KTBB News, Weather, Talk

EAST MOUNTAIN — An East Texas man faces criminal charges in a deadly Gregg County crash Tuesday. Smith County Trooper Jean Dark tells KETK the wreck took place at 12:25 p.m. on the 4700 block of FM 1844, half a mile east of East Mountain. Dark said the wreck was caused by a truck driver not paying attention. He’s identified as Leon Gearhart, 31, of Longview, and he’s to be charged with criminally negligent homicide. Continue reading Man to Be Charged in Fatal Wreck in Gregg County

PERT – A one vehicle accident in Anderson County has left one person dead. The wreck occurred around 6:30 Tuesday morning on County Road 323, South of Pert. Dead at the scene was Erin Guenzel Bammel, 36, of Palestine. The Department of Public Safety said her SUV was headed north when went off the road and hit a tree. The report said she was not wearing her seatbelt.

TYLER — UT Health Northeast has opened registration for its 30th annual Texas Asthma Camp, scheduled for June 22 through 27 at Lake Tyler. The camp is for kids between ages seven and 14 who are diagnosed with asthma. The camp allows kids with asthma to enjoy outdoor fun while learning ways to manage their disease. You can go to http://www.TexasAsthmaCamp.com for more information.

TYLER – A 22-year-old Jacksonville man has pleaded guilty in connection with a violent crime spree targeting area businesses in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales Tuesday. Jonathan Roshard Brown pleaded guilty to interfering with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act conspiracy) and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. The plea came Tuesday in Tyler before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell. Continue reading Cherokee County Man Guilty in Armed Robbery Crime Spree

HENDERSON — An East Texas marine who recently died in Hawaii is being escorted from Dallas to his final resting place in Henderson today. KETK reports Cpl. Trey Jablonowski, 23, of Henderson, was found unresponsive last week in his barracks room in Kanaoe, Hawaii. The marine had served in Afghanistan and South Korea. Upon his family’s request, Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) are helping bring Jablonowski from DFW Airport to Henderson. The North Texas PGR was tabbed to lead the procession to Canton, with the East Texas PGR continuing from there to the Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home. The ride began at 10:15 a.m. Continue reading Patriot Guard Leads East Texas Marine to Final Resting Place

LONGVIEW — The names of the persons involved in a vehicle-pedestrian accident Friday afternoon have been released. KETK reports the incident left one person seriously injured. Longview Police Department Public Information Officer Kristie Brian says the driver, Kimberly Renee Hunter, 19, of Kilgore, struck Carla Jean Hiebert, 37, of Shreveport, in the 1700 block of Highway 31. Brian says the victim failed to yield the right of way in the southbound lane. Hiebert is still in the hospital, Brian said. She could not release her current condition. The woman was rushed there with what were termed life-threatening injuries. The driver was not cited in the incident.

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — A man East Texas law enforcement has deemed a possible person of interest has been caught in Florida. According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, Henry Adam Contreras, 48, of Immokalee, Florida, was taken into custody on May 17. KETK reports he has been charged with conspiracy to commit armed home invasion, home invasion with mask/firearm, kidnapping with intent while committing felony, and kidnapping with intent to commit a felony. Continue reading Suspect Arrested in Florida after Alert Is Issued in East Texas

ANGELINA COUNTY — An East Texas man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for slitting a woman’s throat after reaching a plea deal in an Angelina County courtroom. According to the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office, on September 12, 2012, Jeremy Chad Ayers, 26, of Huntington, picked up an unidentified woman as she was walking along Pine Island Road. KETK reports the pair stopped on the side of the road to use the bathroom when Ayers dragged the woman out of the truck and slit her throat with a knife. Continue reading East Texan Sentenced to 25 Years for Assault

PALESTINE – The city of Palestine has reopened the Upper Lake after an 8 to 10 foot alligator was killed and removed from the lake. Because of concern for public safety, the Upper Lake was closed May 1st following reports of sightings of a large alligator. Palestine hired professional nuisance alligator control hunter Jeremy Langford. He is licensed by Texas Parks & Wildlife to remove nuisance alligators. According to a city news release, “The night of May 16, 2014, Mr. Langford and assistant Joey Dover discovered the alligator in open water. Due to the size of the alligator — 10’1 ½” — and the safety of Mr. Langford and Mr. Dover — lethal removal was necessary.” After inspecting the lake, and no other alligators were found, the lake was reopened on Monday.

