KTBB News, Weather, Talk

SMITH COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a body found in a wooded area off Highway 69 and I-20. The unidentified body was located around 2:20 Saturday afternoon by some kids playing in the woods. The body was sent to Dallas for autopsy. Additional details were not available.

JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville police continue their investigation of a shooting that left one person dead. It happened shortly before 1:45 Wednesday afternoon on Kickapoo Street. Killed was Justin Lee Christian, 26. He was first taken to a Jacksonville hospital and later transferred to a Tyler hospital where he died. Investigators say he had been shot once in the head. They do have persons of interest in the case, but charges have not been filed and no arrests have been made.

The UT Health North Campus Tyler MD Anderson Cancer Center has a new director today. Dr. Alexandria Phan has been appointed as medical director of the center. Dr. Phan is board-certified in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology. She has served as principal investigator in numerous clinical trials, many of which were pivotal in receiving FDA approval for new medications. Prior to coming to Tyler, Dr. Phan led GI medical services for five regional locations of Cancer Treatment Centers of America. She has directed GI cancer services and the hematology oncology fellowship at Houston Methodist hospital, and served as an associate professor of GI medical oncology at MD Anderson.

TYLER – Carter BloodCare has a new director of its East Texas operations. Effective immediately, Clinton McCoy assumes the post. He succeeds Carla Beck, who retired in the fourth quarter of last year. McCoy will work out of the Tyler headquarters on South Baxter Avenue. Among his duties will be increasing retention of new blood donors and the frequency of donations among volunteer blood donors. He comes to East Texas from Waco where he was a drive recruiter with Carter BloodCare in the Central Texas area.

TYLER – Arrests were made in Smith County Thursday night following a gambling investigation. The arrests came as a variety of law enforcement agencies served warrants at several locations. They were served at the Lucky Tunes game room on Highway 64 East, a residence on plantation Drive in Tyler and at at a residence on Highway 64 East. The arrests stemmed from an investigation that spanned 5 months. Six persons were arrested at Lucky Tunes for promotion of gambling. One person was arrested for gambling, four were arrested for outstanding warrants and 56 citations were issued for the Class C misdemeanor offense of gambling. Approximately 90 gambling machines were seized. Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said “This investigation is by no means complete.” Additional search warrants and subpoenas are anticipated as this investigation continues.

ATHENS — More details are released after the body of a missing Henderson County woman was found Wednesday night inside her boyfriend’s house in Larue. According to our news partner KETK, that man, Charlie Cervantes, is in jail on $2 million bond, facing murder charges in her death. Tabatha Cashion’s mother reported her missing after she didn’t pick up her children on February 9 police then tried to contact Cashion at the mobile home she was moving into with Cervantes. He told them she left with an unidentified person after an argument. Detectives were able to obtain a search warrant after the father of Cashion’s children saw a post on Facebook in which CErvantes claimed he was hearing voices that were telling him to cut up “Tabatha and the kids.” Continue reading More Details in Larue Murder Case

HARRISON COUNTY – A good Samaritan was injured in Harrison County when he stopped to aid a woman who appeared to be having car trouble. It happened before 6:00 Thursday night on Sandy Drive in Longview. As he was looking under the hood of her car, he said two men came out of the woods and attacked him. He was hit in the back of the head and shot in the foot. He went to Longview Regional Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. The investigation into the incident is continuing.

PALESTINE – Palestine police have arrested a robbery suspect who reportedly tried to set fire to two women. Arrested around 5:00 Thursday afternoon was Robert Thompson, 40. He is said to be the armed robber who held up the Pit Stop on Link Street around 10:00 Thursday morning. The robber left with an undisclosed amount of money. Before leaving, the thief had the clerk and a customer sit on the floor and then bound the two women with duct tape. He then doused both women with lighter fluid and set the customer on fire. She was transported to Palestine Regional Medical Center and was then transferred to the burn center at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. Thompson has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated robbery. His bonds total $4 million.

TYLER – A federal grand jury in Tyler, on Wednesday, indicted Daniel Driver, 34, of Atlanta Georgia, in an insurance wire fraud scheme. The indictment says Driver was one of four persons involved in a multi-jurisdictional fraud and arson scheme that spanned from Hawaii to Texas. It involved the destruction of various assets, including aircraft and vessels. They then fraudulently obtained payouts from insurance companies. One of the assets was a Cessna 500, which was completely destroyed when it was set it on fire at the airport in Athens. Three of the persons have already been sentenced in the case. If Driver is convicted, he could get up to 20 years in a federal prison.

