KTBB News, Weather, Talk

CANTON (AP) — A traffic collision sent a tractor-trailer rig careening into an East Texas city hall and erupting in flames, killing the driver. Police dispatcher Stacy Hitmer said the crash happened about 1:30 Tuesday afternoon when the 18-wheeler collided with a sport utility vehicle and careened into Canton’s municipal office complex. Fire Chief Bud Sanford said firefighters took about 45 minutes to extinguish the flames. He said no one was in the wing of the building most affected and no one else was injured. Sanford said it was unclear whether the driver died in the crash or the ensuing fire.

TYLER – An East Texas man and woman have pleaded guilty to federal bank fraud violations. Mark Alan McCullars, 44, of Marshall, and Amanda Henderson, 23, of Longview, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud Tuesday in Tyler before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie.

According to authorities, beginning in May 2011, McCullars and Henderson created counterfeit checks which appeared to be payroll checks from businesses in East Texas. They also created fraudulent drivers’ licenses so that they could cash the counterfeit checks at check-cashing businesses. McCullars and Henderson cashed over 100 fraudulent checks resulting in over $55,000 in loss to check cashing businesses in East Texas. They were indicted by a federal grand jury on May 11, 2012. McCullars and Henderson each face up to 30 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set

TYLER – A 27-year-old Hickory, N.C., woman has pleaded guilty in Tyler to federal drug trafficking violations. Chelsea Elizabeth McDowell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.

According to prosecutors, up until January 29, 2011, McDowell conspired with others to assist in transporting methamphetamine and money obtained from selling drugs in East Texas. McDowell admitted to being responsible for distributing approximately 15 kilograms of methamphetamine to others in the area. A federal indictment was returned on April 11, 2012, charging McDowell and others with federal drug crimes. McDowell faces at least 10 years and up to life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

TOKYO (AP) – Two U.S. sailors, including one from East Texas, accused of attacking a woman on Okinawa, have been charged with rape. Local prosecutors on Tuesday formally charged the two, Seaman Christopher Browning of Athens, and Petty Officer 3rd Class Skyler Dozierwalker of Muskogee, Oklahoma, in the October 16 incident that has brought an angry outcry on the southern Japan island. Okinawa hosts more than half of the 52,000 U.S. troops in Japan. The alleged rape has heightened longstanding tensions over base-related crime, accidents and noise. Military officials have since put all U.S. troops in Japan under a strict curfew, but police on Okinawa are now investigating an airman for allegedly violating the new restrictions and punching a 13-year-old boy after a late-night drinking binge.

SMITH COUNTY — A one year old baby was found in the middle of a Smith County road. Smith County Sheriff officials tell KETK, they received a call around 8:30 yesterday morning about a child walking in the 11,000 block of Farm Road 14 near Fielder Road. Two people reportedly swerved to miss the baby, then stopped and removed the child from the road. A neighbor told them the baby belonged to a family nearby.

Authorities approached the house that the neighbors reported as the baby’s home. The door was ajar, and officials discovered an elderly woman passed out on the floor inside. After medical care, the woman was discovered to be the baby’s grandmother, and had suffered a seizure just after opening the door. The baby had walked out the open door after the woman collapsed.

The baby’s mother had left the child with the grandmother while she went to work. No charges will be filed, and everyone involved is okay.

LUFKIN — A Nacogdoches man is dead after a Monday night wreck on U.S. Highway 59 North. According to KETK, it happened about a half mile north of Winston 8 Ranch Rd, just before 10:00. According to Angelina County DPS officials, two vehicles were involved in the crash. Jamond Rashad Curl, 36, and Stephanie Dionne Chunn, 37, both of Nacogodoches, were driving northbound on Hwy 59 in separate vehicles. Curl was reportedly speeding in a 2003 Cadillac, and hit Chunn’s 2010 Ford SUV. Curl then crossed into the southbound lanes, ran off the roadway and hit a tree. He was not wearing his seat belt at the time. Curl was pronounced dead at the scene around 10:45. Chunn was uninjured.

EAST TEXAS – Alcohol propositions are in the spotlight as East Texans await results of today’s elections. In Smith County, there are four propositions on local ballots. Residents of the city of Tyler and Justice Precinct 2 have each been deciding on sales of mixed drinks in restaurants where it’s not already permitted, along with sales of beer and wine in local stores. Voters were given until 7:00 this evening to cast their ballots. You will hear election returns starting tonight at 6:00 on KTBB.

