KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – Ten persons have been arrested following a lengthy investigation into alleged drug trafficking in the Henderson area. Around 6:00 Wednesday morning, a combined task force of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies began executing 10 federal arrest warrants for defendants charged in an alleged conspiracy to distribute over 280 grams of crack cocaine in and around Henderson since September 2010. On July 11, 2012, a federal grand jury returned a 14-count indictment charging 14 individuals with multiple counts of federal drug and firearm violations.

The following defendants are in custody and were scheduled for initial court appearances in Tyler Wednesday: Deric Lamont Sheppard, aka “Big Shep,” 32, of Henderson; Master Markeith Lacy, aka “Kiki,” 36, of Henderson; Justin Lamark Porter, 23, of Overton; Ernest Vantrezes Mallard, aka “Duck,” 30, of Henderson; Derek Lamarcus Horton, aka “Null Null,” 27, of Kilgore; Marcus Derail Porter, aka “Blade,” 30, of Henderson; Kail Demond Lacy, Jr, aka “KJ,” 19, of Henderson; Randy Cameron, 52, of Henderson; Lattoris Dewuan Jackson, aka “Coonjack,” 32, of Henderson; and Cornelius Marquis Murphy, aka “Papa Murphy,” 21, of Henderson. Travis Lanard Porter, aka “Nard,” aka “Travis Deamon,” 35, of Henderson, and Johnny Ray Smith, Jr., 33, of Henderson, will make their initial court appearances next week.

If convicted of the drug conspiracy charge, the defendants face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison and fines of up to $10 million. If convicted on the weapons violations, the defendants face at least 5 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of any property used to commit or facilitate the crimes or derived from proceeds of the conspiracy.

TYLER — Tylerites turn out in droves Wednesday at local Chick-Fil-A outlets for a national Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day. Residents reported long waits at the counter and traffic backups. At one point late Wednesday afternoon, KETK reported the crowd at the South Broadway eatery was “pretty much standing room only.” The day was organized in response to the uproar over the Chick-Fil-A CEO’s comments opposing gay marriage. Gay rights activists are planning several “kiss-in” protests Friday at Chick-Fil-A restaurants across the country.

WHITEHOUSE — The Whitehouse City Council Tuesday night discussed the future of the volunteer fire department and whether the city should have its own firefighters. According to KETK, the council decided both were beneficial. Council members voted to keep volunteers and create a municipal fire department. Under the proposal, the city would be responsible for training and certification of firefighters, and the VFD would work as a wing of that department.

TYLER — The City of Tyler announced Wednesday that they will participate in a program to bring closure to unresolved warrants. The Tyler Municipal Court, in a statement, said participation in a “Second Chance Warrant Program” will run from August 1-21. The down payment necessary to enter into a payment plan has been reduced to assist citizens in paying off their fines. To take advantage of this offer, citizens must provide a $150 down payment. The payments thereafter will be $150 per month until the fine is fulfilled. Some restrictions may apply and not all citizens may be eligible to participate.

The news release stated that citizens should be aware that if they accept the terms of this program and fail to make payments their warrants will become a high priority.

For assistance with resolving an outstanding warrant, contact the Municipal Court at 813 North Broadway between 7:00am to 5:00pm, or call 903-531-1266. Warrants can also be paid on line at http://www.CityofTyler.org under the “I Want To” menu at the top of the page.

GILMER — Sheriff Anthony Betterton won his re-election bid, meanwhile confusion at one voting location threw Upshur County’s runoff election into turmoil, leaving one race unsettled Tuesday night. Betterton defeated opponent Larry Webb by 25 votes in Tuesday’s Republican Party primary runoff election. According to KETK, with no Democratic contenders, Betterton reclaimed the office for four more years with 2,318 votes to Webb’s 2,293 votes. With nine provisional ballots still to be counted, Webb said he was uncertain whether he would call for a recount.

TYLER — Smith County Commissioners agreed to place two alcohol propositions on the November ballot. When they met Tuesday morning, the commissioners decided to approve petitions seeking two local option elections for Justice Precinct 2. The propositions would legalize the sale of beer and wine for off-premises consumption, and extend the legal sale of mixed beverages in restaurants to areas of the precinct where such sale isn’t already legal. The city of Tyler made similar moves last week. The local governments’ action comes in the wake of a petition drive organized by the Buy Local First group. The pro-alcohol effort is opposed by a group called Stand Strong for Tyler.

