KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Tyler’s City Council approves a master plan to upgrade the Rose Garden. KETK reports Parks and Recreation is looking for a way to attract visitors to the venue all year long. The famous garden will be expanding and adding some new programs very soon. The goal is to make the Rose Garden a year long attraction for tourists. MHS Design and Planning Team will be leading the project. MHS President Mark Spencer says, “The days of coming home from church on Sunday and Dad saying, ‘Let’s go to the Rose Garden and have a picnic’… times have changed. We tend to live a little more programmed life.”

The planning and design team and the city have been talking for 4 years about upgrades. The City Council approved a master plan this week, with talks of adding an outside restroom, a possible area for outside concerts, and other features. Parks and Recreation Director Stephanie Rollings says officials hope the new additions and the expansion will hopefully bring more people to the garden all year round. “It’s already a huge tourist destination and just really beginning to add more to the facility so more people will come and visit and continue to be that valuable attraction to the city of Tyler,” says Rollings

The upgrades will cost $36,000 and will be paid for through a capital improvement fund with the city. The Texas Rose Festival also donated $15,000 for the project. Spencer says they want to add features that will attract more people to the garden as well as features that will fit with the people of Tyler. According to Spencer, “We’re going to try and look to see what uses will be compatible with the garden and see what the people have to say about that.”

LONGVIEW — Longview Police are looking for the thieves responsible for stealing over $1,500 worth of merchandise from a local store. According to KETK, police described them as a man and woman pushing a small child in a shopping cart. They’re believed to be driving a gold GMC Yukon with Louisiana plates, which authorities say may be temporary tags. Police believe the man is armed.

LONGVIEW — The Longview City Council has voted to place a local alcohol option on the May 11 ballot. The move was required by state law due to the number of verified signatures collected on the petitions. The proposition would allow beer and wine sales for off premise consumption. According to KETK, the Longview News-Journal, and city spokesman Shawn Hara, City Secretary Shelly Ballinger had earlier verified the minimum 5,375 signatures of registered Longview voters on the petition to call the election. If the proposition passes in May, grocery and convenience stores in the historically dry areas of west and north Longview would be able to sell beer and wine, but not hard liquor.

TYLER — Smith County is combining forces with 300 other jurisdictions across Texas to participate in one of the largest joint warrant round ups in the state. Anyone with outstanding court costs and fines has until March 2 to arrange for payment before the warrant sweep begins. On March 2, officers will begin visiting homes, neighborhoods, and places of work to arrest anyone who has not settled his or her debt with the county. “Save yourself the expense and embarrassment of being picked up during the warrant round up. Call the Smith County Collections Department and make arrangements to pay your outstanding fees today,” Sheryl Keel, Smith County Judicial Compliance Supervisor, said. You can check to see if you have unpaid court costs or fines online at http://www.smith-county.com or by calling the Smith County Collections department at 903-590-4620.

Citizens are encouraged to take advantage of the grace period between February 15 and March 1, during which time they may resolve their case without penalty of arrest. Beginning March 2, the Enforcement Period will begin and individuals will be “rounded up” at their homes, work, and around town and brought to the court to address their outstanding warrants before a judge.

NOONDAY — A Smith County home has been destroyed by fire. Smith County firefighters were called to the house in the Noonday area Friday morning. The fire broke out on Smith County Road 196 around 7:00. According to KETK, when crews arrived, the house was engulfed in flames and there were two other homes in danger. The fire was extinguished, but the home was destroyed. Investigators have not released the cause of that fire. No injuries have been reported.

LONGVIEW — Crews extinguished a fire that damaged a Longview home. According to the Longview Fire Department, the fire happened just before 4:00 Friday morning in the 1800 block of Buckner Road. The road was closed for some time while crews battled the blaze but later reopened. According to KETK, officials were not yet sure of the exact cause or extent of the damage.

AUSTIN — Governor Rick Perry has appointed three members to the Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents for terms to expire January 31, 2019. These appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

John R. “Bob” Garrett of Tyler is president and CEO of the Fair Oil Co. of Texas and Fair Management Co. He is chairman of the Tyler Development Code Committee, vice president of the RW Fair Foundation, and a board member of The University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center and Salvation Army of Tyler. He is also past president of the Texas Association of Builders and Tyler Area Builders Association, a past state representative of the National Association of Home Builders, and a past board member and past treasurer of the Tyler Economic Development Council. Garrett received a bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Texas at Tyler. He is reappointed to the board.

