KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LAKE O’ THE PINES — A big, bad plant has made an unwelcome appearance in Lake O’ The Pines. It’s giant salvinia, an invasive species from Brazil. Clay Church with the Army Corps of Engineers says the plant can take over a body of water if it’s not controlled. According to Church, “It will actually make a mat so thick that it’ll choke out the native vegetation, plus it makes it hard for aquatic wildlife then to be there.” He says the stuff doubles in size in some areas every week. The Corps closed a boat ramp and hopes it has the salvinia cleaned up, but it’s easily spread. Church says any people who use the lake must inspect their boats and gear anytime they leave one body of water and go to another.

JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville Police investigate three aggravated robberies. KETK reports the robberies took place at CJ’s Quick Stop on Rusk Street and twice at the J&J Food Mart on South Jackson this month. Police say the men got away with cash in all three robberies. If you know anything, you’re asked to call police or Crimestoppers.

LONGVIEW — A third sexually-oriented business, Venus, has been licensed in Longview. According to KETK, the owner hopes to have the adult novelty sex shop open in time for Valentine’s Day sales.

“Our busiest season is Valentine’s Day, when love is in the air. An end-of-the year opening also coincides with winter, the time of the year when people will be indoors,” said Robert Duggan, president of Gregg County Video.

Duggan’s September 13 application to open a sex store on FRJ Drive was approved October 17, after city staff determined it met requirements of Longview’s sexually oriented business ordinance. The application was delayed while surveyors determined whether the building site was far enough removed from a neighboring residence.

SMITH COUNTY — Lindale and Noonday firefighters battled a house fire Thursday morning in Smith County. According to KETK, it happened shortly before 3:45 in the 13000 block of County Road 46. No reports of any injuries.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council held a meeting Wednesday to hear a presentation by Heather Nick, Tyler City Planner, detailing the proposals on ordinance amendments, and variances, regarding zoning, signage and specific drive-through facilities. According to KETK, the proposals are in anticipation for the upcoming election, if the legalization of beer and wine sales passes for off premise consumption on November 6 in parts of Smith County.

The main topics addressed at the meeting were, where potential businesses are allowed to be, in proximity of schools, and churches. Another topic raised was the issue of signage. Specifically how many signs, how large, and where they are placed could be affected. The city says they have a uniformity code, so they are discussing signage for all businesses, not just potential alcohol stores that may come into Tyler if the law is voted in. Lastly, “beer barns” or drive-through packaged food and beverage facilities were discussed. The city of Tyler wants to restrict these types of businesses from being too close to city limits. They want to place them in “M2″ zones or more industrial areas, if the law is passed.

JACKSONVILLE – The Texas Attorney General’s office is investigating missing funds from Lon Morris College in Jacksonville. The $1.3 million comes from an endowment that should have gone to Sam Houston State University after the Jacksonville school declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July. At the center of the investigation is former school president Dr. Miles McCall. He headed the college from 2005 until his resignation this past May. Dr. McCall was questioned this week about the missing funds. Hal Morris with the State Attorney General’s Office says, at this time, they do not consider the money stolen.

RUSK COUNTY – A Rusk County woman is hospitalized in ICU at Longview’s Good Shepherd Medical Center after being attacked by a pack of dogs. The woman, said to be in her 80s, was attacked just before 9:00 Wednesday morning at her home on County Road 1113, between Kilgore and Overton. A neighbor, who saw the woman attacked when she went to get her newspaper, helped get the dogs off her and called 911. KETK reports the dogs have been captured and put down, and the investigation of the incident is continuing.

LONGVIEW – Longview police have arrested a man who threatened to use a metal pipe to kill his wife and her mother. Arrested early Wednesday morning was Patrick Wayne McCullough, 31. Police reports say witnesses stopped McCullough before he could hurt anyone. He is currently in the Gregg County Jail under bonds totaling $10,000 on charges of aggravated assault family violence with a weapon.

