KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW – You will find out Friday morning why the Texas legislature, four years ago, declared Longview the Balloon Race Capital of Texas. The 40th Annual Great Texas Balloon Race brings to East Texas the best competitive pilots from around the world. Balloon flights begin over Longview Friday morning. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, the flights continue over the East Texas Regional Airport. Friday and Saturday nights you have the balloon glow followed by live concerts. And all of that is coupled with kids land and a variety of vendors, including food vendors. You can go to http://www.greattexasballoonrace.com to get a schedule of the various events.

TYLER — Tyler Police have identified a suspect wanted in a fatal shooting. An arrest warrant has been issued for Aquinas Lamar Dixon (pictured), 32, Tyler. Officers said around 8:50 Wednesday night, a shooting at the Domino Club pool hall left Earnest Dennis, 28, dead. He was found face down in the parking lot across the street from the pool hall on Morris Street. Dennis was pronounced dead at ETMC. Dixon is considered armed and dangerous. He was last seen driving a 90’s or early 2000 dark colored Jaguar with paper tags. Call police with any information.

WOOD COUNTY — A man wanted for the murder of his son was recently arrested in Lubbock County, according to the Wood County Sheriff’s Office. KETK reports, George Wayne Saunders, 62, of Mineola, was indicted in Wood County for murder on May 31. Saunders was first arrested for manslaughter back in 2011 after his son, Loren, died from a gunshot wound to the chest at the Chaney Point RV Park in Alba. At the time of his death, Saunders told investigators he walked in on his 16-year-old son twirling a revolver when the gun fired. The shooting was initially ruled accidental. In May 2011, the Medical Examiner’s Office labeled the death suspicious. An arraignment hearing set for August 4.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — East Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert is glad the U.S. Senate has opted to move forward with repeal and replacement of Obamacare, but he’s voicing frustration with what’s happened since then. Gohmert tells KTBB that senators are saying, “I voted to repeal Obamacare when it didn’t count and we knew it was going to be vetoed by President Obama — but now that it counts, after I had promised in speech after speech we need to repeal Obamacare…I refuse to do it.” Gohmert calls that “mind-boggling.” He added, “The Senate has gotta just get some gumption…repeal Obamacare…and then we can move on and we can do a reform of what needs reforming.”

LONGVIEW – A worker, helping erect a monument at Longview’s Teague Park, was injured when the monument fell on him. The accident happened around 12:30 Wednesday afternoon. Other workers used a tractor and chain to lift the 2,500-pound monument off the man. He is hospitalized at Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center with unknown injuries. A fire department report said the man’s injuries were not life threatening.

TYLER – A Smith County couple charged with sex crimes have a trial date. The Whitehouse couple, Johnny Floyd Crocker, 57, and Angela Elaine Crocker, 41, will be going to trial in Tyler October 2nd. Johnny is facing four counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Angela is facing two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and one count of indecency with a child by sexual contact. Arrested near Shreveport in February, they had been on the run as they faced charges a various charges. The pair had been considered to be armed and dangerous. In fact, they had said they would not be taken alive. Johnny is a former law officer and is a registered sex offender.

TYLER – A Tyler teen is in jail for the sexual assault of a child. Being held in the Smith County Jail under a $750,000 bond is Justin Ray Dunford, 17. He is said the have assaulted the girl, under the age of 14, at a home south of the Chapel Hill area. Dunford had been living with the family but was not related to them. The girl had complained of soreness and went to the doctor where she told about the sexual assault. After an investigation, which included interviewing the girl at the Child Advocacy Center, Dunford was arrested.

TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Department is looking for two suspects in an animal cruelty case. The two have been identified as Roderick Johnson and Vanessa Mederos, both are 23. They are wanted in connection with three dogs that were left chained without food or water. One died before they were found. Maderos has a warrant out for her arrest. Multiple warrants has been issued for Johnson. You are asked to contact the Smith County Sheriff’s office if you know where they can be found. Continue reading Two Sought in Animal Cruelty Case

MARSHALL – The Marshall Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a credit card thief. The woman is said to have entered the Central Perks Café last Saturday and stole credit and debit cards from employees purses. She then used the cards at various Longview businesses later in the day. The woman is also a suspect in several similar incidents in Longview and Tyler. Anyone with information about the identity of the woman is urged to call the Marshall Police Department at 903-935-4575. Those wishing to remain anonymous are encouraged to call Marshall/Harrison County Crime Stoppers at 903-935-9969. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the Marshall/Harrison County Crime Stoppers Facebook page.