David Alders of Nacogdoches is president of Carrizo Creek Corporation, and manager of Caddo Farms LLC and Dagwood Timber LP. He is chairman of the Nacogdoches Economic Development Corporation and Heritage Land Bank Association boards, and a board member of the State Bar of Texas, Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce, Heartbeat Crisis Pregnancy Center, and Nacogdoches Regents Academy. He is also a board member and past president of the Nacogdoches County Farm Bureau, vice president of the Pineywoods Groundwater Conservation District, a member of the East Texas Regional Water Planning Group Executive Committee, and past chairman of the Texas Department of Rural Affairs Governing Board. Alders received a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University.

Barry Nelson of Dallas is president of Interra Partners LLC. He is an executive advisory board member of the Stephen F. Austin State University Rusche College of Business, a past board member of the Dallas Business Development Corporation, and a past board member and past executive committee member of the Dallas Real Estate Council. Nelson received a bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University.

SMITH COUNTY — The search is on after a puppy was stolen from the Pets Fur People shelter in Smith County. Gayle Helms with Pets Fur People, formerly the Humane Society of Smith County, tells KETK that the puppy was taken just before 5:00pm last Friday. Employees noticed a black 4-door Mitsubishi driving into the compound. They say that while it is unusual to have a vehicle so close, it’s not unheard of, so they did not approach the vehicle. They noticed a young Hispanic couple get out of the car and walk around the complex. The man and woman were in their 20s or 30s. The man is approximately 5’9″ and was wearing a red hoodie. The woman is approximately 5’5″ with long black hair. She was wearing a white shirt at the time of the theft.

The pup, “Woodrow,” is a 3-month-old Shepherd mix. He had already been adopted, but was being held at the shelter for a week before being picked up by his new family. They are offering a reward of $500 for information regarding the pup’s whereabouts. If you have tips, you’re asked to contact Pets Fur People at [email protected] or (903) 597-2471. Helms says Woodrow’s adopted family was heartbroken after hearing of the incident

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert and others in the House took time out to honor the lives of sniper Chris Kyle and colleague Chad Littlefield, both recently slain. Gohmert went to the Bible for his comment, saying, “Jesus is quoted in John 15:13 saying greater love has no one than this than a man lay down his life for a friend. Chris had that commitment every time he was in a hostile area he was willing to do that.” KETK reports Kyle’s autobiography is a popular read at book stores across East Texas. It’s called “American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History.”

PALESTINE — The City of Palestine and Anderson County were notified Thursday by Sanderson Farms of the company’s intent to build a poultry complex in the region. The notification followed completion of the company’s annual stockholders meeting. According to a news release from the city, Sanderson Farms plans to build three facilities in the area, two of which will be located in Anderson County and one in Freestone County. Officials say the company will invest approximately $92 million on the construction of a hatchery and processing plant that will be located in Anderson County and an additional $32 million on the feed mill in Freestone County. Once the hatchery and processing plant is open, the company expects to employ up to 1000 people.

“This project is a long-term capital investment and will be the third complex of this nature built in Texas,” said Wendy Ellis, economic development director for the City of Palestine Economic Development Corporation. “Sanderson Farms has a reputation for being an outstanding corporate partner wherever they are located. The leadership in Waco and McLennan County has enjoyed an outstanding relationship with them and has seen positive impacts in their area from the complex that was built there. Along with the relationship with Sanderson Farms, we look forward to putting together a collaborative effort with our neighbors in Freestone County to provide what the company needs to build in this area.”

State Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples of Palestine added, “Today’s announcement is another great success story that will have a profound impact on rural Texas. Sanderson Farms opening operations in Anderson and Freestone counties is welcome news for all of East Texas. This new facility will support invaluable new jobs and play an integral role in driving Texas’ $100 billion agriculture industry. I thank Sanderson Farms for its vision and investment in the region and the economy of Texas. These kinds of forward-looking business decisions have helped Texas weather the national economic downturn and make us a leader in job growth.”

A construction start date has not been selected at this time. Sanderson Farms, Anderson County, the City of Palestine, the Palestine Economic Development Corporation, and Freestone County are working together on the project and say they will have more information as it develops. For more information on the expansion project or the Palestine Economic Development Corporation, visit http://www.PalestineTexas.net or call 903-729-4100.

