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TYLER — Scholarships of up to $10,000 each are available for qualified students accepted into a new graduate training program in health information management technology. The program is being delivered through the Northeast Texas Consortium of Colleges and Universities (NETnet) and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. The one-year program is being offered by Texas State University, which has contracted with UTHSCT through NETnet to provide access to the program for about 25 Northeast Texas students in two groups over two years, said Mickey Slimp, the project’s local director. Slimp is executive director of NETnet and the East Texas Interactive Health Network, a partnership of area health providers from Livingston to Mount Pleasant.

Called the Professional University Resources and Education for Health Information Technology (PURE HIT), the project is funded by a $5.4 million federal grant divided among academic institutions throughout Texas, said Texas State project director Susan H. Fenton. “It is estimated that nationally, 50,000 new health information technology (HIT) professionals will be needed to help hospitals and physicians implement electronic health records by 2014,” Dr. Fenton said. The Department of Health and Human Services Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology awarded the grant to Texas State. Students admitted to the program will take courses on the UTHSCT campus, with instructors at Texas State teaching classes via videoconferencing, said Dr. Slimp.

Dr. Slimp urged anyone who is interested to apply as soon as possible, because scholarships are limited and will be awarded to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Classes start Aug. 25. To apply, visit http://www.health.txstate.edu/him/PURE-HIT-Training-Consortium.html for more information and an online application.

FLINT – A mobile home fire sparked while a family cooked dinner. According to KETK, it happened in the Pine Trail Shores subdivision in Flint off of Highway 155 just before 8 o’clock Friday night. Numerous fire departments were called to the scene to help battle the blaze. Fire officials say it appears the fire started while the family was cooking fish. No injuries are reported, but the home is a loss.

LONGVIEW — One person is dead, and ten have been hospitalized in a Longview wreck. On Friday at approximately 9:29 p.m., Longview Officers were dispatched to a report of a major accident in the 4300 block of West Loop 281. Officers arrived to find four vehicles involved and numerous people injured. The Longview Fire Department/EMS transported seven children and four adults involved in the accident to Good Shepherd Medical Center for treatment. One of the adults, 31-year-old Saberina Evette Howard of Longview, was pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace Sam Lawson shortly after her arrival.

As of late Friday night, Traffic Investigators were able to determine that Howard had been traveling northbound in the 4300 block of West Loop 281 in a Buick LeSabre when she rear ended a GMC Canyon pick-up truck that was also traveling northbound. After the initial collision, Howard’s Buick went into oncoming lanes of southbound traffic and struck a Lincoln Navigator and a Ford Taurus. As a result of the crash, West Loop 281 was closed to traffic until approximately 11:15 p.m. Blood samples have been sent to the Texas Department of Public Safety for testing, and the investigation is ongoing.

TYLER — More than 1,700 signatures of people who want to vote for or against an alcohol option are turned in this week. According to KETK, the option is for off-premise alcohol in Smith County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4. Were the option to pass, residents could buy beer or wine from companies and take it home. In a May 2009 election, this same option was given, but it did not pass. However, some voters think there is reason to believe the results may turn out differently this time. Resident Peyton Neill says, “I don’t think it will pass, but if it does, I will not be surprised because of the amount of alcohol people want right now.”
Smith County Elections Administrator Karen Nelson says voter turnout may be higher this time because there’s a governor’s race, which may draw more attention from voters.

JP Precinct 4 touches the north and east side of Loop 323. The number of signatures needed was turned in yesterday, three weeks before the deadline. Officials are now verifying them to make sure there are enough valid signatures to hold the election. Business owners KETK spoke with from stores that are already selling alcohol in Winona say they are worried. If the vote gets on the ballot and passes, it could hurt business.

TYLER — In state district court in Tyler, the trial of Dennis Boyd Pittman, 47, continues. He is accused of forcing several children to dance and engage in sexual activity. KETK-TV reports, for a 13 year old witness Thursday it was a day of claims and contradictions.

The teen’s original taped children’s protective services interviews from 5 years ago was played. In them she denied there was sex in the club. She denied she was ever naked in the club. But she told juries in earlier trials the opposite. When confronted with the contradiction, she claimed over and over she didn’t remember.

On the tape she was asked if she had ever seen any adult naked. She replied only her mother. But again, she told earlier juries that other people in the club were naked. There was even a claim that she had seen Patrick Kelly, “Booger Red”, murder someone. But no body was ever found and no missing persons report was ever filed.

