NEWS
Local Headlines
Information
Advertisement
Partner
Advertisement
Soldier's Relatives Want Iraq War to End
Posted: Saturday, 20th March 2010 3:51AM
HARRISON TOWNSHIP, MICH. (AP/Staff) -- Relatives of a soldier from Tyler who died after a vehicle rollover while serving in Iraq say they hope the U.S. can soon end the war. Family of Staff Sgt. Richard J. Jordan held a news conference Friday in Harrison Township, Michigan. The 29-year-old soldier had been an Army recruiter in Detroit before going to Iraq. His 26-year-old wife Jennifer told reporters at the couple's apartment she wants "all our troops to come home" safely. The Defense Department said Jordan died Tuesday of his injuries from the crash in Mosul. Jordan had two daughters, ages 9 and 2. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, Texas.
Printable Version
Send To FriendAzalea Trail Kickoff
Posted: Saturday, 20th March 2010 3:50AM
Among the many attractions are the Davis, Pyron, and Edmonds gardens -- at 922 South College, 212 west Dobbs, and 922 South College, respectively. McCalla notes that they were featured in the April 2009 edition of Southern Living magazine. Besides the showcase azaleas, there are tulips, dogwoods, wisteria, and Japanese maples along two trails within the historic district of Tyler. Activities include the Beauty and the Beast Bike Tour, Arts and Crafts Fair, symphony concert, historic home tours and a whole lot more. You can go to http://www.visittyler.com to see the complete listing of activities. The Azalea Trail continues through April 4.
Carrier's Possible Downsizing
Posted: Saturday, 20th March 2010 3:49AM
TYLER -- Tyler’s Carrier plant may be downsizing. The company announced Friday they are considering closing some of their manufacturing lines at the Tyler plant. Four lines, including small rooftops and small splits, are under consideration and up to 250 employees could be affected if those lines are closed.KETK-TV reports The company is subject to a collective bargain obligation and if the lines are closed they would be moved to a plant in Monterrey Mexico. Potential job loss depends on how many manufacturing lines would move.
According to a Carrier spokesman, the market for specific products has declined over 40% in the last three years and demand is at its lowest level since 1993.
So far, no decision has made and a date has not been set on when a decision will be made.
Meeting on Lake Tyler Master Plan
Posted: Saturday, 20th March 2010 3:48AM
TYLER -- The City of Tyler will hold a public meeting to gather input on the future of Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East on Monday, March 22 at 6 p.m. at the Tyler Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Drive. The input will be used to develop the Lake Tyler Master Plan that will define the future development and use of the lake. Eight other stakeholder meetings have been held to collect additional information with groups including the homeowners surrounding the lake; the fishing, boating and recreation community; regulatory agencies; and environmental groups. This next meeting is intended to get input from the general public about how the lake will be used in the future.“We have held several stakeholder meetings,” said Tyler Water Utilities Director Greg Morgan. “However, we have not heard from the actual taxpayers who in essence own the lake – the citizens of Tyler. It is critical that their input is gathered as we move forward.” An online survey has also been placed at http://www.MyTylerSurvey.com for citizens who are unable to attend the public meeting.
“During the Tyler 21 planning process, one of the community needs identified was the establishment of a master plan focused on Lake Tyler,” said Mayor Barbara Bass. “The lake is one of Tyler’s principal water sources; as such, this has been the primary focus for the lake. Tyler 21 identified the lake as the “Jewel of East Texas” and the potential for this community asset to become a robust recreation and tourism destination. This plan will ensure this goal evolves in a strategic and thoughtful manner.”
The Tyler branch of Freese and Nichols, Incorporated has been charged with development of the master plan and has sub-contracted with local planning firm Planning Concepts for assistance. They are working with lake stakeholders to identify opportunities for future use as well as protecting the lake’s existing assets and its importance as a primary drinking water source for the City of Tyler.
Chapter seven, goal number four of the Tyler 21 Plan established goals related to the lake that will be explored during this planning process. Included are the potential for a trail system around the lake and improvement of recreational facilities including recreational vehicle amenities.
