KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The dentist accused of secretly taping two female tenants was back in court yesterday. Judge Skeen set Charles Robinson’s pre-trial date for February 25. His trial date is reset to February 28. Robinson, 58, was arrested back in December and charged with possession of child pornography and improper visual recordings. A 40 year-old woman reported finding video equipment in the attic of a home she was purchasing from her employer, Dr. Robinson. The mother and daughter had been living in the house for four years. Robinson admitted to recording them for the purpose of sexual gratification for the past three years.

JACKSONVILLE — Services are scheduled for longtime Chief of Police. Funeral services for Floyd W. Stiefer, 66, Jacksonville, are scheduled for 2:00 pm Tuesday, February 15, at Autry Funeral Home chapel, Jacksonville. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park, Jacksonville. Mr. Stiefer passed away Friday, February 11, 2011 in Tyler. He was born April 4, 1944 in Jacksonville.

Mr. Stiefer began his career as a public servant in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. He began his career in law enforcement in 1974 as a Cherokee County baliff for Judge J. W. Summers. In December 1975 he went to work for the City of Jacksonville as a patrolman. Floyd worked his way through the ranks doing everything, including dispatching. He was Jacksonville’s first Criminal Investigations Officer. In October of 1985 he was promoted to Chief of Police, a position he held until his retirement in January of 2001. While serving the City of Jacksonville, he logged 3,050 hours of police training over the course of his career.

In 1984 he graduated from the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. In 1999 he achieved the highest rank possible from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers Education and Standards. In 2001 Floyd was elected to City Council Seat for District 4 and went on to serve as Mayor Pro Tem until 2006.

RED SPRINGS — Smith County Fire Marshals confirm a house has been damaged by fire in the 1800 block of County Road 316 near Red Springs. Red Springs and Lindale Fire Departments extinguished the blaze. Officials said flames were shooting out of the front door when they arrived on scene. A family was in the house when the fire was called in at around 10:00 yesterday morning, but they were able to escape uninjured. Portions of the house received heavy smoke and fire damage. Fire officials say they are not able to determine the cause at this time.

LUFKIN — Lufkin police are investigating a the death of a 44-year-old Hispanic man whose body was discovered Sunday morning at a picnic table behind the CVS store on Frank Avenue. Around 9 a.m. someone rode by the park area on Moore Street on a bicycle and noticed the man’s body. The person on the bicycle alerted their family, who then contacted police after checking on the man, Lufkin Police Cpl. Trent Sobolewski said. “We’re investigating, but it appears to be a natural death,” Sobolewski said. “When we got here he was sitting on the bench like he just fell backward against the table.”

WHITE OAK — A one vehicle accident on State Highway 42 near the Sabine River Bridge has killed one person. Dead at the scene of the accident, which was reported around 7:00 Saturday morning was Ivy Leppert, 24, of Kilgore. The Department of Public Safety reports she was traveling at a high rate of speed when she left the road and hit a tree.

LOS ANGELES — Country music star Miranda Lambert has won her first Grammy. The East Texas native and Lindale resident took home the award for the Best Female Country Vocal Performance. It was for her single “The House That Built Me.” The song is from her latest album “Revolution.”

UNDATED — Here’s a quick look at events and work planned in the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

TYLER — Texas Department of Transportation contractor R.K. Hall has announced it planned to resume and complete resurfacing operations later this week on West Loop 323 in and around the State Highway 64 intersection. The work, which should last an estimated two days weather and materials permitting, is scheduled to begin Wednesday. “We’ve been looking for a good moment to get back out there and get this finished up,” said TxDOT spokesman Larry Krantz. “There isn’t much left to do, but it’s obvious that it’s not complete.”

Crews will begin working in the northbound lanes between State Highway 31 (Front Street) and State Highway 110 (Van Highway) which will require multiple lane closures while the work is in progress. Once completed, the crews will return to the southbound lanes. Krantz urged motorists to seek alternate routed if possible on Wednesday and Thursday to avoid delays and to allow the project to be completed more rapidly.