KILGORE – A motorcycle accident near the Smith/Gregg county line has killed one person. The wreck happened around 6:00 Monday morning on Farm Road 2767. Killed was Kenneth Lee Pendergraft, 49, of Tyler. The Department of Public Safety reports Pendergraft was west bound when he lost control of his motorcycle on a curve and hit some road paving equipment that was on the side of the road.

LONGVIEW – The Gregg County Sheriff’s Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying suspects involved in a robbery. Three men held up the Glass Dragon, 4701 Estes Parkway, on Saturday, November 3rd. They robbed the business at gunpoint just after 9:00pm. The photo is from a video surveillance camera at the business. It shows one of the suspects. They are thought to have escaped in a black Pontiac. You are asked to contact Investigator Doug Morgan at 903-236-8438 or Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP with any information.

TYLER (Staff/AP) — Accused murderer and kidnapper James W. Calvert has been booked into the Smith County Jail after being brought back to Tyler Monday afternoon. He’s held on a $25 million bond after being indicted Monday. According to KETK, he had been held at the Ouachita Correction Center in Louisiana since West Monroe officers caught him in a high speed chase on November 1. Officials believe the 41-year-old Calvert murdered his ex-wife at her Tyler home last week and kidnapped their four-year-old son. The boy was found safe when authorities caught up with Calvert.

CANTON — The East Texas Council of Governments, in partnership with Regional Advisory Council Trauma Service Area Regions F and G, the City of Canton, and Van Zandt County Emergency management, will conduct a Full Scale, Regional Safety Exercise today through Thursday. This 72-hour, around the clock event, based in Canton, will begin this morning at 7:00. It will incorporate local and regional emergency responders; local, regional, and state public works agencies; private business partners; and various state/federal agencies and over 60 participating hospitals through the Regional Advisory Council Trauma Service Area Regions F and G and EMTF Region 4. Counties involved are Smith, Van Zandt, Henderson, Wood, Anderson, Trinity, Shelby, Gregg, Panola, Houston, Freestone, Upshur, Franklin, and Camp.

The multi-day exercise, involving 400 to 500 participants, will test many areas of emergency management and medical response. Scenarios during the 3 day exercise will include a structural collapse, a dive rescue recovery, a confined space-low angle/high angle rescue, a dam break, a hazardous material spill a wide area search and rescue, medical special needs sheltering and two active shooter enactments.

Emergency response will be staged in Canton and the surrounding area. The exercise will begin with a scenario of a tornado that touches down in various locations across Van Zandt County. Emergency responders will attend to a structural collapse scenario at Tyler Pipe. A dive rescue recovery and a search and rescue operation will be conducted by area CERT teams at the Canton City Lake “Mill Creek Reservoir” located at 410 Arnold Paul Road in Canton. A mass fatalities/casualties scenario will be conducted at the First Monday Trade Grounds theoretically caused by a tornado during First Monday Trade Days. There will be a active shooter scenarios held at the Van Zandt County Courthouse and also at Canton Trade Days.

EAST TEXAS – Alcohol propositions are in the spotlight as East Texans who haven’t already voted head for the polls Tuesday. In Smith County, there are four propositions. Residents of the city of Tyler and Justice Precinct 2 will each decide on sales of mixed drinks in restaurants where it’s not already permitted, along with sales of beer and wine in local stores.

Early voting ended Friday in Tuesday’s general election. The early voting turnout set a record in Smith County. Smith County Elections Administrator Karen Nelson tells KETK 50,567 persons voted early. That surpassed the previous record of 49,373 set in 2008. In Gregg County, just over 46% of the registered voters voted early. Gregg County Elections Administrator Kathryn Nealy tells KETK 31,602 have voted. That is below the early vote total for the 2008 election. Nealy says the lower vote total this year could be because there were no contested local races on the ballot. Polls open at 7:00 Tuesday morning and will remain open until 7:00 that night. You will hear complete election returns starting at 6:00 p.m. on KTBB.

LONGVIEW — Longview ISD enrolled record-breaking numbers of students this fall, while enrollment declined in the city’s two other school districts. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Longview ISD’s 2012-13 enrollment is a record 8,843 students. That is up by 225 students from 2011-12 in numbers the district provided to the Texas Education Agency on Oct. 26, which is known as Snapshot Day. Snapshot Day provides a first-glimpse overview of public education in Texas with data including student attendance and demographics, along with school staffing and budget information. In Pine Tree ISD, total enrollment declined by 110 students, to 4,619. Spring Hill ISD saw enrollment dip by 14 students, to 1,913.

