KTBB News, Weather, Talk

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.

TYLER — The Tyler ISD Foundation is wasting no time in preparations for its 20th anniversary this academic year, with an additional five community leaders recently trained as Directors. They join an additional 25 experienced board directors. The foundation was founded in January 1991.

The newly elected directors are Brenda Thomas, Bonnie Ryan Rayford, Joey Seeber, Lori Sirman and Justin Holt.

“We are pleased of course that our new directors are willing to serve our more than 600 donors and support our school district’s leaders, teachers, staff and students,” said Larry Goddard, who conducted the orientation last week.

TYLER – A Smith County Jail inmate was discovered dead in his cell Wednesday. According to KETK, Sheriff J.B. Smith says Duantes Harrison of Mineola committed suicide Wednesday afternoon. He claimed to be sick and stayed in his cell when the other prisoners went to the roof for recreation. When they returned, they found him hanging from the shower by his bed linens. Sheriff Smith says Harrison had just been sentenced to 25 years for aggravated robbery. Six other charges were pending against him, including possession of drug paraphernalia, credit card abuse, theft, aggravated robbery and forgery. As protocol requires, the sheriff notified both the Texas Rangers and the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. An autopsy has been ordered.

TYLER — The City of Tyler will hold a public meeting to present the preliminary outcomes of the Texas College Area Development Plan. The gathering is set for Thursday at 6 p.m. at Austin Elementary School, 1105 W. Franklin Street. Participants will have the opportunity to hear conclusions on the Area Development Plan including the planning team’s findings and recommendations. The City of Tyler initiated the Texas College Area Development Plan study in October, 2009, to build upon recommendations set forth in the Tyler 21 Comprehensive Plan. City officials say the purpose of the Area Development Plan is to further develop Texas College, neighborhoods, and surrounding areas as a vibrant district. Officials say the plans cover long term growth, pedestrian-friendly corridors, and ideas to enhance the Texas College area.

CHAPEL HILL – Jackson Heights fire officials confirm a Chapel Hill elementary school was briefly evacuated Wednesday morning. The fire department says the evacuation was due to a gas leak about one mile from campus. According to KETK, officials say the students’ safety is not at risk, and they returned to class. No injuries were reported.