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HENDERSON — Two drug suspects are in custody in Henderson, according to KETK. On Wednesday at 8:50 p.m., officers of the Henderson Police Department, Henderson Narcotics Unit, and the Henderson PD TACT Team — in conjunction with the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit and the RCSO TACT Team — served a narcotics related search warrant at 401 Overton St. in Henderson. Seized in the search was a quantity of crack cocaine, marijuana and several weapons. Two Henderson men, ages 19 and 30, were arrested and are currently in the Rusk County Jail. Charges filed were Manufacture/ Delivery of Controlled Substance in a Drug Free Zone (1st Degree Felony) and Possession of Marijuana in a Drug Free Zone (State Jail Felony). Bond has not been set.

TYLER — Don’t come to the Tyler Public Library if you are looking for a quiet place to study or read this weekend. During “Art Around Every Corner” Saturday and Sunday, you will find the library, located at 201 South College, awash in music, dance, painting, sculpture and theatre. There’ll be hip-hop dancers in the Story Room, Queen Elizabeth in the Lobby, sculptures next to the computers, pottery in the Reading Room and paintings amongst the reference books. For two days, the Library is opening its doors and floors to visual and performing artists exhibiting, demonstrating and talking about their work. Admission is free. Artists will be on hand throughout the event during regular Library hours: Saturday, 9:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday from noon to 4:00pm.

RUSK COUNTY — Questions are still being raised in the mauling death of a 2-year-old Kaden Muckleroy outside Henderson. The pit bull, one of 38 dogs found on the property, was said to have been tied to a tree. The dog reportedly got loose and attacked the child. The Rusk County Sheriff says owner Kelvin Muckleroy has since turned over the dog and about 29 others to authorities. At the time of the attack, Muckleroy, Kaden’s grandfather, was at work. Authorities are investigating why the toddler was left unsupervised. Kaden died at a local hospital Wednesday morning. According to KETK, so far, no charges have been filed.

SMITH COUNTY — Evidence is stacked against Nathaniel Anderson, 15, accused of shooting his sister Amanda back in September. Deputies say they are confident in Anderson’s guilt. According to KETK, there were several items that led them to believe Anderson is guilty. Anderson reportedly told investigators that he saw his sister had been shot and was dead by looking into her room from the door. Authorities say that would have been impossible. In addition there was blood found on Anderson’s clothing matching his sisters. Authorities also say, the .22 caliber bullets matched the gun found in the house. No trial date has been set yet. Authorities are not saying whether Anderson will be tried as a minor or adult.

TYLER — Joe Straus, Speaker of the Texas House, faces more criticism, this time from Tea Partiers in East Texas and across the state. They say he’s not conservative enough. According to KETK, Tea Party officials in Tyler say Joe Straus has ignored and buried issues that are important to them like immigration and gun laws. They say they’ve worked too hard getting conservative representatives elected and they don’t want a liberal Speaker of the House.

LONGVIEW — Funeral services will be held on Monday for former Longview Mayor D.A. Benton. Benton, who was 96, died Wednesday evening. Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2:00 at the First Baptist Church of Longview. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Benton served on the Longview City Council from 1952 to 1970. That includes three terms as mayor starting in 1962.

According to the Rader Funeral Home obituary, He served in every office of the Knights of Pythias including 31 years as financial secretary. He was a member of the Dramatic Order of Knights of Khorassen and a 32nd degree Mason with more than 54 years of service. He was a Shriner, a 55-year member of the Longview Lion’s Club, and a member and past president of the Longview Jaycees. For more than 39 years Mr. Benton served with integrity and dedication on the board of directors of Texas Bank and Trust Company, formerly Longview Bank and Trust.

TYLER — Robert E. Lee High School has received the 2010 College Readiness Award from the Texas ACT Council for maintaining or increasing the number of students taking the ACT Assessment over the past five years and significantly increasing their level of achievement and college readiness.

