KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Another big year for the Tyler Cattle Barons’ Gala is announced at a wrap-up party. The final take: over $531,000 for the American Cancer Society. Spokesperson Kristi Boyett says attendees loved headliner Lee Ann Womack, the silent auction, and all the fun and games. Also getting rave reviews: the air conditioned tents, which Boyett says will be back next year. Boyett adds that the gala had “wonderful volunteers” and “very generous sponsors.” The gala was held June 12 at The Park of East Texas, future home of the East Texas State Fair.

CORSICANA — The fourth member of a multi-county mortgage fraud scheme has pleaded guilty to a first-degree felony for his role in a multimillion dollar enterprise that defrauded government-backed mortgages. Darrell Lynn Marriott, 57, of Gun Barrel City in Henderson County, was sentenced in Navarro County District Court to 28 years in prison for securing the execution of a document by deception. Under the terms of the plea deal, the defendant will now enter an identical plea in Kaufman County.

In a separate but related matter last month in Wilbarger County, Marriott pleaded guilty to the same charge involving a single home purchase. The district court sentenced him to nine years in prison.

The defendant’s wife, Kandace Y. Marriott, 54, is currently serving a 99-year sentence after a Navarro County jury in March 2009 found her guilty of first-degree mortgage fraud. In July 2009, she was also sentenced to two 20-year terms after pleading guilty in Kaufman County. Her sister, Karen Hayes, 59, of Henderson County, is currently serving an 18-year sentence for falsifying documents to obtain property or credit. The Marriotts’ daughter, Kally Marriott, 24, of Rockwall, was also charged with engaging in organized criminal activity for securing the execution of a document by deception. She pleaded guilty to a third-degree felony last December and served four months in jail as a condition of her probation.

TYLER — Tyler police have taken a suspected burglar into custody. It started around 10:00 Tuesday night when officers answered a burglar alarm at Tony’s Taqueria, in the 2800 block of Frankston Highway. Arriving officers reported finding the burglar still inside the business. The suspect, a 15 year old, was arrested after a short foot chase. He will be charged with Burglary of a Building, a state jail felony, and Evading Arrest, a Class A misdemeanor.

TYLER — A 43-year-old Tyler man has been arraigned in Tyler on federal child pornography charges. Thomas Alvin Boyd was indicted July 14 and charged with production of child pornography. He’d previously been indicted on charges of possession of child pornography, receipt of child pornography and distribution of child pornography. According to court documents, Boyd produced child pornography involving three minor males from about 2001 until at least 2005. If convicted, Boyd faces up to 30 years in federal prison for the production charge, up to 20 years each for the receipt and distribution charges, and up to 10 years for the possession charge. This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.

TYLER — Apple is backing its first Texas school and second in the country — and it’s Tyler’s Cumberland Academy. According to KETK, the charter school will start the school year with about 400 iPod touches and more than 200 electronic math books. But even with so much high tech, the traditional notebooks, textbooks, paper, and pencils aren’t out the window. School officials say the new addition is just another way to engage students on their level. Apple is buying all the technology, and the tuition is free. Enrollment at Cumberland has doubled since last year.

TYLER – A 28-year-old Longview man has pleaded guilty in Tyler to federal drug violations. Leslie Dewayne Butler pleaded guilty to possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. Authorities say on Jan. 10, 2009, Butler purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a Walgreens in Longview in addition to making four other purchases that same day at other stores in the area, as well as numerous other purchases at other stores on other days. According to authorities, it was all in furtherance of his methamphetamine manufacturing activities. A federal grand jury returned a 256-count indictment against Butler on Feb. 2, 2010. Butler faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

TYLER — Police are renewing their call for help in solving a robbery earlier this month. On July 3, shortly after 3:30 a.m., Tyler Police responded to the CVS Pharmacy located at 1702 South Broadway Avenue on the report of a robbery. Officers arrived and spoke to employees at the scene. They told officers that an unknown male approached the sales counter and told them he had a gun. He then fled the area on foot with an undisclosed amount of merchandise. The suspect (shown here in surveillance video released Tuesday) is described as a tall black male, possibly bald. He was last seen heading eastbound on foot.

Anyone with information about the suspect is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department, at 903-531-1000, or Crimestoppers, at 903-597-CUFF (903-597-2833). Crimestoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest and charges filed against the suspect, or any suspect in a felony case.

TYLER — Smith County Commissioners meet for a special jail meeting this afternoon at 3:00. According to KETK, the court will be discussing Jeff Warr’s 33 million dollar jail renovation and expansion proposal. Smith County official’s say it may bypass voter approval. The meeting is scheduled for the Smith County’s Commissioners Courtroom.

