KTBB News, Weather, Talk

NACOGDOCHES – A Nacagdoches man was killed when the pickup he was a passenger in hit a horse. Killed in the accident around 1:00 Tuesday morning was Austin Blake Stewart, 20. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident on U.S. Highway 259, about six miles north of Nacogdoches. The driver, Joseph Blankenship, 20, of Nacogdoches, is in serious condition in a Nacogdoches hospital.

HENDERSON – A Kilgore man remains jailed on a murder charge. Booked into the Rusk County Jail Monday morning was Marvin Durrell Sanders, 37. His bond was set at $1 million. He is said to have shot his cousin in the back of the head while the family was watching the Dallas Cowboys’ game on Sunday. No word on what lead to the shooting.

EAST TEXAS – Hunters for the Hungry is a statewide hunger relief program benefiting member Food Banks. This program provides deer meat for persons throughout Texas. Through the program, hunters can donate legally tagged, field-dressed deer to participating processors. The East Texas Food Bank is partnering with two processors in our area: Carnes Packaging and Country Store in Troup and Massingill Meat Market in Lufkin. These processors prepare and package the venison, then contact the East Texas Food Bank which makes the meat available to their partnering food pantries. This ensures the donations support families and individuals in our local community. You can contact the East Texas Foot Bank for more information.

TYLER – Christmas trees are starting to come down. There are a couple of ways to dispose of them in Tyler. You can drop off natural Christmas trees through January 21st at two locations. They can be dropped off at designated areas at Golden Road Park and Fun Forest Park. Just look for the Christmas tree recycling sign. All lights, ornaments, garland, and tinsel need to be removed from the trees. No flocked trees will be accepted. The trees at the parks are available for area fisherman to pick up and sink in nearby lakes to create fish habitats. Christmas trees will also be picked up at the curb for disposal at the city landfill.

GLADEWATER – Funeral services are scheduled for Gladewater Fire Chief Michael Kirkwood, 42. He died from health complications he had. According to the fire department’s Facebook page, visitation will be on Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00pm at the Bates Cooper Sloan Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant. Funeral services will Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 at First Baptist Church in Mt Pleasant, followed by burial at Cemetery on Harts Bluff Road. The Longview News Journal quotes Gladewater Mayor Harold Wells as saying that Kirkwood came to Gladewater as a police officer and as a certified firefighter. Wells said he took on the fire chief role several years ago. Continue reading Gladewater’s Fire Chief Dies

TYLER – Four persons, including three children, have been injured in a Smith County fire. It happened on County Road 273, just east of Tyler, late Saturday night. The dad and three children ages 1, 3 and 4 were in the home while the mother was at work. Two young boys were treated and released at a Tyler hospital. The dad’s injuries were said to be non-life threatening. A four year old girl is in critical condition at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. The children’s aunt told KETK their the family lost everything, including their home and all their Christmas presents. It appears as if the fire started around a Christmas tree and a space heater in the home’s living room. Continue reading Four Injured, One Critically, in Smith County Fire

LUFKIN (AP) — Prosecutors are seeking to seize nearly $1 million in property from an East Texas minister and his family, who were convicted this summer of fraud charges for using hurricane relief funds to pay off personal expenses and fund their Jasper church. Walter Diggles, the former executive director of the Deep East Texas Council of Governments, was convicted in August of 17 counts of wire fraud and other charges. His wife, Rosie Diggles, was convicted on 12 counts of fraud and money laundering. Their adult daughter, Anita Diggles, was convicted of one conspiracy charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Gibson is asking a judge to order the forfeiture of more than $970,000 in property purchased with the funds intended to help with recovery from hurricanes Rita, Katrina, Ike and Dolly.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Weeks of December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones.

This work has been postponed several times due to weather or other issues but Anderson County Road 300 traffic is now scheduled to be detoured starting Tuesday, December 26, for work on the US 175 Phase III project from Poynor to Frankston. The US 175 main lanes will remain open. CR 300 traffic will be detoured for approximately three days to allow construction crews to work on tying the intersection of CR 300 into the newly constructed US 175 westbound lanes. The daytime detour will direct traffic intending to turn north on CR 300 to use CR 303 instead. This detour will not directly impact the travel lanes on US 175. Signage and flaggers will be used to direct traffic being detoured to CR 303. The detour is 1.2 miles long and may increase drivers’ trips by about three minutes. We appreciate your patience and support during this work. The project is located in Anderson County but is grouped with the US 175 projects in the Henderson County section of this release. Continue reading TxDOT Road Projects Update

TYLER- A one vehicle accident in Tyler has left one person dead and two injured. It happened shortly after 4:15 Sunday morning on Loop 323 just northeast of Highway 69 North. Dead at the scene was the driver, Gustavo Espinoza, 18, of Tyler. Two passengers were taken to a Tyler hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Investigators say he was heading toward highway 69 when he drove off the right shoulder of the road and the vehicle overturned several times. They found evidence of alcohol at the scene of the crash and have requested an autopsy on Espinoza. The accident remains under investigation.

