KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW — Longview police Thursday have released more details in a mid week shooting. Just after 10:30 Wednesday morning, police were dispatched to a shooting that had just occurred in the 200 Block of Birdsong Street. When officers arrived, they were able to locate the suspect, Anthony Strange of Longview, 26, and take him into custody.

Police were told that Strange and his girlfriend had an altercation. Police say Strange’s girlfriend tried to leave, and Strange allegedly fired numerous shots from a high powered rifle in the area. According to police, some of those shots hit nearby homes and the victim’s vehicle as she was leaving. Strange was arrested on three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was also arrested on two counts of deadly conduct which stemmed from the homes the stray bullets reportedly struck. Police say none of the bullets struck any people at the scene.

CLARKSVILLE CITY — Clarksville City is pleading with its citizens to use water conservatively after its water department was vandalized overnight. According to KETK, City Manager Billy Silvertooth says the town is struggling to keep up with demand as water is in very short supply. Silvertooth believes sometime very early Thursday morning, a vandal opened a fire hydrant on Whatley Road. The gushing water was not discovered until about 4:30am, when a paper delivery man reported it to authorities. By the time officials were alerted, nearly 300,000 gallons of water had been lost in a system that holds about 400,000.

Silvertooth says the short supply could last for days as officials rebuild their water supply. Citizens are urged to only use water for hygiene, sanitation and cooking. Clarksville City is located between Gladewater and White Oak. About 400 people depend upon the water supply system.

TYLER — A house fire in Tyler has been contained. According to the Tyler Fire Department, they received a call around 8:00 Thursday morning from a person reporting smoke coming out of a house’s attic on Roanoke Lane. Once on scene, fire officials discovered the fire had originated in a closet. Damage was contained to the closet and surrounding areas in the house. Some additional smoke and water damage spread throughout the home. No one was inside the house at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

GREGG COUNTY — Officials with Department of Public Safety told KETK a driver who fled from a traffic stop on foot this morning is now in custody. The chase began when a trooper tried to pull over a Chevy Tahoe on eastbound I-20 at 6:45. The vehicle took off on the interstate, reaching speeds of up to 100 MPH as the driver fled. Barely avoiding other vehicles, the driver eventually exited onto Highway 31 and drove down an embankment.

At that time, due to the erratic driving, troopers fired three shots into the tires of the Tahoe causing the SUV to wreck, and the driver exited and ran away on foot. A Kilgore Police officer arrested him in a wooded area nearby. He has been identified as Jason Ray Ragan, 24, Longview. He is wanted on multiple warrants in surrounding counties.

Meth was found in the vehicle when it was searched. Ragan has been taken to the Gregg County Jail.

CANTON — Authorities are investigating the death of a man found in the median of Interstate Highway 20 near the Van Zandt and Kaufman County Line. The body, said to have been wearing only flannel sleep shorts, was found sometime after 7:00 Wednesday morning. The man is thought to be a 40 year old Grand Saline man, but positive identification has not been made.

HENDERSON — According to the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, mailbox thefts first reported in the county around mid-July are continuing in northern Rusk County. Investigators received approximately 10 additional cases last week. According to KETK, investigators also received a description of a vehicle that may be connected to the thefts. Anyone noticing suspicious activity involving a black Nissan SUV with a white male or white female driver is asked to call the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office immediately. Authorities say anyone discovering mail alongside roadways or any other unusual areas should not attempt to remove it and should contact local law enforcement.

Until the suspects are apprehended, authorities advise citizens to avoid rural mailboxes when sending outgoing mail. U.S. Postal Inspectors are meeting with Rusk County investigators this week. Anyone with information may call the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office at 903-657-3581.

TYLER — A Tyler man will be going to federal prison for mail fraud. Vincent Darnell Hamilton, 41, pleaded guilty on February 2, 2011. He was sentenced yesterday to 21 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.

