KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — East Texas is again expecting very low temperatures this week. So far, this winter, PATH has given out more blankets than ever before. The need for heat during these extreme temperatures will result in higher than normal utility bills for families that simply can’t afford it.

“We don’t have any blankets right now,” said Christina Fulsom, executive director of PATH. “This is really a dangerous scenario. People, especially children, the ill and elderly, are at risk in these extremely low temperatures.”

PATH officials urge supporters to donate new blankets or money towards helping people with their utility bills. “Those on fixed incomes may be inclined to keep their heaters off to avoid the higher utility bills,” she added. “And some may need to purchase propane to keep warm. …Donations towards this kind of assistance are always needed and can literally save lives.”

You are asked to bring new blanket donations to the PATH office, 402 West Front Street Tyler from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Monetary donations can be designated for blankets or heat assistance and can be mailed at the West Front Street address or you can go http://www.PATHhelps.org and make a donation online.

TYLER — A Tyler hospital is among entities paying close attention after Monday’s Florida ruling on health care reform. Physician Hospitals of America (PHA) and Texas Spine and Joint Hospital are challenging the constitutionality of Section 6001 of Healthcare Reform in Texas Federal Court. An official decision is awaited in that case. Section 6001 bans further expansion or construction of Physician Owned Hospitals (POHs).

In response to the Florida ruling, lead attorney Scott Oostdyk of McGuireWoods says, “The Florida federal court has declared the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to be unconstitutional in its entirety. Section 6001 of that law bars expansion by only one type of hospital — those that are physician-owned. We are hopeful that the Florida decision will stop the enforcement by the federal government of all unconstitutional limitations on hospital expansion, and PHA will seek that relief in the courts.” A news release from the hospital says PHA and its attorneys will continue to analyze this ruling and their various options moving forward.

There are currently 285 POHs in 34 states. These hospitals include general acute care, long term acute care, emergency medicine, multispecialty, women’s, children’s, rehabilitation and psychiatric.

JACKSONVILLE (AP) – An East Texas woman cited as the world’s oldest person has died at the age of 114. Patricia Ellis of Boren-Conner Funeral Home of Jacksonville says Eunice G. Sanborn of Jacksonville died Monday morning at her home. A message left with Sanborn’s caretaker, David French, was not returned Monday. The Los Angeles-based Gerontology Research Group in Los Angeles listed Sanborn as the world’s oldest person, based on data from the 1900 census. Robert Young of the group said the title now passes to 114-year-old Besse Cooper of Monroe, Georgia, who is 114 years and five months old. Sanborn acquired the distinction November 4 upon the death of a French nun, Eugenie Blanchard, on the French Caribbean island of St. Barts. She was 114.

TYLER — Tyler police say that it will not be up to the drivers of the vehicles involved in a Monday accident on Highway 271 to file charges against each other. A report on the incident, outside Loop 323, will be sent to a property claims department, where it will be decided whether or not both drivers will face charges.

Witnesses tell officers a Volkswagen was driving too close to a pickup truck, and the driver of the truck began tapping his brake to get the driver of the car to let up. When the VW driver went to pass the truck, witnesses say the driver of the truck jumped to the other lane to prevent the car from passing. Eventually the vehicles hit. One vehicle ran off the road and hit a power pole. No outages were reported. One driver was taken to the hospital but was quickly released. The vehicles were both towed away. Witnesses say both drivers were at fault. Police say it is fortunate that the incident did not cause a head-on collision.

TYLER — Over a month after they were discovered, some good news for a group of abused horses in Lindale. Two of them made their way to a new home in Tennessee on Sunday. In December, after numerous complaints about a herd of malnourished horses, rescuers found 43 emaciated horses and about a dozen skeletal remains. The SPCA of East Texas and the Humane Society brought the horses to the East Texas State Fairgrounds for rehabilitation. For the past month, they’ve been getting good food, exercise and vaccinations, all in preparation to find the horses a new home.

TROUP — Alcohol measures could possibly make the ballot again in East Texas. Troup’s city manager says he’s heard of petitions circulating in his community. He says petitions must have 115 signatures and be turned in by Friday. If the signatures are verified, the measures would be on the May 14th ballot.

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County deputies say a car crashed inches from a house Monday off Highway 110, south of Interstate Highway 20. Officials say the driver was speeding on a curved portion of the highway, lost control and slid off the wet road. The car crashed through a homeowner’s fence and yard, sliding to a halt on its side just inches away from the house. No one was injured during the accident. The driver was ticketed for traveling at an unsafe speed.

TYLER — A suspect is sought in a Monday morning aggravated robbery. Just before 10:00, Tyler Police responded to Henderson Chicken at 2122 North Grand. A male employee told officers he was working inside the business when two black males entered, pointing guns and yelling it was a robbery. The suspects were wearing all black and black ski masks. According to police, the employee gave them an undetermined amount of cash, and the suspects left in a black station wagon, unknown type or model. The employee was not harmed.