MINEOLA — Authorities report the weekend drowning of a three-year-old in a Mineola swimming pool. According to KETK, Wood County deputies were dispatched to FM 1801 Saturday in reference to the accidental drowning. Mineola Fire Department First Responders were first on the scene and administered medical attention until East Texas Medical Center Emergency Medical Technicians transported the victim to the ETMC Emergency Room in Quitman. The victim is Crisslyn Thompson, the daughter of Joshua and Tammantha Thompson of Mineola. The investigation indicates that the child accidentally entered the family’s outdoor swimming pool and was unconscious when discovered. The child was later flown to Medical City Children’s Center in Dallas, where she was pronounced dead by attending physicians.

TYLER – A home invasion, in which a woman was injured, is being investigated by Tyler Police. It was reported around 11:30 Monday night in the 3300 block of Garden Valley Road. The residents told officers three black males had knocked on their front door. When a woman answered the door, one of the men began to raise a gun and attempt to come into the house.

According to police, a man in the house got his own gun and kicked the door into one of the suspects. Shots were exchanged between the suspects and the man. The woman received a minor gunshot wound. The suspects left the area in a four door passenger car.

CADDO MILLS (AP) — It was raining marijuana in a rural area of east Texas. Hunt County Under-sheriff Joe Knight says rural homeowners near Greenville reported hearing duffel bags filled with what appeared to be marijuana thud onto their roofs early Monday.

Knight said his department was advised about 5:30 Monday morning to watch for a low-flying aircraft. A single-engine plane was found abandoned in a field beside a runway at Caddo Mills Municipal Airport about two hours later.

No injuries or damage was reported. Knight said the public has turned in four black nylon duffel bags filled with what appeared to be high-grade, hydroponic marijuana. Deputies found two other bags of pot in the plane.

A man is in custody for questioning, but no charges have been filed in the case.

CARROLL — The Carroll Water Supply Corporation has issued a boil water notice for all its customers. According to KETK, the company will notify the public when the boil notice has been lifted. An answering machine at the business says it is due to numerous situations that have happened simultaneously including pressure and quality of water. For more information call 903- 963-5559.

CANTON — In an effort to help authorities fight nuisance crimes such as the theft or destruction of road signs, Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers is offering rewards for information leading to the arrest of people involved in these crimes. The group is offering a $100 reward per tip, plus $50 for each sign that is recovered from the thief or thieves. To qualify for the reward, anyone with information about sign-related crimes can call Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers at 903-567-STOP (567-7867) and give that information without identifying themselves. Once an arrest is made, the caller will be able to collect their Crime Stoppers reward.

“People who steal or damage county road signs may not realize the harm they can cause,” said Andy Flowers, president of Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers. “The lack of a road sign or a stop sign can hinder sheriff, police, fire, or ambulance response and put lives at risk. It also costs the county taxpayers a significant amount of money every year to replace these signs.” According to the Van Zandt County Commissioners, it cost taxpayers nearly $20,000 in 2009 to buy and install signs and posts to replace those that were stolen or damaged. So far this year, sign replacement has cost the county about $12,000, not counting a recent rash of sign thefts in Precinct 3.

Flowers said Crime Stoppers is targeting road sign thefts and vandalism at this time because of the damage these crimes do to citizens at large and to the county treasury. He said Crime Stoppers has an ongoing reward program for callers who provide tips about other criminal mischief and property damage crimes such as mailbox destruction or mudding.

Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers always offers cash rewards for anonymous tips that lead to the arrest of a criminal offender, someone who has either just committed a crime or is wanted on a warrant. By calling 903-567-STOP (567-7867), you can anonymously provide information about a crime. When you call, you are given a special code number. After the crime is solved or the individual arrested, you can use that code number to arrange to collect your cash reward. Crime Stoppers callers never have to give their names or any identifying information.

Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers uses cash from criminal court fines and donations to finance its rewards of up to $1,000 for anonymous tipsters. More information about Crime Stoppers is available online at http:www.vanzandtcrimestoppers.org or by calling the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office.

TYLER — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White’s wife, Andrea, is talking up her husband’s trip to East Texas this week. Mrs. White says the campaign is going well, but her husband is still trying to introduce himself to Texans. She says, “A lot of people still haven’t heard of him, so that’s one reason he’s working so hard — but then, he works hard all the time.” Mrs. White is also promoting “Expectation Graduation” — a program Bill White started in his hometown of Houston, where he once served as mayor. The object is to get kids to re-enroll in school. Mrs. White explains that in September, project workers go door-to-door and ask kids who have dropped out to consider returning. So far, she says, the program has gotten over 8,000 Houston-area kids back in school — and has now spread to other towns.

Bill White’s East Texas swing includes stops Thursday in Tatum, Carthage, Longview and Henderson. He’s set to host education town hall meetings at 2 p.m. in Carthage; 4:30 p.m. at the Greggton Community Center; and 7 p.m. at the Henderson Civic Center on Thursday. He kicks off the day at noon, when he tours Tatum Independent School District facilities before a community lunch of grilled burgers at the Tatum High School Cafeteria. On Wednesday, White plans stops in Palestine, Rusk and Jacksonville before a stop Thursday in Tyler prior to his Tatum visit. White faces Republican Rick Perry in the Texas governor’s race in November. Perry has been governor since 2000.