KTBB News, Weather, Talk

PALESTINE — The West Nile virus season is upon us. Carrie Williams with the state health department says a man from Anderson County is recovering — marking the first case of the year. She hopes this year won’t be like last. “Last year was unprecedented,” says Williams. “We had record high numbers of cases. It was the worst year we’ve ever had in Texas of West Nile activity.” North Texas was ground zero for the virus last year; there were 1,868 human cases last year and 89 deaths. Williams says you can protect yourself by using an insect repellent with DEET and wearing long sleeves. Also be aware that disease carrying mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn.

TYLER — East Texas will be busy Monday with Memorial Day observances. One that always draws a big crowd is scheduled for 11:00am at the Tyler Memorial Park Field of Honor at 12053 State Highway 64 West. Organizers say all veterans and the general public are invited to attend.

TYLER — The Tyler Area Builders Association building was damaged Sunday morning after a truck ran off the road and crashed into the side of the building. Tyler police told KETK the accident happened at around 1:00 Sunday morning in the 1500 block of Grande Boulevard. Police say a 24-year old man was driving at a high rate of speed, hit a curb and crashed into the building. He was pulled from the vehicle and transported to a local hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries. Police say witnesses on seen reported seeing the truck, along with another, racing before the incident. Police are investigating whether or not alcohol was involved. Continue reading Truck Crashes Into TABA Building; Parade of Homes Not Affected

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — A 71-year-old Wills Point woman died Saturday afternoon on Texas 64, near CR 3409, in Van Zandt County. According to the Longview News-Journal, Georgia Britt was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado pickup eastbound on the highway when she pulled out from a private drive and into the path of a 2002 Ford pickup occupied by 67-year-old driver Patricia McDaniel and passenger Tommy McDaniel, 58. Britt was pronounced dead at Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, where the McDaniels are each listed in stable condition with cuts and bruises. Everyone involved was wearing a seatbelt.

WOOD COUNTY — A 22-year-old woman died early Thursday morning in a one-vehicle rollover wreck in Wood County. A 2001 Chevrolet Suburban driven by Megan Trimble of Big Sandy was traveling northeast on FM 2869 about 3:30 when the vehicle went into a side skid and rolled after Trimble over-corrected on a curve east of CR 3490. According to the Longview News-Journal, Trimble was pronounced dead at Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler by Smith County Justice of the Peace Mitch Shamburger. A passenger in the vehicle, Tiffany Weathersby, 25, of Hawkins, is in stable condition at the hospital with upper body injuries and head trauma. DPS Trooper Luke Swinnea said road conditions were clear, and neither occupant was wearing a seatbelt.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — A 71-year-old Wills Point woman died Saturday afternoon on Texas 64, near CR 3409, in Van Zandt County. According to the Longview News-Journal, Georgia Britt was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado pickup eastbound on the highway when she pulled out from a private drive and into the path of a 2002 Ford pickup occupied by 67-year-old driver Patricia McDaniel and passenger Tommy McDaniel, 58. Britt was pronounced dead at Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, where the McDaniels are each listed in stable condition with cuts and bruises. Everyone involved was wearing a seat belts.

TYLER — The Texas Department of Public Safety, Tyler Police Department, Smith County Sheriff’s Office, and Texas Game Wardens have joined together to work in Smith County this weekend on Operation Reclaim. Officers will be looking for drunk drivers, public intoxication, individuals not wearing a seatbelt, and other violations. Continue reading Operation Reclaim at Lake Tyler

TYLER — As families across East Texas kick off the summer and honor our military heroes this Memorial Day weekend, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) East Texas urges motorists to stay safe on the road during a time of year when drunk driving deaths typically increase. Over Memorial Day weekend in 2010 158 people were killed in drunk driving crashes nationwide. “In an effort to keep people safe on the roads this holiday weekend, MADD has some tips to help,” said Leslie Watson, MADD East Texas. “It’s our sincere hope that this information, coupled with law enforcement’s efforts to deter and detect drunk driving, will help keep our community safe.” Continue reading MADD East Texas Provides Memorial Day Weekend Safety Tips

TYLER — Tyler police are again engaging in a couple of safety efforts for the Memorial Day holiday. Click It or Ticket was already underway, and the “No Refusal” DWI campaign kicked in Friday. Continue reading Tyler Police, Others Ramp Up Memorial Day Traffic Efforts

Gregg County — A Longview man was arrested Thursday morning after police said he choked his pregnant girlfriend. According to KETK, Anthony Dewayne Bagley, 26, was arrested at 9:45 by Longview police responding to a reported assault in the 700 block of S. Green Street. “Bagley shoved his girlfriend, who is pregnant with his unborn child against the kitchen wall and placed his forearm against her throat,” the probable cause affidavit for his arrest said. Bagley was held on suspicion of assault family violence strangulation. He was held Friday in the Gregg County Jail on a $7,500 bond.

