KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – The Northeast Texas Public Health District (NETPHD) will offer flu vaccinations to the general public beginning Monday, September 13th, at 815 N. Broadway. The flu vaccination clinics will operate every Monday and Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Seasonal flu vaccinations will continue until the supply is depleted.

According to George Roberts, CEO of NETPHD, “CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. We are here to help protect you and your family and encourage our community to get vaccinated early.” Officials say the 2010 – 2011 seasonal influenza vaccine will protect against three strains of flu viruses, including the 2009 H1N1influenza virus, which cause so much illness last season. Health officials caution that flu is unpredictable, but they say it is very likely that the flu virus will cause illness throughout the U.S. in the coming months.

The cost for the flu vaccination is $20.00 per person and the cost for the flu mist nasal spray is $25.00 per person. Medicaid and Medicare Part B will be accepted. Children who are uninsured or underinsured and qualify for the Vaccines for Children Program will be charged $8.00. “Seasonal flu vaccine, available in shot and nasal spray forms, is recommended for people ages 6 months and older. It is especially important for individuals at high risk of complications from the flu to become vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available.” says Dr. Jonathan MacClements, Smith County Health Authority. For additional information, you can go to http://www.healthyeasttx.org or contact the Northeast Texas Public Health District at 903-510-5604.

TYLER — The South Tyler Rotary, in conjunction with the Knights of Columbus, hosted a barbeque Saturday for the 141st Quartermaster Company and their families at the Knights of Columbus Hall on the Southwest Loop. “It is important for everyone to remember all of the soldiers and families who continuously make huge personal sacrifices so the rest of us can enjoy our freedom,” said Tom DeWitt, President of the South Tyler Rotary. “There is no greater country than ours, and our military plays a huge role in protecting all of us. The Rotarians feel strongly about supporting our military troops and it is appropriate to honor them on the anniversary of 9/11. We are delighted to working hand in hand with the Knight of Columbus to honor our local military heroes.”

The 141st Quartermaster Company drills on the south edge of Tyler on Troup Highway, where they have been training for the last 25 years. The quartermaster branch is the logistics and supply branch of the army. The 141st is a pipeline company. When ships come to port delivering fuel, the 141st company draws the fuel out of the ship and pumps it into the area of operations to be disseminated to deployed soldiers. They have been completing this mission for the last ten years, the last two under CPT Stephen T. Melton and 1SG Christopher Cassano. There are just under 200 Soldiers who report to the 141st, the vast majority from the Tyler area. Soldiers come from as far as Houston and Louisiana on a monthly basis as well.

TYLER — A Tyler traffic accident has claimed the life of a 57-year-old man. At 3:14 p.m. on Friday, Tyler Police dispatch received a call about a one vehicle crash at the intersection of Front and Clayton Streets. Tyler Fire and East Texas EMS arrived at the scene, removed the sole occupant of the involved vehicle, and began CPR. The driver of the vehicle is identified as Paul Ray Jarrell. Police say after a prolonged effort to revive Mr. Jarrell, the CPR was discontinued.

Witnesses to the crash said Jarrell’s vehicle drove off the roadway into a vacant lot for no apparent reason. Police say Jarrell had a history of medical problems that may have resulted in his losing his capability to operate his vehicle. Justice of the Peace Quincy Beavers responded to the scene and ordered Jarrell’s body taken to South East Forensics for an autopsy. Major Crimes detectives and accident investigators also responded to the scene for the investigation.

LONGVIEW — After 31 total years in the Fire Service and almost 28 years with the Longview Fire Department, Assistant Chief Claude Ford is retiring. Ford’s last day on the job will be September 17, with an official retirement date of September 26. A retirement reception has been scheduled for from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 15, at the Longview Fire Department Training Center, located at 307 American Legion Blvd.

LONGVIEW — A leak discovered during routine monitoring at Eastman Chemical in Longview causes the company to shut down one of its crackling plants. KETK reports the leak was discovered Wednesday in crackling plant No. 3. Eastman officials say the leak occurred in one of its cooling towers in the plant and they took immediate action to prevent any damage. The leak is currently being fixed, and officials expect the plant to be back up and running in the next few days. Production is not expected to be affected.

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University’s Fall 2010 incoming class made history as the largest the university has ever added to its traditional program at the Longview campus, with 460 new students, compared to 432 last year. This year, the school also enjoyed a record number of applications and campus visits. “A record number of new students arriving, as well as a record number of last fall’s students returning, indicates that LETU is on a trajectory for future enrollment growth, and with each student comes increasing impact on workplaces around the world,” said LETU President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford. “We are pleased to attract these students to Longview and know that when they leave, they will take their experiences here in East Texas with them as they serve wherever God calls them all across the globe.”

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler has recorded its highest enrollment with a 4.5 percent increase over last fall, President Rodney H. Mabry announced. Total headcount for this fall is 6,483. The fall 2009 figure was 6,201. Students also are enrolling in more courses as semester credit hours for 2010 are 69,779, a 2.5 percent increase over 68,106 in 2009. “We are very pleased with these figures. Enrollment management is working diligently to improve many of our procedures and services to better recruit, admit and retain the students, and we are seeing the results,” said Charlie Hutchins, assistant vice president for enrollment management, marketing and customer service.

