KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Tyler police seek help identifying a burglary suspect. Police say an unknown white male with tattoos and a thin beard burglarized the coin operated machines at Pit Stop Car Wash, 5030 Hwy. 31 West, on August 15 and August 17. According to police, the suspect was driving a pewter color 4 door GMC or Chevrolet pickup. You’re asked to call Tyler police or Crimestoppers if you have any leads.

TYLER — Tyler police are continuing their investigation of the death of a youngster who died after drowning in a bathtub. Nine month old Charlotte Rodriguez was found at a home on Hollyoak, just off South Broadway, around 4:15 Wednesday afternoon. Tyler firemen and EMS personnel worked on the youngster. She was taken to Mother Frances Hospital. According to KETK, a neonatal unit from Children’s Medical Hospital in Dallas came to Tyler to pick her up, but her condition was deemed too unstable for her to be transported. Charlotte died at 10:31 Wednesday night.

Investigators say the child’s mother had placed Charlotte in the bathtub with her 22-month-old sister with the shower on, the drain open, and toys in the bathtub. Police say the mother then left the bathroom briefly. According to authorities, when she returned, the bathtub was filling up with water and Charlotte had gone under. Police say the mother believes that the toys or the drain stopper got stuck in the drain and blocked it, causing the bathtub to fill with water. Charlotte’s father was at work when the drowning occurred.

The 22-month-old sibling has been placed with family by CPS until the investigation is complete. They will determine if any charges will be filed at that time. Police say they have been to the Rodriguez residence before on a domestic disturbance call.

TYLER — A new section of roadway extending from Loop 323 to State Highway 155 was opened Thursday in Tyler at a special ribbon cutting ceremony featuring football legend and Tyler native Earl Campbell. “We are so proud that we could honor Earl Campbell in this way,” said Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass. “His legendary contributions are something the entire community can be proud of.”

Earl Campbell Parkway extends approximately two miles. There are four traffic lanes, two bike lanes, a raised landscaped median, and sidewalks along the stretch of roadway. To beautify the corridor, 230 trees and hundreds of roses were planted. In addition, curb, gutter, and a sidewalk were added along Old Noonday Road, and the entire road was repaved as part of the project. A traffic signal was also added at Old Noonday Road and Earl Campbell Parkway. The project began on August 20, 2010 and opened to traffic Thursday afternoon. The construction cost was $14,100,000, which was paid for in cash with Half Cent Sales Tax funding. You can go to http://www.cityoftyler.org/ to read more.

TYLER — A mistrial has been declared in the case of an alleged attempted kidnapping in Tyler. According to KETK, the incident happened on January 26 shortly after 4:15pm at the FRESH by Brookshire’s parking lot, on the 6900 block of Old Jacksonville Highway. A woman told police a gunman, later identified asWilliam Easley, 34, of Flint, tried to force her back into her vehicle. After the woman screamed for help, two customers came running to her aid. Police say Easley ran from the victim’s vehicle and jumped into a car, speeding away. The next day, authorities caught the accused kidnapper at his house. Easley is charged with attempted kidnapping and faces up to 10 years in prison. After hours of deliberation in a Tyler courtroom this week, jurors were unable to reach a verdict.

NACOGDCOHES — A series of small fires along Nacogdoches County Road 555 north of Kingtown on Tuesday have been called suspicious by Texas Forest Service officials. According to KETK, volunteers from Woden and Kingtown were joined by TFS crews to fight the multiple fires which burned on both sides of the road Tuesday afternoon. TFS spokesperson John Boyette said the location and spacing of the fires made them appear “suspicious in nature.”

JACKSONVILLE — The program director of a Jacksonville Christian radio station left her post following a July drug arrest. According to KETK, Eddie Rae Baiseri, 51, Bullard, was arrested by the Eustace Police Department on July 27 after she was allegedly found with drugs during a traffic stop.

According to jail records, Baiseri was allegedly found with between 4 ounces and 5 pounds of marijuana, and between 1 and 4 grams of a controlled substance. She was booked into the Henderson County jail around 3:30 p.m. and charged with possession of marijuana, a state jail felony because of the quantity, and manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance, a second degree felony. She was released on July 29 with bonds totaling $18,500.

TAMPA, FL — KTBB’s Paul Gleiser is in Tampa covering the Republican National Convention. Yesterday it was Mitt Romney’s show as he delivered the most important speech of his presidential campaign and one that introduced him to many television viewers.

