KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER –- Authorities are investigating an accident around 10:40 last night that left a pedestrian dead. Officers with the Tyler Police Department responded to the area of 4700 Old Jacksonville Highway in reference to a report of a pedestrian, who had been struck by a vehicle. The pedestrian, Daniel Brandon Williams, 36, of Tyler, was said to be deceased by the time officers arrived. The driver of the vehicle had stopped and was waiting for officers. Continue reading Fatal Pedestrian Accident Victim Identified

TYLER – A motorcyclist who was killed after colliding with a vehicle in Tyler has been identified. He is Patrick Pugh, 23, of Tyler. Around 7:15 Monday evening, officers were notified of a major traffic accident at the intersection of Van Highway and Loop 323 involving a motorcycle and a car. EMS and the Tyler Fire Department were also dispatched to the scene where the motorcyclist was found to have life-threatening injuries and was quickly taken to a local hospital. He died shortly after 10:00 Monday night. Continue reading Identity of Motorcyclist Killed Monday Released

TYLER – Several businesses and individuals have been honored at the annual meeting of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. It was held Tuesday night at the Harvey Convention Center. Named as Tyler’s outstanding citizen of the year was Dr. Duane Andrews who received the T.B. Butler Award. Named as Tyler’s outstanding citizen under the age of 40 was Michael Lavender, who received the W.C. Windsor award. And the volunteer of the year award went to Michael Weiss, of Personal Web. Continue reading Awards Presented at Annual Chamber Meeting

QUITMAN – A student at Quitman’s middle school has been suspended after bringing a steak knife to school. The incident happened around noon Tuesday when school officials when the student displayed the knife and made threats with it. School Superintendent said in a letter on the school district’s web page, “The student was immediately confined and the weapon was confiscated without incident. No students or staff were injured.” Turner said “This is a violation of district policy and student code of conduct. School imposed disciplinary measures will occur and the school is cooperating with local law enforcement.”

TYLER — A phone scam involving con artists pretending to be IRS agents is currently hitting the East Texas area. In just the last two days, BBB Serving Central East Texas has received dozens of phone calls from consumers in Tyler area who have received these fraudulent calls. The IRS has put out an alert on the scam saying: “The IRS will always send taxpayers a written notification of any tax due via the U.S. mail. The IRS never asks for credit card, debit card or prepaid card information over the telephone” Continue reading Warning about IRS Scam

TYLER – The Business and Technology Dean at the University of Texas at Tyler, Dr. James Lumpkin, has been presented the Academy of Marketing Science’s 2014 Harold W. Berkman Service Award. The award is the academy’s most prestigious and bears the name of the AMS founder. The award, which is given in recognition of long-term service to the academy and the marketing profession, has only been bestowed 10 times in the academy’s 42-year history. Lumpkin is the UT Tyler F.M. and Fannie Burke professor and dean of the College of Business and Technology. He has served the university since June 2014. Continue reading U-T Tyler Dean Receives Award

LONGVIEW — The new passenger boarding bridge for East Texas Regional Airport was delivered today. Construction cranes began arriving at 6:00am and the first lift commenced at around 7:00. An additional crane was to arrive later and additional lifts occurred at midmorning. The bridge is manufactured by ThyssenKrupp who has provided passenger boarding bridges (PBB) across the country and around the world. The PBB was manufactured in Fort Worth. Installation of the PBB is part of the ongoing East Texas Regional Airport renovations and upgrade providing improved service to the flying public in East Texas.

SMITH COUNTY A shooting in the northeastern part of Smith County has left one person dead and one in custody. The shooting occurred around 12:45 Tuesday afternoon in the 15000 block of Shady Creek Road in the Jackson Oak neighborhood. Killed was Walter Elder, 65, of Tyler. He was found in his car which had crashed into a tree. The suspect is identified as Kenneth Stearns, 55, of Tyler (pictured). Continue reading 1 Killed, 1 in Custody after Smith Co. Shooting

LUFKIN (AP) – East Texas police have arrested two men who they say stole a cellphone from a teenager and gave away their location when they answered the phone. 23-year-old Makio Houston and 19-year-old Cornielus Lewis are charged with two counts of first-degree aggravated robbery and unlawful carrying of a weapon. Two teenagers tell police they were robbed of the phone Sunday night in Lufkin. One teen’s relative called the stolen phone and says the robbers said they were at an area tobacco shop. Police went to the store and arrested the men. They are being held at the Angelina County Jail on bonds of more than $200,000. Online records didn’t indicate an attorney for either man.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man has pleaded guilty to a murder last spring. Cedric Bernard Carldwell, 44, pleaded guilty yesterday in an appearance before 124th District Judge Alfonso Charles. A pre-sentence investigation was requested before Carldwell is sentenced next month. And the murder charge will be enhanced by a 1991 felony conviction on a prohibited weapon charge. He could get up to life in prison. Continue reading Guilty Plea in Longview Murder Case

PLANO (AP/STAFF) — An aide says the oldest-ever member of the U.S. House is recovering after surgery to repair hip injuries from a weekend car accident in North Texas. A spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall said Monday that the Texas Republican continues to recover in Medical Center of Plano after surgery. A hospital spokeswoman said Hall’s condition was stable late Monday. The 91-year-old congressman, whose district once included Smith County, was airlifted to the hospital Saturday after suffering a hip injury and minor cuts and bruises when a car turned in front of his vehicle in Trenton, about 60 miles northeast of Dallas. The drivers were not injured. Hall lost a 4th Congressional District primary challenge in a Republican runoff election in May. He is scheduled to leave office in January.

