KTBB News, Weather, Talk

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

SMITH COUNTY — Construction crews are scheduled to continue several weeks of nighttime work on Tyler’s WSW Loop 323 between State Highway 155 (Frankston Highway) and Bellwood Drive, which is just south of the railroad overpass near West Front Street. Crews are scheduled to work from 7:00pm to 5:00am, Sunday-Thursday repairing and then resurfacing the roadway. Temporary lane-closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists should be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

Also this week in Smith County, TxDOT maintenance crews are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 2908 east of Tyler between State Highway 31 and Interstate Highway 20. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

WOOD COUNTY — Work associated with TxDOT’s preventative maintenance program known as “District-Wide Seal Coat” is scheduled to conclude this week in Wood County with work on Farm Road 2869 between Farm Road 852 south of Winnsboro and Farm Road 14 north of Hawkins.

A second crew is scheduled to perform the same work on Farm Road 3056 between U.S. Highway 80 and Farm Road 778. Once that work is complete, crews are scheduled to seal Farm Road 312 between Winnsboro and Pine Mills, which should take approximately two weeks to complete. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers and pilot vehicles will control traffic. Loose gravel may be present for several days following a seal coat application.

LONGVIEW — Construction crews are scheduled to conclude nighttime resurfacing work this week on Spur 63 in Longview between U.S. Highway 80 (Marshall Avenue) and North Loop 281. The work is being conducted Sunday-Thursday between 7:00pm and 6:00am, weather permitting. Overnight lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to use caution and be on the lookout for workers and heavy equipment in and around the work zone.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to conclude pavement repairs on U.S. Highway 79 east of Henderson between the city limits and the Panola County Line. The work is scheduled to be completed by Wednesday. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers and pilot vehicles will control traffic.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Beginning Wednesday, Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews are scheduled to begin approximately three weeks of pavement-repair work on U.S. Highway 80 between Farm Road 859 in Edgewood and State Highway 19. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress. Motorists should be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform shoulder work in various locations on Farm Road 860 between U.S. Highway 287 and State Highway 19. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers and pilot vehicles will control traffic.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to resume base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 1615, between State Highway 19 south of Athens and the end of state maintenance. 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 are scheduled to resume shoulder work on Farm Road 855 beginning Monday. Once the work resumes, daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress.

KILGORE — A shooting at El Greco Club near Kilgore early Sunday morning sent one man to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The shooting occurred about 2:30 on Old Highway 31. Gregg County Sheriff’s Lt. Kirk Haddix said another man shot the victim in the lower abdomen in the club’s parking lot. According to the Longview News-Journal, the victim was taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center for treatment. Haddix said the sheriff’s department has a suspect, and expects to seek a warrant, but no arrests had been at last report. The investigation is ongoing.

HOUSTON (AP/Staff) – A Canadian company that wants to build an oil pipeline from Alberta’s tar sands region to Texas refineries now has a final permit for the portion of the effort known as the Gulf Coast Project. TransCanada announced Friday that construction on the 485-mile section of pipeline would begin in the coming weeks. The project, which would run through much of East Texas, including eastern Smith County, has generated considerable controversy, with many concerned about its potential environmental impact. But in a statement, the company says that “building a safe and reliable pipeline remains TransCanada’s top priority.”

President Barack Obama encouraged the company to pursue the segment that will run from a refinery in Cushing, Okla., to Texas after he rejected the broader plan, saying it needed to be rerouted around Nebraska’s sensitive Sand Hills region. For that project, TransCanada needs presidential approval because it crosses an international border. The shorter portion only requires permits from state and federal agencies. The shorter line will help relieve a bottleneck at the Oklahoma refinery.

TYLER – Habitat for Humanity of Smith County has been selected to participate in Repair Corps, a veterans-support initiative of Habitat for Humanity International and The Home Depot Foundation. The Smith County Habitat is one of 84 Habitat affiliates selected to participate in the program, designed to support U.S. veterans in need of home repair. Repair Corps is designed under the same model as new homes built with Habitat families; the veteran will repay the zero interest loan necessary for these repairs.

