KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW — A Longview man was taken to a local hospital for smoke inhalation Sunday afternoon after a fire destroyed a portion of his home. According to the Longview Fire Department, fire crews were dispatched at around 1:00 to the 300 block of Millie Street in connection with a fire that started in a bedroom of the residence. Officials said the fire spread from the bedroom of the home into other parts of the residence. The fire also damaged a car parked near the home and caused some damage to a neighboring residence. Officials say it took crews about three hours to clear the scene. Extra crews were sent to assist with the fire due to the triple digit temps. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

KILGORE — Kilgore College is mourning the loss of former Lady Ranger basketball coach Evelyn Blalock who died Saturday in Longview after a lengthy battle with cancer. According to Kilgore College President Dr. Bill Holda, Blalock is best described as a pioneer, a trailblazer in the history of KC women’s athletics. “As the first person to coach women’s basketball at KC, she set a standard for the program by winning three national championships,” Holda said. Evelyn was passionate, committed and loved to win. She inspired her players to reach goals which were at or above their own ability levels.”

Blalock taught at KC from 1965-1997, beginning the basketball program in 1979. In addition to the three national championships, Blalock’s teams accrued numerous other awards including six conference titles, 14-straight playoff appearances and six NJCAA National Tournament appearances. Her overall record at KC was 390-156, winning 71% of games played.

“As one of her many long-time colleagues, I join the entire KC family in mourning her passing. While we will miss her, I am happy for her that her trials and sufferings are no more,” Holda said. “She will forever be in our memory.” Funeral services for Blalock are set for 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 7, at at Rader Funeral Home in Longview. Visitation is also scheduled for Tuesday, from 11:00am to 1:00pm.

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

WHITEHOUSE — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled perform pavement repairs on State Highway 110 between Farm Road 346 in Whitehouse and Hagan Road. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

Also this week, contractor Reynolds & Kay is scheduled to continue several weeks of resurfacing on Spur 147 (Gentry Parkway) between West Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and U.S. Highway 271 (Beckham Street). Daytime lane closures will be in effect, and motorists are encouraged to be on the lookout for heavy trucks entering and leaving the job site.

Finally, TxDOT is scheduled to sever County Road 2297 (Brewer Road) on Monday, June 13, as part of ongoing construction on Segment 5 of Loop 49. Residents will have access to Farm Road 756 (Paluxy Drive) via SCR 2191.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs in various locations on Farm Road 2274 between State Highway 204 in Ponta and US 79. The work is being done in preparation for a seal coat application later this summer. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

GREGG COUNTY — Beginning Wednesday, June 8, the Texas Department of Transportation will be closing Farm Road 2011 to all traffic between Farm Road 2087 and Farm Road 349 while damage to the bridge in that area is repaired. The closure is expected to last through June 21. Detours will be posted.

Also this week in Kilgore, TxDOT maintenance crews are scheduled to conclude pavement repairs on U.S. Highway 259 Business in Kilgore between Lantrip Street to the south end of the US 259 Bypass, then move to State Highway 42 Business between Lantrip Street and Kilgore Street. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform resurfacing operations on Farm Road 13 between State Highway 42 in Price and the Cherokee County Line.

A second crew is scheduled to continue base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 1662 between Farm Road 1798 in Laneville and Farm Road 2753 in Anadarko. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

Also in Rusk County, on Monday, June 13, contractor Pinto Construction, Inc., of Nacogdoches, is scheduled to begin repairing and resurfacing Farm Road 1251 between Farm Road 2658 and Farm Road 3231 in the Martin Creek Lake area. The roadway will be closed to thru-traffic during the work. The approximate $570,000 project let to contract in May and is scheduled to take approximately two months to complete.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs in various locations on Ranch Road 2970 between Farm Road 753 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.

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to begin resurfacing operations on State Highway 294 between U.S. Highway 79 and Farm Road 322. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

Also this week, contractor Knife River is scheduled to open both sides of the State Highway 155 widening project between Frankston and Pert just south of the bridges in Frankston. Knife River will continue resurfacing operations on the northbound lanes and resume work on the Caddo Creek Bridge in the coming weeks.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repairs at the intersection of State Highway 243 and State Highway 198 in Canton, followed by similar work in various locations on State Highway 64 between U.S. Highway 80 in Wills Point and Interstate Highway 20. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes to avoid delays.

