KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — A man has died as the result of a weekend gunshot wound in Tyler, and his father is charged with murder. Tyler investigators arrested Donny Wayne Allen Sr. after he turned himself in to police Tuesday afternoon. He was transported to Smith County Jail on a $200,000 bond set by Judge Christi Kennedy. According to a news release, investigators determined that the son assaulted the father at the scene of the incident. After the assault had occurred the son was running from the father when the father is said to have shot the son in the back. The case remains under investigation. Continue reading Weekend Shooting Victim Dies; Father Charged with Murder

TYLER – A Dallas County doctor has been sentenced in federal court in Tyler to prison for health care fraud and identity theft violations. Tariq Mahmood, 63, of Cedar Hill, was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, seven counts of health care fraud, and seven counts of aggravated identity theft following a four day trial before U.S. District Judge Michael Schneider. He has been sentenced to 135 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $599,128.02 to Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. Continue reading Doctor Sentenced to Prison for Health Care Fraud Scheme

RUSK — Officials have released the names of those involved in a double-fatality wreck near Rusk. Qudus Jacobs, 22, and Chikosolu Ughanze, 20, both of Nacogdoches, died as a result of the wreck. Around 4:15 Monday afternoon, a truck was headed north on Highway 110 when it T-boned an SUV driving west. The SUV failed to yield the right of way, according to DPS. The deceased were the driver and passenger of the SUV. Ughanze was pronounced dead at the scene, and Jacobs later died at a Tyler hospital. Both were students at Stephen F. Austin University, according to their Facebook pages. The driver of the truck was identified as Richard Osteen, Jr., 29, of Troup. He was treated at a Tyler hospital and released. The crash remains under investigation.

WINNSBORO – The Winnsboro Police Department launched an investigation into the death of a baby. According to police, they received a 911 call on Thursday concerning a non-responsive 16-month old baby girl, identified as Madison Cannon. The Winnsboro Fire Department, police department and EMS all responded to the location. KETK reports an officer on scene reported the child showed signs of abuse with bruising in several spots. Continue reading Toddler’s Death Under Investigation

EAST TEXAS — The National Weather Service in Shreveport has confirmed two tornadoes in East Texas. According to KETK, one released photo (left) shows an EF-1 tornado that touched down in Gregg and Harrison Counties on April 9. The twister was captured on camera near Highway 259 and Eden in Longview. A second confirmed tornado is pictured (right) in Northern Cherokee County. That was listed as an EF-2 tornado. Continue reading National Weather Service Confirms Last Week’s Tornadoes

TYLER — The 31st Annual Taste of Tyler! It will run from 6:30 till 8:30pm Tuesday night at the Harvey Convention Center. This popular event offers menu samples from many of Tyler’s finest restaurants. Visit the restaurant booths of your choice as often as you choose for delicious appetizers, breads, entrees and desserts, along with complimentary water, sodas, beer and wine. Circulate, socialize and enjoy live music from three groups in separate areas. All net proceeds from Taste of Tyler are applied toward charitable and educational causes. Taste of Tyler is co-sponsored by East Texas Restaurant Association (ETRA) and Tyler Sunrise Rotary Club. Tickets are $20.00 if purchased in advance. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the door for $25.00. Advance tickets are available at Tyler area Dairy Queens and Papacita’s Mexican Restaurant on South Broadway in Tyler. Continue reading It’s Time for the Taste of Tyler

LONGVIEW – One person has been injured in a vehicle/pedestrian accident in Longview. It happened shortly after 6:30 Monday morning at the intersection of U.S. Highway 80 and Eastman Road. Taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center with serious injuries was James Coleman Fountain, 29. Investigators say he was running across the road and ran into the car’s path.

TYLER – Smith County residents are being warned about a scam. A man is asking for cash only donations on behalf of several local volunteer fire departments at restaurants around the county. The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office tells KETK it is a scam and the man is not a representative of any local organization. The county’s volunteer fire departments will not solicit donations without proper identification and will not specifically ask for cash only. If you are approached for money from someone saying they represent one of the area’s fire departments, you are encouraged to call the County Fire Marshall’s office or the local fire station to verify the solicitation. If you suspect fraud, contact the County Fire Marshall’s office or the Smith County Sheriff’s Department.

TYLER – Tyler is getting a minor league baseball team again. It was announced Monday afternoon that the East Texas Pump Jacks, which have played at Driller Park in Kilgore since 2008, will be moving to Tyler. They will play their games at Irwin Filed at the University of Texas at Tyler. The first home game is June 4th. The 60-game schedule runs from May 28 to August 7. That is followed by the playoffs, which the team has made each year. In seven seasons, the team has won over 200 games and the TCL championship in 2012. The team’s new office is located at 1805 Overbrook Drive, just off Paluxy Drive.

