KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department has seen a recent rash of car burglaries over the past three weeks. Officials said there have been over 100 reports filed from March 18th to April 2nd. According to KETK, the burglaries are not central to one location but districts throughout the city are seeing their share of the burglaries. Large commercial spots such as the mall and other shopping centers are prime targets for the burglars who can spot items by just walking around. LPD officials said they have made one arrest.

LINDALE — Two suspects are arrested for prostitution in Smith County. Authorities say a man and woman were taken into custody after allegedly offering sex to an undercover agent following a massage. According to Constable Precinct 5 Dennis Taylor, it happened around 11:15 Thursday morning at Sunny Foot, located in the 900 block of Main Street in Lindale. Constable Taylor says one suspect gave a massage to one of his deputies for $60, and then offered sex for $200. He Chong Chong and Yuhong Kenny (pictured) were taken into custody and charged with promotion of prostitution and operating a business without a license. According to KETK, the two were smuggled into the United States from China. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is investigating the matter.

TYLER — Some in East Texas say the economy is starting to rebound, and they have some thoughts on where to look for work. According to KETK, Snelling Personnel’s Brenda Balch points to the oil and gas industry. Balch specifically mentions cooks and chefs, since some oil and gas companies provide meals for their field workers. Another staple of East Texas is the medical field. Balch says Tyler is the region’s medical hub, and it continues to add jobs. According to Balch, new physicians come on board every year, and that creates a spinoff effect. New restaurants in Tyler are also creating additional employment opportunities.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department says a missing woman has been located. An alert was issued yesterday for Elizabeth Aileen Clark, 80. She had last been seen at noon Thursday at 1301 South Chilton. She disappeared after going for a walk. We were notified this morning that Clark was found a couple of block from her home, walking in the 400 block of Mockingbird. An area resident saw her and notified police. She appeared to be confused and could not advise where she had been. Clark did not appear to have any physical injuries but was transported to Mother Francis Hospital to be checked.

CANTON — Van Zandt County authorities are investigating the theft of two historical markers. On Monday, the Van Zandt County Historical Commission reported a theft to the sheriff’s office. When a deputy arrived, he was told the markers had been stolen from County Road 1117 in the Canton area. One marker indicated a Cherokee boundary line and was located on near County Road 3051. The second marker was recognizing Father Jose Calahorra and was located near County Road 2419. Both markers were stolen sometime within the past week, and there are no suspects identified at this time. Anyone with information relating to the case is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 903-567-4133 or Crime Stoppers at 903-567-STOP (903-567-7867).

LONGVIEW — A Longview woman has been arrested in connection to stolen charity Christmas gifts. Rachel Bradley, 39, was arrested April 3rd and indicted by a grand jury on theft charges. She was released from the Gregg County Jail after posting a $25,000 bond. Longview Police say more arrests in this case could be forthcoming.

Last December, the Gregg County Child Welfare Board reported almost $20,000 worth of gifts, intended for area foster children, and were stolen from a storage facility on Jahan Trail in Longview.

HENDERSON — Henderson Police responded to a domestic dispute and discover numerous firearms. According to KETK, police said at least two guns have been reported as stolen. Jimmy Don Reedy was arrested and booked into the Rusk County Jail. According to KETK, he was arraigned on felony theft of a firearm charges. His bond was set at $10,000.

LUFKIN — Convicted serial killer Kimberly Saenz has returned to court to begin appealing her case. The 38-year-old was sentenced Monday to life in prison without parole for killing five DaVita Dialysis patients by bleach injection in April 2008. According to the Lufkin Daily News, she’s now attempting to overturn the ruling. Following the brief hearing, Saenz was taken back to the Angelina County Jail, where she will remain prior to prison transport. Saenz’s husband said Monday, their attorney would be appealing the conviction, and that the family planned to hold a press conference soon.

TYLER — Tyler Police continue their investigation into an armed robbery. It was reported around 2:30 yesterday morning at Speedy’s Exxon, 900 West Front Street. Officers said the clerk reported two suspects, armed with a handgun, entered the store and demanded money from the register. The suspects took an undetermined amount of money and fled the business westbound towards Glenwood Blvd. The clerk described the suspects as two black males, the first about 5’8″, 150 pounds wearing a red bandanna and a gray sweater. The second suspect was described as about 5’8″, 180 pounds wearing a brown cameo jacket/sweater. No injuries were reported. Anyone with information is urged to contact Tyler Police.

