KTBB News, Weather, Talk

GLADEWATER (AP) — A boat parade planned for this weekend in Gladewater in East Texas has had to be rescheduled because there’s too much water. Heavy rains last week have led to flooding along the Sabine River, where a Mardi Gras boat parade regatta was planned for Saturday. Organizers said it’s been reset for later this month. Residents say low-lying roads near the river typically get flooded after heavy rains. In this latest round of flooding, the swollen river has inundated roads as far as a half-mile from the river.

GREGG COUNTY — An East Texas woman has been found guilty of unlawful restraint and assault on a local doctor. According to KETK, a Gregg County jury sentenced Crystal Ausborn, 37, to five years in prison for the unlawful restraint, while tacking on an addition two years for burglary of a building for an assault on a pediatrician. On March 13, 2017, a pediatrician with the Diagnostic Clinic of Longview was working after hours in her private office on the third floor of 707 Hollybrook Drive. The physician was alone on the pediatric floor when Ausborn entered her office, unexpectedly, and began hitting and punching the doctor in the face. Continue reading Longview Woman Sentenced in Beating of Local Doctor

MARSHALL — The Marshall Police Department is investigating the deaths of two people. Officers were conducting a welfare check around 1:40 Friday afternoon at a home on Fannin Street. The bodies of two men, 31-year-old Leon Bowman and 30-year-old Justin C. Williams, both of Marshall, were found inside the duplex. During their investigation, it was discovered that 46-year-old Jesus Molina Delatorre killed Bowman and Williams before fleeing the scene. Delatorre is listed as the sole tenant in the residence where Williams and Bowman’s bodies were found. A warrant was issued for Delatorre charging him with Capital Murder. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Marshall Police Department at 903-935-4575 or Marshall/Harrison County Crime Stoppers at 903-935-9969.

TYLER — The Smith County Phone System will be upgraded Saturday, affecting service to all county landlines. Smith County Chief Information Officer Don Bell said from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, the phone system could be unavailable at different extended times. It could only be brief, intermittent outages or longer, continuous outages, Bell said. The phone system upgrade includes all landlines serving the Central and Low Risk Jails, the Juvenile Attention Center, the Sheriff’s Office, Adult Probation Department and Animal Control. It will not affect emergency dispatchers and 9-1-1, Bell said. Bell says the county apologizes for any inconvenience and appreciates the public’s patience.

TYLER — As part of an ongoing criminal investigation, Texas Department of Public Safety Special Agents have arrested Richard Edwin Peck Jr., 36, of Tyler. DPS Sgt. Jean Dark says Peck was booked into the Smith County Jail without incident for possession of child pornography, a third degree felony. KETK reports he’s being held on $50,000 bond. Dark says the investigation is ongoing and no additional information is currently available.

TYLER — Smith County deputies have made an arrest following a standoff that lasted over two hours. Around 4:30 Thursday afternoon, deputies tried to serve multiple arrest warrants at a home on County Road 326 East. Officials say the wanted man, 35-year-old Excsau Duran, locked all entry points but was was soon found hiding under the residence. Authorities say Duran first refused to surrender but was captured around 6:42 p.m. after a SWAT team was called in. He’s now being held without bond for possession of a controlled substance and a parole violation.

TYLER — The Tyler Fire Department has released the final version of this year’s Tornado/Severe Weather Response Plan. Public service agency representatives recently met to discuss the plan and offered suggestions for improvements. Officials say the plan is designed to serve as a guide and to provide useful information to the public. It includes tips on preparing for possible severe weather, as well as recognizing the conditions that are often associated with tornadic activity. Additionally, it highlights resources that are available to the public during the season, including sheltering locations. The plan is available on the Tyler Fire Department’s website (http://www.tylerfiredept.com). Scroll down to Quick Links section towards the bottom of the page, on the right-hand side.

MINEOLA — One person was taken to a local hospital following a high water rescue in Mineola Thursday morning. KETK reports the Mineola Fire Department helped the man out after his pickup truck became submerged on Wood County Road 1804. Authorities say the driver went around barricades to get through the street. The driver’s condition wasn’t immediately known. Officials continue to ask residents to avoid high water areas; it’s always, “Turn around, don’t drown.”

