KTBB News, Weather, Talk

BULLARD – According to Jacksonville fire authorities, an ambulance caught fire on its way from Jacksonville to Tyler Saturday afternoon around 4 o’clock. KETK reports it happened on Highway 69 near Bullard. We’re told there was a passenger on board at the time, but no one was injured. One person on scene says a problem with the engine apparently sparked the blaze. The ambulance is a total loss.

LONGVIEW – Five Gregg County jail workers and supervisors either were fired or resigned Friday. According to KETK and its news partner, the Longview News Journal, the moves come after a week-long investigation revealed misuse of Taser devices at the jail. The employees reportedly used the Tasers on each other in acts of horseplay, which officials term a direct violation of Sheriff’s office policies and procedures.

TYLER — Tyler police officers make an arrest in a vehicle burglary. Police responded to a burglary of vehicle in progress call Saturday at around 4:40 p.m. in the 800 block of East Front. A man identified as Willard Loggins had allegedly entered a vehicle without the owner’s consent in a parking lot in the 500 block of Mulberry St. Police say the suspect then left on foot. According to authorities, an alert citizen observed the incident and called TPD Dispatch. The citizen followed Loggins to the 800 block of E. Front St., where Loggins was apprehended by officers. A backpack that was taken from the vehicle was recovered with the assistance of the witness. The property was returned to the rightful owner.

ELKHART (AP/Staff) – The state agency that oversees foster care in Texas continually dismissed allegations of abuse at an Elkhart home that took in dozens of children before the same charges led to a successful criminal prosecution. Court records show how the Department of Family and Protective Services ruled out allegations of sex abuse against foster parent James Vick on three occasions before he pleaded guilty to 18 counts of indecency with a child and was sentenced to 20 years in prison last year. Foster care experts say the mounting allegations, even if unproven, should have been a red flag. The district attorney who prosecuted the case says it shows how agency investigations are flawed. An agency spokesman says mistakes were made, but they aren’t indicative of a larger problem.

ATHENS (AP/Staff) — A memorial service is planned Wednesday in Dallas for the slain son of former Governor Bill Clements. Henderson County Sheriff Ray Nutt says the body unearthed on Howard Granger’s property on County Road 4609 was positively identified Sunday as Ben Gill Clements. He had been reported missing on October 21. Authorities had been trying to determine whether the body found over the weekend was that of Clements. Nutt says a wallet belonging to Clements, who was 69, was recovered as authorities worked to identify the body. Clements, a neighbor of Granger’s, was first reported missing on Thursday. When authorities on Friday went to search Granger’s ranch, officials say he began shooting at them and Granger was killed. Officials later found Clements’s body in a shallow grave on Granger’s property.

TYLER — The Tyler Red Cross is helping observe October as National Fire Prevention Month. Red Cross staffers say the biggest disaster threat to families across our nation every day isn’t floods, hurricanes or tornadoes; it’s fire. On average, nationally, the American Red Cross responds to more than 63,000 fires each year. That’s about 170 responses a day or one every eight minutes. Locally the Smith County Chapter responds to approximately 150 of those fires each year.

Red Cross officials say home fires can strike quickly and without warning, devastating lives and property. But unlike other disasters, officials say, most home fires can be prevented. The Red Cross says it’s committed to giving people the information they need to reduce their risk of home fires, and to helping people recover after a fire happens. At any time of day or night, trained Red Cross volunteers respond to the scene of fires and provide food, shelter, and emotional support to those affected.

The Red Cross encourages people to remember two key fire safety steps to protect their home and loved ones from fires: Get a smoke alarm, and have a fire escape plan. Red Cross staffers say smoke alarms save lives. Statistics show 65 percent of home fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or with smoke alarms that don’t work. Staffers advise:

– Make sure you have a smoke alarm on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.
– Test your smoke alarm once a month by pushing the test button, and replace the batteries at least once a year.

