11:30-1:00. Guest speaker is Mayor Barbara Bass. There will also be check presentations by companies that have “set the pace” for this year’s campaign. A free hot dog lunch is being provided by Brookshire’s and Super 1 Foods, as long as supplies last. Frito Lay is providing chips; drinks are being provided by Coca-Cola, Community Coffee, Tyler Beverages, and Pepsi. The 2010 campaign will continue to remind everyone to “Live United.” You can go to http://www.unitedwaytyler.org to learn more.

TYLER — Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass and the East Texas Symphony Orchestra Association hosted a “marquee lighting ceremony” Friday to mark the beginning of the renovations of the former Liberty Theatre in the heart of downtown. The Tyler 21 Master Plan called for Downtown Tyler to become an arts and cultural district as a strategy to spur private reinvestment and revitalization. To advance this goal, the City of Tyler purchased the former Liberty Theatre in 2008 and entered into a memorandum of understanding with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra Association (ETSOA). The city and ETSOA agreed to to lead an effort to raise the funds needed to renovate the theatre into a performing arts hall that they hope will be a destination point for arts and culture in East Texas.

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. 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 $68,000 that has 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 architect for the renovation project is Mike Butler, AIA, of Butler Architectural Group in Tyler. Renderings of the project have been drafted and depict an adaptive reuse that officials say retains the flavor of much of the building’s façade. The theatre’s interior will seat 300. Management and ownership of the theater will be transferred to the ETSOA upon completion of all renovations, with the City maintaining some oversight related to funding for tourism related activities. It is anticipated that the construction contract for the project will be awarded in the next month.

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University’s S. E. Belcher Jr. Chapel and Performance Center is announcing its 2010-2011 show lineup. It features four shows in the Performance Series, four shows in the Concert series and two in the new Children’s and Family Series. The Performance Series includes three Broadway productions and the ballet classic “Swan Lake.” Musical guests include Asleep At the Wheel, Al Jarreau, and Jim Brickman. Event ticket packages are now on sale. “We think this fourth season at the Belcher Center is the best one yet,” said Cynthia Hellen, director of the Belcher Center. “This year we are including more flexibility for people to personalize their event ticket packages with a variety of discounts available, depending on how many shows they choose.” You can go to http://www.BelcherCenter.com for a full rundown.

HOUSTON (AP) — A lawsuit by a former Houston family alleges four members were molested by a Roman Catholic priest in the 1970s. The Rev. Lawrence Peguero died in 2000. The Port Arthur native was 79. The Houston Chronicle reported Friday that Peguero formerly was at Our Lady of St. John Catholic Church in Houston.

Family attorney John Sloan Jr. of Longview says the molestation allegations involve four relatives who are now adults, one man and three women. The lawsuit filed Wednesday against the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston seeks unspecified compensation. Archdiocese spokeswoman Jenny Faber says an attorney for the family complained about Peguero in 2007. Church-sponsored counseling was offered, but the plaintiffs declined.

SMITH COUNTY — Jury selection begins in the Smith County trial of Dennis Pittman, a defendant in the Mineola child sex ring case. According to KETK, Pittman is the fourth person to be tried in the case where young children were reportedly forced to perform sexual acts for the customers. The trial begins next week.

TYLER — After several years of leading the instructional support services and bilingual department of the Tyler Independent School District, Dr. H.T. Sanchez, Executive Director of Instructional Support Services, has decided to leave Tyler ISD. Sanchez plans to return to the school district where he began his career to become the assistant superintendent for accountability and special populations for Ector County Independent School District.

“Dr. Sanchez has been dedicated to the education of our children in Tyler ISD and we will miss his knowledge and expertise and appreciate his years of service,” said Dr. Randy Reid, Superintendent of Schools. “We wish him well in his new endeavors.”

Prior to being the Executive Director of Instructional Support Services, Sanchez has headed the bilingual services of the school District as well as the former principal of Dogan Middle School

“I have enjoyed my years here at Tyler ISD because of the many wonderfully talented people I have worked with and the numerous goals and accomplishments we have achieved together,” said Sanchez.

Reid also stated that Tyler ISD has quality staff in place to continue the functions of this position until a suitable replacement may be found. Sanchez begins his new role with Ector County ISD effective August 1, 2010.

MARSHALL — One person has been killed in a Harrison County construction accident. It happened just before 11:00 Wednesday morning on Interstate Highway 20, about a half a mile west of its intersection with State Highway 43. Investigators say the victim was backed into by a truck that had started to lay down a new line of asphalt. The name of the victim, said to be a Marshall resident, has not been released.

TYLER — A woman’s partially-burned body was found last month, and evidence shows a Whitehouse woman may be involved. According to KETK, the homicide may be linked to Kimberly Cargill, 43. Cargill is facing charges regarding her four-year-old son. Cherry Walker was scheduled to testify in the case. However, Walker was killed five days before the hearing. Walker’s murder happened the day after she was issued the subpoena.

The affidavits state detectives found a number of linking pieces of evidence: porn, burned paper, red soil, and human hair. All of the evidence was found in Cargill’s home and car. Detectives believe Cargill killed Walker and transported her body to a different location. One of Cherry’s friends says, “It keeps me awake at night…trying to figure out who did it. To think that somebody would do something like that to Cherry.”

Judge Jack Skeen recently raised Cargill’s bond from $50,000 to $500,000.

TEXARKANA — A Mount Pleasant man has been found guilty by a jury in a disability fraud scheme. Jim Bob Shipp, 60, was convicted Thursday of six counts of health care fraud and one count of making a false statement following a three day trial before U.S. District Judge David Folsom. Shipp faces up to five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

According to information presented in court, from October 25, 1974 to December 1, 2009, Shipp devised and executed a scheme to defraud the Veterans’ Affairs Disability Compensation Program by overstating the severity and extent of his disability. As part of the scheme, Shipp represented to doctors that he had extreme loss of vision in both eyes. As a result of these false claims, the Veterans’ Affairs Disability Compensation Program awarded Shipp compensation at the 100% rate when he was only entitled to a lesser evaluation at the 30% rate. As a result of the scheme, Shipp received payments totaling $804,522.57 from the program.

LONGVIEW — A Longview fire captain is listed in good condition after being injured. According to KETK, the Longview Fire Department was called out to the 1200 of Oden street around 1:30 a.m. Thursday for a residential fire. The captain suffered second degree burns to his ears while fighting the blaze. The fire has been ruled suspicious after officials decided it wasn’t electrical, gas-related, or sparked by other accidental causes. Authorities say the area has also seen several other fires in the past few months. The homeowner was able to escape without injury.

LONGVIEW — Police in Longview are issuing a warning about outgoing mail. On Thursday, Longview Officers responded to a report of mail found in the roadway on Beverly, Live Oak and Carnegie Streets. Upon closer inspection, it was determined the mail had been stolen from mailboxes on Columbia, Miami, Clarendon, Stanford and Georgia Streets. Owners of the mail told officers the outgoing mail had been opened and checks had been stolen. The United States Postal Inspector’s Office in Fort Worth is investigating the thefts in conjunction with the Longview Police Department Criminal Investigations Division.

The Longview Police Department recommends that outgoing mail, specifically items of mail containing checks, only be placed in a postal drop box or given directly to a mail carrier. Police advise you not to leave received mail in your mailbox for extended periods of time, as anything left in a mailbox is vulnerable to thieves.
Residents are asked to keep an eye out for possible mail thieves and to call police if they see any suspicious activity.