RUSK COUNTY — An update on three Rusk County firefighters taken to a local hospital following a rollover accident. Officials say two have been released but the third remains in ICU. The firefighters, with the New London Volunteer Fire Department, were responding to a grass fire on FM 850. Sheriff’s officials say the driver lost control of the vehicle and it rolled, trapping them inside.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man was jailed Thursday on $3,500 bond after threatening to slam a police officer to the ground. According to the Longview News-Journal and KETK, Tristan Terrell Taylor, 21, is charged with terroristic threat against a peace officer. Longview police arrested Taylor around 8:30 Wednesday night on Webster Street. Taylor became “extremely aggressive and started to clinch his fists” when an officer asked if he was a subject in a previous call, police said. The officer said Taylor pointed at the officer’s uniform and suggested he could “take my weapon from me,” the officer wrote. Continue reading Longview Man Jailed for Threatening Officer

GREAT BEND, Kan. (AP) — A Texas man has been arrested in a hit-and-run accident that killed a man in Kansas in November. Great Bend police say Rodney Campbell Jr., 58, of Anderson County, Texas was arrested Thursday in Texas. The Hays Post reports Campbell Jr. is accused of hitting 65-year-old James Zager with his car in November while Zager was walking across a street in Great Bend, Kansas. The driver then fled the scene. The Barton County District Court issued an arrest warrant for Campbell on Wednesday for failure to stop or remain at the scene of the accident.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Roads 490 and 4132 were reopened to drivers Thursday afternoon after trees and downed wires were cleared. CR 420, CR 421 and CR 2180 remain closed due to high water over the roadways. They will remain barricaded until the water recedes enough that they are safe for drivers, according to county officials.

TYLER — Ardent Health Systems and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler announced Thursday that the merger of the clinical operations of UT Health Northeast and those of the ETMC Regional Healthcare System has been completed. The former ETMC network of clinics and hospitals has begun operating under the new banner, “UT Health East Texas.”

Ardent Health Services CEO David Vandewater announced that Moody Chisholm will serve as president and CEO of UT Health East Texas. UT Health Northeast president Dr. Kirk Calhoun will assume the role of board chairman of the new organization.

According to a statement, Ardent and the University of Texas system plan to invest $125 million over five years to “support operations and fund improvements.” Existing ETMC locations will be re-branded as the new UT Health East Texas logo replaces the ETMC brand.

Some duplicative job positions will be eliminated during the consolidation of operations, according to Vanderwater. But he stated that in the long run, the new entity hopes to eventually employ more workers than it does now.

TYLER – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System has announced the plan to expand the Neonatal Intensive Care and Labor and Delivery Units at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler. To be completed in phases, this project will expand the current capacity of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to 28 licensed private or semi-private (for twins) NICU beds. The upgrade will also include an expanded well-baby nursery, lactation suite, transitional care facility and other amenities. During the second phase of the project, the Labor and Delivery Unit will be constructing five private triage rooms for expectant mothers, as well as five additional delivery suites. Officials say the project will rely heavily on the philanthropic support of the Tyler community. Construction will begin in mid-June 2018 and will take approximately 9 months to complete.

SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler man has been arrested for the alleged rape and murder of his girlfriend in the fall of 2017. According to KETK, Mark Howerton, 22, surrendered to the Bexar County Magistrate’s Office Wednesday in connection with the beating death of Trinity University cheerleader Cayley Mandadi, 18, of League City. Howerton is a 2015 graduate of Grace Community School in Tyler. Howerton’s bond was set at $225,000. Court documents showed Mandadi died from a violent beating. Continue reading Tyler Man Charged in Girlfriend’s Death

TYLER – Tyler ISD Campus Teachers of the Year have been named by their school administrators and staff. The honor is awarded to teachers who exemplify extraordinary models of leadership and excellence in teaching that ultimately help create successful student outcomes, according to a news release from the school district. Tyler ISD will honor all Campus Teachers of the Year and announce its 2018 District Teachers of the Year at the annual Teacher of the Year Banquet to be held Tuesday, May 15, at Green Acres Crosswalk. Banquet guests will include Tyler ISD school board members, staff, administrators, teachers, sponsors and members of the community. Continue reading Tyler ISD Campuses Name Teachers of the Year

TYLER — There’s lots to report on improvements and updates at city parks in Tyler. The Southside Park bathroom reconstruction began on Feb. 27. In January, the City Council approved the investment of $43,364 for repairs at the park. That’s after a fire damaged the restroom facility, leaving it inoperable for park goers. Continue reading Tyler Parks See Many Updates and Improvements

TYLER – A 48-year-old Kilgore man has been sentenced in Tyler to 20 years in federal prison for three bank robberies. Hector Camargo pleaded guilty last September to bank robbery and use of a firearm during a violent crime. Authorities say Camargo robbed three Gregg County banks over a five-month span between November 2016 and April 2017. Those were the Citizens National Banks in Longview and Kilgore and the First National Bank of Hughes Springs in Kilgore.

EAST TEXAS — Troup ISD wasn’t the only district on edge this week. KETK reports a credible threat toward a New Diana ISD employee resulted in an arrest of a student Tuesday. Administrators say they received information that a student threatened to hurt the employee with a weapon. Then at Tatum ISD, officials received two tips about a reported threat. One person was detained and questioned, but officials told the Longview News-Journal the threat had not been made. And then, in Athens, a “disoriented” intruder was able to get into an elementary school. he went through a locked door that had malfunctioned. He was arrested by police within a few minutes of entry.