EAST TEXAS — East Texas has experienced drought and recent rainfall this past week, and reports say lake levels across the state sit below normal. Some lakes in East Texas hit their record low. KETK spoke to licensed fishing guide Jim Beggerly at Jim’s Fishing; he says lake levels are at historic lows for this time of year. But the news isn’t all bad. “One of the bright spots is our own Lake Palestine. Lake Palestine has recovered quite well from the drought of 2010-2011 and is now up close to normal pool,” said Beggerly.

Beggerly says at this time the lake level at Lake Fork remains 3 feet low, Lake Tyler is 2 feet low, and Lake Palestine has a normal pool averaging close to 3 feet low. Levels have gradually recovered. Beggerly says the normal fluctuation range is about 2 1/2 feet. Tyler fisherman Stephen Sheppard says, “Last year my sister and them — their lake lot was about so far down they couldn’t even get their boat in the lake, so this year is better.” Beggerly cautions that the lower levels can make it dangerous for fishermen and boaters. “Now you’ve got stumps that are now near the water level just under the surface, stumps that are dangerous,” says Beggerly.

LONGVIEW — Sheriff Maxey Cerliano and the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is looking for help in identifying a suspect in a trailer theft at a residence on Farm Road 2087. A person believed to be that suspect is shown at left in the picture. The dark colored Ford truck, which is also in the video, is believed to be driven by the suspect. The stolen trailer was described as a black 16-foot homemade utility trailer with “C channel” steel welded on the front and sides. It also has light blue paint under the right side fender.

Another trailer, described as a black 5×8 utility trailer, containing a Craftsman riding mower and other lawn equipment, was stolen on Spinks Chapman road, also on Wednesday. The Craftsman mower is red with orange flames on the sides.

TYLER — American Eagle Airlines has added a new arriving and departing flight at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, increasing opportunities for early evening travel. Beginning yesterday, the new flight arrived from Dallas Fort-Worth Airport (DFW) at 3:40pm and left to DFW at 4:10pm. This will be the schedule each day. “American had temporarily suspended one of our afternoon flights several weeks this winter and we’re extremely pleased to see this flight come back to the Tyler market,” Airport Manager Davis Dickson said. “Tyler has needed more available seats in the afternoon flights to and from DFW. I’m very pleased to see this expansion of commercial air services for our customers in the region. I hope to see more as we approach the summer months.”

Tyler Pounds Regional Airport is served by American Airlines to DFW Airport and United Airlines to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport. More than 144,700 passengers flew in and out of Tyler Pounds Regional last year, officials said. “A good travel tip to save money is to book your flight direct from Tyler to your destination.” Dickson said. “Check with your travel agent or travel website and use the three-letter code TYR for Tyler Pounds Regional Airport.” Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport one hour before departure time to allow plenty of time for baggage check-in and to obtain boarding passes. Customers wishing to book their flights on-line can go to the airport website at http://www.TylerAirport.com for links to the American Airlines or United Express Airlines reservation centers.

LUFKIN — A Hudson day care worker has been indicted on a charge of child endangerment. According to KETK, the state shut down Jessica Bridwell’s Wild About Kids daycare, claiming seriously deficient supervision. Investigators said workers were negligent in the care of a baby who suffered a fractured skull after falling off of a changing table. The 25-year-old was released from the Angelina County Jail on a bond of $5000.

EAST TEXAS — Tyler and Longview are getting new national attention for having great economies. KETK reports Bismarck, North Dakota., beat out Tyler for the top spot in the new study of small metro areas across the country, and Longview came in third. The study was conducted by a real estate firm out of Washington, D.C.; the rankings are based on economic strength measured by current and forecasted job growth, population growth, income levels, and ratios of the working population to total population.

Both Longview and Tyler’s economic development divisions noted diversity as a reason for the high rankings. Tom Mullins with the Tyler Economic Development Council (pictured) says Tyler has shown a lot of growth in technology jobs, particularly telecommunications. According to Mullins, “Companies like Suddenlink have been growing here; we have small Internet, new software companies that are growing here. We have this huge medical base; we have higher educational activity. So there are a lot of things happening in our economy that are showing diverse strength.”

