KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW — A man is in custody after police say he bit an officer. According to a police report, at around 12:01 Monday morning, a Longview officer stopped a vehicle for speeding in the 3100 block of South Eastman Road. Once the vehicle was stopped, the officer made contact with the driver, but police say the driver fled from the officer on foot. According to authorities, the officer caught the driver, Devarduus Hawkins, on Lilly Street. But police say as the two struggled, Hawkins managed to escape by removing his shirt. Authorities say the officer continued to chase Hawkins and captured him again in a wooded area.

Officials report that as the officer attempted to get Hawkins under control and into handcuffs, Hawkins bit the officer twice on the arms. Other officers arrived to assist, and police say Hawkins was finally handcuffed and placed under arrest. The 22-year-old Hawkins, of Longview, was booked into the Gregg County Jail for assaulting an officer, evading arrest, and possession of dangerous drugs. The officer was treated at Good Shepherd Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries.

LONGVIEW — In an effort to improve services to citizens, the Longview Police Department has implemented an on-line service for obtaining copies of traffic accident reports. This service will allow the public, and their insurance companies, the flexibility of receiving reports on-line and will eliminate the need to travel to the Police Department to obtain an accident report.

To search for an accident report, you must have the report number OR date of accident AND last name of the driver. The report is then immediately displayed and available for printing. The cost of the on-line service is $9.00 per report. Citizens will still have the option of coming to the Police Department to obtain a report for $6.00. Only reports for accidents that have occurred after September 1, 2010 are available on-line.

The Longview Police Department recommends that you allow a minimum of five working days after the accident has occurred before attempting to access the report. Some accidents may require additional time to process. Go to http://www.longviewpolice.com to locate the link to the online accident reports under the “quick links” section.

LONGVIEW — Three suspects are in custody after a neighbor holds one at gunpoint. Kevin Bender, 22, Cleon Smith Jr., 21 and Christopher Lister, 19, all of Longview, were arrested Friday after officers responded to a “shots fired” call at 514 Level Street. When officers arrived, they found a citizen detaining Lister at gunpoint. The citizen told officers he had seen the trio burglarizing a neighbor’s house at 514 Level Street and attempted to stop them when two of the suspects fled in a vehicle. When Lister then exited the house with the victim’s property in-hand, the citizen fired a shot into the air and demanded Lister to get on the ground. Lister complied and was taken into custody by officers.

An officer located the suspect vehicle at 111 Brooks Street. Smith Jr. and Bender were located hiding inside the residence and were taken into custody. All three suspects were booked into the Gregg County Jail for burglary of a habitation.

VAN — Van High School is still battling a staph outbreak, so parents are invited to a meeting to help guard their children from the dangerous infection. Many of the students are infected, most being football players. According to KETK, it’s because football players are more likely to have open wounds. The type of staph infection found at Van, MRSA, is resistant to many types of drugs and can be deadly. The meeting for parents will be at the Van High School library tonight at 7:00 p.m.

MARSHALL — East Texas Baptist University has announced it has received a $500,000 gift from the estate of Frances Louise “Peggy” Nehls. The Nehls Nursing Scholarship will be used to help worthy students to achieve their goal of becoming a nurse. “We are so thankful for the gift that Peggy Nehls has left ETBU and the School of Nursing,” said Leslie Borcherding, ETBU Interim Dean of the Nursing Department. “The scholarships will benefit nursing students tremendously.”

According to the school’s website, Frances Louise “Peggy” Nehls passed away on June 20 in Longview. She lived in Graham and Kilgore before moving to Marshall in the late 1930s. Ms. Nehls, was affectionately known to her many friends as “Peggy.” According to her friends she was a very generous and kind person, helping many throughout her life.

The ETBU nursing program began in 1992 and has produced 319 graduates. Many graduates remain in East Texas to work. The last three graduating classes have achieved a 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) examination. The NCLEX-RN examination is the national licensing exam that students must pass to legally work as a Registered Nurse.

