KTBB News, Weather, Talk

MOUNT VERNON � Franklin County authorities are trying to identify a body found in a car that had been burned. A passing motorist saw the car Saturday morning off County Road 3170. Investigators feel the victim was killed elsewhere and the car was then driven to southern Franklin county location and set afire. The body has been sent to a lab for autopsy to help identify the victim and to help determine the cause of death.

MARSHALL � A young girl has drowned in a gold fish pond in Harrison County. Marshall police say they received the call shortly after 11:00 Saturday morning. They found the 17-month old girl�s body in about 25 inches of water in the pond next door to the house where her family was visiting. She was taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center-Marshall where she was later pronounced dead. Her name was not released.

UNDATED — Here’s a quick look at other work planned in the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

TYLER � Texas Department of Transportation construction contractor Reynolds & Kay, Ltd., of Tyler, is scheduled to begin work Tuesday night on West Loop 323 between State Highway 155 and U.S. Highway 69 (South Broadway). Crews will be working to repair and resurface the Loop between the hours of 8:00pm and 5:00am Sunday-Thursday through mid-August. Part of the $1.4 million contract calls for repairing storm drain inlets in the same project area, which will require daytime work and overnight lane closures in those locations.

Also this week in Tyler, on the Union Pacific Railroad has rescheduled its plans to close Spur 164 in Tyler, also known as Greenbriar Road, for Tuesday. The road will be closed to all traffic between Spur 364 and State Highway 31 between 7:00am and 7:00pm while the railroad makes repairs to the crossing at that location. Detours will be posted.

Finally this week, TxDOT maintenance crews are scheduled to perform pavement-texturing operations on Spur 147 (Gentry Parkway) in and around the roadway�s intersections with Glenwood, Palace and Beckham. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

KILGORE � Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue pavement repairs on U.S. Highway 259 Business in Kilgore between Lantrip Street to the south end of the US 259 Bypass. The work is being done in preparation for a seal coat application later this summer. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

HENDERSON COUNTY � Beginning Monday, Texas Department of Transportation contractor Barkley Commercial Construction is scheduled to make repairs to damaged bridge railings on the Farm Road 315 bridges over Lake Palestine just south of Chandler. The work is scheduled to last through the end of August. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

Also this week in Henderson County, TxDOT maintenance crews are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs in various locations on Farm Road 2709 between Farm Road 316 in Eustace and State Highway 19 north of Athens. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

Also this week, TxDOT�s District Wide Seal Coat program could begin work on roadways in Henderson County as early as Wednesday this week, weather permitting. Roads to be sealed include State Highway 31 in Trinidad, Farm Road 2892, and State Highway 19 north of Athens.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue pavement repairs in Jacksonville at the intersection of SW Loop 456 and Farm Road 347 on Tuesday, followed by the same work on State Highway 135 and State Highway 110 in Troup. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue resurfacing operations on U.S. Highway 287 south of State Highway 294 in Elkhart. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

Also this week, TxDOT’s District Wide Seal Coat program is scheduled to continue its work in Anderson County in the following locations: On Farm Road 2961 between Farm Road 59 and Farm Road 837; and on State Highway 19 between Farm Road 321 in Montalba and the Henderson County Line. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two lane areas. Loose gravel may be present for several days following a seal coat application. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

WOOD COUNTY � Texas Department of Transportation contractor Nixon Engineering is scheduled to begin repairs to the damaged bridge rail on the westbound U.S. Highway 80 bridge over Lake Fork Creek on Wednesday, June 1. The bridge was damaged on April 15. One lane will be closed at all times during the repair.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 3227 between State Highway 198 and Farm Road 47, and on Farm Road 857 just south of Grand Saline. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

LANEVILLE � Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 1662 between Farm Road 1798 in Laneville and Farm Road 2753 in Anadarko. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

TYLER — Tyler’s Historic Aviation Memorial Museum is stepping up to the plate on behalf of a long-neglected Vietnam War memorial. A number of citizens recently expressed concern over the memorial, which had been vandalized and fallen into disrepair while at Bergfeld Park. Now the memorial has been moved and is undergoing restoration, thanks largely to Tyler Granite. On KTBB “Staff Meeting,” museum board chair Carolyn Verver says the memorial will soon have a very nice new home in the museum’s Memorial Courtyard. Verver says the courtyard features beautiful “knockout” roses and a brick patio — adding that individuals can purchase personalized bricks for the patio as a fundraiser. Verver hopes the war memorial project can be completed by later in the spring or early summer.