Federal prosecutors say from June 2007 to August 2009, Hamilton devised a scheme to make fraudulent claims to motor vehicle insurance agencies through the United States mail. Hamilton made fraudulent claims totaling $29,551.02 to Allstate and $4,657.00 to State Farm. As a result of the scheme, Hamilton was paid $14,318.02 for the fraudulent Allstate claims and $968 for the fraudulent State Farm claims. Hamilton was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 7, 2011 and charged with the federal violations.

WOOD COUNTY — A single-engine plane crash sent an East Texas pilot to the hospital with injuries. The plane went down at about noon Wednesday afternoon near Holly Lake Ranch Airport in the Hawkins area. The pilot, whose name has not been released, was taken to a Longview hospital for treatment of minor injuries..

The plane is registered to Adam Smith of Lindale. But he was not flying the craft. It was flown by a mechanic/pilot who was taking the aircraft back to the Gilmer Airport from the Wood County Airport. The single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft was said to have suffered engine problems. The plane crashed about 75 feet short of the runway at the Holly Lake Ranch airport. The FAA is investigating the crash.

TYLER — Smith County Judge Joel Baker filed a proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 budget this week that will decrease the tax rate while maintaining the same level of county services for citizens, according to a county news release. Judge Baker, who serves as the county’s budget officer, credits careful financial management, conservative budgeting, and recent signs of economic growth over the past few years for the positive 2013 outlook. With an anticipated $576,594 in additional revenue to be added to the tax roll this year due to new construction, Baker says the future looks more favorable for county coffers. “The overall picture is strong and enables us to make positive financial decisions this year that impact our employees, our citizens, and overall county management,” said Judge Baker.

The Smith County Appraisal District certified the tax roll with a very slight increase in appraised value from the previous year. According to the release, county efforts to streamline operations have also enabled Judge Baker to propose a slight reduction in the tax rate to the effective tax rate for the upcoming year without adversely affecting the quality of services provided to citizens. The 2013 budget allows the county to pay cash for several capital improvement projects that are part of the PAYGO program and the 2008 Master Plan. This includes fulfilling the county’s long term goal of vacating the Smith County Office Building, also known as the Carlton Hotel.

Baker added that the proposed budget looks beyond 2013 needs to long term county goals, including a pilot program for objectively measuring performance of county employees and rewarding high performance. “We also hope to implement a forecasting process that will allow us to better anticipate, plan for, and address county needs, including road and bridge maintenance and future construction,” Baker said.

There will be two public hearings on the proposed 2013 budget. One will be held on August 21st at 5:30pm in the commissioners courtroom in the Courthouse Annex, and another public hearing will be held on August 28th at 9:30 a.m. Following the August 28th public hearing, the court will vote on the FY2013 budget. The adopted budget will go into effect October 1.

TYLER – Ten persons have been arrested following a lengthy investigation into alleged drug trafficking in the Henderson area. Around 6:00 Wednesday morning, a combined task force of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies began executing 10 federal arrest warrants for defendants charged in an alleged conspiracy to distribute over 280 grams of crack cocaine in and around Henderson since September 2010. On July 11, 2012, a federal grand jury returned a 14-count indictment charging 14 individuals with multiple counts of federal drug and firearm violations.

The following defendants are in custody and were scheduled for initial court appearances in Tyler Wednesday: Deric Lamont Sheppard, aka “Big Shep,” 32, of Henderson; Master Markeith Lacy, aka “Kiki,” 36, of Henderson; Justin Lamark Porter, 23, of Overton; Ernest Vantrezes Mallard, aka “Duck,” 30, of Henderson; Derek Lamarcus Horton, aka “Null Null,” 27, of Kilgore; Marcus Derail Porter, aka “Blade,” 30, of Henderson; Kail Demond Lacy, Jr, aka “KJ,” 19, of Henderson; Randy Cameron, 52, of Henderson; Lattoris Dewuan Jackson, aka “Coonjack,” 32, of Henderson; and Cornelius Marquis Murphy, aka “Papa Murphy,” 21, of Henderson. Travis Lanard Porter, aka “Nard,” aka “Travis Deamon,” 35, of Henderson, and Johnny Ray Smith, Jr., 33, of Henderson, will make their initial court appearances next week.