“Our materials have to get through traffic to arrive at the job site,” Krantz said. “The longer it takes the materials to arrive, the longer it takes to get them put down on the road.”

LONGVIEW — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repairs in various locations on State Highway 300 (Gilmer Road), Spur 63, and Spur 502 (Judson Road) in and around Longview. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue pavement repair operations on State Highway 31 between Trinidad and Malakoff, followed later in the week by the same work on State Highway 31 Business and State Highway 19 Business in downtown Athens. A second crew is scheduled to perform edge repairs in various locations on Farm Road 2010 near Chandler. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue fog seal operations on Farm Road 1817 between U.S. Highway 287 and Farm Road 323, and on Farm Road 2330 between State Highway 19 and Farm Road 860. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic. Fog seal operations require lengthy lane closures and can cause moderate delays to traffic. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs in various locations on Farm Road 1251 east of Henderson, and of Farm Road 2658 on the west side of Martin Creek Lake. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue resurfacing operations in various locations on Farm Road 858 between State Highway 19 south of Canton and Farm Road 279 in Ben Wheeler. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

WOOD COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to be at work on the following roadways in and around Wood County:
*FM 778 north of US 80;
*FM 857 near FM 1255; and
*FM 49 east of FM 14.
Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

EAST TEXAS — Privacy at airport check-ins, larger homestead exemptions and open government bills are among measures Northeast Texas lawmakers hope to pass now the 82nd legislative session is good to go. The assignment of House members to their committees this past week means lawmakers can start doing more than passing resolutions honoring clubs and causes back home. That will unloose the Senate from relative inaction, too.

Representatives David Simpson of Longview, Chuck Hopson of Jacksonville and Senator. Kevin Eltife of Tyler, all Republicans, have filed bills they are confident will find support in their GOP-dominated chambers. Those include a bill near and dear to Longview Mayor Jay Dean, who wants to bump up the local hotel/motel tax rate from 7% to 9% of the tab for overnight stays. Dean asked the Gregg County Commissioners Court this past week to build a $10 million events center the city would operate on the increased hotel/motel levy.

It turns out Hopson and Eltife already were working on a bill to hike Tyler’s hotel/motel tax the same degree. Tyler wants to use the increase to build an events center, Eltife said, and both men said Friday that Longview is welcome to tag along.

BULLARD — A propane leak in Southwest Smith County has been contained. The Bullard Fire Department responded to the leak at Glo Flame on Farm Road 2493 between Bullard and Flint Sunday afternoon. The fire department kept the leak contained and as a precaution closed traffic from New England Road to Dodson Spur for around 30 minutes to allow the propane to dissipate. Company officials say the release occurred when a gas relief valve stayed open after releasing extra gas pressure.

TYLER — Michael’s House of Hope, on Highway 155 South outside Tyler, recently received a $10,000 grant award from the Verizon Foundation. Michael’s House personnel say the grant will help MHOH serve the community through its Domestic Violence program that provides an interventional approach through cognitive intervention. According to a news release, “MHOH is proud to be a recipient of this award and will continue to be instrumental in providing housing, spiritual development and job placement to men who have difficulty restructuring their lives.” MHOH personnel say there are many services that serve the victims of domestic abuse, but the perpetrators are often not seen as reparable. MHOH has joined with the Texas Council on Family Violence and has developed a program in Tyler that Michael’s House representatives say will decrease if not eliminate family domestic violence.

According to MHOH representatives, the Verizon Foundation and Michael’s House are making significant progress towards the reduction of domestic violence in East Texas, and the community is urged to get involved. Michael’s House is a ministry of New Life Worship Center in Tyler. It provides transitional housing and support for men who have been affected by substance abuse or homelessness, or have completed a structured program while in prison. You can go to http://www.michaelshouseofhope.com for more information.