LONGVIEW — Sheriff Maxey Cerliano and the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office request your assistance in identifying a burglary suspect. At around 2:30Sunday morning, October 21st, a white male entered the Glass Dragon Superstore at 4701 Estes Parkway by cutting a hole in the roof. The suspect took over $1500 in merchandise from the business. The suspect was wearing a light colored hoodie with netting covering his face. Call the sheriff’s office if you have any information.

TYLER — Tyler Police responded to several early Wednesday morning break-ins reported at various Tyler businesses. The first happened just after 2:00 at the Laundry Room, 1811 ESE Loop 323. Officers located a broken window and as the investigation was underway, two subjects were stopped nearby and later arrested. Lucarus Butler, 20 (pictured) and Matthew Taylor, 17, both of Tyler, were charged with possession of criminal instrument and attempted burglary. Then, around 3:30, officers responded to a burglary call at the XLN club, 2109 East 5th and Mama’s Restaurant, 2105 East 5th. Officers found broken windows at both businesses. Officers searched the area but did not locate any suspects in the area.

Almost one hour later, officers responded to a burglary call at Midway Food Mart, 533 South Broadway. Authorities said there were signs that business had been broken into. Damarian Amie, 18, Tyler, was located nearby and arrested for attempted burglary. Later, police discovered another business, Taqueria El Lugar at 2121 East Fifth Street, was burglarized Wednesday morning. Investigators are following up on evidence recovered on Damarian Amie that reportedly links him to this burglary. All three suspects were booked into the Smith County Jail.

MT. PLEASANT — A Louisiana woman and mother of six chained herself to the front gate of a Keystone XL Pipeline yard Wednesday morning in Titus County. The action prevented workers building the southern leg of the TransCanada pipeline from getting in. While chained to the fence, Cherri Foytlin explained what brought her to Texas to join in the protest. Foytlin said, “It all started with the BP oil spill, and I was just awakened to the fact that these companies, in this case a foreign company just like BP, are not being responsible to our earth and to our people.” About an hour later, Foytlin was arrested and taken into custody.

TYLER — A U.S. magistrate judge found a Tyler man mentally competent to stand trial. KETK reports Todd Edward Jacobs, 44, will stand trial for allegedly conspiring to burn down a drug recovery center in Tyler. Jacobs is also accused of attempting to hire someone to kill his co-conspirator so he could not testify against him. Jacobs was indicted in June. He’s charged with solicitation of arson, witness tampering and “murder for hire.” Jacobs is facing up to 30 years in prison.

LUFKIN — A 49-year-old Lufkin man has been sentenced for disposing of hazardous wastes without a permit. David Overdorf pleaded guilty on March 18, 2011 and was fined $50,000. Overdorf was also sentenced to five years probation with six months of home confinement.

Overdorf was the former owner and president of H.O.T. Transport, Inc., a Lufkin-based chemical transportation business which offered commercial transportation of industrial liquids such as caustics, ethanol, methanol, hot wax, cresol, and formaldehyde. During the normal course of business, Overdorf directed HOT employees to wash out the interiors of trailer mounted tanks at HOT’s place of business knowing that the tanks contained hazardous wastes.

On March 10, 2006, Overdorf directed a HOT employee to transport approximately 45,000 tons of tank wash wastewater containing hazardous wastes in a trailer mounted tank from the business to Quala Wash in Houston for disposal and authorized payment of $450 to Clinton Promise for the disposal.

As part of his plea agreement with the government, Overdorf has agreed to pay a $50,000 fine. He must also hire an independent environmental engineering firm within four weeks to determine the full extent of soil contamination at HOT’s former business site. Overdorf must also spend up to $250,000 towards the costs of cleaning up any contamination left at the site. HOT is no longer in business.

TYLER – A man wanted in connection with a recent incident at Tyler’s Varsity Place Apartments has been arrested. Sirbrycelon Shelton, 19, of Kilgore, was arrested Monday after his release from the hospital and charged with burglary.