GREGG COUNTY — A Longview man faces additional charges after police said they found more than 5 grams of methamphetamine in his possession. According to the Longview News-Journal and KETK, Julio Cesar Banuelos, 34, was held Tuesday in the Gregg County Jail on $10,000 bond, charged with possession of a controlled substance measuring more than 4 grams but less than 200 grams. He also had a warrant for his arrest on a driving while intoxicated charge. Banuelos was arrested on the outstanding warrant about 7 p.m. Monday on Crystal Street after a traffic stop. Police said they found two small plastic bags containing 5.7 grams of meth in his pants pocket.

SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler man has been arrested after he allegedly stole a car Tuesday morning. According to KETK, Jarode Detwin Wilson, 30, was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery. Wilson had asked an acquaintance for a ride around 1 a.m. During the trip, Wilson reportedly pulled a gun and threatened the victim. The victim pulled over and jumped out of the car. Wilson took off in the vehicle but was caught by Tyler Police a short time later. Wilson was booked into the Smith County Jail on $50,000 bond.

PITTSBURG – Funeral services are scheduled Wednesday for Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, 89. Pilgrim, the co-founder and longtime Chairman and CEO of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, and Chairman Emeritus of Pilgrim Bank, died at his home on Friday. No word on the cause of death. According to the Erman Smith Funeral Home web site, a memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Pittsburg. Visitation with the family was held Tuesday evening. There will be a private family burial prior to the memorial service.

TYLER – A man suspected in several Tyler shootings has been arrested. Kadareawn Lee Mosley, 19, was arrested at his home on Tuesday. He had been named in two arrest warrants for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He is thought to have been involved in a drug related shooting at Fun Forest park on July 8th. He is also accused in a shooting last Thursday on McDonald Road where a 13 year old boy was wounded. The police say he was acting in retaliation for the shooting at Fun Forest. He is also thought to be the person who, last Friday, shot someone in the back on Nutbush Avenue over money and narcotics. He remains in the Smith County Jail with bond set at $500,000.

BEN WHEELER – A two vehicle accident in Van Zandt County has left a motorcyclist dead. Dead at the scene was James Kinnaird, 51, of Chandler. He was killed when a pickup pulled out in front of him at the intersection of State Highway 64 and Farm Road 773, north of Ben Wheeler. The pickup’s driver, Stacy Burkett, 48, of Ben Wheeler, was uninjured. The accident, which was reported around 7:15 Tuesday morning, remains under investigation.

TYLER – Work starts on a part of Beckham tonight. TxDOT says motorists might want to use alternate routes to avoid delays. The work is on Beckham Avenue from about half a mile south of East Oakwood southward to 5th Street. The work will be tonight and Thursday night between 7:30pm and 6:00am the following morning, and then again Sunday through Thursday nights of next week. Motorists can expect lane closures and delays. The project consists of making base repairs in the main lanes, conducting work on the side streets and applying a new surface and striping.

MARSHALL – The president of Wiley College in Marshall has announced his plans to retire next June. President Haywood L. Strickland submitted his letter to the school’s trustees at their meeting late last week. He announced his plans to the public on Monday. In its efforts to name a successor for Strickland, school trustees have formed a search committee. Strickland became the college’s president in 2000. In March of last year a former Wiley College employee named Strickland in a suit filed against the school in federal court in Marshall. He claimed he was fired after showing proof to the school administration of financial mismanagement by Strickland. No court date has been set for the lawsuit.

TYLER – Smith County commissioners took no action Tuesday on new ownership of the Carlton Hotel. The commissioners were scheduled to discuss, in executive session, the possible sale of the building, which was opened over 60 years ago. But, following the closed door session, the matter was not discussed and no action was taken. County Judge Nathaniel Moran had previously said they have received some proposals for the property. But he gave no details. It’s not known if those proposals are still on the table of if the county will continue looking. The county bought the building in 1977. The last county office moved out, for better facilities, nearly four years ago. Continue reading No Action Taken On the Carlton Hotel

TYLER – A new Half Mile of History marker has been unveiled in Tyler. In a ceremony on the downtown square, the marker honoring Edgar “Leo” Chesley was unveiled. Chesley moved to Tyler in 1933 and became very active in the community. Among other things, he was President of the Rose Parade “Strutters” organization, a director of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, Director of the East Texas Symphony Orchestra and President of East Texas Savings and Loan Association. The marker honoring Chesley will be installed in the Half-Mile of History sidewalk in downtown Tyler.