KILGORE — Family members have identified a man killed in a Wednesday morning house fire in Kilgore. According to KETK, the fire broke out around 4:00 a.m. on Idlywood Drive. Relatives identified the victim as Travis Fried, 75. His wife was able to escape unharmed. Officials believe the fire may have started in the kitchen.

TYLER — Tyler Police Officers were working traffic enforcement in the area of South Broadway around 11:45 Tuesday night when they heard gunshots. Upon investigation, they located a man running in the area of Dobbs street. The man told officers he was being shot at. Antywarn Jones, 33, Tyler, was standing in the middle of Dobbs street. He matched the description given by the victim. A 40 caliber handgun was found at the scene along with numerous shell casings. Jones was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and felon in possession of a firearm. He was booked into the Smith County Jail. The victim was not injured.

HARLETON – The Harleton ISD superintendent, who’s held the job since 2007, has been placed on leave without pay and is under investigation. According to KETK, Acting Superintendent Tina Cox says action was taken by the school board against Dr. Greg Coleman at the last meeting on February 20. A statement from the school board reads, in part, “As the investigation is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to discuss the matter at this time.”

AUSTIN — University of Texas System regents have approved a new logo for UT Tyler. UTT President Dr. Michael Tidwell says the new design will focus on the four pillars of the university’s five-year strategic plan. Those include student success, student experience, research and scholarship, and community engagement. UTT plans a formal unveiling of the logo next week, at which time university officials are due to offer comments.

LONGVIEW – Two suspects in a Longview robbery have been indicted. KETK reports they were arrested last November, a short time after the EZ Mart on South High Street was robbed. An off duty officer who was driving in the area saw two men running from the store. The officer detained 25-year-old Christopher Lawrence Williams of Kilgore and 18-year-old Corey Tremayne Lilly of Longview. They were soon arrested and jailed on bonds of $100,000 each.

WOOD COUNTY — A 67-year-old man and a 72-year-old woman have died in a crash reported shortly after noon Monday on State Highway 37 about 2/10 of a mile north of Quitman. According to DPS, preliminary crash investigation shows that James Vollie Davis of Winnsboro was traveling south as Katherine Kay Cameron of Quitman was traveling north. Authorities say for an unknown reason, Davis crossed into the northbound lane, where he struck Cameron. Davis was pronounced dead at the scene; Cameron was transported to ETMC-Quitman, were she was pronounced dead a short time later.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department reports good news in its just-released crime statistics for 2017. The department is reporting a reduction in Part 1 crimes of 13.47% and an overall crime reduction of 3.67%. Part I crimes include homicide, aggravated and sexual assault, robbery, burglary, general theft, and auto theft. Police Chief Jimmy Toler says police will continue to strengthen and build relationships through such programs as the Enhanced Community Outreach initiatives.

PALESTINE — Palestine police have identified the man involved in a shooting with officers as Aaron Blagg of Palestine. KETK reports the pursuit started Friday morning from a local hotel. An officer had been searching for a suspect involved in a drug investigation. Police tried to pull the car over, but it took off. The driver eventually stopped and stepped out of the car; she was arrested. Police say Blagg, the passenger, went for his gun and was shot by an officer. Blag was taken to a Tyler hospital for a treatment for a life threatening injury. Officers searched the car and found cocaine, meth, heroin, marijuana, guns and almost $40,000 in cash.

HENDERSON COUNTY — A man suspected of dealing drugs is arrested following a traffic stop. Jamel Garrett, 29, was pulled over on State Highway 31 around 3:45 Monday afternoon after committing several traffic violations. A search of the vehicle uncovered what deputies believed to be crack, methamphetamine, cocaine, Xanax and marijuana. A loaded stolen gun was found in the trunk. Garrett was charged with two felony counts of manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance. The passenger, Keshon Thomas, 25, was charged with possession of marijuana.

SMITH COUNTY — In an impassioned speech Monday morning, Grassroots Executive Director JoAnn Fleming was critical of the Smith County District’s Attorney’s Office handling of vacation time. KETK reports, Fleming said their organization planned to bring forward the issue after the election, but expedited their findings after First Assistant District Attorney April Sikes issued a statement on Facebook in regard to the matter. Sikes released her statement after a DPS memo was shared revealing District Attorney candidate Jacob Putman had contacted the Texas Rangers for whistleblower protections. The documents also stated Putman did not care if the information was acted upon, but wanted protections if District Attorney Matt Bingham tried to fire him. Continue reading Grassroots Critical of Smith County District Attorney’s Office