KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The Tyler Fire Department battled a blaze at a residence at 2802 Pollard Drive. The initial call was received at 9:45 Tuesday morning. Five engines and one Ladder Company, along with a district chief and an investigator, responded to the scene. Firefighters reported heavy smoke conditions upon arrival and quickly worked to bring the fire under control. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Tyler Fire Marshal’s Office. At least one occupant was in the residence at the time of the fire. There were no people reported injured, but KETK reports a puppy died. Authorities say additional details will be released as they become available.

AUSTIN — An East Texas-linked bill that allows for background checks for some college students sailed through the Senate and now moves to the Texas House. State Senator Tommy Williams’s legislation would give state colleges and universities the ability to check DPS files to find out whether students who want to live in on campus housing face pending charges. Williams says, “The reason for this is pretty straightforward. We had crimes that were committed on several of our campuses that happened to be at Blinn College and Kilgore College. One was a sexual assault.” Others included burglary in a dorm, and the suspect had a history of that crime. Williams says now all schools can do is check a public website. A similar bill died in the House in 2011.

TYLER — TXU Energy on Tuesday announced a new, $5 million commitment to TXU Energy Aid, termed the largest bill-payment assistance program among all electricity providers in the United States. The investment comes on top of $25 million the company gave to the program in the past five years. “This is truly a lifeline,” said Karen Swenson, executive director of GETCAP, which provides services to low-income residents in 12 East Texas counties. Kim Campbell, senior manager for customer advocacy at TXU Energy, said the program has invested $2.6 million in East Texas in the past 10 years and all of that money has helped more than 13,000 East Texans. “This means the difference between making tough choices,” said Gregg Grubb, executive director of Tyler’s PATH agency. PATH works to assist needy Smith County residents on various fronts, including utility bill assistance.

TYLER — The Tyler Transit Department has launched RouteShout, a free smartphone app that allows riders to view current bus routes and arrival times for Tyler Transit. You can go to http://www.routeshout.com to download the free app. “By adding this technology we can provide an alternative source of updated and accurate information to our customers,” said James Oliver, transportation operations coordinator. “RouteShout is an easy to use mobile app that can assist customers in their efforts to utilize Tyler Transit. Tyler is the only city in Texas using the RouteShout technology.”

Officials say citizens should still arrive at their bus stop at least five minutes before the estimated arrival time and check the next bus arrivals more than once to make sure the vehicle isn’t running faster or slower than when it was last checked.

Also, effective April 1, Tyler Transit has renamed the Red 1A Route to the #5 Purple Route to lessen confusion regarding the Red Routes that travel north and south on Broadway Avenue and through the Medical District. The #5 Purple Route will still travel through the Medical District on Beckham Avenue. It will also keep the same bus stops and bus stop times. The only change will be the number and color of the route.

For additional information or questions regarding this route or any other bus route within the Tyler Transit System, please contact Tyler Transit at 903-533-8057, 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday.

TYLER – The East Texas Food Bank is hoping the public can help them click their way to a grant from Walmart by voting for them in the “Fighting Hunger Together” initiative. Food Bank officials say that’s a national campaign in which money is awarded to programs that get the most votes for their innovative and effective programs that help alleviate child hunger.

“The East Texas Food Bank is thankful for being selected as a finalist in Walmart’s ‘Fighting Hunger Together’ campaign, which will award 40 food banks with $45,000 for their child hunger programs. If awarded, we are dedicating this money to our BackPack Program, but we need East Texans to vote,” said Dennis Cullinane, executive director of the East Texas Food Bank. “The East Texas Food Bank has more than 4,500 children participating in the BackPack Program. Athens ISD, Frankston ISD, Nacogdoches ISD, Palestine ISD, Tyler ISD and Westwood ISD are just a few of the school districts who partner with the East Texas Food Bank to provide food for children through the BackPack Program.”

Go to http://bit.ly/45KforETFB to vote for the East Texas Food Bank. Go to http://www.easttexasfoodbank.org/Programs/BackPackProgram to learn about the BackPack Program. The public will be able to vote on their favorite child hunger programs through 11:59 p.m. ET on April 30th. Descriptions of programs from across the country that are dedicated to reducing child hunger in their communities will be posted on the voting site along with a “vote” button. Visitors to the page can award one “vote” a day to their favorite program. At the conclusion of the voting, top vote getters will split $3 million in funding from Walmart.