Saying the hope and change America voted for “gave way to disappointment and division,” Mitt Romney presented an optimistic picture of the future in a Romney/Ryan White House, as he accepted his party’s nomination for president last night.

Romney began a speech in which he spoke of his youth as a Mormon, and then as a married man with five rambunctious sons.

But the speech also contained repeated criticism of President Barack Obama, particularly his failure to spur a more robust economic recovery. Romney said Obama can “tell us it was someone else’s fault” and that in the next four years “he’ll get it right” — but that he can’t tell Americans that they are better off than when he took office.

Gleiser will be in Florida all week. Follow him on Twitter @KTBBdecision12 or http://www.ktbb.com/decision2012

TYLER — A man is hospitalized after a one vehicle wreck Wednesday night. It happened around 11:00 on North Broadway and Gentry. Witnesses told Tyler police a dark color SUV was East on Gentry when he struck the southern turn lane median. The vehicle struck two traffic light poles and rolled over. The driver, identified as Clarke Hodge, 49, was ejected from the vehicle. He was taken to East Texas Medical Center with injuries that are believed to be non-life threatening at this time. All traffic control signals have been repaired.

TYLER — A second person has been arrested in connection with a sexual assault case in Tyler. The latest to be taken into custody is Todd Gifford Wisdom, 21, who is pictured here. He was booked into the Smith County jail and his bond was set at $22,500. He has been charged with distributing harmful material to a minor. Previously arrested was Thomas Brookbank, 21. They are charged in connection with sexual assaults that occured at a clubhouse in the woods behind a mobile home park at 2525 Shiloh Road.

A 9 year old girl told her mother that she and some of her friends had been sexually assaulted by a 21-year-old man who lives in the mobile home park. The victim stated that the assaults had occurred on numerous occasions over the past month in a wooded area, where the suspect, known as “Tom,” had made a club house. Five children have been identified as victims in the case.

KILGORE — The Kilgore school superintendent is heading to Longview. Jody Clements announced Wednesday he had accepted the job of Assistant Superintendent of Administrative and Student Services in Longview. Clements has been in Kilgore over four years. He will start his new duties in Longview in mid-September.

On the Kilgore ISD web site, Clements said “Effective Friday August 31st, Deputy Superintendent Dennis Williams will take over as Interim Superintendent until such time as the board can meet and determine their plan for replacement of the Superintendents position. I am very confident that the staff can keep things going and handle this transition. I have been blessed to have a great staff, board and community. I hope only the best for the future.”

DALLAS (AP/Staff) — State health officials say the tallies of Texas West Nile fever cases and deaths have more than doubled over the past two weeks, and there’s been another West Nile death in East Texas. Two cases were reported Wednesday to have ended in death, one each in Panola and Dallas counties, bringing the state total to 35. Earlier this month, a Gregg County resident died of West Nile virus. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported Wednesday that 894 Texas cases had been reported so far this year, up from an Aug. 16 count of 336.

The August 16 death toll was 14. Texas has been a hotbed of West Nile fever spread by a mosquito-borne virus. At least 22 of the 36 reported Texas deaths were in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with 13 in Dallas County. The most recent Dallas County death was reported Wednesday in Rowlett in northeastern Dallas County.

TYLER — Some UT-Tyler students found themselves without a classroom following a lab’s equipment failure. Just before 1:15 Wednesday afternoon, faculty and students had to be evacuated due to a gas leak on campus. Two floors of the Biology, Education and Psychology Building were emptied after a gas valve from a Bunsen burner would not shut off, according to UT-Tyler spokeswoman Hannah Buchanan. No students were ever in any imminent danger, but they evacuated as a precaution. According to KETK, it took crews about 10 minutes to fix the leak. Classes resumed, and no injuries were reported.

WINONA — It may be awhile before the cause of two-year-old Jake Kimbley’s death is known. Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 Mitch Shamburger tells KETK the results of Jake’s autopsy are still pending — and that the results could take up to another month before they are conclusive. Jake’s body was found in a septic tank near his Winona-area home last week after an hours-long search. For now, the death is being investigated as a homicide, and Jake’s siblings have been moved into foster homes.

TYLER — Two Tyler agencies hand out Community Builders Grants and request donors for a number of projects. The Community Builders Grant is a collaborative effort between East Texas Communities Foundation (ETCF) and United Way of Smith County. Officials say the effort makes grants in support of strong projects based on good ideas and compelling needs which have the potential to improve the Smith County community and the lives of its people.