TYLER – Smith County Habitat for Humanity is looking for East Texas veterans who need critical home repairs. They have received a $150,000 grant from the Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans’ Assistance. The money will be used to assist veterans in making their homes accessible, healthy and safe. Any veteran or surviving spouse living in Smith, Cherokee, Henderson, Rusk and Van Zandt counties is eligible to apply for assistance. From 2014-2017, Smith County Habitat received 3 grants from the Texas Veterans Commission totaling $450,000 and completed 57 projects for veterans and their families. With the newly awarded grant, Smith County Habitat estimates repairing the homes of 24 veterans. You can call 903-595-6630 for more details or to make an appointment with a grant specialist.

AUSTIN — Legislation allowing Texans to carry guns openly without a permit is being pushed by the most conservative members of the Texas House, including an East Texan. The Freedom Caucus’s top priorities mirror those of Governor Abbott and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen. They want property tax reform and an overhaul of the school finance system. State Rep Matt Schaefer of Tyler says they also support a border wall. He says border security and immigration reform are at the top of the caucus’s list.

HENDERSON – A man accused of shooting four persons, killing two of them, made his initial court appearance in Henderson Thursday morning. Randy Buford Winn, 62, appeared before a justice of the peace. His bond on charges of murder, and capital murder, was set at $2.5 million. The shooting occurred around 6:00 Sunday evening at the Oak Manor Apartments on South Van Buren Street in Henderson. Following the shooting, Winn fled to Louisiana. A tip from a relative led to his arrest. Investigators are still trying to learn the motive for the shooting.

HENDERSON – A Kilgore man is heading to prison after changing his plea during his murder trial. Wednesday afternoon, Marvin Durrell Sanders, 38, of Kilgore pleaded guilty to first degree murder. He then accepted a 40 year prison term. Sanders had been accused of the shooting death of his cousin, Waylon Hunt, 37, of Kilgore. Witnesses told investigators that Sanders just walked up and put a gun to Hunt’s head and shot him. He died during a family gathering as they watched a Dallas Cowboys football game the day before Christmas in 2017.

TYLER – Tyler firefighters walked through neighborhoods Wednesday in what Fire Marshal Paul Findley described as a successful fire safety blitz. Preliminary numbers indicate that firefighters made contact with around 250 houses in the area surrounding a recent fatal house fire on North Grand Avenue. Almost 70 new smoke alarms were installed, with accompanying safety checks and tips from the firefighters. For homes that already had smoke alarms in place, almost 50 batteries where changed, ensuring that they were up-to-date and ready to protect residents in the event of a fire. While firefighters found some homes unoccupied at the time of today’s blitz, over 150 informational tags were placed at the door with information on contacting the fire department if occupants want to schedule an install at a later date.

TYLER – The interim Smith County constable in Precinct 1 has announced his intentions to run for the office. Constable Bobby Garmon announced his candidacy on Wednesday. The former chief deputy for the Smith County Sheriff’s office says he has the training and experience that it takes to be an effective leader and represent the community. Garmon was appointed as Interim Constable of Precinct 1 on December 14, 2017. He was appointed to the post after a judge suspended Henry Jackson. A couple of months earlier, Jackson had reported to federal prison to serve a six month sentence for tax evasion.

MARSHALL – At a ceremony Thursday afternoon, two new Marshall police officers will take their oath of office. Officer Ashley Lakatos, 31, originally from New York, has worked at the Longview Police Department for the past three years. She graduated from the East Texas Police Academy in Kilgore in October of 2013. Officer John Cook, 21, of Henderson, graduated from the East Texas Police Academy in June of 2018. A small reception will follow the ceremony.

TYLER – A donation made in Tyler Wednesday will help in the study of a sports related injury. The Project Rose Institute for Sports Science donated $25,000 to the Institute for Integrated Healthcare. The institute is a part of the UT Tyler College of Nursing and Health Sciences. The money will be used to research treatment, repair and recovery of Anterior Cruciate Ligament injuries. ACL injuries commonly occur in sports, and, are rising among the general population. Presenting the check to the institute were Tyler natives, and NFL stars Earl Campbell and Gary Baxter.