In 2010, nearly 145,000 Texas students took the ACT which was an all-time high, and Texas ACT scores have increased substantially over the last five years. According to Karen L. Pennell, Assistant Vice President and ACT Southwest Regional Manager, “The Texas ACT Council wanted to recognize those Texas high schools that have made significant strides in increasing the college readiness of their graduates as demonstrated by their ACT score increases over the past five years. This can only happen as a result of the high school’s faculty and staff efforts and the dedication of Robert E. Lee High School students and parents to focus on college readiness and raise the level of college readiness for all students. Less than 6% of all high schools in Texas were honored for this superior level of accomplishment.”

TYLER — Gateway to Hope (formerly the Smith County Coalition for the Homeless) will be sponsoring the third annual One Night Without A Home as part of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week today beginning at 5:00pm. National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (November 14 – 20) is a national endeavor to promote education, action, and awareness about hunger and homelessness. The 13-hour event will include a Face of Homelessness Forum. This forum provides an opportunity to hear the stories of homeless or formerly homeless persons, and information from service providers on how participants can get involved.

Anyone interested in learning more about this issue and how to address it is invited to participate. Registration fee is $15 which includes a t-shirt, meals and will help with event expenses. You can go to http://www.PATHhelps.org to obtain a registration forms are online. Click on the “One Night Without a Home” link on the homepage. Follow to the registration form link on the ONWH page. Submit the registration form online and a secure “Donate Now” page will follow. Choose the “One Night Without A Home” option. Or print the forms and mail to PATH, ONWH, 402 W. Front St., Tyler, TX, 75702.

The evening schedule begins at 5:00 with registration and dinner at the Salvation Army, followed by a march to Bergfeld Park, “Music for Hope,” The Face of Homelessness” forum, a candlelight vigil and sleeping at the park. The following morning, the day begins at 5:00am with breakfast by the Salvation Army Canteen followed by “Lessons Learned,” and then a march to the Salvation Army. Participants should dress in comfortable warm clothing and bring only what can be carried. Organizers say do not bring money, cell phones or electronics. You may bring a sleeping bag. Security will be provided.

Anyone having trouble paying the $15 fee should call Christina at 903-617-2807. If the temperature reaches 42 or below, participants will march back to the Salvation Army and sleep in the Emergency Shelter. Call 903-597-4044, ext. 107, or email [email protected] for more information.

TYLER — The citizen action group Grassroots America – We the People sponsors Governor Perry’s “Fed Up!” book tour stop in Tyler. The tour stop is today at Lone Star Event Center, 4036 FM 2767, from 11:30 a.m. till about 12:30 p.m. The tour is being arranged by the Texas Public Policy Foundation. The book’s full title is “Fed Up — Our Fight to Save America from Washington.”

According to materials from the foundation, “Governor Perry has asked that all proceeds from ‘Fed Up!’ book sales benefit the research and outreach activities of the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Tenth Amendment Studies so that the Foundation can continue to ensure that Texas is a national leader in the cause of liberty and respect for a limited government.” Grassroots America Executive Director JoAnn Fleming says, “Grassroots America – We the People is happy to sponsor the Governor’s book tour stop in Tyler. We welcome his limited government Tenth Amendment message because it’s high time ‘We the People’ put the federal government back into a Constitution-sized box.” You can go to http://www.texaspolicy.com for more details.

TYLER — Tyler Police say they deployed stop sticks to stop an 18-wheeler miles away from an accident in which the vehicle was involved. Police were notified of a hit and run accident at Old Bullard Road and WSW Loop 323 around 8:10 a.m. Thursday involving the tractor trailer and a Cadillac. The Cadillac, driven by Patricia D. Williams of Tyler, was traveling south on Old Bullard through a green light. The 18-wheeler, driven by Bill Crum from Colcord, Oklahoma, was westbound on Loop 323. Witnesses indicated that Crum ran the red light, striking the Cadillac in the intersection and failed to stop at the scene of the accident. Williams suffered minor injuries from the crash.