Funding for child hunger programs is especially critical given the significant need that exists. According to the USDA, more than 16 million children in the United States struggle with hunger. Here in East Texas, one in four children are at risk of hunger.

KAUFMAN (AP) — An interim prosecutor has been chosen to fill in after the slaying of an East Texas district attorney. Brandi Fernandez will lead the Kaufman County District Attorney’s Office for the next 21 days. She had been the first assistant DA under District Attorney Mike McLelland (pictured). McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, were found shot to death in their home Saturday. Reports indicated they were shot multiple times.

Just two months ago, assistant prosecutor Mark Hasse was gunned down outside the courthouse. No arrests have been made in Hasse’s death. State law requires that the DA’s first assistant will conduct the affairs of the office until Governor Rick Perry appoints a permanent successor. Kaufman County Judge Bruce Wood says the county will submit candidates to the governor’s office.

KAUFMAN (AP) — A neighbor of the North Texas district attorney and his wife slain in their home over the weekend says she had expressed a premonition last month that there would be a repeat of the killing in January of a county prosecutor.

David Crone lived next to Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife Cynthia near Forney. Crone on Monday said he and Cynthia McLelland had talked about the killing of Kaufman Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse.

Crone says he was told by McLelland, “I really think there’s going to be more of this.” Asked if she was concerned about her husband’s safety, Crone says McLelland told him, “No, I don’t fear for Mike. I think he’s OK.” No arrests have been made in the Hasse or McLelland killings.

AUSTIN (AP) — Governor Rick Perry is suggesting that everyone, but especially public officials, should be extra cautious after the weekend killings of a Texas district attorney and his wife. The slayings of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife Cynthia came months after assistant prosecutor Mark Hasse was shot dead in the same county.

Asked Monday if public officials should fear for their safety, Perry said: “I would suggest everyone should be careful about what goes on whether they’re public officials or otherwise.”

Perry added that he believes there is “a clear concern to individuals who are in public life, particularly those who deal with some very mean and vicious individuals” including white supremacist groups and drug gangs.

But the governor said he had no personal knowledge of the investigation.

HOUSTON (AP) – The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to review the case of a Texas death row inmate who’s set to die next week for an East Texas slaying more than two decades ago. The high court made no comment Monday in rejecting the case of Rickey Lynn Lewis, 50. The Tyler man was on parole for a third burglary conviction when he was arrested for breaking into a Tyler-area home in September 1990, fatally shooting the man who lived there and raping the shooting victim’s fiance. He also stole the woman’s truck and killed her dog. She managed to climb out a bathroom window after the attack and call police. Her testimony at his capital murder trial helped send Lewis to death row. Lewis faces lethal injection April 9.

TYLER — A leak in a chlorine pipe at the Lake Palestine Water Treatment Plant has injured a city worker. An alarm alerted the staff of the leak round 6:45 yesterday morning. According to Managing Director of Water Utilities Greg Morgan, “In accordance with standard protocol, the Fire Department was notified to begin response and plant workers donned emergency breathing apparatus and were able to close the emergency shut off valves, stopping the leak.”

One employee, who was arriving to work at that time, is believed to have been exposed to the chlorine. He was transported to the hospital for treatment and was last reported in stable condition. The Fire Department ventilated the area and cleared the scene. No evacuation outside of the plant property was needed. By mid-morning, City workers were returning to their work stations at the plant. “At this time we do not know what caused the leak to occur,” Morgan added. “However, we will be investigating further.”

LONGVIEW — A Longview woman accused of scheming to steal a baby by killing a mother with a newborn or one who was in late-term pregnancy is set for trial this month. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Tanya Lynette Bradley, 30, was arrested in June after her friends told police Bradley was lying in wait for a mother outside Good Shepherd Medical Center. The informants told police they had shopped with Bradley for murder weapons and knew of her plans, according to information in the criminal complaint for her arrest. They said Bradley planned to find the mother of a newborn at Good Shepherd and kill her for her infant.

Bradley insisted to police the plan was a joke, but she was arrested and charged with two counts of criminal attempt to commit capital murder. Her trial has been set to begin at 9:00am on April 15 in the 124th District Court at the Gregg County Courthouse. Bradley remained held in the Gregg County Jail under bonds totaling $500,000.