TYLER — A longtime human needs agency in Tyler is working to make its services even better. David Young is CEO of St. Paul Children’s Foundation and Clinics. Chatting on KTBB “Staff Meeting,” Young says, “One of our visions is to work much more closely with our community partners, and we’ve set out to do that, and we’re having a lot of meetings about that right now.” Young also says among other things, St. Paul is working to be more efficient and effective in its clinics. According to Young, “We’re spending a great deal of time right now and effort making sure folks know what services are available in our
clinics. We want to increase the traffic there.”

St. Paul partners with a number of people and agencies around the area,
serving a predominantly Hispanic population from its East Tyler location. Its mission is “to build a healthy and joyful community for children and their families.” St. Paul is also promoting several upcoming events. One of those, coming up March 8-11, is a Tyler to Austin Cycle Challenge to benefit the foundation. You can go to http://www.stpaulchildren.org to learn more. You can also find the “Staff Meeting” show online at http://www.ktbb.com/audio beginning early Monday morning.

GILMER — Three Upshur County elected officials signed waivers of arraignment late Thursday, causing their scheduled arraignment hearing Friday to be canceled. County Judge Dean Fowler, Sheriff Anthony Betterton and Commissioner Lloyd Crabtree were to appear in the 115th District Court in front of visiting Judge Richard Davis. Davis, who is retired from the 294th District Court in Canton, will be presiding over all hearings and trials involving the trio’s cases, as 115th District Court Judge Lauren Parish has recused herself. All three men are charged with official oppression. Fowler and Crabtree also are charged with abuse of official capacity.

The three officials are accused of wrongly removing Jimmy Caughron of Pritchett from a county commissioners meeting in November after he repeatedly wore duct tape over his mouth to protest public comment being removed from meeting agendas. Davis met with attorneys for all the defendants on Friday. A pre-trial hearing for Fowler will be held March 11, and his trial is set March 28. Betterton’s trial is set April 18, and Crabtree’s trial is set for May 9, said attorney Robert Davis, who represents both men. They will be requesting pre-trial hearings, but those dates have not yet been decided. Fowler has been suspended by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct until the case is resolved. If charges are dropped or Fowler is found innocent, he will be reinstated.

LONGVIEW — A warm fire on a cold Friday night led to an early morning blaze that forced Eddie and Lena Noe out of their home on Lawson Street, Eddie Noe said. Neither occupant was injured — thanks to their dogs, but their home is in shambles. Noe said only he and his wife were at home at the time, and they got out as soon as they realized what was going on. Noe said he called the Longview fire department and moved their vehicles away to keep them from damage.

Four LFD engines, two trucks and a medical unit arrived on scene to fight the blaze. Longview Fire Marshall Johnny Zackary said the initial call came at 2:45 a.m. and the fire was under control by 3:50 a.m. However, crews had difficulty with the structure and the blaze wasn’t completely extinguished until after 5 a.m.

Zackary confirmed no one was injured and said the fire originated in the living room. The department has not determined the cause. Zackary estimated the fire caused about $160,000 worth of damage, but said that figure might still be low. Noe feared his home could be a total loss.

TYLER — An East Texas man wrecks his car into a tree this morning by Lake Tyler. It happened on Farm to Market road 346 around 8pm. A Longview firefighter was following behind the driver when he saw him weaving around on the road. Shortly after, the driver crashed his truck into a tree on the side of the road. That man was taken to the hospital and is said to be in stable condition.

LUFKIN — Authorities are searching for a Lufkin man. Troy James Allison, 57, is on the Texas DPS Most Wanted Sex Offenders list, and officials are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. Allison, who was last seen in the Lufkin area, has family members in the Houston and Conroe areas. Allison has an extensive criminal history, including convictions for assault-threat to take life in 1973; sex offense-against child-fondling in 1976, as well as sexual assault in 1977. He received a 77-year sentence for the 1977 attack and was released from prison in 2003. He has been on the run from authorities since 2004 and was added to the Texas Ten Most Wanted Sex Offenders list in 2010.