OVERTON — Due to low water pressure, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is requiring the City of Overton water system to notify customers of the need to boil their water prior to consumption. To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking and making ice should be boiled and cooled prior to use. The water should be brought to a vigorous, rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes. In lieu boiling, you may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source. When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for consumption.

TYLER — The Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce holds its annual meeting tonight at Harvey Convention Center. The Chamber will review the past year, look ahead to the coming year, and welcome new leadership. There will also be awards handed out, including the two top honors, the T.B. Butler and W.C. Windsor Awards.

JACKSONVILLE — Law enforcement officials have identified the drivers and passenger involved in a Monday afternoon fatal crash near Jacksonville. According to KETK Trooper Jean Dark, at 1:50 p.m., a woman was driving her vehicle north on Highway 69 behind a semi when she failed to control her speed and hit the back of the 18-wheeler headed in the same direction. She died at the scene. Authorities identified her as Kelly Lewis, 52, of Rusk.
Continue reading DPS: 1 Dead, 1 Seriously Injured in Crash near Jacksonville

WASHINGTON – Three Athens residents have been indicted on charges associated with their alleged smuggling of imitation, unapproved, and misbranded prescription drugs from China. Wanda Hollis, 63, Tom Giddens, 57, and Catherine Nix, 41, were each charged with one felony count of conspiracy to smuggle merchandise into the United States, seven counts of causing the introduction of misbranded drugs into interstate commerce with the intent to defraud or mislead, seven counts of smuggling and one count of tampering with a witness. Giddens was also charged with two additional counts of tampering and Nix was charged with one additional tampering count. The defendants were also charged with misdemeanor counts of causing misbranded imitation drugs to be introduced into interstate commerce. Nix was arrested on October 2 in Athens. Giddens and Hollis surrendered yesterday morning. Continue reading Three Indicted in Prescription Drug Smuggling Ring

TYLER — Working smoke alarms can make a life-saving difference in a fire. That’s the message behind this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month!” Along with firefighters and safety advocates nationwide, the Tyler Fire Department is joining forces with the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) during Fire Prevention Week, October 5-11, to remind local residents about the importance of having working smoke alarms in the home and testing them monthly. Continue reading Tyler Fire Department: Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives

TYLER — The city of Tyler will begin converting its water disinfection process to free chlorine for a period of approximately one month beginning today and ending around November 6. Generally, there are no noticeable changes in water quality as a result of this temporary conversion, according to a city news release. However, some individuals may notice taste and odor changes and a slight discoloration to the water. Continue reading City Changes Water Disinfectant Process for One Month

HOUSTON (AP/Staff) – The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from an East Texas man condemned for the slaying of a 75-year-old auto mechanic during a 2001 robbery in Tyler. The high court, without comment Monday, refused to review the case of Gregory Russeau, 44. He was convicted and sent to death row for the fatal beating of James Syvertson at his auto repair shop. Syvertson’s wallet and car were stolen. Russeau was arrested the next day in Longview in the stolen car. Russeau’s initial death sentence was thrown out on appeal and he was sentenced a second time. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in March rejected an appeal that argued his trial legal help was deficient and that trial prosecutors used planted evidence against him.

HOUSTON (AP) – The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of a Texas death row prisoner convicted of the slaying of a Tyler woman at her apartment 18 years ago. The high court, without comment Monday, refused 57-year-old Robert Ladd’s appeal. In April, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had turned down his appeal that he’s mentally impaired and ineligible for execution. He was convicted of killing Vicki Ann Garner, 38, in 1996. She’d been beaten with a hammer and her body, bound at the legs and wrists, was set on fire. At the time, Ladd was on parole after serving 13 years in prison for pleading guilty to three other slayings in Dallas. In 2003, he received a reprieve from the 5th Circuit about nine hours before his scheduled execution.

LONGVIEW — A pedestrian has been killed in a Longview accident. Monday morning at 4:30, Longview police were dispatched to an accident with injuries in the 1200 Block of North Eastman Road. The caller told the Public Safety Communications operator there was a man lying in the middle of the road near this location. When officers arrived they learned the man, identified as Anthony Dewayne Gardner, 43, of Longview, was walking northbound in the southbound outside lane of Eastman Road. Daniel Salas was traveling southbound in the same lane in his 2002 Ford truck when he collided with Gardner. Salas was not injured and stayed at the scene until police arrived. Gardner was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident remains under investigation, but intoxication is not believed to be a factor in this accident, and Salas was not issued any citations.