TYLER – The Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health) is doing its part for National Public Health Week, April 1-7. Officials say every year in the United States, seven out of 10 deaths are due to preventable chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. In fact, chronic diseases account for a whopping 75 percent of national health care spending, yet only 3 percent of our health care dollars go toward prevention, according to a NET Health news release. “But there are steps we can take to help turn these statistics around,” says NET Health CEO George Roberts. “Research shows that investing just $10 per person each year in proven, community-based public health efforts can save the nation more than $16 billion within five years. That’s a $5.60 return for every $1 invested.”

Roberts says this year’s National Public Health Week theme, “Save Lives, Save Money,” focuses on raising awareness on the roles of public health and prevention, and its benefits to the community. “We all have a role to play in making our communities healthier places and Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health) is excited to help lead the way,” adds Roberts. “Many small preventive steps can add up to make a big difference in transforming a health care system focused on treatment to one that equally values prevention.”

The week-long event has set daily themes for the community to observe and adapt within their daily lifestyles.
Monday, April 1: “Ensuring a Safe, Healthy Home for Your Family”
Tuesday, April 2: “Providing a Safe Environment for Children at School”
Wednesday, April 3: “Creating a Healthy Workplace”
Thursday, April 4: “Protecting You While You’re On The Move”
Friday, April 5: “Empowering a Healthy Community”

Visit http://www.nphw.org or http://www.healthyeasttx.org for more information about National Public health week.

TYLER — The Smith Countywide Clean Up began on Monday and runs through April 14th. Smith County Environmental Crimes Unit, Precinct Constables and Smith County Commissioners Court are working together to host the 2013 Smith County Wide Clean Up event.

During this two week period, the County will provide vouchers to the public that are good for up to three cubic yards of trash and bulky items per person – the equivalent of about a full-sized truck bed. Vouchers are available to pick up at all Justice of the Peace and Constable Precinct offices or the Smith County Courthouse Annex, suite 100. There is a limit of one voucher per household and businesses may not participate in the voucher program.

The vouchers are valid Monday-Friday, 6:30am to 4:30pm and on Saturday from 6:30am to noon. The vouchers come with a list of items that the Greenwood Farms Landfill; an Allied Waste Company will not take. Directions and a map to the Greenwood Farms Landfill are provided with the vouchers.

Items not accepted during the Countywide Clean Up include: hazardous waste, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, gasoline, oils, paint, acid, batteries, asbestos, Freon, whole tires, refrigerators, freezers, televisions and computers.

For more information or to pick up your voucher, please call: Constable Pct. 1 (Tyler) at 903-590-2609; Constable Pct. 2 (Noonday) at 903-590-4840; Constable Pct. 3 (Troup) at 903-590-4744; Constable Pct. 4 (Winona) at 903-590-4879 or Constable Pct. 5 (Lindale) at 903-590-4901.

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

SMITH COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue base pavement repairs in various locations in both directions on Interstate Highway 20 between U.S. Highway 69 and Farm Road 14. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress. 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 continue base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 782 between Farm Road 1716 in Oak Hill and State Highway 149 near the Gregg County Line. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

Also this week in Rusk County, construction crews are scheduled to set barricades and begin work to rebuild Farm Road 95 between the end of the work performed last year south of U.S. Highway 84, and Farm Road 1971. The road will be open to local traffic only while the work is in progress, with motorists detoured onto Farm Road 1971 and US 84. The approximate $700,000 project let to contract in November 2012 and is scheduled for completion next spring.

WOOD COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform resurfacing operations in various locations on Farm Road 1801 east of Mineola and on Loop 564 in Mineola. A second crew is scheduled to make pavement and edge repairs in various locations on Farm Road 779 northeast of Mineola. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

GREGG COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continues resurfacing operations in various locations on Farm Road 1252 between State Highway 135 and State Highway 42. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