LINDALE – Lindale police are trying to identify a man thought to be responsible for some vehicle burglaries. The burglaries occurred a few nights ago at the Hampton Inn. The suspect is described as a white male with an earring in his left ear. They say the man is working alone and driving a silver or light colored Ford Taurus or similar vehicle. The hotel’s video shows the man holding items that were identified by one of the victims as items coming from his vehicle. If you can identify him, you are asked to contact Lindale police.

KILGORE- A missing Kilgore man has been found. Yesterday, Kilgore police were asking the public’s help in locating the missing man. They said Robyn Allmond, 50, is suffering from a medical condition that may alter his ability to remember his surroundings and to return home. This morning, on their Facebook page, they announced Allmond has been found. No other information was released.

HARRISON COUNTY — A Marshall man wanted for assault has been arrested. Dillon Burr, 22, turned himself in to Harrison County Deputies around 1:30 Monday morning. He’s accused of assaulting a man at a Chevron station on East End Boulevard June 25th. Burr is charged with injury to the disabled and probation violation. He was booked into the Harrison County Jail with bond set at $125,000.

MARSHALL – A missing East Texas Teen has been located. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department had been asking for the public’s help in locating Stephanie Ree Grace, 15. They report the girl has been found in Illinois and is safe. She is now in the custody of her grandfather. When reported missing, it was said she had last seen on Tuesday of last week at her home on U.S. Highway 80 in Longview. Authorities felt she may have been in the company of an adult friend identified as Brittany Badgett. They released no information on how the girl was found.

TYLER – We could find out today if the Carlton Hotel will be getting a new owner. Smith County commissioners are scheduled to discuss, in executive session, the possible sale of the building, which was opened over 60 years ago. County Judge Nathaniel Moran had previously said they have received some proposals for the property. But he gave no details. So during today’s meeting the commissioners could accept a proposal, or keep looking. The county bought the building in 1977. The last county office moved out, for better facilities, nearly four years ago.

TYLER – The trial of a man accused in a fatal Tyler wreck is being delayed. The trial of James Arthur Fulton, 41, has now been set for October 9th. A pre-trail hearing will be held on September 14th. On May 14th of last year, Fulton’s truck hit 21-year-old Haile Beasely’s car head-on in the eastbound lanes of West Grande Boulevard. The Tyler woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Fulton told officers he had two beers at a local restaurant prior to the crash. He then passed several field sobriety tests at the scene. Last November, Fulton was indicted on one count of criminal negligent homicide.

LONGVIEW — A man was arrested Thursday after police said he punched a Longview officer attempting to arrest him. According to the Longview News-Journal and KETK, Cesar Danilo Cordova, 22, was held Friday on bonds totaling $22,500, charged with assault of a public servant, evading arrest detention with a previous conviction and harassment of a public servant. Jail records showed Cordova also was being held on an immigration detainer. Police responded about 7 p.m. Thursday to the 500 block of East Marshall Avenue in reference to a criminal mischief in progress.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of July 24th. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.

Night work is slated to start Wednesday for a new U.S. Highway 271 project in Tyler. The project consists of repairing the base in the main lanes, conducting work on the side streets, applying a new surface, and striping. This work will have major impacts on traffic flow. Work will be conducted from 7:30pm to 6:00am, Sunday through Thursday nights. Expect lane closures and delays during this work. Get additional project information in the Smith County section of this release. Continue reading TxDOT Road Work Update

BULLARD – A member of the Lake Palestine East Volunteer Fire Department has drowned. Zane Simons, 19, was swimming with friends on Friday evening when he had a seizure and drowned. CPR was performed on him and he was rushed to a Tyler hospital where he died. To assist the family in paying for his funeral, a gofundme account has been established. You can go to https://www.gofundme.com/zane-simons-funeral-fund if you would like to donate.

LONGVIEW – There will be no jury selection in Gregg County on Monday. The district clerk’s office has posted on the county web site that jury selection set for Monday in Gregg County has been canceled.