With a little over $30,000 to allocate, the grant committee considered 42 applications requesting over $215,000 in funding toward a total of approximately $6,440,000 in project costs. The total amount awarded was $30,321. Checks will be presented at the Celebrate Giving event on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. at St. Paul Children’s Foundation in Andrews Park, 1358 East Richards. Meanwhile, ETCF and the United Way are asking residents to give to a local charity they were unable to fully fund with Community Builders Grant funds. You can go to the News tab at http://www.etcf.org for information on the grant recipients, those still seeking funding, and how you can help.

MOUNT PLEASANT — A hospital official said nearly 30 children were treated for minor injuries Wednesday morning after a Mount Pleasant school bus collided with a tractor-trailer. According to the Longview News-Journal, medical personnel at Titus Regional Medical Center treated “approximately” 29 children and the driver of the bus after the crash near Mount Pleasant. None of the victims’ injuries were life threatening and most had been discharged.

Mount Pleasant Police Chief Wayne Isbell said the driver of the bus and three students were taken by ambulance to Titus Regional Medical Center. Another 17 students were taken by bus to the hospital to be examined for “minor injuries,” according to Isbell. The bus driver was treated busted knee cap, Isbell said. Isbell said the bus was from a contracted bus company, and this school year was the first year the school district used the service.

DALLAS (AP/STAFF) — A Dallas-area shelter and two in East Texas have opened for possible evacuees of Tropical Storm Isaac. Volunteers with the American Red Cross were ready Tuesday at a shelter at Faith Baptist Church in DeSoto. American Red Cross spokeswoman Anita Foster said one person fleeing the storm had taken shelter there as of Tuesday afternoon. She said shelters also have been set up at St. Louis Baptist Church in Tyler and Williams Memorial United Methodist Church in Texarkana, Texas. Each shelter can accommodate about 150 people. KETK reports evacuees have begun to show up at St. Louis Baptist. City officials say that shelter opened up in response to calls from self-evacuees traveling from Louisiana along I-20.

The American Red Cross chapters in Houston and San Antonio say no shelters have been opened in their regions. Their officials say evacuees are being directed inland rather than to points along or near the coast.

Information on Tyler’s emergency efforts will be posted on the City web page (www.cityoftyler.org), the City’s social media pages (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/City-of-Tyler-Texas-Government/328744635747 and http://twitter.com/TylerEvents), and released to local media.

EAST TEXAS — Now that financially troubled Lon Morris College has canceled its fall semester, a couple of area colleges are welcoming students who were left in the lurch. A TJC rep says his school was given a list by Lon Morris of students who needed help, and TJC is answering the call. A Jacksonville College representative tells KETK that school has registered between 35 and 40 Lon Morris students.

MARSHALL – A 23-year-old Karnack woman has been sentenced to federal prison for her role in a sweeping drug trafficking case. Anna Lerey Woodall pleaded guilty in May to possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine. She was sentenced Tuesday in Marshall to 37 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap.

According to federal prosecutors, Woodall was involved in a conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine in East Texas. The conspiracy involved defendants traveling to multiple pharmacies to purchase numerous boxes of cold pills containing pseudoephedrine, which is used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. An 839-count federal indicted was returned on February 1, 2012, charging Woodall and 16 other co-defendants with federal drug crimes. Of those defendants, 14 have been convicted.

MARSHALL – A 33-year-old Marshall man has been sentenced to federal prison for wire fraud violations in the Eastern District of Texas. John Michael McConnell pleaded guilty in February to wire fraud. He was sentenced Tuesday in Marshall to 41 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap. McConnell was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $230,119. According to information presented in court, from August 2010 to September 2010, McConnell engaged in a scheme to defraud MB Trading by making false material representations in an online application for a trading account and by emailing a fictitious bank statement to MB Trading. McConnell was indicted by a federal grand jury last October, and charged with wire fraud.

NACOGDOCHES — Nacogdoches County DPS tells KETK that one person has died after the passenger vehicle he was driving collided with a logging truck around 6:30 Tuesday morning. DPS says the logging truck was pulling onto Highway 59 at Farm Road 2782, about halfway between Lufkin and Nacogdoches, when it was struck on its side by the other vehicle. The victim has been identified as Catarino Perez of Diboll, 56. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the logging truck, Jerome Bryant, 37, was not injured. At this time, no charges have been filed; however, the crash is still under investigation.