HENDERSON COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue resurfacing operations on Farm Road 773 at its intersection with State Highway 31 in Murchison. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 1911 between U.S. Highway 69 north of Wells and the end of state maintenance, and on Farm Road 347 in Jacksonville between US 69 and U.S. Highway 175. Also this week in Cherokee County, construction crews are scheduled to begin work to add shoulders to State Highway 110 between U.S. Highway 79 in New Summerfield and U.S. Highway 84 in Rusk. 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 in various locations on Farm Road 2419 between U.S. Highway 287 south of Palestine and State Highway 294 east of Elkhart, and in various locations on Farm Road 320 west of Palestine. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating the reported robbery of a man at the Relax Inn Motel, 1812 East Gentry Parkway. It happened early Saturday morning. The victim told officers he was approached by two men and a woman asking for cigarettes. During the conversation, one of the men told the victim he had a knife. The three removed items from his pockets and stole his 2006 blue Ford Expedition. They then fled in an unknown direction. No injuries were reported.

The suspects were described as one Hispanic male around 5’10 and 150 pounds, with a shaved head, wearing a grey or blue hoodie and blue jeans. The other was a black male, about 5’07 and weighing around 200 pounds, wearing all black. The woman was said to be a white female with spiked blond hair, approximately 5’07 and weighing around 140 pounds, wearing a red shirt and black shorts.

AUSTIN (AP/STAFF) — The unemployment rate in Texas rose slightly last month to 6.4%. But it remains below the 7.1% recorded a year ago and last month’s national rate of 7.7%. State officials say Texas added about 81,000 jobs in February with construction and manufacturing and professional and business services leading the way.

While unemployment was going up state wide, it was dropping in some northeast Texas cities. In Tyler, The February unemployment rate was 6.6%. A Month earlier it was 7.2%. Longview also saw a drop. It went from 6.2% in January to 5.7% last month.

TYLER — Tyler police have arrested a man they say sent them on a wild goose chase. Arrested Friday night was Adam Galaz, 31.

It all started shortly after 7:00 Friday night when police dispatchers received a 911 call reporting that the caller saw someone drive by a house and shoot a young child. He told dispatchers that the child was bleeding and unconscious. Officers, who responded in emergency mode using lights and siren, determined that the address given to the dispatcher by the caller was not the correct address.

As officers spent several hours looking for the injured child the caller then stated that he was following the suspect vehicle going east on Farm Road 2767. Shortly after that, the caller said that the suspect vehicle had crashed. Officers were not able to locate that vehicle.

Through further investigation, Tyler Police were able to locate the suspected caller, Galaz, at a house. As they talked with him he appeared to be intoxicated. He later confessed to the false report, saying that he was trying to get his girlfriend in trouble. Because multiple Tyler Police units had responded with lights and sirens to what was believed to be a serious offense and it was discovered that he had made up the story; Galaz was then arrested and transported to Smith County Jail for false alarm and for public intoxication.

WINONA — A man has been killed in a Smith County ATV crash. Juan Espinoza, 21, was dead at the scene of the crash that occurred around 8:00 Thursday night in the 17000 block of Farm Road 1252 south of Winona. Espinoza is said to have borrowed the ATV from a coworker. The coworker began worrying about Espinoza after he was gone longer than he had said he would be. During a search, the coworker located the ATV and found Espinoza unconscious nearby. The coworker administered CPR until EMS arrived. According to EMS, Espinoza sustained massive head trauma. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace Mitch Shamburger. Espinoza was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

RUSK — A body has been found at a church in Rusk and authorities are treating it as a homicide. Around 6:30 Friday morning the Rusk Police Department was called to Memorial Missionary Baptist Church, located in the 900 block of Farm Road 23, also known as Crockett Street, to investigate a suspicious person lying on the ground. According to the Rusk Police Lieutenant Brad George, when officers arrived on scene, they found Chris Reneau, 42, of Rusk, dead. An autopsy will be performed by the Southwest Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas.

PALESTINE — One person is dead and two are injured after a head-on collision in Palestine. According to KETK, shortly before 9:30 Thursday night, police responded to a wreck on the 4200 block of West Oak Street. According to authorities, a pickup truck pulling a trailer was hit head on by an SUV. One person was pronounced dead on scene by Judge James Wesley, and two people were taken by air to Tyler hospitals. The identities of the victims will not be released until next of kin are notified.