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

HENDERSON COUNTY — Preliminary construction work is scheduled to begin this week on the State Highway 198 bridge at Twin Creek Lake just south of Gun Barrel City. The $21 million Twin Creek project, which is being built by the same contractor, Concho Construction Company, Inc., of Garland, will be nearly identical to the Caney Creek project, which was completed in August. The Caney Creek project, which was the first of the three SH 198 bridges on Cedar Creek Reservoir to be rebuilt, called for building a new, two-lane bridge next to the old, existing bridge, then shifting traffic to the new bridge while the original bridge was replaced. The end result is four lanes of traffic on SH 198, with the northbound and southbound traffic running on separate bridges.

“We’ve been very fortunate with our funding when it comes to bridges,” Krantz said. “We’ve had these SH 198 bridge projects ready to go as soon as funding was available, and now we’re working on the second of the three bridges.” No funding has been identified for the third bridge, which is between Twin Creek and Caney Creek.

Also this week in Henderson County, TxDOT maintenance crews are scheduled to continue base and pavement repairs on Ranch Road 2588 south of LaRue, and to perform resurfacing operations on Farm Road 2010 between Farm Road 279 near Edom and Farm Road 315 in Chandler. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue several days of resurfacing operations in various locations along State Highway 43 between Henderson and Tatum before moving to U.S. Highway 84 later in the week.

A second crew is scheduled to perform shoulder repair work on U.S. Highway 259 south of Kilgore. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on U.S. Highway 287 between Cayuga and the Freestone County Line. A second crew is scheduled to perform resurfacing operations in various locations on Farm Road 315 between U.S. Highway 175 in Poynor and Farm Road 837 in Brushy Creek. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue base and pavement repair operations on Farm Road 751 in the northwest corner of the county between the Hunt County Line and Farm Road 47 in Wills Point. Daytime lane closures will be in effect 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 resurfacing operations in various locations on U.S. Highway 80 in and around Hawkins. Crews are also scheduled to perform edge repairs on State Highway 154 east of Farm Road 312, and on Farm Road 778 between Farm Road 49 and US 80. 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.

TYLER — Tyler developer Ed Thompson is kicking his North Chase project into high gear. Thompson says he wants to revitalize Tyler’s north side through affordable housing along with retail, commercial, office, and green space. On KTBB “Staff Meeting,” Thompson said he’s had success with other northside efforts that initially met with skepticism. Now he’s inviting the public to support his new effort at North Broadway and the Loop. As one example, Thompson says he’d like to hear from you if you know of organizations that might be willing to relocate. According to Thompson, North Chase will kick off with a pair of quality affordable housing communities. The development has drawn lots of support from the city. You can go to http://www.northchasetyler.com for more information. The “Staff Meeting” show can be heard online at http://www.ktbb.com/audio beginning early Monday.

TYLER — The League of Women Voters of Tyler/Smith County holds a candidate forum for the November elections tonight at 7:00 at the TISD Plyler Complex, 807 West Glenwood. The League’s Shirley Hightower says, “We see this as part of our most important mission of informing voters and encouraging voters to have a voice.” She adds that this is your chance to meet the candidates, find out what they’re all about, and then make up your own mind on how you’re going to vote. Local candidates for Congress and the state legislature have been invited, as well as hopefuls for agriculture commissioner and State Supreme Court Place 9. The League will also present the winners of a student video competition on getting out the vote. You can go to http://www.lwvtexas.org to download the League’s statewide Voters Guide. Don’t forget, today’s the last day to register to vote in the November elections.

NEW YORK CITY — The chairman and CEO of Tyler-based Southside Bancshares, Inc., presided over the NASDAQ Opening Bell ceremony Monday morning. B. G. Hartley did the honors at the NASDAQ MarketSite in New York City’s Times Square as part of Southside’s 50th anniversary celebration. Hartley says, “We are honored to celebrate this milestone with one of our most valued partners. Our association with NASDAQ has been extremely positive, providing Southside Bancshares, Inc. increased exposure that has been an integral part of our growth.”