Officials say in the last two years, enrollment at UT Tyler has been flat due to the economy. “The effects of the economy made it difficult for some students to return to school and prevented some from beginning their education,” Hutchins said.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man is sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated robbery. According to KETK, police say 22-year-old Richard Allen Wofford Jr. shot a 52-year-old man in the leg April 1. They say they were arguing over a debt. Wofford originally faced five years to life, but he accepted a plea deal.

KILGORE — The Kilgore City Council passed an ordinance earlier this week banning the sale and possession of K2 in city limits. Kilgore is just one of many east Texas cities that have recently banned the synthetic marijuana. Kilgore officials say if someone is caught trying to sell or posses K2 it will be a Class C Misdemeanor and can result in a fine up to $2,000. According to KETK, the ban goes into effect September 18.

JACKSONVILLE — The Lon Morris College President says the number of students has more than doubled in the last two years–which means less housing for the students. Now, more than 300 students live in a local inn. However, neighbors say it’s not a good idea. One neighbor says students tore her fence down and she had to replace it. Another says the students’ music is too loud and she fears she won’t be able to sell her house. According to KETK, students say they sometimes walk down the street to the park and play a little ball. The Lon Morris President says, “College students will be college students.” The school says for serious complaints, residents should call the police.

TYLER — After almost ten years of rescuing and re-homing homeless dogs and cats, East Texas Animal Rescue Fund announces plans for the dissolution of ARF as they join forces with the newly formed SPCA of East Texas. According to media materials, Since 1991, ARF volunteers have spent countless weekends in front of Petsmart adopting dogs to loving homes. Although it was termed “a difficult and bittersweet decision,” ARF board members recently voted to make the SPCA of East Texas the recipient of their non-profit assets. To ensure all their years of hard work would continue to benefit homeless animals in East Texas, ARF officials say, the 28 acre ARF headquarters/facility/ranch will be sold to assist with funding the recently launched SPCA Animal Services Center building campaign. Currently, neither the city of Tyler nor Smith County has a local facility to house, rescue and adopt stray or neglected dogs and cats.

The formal dissolution of ARF is expected to take place by the end of this year. In the meantime, SPCA volunteers are assisting ARF with re-homing their adoptable animals at the National Adoptathon to be held this weekend, September 11th and 12th.

When: September 11 & 12, 10:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

Where: PetSmart, 5610 S. Broadway in Tyler

The community is invited to view and visit adoptable animals. The adoption fee of $60.00 is tax deductible and will be used to provide food and medical care to other homeless animals.

JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville’s West Side Elementary and Fred Douglass Elementary Schools were two of the twenty-five Texas schools that have been named 2010 Blue Ribbon Schools award winners by the U.S. Department of Education. JISD officials say the two schools are the only East Texas schools to be awarded the prestigious designation. According to the officials, with only 25 statewide qualifying, the award puts two of the top 1% of elementary campuses in the state in Jacksonville ISD. The award honors schools that achieved academic excellence or made significant progress in closing the achievement gap.

Schools that receive the award will be recognized at the Blue Ribbon Schools conference in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 15-16 — where each recipient will receive a plaque and a flag signifying its status as a Blue Ribbon School.

TYLER — Information from the Texas Comptroller indicates that City of Tyler sales tax revenues deposited for the month of September have increased 2.95 percent as compared to the same period in 2009. Officials say Tyler compares favorably to the statewide average improvement of 2.66 percent. This is the second consecutive month of improved collections versus those reported in the same month in the prior year.

The reported revenue of $2,613,396 comprises $1,742,264 general sales tax revenue and $871,132 half-cent sales tax revenue. The figures represent receipts from July 2010 collections, as there is a two-month period before revenue is reported.

“In the proposed 2010/2011 budget, the City planned for a two percent increase in sales tax collections,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel (pictured). “It is gratifying to see that at the end of this fiscal year, the local economy is showing signs of recovery. The City currently has more than 100 positions frozen and these positions will not be refilled until we see several months of growth in our sales tax revenue. We will continue to take a conservative approach and ensure we are operating in a positive financial position; however, we remain cautiously optimistic about the coming year.”

TYLER — A big change on the way for one popular downtown Tyler road. According to KETK, the city’s approving a two-way stretch of road on East Erwin. Drivers making their way between North Spring Avenue and Center Street will now be able to go both ways. Traffic engineers say it’ll make for a safer drive down the congested road. Changes should come by the spring.

TYLER — A 43-year-old Longview man has been sentenced to federal prison for child pornography violations. Anthony Quinn Steward pleaded guilty on Mar. 30, 2010, to possession of child pornography. He was sentenced Thursday in Tyler to 78 months in federal prison. According to prosecutors, on Dec. 18, 2009, Steward had been living at the Contessa Inn in Longview with his sister and her two children for about 4 months when it was discovered he was in possession of computer equipment which contained visual depictions of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.