KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Now there are reports of dead birds in Texas. Plainview Animal Control, just north of Lubbock, was called to pick up about 35 dead Grackles this week. Game Warden Bill Jones says there’s really no concern. The belief here is the birds fell victim to turbulent wind. About 200 dead birds were found in Tyler, also a far cry from the numbers reported in other states.

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford announced the appointment of Dr. Philip A. Coyle, chief academic officer at Richmont Graduate University in Chattanooga, Tenn., as LETU’s new provost and executive vice president, following a national search.

As the university’s new chief academic officer, Coyle will have executive level responsibilities for planning, development and administration of the academic mission of the university. He will provide leadership to achieve initiatives of the university’s strategic plan and will oversee the recruitment, development and performance of deans, academic administrators, and faculty in the university’s six schools. Coyle will report directly to Lunsford and will serve as the chief executive officer in the president’s absence.

Coyle will officially assume his new role at LETU effective July 1, but will be actively involved in the school’s search to fill two dean positions, one in engineering and one in arts and sciences.

“Philip has a number of strengths that will well serve our university,” Lunsford said. “He is unapologetic in defending the value of Christian higher education and will bring an orientation for innovation and growth in our academic programs, calling our faculty to excellence in all they do. Much of his career has been focused on preparing Christians to
claim the psychology and counseling workplace for Christ, so Philip is excited about LETU’s strategic Every Workplace – Every Nation vision. I am eager to see what God will do with Philip’s talents here at LETU.”

TYLER – A Gilmer man has pleaded guilty to federal firearms violations. James Franklin Bracey, 35, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Everingham IV. Bracey faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

According to federal prosecutors, on December 7, 2009, Bracey was found to be in possession of a rifle with an attached scope in Upshur County, which he was using to conduct surveillance on a neighboring Wal-Mart store and then steal items from the store. Further investigation revealed Bracey was a convicted felon, having previously been found guilty of burglary. Convicted felons are prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 14, 2010.

EAST TEXAS — One person is in custody after leading East Texas authorities on a chase. Cherokee County authorities along with Troup Police were involved in the high speed chase near Troup. Officials say Smith County Sheriff’s deputies and State Troopers were brought in to assist. Deputies surrounded a wooded area near Troup, east of Highway 110. Law enforcement even used a helicopter to aid in the search.

The chase began with a routine traffic stop, but the suspects fled in a gold Ford Focus. Officials say soon the Ford Focus crashed and the male driver took off. The woman passenger was taken to the hospital. The suspect then reportedly stole a blue Dodge Ram with keys inside the vehicle. Choppers later spotted the man, and officials took him into custody. He was identified as Justin Toole, 21, of Whitehouse. Constables say the chase began on Highway 79 and finally ended at County Road 4702.

Officials have not yet said what the relationship is between the man and woman, or the extent of her injuries.

KAUFMAN (AP) — A Texas Highway Patrol spokesman says a 7-year-old boy died when he was hit by a pickup truck after exiting his school bus on a rural state highway north of Kaufman.

Spokesman Lonny Haschel says the pickup driver, Salvador Hernandez, 47, of Terrell, was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter. Hernandez was taken to Kaufman County jail.

Haschel says the Kaufman school district bus was stopped facing north on State Highway 34 with all of its red lights activated and its red stop arm displayed when Hernandez – traveling in the southbound lane – failed to stop. The boy was struck after crossing in front of the bus. The child’s name has not been released.

NAPLES – A four year old pre-kindergarten girl in Naples has been killed by the school bus she had just ridden. Patience Grace Alderman was pronounced dead Wednesday afternoon at Titus County Regional Medical Center in Mount Pleasant.

Authorities say the youngster had gotten off the bus and walked around the left side of it. For some reason she headed back toward the bus. As the bus started up, the youngster tripped and fell and was run over by a rear wheel of the bus. The accident happened in the 200 block of Patterson Street in Naples.

Authorities say the girl’s death was an accident and that no charges will be filed. The bus was being driven by Deanna Van Story, who is also a coach at Pewitt Consolidated Independent School District. She was extremely shaken by the accident and required medical attention.

MARSHALL – Two East Texans are going to prison for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.

Chadwick Ray Howe, 23, of Avinger, pleaded guilty on September 22. He was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison on January 5, by U.S. District Judge T. John Ward. According to information presented in court, from June 2009 to April 2010, Howe conspired with others to manufacture methamphetamine by purchasing cold pills containing pseudoephedrine in Panola and Harrison counties in the Eastern District of Texas. A federal grand jury returned a 20-count indictment on May 6, 2010 charging Howe with federal drug violations.

And in a separate case, James Everett Scudday, 54, of Jefferson, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison on January 5, by U.S. District Judge T. John Ward. According to federal prosecutors, on November 15, Scudday purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a Wal-Mart and a Walgreens in Marshall. Texas. The purchases were made in furtherance of his drug manufacturing activities.

