KTBB News, Weather, Talk

MARSHALL – An East Texas man is in jail after leading area officers on a chase. It began just before 12:30 Thursday afternoon when police went to Frank Street on a welfare check. That is where they met Tony Parish, 49, of Marshall. They say he became aggressive toward the officers and then got in his vehicle and drove away. The chase took officers on Highway 80 westbound and into Harrison County. During the chase Parish is said o have driven into oncoming traffic on Highway 80 near Hallsville. Harrison County sheriff’s deputies were finally able to stop his vehicle. He was taken into custody and transported by Marshall Police to Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center in Marshall for evaluation. He was later booked into the Harrison County Jail on one count each of assault on a peace officer and evading arrest.

LONGVIEW – A man accused of a Longview robbery has been arrested. Peyton Dajon Horton, 24, of Longview, is accused of robbing a convenience store on Pine Tree Road around 1:45 Thursday morning. Horton was identified by his physical description and was found in the area about two hours later. The small handgun used in the robbery was found in his possession. It turns out the gun was stolen from a vehicle in August of last year. Besides the robbery charge, Horton was taken to the Gregg County Jail on 5 outstanding warrants.

TYLER – A convicted Tyler robber has had his appeal rejected. The 12th Court of Appeals in Tyler has affirmed the robbery conviction of Letroy Dewayne Merritt. The Shreveport, Louisiana man had been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the robbery of the Walmart store on South Broadway in February of 2017. Merritt was an Assistant Manager of the store. Investigators believe he played an intricate role in planning and assisting with the robbery. Three others, who were also charged in the case, have been all been sentenced. Continue reading Tyler Robber’s Conviction Affirmed

TYLER – The playground at Brookshire’s wildlife museum is changing locations. The playground is being moved to Fresh on the Old Jacksonville Highway. According to a posting on the museum’s Facebook page, they are expanding the current playground area for toddlers and young children on the patio at FRESH. A new playground for older children will be located near the store’s north entrance. Both areas will be shaded and fenced, and they will include state-of-the-art playground equipment that is being moved from the Brookshire’s museum. The transition will take place over the next few weeks. There could also be a change for the museum down the road. The company said it is evaluating options for the museum. And they added, “while we do not discuss potential plans, we will make an announcement when any plans are finalized.”

TYLER – The murder trial of Gustavo Zavala-Garcia is being pushed back a couple of months. State District Judge Jack Skeen decided that 10 items collected at the scene will be sent off for DNA testing. He took the action after both the defense and prosecution said the testing was necessary. It will take a month to collect the items and at least 5 months for the DNA testing. So the trial, which had been scheduled in March, will come up sometime in May. Zavala-Garcia is charged with kidnapping 10 year old Kayla Gomez from a Bullard church in November, 2016. Her body was found 4 days later in a well on the man’s property.

FORT WORTH — The Tyler Economic Development Council is among the recipients of the 2018 Community Economic Development Awards from the Texas Economic Development Council. That’s because of its involvement in the Sanderson Farms project. Sanderson Farms is currently constructing three facilities in Smith and Wood Counties. According to a news release, the company will invest $200 million and create 1,700 jobs — in addition to an investment of $135 million and employment of 160 by contract growers. TEDC shares the award in the second-highest population category with the Lindale and Mineola EDCs. The TEDC’s Tom Mullins says, “It’s very gratifying to realize that our economic development efforts are being recognized throughout the state.” He says this is the third time TEDC has received the award.

TYLER – The 85th annual Texas Rose Festival began in Tyler Thursday morning. Rose Queen Amanda Hiles told KTBB, “I am so excited that Rose Festival is finally here. There’s been a lot of preparation for this event, and I know everyone is excited.” She added, “The Rose Festival has been such a long family tradition in my family, and it is just so special to be a part of something so big for Tyler.” Anticipating another year of big crowds, she said, “I hope that everyone will come out…and enjoy the time together that we’ll have in Tyler.” The wide variety of activities includes the queen’s coronation, the Rose Festival Rose Show display, men’s and ladies luncheons and the big Rose Festival Parade on Saturday morning. You can go to http://www.texasrosefestival.com for a list of all the activities.

