KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW – Due to an electrical transformer malfunction Monday morning, Longview Independent School District suspended high school classes for the rest of the day. All Longview High School students were released at 12:55 p.m. There was no immediate word on whether classes would be back in session Tuesday. For more information you’re asked to contact Longview High School at (903) 663-1301.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in TxDOT’s Tyler District this week. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure, or other unforeseen issues. Motorists can expect some changes to the traffic flow on the US 175 Phase II Project in Henderson County, which runs from 1.1 miles east of Loop 60B at Larue to .85 mile east of FM 315 in Poynor. The easternmost access to FM 315 and downtown Poynor will be closed beginning Thursday, remaining closed until at least November 10. Motorists are to use the westernmost access for FM 315 and Poynor. Go to http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/052-2017.html for additional information on projects throughout the district.

HENDERSON COUNTY — A Christian flag continues to fly over an East Texas school over objections from an atheist group. No action was taken at the latest LaPoynor school board meeting. Three people spoke up in favor of keeping the flag. The Freedom from Religion Foundation filed a complaint. The organization’s Sam Grover calls this an open and shut case. The LaPoynor superintendent says they may take up the issue at the next board meeting.

LONGVIEW — A new distribution center could soon bring hundreds of jobs to one East Texas city. Longview is in the running to house a new Dollar General Distribution Center, which could bring with it as many as 400 new jobs and also a 700 million dollar impact on the city over the next 25 years. The Longview Economic Development Corporation says the proposed project would create a 1-million square foot facility in the city’s north business park. If built, it would be the 17th distribution center in the Dollar General supply chain.

TYLER — Tyler Police said a two vehicle wreck early Sunday morning left a 19-year-old dead and another man injured. It happened around 1:10 on Paluxy Drive, just north of Coaches & Cowboys. According to the police report, a 2014 GMC Sierra, driven by Dakota Payne, 27, Diana, was traveling northbound on Paluxy when he drove into the southbound lane striking a 2000 GMC Yukon head-on. The driver of the Yukon was identified as Cody Allbright, Flint. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Payne was transported to Christus Trinity Mother Frances Hospital by EMS with unknown injuries.

SMITH COUNTY — Early voting in Smith County began today. The election will include a Smith County Bond for road and bridge projects, elections for the cities of Arp and Whitehouse, and several statewide Constitutional Amendments. Early Voting will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, October 23-27; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. October 30 through November 1; and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. November 2-3. Election Day is Tuesday, November 7. The Smith County Commissioners Court called a $39.5 million bond election. If approved, the money received from the bonds would be used to pay for major county road and bridge projects over three years – Phase I of a two-phase, six-year Road and Bridge Capital Improvement Project. Details of the plan can be found on the county’s website page, https://www.smith-county.com, along with an educational video about the road bond. Continue reading Early Voting Begins

GREGG COUNTY — Gregg County jury selection set for Monday has been canceled. Residents who received a summons to report Monday may disregard it. Their names will be reshuffled into the database for future jury service.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department is investigating after a man was found dead from a gunshot wound. According to the KETK, on Saturday morning around 4:55, police responded to a welfare check call at 1507 Oden Street. Officers found the body of Lee Arthur Gray 47, of Logansport, Louisiana. Gray had been shot and was pronounced dead at the scene. The resident, Lloyd Johnson Jr., 32, of Longview, went to a local hospital after receiving non-life threatening injuries from Gray. Investigators interviewed Johnson regarding the shooting death of Gray. and arrested him for unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He has not been charged with murder. This is the third homicide in the past seven days for the city of Longview.

EAST TEXAS — A Bullard man has been charged with robbing the Home Depot in Longview at gunpoint and authorities say he could be connected to a similar heist in Tyler. According to the Longview News-Journal and KETK, Santiago Galvan Jr., 19, of Bullard, was held Friday on $95,000 bond after Longview police said he displayed what turned out to be a fake handgun to a Home Depot employee Oct. 6 before leaving the store with a shopping cart full of tools. Authorities at the Cherokee County Jail confirmed that Galvan was arrested Oct. 12 by Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and was charged with the Gregg County aggravated robbery as well as newer charges in Cherokee County of obstruction/retaliation and possession of marijuana. Continue reading Bullard Man’s Arrest May Solve Numerous Armed Robberies

ATHENS – A memorial service has been set for an East Texas man who went missing following an oil rig explosion in Louisiana. According to KETK, Autry’s Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home says visitation for Timmy Lee Morris, 44, will be held on Sunday from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church in Athens. A memorial service is slated for 3:00 p.m., following the visitation. On October 15, an oil rig exploded on Lake Pontchartrain, just west of New Orleans. Eight people were on an offshore platform when it exploded. Seven were able to make it to shore and were hospitalized. Timmy Morrison’s body was found about 3 miles from the platform location, west of the St. Charles and Jefferson Parish Line. A helicopter found him on the shoreline around 1 p.m. Friday. Morrison was born in Tyler. He was a resident of Katy, but was raised in Athens, which he considered his home.

