KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Tyler Police have released the identity of a man found dead Friday morning as Todd Jackson, 49, Dallas. Officers say they received a call around 6:00 reporting a man lying on a sidewalk at West Erwin and Bruck. The caller advised that the subject laying on the sidewalk was bleeding. Police responded to the scene and requested EMS. Jackson was declared dead at the scene. Authorities say the autopsy shows no foul play involved, but toxicology results are pending.

EAST TEXAS — At least two East Texas groups holdd events Saturday as tax season winds down. A Tax Day Tea Party, sponsored by We The People-Longview, was held on the Gregg County Courthouse Lawn. Guest speakers included radio talk show host, author, filmmaker, and singer/songwriter Mike Church; LouAnn Anderson with Americans for Prosperity; Dr. Keith A. Rothra, Professor of History and Political Science with LeTourneau University & Kilgore College; and Mike Schwartz, Co-Founder of We The People-Longview.

The Tyler Tea Party held a Tax Day TEA (taxed enough already) Rally from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. on the downtown square. Featured Speakers included Neal Barton, Mike Church, U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, Retired Judge Cynthia Kent, and local attorney Ken Good. Entertainment will be provided by American Idol finalist Krista Branch. Among the topics, overspending, freedom of religion, the right to bear arms – and yes, even the controversial birth certificate issue was mentioned. You can go to http://www.tylerteaparty.org for more information.

EAST TEXAS — The Upshur County Sheriff�s Office has found skeletal remains near Lake O� the Pines, officials said Thursday afternoon. Deputies received a call Wednesday night, saying there were possible human skeletal remains in the Camp Joy area. Deputies recovered the remains, but the investigation is ongoing. The remains were due to be sent off for a forensic analysis in Tyler or Dallas. Meanwhile, authorities say they are checking into active missing persons cases.

UPSHUR COUNTY — A Gregg County man who authorities said burglarized homes while pretending to be a law enforcement officer is arrested. 45-year-old Edward Charles Lee is being held in Upshur County Jail on bonds totaling $150,000 on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and impersonation of a public servant. He also is being held without bond on a federal detainer. The Upshur County Sheriff�s Office has recovered $30,000 to $50,000 worth of stolen property, including guns, jewelry and electronics, and is trying to return it to its owners.

Lee, who was arrested April 7, is a suspect in other burglaries in the area, Roberts said. On April 4, the sheriff�s office received two calls about home burglaries in the Indian Rock community. Later that day, a resident returned home and confronted a suspect in the house, who identified himself as a law enforcement officer, Roberts said. The homeowner wrote down information from the man�s vehicle, including the license plate, and turned it into the sheriff�s office, which started an investigation, Roberts said.

When Lee was arrested, he also had stolen badges and identification related to law enforcement on him, Roberts said. Jewelry found in his pockets had been stolen earlier that morning in Overton, Roberts said.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) � The Canadian company that wants to build an oil pipeline to the Gulf of Mexico is again threatening landowners with court action if they don’t sell TransCanada the rights it needs to build the Keystone XL pipeline. The proposed pipeline route goes through eastern Smith County.

TransCanada was criticized last summer for mentioning eminent domain in letters to landowners. Company spokesman Terry Cunha says TransCanada has agreements with more than 80% of landowners along the six-state route and wants to be ready if the project is approved.

National Wildlife Federation spokesman Tony Iallonardo says TransCanada shouldn’t bully landowners before it secures U.S. State Department approval. The project is designed to carry oil from Canada across Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. TransCanada has also proposed connecting to the Bakken oil field in Montana and North Dakota.

TYLER — Tyler Junior College officials have dedicated a wing of the Louise H. and Joseph Z. Ornelas Residential Complex in memory of a former Apache Belles director. The Eva Saunders Wing was dedicated in honor of the woman who served as Belles’ director from 1963 to 1976. The wing is located on the Ornelas complex’s fourth floor, which is occupied by the entire Apache Belles line.

Private donations for the dedication were raised by fundraising chair and former Apache Belle Mary Boles Blitch, a member of the precision dance team from 1948 to 1950. All gifts were placed in the TJC Belle Heritage Endowment. “The quintessential ‘Steel Magnolia’, Eva Saunders guided the Apache Belles in all aspects of life, manners, dress, speech and community participation,” Blitch said. “With Eva’s impeccable appearance, soft voice and genteel manner, she molded many ‘country girls’ into presentable young ladies.

During Eva Saunders’ tenure, the Apache Belles were the only college dance drill team to perform during televised halftimes for the Dallas Cowboys; and through this exposure, the group gained a worldwide reputation for excellence.

The Al Gilliam Wing and Mildred Stringer Lounge are also located on the Apache Belles’ floor and named in memory of the Belles’ former choreographer and director, respectively.