ANGELINA COUNTY — An Angelina County jury handed down a guilty verdict against a 33-year-old woman in connection with the July 2010 death of her 4-month-old son. Vanessa Clark now faces up to two years in state jail on the child endangerment charge of which she was found guilty. Clark and her husband were sharing a bed with the infant when he stopped breathing, making him the second baby to die while sleeping in the couple’s bed.

According to the Lufkin Daily News, in 2009 the Clark’s had a 1-month-old son who died the same way. At that time, Child Protective Services workers warned them about the dangers of co-sleeping, as babies can be accidentally suffocated by their parents, bedding or even pillows. Following a CPS investigation, the couple’s 3-year-old son was returned to their custody. At the time of the July 2010 death, a blood test showed Clark had elevated levels of Xanax and hydrocodone. The drugs were prescribed by a doctor, according to her attorney, John Reeves.

Sentencing will take place in four to six weeks after a pre-sentencing investigation. Her sentence will range from probation to two years in state jail.

AANCHORAGE, ALASKA (AP) – An Anchorage police spokesman says the Alaska state medical examiner’s office has confirmed that a body recovered from Matanuska Lake is that of an 18-year-old coffee stand worker who vanished February 1. Lt. Dave Parker said Wednesday that autopsy results confirm the body recovered Monday is Samantha Koenig. No cause of death has yet been released. Anchorage Police Chief Mark Mew has said investigators believe she died within hours of her abduction from the coffee stand. Mew also says they believe they have the responsible person in custody.
The only man who has been listed by Anchorage police as a “person of interest” in the case was arraigned March 27 in federal court in Anchorage on a fraud charge, shortly after being returned from Lufkin, Texas, where he was arrested. Israel Keyes has pleaded not guilty to a charge of access device fraud. Federal prosecutors say he made cash withdrawals from a stolen debit card. The card was not Koenig’s.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP/Staff) – A former Oklahoma prison warden’s wife convicted of helping an inmate escape almost 18 years ago has been released from prison. Department of Corrections spokesman Jerry Massie says Bobbi Parker was released at 1 a.m. Thursday from the Hillside Community Correctional Center in Oklahoma City. She served a little more than half of her 1-year prison sentence.

Parker was convicted September 21 for helping convicted killer Randolph Franklin Dial escape from the Oklahoma State Reformatory where her husband, Randy, was deputy warden. Parker and Dial disappeared together from the Greer County prison on Aug. 30, 1994. They were discovered living together as man and wife on a chicken farm in Shelby County, Texas, in April 2005. Prosecutors allege Parker fell in love with Dial. Her defense attorneys say she was kidnapped.

LONGVIEW — Longview police seek help tracking down a driver in a hit-and run incident. Tuesday afternoon just before 3:45, officers were dispatched to the overpass at Eastman Road and I-20. According to witnesses, an oversized truck with equipment on the trailer had attempted to go under the overpass. The oversized load caught on the overpass and pulled off chunks of concrete. Even after catching on the overpass, the truck continued northbound on Eastman Road. No one was hurt. If anyone has information on the incident, you’re asked to call Officer Steve Burnett at 903-237-1199 and leave a message.

TYLER — A 39-year-old San Juan, Texas woman has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking violations in East Texas. In an appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love in Tyler, Annette Alvarez pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Federal prosecutors contend Alvarez was found in possession of approximately 13 kilograms of cocaine, which she intended to deliver to another person for distribution. Alvarez faces a minimum of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

TYLER – In an appearance in Tyler federal court, a 49-year-old Deberry man has pleaded guilty to drug violations. Jimmie Gaston Langston pleaded guilty last November to possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine and the manufacture of methamphetamine on premises where children are present when he appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.

Federal prosecutors say Langston purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a CVS store in Marshall, as well as additional purchases in Shreveport, with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. The manufacturing of the methamphetamine took place at Langston’s residence where one or more young children were present. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and an additional consecutive 20 year sentence. A sentencing date has not been set.

