KTBB News, Weather, Talk

JACKSONVILLE — Austin Bank was recently named one of the 2014 Best Companies to Work for in Texas. The bank was recognized and honored on Tuesday, April 1st at the Texas Association of Business Awards dinner in Austin. This is the sixth year for Austin Bank to receive this award. The awards program was created in 2006 and is a project of TEXAS MONTHLY, the Texas Association of Business (TAB), the Texas State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management (TSC-SHRM) and Best Companies Group. Companies from across the state entered the two-part process to determine the Best Companies to Work for in Texas. The 2014 list is comprised of 100 companies which benefit the state’s economy, its workforce and businesses. Austin Bank ranked #19 in the medium sized company category. Continue reading Austin Bank Named “One of 2014 Best Companies to Work for in Texas”

TYLER — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers arrested 40 convicted criminal aliens during a three-day operation which concluded Saturday, according to information from ICE. KETK reports the operation was conducted by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Fugitive Operations Teams in eight east Texas cities. Officials say it was “part of the agency’s commitment to prioritize the removal of criminal aliens and egregious immigration violators.” Continue reading Authorities: 40 Illegal Alien Criminals Arrested by ICE in East Texas

AUSTIN — The state is debating more regulations on chemical plants to prevent another tragedy like in West, Texas, almost a year ago. Among those weighing in is state Representative Dan Flynn of Van (pictured). State Fire Marshal Chris Connealy thinks a couple of simple moves would have been able to prevent last year’s accident. Connealy says if ammonium nitrate is to be kept in a combustible facility, fire sprinklers need to be placed in the facility. He says an alternative is to build a non-combustible storage bin. Flynn represents some plant owners who don’t want more regulations. He says, “We used to weld right outside where we stored this, and we haven’t had that many incidences.” There are currently 46 chemical facilities in Texas that house ammonium nitrate and are described as dangerous.

LONGVIEW — A Longview city staffer could be getting a pink slip next week. According to KETK, the City Council next week will vote on whether to fire Director of Development Services Kevin Cummings. City Manager David Willard recommended Cummings be fired for poor job performance. The recommendation comes just weeks after it was discovered Mark Adas worked as the city engineer for five years without a valid state engineering license. It was Cummings’s responsibility to verify Adas’s certifications.

TYLER — Electronic cigarettes and other vaping products will now be covered under Smith County’s smoking ordinance and will not be allowed inside Smith County buildings, nor within 50 feet of the county property entrances. According to KETK, citizens and employees who take part in the popular alternative to traditional tobacco use will now have to abide by the same policies as cigarette smokers and those who chew tobacco. Continue reading E-Cig Usage Banned in Smith Co. Buildings, near Property Entrances

SMITH COUNTY — A Missouri man is arrested on charges of aggravated child sexual assault. According to KETK, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office said, Bruce Alderman, 51, of Knox City, Missouri, was arrested Sunday after an investigation by the Whitehouse Police Department. Alderman has been accused of sexually assaulting a four-year-old child before fleeing to Missouri. He is being held in the Smith County Jail on $75,000 bond.

WHITEHOUSE — According to a WISD website update: Whitehouse High School faculty member, Holly Mann, a male WHS junior, and a female WHS sophomore, are all continuing to recover in a Houston hospital after the three vehicle accident Saturday night. The WHS junior, underwent one successful surgery Sunday and according to family members was set to undergo a second surgery Monday. Mann also underwent successful surgery Sunday on her leg. Continue reading WISD Students and Faculty Continue to Recover in Hospital

WHITEHOUSE – A Jacksonville police dispatcher has been killed in a one vehicle wreck in Smith County. She is identified as Amber King, 35, of Whitehouse. The accident occurred around 2:00 Monday afternoon on Mixon Road near its intersection with Yarbrough Lane near Whitehouse. She was pronounced dead at the scene after her car left the road and hit a tree.