ANGELINA COUNTY — An East Texas man is now behind bars after evading arrest and being found with drug paraphernalia. It happened around 10:00 p.m. in the 400 block of Birch Street in Lufkin. According to KETK, Edmond D. Fowler, 33, was found trespassing onto someone’s property. When officers arrived on the scene, Fowler fled from police on foot. He was later caught after a short foot chase. Fowler was found to have crack cocaine in his pockets, and also had two warrants through Angelina County Sheriff’s Office. He is currently in Angelina County Jail on a bond of $5,000.

JACKSONVILLE — Fire crews responded to a mobile home fire in Jacksonville Friday night on CR 3302. It happened a little after 7:00. According to KETK, a man was in the mobile home at the time of the fire and was killed. His name has not been released. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

TYLER — A motorcycle wreck in Tyler Friday evening has left a Tyler woman dead. It happened around 5:20 at the intersection of Grande and Sutherland. According to Tyler Police, the driver of a black Ford F150 was heading east on Grande and turning left onto Sutherland when he failed to yield right of way to the motorcycle. The driver of the motorcycle, identified as Jessica Gaspard, 36, Tyler, crashed into the truck. Gaspard was transported to a local hospital and later died from her injuries. She was not wearing a helmet. There were no injuries to the occupants of the truck. The investigation is ongoing at this time and no charges have been filed.

TYLER — An apartment fire in Tyler Friday afternoon has ended with no injuries and one man in custody. Around 5:10, Tyler Police and Fire Departments responded to an apartment complex at 710 S. Kennedy for a reported structure fire. Upon arrival Police and Fire units found one apartment completely engulfed in flames. The building was evacuated. As officials were extinguishing the blaze, the were notified of an altercation in the front of the building. Several men were struggling with a male subject, later identified as Cantrell Sash. The group of men told officials that Sash had set the fire. Authorities said evidence gathered at the scene and through subsequent questioning showed that Sash had deliberately set the fire in his own apartment. Sash was arrested for arson of a habitation and was booked into the Smith County Jail. No injuries were reported but the fire did cause extensive damage to the structure. The case is still under investigation with the Tyler Fire Marshalls.

SMITH COUNTY — Winona and Jackson Heights Fire Departments responded to reports of a school bus fire around 4:00 p.m. on Friday on I-20 near the Highway 155 exit. KETK reports the bus driver was the only person on the bus at the time of the fire and he is okay. There was no immediate of the fire’s cause or the extent of damage.

AUSTIN (AP/Staff) – Republican state Senator Kevin Eltife of Tyler is among a growing number of lawmakers convinced their work won’t be finished next week. Governor Rick Perry isn’t saying whether he’ll order lawmakers to stay at the Capitol for a special legislative session. The regular 140-day session ends Monday.

LONGVIEW — Throughout the next month, the City of Longview will be in the process of mailing the 2012 Water Quality Report to all customers who receive a water bill from the City. This year, the report will be mailed out along with the water bills instead of as a separate mail-out. Continue reading 2012 Water Quality Report Released

LONGVIEW — A Longview man was arrested after police say he pinned down his girlfriend and punched her multiple times in the face. KETK reports Cameron Milton Malone, 45, was arrested around 2:00 a.m. Thursday on a charge of assault causing bodily injury. Malone is being held on $5,000 bond and also has prior convictions for assault.

LONGVIEW — Pine Tree ISD will spend $14,800 on a local erosion project to offset all but $4,000 of a state environmental fine for essentially a technical violation regarding a fuel storage tank at the Birch Street bus refueling station, the state reported Thursday. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. According to backup materials for an agreed order approved Wednesday in Austin, the district failed to renew a certificate showing the underground tank can accept fuel delivery and failed to provide such a certificate to a vendor. The district also failed to provide required proof that piping to the tank is secure, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality decided Wednesday. The district had no immediate comment on the fine. Continue reading Pine Tree ISD to Spend over $14,000 to Address Environmental Citation

LONGVIEW — 25-year-old Nestor Lopez of Longview was jailed on $7,500 bond after police say he choked his girlfriend. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Lopez was arrested Wednesday about 10 p.m. by Longview police in the 900 block of Memphis Street. An emergency protective order was filed against him. Lopez is charged with assault/family violence by impeding breath and circulation.