LUFKIN – Police continue their investigation of what appears to be the accidental shooting death of a Lufkin man. It occurred around 10:30 Sunday morning in the 100 block of Stonewood. The victim was found lying in a storage shed with a gunshot wound to the face. Officers found two guns and gun cleaning supplies in the shed. The victim’s name has not been released.

HARRISON COUNTY – Two persons have died in weekend accidents in Harrison County. The first was reported just before 3:15 Saturday afternoon on U.S. Highway 59, north of Marshall. The Department of Public Safety reports the accident happened when a driver, Johnnie Young, 60, of Jefferson, suffered a seizure and has car veered off the road. A passenger in his car, Irma Downs, 83, of Jefferson, died in a hospital about an hour after the wreck. Young remains hospitalized. Continue reading Harrison County Wrecks Kill Two

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of April 13. Schedules are subject to change due to the rain forecast for the week, equipment or other unforeseen issues. Slow down and pay attention in these and all work zones.

SMITH COUNTY – The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) maintenance crews in Tyler expect to continue base repair work on Farm Road 2015 between Farm Road 14 and Farm Road 16 this week, weather permitting. Another crew plans to perform base work on Farm Road 1805 between Farm Road 1252 and the Van Zandt County line. Expect lane closures with traffic controlled by flaggers. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates

TYLER – A motorcycle/truck accident in Tyler has left one person dead. The wreck occurred in the 2800 block of U.S. Highway 271 around 2:30 Sunday afternoon. Tyler Police said Bobby Greenwood, 35, of Tyler, was traveling southbound, driving on the improved shoulder on his motorcycle, at a high rate of speed when he hit a pickup which was making a legal right turn into a business. Greenwood died at the scene. The driver of the pickup received minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital.

UPSHUR COUNTY — Jury selection and trial for an East Texas man accused of murder has been scheduled to begin today. Jonathan Ray Shepherd, 34, has been accused of fatally shooting Cheyenne Green in the parking lot of the Gilmer Buckeye Stadium during a football game September 26, 2013. Shepherd reportedly met Green in the parking lot during halftime of a football game to give their then two-year-old child to her. A witness told police the couple was arguing about custody of the child. According to KETK, sometime after the argument, Shepherd called his wife, Suzanne Bates, and told her he had done “something bad and he couldn’t take it anymore and that she was dead.” Continue reading Trial for Gilmer Murder Suspect to Begin Monday

TYLER — Police in Tyler are following up on a weekend shooting. Around 1:00 Sunday afternoon, Tyler Police Dispatch received a 911 call that someone had been shot in the 400 block of Muller Garden Road. He has been identified as Donny Wayne Allen Jr., 25. The suspect has been identified as his father, Donny Wayne Allen Sr. Allen Jr. was transported to East Texas Medical Center with what turned out to be life threatening injuries. He underwent surgery and is now in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit. His father remained at the scene and cooperated with officers. He was interviewed by Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit at the Tyler Police Department and then released. Late Monday afternoon police spokesman Don Martin said the case remains under investigation.

TYLER — The Tyler Fire Department held its 24th Annual Awards Banquet Saturday at the Tyler Rose Garden Center. During the ceremony, firefighters, along with retired firefighters and civilians, were honored for their actions and service to the city of Tyler. Continue reading Tyler Fire Department Holds 24th Annual Awards Banquet

DIANA – On Saturday afternoon in Diana, the annual alumni baseball game turned into a benefit for coach Keith McKinley’s family. McKinley, an assistant coach in the New Diana ISD, died the week before due to complications from a heart attack. KETK reports everyone who came got a chance to pay an entry fee and play in the game, as well as buy items at a silent auction. All of the proceeds went to McKinley’s family. They are still raising money online. If you would like to help, just follow this link: http://www.gofundme.com/qgm8ts

CLEVELAND, Ohio (AP/Staff) — Tyler native Johnny Manziel has reportedly taken the first steps in his comeback. The popular Cleveland Browns quarterback was released from a rehab facility Saturday after more than 10 weeks, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner from Texas A&M entered the undisclosed clinic, which specializes in drug and alcohol rehabilitation, on Jan. 28 for treatment of an unspecified problem. Manziel is expected to participate in Cleveland’s offseason workouts beginning April 20, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of privacy issues.

TYLER — Republican U.S. Senator John Cornyn of Texas paid a visit to East Texas Friday night. KETK reports he was at Hollytree Country Club in Tyler for the Annual Smith County Republican Club Dinner. The dinner featured a silent auction from the Smith County Republican Women as well as a VIP reception with the senator. He also spoke on topics that included international relations, small business, and Obamacare. Continue reading Cornyn Visits Tyler

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office has been searching for two men who attempted to rob a Tyler business. KETK reports the attempted robbery happened Saturday morning at the Araujo’s Tires shop in the 4900 block of Highway 110. Officials say two black men entered the business and demanded money. When the employee refused, they hit him over the head. After several seconds, the two men left the building, firing four shots inside. No one was seriously injured. The employee is expected to recover. The two men were still at large at last report. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Office right away.

