KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in TxDOT’s Tyler District during the Week of May 28. In Smith County, crews will be conducting work on pavement edges on the Loop 323 Extension between Loop 323 and US 271, and then move the operation to SH 110N just north of FM 724. A second crew will address ditch maintenance on the south side of Loop 323 near Red Lobster, and various other locations. In Gregg County, crews are scheduled to conduct base repair work on US 80 between Gladewater and White Oak. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control at all work locations. Go to https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/021-2018.html for a full rundown of projects around the district.

GREGG COUNTY — Jury selection set for Tuesday in Gregg County has been canceled, the District Clerk’s Office reported. According to the Longview News-Journal, residents who received a summons to report Tuesday may disregard it. Their names will be reshuffled into the database for future jury service.

TYLER — Tyler police are continuing to search for a car thief. Officers said just before 3:30 Saturday afternoon, an 85-year-old woman was eating dinner at Yami Buffet, on Troup Highway, when her purse was stolen. A witness notified the woman. She checked the parking lot for her vehicle and realized it had bed stolen. The vehicle is described as a 2016 dark blue Kia Forte, “Surviving Spouse” License plate 8HC. The suspect was described as a Hispanic male, 5’4″, medium build, dressed in a blue t-shirt with white letters on the front. The male also wore tan cargo shorts and a gray base ball cap, backwards. The victim was not harmed. The incident is under investigation.

UPSHUR COUNTY — A Gladewater man has been indicted on a charge of capital murder in the fatal shootings of his ex-girlfriend and one of her sons in Upshur County. According to our news partner KETK, Joseph Lee Adkins, 53, was arrested March 6 in the death of Lisa Moore, 49, and her son, Dylan Moore, 19, at her home in the 1000 block of PR 1999 in the Gladewater-Union Grove area. Authorities say Adkins also wounded another of Moore’s sons. Investigators at the time said they suspected the homicides were connected to an ongoing domestic dispute between Adkins and the victims. Adkins remains in the Upshur County Jail under $2 million bond.

HENDERSON – A former Tatum police officer is being charged with second-degree sexual assault. Arrested Friday was Terry Lofties, 26. He is accused of assaulting a 60 year old woman. Pending an investigation, he was suspended from the police department when the complaint was filed earlier this month. He has since been fired from the department.

GILMER – An Upshur County man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the death of an 11 month old boy in March of last year. Javarrious Troy Kimeyan Dixon, 22, of Gilmer, pleaded guilty on Friday to injury to a child with a deadly weapon. The grand jury indictment said that Dixon “intentionally or knowingly” caused the death of 11-month-old Armani Troy Berrospe by “striking him on or about the head, face and neck with the hands, fists, arms or feet” or with an unknown object. The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office said in March, 2017, that deputies responded to a 911 call to Farm Road 2088 near Bettie in reference to an injured child. The child was taken to East Texas Medical Center-Pittsburg, where he later died from the injury. The autopsy report showed the boy died of “blunt force injury to the head.” .

TYLER – The Tyler school district is investigating a video that has turned up on the social media that shows a John Tyler teacher pushing a student. But the school district says the video may not show the whole story. According to a TISD statement, the preliminary investigation reveals the teacher was assaulted first, and the video doesn’t show the entire situation. The teacher has been put on administrative leave. And the district says the student will be disciplined according to the district’s code of conduct.

SMITH COUNTY – Motorists on Interstate Highway 20 are asked to be alert for wet conditions and a fatal accident. The two vehicle accident occurred on the west bound lanes near the 546 mile marker, near the Smith/Van Zandt County line. Expect traffic delays in the area. We will have more information when it becomes available.

LONGVIEW – In state district court in Longview Friday, a Kilgore man pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a child. Sentenced to 35 years in prison was Brigido Sanchez. He waived all rights to appeal. Sanchez, who was arrested in May of last year, also has an Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold for illegal entry into the United States from Honduras. According to investigators, the sexual abuse happened in 2015 when the victim was 12 years old and also in 2017 when the victim was 13 years old.

CORSICANA – The state representative whose district covers the Palestine area, is asking the governor to call a special session this summer on school safety. The request comes from State Representative Byron Cook. The request comes in the wake of the school shooting at Santa Fe. In his letter to the governor, Cook says he commends the governor on the school safety roundtables that have started. But he says much more must be done. Cook says, if we act now, “we can implement state policy and appropriate funding to ensure that our schools will be safer before the next school year begins.” The letter was sent to the governor the first of this week.

MARSHALL – The East Texas Baptist University Enactus Team has partnered with the Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) clients at Marshall’s Community Healthcore (CHC) center to create a soap-making company. It is called the Heavenly Scents Soap Company. The students developed a marketing plan, obtained initial funding, created a website, and trained IDD clients to make artisanal glycerin and goats milk-based soap lines. They sell their produce to the public through craft shows, boutiques, and an online store. The company currently offers Lavender Goat’s Milk Soap Bars, Strawberry Vanilla Soap Bars, and Vanilla Goat’s Milk Soap Bars for $7.00 each. All profits go back into Heavenly Scents Soap Co., benefiting IDD clients at CHC. You can go to http://www.heavenlyscentsoap.com to learn more about the product.