LONGVIEW — Longview Police want to remind citizens that with the temperatures heating up, the inside temperature of vehicles will be heating up even faster too. The Safe Kids Texas Heatstroke Task Force, the National Weather Service, and Longview Police recognized Heat Awareness Day on Friday, May 24, 2013. With the hot days beginning already “cracking” the window of the car has little effect on the temperature inside the car. In approximately ten minutes the interior temperature can rise about 19 degrees. In one to two hours it can rise 45-50 degrees. It is against Texas law to leave a child under the age of seven unattended in a vehicle for longer than five minutes. Continue reading Longview Police Recognize Heat Awareness Day

WASKOM — Two East Texas Baptist University football players were taken into custody earlier this week, accused of firing a rifle in front of a Waskom police officer’s home. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Kailob Wallace of Quinlan and Brooks Holder of Beeville were booked into the Harrison County Jail on Monday night on charges of deadly conduct, discharging a firearm — a third-degree felony. A Waskom police officer who filed the probable cause affidavit alleged the pair fired three shots from a .22 caliber rifle toward his home while driving Sunday night. Continue reading Two ETBU Football Players Jailed after Gunfire near Officers Residence

RUSK COUNTY — A small single engine plane has crashed in Rusk County, near the East Texas Regional Airport in Gregg County. It happened around 6:30 last night. The crash site is a field near County Road 2156D. Investigators say the aircraft had been circling, preparing to land, when it clipped some trees and crashed. The pilot was the only person about the craft and he was not seriously injured. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the accident.

DIBOLL — A vehicle-pedestrian accident in Angelina County has left one person dead. The accident occurred on U.S. Highway 59, about a mile south of Diboll, shortly before 9:00 Wednesday night. The victim has been identified as Patrick Henry Clark, 64, of Lufkin. The Department of Public Safety reports Clark was walking in the southbound inside lane when hit by a pickup. The driver, Brently Chase Lucas, of Corrigan, was not cited in the accident.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County officials say a body has been found in a burned-out car, and the investigation is ongoing. Officials say shortly after 6:00 yesterday morning, firemen were called to a burning vehicle on County Road 3101 near the Jackson Heights area. Firemen found a four-door passenger car, and the fire had almost burned out. Smith County Sheriff’s deputies, who also responded to the scene, closely inspected the vehicle and found the remains of a person. It could not be determined whether the person was male or female. Continue reading Body Found in Burned-Out Car

LINDALE — Fifth graders at E.J. Moss Intermediate School of Lindale were scheduled to perform a musical theater program at the school on Thursday night titled, “In God We Trust.” Now, due to a complaint from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, the school will not host the play with religious undertones. Instead, the school scheduled a modified version for Thursday evening, said to be sensitive to all viewers; the original play will be staged next week at a different location. Continue reading Lindale Play Modified after Complaint; Original Version Planned for Wednesday

LONGVIEW — A man was seriously injured in a one-vehicle crash Wednesday night in Longview. KETK reports it happened just after nine on Eastman Road near the North Loop. Longview police say the driver, 36-year-old Andrew Talley, was headed south when he crossed the median, took out a light pole, went down an embankment, and hit a tree. Firefighters had to cut Talley from the wreckage. By Thursday afternoon, he was listed in fair condition.

NACOGDOCHES (AP) – A man who claimed self-defense has been sentenced to life in prison for grabbing a razor and slitting the throat of an East Texas barber during a robbery. Jurors in Nacogdoches earlier convicted Timothy Blanton of Garrison of aggravated robbery. The attack last July at a barber shop in Nacogdoches also left Chester Pleasant with hand and shoulder wounds. Blanton testified his girlfriend had received texts from the barber. Blanton told jurors that Pleasant asked him to leave and he was doing so, then Pleasant grabbed him and the men fought. Prosecutors dispute Blanton’s self-defense testimony and say he intended to steal cash from the barber. Records show Blanton, who was sentenced Tuesday, has previous convictions for robbery, criminal trespass, carrying a weapon, burglary and evading arrest.

TYLER — For the third consecutive year, the City of Tyler has published its Annual Report as an E-Book, with linked video, and as a printed document with QR Codes. The 20-page report outlines the financial status of the City and highlights new programs and achievements from 2012. Continue reading City 2012 E-Annual Report Online

SMITH COUNTY — Authorities have identified a Smith County shooting victim as Timothy Matthew Martin, 24. Charged with his death was Alex Wesley Jones, 23, Tyler. Jones is charged with first-degree murder and is being held in the Smith County Jail on a $750,000 bond. The shooting occurred shortly after 10:00 Tuesday morning in the 100 block of Patton Lane.