KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LINDALE — A Smith County house has been destroyed fire. According to the Lindale Fire Department, the blaze erupted at the two-story home located in the 13,000 block of Farm to Market Road 724 just after 4:00 yesterday morning. Lindale, Van and Dixie firefighters all responded to the scene. Officials tell KETK the residents were able to escape unharmed and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

TYLER — Texas Senator Ted Cruz says he wants to repeal every word of Obamacare. His comment came in a Tyler stop yesterday. He told supporters his top priority is restoring jobs and economic growth. He said that is also the top priority for people of Tyler and East Texas as will as the entire lone star state. Cruz predicted 2014 would be a good year for Republicans. “I believe we’re gonna take control of the senate, we’re gonna retire Harry Reid as majority leader and the reason is simple, the Obama economic agenda isn’t working.” According to Cruz, This is an administration that’s violating the Constitution and that’s lawless. We need to get back to the principles that made our country strong.”

LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been arrested after being accused of stealing an item from the Kohls and pulling a knife on a store employee. A store employee is said to have seen Ralph Ivan Hunt, 44, put a charger in his pocket and leave the store without paying for it. When an employee asked Hunt to come back inside the store, he is said to have pulled a large knife and swung it at the employee. He then ran away. Hunt was arrested a short distance away and booked into the Gregg County Jail on a charge of aggravated robbery. His bond was set at $25,000.

FOPT WORTH (AP) — A water board in North Texas has approved a nearly $93 million construction contract as part of a pipeline project. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports the Tarrant Regional Water District board on Tuesday approved the agreement with Garney Construction. The $2.3 billion pipeline is meant to transport water from East Texas. The 149-mile pipeline will transport water to Tarrant County from Cedar Creek and Richland-Chambers reservoirs. It will also move water to Dallas from Lake Palestine. Experts say the first portion of the project is expected to be completed by 2018.

DALLAS (AP) — A Northeast Texas woman has given birth to quintuplets at a Dallas hospital. The Texarkana Gazette reports that Michelle Seals of Maud had the four girls and one boy Tuesday afternoon at Baylor University Medical Center via cesarean section. The children’s grandmother, Carol Pearce, says her daughter and all five babies are doing well. Officials at Baylor University Medical Center declined to immediately provide details of the births, saying a hospital statement would be released later Wednesday. Steven Seals says he and his wife have names picked out for the quintuplets but will have to decide what name fits which baby. The Seals also have a 2-year-old son.

NACOGDOCHES — A Rusk County man was arrested Tuesday morning after allegedly sending numerous text messages threatening to blow up the Nacogdoches County Courthouse and Sheriff’s Office, and to harm the sheriff. According to KETK, Sheriff Jason Bridges said he started receiving personal text messages on his private phone about two weeks ago from an unidentified number. The messages were random and it appeared the caller had the wrong number. The caller was advised several times to stop texting. Bridges says on Wednesday morning at about 5:00 a.m., the text messages started becoming very threatening, and a threat was made to use a bomb at the sheriff’s office. Continue reading Man Arrested for Alleged Threats against Courthouse, Sheriff, Sheriff’s Office

TYLER — Tyler mayoral candidate Martin Heines has been endorsed by the Tyler Professional Firefighters Association and the Tyler Patrolman’s Association. Heines served until recently on the City Council. There’s no word on any endorsements for his opponent, newcomer Joel Rando. Election day is May 10, with early voting taking place from April 28 through May 6.

TYLER — Tyler Police Officer Jason Seeton remains in East Texas Medical Center with a broken foot, broken rib, and back injury following a Tuesday accident. According to an update from Tyler police, “We would like to thank the community for their concerns and prayers for his welfare.” Accident investigators concluded that the other driver, 75-year-old Donald Blevins of Arp, was at fault in the accident; he was issued a citation for failure to control speed. Tuesday morning just before 8:30, officers responded after Seeton was struck from behind in the 2500 block of Calloway Road by Blevins’s pickup, which was traveling westbound. Police say Seeton is a 21-year veteran with the department and has been a motorcycle officer for 15 years.

TYLER — Standard and Poor’s (S&P) announced that it has reaffirmed the city of Tyler’s AAA bond rating using its new, more rigorous criteria. “The City has worked very hard for many years to maintain our AAA bond rating,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel (pictured). “This is the highest rating possible, and is a testament to our fiscal discipline.” Continue reading Tyler’s AAA Bond Rating Reaffirmed

TYLER — A Kansas man is facing sexual assault charges in Tyler after officials say he had sex with an underage girl multiple times. According to the Smith County District Attorney’s Office, Matthew Howell, 26, contacted a 16-year-old East Texas girl via Internet and came all the way to Tyler to meet her. Howell reportedly gave the teen presents along with allegedly engaging in the sex crimes. KETK reports Howell faced computer crime charges in Kansas for alleged online crimes with the teenager as well. The suspect was indicted on October 10, 2013, and jury selection for his trial began Tuesday in the Smith County 7th Judicial Distinct Court.