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University engineering students won first place in robotics and in circuit design competition at the IEEE Region Five Robotics Competition recently in Corpus Christi, Texas. IEEE, which originally was an acronym for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, is an association of professionals dedicated to the advancement of technology. Other teams competing included the University of Texas at Austin, Rice University, Texas Tech University, University of Louisiana, Louisiana State University, University of Kansas, University of Houston, University of New Orleans, University of Missouri, South Dakota School of Mines and others from the states belonging to IEEE Region 5, which includes all of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado and parts of Wyoming, South Dakota, Illinois and New Mexico. Continue reading LETU Students Win Robotics and Circuit Design Competitions

LOVELADY (AP) — Surveys by National Weather Service teams have determined that damaging windstorms that swept parts of East Texas on Sunday were weak tornadoes. One of the tornadoes, which a survey team classified as of EF-1 strength, destroyed three mobile homes in the town of Lovelady. The Enhanced Fujita Scale describes an EF-1 as one of 73-113 mph capable of severely damaging outbuildings, tearing the roof from a weak wood-frame house and causing minor damage to a strongly built wood-frame house. Houston County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy G. P. Shearer says one woman was injured in the Sunday afternoon storm when three trees fell on her mobile home. An EF-0 tornado also spun across a highway 2 miles north of Pittsburg, causing billboard and roof damage.

TYLER — As of 9:00 this morning, South Beckham Avenue will be closed between Front Street and Line Street, to thru traffic, while the water department makes sewer repairs. Detour signs are being posted. South bound thru traffic will be detoured at Line Street east to Commerce Street, continuing east to Loop 323, south to Front Street, then west to the intersection of Beckham Avenue and Front Street. North bound traffic will be detoured at Front Street east to Loop 323, north to Commerce Street, then west to Line Street, continuing west to the intersection of Line Street and Beckham Avenue. The intersection of Beckham Avenue and West Erwin Street will be closed to all traffic. This street closure and detour shall remain in effect until further notice.

HALLSVILLE – A shooting in Hallsville has left a man dead. It happened shortly after 7:45 Monday morning at 541 Appaloosa Lane. Shot twice was Marc Mathison, 51. He was taken to Longview’s Good Shepherd Medical Center where he died just around 9:15 Monday morning. His girlfriend, identified as Carolyn Faye, is said to have called 911 to say she had shot Mathison and need an ambulance and sheriff’s deputies. The initial report was the woman acted in self- defense. The shooting remains under investigation. Continue reading Former Candidate for Mayor in Kilgore Shot to Death

LONGVIEW (AP) — Emails show that plans for a Ted Nugent concert in East Texas were canceled after the shock rocker drew criticism for calling President Barack Obama a “subhuman mongrel.” The Longview News Journal reported Sunday that emails between city officials show the concert was canceled a week after Nugent made headlines for divisive remarks that surfaced while he campaigned with Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott. The newspaper obtained the emails under open records laws. Nugent apologized for the Obama slur. But a few days later, a city official sent an email to employees saying that the Longview city manager’s office had ordered the concert canceled because of the comments. The city of Longview paid more than $16,000 to break off negotiations with Nugent.

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at other work planned in Smith County by the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

TYLER – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue base and pavement repairs on East Loop 323 between the Loop 323 Extension and Commerce Street.
Meanwhile, construction crews have resumed paving work on Farm Road 14 between North Loop 323 in Tyler and Interstate Highway 20. Motorists should expect long delays in this area.
Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates

SMITH COUNTY – A two vehicle accident in Smith County has killed two persons. The Department of Public Safety says the accident happened shortly before 4:45 Saturday afternoon on Interstate Highway 20, near U.S. Highway 271, about 8 miles north of Tyler. Dead at the scene was a Dallas couple, Eddie Eugene Allison, 47, and Kamesha Shardae Allison. The Department of Public Safety reports the accident occurred when the couple’s motorcycle hit the rear of a tractor-trailer rig. The truck had stopped because of another accident on the interstate.

