KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — As several candidates battle it out for the Republican presidential nomination, Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert says he’s pleased with the field. Gohmert specifically says Michele Bachmann is one of his closest friends in Congress. But he told KETK he considers all the candidates friends and says they’re good people — though he admits he doesn’t know Mitt Romney as well as the rest.

BOSSIER CITY, La. — Bossier Sheriff Larry Deen says a Longview, Texas, man was arrested Monday afternoon after deputies allegedly found he had been operating a methamphetamine lab in a Bossier City, La., motel room over the past few weeks. According to KETK, Gregory L. Allison, 42, was arrested by the Sheriff’s Special Investigations Unit following an anonymous tip that he had meth in his hotel room.

According to information from the sheriff’s department, deputies contacted Allison at his motel room where they saw several components used in the production of a Red P (Phosphorous) meth lab after Allison invited them into his motel room. Authorities say Allison admitted to deputies he cooked meth in the room at least four times over the past few weeks. Deputies also found a small amount of suspected meth which tested positive for methamphetamine.

Allison was charged with manufacture of Schedule II (meth), four counts of operating a clandestine meth lab, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of Schedule II (meth) and transported to the Bossier Maximum Security Facility; his bond was pending at last report.

LUFKIN (AP) – Emergency officials say an oil vat fire has led to the evacuation of an industrial complex in East Texas. The Lufkin Daily News reports the fire broke out Tuesday morning in a Lufkin Industries heat treatment facility used for cooling and hardening metal. Company vice president Brian Gifford says nobody was hurt and authorities are investigating the cause of the fire. Hot spots were being monitored throughout the day. Lufkin Industries supplies oilfield and power transmission products.

LUFKIN — Investigators need your help identifying a female suspect involved in the fraudulent use of a victim’s identifying information.

The victim in this case reported to Lufkin Police Department that she received notification from the Internal Revenue Service warning that she owed taxes for unreported income. The warning letter stated that the victim did not report all of her income when filing her tax return paperwork. Specifically, the IRS claimed that the victim failed to report wages earned while working for Etech during the year 2010.

The victim had not worked for Etech so she called the company’s human resources department seeking an explanation for what was to her an obvious error. The victim learned that her name, date of birth, and social security number were listed in the company’s records for an employee currently working at Etech`s Lufkin Center.

The detective conducting the investigation attempted to make contact with the suspect at Etech’s Lufkin Center but was told that the suspect, upon learning that the victim complained to Etech, left work claiming a sickness and has not returned. The detective obtained the image of the suspect shown here from a copy of the employee identification card for the person claiming to be the victim.

If you can identify this suspect or provide any information concerning this crime, call Crime Stoppers of Lufkin at (936) 639-TIPS or click here to submit an anonymous tip. You never have to give your name and Crime Stoppers may pay a cash reward of up to $2,000 for information that leads to an arrest related to these crimes.

CANTON — Van Zandt County authorities are investigating the death of an East Texas man after he was found dead early Monday morning. Van Zandt County Sheriff Pat Burnett said Derek Shane Hutson, 28, Canton, apparently died as a result of gun shots. Hutson’s body was discovered around 2:00. Burnett said his office and the Texas Rangers continue investigating the death.

TYLER — Three Tyler ISD high school students have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program. Taylor Huckaby and Cole Paxson, both seniors at Robert E. Lee High School, received the National Merit Program Commendation recognition. Andrea Huerta, a senior at John Tyler High School, received special recognition as a National Hispanic Achievement Scholar.

“We are extremely proud of Mr. Huckaby, Mr. Paxson, and Ms. Huerta for earning such high honors,” Randy Reid, Tyler ISD Superintendent, said. “These national recognitions are a testament to their hard work, as well as the work of our dedicated teaching staff.”

National Merit Program Commendation recognitions are bestowed upon roughly 34,000 of the over 1.5 million students nationwide who take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Students who receive this recognition are candidates for special scholarships through the National Merit Scholarship Program.

The National Hispanic Achievement Scholar recognition is awarded to high-scoring Hispanic students on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Only the top two percent of Hispanic test takers receive this commendation.

LUFKIN – Law enforcement agencies in Texas and Arkansas are looking for Karen Haney Renfro. She is wanted in Texas by Dallas County authorities for possession of dangerous drugs and is wanted in Arkansas for failure to appear-possession of cocaine.

Renfro was last known to be in Lufkin on Sunday. She is believed to be staying in local motels; frequently changing rooms.

Since November 2008, she has been booked into the Angelina County Jail by a variety of city, county and state agencies. If you know where she can be found, you are asked to contact Lufkin Crimestoppers or your local law enforcement agency.

TYLER — A Smith County constable is accused of sexual harassment. Precinct 5 Constable Dennis Taylor allegedly harassed a deputy and then fired her when his advances were reportedly refused. According to KETK, a 12-page complaint was filed in U.S. District Court in Tyler. Deputy Wendy Savering was hired in 2005 by Taylor and was soon assigned to the post of school resource officer for the Lindale ISD. She was named Officer of the Year in 2007 and was officially recognized by the school district in 2010 for her work.

