KTBB News, Weather, Talk

MARSHALL — Two persons are in custody in connection with a drive-by shooting in Marshall. Arrested were James Fields, 28, and Billy Mason, 20. Fields has been charged with deadly conduct and a warrant for possession of drug paraphernalia and Mason has been charged with deadly conduct and a warrant for violation of parole. The shooting is said to have occurred around 10:30 Sunday night in the 1500 block of Fields Street. No injuries were reported.

TYLER — Funeral services are scheduled in Tyler Tuesday for former judge Tom Ramey Jr. Ramey, who died Friday at the age of 90, served as Chief Justice of the 12th Court of Appeals from 1989 to 2000. A senior partner in the Ramey Flock Law firm, Ramey was named Chief Justice Emeritus’ of the Court a few years ago. Funeral services for the former judge and Tyler civic leader will be held Tuesday morning at 11:00 at Tyler’s Marvin United Methodist Church.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of Oct. 12. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.

Motorists who use Farm Road 2658 in Rusk County for their commutes will have to take alternate routes when the contractor closes a portion of the roadway starting Monday. The closure is necessary to complete the tie-in of a new section of roadway to the existing section. Traffic is being detoured to Farm Road 3231 for the next several weeks. Continue reading TxDOT Road Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Now that Kevin McCarthy has stepped aside, Tyler-based Congressman Louie Gohmert says he’s supporting Dan Webster for House speaker. Gohmert tells KTBB, “Even though he’s less conservative in his voting than I am…he’s a good man. He de-centralized power as speaker of the House in Florida, and I knew he was just the right guy to do that in Washington — desperately needed.” As for this past week’s announcement, Gohmert remarked, “It was a surprise when Kevin McCarthy indicated he was not the person to unite…us together.” But Gohmert terms the move “a selfless, noble act.” Gohmert says he looks forward to the day when the House has someone “that will allow all of the members, Republican and Democrat, to represent their districts. That’s gonna be a great day when that happens.”

TROUP — One person is dead after a car hits a vacant house in Troup. The man is Scott Tune, 45, of Troup. The accident occurred around 8:30 Friday night at the intersection of South Georgia Street and East Wilkinson Drive. He appears to have lost control of his car on a curve and crashed into the house.

LUFKIN — An Angelina County man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations. Phil Bernard Lewis, 47, of Lufkin, pleaded guilty on December 17, 2014, to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced Friday to 300 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark. Federal prosecutors say from 2011 to October 2014, Lewis conspired with others to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine from Mexico to customers in the United States, including Lufkin. Much of the cocaine was converted to crack cocaine. Once in Lufkin, Lewis stored the cocaine at several locations, including houses on Dale Street, Booker Street, and East Texas Road, until the drugs were distributed to other dealers.

TYLER – The work of one of the giants in the field of landscape photography is the focus of the Tyler Museum of Art’s next major exhibition, according to information from the museum. “Ansel Adams: Early Works” opens to the public Sunday, Oct. 11, and continues through Jan. 3, 2016. The more than 30 works in the show, drawn from the private collection of Michael Mattis and Judith Hochberg, highlight the small-scale prints Adams produced from the 1920s into the 1950s. TMA Executive Director Chris Leahy points out that the exhibit items are much less familiar than the high-contrast prints on high-gloss paper stock Adams manufactured to order in the 1970s and ’80s. Continue reading New Ansel Adams Exhibit Debuts Sunday at TMA

JACKSONVILLE — Police have arrested a man in connection with a Thursday night murder in Jacksonville. According to KETK, officials said Terry Woods, 44, of Jacksonville, is accused of killing Michael Hatton, also 44. Hatton was shot and killed on Bethune Street sometime after sunset, police said. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Woods was arrested Friday morning when he voluntary surrendered at the JPD headquarters. There are no other persons of interest at this time. The case is ongoing.