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department says a missing snake has been found. They had been looking for a 16 foot long Burmese Python. It is similar to the one seen in the picture. The snake escaped from a home on Lynwood Lane. The snake was described as tan with brown spots and missing one eye. It was found in the attic of it’s home.

TYLER — Three seniors from John Tyler High School recently took first, second and third place honors at the Region 7 Texas Citizen Bee competition held in Kilgore. Under the direction of teacher Patty Tucker, DaVonte Wilson, 17, took first place, Jasinto Martinez, 17, placed second and Raul Olmos, 17, placed third in the competition. DaVonte will join first place winners from the other 19 regions across the state to compete in the State Citizen Bee Competition in Austin on Saturday, April 26. Continue reading Three John Tyler Students Competition Winners

MINEOLA — An East Texas man with alleged ties to the Mexican drug cartel is in the Wood County Jail after he was arrested during a drug interdiction stop. According to KETK, at approximately 9:00 p.m. Thursday, Wood County Sheriff’s Office investigators encountered and arrested Eric McQuilliams, 25, of Mineola on Highway 80 in Mineola. According to authorities, McQuilliams claimed to have ties with the cartel, and authorities say he admittedly is one of the largest dealers in the area. Continue reading East Texan with Alleged Ties to Mexican Cartel Arrested

TYLER — The 2014 Smith County Wide Clean Up event will be wrapping up today. Smith County citizens can bring trash and bulky items to the Greenwood Farms Landfill for free through midday Saturday. The county’s Environmental Crimes Unit, Sheriff’s Office, Precinct Constables, and Commissioners Court are working together to host the event, which kicked off March 31. Continue reading Smith County Wide Clean Up Nearly Over

TYLER — Tyler will once again be a host site for the worldwide Leadercast 2014 conference taking place on Friday, May 9. The Tyler venue will be the Green Acres Crosswalk Conference Center. The one day event is broadcast live from Atlanta, Georgia. This year’s theme, “Beyond You,” challenges leaders to focus outward rather than inward, according to press materials. “Leadercast is a top-quality learning opportunity and will benefit all who want to improve themselves and have a positive impact on others,” said Carroll Roge, president of Leadership Tyler. Continue reading Tickets on Sale Now for Leadercast 2014

LUFKIN (AP) – The Lufkin area’s “Panty Burglar” may have struck again. A burglary this week in Lufkin where, the only missing items are women’s or girl’s underwear, is at least the 17th such break-in over the past two years. The latest case believed to have occurred Tuesday is the first since December. Police spokesman Sgt. David Casper tells The Lufkin Daily News the owners of a home reported to police on Wednesday that all of the woman’s panties had been taken, including those waiting to be laundered. Both city police and Angelina County sheriff’s deputies have been at the home to check on similarities with the previous burglaries both in the city and the county. Casper says authorities still don’t know much more than that the underwear is gone.

GLADEWATER — A 45-year-old Gladewater man has been jailed after Gladewater police found 100 grams of methamphetamine. KETK reports that Wednesday morning, officers with the Gladewater Police Department began a project targeting specific locations allegedly involved in the trafficking of illegal narcotics. Police Chief Rob Vine said the specific locations were selected due to information being brought to the police department by citizens indicating these locations were in some way involved with the use or sale of drugs in the city. Officers from the Gladewater Police Department Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations Division, Administration, Litter Abatement, the Lake Warden, the School Resource Officer, the city’s Warrant Officer and two investigators from the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office were all involved in the project. Continue reading Man Jailed after Police Find 100 Grams of Meth

HENDERSON COUNTY — An East Texan accused of beating his wife to death in 2011 is back behind bars. Kelly Gage was booked in the the Henderson County Jail Thursday on charges of assault and family violence. According to KETK, Gage was accused of beating his wife, Patti, to death in a drunken rage on Thanksgiving Day. He was released after prosecutors couldn’t find enough evidence to convict him. Henderson County Jail staffers could not confirm if Thursday’s arrest is connected to to the 2011 incident. They did say Gage is set to be transferred to the Smith County Jail in the coming days.