LONGVIEW — Several streets are closed to allow for the Rockers Riders and Ribs event Friday and Saturday in downtown Longview. Street closures have been done in phases in preparation for the event.

Street closed from 8:00 a.m., Friday, October 20 – 2:00 p.m., Sunday, October 22:

Methvin Street from Green Street to First Street Continue reading Downtown Street Closures for Rockers Riders and Ribs

AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recently completed a report regarding a fatal sailboat accident on Lake O’ the Pines that resulted in the deaths of three Boy Scouts. The report was prepared by Texas Game Wardens who responded to this incident and by the agency’s statewide boating accident reconstruction and mapping team that handled the investigation. A TPWD statement says although TPWD has received a request for this report from the media, there are specific laws about what information TPWD can release regarding accidents involving juveniles, and to whom that information can be released. To ensure compliance with these laws, TPWD says it has requested an opinion from the Office of the Texas Attorney General. Continue reading TPWD Issues Statement Regarding Fatal Sailboat Accident Report

GILMER — A Gilmer carnival worker is accused of operating a ride while drunk. KETK reports it happened at the East Texas Yamboree. Gilmer police got a complaint about 63-year-old Darrell Wayne Clayton. He flunked a field sobriety test and blew nearly twice the legal limit on a breathalayzer. Chief Mark Case says Clayton was running the merry-go-round. Case says this is a first for his town. Clayton was booked into jail and charged with assembling or operating an amusement ride while intoxicated.

TYLER — A 30-year-old Longview man has been convicted for his role in a student financial aid fraud scheme. Robert Brisco was found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, four counts of mail fraud, and 16 counts of student financial aid fraud and aiding and abetting. From 2013 to 2015, Brisco and others conspired to use wire communications and the mail to fraudulently obtain student financial aid funds through the Pell Grant Program and William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. Brisco faces up to 20 years in federal prison, pending a sentencing hearing yet to be scheduled. Brisco’s mother and sister pleaded guilty in July to student financial aid fraud and each face up to five years in federal prison at sentencing. Six others have been charged in the scheme. All have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

UNION GROVE — An East Texas man is getting all kinds of attention over a 417-pound wild hog. Joe Clowers was spending the night at a deer stand on his property in Union Grove when the giant hog appeared. He shot it with an AR-15 rifle. Then his friend, who is the Gregg County game warden, posted it on their Facebook page — And it’s gone viral. Clowers says he’s “still somewhat in shock. He says the shooting happened as part of an eradication effort and he “never knew people cared that much about a big pig.” He mounted the head as a trophy for his daughter. He also processed the meat to feed homeless animals.

CARROLLTON — Carrollton police have made an arrest connected to a large theft ring involving credit card skimmers — and according to KETK, the suspect reportedly has criminal ties to East Texas. Yoandi Valdez will be charged with criminal activity and credit or debit card abuse. Police say the ring stretched from North Texas to East Texas, hitting people and businesses. Police say Valdez and his associates used internal skimmers to steal card information. The scheme involved using stolen data to produce fraudulent credit cards, later used at gas pumps to steal diesel fuel. Tyler police say Valdez is “loosely” connected to Tyler but they’re still investigating his ties to the area.

LINDALE — An East Texas church staff member has been arrested for sexual assault. According to KETK, Clinton Brackett, 32, of Lindale, was arrested on a sexual assault warrant out of Runnels County, near Abilene. Brackett is listed on the First United Methodist Church in Lindale’s website as the Director of Student Ministries. Brackett has been booked into the Smith County Jail on $100,000 bond. Continue reading Local Church Youth Director Arrested for Sexual Assault

LONGVIEW — One man has been taken to the hospital and another detained by police after they said the person ran over the man on Henderson Street Thursday afternoon. According to the Longview News-Journal, police are investigating the incident as an aggravated assault family violence. Police were called around 1:30 to Henderson Street on a “jaws of life” call. That’s when they discovered a man had been run over by a car and was suffering life-threatening injuries. The person driving the car is said to be a relative of the victim. Police have detained the suspect, but no official arrest has been made.

ARP – An Arp ISD faculty member has been placed on administrative leave due to accusations of an improper relationship with a student. According to KETK, Superintendent Dwight Thomas says the district is conducting an investigation, and the local police department confirmed it is doing likewise. No arrests have been made, and the name of the staff member has not been confirmed by law enforcement or school administration. We’ll provide more information as it becomes available.