Tyler Police were called to the scene of a shooting that occurred around 9:30 a.m. Friday at Varsity Place Apartments, at 3400 Varsity Drive. Officers contacted Bradley Jackson, 19, of Dallas, who attends Tyler Junior College and lives in apartment 804. Jackson told officers that he believed he was being robbed by another suspect who was armed with a handgun standing at the doorway of his apartment. That suspect has been named as Shelton.

Police say Jackson produced a handgun and shot Shelton in his doorway. According to authorities, Shelton fled on foot, leaving a blood trail that ended up in building 21 of the complex. Officers searched the apartment and failed to locate anyone inside. Investigators discovered narcotics at the scene of the incident and believe they played a role in the motive of the shooting.

ATHENS – Funeral services will be held this weekend for long-time Henderson County Justice of the Peace Henry Ashford. The 65 year old Ashford died this past Saturday in Waco where he had gone to visit family members. It appears he died of a heart attack.

Ashford was first elected the Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace in 2002. It will now be up to Henderson County commissioners to appoint Ashford’s successor. That person would serve out the remainder of Ashford’s term, which ends December 31, 2013.

Funeral services for Ashford will be held on Saturday at 11:00am at First Baptist Church in Athens.

ANGELINA COUNTY — In a strange occurrence, a Diboll man has died after being struck with an arrow Tuesday morning. Angelina County deputies were dispatched to the scene located in the 100 block of Tidwell around 8:30. According to KETK, Sheriff’s officials are currently investigating the death, but could not give a detailed account of what happened at this time. The Lufkin Daily News – http://lufkindailynews.com – reports the man apparently shot himself in the chest with a crossbow. The name of the victim has not been released, pending notification next of kin.

TYLER — Starting Wednesday, the City of Tyler will be replacing the water main on North Hill Avenue from Harmony Street to the dead end north of West Nutbush Street. The work is expected to last three weeks. The street will not be closed completely to traffic, but it is advised that drivers plan alternative routes during the day.

CAMP COUNTY — A Mount Pleasant woman has been killed when the van she was driving ran into the back of a tractor-trailer on U.S. Highway 271 south of Pittsburg. According to the Longview News-Journal, Donna Couch, 61, was pronounced dead at the scene of the wreck, which occurred about 4:30 yesterday morning in Camp County. Dark said the van burst into flames when it slammed into the rear of the southbound tractor-trailer, which had slowed to make a left turn. Dark said the investigation of the crash is ongoing and could not release further details about the incident.

TYLER – The jury that convicted a man in a cold case Smith County murder has also given him life in prison. He was also fined $10,000. Monday afternoon, Shams Emil Masters, 34, was convicted of the 1999 murder of William Thomas Young, 19. He died at the Woodland estates subdivision, off Noonday Road, from a single gunshot wound. He was sentenced Tuesday morning to life.

At the time of the shooting, authorities suspected Masters of murdering Young, but did not have enough evidence to charge him with murder. Masters was taken into custody at the time of Young’s death for possession of methamphetamine, which law enforcement found on him. He received a 6-year prison term.

To go to trial, Masters had to be extradited from a prison in Colorado, where he was already serving time for seven bank robberies.

LUFKIN — Crime Stoppers of Lufkin is asking for the public’s help in locating Andrew Esqueda. According to KETK, as of October 22, Angelina County Community Supervision and Corrections Department and Lufkin Municipal Court hold active warrants for the arrest of Esqueda. He’s wanted for a revocation of probation warrant from an original charge of burglary of a habitation. The court`s warrants are for a misdemeanor traffic offense, public intoxication, theft and failure to appear. The 27-year-old, white male is said to have black hair and brown eyes, approximately 5’11″ and weighs 135 pounds. His last verified address was on Paul Avenue in Lufkin but he is believed to be living in or around Nacogdoches. If you know the location of Andrew Esqueda, call Crime Stoppers of Lufkin at 936-639-TIPS or click here to submit an anonymous tip.