GREGG COUNTY — A brush fire near Longview closes streets and sends smoke in the air visible for miles. According to KETK, it happened Saturday near the intersection of Pliler Precise and Airline. Several fire departments were on hand to put out the blaze, which burned through a pasture across the street from a neighborhood. The cause of the blaze is unknown. The intersection of East Pliler Precise and Airline was closed Saturday afternoon. The fire has been brought under control.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert is weighing in on border security following a recent shooting. That’s according to KETK. David and Tiffany Hartley were sightseeing on jetskis on the Mexican side of Falcon Lake when a group of pirates shot David in the back of the head. Tiffany tried to rescue her husband but could not. Saturday morning Gohmert appeared on “Fox and Friends,” where he said if the border were more secure, this wouldn’t have happened. “If we had people on this 16-mile lake who are out there to protect American citizens, then the bad guys know they gotta go somewhere else. You see that all the time in police action. If people know that you are going to defend your land, then they go somewhere else.”

Gohmert is the co-sponsor of a bill that calls for 10,000 more national guardsman along the Mexican border. “It would be really shocking except this is like the fifth reported incident this year, this is not anything new,” Gohmert said.

TYLER — It’s the final day of the East Texas State Fair, and spokespeople say you can “have one last blast” today. Gate hours are 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.; the carnival is open beginning at 11:00 a.m. $25 at the gate gets you admission and unlimited rides; it’s $4 gate admission without an unlimited-ride armband. You can go to http://www.etstatefair.com to learn more.

TYLER — According to East Texas health officials, the national epidemic of obesity has drastically increased over the past few years, and Tyler is not immune. To help combat obesity, organizations from across East Texas have come together to start Tyler’s Fit City Challenge and will be hosting a kick-off event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23, at Bergfeld Park. “The Northeast Texas Public Health District views the concurrent epidemic of obesity and sedentary lifestyles as the greatest threat to the health of Tyler,” said George Roberts, CEO of the Northeast Texas Public Health District. “Doctors who care for children are concerned because kids being born right now are not expected to live as long as their parents.”

Roberts says the Fit City Challenge is a community-wide campaign to promote healthy, fitter lifestyles for Tyler and Smith County residents. Roberts adds that the kick-off event is designed to give the community the information they need to make healthier choices. According to health district press materials, the event will feature healthy activities for all ages, cooking demonstrations, guest speakers, health and nutrition information, fitness and exercise demonstrations, and health screenings. Booth space at the kick-off event is still available. If your organization would like to participate, you can go online to http://www.FitCityTyler.com and complete the application.

TYLER — A missing senior citizen has been located in good condition. James Howard Marshall was earlier reported missing from a family outing at Caldwell Zoo. Police say church members who had been alerted by family went by Mr. Marshall’s residence and located him there.

MARSHALL – A 47-year-old Marshall man has been sentenced to federal prison — and ordered to pay millions in restitution — for his role in a multi-million dollar oil and gas Ponzi scheme. Richard W. McFarland, Jr., pleaded guilty on Mar. 26, 2010, to mail fraud and was sentenced Friday in Marshall to 97 months in federal prison. McFarland was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $8,861,160.34.

According to information presented in court, McFarland was founder and President of Delta Interest, Inc., a company based in Marshall, which purportedly obtained working interests in oil and gas wells located within Texas and then offered portions of those interests for sale to the public. From 2003 to 2009, McFarland devised a scheme in which he falsely represented to investors that they were purchasing interests held by Delta Interest in wells located on various leases, when in fact, no such wells or leases existed. To further facilitate the scheme, McFarland sent investors fraudulent monthly production statements which contained fictional production and sales figures as well as supposed investor revenue amounts related to the non-existent wells.

