KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – The Board of Regents of The University of Texas System Thursday approved funds for construction of a three-story building on the campus of UT Health Northeast. The $30 million in Permanent University Funds will be used to construct the School of Community and Rural Health. It will be located south of the Academic Center and will take approximately 18 months to complete. Groundbreaking is expected to take place in spring 2017. Continue reading New Building for UT Health Northeast

AUSTIN – It is now official, the new President of the University of Texas at Tyler is Dr. Michael V. Tidwell. The U-T System Board of Regents approved the appointment at the board meeting Thursday. Tidwell had been named the lone finalist for the position last month. Tidwell, currently the dean of Eastern Michigan University’s College of Business, starts his new duties January 1st. He succeeds Dr. Rodney Mabry, who announced in February he would be retiring at the end of the year. He has been the school’s president nearly 18 years. Continue reading Tidwell Named New UT Tyler President

LONGVIEW – A judge in Gilmer has rejected the request to reduce the bond on a Gilmer man involved in a fatal accident five months ago. Robert William Frazier, 23 is charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault. The charges stem from the June 3 deaths of Haley Johnson, 19, of Big Sandy, and Bailee Russell, 17, of Holly Lake Ranch. They died in a two vehicle accident on State Highway 154, about six miles west of Gilmer. According to the Longview News Journal, Frazier’s Tyler lawyer, Tonda Curry, had requested a continuance for the bond reduction hearing because she had to be in a Cherokee County courtroom. State District Judge Lauren Parish denied the request and kept Frazier’s bond at $500,000. His trial is scheduled next February.

LONGVIEW – Money has been donated to buy bullet proof vests for Longview policemen. A check for $10,500 has been given to the Longview Police Association to purchase the vests. The money comes from four companies, Texas Star Title and Loans, Cash Max, Thrifty Loans and Rapid Payday and Title Loan. Jay Pruett, owner of Texas Star, helped spearhead the donation. The Longview Blue support group has also been raising money for the vests, which each cost around $800. Their drive was launched following the July shooting of five Dallas police officers.

AUSTIN – Three persons have been appointed to the Angelina And Neches River Authority Board Of Directors. One is from Tyler. The appointments made by Governor Greg Abbott are for terms that will expire September 5th, 2021. Named by the governor are John “Skip” Ogle of Tyler, the director of public affairs for Suddenlink. Also appointed were Dale Morton of Nacogdoches, pastor of New Life Christian Fellowship, and Francis Spruiell of Center, who is the regional president for Austin Bank.

DALLAS — A man accused of dragging a Cockrell Hill police officer with his car has been caught in East Texas. Police say an officer had stopped a vehicle and told the driver to get out of the car. When the officer opened the door, the suspect took off. Chief Steven Barlog says, “The officer was entangled in the door, was dragged approximately 15 feet, and then the vehicle ran over Officer Dominguez’s legs, from which he suffered a broken ankle.” Barlog says police got a call from the small town of Tool, in Henderson County, that suspect Ramiro Miranda was staying at a home in the area. He was arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a public servant with a deadly weapon. He also had an outstanding warrant. Bond has been set at $250,000.

RUSK – A Cherokee County man has drawn a long prison term for for sexually assaulting children. Thomas Scroggins, 26, of Bullard pleaded guilty to a series of child sexual assaults. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison without the possibility of parole for a series of child sex assaults. According to a release from the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office, Scroggins used his position within the local church and school to lure young male victims to his Bullard home, where the crimes were committed. All of his victims were said to be younger than 14 years of age. Continue reading A Guilty Plea for Sexual Assault

GREGG COUNTY — A Longview woman was arrested after the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office said she threw a brick and hit a man during an argument. According to the Longview News-Journal, Nadia Rae Jackson, 27, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She was released Wednesday on $20,000 bond. Officials responded to the 1300 block of FM 2906 Tuesday morning. The victim said Jackson had thrown a brick at his head because she was angry about possible infidelities. Jackson was found a short time later in Lakeport. Online records show Jackson was also arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in 2014.