TYLER — The City of Tyler continues in a state of advanced preparedness should the City need to activate in any capacity due to Hurricane Isaac. Emergency officials participated in a statewide conference call Monday afternoon, determining the role Tyler could play in the State’s emergency response efforts as well as potential impacts the storm could have on the Tyler region. “The City has initiated advanced preparedness efforts as per our Emergency Response Plan due to Tropical Storm Isaac,” said Tyler Fire Chief Tim Johnson. “At this point, it is unknown what impact the storm could have upon Tyler; therefore we are taking all necessary steps to be prepared.”

Should Tyler be an evacuation location, the role would be to serve self evacuees and medical special needs evacuees only. Shelters will be stood up as needed. KETK reports the first emergency shelter has already been set up at St. Louis Baptist Church. The Red Cross says the church can house up to 150 people. Local residents are encouraged to check on their emergency kits, which officials term a good routine practice. You can go to http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit for information on building an emergency kit. The kit should contain food, water and emergency items to last for 72 hours.

Information on Tyler’s emergency efforts will be posted on the City web page (www.cityoftyler.org), the City’s social media pages (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/City-of-Tyler-Texas-Government/328744635747 and http://twitter.com/TylerEvents), and released to local media.

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court approved a 2013 budget Tuesday that officials say will decrease the tax rate while maintaining the same level of county services for citizens. County Judge Joel Baker, who serves as the county’s budget officer, credits careful financial management, conservative budgeting, and recent signs of economic growth over the past few years for the positive 2013 outlook.

With an anticipated $576,594 in additional revenue to be added to the tax roll this year due to new construction, Baker says the future looks more favorable for county coffers. “The overall picture is strong and enables us to make positive financial decisions this year that impact our employees, our citizens, and overall county management,” said Baker.

The Smith County Appraisal District certified the tax roll with a very slight increase in appraised value from the previous year. According to officials, county efforts to streamline operations also enabled Judge Baker to propose a slight reduction in the tax rate to the effective tax rate for the upcoming year without adversely affecting the quality of services provided to citizens. You can go to http://www.smith-county.com to view the complete budget.

TYLER — Tyler Police say one of their own was found dead Saturday. According to Public Information Officer, Don Martin, Ocie Coffer, 45, was found deceased over the weekend at his residence. Martin said he died from natural causes.

Ocie began his employment with the City of Tyler in 1999 with the Water Utilities Department. He came to the Police Department in 2002 as a Public Safety Officer.

“Ocie was a dedicated, kind hearted and hard-working employee who always had a smile on his face. He enjoyed serving the citizens of Tyler in their time of need and will be truly missed,” said Chief Swindle.

Ocie is survived by three children ages 23, 17 and 15. Visitation for Coffer will be held Thursday, August 30th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Harmon Undertaking, 1112 N. Palace. Funeral Services will be held at 12:00 p.m., Friday, August 31st at Smith Temple Church of God in Christ, 2400 Walton Rd, Tyler. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery.

TYLER — A section of Lake Placid between Vine Street and San Jacinto Drive will be closed to thru traffic by the City of Tyler Streets Department for repairs. East bound traffic from Old Noonday will be routed southward down Vine Street. West bound traffic from Old Jacksonville Hwy will be routed northward down San Jacinto. The work on Lake Placid should be finished in two weeks depending on weather conditions. Drivers are urged to use alternate routes for the duration of construction.

FORT WORTH (AP/Staff) – Renowned classical pianist Van Cliburn has been diagnosed with advanced bone cancer. His longtime friend and publicist, Mary Lou Falcone, announced the news Monday. She says the 78-year-old Cliburn is resting comfortably at his home in Fort Worth. She says his spirits are high and he’s under excellent care. Cliburn grew up in Kilgore. He skyrocketed to fame in 1958 when he won the first International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow at age 23. He returned to a New York ticker tape parade, the only one ever for a classical musician. He has performed for every president since Harry Truman, and for years has devoted his time to the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Founded by Fort Worth music teachers in 1962, it’s held every four years and now considered the world’s premiere piano competition.