“We are excited to participate in the launch of Habitat for Humanity’s Repair Corps program and grateful to The Home Depot Foundation for funding this project,” said Jack Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of the Smith County Habitat. “It is truly an honor to work in partnership with former service men and women, and their families.”

Habitat for Humanity’s Repair Corps is a project funded by The Home Depot Foundation with a $2.7 million cash and in-kind gift card donation. Home repair grants will be allocated in amounts up to $15,000 for each Repair Corps project. The program grants will cover the cost of a variety of repairs that could include roofing and weather stripping to the installation of wheelchair ramps and renovated bathrooms and doorways to accommodate disabled veterans. Habitat for Humanity’s Repair Corps is part of a three-year, $30 million investment The Home Depot Foundation is making to multiple organizations to help ease the burdens of military veterans by repairing and renovating homes and public facilities for military veterans.

TYLER — A launch party tonight for filmmakers and film aficionados will kick off efforts leading toward the second annual Downtown Tyler “Show Us Your Shorts” Film festival. The event is set for 6 to 8 p.m. at Gallery Main Street at 110 W. Erwin. Filmmakers, supporters of independent films, potential volunteers and sponsors are all invited to the launch party, which will serve as an informal, informational introduction to the 2012 film festival. The Downtown Tyler Film Festival is a project of the Downtown Tyler Arts Coalition (DTAC) film/theater working group. DTAC is an all-volunteer group that works to promote the arts in downtown Tyler under the auspices of the City of Tyler Main Street Department and its non-profit partner, Heart of Tyler, Inc.

“We invite anyone interested in the film fest to join us at this launch party,” said Film Festival Chairman Chris Abraham, noting that winning films from last year’s event will be shown, and organizers of the festival will be on hand to answer questions about the event, offering information on everything from how to enter a film to how to volunteer. “This year’s festival will feature an expanded format, with more entries, more films and more opportunities to view the films,” Abraham added. You can go to http://www.cityoftyler.org to learn more.

LONGVIEW — Longview police have made two arrests and recovered a stolen vehicle. On Thursday, a truck was reported stolen from a parking lot in the 700 Block of East Marshall Avenue. At 11:00 a.m. the same day, a Longview police officer noticed a truck matching its description in the area of Sylvan Drive and Mobberly Avenue. Officers made a traffic stop on the vehicle, but police say the driver attempted to elude police for several blocks. According to officials, the driver finally stopped in the area of 6th Street and Whaley, jumped out of the vehicle, and tried to flee from police.

Authorities say the suspect, John Mallon, 27, of Diana (pictured), was apprehended a short time later and transported to the Gregg County Jail. Mallon was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and evading arrest. Mallon’s passenger, Maura Jeannine Maddox, 23, of Kilgore, was arrested on 5 outstanding class C warrants.

HENDERSON — A father-son argument Tuesday evening ends with the father behind bars in Rusk County. KETK reports 50-year-old Thomas Anthony Beason is in jail. His son, 27-year-old Tommy Dale Beason, was taken to the hospital. Deputies say he underwent emergency surgery on a wound he suffered in the fight.

ANGELINA COUNTY — A Lufkin man managed to get arrested for public intoxication twice almost exactly 12 hours apart Wednesday. Around 8:30, witnesses reported a drunk man had damaged two vehicles in a convenience store parking lot on the 1000 block of S. Medford Drive. Officers arrived on scene and arrested 38-year-old Kevin Summers. According to KETK, Police had arrested already Summers around 8:30 that morning for public intoxication. Summers was also charged with criminal mischief and again booked into the Angelina County Jail. His bond was set at $500.

TYLER — The Tyler Independent School District Board of Trustees accepted Superintendent Dr. Randy Reid’s resignation at the regular board meeting Thursday evening and named Gary Mooring Interim Superintendent. Dr. Reid recently accepted the Superintendent position with the Keller Independent School District in Keller, Texas.