NACOGDOCHES — A crash in Nacogdoches claimed the life of a Stephen F. Austin student. Justin Shank, 28, was killed Friday night after a truck reportedly collided with his motorcycle. It happened along the 2700 block of North Street around 7:00. Police said Shank was pronounced dead at Memorial Hospital.

WHITEHOUSE — Smith County Game Warden Chris Green makes an uncommon stop, on land. It happened Saturday afternoon when Green decided to grab a bite to eat near the lake in Whitehouse. He says he came across some driving behavior not commonly seen in the middle of the day. “There was a truck in front of me that was weaving from side to side. I thought they might be on the cell phone or texting. I was gonna stop them and tell them they couldn’t do that,” Green said. Then the truck hit a driver stopped at the red light and veered into oncoming traffic.

After Green forced the young man out of the truck, he cuffed him and sat him down on the side of the road while he cleared traffic and called Whitehouse P.D. “Clearly his eyes were just, you know, they were dialated, going every which way, and clearly impaired on something,” Green said. He says alcohol was found in the vehicle.

The man was to be booked into the Smith County Jail and charged with driving under the influence.

TYLER — A Tyler aggravated robbery suspect has been arrested. Early Monday morning officers responded to 1118 West Gentry Parkway to a report of a robbery in progress. When they arrived, officers saw a suspect running from the store. After a brief foot pursuit, they were able to arrest Ronald Howard, 42, Tyler. Howard was positively identified by the store clerk and was booked into the Smith County Jail on aggravated robbery charges.

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating an aggravated robbery that was reported around 9:45 Sunday night at Super One Foods at 1105 East Gentry Parkway. A woman told officers she was robbed at gunpoint by a black male described as mid 20’s and having a thin build. The suspect left on foot in an unknown direction. No injuries were reported.

LUFKIN – A Lufkin woman has died in a weekend accident in Lufkin. It happened around 9:30 Saturday night on Loop 287 at Lotus Lane. Killed was Connie McKay, 45. A passenger in her car was injured. Lufkin police say she was attempting to cross the loop when her car was broadsided by a car that ran a red light. The driver was arrested after fleeing the scene on foot. He is identified as Leobardo Nieves, 20. He was booked into the Angelina County Jail on a charge of intoxication manslaughter.

LONGVIEW – A traffic stop by the Department of Public Safety has resulted in the arrest of two North Carolina residents on drug charges. Their car was stopped Saturday night on Interstate Highway 20. A K9 unit was called to the scene and the dog found 30 pounds of crack cocaine in the SUV. Arrested were Terry Bumgarner, 47, of Newton, North Carolina and Chelsea Elizabeth McDowell, 25, of Hickory, North Carolina.

TYLER — The Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health) has recently reduced the cost of the seasonal flu vaccine for the general public. The vaccine is now being offered for a fee of $8.00 at 815 North Broadway in Tyler. Medicaid and Medicare Part B are also accepted and cover the cost of the vaccination. The seasonal flu vaccination will be given on a first come, first serve basis until the vaccine supply is depleted. NET Health Immunization Clinic hours are Monday – Wednesday 8:00am till 11:00am and 1:00pm till 4:00pm and Wednesday until 6:00pm.

“It is not too late for citizens to get vaccinated against the flu for this season. We are pleased to be able to offer this protection to our community at a more affordable rate.” says George Roberts, CEO of NET Health.

“Seasonal flu vaccine, available in shot and nasal spray forms, is recommended for people ages 6 months and older. It is especially important for individuals at high risk of complications from the flu to become vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available,” says Dr. Jonathan MacClements, Smith County Health Authority.

The 2010 – 2011 seasonal influenza vaccine will protect against three strains of flu viruses, including the 2009 H1N1influenza virus, which cause so much illness last season. Health officials say flu is unpredictable, but it is very likely that the flu virus will cause illness in the coming months.

TYLER — Warm temperatures over the weekend sent fishing enthusiasts to area lakes, a reminder that bass season is just around the corner. Bass will begin spawning in the spring, when the water temperature consistently stays above 60 degrees. When bass “bed,” or find a place to mate, they stay in shallow waters and tend to stay stagnant, making it much easier for fishermen to come away with a bag limit of bass. Smith County Game Warden Chris Green says when the weather gets consistently warmer, the fishermen will be out bass fishing in full force. Green added that it’s still critical to follow any and all safety guidelines provided when bass fishing this early in the year. Green also says not to exceed the legal bag limit of bass.

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

LONGVIEW — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repairs in various locations on State Highway 300 (Gilmer Road), Spur 63, and Spur 502 (Judson Road) in and around Longview. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue pavement repair operations on State Highway 31 between Trinidad and Malakoff, followed later in the week by the same work on State Highway 31 Business and State Highway 19 Business in downtown Athens.

