KTBB News, Weather, Talk

WOOD COUNTY — Two people have been wounded by gunfire in a Wood County incident. KETK reports the Wood County Sheriff’s Office assisted by DPS responded to a shots fired call at 8:54 Sunday night on Wood County Road 3420 near Lake Hawkins. The injured were transported to area hospitals and are currently being treated. The case is under investigation. Sheriff Jim Brown said no additional information could be immediately released.

QUITMAN — A Wood County Jail inmate has died. KETK reports Charles James (Jim) Perry, 68, died shortly after 5:00 Sunday afternoon. Perry had been jailed on 3 counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and 1 count of indecency with a child by sexual contact. He had been in custody since August 13, 2014, and was awaiting trial. Officials say Perry had a terminal illness and was attended by hospice medical staff at the time of his death. An internal investigation is being conducted by the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, and Texas Ranger John Vance is investigating the death. The investigation by the Ranger is required on all in-custody deaths. Additional information will be released as it becomes permissible to do so, according to officials.

KILGORE — Kilgore College has received the written report from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) committee that visited KC and Hallsville High School in February to review KC’s offerings at HHS. The committee’s report contains no recommendations and KC is not required to provide any further information to the commission, according to A KC news release. “These results are the best possible outcome that we could have hoped for and we appreciate the commitment of Hallsville ISD to providing a quality dual credit program for its students,” said Dr. Staci Martin, vice president of institutional planning. “We look forward to continuing our excellent partnership with Hallsville ISD.” Continue reading KC Gets Positive Report from Visit to Hallsville High School

TYLER – As TxDOT rolls out another week’s worth of area highway construction updates, the department is also promoting Work Zone Awareness Week. With 146 people killed in Texas work zone crashes last year – an increase of more than 20 percent from 2013 – the Texas Department of Transportation urges drivers to slow down, pay attention, and be extra cautious when driving through work zones and construction areas. TxDOT’s call-to-action, “Drive Safe in Work Zones So We All Get Home,” coincides with National Work Zone Awareness Week, March 23-27. You can go to https://www.txdot.gov for more information. Continue reading TxDOT Updates Projects, Promotes Work Zone Awareness Week

TYLER — Following a weather-related postponement from Friday, Tyler’s Azalea and Spring Flower Trail finally saw its official kickoff Sunday afternoon at the home of Guy and Joan Pyron, at 212 W. Dobbs St. Mayor Martin Heines was on hand and made note that the Trail is one of Tyler’s signature events. Heines told KTBB, “This is a great time for us to engage as a community and really see the beauty of our community.” The mayor also pointed to a major reason the Trail continues to be held each year. He remarked, “It’s great to have all the visitors from out of town come to Tyler and spend some time and spend some money in our community.” Continue reading Azalea and Spring Flower Trail Officially Kicks Off

LONGVIEW — An East Texas lawmaker’s father has been arrested again, just three days after being arrested on a stalking charge. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Benny Paddie, father of District 9 state Rep. Chris Paddie, remained in the Gregg County Jail, charged with violation of a protective order. Bond was set at $25,000 by Justice of the Peace Tim Bryan. Paddie was arrested at about 9:15 p.m. Saturday by Longview police after bonding out of jail Thursday. He was previously arrested Wednesday on the corner of Sequoyah and Fourth streets in Longview. Continue reading Lawmaker’s Father Rearrested for Allegedly Violating Protective Order

TYLER — The official kickoff of Tyler’s Azalea and Spring Flower Trail is set for 2 p.m. today. The ceremony was originally scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday but was postponed due to the weather. Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau officials say the opening event will still be held at the home of Guy and Joan Pyron, at 212 W. Dobbs St., as originally planned. Organizers have scheduled a wealth of activities during the Azalea and Spring Flower Trail, which runs through April 5. You can go to http://www.visittyler.com/azaleatrail for more information.

TYLER — In an ongoing effort to enhance government transparency and citizen involvement, the City of Tyler has launched a new online tool, according to a city news release. Tyler Speaks is an online forum for civic engagement that can be accessed via several avenues, including:

– The Quick Links section on the right side of the City’s website homepage at http://www.CityofTyler.org

– Directly through the Tyler Speaks website at http://www.TylerSpeaks.com

– the widget on the City’s Facebook page Continue reading City Launches New E-Citizen Engagement Tool: Tyler Speaks

TYLER — Four Tyler Junior College professors have distinguished themselves as endowed teaching chairs for 2015. The TJC Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence program enables professors to nominate and reward their peers who demonstrate excellence as educators, according to a TJC news release. Continue reading Four TJC Professors Named 2015 Endowed Teaching Chairs

SALT LAKE CITY (AP/Staff) – The Utah Attorney General has filed a lawsuit asking a judge to take over a polygamous community’s water utility amid allegations that managers loyal to imprisoned leader Warren Jeffs have siphoned off $1.7 million in revenue. Jeffs is serving a life sentence at the Louis C. Powledge Unit near Palestine for sexually assaulting underage girls he considered brides. But he is thought to still be leading the sect from prison. Continue reading State Asks for Takeover of Polygamous Towns’ Water Utility