Allison has a heart tattoo with scroll with “ZAN & USMC” on the outside
of his upper right arm, an open scar on the side of his abdomen and a
small scar on front of right leg.

CANTON (AP) – Two men have pleaded guilty to starting two church fires in Van Zandt County last year and have been given life sentences. The Tyler Morning Telegraph reported that 21-year-old Jason Bourque and 23-year-old Daniel McAllister made the pleas on Friday afternoon. Bourque pleaded guilty to two counts of arson and was given two life sentences. McAllister pleaded guilty to one count and received one life sentence. Both men had already received life terms after entering guilty pleas to other church arsons last year in Smith and Henderson counties. The Van Zandt County sentences will be served concurrently with those of the other two counties. McAllister apologized to those in the courtroom.

TYLER — The Tyler Independent School District has determined that Friday, May 27, 2011 will be the bad weather make-up day for the February 4 school closing due to inclement weather. Students will have classes on May 27. School district officials say the bad weather day was purposefully set in order to avoid a conflict with Memorial Day on May 30.

The Tyler ISD school calendar is approved by the Board of Trustees. School district officials say it is created through a lengthy, thoughtful process that relies on input and feedback from both the community and the school system, including the District Planning Committee (DPC). The DPC consists of business representatives, parents, teachers and administrators who serve as advisers to the District in a number of initiatives throughout the year, including the selection of dates for staff development, teacher work days, holidays and bad weather days in the annual calendar. You can visit http://www.tylerisd.org to access the school calendar for the current year, as well as the approved school calendar for 2011-2012.

CANTON — Authorities in Van Zandt County say they’ve rounded up a pair of copper theft suspects. On Thursday, sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to an address on VZCR #3221 on a report of a burglary in progress. A neighbor had spotted two men taking items from a property and putting the items into a silver pickup truck. Prior to the deputies’ arrival the suspect vehicle left the scene.

Authorities say a Department of Public Safety trooper on patrol in the area spotted the vehicle outside of Wills Point and stopped the vehicle. The trooper detained 26-year-olds Brandon Donihoo and Nathan Pruitt. According to a sheriff’s department report, a deputy discovered that Donihoo and Pruitt had removed several rolls of copper wire and aluminum cans from the complainants’ property. The suspects were arrested for theft of copper and were transported to the Van Zandt County Justice Center. Both suspects were arraigned, and bond was set at $5000.

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY — A Tuesday morning wreck claims the life of a Nacogdoches man. 23-year-old Franscisco Rios Vasquez, died Wednesday from injuries sustained in a wreck Tuesday in Nacogdoches County. State Troopers say Vasquez was driving east on State Hwy 21, just east of Nacogdoches, when he entered the westbound lane striking another vehicle.

SMITH COUNTY — A major wreck Thursday afternoon sends 4 people, including a baby, to the hospital. It happened along Hwy 31 east in Smith County around 5:30. Troopers say a blue van heading east on 31 did not yield the right of way when turning left. A truck coming over the hill hit the van head-on.

JACKSONVILLE — A man is under arrest in connection with a shooting in Jacksonville. Gary Warren, 33, allegedly shot a gun at a house on Skyline Blvd. Five people were said to be inside, including a child, but no injuries were reported. Warren was later caught on Austin Street and charged with possession of marijuana and firearms as well as five counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Police say there may be a second suspect involved and they believe the incident to be gang related.

MARSHALL — One person is in custody in connection with a Harrison County shooting death. The suspect, Barney Davis, 44, of Marshall, was arrested at the home of Harrison County Sheriff Tom McCool.

A news release said Davis called dispatchers Wednesday night saying he was in front of the sheriff’s home and wanted to talk with him. McCool met Davis in the driveway and Davis told McCool and deputies who had arrived, that he had just been involved in a fight on Maryland Drive with Glynn Morehead, 50. When deputies went to check on Morehead, they found him dead.

