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TYLER – Lighthouse Graphics, a division of East Texas Lighthouse for the Blind, has formed a legally blind team to compete in the Brookshire’s Firefighter Combat Challenge held at the Broadway Square Mall parking lot Sept. 24 and 25. The six team members all have a visual impairment caused by an eye disease “We are hopeful that our participation in the challenge will provide the community another opportunity to appreciate the abilities of people with visual impairments,” Lee Tillson, combat team captain, said. Lighthouse Graphics is one of five local businesses taking part in the corporate challenge portion of the event. These teams are required to complete the same course as the fire department teams. In preparation for the challenge the Graphics team has practiced on a simulated course designed by local fire fighters.

“Visual impairments won’t slow us down. We might have to work a little harder than the rest, but I’m confident we will be a strong force in the competition. We have good athletes on the team and we all want to win,” Tillson said. The Firefighter Combat Challenge visits approximately 25 cities across the U.S., and this and be the fifth year the competition has come to Tyler. The challenge is an energetic and friendly competition between local and out of state fire department teams — and, for the first time, local corporate teams. The obstacle course is made up of five tasks that simulate real life scenarios that fire fighters face in the line of duty; they include: high rise hose carry, hose hoist, forcible entry, hose advance and victim rescue.

Serving 46 counties in East Texas, The Lighthouse is a 501©3 non-profit organization located in Tyler. The three operating divisions — Horizon Industries, Lighthouse Graphics and East Texas Lighthouse for the Blind Rehabilitative Services — collectively employ 69 blind and visually impaired people. To learn more about the programs and services at The Lighthouse visit http://www.etlb.org or call 903.593.3111.

TYLER — The Tyler-based Lake Country Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is busy developing the region’s health workforce. Director Helen Miner talked about it on KTBB “Staff Meeting.” According to Miner, “We jokingly said it’s ‘catch ’em, train’ em, keep ’em.’ We try to get kids interested — and adults who are interested in second careers.” Miner says rural areas are a key focus — and that keeping sufficient health care in such communities has far-reaching implications. “It has a tremendous impact on business development in the community,” Miner remarks. “If they lose their doctor or their hospital, they’re not going to recruit new businesses.”

Presentations in schools, and partnerships with health care providers and community coalitions, help keep Miner’s five-member staff busy. She’s also available to speak to civic groups and the like. You can log on to http://www.lcahec.net for more information. You can also go to http://www.ktbb.com/audio to listen to the “Staff Meeting” show online beginning early Monday.

EAST TEXAS — Thanks to the strong support of the community, the school supplies fund raising effort was a success. As a result, Goodwill Industries of East Texas will be able to give each school or school district the maximum award possible; $500. They will be donating a total of $7,500 dollars to the following schools or school districts:

Athens ISD, Canton ISD, Carthage Primary School, Kemp High School, Gladewater ISD, Henderson, Jacksonville ISD, Ware Elementary, Kilgore Height Elementary, Pine Tree Elementary, Carver Elementary, Mineola ISD, AM Story Intermediate, Tyler ISD Foundation, and Stewart Middle School. Goodwill Industries says, the supplies purchased with the award will enable disadvantaged students achieve greater success with their schoolwork.

TYLER — This Friday, downtown Tyler will turn into an art exhibit. Tyler’s fourth Artwalk event will feature thirteen artists. According to KETK, those who attend are allowed to walk to various locations around downtown Tyler to check out the art, which uses various media. It all takes place from five to nine in the evening.

Find more information at: http://www.cityoftyler.org/Home/tabid/36/ctl/NewsArticle/mid/865/CategoryID/11/NewsID/1128/Default.aspx

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY — A double homicide-suicide in Nacogdoches County Friday was prompted by an ongoing property dispute and numerous past civil disputes, Nacogdoches County Sheriff Thomas Kerss said. Two women, Connie Moses, 58, and Helen Meeler, 59, were discovered fatally shot in the front yard of their Appleby home on CR 262 after a property dispute with their neighbor, 73-year-old Preston Skelton. Skelton was found hours later in the woods near his home, dead from a self-infliced gunshot wound, Kerss has said.

“There had been an ongoing dispute over a property line,” Kerss said. “The ladies that were shot had hired an individual to help them construct a fence along the boundary line, which would have passed into the driveway of the actor.” When the individual the women hired began to put the fence up, the actor exited his residence armed with a rifle, Kerss said.

According to the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinal, deputies had been sent out to the area numerous times over the past few months and weeks to respond to civil complaints, Kerss said.

The Tyler Junior College Apaches fell in their season opener Saturday night losing to Coffeyville,KS 27-10 on the road in Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Apaches trailed 20-3 at halftime before cuttingt the lead to 20-10 in the 3rd but could never get any closer.

The Apaches lone touchdown came on a five yard grab from Lufkin’s Quin Trimble in 3rd. Trimble lead all receivers in the contest with six grabs for 107 yards.

Up next for TJC will be a home date with rival Kilgore at TMF Rose Stadium next Saturday. The Ravens stay home to face Dodge City.

BULLARD — Police investigate a fatal shooting in Cherokee County. It happened in the Shadybrook subdivision in Bullard around 7:00 Friday night. The home is located at the intersection of Elizabeth Drive and Jackie. According to KETK, Sheriff James Campbell says a 52-year-old man is dead from a gun shot wound. Foul play is suspected. The victim’s name has not been released.