TYLER — An infectious disease specialist at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, has been ranked in the top 1 percent of physicians in his field by U.S. News and World Report magazine. Dr. Richard Wallace is a board-certified infectious disease physician who specializes in treating Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), a rare and non-contagious bacterial infection affecting only one in 100,000 people in the United States.

Dr. Wallace attended medical school at Baylor College of Medicine in the Houston and did his residency and fellowship trainning in Boston. He then came back to Texas and he’s been working as a researcher and medical doctor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler for the last 30 years.

LINDALE — Lindale school trustees have approved $300,000 for new technology purchases that will allow the district to improve the network and cut costs of future computer repairs and upgrades.

The funds will cover expenses to upgrade the district’s technology infrastructure and to implement VDI, Virtual Desktop Imaging. The upgrates include installation of new 10 gigabyte switches for the district’s central server. This will improve the speed of the district’s network and optimize the performance. Virtual Desktop Imaging will allow the district to update the software of older computers and allow them to perform and function as a new computer.

According to the Lindale ISD’s Director of Technology, Jamie Clayton, “This saves the district money by expanding the life of older equipment. This will reduce the rate at which we must replace computers in the district. We are very happy with the school board’s support in this endeavor to bring the best possible performance to our network. Many of out teachers and students rely on a well-functioning network to videos and to complete course work on line. This will help to ensure that things run much more smoothly.”

TYLER — A Gregg County man is heading to federal prison for drug trafficking. Rickey Spratling, 31, of Longview, pleaded guilty on April 10, to possession with intent to distribute ecstasy. He was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison yesterday by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis of Tyler.

According to federal prosecutors, on May 7, 2011, Spratling was found in possession of the drug ecstasy, which he intended to distribute. Spratling also admitted to possessing a gun during a drug trafficking crime. Spratling was indicted by a federal grand jury last October.

TYLER — A former Tyler fitness center operator has pleaded guilty to two charges of prescription fraud. The sentencing hearing for Tara McSwain is set for 9:00am on September 4 in Smith County’s 7th State District Court. According to a spokesman for the district attorney’s office, each charge carries a punishment range of two to ten years. McSwain, 38, is the former owner/manager of East Texas Billing and former manager of Apple Swim & Fitness Center. She initially faced nine counts of fraudulent possession of a controlled substance, a 3rd degree felony.

On June 16, 2011, an employee of Walgreens at 5415 South Broadway called police and said there was a woman in the drive-thru attempting to pick up a fraudulent prescription for hydrocodone. Patrol officers and vice investigators arrived on the scene and took McSwain into custody after further investigation. Investigators say they found several pieces of paper with physicians’ and patients’ names on them in McSwain’s purse. Police say the materials were discovered during the search incident to arrest and were believed to be used in a fraudulent manner. Police say because of her billing service for physicians, McSwain had access to doctor and patient information.

After investigators contacted several physicians and former patients, they say they developed probable cause that on six different occasions in 2011, McSwain provided fraudulent information to obtain a controlled substance from pharmacies in Tyler. On June 23, 2011, investigators arrested McSwain on six warrants for fraudulent possession of a controlled substance. Pending sentencing, she remains free on a bond of $20,000 on each case.

LINDALE — Police have detained two juveniles in connection with alleged racing that reportedly led to a truck crashing through a Lindale house. According to KETK, the incident happened June 21 on Woodlands Park Drive. Officials say a woman was home at the time of the crash, but was narrowly missed, by about three feet. Authorities have charged the pair with racing with injury.

TYLER — A guilty plea has been accepted in an illegal breast augmentation case. Carmel Foster has pleaded guilty to all charges against her, according to the Smith County District Attorney’s Office. KETK reports that Foster’s sentencing is set for August 31 at 9:00am. She remains in the Smith County Jail. Foster was accused of injecting an unknown substance into a woman’s breast during an illegal breast augmentation, after which the victim was hospitalized. She was charged with practicing medicine without a license. Foster owns the Queen Divas salon in Tyler, where procedures allegedly were performed.

SMITH COUNTY — A handful of East Texas Volunteer Fire Departments stayed busy Tuesday morning in Smith County. KETK has learned multiple mobile homes caught fire in a wooded area off County Road 46. Fire broke-out just before 3:00 a.m. Dixie, Lindale, Noonday, and Red Springs Firefighters all answered the call for help. Smaller brush trucks had to be put into service because of road conditions and the location of the fires.