According to Red Cross officials, fires can spread throughout your home in minutes, so when every second counts, having a plan can help you escape. Officials say home fire escape plans should include at least two ways to escape from every room of your home. Also, you’re advised to select a meeting spot at a safe distance from your home where family members can go after escaping. After discussing your plan with all members of your household, officials say, you should practice the plan twice a year. You can visit http://www.redcross.org/homefires for more information on how to reduce your risk of home fires or to help your neighbors recover after a fire.

Red Cross staffers also say that while big, visible earthquakes and hurricanes often bring donations into the Red Cross, they often struggle to pay for smaller disasters like home fires. You can help people affected by disasters like fires as well as other local crises in our area by making a donation to support your local American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Staffers add that your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. You can visit http://www.smithcounty.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS to make a donation. You can also text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation from your mobile phone. Contributions may also be sent to the American Red Cross Smith County Chapter at P. O. Box 8588, Tyler, TX 75711.

TYLER — PATH’s annual Coats for Kids coat drive is coming up short and needs more community support, according to PATH staffers. The drive began October 1 and continues through the end of the month. PATH holds this special drive each fall to collect warm, winter coats for children ages infant-18 years. Right now, donations are down — and with the end of the month approaching, PATH officials project the need of 1,500 additional coat donations before the November distribution. The agency reported Thursday that only 80 coats had been donated. PATH community outreach coordinator Becky Duncan says, “In order to accommodate 1,000 children – which is how many we gave coats to last year, so we could easily have more this year – we are going to need about 1,500 coats.”

New coat donations can be taken to the PATH office, 402 W. Front St., Tyler. Gently-used winter coats may be taken to any participating dry cleaners displaying the “Coats for Kids” collection site poster including Dry Clean Super Center, Eagle Cleaners, Hart’s Cleaners, VIP Cleaners, Lucky’s Cleaners, Regency Cleaners, Shannon’s Cleaners, West Gentry Dry Cleaners and Lindale Cleaners. The coats will be distributed Saturday, November 20, from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., and on Sunday, November 21 from 1-5 p.m., across the street from PATH at 411 W. Front St., Tyler. For more information or if you would like to volunteer to help with Coats for Kids, contact Becky Duncan at [email protected] or call 903.597-4044, ext. 120.

AUSTIN — September unemployment in the two major East Texas markets follows a statewide improvement trend. Tyler’s rate dipped to 7.3 percent from 7.8 in August — and 8.1 percent in September of last year. In Longview, unemployment fell to 7.1 percent; it was at 7.6 in August and, like Tyler, 8.1 percent in September of 2009.

TYLER — Police are investigating a Tyler accident that injured a child. Around 4:40 p.m. Friday, police received a report that the youngster had been struck by a vehicle at Townsend and Line. Responding officers determined that a van was traveling south when two small children riding bicycles rode out in front of the van and one child was struck. The child was transported to East Texas Medical Center for examination and treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

TYLER — The citizen activist group Grassroots America – We the People is again responding to TISD bond supporters as the group continues its stand against the bond, which is on the November ballot. According to the group’s executive director, JoAnn Fleming, GAWTP “is a bit shocked” and “a little bit confused” at the reaction to word that 50% of the newly built elementary schools will be overcrowded in less than five years. Fleming says, “We certainly didn’t expect to have the new schools be overcrowded so soon. So GAWTP is asking Tyler ISD to take seriously the consulting report that tells them they need to redraw attendance lines so that we can get the population of Tyler ISD dispersed around so that we can maximize the use of the facilities we have, including the new ones.”

Vote Yes Committee spokesman Andy Bergfeld had responded that if the schools do go over capacity, it can be dealt with when it happens — perhaps by building more schools. He even said that would be a good thing — that it would mean the school district is growing and doing some things right. Bergfeld added, “We know overcrowding is an issue – that is why we need to stay the course and build these schools.” At last report, Vote Yes had yet to respond to Fleming’s latest comments.