WOOD COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 14 between Farm Road 49 and SH 154. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

Also this week, TxDOT contractor Nixon Engineering is scheduled to begin repairs to the damaged bridge rail on the westbound U.S. Highway 80 bridge over Lake Fork Creek.
One lane will be closed at all times during the repair.

LAKE TYLER – The body of a missing five year old has been found in the waters of Lake Tyler. And charges may be filed in the accidental drowning. Found at the end of a pier by a boater was the body of Joseph Cooks of Flint. The youngster, who did not know how to swim, was not wearing a floatation device.

Game Warden Chris Green says the mother was fishing on the pier while her kids were wading in the water. Green says when she went back to her car for a moment, that’s when the boy disappeared. Green says this week, several officials will meet to decide if the parents will be charged in the death. He added, “Someone needs to be held accountable for this unfortunate death out here. It’s just not acceptable. We have to be more responsible parents.”

TYLER – Investigators are trying to determine what caused a couple of Tyler area fires on Saturday. A two story home in the 3300 block of Farm Road 724 was destroyed by fire Saturday afternoon. A large explosion was heard from the house, and then the fire was seen. No one was at home when the fire started and no injures were reported.

And a fire damaged several homes at the corner of Duncan Street and the Old Gladewater Highway. The fire started in one home and then spread to two others. No injuries were reported.

TYLER — For $50, you get a chance to win a 2011 Dodge Ram quad cab pickup and help out a good cause. Only 1,000 tickets are being sold, with all proceeds going to the Children of the Tyler Police Department Scholarship Fund. All you need do is stop by Allen Samuels East Texas Dodge, Ram, Chrysler, and Jeep at 3120 SSW Loop 323 or go by the Tyler Police Department at 711 W. Ferguson. You can go to http://www.allensamuelstyler.com for more details.

AUSTIN (AP) — The Texas Youth Commission has announced that it will close three of its 10 correctional facilities by the end of August. The TYC board said Friday that it will shut down facilities in Crockett, Beaumont and Brownwood and consolidate operations at McLennan State Juvenile Correctional Facility Units I and II. The board, stating that it was following direction from the Legislature, said its decisions would affect the placement of about 400 youth and 700 staff at those locations. The board cited the agency’s budget reduction of $116.9 million for the next biennium and significantly reduced youth population as key to the decision to close the facilities. An additional 50 positions in the agency’s central office and 73 positions in the regional and parole offices will also be eliminated.

AUSTIN – A Smith County man is one of three persons appointed by the governor to of the Assistive and Rehabilitative Services Council. The council assists the commissioner of the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services in developing rules and policies for the agency.

Among those named to the panel was Dr. Thomas W. Grahm of Tyler. He’s a board-certified neurosurgeon and a partner at Tyler Neurosurgical Associates P.A. He is president of the Texas Association of Neurological Surgeons, and a member of the Texas Medical Association, American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons. He is also a member of the North American Spine and Skull Base societies, Smith County Medical Society, and American Society of Neurophysiological Monitoring. Grahm received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and a medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

TYLER — The Tyler Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced that this year’s Race netted $286,000 in proceeds. Spokespeople say the 13th annual Race, held at Bergfeld Park on May 7th, had an outstanding year with over 5,600 runners and walkers registered. Additionally, The Power of 10 Pledge Program, established in 2008, had a record year with individuals raising $57,487. Spokespeople say many East Texans whose lives are affected by breast cancer will benefit from the grants which will be funded by the money raised through the race. 75 percent of the net proceeds will stay in Smith County for local grants. The remaining 25 percent is used to fund the Susan G. Komen for the Cure National Research Grants Program.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure was built on a promise made by Nancy Brinker to her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, to make every effort to eradicate breast cancer. In the past 25 years, the organization has raised more than $1 billion to fight breast cancer through research, education, screening and treatment, making it the leading source of nonprofit funding.

