Woman charged with sex assault on foster son

BROWNWOOD  --  A Brown County woman accused of sexually assaulting her teenage foster son is now facing a new charge involving yet another foster child.  Phylecia Bien, also known as Phylecia Humprhies, was booked into the Brown County jail Thursday on a charge of sexual assault of a child. Authorities say they discovered through DNA testing, that Bien had a child with one of her foster children. She's already been charged with sexual assault of a child after similar incident.

Food pantries running low

ABILENE  --  The high price of food and gas is driving more people to seek the services of food pantries in this area.  The Food Bank of West Central Texas has had a 15% increase in requests for their services just since January.  It's causing shortages all around.  Watch our story…      

John Knox road construction underway

ABILENE  --  Street construction begins this weekend on John Knox Boulevard. City crews will begin tearing up John Knox from Curry Lane to Ridgemont Drive. The construction is expected to last about three weeks and all traffic will be rerouted. Businesses along John Knox will have alternate access off Curry Lane, Ridgemont, Rolling Green and Cedar Run Road.

May 15, 2008

House of Yahweh leader facing new bigamy charge

ABILENE  --  House of Yahweh leader Yisrayl Hawkins was arrested Thursday on a bigamy charge.  Hawkins was arrested as he was paying a visit to his pre-trial service officer.  Hawkins is free on bond for four other charges filed back in February.  Those include promotion of bigamy.  Watch our story…  

Man indicted on manslaughter charges

ABILENE  --  A Taylor County grand jury has indicted a man on two counts of intoxicated manslaughter. Police say 21-year-old Andrew Lugo was speeding on South Clack when his car slid and hit a parked vehicle. The accident killed his 20 year-old passenger, Rachelle Rueda and her unborn child. The parked car that Lugo hit carried two officers with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. One of the officers suffered non-life threatening injuries. Lugo is facing two counts of intoxicated manslaughter, a 2nd degree felony, and one count of intoxicated assault, a 3rd degree felony. If found guilty, Lugo faces up to 20 years in prison.

Father charged with injuring his young daughter

ABILENE  --  An Abilene man has been indicted for violently shaking his daughter. Police say on February 9th of this year, Ronald Ray Johnson shook his daughter while watching her at home. Detectives say the mother didn't know about the incident until several days later when the 3 month old was vomiting and wouldn't eat. She took the infant girl to the hospital, and she was then flown to Fort Worth. The baby girl is now blind and doctors believe she might also be paralyzed. Injury to a child is a first degree felony, punishable by up to life in prison.

New council acts on building for airport noise

ABILENE  --  The city council seated a new member Thursday and swore in the incumbent mayor and re-elected councilman.  Robert Briley is the new councilman for Place 4.  During their meeting, the council discussed noise ordinances and building standards for new construction near airports.  Watch our story…     

May 14, 2008

What to do with Lincoln

ABILENE  --  Abilene school administrators continue to discuss what can be done with the vacant Lincoln school building.  The failure of the four school bond propositions ended plans to renovate Lincoln as a magnet school.  The building continues to deteriorate as it sits empty.  Watch our story…   

Drilling for danger

ABILENE  --  Since the shooting on the campus of West Virginia, colleges and universities around the country are having to deal with the fear of something like that happening again.  That's why many drill for that eventuality.  That was the case Wednesday on the campus of Abilene Christian University.  Watch our story…          

Winters Freeway work postponed until next week 

ABILENE  --  City of Abilene crews were scheduled to perform maintenance work on the freeway’s lighting today but the work has been postponed.  The work has been rescheduled until sometime next week.  The work will be done on both the north and south bound lanes from about the North 1st exit north.  The city is waiting on needed equipment to arrive.

Home appraisals being reviewed

ABILENE  --  By now, most Taylor County homeowners have received their property tax valuation notices in the mail.  The value of the average home in the area is up about 9% over last year.  If you think the appraisal district has your home appraised to high you can appeal it.  The deadline to do that is June 1.  Watch our story…

May 13, 2008

Teacher accused of sexual contact with student

ABILENE  --  A former teacher in the Early ISD is in big trouble with the law. She is charged with having sexual contact with a student.  23-year-old Joy Blackstock is accused of sexual contact with an 18-year-old student in mid-November of last year. Blackstock was a choral teacher at Early. When she was approached by police about the incident in April, Early police chief David Mercer says the woman confessed and resigned immediately. Blackstock is officially charged with a inappropriate relationship with a student by an educator. That's a second degree felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

High fuel costs pounding the county budget

ABILENE  --  Taylor County Commissioners are struggling with fuel costs that have skyrocketed in the last year.  County maintainers, sheriff's cars and other vehicles have already used 80% of the fuel budget for the entire year.  Watch our story… 

Commission acts to spruce up the town

SWEETWATER  --  The Town of Sweetwater is fed up will all the abandon buildings creating eyesores in the community.  Tuesday, the City Commission ordered that 25 rundown properties must either be fixed up or torn down.  Owners have a short deadline to get it done.  Watch our story…

School renovations moving ahead in Clyde

CLYDE  --  One of the few places where voters OK'd a school bond issue this past weekend is the Clyde ISD.  Now, what plans do they have for the almost $20 million dollars approved May 10?  Watch our story…   

A good place to do business

ABILENE  --  Abilene is one of the best small cities in Texas for business and careers according to Forbes.com. Forbes conducted a study of more than 150 small cities in the United States. Abilene trails only College Station in the state...and our city rates 58 in the nation. Criteria for the rankings included cost of business, job growth and educational attainment. The Abilene Chamber of Commerce is putting up billboards touting the ranking.

Gas drive-offs a growing problem

ABILENE  --  With the price of gasoline approaching $4 a gallon gas drive-offs are becoming a bigger problem.  Police say stations are reporting four or five a day.  Many are now requiring you to pay before you pump.  Watch our story…     

May 10, 2008

Local officers attend national peace officer memorial service

ABILENE  --  Abilene police officers are making their way to Washington, DC for a memorial service next week for officers around the county killed in the line of duty last year.  Abilene officer Jeff McCoy was one of those.  McCoy died when his patrol vehicle was struck by a drunk driver.  Watch our story…       

Applications accepted soon for next police academy

ABILENE  --  The Abilene police department is in need of officers. They're currently 18 officers short of full strength. In September nine cadets will graduate from the police academy. A new academy will then begin in November. They will begin testing for that academy on June 28th. You can apply beginning Monday. Apply in person at City Hall or find an application packet on-line HERE.