TYLER — Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison visits Tyler today to address members and supporters of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. Hutchison will appear at a luncheon scheduled for 11:30 till 1:00 at Willowbrook Country Club. Organizers say they’ll be thanking Hutchison “for her dedicated service to Texas.” The event is sponsored by the Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee. Tickets are $25 per person or $200 for a table of eight. Go to http://hutchison-calendar.eventbrite.com to register online.

TYLER — There was more good news to share at Wednesday’s annual meeting of the Tyler Economic Development Council. The development council’s Tom Mullins says, “We’re working on some new projects that could create over 600 new jobs and attract over $13 million in investment.” Mullins says things continue to look good for the Tyler economy in general. He encourages others to be optimistic, noting that consumer confidence is a key driving force in the economy.

TYLER — Smith County could soon see another wet/dry election, and it could mean expanded alcohol sales in the city of Tyler as well as other parts of the county. Buy Local First is a special purpose political action committee, formed to support allowing limited alcohol sales Tyler and in Justice of the Peace Precinct 2. The group consists of local residents, business and community leaders and will be asking registered voters to sign petitions calling for a local option election this November. In order to call an election, state law requires the group to collect approximately 7,800 signatures of City of Tyler registered voters and 6,700 signatures of voters in JP Precinct 2. The precinct includes southwestern Tyler, Flint, and Bullard.

The group will be asking voters to sign petitions calling for an election. For starters, the election would allow “the legal sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption only.” By state law this will only allow beer and wine sold in places like grocery and convenience stores. This law will not allow packaged liquor sales. The election would also permit “the legal sale of mixed beverages in restaurants by food and beverage certificate holders only.” This version was overwhelmingly approved by City of Tyler voters in 2008. The current effort will expand sales to those areas annexed after the 2008 election and in all of JP 2.

The group released results from a telephone public opinion survey showing overwhelming support for expanding alcohol sales. Bob Westbrook, Spokesman for the Buy Local First Committee, says, “In light of the current economy, and based on the fact there will be a higher turnout this November, we felt it was time to support the alcohol sales laws so that the citizens of Tyler and Smith County can now Buy Local First and keep our tax dollars in Smith County.” Wet/dry elections in the area have unfailingly generated opposition groups, and there’s no doubt that will happen this time.

LUFKIN — The trial of a Lufkin woman charged in the death of her second child while sleeping is winding down. On Tuesday, lawyers questioned Vanessa Lynn Clark’s parenting skills. According to KETK, the 33-year-old is charged with endangering a child following the July 2010 death of her two-month-old baby. Clark and her former husband, Mark Wayne Clark, 32, are charged with causing the baby’s death by sleeping in the same bed with it.

The couple told police that they awoke to find the child dead at around 4:30 am after going to sleep with it around 11:30 pm. The couple also had another baby who died in May 2009 during co-sleeping. They also have a six-year-old child.

GILMER — A judge in Gilmer awarded custody of 14 starved horses to the Humane Society of Northeast Texas following a seizure last week. Upshur County Sheriff’s Lt. Freddie Fitzgerald said officers acting on a tip found the horses on land in the northern part of the county on March 27. According to the Longview News-Journal, on Tuesday, Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace W.V. “Valton” Ray turned custody of the animals over to the Dallas/Fort Worth area humane society. A hearing was scheduled Wednesday before Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Laura Norred on 28 small-breed dogs seized last week. Both cases remain under investigation.

LUFKIN — The Lufkin City Council has unanimously approved the final reading of an ordinance prohibiting panhandling and solicitation of vehicle occupants on city roadways. According to KETK, city officials have been citing an increase in solicitation by individuals from vehicle occupants in traffic on public streets, which could threaten the safety and welfare of vehicle occupants and pedestrians, as a reason for introducing the measure.

RUSK — Rusk ISD Classes have been delayed until 10:30 due to power outages in that area, according to KETK. Also, Alto ISD classes are canceled today.