TYLER — East Texas Medical Center Tyler has been selected to receive the Texas Hospital Association’s 2012 Excellence in Community Service Award in recognition of its highly successful East Texas Pin-A-Sister breast cancer awareness campaign. The award was presented Wednesday at the THA 2013 Annual Conference and Expo in Austin. “ETMC Tyler has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to improve the health of every member of its community, and this program ensures engagement in a unique and interesting way,” said Dan Stultz, M.D., FACP, FACHE, THA president/chief executive officer.

Regina Davis, director of ETMC’s Breast Care Center, became interested in developing a program like Pin-A-Sister after the local chapter of Susan G. Komen for the Cure released results of a study conducted in Smith County. The data revealed that African-American women in the community had significantly higher rates of breast cancer than other women. Worse, these women also tended to present with later-stage breast disease and had a much higher mortality rate.

Part of the problem was the messaging. Traditional advertisements promoting mammograms rarely included a multicultural perspective; even when they did, they still were not’t enough to get women to go to the area’s three breast care centers. “The church is the main cog of the African-American community, and that’s where we needed to go to launch a grassroots effort,” said Davis. “Black women simply weren’t going to come to our breast care centers.”

In 2010, ETMC Tyler launched its Pin-A-Sister program in Tyler. Modeled after a program in Chicago, the campaign uses a strategy that has long been successful in the African-American community: Get the church involved. Breast cancer survivors provide personal testimonies at their home churches through East Texas Pin-A-Sister. In addition, churches host Pin-A-Sister ceremonies in which participating women pin each other with pink ribbons and pledge to take better care of themselves by getting annual screening mammograms. To date, 6,500 African-American women in Smith County have been pinned.

“We are honored to receive this award, and we are excited to share the enthusiasm and results East Texas Pin-A-Sister has generated within our community,” said Elmer G. Ellis, FACHE, ETMC Tyler president/chief executive officer.

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA (AP) – Alaska corrections officials say confessed serial killer Israel Keyes was mistakenly issued a razor before he committed suicide. A report released Wednesday by the Alaska Department of Corrections also says “it appears that razor was not retrieved.” It does not say how Keyes died – only that it was a suicide. Keyes’ body was found in his cell Dec. 2, months before he was to have gone trial in the 2012 slaying of 18-year-old Anchorage barista Samantha Koenig. He had been arrested in Lufkin, Texas. Before his suicide, Keyes told investigators he had killed Koenig and at least seven other people across the country, including Bill and Lorraine Currier of Essex, Vt. Investigators believe there could be more victims in Washington, Oregon and Texas. Corrections officials didn’t immediately return phone calls from the AP Wednesday.

LONGVIEW — Longview police put some local retailers in the spotlight for complying with the law. During an undercover sting in January, the Longview Police Department partnered with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to put local businesses to the test. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report 12 businesses failed by allegedly allowing undercover minors to purchase alcohol. However, of the 64 businesses that were checked, police say 52 passed the test and did not provide alcohol to the underage individuals. On Wednesday, Longview Police handed out awards to those businesses for their compliance. The accompanying photo above is of Longview Police giving the award to EZ Mart on the 1200 block of McCann Road.

TYLER — This afternoon at 12:30 p.m., Tyler Roses Rising will join with activists around the world for One Billion Rising. According to information from the East Texas Crisis Center, the event is the largest day of action in the history of V-Day, the global activist movement to end violence against women and girls.

Organizers say the event began as a call to action based on the statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than one billion women and girls. According to a news release, on Thursday,Tyler Roses Rising “will join activists, writers, thinkers, celebrities, and women and men across the world as we express their outrage, demand change, strike, dance, and rise in defiance of the injustices women suffer, demanding an end at last to violence against women.” Thursday marks V-Day’s 15th anniversary.

“When we started V-Day 14 years ago, we had the outrageous idea that we could end violence against women,” said playwright/activist and event creator Eve Ensler. “Now, we are both stunned and thrilled to see that this global action is truly escalating and gaining force, with union workers, parliament members, celebrities, and women of all backgrounds coming forward to join the campaign. When we come together on February 14, 2013 to demand an end to violence against women and girls it will be a truly global voice that will rise up.”

Locally, supporters will be gathering on the square in downtown Tyler at 12:30 p.m. to raise awareness about the aforementioned statistics. Free t-shirts will be given away “while they last,” according to the news release. To learn more about V‑Day Tyler Roses Rising, e-mail the organization at [email protected] or call (903) 952-1492. You can visit visit http://www.vday.org to learn more about V‑Day and its campaigns.