Testimony continued Friday in the so-called Mineola swingers club trial.

TYLER — Tyler Junior College officials say a gas supply line leak has been capped. According to KETK, a crew was replacing a driveway at Palmer Avenue across from the Health and Physical Education Center before the line ruptured Friday. Officials say it busted because it was close to the surface. They evacuated a soccer camp from campus as a precaution. The Tyler Museum of Art also evacuated the area. TJC does not hold classes on Friday. No injuries have been reported.

HOUSTON (AP/Staff) – Experts say a rare, stinky corpse flower is expected to bloom this weekend in Houston — the state’s second recorded bloom of the species. The first was several years ago in East Texas. Botanists at the Houston Museum of Natural Science are measuring the flower daily, and Friday said it stood nearly 5 feet tall and weighs 30 pounds. The event marks the 29th time that the Amorphophallus titanum has opened in the country’s history. Such plants emit a noxious odor that attracts pollinating carrion beetles hoping to lay their eggs in rotting flesh. The Sumatran plant doesn’t flower every year, and when it does, it’s only for two days. A corpse flower bloomed in Nacogdoches in 2004. The smell was so bad, fans surrounded the plant to blow the scent away so visitors could approach.

LONGVIEW — Longview Police Traffic Investigators are seeking information from the public about an accident that left few clues and a 16-year-old in the hospital. It happened around 3:30 Thursday morning. Police say a black 4-door Lexus was traveling northbound in the 900 block of South 14th Street when it struck the 16-year-old victim, who had been standing in the roadway. The impact threw the victim about 10 feet before landing in the roadway. The Lexus did not stop after the accident and was last seen turning east onto Ridgelea Avenue. Investigators believe the Lexus involved may possibly have damage to the front bumper, hood or windshield. The victim was initially taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries, then later transferred to Parkland Hospital in Dallas for treatment.

Traffic Investigators are asking anyone with information about this accident to contact Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP or online at http://www.greggcountycrimestoppers.com. Crime Stoppers may pay up to $1000.00 for information leading to the arrest of the driver in this case.

LUFKIN — Joshua McMurray of Lufkin was arrested for selling meth out of his home. McMurray told Angelina County Sheriff’s Investigators about the lab he had been using. Authorities dug up the lockbox containing the cooking supplies. According to KETK, officials say they are still looking for one of McMurray’s associates, Daniel “Caveman” Wisenant, for delivery of a controlled substance.

SMITH COUNTY — An update on a shooting at a Whataburger in Smith County last November. Sa’Cajan Jamay Darden, 21, was sentenced to 50 years in prison Wednesday. According to KETK, he pleaded guilty to first degree aggravated assault against a public official Darden fired shots at a Cherokee County Constable who was off-duty.

LONGVIEW — Prostitution is a growing problem for one East Texas city and local business owners are fed up with it. Longview leaders are hoping a new ordinance will help police crack down. Longview Public Information Officer, Kevin Brownlee says for prostitutes that have been arrested and convicted in the last year for prostitution, if they’re found on the streets or in public flagging down motorists for the purpose of engaging in prostitution, they can be arrested and charged with a class c misdemeanor for violation of the city ordinance. Brownlee says it’s a combined community effort. According to KETK, the ordinance was passed Thursday night and is effective immediately.

TYLER — Testimony resumes today in a Tyler case involving a child sex ring suspect. On Friday, new questions arose about the testimony of kids allegedly sexually abused at the so-called “Mineola Swingers’ Club.” This during the trial of 47-year-old Dennis Boyd Pittman, accused of raping children and forcing kids to perform sexual acts for an audience. According to KETK, Friday morning was spent questioning notebooks with information taken down by the foster family of the kids involved in the case.

A woman who lives with the family where three kids were placed after being taken from the alleged child sex ring, took the stand. The defense’s question: why take notes on the trial? “I’m sick and tired of people making lies up about my parents,” she said crying. The concern is whether any of those notes got into the hands of the kids who took the stand earlier this past week. “She comes up there during breaks,” one witness testified. This just a day after the defense compared the child victims’ testimony from the last trial, when the kids admitted they didn’t remember some of that prior testimony. The woman told the court she never shows the kids her notes or talks about the case. “You have the same right to take notes as that court reporter,” said District Attorney Matt Bingham.