If convicted of the drug conspiracy charge, the defendants face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison and fines of up to $10 million. If convicted on the weapons violations, the defendants face at least 5 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of any property used to commit or facilitate the crimes or derived from proceeds of the conspiracy.

TYLER — Tylerites turn out in droves Wednesday at local Chick-Fil-A outlets for a national Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day. Residents reported long waits at the counter and traffic backups. At one point late Wednesday afternoon, KETK reported the crowd at the South Broadway eatery was “pretty much standing room only.” The day was organized in response to the uproar over the Chick-Fil-A CEO’s comments opposing gay marriage. Gay rights activists are planning several “kiss-in” protests Friday at Chick-Fil-A restaurants across the country.

WHITEHOUSE — The Whitehouse City Council Tuesday night discussed the future of the volunteer fire department and whether the city should have its own firefighters. According to KETK, the council decided both were beneficial. Council members voted to keep volunteers and create a municipal fire department. Under the proposal, the city would be responsible for training and certification of firefighters, and the VFD would work as a wing of that department.

TYLER — The City of Tyler announced Wednesday that they will participate in a program to bring closure to unresolved warrants. The Tyler Municipal Court, in a statement, said participation in a “Second Chance Warrant Program” will run from August 1-21. The down payment necessary to enter into a payment plan has been reduced to assist citizens in paying off their fines. To take advantage of this offer, citizens must provide a $150 down payment. The payments thereafter will be $150 per month until the fine is fulfilled. Some restrictions may apply and not all citizens may be eligible to participate.

The news release stated that citizens should be aware that if they accept the terms of this program and fail to make payments their warrants will become a high priority.

For assistance with resolving an outstanding warrant, contact the Municipal Court at 813 North Broadway between 7:00am to 5:00pm, or call 903-531-1266. Warrants can also be paid on line at http://www.CityofTyler.org under the “I Want To” menu at the top of the page.

GILMER — Sheriff Anthony Betterton won his re-election bid, meanwhile confusion at one voting location threw Upshur County’s runoff election into turmoil, leaving one race unsettled Tuesday night. Betterton defeated opponent Larry Webb by 25 votes in Tuesday’s Republican Party primary runoff election. According to KETK, with no Democratic contenders, Betterton reclaimed the office for four more years with 2,318 votes to Webb’s 2,293 votes. With nine provisional ballots still to be counted, Webb said he was uncertain whether he would call for a recount.

TYLER — Smith County Commissioners agreed to place two alcohol propositions on the November ballot. When they met Tuesday morning, the commissioners decided to approve petitions seeking two local option elections for Justice Precinct 2. The propositions would legalize the sale of beer and wine for off-premises consumption, and extend the legal sale of mixed beverages in restaurants to areas of the precinct where such sale isn’t already legal. The city of Tyler made similar moves last week. The local governments’ action comes in the wake of a petition drive organized by the Buy Local First group. The pro-alcohol effort is opposed by a group called Stand Strong for Tyler.

TYLER — An infectious disease specialist at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, has been ranked in the top 1 percent of physicians in his field by U.S. News and World Report magazine. Dr. Richard Wallace is a board-certified infectious disease physician who specializes in treating Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), a rare and non-contagious bacterial infection affecting only one in 100,000 people in the United States.

Dr. Wallace attended medical school at Baylor College of Medicine in the Houston and did his residency and fellowship trainning in Boston. He then came back to Texas and he’s been working as a researcher and medical doctor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler for the last 30 years.

LINDALE — Lindale school trustees have approved $300,000 for new technology purchases that will allow the district to improve the network and cut costs of future computer repairs and upgrades.

The funds will cover expenses to upgrade the district’s technology infrastructure and to implement VDI, Virtual Desktop Imaging. The upgrates include installation of new 10 gigabyte switches for the district’s central server. This will improve the speed of the district’s network and optimize the performance. Virtual Desktop Imaging will allow the district to update the software of older computers and allow them to perform and function as a new computer.