TYLER — An arrest in a string of burglaries in Smith County. Monday sheriff’s deputies investigated a number of break-ins along County Road 191 in Flint, according to KETK. When deputies and a state trooper arrived on scene, they spotted Jermaine Lashone Kennedy, 21. Deputies say Kennedy was carrying a nylon bag filled with $6,000 worth of firearms and electronics stolen from three homes. Kennedy was booked into the Smith County Jail. He’s charged with burglary of habitation.

TYLER — The Women’s Fund hosted a wine and cheese reception at Main Street Gallery in Tyler on Tuesday to announce an unprecedented $141,330 in funding to support four community-based organizations. This funding brings the five-year total amount of grants given by The Women’s Fund to $542,169. Recipients of The Women’s Fund grants this year include the Christian Women’s Job Corps, Literacy Council of Tyler and Young Audiences of Northeast Texas. And in a new initiative, The Children’s Advocacy Center will also receive funding toward its proposed project request as part of a matching grant agreement.

The Women’s Fund grant to the Christian Women’s Job Corps will allow the organization to purchase 30 computers with updated software and technical support, as well as purchase six computer tables and chairs. The grant will also help relocate a wall and overhead projector. The Literacy Council of Tyler plans to use the grant to start a Career Pathways Program to help women through the Certified Nurse Aide Program while taking GED classes. The grant will also help provide training in computer skills and interviewing techniques.

Young Audiences of Northeast Texas was awarded a grant to work with at-risk 6th through 8th grade girls using “Dance for Life” to explore some of their personal and academic challenges with the goal of improving school performance and attendance, self-esteem, motivation and confidence. And the Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County will use its matching grant funds to enrich its Evidence-Based Therapy Program, which reduces the trauma experienced by child victims of sexual and/or severe physical abuse. Project activities include crisis intervention, professional individual therapy and psychoeducational support groups.

“The Women’s Fund has been on a trajectory to continuously increase support to the women and children of Smith County, and to increase the philanthropic investment in women and families. I am gratified that entering our sixth year, we were able to give the largest annual grant award in The Women’s Fund history,” stated Betsy Hahn, Coordinator of The Women’s Fund. The Women’s Fund is open to all women in East Texas. For more information on joining, visit the website at http://www.womensfundsc.org or contact Betsy Brush Hahn at 903-343-4411.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man is behind bars after reportedly burglarizing the same store twice since August 2012. According to KETK, Russell Ray Clark, 43, was arrested after police recognized him as the suspected burglar seen in surveillance video for the two burglaries. In August, Clark is believed to have burglarized the Bar K Ranch Store on U.S. Highway 259, then again February 6. About $100 worth of cigarettes were stolen along with a change box.

On February 7th, Clark was pulled over for a routine traffic violation. The officer apparently recognized him, and found the tool they believed to have been used to break the window of the store.

Clark has been charged with four counts of theft, along with one burglary charge. His bonds total $100,000.

LONGVIEW — Investigators are trying to learn what caused a fire that destroyed a Longview home. It was reported shortly before 7:30 Tuesday night in the 1200 block of North 9th Street. The home was vacant and no injuries were reported.

TYLER — East Texas Medical Center Tyler has added the latest imaging system to give physicians sharper images and patients a faster exam time and greater comfort.

The Ingenia 3.0T from Philips Healthcare is the first-ever digital broadband magnetic resonance imaging system. This revolutionary machine is designed to quickly perform high-quality MR scans with a greater level of patient comfort. Ingenia 3.0T can significantly reduce exam time and has a wide opening to accommodate patients of varying size, age and physical condition. This makes Ingenia less confining and a more attractive noninvasive imaging option. In fact, most scans can be performed with the patient’s head entirely out of the opening, creating a better patient experience.

The Ingenia 3.0T incorporates a number of breakthrough technologies designed to deliver exceptional image clarity. It quickly provides radiologists and physicians with precise, detailed MR images needed to help confidently diagnose many different anatomical and structural problems in the body, including brain and nervous system disorders, cardiovascular disease and organ disease.