The afternoon brought more testimony from a child who was 10 when, she says, Dennis Pittman — with the help of her own mother — raped her. She testified that after taking “silly pills,” her mother was there as Pittman raped her. “One of the people holding you down was your own mother?,” Bingham asked. “Yes” she said. “Were your pants removed?,” Bingham asked. “Yes,” she said. “Who removed your pants?,” Bingham asked. “Dennis,” she said. Pittman faces life in prison.

LONGVIEW — Police in Longview say they’ve arrested a suspect in a residential burglary and returned the stolen property to its owner. Just after 3:45 Wednesday afternoon, Longview Officers responded to 420 West Hope Drive for a report of a residential burglary that had just occurred. Officers arrived and met with the caller, who is the mother of the victim. The woman told officers that she had gone to her daughter’s home at 420 West Hope Drive and located a strange car in the driveway. As she approached her daughter’s home to find out what was going on, she saw that her daughter’s front door had been damaged. The victim’s mother then saw a man exit her daughter’s home, carrying a large bag. The man entered the car and fled the location.
Witnesses to the burglary provided investigating officers with information that helped officers identify a possible suspect, Justin Marrow, 28. Officers then went to Marrow’s home at 116 East Sycamore and found a car in the driveway that matched the description given by witnesses. Marrow was located inside his residence, and police say property stolen from the victim at 420 West Hope was found in the car Marrow had been driving. The stolen property was returned, and Marrow was arrested and charged with burglary of a habitation, a 2nd degree felony. Marrow was booked into the Gregg County Jail.

JEFFERSON — All seven designated swimming areas at Lake O’ the Pines have been reopened. Test results that came in Thursday resulted in the beaches being reopened. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers shut down the swimming areas June 18th after tests revealed unhealthy levels of fecal coliform in the water. Two of the beaches were reopened July 2nd and the others were reopened Thursday. The problem was said to have been caused by the heavy rains about a month ago. The rain is said to have washed litter from chicken and other confined animal feeding operations to the lake shore. Bi-weekly fecal coliform testing in the swimming areas through the end of next month.

TYLER — Information from the Texas Comptroller indicates that City of Tyler sales tax revenues deposited for the month of July have decreased 7.01 percent as compared to the same period in 2009. Year-to-date revenues have declined 8.76 percent, an improvement from last month’s 8.93 percent. The reported revenue of $ 2,533,713.39 comprises $1,689,142.26 in general sales tax revenue and $844,571.13 in half-cent sales tax revenue. The figures represent receipts from May 2010 collections, as there is a two-month period before revenue is reported.

“The City had budgeted for no growth in sales tax revenue for this fiscal year,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel. “As soon as the monthly returns began indicating that sales tax revenue was declining, the City took aggressive steps to curtail spending. This is paying off as we are closing the gap on the budget shortfall. We have approximately 47 positions frozen in the general fund alone and continue to delay projects, assess contracts, and limit spending where possible.” The City began its budgeting for the 2010-2011 fiscal year months earlier than normal in anticipation of another tight budget year.

“We anticipate having at least one more really tight budget year,” added McDaniel. “As the economy recovers, municipal revenues generally lag behind. We anticipate that property tax receipts will remain flat, or possibly dip slightly in the coming year based upon recent valuations. However, Tyler is fortunate that we have no general obligation debt so all tax revenue can go directly toward current operations. Combined with being very streamlined and fiscally disciplined, we are weathering the storm better than most.”

HALLSVILLE — 2,500 stadium light poles have been recalled, including some in Hallsville. According to KETK, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission made the announcement Monday after several incidents of the Whitco poles falling down. Here in East Texas, Hallsville ISD’s Bobcat Stadium was on the recall list. School officials say they learned of the recall Tuesday and are now in the process of figuring out what to do. For now, plans call for moving forward on the basis of engineers’ reports. The officials say they have had the lights inspected and they passed all necessary safety measures. The lights will be inspected again before football season starts.

LONGVIEW – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has recognized Claudia Ray, an assistant attorney general in the Child Support Division’s Longview office, as “Assistant Attorney General of the Year” for the 43-county region based in Tyler. Ray received the honor Wednesday at the Statewide Assistant Attorneys General Conference in Fort Worth. “Claudia Ray’s hard work and dedication helped ensure thousands of young Texans have the child support they need to grow healthy and strong,” Abbott said. “A committed and selfless public servant, Claudia stands out as one of the state’s most dedicated and impressive lawyers. We are grateful to Claudia Ray for her commitment to Texas children.”