MARSHALL — The ex-boyfriend of an East Texas woman is behind bars on over $1 million bond after he was arrested in connection with her disappearance and murder. On Tuesday at approximately 10:20 p.m., the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney Coke Solomon’s office recovered the body of Alicia Benefield after suspect Rodris Webster led investigators to that location, according to authorities. KETK reports the location where Benefield’s body was found is near the intersection of Farm to Market Road 31 and Elysian Fields Road in Marshall. Continue reading Bonds Set at over $1 Million in Teen’s Death

TYLER – A Smith County Sheriff’s Office jail sergeant has resigned after being arrested late Tuesday afternoon on charges of aggravated assault against family/violence with a firearm. Reginald Dwayne Clark, 46, of Flint, was arrested at his residence on Maggie Circle after a 911 call reporting a disturbance at the home. Smith County Sheriff’s Office personnel responded and determined that Clark had used a weapon to hit his wife and then discharged his weapon during the incident, according to a news release. It is not believed that the weapon was directed at anyone when it was fired. Clark was booked into the Smith County Jail on a $100,000 bond set by Precinct 2 Judge Gary Alfred. Clark posted bond about 9:30 Tuesday night and was released. Continue reading Smith County Jail Sergeant Resigns Following Arrest

SCOTTSVILLE — The identity of two bodies found in East Texas has been revealed. At approximately 6:30 Tuesday night, Harrison County deputies were dispatched to an address at 113 Sugar Creek in Scottsville after receiving a call from a relative of the family concerning the discovery of a body inside the home. According to KETK, upon arrival at the residence, deputies found Dudley Taylor, II, 50, and Pamela Taylor, 47, dead from gunshot wounds. A weapon was located and retrieved as evidence. Continue reading Two Found Dead in Harrison County Identified

WASHINGTON (AP/Staff) – Federal authorities say they’ve arrested 14 people in connection with an online child exploitation network, and KETK reports that according to officials, four of the victims were from Tyler. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson says the investigation disrupted a subscription-based website of more than 27,000 members who were involved in producing and distributing child pornography images. The network involved roughly 250 child victims in 39 states and five countries. Most were boys between the ages of 13 and 15.

TYLER — Two suspects are in custody and some stolen property has been recovered in Smith County after a building was burglarized. At 10:30 Tuesday morning, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office received a call reporting that two men were burglarizing the structure on County Road 171. A neighbor confronted the individuals and they fled. The neighbor was able to provide a description of the men and their pickup. As deputies arrived to investigate, a second call was received from Tyler Iron and Metal, located on North Loop 323. An employee of the business was suspicious of two men as they attempted to sell scrap metal. When the employee requested identification, the men fled from the business. Continue reading Two In Custody after Building Burglarized

TYLER — Smith County authorities say numerous cases, in Texas and elsewhere, have been solved with two recent burglary arrests. On March 13th, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office arrested Winston Barnes, age 25, and Steven Prior (pictured), age 35, for allegedly attempting to break into an ATM at Kelly Federal Credit Union on Highway 31 West. Tuesday, the Sheriff’s Office announced that as a result of a search warrant served on Prior’s residence and vehicle, several burglary cases have been linked to Barnes and Prior and a wealth of property has been recovered. Continue reading Officials: Numerous Cases Solved with Burglary Arrests

TYLER — Starting yesterday, there are lane closures on Tyler’s Grande Boulevard from Old Jacksonville Highway to Hollytree Drive in preparation for paving. The asphalt overlay is planned to begin Thursday and continue through Saturday, weather permitting. There will be lane closures in both directions as traffic is routed around the work areas. Access to connecting side streets may also be limited at times as crews pave across intersections. Citizens should expect delays and may want to consider alternate routes if possible.

HOUSTON (AP/Staff) – A federal appeals court has rejected an appeal from a 44-year-old Smith County man condemned for the slaying of an auto mechanic during a robbery in Tyler more than a decade ago. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling late Monday moves Gregory Russeau a step closer to execution for the fatal beating of 75-year-old James Syvertson at his shop. His wallet and car were stolen. Russeau was arrested the next day in Longview in the stolen car. Russeau’s initial death sentence was thrown out on appeal and he was sentenced a second time. He unsuccessfully argued his trial legal help was deficient, that trial prosecutors used planted evidence and lawyers at his second punishment trial had a conflict because they also represented him at his first trial.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man is free on bond after a reported act of jealousy allegedly led to him ramming his vehicle into another. According to the Longview Police Department, James Talley Stone, 40, was arrested early Sunday morning in the 1000 block of McCann Road after authorities say he rammed his car repeatedly into the back of another car. Police tell KETK that two men sat inside the car, one of whom Stone said was dancing with his ex-girlfriend. Officials say Stone even tried to run over one of the men when they got out of their car. Stone was booked into the Gregg County Jail on one charge of assault with a deadly weapon but was released the same day as his arrest on $15,000 bond.