LONGVIEW (AP) – A small East Texas county is awaiting word from the secretary of state on what to do with more than 250 ballots already cast after an error was discovered on the first day of early voting. Camp County clerk Elaine Young says officials made “emergency ballots” Monday while they waited for new ballots to be printed. The Longview News-Journal reports that Libertarian candidate Sherri Little was listed as a Democrat in a State Board of Education race. Young says Little pointed out the error about 2:00 Monday afternoon. Young said it was the second time ballots had to be reprinted for the November 6 election. Longtime Republican U.S. Representative Ralph Hall was left off the first ballot.

LONGVIEW – A Gregg County man was arrested early Monday morning after holding officers at bay most of the night. Taken into custody was Jesus Salaiz, 21, of North Hidden Forest. Salaiz was said to have barricaded himself inside the residence and would step outside to speak with officers. Officers circled the house and finally were able to talk Salaiz into surrendering. They are said to have found a couple of semi-automatic weapons near the front door.

During the standoff, an officer fired one round when it appeared that Salaiz was taking aim at a Gregg County deputy. The suspect was not hit.

He has been charged with aggravated assault against a public servant and disorderly conduct (vulgar language). He was also charged with resisting arrest after struggling with officers booking him into the Gregg County Jail.

NACOGDOCHES – A Nacogdoches traffic stop turned up a dozen alleged illegal aliens. It happened shortly before 2:45 Monday afternoon when an officer stopped an SUV when the driver failed to signal a lane change. There were 12 people in the van. When their travel information didn’t make sense, he called a translator to the scene. The translator was able to determine that the group had paid money to travel into the U.S. illegally. None of the people in the SUV had identification papers. The group ranged in age from 19 to 30.

CENTERVILLE – An Angelina County man was one of two persons killed in a Leon County wreck. It occurred early Monday morning on State Highway 7, about 16 miles east of Centerville. Dead at the scene was Marcus Jabbar Nichols, 30, of Lufkin, and James Dewayne Johnson, 30, of Jasper. The Department of Public Safety reports a tractor trailer rig had slowed to make a right turn when the victims’ car rear ended the trailer.

LONGVIEW — An East Texas woman will serve ten years for her role in stealing Christmas gifts meant for foster children. KETK reports Sara Adams was sentenced on several charges, including burglary of a habitation and theft from a nonprofit. The gifts were valued at $20,000. They were swiped last December from a Longview storage facility that belonged to the Gregg County Child Welfare Board. Another woman, Racheal Bradley, was also arrested; her trial is set for next month.

TYLER — Early voting in the November elections in Texas began Monday, and big crowds were reported in Tyler. KETK reports it was packed at the Courthouse Annex, with hundreds turning out. Along with the presidential election and others, one high-profile ballot measure involves loosening of alcohol regulations in parts of Smith County. Residents of the city of Tyler and Justice Precinct 2 will each decide on sales of mixed drinks in restaurants where it’s not already permitted, along with sales of beer and wine in local stores.

In Smith County, early voting will run from 8:00am until 5:00pm daily from October 22nd through October 26th. It will be from 7:00am until 7:00pm on Saturday, October 27, from 1:00pm till 6:00pm on Sunday, October 28th, and from October 29th through November 2, it will be from 7:00am until 7:00pm.

There are five locations around Smith County for early voting:
The Smith County Annex, 200 East Ferguson, Suite 500,
Noonday Community Center, 16662 County Road 196,
Whitehouse Municipal Court, 311 East Main,
Lindale Masonic Lodge, 200 Margaret Street, and,
Heritage Building, 1900 Bellwood Road, in Tyler

FRANKSTON — Frankston Police are on the lookout for some roadside scammers. According to KETK, a couple of men stopped on the side of the road, put the hood of their car up and ask those who stop to help for money for a tow truck. Police describe the pair as white males, between 45-50 years old, driving a silver Ford Focus.

