KTBB News, Weather, Talk

MARSHALL — Officials are celebrating the success of a holiday event in East Texas. Marshall’s 24th annual Wonderland of Lights Festival was a huge success with thousands of people visiting the event each night of the 5 week run. Tomi Johnson of the Marshall Convention and Visitors Bureau says a stellar concert series, the outdoor ice skating rink and thousands of Christmas lights in the downtown area helped to draw the crowd. Preparations for the 25th annual Wonderland of Lights Festival in 2011are already underway.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department released the results of the “No Refusal DWI Campaign” December 30th through January 2nd, 2011. Authorities say total DWI arrests for the campaign for all agencies were 12. DPS had 7 DWI arrests and Tyler PD had 5 DWI arrests. Total number of refusals for breath/blood specimens was 3. DPS had 2 refusals and Tyler PD had 1 refusal. Officials say, compared to last year’s total number of arrests, 15, this year saw a decrease of 20% in the number of DWI arrests.

Authorities say Lindale PD had a fatality accident during the campaign, on January 1st. It was believed to be alcohol related, but resulted in the death of the suspect; blood results are pending.

HENDERSON (AP) – A Fort Worth hunter who allegedly thought he bagged a deer faces a weapons charge over the fatal shooting of an Overton man. The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office on Monday announced 54-year-old Rodney Connally has been arraigned on a felony charge of unlawful possession of a firearm. Bond was set at $50,000. Sgt. Viki Penny had no information on an attorney for Connally. She told The Associated Press it does not appear that Connally knew 41-year-old Louis Conner Jr. The shooting happened Saturday morning on a deer lease. Penny says Connally notified officers when he thought he shot a deer, then discovered Conner had been shot. Penny described the investigation as an “accidental shooting” and says results will be forwarded to prosecutors. Further details on Connally were not immediately released.

LONGVIEW — Four persons have been cited for reckless damage or destruction following a four acre grass fire. It started near Longview around 1:00 New Year’s morning when fireworks the group was shooting started a fire in a wooded area near McCann and Graystone Road. Had it not been for the quick response by the Longview and Judson Metro Fire Departments, nearby houses and buildings could have been destroyed or damaged.

MABANK – Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the New Year’s Day fire at the Edward Jones Building in Mabank. It was reported around 8:00am. While the fire was contained in the Jones’ building, there was some smoke damage at nearby stores. No injuries were reported.

EAST TEXAS — Tyler and Longview have welcomed the first babies of the New Year. Both were little girls. Tyler’s first born in 2011 arrived at Mother Francis Hospital at 12:26 Saturday morning. Lillian Elizabeth Holm tipped the scales at 8 pounds and one ounce. She is the daughter of Kenneth and Tiffany Holm. By 5:30 Saturday night, six babies were born at Mother Francis Hospital.

Longview’s first born of the year arrived at 3:32 Saturday morning at Good Shepherd Medical Center. She is Nyla Pierce, the daughter of Nathan and Carrie Pierce of Carthage. Nyla weighed in at 7 pounds and 8 ounces.

TYLER — Suddenlink and Viacom have announced that they’ve reached an agreement, in, principle, on a long-term contract. That means the new agreement covers all of the Viacom networks included under the prior agreement. Of those networks, the seven typically featured on Suddenlink’s widely available Expanded Basic service are MTV, Nickelodeon, TV Land, Comedy Central, Spike TV, VH1, CMT. The others are featured on optional digital services and include Logo, Palladia HD, Nick Jr., TeenNick, NickToons, Nick2, MTV Hits, MTV2, MTV Jams, Tr3s, VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul, and CMT Pure Country.

In addition, EPIX will be made available to Suddenlink customers in the next few months. EPIX provides consumers with the latest Hollywood movies, 15,000 films from three of the top motion picture libraries and cutting-edge original programming on television, on demand and online, exclusively in HD and SD.

Specific terms of the deal were not disclosed. But, according to a statement released by Suddenlink, there will be no changes to the recently announced rate adjustments for Suddenlink’s most-popular services; the company will absorb any difference and customers will have a choice about whether or not they want EPIX.

ANDERSON COUNTY — A 17-year-old was pronounced dead 10 minutes before midnight Friday after a one-vehicle wreck in Anderson County. Brandon Heath Miller, 17, of Tennessee Colony died when his 1999 Jeep Cherokee veered off the road, struck a metal post and caught fire, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The wreck occurred on FM 2054 north of Tennessee Colony. Miller was pronounced dead by Anderson County Justice of the Peace James Todd. His body was taken to Harrington Funeral Home in Palestine. The cause of the crash was under investigation

NACOGDOCHES — One man was arrested after a pursuit that, at times, reached more than 110 miles per hour while driving in the wrong lane of traffic down Highway 59 North at 5:30 a.m. Saturday. Samuel Thompson, 21-year-old Colmesneil resident, was charged with evading arrest in a motor vehicle and driving while intoxicated after he nearly hit two deputies head-on, Nacogdoches Constable Precinct 4 Jason Bridges said.