TYLER — Tyler police and the U.S. Secret Service have arrested two suspects following a rash of counterfeit $20 bills passed at garage sales. On Wednesday, officials concluded their investigation and arrested 27-year-old Jessica Deann Perry and 30-year-old Brandon Keith Uzzel, both of Tyler. Police say the two showed up at garage sales in Tyler over the past few months and purchased small items with a counterfeit $20 bill in exchange for real currency. Several cases of counterfeit money were reported to the Tyler Police Department over the past few months in which the victim was having a garage sale.

Perry was charged with three counts of Forgery of Money, a third degree felony, and bond was set at $300,000 by Judge Kerry Russell. Uzzel was charged with two counts of Forgery of Money, and bond was set at $200,000. Both suspects are now incarcerated in Smith County Jail.

LUFKIN — An East Texan makes the Department of Public Safety’s 10 most wanted list of sex offenders. The men on the list either violated their parole or failed to register as convicted sex offenders. According to KETK, there’s a reward for Troy James Allison, 57, of Lufkin. He’s wanted for aggravated rape. The DPS says Allison has been wanted since 2004 for aggravated rape. He has convictions for being an assailant to murder and indecency with a child. His last known address is on the 400 block of East Jodie Street. He is six feet tall, 210 pounds, has a tattoo on his right arm and scars on his abdomen, right foot and right leg.

The Criminal Justice Division of the Governor’s Office has authorized a crime stoppers reward of $1,000 for tips leading to the arrest of a Texas Top Ten Most Wanted sex offender.

The public should not try to apprehend these criminals as they are considered dangerous. Anyone with information on these offenders can provide anonymous tips in three different ways:

Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477), Text the letters DPS, followed by your tip, to 274637 from your cell phone. Submit a tip through the DPS website by selecting the sex offender you have information about, and under their picture is a link to submit a web tip. The 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders are available on the DPS website at http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/wanted/sexoffenders/topTenSexOffenders.htm#.

HENDERSON — A Smith County man has been killed and two persons injured in a two vehicle accident in Rusk County. The accident happened around 6:30 Tuesday morning on State Highway 64, just east of County Road 421. Dead at the scene was Juan Carlos Guiterrez-Leon, 24, of Tyler. Injured were the drivers of both vehicles, Jennifer Hibbard of Nacogdoches and Andres Blas-Luviano of Tyler. The Department of Public Safety report indicates Hibbard’s car was west bound on Highway 64 when veered into the east bound lane and hit Leon’s pickup head-on. Everyone in the two vehicles was wearing their seat belts.

SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler man is killed following a three-vehicle accident Tuesday evening in northern Smith County. Killed was Russell Chamberlain, 64. The DPS says a pickup and Chamberlain’s car were southbound on Farm Road 14 at County Road 326. The car was waiting to make a left turn when the pickup hit the car, pushing it into the path of a north bound van. The car then collided with the van. Chamberlain was pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was injured. Officials say Chamberlain was wearing a seat belt. They also report that rain was falling and the road was wet at the time of the wreck.

TYLER — Testimony continues in the Mineola Sex Ring trial. Dennis Boyd Pittman, 47, is the fourth of six defendants to go on trial for the crimes in which three siblings were supposedly groomed to perform sexual acts. On Tuesday, an 11-year-old girl, one of the three siblings, took the stand. Testimony continues today. The other two defendants, Patrick Kelly, 43, and Jamie Pittman, 38, who were convicted and sentenced to life in 2008, recently had their sentences reversed in the 14th Court of Appeals in Houston, and will receive new trials. Those trial dates have not been set. Jamie Pittman is not related to Dennis Pittman.

TYLER — A festive celebration on Tyler’s downtown square Wednesday kicked off this year’s United Way campaign, with its $1.7 million goal. That’s how much the campaign raised last year. United Way President Nan Moore says it’s an optimistic goal, but still conservative based on the current state of the local economy. The good news: 30 percent of it has already been raised. The campaign wraps up in February. 24 agencies will divvy up the funds. Moore hopes to keep their funding levels flat; she says coming up short last year mainly affected the United Way budget, not the agencies. Moore is also expressing optimism that the campaign will bring in some new businesses and develop some new partnerships. With that in mind, she says exceeding the goal is not unrealistic.