LONGVIEW — A Longview hair dresser has been arrested and charged with the sexual assault of a 7-year-old boy. Dechedrick Darnel Johnson, 27, Longview, has been accused of violating the boy with a broomstick straw after he came to the child’s home to cut the child’s babysitter’s hair on August 18. The child told his family about the assault September 30 and they notified the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office. According to KETK, Johnson was arrested Thursday night and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child. He is currently in the Gregg County Jail on a $250,000 bond.

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at work planned in the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

TYLER – Texas Department of Transportation contractor R.K. Hall is beginning approximately two months of pavement repair and resurfacing operations on State Highway 110 south of Tyler between Shiloh Road and Toll 49.

Also this week in Smith County, TxDOT is scheduled to close the westbound Interstate Highway 20 exit at Farm Road 849 (Hide-A-Way Lake) in conjunction with North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NETRMA) contractor CH2M-Hill and its project to build frontage roads for segment 3B of Toll 49. Officials announced closure of the exit between 7:00am and 6:00pm Monday and Tuesday to allow the new Toll 49 frontage road to be tied into FM 849. Once the work at FM 849 is complete, crews are scheduled to perform pavement repairs on IH 20 near the Willow Branch Road exit.

Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays during the work. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zones.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to begin resurfacing operations on State Highway 243 between State Highway 198 in Canton and the Kaufman County Line. A second crew scheduled to continue base and pavement repairs on U.S. Highway 80 in various locations in and around Fruitvale. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

HENDERSON — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue base and pavement repairs on State Highway 43 between the Henderson Star and Farm Road 1251 in New Prospect. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers and pilot vehicles will control traffic.

WOOD COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 1799 between U.S. Highway 80 and Farm Road 779 in Golden, and edge repairs in various locations on Farm Road 1801 east of Mineola. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

LONGVIEW – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue pavement repairs on Spur 502 (Judson Road) between Loop 281and U.S. Highway 80 (Marshall Avenue). A second crew is scheduled to complete shoulder work on Interstate Highway 20 between the Smith County line and State Highway 135 in Kilgore. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

ANDERSON COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue resurfacing operations in various locations on Farm Road 837 north of Palestine between State Highway 19 in Bradford and Farm Road 315 in Brushy Creek. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers and pilot vehicles will control traffic.

Also of note for motorists using State Highway 294 between Elkhart and Alto: TxDOT will resume closing SH 294 to thru-traffic during daylight hours this week between Farm Road 23 and State Highway 21 in Cherokee County for tree trimming and removal operations. The closure will be in effect between 8:00am to 3:00pm Monday-Friday through October.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation this week are scheduled to perform ditch work in various locations on Farm Road 1615 south of Athens. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews have resumed closing State Highway 294 to thru-traffic during daylight hours this week between State Highway 21 in Alto and Farm Road 23 near the Anderson County Line for tree trimming and removal. The closure will be in effect weekdays between 8:00am to 3:00pm. State Highway 294 will be open to all traffic each day after 3:00pm and until work begins the following weekday at 8:00am.

JACKSONVILLE — A suspect is now in custody after a fatal shooting early Saturday. According to KETK, “Coach” Stacy Dewayne Hunter, the owner of a local club, was shot and killed. Jimmy Deshawn Mosley, 24, turned himself into authorities around 6:30 Saturday morning. Mosley is believed to have shot and killed the 43-year-old outside of Stacey’s Club just after 4:00. Mosley has been charged with capital murder. His bond was set at $250,000. Police say it is still unclear as to what lead to the shooting. The investigation is ongoing.

Stacy Dewayne Hunter was a well-known and well-liked Pop Warner coach in Jacksonville. His personal facebook page says he has also worked for the city. Hunter owned the club on Highway 69, ‘Stacy’s.’