Reid served as superintendent of Tyler ISD for five years. In that time, Tyler ISD has seen great improvements in academic performance. Over the past five years, the district has seen a 15 percent increase in the number of students meeting the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) standard in science, an eight percent increase in the number of students meeting the TAKS standard in math, and an eight percent increase in the number of students meeting the TAKS standard in social studies.

“Under Dr. Reid’s leadership, Tyler ISD made great strides academically. We appreciate his dedication to the district, and we wish him the best as he moves on to lead another school district,” Michelle Carr, Tyler ISD Board of Trustees President, said. “We look forward to once again working with Mr. Mooring during this time of transition.”

Mooring is returning to Tyler ISD, having previously served as Deputy Superintendent and Interim Superintendent. Mooring was named Deputy Superintendent in August 2006, and served as Interim Superintendent following Dr. David Simmons’ resignation in December 2006. He has also served Tyler ISD in various other roles, including: Interim Executive Director for Special Programs, Interim Transportation Director, and consultant to develop the district’s operations manual.

Mooring is currently the Director of Dual Credit Programs at Tyler Junior College, from which he will take a leave of absence to serve as Interim Superintendent. He began his career in education 30 years ago, and has served as Superintendent of two school districts: Bishop Consolidated Independent School District and Hutto Independent School District.

TYLER — The Tyler Independent School District recently named Brandon Chandler as Principal of Andy Woods Elementary School. Chandler will join Tyler ISD later this month. “I look forward to celebrating the traditions of Andy Woods Elementary School and also creating new traditions,” Mr. Chandler said. “As principal, I will focus on ensuring that all students are successful.”

Chandler comes to Tyler ISD from Grand Prairie ISD. He served as an interim assistant principal at a middle school before being named assistant principal of an elementary school in 2010. Chandler started his career in education in 2000 as a junior high teacher at Richardson ISD in Richardson, Texas. “I am excited about moving to Tyler, getting to know the students and staff at Andy Woods Elementary, and interacting with members of the community,” Mr. Chandler said.

Chandler received his Bachelor of Music in Education at the University of North Texas, and his Master of Education in Educational Administration at Lamar University.

LUFKIN (AP) – Investigators searching with dogs and a helicopter have captured an East Texas man accused of killing his girlfriend and her brother. Angelina County Jail records show 31-year-old Terrance Demound Barnes of Lufkin was held Friday on a charge of capital murder of multiple persons. No bond was set for Barnes, who was located Thursday night in a wooded area near Lufkin. Investigators say Barnes is accused in the fatal stabbing early Thursday of 27-year-old Rosa Pina and 28-year-old Pepe Pina at a residence. Deputies had been dispatched to the home to investigate an alleged domestic disturbance involving the woman and Barnes. Several youngsters who were in the home have been placed with Child Protective Services.

TYLER — The Texas Land Board has ordered the removal of a man’s name honored at the Watkins-Logan-Garrison Texas State Veterans Home in Tyler. According to KETK, in November 2011, veterans and those who support them witnessed the dedication of the veterans home on the 11,000 block of Honor Lane. The home was named after two Medal of Honor recipients and a Tuskegee airman, Samuel M. Garrison. The pilot died in 2011 and was honored; however, state officials launched an investigation and no records of his service claims as a Tuskegee member were found. Based on the investigations findings, state officials voted Wednesday to change the name of the home. The home will now be called the Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home, according to the Texas Land Board.

Veterans homes offer a broad spectrum of health care services, comprehensive rehabilitation programs, special diets, recreational activities, social services, libraries, and certified, secured Alzheimer’s units, each with its own secured outdoor courtyard.

LONGVIEW — Longview police are following up on a shooting that seriously wounded two men. Shortly after 2:15 yesterday morning, officers responded to a shots fired call in the 1100 Block of West Marshall Avenue. When officers arrived they saw a car leaving at a high rate of speed. Witnesses told police there were several males who were involved in an altercation. According to witnesses several shots were fired and two people were wounded.