GARY (AP/Staff) – Officials say no injuries have been reported in a gas line explosion in East Texas that shook some homes before dawn. The Panola County Sheriff’s Office says the fiery accident happened around 6:00 Wednesday morning near Gary. No damage was immediately reported. A sheriff’s dispatcher says the wellhead was shut down.

According to KETK, MarkWest Energy Partners released the following statement late following the blast around 6:00 Wednesday morning:

“ A fire was detected on a MarkWest pipeline about one-quarter of a mile from the Gary Compressor Station in Panola County, Texas. There were no injuries or structural damage to the compressor station equipment. The pipeline and compressor station were immediately shut-down and MarkWest’s emergency response plan was implemented. MarkWest’s personnel were immediately dispatched to the location. The fire, which was limited to brush surrounding the pipeline, was quickly extinguished by the Gary Volunteer Fire Department who left the site by 8:00 a.m. CDT. MarkWest is investigating this incident and will work with local and state authorities throughout this process. MarkWest would also like to thank the first responders for their quick and professional response.”

EAST TEXAS – A line of severe thunderstorms marched across East Texas Tuesday night. Funnel clouds were reported in Hopkins and Rains counties. The rain, wind and lightning were responsible for power outages around the area. Tyler, Longview, and Nacogdoches were among the communities affected.

TYLER – No students were injured when a Tyler school bus caught fire. Around 40 students were aboard the bus when the fire started just before 4:45 Tuesday afternoon near the intersection of Azalea and Powers. A TISD news release said the students were evacuated from bus number 55 before an electrical fire broke out under the hood.

TYLER – Tyler City Manager Mark McDaniel has been elected as Mt. Plains Regional Vice President of ICMA, the International City/County Management Association. His three-year term begins on October 10 at the ICMA 98th Annual Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

“We are extremely proud that Mark has been elected to serve ICMA in this capacity,” said Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass. “He has such passion for the profession, and I believe he will be a tremendous asset to the Association.”

McDaniel began his career as a management intern with the city of Denton, Texas, in 1985 and quickly moved upward to become assistant customer services manager (1985-87), treasury operations manager/court administrator (1987-89), and budget officer (1989-91). In 1991, he was selected as assistant city manager of Lake Jackson, Texas, a position he held until 1994, the year in which he was named city manager of Woodway, Texas (1994-2001). Following a stint as director of management and budget for Corpus Christi, Texas (2001-03), McDaniel became assistant city manager (2003-04). He left Corpus Christi in 2004 to become deputy city manager of Tyler and was named city manager in 2009.

TYLER — Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith says crime was down in the county in 2011. According to KETK, he says the reasons are enhanced awareness and better technology. The sheriff’s office reports it worked five homicides in 2011 compared to seven in 2010. Sexual assaults were also down by 19%. The only increase: burglary was up by about 8%.

TYLER — Tyler ISD Superintendent Randy Reid is joining others concerned that testing may have become too important to children. Reid says he’ll seek school board approval this month of a resolution asking the state to step back and take a look at accountability. Reid says other school districts have already signed on. According to Reid, “I know that over 200 have already passed this resolution, and we just ask everybody to put their support behind that — we think it’s the right move.” Reid’s comments to KTBB’s Bill Coates came following the state’s first-ever STAAR Test week. On the upside, Reid said things went smoothly during the week.

GILMER — A Pittsburg man has died in a one-vehicle crash near Gilmer. Chad Michael Blackburn, 22, was driving southbound at about 10 Monday morning on U.S. 271 just north of Gilmer when his truck left the roadway and struck a tree, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. KETK reports Blackburn was pronounced dead at the scene. He was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the wreck.

NACOGDOCHES — The victim of a weekend kidnapping has been identified by Nacogdoches authorities as Houston resident John Todd, 19. Earlier, the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s office said a man was kidnapped and severely beaten by several men Saturday morning. Officials tell KETK they were able to determine that the kidnapping started at a house on Davis Street in the city of Nacogdoches.

Two suspects have been identified and arrested. Austin Truitt has been charged with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault. John Michael Windsor has also been charged with aggravated assault. The man who was beaten was taken to a local hospital and treated for multiple injuries. No bonds have been set on the suspects, and more arrests are pending. A motive for the kidnapping has not been determined.