You can go to http://www.tylerhamm.org to learn more about the war memorial project and the museum. You also go to http://www.ktbb.com/audio to hear the “Staff Meeting” show online beginning early Monday morning.

PALESTINE — 73-year-old retiree Luther T. Harper of Palestine is dead following a one-vehicle accident that occurred around 1:30 Saturday afternoon in Anderson County. A DPS report says Harper was westbound on FM 1137 near Palestine, 7/10 of a mile north of U.S. Highway 84. Authorities say Harper left the roadway, overcorrected, and struck several trees. He was taken to Palestine Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:40 p.m. Saturday. The DPS report says road conditions were clear and dry, and Harper was not wearing a seat belt.

TYLER – It was not your average day at the Goodman-LeGrand museum in Tyler. Saturday afternoon spectators gathered and spent time learning and celebrating history. Museum curator Patricia Heaton told our news partner KETK, “It is our 3rd annual event, and since the house dates back to 1859, we just thought it was a wonderful venue to bring in re-enactors that date back to the Civil War, bring in the heritage artisans that are spinning and weaving. It’s just been one of those events that were just trying to celebrate our heritage.” Along with the sights and sounds of the festival, re-enactor James Neel says events like this are crucial now more than ever. According to Neel,, “The saying is those who do not know the past are condemned to repeat it, and we would prefer not to repeat certain aspects of our past. But if we don’t know what those aspects are, how can we fail to repeat it?”

AUSTIN (AP/Staff) – An East Texas lawmaker made his presence felt as the Texas House approved a measure to ban smoking in public places across Texas. The sponsor of the amendment, Denton state Rep. Myra Crownover, said the bill will save $30 million a year in health care costs associated with smoking. She faced fierce opposition from some fellow Republicans, including Longview Rep. David Simpson, who tried to also ban perfume and cologne in public places. But he was shut down by Republican Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, who said he was mocking cancer patients. After hours of debate over property rights, personal rights, and public health, state representatives added the measure to a fiscal matters law. The bill was approved 73-66. Before it can come into force, the bill must still pass through a conference committee and be signed by the governor.

MANGUM, Okla. (AP) – The first week in the trial of a former warden’s wife accused of falling in love with a convicted killer and helping him escape from prison concluded without a jury in place. Greer County, Okla., prosecutors and defense attorneys disqualified several people but chose no new jurors on Friday as they continued efforts to find an impartial panel to hear the case of Bobbi Parker. Jury selection continues today. District Attorney John Wampler has said five people “made the first cut.” Parker is accused of helping Randolph Dial escape from the Oklahoma State Reformatory in 1994 and running away with him. Defense attorneys have said Dial abducted Parker and held her captive until she was rescued at an East Texas chicken ranch in 2005.

TYLER — U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced Friday that 13 Longview residents have been arrested following a lengthy investigation into drug trafficking in the Gregg County area. An 18-count sealed indictment was returned by a federal grand jury in Tyler on May 11, charging the defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute hydrocodone and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Some defendants were also charged with multiple counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm or possessing a stolen firearm. A task force of federal, state and local law enforcement officers began arresting those individuals on May 16.

Those named in the federal indictment are Spencer Garod Elam, 37; Derek Lamar Elam, 36; Darrell McGuail Washington, 47; Jefferson Jonathan Taylor, 28; Derek Monte London, 30; Demarcus Antwuan Talley, 29; Kelvin Earl Washington, 34; Korri Dewayne Boyd, 33; Latasha Ann Washington, 30; Dwight Anthony McKinley, 37; Roderick G. Jackson, 23; Lakendrick Carl Freeman, 26; and Willie Thedric Andrews, 27. All except Freeman, Jackson, Latasha Washington, and Talley face additional firearms charges.