EAST TEXAS — A Kilgore woman convicted for the 2003 shooting death of her boyfriend in Beckville is released on bond pending a new trial date. According to our news partner KETK, Deborah Smiley McFadden, was convicted of killing her ex-boyfriend, Edward Eugene George Jr. She was sentenced to 40 years in prison. McFadden was released on a $5,000. McFadden, who was Deborah Gaye Smiley at the time of the shooting, was living with George Jr. while divorcing her husband, Terry Smiley, whom she had previously shot in the leg. Following an argument with George Jr. McFadden retrieved a gun from her car and shot the victim in the face. McFadden claimed self-defense. She had also been found guilty of shooting Terry Smiley.

KILGORE – Two persons thought to be involved in felony offenses are being sought by Kilgore Police. The Facebook posting doesn’t say what crimes they may have committed. They are identified as Lyle “DJ” Lee, who is 36 years old and Kayla Joy Webster who is 21. Lee is 5’3 and weighs 125 lbs. He is heavily tattooed. Webster is 5’2 and weighs 100lbs. She has red hair and a piercing in her lip. Kilgore police says anyone who encounters either or both of them is urged to call 911. Continue reading Two Sought By Kilgore Police

TYLER — Longtime banker and civic leader Jeff Austin III wins this year’s Distinguished Citizen Good Turn Award from the East Texas Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Among other credentials, the vice chairman of Austin Bank NA is a TxDOT commissioner with a long history of Boy Scout involvement. Austin told KTBB, “Wow! What an honor. There are so many people that have received this award before me that are absolutely outstanding citizens.” One of those was his grandfather, Jeff Austin Sr. Austin III also notes, “I have learned a tremendous amount” from scouting. “They teach you how to use your resources, and those are principles that can be applied to any family, individual, or business.” Austin plans to keep right on serving his community, with a focus on banking, economic development — and, of course, Scouting. He’ll be honored with a luncheon October 23 at 11:30 a.m. at the Crosswalk at Green Acres Baptist Church.

GLADEWATER – Gladewater residents now have a safe way to dispose of their unwanted prescription drugs. The police department has installed a prescription drug drop box. It was provided by the Piney Woods Substance Abuse Coalition, which is funded by a grant from Texas Health and Human Services. The drugs deposited in the box will be incinerated through a partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration. According to data from the Regional Needs Assessment, published by the Prevention Resource Center in Longview, the rate of prescription drug abuse among 7 through 12th graders is higher in East Texas than the state average. The drug drop box at the Gladewater Police Department is a good way to combat prescription drug abuse as well as the opioid crisis.

LONGVIEW – The Gregg County Sheriff’s Department is looking for the person, or persons, who took two golf carts, belonging to a Gregg County church, on a joy ride. Both carts were extensively damaged in the joy ride between late Saturday night and Sunday morning. One suspect appears to be a young white or Hispanic male. The suspect’s vehicle is possibly a 2004 to 2008 Ford F-150 extended or crew cab pickup, with a white hardtop tonneau cover on the bed. The sheriff’s department is asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspects in the criminal mischief case. If you can help, call Gregg County Crimestoppers or the sheriff’s department.

SMITH COUNTY — One person is dead in a Smith County crash. The DPS says troopers responded around 7:16 Wednesday morning to FM 756 just north of FM 346, 3 miles west of Whitehouse in Smith County. Preliminary crash reports indicate that the driver of a 2006 Jeep, Keaton Pierce Conder, 18, of Tyler was traveling south on FM 756, crossed over the center line into northbound lane, and struck a 2002 Chevrolet 1500 pickup. The driver of the Chevrolet, John J. Talton, 62, of Whitehouse was pronounced at the scene. Conder was transported to a Tyler hospital in stable condition. The crash remains under investigation.