At last report, Davis remained in the Harrison county jail, charged with murder.

TYLER – Smith County residents have been given a look at a new county jail expansion plan. It was presented and discussed at a town hall meeting Thursday afternoon. The plan is to expand the existing downtown jail facilities and eliminate the need for out-of-county inmate transport. The $35 million plan includes an in-house infirmary, estimated to save the county $600-800,000 per year in hospital expenses, and an additional 384 beds to eliminate the average $2 million annual cost for housing Smith County inmates in alternate facilities. County officials say the plan will eliminate pressing safety issues, increase operating efficiencies and cut costs.

“In good and bad times government needs to strive to improve efficiencies and cut costs. There is never a good time to build a jail, however this plan offers the greatest impact at the lowest cost to the taxpayers,” said Precinct 1 Commissioner Jeff Warr, who worked to develop the plan.

“The facts are black and white. We have to keep criminals off the street and it makes more sense to own the space they are in than to rent it,” Precinct 2 Commissioner Cary Nix said. The plan offers few new amenities but reorganizes existing resources to operate more efficiently.

“The kitchen and laundry facilities are being moved to the low-risk campus to allow trustees full access to work there,” Commissioner Warr said.

“The visitation space will be replaced by an infirmary and all visitation will be done by remote video, increasing safety and eliminating the need for jail employees to monitor this function. Lack of contact with family members also works as an added detourant for offenders,” Commissioner Warr said.

“This plan is about organizing and maintaining efficient operations for our criminal justice system, not creating any extra comforts for those who are in jail,” Precinct 3 Commissioner Terry Phillips said.

The $35 million plan, if approved by a May bond election, would add one cent per $100 valuation to the Smith County tax roll for 15 years or a cost of about $13 per year to the average Smith County household.

“This proposal addresses numerous situations that our Sheriff’s office has dealt with for years in severely inadequate conditions, which will ultimately lead to greater safety for our deputies and jail personnel,” Precinct 4 Commissioner JoAnn Hampton said.

County Judge Joel Baker said that cooperation and extra work done by members of the court, along with the work that the District Attorney and the Judges have done to expedite the judicial process, will have significant benefit for all our Smith County citizens.

HENDERSON – Rusk County Crime Stoppers and the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office need help identifying a man who stole copper wire from Crims Chapel Water Supply on County Road 238. On January 11, deputies say he broke into the water supply by climbing a fence around the building. That’s when he is said to have picked up some copper wire lying on the ground, threw it over the fence, and climbed back over before leaving. The copper wire was worth about $500. Rusk County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1000 for any information leading to an arrest in this case. Call them at 903-655-TIPS (8477) or contact the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office at 903-657-3581.

TYLER – A 33-year-old Palestine man has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking. Sterlynn Jeremiah Henry pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute phencyclidine, also known as PCP, Thursday in Tyler before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.

According to information presented in court, on October 7, 2009, Henry and a co-defendant, Andrea Rachelle Bailey, were found to be in possession of a mixture containing a detectable amount of PCP, which they intended to distribute in the Eastern District of Texas. Henry also admitted to being in possession of a firearm in furtherance of his criminal activity. Henry and Bailey were indicted by a federal grand jury on December 1, 2010. Henry faces a minimum of 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. Bailey pleaded guilty on February 3, 2011, and faces up to 20 years in federal prison. Sentencing dates have not been set.

CANTON — Four persons are arrested in Van Zandt County on drug charges. On Wednesday, a multi-jurisdictional investigation involving investigators from the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, Grand Saline Police Department, Canton Police Department, and Pct. 1 Constable’s Office executed a narcotics search warrant. Investigators had received information of illegal narcotics allegedly being sold at a location in Grand Saline. They executed the warrant at 134 W. Hickory St. in Grand Saline. Investigators say they seized a large amount of currency and methamphetamines from the location.