Witnesses followed the 18-wheeler around the Loop and kept officers posted on its location until they could catch up to the vehicle. Officers caught up to the 18-wheeler at Van Highway and Loop 323 and attempted to pull it over near 69 North and Loop 323. Police say Crum failed to pull over for officers, who now had their emergency lights and siren activated. Crum continued to travel east on Loop 323 at normal speeds, but police say he would not pull over for emergency vehicles. Crum traveled to the 271 North extension and headed north on 271, then turned left onto 271 and was now heading back towards Loop 323 and 271.

Officers deployed tire deflation devices at 271 and Loop 323 as Crum entered the intersection with officers still following. A second set of spike strips was deployed at Hillsboro and E. Gentry. Police say Crum finally pulled the 18-Wheeler over near the intersection of Beckham and E. Gentry after the tires were flat and he was driving on his rims.

Crum’s wife was asleep in the cab of the truck at the time of the incident. Police say when officers interviewed Crum, he was extremely confused and was not aware of his surroundings. Officers did not detect any signs of alcohol on Crum, and no narcotics were present on or about his person. Crum was transported to East Texas Medical Center Hospital by EMS for medical observation. Police say they believe that by getting the vehicle stopped, they prevented further injury and property damage. The case remains under investigation.

NACOGDOCHES — A Nacogdoches construction worker is in serious condition after being buried alive in a trench late Wednesday night. The incident happened at the Central Heights High School. Reports say Rafael Perez was working seven feet underground on a cable when the dirt caved in on him. KETK reports Perez was trapped for about eight minutes until being rescued. When they pulled him out he was unconscious.
He remains in intensive care at Nacogdoches Medical Center.

EAST TEXAS — Several events in East Texas celebrate Veterans Day:

The Historic Aviation Museum at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport is offering free admission to Veterans this month. A program on WWI Thursday covered Trench Warfare, the Air War Escadrilles, the Red Baron and General Blackjack Pershing. A ceremony honoring the Korean War Veterans was held at the Senior Citizens Center on Garden Valley Road in Tyler. Bell Elementary School’s program was Thursday morning in the school cafeteria. Students sang patriotic songs and shared essays they wrote honoring their Veterans. Robert E. Lee High School scheduled a free public concert Thursday evening at 6:00 in the Fine Arts Center. Griffin Elementary and Bishop T.K. Gorman also held events.

Students at Velma Penny Elementary in Lindale served lunch to WWII veterans who were recently flown to Washington D.C., as part of the Brookshire’s “World War II Heroes Flight” program. After lunch, veterans addressed different classes and shared their experiences from the war. Lindale Primary School recognized Veterans with a ceremony. LISD School Board President and Brigadier General James “Red” Brown was the guest speaker.

Local actors in Longview told the story of “Seven World War II Vets” at the Westminster Place nursing home. The actors have written about their lives and read them during a 45 minute performance to honor the Veterans. It detailed their experiences before, during and after the war.

Wills Point High School presents a salute to the veterans by performing a 1940’s USO show at the Hollywood Canteen. Following a Thursday evening presentation, the program is due to be repeated Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and then at 2:30 on Sunday. Ten percent of all ticket sales will go to the Van Zandt County Veterans Memorial. Volunteers are needed to staff the selling of bricks, ball caps and other veterans memorial items.

TYLER – Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith confirms the 15-year-old brother of murdered Chapel Hill student Amanda Anderson has been arrested in the case. Mark Nathaniel Anderson was taken into custody yesterday afternoon. According to KETK, Amanda Anderson, 19, was found murdered in her house in September, shot four times in the head. The arrest affidavit says that inconsistencies in the younger Anderson’s story led authorities to believe he might be the killer. Ms. Anderson was shot 4 times in the head with a .22 caliber weapon, which authorities believe to have been a semi-automatic pistol belonging to her brother. Sheriff Smith says from the start of the investigation all of the evidence has pointed to the girl’s brother.