POMPANO BEACH, Florida — A federal jury in Florida has convicted an ex-East Texas businessman of filing fraudulent tax returns, wire fraud, and filing false monthly reports with the U.S. Probation Office. Timothy J. Beverley, 61, the former president and CEO of Tyler Jet, worked as an airplane broker at Majestic Jet Inc., a Pompano Beach, Florida, company that provided aircraft charters. KETK reports Beverly also owned a NASCAR team. From 2010 through 2013, Beverley stole more than $1,500,000 from Majestic Jet by directing airplane escrow agents to wire funds from the sale of planes to nominee bank accounts that Beverley controlled. Beverley also stole funds directly from Majestic’s business bank accounts and used the money to pay for personal expenses including his boat and rent. Beverley did not report this income on his 2010 through 2013 personal tax returns. Continue reading Former Tyler Jet Executive Convicted on Multiple Charges in Florida

LONGVIEW — Gregg County officials say Kilgore/Liberty City area resident Jessie Clifford Brown has been arrested in a murder dating to May 20, 2015. Authorities got a 911 call that night reporting a single vehicle crash in the Liberty City area. Responding officers found the vehicle in a creek. While rendering aid to occupants, officers discovered the driver, John Allen Franco, had suffered a gunshot wound. Franco died before he could get to a hospital. The 35-year-old Brown is held in the Gregg County jail on a $250,000 bond. The investigation is continuing.

LONGVIEW – Longview police have identified one suspect and released a photo of another in connection with vehicle windows being shot out. KETK reports over 70 parked vehicles were hit early Monday morning with a BB gun during drive-bys. Police did not immediately release the name of the person they have identified. Anyone with information on the suspect in the photo is asked to contact Det. Doug Pickering at 903-237-1156, Gregg County Crime stoppers at 903-236-7867, or http://www.greggcountycrimestoppers.org and reference case #17-16266.

LARUE – Citing concerns voiced by a local resident and former student, the Freedom From Religion Foundation is calling out the LaPoynor school district. KETK reports the foundation wants all religious symbols removed from campus, including a Christian flag. The Wisconsin-based organization sent a four-page letter to LaPoynor Superintendent James Young October 11. Despite the call, the Christian flag remains on campus. Some students are fighting back by buying their own flags and flying them on their personal vehicles. Young says school officials are in the process of reviewing the concerns and will take any action deemed necessary.

HUNTSVILLE (AP) – The state’s top criminal court has stopped next week’s scheduled execution of an Ore City man convicted of killing two men during a 450-mile crime trek across the state nearly 16 years ago. Clinton Lee Young was set for lethal injection Oct. 25, but the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has sent his case back to his trial court in Midland for review. Attorneys for the 34-year-old Young argue false testimony from an accomplice was used to convict him of the November 2001 fatal shootings of 41-year-old Doyle Douglas in Longview and then 52-year-old Samuel Petrey a day or two later in a Midland oilfield. Petrey had been carjacked in Eastland, about 50 miles east of Abilene.

TYLER – The 84th Texas Rose Festival is officially under way. It started Thursday morning with a ribbon cutting and prayer service at the Rose Garden Center. Reigning over the festivities is Queen Emily Kaye Evans. She says she was surprised when asked to be queen. Her parents surprised her with the invitation when they came to where she was going to school at Belmont University in Nashville. She said she was so surprised, she didn’t have words, and she gasped and started crying. At first she said she wasn’t sure she would be able to do it. But after praying about it, she accepted the invitation. And she said she is very happy that she took on this role. Continue reading Queen Emily Invites You to the Texas Rose Festival

KILGORE — Two people were injured and Kilgore College briefly put on lockdown Wednesday afternoon after a shooting outside an apartment complex near campus. According to KETK, Kilgore police were called around 2:45 p.m. to South Street outside of several apartments near the intersection of Houston to reports of numerous gunshots. Witnesses told officers a suspect fled the scene in a truck. The two injured men were taken to a Longview medical center with injuries that were not life-threatening. One victim was shot in the abdomen, while the second was shot in the leg. the shooter was described as a black male with dreadlocks. No arrests had been made. Contact Kilgore Police with any information.

LONGVIEW — The Longleaf Pine Protection and Restoration Exhibit runs through October 28th at the Gregg County Historical Museum on North Fredonia Street in Longview. There will be a lecture on “Pinus Palustris: The Longleaf Pine” by Ellen Anderson today from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the museum’s Ann Lacy Crain Exhibit Center. For more information, go to their website, http://gregghistorical.org or call 903-753-5840.

GILMER — Gilmer ISD officials are considering selling a piece of land to the East Texas Yamboree Association. KETK reports board members voted Monday night to make a counter offer to the Yamboree. Under the deal, the Yamboree would get the land, but both entities would contribute $50,000 for a splash pad within the city. This year’s Yamboree celebrations kicked off Wednesday in Gilmer. This year’s queen-elect is Madison Dean (pictured with Yamboree President Brandon Garmon). Headlining the festival’s barn dance this year is country music star Jack Ingram.