ATHENS – Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said 21-year-old Matthew Shane Hatchcock of Tool was caught with two stolen dirt bikes after midnight Thursday when he tried to sell one to a buyer who suspected they might be stolen. After seeing a bike-for-sale advertisement, a would-be buyer met the seller, and he noticed another bike that he knew to be stolen from a friend two years earlier, according to Hillhouse. The Tool Police Department was notified, and the Sheriff’s Office staked out the building where the bikes were located. Hillhouse says When confronted, Hatchcock, confirmed he was the owner. Both bikes were reported stolen – one in Tool and the other in Anderson, Indiana. Hatchcock was charged with theft of property between $2,500 and $30,000, and the vehicles were confiscated.

TYLER — A Tyler man has been arrested after police say he fired a gun at his girlfriend. Kendarius Gray, 21, was arrested around 2:00 this morning and charged with aggravated assault. Officers responded to a home off Hwy 69 on a report of shots fired. The victim said she was arguing with her boyfriend, Gray, at a location off 26th Street when he started shooting at her. She was not injured and fled the scene in her vehicle. Her back window was shot out. Officers located Gray a short time later at his mother’s home in Tyler. He was booked into the Smith County Jail.

TYLER – Following the action of the city’s planning and zoning commission, the Tyler City Council has approved some big changes for the Broadway Square Mall. The changes would add nearly 118,000 square feet of new retail space to the property. The plan calls for adding restaurants on outlying sections of the property, along South Broadway, changing the parking layout and adding three retail stores on the south side of the mall. Also included in the changes is the demolition of the building where Sears is located and rebuilding it smaller.

TYLER – Tyler Sister Cities installed Peace Pole in the Tyler Rose Garden. It displays the message, “May Peace Prevail on Earth,” and highlights the international cities that have established formal collaborations with Tyler. The pole stands about six feet high and lists six Sister Cities and points in the direction of each country and provides the distance you would have to travel to reach each city. More peace poles will be placed around the city, as funding allows.The Tyler Sister Cities program began in 1982 through efforts of former UT Tyler President Dr. George Hamm. Continue reading Peace Pole Added to the Rose Garden

TYLER – With the help of a state grant, extra police patrols will be out in Tyler over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, starting Friday. The additional patrols are targeting DWI drivers and seat belt violations. Police spokesman Don Martin says a suspected drunk driver will be asked to submit to a breath test. If they refuse, officers will obtain a search warrant signed by a judge on call to have blood drawn by a nurse on staff at the Smith County Jail. Officers will also be watching to make sure all occupants are properly restrained with a seat belt. That includes those in the back seat. The extra patrols will be on the street through Monday.

HENDERSON – Rusk County authorities are asking for the public’s help in locating a man accused of beating a child. The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office says he is Raheem Marshall, 25. He is wanted for injury to an 18 month old child. Marshall is described as a black male around 5’8 weighing around 155 pounds. He was last seen in the Carthage area. If you know where he can be found, you are asked to contact the Rusk County Sheriff’s Department.

TYLER – TISD has announced its valedictorians and salutatorians from the 2018 graduating class. Emmanuel Daniels is the Valedictorian at John Tyler High School and Cody Olson is the Valedictorian at Robert E. Lee High School. The salutatorians are Bryce Holloway at John Tyler High School; and Kamal Bains at Robert E. Lee High School. John Tyler High School will graduate on Friday, June 1 at 7:30pm. Robert E. Lee High School will graduate on Saturday, June 2 at 7:30pm. Continue reading TISD Valedictorians and Salutatorians

TYLER – It appears as if smoking in bed was responsible for a Tyler fire death. On May 18th, the body of Shirley Bradshaw, 71, was found in her bed in her home on East Second Street. Her bed was on fire. Tyler Fire Fire Marshal Paul Findley said it was determined the fire started at the foot of her bed and was most likely caused by improperly disposed of smoking materials. She had limited mobility and disposed of the items by throwing them on the floor. There were numerous cigarettes and matches found in the area where the fire started. The preliminary autopsy report showed she died from smoke inhalation.

ARP – An East Texas elementary school counselor has been indicted on two counts of improper relationship between a student and educator and two counts of sexual assault of a child. According to our news partner KETK, Barbara Orpineda, 32, of Arp, was indicted May 17 in the 241st Judicial District Court of Smith County. Orpineda was arrested in October by the Arp Police Department. At the time, she was a counselor at Arp Elementary School. Arp ISD officials confirmed to KETK in October that a staff member had been placed on administrative leave following allegations of an improper relationship with a student.