LONGVIEW — Longview police admit serving a narcotics warrant at the wrong location. On October 20 at around 11:10 p.m., the Longview Police Department SWAT Team assisted the Gregg County Organized Drug Enforcement (CODE) Unit by serving a narcotics search warrant at 825 Beaumont Street. As the SWAT Team approached the residence, one of the narcotics suspects was outside standing in the street in front of 823 Beaumont Street. According to police, this caused Team members to mistakenly believe 823 Beaumont was the target location, instead of the house next door at 825 Beaumont Street. SWAT made entry into 823 Beaumont Street and detained the residents inside. Police say no one was injured during the incident and it was discovered quickly that SWAT was at the wrong location.

Authorities say the Longview Police Department has issued a formal apology to the residents at 823 Beaumont Street and is currently working to repair any damages to the home. According to police, an internal investigation is being conducted to ensure this type of mistake does not occur again.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP/Staff) – UT Tyler gets to keep an administrator who’d been in the running for the top post at another university. The Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System has chosen the system’s vice president for business and finance as the next president of the University of Louisiana at Monroe. System spokeswoman Jackie Tisdell says the board voted Friday for Nick Bruno. One of the three finalists interviewed Friday was Peter J. Fos, provost and executive vice president at UT Tyler. Bruno will replace James Cofer, who left ULM at the end of July to become president at Missouri State University in Springfield.

TYLER — Two suspects are picked up in a Tyler robbery that happened weeks ago. Tyler Police Investigators received a tip on the identity of one of the suspects involved in the robbery of a donut shop located at 1627 S. Vine St. that occurred on September 2. As a result of the information that was given, an investigator was able to identify both suspects who were allegedly responsible for the armed robbery. Arrested were 21-year-old Jeremy Antoine Black and 22-year-old Marquette Bernard Johnson. Both suspects have been charged with aggravated robbery and placed in Smith County Jail on a $300,000 bond.

TYLER — Another drug bust in Smith County. According to KETK, a warrant was served for Eugene Cook Gordon at a house on Highway 14 Thursday. Deputies found 60 pounds of marijuana and a couple of ounces of meth and cocaine — all with an estimated street value of $37,000. They also found two firearms and $4,000 in cash. Gordon is already out of jail.

GILMER — The Gilmer Fire Chief steps down. Mike Melton resigned earlier this week following an investigation into allegations of misuse of money and credit cards belonging to the Gilmer Fire Department. According to KETK, no charges have been filed against Melton and it’s unclear the dollar amount involved.

KILGORE — A wreck kills a pregnant teenager in Kilgore, but the baby survives. Suzanne Williams, 16, died from severe head injuries on Saturday after a wreck forced her to deliver her baby 2 months early. According to KETK, Williams and her fiance were slowing down to make a left-hand turn when another vehicle hit them from behind. Despite being born early, the nearly 3 pound baby boy is said to be doing o-k. Funeral services for the teen are set for Saturday in Kilgore.

TYLER — Organizations from across East Texas join hands to start Tyler’s Fit City Challenge with a kickoff event today from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. at Bergfeld Park. According to the Northeast Texas Public Health District, “The national epidemic of obesity has drastically increased over the past few years, and Tyler is not immune.” Officials say the Fit City Challenge’s purpose is “to help combat the scourge of obesity.” According to NETPHD CEO George Roberts, “The Northeast Texas Public health District views the concurrent epidemic of obesity and sedentary lifestyles as the greatest threat to the health of Tyler. Doctors who care for children are concerned because kids being born right now are not expected to live as long as their parents.”

Roberts says the Fit City Challenge is a community-wide campaign to promote healthy, fitter lifestyles for Tyler and Smith County residents. According to Roberts, the kickoff event is designed to give community members the information they need to make healthier choices. He says the event will feature healthy activities for all ages, cooking demonstrations, guest speakers, health and nutrition information, fitness and exercise demonstrations, and health screenings.