HENDERSON – Rusk County authorities are investigating the death of a youngster that was attacked by a pit bull. Kaden Muckleroy, 2, was attacked in his grandfather’s yard on County Road 421 around 11:00 Wednesday morning. At the time of the attack, the dog had been chained to a tree. The boy was later pronounced dead at East Texas Medical Center-Henderson. Following the attack, the grandfather, Kelvin Muckleroy, is said to have turned over the dog, and over two dozen other dogs he had kept in a kennel, to Rusk County authorities.

LONGVIEW — A pickup being chased by State Troopers has crashed, killing one person. Killed in the Wednesday morning accident at the intersection of East Loop 281 and Page Road in Longview was Robert E Smith, 62, of Longview. His car was struck broadside by the pickup driven by Charles Ray Owens, 37, of Longview. Owens was taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center where he is listed in serious but stable condition. Authorities say Owens, who has been living in Longview, was wanted in Michigan for burglary.

MARSHALL — Charges are pending in Harrison County against a driver who ran a stop and hit a car, killing the car’s driver. The crash around 8:15 Tuesday morning occurred at the intersection of State Highway 43 and Farm Road 2625. The victim, Pamela Stoker Greene, 44, of Marshall, died just over an hour after the accident at Good Shepherd Medical Center-Marshall.

SULPHUR SPRINGS – A man on trial in Sulphur Springs on charges of intoxication manslaughter has been found guilty of DWI, a misdemeanor, and accident involving injury or death failure to stop and render aid, a felony. James Blake Spinks, 25, of Yantis was charged with hitting Nathan Spataro, 21. He was found dead along side Interstate Highway 30 Service Road in June of last year. Spinks, who had spent the prior afternoon and evening drinking, thought he had hit a deer. Authorities were not called until several hours after the incident, and then by a man at a business who Spinks told he thought he had hit something and needed a place to hide out.

Becky Hicks, Nathan Spataro’s mother, gave a victim impact statement directed toward Spinks. “I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to my son. I think constantly about how you left my son in the ditch like he was nothing.” She went on to say that “drinking and driving had a whole new meaning to me. Part of me is so angry I could scream, while part of me is so numb from pain I can’t scream. You had a choice that night. No one made you get in your car and drive; no one made you leave him (Nathan) in the ditch. We can’t choose how we die, but we can choose how we live. Those who think that facing 10 years in prison for taking a life while driving under the influence is too severe have never faced a life sentence without their loved one. ”

TYLER — Tyler Police respond to a reported shooting Wednesday night. It happened around 8:30 in the 600 block of Lyons Street. Authorities say they went to the home and were then contacted by a local hospital reporting the two gunshot victims. Shamika Miller, 35, of Tyler, was transported to Trinity Mother Frances Hospital by private vehicle and was treated for one gunshot wound. She’s currently listed in stable condition. The second victim was identified as Jonathan Paul Hart, age 34, of Tyler. Hart was transported to East Texas Medical Center Hospital by private vehicle and was treated for four gunshot wounds. He’s currently listed in critical condition.

Officers on the scene of the incident stated that the suspect showed back up and told the officers he was involved in what had occurred. The suspect is identified as James Earl Miller Jr., 38, of Tyler. Investigators determined that Miller had followed Shamika Miller, his wife and Jonathan Hart from his residence and got into an altercation. Police say Miller pulled out a revolver and fired several shots at both subjects. He’s charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and was transported to Smith County Jail.

TYLER — Tyler sales tax revenues deposited for the month of November have increased 3.17% as compared to the same period in 2009. According to the Texas Comptroller fiscal year-to-date revenue is up 6.59% over the same period in the prior year.

The reported revenue of $3,164,191.42 is comprised of $2,109,460.95 general sales tax revenue and $1,054,730.47 half-cent sales tax revenue. The figures represent receipts from September 2010 collections, as there is a two-month period before revenue is reported.

“This is the third consecutive month that we have seen an increase in our sales tax collections over the prior fiscal year,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel. “We are remaining very cautious and holding the line on expenditures; however, we are certainly seeing a marked improvement in the local economy.”