LONGVIEW – The Gregg County Sheriff’s Department is looking for a pair of burglary suspects. They are suspected of burglarizing a car Tuesday morning at the East Texas Christian School on Farm Road 2087. You can go to the sheriff’s office Facebook page and see a video of the suspects. For more information, contact the sheriff’s office at 903-236-8400, Detective Gary Robinson at 903-237-2536 or Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP.

AUSTIN – Texas’ highest criminal court has rejected an appeal from a death row inmate convicted of killing an 82-year-old Marshall man during a burglary of the victim’s home in 2009. Lawyers for 25-year-old Cortne Robinson cited 23 issues related to his Harrison County trial in 2011, including allegations that his trial lawyers and his attorneys in earlier appeals were deficient. They also said his death sentence was unconstitutional. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rejected the arguments Wednesday. Robinson was 18 when he was arrested for fatally shooting Frank Zabokrtsky and attacking and abducting the victim’s wife. A jury took 14 minutes to convict him of capital murder, but deliberated nearly 10 hours before deciding on a death sentence. His two accomplices were sentenced to prison.

PALESTINE – The lone finalist for the Palestine city manager’s job is visiting the city on today. Kevin Coleman will spend the day speaking with staff members and community leaders. Coleman’s schedule calls for meeting staff from various city departments early this afternoon. The public will be able to meet him at an open house at City Hall from 2:00 to 3:00pm. During the open house, Coleman plans to discuss his vision for the city and answer questions. Later, he will meet with the City Council for a special meeting to discuss, in executive session, the terms and conditions of his contract. Continue reading Palestine’s New City Manager Visits the City

AUSTIN – The state comptroller’s office is sending out the November sales tax allocations. These allocations are based on sales made in September. And some of the area cities continue to run below last year’s figures. Tyler’s allocation is $3,617,818.61. This is nearly 3% below the same period last year. For the year, Tyler’s sales tax allocations are down 4.1% from last year. Longview’s September allocation is $2,833,505.25. This is down 2.1% for the period. For the year, Longview’s sales tax allocations are off 3.51%

TYLER — The City of Tyler has approved a draft agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to make wastewater collection system upgrades and to enhance the City’s existing programs for inspections, maintenance, and cleaning of the wastewater system. City officials say the agreement, known as a Consent Decree (CD), comes after a seven-year negotiation over the city’s aging wastewater infrastructure and resulting wastewater overflows. Since 1998, the City has been actively working to satisfy increasing EPA regulation on wastewater systems, according to officials. “We believe that the plan we’ve put together as part of this agreement is the best path forward for our community,” said City Manager Ed Broussard in a news release. “Over the next several years, we will complete a detailed analysis of the system to determine areas where frequent overflows and blockages occur.” Continue reading City Approves Plan to Evaluate/Upgrade Wastewater Infrastructure

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating a Tuesday night shooting incident. Around 8:54 p.m., police responded to a possible aggravated assault that had just occurred in the area of South Englewood between Emma and Dobbs Streets. Officers arrived and determined approximately 6 shots were fired from a light blue or gray sedan. A witness advised he had been involved in a verbal dispute with the occupants of the sedan. The sedan drove by his house northbound on Englewood as he stood in his driveway. The vehicle turned east onto West Emma Street. At least one occupant of the sedan fired rounds out of the window as the vehicle drove eastbound on Emma Street. No one was injured. Officers did not find damage to any property or locate any possible suspects.