“Ingenia 3.0T image quality is excellent and it’s fast,” said Bill Tobin, director of radiology at ETMC Tyler. “We can perform American College of Radiology recommended routine exams of the brain, spine, knee, ankle and liver in less than eight minutes, with superb image quality. It gives our radiologists and referring physicians access to the high-quality images they need to make informed diagnoses. With Ingenia 3.0T, our patients experience fast, comfortable exams and fewer re-scans.”

MARSHALL — A Marshall man is anxiously awaiting the return of his wife, who’s a passenger on the crippled cruise ship being towed to Mobile, Alabama. Bill Barton’s wife, Francine, is on the ship. “They’re saying they’re gonna be able to go about six miles an hour,” Barton pointed out. He says that means the ship is likely to travel “all day Wednesday and sometime Thursday, maybe, finally getting into port.” Barton says he was notified of the change in port destination late Monday night by a robo-call, with no way to ask carnival cruise personnel any questions.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — A 2-month-old Van Zandt County baby was hospitalized recently after he was allegedly abused by family members. That’s according to KETK. According to Child Protective Services Spokeswoman Shari Pulliam, the child suffered at least 23 fractured ribs, 3 cranial fractures, two fractures in the arms and a fractured left femur.

On January 30, the baby was flown to Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. He was released on February 3 to a foster family and is expected to recover. No other children were in the home. The following day, the mother, Kayla Fountain, 19; father, Sean Alsip, 21; and grandmother, Lejuana Alsip, 40, were all arrested and charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury. Each suspect’s bail was set at $500,000. CPS was first made aware of the situation when they were alerted to reports of abuse on their hotline.

TYLER – A 23-year-old Longview woman has been sentenced to federal prison for bank fraud violations. Amanda Henderson pleaded guilty on last November to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. She was sentenced yesterday in Tyler to 33 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider. Henderson must also pay restitution in the amount of $14,659.25.

According to information presented in court, beginning in May 2011, Henderson and co-defendant Mark Alan McCullars created counterfeit checks which appeared to be payroll checks issued by 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 a loss of $14,659.25 to check cashing businesses in East Texas. They were indicted by a federal grand jury on May 11, 2012. McCullars was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison on February 6.

LONGVIEW — Longview Police are warning about a scam happening in the area. Police have received reports that a man with a heavy foreign accent has been calling citizens and portraying himself as a police officer. The number that is showing up on the caller ID is actually the Longview Police Department number. He is attempting to get information from citizens by telling them he is from the Longview Police Department and is trying to collect on bad debts. The unknown suspect is telling victims if they do not pay their balance at a local store they will have to go to jail for an extended amount of time.

Police warn citizens to never give their private information over the phone, especially to an unsolicited caller. According to the Longview PD, police will never contact a citizen and request to be given pertinent information, including social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, or other credit or debit card information. Police encourage citizens who may have received these calls to contact Longview Police with as many details as possible.

JACKSONVILLE — Residents of one Jacksonville-area neighborhood want answers. KETK reports they live just off Highway 135, northeast of town. They say recent storms have knocked out much more than just power: electronics completely fried when the power is restored after a storm. We’re talking TVs, microwaves, indoor heaters, surge-protectors, refrigerators — totaling thousands of dollars in losses and repairs. It’s happened to about half of the residents in that neighborhood.

The area’s electric provider, Oncor, says the cause of the power surge is extremely rare. Oncor says a tree falling on a power line, falling on another power line of a different voltage, is what caused the surge. They say it’s an act of God they cannot be held responsible for. Oncor’s George Hill says, “What we are doing proactively on that entire circuit is going out and patrolling to make sure. If we can see any dead tree limbs that need to be removed, we will take the action now to go ahead and remove those tree limbs. Hill added Oncor patrolling should start within the next week.

MARSHALL (AP) – A federal judge has approved a $1.9 million settlement between an East Texas county and relatives of a drug-recovering inmate who died in custody. The agreement approved Monday in Marshall was reached by Gregg County and survivors of 33-year-old Amy Lynn Cowling of Gilmer. Cowling was under the care of a methadone clinic when she was arrested on Christmas Eve 2010 on misdemeanor theft warrants. Relatives say Cowling was denied her prescription drugs while in custody and died several days later.

The Marshall News-Messenger reported Tuesday that most of the money goes to Cowling’s children – ages 14, 17 and 19. Her mother Vicki Bankhead was awarded $750,000. Five jailers were fired or reassigned after the death. Two have been indicted. Gregg County admits no wrongdoing in the settlement.