McFarland used a significant portion of the investor funds to make purported revenue payments on a regular basis to earlier-in-time investors. This funneling of proceeds received from new investors to previous investors induced new investors to participate and, in some instances, existing investors to contribute additional sums. He expended the remainder of investor monies for his own business and personal use. As a result of this scheme, McFarland fraudulently obtained in excess of $30 million from more than 350 investors who were residing in approximately 25 different states. This law enforcement action is part of President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force.

LINDALE – Officials say the victim of a Friday afternoon robbery in Lindale is okay after being set upon by three men who remain at large. They also identify the suspect vehicle as a white Jeep Cherokee. Police have obtained surveillance video from the Lindale Walmart that may show one of the suspects. Lindale Police say officers are continuing to look for the Jeep, two white men, and a black man involved in the robbery at Posado’s Café. According to KETK, it happened outside the restaurant, in the parking lot.

Officers say the suspects grabbed an older man, threw him into the SUV, and took his money before throwing him out on the pavement. Police report that the two white men then drove away, heading west. They say the black man ran off, possibly to Walmart. The alleged attacker shown in the Walmart surveillance video is wearing a white Sherwin Williams shirt. He goes into the restroom at the front of the building and changes into a black shirt which police say he stole from Walmart. No word yet on whether the victim knew the suspects. If you have any information, you’re asked to call Lindale Police.

TYLER – Renovations to the exterior of the historic Goodman Museum are underway. Work began earlier this week on Phase One, the east and south sides of the museum. Phase Two will address the west and north sides of the building. During Phase One, the front of the building will be inaccessible, and guests will have to enter from the rear of the building and vice versa during Phase Two of the renovations.

Officials say the renovation project is necessary to maintain the integrity of the structure and is in compliance with national, state and local historical guidelines. The project includes a new roof, painting, wood rot work, shutter and hardware restoration, and downspouts. It is anticipated that the renovation project will be completed at the end of November, weather permitting.

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler College of Engineering and Computer Science has received an endowment from SPEA to create a new computer engineering center within the Department of Electrical Engineering, Dr. James Nelson, College of Engineering and Computer Science dean, announced. School officials say The SPEA Center for Semiconductor Testing in the department will be used to introduce hands-on laboratory semiconductor test procedures into the electrical engineering curriculum so that graduates are prepared for a career in this field. SPEA designs and manufactures automatic test equipment for microchips and electronic boards. Its systems are utilized in all high-tech fields, such as aerospace, aeronautics, telecommunications, automotive, consumer and safety electronics.

“The gift from SPEA will help our college to meet the needs of local industry by preparing our students for successful careers in semiconductor engineering,” said Nelson. “College industry partnerships are the best way to introduce high-tech jobs to invigorate the East Texas economy and we hope to have many such successful collaborations in the near future.” A dedication ceremony will be 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 4 at the UT Tyler Ratliff Engineering and Science Complex Building South, fourth floor suite and terrace. Dr. David Hoe, assistant professor, and Dr. Mukul Shirvaikar, chair and professor of electrical engineering, will oversee the daily activities of the grant.

UT Tyler has also been invited to join the Collaborative Alliance for Semiconductor Testing, including industry bellwethers such as Texas Instruments, IBM, and Intel — and such major universities as Texas A&M, Auburn, and Georgia Tech. UTT officials say this collaboration will inevitably result in high-tech research and development applications, thereby benefiting the East Texas area economy.

TYLER – A 43-year-old Palestine man has pleaded guilty in Tyler to federal drug trafficking violations. Kyle Edward Palmer pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to authorities, beginning in January 2008, Palmer possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it to others in and around the Longview area. A federal indictment was returned on Oct. 7, 2009, charging Palmer and four other individuals with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. At sentencing, Palmer faces a up to 40 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

TYLER (AP) – A former east Texas high school football coach has been sentenced to three years of probation for his role in a dogfighting ring. Jerry Scott Chism of Longview was sentenced Thursday, four months after pleading guilty to a charge of sponsoring or exhibiting an animal fighting venture. He was also fined $2,000. The 36-year-old Chism apologized to U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis, saying he was “raised to respect and obey the law.” Chism’s attorney said his client “will not disappoint.” Chism faced up to five years in federal prison after his arrest along with eight others last year in a five-state raid of dogfighting operations. Chism was an assistant coach at Jacksonville High School.