LONGVIEW – Longview Police have promoted Sgt. Laura Samples to the rank of Lieutenant. Sgt. Samples is the first female who will serve as a Lieutenant in the Police Department. Sergeant Laura Samples began working for the City of Longview in June of 2000 in the Environmental Health Deptment. She joined the Longview Police Department in November of 2001. During her time with the department she has served as a patrol officer, bicycle officer, field training officer, and has served on the Academy Advisory Board, Awards Board, and Applicant Interview Board. Sgt. Samples is also a TCOLE Instructor. Continue reading Longview Police Promote First Female Lieutenant

LONGVIEW — A Longview man could be facing serious jail time after he was indicted on his fourth driving while intoxicated charge. KETK reports Juan Carlos Arriaga, 34, was arrested on November 9, 2013, and charged with DWI 3rd or more. He was indicted on May 14. The suspect was also arrested for DWI in 1999, 2001, and 2004. Arriaga was sentenced to one year in jail and 100 community service hours for two years following his second DWI; he served five years’ confinement for his third DWI.

TYLER — A motorcyclist is hospitalized after an accident in the 10,000 block of Highway 69, just north of Tyler. Police say the man tried passing a car, but that car switched lanes, causing the motorcyclist to run off the road. Police say he has serious injuries.

TYLER — Extensive fire, heat, and smoke damage is reported following a Tyler house fire. The Tyler Fire Department responded to the two-alarm blaze at 707 Forest. The initial call was received shortly after 11:15 Sunday night. Arriving units saw fire on arrival and called for a second alarm. Five engines and one ladder company, along with a District Chief and an investigator, responded to the scene. Officials say the fire started in a bedroom, but the cause is still under investigation. No one was home at the time of the fire, and there were no injuries.

HOUSTON (AP) – Texas Gov. Rick Perry has written a letter to President Barack Obama slamming his energy policies, EPA regulations and a lack of movement on whether to build a cross-border pipeline to carry crude oil from Canada to Gulf Coast refineries. The letter is dated Friday. It largely reiterates much of Perry’s long-standing opposition to the Obama administration’s energy policies. But it comes as a bipartisan energy bill stalled in Congress when GOP Senators demanded a vote on the Keystone XL Canada-to-Texas pipeline and on the EPA’s move to put greenhouse gas regulations on existing coal-fired power plants. Continue reading Perry Sends Obama Letter Slamming Energy Policies, Pipeline Delay

LONGVIEW — Longview police arrested 34-year-old Charity Stevens last Sunday for failing to identify herself. Stevens was posing as a sophomore student at Longview Christian High School. This apparently was not the first time Stevens posed as a teen to get help. According to KETK, back in August of 2012, Stevens went to the House of Hope women’s shelter in Longview, claiming she was 16 and needed somewhere to stay. The shelter helped put her in school and provided her a place to eat and sleep. Continue reading Adult Posing as Teen Has History of Deception

TYLER – Tyler police officers are again participating in the Click It or Ticket enforcement program. Officers will be stopping violators for not wearing their seat belts now through June 1. Texas law requires every person sitting in the front or rear seat of a vehicle to wear a safety belt. A child less than eight years old and less than four feet, nine inches tall must be secured in a child safety seat. Drivers can be stopped and ticketed for a safety belt violation if they, or any of their passengers under the age of 15, are not buckled up or properly restrained. Traffic fines for failing to use a seat belt or secure a child in a safety seat can run from $25 to $200, plus court costs.

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at other work planned in Smith County by the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

TYLER – Construction work gets underway Monday to expand Tyler’s West Loop 323 to six lanes, build a new railroad overpass and eliminate the bottleneck between Bellwood Drive and State Highway 31 (West Front Street). “Weather has played a big role in delaying the start of this project, but we’re on go now,” said TxDOT public information officer Larry Krantz. “It’s going to be an interesting project to watch.” Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates

TYLER — Early voting polls in Smith County for the May 27 Runoff Election are open each day through Friday, May 23, at five locations. All early voting times and locations are listed below. Visit the Elections page of the Smith County Web site at http://www.smith-county.com/Government/Departments/Elections/Default.aspx to view sample ballots or look up your voting precinct. You can also call the Smith County Elections office at 903-590-4777. Continue reading Early Voting Underway in Runoff Election

NEW HARMONY — Sheriff Larry Smith will hold a town hall meeting on May 22 from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the New Harmony Community Center, located at 10586 FM 724. The town hall meeting will be his eighth since taking office in January of 2013. Four were held last year and three so far this year, in Whitehouse, Lindale and Chapel Hill. For more information on the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, visit http://www.smith-county.com/so<http://www.smith-county.com/so> The Sheriff’s Office also has a Facebook page and can be followed on Twitter at @SmithCSO.

TYLER – A Tyler man has been charged with aggravated assault following a stabbing. It happened around 9:30 Sunday morning at 215 North Beckham. Officers learned that a Hispanic male, identified as Juan Francisco Oliva, 50, attacked another Hispanic male with a knife cutting the victim’s right hand. The suspect was still at the scene when officers arrived and was taken into custody. The victim, identified as Juan Benegas, 32, of Tyler, received a cut to his right hand which did not require immediate medical attention. Oliva was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and booked into the Smith County Jail.