ARP — Some Arp-area people got a scare but little more Wednesday morning. The DPS says at approximately 7:28, troopers responded to an Arp ISD school bus that had slid off the roadway on CR 244 and CR 26 in Smith County. Troopers say children were not injured and arrangements were made to get them to their destination. No other vehicles were involved and the scene was cleared.

TYLER — A Tyler man has been booked into the Smith County Jail after police say he barricaded himself inside a vehicle. Rocky Lasiter, 57, has been charged with criminal trespass. Tyler police said around 7:45 Tuesday night, officers were patrolling the Fair Plaza Parking Garage at Elm and Broadway when they came across a man said to be loitering. As the officers approached the man, he barricade himself in a van, that was not his, and covered the windows in an attempt to hide. The standoff lasted more than an hour before police broke out a window and arrested him. Lasiter was not armed and no injuries were reported. He originally gave officers a false name and has also been charged with failure to identify.

EAST MOUNTAIN – A two vehicle accident in Upshur County has left one person dead and one slightly injured. It occurred on State Highway 300, just under 3 miles east of East Mountain around 4:30 Monday afternoon. The Department of Public Safety report says Ricardo Refugio Quezada, 25 of Gilmer was trying to drive across the road when he failed to yield the right of way and was hit by a car driven by Karen Yvette Wallace, 50 of Gilmer. Quezada died at a Longview hospital while Wallace was treated and released.

JACKSONVILLE – The Department of Public Safety has released the name of the victim of a fatal Cherokee County crash. Killed in the one vehicle accident was Brandon Steven Morton, 35, of Jacksonville. The initial reports shows his pickup left the road and ended up in a ditch where it hit a tree. The accident occurred shortly before 9:00 Sunday night on Farm Road 22, just over 3 miles southeast of Jacksonville.

JACKSONVILLE – Hundreds showed up for a Jacksonville meeting to get answers on their contaminated water. Representatives from the Craft Turney Water Supply Company and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality were on hand for the session. Our news partner KETK reports the public’s questions were often met with the boards inability to answer since the investigations is ongoing. One of the unanswered questions was how the chemical that caused the problem got into the water. Even though the water ban, which was issued October 3rd, has been lifted for most residents, there are some who are still under the do not use the water notice. And there is no time line when their water will be safe.

GLADEWATER – Police in Gladewater have charged two persons with the sexual assault of a child. Arrested Monday were Jessie Ray Sorrells, 33, of Gladewater, and Tiffany Diana LeBlanc, 36, of Longview. Sorrells is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child and LeBlanc is charged with continuous sexual abuse of a young child or children. The police say their investigation shows both suspects were present and both took part in the sexual assault of the same child. They say they have also learned that LeBlanc had been involved in the repeated sexual abuse of a child for several months before to this case was opened. Continue reading Two Charged in Child Sexual Assault Case

LONGVIEW – A Longview murder suspect is now back in Gregg County. Judicial records show Ladadrian Deontae King, 22, of Longview was booked into the Gregg County Jail on Monday. His bond has been set at $1,000,000. He was arrested in Mabank last week and had been held in the Kaufman County Jail. King was arrested in connection with the September 29th shooting death of Henry England Williams, 32. He was found wounded and sitting in a chair on his front porch on Clover Lane. He died nearly three hours later at a Longview hospital.

SMITH COUNTY — A two vehicle wreck on I-20 West has left three women dead. It happened around 4:20 Monday morning near the 557 mile marker, east of Lindale. According to the DPS report, a tractor trailer rig was parked on the shoulder when it was struck by a Jeep SUV, driven by Elizabeth Brewer, 36, of Grand Prairie. Brewer was transported to UT Health-Tyler were she was later pronounced dead. Two 16-year-old female passengers in the Jeep were pronounced at the scene. The operator of the truck, who was asleep in the sleeper cab, Joseph Allen Bettis, 31, of Milton, Florida was not injured. The wreck remains under investigation.