AUSTIN (AP) – The Texas Supreme Court has ordered a juvenile court to delay a hearing on whether a teenager accused in the 2009 fatal stabbing of his teacher in a Tyler classroom should be tried as an adult. The state’s highest civil court ruled Friday that a mental health evaluation should be completed before the 17-year-old suspect has a hearing that could move his case to adult court. The suspect, who remains in custody, was 16 when authorities say he attacked special education teacher Todd Henry at John Tyler High School in Tyler. A defense attorney’s request for a writ of mandamus was denied by an appeals court. The state’s high court said it would issue a writ only if the juvenile court failed to comply with Friday’s order.

ATHENS — The man who was convicted of killing two Henderson County Sheriff’s Department officers was back in court Tuesday. Randall Wayne Mays was convicted of capital murder, and sentenced to the death penalty for fatally shooting Henderson County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Paul Steven Habelt, 63, and deputy Tony Ogburn, 61 on May 17, 2007. The officers were killed in the shootings after responding to a disturbance at a residence in Payne Springs. A third officer, HCSO Deputy Kevin Harris, was shot in the leg during the May 17 shooting. He did survive. Mays’ attorney, Jeff Haas of Tyler, filed his appeal stating Ineffective Assistance of Counsel. Some of the points he hopes to bring out are the fact that there was no Change of Venue applied to the case, as well as May’s mental state at the time of the trial.

TYLER — The City of Tyler Police Department received notification yesterday that they have been awarded a grant from the United States Department of Justice COPS Hiring Program (CHP) for four police officer positions. The estimated federal funding to be awarded over the three-year grant period is $853,988.

Currently, the City of Tyler has 187 officers and the additional four officers will bring the total to 191. The new officers will be assigned to the Community Response Unit which provides community policing. The Unit consists to six officers and will grow to 10 with this grant.

The recruitment for the new officers will begin in the next few weeks with the scheduling of a civil service test to identify potential candidates for the positions. For information about the test, please visit http://www.cityoftyler.org

VAN — Van school officials are battling Staph Infections and MRSA. Officials with the Northeast Texas Public Health District say a large portion of high school students are infected, most of them varsity football players. They say football players are more susceptible because they are more likely to have open wounds. Officials say MRSA can be deadly because of its resistance to drugs. According to KETK, that’s why, they say they’re doing everything they can to make sure there are no new cases. Officials say washing your hands is the best way to prevent it from spreading.

Van school officials have addressed the student body. As for parents, a meeting will take place at the Van High School Library on Monday, October 4th at 7:00.

ATHENS — A woman remained in the Henderson County Jail Thursday after scuffling with police at the East Texas Medical Center Gun Barrel City facility. Pamela Jeanne Struble, 47, was charged with two counts of assault on a public servant, possession of a prohibited substance in a correctional facility and criminal mischief. According to KETK, she was also held for disorderly conduct and public intoxication. Total bond on Struble was set at $57,500. Gun Barrel City Chief of Police Damon Boswell said Struble entered the hospital Monday, and began screaming that she was going to kill herself.

TYLER (AP) — A federal judge has lifted a 39-year-old statewide school desegregation order from all but nine rural Texas public school systems in what is now largely a symbolic move.

U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider of Tyler found that all but nine of the school systems have either been released from desegregation orders by other federal judges, or are under separate desegregation orders issued in different cases, or weren’t parties to the 1970 suit that spawned the statewide order.

In a four-page order issued this week, Schneider noted that he has neither examined nor determined whether the freed districts are fully desegregated. The districts remaining under the order are mostly small-town districts in east Texas. They are the Buffalo, Colmesneil, Daingerfield, Fairfield, Malakoff, Nacogdoches, Oakwood, Smithville and Whitewright school districts.