Police located one shooting victim, a 26-year man, in a vehicle at the scene. That victim was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. A short time later officers were advised another victim, a 23-year-old man was brought to Good Shepherd by private vehicle with a life-threatening gunshot wound. According to authorities, police later found the vehicle they saw leaving the scene. No arrests have been made at this time. Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Detective David Cheatham at 903-237-1147. If the tipster wishes to remain anonymous, he or she can contact Gregg County Crimestoppers at http://www.greggcountycrimestoppers.org or 903-236-STOP (7867).

TYLER — The president of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Kirk A. Calhoun, M.D., has been named to the Council on Graduate Medical Education (COGME) of the Health Resources and Services Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Calhoun, president of UTHSCT since 2002, is one of 17 members of COGME, which was established by Congress in 1986 to evaluate the supply and distribution of physicians in the United States. His term expires March 31, 2016. He is a former chair of the executive committee of the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems. Dr. Calhoun also has served on the State Health Services Council and the Teaching Hospitals of Texas’ executive committee.

In addition, Anna Kurdowska, Ph.D., has been appointed director of research at UTHSCT, and Robert Tompkins, MD, has been named program director of the Family Medicine Residency. As director of research, Dr. Kurdowska will oversee the Biomedical Research Center, its 28 faculty, and associated lab and clerical staff. She joined UTHSCT in 1991 and currently is a professor of biochemistry.

Dr. Tompkins will supervise the family medicine residency program, which began in 1985. The program gives new physicians the training and experience needed to treat people in all stages of life, from infancy to old age. He is an associate professor of medicine and has been an instructor in the Family Medicine Residency Program since 1997.

DeSOTO PARISH, LA. — A Longview man is under investigation after he allegedly ran a stop sign that resulted in a Louisiana death. KETK reports that shortly after 7:30 Thursday morning, Louisiana state troopers were called to a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 84 at the intersection of Interstate Highway 49. When officials arrived, they discovered John Cline, 27, of Longview, was driving south on I-49 when he exited Highway 84. Authorities say Cline failed to stop at the stop sign and hit a car heading west driven by Carly Deemer, 23, of Coushatta, Louisiana.

Deemer and her passenger, Georgia Wilson, 19, of Coushatta, were not wearing belts. Deemer was pronounced dead at the scene by the DeSoto Parish coroner. Wilson sustained serious injuries from the crash and was flown to a Shreveport hospital for treatment. Toxicology samples were obtained and submitted for analysis. Cline was cited for failure to obey a stop sign.

ANGELINA COUNTY — Two people are dead in what authorities believe is a double homicide. It was reported Wednesday night on John Kolb Road in eastern Angelina County. According to KETK and the Lufkin Daily News, the victims are said to be a man and woman in their twenties. They’re now identified as Rosa and Pepe Pina, and their alleged killer is a 31-year-old black male named Terrance Barnes. Angelina County Investigators are still on the scene, and authorities continue to search for Barnes.

TROUP — About half of a Troup home has been damaged in a fire. Before the fire was put out Thursday morning, heavy smoke was visible from the attic of the home, in the 18000 block of Sunshine Lane. Crews from the Arp, Chapel Hill, and Troup VFDs answered the call. According to KETK, the cause of the fire is being investigated by the Smith County fire marshal.

TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for a 30-year-old man reported missing. Gustavo Valdovinos was last seen on July 8th at 2516 Canton Street in Tyler. Law enforcement officials have no confirmation that foul play maybe involved at this time. They say Valdovinos has disappeared for a few days in the past but not for this long period of time. Family members have not heard from him and fear that something may have happened. If you have any information regarding his whereabouts, please contact the Tyler Police Department.