TYLER — Tyler school trustees have amended some of the day polling locations for the November 2nd election. Thursday night’s action was needed because Smith County had indicated some of them were no longer available for election day voting. The county had indicated that the polling locations for precinct 39 and for precincts 48, 65, and 66 are no longer available. The polling place for election precinct 39 shall be combined with precincts 34, 57, 73, 3401 and 7301 which shall vote on at the Jones/Boshears Elementary School, 3450 Chandler Highway. The polling place for election precincts 48, 65 and 66 shall be Wilhite Landscape Company, 13186 Highway 64 West.

TYLER – Both sides have now rested in a hearing have State District Judge Jack Skeen removed from the upcoming retrial of the man convicted in the Mineola child sex ring case. KETK-TV reports Patrick Kelly’s defense lawyer, Thad Davidson, says that Judge Skeen had favored the prosecution During Patrick Kelly’s trial. Davidson tell KETK-TV that a final decision on Skeen’s future in the case will not be made until November 5th. Presiding over the hearing is retired State District Judge Alvin Khoury of Longview.

TYLER — A Tyler man has been convicted of selling drugs in a drug-free zone and sentenced to life in prison. It took around 30 minutes of deliberations before the jury in Tyler’s 7th State District Court convicted Richard Charles Carter, 50. It took about 45 minutes of deliberations before they agreed upon the sentence. Carter had been accused of selling crack cocaine to an undercover officer near Austin Elementary back in February.

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University will launch a new Master of Science in Engineering program in the Fall 2011. The school will become one of the first Christian colleges in the nation offering a graduate degree in engineering. LETU’s new master’s degree is a residential, research-oriented graduate engineering program. Applications are already being accepted, with a January 15, 2011 deadline for consideration for the Fall 2011 term. LETU recently received approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which accredits the university programs.

“With our strong undergraduate engineering research tradition totaling $4.5 million in external funding in the past decade, this new Master of Science in Engineering program moves us that much closer to being one of the best, comprehensive engineering schools in the country,” said LETU President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford. “The expansion of our programs greatly contribute toward fulfilling our vision to have an impact for Christ in every workplace in every nation.”

“This new graduate engineering degree is designed so that currently enrolled engineering students can take dual-credit classes in their senior year and complete a master’s degree in five years,” said LETU Engineering Dean Dr. Tom Hellmuth.

The new graduate degree program in engineering adds to the university’s three existing graduate degree offerings: the Master of Business Administration, the Master of Education and our Master of Strategic Leadership.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department was informed Thursday that Magic, one of the department’s two black Labrador K-9 dogs, died Thursday due to kidney failure. Police say Magic had been with the police department for approximately nine years and did an outstanding job in detecting drugs for the Narcotics Unit. The handler and partner for Magic was Officer Steve Black, who was the third handler in Magic’s career with the department. Police say a special service will be held next week in honor of Magic’s service to the police department and citizens of Tyler.

TYLER — Grassroots America – We the People is giving Tyler ISD officials a failing grade on facility planning. Grassroots America has already come out against the school district’s November bond proposal. Now Executive Director JoAnn Fleming says, “It is time for some answers from TISD officials! Documents on TISD’s own website prove the point Grassroots America has been making about Tyler ISD’s ill-conceived $145 million bond package. Tyler ISD and the Vote Yes Committee are asking the taxpayers to just trust the district again and vote themselves more debt. Information we’ve discovered leaves us no choice but to give the District a failing grade on its facility planning, and to declare that we now are in a place where we simply can no longer trust the direction Tyler ISD’s leaders are taking us.”