TYLER — Want to buy a building in downtown Tyler? Smith County is preparing to take bids to sell the Smith County office building. The building, which dates back to the 1950s, was formerly the Carlton Hotel.

Adrienne Graham with Smith County tells KETK-TV, “As an ex-hotel, it’s never really suited our needs as a county facility, and now we are looking at finally putting this building up for sale and moving everyone into a new facility.” Graham says they’re hoping the building could be turned into a hotel again or even a retail facility.

TYLER — A Harrison County man has appeared in Tyler Federal Court to plead guilty to distributing cocaine. Rodney Kirk Jenkins, 41, of Karnack, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Everingham, IV. Jenkins faces up to 40 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

Federal prosecutors contend from 2007 through April of 2010, Jenkins maintained a place in Harrison County in order to produce large quantities of crack cocaine, which he conspired to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine throughout East Texas. Jenkins was indicted by a federal grand jury in August.

AUSTIN (AP) — A Wood County Republican has withdrawn his support for Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, saying that Straus allies have been threatening to use redistricting to punish his political adversaries. Representative Bryan Hughes of Mineola is one of 76 Republicans on a list of supporters Straus released last week, saying he had enough pledges of support to be elected to another term as speaker.

But in a statement Wednesday, Hughes said he wouldn’t support Straus for another term because of threats of retribution by “a member of Speaker Straus’s leadership team.” Hughes said the conversation “saddened and then disgusted” him. Straus is a moderate San Antonio Republican being challenged by Rep. Warren Chisum, a more conservative Republican from Pampa who has spearheaded a movement to pressure conservatives into opposing Straus.

TYLER – Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith confirms the 15-year-old brother of murdered Chapel Hill student Amanda Anderson has been arrested in the case. According to KETK, 19-year-old Amanda Anderson was found murdered in her house in September, shot four times in the head. The arrest affidavit says that inconsistencies in the younger Anderson’s story led authorities to believe he might be the killer. Ms. Anderson was shot 4 times in the head with a .22 caliber weapon, which authorities believe to have been a semi-automatic pistol belonging to her brother. KTBB will bring you more information as it becomes available.

TYLER — The debate team at The University of Texas at Tyler is now ranked fourth among the more than 350 collegiate teams across the nation, Dr. Dennis Cali, Department of Communication chair, announced. Much like national rankings for college sports, the debate rankings play a major role in the seeding of teams for the national tournament, according to Dr. Charles Walts, assistant professor of communication, who is in his second year as director of forensics.

“This is a major accomplishment for the program,” said Walts. “The higher your rank, the better chances you have of succeeding.” Previously, UT Tyler’s highest rank held was 60th during the 2009-10 season. “This kind of jump in the rankings is an indicator of how well we are debating this year and how we have transitioned from a regional program to a national contender,” Walts added.

HENDERSON — Rusk County authorities are reporting that a toddler has been killed by a pit bull. According to KETK, on Wednesday at about 11:03 a.m. the sheriff’s office received a call from the East Texas Medical Center-Henderson emergency room requesting an officer to respond to the hospital in regard to a two-year-old child being deceased as the result of the dog attack. Upon arrival deputies learned that 35-year-old Helen Muckleroy transported her son Kaden Muckleroy to the hospital from her residence in rural Henderson for treatment of dog bites from the attack.