TYLER – The Mineola ISD Board of Trustees Saturday morning named Tyler ISD Chief Leadership and Performance Officer Kim Tunnell the lone finalist in MISD’s search for a new superintendent. Mrs. Tunnell has served Tyler ISD in various roles since coming to the District in 2001, according to a TISD news release. “It has been an honor to serve Tyler ISD for the past 14 years and I have been blessed to have worked with many amazing staff members committed to the success of every child,” Mrs. Tunnell stated. “We have accomplished some major tasks and great things are in store for Tyler ISD due to the dedication of the employees and the expanding community support and involvement.” Continue reading Mineola ISD Names Kim Tunnell as Lone Superintendent Finalist

MIXON — A fund has been set up at a local financial institution to assist a family that lost its home during Thursday night’s severe storms. KETK reports Blake and Bailee Saenz of Mixon saw their house on County Road 135 get destroyed by a reported (not confirmed) tornado. You can donate to the Saenz family at United Heritage Credit Union at 522 South Broadway Avenue in Tyler. The account name is “Blake and Bailee Saenz.”

TYLER — Much has changed at the corner of Fifth Street and Fleishel Avenue. What was once a dusty corner lot occupied by a gas station, a pharmacy, and a restaurant is now a 155,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art training ground for future nurses, dental hygienists, sonographers, radiologic technologists, and a host of other health care professionals. That’s according to a news release from Tyler Junior College. Continue reading Grand Opening for TJC’s Robert M. Rogers Nursing & Health Sciences Center

AUSTIN — A ticket bought in Palestine has led to a scratch-off top prize win that gives a College Station resident 2.5 million reasons to celebrate. Rebecca Tyner claimed the second of five top prizes available in the Texas Lottery scratch-off game 100X The Cash. For selling the winning ticket, the Kim’s #4 at 411 E. Palestine Ave. in Palestine is eligible for a retailer bonus of $10,000. With more than $148 million in total prizes, 100X The Cash features overall odds of winning of one in 3.30, including break-even prizes, according to a news release. In addition to three top prizes worth $2.5 million, eight second-tier prizes worth $100,000 remain unclaimed in the game. Lottery officials say the claimant requested minimal publicity.

BULLARD — County Road 118, in Smith County’s Precinct 1 near the Cherokee County line, sustained significant damage in Thursday night’s storm. The road will be closed for at least a week while the Smith County Road & Bridge Department works to replace a large culvert, according to a news release. County Road 118 is south of Farm-to-Market Road 344, off County Road 121. The damaged part of the road is near County Road 117 outside of Bullard.

SMITH COUNTY — Two individuals are in the hospital after leading officials on a chase through Smith County. According to KETK, it started around 11:30 Thursday night in the east bound lane of Interstate 20, near mile marker 546. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office and the Lindale Police Department were called in to assist DPS Troopers. The vehicle crashed around the Highway 69 Lindale exit. Two people were taken to the hospital. Their identities and conditions had not been released at last report

LONGVIEW (AP/STAFF) — A severe thunderstorm that brought high winds and rain through East Texas damaged the roof of a nursing home in Longview, causing its evacuation. No injuries have been reported. Fire Marshal Johnny Zackary tells the Longview News-Journal that about 75 patients were evacuated from Eden Select Specialty Care on Thursday night. Damage was also reported in other areas of the city. Zackary says officials are working on the damage assessment and removing trees from streets. Continue reading Storm Damages Longview Nursing Home

LONGVIEW (Staff/AP) – Residents and officials continue efforts to clean up widespread damage reported around Longview in the wake of Thursday night’s storms. A severe thunderstorm damaged the roof of a nursing home, causing its evacuation. Fire Marshal Johnny Zackary tells the Longview News-Journal that about 75 patients were evacuated from Eden Select Specialty Care. Storm activity also ripped the roof off a church and downed power lines. KETK is reporting heavy damage throughout the Eastman and Alpine Roads area. No injuries have been reported. According to authorities, a possible tornado damaged a wide area in Northeast Longview. There was also damage reported in areas off Farm Road 2208 near the Harrison County line. Continue reading Cleanup Continues Following Storm in Longview

LONGVIEW — Due to Thursday night storms, the City of Longview Sanitation Division reminds residential sanitation customers that Bulky Item collection is available for collection of yard debris. Residents can call Sanitation at 903-237-1250 to schedule a pick-up. Residents may also take debris to the Compost Site located at 2020 Swinging Bridge Road. Please bring a current water bill to compost site as proof of customer. Continue reading Longview Remains Ready to Handle Storm Debris

LUFKIN – A fatal car/pedestrian accident in Lufkin remains under investigation. Killed in the accident Thursday night was Yolanda Hernandez-Vasquez, 53, of Lufkin. She died at a Lufkin hospital after being hit by a car driven by Eric Vidal, 19, of Lufkin. Police say she was not crossing at an intersection when the accident occurred.