LONGVIEW — Former Longview mayor Tommie Carlisle has died. The long time Longview businessman died Tuesday at the age of 84. Council members appointed Carlisle as mayor in 1975. When the city switched to electing the mayor, Carlisle became the first person elected to the post in 1978. Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday morning at 10:00 at Rader Funeral Home. Burial to follow in Lakeview Memorial Gardens. Visitation is scheduled at the funeral home from 6:00 to 8:00pm Friday.

LONGVIEW — Gregg County authorities have three persons in custody in connection with two home invasions. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. The first incident was reported around 11:15 Wednesday morning in the 4400 block of Smelley Road in Hallsville. An armed elderly man said he confronted two men who had broken into a house. He told investigators they struggled with him, disarmed him and hit him in the forehead with the gun.

Shortly after that a burglary was reported in Lakeport. A witness gave a description of the suspects that was similar to the men in the Hallsville robbery. State troopers spotted a vehicle matching the description occupied by two men and a woman. They stopped the vehicle on Farm Road 2011 in Gregg County. A gun found in the car turned out to be the one taken in the Hallsville robbery. The suspects were identified as Bruce Vactor, 23, Jeremy Germaine Jackson, 30 and Brittany Bush, 24.

TYLER — A listener advises of an accident at Front and Palace in Tyler. As of late this afternoon, southbound traffic on Palace was blocked at the intersection. Drivers should avoid that area or use caution if they must drive through it.

TYLER — A project that will add a major roadway to the city is highlighted as the Tyler City Council approves the 2012-2013 Half Cent Work Program. Topping the list of 222 projects is the extension of Cumberland Road from Old Jacksonville Road to Broadway Avenue. This project will include a four lane divided road with landscaped raised medians, a bridge over West Mud Creek, and a hike and bike trail to connect north to the hike and bike trail along Grande. “This project will serve as an east-west connection for the southwest portion of Tyler,” said Half Cent Board Chairperson Ralph Caraway. “This will give citizens better access to schools, retail, parks and new development. It will also improve emergency response times and help ease traffic congestion.”

The program prioritizes projects that will be funded by Half Cent Sales Tax revenue for the year. A 60-day review period for public input began Wednesday with the Council action. The Half Cent Sales Tax provides approximately $15 million per year in funding for capital projects. You can go to http://www.cityoftyler.org to learn more.

KILGORE — Kilgore Police investigate some reported mail thefts. According to KETK, thieves struck in the Highland Park area Tuesday between 11:00am and 4:00pm. Officers are working with the local post office to try to identify those thieves.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has called a special election for November 6 on a pair of alcohol propositions. One calls for beer & wine sales for off-premises consumption; the other is for extension of the legal sale of mixed beverages in restaurants to current city limits. A group called Buy Local First has been working to get the propositions on local ballots, largely by circulating petitions that the council validated yesterday morning.

A group called Stand Strong for Tyler opposes the effort. That group is calling for the city to stop what it terms the rush to place the beer and wine measure on the ballot in November. In a statement issued to KETK, the group says, in part, “After only 10 days of reviewing the petitions Stand Strong has identified serious problems including hundreds of duplicate signatures, the names of deceased individuals as signers and numerous other serious issues that will disqualify many signatures.” The group has asked for more time to review the petitions.
City spokesperson Susan Guthrie told KTBB, “Basically we did a very thorough review of the petitions and found that there was more than enough to warrant calling the election. State law outlines that we make this decision at the next meeting following completion if our review, which is what we have done.” She says once the city confirmed the counts, the law says the council “shall,” not “may,” call the election. The Smith County Commissioners Court must give the nod to similar propositions for the county’s Justice Precinct 2. Commissioners are slated to consider that at their meeting Tuesday

LONGVIEW — A bomb scare was quickly handled by a bomb squad from Barksdale Air Force Base. They were called in to look at suspicious device found in a Longview newspaper stand. According to KETK, officials say the “bomb” is actually the coin collection device from the newspaper stand itself. Somehow, the coin collector fell off inside the newsstand. It was discovered by an IHOP patron around 7:00 yesterday morning, and officials were immediately alerted.