TYLER – One person has been killed in an accident on Tyler’s southeast side. It happened in a three vehicle wreck on the loop at University Boulevard late Friday afternoon. Dead at the scene was John Michele Ruiz, 29, of Tyler. The preliminary investigation indicates that Ruiz was westbound on the loop on a Yamaha motorcycle. A SUV had been eastbound on the Loop and made a U-Turn at the intersection of University Boulevard to travel westbound on the Loop. Investigators say that Ruiz tried to pass the SUV on the left of the vehicle and hit the driver side of it. This caused Ruiz to lose control and hit the concrete median in the center of the loop. The motorcycle then vaulted over the median and hit a pickup. The pickup was stopped for traffic in the left turn lane on the eastbound side of the Loop.

LAKE TYLER – The body of a missing five year old has been found in the waters of Lake Tyler. The youngster’s body was discovered under a boat ramp at the lake. He is identified as Joseph Cooks of Flint. Authorities say the youngster, who did not know how to swim, was not wearing a floatation device.

LUFKIN — A motorcycle accident claimed the life of a Lufkin woman early Friday. Maria Huerta, 42, died at Memorial Medical Center at 3:32am following the 12:19am accident, Lufkin Police said. Her husband and driver, Jesse Huerta, 48, was also taken to Memorial with a broken shoulder. Jesse Huerta reportedly lost control of the bike after hitting a curb in the 400 block of Frank Avenue by the downtown post office.

TYLER – A 51-year-old Tyler man has pleaded guilty to federal health care fraud charges. Nicodemus Udofia pleaded guilty on May 31 to health care fraud and illegal remunerations charges before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie.

According to information presented in court, from 2006 to 2008, Udofia, the owner of a medical equipment business in Tyler, submitted claims to Medicare and Medicaid for medical equipment and supplies which were not provided to beneficiaries. As a result of these claims, Udofia unlawfully obtained more than $50,000 from Medicare and Medicaid. Udofia also offered to pay illegal remunerations, or cash kickbacks, in exchange for patient information that he could use to submit claims to Medicare and Medicaid.

Udofia was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 3, 2010. Udofia faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

TYLER — With high temperatures once again making their presence felt, officials in Tyler are revisiting their heat plan. Twelve years ago a coalition was formed to address the issue of high temperatures and to develop a heat plan. An annual review is conducted by local police, fire, public health and community groups to ensure the information remains current and the community is aware of its contents. It is a resource to safe havens to get relief from the heat.

The Northeast Texas Public Health District reminds everyone that heat kills. A heat advisory means that a period of hot temperatures is expected and will create a situation in which heat illnesses are possible; they are announced by local weather reports. Those at highest risk for death or illness from heat (groups without access to air conditioning for at least a few hours of the day) are: the elderly, socially isolated individuals (homebound, homeless), the physically disabled, those with chronic medical conditions, infants, and those taking certain medications (neuroleptics, anticholinergics).

Public health officials conclude that access to air conditioning is the most critical intervention to decrease the human impact of a heat wave. During the hottest parts of the day, the note, it is important to seek additional shelter from prolonged heat exposure. You are advised to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air conditioned room, and stay out of the sun as much as possible. You should also check on relatives and neighbors that may be at increased risk. Civic groups and public spaces offer access to air conditioned areas. Welfare concerns may be referred to your local fire department or police department, or the Smith County Sheriff’s Department. In case of extreme emergency you’re urged to call 911. For additional information or a copy of the Heat Plan, you can contact Patty Roberts at [email protected] or 903-535-0053.

TYLER — The John Tyler High School and Robert E. Lee High School graduation ceremonies take place this weekend at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium, located at 609 Fair Park Drive in Tyler. Here’s the full schedule with contingency plans:

Robert E. Lee High School Graduation
Friday, June 3, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.

John Tyler High School Graduation
Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.

Staffers scheduled both graduation ceremonies for live airing on http://wwwtylerisd.org and TISD TV Channel 19. Any changes to the graduation plans will be communicated via the media, TISD TV-19, AlertNow phone messaging system, Facebook, Twitter and the district website.

John Tyler High School Contingency Plan
#1-Rose Stadium Sunday, June 5 2:00 p.m.
#2-Rose Stadium Sunday, June 5 5:00 p.m.
#3-Rose Stadium Sunday, June 5 8:00 p.m.