NOVEMBER 8 GENERAL ELECTION – SMITH COUNTY
CONTESTED RACES

In complete, but unofficial returns, Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert was returned to Washington by voters on Tuesday. Larry Smith has won re-election as Smith County Sheriff. In the Precinct 4 constable’s race, Josh Joplin was the winner. In Whitehouse, both school bond proposals passed. And Lufkin chiropractor, Dr. Keven M. Ellis won the race for State Board of Education in District 9. He will succeed Thomas Ratliff who did not seek re-election. Continue reading Smith County Election Returns

TYLER – Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham has pledged. “We will get justice for Kayla.” His comment came at a Tuesday news conference where law officers discussed the disappearance and death of Kayla Gomez Orozco. A relative, Gustavo Zavala-Garcia, 24, of Bullard, has been charged with capital murder. He is in the Smith County jail under a $10 million bond. A motive in the homicide has not been released. According to a law enforcement source, the suspect is in the country illegally. Judicial records show Zavala-Garcia was arrested for assault causing bodily injury twice in 2014. Continue reading A Pledge of “Justice for Kayla”

MARSHALL – The Marshall Police Department is continuing to investigate a hit-and-run crash that left one man with life-threatening injuries. On Monday at approximately 6:48 p.m., officers were called in reference to a vehicle hitting a pedestrian and leaving the scene of the crash. Upon arrival, first responders found an older male lying in the roadway at the intersection of East Houston and Hazelwood streets. The man, whose name is being withheld at this time, was taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center in Marshall with what are described as life-threatening injuries. As of Tuesday morning, the victim was listed in critical condition. Continue reading Marshall Police Continue to Probe Hit and Run with Critical Injuries

TYLER – Smith County Commissioners have accepted the resignation of County Judge Joel Baker. The action came at Tuesday’s commissioner’s court session. The commissioners then voted to have Nathaniel Moran permanently fill Baker’s position. He had been named acting County Judge in July. The State Commission on Judicial Conduct announced in September Baker had agreed to resign to resolve a pending commission investigation against him. Baker had been accused of violating the Open Meetings Act. He was also under investigation for allegations he was involved in explicit sexual behavior online while conducting government business.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County voters who cannot obtain one of the seven approved forms of photo identification now have additional options at the polls. As provided by a court order, if a voter has a reasonable impediment to obtaining one of the seven forms of approved photo ID, the voter may vote by signing a declaration at the polls explaining why the voter is unable to obtain one of the seven forms of approved photo ID, and providing one of various forms of supporting documentation. Supporting documentation can be an original, certified birth certificate, a valid voter registration certificate, a copy or original of one of the following: current utility bill, bank statement, government check, or paycheck, or other government document that shows the voter’s name and an address. Continue reading Voter ID Info; What You Need

EAST TEXAS — Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for Election Day today. Registered voters will be able to cast their ballots at ANY of the 34 vote centers throughout the county. Those people who choose to vote at the downtown Tyler location, the R.B. Hubbard Center, at 304 E. Ferguson, can park in the Juror Parking Lot across the street from the facility. There will be no jury duty on Election Day. Parking meters around the immediate area are marked free during voting. Voters cast ballots at the polls in record numbers during the two weeks of early voting in Smith County. A reported 58,357 people voted October 24 through November 4. There were 50,567 people who cast ballots during early voting in the 2012 Presidential Election. There are 135,185 people registered to vote in Smith County. There were 102,626 registered voters in the 2012 General Election. Continue reading Election Day Voting Locations

JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville Police have identified a jogger who was struck and killed on Loop 456 Monday morning. Officers responded to an accident involving a vehicle and a jogger in the 1100 block of Loop 456 near Glenfawn Street around 6:45. Authorities identified the jogger as Arvel Dwayne Partain, 59, of Jacksonville. According to police, the driver, later identified as Colton Renfro, possibly fell asleep and drifted onto the shoulder, fatally hitting Partain. The Department of Public Safety is assisting in the investigation.