GREGG COUNTY — East Texas Regional Airport is announcing completion of the airport terminal building renovation project. A rededication of the Henry Atkinson Terminal Building and ribbon cutting ceremony will be held in the terminal lobby at 10:00 Tuesday morning, October 13. The terminal building was originally constructed in 1946 and has undergone two previous renovations, according to information from Airport Director Roy Miller. The terminal building was named in honor of Judge Henry Atkinson in 1986. That honor will continue with the rededication. Continue reading ETRA Sets Terminal Ribbon-Cutting

SMITH COUNTY — A man has been arrested in Smith County on multiple charges that are similar to charges leveled against him during an August arrest, and a K-9 partner played a key role. On Friday at about 10:00 a.m., a K-9 deputy observed a suspicious man walking on County Road 328 West and observed signs of intoxication, according to officials. Authorities say the deputy attempted a search of the man and felt what he believed to be a weapon in the man’s pants pocket. Officials say the man physically resisted when the deputy tried to detain him and that the two went to the ground. The deputy then deployed his K-9 partner Endy, who officials say was able to separate the two. Continue reading K-9 Partner Helps in Man’s Second Arrest on Multiple Charges

RUSK COUNTY – Authorities in the Kilgore area have taken Millard Wiley III, 32, into custody after he allegedly shot his father earlier this week. According to KETK, deputies and state troopers were called at 4:39 Wednesday afternoon to a shooting on Rusk County Road 167E. They found Millard Wiley Jr. with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was taken to a Tyler hospital, where he is still recovering. The younger Wiley was taken to the county jail and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

LONGVIEW — A fatal accident in which the victim apparently fell out of a car has Longview police looking for leads. Police were dispatched at 7:49 p.m. Thursday to a Young Street location near the Martin Luther King Boulevard intersection. When officers arrived they were told a green, older model Ford Crown Victoria was traveling westbound on Young Street. As the driver of the car turned to travel north on MLK, the driver lost control of the vehicle and struck the west side of a store, causing significant damage to the building. Continue reading Longview Police Search for Driver in Fatal Accident

SMITH COUNTY — Two UPS employees have been identified as the victims of a Smith County Accident. Killed was the driver of an 18-wheeler, William Harris, 54, and his passenger, Dan Banicki, 42, both from Florida. They died in the wreck on Interstate Highway 20 around 11:00 Wednesday night. According to one truck driver, he was hit from behind by another truck, which then caught fire. The driver said he tried to use a fire extinguisher and help the two escape but was unable to get them out. No other injuries were reported.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department has now arrested five people in connection with an August shooting at the Bunny’s store in northern Smith County, bringing this week’s arrest total to six in the case. According to KETK, police say Longview SWAT served a warrant on 15th Street around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police said they received information a suspect involved in a fatal shooting was at the location. Police were able to locate the suspect and take him into custody. Three other men at the location were also arrested and taken to the Gregg County Jail. One man died in the Bunny’s melee, in which more than 300 people were said to be involved. Continue reading More Arrests in Bunny’s Shooting

TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for the driver involved in a hit and run accident. It happened just before midnight Thursday on Loop 323 and Troup Highway. The condition of the victim is unknown. We’ll have more information as it becomes available.

PALESTINE — A former Anderson County teacher will be spending time in prison because of an improper relationship between an educator and Student. In a plea agreement with the state, Rachel Bauer, 25, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The former Frankston High School agriculture teacher was also sentenced to 10 years deferred adjudication probation for the felony offense of Sexual Assault of a Child. The probation begins once she is released from prison. Bauer must register as a sex offender for life.

TYLER — Officials say skeletal remains found in eastern Smith County have been identified as those of Jerry Wayne Potter, 62. Potter was reported missing to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office on April 22. According to family members, it was not uncommon for him to not be seen or heard from for weeks at a time. On Tuesday around 3:15 p.m., sheriff’s deputies responded to a suspicious circumstance call from someone who had discovered the remains on his property. If you saw Potter at any time or have any information that may help with the investigation you are asked to call the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at 903-566-6600.

MARSHALL — Two East Texas men, convicted in unrelated arson cases, have been sentenced in the 71st District Court. In one case, a Woodlawn man, who was given probation in the February 2012 arson of Woodlawn Baptist Church, was sentenced to 30 years in prison after his probation was revoked. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, court documents say Dylan Shea Morgan, 20, violated his probation stemming from his April 2014 conviction. The violations included arrests on charges of criminal trespass and burglary. Authorities recommended Morgan be placed in a mental health unit in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice system. Continue reading Men Sentenced in Two Arson Cases

LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been charged with sexual assault of a 13-year-old child. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report 41-year-old Saturnino Torres was jailed on $150,000 bond. According to police, the child’s mother brought her to the Longview Police Department on September 24 to report the assault.

