KTBB News, Weather, Talk

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Court records indicate that the owner of a Brownsboro, Texas, security firm might plead guilty in a case accusing him of plotting with a New Orleans police commander to get kickbacks from a hurricane security contract. Both Joseph Branch of Gladius Inc. and police Capt. Michael Roussel are scheduled for trial March 28, but records show Branch has a change of plea hearing scheduled March 10. The Times-Picayune reports that both pleaded not guilty on Friday to federal wire fraud in a six-count indictment that replaces a single count handed up in June. The five new counts involve alleged statements in e-mails and a phone call. The men are charged with scheming to inflate a contract with Entergy Services Inc. – one eligible for Federal Emergency Management Administration coverage.

LONGVIEW — Police in Longview say a woman left children alone in a vehicle Friday and now faces charges. Around 10:21 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 2400 Block of Gilmer Road for an assist child call. Upon arrival officers were informed by several witnesses that a small child was found wandering around in the busy parking lot of the location. Officers located the mother of the child, identified as Angela Denise Massengill, 27, of Gladewater. Officers say they also determined that Massengill had left her other two children inside the truck located in the parking lot of the location. Officers say that after further investigation, they determined that Ms. Massengill had gone in and out of the store several times and not carried the children inside the location with her. Massengill was arrested for abandoning/endangering a child with intent to return, a state jail felony.

TYLER — The Tyler Fire Department responded to a two-alarm structure fire Friday at 1:24 p.m. at 1514 N. Dargan. Five engines and one Ladder Company, along with a district chief and an investigator, responded to the scene. The occupants were not home at the time of the fire. Three pets were rescued by firefighters. The fire was contained to one bedroom and a closet area. There were no injuries reported. Units cleared the scene around 2:20 p.m. The fire remains under investigation.

TYLER — No injuries reported as the Tyler Fire Department responded to a two-alarm structure fire at 11:59 p.m. Thursday at 1612 N. Confederate. Five engines and one Ladder Company, along with a district chief and an investigator, responded to the scene. The owner arrived home to find the structure filled with smoke. Investigators determined that the fire originated near a wall outlet where a space heater was plugged in. The fire spread inside the wall space and gained access into the attic. Units cleared the scene around 1:30 a.m. Friday.

TYLER – Though snowy weather has cleared out, motorists still need to be especially careful. Tyler police report the city started experiencing worsening road conditions as a result of the cold temperatures and overnight snowfall. By early Friday, between one and two inches of snow was reported to be present on the roadways with possible ice build-up around bridges and overpasses. Due to these conditions the roadways became very slick with poor traction control, making it difficult to steer and/or brake. City of Tyler Street Department personnel were notified and dispatched to help sand and clear the roadways to prevent further ice and snow build-up.

Major roadways have cleared up considerably. But some stretches are slick, especially intersections and hills, causing a lack of traction. Tyler Police say motorists have been getting stuck at the intersections and on hills. They still advise you to stay off the roads. Police have been working numerous calls for service due to the inclement weather. Officers said Friday if you are involved in a collision, the Tyler Police Department will only respond if there are injuries, vehicles are not able to be moved, or a street sign or traffic light has been damaged. All other motorists who are involved in a collision may come by the police station at a later date and pick up a “Blue State Collision Report.”

TXDOT Public Information Officer Larry Krantz says roads surrounded by trees, which don’t receive direct sunlight, can be the most dangerous, as well as roads with a water run-off nearby.

Krantz also says the following roads can typically be the most dangerous in our area:
*Interstate 20 at 69.
*I-20 at Highway 54 in Van Zandt.
*Loop 49 at Farm Road 2493.
*State Highway 154.
*US 69 Railroad overpass in Jacksonville

TYLER – Tyler police are investigating the robbery of Mazzio’s Pizza at 405 West Front. An employee told officers a black male wearing a blue-jean coat entered the business wearing a ski mask just before 8:15 Thursday night. The suspect was about 6 feet tall and weighed around 190 pounds. He demanded the money from the cash register and showed the woman what she believed to be a handgun in his jacket pocket. She opened the cash register and the suspect reached over the counter and took an undetermined amount of cash. No injuries were reported.