MARSHALL — An elderly man has been struck and killed on U.S. Highway 80 west of Marshall. Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Terence Helton said Richard Neil Cunningham, 79, was fatally injured when he stepped into oncoming traffic to retrieve lumber that had fallen from his van. The incident happened about 9:00 Monday night near the intersection of Muntz Cut Off, west of Marshall, the trooper said. According to the Longview News-Journal, the driver of the vehicle that struck Cunningham, Jimmy Williams, of Hallsville, said he did not see Cunningham in the roadway. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Helton said no charges will be filed in the case.

EAST MOUNTAIN — One person has been arrested in connection with a fatal stabbing in Upshur County. Taken into custody Sunday night was James Nathaniel Nash, 46, of East Mountain. He’s accused of stabbing a 35 year old Longview man whose name has not yet been released. The stabbing occurred early Saturday morning on Farm Road 3358. The victim was rushed to Longview’s Good Shepherd Medical Center, where he later died. Nash was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. That charge will likely be upgraded to murder.

LONGVIEW — Humble Street in Longview will be having daily lane closures between Green Street and Houston Street starting Tuesday and lasting about four days. The lane closure will be the south side of the street and will be for work being performed on an existing gas line. This project is being performed by Richard Faulk, of C & S Leasing Services. If you have any questions about the construction, please call the City Engineer, Mark Adas, at 903-237-1053

AUSTIN — Republican U.S. Senate hopefuls David Dewhurst and Ted Cruz have been drawing the lion’s share of attention as voters decide who will replace retiring Kay Bailey Hutchison. But there are two Democrats running as well, and they’re both from East Texas. Former state representative Paul Sadler is from Henderson. His opponent, retired educator Grady Yarbrough, is a Smith County native who now lives in San Antonio. All four are vying for the nominations in today’s primary runoff.

TYLER — Detectives with the Tyler Police Department, assisted by the United States Marshals service and officers from the Whitehouse Police Department, have arrested Undra Choice, 22, of Elgin, Texas, in connection with a shooting on West Shaw Street. Detectives obtained warrants from County Judge Joel Baker charging Choice with two counts of aggravated assault. The victims have been identified as Reginald Pullum and Victoria Ferguson. Pullum is listed in serious condition at Mother Frances Hospital. Ferguson was treated for non-life threatening injuries. The shooting happened around 9:45 Sunday night in the street in the 1000 block of West Shaw. The case remains under investigation.

TYLER — Smith County voters participating in today’s runoff election can come to the polls with a little extra confidence after previewing or practicing how to cast a vote on the actual machines used in all Smith County elections. Officials say the County is now offering an easy, online video demonstration that takes voters through the step-by-step process of voting with the specific iVotronic machines utilized in the elections. The video is available on the official Smith County Facebook page and on the Elections page of the Smith County Web site at http://www.smith-county.com/Government/Departments/Elections/Default.aspx.

An iVotronic practice machine is also available for the public to practice casting a ballot at the Elections Office, Smith County Courthouse Annex, Fifth Floor, 200 E. Ferguson, Tyler. You can contact the Smith County Elections Office for further details at 903-590-4774.

TYLER — A pedestrian has been killed in a Tyler accident. It happened Monday morning in the 5500 block of the Troup Highway. Killed was David Wayne Bickerdike, 41, of Tyler. Bickerdike was struck by a northbound car driven by Susan Helgesen, 58, of Tyler. Police say Bickerdike was crossing the roadway mid-block on foot and was not in a crosswalk. According to investigators, Helgesen did not see the pedestrian due to darkness and his clothing. No charges have been filed

LONGVIEW — Police have identified a suspect in the hit and run that killed pedestrian Jason Johnson 20, of Longview. According to authorities, witnesses came forward and identified the suspect and police are continuing to investigate. No arrests have been made at this time.

At 12:30 Saturday morning, Longview Police Department Sergeant Doug Brinkley noticed Johnson lying in a grassy field located in the 300 Block of West Cotton Street. Officers learned the victim was walking westbound on Cotton Street when he was struck by an unknown vehicle. The vehicle fled the scene. Johnson was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. He died later at the hospital.

The suspect’s vehicle will have major damage to the right front headlight area. Longview Police are asking for anyone with further information about this incident to contact Officer Brandon Thornton at 903-237-1196. If the tipster wishes to remain anonymous he or she can also contact Gregg County Crimestoppers at http://www.greggcountycrimestoppers.org or 903-236-STOP (7867).