HALLSVILLE — A Hallsville ISD coach who remains on paid administrative leave until he resigns in December entered a voluntary settlement agreement with the district that stipulates he will never work there again. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Superintendent Jim Dunlap released the “voluntary separation agreement and release of claims” document involving Hallsville High School track and cross country coach Dean McDaniel, who resigned from the district Sept. 25. The document states that McDaniel, who has been with the district for 13 years, is considered eligible for rehire but is never to work again in Hallsville ISD. In the agreement, the district and McDaniel agree not to talk badly about each other and agree not to sue each other. Continue reading Settlement: Coach Won’t Be Rehired in Hallsville ISD

SMITH COUNTY — Two persons have been killed in a fiery collision on Interstate Highway 20 in Smith County. The collision between two tractor trailer trucks was reported around 11:00 Wednesday night west of Highway 14. All eastbound lanes of I-20 eventually reopened after being shut down near FM 2015.

TYLER — A former Kilgore College plant supervisor who made claims of improper asbestos abatement at the school said in a federal lawsuit that he was fired in retaliation for reporting the activity. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. The Whistleblower Act lawsuit by former 13-year employee Dalton Smith names the school and Kilgore College President Bill Holda as defendants. A summons for Holda was issued Wednesday, the docket for the federal Eastern District of Texas showed. He had not received it by Wednesday night and said he was not prepared to comment without seeing the lawsuit. “I don’t know that it’s unexpected, but it’s very, very hard to evaluate, not seeing the specific allegations,” Holda said. “We will wait till we receive an official copy, consult with counsel and proceed with the legal process.” Smith could not be reached by cellphone Wednesday evening for comment. Continue reading Asbestos Reporter Suing Kilgore College

TYLER — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency is now accepting applications for emergency farm loans due to damages and losses caused by drought beginning September 22 and continuing in Rusk, Smith, and Upshur Counties. Smith County Farm Loan Manager Joseph Grier asks farmers who want to apply for emergency loans to submit their applications as soon as possible. The deadline for applications is May 31, 2016, but Grier says if farmers wait too long, a backlog will develop and cause delays. Generally, farmers who have lost 30% of their production or sustained any physical loss due to the disaster are eligible for the emergency loans, according to an FSA news release. Continue reading FSA Accepting Emergency Loan Applications for Area Counties

LAKE TYLER — The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office says it’s continuing its investigation of a reportedly suspicious house fire that broke out Wednesday morning and resulted in the total loss of a Lake Tyler residence belonging to Paul Manziel of Tyler. Manziel is the grandfather of football star Johnny Manziel. According to a county news release, the Fire Marshal’s Office has completed processing of the scene and released it back to the owner. Officials say that’s been done with assistance from ATF, including a canine and task force officer from the Denton Fire Department. Continue reading Manziel Fire Remains under Investigation

LONGVIEW — Five persons have been arrested by members of the Longview Police Department SWAT team as they served a search warrant. The arrests occurred shortly after 2:00 Wednesday afternoon at a home in the 1300 block of El Paso Street. A search of the house turned up a firearm that was stolen in White Oak and a large quantity of powder cocaine, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine. The names of the suspects and their charges were due to be released following their arraignment.

TYLER — The City of Tyler Traffic Engineering Department will rebuild the traffic signal at the intersection of Old Jacksonville Highway (Farm Road 2493) and Loop 323 today. Work crews will work on the project between 9:00am and 4:00pm. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes if possible.

SMITH COUNTY — More repair work is planned for the Interstate Highway 20 eastbound outside lane today in Smith County. The work will occur at Mile Marker 566-567. Motorists should slow down, pay attention and expect lane closures from 7:00am to 6:00pm. Motorists can choose to take other routes if possible to avoid delays.

AUSTIN (AP) – A longtime Texas law against desecrating the U.S. or state flag has been ruled unconstitutional by the state’s highest criminal court. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Wednesday rebuked the 26-year-old ban that state lawmakers had approved shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court tossed a nearly identical law in 1989. There are few reported cases of the law having ever been enforced. But it was challenged after police in the small East Texas town of Lovelady arrested then-20-year-old Terence Johnson in 2012 after he threw a store’s U.S. flag onto the street. Johnson, who is black, told authorities he was upset over alleged racial comments made by a clerk. Writing for the Republican-dominated appeals court in a 6-3 decision, Judge Sharon Keller said the law is “invalid on its face.”

JACKSONVILLE – Republican Jacksonville attorney Chris Day has announced he’s running for Judge of the 2nd Judicial District Court. The bench will see a new presiding judge for the first time since 2000 with the retirement of long-time Judge Dwight Phifer. Day has practiced law in Cherokee County for over two decades. He said he believes it’s critical to elect experienced Constitutional conservatives to the bench. So far, he’s opposed by fellow Republican Susie Saxion.