GLADEWATER — The suspect in a Friday afternoon Gladewater bank robbery has died after shooting himself, White Oak police Chief Terry Roach confirmed. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, police said Steve Bruce of Henderson shot himself after being pulled over in White Oak. Police received a call at about 2 p.m. reporting the robbery at the North Main Street branch of Gladewater National Bank, according to Gladewater police Chief Rob Vine. Vine said witnesses told police a man entered the bank. He then told a teller he wanted money, and the employee gave the man an undisclosed amount of cash. The man then fled the scene in a black SUV. Continue reading Gladewater Bank Robbery Suspect Fatally Shoots Himself

TYLER — Due to unfavorable weather conditions, the Bergfeld Park playground workday scheduled for today at 9 a.m. has been cancelled. For more information, call Tyler Parks and Recreation Department at (903) 531-1377.

TYLER — Tyler street repair crews will be working diligently seven days a week to repair potholes created by recent inclement weather, according to a city news release. “We want to be proactive in doing everything possible to get our main City of Tyler thoroughfares fixed,” said Street Operations Manager Robin Smart. “A patching crew will work all weekend, rain or shine, to mend our streets.” Currently, asphalt production has been halted due to the rain. The city is using UPM Cold Mix Asphalt to temporarily fix the potholes until hot asphalt and dry weather are available to make permanent repairs, according to the release.

LONGVIEW — The father of an East Texas lawmaker has been arrested after Longview police said he was stalking his former girlfriend. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Benny David Paddie, 61, of Longview, remained at last report in the Gregg County Jail on $7,500 bond. Paddie is the father of District 9 state Rep. Chris Paddie of Marshall. Benny Paddie was arrested about 9:15 p.m. Wednesday on the corner of Sequoyah and Fourth streets in Longview. A police report said officers were called to assist Texas Department of Public Safety troopers who found Paddie running along the hedges of a house behind the home of his former girlfriend. According to the report, Paddie’s ex-girlfriend called police 28 times in the past six months to report him stalking her at her home. Nine reports were filed in the past 30 days or so. Continue reading East Texas Lawmaker’s Father Arrested on Stalking Charges

ATHENS — One person has been arrested during an East Texas sex offender check. According to KETK, On March 19, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office worked with other agencies in conducting a check of sex offenders registered in the county’s unincorporated area. There are a total of 167 offenders registered within the Sheriff’s Office area of responsibility. A number of those are currently incarcerated and/or are registered to two homes (i.e. weekend homes). Thursday, 146 individuals were investigated for compliance. Continue reading One Arrested in Sex Offender Check

MARSHALL – Authorities say a man who escaped police custody in Marshall has turned himself in to authorities. KETK reports that at 9:35 p.m. Thursday, Isaiah Jackson, 18, was being taken to the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office on two bond forfeiture warrants. Jackson was being brought out of a Marshall Police Department patrol unit upon arrival at the Harrison County Jail and ran away from police, according to authorities. Continue reading Police: Man Who Escaped from Custody Turns Self In

BIG SANDY — An East Texas school district will have a delayed start this morning due to “strong odors” in the building. According to Big Sandy Independent School District (Upshur County) Superintendent Scott Beene, the school will delay opening until 10:00 a.m. According to KETK, buses will also run two hours late.

ARP – A head on crash near Arp has left one person dead. The accident occurred around 7:00 Thursday evening on Highway 64 East near County Road 298. Killed was Patrick Wesley Sandifer, 38. The driver of the other vehicle was hospitalized with minor injuries. The accident occurred when Sandifer’s went off the road and he over corrected car veered into the oncoming lane of traffic.

JACKSONVILLE – A man walking on the railroad tracks in Jacksonville has been hit and killed by a train. The accident happened around 4:00 Thursday afternoon near the intersection of U.S. Highway 79 and Phillip Avenue. Dead at the scene was Mark Madrid, 23, of Jacksonville. He was said to have been walking east along the tracks when he was hit from behind by the Union Pacific freight train.

LONGVIEW — There’s new information in a case involving a woman who collided with a trash truck in Longview last summer. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, the man who was seriously hurt in that wreck is suing the driver for medical compensation. The driver is denying claims in the lawsuit. Susan Michelle Skinner drove her car into the back of a trash truck, pinning Dennis Montgomery between the two vehicles. One of his legs had to be amputated. Police say Skinner had an open container of alcohol as well as a glass pipe typically associated with meth in the car at the time of that accident.

LONGVIEW – A Gregg County jury has handed Coby Ray Hudgins, 23, of Kilgore, a lengthy prison sentence for murder. After being found guilty Wednesday of the death of Kayla Elizabeth Williams, 17, of Hallsville, Hudgins was sentenced Thursday afternoon to 99 years in prison. On Sunday, October 6, 2013, Kilgore police arrested Hudgins for Williams’ murder. The incident took place at a home in the 3000 block of Mustang Drive in Kilgore. Hudgins was reportedly last seen leaving the residence where police found Williams’ body. Gregg County Judge Arthur Fort, who pronounced Williams dead the following morning, said Williams died instantly from an apparent gunshot wound to the head.