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

SMITH COUNTY — Construction crews are scheduled to continue several weeks of nighttime work on Tyler’s WSW Loop 323 between State Highway 155 (Frankston Highway) and Bellwood Drive, which is just south of the railroad overpass near West Front Street. Crews are scheduled to work from 7:00pm to 5:00am, Sunday-Thursday repairing and then resurfacing the roadway. Temporary lane-closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists should be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

Also this week in Smith County, TxDOT maintenance crews are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 2908 east of Tyler between State Highway 31 and Interstate Highway 20. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

WOOD COUNTY — Work associated with TxDOT’s preventative maintenance program known as “District-Wide Seal Coat” is scheduled to conclude this week in Wood County with work on Farm Road 2869 between Farm Road 852 south of Winnsboro and Farm Road 14 north of Hawkins.

A second crew is scheduled to perform the same work on Farm Road 3056 between U.S. Highway 80 and Farm Road 778. Once that work is complete, crews are scheduled to seal Farm Road 312 between Winnsboro and Pine Mills, which should take approximately two weeks to complete. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers and pilot vehicles will control traffic. Loose gravel may be present for several days following a seal coat application.

LONGVIEW — Construction crews are scheduled to conclude nighttime resurfacing work this week on Spur 63 in Longview between U.S. Highway 80 (Marshall Avenue) and North Loop 281. The work is being conducted Sunday-Thursday between 7:00pm and 6:00am, weather permitting. Overnight lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to use caution and be on the lookout for workers and heavy equipment in and around the work zone.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to conclude pavement repairs on U.S. Highway 79 east of Henderson between the city limits and the Panola County Line. The work is scheduled to be completed by Wednesday. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers and pilot vehicles will control traffic.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Beginning Wednesday, Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews are scheduled to begin approximately three weeks of pavement-repair work on U.S. Highway 80 between Farm Road 859 in Edgewood and State Highway 19. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress. Motorists should be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform shoulder work in various locations on Farm Road 860 between U.S. Highway 287 and State Highway 19. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers and pilot vehicles will control traffic.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to resume base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 1615, between State Highway 19 south of Athens and the end of state maintenance. 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 are scheduled to resume shoulder work on Farm Road 855 beginning Monday. Once the work resumes, daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress.

KILGORE — A shooting at El Greco Club near Kilgore early Sunday morning sent one man to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The shooting occurred about 2:30 on Old Highway 31. Gregg County Sheriff’s Lt. Kirk Haddix said another man shot the victim in the lower abdomen in the club’s parking lot. According to the Longview News-Journal, the victim was taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center for treatment. Haddix said the sheriff’s department has a suspect, and expects to seek a warrant, but no arrests had been at last report. The investigation is ongoing.

HOUSTON (AP/Staff) – A Canadian company that wants to build an oil pipeline from Alberta’s tar sands region to Texas refineries now has a final permit for the portion of the effort known as the Gulf Coast Project. TransCanada announced Friday that construction on the 485-mile section of pipeline would begin in the coming weeks. The project, which would run through much of East Texas, including eastern Smith County, has generated considerable controversy, with many concerned about its potential environmental impact. But in a statement, the company says that “building a safe and reliable pipeline remains TransCanada’s top priority.”

President Barack Obama encouraged the company to pursue the segment that will run from a refinery in Cushing, Okla., to Texas after he rejected the broader plan, saying it needed to be rerouted around Nebraska’s sensitive Sand Hills region. For that project, TransCanada needs presidential approval because it crosses an international border. The shorter portion only requires permits from state and federal agencies. The shorter line will help relieve a bottleneck at the Oklahoma refinery.

TYLER – Habitat for Humanity of Smith County has been selected to participate in Repair Corps, a veterans-support initiative of Habitat for Humanity International and The Home Depot Foundation. The Smith County Habitat is one of 84 Habitat affiliates selected to participate in the program, designed to support U.S. veterans in need of home repair. Repair Corps is designed under the same model as new homes built with Habitat families; the veteran will repay the zero interest loan necessary for these repairs.

“We are excited to participate in the launch of Habitat for Humanity’s Repair Corps program and grateful to The Home Depot Foundation for funding this project,” said Jack Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of the Smith County Habitat. “It is truly an honor to work in partnership with former service men and women, and their families.”

Habitat for Humanity’s Repair Corps is a project funded by The Home Depot Foundation with a $2.7 million cash and in-kind gift card donation. Home repair grants will be allocated in amounts up to $15,000 for each Repair Corps project. The program grants will cover the cost of a variety of repairs that could include roofing and weather stripping to the installation of wheelchair ramps and renovated bathrooms and doorways to accommodate disabled veterans. Habitat for Humanity’s Repair Corps is part of a three-year, $30 million investment The Home Depot Foundation is making to multiple organizations to help ease the burdens of military veterans by repairing and renovating homes and public facilities for military veterans.

