Tyler Morning Telegraph from Tyler, Texas • 9

Park Plans For Tennis Telesurgery Takes Off At Hospital Delayed It. 7 I'ii Surgeons At Mother Frances Make East Texas History With Surgery Through TV By MARVIN ELLIS Staff Writer Surgeons at a national convention in Chicago watched two Tyler physicians operate on a 54-year-old Mount Pleasant woman via real-time telesurgery usually reserved for teaching universities. Dr. Charles V. Beall, assisted by Dr.

Robert A. McKinney performed a three-hour dual laparoscopic surgery on the 300-pound woman, first with the potentially dangerous gastric bypass procedure, followed, by removal of a diseased gall l- Also making history with this surgery was world-renowned Dr. James "Butch" Rosser director of minimally invasive surgery at Beth Israel in New York City who himself underwent bariatric surgery in August 2001 and has since lost 150 pounds who was moderating the event in "Chicago before several hundred doctors. Rosser discussed step-by-step procedures with doctors in Chicago, explaining the many different methods the Tyler doctors used. He asked numerous questions of the Tyler doctors, who answered during the surgery.

Several times during the surgery he was impressed with techniques used by Beall and McKinney, citing numerous times the quality of surgical stitching plus minimal bleeding. The surgery was performed in the Ornelas Tower Monday morning using the Endosuite operating room package manufactured by Stryker, which sponsored the event in Chicago at the, American College of Surgeons national convention. Stephen F. Knoll, vice president of surgical services at Mother Frances, said this system allows physicians from around the world to see procedures in Tyler, using high-speed digital networking with flat screen monitors. "The quality is HDTV and the laparoscopic cameras now offers 3.5 to 10 magnification with 1080 lines of solution The quality of the images is six times better than in 1992 when we started laparoscopic surgery." Beall and McKinney, at a press conference for the surgery, explained more than five million Americans suffer from clinically severe or morbid obesity.

Morbid obesity is a chronic disease associated with diabetes, high blood pressure, breathing problems andor arthritis that can lead to fur- in, By KRISTI FLIPPIN Staff Writer The Tyler Parks and Recreation board learned why the Faulkner Tennis Complex Management Plan was pulled off the City Council agenda by the Tyler Community Tennis Association at the board's meeting Monday. Tyler Parks and Recreation Director Roy Crouch said the nonprofit organization had just elected new officers and they wanted totlook at the plan and agree with all the guidelines before it goes to the city coun-cil. Under the plan approved by the parks board in September, three tennis courts would be dedicated to public use, three to members on a reservauons-only basis, and two to private instruction by a tennis professional who would also manage the pro shop as an independent contractor. The pro shop is a building that includes a snack and retail area, a meeting room, rest-rooms and a small office. The pro shop was a joint project between the Tyler Parks and Recreation Department and the tennis association, with one-third of the funding for the $295,000 facility from the association and private donations.

Under the proposal, TCTA would pay the city 20 percent of gross income from lessons and fees, and the city would receive 10 percent of gross sales of all tennis equipment, apparel and concessions at the pro shop. "I am disappointed todays because I still haven't heard about the pro shop," Bob Faulkner said. "1 thought the contract was finished." Crouch said the restrooms at the pro shop would be opening soon and they would dispose of the portable toilets. "This is just a report on the current status; there are no other management plans at this time," he said. "The new officers just want to review it." The board accepted a donation from Faulkner for the Faulkner Park Master Plan that would "make the park more appealing to be used 365 days a year, not just during the summer months," Crouch said.

"We want to find a deficit in other parks and put what is missing in this master plan." Faulkner Park, 410 W. Cumberland Road, is one of Tyler's newest parks. Faulkner said he hopes the Master Plan will call for a nature trail, a fishing lake, more picnic tables and a TV W. JL Staff Photo By Marvin Ellis NATIONAL TELESURGERY: Dr. Charles V.

Beall, (left) assisted by Dr. Robert A. McKinney Jr. (right) perform a dual surgery Monday at Mother Frances Hospital transmitted in real time telesurgery to Chicago's American College of Surgeon's national convention. ther complications and death if not properly man-aged.