EAST TEXAS — The body of a drowning victim has been recovered from Lake Cherokee. The body of Kim Grounds was recovered yesterday and the investigation will continue. His body will be sent to the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas for autopsy.

The Gregg County Sheriff’s Department said, the 44-year-old Mount Enterprise man was one of two people aboard a boat, but he didn’t make it back to shore. Members of the Texas DPS, Texas Parks and Wildlife Service, Rusk County Sheriff’s Office and the Lake Cherokee Patrol were on had to assist in the recovery operation.

CRYSTAL BEACH — A Longview man has drowned in the Gulf of Mexico. Jeffery Buttram, 42, was found Sunday afternoon in the water near the 1900 block of Avenue J in Crystal Beach. John Florence, a spokesman for the Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office, said CPR was performed on Buttram on the beach. He was flown by a medical helicopter to the University of Texas Medical Branch, where he died Monday afternoon. An autopsy has been ordered.

FRANKLIN, TENN. –– Livability.com, a national website that highlights more than 500 of America’s best places to live and visit, has released a list of the Top 10 Best BBQ Cities – Surprisingly Great Places for BBQ. Tyler made the top ten list.

Much has been written about the smoking, saucing and rubbing going on in places like Memphis, Austin, Chicago and Kansas City, those cities by which all other barbecue is measured. So for their list of the best places for BBQ, Livability.com editors purposely strayed from the herd, instead concentrating on those lesser known cities with a large and loyal local barbecue fan base. To narrow down the list, editors looked at the number of barbecue restaurants, joints and shacks in a city as well as the quality of those establishments based on customer reviews, and in some cases, a little messy hands-on research.

“Part of what we do at Livability.com is uncover those hidden gems in cities and help them shine. So when a list of the best BBQ cities was proposed, it was decided that we wouldn’t take the easy route of listing the usual suspects. Instead we’d go mining for those gems that the rest of the country might not yet have discovered,” said John Hood, spokesman for Livability.com.

Barbecue is taken very seriously in Texas. Cities like Austin, Lockhart and Houston are well known for having an assortment of tempting ‘cue. Picking the best barbecue restaurant in Texas is like asking someone to pick their favorite child. Easy for some, agonizing for others. One thing most Texans agree on is Texas barbecue is the best. Livability.com editors focused their attention on Tyler a city that hasn’t received much notoriety but has some darn good barbecue. ‘Cue snobs have tipped a hat to Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-B-Q. It has put Tyler’s barbecue scene on the map, and the scene is a good one. The city has five bona fide barbecue restaurants and a few more that offer barbecue on the menu.

The website’s Top 10 Best BBQ Cities – Surprisingly Great Places for BBQ:
1. Lexington, NC
2. Tuscaloosa, AL
3. Greenville, SC
4. Hattiesburg, MS
5. Tyler, TX
6. Springfield, MO
7. Bethesda, MD
8. Fayetteville, AR
9. Gainesville, FL
10. Cumming, GA

CADDO LAKE — Caddo Lake in Northeast Texas is known for its maze of bayous and bald cypress trees draped in Spanish Moss. the lake is popular today for its fishing, camping and boating. However, it is in danger of being overtaken by some non-native plant species that threaten its fragile ecosystem. Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples says there are two main threats. He says the plants reduce the oxygen levels in the water and clog the waterways — and that threatens the fish, waterfowl and other wildlife that depend on the lake for survival. Staples says crews are using chemical treatments and introducing weevils that eat the plants.

TYLER — A group called the Coalition of Retired Law Enforcement Officers and Second Amendment Defenders announces its support of Larry Smith for Smith County sheriff. According to KETK, the group includes former FBI and DPS officers, ex-game wardens, and some local gunsmiths. Members spoke highly of Smith’s character, experience, and integrity. As early voting continues, Smith is locked in a hotly contested race against former Game Warden Chris Green.