According to the Lindale ISD’s Director of Technology, Jamie Clayton, “This saves the district money by expanding the life of older equipment. This will reduce the rate at which we must replace computers in the district. We are very happy with the school board’s support in this endeavor to bring the best possible performance to our network. Many of out teachers and students rely on a well-functioning network to videos and to complete course work on line. This will help to ensure that things run much more smoothly.”

TYLER — A Gregg County man is heading to federal prison for drug trafficking. Rickey Spratling, 31, of Longview, pleaded guilty on April 10, to possession with intent to distribute ecstasy. He was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison yesterday by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis of Tyler.

According to federal prosecutors, on May 7, 2011, Spratling was found in possession of the drug ecstasy, which he intended to distribute. Spratling also admitted to possessing a gun during a drug trafficking crime. Spratling was indicted by a federal grand jury last October.

TYLER — A former Tyler fitness center operator has pleaded guilty to two charges of prescription fraud. The sentencing hearing for Tara McSwain is set for 9:00am on September 4 in Smith County’s 7th State District Court. According to a spokesman for the district attorney’s office, each charge carries a punishment range of two to ten years. McSwain, 38, is the former owner/manager of East Texas Billing and former manager of Apple Swim & Fitness Center. She initially faced nine counts of fraudulent possession of a controlled substance, a 3rd degree felony.

On June 16, 2011, an employee of Walgreens at 5415 South Broadway called police and said there was a woman in the drive-thru attempting to pick up a fraudulent prescription for hydrocodone. Patrol officers and vice investigators arrived on the scene and took McSwain into custody after further investigation. Investigators say they found several pieces of paper with physicians’ and patients’ names on them in McSwain’s purse. Police say the materials were discovered during the search incident to arrest and were believed to be used in a fraudulent manner. Police say because of her billing service for physicians, McSwain had access to doctor and patient information.

After investigators contacted several physicians and former patients, they say they developed probable cause that on six different occasions in 2011, McSwain provided fraudulent information to obtain a controlled substance from pharmacies in Tyler. On June 23, 2011, investigators arrested McSwain on six warrants for fraudulent possession of a controlled substance. Pending sentencing, she remains free on a bond of $20,000 on each case.

LINDALE — Police have detained two juveniles in connection with alleged racing that reportedly led to a truck crashing through a Lindale house. According to KETK, the incident happened June 21 on Woodlands Park Drive. Officials say a woman was home at the time of the crash, but was narrowly missed, by about three feet. Authorities have charged the pair with racing with injury.

TYLER — A guilty plea has been accepted in an illegal breast augmentation case. Carmel Foster has pleaded guilty to all charges against her, according to the Smith County District Attorney’s Office. KETK reports that Foster’s sentencing is set for August 31 at 9:00am. She remains in the Smith County Jail. Foster was accused of injecting an unknown substance into a woman’s breast during an illegal breast augmentation, after which the victim was hospitalized. She was charged with practicing medicine without a license. Foster owns the Queen Divas salon in Tyler, where procedures allegedly were performed.

SMITH COUNTY — A handful of East Texas Volunteer Fire Departments stayed busy Tuesday morning in Smith County. KETK has learned multiple mobile homes caught fire in a wooded area off County Road 46. Fire broke-out just before 3:00 a.m. Dixie, Lindale, Noonday, and Red Springs Firefighters all answered the call for help. Smaller brush trucks had to be put into service because of road conditions and the location of the fires.

MARSHALL — An elderly man has been struck and killed on U.S. Highway 80 west of Marshall. Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Terence Helton said Richard Neil Cunningham, 79, was fatally injured when he stepped into oncoming traffic to retrieve lumber that had fallen from his van. The incident happened about 9:00 Monday night near the intersection of Muntz Cut Off, west of Marshall, the trooper said. According to the Longview News-Journal, the driver of the vehicle that struck Cunningham, Jimmy Williams, of Hallsville, said he did not see Cunningham in the roadway. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Helton said no charges will be filed in the case.