VAN ZANDT — Department of Public Safety officials tell KETK, Van Zandt Sheriff’s deputies were involved in a high-speed chase around 5:00 Friday morning. Authorities said the pursuit resulted in a crash on Smith County Road 4118, near Lindale. At least one person was arrested and was taken to the Van Zandt County Sheriffs office. The pursuit began in Wood County, according to officials.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man was arrested when police said he tried to meet a person he thought was 14 to have sex. Russell Glen West, 54, was arrested at 5:00 Wednesday afternoon by Longview police. He was charged with online solicitation of a minor after a month-long conversation with an undercover law enforcement agent, according to police spokeswoman Deborah Stiles. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report a probable cause affidavit says West communicated with the agent “using electronic mail communications and text messages.” Stiles said she could not discuss the content of the messages because the case was still under investigation.

West was arrested in the 300 block of Lake Lamond Road when he went to meet the minor for sex, according to authorities. At last report, he was held in the Gregg County Jail on a $10,000 bond. No other arrests were made in connection with the case, Stiles said.

EAST TEXAS — There are many changes going with mail processing centers in East Texas. The center in Tyler was set to shut down next year but now, that’s not the case. According to KETK, Louie Gohmert, U.S. Congressman of East Texas had a meeting with the District Manager of the U.S. Postal Service Dallas office Tuesday to discuss the closure of the Tyler facility this summer.

“Toward the end of the meeting I said, well, Lufkin hadn’t had heard anything in a while; I want to make sure they’re okay, that there are no plans for them because they got an original closing being considered,” says Gohmert. Gohmert tells KETK within 24 hours, “We get a certified letter that was sent before the meeting was even started, probably before they left Dallas, that says they’re closing the Lufkin processing plant,” says Gohmert. The letter says Lufkin mail operations will be moving to North Houston.

TYLER — Students at Tyler Junior College will pay more this fall. Thursday, the Board of Trustees took action to increase the out-of-district surcharge by $1, to $47 a semester. Trustees also voted to raise the general education fee by $3, to $40 a semester. School officials tell KETK they don’t want to burden students, but they say the extra money will help.

TYLER — The East Texas Human Needs Network has issued its annual report on homelessness in Smith County, based on a survey done in January. According to the report, 238 homeless persons were found on the night of January 24. Of those identified that night, 181 (76%) were adults and 57 (24%) were children. Point in time homeless estimate is 435 people on any given night with an annualized homeless estimate of 961 moving in and out of homelessness in one year. Thirty-nine percent of homeless respondents were female, an increase of 6%; 61% were male.

Many races and ethnicities are represented in the Smith County homeless population with 71% identifying as white and 25% identifying as African-American. Nearly 10% stated their ethnicity was of Hispanic/Latino descent. Across the spectrum, single individuals represent the highest percent of respondents in the surveyed population at 74%. Homelessness in families with children continues to rise and makes up 18% of the population. Median age of adults was 41 years old; children’s median age was 10 years old. Military veterans are homeless at a higher rate than other groups. In Smith County, 21% of the surveyed populations are classified as veterans, a 2% increase over last year. Sadly, 70% of those identified are not receiving VA benefits.

You can go to http://www.ethnn.org/ to learn more, including how you can help. There’s a meeting on the topic April 8 at the Salvation Army Center of Hope, 633 North Broadway.

TYLER — As part of the Tyler 1st comprehensive planning process, the City of Tyler is seeking input from residents about Transportation issues in the community. Residents may provide input in two ways:· By sharing ideas for Transportation improvements on Tyler Speaks, an online forum hosted on the City of Tyler website. Go to http://www.cityoftyler.org and click on Tyler Speaks.

· At a Public Open House that will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on April 4 at the Tyler Senior Center, 1915 Garden Valley Road.

“What types of transportation improvements would you like to see in the City of Tyler?” is the Tyler Speaks question. These improvements can relate to vehicles, buses, bicycles, pedestrians, aviation, etc. Tyler Speaks is an online forum for civic engagement that was incorporated into the City of Tyler’s web site. Users may read what others are saying about important Tyler topics, and then post their own statements. City officials say they will read the statements and incorporate them into their decision process during the Tyler 1st Comprehensive Plan update.

Tyler 1st, originally Tyler 21, is the City’s comprehensive plan. You can visit http://www.cityoftyler.org/Departments/PlanningDepartment/ComprehensivePlan/Tyler21.aspx to view the original Tyler 21 Plan. You can go to http://www.cityoftyler.org/ and click on the News tab to read more on this story.