MARSHALL — U.S. Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne dismissed charges this week against the city of Marshall, three Marshall police officers, and former police chief Stan Spence, accused of the wrongful death of Marcus Dewayne Slade (pictured). KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Slade, of Marshall, died on Jan. 4, 2013, while in police custody after having been shocked by stun guns. He was 32. Slade’s family filed suit on Dec. 12, 2013, accusing the officers of using excessive force and battery, inflicting bodily injury. Taser International was also named as a defendant in the suit and accused of designing, manufacturing, assembling, marketing, distributing, and selling a defective and unreasonably dangerous product. Continue reading Judge Dismisses Charges against Marshall Police, City

KILGORE — The Kilgore Police Department announced Thursday the arrest of a man they say may have been selling narcotics to minors. According to KETK, Kilgore Police say Christopher “Pops” Sanders was taken into custody on a drug charge for methamphetamine. Narcotics investigators made the arrest after receiving tips Sanders was allegedly selling drugs to minors. Detectives were reportedly able to determine the suspect was selling drugs out of his home. He was arrested and booked into the Gregg County Jail on $10,000 bond for possession of a controlled substance. Sanders was also on probation at the time of his arrest.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department has identified an alleged drunk driver who reportedly caused two accidents in south Tyler on Wednesday. According to KETK, Public Information Officer Don Martin says Gregory Acosta, 22, of Lindale, hit a car in a parking lot at On the Border, in the 4300 block of South Broadway. Martin says Acosta then fled the scene and caused a second crash near the intersection of Old Bullard Road and SSW Loop 323. The suspect was arrested at the scene and charged with driving while intoxicated. He was released on $500 bond early the next morning. Martin says the investigation remains open.

TYLER — Tyler’s Azalea and Spring Flower Trail kicks off this weekend, but the opening ceremony won’t be held until 2 p.m. Sunday due to the strong chance of rain. The ceremony was originally scheduled for 10 a.m. today. Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau officials say the home of Guy and Joan Pyron, at 212 W. Dobbs St., will still be the location of the opening event as originally planned. Organizers have scheduled a wealth activities during the Azalea and Spring Flower Trail, which runs through April 5. You can go to http://www.visittyler.com/azaleatrail for more information.

GLADEWATER – A one vehicle accident in Gladewater has killed a Longview woman. Angie Neldine Smith, 36, died at a hospital shortly after the accident that happened around 12:30 Thursday morning. The accident occurred in the 1600 block of George Richey Road. From looking at the wreckage to the woman’s SUV, it appears she was traveling at a high speed when the vehicle left the road and hit a tree.

MARSHALL — Marshall authorities say they’re investigating reports of a home hit with bullets and vehicles spray painted by an unknown person or people. According to KETK, around 2:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Police responded to reports of a prowler near the intersection of West and Cypress Streets. When officers made it to the scene in the 600 block of Cypress, police found the home had been struck by gunfire several times, and vehicles at the house were spray painted with letters “NSG” in black coloring. Further investigation revealed several other homes in the neighborhood were spray painted with graffiti, along with numerous street signs. Continue reading Marshall PD Investigating Home Hit by Gunfire, Vehicles Spray Painted

TYLER — In conjunction with the Tyler Police Department, Smith County Sheriff’s Office deputies are seeking the public’s input in helping to identify two suspects involved in two recent armed robberies. The first robbery occurred March 13 at the Food Fast Convenience Store on Hwy 64 W in Smith County. In that robbery, one suspect believed to be either a black or Hispanic female walked around the counter to empty the cash register and also stole cigarettes from underneath the counter. The second suspect, believed to be a white or Hispanic male, was armed with a black handgun and ordered the clerk to stay put. Continue reading Smith County Sheriff’s Office Seeking Aggravated Robbery Suspects

PALESTINE — The Mount Vernon AME Church in Palestine has been announced as one of the eight historic structures included in Preservation Texas’ 2015 Most Endangered places list. “This occurred through concerted and tireless effort by members of the local community of Palestine and the dedicated staff and volunteers at Preservation Texas,” according to a news release from the city of Palestine. The historic church sanctuary is included on the National Register, is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, and is a City of Palestine local landmark as well, according to the release. Continue reading Palestine Church Named among State’s Most Endangered Places

TYLER — Hiway 80 Rescue Mission Ministries and the board of directors for Gateway to Hope have joined forces to allow the rescue mission to operate the Gateway to Hope facility for a six-month time period. Gateway to Hope, a Tyler resource facility for the homeless, is temporarily closed. According to a message on its website, “Right now, we are in the process of streamlining our community services to better serve our guest(s) and community as a whole.” Hiway 80 Rescue Mission is based in Longview and has an outreach office in Tyler. Continue reading Highway 80 Rescue Mission, Gateway to Hope Enter Agreement