TYLER — Two men, one from Rusk County, have entered guilty pleas in Tyler federal court in separate methamphetamine trafficking cases. Derrick Duwayne Walker, 23, of Henderson pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to prosecutors, on Jan. 21, 2009, Walker was found in possession of methamphetamine which he intended to distribute to others. Walker was also indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6 and faces up to 20 years in federal prison when sentenced.

In a separate case, Dannis Ivan Villarreal, 24, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to being involved in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to information presented in court, on Jan. 25, 2010, Villarreal was stopped for a traffic violation on IH-20 near Longview. A search of the vehicle revealed 13 lbs. of methamphetamine hidden in a secret compartment built into the vehicle. Villarreal was transporting the drugs from Dallas to Georgia. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6 and charged with drug trafficking violations. Villarreal faces a minimum of 10 years in federal prison. Sentencing dates have not been set for either man.

TYLER – Two men enter guilty pleas in Tyler federal court in separate methamphetamine trafficking cases. 24-year-old Dannis Ivan Villarreal of Lawrenceville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to being involved in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to information presented in court, on Jan. 25, 2010, Villarreal was stopped for a traffic violation on IH-20 near Longview. A search of the vehicle revealed 13 lbs. of methamphetamine hidden in a secret compartment built into the vehicle. Villarreal was transporting the drugs from Dallas to Georgia. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6 and charged with drug trafficking violations. Villarreal faces a minimum of 10 years in federal prison.

In a separate case, Derrick Duwayne Walker, 23, of Henderson, Texas, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to prosecutors, on Jan. 21, 2009, Walker was found in possession of methamphetamine which he intended to distribute to others. Walker was also indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6 and faces up to 20 years in federal prison when sentenced. Sentencing dates have not been set for either man.

TYLER — Southside Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBSI) is announces that Chairman and CEO B. G. Hartley will preside over the NASDAQ Opening Bell ceremony at the NASDAQ MarketSite in New York City’s Times Square on Monday October 4, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. CDT. “We will be ringing the Opening Bell at NASDAQ as part of Southside’s 50th anniversary celebration,” said Hartley. “We are honored to celebrate this milestone with one of our most valued partners. Our association with NASDAQ has been extremely positive, providing Southside Bancshares, Inc. increased exposure that has been an integral part of our growth.”

TYLER — Senator Kevin Eltife and former Mayor Joey Seeber have announced that the VOTE YES Committee will again support the Tyler Independent School District Bond election set for November 2. The VOTE YES Committee comprises a community-wide group of citizens voicing their support of TISD and the proposed bond package. The committee was originally formed in 2004 in support of the successful Phase 1 bond proposal, and VOTE YES also worked for the successful passage of the Phase 2 bond in 2008. Eltife and Seeber co-chaired the past two VOTE YES committees in both the 2004 and 2008 bond elections.

As part of the Master Facilities Plan, Phase 3 includes replacement schools for Dixie Elementary and Rice Elementary, which will conclude all of the elementary work by either rebuilding or remodeling all elementary campuses within TISD. With all elementary work completed, the District takes its first step in Phase 3 to include a new middle school which will be located in Southwest Tyler. Eltife and Seeber say based on the age, capacity for growth and condition of the aging portable buildings on their campuses, it becomes more cost effective to build and maintain replacement schools. The 2010 Bond proposal totals $89.85 million, and Eltife and Seeber say it’s projected to come with no change in the tax rate.

Eltife says, “We fully recognize that these are tough economic times and we hope to educate the voters on the need to continue with our phased approach to upgrading our school facilities. School bond issues are a way for the local voters to have input in the process and we fully respect the will of the voters. We hope we can earn their support. And we welcome anyone who would like to join our VOTE YES Committee.” Seeber added, “No great community is built without great public schools. I am proud to enthusiastically endorse this Bond Proposal and encourage others to join me and the VOTE YES Committee.” For more information, you can call the VOTE YES campaign office at 903-360-VOTE (8683).