ANGELINA COUNTY — Angelina County authorities have identified a body found in a wooded area last weekend. According to our news partner KETK, the body has been identified as Joseph Todd Basham, 45, of Angelina County. He was found off Willie Nerren Road Saturday. Basham had been previously reported as a missing person. A news release from Angelina County Sheriff Greg Sanches said preliminary autopsy results indicate no foul play but further forensic testing is being done. Investigators say further test results may shed light on the exact cause of death.

LONGVIEW – An investigation of mail in ballots in Gregg County is underway. County officials announced the investigation during a mid day news conference on Wednesday. The investigation is over the large number of mail-in ballots cast in the Pct. 4 commissioner’s race. Over 800 mail in ballots were received. Because of the mail in vote, Shannon Brown defeated former Longivew City Councilwoman Kasha Williams by 5 votes. A voter in the precinct, the Rev. D.J. Nelson, has filed a complaint with the Secretary of State’s Office and the state is investigating.

SMITH COUNTY — At least three people are dead following a four-vehicle accident that caused hours of traffic tie-ups on Interstate 20 in Smith County between Highway 155 and FM 2015. According to DPS, preliminary crash reports indicate that the driver of a car was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of traffic around 1:00 Wednesday morning. The Oldsmobile struck a pickup towing a flatbed trailer in the eastbound inside lane. At the same time, the driver of a truck tractor towing a semi-trailer, also traveling eastbound, took evasive action to the right and then left to avoid the collision. That action caused the truck and towed semi-trailer to cross the center median and overturn in the westbound lanes, where it was struck by a westbound truck tractor towing a tanker trailer. Continue reading Triple Fatality Ties Up Part of I-20 for Hours

LONGVIEW – Several East Texas youth are among the finalists for the 2018 youth blues guitar competition at the Big Pines Blues Festival Junior Showcase in Longview. The finalists will will face off in head-to-head competition to determine winners in two age groups on Saturday afternoon, May 26, on the Heritage Plaza stage. Among the Junior Showcase contestants in Grades 6 through 8 are Ethan Rivers, 11, of Athens; Austen Walls, 12, of Chandler; and Cody Lattis, 13, of Murchison. The grade 9-12 hopefuls include Grant McInnis, 16, Bullard. Continue reading Blues Festival Junior Showcase Finalists Announced

MARSHALL – A Longview man is free on bond following a fatal weekend accident in Harrison County. The accident also injured two persons, including a Smith County woman. Brian Keith Woods, 48, is accused of hitting three pedestrians who had stopped to help a driver parked on the side of the road. The accident happened around 12:30 Saturday morning on Interstate Highway 20 near Marshall. A Shreveport, Louisiana woman was killed in the accident. The two, who were injured, are hospitalized in Shreveport in serious condition. One of them is Sherri Beeson, 41, of Winona. Woods is facing charges of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle and two counts of intoxication assault with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury.

AUSTIN – Gregg County is one of 31 governmental entities and nonprofit organizations in the state getting a grant from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. They will be sharing in the $15 million grant funds. According to a state news release, the grants will fund community programs to expand treatment, promote recovery and improve quality of life for persons with mental illness. Examples of expanded treatment and services include supported housing, coordinated jail release, behavioral health services in schools and peer support services.

LUFKIN (AP) – An East Texas minister and his family have been sentenced to federal prison for using hurricane relief funds to pay for personal expenses and fund their Jasper church. Walter Diggles, the former executive director of the Deep East Texas Council of Governments, was sentenced Tuesday in Lufkin to 9 years. The 66-year-old was also ordered to pay more than $1.3 million in restitution. His wife and daughter, Rosie and Anita Diggles, were each sentenced to more than four years and ordered to pay about $970,000 in joint restitution. Walter Diggles and his wife were convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and money laundering in August 2017. Their daughter was convicted of a conspiracy charge. Trial evidence shows that the Diggles defrauded federal authorities out of recovery funds intended for hurricanes Rita, Katrina, Ike and Dolly.

LONGVIEW — Longview police arrest a 30-year-old Fort Worth man after he reportedly pointed a gun at a fast food employee. According to the Longview News Journal, Clarence Leatch was released from Gregg County Jail on Tuesday on a $53,000 bond. Police said Leatch pulled a hand gun out of his center console in a Whataburger drive-thru because an employee said he would have to pay for two biscuits. He was charged with aggravated robbery, unlawful carrying of a weapon, possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana and possession of less than a gram of a controlled substance.

TYLER – The Democratic Party runoff election for governor was the only item on the ballot in Smith County on Tuesday. The contest is between former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez and Houston businessman Andrew White, the son of former governor Mark White. With 65 of the 73 precincts reporting in the county, the unofficial returns shows Andrew White with 569 votes to 511 votes for Lupe Valdez.