PALESTINE – The burglary of a Palestine convenience store is under investigation. It was reported just before 3:00 Monday morning at Kim’s Convenience Store on East Palestine Avenue. The ignition of a stolen pickup had been tampered with and driven through the front doors of the store. The rear end of the vehicle was still inside the store when officers arrived. It appears the suspects were trying to steal the store’s ATM machine, but the truck became high centered from the debris from the crash. Nothing appears to have been taken from the store.

HENDERSON – The Henderson School District has been the victim of a financial scam that has cost it over $600,000. Our news partner KETK reports the school district sent a direct electronic payment to RPR Construction Company. The company is overseeing work at the district’s former elementary school and high school stadium. Five days after the transfer it was discovered the money was actually transferred to a fraudulent account and not the RPR account. The investigation is now in the hands of the United State’s Secret Service. School superintendent Keith Boles says they will pursue every means to recoup the money and bring the criminals to justice. A local attorney told KETK, it was important to get the word our since the same thing could happen to other school districts.

NEW YORK – Sears filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday. They plan to close 142 unprofitable stores in the hopes that it can stay in business. At its peak, the operator of Sears and Kmart had 4,000 stores. Now, it will be left with a little more than 500. In September it was announced the Sears store in Tyler’s Broadway Square Mall will close its doors in December. In May, the mall received zoning approval from the city of Tyler to tear down the Sears building and replace it with new retail space. The store’s liquidation sale is now under way. With Monday’s filing, the company has secured $300 million in financing from banks to keep the operations going through bankruptcy. It’s also negotiating an additional $300 million loan from Lampert’s ESL Hedge fund.

ARP – An Arp volunteer fireman, injured in an August fire, is now back home. Chris Vannoy, 24, saw smoke coming from a shed behind a neighbor’s house. He called it in and then went to check on it. When he opened a door, the flames flashed around him. Vannoy, who is a Longview police officer and also an EMT, was airlifted to a Shreveport hospital with burns over 50% of his body. Our news partner KETK reports, Vannoy, who spent 53 days in the hospital, is now back home. The community has come together and helped raise over $20,000 for his medical expenses.

TYLER – Tyler has a new city librarian. Appointed to the post is Ashley Taylor. She is no stranger to the Tyler Public Library. For over 12 years she has served as the library’s Circulation Supervisor and Manager of the Library’s MakerSpace. And, since June, she has been servings as Interim City Librarian. She obtained her Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of North Texas and received a Bachelor’s degree from DeVry University. She says she is honored to be named to the post. And she reminds the community. the library is more than just books. She says they “circulate games, literacy kits, have STEM programming and so much more.”

SMITH COUNTY — Two people are dead following an early morning crash on Interstate 20. According to our news partner KETK, DPS Troopers were called to the scene near U.S. Highway 69 and Jim Hogg Road around 4:30 a.m. Troopers say a car ran into the back of a 18-wheeler, causing it to slide under. Two people in the car were pronounced dead at the scene. Troopers, Lindale Fire Department, Smith County Sheriff’s Office and EMS responded. One lane of westbound traffic on Interstate 20 was still shut down at last report.

FLINT – An argument about going to church has resulted in the death of a Smith County man and the arrest of his son. It occurred around 3:00 Sunday morning on County Road 1232 in Flint. Dead at the scene was Patrick Crowder, Sr., 46. Charged with his murder was Patrick Lerue Crowder Jr., 22. Witnesses say the two had been arguing about whether the son was going to church. The son is said to have gotten a knife from the kitchen and stabbed his dad. He is currently in the Smith County Jail under a $500,000 bond.

TYLER – TxDOT is planning to conduct a range of construction and maintenance work throughout the Tyler District during the week of Oct. 15. Nighttime pavement marking operations will continue for several weeks. The contractor is utilizing slow-moving mobile operations to install new pavement markings at locations around Tyler. Work will be conducted from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday nights until the work is completed. Brief delays are possible during this project. Go to https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/044-2018.html for a complete rundown of this week’s projects in the district.