Thompson, driving a gold Saturn, was first clocked driving 98 miles per hour when Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Jimmy Marble attempted to stop the vehicle. According to the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel online, Thompson nearly hit both Marble and Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Deputy Ben Curtis, who was transporting an inmate to the Nacogdoches County Jail at the time, and Marble continued the pursuit. Thompson nearly hit several other vehicles while continuing in the wrong lane of traffic into Angelina County, where Marble was able to get the vehicle stopped, Bridges said.

GILMER — Three Upshur County Officials, indicted on charges of official oppression and abuse of official capacity, have turned themselves into authorities. Released on their own personal recognizance were County Judge Dean Fowler, Sheriff Anthony Betterton and Precinct 3 Commissioner Lloyd Crabtree. The action comes after they ended public comment at commissioners court meetings and allegedly threw a man out for having duct tape over his mouth. Yesterday Upshur County Commissioners voted to return public comments to the courts agendas.

JACKSONVILLE — An East Texas Teacher resigns after indecent photos of her surfaced. Krystal Looney, 25, taught at Jacksonville High School up until the pictures surfaced on the internet during the Christmas break. Autumn Green, who says she was kicked off a cheerleading squad coached by Looney, posted the pictures online. KETK spoke with Green, who says she put the pictures of Looney on her facebook wall. Green tells us she did not realize Looney would lose her job. Looney did not want to comment, but other sources confirm the pictures were taken off and Looney resigned.

Superintendent Joe Wardell says, “All I can tell you is that we did have a teacher resign over Christmas break. We’re very limited by law as to what information we can give out about any kind of personnel issue.” Jacksonville’s employee standards of conduct says: “Employees shall be held to the same professional standards in their public use of electronic media as they are for any other public conduct.”

WHITEHOUSE — A 19-year-old East Texan gets one year in jail after sexting a minor. Matthew Bower, Whitehouse, was sentenced for sending a nude photo of himself to a 14-year-old girl. With more and more teens getting cell phones, some parents say it’s a problem. Experts say it’s important to set ground rules.

LONGVIEW — Longview Police have released the name of the woman found dead in a motel Thursday morning. She is said to be Bridget Jefferson, 37, of White Oak. Just before 8:00 yesterday morning, officers were dispatched to the Executive Inn and Suites 1900 block of East Marshall. Officers found Jefferson dead. An autopsy has been ordered. Officials said multiple people of interest were being sought in connection with the investigation, and investigators were studying video footage from security cameras in the area to determine who may have been in the room with the woman.

MARSHALL — A Marshall woman is arrested after leading authorities on a two-county chase. Taken into custody Tuesday afternoon was Lisa Shields, 46. The Department of Public Safety says state troopers tried to stop her car near the 611 mile marker on Interstate Highway 20 in Harrison County. It took officers 15 minutes before she was finally stopped near the 591 mile marker in Gregg County. At times her speed reached 130 miles an hour. She was booked into the Harrison County Jail on charges of evading arrest and reckless driving and her bond set at $9,000.

TYLER – Two persons have been arrested in connection with the robbery of an individual. It happened Wednesday afternoon in an apartment in the 4400 Block of Kinsey. The victim told officers he, his roommate and three or four other people were there playing video games. At some point the victim heard a visitors leave. He realized that they had taken some of his property which included his gun, his wallet and other personal property. He went outside and saw some of the visitors leave in a green Hyundai Elantra. Officers located the green Hyundai Elantra in the area and detained the occupants.

Investigators have confirmed their involvement in the robbery and recovered the weapon and some of the personal property. Arrested in the case were Benjamin White, 21, was was charged with aggravated robbery, and Rashad Williams, 20, who was charged with ggravated robbery and possession of a controlled substance.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department and other Smith County law enforcement agencies will be out in force during the New Year holiday on the lookout for drunken drivers, and they won’t be taking “no” for an answer. Starting Thursday and continuing through Sunday, a multi-joint effort between the Smith County District Attorney’s Office and police agencies from all over Smith County will participate in the “No-Refusal” DWI Campaign once again. Upon the arrest of a suspected drunk driver, he or she will be asked if they would submit to blow into a breath-test machine or take a blood test. If the driver refuses, officers will obtain an immediate search warrant signed by a judge on call to have blood drawn by a nurse on staff at the Smith County Jail. The blood is then analyzed to determine whether the driver’s blood-alcohol concentration is 0.08 or higher, the legal limit for driving in Texas.