Upon execution of the warrant, four suspects were taken into custody: Tabbatha Jane Bretz, 28; Lacey Wayne Hipp, 26; Mindy Ann Roseman, 31; and Ronald Wayne White, 45. All have been charged with manufacture/delivery of controlled substance and are being held on $40,000 bond at the Van Zandt County Justice Center.

LINDALE — The Lindale Independent School District will hold classes on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 to make up for the district closure on Friday, February 4 due to winter weather. The May 31 date is already scheduled on the approved 2010-2011 LISD school calendar as a make-up day. June 1 is also scheduled as a possible makeup day in the event of another school closure. At this time, classes will only be held on May 31. “Every school day is important to our students and our school district,” Lindale ISD Superintendent Stan Surratt said. “Attendance on the scheduled make-up day is just as important as attendance any other day. I am sure there will be many end of the year exams, programs and presentations that our students will not want to miss as well.”

TYLER – Carter BloodCare is issuing a special call for donors, saying inclement weather resulted in a severely low blood supply. The organization requests all available donors make an appointment or attend community drives soon. All Carter BloodCare donor centers in East Texas reopened Thursday after Wednesday’s inclement weather conditions led the organization to shut down. This, following a wintry blast from Feb. 1st through 4th, that resulted in the loss of almost four days of blood collections for the blood center. During those days, blood drives were canceled and Carter elected to close donor centers, citing safety concerns for staff and donors.

Carter BloodCare is the largest blood center in Texas and its 56-county operation means that when blood collections are low in East Texas, the blood center’s Dallas/Fort Worth and Waco operations can help meet the demand. However, the recent weather conditions affected all of Carter BloodCare’s service area – eliminating this benefit – and leaving the blood supply severely low, according to Carter officials.

Officials say patient needs were met during the crisis because of strong relationships that Carter BloodCare has forged with other community blood centers statewide and across the country. The blood center imported blood from as many as eight other centers. But Carter officials say this type of arrangement is not sustainable.

A community blood center relies on local volunteer blood donors. Officials say Carter BloodCare needs to see at least 1100 donors a day, system-wide, in order to keep up with local hospitals’ needs. A wide range of patients use blood on a daily basis, and there is no substitute for human blood. Patients battling cancer are the largest consumers of blood and blood products, but blood is just as necessary for patients undergoing joint-replacement surgery, sickle cell disease treatments, emergency labor and delivery cases, and emergency trauma care.

Potential donors can be 16 years old with a parent’s consent; 17-year-olds may donate independently. There is no upper age limit for donating blood. All donors must weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good general health and present a photo ID. Ideally, a donor should also eat a good meal and drink plenty of fluids before giving blood. For more information about donor eligibility, visit http://carterbloodcare.org or call Carter BloodCare at 1-800-DONATE-4.

KILGORE — Kilgore public school administrators say all departments are being considered for cuts as the district faces budget trimming in light of the state’s deficit. The district is expecting a state funding cut ranging between 3.2 to 6 million dollars. The state legislature has until July to make decisions, Kilgore Schools have only until April to renew those teacher contracts.

LUFKIN — A 19-year-old Lufkin man died early Wednesday morning, and three other people were injured, during a head-on collision on U.S. Highway 69 north. The accident happened at 12:35 a.m. Wednesday one mile south of FM 843, according to a Texas Department of Public Safety report. The driver of a 1995 Lexus, Isaac Tucker, 19, of Pollok, crossed the center line heading southbound and collided with a Kenworth truck towing a trailer, the report stated. Nicholas Zayne Anthony, a passenger in the Lexus, died at the scene.

Tucker was transported to Memorial Medical Center-Lufkin and is listed in serious condition. Another passenger, Ryan Walton, 19, also of Pollok, was taken to Memorial and is listed in poor condition. The driver of the truck, Michael Sutton, 40, of Louisiana, was also taken to Memorial and was listed in good condition. The report stated that everyone was wearing a seat belt.