WINONA — Autopsy results are still pending for two-year-old Winona-area resident Jacob Kimbley, who was found dead last week after an hours-long search. KETK reports that according to Child Protective Services, Jacob’s five siblings have been separated into two foster homes. The case is being investigated as a homicide, and CPS took the children from their family soon after Jacob’s body was found. CPS’s Shari Pulliam says when children are removed from their homes, case workers explain the situation to them and tell them it may be only temporary while officials sort out what happened. Pulliam says the kids accepted what they were told and are “doing fine.” According to Pulliam, kids are put into foster homes for different reasons, such as size of sibling group or not enough openings in one home vs. another home. She says how long Jacob’s siblings remain in foster care depends on the case.

TYLER — Student enrollment numbers are in after a successful first day of school, and this year Tyler ISD saw an increase of nine students. First day enrollment for the 2012-2013 school year totaled 17,319, while enrollment for the first day of classes in the 2011-2012 school year was 17,310. First day of school enrollment numbers fluctuate from year to year, and District leaders anticipate enrollment going up in the coming weeks. Here are the first day enrollment numbers:
Campus 8/22/11 8/27/12

Austin 476 444
Bell 500 445
Birdwell 425 456
Bonner 434 412
Boshears Center 69 72
Caldwell 647 635
Clarkston 364 352
Dixie 542 538
Douglas 657 682
Griffin 633 653
Jack 717 672
Jones 324 324
Orr 591 570
Owens 633 641
Peete 367 370
Ramey 522 522
Rice 750 669
Woods 665 624
Boulter 466 528
Dogan 476 493
Hogg 620 652
Hubbard 871 822
Moore 982 912
Stewart 409 490
John Tyler 1600 1749
REL 2538 2558
PACE 32 34

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Authorities report an East Texan has died in a logging accident in Cherokee County, close to the Nacogdoches County line. Sunday afternoon just before 3:00, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office with notice of a logging accident on Highway 21 at the Angelina River bridge. Douglass VFD first responders and Nacogdoches EMS responded and found Jimmy Charles Young Jr., 38, of Henderson, dead at the scene.

Authorities say Young was working with other loggers, clearing trees on property owned by William Carroll Hollis of Alto, when a large tree he was cutting fell on top of him. A co-worker used equipment on the scene to move the tree, and another co-worker called 9-1-1. Because of the location, the call went through the Nacogdoches County Communications Center; first responders were notified and dispatched from their center. Officials say details of the accident are not being released at this time, pending the outcome of the investigation. Cherokee County Justice of the Peace Brenda Dominy ordered an autopsy.

GILMER — An Upshur County jury has sentenced an Ore City woman to life in prison after convicting her of her husband’s murder. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Sharon Maxwell was found guilty Friday of murdering her tenth husband, Gordon Maxwell, by shooting him four times in the head, then burning his body in his pickup in August of last year. The punishment considered by the jury ranged from five years in prison to life in prison, District Judge Lauren Parish said. “This woman deserves a life sentence, one life for another,” District Attorney Billy Byrd said in his closing argument. Maxwell was also sentenced Monday to pay a $10,000 fine. She may become eligible for parole after serving at least 30 years in prison.

TYLER — Smith County commissioners plan to approve their 2012-2013 budget and tax rate at a meeting this morning. The meeting is set to kick off with a final public hearing on the budget and tax rate. County Judge Joel Baker filed a proposed 2013 budget that will decrease the tax rate while maintaining the same level of county services for citizens, according to a county news release. Baker credits careful financial management, conservative budgeting, and recent signs of economic growth over the past few years for the positive 2013 outlook.

At least one citizen group, Grassroots America – We the People (GAWTP), is weighing in on the budget and tax rate. According to a position statement directed at commissioners, “Grassroots America appreciates the fact that your budget is based on funding with the effective tax rate.” The group does address four major issues. Reiterating an issue raised last year, GAWTP recommends requiring the Budget Officer to post an itemized listing of all changes that cause the prior year’s adopted budget line item totals to change. GAWTP also says, “We see no information posted in the proposed budget that would tell taxpayers why you plan to hold almost $13 million in reserve.”

The citizen group additionally notes, “We see that Judge Baker has referenced a performance pay program in his executive letter for the budget. It sounds as if the criteria on which the department leaders will be evaluated has been set from the top….A true performance pay plan must include full participation from the folks on the ground doing the work.” Finally, GAWTP says, “Smith County still has no long-range rural transportation plan to even begin proper budgetary planning for the upgrade of county roads. We urge the Commissioners Court to make this a top priority for the next fiscal year.” The statement concludes, “We look forward to hearing back from the Commissioners Court on these four issues when you have the answers. We will be happy to publish your responses. Thank you for serving.”