TYLER — The Tyler Junior College Board of Trustees voted unanimously Thursday to adopt a property tax rate increase of 31.62%. The tax increase is less than the hike originally proposed — 33.57%. The board also adopted its budget for the coming fiscal year. According to KETK, the college is working to pay back $28 million taken out last year for maintenance tax notes. Reaction to the proposed tax hike was sharply divided during recent public hearings.

SMITH COUNTY — Bigger isn’t always better — but in the case of Azleway’s new David L. Haberle Distribution Center, it certainly is, say Azleway officials. The ribbon-cutting celebration was held Thursday at the Azleway Boys’ Ranch near Tyler. Azleway has been operating four food and clothing pantries throughout its system with each location limited in its storage capabilities. The 7,200 square foot, centrally located Haberle Distribution Center will enable Azleway to purchase and store food and clothing at bulk rates and receive donations of large pallets of food and merchandise.

Officials say Azleway’s new, stronger infrastructure has benefits throughout the community. In addition to feeding the boys on the Ranch and providing groceries to the more than 500 children in sponsored foster care, the Haberle Distribution Center will also provide food assistance to more than 8,700 people who live near the Boys’ Ranch per year, through a partnership with the East Texas Food Bank. Azleway officials say these families live outside of the city limits and are unable to access food assistance from other sources within the city limits due to a lack of transportation.

The clothing pantry provides clothes for Azleway’s more than 1,000 residential and foster care children. Officials say clothing this many growing children each year can only be achieved purchasing in bulk. According to Azleway officials, like all children, the resident and foster clients served by Azleway deserve clothes that fit and look good — and the expanded clothing storage at the Haberle Distribution Center allows more variety in clothing styles and sizes.

Support for the Haberle Distribution Center was provided by David L. Haberle and the David L. Haberle estate, Mabee Foundation, Louis and Peaches Owen Family Foundation, Southside Bank, Plunkett Fund, Tyler Oilmen’s Benefit Association, Bob Herd Foundation, Anonymous, and countless individual donors. The new distribution center is named in recognition of David L. Haberle’s support of Azleway, not only during his lifetime, but with a generous bequest upon his death. You can go to http://www.azleway.com to learn more about Azleway and its programs for at-risk kids.

TYLER – The deadline is at hand for postal questionnaires to help save Tyler’s downtown post office. According to KETK, the questionnaires must be mailed in by today. The petitions across Tyler are also due today. The U.S. Postal Service says it’s lost $3.5 billion, but several downtown Tyler business owners say they rely on that post office. And Mayor Barbara Bass is among those pushing to keep the office open.

WHITEHOUSE — Whitehouse is next to consider a ban on K2, a controversial substance that mimics the effects of marijuana. Whitehouse Police Chief Rick Waller says he hasn’t found anyone selling K2 in the city, but one or two places sell paraphernalia. Whitehouse Mayor Danny Hodgen says that he’s not willing to wait on the state legislature to pass a ban. The Whitehouse City Council will vote on the ordinance in September.

EAST TEXAS — Kids and their parents are still in line to get their school shots. Officials with the Northeast Texas Public Health District say they’ve been busy since Monday and in fact, treated 148 patients on Monday alone. On Tuesday, staffers say there were 93 patients. According to KETK, officials say no one will be turned away and there is an adequate number of vaccines for children. Authorities want to remind parents that kids can not go to school until they have their proper shots.

LUFKIN — A woman is arrested Monday night for driving off in a car belonging to a 76-year-old man. According to KETK, Carrie Mastellas, 41, was staying at the man’s house. Police say she slapped him and kicked him in the groin before stealing his Chevy. She was booked into the Angelina County Jail on a charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. The victim refused to file charges. Lufkin Police it’s the fourth time she’s stolen his car.

TYLER — Governor Rick Perry was in Tyler, talking education with students at John Tyler and Robert E Lee High Schools. In the John Tyler auditorium Wednesday the governor discussed a new teaching tool available to Texas students. It’s education on iTunes U, which offers a modern approach to keeping teachers and students engaged and informed by providing free, supplementary educational content that can be accessed anywhere.

Texas Education on iTunes U will allow teachers to access professional development and support materials, while giving students access to information to help with understanding concepts or conducting additional research on a subject area. Additionally, iTunes U will serve as a venue for state agencies and non-profit organizations to post their educational content.

“iTunes U will easily and efficiently distribute Texas-based educational materials to teachers, parents and students statewide, and will help improve Texas education and secure our position as the best place to live and work in the years to come,” Governor Perry said. “The quality of education in Texas is steadily improving as we continue to combine tried and true teaching methods with new technology to achieve educational success.”

TYLER — A junior journalism major at The University of Texas at Tyler, Kamren Thompson of Lindale, has been named the Patriot Talon student newspaper editor in chief. Student Media Advisory Board members appointed Thompson to the position earlier this month.

“I look forward to being a part of the Patriot Talon and hope to continue the record of success my predecessors achieved,” Thompson said. The Talon earned the honor of best non-daily student newspaper by the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors in 2007 and 2008. “Our staff is so blessed to have a new leader with such talent and enthusiasm,” Vanessa Curry, Patriot Talon adviser said. “We are all truly looking forward to a challenging new semester.”

Thompson holds an associate’s degree from Tyler Junior College, where she served in various leading positions at the Apache Pow Wow student newspaper. She served as that paper’s editor in chief in 2008. Thompson also served as a page design and copy editor intern for the Tyler Morning Telegraph and as a special news correspondent for the Lindale News and Times. She also won writing, design and photography awards from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association.