McKinney said the operation restricts intake of food by surgically making the stomach smaller and re-routing food through the small intestines. The gastric bypass surgery affects the amount of food absorption and changes the way the body uses energy. He said long-term studies show the majority of patients undergoing gastric surgery may attain extensive weight loss, typically between 50 to 75 percent of their excess weight over a period of 12 to 18 months. Complications of obesity, such See HOSPITAL, Page 2B See PARK, Page 2B East Texas Herd's Funeral Set Memorial Gardens Cemetery under direction of Rader Funeral Home. "It would be a tribute to his sacrifice and a comfort to his family to "It would be a tribute to his sacrifice and a comfort to his family to have a large turnout from Tyler for the funeral of this fine East Texas young man and soldier." Capt James W.

Volberding U.S. Army Reserve worker and a sweet young man who never caused trouble. Family will receive friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Wyatt had asked to join the military at an early age and enlisted on his 18th birthday, his stepmother, Lilmah Wyatt, said.

Wyatt's wife of nearly a year, Kelly Wyatt, is also in the military and is stationed in Hawaii. After hearing of Wyatt's death, Kilgore Mayor Joe Parker signed a proclamation asking everyone to fly their flags at half-staff for seven days to honor the fallen soldier. Friends and family described Wyatt as an "avid outdoorsman" who loved hunting and fishing. Kilgore High School teachers recalled him as determined, a hard KILGORE A funeral service for an "East Texas hero," 19-year-old Pfc. Stephen Wyatt, who died in Balad, Iraq, is scheduled for Wednesday.

The 2002 Kilgore High School graduate died Oct. 13 when his convoy was hit with an explosive and gunfire. He was part of the 17th Field Artillery Brigade at Fort Sill, and had been in Iraq since about April. The funeral service is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church in Kilgore.

Burial with full military honors will be in Kilgore have a large turnout from Tyler for the funeral of this fine East Texas young man and soldier," said Capt. James W. Volberding, U.S. Army Reserve, in a prepared state I fj ment. WYATT Tyler City Council May Raise Garbage Rates Also during Wednesday's meeting, the Council will consider a recommendation from City Fire Chief Neal Franklin to approve a request to establish a Smith County Emergency Service District No.

2. The district, if approved, would consist of 11 county volunteer fire departments and effectively would create a small taxing entity and chiefs of each department have signed statements promising the district would not a debt The Lindale Fire Department currently operates an Emergency Service District and has markedly improved its services, Assistant County Fire Marshal Oren Hale said. The proposed new district would encompass rural Smith County, including Tyler's extraterritorial jurisdiction. 'This would allow the fire departments to give better service and lower insurance rates for homeowners," Hale said. He said the proposal Tequires approval from cities in the county in order to petition county commissioners to conduct an election for an Emergency Service District The city council will meet at 9 am Wednesday at the council chambers, City Hall, 212 N.

Bonner Ave. OTHERBUSINESS In other business, the council will consider Zoning items: changing a two-family residential district to multi-family on East Elm Street at South Fleishel Avenue; a single-family residential district to general commercial on Old Bascom Road at Kent Drive; and a multi-family residential district to two-family on Haverhill Road and Old Henderson Highway. Amending an ordinance to clarify outdoor transient vendor requirements to limit a lot to one See COUNCIL, Page 2B The Tyler City Council, in its regular Wednesday meeting, is to consider an extra $3 monthly charge for customers who do not want to carry their trash to their curbs. Financial assistance would be available from the city for elderly and disabled residents, and others unable to get their garbage to the curb that can provide proof of financial hardship. The proposed ordinance, if passed, would also require citizens to remove trash containers from the curb by 7 a.m.

the day after collection. If passed, the $3 charge would begin appearing on bills uj January. Director of Solid Waste Dan Brotton, after a discussion with the council in a previous meeting, is recommending the change in services. Brotton is not expected to ask the council to consider an alternative idea to increase everyone's water and garbage collection bill by two percent. FIRE DISTRICT KLSB To Become Affiliate For CBS By GREG JUNEK Business Editor CBS on Monday announced KLSB-TV in Nacogdoches will become one of its affiliates in early 2004.

The network said it signed a long-term affiliation agreement with Max Media for the station. KLSB is currently an NBC affiliate. Max Media simultaneously announced an agreement had been 'reached to acquire the station from KLSB Television LLC, and will apply this week for Federal Communications Commission approval of the acquisition. CBS said the station will become an affiliate during the first quarter of 2004, when it will end its affiliation with NBC. The sale marks the return to East Texas of Phil Hurley, formerly of KLTV and KETK.

