KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — One person has been arrested and another is being sought in connection with a vehicle burglary. It happened around 4:00 Friday morning in the 500 block of Eisenhower Drive. While checking the area, officers located two individuals matching the description of the suspects and carrying a black bag. The suspects fled on foot when they noticed the police but officers were able to apprehend a juvenile. Stolen property was found in the bag and the juvenile was charged with one count of burglary of a vehicle. He was released to his grandparents. Officers managed to identify the suspect that fled and warrants for evading arrest and burglary of a vehicle have been issued for him.

KILGORE — A Kilgore woman was jailed Thursday morning after police said she threatened her common-law husband with a kitchen knife. According to arrest reports, Juanita Ann Strong, 36, remained jailed Thursday on bonds totaling $2,000, charged with assault causing bodily injury and terroristic threat. Police were dispatched to the home in the 3300 block of FM 1252 about 2:15. He told authorities that Strong hit him in the face with her fist repeatedly and threatened to cut his throat with a kitchen knife after a verbal argument. Police said witnesses at the scene confirmed the victim’s testimony.

MINEOLA — Union Pacific officials are estimating cleanup to take up to a week after a Wednesday morning derailment near Mineola. According to Union Pacific spokeswoman Raquel Espinoza, crews from Fort Worth are bringing special equipment to the westbound track running along CR 2790 west of Mineola. She said it would take about a week for the site to be cleared. Once the site has been cleaned up, UP officials said they would be able to investigate what caused the 23 cars to derail. Authorities said there were no injuries reported and no hazardous materials spilled in the incident. Espinoza said she was checking with authorities to find out whether the rail had been opened.

TYLER – The race for District 6 in the Texas House has become contested. Tylerite Matt Schaefer announced yesterday he will run in the Republican primary for the post now held by Leo Berman of Tyler. Schaefer said his campaign will be aimed at the core functions of Texas government. He says, “We have to get better at the basics.” Schaefer went on to say, “Like Washington, there is always a strong tendency in Austin to do more and take more, as in more regulations and more taxes. I believe Austin should do less and take less.”

Schaefer made his announcement at Stewart’s Donnybrook Automotive. “When I think about whether or not to pass a new law, I’m going to think about the Stewart family business. Will the Stewarts have less freedom under this law? Will their jobs be harder? Will they have to pay more taxes? The answers to these questions will be very important to me,” Schaefer said.

Schaefer is a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy Reserve and recently returned from a tour in western Afghanistan. He is currently the East Texas Regional Director for U.S. Senator John Cornyn, but will resign from that position to focus on the election and to pursue private business interests. Schaefer has a law degree and has prior legislative experience working as a policy advisor to the chairman of the Sunset Commission during the 81st Legislative Session. He is married to Jasilyn Schaefer, who directs the Tyler Jr. College Apache Belles.

TYLER – The City of Tyler’s sales tax revenues deposited for the month of July have increased 2.66% as compared to July 2010, resulting in a 3.4% cumulative year-to-date increase. According to figures from the state comptroller’s office, the reported revenue of $2,601,235 is comprised of $1,734,157 general sales tax revenue and $867,078 half-cent sales tax revenue. The figures represent receipts from May 2011 collections as there is a two-month lag before taxes are reported and remitted back to the City from the State.

“We are monitoring sales tax revenues closely to see how they are trending in preparation for the 2011-2012 budget proposal,” explained City Manager Mark McDaniel. A proposed budget will be presented to the city council August 10th. “Thus far we have seen slow and steady growth in our revenues; which is a promising sign. However, we will remain cautious in our budgeting to ensure we are able to balance our budget moving into the next fiscal year.”

The city took aggressive steps in 2009 and 2010 in response to the economic downturn, freezing as many as 140 vacancies and curtailing spending to ensure expenditures did not exceed revenues. “The steps we took in the last two years have positioned us well as the economy slowly recovers,” added McDaniel. “Had we not tightened our belts and made tough decisions then, we would still be struggling in the next fiscal year.”

TYLER — A 63-year-old Christianburg, Virginia man has pleaded guilty to child pornography violations in East Texas. Charles Abner Richey, Jr. pleaded guilty Thursday to coercion and enticement of minors before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie. Richey faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

According to information presented in court, from April 19, 2011 to May 5, 2011, Richey used a computer to communicate with a minor in an attempt to engage in sexual activity. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on June 2, 2011, charging Richey with federal child pornography violations.

TYLER — The intersection of West Ferguson and Bois D’Arc has temporarily been converted to a three-way stop. The existing signals will be replaced with new pole foundations, poles, electronics and wiring as part of the Downtown Signal Modernization Project.

Stop signs for all three approaches have been erected on poles and these conditions are expected to continue for up to two or more weeks. Drivers are encouraged to drive safely and use caution while workers are present.

MANGUM, OKLA. (AP) — An Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agent continued his testimony in the trial of a former warden’s wife accused of helping a prisoner she allegedly fell in love with escape. Agent Richard Williams testified Thursday about evidence collected from a mobile home where Bobbi Parker and Randolph Dial were found in 2005. KFOR-TV reports that the evidence consisted of letters and cards that were exchanged between the two, including a letter in which Parker wrote that the Dial may be in the last chapter of his life. Greer County prosecutors allege Parker helped Dial escape from the Oklahoma State Reformatory in 1994. Parker’s attorneys say Dial held her hostage until she was rescued at a Campti, Texas, chicken ranch, in Shelby County. Defense attorneys say the letters Parker wrote were a survival tactic.