BULLARD — Gustavo Zavala-Garcia, 24, Bullard, who was being held on an immigration hold, has now been charged with capital murder and his bond set at $10 million. He has been charged in the death of Kayla Gomez Orozco, 10, Her body was found in a well near 22131 Old Jacksonville Highway. According to KETK, The suspect is Kayla’s cousin by marriage. A motive in the homicide has not been released. According to a law enforcement source, the man is in the country illegally and had been previously deported for a violent crime in 2014. Judicial records show Zavala-Garcia was arrested for assault causing bodily injury twice in 2014. Continue reading Bond Set for Suspect in Young Girl’s Death

TYLER – Funeral services will be held later this week for the former president of Tyler’s CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Francis Health System, Ray Thompson. Thompson, who was 69, died Saturday. No word on the cause of death. Thompson joined the hospital in October, 1981. He was instrumental in creating the hospital’s network of regional clinics, establishing an expansive emergency medicine program, and created one of the nation’s model sports medicine programs. He recently retired from his position as President of the healthcare system. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 5:00 till 7:00 at Stewart Family Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Friday morning at 11:00 at Tyler’s First Presbyterian Church. Continue reading Funeral Scheduled For Former Health System President Thompson

MARSHALL – A Harrison County man will be serving a lengthy prison term after pleading guilty to murder. The murder trial of Rodris Webster, 27, of Elysian Fields had been scheduled for this week. But, last week, he pleaded guilty to the murder of his former girlfriend, Alicia Benefield, 19. Monday, Webster was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the slaying. In March 2014, Webster led investigators to teen’s body in a clay pit near the intersection of Farm to Market Road 31 and Elysian Fields Road in Marshall.

PALESTINE – Burn bans are being lifted in Anderson County.The county has lifted its burn ban. It is effective immediately. To coincide with the lifting of Anderson County’s burn ban, the City of Palestine will lift its burn ban effective Tuesday morning at 8:00. Residents will be allowed to burn if they obtain a permit at one of the three Palestine Fire Stations:
*Station 1, 611 Avenue A
*Station 2, 107 7th Street
*Station 3, 518 Benbrook

TYLER – Polls will remain open through 7:00 this evening in the General Election that will probably see a record voter turnout. With the presidential race heading the ballot, over 58,000 persons voted early in Smith County. This is nearly 8,000 more than the early voting in the 2012 presidential election. Over 135,000 Smith County residents are register to vote. And while the focus has been on the presidential race, there are some local contests that have been drawing a lot of attention. Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert’s bid for re-election is being challenged by two persons. Sheriff Larry Smith is being challenged by Gary Pinkerton and In the Precinct 4 Constable’s Race Josh Joplin, who narrowly defeated constable John Smith in the Republican primary, is going up against Democrat Larry Reddic. Continue reading Record Voter Turnout Predicted

TYLER – Monday was the first day on the job for Tyler’s new fire chief, David Coble. Coble’s hiring was announced and ratified in late September. He took his oath of office Monday morning. Coble served as the executive assistant fire chief for Fort Worth for the past seven years and was the acting fire chief for most of 2015. He managed two of the department’s three divisions, including the Educational and Support Services division which includes the functions of training, EMS, supply, fire equipment services, fleet management, communications and emergency management. Coble succeeds Tim Johnson, a 35-year veteran of the City of Tyler Fire Department. He retired in April.

KILGORE – The East Texas Council of Governments has elected new officers for the 2016-2017 year. Lindale’s Bob Tardiff is the new Chairman of the ETCOG Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Tardiff is a Lindale city council member, a position he has held since 2012. The ETCOG Executive Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors and is responsible for carrying out the policies, programs and services established by the board for the 14 county region. In addition to Councilman Tardiff as Chairman, the newly elected officers for the Executive Committee includes: 1st Vice Chairman, Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt; 2nd Vice Chairman, Quitman Mayor J. R. Evans; 3rd Vice Chairman, Upshur County Commissioner Paula Gentry; and Secretary-Treasurer; Rusk Mayor Angela Raiborn.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the TxDOT Tyler District during the Week of Nov. 7. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Officials urge you to slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones.

Smith County – Tyler Maintenance plans to resume edge repairs on FM 2010 between FM 14 and FM 16. Base repair work continues on FM 15 outside of Troup. Expect lane closures at both locations with flaggers providing traffic control. Continue reading TxDOT’s Weekly Roadwork Update