TYLER � Police in Tyler say a man arrested for indecent exposure is a registered sex offender. Shortly after 9:00 yesterday morning, officers responded to the French Quarter at 4500 S. Broadway in reference to a suspicious person. Officers were advised that a man in a black older model Dodge Stratus was exposing himself. The complainant wrote down the license plate number that was displayed on the Stratus. Investigators were able to determine that the vehicle was registered to a sex offender. They confirmed that the registered sex offender�s files listed this vehicle as belonging to him. Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Daniel Michael Swed, 53, of Tyler. They located Swed at his place of employment, which was documented in his sex offender registration file. Swed�s alleged offense is a class B misdemeanor. His bond has been set at $15,000.

NACOGDOCHES � A six-month undercover drug investigation by the Nacogdoches Police Department has resulted in charges being filed against ten defendants. According to police reports, NPD began the arrests Wednesday morning. Officials say the investigation targeted street-level narcotics trafficking within the city. At last report, seven of the defendants had been arrested. The arrested suspects and charges are:

– Jerry D. Holcomb, age 44, of Nacogdoches, Delivery of a Controlled Substance
– Bryant D. Gilyard, age 43 of Nacogdoches, Delivery of a Controlled Substance (2 counts)
– Rodney Woodson, age 33 of Nacogdoches, Delivery of a Controlled Substance
– Jerome R. Murchinson, age 23 of Nacogdoches, Delivery of a Controlled Substance (2 counts)
– Jeffrey R. Gates, age 36 of Nacogdoches, Delivery of a Controlled Substance (2 counts)
– Anthony D. Garner, Jr., age 21 of Nacogdoches, Delivery of a Controlled Substance (2 counts)
– Maxie Deckard, 31 of Nacogdoches, Delivery of a Controlled Substance (2 counts)

Three suspects remained at large. All were wanted on charges of Delivery of a Controlled Substance:

– Mongo J. Fite, age 36 of Nacogdoches
– Trevosky Freeney, age 20 of Nacogdoches
– Kiara K. Raindle, age 21 of Nacogdoches

TYLER � Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials left the scene of the China King restaurant on Broadway in Tyler Thursday afternoon after several hours of employee questioning. Employees say nobody was taken into ICE custody, and all employees complied with investigators. The restaurant was closed for the rest of the day. During the raid, ICE released a statement that said, “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement along with U.S. Homeland Security are conducting an ongoing investigation, which the China King is a part of because it is ongoing. No further details can be released at this time.” Tyler police assisted in the raid.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. � A Lufkin truck driver died in an accident Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 78 in Greenwich Township, Pa. According to KETK, Wiley �Thad� Russell, 58, was pronounced dead at the scene after his rig crashed and rolled, according to a Pennsylvania Law Enforcement crash report. Russell was eastbound in northern Berks County near the Lehigh County line when his 2010 Freightliner struck the embankment and lost control around 1:30 p.m., the report stated. The rig then rolled on the driver�s side, coming to rest in the middle of the highway blocking both left lanes.

According to television station WFMZ out of Allentown, Pa., initial reports from the scene were that Russell was trapped in his cab and semi-unconscious. State police troopers told WFMZ Russell died on the scene a short time after the crash. The station reported State Police were not sure whether Russell died from injuries sustained in the crash or from a medical condition.

LUFKIN � A Lufkin man has been arrested for allegedly robbing a cab driver. Justin Woodall, 28, is charged with aggravated robbery. Authorities say Woodall called the cab company asking for a ride. The owner of the cab company reportedly picked Woodall up and drove him to a driveway on Sayers Street. That�s when Woodall allegedly grabbed the driver�s neck from behind at knifepoint. Fortunately, the driver was able to get away safely. Close to $150 was reportedly taken from the center console of the cab.

LONGVIEW � The family of the good Samaritan killed trying to help a state trooper is seeking damages. The family of Trent Hepler filed a lawsuit against Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company and the driver of the truck carrying a trailer. Family members believe both are responsible for Hepler�s death. The 32-year-old Hepler was hit and killed on November 2 after he stopped to help the trooper during a wreck in Longview..

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Van Zandt County Precinct One Commissioner, Ricky LaPrade was arrested early Thursday morning for DWI, unlawful carry of a loaded weapon, and resisting arrest. Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Officials say LaPrade was taken into custody by a Canton K-9 officer in the parking lot of a Whataburger restaurant around 1:15. The commissioner has since been released from jail.

LUFKIN � After three hours of deliberations, a jury has found a Lufkin woman guilty of duct taping her children and beating them with an extension cord. Kathy Taylor, 38, was convicted of four counts of injury to a child and three counts of unlawful restraint. She headed back to court Thursday for the punishment phase of her trial.

AUSTIN (AP) � Republican Representative Leo Berman of Tyler is portraying his bill that would make English the official language of Texas as a cost-saving method. Presenting his bill before a House committee on Wednesday, Berman claimed the measure would save the state millions since it would only print things in English. The state comptroller did not produce a fiscal note on the bill, but Berman touted the amount of paper and effort that would be saved under his proposal. But opponents are skeptical.

Luis Figuera from the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund, argues that the legislation isn’t about saving money but is aimed at the immigrant population. Berman’s bill was one of several bills targeting undocumented workers being discussed Wednesday evening.