Fleming continues, “After analyzing information found on Tyler ISD’s own website under the “Bond 2010” section and documents we requested from the District, we found that eight out of sixteen elementary schools or 50% of the elementary school construction projects passed in 2004, 2008 and proposed in this 2010 bond package will be at capacity or overcrowded in less than five years! That is unacceptable and a good way to lose the trust of the people! To imagine that these new schools may soon have portables sitting outside them is shocking.

“We also discovered that in spite of the fact that TISD is saying this bond election will “finish the elementary schools” and begin the middle schools, they’ve neglected to tell us that based on the size schools we are building and the consulting report they have posted in the bond information section of their website, the district will need at least two more elementary schools by 2013! It is now abundantly clear to that this “pay me now and we’ll give you the details later” plan is WRONG! It is wrong for the taxpaying families and businesses, wrong for the teachers, wrong for the parents, and wrong for the school children of Tyler ISD.”

Vote Yes Committee spokesman Andy Bergfeld responds that if the schools do go over capacity, it can be dealt with when it happens — perhaps by building more schools. He even says that would be a good thing — that it would mean the school district is growing and doing some things right. Bergfeld adds, “We know overcrowding is an issue – that is why we need to stay the course and build these schools. They come with no tax increase.” Also, TISD says the actual bond cost is about $89.8 million.

TYLER — A group of faith-based leaders Friday announced their support and endorsement of the TISD Bond Proposal slated for vote in the November 2 election. Included in this group are: Dr. David O. Dykes, Green Acres Baptist Church; Rabbi Neal Katz, Congregation Beth El; Rev. Ralph E. Caraway, Sr; Charles Dodson, Breckenridge Village of Tyler; President Rev. Charles Faulks; The Rev. Canon Dr. Robert DeWolfe, St. Francis Episcopal Church; Anwar Khalifa, Islamic Society; Rev Dr. Archie Hicks; Rev Darryl B. Bowdre; Dr. Stuart Baskin, First Presbyterian Church; Rev. Rob Fisher, Pollard United Methodist Church; Bishop David Houston; Rev. Valita F. Waits; Rev. Charles Burns; Rev. John R. Hinton; Bishop C.F. Porter; Rev Robert L. Davis; Dr. John Robbins, Marvin United Methodist Church; Superintendent Rev Melton R. Timmons; and Chris Pulliam, First Christian Church.

Dr. Dykes said, “Cindy and I are both supporting the TISD Bond election. We believe that Tyler should have the very best facilities for our children. An investment in the lives of children is a wise investment in the future of our nation.” Reverend Caraway said, “This is a bond proposal that must pass for the future of education in TISD and to make sure we finish the job we started. We have completed 14 of the 16 elementary building projects…only two are left. Join me in voting YES to keep building schools that are being built on time and under budget. Remember, this proposal does not raise our tax rate.”

Rabbi Katz added, “The TISD School Bond is yet another way to show our students how much we care about them and their places of learning. With this election, the community has an opportunity to finish a major overhaul of our school facilities that began some five years ago. We are all proud of Tyler ISD, so let us vote YES with pride to fund our next generation of schools.”

“The most important commodity we have in life is our future in the form of our children. They are the legacy that needs to be nurtured, formed, and prepared for carrying on a fruitful society that will continue the improvement of quality of life for all of our people. And, we need adequate facilities to prepare our children for this future role of enhancing our society. I heartily support the passage of the bond issue that will make this possible.” said The Rev Canon Dr. Robert Wolfe.

Dr. Robbins continued, “Schools are a reflection of the community as a whole. That’s why it is critical that we have the best and most technologically advanced schools. Quality schools mean a quality community.” Anwar Khalifa said, “New schools give Tyler a great image for those looking at Tyler to live. They will help our economy as a whole.”

And Dr. Baskin concluded, “As a pastor, I know a thing or two about good stewardship. I know that aging buildings eat up a lot of money in high utility costs and maintenance that could otherwise go to instruction. The TISD bond proposal is simply good stewardship. It will help us devote a higher percentage of our tax dollars to teaching our children rather than repairing old buildings. And that is good for Tyler.” The TISD Bond Proposal includes the replacement of the final two elementary schools and the construction of a new middle school relief campus for overcrowding and growth.