TYLER – A dozen awards were handed out Tuesday night as the Tyler Police Department held it annual awards banquet. Named as officer of the year was April Molina, who said she was shocked and surprised. She was recognized for her work ethic and commitment to service. It’s not her first award. She previously received a life saving award and an award while serving as a dispatcher. The Plainclothes Officer of the year was detective Doyle Lynch and officer Jackson Hug was named rookie of the year. Continue reading Tyler Police Officers Honored

TYLER – Starting Thursday, Sunnybrook Drive between Azalea Drive and Camellia Street will be closed for the relocation of utilities and the replacement of bridges. Traffic will be detoured around the location onto South Kennedy Avenue or onto North Azalea Drive. It is said that the closure will last 60 days. Sunnybrook Drive is expected to reopen on Monday, April 22.

HENDERSON – A murder suspect has been returned to Rusk County. Randy Buford Winn, 62, was found in Louisiana. He was returned to Henderson on Wednesday to face capital murder charges. A tip from a family member led to his arrest. He was wanted for the Sunday evening shooting deaths of Justin Smith, 31 and Holly Jones, 37. Two persons, who were injured in the shooting, are said to be in stable condition. The shooting occurred at the Oak Manor Apartments on South Van Buren Street in Henderson. The investigation continues as officers try to learn the motive for the shooting.

GILMER – A Titus County man, accused of shooting a woman and then driving around for several hours, is heading to prison. Steven Seth Rosewell, 32, of Cookville, changed his plea to guilty prior to his trial in Gilmer Tuesday morning. He asked for the jury to set his punishment. The panel deliberated about 30 minutes before sentencing him to 15 years in prison for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Continue reading Man Sentenced to Prison for 2016 Shooting

TYLER – Seven educators are being honored with Arts in Education Awards. Young Audiences of Northeast Texas announced the 2019 award winners. Individual arts educators from public and/or private schools within the Region 7 geographic area were eligible to be nominated. Finalists were selected by a panel of local arts professionals and community members. The winners will be honored at an award ceremony and dinner to be held in April at Tyler’s Willow Brook Country Club. Continue reading Art Awards Announced

PALESTINE – The University of Texas at Tyler will break ground for a $1 million building for its University Academy in Palestine on Wednesday. The new 15,000-square-foot building will house 12 classrooms, with restrooms and a separate office area. This will allow the academy to expand by three grade levels, adding kindergarten, first, and second grade classrooms. The school opened in 2012 to 100 students in grades third through sixth. It had to later move from its West Spring Street location when the fire marshal said it was unsafe. Wednesday morning’s ceremony will start at 10:00. No word on when they expect the building for the charter school to be completed.

LONGVIEW – One person is in jail in connection with the deaths of two women in Longview. The shooting was reported shortly after 12:30 Tuesday morning on Loring Lane. Killed were Lori Perez, 58, and Kristy Perez, 38. The two Longview women were dead at the scene. Arrested, after witnesses were able to help police identify the suspect, was Troy James Rider, Jr., 43, of Longview. He has been charged with capital murder. Investigators say a legal dispute over a car may have led to the shooting.

TYLER – Tyler Firemen will be conducting a fire safety blitz on Wednesday. The Tyler Fire Department reports that the risk of dying in a home fire is about 50% lower in homes that have working smoke alarms. So, firefighters will go door-to-door to check smoke alarms, replace batteries, and install free smoke alarms in the homes that need them. They will also be handing out home fire safety information. The Fire Safety Blitz, which will run from 9:00am till 1:00pm, is planned for the neighborhood surrounding the recent house fire on North Grand Avenue in which 3 persons were killed.

MARSHALL – Marshall police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect in a drive-by shooting. It happened late at night on February 15th in the 100 block of Johnson Street. The shooting was recorded on a neighbor’s home video surveillance. The video shows a dark-colored, 2-door sedan driving down the street and a person in the vehicle firing multiple rounds at a house. No injuries were reported, but the home sustained moderate damage. If you have any information about the shooting you are asked to contact Marshall police.

RUSK COUNTY — State Highway 42 in Rusk County has been reopened. Motorists had been urged to avoid the area of State Highway 42 at County Road 146 due to downed power lines. A truck tractor towing a semi trailer struck the lines, causing them to fall into the roadway. The roadway, which had been closed for hours, has now been reopened.

TYLER — An East Texas newborn continues to improve after an extremely delicate surgery in Dallas. When Alexandrea Campos of Tyler was 15 weeks into her pregnancy, she started having serious stomach pain. Subsequent testing found her unborn child had both spina bifida and excess fluid in the brain. They were referred to Medical City Dallas, where Dr. Timothy Cromblehome and his team did what’s called a fetal intervention — surgery performed while the unborn child is still in the womb. The operation — only the second open fetal procedure performed at the Dallas hospital — was a success. Baby Amari is now nearly a month old and thriving.