Tyler police say this program has proven to be an effective tool to combat drunken drivers. According to a police department news release, it is the intent of all law enforcement agencies that this effort will act as a deterrent, persuading people to avoid driving while intoxicated because they know that police officers will be conducting sobriety testing with or without driver’s consent. Simply put, according to police: “Please don’t drink and drive!”

LONGVIEW — Police in Longview are investigating a hit-and-run accident that happened Tuesday evening shortly after 10:15. Police say Khanh Vu, 52, of Longview walked eastbound across the 900 block of Pine Tree Road, failed to yield right of way, and was struck by an oncoming vehicle. The vehicle then fled the area without stopping to provide aid. Khanh Vu was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Longview Police Department.

GLADEWATER – Authorities are currently investigating reports of possible vandalism in Gladewater after five fire hydrants were found with broken caps. City Manager Sean Pate says city officials received emergency text notifications around 4:00 Wednesday morning. Officials originally thought it was due to a water main break, but on arrival, they suspected someone had broken five hydrants. Water levels dropped drastically in the northeast part of town but are now back up to a sustainable level. Officials estimate half a million gallons of water was lost. Pate asks citizens in the area to conserve water until further notice. The city has filed a report, and the Gladewater police are investigating the case.

TYLER — Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert says caution is the byword as a Republican majority prepares for next year’s House session. Gohmert visited Wednesday with radio host Mark Steyn, subbing for Rush Limbaugh on KTBB. Gohmert said, “We’re right to be optimistic, but people can’t just put down their marching orders, they have got to continue pushing.” He cited the lame-duck passage of the tax extension bill, backed by many Republicans. Gohmert commented, “I was really shocked to hear people saying, on our side of the aisle, ‘We have to do this now, this is our best leverage.’” Gohmert says his party should have held out for a better option, remarking that Republicans should not have agreed to an additional 13 months of unemployment benefits.

LONGVIEW — Sheriff’s investigators and the Texas Rangers are investigating the early morning death of a woman who was in custody at the Gregg County Jail. Staff members found Amy Lynn Cowling, 33, of Gilmer unresponsive in a separation cell at the North facility before midnight Tuesday. Cowling was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center and was deceased on arrival. “Late Tuesday night, jailers discovered Cowling, and a team from the Medical Staff responded and immediately administered CPR to her,” Captain Mike Claxton said. Longview Fire Department paramedics were called to the facility at 12:22 a.m. and had picked up Cowling and arrived at the hospital trauma room by 12:39 a.m. Cowling had been in custody since December 24, 2010.

Sheriff’s procedure is that custodial death investigations are worked by the Rangers with assistance from Sheriff investigators. Judge B.H. Jameson ordered an autopsy examination be performed on Cowling at the Southeast Texas Forensic Center at Tyler. Authorities say it is likely that the results of that procedure will be learned in the coming days.

LONGVIEW — Police in Longview arrest two suspects in a Tuesday night robbery. Shortly before 9:45, officers were called to the 2900 block of McCann Road. The victim, Michael Jackson, Jr., told police that his wallet, cell phone, and GPS were taken from him while he was held at gunpoint. Officers say they located the suspects as they were attempting to leave the area. Kayldon Kelly, 22, and Renauldo Smith, 24, of Longview were arrested and charged with aggravated robbery.

JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville police are looking for two men they say were involved in a robbery earlier this week. It happened at Murphy’s gas station along South Jackson. Police say the men took more than $10,000 in cash and merchandise. Officers believe the same pair could be involved in similar robberies in the Jacksonville area.

GILMER — Upshur County commissioners are considering putting public commenting back on their agenda at Thursday’s meeting. Since commissioners banned public comments in September, some people have shown up with duct tape over their mouths and wearing shirts protesting the ban. Thursday’s meeting is the last one scheduled this year and the final meeting for two of the court’s current commissioners.

TYLER — Officials with Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics and Carter BloodCare say the blood supply is really low, and TMF and the other hospitals use a lot of blood. So, TMF and Carter are giving people an incentive to come give blood on Thursday: someone will win a $100 gift card to the mall and someone else will win a $100 gift card to Brookshire’s/Super One.

Here’s how it’ll work. The Carter BloodCare bloodmobile will be in the Trinity Clinic-Douglas parking lot, located at 520 Douglas in Tyler today from 8:00am until 4:00pm. If you donate between 8:00 and noon, you’re registered for the $100 mall gift card (Simon Properties gift card). If you donate between noon at 4:00 you’re registered for the $100 Brookshire’s/Super One gift card.