HENDERSON — A Henderson meat processing plant has until August 15 to correct violations of city health codes or face additional fines, City Manager Mike Barrow said. Sadler’s Smokehouse on Frisco Street was cited and fined $14,000 this past week for two health code violations. One had to do with a nauseous odor emitting from the business, and the other was the unauthorized discharge of wastewater, Barrow said. “We’ll have another day in court if these problems aren’t remedied by the middle of next month,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of complaints from residents and business owners near the property about how bad the smell is.”

James Reed, president and CEO of Sadler’s, said the company is working with the city to resolve the problem and expects to meet the deadline. “We had an engineering study commissioned as soon as we became aware of the problem and will begin construction this week on rebuilding the retaining wall of the lagoon that needs to be fixed,” Reed said. Sadler’s has hired 7-H Construction of Tyler to supervise the renovations, Reed said. Total cost of bringing the plant into compliance with the city codes will be about $100,000. “We’re trying to do it better this time around than the original construction, so that we won’t have a repeat of this problem,” Reed said.

Some of the violations were discovered as the result of routine inspections by city health inspectors, while others were investigated as the result of specific complaints called into city offices, Barrow said. “This is a long-established business, and we understand its importance to the local economy, but we have environmental laws in place and they must comply the same as any other individual or business,” Barrow said. Sadler’s has been in business in Henderson since 1948. The company expanded and relocated in 1984, and opened the 300,000-square-foot processing plant on a 40-acre business site.

HENDERSON — Residents of Henderson will have a chance to vote on two alcohol-related referendums in November. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. A petition drive by the Henderson 1st Committee collected more than enough valid signatures to place the measures on the ballot, Rusk County Elections Administrator Kathie Wittner said Wednesday.

One initiative would allow the sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption, which would allow grocery and convenience stores to sell beer and wine but would not permit packaged liquor sales. The second would allow for the sale of mixed beverages in restaurants by food and beverage certificate holders, which would permit restaurants to serve mixed drinks without a private club license. Wittner plans on bringing the matter before the Rusk County Commissioners Court at its Aug. 8 meeting. The court must call the election.

Claudia Morgan-Gray, one of the proponents of the proposition, said she’s excited about the response the petitions generated. “We haven’t encountered any kind of strong or organized opposition to our proposals,” Morgan-Gray said. Mayor J.W. “Buzz” Fullen said he is remaining neutral on allowing alcohol sales in the city.

TYLER – A two-alarm fire has extensively damaged a home 2103 Glass Avenue. It was reported shortly before 5:00 Wednesday afternoon. The homeowner arrived at the house to find it on fire. Tyler fire investigators believe the fire started in the living room near an air conditioning unit. One person was transported from the scene to an area hospital for an unrelated medical issue.

TYLER — One person has been arrested following a report of a woman being assaulted on the campus of U.T Tyler. Shortly before 9:15 Tuesday night, she was jogging on Varsity Drive at Old Omen Road when the assault occurred. The woman told officers a man grabbed her and attempted to drag her toward the tree line between Old Omen Road and parking lot 7. The man began groping the victim’s vaginal area and breasts. The victim screamed several times. A passing motorist noticed the incident taking place and slowed down. At that time, the offender released the victim and ran from the scene toward parking lot 7.

The University of Texas at Tyler police have arrested in the case Dearion Deshon Dews, 19. He was booked into the Smith County Jail last night on the charge of attempted sexual assault. His bond was set at $100,000 by Judge Randall Rogers. Neither the victim nor the suspect are U.T. Tyler Students.

According to U.T. Tyler Police Chief Mike Medders, “A University of Texas at Tyler police officer located an individual near the scene of the crime matching the description given by the victim. Evidence was obtained in relation to the offense, and the suspect subsequently confessed.”

TYLER – In a couple of months there will be a vacancy in the Diocese of Tyler. Bishop Alvaro Corrada has been appointed Bishop of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Bishop Corrada, who has been in Tyler ten years, will be leaving in September. The post will remain vacant until Pope Benedict XVI names his successor.

LONGVIEW — Longview Police are warning people to be on guard against telephone scams. These scams include calls from people pretending to work for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), or other law enforcement agencies. The caller will contact the victim and explain they are with an agency. They then tell the victim that if they do not pay them money immediately, usually several hundred dollars they will be arrested.

The Longview Police Department reminds citizens not to give out any pertinent information over the telephone. If someone contacts them they need to hang up the phone and contact the police immediately. Anyone can be a target of these scams.

TYLER — Police in Tyler are following up on an incident involving a two traffic accidents and a shooting. Shortly after 12:15 Yesterday afternoon, Tyler Police received a 911 call about a person being shot. A neighbor stated that the victim, who had been shot in the face, was in her driveway in the 8300 block of Garrett Drive. Investigators at this time believe that the shooting was self-inflicted; however, it is unknown if it was accidental or intentional. The victim has been identified as Brandon Laird, 28. Laird is listed in critical condition but is expected to live. The incident is currently under investigation. Police say further details will be released when available.

Tyler Officers assigned to the shooting on Garrett Drive were responding with emergency lights and siren. Just before 12:30 Officer Kerri Long notified dispatcher she had been involved in a collision in the intersection of Grande and South Broadway. Officer Long was traveling south bound on South Broadway and entered the intersection with her emergency equipment on. A pickup traveling east bound on Grande entered the intersection and collided with the passenger side of the patrol vehicle.

Officer Long, a nine year veteran of the Tyler Police Department, was transported to East Texas Medical Center by East Texas EMS. She was last listed in good condition with minor injuries, and her release was pending. The driver of the pickup truck was not injured and was released at the scene.

Tyler Police Officers also investigated another accident at the same location involving three vehicles. A vehicle stopped at the intersection for the officer’s accident and was struck from behind by a vehicle. That vehicle in turn was struck from behind by a third vehicle. The driver of the first vehicle was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. The collisions remain under investigation.