TYLER — A DPS trooper was involved in a car accident Monday morning on Old Omen Rd. in Tyler. KETK reports it happened near the Arrowhead Golf Course around 7:20 a.m. According to Smith County DPS officials, Trooper Abernathy swerved to miss a deer that ran out in front of him, and ran off the road. The DPS unit was the only vehicle involved, and it is said to have substantial damage. Trooper Abernathy was being checked out out by medical officials.

AUSTIN — Allegations of voter intimidation, including at least one case in East Texas, have motivated minority groups to take their claims to the Capitol. The NAACP and the MALDEF, the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund, are citing instances of voter intimidation. Lanisha Muckelroy from Rusk County claims she faced it from another voter. She says, “As I was walking by, I heard him say, I don’t need to know all that, I just need to know how can he help get this —- out of office.” NAACP counsel Robert Notzon is pursuing the case. He comments, “To make her personally have to weather that affront, repeated affront, there’s just no excuse for that.” The minority groups recommend victims gather as much information as possible and present it immediately to local authorities.

TYLER – Because of a fire, the Salvation Army in Tyler has lost some items that would be sold at their Family Store. The fire was in the back corner of the store at Bow and Spring Streets last Thursday morning. The building suffered only minimal damage.

Store manager Beverly Hilton said, “Due to the fire, we lost donations that had been left after hours outside the fence. We also lost donations inside the fence and several containers that we stored and transported donations. Among the things were several high dollar exercise equipment.” With the exercise equipment goes an unknown amount of money that could have assisted in helping those that are in need.”

Hamilton added, “Without a doubt, the biggest are the items that now have smoke damage. New toys and other items were stored at the Family Store to give a head start with the Angel Tree Program which benefits the children and seniors of the community. Almost everything that was stored is now ruined. Going back and looking, we also lost wheel chairs and walkers.”

Some of the items were being earmarked for children whose name would be on this year’s Angel Tree.

Help is being sought from anyone wanting to make sure Christmas is special for every man, woman, boy, or girl who needs a helping hand. Monetary donations can be made online at
http://www.salvationarmytyler.org or by mail at P.O. Box 2050 Tyler, Texas 75710. You should include the word “Christmas” in the memo section. Christmas toys and other items can be dropped off at The Salvation Army Family Store Monday-Saturday 10:00am to 4:00pm or schedule a pick up by calling 903-266-1635.

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at other work planned in the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

LONGVIEW – Construction crews from Texas Department of Transportation contractor Longview Bridge & Road on Monday are scheduled to begin final resurfacing operations Monday on State Highway 149 (Eastman Road) and State Highway 322 (Estes Parkway) between Interstate Highway 20 and Sysco Foods.

The work is scheduled to take approximately two weeks to complete, with the first week of work taking place on Estes Parkway and the second on Eastman Road. Crews will begin by closing the inside lanes and center turn lane on Estes Parkway for resurfacing work, including overnight lane closures through Wednesday, before swapping traffic into the inside lanes midweek so work can be done on the outside lanes.

Some weekend work may be performed as well to ensure the job is completed before the Thanksgiving holiday.

Once the work on Estes Parkway has been completed, crews will move to close the inside lanes on Eastman Road and begin the same process there. One lane will be open to traffic in each direction while the lane closures are in place. Some turns may be restricted while work is performed directly in front of driveways or in the center turn lane.

Motorists are strongly encouraged to use caution in the work area, and seek an alternate route if possible to avoid delays.

Also this week in Longview, TxDOT maintenance crews are scheduled to complete base and pavement repair work on Spur 502 (Judson Road) between Loop 281 and U.S. Highway 80 (Marshall Avenue), then move to Spur 502 between Loop 281 and U.S. Highway 259 north of Longview. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress. Motorists are
encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

TYLER – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to make pavement repairs on State Highway 64 (Fifth Street) between Robertson and U.S. Highway 69 (Broadway Avenue), then move mid-week to perform the same operations on State Highway 64 (South Glenwood Boulevard) between the water tower and State Highway 31 (Front Street). A second crew is scheduled to perform pavement repairs on Interstate Highway 20 near the US 69 and Lavender Road exits.