TYLER — A launch party tonight for filmmakers and film aficionados will kick off efforts leading toward the second annual Downtown Tyler “Show Us Your Shorts” Film festival. The event is set for 6 to 8 p.m. at Gallery Main Street at 110 W. Erwin. Filmmakers, supporters of independent films, potential volunteers and sponsors are all invited to the launch party, which will serve as an informal, informational introduction to the 2012 film festival. The Downtown Tyler Film Festival is a project of the Downtown Tyler Arts Coalition (DTAC) film/theater working group. DTAC is an all-volunteer group that works to promote the arts in downtown Tyler under the auspices of the City of Tyler Main Street Department and its non-profit partner, Heart of Tyler, Inc.

“We invite anyone interested in the film fest to join us at this launch party,” said Film Festival Chairman Chris Abraham, noting that winning films from last year’s event will be shown, and organizers of the festival will be on hand to answer questions about the event, offering information on everything from how to enter a film to how to volunteer. “This year’s festival will feature an expanded format, with more entries, more films and more opportunities to view the films,” Abraham added. You can go to http://www.cityoftyler.org to learn more.

LONGVIEW — Longview police have made two arrests and recovered a stolen vehicle. On Thursday, a truck was reported stolen from a parking lot in the 700 Block of East Marshall Avenue. At 11:00 a.m. the same day, a Longview police officer noticed a truck matching its description in the area of Sylvan Drive and Mobberly Avenue. Officers made a traffic stop on the vehicle, but police say the driver attempted to elude police for several blocks. According to officials, the driver finally stopped in the area of 6th Street and Whaley, jumped out of the vehicle, and tried to flee from police.

Authorities say the suspect, John Mallon, 27, of Diana (pictured), was apprehended a short time later and transported to the Gregg County Jail. Mallon was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and evading arrest. Mallon’s passenger, Maura Jeannine Maddox, 23, of Kilgore, was arrested on 5 outstanding class C warrants.

HENDERSON — A father-son argument Tuesday evening ends with the father behind bars in Rusk County. KETK reports 50-year-old Thomas Anthony Beason is in jail. His son, 27-year-old Tommy Dale Beason, was taken to the hospital. Deputies say he underwent emergency surgery on a wound he suffered in the fight.

ANGELINA COUNTY — A Lufkin man managed to get arrested for public intoxication twice almost exactly 12 hours apart Wednesday. Around 8:30, witnesses reported a drunk man had damaged two vehicles in a convenience store parking lot on the 1000 block of S. Medford Drive. Officers arrived on scene and arrested 38-year-old Kevin Summers. According to KETK, Police had arrested already Summers around 8:30 that morning for public intoxication. Summers was also charged with criminal mischief and again booked into the Angelina County Jail. His bond was set at $500.

TYLER — The Tyler Independent School District Board of Trustees accepted Superintendent Dr. Randy Reid’s resignation at the regular board meeting Thursday evening and named Gary Mooring Interim Superintendent. Dr. Reid recently accepted the Superintendent position with the Keller Independent School District in Keller, Texas.

Reid served as superintendent of Tyler ISD for five years. In that time, Tyler ISD has seen great improvements in academic performance. Over the past five years, the district has seen a 15 percent increase in the number of students meeting the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) standard in science, an eight percent increase in the number of students meeting the TAKS standard in math, and an eight percent increase in the number of students meeting the TAKS standard in social studies.

“Under Dr. Reid’s leadership, Tyler ISD made great strides academically. We appreciate his dedication to the district, and we wish him the best as he moves on to lead another school district,” Michelle Carr, Tyler ISD Board of Trustees President, said. “We look forward to once again working with Mr. Mooring during this time of transition.”

Mooring is returning to Tyler ISD, having previously served as Deputy Superintendent and Interim Superintendent. Mooring was named Deputy Superintendent in August 2006, and served as Interim Superintendent following Dr. David Simmons’ resignation in December 2006. He has also served Tyler ISD in various other roles, including: Interim Executive Director for Special Programs, Interim Transportation Director, and consultant to develop the district’s operations manual.

Mooring is currently the Director of Dual Credit Programs at Tyler Junior College, from which he will take a leave of absence to serve as Interim Superintendent. He began his career in education 30 years ago, and has served as Superintendent of two school districts: Bishop Consolidated Independent School District and Hutto Independent School District.