This drive is open to everyone, employees and the public, so you’re encouraged to bring your family and friends. Every donor gets a t-shirt. Also, Everyone will be registered for Carter BloodCare’s grand prize contest for a pair of suite tickets to the February 7 Dallas Mavericks game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Go to http://www.carterbloodcare.org/givelikeapro.aspx to read more about this contest. You can give blood if you haven’t donated in the last 8 weeks, are 17 or older, are feeling well, have eaten in the previous four hours, and have a valid I.D.

TYLER – A man has been injured in a Tyler fire. It was reported around 1:30 Wednesday morning in the 300 block of West Lorance. Reports from the scene say the man was burned on his face and upper body and has been taken to a Tyler Hospital. KETK reports an explosion at the scene was originally thought to be from live ammunition inside the home. But firefighters say it was actually from a power line that sparked as they were battling the blaze. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

ATHENS — An Anderson County woman has died in a Henderson County wreck. Dead at the scene Monday morning was Jenifer Rosemary Houston, 22, of Elkhart. The accident happened on State Highway 19 south of Athens. The Department of Public Safety reports her car was north bound around 6:00am when it veered off the road and hit a tree. She was not wearing a seat belt.

TYLER — Two men are in custody following an afternoon chase in Smith County. According to Sheriff’s Lt. Tony Dana, deputies spotted Tyrone Campbell, 33, and his brother Tyrus Campbell, 35, in the area of 69 north and County Road 429. Dana says the deputies knew the men had felony warrants. They attempted a traffic stop, and Dana says the suspects fled to the area of County Road 428. According to Dana, they then bailed out of the car and fled on foot. Dana says deputies captured and arrested them after a short foot chase. Tyrone had three previous bond violation warrants and a parole warrant. He was also charged with evading arrest and resisting arrest. Tyrus had a warrant for child support and was also charged with evading arrest and resisting arrest. Dana says both men have a history of evading police.

LONGVIEW — Authorities offer details on two Longview fires. The more serious of the two was reported around 1:00 yesterday morning. That’s when the Longview Fire Department responded to Towne Oak Apartments at 2501 Eastman Road, Building 200, for an apartment fire involving both floors and the attic. On arrival, crews found heavy fire coming from the downstairs and upstairs of apartments 200A and 200B. Due to the amount of fire involvement, a second alarm was called for. This resulted in all equipment in the city except for one engine and one medic unit to be committed. Elderville, West Harrison and White Oak each sent an engine to back fill three of the fire stations that were at the fire.

Three of the occupants living in the building sustained minor injuries. Two were transported to local hospitals, and the third did not want to be transported. One firefighter was transported to Longview Regional ER for exhaustion and dehydration. All occupants were able to self evacuate, and at least 4 dogs and a cat escaped the fire. The apartment manager was working on finding available units to relocate the 7 families affected by the fire. Fire damaged two of the apartments heavily including the roof structure. The adjacent apartments sustained minor smoke and limited water damage as a result of a very aggressive fire attack for the fire crews on scene. The cause of the fire is unintentional as a result of improper handling of smoking material.

At or around 6:00 Monday evening, the Longview Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 424 South Fredonia Street. On arrival fire crews found fire in the walls and ceiling of the living room adjacent to the fireplace. The occupants had modified the original brick fire place by adding a metal box. Due to the modification, fire extended beyond the fire place causing the surrounding combustible materials to ignite. No injuries were reported at this fire. Damages are estimated at about $25,000.

LONGVIEW — A pedestrian has been struck and killed by a train between Green Street and Fredonia Street in Longview. Officers responded around 5:44 Tuesday morning. When they arrived, they located an unidentified male who was deceased. A witness said the victim was walking down the railroad tracks waving at the train as it came towards him and he was ultimately struck and killed by the train. An autopsy was ordered by Judge Sam Lawson.

TYLER — More details are released in the Christmas Eve shooting death of Nicole Cartwright, 15, of Longview. According to Tyler police, investigators have learned that Nicole left Club REO in Longview to meet with family and friends, also from Longview, at a car wash on West Bow Street in Tyler. Once they were at the car wash, police say, a disturbance occurred in the parking lot involving four females in a gray or blue car with dark tinted windows, possibly a Pontiac, and a group of individuals in a red Dodge Challenger. Shots were fired, and Nicole was struck; she later died at a local hospital. Investigators say they’ve determined that Nicole was not involved in the disturbance and was not in either vehicle. Investigators are requesting assistance in identifying the females in the gray or blue car, as well as identifying the suspect or suspects involved in the shooting.

Sergeant Matt Smyser earlier said that around 1:30am officers answered a disturbance call meant for Williams Chicken at 1118 West Gentry. While police were en route, shots were fired, and when officers arrived, the victim was found at the car wash, at 1103 West Bow. You’re asked to call Tyler police at 903-531-1000 or Crimestoppers at 903-597-CUFF if you have any helpful information.