Further investigation indicates that the dog’s owner, Kelvin Muckleroy, who is the victim’s grandfather, had the dog chained to a tree in the yard of the residence where the attack occurred. Muckleroy has consented to the release of the animal as well as about 29 additional kennel kept dogs to the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office indicates it is currently conducting an investigation and will release information as is appropriate.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has authorized City staff to pursue the potential of refinancing or refunding $11,090,000 in bonds from the Water and Sewer System Series 2002 revenue bonds to receive more favorable rates. Due to lower anticipated rates and the City’s AAA bond rating, it is anticipated that the City of Tyler may be able to achieve savings of up to $421,000 for their utility system. City staff will meet with rating agencies later this month to negotiate pricing for early December and will request the City Council’s authorization to reissue the bonds at its Dec. 8 meeting.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for Tyler to leverage our strong bond rating and current economic conditions to save the City money in the long term,” said Tyler City Manager Mark McDaniel. “This is part of our ongoing effort to examine all facets of our financial situation to ensure we are taking of any advantage to keep our financial position strong.” The bonds that will be refinanced are revenue bonds which are not paid for with tax revenue. Rather, revenue bonds are repaid with income from the sale of water and sewer services. The City of Tyler paid off all tax supported debt in 2008 so all sales and property tax revenue collected is used for current operations.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has accepted a proposal from NDMJ, LLC to provide ADA-accessible paratransit service to senior and disabled Tyler residents, which will continue to complement the City’s fixed route bus system. NDMJ will provide ADA accessible paratransit services within the Tyler City limits during Tyler Transit’s regular operating hours, 6 a.m. – 8:15 p.m., Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturdays. NDMJ will collect a fare of $1.50 from riders.

NDMJ, a private taxi company in Tyler owned by Jamal Moharer, submitted what councilmembers considered the most favorable proposal, offering the services for $30 per trip and offering a $7.50 local match contribution. All services including vehicle maintenance, passenger scheduling and dispatching are included in the fee. “To receive paratransit services, you must first apply,” said Davis Dickson, Transit Manager. “Eligibility is most typically given to people that are 65 or older and/or are unable to board or disembark from an accessible fixed route bus or who are unable to go to and from a bus stop.” Dickson says the application is available at http://www.cityoftyler.org on the Transit web page.

TYLER — The Tyler Development Authority has unanimously approved a proposal from Walker Parking Associates to perform a parking study in downtown Tyler. The parking study is being conducted as a preliminary step in improving downtown parking and will be made up of three components: a parking supply and demand study, a parking alternative analysis, and a preliminary financial analysis. The $34,200 required to complete this study will be paid for from funds collected from the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) Number Two (Downtown) and funds that were donated specifically for this study.

Mayor Barbara Bass says, “It’s all about trying to see how we can best get people into downtown and have adequate parking when they get there.” She adds, “It is exciting to see the first collections from the Downtown TIRZ put to use. This is exactly the type of project we envisioned when we it was conceptualized – a project that will help spur private reinvestment in the zone.”

The Tyler Development Authority was created by the Tyler City Council to provide services to the TIRZ Number Two Board on an as-needed basis. Board members include the Tyler Mayor, City Council, and representatives from other governmental entities participating in the Downtown TIRZ (Commissioner JoAnn Hampton from Smith County and Trustee Mike Coker from Tyler Junior College). Such services include hiring consultants to plan projects, hiring contractors to implement improvements and paying for such services from available TIRZ Number Two funds. Bass notes, “There are some other groups working on initiatives downtown, and we want to make sure everything’s coordinated for the betterment of Tyler.”

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County taxpayers say no to funding new schools through property taxes, many citing a tight budget. Tuesday night though, county leaders discussed a new plan that could raise property taxes — building a jail in Smith County. According to KETK, commissioners confirmed they have agreed on a $33 million project to add almost 400 beds to the existing jail. Overcrowding has been a big problem in the county for years and they say sending inmates to other counties is costing millions. Smith County leaders have put at least 3 jail proposals before voters; all of them have been rejected. No official word on when taxpayers will hear more about this plan or be able to vote on it.

NOONDAY — The Noonday fire department has a new Fire Chief. Earlier this month, a repo man said that Noonday firefighters bullied him regarding him towing a firefighters vehicle. Due to conflicting stories, the Fire Chief resigned and the department soon lost its assistant chief and one firefighter. Tuesday night, 20-year veteran Howard Harris, became the new Noonday chief. Harris said the issues the department has faced is just a bump in the road that the department is going to have to get over. Chief Harris will investigate the reported bullying and report his findings to the board.