A second crew is scheduled to perform edge repairs in various locations on Farm Road 315 and Farm Road 2010 near Chandler. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue fog seal operations on Farm Road 2330 between State Highway 19 and Farm Road 860, and on Farm Road 1817 between U.S. Highway 287 and Farm Road 323.

Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic. Fog seal operations require lengthy lane closures and can cause moderate delays to traffic. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs in various locations on Farm Road 1251 east of Henderson, and of Farm Road 2658 on the west side of Martin Creek Lake. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue resurfacing operations in various locations on Farm Road 858 between State Highway 19 south of Canton and Farm Road 314 south of Van. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

WOOD COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to be at work on the following roadways in and around Wood County:
Farm Road 778 between State Highway 37 in Quitman and U.S. Highway 80; State Highway 37 north of Quitman; Farm Road 857 near Farm Road 1255; and Farm Road 49 east of Farm Road 14. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue several weeks of edge repairs in various locations on U.S. Highway 175 between Jacksonville and Poynor. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

LUFKIN — A man pulled from a burning Lufkin home has died. Richard Browning, 37, died in a Houston Hospital Saturday. The fire was reported around 9:15pm Friday night at 1009 Mitchell Avenue. The house was gutted by the flames. Investigators say Browning was found in a rear bedroom. From the injuries to his head, it appeared as if he had been involved in a fight. Investigators say the cause of the fire remains under investigation, but they term the blaze “suspicious.”

LONGVIEW – A Longview home has been destroyed by fire. It was reported Friday afternoon in the 900 block of Pecan Street. A woman and her three children were not at home when the fire broke out at the home, which was not equipped with fire detectors. Investigators say the fire started on the porch and quickly spread throughout the house. The blaze even spread to the yard, setting some curbside furniture on fire.

TYLER — A teacher at Tyler’s Robert E Lee High School has been found dead in his home. The body of Mark Chennault, who was in his 40s, was found Saturday morning. A social studies teacher, this was his first year in the Tyler school district. Investigators say it appears as if he had died of natural causes. An autopsy has been ordered.

MARSHALL (AP) — A federal jury in Texas has ordered Johnson & Johnson and a subsidiary to pay $482 million to an inventor who claimed the company infringed on his patent for a cardiac stent. Jurors found that a stent built and distributed by Cordis willfully infringed on plaintiff Dr. Bruce Saffran’s patent.

NACOGDOCHES — A motorcycle driver has been killed in a Nacogdoches accident. Killed Friday night was Justin Shank, 28, of Nacogdoches. He died soon after arriving at a Nacogdoches hospital. His motorcycle burst into flames after colliding with a pickup on North Street. A Winnsboro woman driving the pickup was uninjured.

YANTIS – One person is being Treated at Tyler’s East Texas Medical Center following a stabbing in Yantis. A suspect is in custody. Charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, injury to a child and felon in possession of a firearm is Tommy Jones, 36, of Yantis. Stabbed in the left shoulder is Nathan Jenkins, 25, of Yantis. He is listed in stable condition.

TYLER — The Texas Department of Transportation’s Tyler District has announced it expects contractor Knife River Corp. to begin work on the long-awaited State Highway 149 widening project south of Longview by mid-February, and that another widening project, on Farm Road 14 north of Tyler, was nearing completion.

“The SH 149 project always seemed to be in a funding blind spot,” said TxDOT spokesman Larry Krantz. “The need was clearly there, but the right kind of funding was never available in large enough quantities to make a significant upgrade to the situation. Not anymore. The county, the city of Longview and the Longview MPO worked with TxDOT to fully fund the project and move it to the starting line. We absolutely would not be building this project today without significant financial backing from our partners.”

Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt, who oversaw the county’s nearly $6 million contribution to the project and another $2 million for a similar project on SH 42, was awarded TxDOT’s Road Hand Award on November 30, the highest award given to non-employees, for his dedication to the two projects and the continued safety of
the traveling public in Gregg County.

“These projects don’t happen without him,” Krantz said. “Period.” The SH 149 project will be conducted in two phases, the first of which calls for adding street lights and widening to accommodate continuous left-turn lane through Whiskey Bend area; repair and resurface between SH 149/State Highway 322 split and two miles south of Farm Road 2906; and adding centerline rumble strips between the Sabine River Bridge and Rusk County Line. The approximate $3.3 million project let in October.

The next phase, which is scheduled to let April, calls for realigning the SH 149 intersection with SH 322 and resurfacing between Interstate Highway 20 frontage and the railroad tracks, and widening and resurfacing SH 322 between IH 20 frontage and SH 149. The intersection realignment and the subsequent resurfacing are 100% funded
by Gregg County. The project also calls for upgrading various large Interstate guide signs in Gregg County. The estimated $3.1 million project, $2.6 million of which is funded by Gregg County, is scheduled to begin construction after the first phase has been completed.