If convicted, the defendants each face up to 10 years in federal prison for the conspiracy charge and up to life for the firearms violation. Those charged with additional firearms violations face up to 10 years in federal prison. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of cash, firearms, and ammunition.

TYLER — Tyler police have arrested the woman allegedly involved in a May 7 robbery case at Kohl�s Department Store. The suspect is 49-year-old Teresa Ruth Coble of Tyler. Coble was arrested Friday morning after pre-arrangements had been made by investigators for her to turn herself in. She was charged with robbery and is in Smith County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

Police say Coble entered the store and selected several clothing and jewelry items. According to police, she then entered a fitting room and concealed the items in a black and brown colored purse that she brought into the store, as well as a red purse that she allegedly took from the store. Police say after leaving the fitting room, Coble exited the store without paying for the merchandise.

Authorities say as Coble walked to her vehicle, she was contacted by a Kohl�s loss prevention employee. The loss prevention employee reportedly asked Coble to return to the store with the stolen items. According to police, Coble refused and continued to walk to her vehicle. Police say Coble was seated in her vehicle with the stolen property belonging to Kohl�s. Authorities say she then backed out of her parking space and drove directly towards the loss prevention employee, allegedly striking the employee�s right hand with the vehicle. Police say Coble then exited the parking lot and drove southbound on S. Broadway. The loss prevention employee received only minor injuries to her hand.

GILMER — A man is in serious condition in a Tyler hospital after losing one leg and injuring another when he was struck by a train in Gilmer. According to Gilmer police, the man was sitting on the railroad tracks near Roosevelt Park when he was struck by a passing train sometime before 11 p.m. Thursday night. Police said they believe the man was intoxicated at the time he was struck by the train. The man was air-lifted to a Tyler Hospital. His name has not been released and the investigation continues, police said Friday morning.

TYLER — A 61-year-old Fort Collins, CO man pleaded guilty to federal tax violations in the Eastern District of Texas Friday. Randall Craig, formerly of Bullard, pleaded guilty to failing to file a federal income tax return on May 19, 2011. According to information presented in court, Craig failed to file a federal income tax return for 2003 and pay the income tax due for that year by April 15, 2004. Craig was indicted by a federal grand jury on Feb. 16, 2011 and charged with the tax violation. Craig faces up to one year in federal prison.

TYLER (AP/Staff) � The Smith County district attorney explains his reason for arranging a plea deal for six adults accused of participating in what prosecutors say was a sordid swinger’s club. Judge Jack Skeen ruled that the defendants be sentenced to time served and then freed in the case, in which children as young as 5 were forced to perform sex in Mineola. The three men and three women pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of injury to a child in an unexpected end to a 3-year investigation. Three of them previously were sentenced to life in prison, only to have their convictions overturned. District Attorney Matt Bingham said he still believes the defendants deserve life in prison but offered the plea bargain for the sake of the child victims. They will not be required to register as sex offenders.

Patrick “Booger Red” Kelly, Shauntel Mayo and Jamie Pittman had previously been sentenced to life in prison � Kelly for aggravated sexual assault of a child, and Mayo and Pittman for organized criminal activity. Mayo and Pittman had their convictions overturned. Only Dennis Pittman, who’s appealing his life sentence, didn’t reach a deal.

GLADEWATER � A Union Grove High School English teacher has resigned after being charged with improper relationship between an educator and a student. Arrested Thursday morning was Angela Sue New, 38. She was placed in the Gregg County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bond.

School superintendent Brian Gray said the investigation started after allegations were made. New is accused of being involved with an 18 year old Union Grove student. According to the arrest record, the incident occurred on April 22nd. The investigation was turned over to Gladewater police, who issued an arrest warrant. She was arrested by police from White Oak, where she lives.