GLADEWATER (AP) — The buzzards are back in the East Texas city of Gladewater.

City Manager Sean Pate tells the Longview News Journal that about 30 of the large scavenger birds have been seen roosting on the city’s water tower in recent weeks.

Gladewater has dealt with an abundance of buzzards before, most recently in the spring and summer of 2009. State wildlife expert Steve Epperson helped the city get rid of the problem in the past and has been contacted again.

Officials say buzzard droppings are a threat to the water tower’s paint job, which runs about $80,000. The birds also can damage telecommunications equipment on top of the tower.

LONGVIEW — An East Texas man is in critical condition after being hit by a car. Now his family is offering a reward to help capture the person responsible. Kahn Vu, 52, was hit by a car December 28 in the 900 block of Pine Tree Road. Vu’s son says his dad was returning from a local gas station when he was hit and the driver of the car drove off. The family is pleading for information leading to the arrest of the driver.

LONGVIEW — Longview police say they have caught a wanted man after a routine traffic stop. Officers pullover Andrew Snoody at around 10:30 this morning. Snoody ran from the stop on foot and police caught him shortly after. Snoody had warrants out for his arrest in Dallas County.

NACOGDOCHES — A Henderson man faces possible manslaughter charges in connection with a Wednesday accident on U.S. Highway 259 north of Nacogdoches that left a Garrison man dead and his passenger hospitalized with undisclosed injuries.

Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper John Henley said Timothy Melton, 35, of Garrison died when the Jeep he was driving was struck by a tractor-trailer rig driven by Leon Wood, 38, of Henderson. Henley said Melton was stopped in the northbound lane of the highway, waiting to turn in to the Logmasters business parking lot at the time of the mid-day accident.

Preliminary investigation of the accident indicated Wood was also northbound in the same lane. He apparently attempted to avoid striking Melton’s vehicle but, as Melton began his turn, Wood’s truck struck the passenger vehicle in the driver’s side door, Henley said. Wood’s truck continued northbound, pushing Melton’s vehicle for about 100 yards before coming to rest in the southbound lane of the highway.

MARSHALL — Two East Texas men are heading to jail for child pornography. A 31-year-old Marshall man has been sentenced to federal prison for child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today. Corey Robert Collins pleaded guilty on Aug 17, to possession of child pornography and was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison on Jan. 5. According to information presented in court, on May 19, 2010, investigators executed a search warrant at Collins’ home for suspected child pornography. During the investigation, Collins admitted to downloading child pornography over the Internet using his laptop, and consented to a search of his computer. A forensic analysis of the computer revealed 24 complete downloaded videos of child pornography.

A 49-year-old Gilmer man has been sentenced to federal prison for child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas today. Terry Don Briant pleaded guilty on Aug 17 to possession of child pornography and was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison on Jan. 5. According to information presented in court, on May 19, 2010, investigators executed a search warrant at Briant’s home for suspected child pornography and seized several digital cameras and computers. A forensic examination of a laptop was found to contain about 86 videos and 17 pictures of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

HENDERSON — Rusk County authorities have posted a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of suspects who stole high quality hay and the trailer it was stored on. Lone Star Farm & Home in Henderson received a big load of horse quality square bales of hay on a large trailer, Thursday afternoon December 30th. At some time after closing and prior to the owner’s arrival at 6:30 am December 31st, unknown person(s) entered the property thru locked security gates at the back on Wilson Street. Thieves hooked to the 32’ flat bed trailer load of hay with a truck equipped with a gooseneck trailer ball and pulled it away. There were 350 bales of horse quality hay on the trailer. The hay and trailer was valued at over $10,000. If you have any information, you are asked to contact Rusk County Crime Stoppers 903-655-TIPS (8477).

EAST TEXAS — New details on the man who allegedly shot and killed a hunter over the weekend. Authorities say the Ft. Worth man arrested for that crime was convicted of murder back in 1983. Rodney Connelly, 54, told authorities he thought he shot a deer, but instead shot Louis Conner Jr., 41. Connelly was arraigned on a weapons charge Sunday. A felon can not legally possess a a weapon in the state of Texas.

LUFKIN — The pregnant Garrison woman injured in a Diboll wreck Monday is in stable condition at Memorial Medical Center-Lufkin but her unborn baby boy did not survive the crash, according to her sister.

Mary Chiz, 38, and her fiance, Travis Wertz, 35, were traveling along U.S. Highway 59 south in Diboll when an 18-wheeler rear-ended their Montero Sport, forcing them into the 18-wheeler in front of them, according to previous reports. Emergency workers from Lufkin and Diboll fire departments spent nearly 30 minutes freeing the couple from the mangled SUV. The driver of the 18-wheeler that rear-ended Chiz was cited for failure to control speed, Diboll Police said.