SULPHUR SPRINGS (AP) — A Texas man has been sentenced to five years in prison after a jury found him guilty of sending threatening Facebook messages to a judge. The Sulphur Springs News-Telegram reported that Robert Alan Hawkins was found guilty and sentenced by a visiting judge this week. Hawkins was charged after sending several threatening Facebook messages to District Judge Eddie Northcutt in December 2016 and January 2017 including a picture of ISIS soldiers about to execute hostages and a comment that this was the “next step.” Hawkins had previously sent letters to Northcutt saying the judge and Hopkins County, about 75 miles northeast of Dallas, were corrupt. Hawkins said he sent the messages to force the county to arrest him so he could expose the corruption during his trial.

PALESTINE – A second suspect in a Palestine burglary has been arrested. The first arrest occurred shortly after 3:30 Friday morning and police received a report of two suspicious persons in the area of Sunset Road. An officer tried to stop two suspects he found walking in the area. One was able to run away. Arrested was Ronnie Morrison, 22, of Palestine. In his backpack they found items that had been stolen from vehicles on Sunset Road. Morrison is being held in the Anderson County Jail on charges of burglary of a vehicle, fraudulent use/possession of identifying information and theft of firearm. Acting on a tip to Palestine Police from one of its Facebook posts, officers in Fairfield arrested Romello Smith, 22, Palestine, (pictured) on Saturday night. He was taken to the Freestone County Jail.

LONGVIEW – One person has been killed in a one vehicle accident in Longview. Gregg County Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Tim Bryan tells the Longview News Journal, killed was Yvette Floyd, 54, of Longview. The wreck was reported shortly after 7:00 Saturday morning on Bronco Drive. Investigators say her northbound car went out of control and hit a tree.

LONGVIEW – Longview has recorded its 10th homicide of the year. It was reported just before 2:00 this morning on Twelfth Street. A man told officers when he arrived home he was confronted by an armed man wearing a bandana. The man shot at the suspect and then entered his home. The suspect, who was dead at the scene, has been identified as Jalen Johnson, 24, of Port Arthur. There was a car that fled the scene and was stopped by a Longview Officer. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Lamontrel Dunn, 26, from Kilgore. He was arrested on outstanding warrants. There is no word at this time if he was connected to the shooting.

LONGVIEW – A new warehouse is coming to Longview and bringing with it 400 jobs. The Longview Economic Development Corporation signed the deal with the Dollar general Corporation on Friday. The warehouse will be built on a 110-acre site at the Longview North Business Park. DG Distribution of Texas will build a nearly 1 million-square-foot distribution center at the location. DG Distribution of Texas is a division of Dollar General Corp. in Tennessee. It will be the company’s 17th warehouse. Groundbreaking is expected to occur early next month and it should open sometime in 2019.

TYLER – A donation has made it possible for a member of the Smith County Sheriff’s Department to wear body armor. The bullet and stab protective vest goes to the department K9 named “Joker.” The vest comes because of a charitable donation from a non-profit organization. The vest, which is sponsored by an anonymous sponsor, will be embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.” Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks. Continue reading Sheriff’s Department Employee Gets Body Armor

AUSTIN – An unemployment record for Texas. And Tyler is running ahead of the state. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 3.8% in November. This sets a new record for the lowest unemployment rate recorded in four decades. Tyler’s unemployment rate fell last month. It went from 4.2% in October to 3.5% in November. A year ago it was 4.4%. Longview’s unemployment rate went up slightly, to 4.2%. It was 3.9% last month. But it is still far ahead of the November 2016 unemployment rate, which was 6%.

TYLER — Tyler Police have issued an arrest warrant for a man wanted on a deadly conduct charge. Zechariah Aacon Smith, 20, Tyler, is accused of firing shots into a home on west Queen Street around 8:00 last night. No one was home at the time of the shooting. The owners of the residence showed up at the same time of officers and advised them that he knows who the suspect is and that the incident is related to an earlier disturbance in the park between the two. Tyler Police request your help in locating Smith. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Smith are urged to contact the Tyler Police Department, at 903-531-1000, or Crimestoppers at 903-597-CUFF (903-597-2833).

TYLER — A Chandler man has died after crossing into oncoming traffic and hitting a car head-on. According to Tyler Police, the accident happened just before 11:30 Thursday night on west Grande. James Finkie was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Police said it appeared that Finkie lost control of the bike and crossed over into oncoming traffic. He hit a Ford Focus head-on. Officers do not believe alcohol was a factor in the wreck.

MELROSE – A Tyler lab has identified the victim of a Nacogdoches County mobile home fire. Caroll Eugene Bates, 77, of Melrose, died in the fire around 3:00 Tuesday morning. Arriving fire units found the home fully engulfed in fire when they arrived. The fire is still under investigation by the Nacogdoches County Sheriff Office and an arson investigator with the sheriff 0ffice. Sheriff Jason Bridges says it is believed that the fire started from an electrical problem at the residence on County Road 419 between Nacogdoches and Chireno.