The complaint alleges that when her divorce was finalized in December 2008, within three days, Taylor asked her out. Savering alleges that when it became clear that she was not interested in a relationship, Taylor began criticizing her work. Savering also claims that when an initial suit for harassment was filed, she was fired. Savering’s attorney claims, “When she refused to date Constable Taylor, he made her life — work life — as miserable as he could and ultimately terminated her. My client is seeking reinstatement; she would like to have her job back.” Repeated phone calls from KETK to Taylor’s lawyer were not returned. The case is set for mediation in November.

TYLER — Hope Kidwell, 75, of Mt. Pleasant is the first in the region to have a tumor removed from one of her kidneys with the assistance of a robotic system at Mother Frances Hospital-Tyler. Monday, Andrew Kirkpatrick, M.D., Chief of Urology with Trinity Clinic, was the first surgeon to use Trinity Mother Frances’ da Vinci Surgical Robot to use real-time fluorescence imaging technology. The procedure allows surgeons to see and assess anatomy better than the naked eye. According to hospital officials, that further enhances the unmatched vision, precision and control of surgical robotics.

In 2004, Mother Frances Hospital-Tyler was the first in East Texas to add robotic surgery, using it to perform minimally invasive cardiac bypasses and robotic assisted radical prostatectomies. Hospital officials say the newest upgrade is instrumental in the treatment of renal tumors. “We are pleased to be the first in the region to offer this ground-breaking technology to our patients and the community we serve,” said Kirkpatrick, who has used da Vinci to perform over 300 prostatectomies.

AUSTIN — Texans who survived the recent wildfires – or saw neighbors or family experience loss – can be experiencing post-disaster stress that is as real as the destruction itself. Because of this, free crisis counseling is available to Texans in the 23 counties designated for Individual Assistance under the major disaster declaration. The program, funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and administered by the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS), is open to any child or adult who is experiencing disaster-related stress.

“FEMA funds this program after major disasters because counseling can help people understand that their emotional reactions to the disaster, such as grief, frustration, anger and fear, are normal,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin L. Hannes of FEMA. “We know that the right support and coping skills can help most survivors pick up the pieces and go on with their lives.” Trained counselors are provided by the network of state Community Mental Health Centers. Calls to the crisis lines are free of charge, as are face-to-face follow-up sessions for adults and children whose needs cannot be fully served through phone counseling.

Here’s a rundown of services available in East Texas:

· Anderson County, ACCESS Anderson Cherokee Community Enrichment Services, crisis line 800-621-1693
· Cass, Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Rusk and Upshur Counties, Community Healthcore, crisis line 800-832-1009
· Henderson and Smith Counties, Andrews Center Behavioral Healthcare System, crisis line 877-934-2131
· Houston County, Burke Center, crisis line 800-392-8343

SMITH COUNTY — The home of a special needs teacher at Hubbard Middle School has been heavily damaged by a fire that broke out late Monday morning. According to KETK, she had taken the day off to care for a sick grandchild, but was not at home at the time of the fire, and there were no injuries. The back portion of the home was destroyed in the blaze. The home is in southern Smith County on the 12000 block of FM 344, about a mile south of Hwy. 110.

HOUSTON (AP) – An East Texas man sent to death row for a shootout that left two sheriff’s deputies dead and a third wounded has lost an appeal at the U.S. Supreme Court. The justices Monday refused to review a petition from 52-year-old Randall Wayne Mays. The former welder and oilfield worker was condemned for fatally shooting Henderson County Sheriff’s Deputy Tony Ogburn in 2007. Another deputy, Paul Habelt, also was killed.

The deputies responded to a call of gunshots on Mays’ property in Payne Springs. After appearing to cooperate, Mays barricaded himself in his house and opened fire with a high-powered rifle. An attorney argued Mays had poor legal help and was mentally impaired. Mays does not have an execution date and has other appeals.

JACKSONVILLE –The Jacksonville ISD Board of Trustees meets this evening to discuss joining a coalition of more than 150 school districts across Texas that has filed a suit against the state. The coalition, led by the Equity Center in Austin, filed suit Monday, claiming the state’s treatment of taxpayers and school children is not equitable. The board will also discuss approving the goods in transit tax. Essentially, the tax would apply to certain goods transported into town and stored in a public warehouse more than 175 days. Jacksonville currently does not have any such taxable goods, but the passage of the act is required by state law if the city ever wants to tax goods in transit in the future.

TROUP — Smith County DPS and Troup Police reported an accident involving an SUV and a horse that forced a road to close in the Troup area. FM 346 was shut down while officials cleared the scene but has since reopened. Authorities say the accident happened around 6:20 at the intersection of CR 2142 and FM 346 Monday morning, when the vehicle hit the horse in the roadway. One person was reportedly transported to a local hospital but the extent of injuries is unknown. The horse died.

TYLER -– Police are searching for two suspects accused of robbing a Tyler convenience store. It happened around 1:15 Monday morning at the Food Fast at 4725 Troup Highway. The store clerk told officers he was in the cooler when a black male with a handgun, wearing a ski mask ordered him to the front of the store where another black male, wearing a black and gold Halloween mask, was waiting. The clerk reportedly gave the suspects and undisclosed amount of money before they fled on foot. The clerk was not injured.

The suspects were described as 18 and 20 years old, about 5’7”, with a slim build. Both were wearing all black clothing and white gloves.