ArtWalk Deemed a Success
Posted: Saturday, 20th March 2010 3:48AM
TYLER -- Downtown Tyler's second ArtWalk is being deemed another success by organizers. Several hundred visitors again made the rounds as the square came alive with the arts Thursday evening, thanks to the City of Tyler’s Main Street Program and the Downtown Tyler Arts Coalition. A variety of downtown buildings hosted one or more artists whose work was selected for exhibit by a DTAC committee. Everything from large-scale metal sculpture to traditional watercolor was on exhibit. In addition to static art displays, two artists demonstrated pottery throwing technique on the T.B. Butler Plaza. A youth dance group, Fly Kids, under direction of Kathy Wood, performed throughout the evening.
Another new feature of ArtWalk was the inclusion of short films, shown in the Ron Mabry Conference Room of Gallery Main Street. Former winners of the local No Name Film Fest were shown by members of DTAC’s filmmakers group. The first ArtWalk, in December, also drew hundreds of onlookers. Main Street director Beverly Abell noted that there were more venues and more variety this time. She says she's very much looking forward to future ArtWalks, with the next one planned for June.
Another new feature of ArtWalk was the inclusion of short films, shown in the Ron Mabry Conference Room of Gallery Main Street. Former winners of the local No Name Film Fest were shown by members of DTAC’s filmmakers group. The first ArtWalk, in December, also drew hundreds of onlookers. Main Street director Beverly Abell noted that there were more venues and more variety this time. She says she's very much looking forward to future ArtWalks, with the next one planned for June.
Marijuana Operation Discovered
Posted: Saturday, 20th March 2010 3:48AM
LAIRD HILL -- A hydroponic marijuana growing operation is busted Thursday. Rusk County Sheriff's Deputies served a search warrant at a metal storage building on Rusk County Road 140D in the Laird Hill Community. Officials say they seized pot, electric lighting, hydration systems and chemicals used in cultivating marijuana. Authorities say they also confiscated packed marijuana believed intended for distribution. The estimated worth was $35,000. Mary Gleason, 50, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana. She was booked into the Rusk County Jail.Quitman Woman Named to State Panel
Posted: Saturday, 20th March 2010 3:46AM
AUSTIN -- Governor Rick Perry has appointed a Wood County woman and two other new members to the One-Call Board for terms to expire August 31, 2012. The board hasauthority over "Call Before You Dig" systems that notify underground facility operators of excavation plans, so pipelines and utility lines can be marked to prevent accidents.
The Wood County woman is Janie Walenta of Quitman, a retired telecommunications manager. She is a volunteer of the Quitman Public Library. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas and a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Dallas Graduate School of Management.
Also newly named to the panel is Julio Cerda of Mission and Jason Hartgraves of Frisco. The governor also reappointed to the panel reappointed Dean Bernal of Austin.
Bullet Holes in Church
Posted: Saturday, 20th March 2010 3:43AM
NEW BOSTON (AP) -- Changing a light bulb at a church in the New Boston area led to the discovery of nearly three dozen bullet holes along some eaves. Liberty Hill Baptist Church co-Pastor James O. Hilton says electrical wiring could have been damaged and the shooter "took a chance on setting the church on fire." At least 35 holes were discovered March 12.
Investigator Robby McCarver with the Bowie County Sheriff's Office said Friday that it looks like someone was aiming for a nearby street light. McCarver told The Associated Press that nobody has been arrested and the holes are likely from pellets from a shotgun shell.
New Boston is 100 miles northeast of Tyler. McCarver says he does not think the incident is related to a string of church fires in the Tyler area, in which two suspects were arrested last month.
Investigator Robby McCarver with the Bowie County Sheriff's Office said Friday that it looks like someone was aiming for a nearby street light. McCarver told The Associated Press that nobody has been arrested and the holes are likely from pellets from a shotgun shell.
New Boston is 100 miles northeast of Tyler. McCarver says he does not think the incident is related to a string of church fires in the Tyler area, in which two suspects were arrested last month.
TxDOT Work Picking Up Speed
Posted: Saturday, 20th March 2010 3:41AM
TYLER -- With warmer weather on the horizon, work is beginning again on many road construction and maintenance projects that lay dormant during the winter months. "So much of what we do during a construction or maintenance project depends on fairly specific weather conditions," said TxDOT public information officer Larry Krantz. "We not only need certain daytime temperatures, but overnight temperatures as well in order for the asphalt and concrete products to cure properly."Many projects, such as the U.S. Highway 69 overpass at Farm Road 344 in Bullard, have lain nearly dormant in the past few months since a bulk of the work scheduled for the next phase calls for laying hot mix. Resurfacing work on that project resumed this past week and, weather permitting, will continue "full speed ahead," Krantz said, into the summer, when the project is scheduled for completion. "Weather is still going to be a factor," he said.