HENDERSON — According to the Henderson Independent School District, one of its school buses got stuck in a ditch with children on board during Monday morning’s storms. The HISD Transportation Department tells KETK there were no injuries as a result of the minor accident and the students were transferred to another bus to continue on to school. Details as to the bus number and the students’ ages were not immediately available.

LONGVIEW (AP) – A Longview-area high school student arrested last week on charges of making a terrorist threat against his high school has voluntarily and permanently left the East Texas school. Attorney David Moore tells the Longview News-Journal that 17-year-old Christopher Andrew Jones regrets comments he made on an online gaming site, didn’t intend his remarks to be communicated as threats and didn’t intend to commit violence. The FBI was notified by an informant of the threats made in a chat room. Jones was a senior and National Honor Society member at Longview’s Pine Tree High School. He was arrested while leaving home and headed for school. He has no prior criminal record and is free on $10,000 bond.

WINONA — Winona ISD has cancelled all classes today, October 6th, due to power outages caused by severe weather.

BIG SANDY — Big Sandy ISD delayed the start of school until 9:00 this morning due to power outages. Buses ran one hour later than usual.

LONGVIEW — Two Longview residents died overnight Sunday in a one-vehicle rollover on Interstate 20 that shut down westbound lanes through the city, authorities reported. According to the Longview News-Journal, driver Stelvin Lanier, age unknown, and Cheynice Lanier, 48, died in the wreck 1 mile east of Longview. It happened just after 1:00 Sunday morning. Passenger Patrick Lanier, 51, also of Longview, was listed in stable condition Sunday at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview. The accident report indicated that the westbound 2008 SUV strayed into the median and rolled several times, ejecting the driver and a back-seat passenger.

TYLER – Four persons have been injured in two Tyler accidents. A woman is hospitalized after being struck by a car near the intersection of Walton Road and Rhinehart Street. The accident occurred shortly after 6:30 Sunday night. Three persons were said to have received minor injuries in an accident near the intersection of Loop 323 and Highway 31 West. That accident happened around 6:00 Sunday night. Both accidents remain under investigation.

PLANO (AP/Staff) – The oldest-ever member of the U.S. House, and a familiar face in East Texas, remains hospitalized after being injured in a weekend car accident in North Texas. A spokeswoman for Medical Center of Plano says Texas Republican Ralph Hall was in fair and stable condition on Sunday. A spokesman for Hall has said the lawmaker is expected to recover. Hall was airlifted to the hospital on Saturday after suffering a hip injury and minor cuts and bruises when a car turned in front of his vehicle. The drivers were not injured. The accident happened in the town of Trenton, about 60 miles northeast of Dallas. The 91-year-old congressman lost a 4th District primary challenge in a Republican runoff election in May and is scheduled to leave office in January. His district has covered varying portions of East Texas over the years and once included Tyler.

TYLER — At approximately 7:30 p.m. on October 2, Smith County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies and detectives along with members of U. S. Marshals Task Force executed an arrest warrant on a sex offender at his residence on County Road 384 in the northeastern portion of Smith County. According to a news release, Nicholas George Heintz, 60, of Tyler, is accused of failure to register as a sex offender in Smith County. Officials say Heintz has gone by different names in the past such as John David Carver and Nicholas Vaughn Banner. He has a criminal history in California, Utah, Oregon, Arizona, and now, Texas. According to KETK, Heintz was jailed on $500,000 bond. Continue reading SCSO Helps in Sex Offender’s Arrest

CHAPEL HILL — After putting out a fire overnight, crews returned Friday morning to the scene of some oil tank blasts in Chapel Hill following a reported rekindle. According to KETK, the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office reports firefighters sprayed a foam over the flames and were able to extinguish the fire a second time. The tanks exploded and the fire began around 8:00 Thursday night, causing the area around the fire to be evacuated. The tanks are located at an oilfield near the intersection of Farm Road 2607 and County Road 223. There have been no reports of injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it is believed it may have started from a lightning strike.

COLLEGE STATION (AP) – The Texas A&M Forest Service says forestry-driven and wood-based industries contribute $30.3 billion to the state economy. The service announced on Wednesday the findings of its economic assessment that drew from 2012 data. It says the forest sector supports more than 130,600 Texas jobs and is one of the top 10 manufacturing sectors in the state. The East Texas forest sector produced about $5.7 billion worth of goods and services in 2012 and supported nearly 19,000 jobs. An A&M forest economist says the sector has been steadily rebounding from the 2007-2009 recession.

QUITMAN — Thomas Liles, 19, of Quitman, has been released on a $50,000 bond. In July, two young girls were found dead inside an apartment unit at the Dogwood Villa in Quitman. Investigators tell KETK both deaths have been ruled homicides. Multiple witnesses told officers they saw Liles running from the complex that same day. They also saw him throw a “large item” into a dumpster near the building. Officers say those items were consistent with having come from the children’s apartment. Liles was indicted on September 3rd for tampering with evidence in connection to the girls’ deaths.