KTBB News, Weather, Talk

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

TYLER — On Tuesday, TxDOT, in conjunction with the Union Pacific Railroad, plans to close various lanes on West Loop 323 just south of State Highway 31 (Front Street) at the railroad bridge to allow Union Pacific to make repairs and upgrades to the bridge structure. The work, which is scheduled to be conducted between 9:00am and 4:00pm, should take one day to complete. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays caused by this work.

Also in Smith County, TxDOT maintenance crews this week are scheduled to begin resurfacing operations on Farm Road 3341 in the Lake Tyler area between Farm Road 346 south of Whitehouse and the end of state maintenance. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

GREGG COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform edge and shoulder repairs in various locations on Farm Road 2275 (George Richie Road). Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base repairs on Ranch Road 2588, between U.S. Highway 175 near LaRue, and the end of state maintenance. Daytime lane closures will be in effect 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. 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 seal coat operations on Farm Road 1817 between U.S. Highway 287 in Elkhart and Farm Road 323, followed upon completion by the same work on Farm Road 2330 between State Highway 19 north of Montalba and Farm Road 860. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic. Loose gravel may be present for several days following a seal coat application.

WOOD COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform resurfacing operations on U.S. Highway 80 east of Mineola between Loop 564 and Farm Road 2422, and in various locations on US 80 in and around Hawkins. 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.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to begin several days of base and pavement repairs on Interstate 20 between Farm Road 859 north of Canton and the Smith County Line. 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.

JACKSONVILLE — State Representative Chuck Hopson attends the field day and forestry tour hosted by the Texas Forestry Association at the tree farm of Phillip and Norleine Power on Saturday. During the visit, Mr. and Mrs. Power received a resolution from the Texas House of Representatives to commemorate their recognition as the Texas Forestry Association’s Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year.

According to Hopson, “The Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year competition recognizes private landowners for the exceptional job they are doing of enhancing the forest on their property and their efforts to promote the practice of sustainable forestry to other landowners and the public. Phillip and Norleine Power’s implementation of tree farm stewardship best practices reflects an understanding of how careful planning today can have immense benefits for the future.”

In 2008, Mr. and Mrs. Powers’s tree farm was awarded the Stewardship recognition from the Texas Forest Service, the farm was honored in 2009 by the Cherokee County Soil and Water Conservation District, and in 2009, the Powerses were recognized as a Zone winner in the state Tree Farm competition.

TYLER — Liquor could soon boost Smith County coffers. According to KETK, state officials have finally given liquor stores a “go ahead” to sell large quantities of alcohol. Earlier this year the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission put a moratorium on liquor sales in Smith County, but some new revisions will bring big business to local distributors. When Winona went wet, the TABC continued to allow restaurants to get their liquor across county lines. Now state officials say restaurants will also be required to buy their alcohol only from distributors in the county. Local distributors say it’s about time. Restaurants will not be able to get liquor from other counties starting January 1st.

MARSHALL (AP) – A federal prosecutor says an east Texas man has been charged with sexually exploiting children in his traveling rodeo act. U.S. Attorney John M. Bales said Friday that Rodney Ray Hayes of Linden was indicted and charged with four counts of transporting minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. The 44-year-old man was released Friday after posting a $100,000 bond. A phone number for him could not be found. His attorney could not immediately be reached. The Tuesday indictment states that Hayes, also known as the “Texas Kid,” was a professional rodeo performer who had children working and traveling with him to various states. If convicted, Hayes faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating what they term a double homicide. Police say they received a call around 3:06 a.m. Saturday from an unknown person stating that someone had been shot in the Line Street Alley. Officers responded to the area of Line Street and discovered a man lying in the front yard of 909 E. Line who was deceased from a gunshot wound. Upon further investigation officers discovered the front door to the residence of 909 E. Line open and observed a second victim lying on the floor. Officers found a woman who was also deceased from a gunshot wound. The male victim is identified as 49-year-old Pedro Flores of 1418 N. Haynie, Tyler. The female victim is identified as 38-year-old Felisha Mosley, who lived at the residence where the victims were found.

Tyler Police Department Investigators responded to the scene. According to a news release, investigators have been working on the identity of the victims and looking for evidence that leads to the identity of the suspect or suspects. Investigators believe that a possible motive may be related to illegal narcotics. Anyone with information about the suspects involved in this crime is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department, at 903-531-1000, or Crimestoppers, at 903-597-CUFF (903-597-2833). Crimestoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to arrests and charges filed against the suspects in this, or any, felony case.

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.