Also this week in Smith County, TxDOT contractor R.K. Hall is scheduled to continue approximately two months of pavement repair and resurfacing operations on State Highway 110
south of Tyler between Shiloh Road and Toll Road 49.

Also this week in Smith County, TxDOT maintenance crews are scheduled to perform pavement repairs on Interstate Highway 20 near the Willow Branch Road exit (Exit 544) just east of the Van Zandt County Line. Crews will be making repairs in both eastbound and westbound lanes.

Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zones.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation this week are scheduled to conduct fog-seal operations on the following roadways in the coming days:
*Farm Road 1803 between State Highway 31 and Farm Road 773;
*Ranch Road 3225 in Tool between State Highway 274 and the end of state maintenance;
*Ranch Road 3273 between Farm Road 59 and the end of state maintenance;
*Farm Road 59 from Farm Road 753 (Shady Oaks) to Anderson County line;
*Farm Road 1615 between SH 19 and the end of state maintenance.
Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid the long delays associated with fog seal operations.

HENDERSON — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue base and pavement repairs on SH 43 between the Henderson Star and Farm Road 1251 in New Prospect. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers and pilot vehicles will control traffic.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to begin resurfacing operations on FM 47 between FM 2475 near Lake Tawakoni State Park and Farm Road 751 in Wills Point. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

WOOD COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 1799 between U.S. Highway 80 and Farm Road 779 in Golden, and edge repairs in various locations on Farm Road 1801 east of Mineola, and on Farm Road 515 and Farm Road 2225 near Lake Fork. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

ANDERSON COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to make base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 1137 between U.S. Highway 84 and the end of state maintenance. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers and pilot vehicles will control traffic.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to resume shoulder work on Farm Road 855 between U.S. Highway 69 in Mount Selman and U.S. Highway 175 near Cuney. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man has been placed under a $20,000 bond after being charged with aggravated assault causing bodily injury to a family member with a deadly weapon. Rayford Earl King Jr., 31, was arrested around 1:45 Friday morning. He was taken into custody in an apartment in the 800 block of West Cheryl, a home he shared with his girlfriend. She told officers the two had gotten onto an argument. King is accused of grabbing her throat and threatening her with a knife. He is said to have later threatened to shot her and shoot up the apartment.

CHAPEL HILL — A Chapel Hill family is left homeless following a fire at its mobile home. KETK reports it happened just after 1:00 Friday afternoon on the 15000 block of Shady Creek Road. Officials with the Smith County Fire Marshal’s office say a person living next door called 9-1-1. Reporters were told the fire started in the water heater. The home is destroyed. No one was home at the time of the fire. The Red Cross is helping the family.

TYLER — The City of Tyler Planning and Zoning Commission will hold its regularly scheduled meeting on November 6. One agenda item under consideration will relate to a local ordinance regulating certain aspects of the sale of beer and wine in the City of Tyler, should the ballot measure scheduled for the Nov. 6 election pass. The Planning and Zoning Commission will ultimately make a recommendation to the City Council regarding the content of the local ordinance. The public will have an opportunity to provide input into the process at the meeting, scheduled for 1:30pm on November 6 at Liberty Hall, 103 East Erwin Street.

“The City has been working for several months to prepare a local ordinance that will be ready for adoption at the Nov. 13 City Council meeting,” said Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass. “We want to ensure that local guidelines are in place, should the measure pass. The Planning and Zoning Commission plays an important role in shaping what the Council may ultimately adopt.” You can go to http://www.cityoftyler.org to view the agenda for the meeting, along with a draft ordinance.

On July 25, 2012, the City Council called for the election after confirming the validity of petitions submitted to the City Clerk. At that time, Mayor Bass appointed a subcommittee of the City Council to begin developing a draft ordinance to address the aspects of this issue that are within the jurisdiction of the City to regulate. “I was surprised at how little is actually left up to the discretion of the City to control,” said Councilmember Mark Whatley, who led the subcommittee. “Most of the regulations are mandated by state law. In some situations, we can be more flexible; however, in most cases we were not able to be more restrictive than state law allowed.”

TYLER – Authorities have arrested 17 Smith County parents who allegedly violated court orders requiring them to pay child support. The roundup was conducted Friday by Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith, with assistance from the Tyler Police Department, Smith County Adult Probation, the U.S. Marshals Service, Pct. 2 Constable Andy Dunklin, Pct. 3 Constable Jimmy Blackmon, and Pct. 4 Constable John G. Smith. Friday’s sweep comes on the heels of a similar roundup in Harrison County; both efforts were in conjunction with the Texas Attorney General’s Child Support Division. The sweeps focused on parents who were the subjects of arrest warrants for alleged contempt of court.