Construction crews are also scheduled to be returning to their project on Farm Road 1798 in Rusk County in the next month. The project, which calls for repairing and resurfacing the roadway between U.S. Highway 259 and Farm Road 840, is also scheduled for completion this summer. Again, crews have been unable to do any meaningful resurfacing because of cool temperatures.
A third project coming back to life in the next month includes the project to repair and widen U.S. Highway 84 in Anderson County between Farm Road 3266 and the Cherokee County Line. The project is scheduled to be completed this fall.
"These are only a few of the projects we have going on around the district," Krantz said. "All of them are work zones, and work zones can be dangerous places. We're asking for your sake as much as our own to be on the lookout for these projects as work begins again."
Other projects, like work to widen Loop 281 in Longview and Loop 256 in Palestine, have been moving along in spite of the winter weather. "The dirt work and demolition phases of these projects can be done in nearly any temperature as long as the ground is dry," Krantz said. "We try to schedule these projects to be in certain phases, like laying hot mix or pouring concrete, when the weather is warming up so the work doesn't have to stop. "It doesn't always work out that way, but it's sure nice when it does."
State Headlines
Prison for Another Polygamist Group Member
Posted: Saturday, 20th March 2010 3:36AM
SAN ANGELO (AP) -- A 75-year prison sentence was handed down yesterday to a fourth convicted member of a polygamist group whose West Texas ranch was raided in 2008. Merril Leroy Jessop of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was convicted earlier in the week of sexual assaulting a 15-year-old girl.
White’s Income Tax Return Released
Posted: Saturday, 20th March 2010 3:36AM
AUSTIN (AP) -- Democrat Bill White's 2009 income tax returns show he made nearly $660,000 in adjustment gross income last year. White's campaign released the tax returns yesterday after days of pressure from Republican Governor Rick Perry's campaign.
Copy of Pardon to Man's Family
Posted: Saturday, 20th March 2010 3:35AM
FORT WORTH (AP) — The family of a Texas man who died while imprisoned for a rape he didn't commit has been given a framed copy of the state's first posthumous pardon. The document from Governor Rick Perry finally proves Timothy Cole's innocence. Cole died in prison after serving more than 13 years for a 1985 rape.
Plane Crash Victim Identified
Posted: Saturday, 20th March 2010 3:34AM
THE COLONY (AP) -- Tarrant County authorities have identified the woman killed in a small plane crash in Lewisville Lake as Kristin Kolby of Dallas. Kolby and Kenneth Gedney of Dallas were aboard the plane when it crashed Thursday into the lake near Dallas. A Parkland Memorial Hospital spokeswoman says Gedney is in good condition.
Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty
Posted: Saturday, 20th March 2010 3:34AM
DALLAS (AP) -- A tax preparer in Dallas will be sentenced in June after pleading to fraud. Prosecutors say Anthony Barber of Plano met with clients, then changed returns without their approval and hiked his own fees. The plea agreement says the IRS was shorted almost $5 million.
Big Damage Award in Texting Lawsuit
Posted: Saturday, 20th March 2010 3:33AM
FRANKLIN (AP) -- A Texas A&M student has been ordered to pay $22 million in damages after a jury decided his texting while driving caused an accident that killed a Houston woman. Reed Vestal's vehicle struck another vehicle head-on near Calvert in the 2007 accident, killing Megan Small. Records found Vestal sent and received 15 texts and made seven calls in the 45 minutes before the crash.
Two Welders Injured
Posted: Saturday, 20th March 2010 3:33AM
DECATUR, Texas (AP) -- Two workers have been injured in an explosion at an oil and gas site in Wise County about 35 miles northwest of Fort Worth. The workers were welding at the tank farm and were taken to hospitals for treatment of burns.
Rig Numbers Up
Posted: Saturday, 20th March 2010 3:31AM
HOUSTON (AP) -- Houston-based Baker Hughes says the number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. increased by 20 this week to 1,427. Texas gained five rigs.