LONGVIEW – The Superintendent of the Pine Tree School District is stepping down. Dr. Marian Strauss has announced her resignation, which is effective at the end of March. She said she is resigning to take care of her aging parents, who live in Central. Strauss has been school superintendent since 2009. She took over the position after former superintendent Lynn Whitaker resigned.

EAST TEXAS – Due to continued cold weather and snow on the ground, there are a number of closings, cancellations, and schedule changes around the area:

All Tyler Junior College classes and activities scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 5, have been canceled, with the exception of men’s and women’s basketball games in Wagstaff Gym. Cancellations include all credit and continuing education classes, all academic and support service functions for all campuses and sites, and use of the Ornelas Health & Physical Education Center and the Vaughn library. The TJC vs. Paris Junior College basketball games will take place in Wagstaff Gym, but they have been moved back one hour to provide for additional travel time. The men’s game will begin at 3 p.m.; the women’s game at 5 p.m.

Trane — new hire orientations re-scheduled for Saturday, noon and 2 p.m.
Angelina College — Saturday events will continue as usual.

The John Tyler High basketball games against Whitehouse have been rescheduled for Saturday, February 5 as follows:
Boys are at Whitehouse: 9th grade will play at noon
JV will play at 1:30 p.m.
Varsity will play at 3:00 p.m.
Girls are at John Tyler High School: JV game begins at 2:00 p.m.
Varsity to follow

The Robert E Lee High School basketball games that were re-scheduled for Saturday, February 5, have been cancelled until Monday, February 7. The games originally scheduled for Tuesday night, February 8, will now move to Wednesday, February 9.

Weather continues to alter the UT Tyler basketball schedule for the weekend. Saturday’s games at Mississippi College have now been moved to Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. in Clinton. The games against Louisiana College, moved from Thursday to Monday, may also be rescheduled.

The Best Chocolate Dessert Contest in East Texas, which had been scheduled for Saturday at the Senior Citizens Center on Garden Valley Road in Tyler, has been canceled.

Here’s an update on City of Tyler services:
The airport is reporting success in clearing the primary runway, and they got busy on the secondary runway Friday. Travelers are advised to consult with their airline for the latest flight information.

The show goes on for tonight at LeTourneau University’s S.E. Belcher Jr. Chapel and Performance Center. The “Celebrate Jesus Tour” featuring Guy Penrod and other Christian singers and artists will be held as scheduled.

This list will be updated when additional information is received.

RUSK – Rusk Rural Water has issued a boil water notice for customers in the following areas: FM 1857, FM 23, FM 752, FM 241, Highway 69 South, and any roads that feed off those main roads. That’s according to our news partner KETK. Keep checking ktbb.com for further updates.

TYLER – Two East Texas men have pleaded guilty to possessing stolen mail in the Eastern District of Texas. Nicholas Adam Hale, 22, of Kilgore, and Justin Eric Yanez, 23, of Troup, pleaded guilty to possessing stolen mail Thursday in Tyler before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.

According to prosecutors, on Nov. 12, 2010, Hale and Yanez drove to various locations in and around Whitehouse, Texas and removed mail from private mail receptacles. The mail which they stole contained checks written in various amounts and 20 DVD movies, among other items. According to authorities, an observant Whitehouse resident notified the Whitehouse Police Department of Hale’s and Yanez’s suspicious activities, which led to their arrest that same day. Hale admitted to committing other postal thefts in East Texas in November and December 2009. Hale and Yanez face up to five years in federal prison. Sentencing dates have not been set.

TYLER – Habitat for Humanity of Smith County, Buffalo Wild Wings of Tyler and KTBB Radio have joined forces to throw one of Tyler’s biggest Big Game parties. The event will raise money to ensure that Habitat continues its mission of eliminating substandard housing by building and repairing homes for people in need. The event will take place on Sunday, February 6, at Tyler’s Buffalo Wild Wings, 7916 South Broadway Avenue. In addition to watching the Packers and Steelers on the restaurant’s giant screens, customers can purchase $5 raffle tickets and have the opportunity to win great prizes. KTBB’s sportscaster Jamie Lent will be the evening’s MC and will raffle off prizes throughout the game.