TYLER — Officials have issued an after-action report from Smith County’s most recent multi-agency No-Refusal DWI campaign, July 2nd through July 4th, 2010. There were 18 total DWI arrests. Nine were made by DPS troopers, seven by Tyler police, and two by Bullard police. There were five total evidentiary search warrants for blood issued. Three were obtained by DPS, and one each by the Tyler and Bullard Police Departments.

AUSTIN (AP) – The chairman of the Texas House Corrections Committee says he thinks the state jail system may have outlived its usefulness. Rep. Jim McReynolds of Lufkin says recidivism rates for state jail inmates are higher than for regular Texas prisons. McReynolds says the state may need to consider modifying the original model. State jails were established by legislators in 1993 for nonviolent drug offenders, thieves and first-time offenders to be housed in separate lockups, with treatment and rehabilitation programs. Senate Criminal Justice Committee Chairman John Whitmire of Houston, who authored the state jail law, said Tuesday that he wants the program to continue and “the system has worked well.”

NACOGDOCHES – Dozens of employers are seeking to fill positions that East Texas job seekers have the opportunity to apply for at Congressman Louie Gohmert’s East Texas Job Fair at Stephen F. Austin State University today. The event is underway and continues till 2:00 p.m. in William R. Johnson Coliseum, 700 E. College Street in Nacogdoches. It’s being held in cooperation with the Deep East Texas Council of Governments, Stephen F. Austin State University, and Workforce Solutions Deep East Texas. The fair follows a similar one held recently in Marshall.

Rep. Gohmert stated, “Our country’s economy and many East Texans have done some struggling. That is why I am joining with some others to host two Job Fairs in East Texas to bring together businesses that need employees and people looking for jobs. My office and partnering organizations are dedicated to making these events as successful as possible, which will require active participation from both employers and job seekers. All types of employers and job seekers with a range of experiences are welcome to attend these free events. East Texas has a diverse job market and strong workforce, and I hope these fairs will help bring the two together to benefit the economic health of East Texas and its citizens.”

AUSTIN (AP) – Health officials are warning against eating fish caught in parts of the Trinity River in Tarrant, Dallas, Ellis, Kaufman, Henderson, Navarro, Freestone and Anderson counties. Wednesday’s advisory is from the Department of State Health Services. The area includes the Clear Fork of the Trinity River from the Benbrook Reservoir Dam, and the West Fork from the Lake Worth Dam, through the main stem of the river downstream to the U.S. Highway 287 bridge on the Freestone-Anderson county line. Testing found some fish had elevated levels of dioxins and polychlorinated byphenyls, or PCBs. Long-term consumption may cause cancer and other health problems. DSHS says elevated levels of PCBs and dioxins in fish do not pose a health risk for people swimming or other water recreation.

TYLER — Smith County Commissioners Court will adopt their new 2011 budget which will include plans to reduce overcrowding at the Smith County Jail. According to KETK, tax payers wonder if adding electronic monitoring ankle bracelets would solve jail overcrowding issues and reduce the cost on tax payers. Judge Joel Baker says he’s in favor of the devices, but that it’s up to the Smith County Sherriff’s Department to buy them. Whether they’re used to track a person’s whereabouts or their alcohol intake, monitoring devices are used nation-wide. In East Texas, GPS ankle bracelets are used as an alternative to incarceration programs to help keep track of people on probation. The bracelets monitor more than 300 people on felony misdemeanor or civil probation charges costing less than $6 per day.

TYLER (AP) – An 11-year-old boy has testified that he performed videotaped sexually explicit skits for paying adults as part of an alleged child sex ring. The testimony Wednesday in Tyler came on the second day of the criminal trial for a Mineola man charged with forcing three siblings to dance and engage in sexual acts. 47-year-old Dennis Boyd Pittman is one of six defendants facing charges of forcing three siblings as young as 5 to dance and engage in sexual acts for a paying audience in 2005. An alleged victim testified Tuesday that God told her the sexual acts she previously said happened didn’t really occur. After further questioning, the 11-year-old girl said she was given “silly pills” and danced for boys wearing a “sexy outfit.”