BEN WHEELER — Van Zandt County authorities say an armed man was killed by a homeowner Wednesday night. According to a county press release, during the late night hours, the Sheriff’s Office and Precinct 4 Constable Pat Jordan responded to a shooting near Ben Wheeler. Upon arrival, sheriff’s investigators say they determined that around 10:30 p.m. an individual later identified as Michael Todd Brown, 40, of Canton, drove to the home, apparently got out of his vehicle, and began randomly shooting a 9mm handgun and threatening the homeowner. The homeowner advised deputies that Brown had been at the home earlier and had been instructed to leave the property and not return. Investigators believe Brown returned to the home intending to assault the homeowner. Continue reading Authorities: Homeowner Kills Armed Individual

WINONA — A home in Smith County burned to the ground early Thursday morning. At approximately 7:40 a.m. the Winona Volunteer Fire Department received a call concerning a mobile home engulfed in flames in the 16,000 block of County Road 3215 near Winona. According to KETK, when officials arrived on scene, the home was ablaze and was almost completely gone. The house was vacant, and no injuries were reported from the fire. The homeowner was staying at a family member’s house nearby. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

LONGVIEW — A 22-year-old Longview man has been arrested on charges of child sexual assault. KETK reports that according to Gregg County Jail records, J’Aaron Deevon Harvey was jailed Wednesday after a warrant was issued by Gregg County officials on April 1. According to the Longview Police Department, the pastor of Harvey’s church told authorities Harvey had sexually assaulted a child who is a church member. Harvey was awaiting arraignment at last report, but a bond of $150,000 was recommended.

QUITMAN — A Wood County jury has handed an East Texas man two life sentences in prison for aggravated sexual assault of a child. KETK reports William Jason “Pooh” Pugh was sentenced Wednesday. Jury selection began on April 7. The victim told the jury what were termed horrific details about “Uncle Bill” sexually assaulting her. As the trial unfolded, two other victims described sexual acts committed against them by Pugh. One child detailed four years of abuse, while the other described four different assaults. The jury returned the guilty verdicts in less than an hour. Continue reading Man Gets Two Life Sentences for Sexually Assaulting Children

WASHINGTON (AP/Staff) – Eleven Senate Democrats are urging President Barack Obama to approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline by the end of May. The senators say the five-year review of the Canada-to-Texas pipeline has been “exhaustive” and taken longer than reasonably justified. The letter sent Thursday says approval is needed to ensure the pipeline doesn’t miss another construction season. But politics is likely a larger factor. Six of the Democrats who signed the letter face challenges this year. They are Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Mark Begich of Alaska, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, John Walsh of Montana, Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Mark Warner of Virginia. Democratic efforts to keep control of the Senate could hinge on those races. The southern leg of the pipeline began pumping oil through East Texas and elsewhere in January.

TYLER – Tyler ISD broke ground Thursday on the new Boulter Middle School campus. The new school, which will be built on the grounds of the current campus, will feature nearly 150,000 square feet of state-of-the art learning space and is scheduled to be complete in the fall of 2015, according to officials. The project is part of the recently-passed $160.5 million TISD bond issue. Two other middle schools, a new Moore facility and a new campus in the Three Lakes area, are also included in the bond package.

TYLER — Ground was formally broken Wednesday on Tyler Junior College’s newest residence hall, at 1327 S. Baxter Ave. Slated to open in Fall 2015, the new residence hall will provide housing for 248 students, seven resident advisors, and a hall director, according to a TJC news release. Officials say the four-story, 68,000-square-foot structure will provide generous common spaces on the ground floor, including a campus plaza, lobby seating, game lounge, computer lab, dining area with a Chick-fil-A restaurant, and resident laundry facilities. The upper floors will be organized into two wings, or neighborhoods, each with its own small study nook and generous daylight exposure in common corridors, according to the release. Continue reading TJC Breaks Ground on New Residence Hall