After holding a 4:30am briefing at the Smith County Emergency Operations Center, Sheriff Smith dispatched teams of law enforcement officers to locate and arrest the parents before they had a chance to leave their homes for the day. Child Support Division investigators aided the sheriff by providing logistical assistance to locate missing parents. Delinquent parents arrested on civil warrants face up to six months in jail.

According to the AG’s office, parents with child support warrants should contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. Parents who have fallen behind on their child support payments – but are not subject to warrants for their arrest, should immediately contact the Attorney General’s Child Support Division at 800-252-8014 to make payment arrangements.

ATHENS — It took less than 30 minutes for a Henderson County jury to sentence Horace “Joe” Barker, 47, of Athens, to life in prison Friday morning after jurors convicted him of aggravated sexual assault late Thursday night. According to KETK and the Henderson County DA’s office, the conviction stems from the 2003 aggravated sexual assault of Barker’s six year old daughter. During sentencing, the jury heard evidence that Barker was previously convicted in 2007 of sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl and had physically abused several women with whom he’d had relationships over twenty years.

TYLER — A setback for a defendant in the so-called Mineola child sex ring case. Tyler’s 12th Court of Appeals has denied an appeal by Dennis Boyd Pittman. Earlier reports said Pittman’s lawyer thought the outcome of the case would have been different if the court had allowed the showing of taped interviews of the children in the case. According to KETK, Pittman was convicted of engaging in organized criminal activity. He was sentenced to life in prison.

TYLER — Today, participants from all over East Texas will join together to Lighten Up and make East Texas a healthier community in which to live. Sponsored in part by Brookshire Grocery Company, Allen Samuels Tyler, and Lighthouse Graphics, this event, the first of its kind in East Texas, will be held at Bergfeld Park in Tyler from 9:00am to noon.

Lighten Up East Texas is a regional weight loss challenge, created by the Fit City Coalition, in which individuals, teams, and communities can compete to lose weight and improve their health over a six-month period. Participants will receive entries into a grand prize drawing for every 5 percent of weight lost, tracked from an official weigh-in at the start and end of the challenge. There is no cost to participate. Participants can weigh in on November 3 at the event, or they can choose from an official weigh in site. Donated by Allen Samuels Tyler, the grand prize drawing will be a new 2013 Dodge Dart. Other prizes will be given away as well.

The event will feature vendor booths with health resources, the first official weigh-in for the competition, Inspiration Award winners, and much more. Organizations interested in participating with a booth or demonstration must register through the website, listed below.

George Roberts, chief executive officer of NET Health and co-chair of Fit City; Dave Berry, editor of the Tyler Morning Telegraph and Fit City co-chair; and Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass are all voicing their support of the effort. You can visit http://www.LightenUpEastTexas.com for more information, including official weigh-in.

LONGVIEW (AP) — The new owner of two East Texas daily newspapers has sold 11 East Texas weeklies included in the purchase.

Texas Community Media LLC announced that it has sold the weeklies acquired earlier this year as part of its purchase of the daily Longview News-Journal and Marshall News Messenger.

Texas Community Media President Stephen McHaney, president of Texas Community Media, says the sales closed Thursday.

Northeast Texas Publishing acquired the Atlanta Citizens Journal, Bowie County Citizens Tribune, The Cass County Sun, The Pittsburg Gazette and The Daingerfield Bee. Bluebonnet Publishing purchased the Mineola Monitor, Wood County Democrat and Lindale News & Times. Bardwell Ink bought the Gladewater Mirror and The Big Sandy & Hawkins Journal. Dan and Mary Ann Moore purchased the Grand Saline Sun.

TYLER — A resident of Justice Precinct 2 in Tyler is planning to file an injunction against the City of Tyler and Smith County on Monday. According to the resident’s lawyer, Matthew L. Thigpen, the injunction will prevent “tabulation and certification of votes for Proposition 1 and 2.” The filing is based on alleged improper election procedure by the City of Tyler and Smith County. All officials involved in the injunction have been notified. In the letter sent to KETK, it is stated the person hopes to promote “an open and transparent discussion of the petition procedure followed by officials.”