Also beginning in February, TxDOT contractor Longview Bridge and Road, Ltd. is scheduled to begin work to add a left-turn lane on State Highway 110 on either side of Farm Road 1805 in Van to allow better turn access into the Van ISD Sports Complex. The $779,000 project is scheduled to take approximately six months to complete.

On the other end of the construction spectrum, TxDOT contractor R.K. Hall is scheduled to complete its $1.5 million project to add shoulders and resurface Farm Road 14 between Interstate Highway 20 and Loop 323 in Tyler. The project began last July.

The Tyler District also let one project to contract in January, awarding a $1.2 million contract to contractor A.L. Helmcamp to repair and resurface Farm Road 2329 between Farm Road 316 and U.S. Highway 175 in Henderson County. A start date for this project has no been determined.

Finally, the district has plans in to let to contract three bundled projects totaling an estimated $3.9 million in February, all in Wood County. The first project calls for adding shoulders and resurfacing Farm Road 17 between U.S. Highway 69 and Farm Road 779; Farm Road 514 between the Lake Fork Reservoir bridge and Farm Road 17; and Farm road 2659 between Farm Road 2911 and U.S. Highway 80 east of Hawkins, all for an estimated $1.5 million.

The second calls for adding shoulders on State Highway 154 between Farm Road 14 and Farm Road 312, and seal coating State Highway 154 between State Highway 37 in Quitman and the Upshur County Line for an estimated $1.7 million.

The final project calls for adding shoulders and resurfacing Farm Road 14 between Farm Road 2869 and Farm Road 1795 north of Hawkins, and adding centerline rumble strips on Farm Road 14 between State Highway 154 and the Smith County Line for an estimated $1.6 million. Construction on all three projects should begin sometime this summer.

OVERTON — Three persons are in custody following a drug raid on a house in Overton. Officers from the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office and Henderson Police Department served the warrant. In the house officers seized found suspected crack cocaine, powder cocaine, marijuana, alprazolam, diazepam, heroin and a gun.

Taken into custody were Don Paul Haynes, 54, Christopher Marlo Florence, 39, and Frances Irene Jernigan Haynes, 51. The Hanes were charged with manufacturing and possession of drugs while Florence was charged with drug manufacturing and possession charges, plus unlawful possession of a firearm.

TYLER — A Tyler-area fire was extinguished Friday, but officials say one structure and a car were destroyed. KETK reports it happened on the 3000 block of Mt. Vernon Street, off County Road 384 and Loop 323. Fire officials reported early in the afternoon that a house was on fire, and a mobile home next to it was also in danger of catching fire. No one was hurt in the blaze.

LONGVIEW — A Longview woman is dead from injuries suffered in a one-vehicle accident last Sunday in the 2400 block of East Marshall Avenue. Officers found a Ford Explorer had left the roadway and struck a tree. The driver, Sandra Hudman, 52, was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Authorities learned Friday that Ms. Hudman had died from those injuries on Thursday. She was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

EAST TEXAS — Several burglaries remain unsolved in Smith and Henderson Counties. Authorities say the target is items in storage facilities. Police say multiple locations have been targeted more than once, including 7 in Tyler. Officials say there may be more than one person or group responsible. The burglaries are happening at storage centers with no surveillance systems or other security. Local storage center owners are voicing their concern. One says, “There’s nothing you can do. If they want to get in they’ll get in, no matter what.” Authorities say the big target at the storage units is electronics such as TVs and DVD players.

TYLER — Tyler resident and community leader Anwar Khalifa is offering remarks on current unrest in Egypt. In a statement submitted to KTBB, Khalifa says, “I was born in Alexandria, Egypt, and still have relatives in Alexandria, Cairo and other cities in Egypt. I have been asked to represent those of Egyptian Origin. We pray that all violence stops. We condemn all violence against any and all religions. We also condemn police violent actions against peaceful protest. President Mubarak has been a long time friend of the USA. He has apparently not kept faith with our values in empowering the general public to choose leadership in a democratic/republican form, and has not looked after the welfare of the economy of his country.”

JACKSONVILLE — A Cherokee County jury has found Dickie Paul Bellanger guilty of two counts of aggravated assault of a child and two counts of injury to a child. He received two 75-year sentences, one for each count of aggravated assault of a child. The sentences will be served consecutively in state prison. He also received two 10-year sentences, one for each count of injury to a child. Dickie Bellanger and his mother, Candi Jean Bellanger, were arrested in May 2009. He was arrested for the assaults of two infants while she was arrested for not taking action to prevent or report the abuse.