TEXARKANA (AP) — Autopsy results indicate a man and a woman found fatally shot at a Northeast Texas ranch had multiple wounds. The Texarkana Gazette reported Sunday that no charges have been filed over the October 28 gunfire. The Bowie County Sheriff’s Office has said a resident reported he shot two people trying to break into his home at the Prissy Chrissy Ranch. The bodies of Timber Rena Taylor, 19, and Johnathon Lee Hill, 35, were on the ranch grounds. Hill’s autopsy report states he was shot twice in the head and once in the back. Taylor was shot in the abdomen, plus had a bullet wound in her right hand and another wound to her head.

CARTHAGE (AP) — Three of the jurors who gave an East Texas man a life sentence for killing a rich widow say they’re not happy he’s being released early. The jurors spoke to the Longview News-Journal days after Bernie Tiede was let out of prison for the murder of 81-year-old Marjorie Nugent. The killing and the reaction of the town of Carthage were profiled in the movie “Bernie,” which drew new attention to the case. Prosecutor Danny Buck Davidson agreed Tiede should go free after new evidence emerged that he was abused as a child. But jury foreman Jessie Jacks said the case seemed cut and dry to him, and adds, “Him getting out under these circumstances, I don’t think is right.” Another juror calls Tiede’s release “unjust.”

PALESTINE — The city of Palestine has closed Upper Lake after the discovery of an 8 to 10 foot alligator. According to KETK, the foremost concern is for public safety and they are not allowing anyone into that area until they can capture and safely move the animal. KETK spoke with Richard Ott of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to get some information on the risk involved. Ott says they have always been aware of alligators in area lakes but generally they keep to themselves as long as humans don’t feed them. This causes the animals to lose their natural fear and become more bold. Continue reading Alligator Spotted in Local Lake, Forces Closure

KILGORE — The Kilgore Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a woman reported missing under suspicious circumstances. According to KETK, Saturday morning, Christina Rea Davison did not show up to work. Coworkers asked the Kilgore Police Department to check her welfare. An examination of Mrs. Davison’s residence by police suggests she may be missing under suspicious circumstances. She’s described as a white female, 43-years-old, 5′ 7 and weighs about 180 pounds. She has light brown hair and green eyes. Continue reading Kilgore Woman Reportedly Missing Under Suspicious Circumstances

BULLARD — The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services was granted Temporary Managing Conservatorship (TMC) of 2-year-old Mazzy Phillips on May 14 and Child Protective Services were looking for the child. Child Protective Services confirmed with KETK, Mazzy Phillips is safe and in their custody. “The mother, Kelly Querry, turned her over to us. She’s safe and in a foster home,” an official reported Friday night.

TYLER — Some Tyler residents are forced to seek temporary shelter after their apartments were struck by fire Friday afternoon. KETK reports the Tyler Fire Department responded to the two-alarm blaze at the Arbors at 323 Chimney Rock. The initial call was received at 2:49 p.m., and the caller reported seeing fire in the wall. First arriving units saw smoke when arriving on scene and called for a second alarm. Firefighters gained control of the flames at 3:51 p.m. Seven engines and one Ladder Company, along with a District Chief and an Investigator, responded to the scene. Continue reading Four Tyler Apartments Damaged, Three Families Displaced

TYLER — An East Texas probation officer was sentenced Thursday to probation for injuring a Smith County child. Court records show Judge Christi Kennedy ordered Rachelle Ann Hartgraves, 48, of Mineola, to serve four years’ probation after entering a deferred adjudication plea. According the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, on March 13, 2013, Hartgraves was arrested following an investigation and charged with injuring a child. She was taken into custody at her workplace, the Smith County Adult Probation Department on Elm Street in Tyler. The investigation began in 2012 and was completed on March 12, 2013.

LONGVIEW — A woman was rushed to a local hospital Friday afternoon following a vehicle-pedestrian accident in Longview. According to a news release, at 12:44 p.m., officers were dispatched to an accident with injuries in the 1700 block of Hwy. 31. A 27-year-old female attempted to cross the highway and was struck by a Chevrolet pickup truck that was traveling southbound. The truck was merging onto Hwy. 31 from Loop 281. The pedestrian, who reportedly failed to yield right of way to traffic, was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center with what are termed life-threatening injuries. No charges are expected to be filed against the driver of the vehicle, who police say was cooperative with the investigation.

TYLER — The Texas Department of Public Safety is searching for a suspect wanted for a reported home invasion in Florida. KETK reports that according to officials, Henry Contreras, 49, has ties to East Texas and is believed to be driving a 2011 maroon Nissan with Florida license plate number 546JAM. The alert is being issued throughout Smith, Rusk and Gregg counties and the invasion is out of Orange County, Florida. We’ll update information as it becomes available.