GILMER — One of East Texas’s showcase fall events, the 73rd Annual East Texas Yamboree, continues in Gilmer through Saturday. Today’s highlights include band performances; the yam pie judging, results, and sale; and a street dance. You can get more details at http://www.yamboree.com or by calling 903-843-2413.

BEN WHEELER — The Ben Wheeler community is putting itself on the map with an unusual collection of fun and games. The town’s inviting everyone to take part in the 2010 Fall Feral Hog Festival, today and Saturday in downtown Ben Wheeler. It includes a quirky follies show, hog queen pageant, live music, a parade, World Championship Wild Hog Cook-Off, pig races, dress a pig contest, kid’s play area, games and food. You can go to http://benwheelertx.com or http://facebook.com/FallFeralHogFestival for more information. You can also e-mail [email protected] or call 903-833-1070.

LONGVIEW — Today’s the deadline as the Longview Race Relations Committee, sponsored by the City of Longview Partners in Prevention, seeks nominations from the community for citizens to be honored at its Seventh Annual Unity Awards Luncheon in January 2011. The purpose of the Unity Award is to honor individuals, living or deceased, in the Longview community who have stood against prejudice and mistrust and who have demonstrated leadership in promoting racial harmony and understanding. Those persons can be current or past residents of the Longview area.

Award nomination forms are available at: the Partners in Prevention Office, 140 E. Tyler St., Suite 400; 300 W. Cotton St.; Longview Public Library, 222 W. Cotton St.; and Broughton Recreation Center, 801 S. MLK Blvd. You can also go to http://www.LongviewTexas.gov to access a form. You can contact Partners in Prevention at 903-237-1019 for more information.

TYLER — Tyler Police respond to several reports of auto burglaries this morning around 2:00. The callers stated they observed a maroon Lincoln Town car occupied with several Hispanic males involved in the crime. The suspects were last reported breaking into a vehicle on Industrial Street around 3:15 when an officer spotted the suspect vehicle. The suspects bailed from the vehicle after running off the road, but the driver was arrested after a short foot pursuit. The three other suspects were able to get away and are in the process of being identified.

Upon searching the suspect vehicle, officers located numerous stolen electronic items in the trunk. The driver was identified as Martin Gonzalez Jr., 19, was charged with four counts of auto burglary, possession of marijuana, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and evading arrest. He was booked into the Smith County Jail with bond set at $125,000.

Tyler Police have taken over 12 auto burglary reports this morning along with a report of an Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle from a repair shop on W. Gentry that matches the suspect vehicle involved in this crime spree. That crime is still under investigation.

The suspects broke out windows of cars at the following locations: S. Beckham, N. Carlyle, N. Glenwood, S. Wall, Merrimac, Hudson, Pollard, S. Porter and S. Donnybrook.

TYLER — Tyler Police Department will be participating in a DWI enforcement program for the last two weekends in October. The enforcement detail of officers will be on the look-out for intoxicated drivers in the City of Tyler. This enforcement program is funded by a state grant that was awarded to the department for DWI patrol. Tyler PD urges everyone who is drinking and considering driving to have a designated driver, or to hire a cab to get home safely.

WHITEHOUSE — Whitehouse residents will soon vote whether to sell alcohol in the city. With elections just a couple of weeks away, city officials are getting ready just in case. City manager Mike Peterson says, “If it goes wet, we’ll have ordinances already in place that will regulate the sale of beer and wine inside the city.” He says they already prepared ordinances: one says alcohol cannot be sold in residential areas, another sets the fee for alcohol permits, and a third one says alcohol cannot be sold near schools and churches. According to KETK, Peterson says whether the city is wet or dry, the council will support the outcome and the desire of the citizens.