Buy Local First, a group that supports the sale of alcohol locally, has since responded to the upcoming injunction and released a statement that reads, in part:

“Once again we stand by the County Commissioners and City Council and their staffs who did their jobs as required by Texas law. The opposition has now raised this issue in three jurisdictions, City of Tyler, Smith County and Sulphur Springs and in all three their claims were resoundingly rejected. The consultants hired by these groups have yet to be disclosed and it is clear by the timing of their actions today that they are attempting to influence the outcome of Tuesday’s election. It is clear they know they are losing. So what they couldn’t win at the ballot box, they will now try to win in the Courts.

“Every citizen of Tyler and Smith County should be outraged at these frivolous actions and show their displeasure by making their voices heard on Tuesday with a resounding vote “FOR” Props 1 & 2 on both the City of Tyler AND the Smith County JP 2 ballot.”

CENTER (AP) — Authorities in a Texas county where a drug enforcement program was allegedly used to shake down black and Latino highway travelers are returning more than $100,000 taken during the traffic stops. The stops in Tenaha near the Louisiana border often resulted in people being forced to hand over cash without any charges being filed. They have led to multiple lawsuits and criminal investigations.

District Attorney Kenneth Florence says Shelby County has dismissed all pending forfeiture cases, even those without a connection to Tenaha. He says the cases were dismissed in an effort to move on after an agreement was reached in August to settle a class action lawsuit.

The settlement, which has yet to receive a judge’s approval, will require the county to eliminate racial profiling from law enforcement.

KILGORE — Police say they have suspended the hunt for a man suspected of starting a fire at an apartment facility in Kilgore. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, officials were searching for a male wearing a black jacket, no shirt, and blue jean shorts who reportedly ran from police after they responded to a call of a residential fire shortly after 10:00 Thursday morning. The search was concentrated in the woods near the Danville Road loop area. No one was injured in the fire at apartments in the 3500 block of Stone Road.

LONGVIEW — Crews battled a large fire Thursday at the Regency Apartments in the 700 block of Gilmer Road in Longview. According to KETK, it reportedly began when roofers working on the site caught the roof on fire with a torch. Longview firefighters were called to the scene just after noon. It took them about 40 minutes to bring the fire under control in the complex’s Building #8. No people were injured, but one dog died in the blaze. Firefighters went door to door to get everyone out of the building. Twelve people have been displaced by the fire. The Red Cross is assisting those individuals.

TYLER — The Tyler ISD Foundation Board of Directors has decided to suspend any plans for a golf tournament during this year’s plan of work. Historically, the Board hosted the Gil Hitt Memorial Golf Tournament, in memory of the former school board president and local business leader. The tournament has been held almost 20 years and honored Gil Hitt for about a dozen years. “Our plan is to create a permanent endowment named the Gil Hitt Memorial Leadership Fund. This fund will exist in perpetuity — no donations will ever be spent,” stated Larry Goddard, executive director of the Foundation. “The interest earned will be given annually for a classroom teacher grant—long after we are all gone, there will be a teacher assisted in the name of Gil Hitt.”

The golf tournament had been in mid-June and was held last year in early November on a trial basis. No golf tourney will be held as planned on Monday, November 5th. “This will be a fitting tribute for a fine man. Classroom teachers and principals need discretionary funding. And this decision will guarantee that Gil Hitt’s life will be remembered forever,” said Goddard. “Last year’s golf tournament netted $1711.11. Given the rising costs of staff and volunteer time and fees for country clubs, this is the best decision. We are not cancelling the tourney idea but as one director said, ‘Let’s let it rest and if we see good reason to bring it back, it will be stronger than ever.’”

A 5K/10K run is being planned for February and possibly a formal gala in the spring. “It seems there is a golf tourney every weekend and more of the tourneys are having problems finding underwriters and the teams’ costs are a ‘push.’ We started this fundraising tourney almost 20 years ago and had such success—we see two or three golf tournaments a week for some nonprofit in our area,” said Goddard. “The field is full and we need an innovative plan of action for finding resources for Tyler ISD to inspire learning, enrich teaching, and enhancing opportunities for District students, teachers, staff and their families.”

Questions can be directed to [email protected] and donations may be mailed to: Tyler ISD Foundation, 315 N. Broadway, Suite 401, Tyler, Texas 75702 designated for the Gil Hitt Memorial Leadership Endowment.