TYLER — City of Tyler leaders are very pleased that TxDOT’s moving forward with a bid to fund control towers of 13 airports about to lose federal funding — including Tyler Pounds Regional Airport. City Engineer Carter Delleney told KTBB, “The city of Tyler feels it’s great news. This is obviously a very prudent measure on the part of TxDOT.”

The state transportation department announced Thursday that it intends to fund continued service of air traffic controllers when federal funding goes away as a result of sequestration, or budget cuts. That’s according to a TxDOT news release via KETK. TxDOT’s action is pending Texas Transportation Commission approval and will be acted upon in an emergency session next week. Delleney says he’s optimistic the commission will keep the Tyler control tower open.

“Safety is the primary reason we felt a need to take immediate action for the air travelers and business aircraft that use these airports,” said Commissioner Fred Underwood, Texas Transportation Commission. “I am proud of our leaders for taking this extraordinary measure to ensure that those relying on these municipal airports will be able to depart and arrive safely and efficiently.” TxDOT executive director Phil Wilson added, “Flying is an integral part of commerce in Texas. Local communities are counting on these airports to remain open for continued economic success.”

When automatic budget cuts from the federal government went into effect last month, Texas regional airports were caught in the cross hairs and were scheduled to lose funding for air traffic control service positions beginning April 7. Had this funding not been considered, officials say a degradation of safety in those flight operations could have occurred.

TYLER – A Canton police officer has been arrested on federal drug charges. Authorities say James Melvin Bradshaw, 32, was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday and charged with six counts of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation. Bradshaw was arrested yesterday morning and went before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith Guthrie Thursday afternoon for an initial appearance. According to the indictment, on six separate occasions from January to November 2012, Bradshaw is alleged to have used his position as a police officer to obtain hydrocodone by fraud, deception, or misrepresentation. Bradshaw is alleged to have acquired the hydrocodone from individuals who had legitimate prescriptions to possess the substance. If convicted, Bradshaw faces up to four years in federal prison on each charge.

TYLER — University Health Clinic (UHC), on the UT Tyler campus, held an open house Thursday to celebrate its expansion. UHC is a collaboration between UT Health Northeast (The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler) and UT Tyler. It houses two clinics: the University Physician Associates (UPA) Clinic, which is open to the public, and the UT Tyler Student Health Clinic. UHC opened in spring 2006.

UT Health Northeast President Dr. Kirk Calhoun (pictured) told KTBB the expansion has “been very high on my radar; we’re very happy to have gotten that accomplished.” David Hullum, associate vice president for business development at UT Health Northeast, noted, “In the past three years, appointments at University Health Clinic have grown by 18 percent. With this $1.5 expansion, we can offer more services and allow for future growth.” UT Tyler President Dr. Rodney H. Mabry was among those on hand for the celebration, and he was upbeat about it as well.

The expansion increased the size of UHC from 10,000 square feet to 13,500 square feet. A new digital mammography suite, four new pediatric allergy exam rooms (for a total of 14 exam rooms, including a procedure room), and an expanded waiting area fill the 6,100 square feet of new and renovated space. The UPA Clinic offers services in family medicine, allergy care, rheumatology, and cardiology. Allergy testing, radiology, digital mammography, and laboratory services are provided on site. The student clinic is available to serve the health care needs of students enrolled at UT Tyler.

SMITH COUNTY — The North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA) opened Segment 3B of Toll 49 Thursday evening at 6:00. Officials say it’s to allow holiday travelers the opportunity to use the entire 26 miles of Toll 49 just in time for the Easter weekend. They note that the toll road now connects to I-20 for the first time; the connection point is northwest of Tyler.

The Texas Transportation Commission approved the transfer of Toll 49 to the NET RMA from TxDOT in its February 28 meeting. With the opening of this segment, the NET RMA becomes the tolling agency responsible for operations, maintenance, and toll collection of Toll 49. As there had not been a toll rate increase since Segment 1 was opened in 2006, the toll rates now go up from 10 cents per mile to 12 cents per mile for passenger cars. All other classes of vehicle rates escalate accordingly as well. These rates are effective as of today. “This is a landmark day for East Texas. Revenues from Toll 49 will remain in East Texas to be used on future projects in the region,” stated Chair of the NET RMA Linda Thomas.