GLADEWATER — Gladewater School District Athletic Director and head football coach Jerrod Baugh has resigned. He had been on administrative leave following a DWI arrest back in January. His resignation was accepted by the school board at a Monday night meeting. Baugh has been the Bears head coach since 2010. Defensive coordinator John Berry was named interim head football coach and Athletic Director following Baugh’s arrest.

MARSHALL — The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office continues to search for a missing 19-year-old girl in deep East Texas, and officials have now named a person of interest. KETK reports authorities are looking for Alicia Benefield, 19, who was reported missing on Friday, March 14, at 4:30 a.m. Benefield was last seen leaving 5161 Old Town Road in Elysian Fields after an argument with an occupant at that home. Officials have identified Rodris Webster as a person of interest, not a suspect, said Investigator Jay Webb. Webster was interviewed on Sunday and released. Continue reading Person of Interest Named in Missing Teen Case

WHITEHOUSE — Authorities are investigating a body found off Highway 110 near Whitehouse. According to KETK, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office says the body of a white male was found in a wooded area behind Nipper’s Quality Auto Works just north of County Road 2125, or Moser Lane, shortly after 2:15 Monday afternoon. Justice of the Peace Precinct Judge James Meredith has sent the body to Dallas for autopsy. According to Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith, the body was found by an employee at the auto shop who was working on a fence. The decomposed body was fully clothed. Investigators say there was no evidence of foul play. A 14 year old Whitehouse boy was reported missing last month. Investigators would not speculate if the body could be that of the missing teen.

TYLER — Police say a drunken argument led to a physical attack in Tyler over the weekend. Police tell KETK Ramiro Gonzalez, 33, was stabbed in the neck with a pocket knife Saturday night during a heated argument with a friend. Authorities learned of the situation when they were called to the hospital around 8:20 p.m. Gonzalez was treated and released. Detectives are investigating the incident to determine what took place in the 1500 block of East Oakwood Street. No other injuries were reported in the dispute. An arrest has not been made at this time.

TYLER — The victim of a Friday morning shooting has been released from a local hospital and is not expected to press charges, police said. KETK reports Gregory Rolling, 19, of Tyler, was shot once in the head by an unknown person or people at an apartment complex in the 700 block of South Kennedy, near downtown Tyler. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he was treated and released on a later date. The victim was not fatally injured after the bullet entered the front of his head and exited the top area without piercing his skull, according to the Tyler Police Department. Law enforcement has not identified a suspect in this case. Continue reading Tyler Shooting Victim Not Expected to Press Charges

TYLER — Two people were rushed to the hospital Sunday night after a head-on collision on the outskirts of Tyler. KETK reports the accident happened around 7:15 on Old Jacksonville Highway, near County Road 164. Texas state troopers say one car was driving on the wrong side of the road when it hit another car head-on. Both drivers are still at the hospital with serious injuries.

GREGG COUNTY — A Gladewater man was arrested after authorities found more that 212 pounds of marijuana, valued at nearly $130,000. Patrick Charles Christian, 37, was arrested Sunday by the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of possession of marijuana. Continue reading Gladewater Man Charged with Possession

DALLAS — An East Texas native is dead after an apparent attack at an apartment complex in Dallas. According to the Dallas Police Department, Timothy Ray Agnew, 28, of Kilgore, was killed after two people kicked down the front door to an apartment unit at the Regal Springs Apartment Complex around 4:00 Sunday morning. According to KETK, Agnew was shot and died at a hospital. No arrests have been made. According to Agnew’s Facebook, he graduated from Kilgore High School in 2004 and was self-employed as a tattoo artist. If you have any information concerning the crime you are urged to call the Dallas Police Department at (214) 671-3001.

TYLER — The campaign for governor of Texas brought Democrat Wendy Davis to East Texas Saturday. Going up against Republican candidate, and current state Attorney General Greg Abbott, Davis had stops in Tyler and Longview. It was a full house for Davis as she stopped in Tyler at Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-B-Q. Continue reading Governor Candidate Wendy Davis Visits East Texas

LONGVIEW (AP) — Some East Texas residents who favor riding the rails have celebrated 40 years of Amtrak Texas Eagle service to their community. Ceremonies were held Friday in Longview to note the first day of Texas Eagle service on March 14, 1974. The Longview News-Journal reports work continues to renovate the historic T&P depot, which stands for Texas and Pacific Railroad. The upgraded depot is expected to be ready for National Train Day on May 10. Continue reading Longview Celebrates 40 Years of Amtrak Texas Eagle

HOOKS (AP) — A mobile home fire in Northeast Texas has left one person dead and another seriously hurt. KSLA-TV reports investigators are trying to determine what sparked the fire early Saturday that destroyed the residence in Hooks. Authorities say a woman died in the fire after she went back into the burning mobile home. Her husband, who had gotten her and their two children out of the trailer, suffered burns on his arms and legs and has been transported to a Texarkana hospital. Names of the couple haven’t been released. Further details on the pair weren’t immediately available.