Short

Tyler woman dies after plane crash into house in Florida

A Tyler woman, who was the pilot of a single-engine plane, died after crashing into a home in Lake City, Florida, according to the local newspaper, the Lake City Reporter.

Salena Short, 61, crashed into a home on Inwood Court in the Creekside subdivision Saturday morning. Those inside the home, a woman and her 7-year-old son, were not harmed, the newspaper reported.

Short was identified by Bill Jennings, whom she was visiting. Short took off in the plane from Cannon Creek Airpark at 9:30 a.m. Saturday and crashed into the home of Shane Renee Thomson soon after, according to the Lake City Reporter.

The newspaper reported Short was returning to Tyler when the plane crashed. Jennings told the newspaper the plane underwent maintenance, but it was sound otherwise.

On Short’s Facebook page, she said her late husband, Gary Buster, rekindled her childhood dream to fly. She received her “ticket to fly” about two years ago.

Murray Smith, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office public information officer, told the Reporter the National Transportation Safety Board, out of Cocoa Beach, would lead the investigation with help from the Federal Aviation Administration in Orlando.

Monkey found after being

let out of rescue center

A monkey is back home after a person entered its rescue center and broke the locks of its enclosure.

Wood County Sheriff Tom Castloo said an 8 year-old capuchin monkey got out of its habitat Sunday morning near Lake Holbrook in Wood County. After searching for the monkey, it was located Monday morning and the owner came out to the location.

She was able to return the animal to its home. The monkey was found right down the street about a mile or less from the rescue center, Castloo said.

He said the breaking and entering of the rescue center is under investigation.

Literacy Council to honor

the Brookshires, donors

The Literacy of Council of Tyler will hold its annual Donor Appreciation Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Willow Brook Country Club.

This year’s luncheon will honor Tim and Michelle Brookshire as well as donors in the Circle of Honor who have sponsored one or more students in LCOT’s program, according to a news release from the organization.

Former LCOT student Indira Karimova will share her story, including how the organization has changed her life.

Executive Director Nancy Crawford will provide a program update during the luncheon. For more information, call 903-533-0330.

— Staff Reports

Women With Heart

event Saturday at mall

The Women With Heart event is set for 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at Broadway Square Mall, 4601 S. Broadway Ave. in Tyler.

The event will give women and families the chance to learn about health and fitness, heart care, stroke prevention and the warning signs of heart disease in women, according to a news release from Christus Trinity Mother Frances Health System.

A fashion show and giveaways will be part of the proceedings.

February is American Heart Month.

The event will feature fashion shows for adults and children; performances by local high school cheer teams; and health vendors.

There will also be giveaways for fitness center memberships, Kendra Scott jewelry, James Avery gift cards and more, organizers said.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease, but it can often be prevented by making healthy choices and managing health conditions, according to the news release.

— Staff Reports