TYLER – A joint law enforcement operation has resulted in arrests in southern Smith County. It was conducted Wednesday by units from the Smith County Sheriff’s Department along with Department of Public Safety, game wardens, precinct 5 constable’s office, Smith County Fire Marshal’s office and Arp Police Department K9. Also, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office deployed deputies to the north end of Cherokee County to assist with the operation. It is being reported that 12 arrests were made, 5 citations issued, and 25 warnings citations were issued. One firearm with a silencer was recovered. Also recovered were 2 stolen vehicles and several drugs, including marijuana, heroin, methamphetamine, and other controlled substances. Continue reading Southwestern Smith County Criminal Enforcement Operation

TYLER – The 12th Court of Appeals in Tyler has upheld a ruling over a controversial sign in Hawkins. The sign reads “Jesus Welcomes You To Hawkins.” The dispute is over land along U.S. 80 where the sign is located. The Jesus Christ Open Altar Church bought the land from two funeral homes. The city sued the church over the ownership to the land as a way to avoid a lawsuit from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. That’s after the foundation threatened to sue the city because the sign was placed on what it considered public property. A trial court determined that the City of Hawkins holds an easement over church owned property. The appeals court affirmed the court’s ruling. The sign remains up. Hawkins City Secretary Dona Jordan says the next move is up to the Hawkins city council.

TYLER – The Smith County grand jury has returned nearly two dozen indictments. Among those named in the true bills is a a Tyler man accused of stabbing his girlfriend numerous times. Booked into the Smith County Jail on October 16, was Chrishawn Polk, 20, of Tyler. He is charged with aggravated assault and two charges of interfering with an emergency call. He is accused of attacking Allyson Smith, 26. The attack occurred at a home on Emerson Avenue where they lived with with some of Polk’s extended family members. Smith survived the attack.

LONGVIEW – Children hospitalized at Longview’s CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center got some special visitors Thursday morning. The Longview Police Department’s SWAT Team members, dressed as superheroes, rappelled down a wall of the hospital. Following that: a visit with the children in their unit and delivery of gifts. Longview Police Department social media coordinator Kristie Brian says Operation Christmas Cheer lets them demonstrate their abilities to the community and bring joy to children spending the holidays in the hospital. The hospital’s Clinical Director of Pediatrics and ICU, Metosha Brantley, says the children get very excited about the visit from the superheroes. This is the 4th straight year for Operation Christmas Cheer.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man is free on a $5,000 bond after being accused on hitting his stepson in the head. Lou Reynold Davis, 30, was arrested Tuesday at his home on Valley brook Lane. The Longview News Journal reports the 13 year old boy left his home Monday following an argument with his mother. When he returned home around 1:00 Tuesday morning, Davis is said to have hit the boy in the head with a metal flashlight. Davis was arrested and booked into the Gregg County Jail on a charge of reckless bodily injury to a child. He was released on bond the following day.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man remains jailed after shooting at a woman who ran over his dog. Jose Daniel Rodriguez Jr., 20, is in the Gregg County jail under a $50,000 bond. The charge is aggravated assault with a deadly women. The December 13th incident occurred on Idlywood Drive near where Rodriguez lives. The Longview News Journal reports the woman saw the dog run in front of her car, but was unable to stop the vehicle in time. Rodriguez is said to have yelled and their fired off several shots. The driver and her woman passenger and her 3 month old daughter were not injured.

TYLER — The city of Tyler will soon begin Christmas tree recycling, offered each year by the city’s Solid Waste Department and Keep Tyler Beautiful. Residents can drop off their undecorated, non-flocked natural Christmas trees starting the day after Christmas and continuing through Sunday, Jan. 21, in designated areas at Golden Road Park and Fun Forest Park. All lights, ornaments, garland, and tinsel should be removed from the Christmas tree before dropping it off near the sign that says “Christmas Tree Recycling.” Go to http://www.cityoftyler.org/News.aspx for more information.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — The National Weather Service reports an EF-2 tornado hit Rusk Tuesday. The NWS earlier released storm damage information from the Rusk area and Reklaw. According to KETK, in Reklaw, the Emergency manager of damage reports some outbuildings have been destroyed by Tuesday’s storm. Some heavy equipment damage is also being seen on the east end of the town. There are reports of 3 houses without roofs 5 miles to the south-west of Rusk. The first house is located at CR 2210 near FM 1857. A second house is located at FM 23 and 2159. Information on the third house is limited. There are multiple reports of downed trees and power lines in the area. In Rusk ISD, school was canceled for Wednesday due to minor flooding and power outages,

TYLER – Tyler Police are looking for a Houston man who was reported missing several days ago by his wife. According to KETK, police say they are searching for 37-year-old Alberto Arias-Nunez. His wife says he came to the area to buy a car. The man’s vehicle was discovered in the Waskom area. If you have any information on Arias-Nunez, you’re asked to contact Tyler Police at 903-531-1000.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been arrested on charges of sexual assault of a child. 28-year-old Michael Dashun Orange was arrested Monday morning at the Guest Inn on N. Access Road after a 16-year-old boy said he assaulted him. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, the teen told police Orange knocked on his door before sunrise. At the time, the teen thought Orange was a woman because he was dressed in pigtails, aqua blue pants and high-heeled boots, according to police. Authorities say when the teen opened the door, Orange pushed his way in. He was jailed on $25,000 bond.