Hurley will be president of Max of Texas, an affiliate of Max Media, and he will be president and general manager of KLSB. "I've already purchased a home in Tyler, and I'm excited about coming back, too," Hurley said. Max Media purchased KLSB for $4 million, said Hurley, whose company Lone Star Broadcasting put the Nacogdoches station on the air in 1991. He said parties have signed the papers, and the sale will be official with FCC approval, which should occur in January 2004. Hurley said the station will build a new broadcast tower in New Summerfield that will better serve viewers in the Tyler-Longview area.

He said the new tower will increase the station's range, which' will cover an area as far south as Lufkin and as far north as Mineola and Longview. The station's reception should be good in Tyler, he said. See CHANNEL, Page 2B Historical Commission Adds Grand Saline To Texas Main Street List By KRISTI FLIPPIN Staff Writer The Texas Historical Commission designated Grand Saline as a 2004 Texas Main Street city Friday. "I was thrilled to hear that Grand Saline had been designated a Texas Main Street city," state representative Dan Flynn said. "1 know what a huge impact this designation will have on revitalizing downtown Grand Saline." Grand Saline joins more than 70 other Texas cities in the downtown revitalization program.

Mayor Terry Tolar said the Grand Saline city council had cussed applying for this program for the past six years, but this year was the first time "there was a "consensus of all council members to work toward this project." In order to apply for the program, the city had to get endorsements from local businesses. "We had tremendous support and encouragement from businesses all over town," Tolar said. Members of the community created a slide presentation to present to THC in Austin as part of the application process. "The Grand Saline citizens did it for almost no cost to the city." Tolar said. The council approved the action toward applying to be a Main Street City just six months ago.

Tolar said they felt a little rushed to get the presentation prepared for the July deadline. However, he also said, "Everyone got on board, rolled up their sleeves and worked countless hours to get it done." Tolar said he received a call from Flynn Friday, notifying him See THC, Page 2B Many County Employees 9 Raises Limited In 2003-04 Commissioners OK Dallas Firm's Contract For Roof Assessment jail crowded with inmates with expensive medical ailments, Judge Dempsey whittled down her recommendation to 3 percent raises for rank-and-file employees. The recommendation was backed by first-year Budget Officer Harvy Tanner, who set up the raises as merit pay. Each department head was allocated enough for 3 percent pay hikes for employees, with money to be awarded as The raises go into effect in January and exclude elected officials and department heads. Judge Dempsey 's motto for this year's budgeting, "Everyone needs to participate in the pain," also was uttered by Precinct 1 See SALARIES, Page 5B By ANNE WRIGHT Staff Writer Salaries for Smith County's elected officials remained the same for fiscal year 2003 as they last year after, a controver-; sial decision by the commissioners court to limit cost-of-living raises to rank-and-file employees.

Early in the budget process, County Judge Becky Dempsey, in her first year on the bench, announced her goal for 3 percent raises for all employees except commissioners. The previous commissioners court did not grant raises for anyone because of increased health insurance costs. Faced with unfunded state mandates, an increase in capital murder cases in the county, and a rejected bids from two firms wanting to perform the same service on heating and air conditioning units. Offers of $18,000 from Rugerr Engineering and $56,000 Polk Mechanical were deemed expensive. "We don't need to pay $56,000 out of taxpayer dollars for something that is this simple," said Precinct 3 Commissioner.

Frank Sawyer. Bids were solicited with the understanding that the winning firms would not perform maintenance and therefore, be fair in the process. Sawyer said it appeared the two firms missed that point and were planning on performing repairs. By ANGELA MAClAS Staff Writer There's been much debate on devising a schedule for Smith County's maintenance repairs. But on Monday the discussions turned into action when commissioners voted to award a contract for assessing the condition of roofs on county buildings.

Commissioners envision using the evaluations to develop a preventative maintenance plan and save costs to the county. Dallas-based Wharry Engineering outbid competitor Amtec Roof Consultants and was given the job. Smith County will pay Wharry Engineering $4,800 to make assessments of roof conditions and recommend repairs. Commissioners, however, See COUNTY, Page 2B".