EAST MOUNTAIN — One person has been arrested in connection with a fatal stabbing in Upshur County. Taken into custody Sunday night was James Nathaniel Nash, 46, of East Mountain. He’s accused of stabbing a 35 year old Longview man whose name has not yet been released. The stabbing occurred early Saturday morning on Farm Road 3358. The victim was rushed to Longview’s Good Shepherd Medical Center, where he later died. Nash was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. That charge will likely be upgraded to murder.

LONGVIEW — Humble Street in Longview will be having daily lane closures between Green Street and Houston Street starting Tuesday and lasting about four days. The lane closure will be the south side of the street and will be for work being performed on an existing gas line. This project is being performed by Richard Faulk, of C & S Leasing Services. If you have any questions about the construction, please call the City Engineer, Mark Adas, at 903-237-1053

AUSTIN — Republican U.S. Senate hopefuls David Dewhurst and Ted Cruz have been drawing the lion’s share of attention as voters decide who will replace retiring Kay Bailey Hutchison. But there are two Democrats running as well, and they’re both from East Texas. Former state representative Paul Sadler is from Henderson. His opponent, retired educator Grady Yarbrough, is a Smith County native who now lives in San Antonio. All four are vying for the nominations in today’s primary runoff.

TYLER — Detectives with the Tyler Police Department, assisted by the United States Marshals service and officers from the Whitehouse Police Department, have arrested Undra Choice, 22, of Elgin, Texas, in connection with a shooting on West Shaw Street. Detectives obtained warrants from County Judge Joel Baker charging Choice with two counts of aggravated assault. The victims have been identified as Reginald Pullum and Victoria Ferguson. Pullum is listed in serious condition at Mother Frances Hospital. Ferguson was treated for non-life threatening injuries. The shooting happened around 9:45 Sunday night in the street in the 1000 block of West Shaw. The case remains under investigation.

TYLER — Smith County voters participating in today’s runoff election can come to the polls with a little extra confidence after previewing or practicing how to cast a vote on the actual machines used in all Smith County elections. Officials say the County is now offering an easy, online video demonstration that takes voters through the step-by-step process of voting with the specific iVotronic machines utilized in the elections. The video is available on the official Smith County Facebook page and on the Elections page of the Smith County Web site at http://www.smith-county.com/Government/Departments/Elections/Default.aspx.

An iVotronic practice machine is also available for the public to practice casting a ballot at the Elections Office, Smith County Courthouse Annex, Fifth Floor, 200 E. Ferguson, Tyler. You can contact the Smith County Elections Office for further details at 903-590-4774.

TYLER — A pedestrian has been killed in a Tyler accident. It happened Monday morning in the 5500 block of the Troup Highway. Killed was David Wayne Bickerdike, 41, of Tyler. Bickerdike was struck by a northbound car driven by Susan Helgesen, 58, of Tyler. Police say Bickerdike was crossing the roadway mid-block on foot and was not in a crosswalk. According to investigators, Helgesen did not see the pedestrian due to darkness and his clothing. No charges have been filed

LONGVIEW — Police have identified a suspect in the hit and run that killed pedestrian Jason Johnson 20, of Longview. According to authorities, witnesses came forward and identified the suspect and police are continuing to investigate. No arrests have been made at this time.

At 12:30 Saturday morning, Longview Police Department Sergeant Doug Brinkley noticed Johnson lying in a grassy field located in the 300 Block of West Cotton Street. Officers learned the victim was walking westbound on Cotton Street when he was struck by an unknown vehicle. The vehicle fled the scene. Johnson was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. He died later at the hospital.

The suspect’s vehicle will have major damage to the right front headlight area. Longview Police are asking for anyone with further information about this incident to contact Officer Brandon Thornton at 903-237-1196. If the tipster wishes to remain anonymous he or she can also contact Gregg County Crimestoppers at http://www.greggcountycrimestoppers.org or 903-236-STOP (7867).