“One reason we believe this event is going to be a success is because of the support of local businesses,” said Deanna Harrison, Habitat’s Director of Development. “Adams Furniture and Appliance donated a 42-inch LG Plasma HD TV for our grand prize. Zales and Murphey the Jeweler have donated beautiful necklaces, and we have a fabulous leather recliner from Adams Furniture that was donated by one of Habitat’s most faithful supporters. And Tanner Todd from Fnc Ponds Stone and Grass will be creating a Rock Bubbler for some lucky winner’s office or home.”

In addition to being the site of the fundraising event, Buffalo Wild Wings will be donating to Habitat for Humanity 10% of their proceeds from the sale of food and drink. They have also contributed items for the raffle drawing such as a golf bag, a cooler with iPod dock, and outdoor chairs.

TYLER — An Anderson County woman has pleaded guilty in Tyler to federal drug trafficking. Andrea Rachelle Bailey, 31, of Palestine, pleaded guilty yesterday to possession with intent to distribute phencyclidine, also known as PCP, when she appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love. She faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the violation. A sentencing date has not been set. Charges are still pending against her co-defendant Sterlynn Jeremiah Henry.

Federal prosecutors say on October 7, 2009, Bailey and Henry, were found to be in possession of a mixture containing a detectable amount of PCP, which they intended to distribute in East Texas. The two were indicted by a federal grand jury on December 1, 2010.

TYLER — Beginning February 3rd, elementary school students of the Tyler Independent School District are selling discount cards to raise money for their campuses and the Tyler ISD Foundation. Again this year, Great American Opportunities Company, represented by Gene Howard of Longview, will organize the fundraiser for the campuses. George Roberts, executive director of the Northeast Texas Public Health District, is the first customer to purchase a card; he made the purchase from Larry Goddard, Tyler ISD Foundation Executive Director.

“This fundraising opportunity gives each elementary campus a chance to raise private dollars for campus projects as well as support the Tyler ISD Foundation which funds teacher grants, teacher and student recognition and other programs not typically funded by tax dollars,” said Goddard. “Our students get involved with the process of raising dollars to support the programs and projects that are innovative and vital to an outstanding education.”

According to Goddard, proceeds of the sales of the card will go to the discretionary use of the principals at each participating elementary school and the area of greatest needs as determined by the Tyler ISD Foundation Board of Directors. Discount cards may be purchased at all Tyler ISD elementary campuses as well as the Tyler ISD Administration Building, located at 1319 New Sunnybrook, in Tyler. Information can be obtained by emailing [email protected] or calling the Foundation Office (903) 266-9805 or 9806.

TYLER — A biomedical researcher at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler has been awarded a $377,500 grant from the National Institutes of Health to study how and why the lung scars. Hua Tang, Ph.D., will use the two-year grant to study a specific protein – protein kinase D (PKD) – and its role in lung scarring. PKD appears to direct the lung cells to form scars, but it’s unclear how it does so.
According to a UTHSCT news release, his research could lead to new ways to effectively treat lung scarring, a chronic and progressive disease that kills about 40,000 Americans each year, according to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.

“It is a rare disease, but very dangerous. Only 20 percent of those diagnosed with lung scarring are alive five years after diagnosis,” Dr. Tang said. Currently, the only effective treatment for lung scarring is a lung transplant, said UTHSCT Vice President for Research Steven Idell, MD, Ph.D. And lung transplants last on average just five or 10 years. “There’s a need for better treatment. Scientists like Dr. Tang will lead the way in developing these treatments,” Dr. Idell said.

LONGVIEW — Aggravated sexual assault charges are filed against a Gregg County inmate. Investigators say Cheyene Thomas, 19, admitted to having sex with a 13-year-old girl on at least 2 dozen occasions at the girl’s home in Longview. Thomas has been in jail since November on other charges, including theft in Kerr County.