KTBB News, Weather, Talk

CHAPEL HILL — A fire near Chapel Hill severely damages a house on Sunday. KETK reports the fire happened in the 10,000 block of County Road 233. Officials say the owner of the house wasn’t home at the time of the fire. Half of the house was severely damaged by the flames while the other half suffered extensive smoke damage. No injuries were reported in that fire.

TYLER — The City of Tyler is currently accepting applications from community members to serve on City boards and commissions. The deadline to apply is Aug. 3, and appointments will be made by the City Council at their Aug. 22 meeting. Persons who are appointed to serve on a City of Tyler board or commission will serve voluntarily, without pay, for a two-year term. The boards and commissions include:

Regular Boards (Boards that meet monthly or bi-monthly)

Airport Advisory Board
Historical Preservation Board
Keep Tyler Beautiful Board
Library Board
Neighborhood Revitalization Board
One-Half Cent Sales Tax Board
Parks Board
Planning and Zoning Commission
North East Texas Public Health District Board
Traffic Safety Board

Periodic Boards (Boards that meet only as needed)

Board of Adjustment (Zoning)
Civil Service Commission
Construction Board of Adjustments
Disabilities Issue Review Board
Health Facilities Development Corp.
Industrial Development Corp.

To serve on a board or commission, applicants must reside inside the City limits and should not have any delinquent City taxes, City utilities or other City assessments. In addition, they must not have any pending claims or claim against the City. There may be additional requirements for some board positions.

“This is a perfect way for citizens to plug in and get involved in shaping our community,” said Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass. “The City’s boards and commissions play a vital role in making recommendations to City Council.” City manager Mark McDaniel added, “Boards and Commissions fulfill an important role in City government by evaluating issues which affect our community and making recommendations to the Council for needed action. It is important that we get vacancies on the boards filled.”

Anyone interested in serving can go to http://www.cityoftyler.org to download an application online. Applications can also be picked up at the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall, or you can call the City Clerk at (903) 531-1106 and have an application faxed or mailed to you.

TYLER – Mother Frances Hospital-Tyler was honored with an “A” Hospital Safety Score by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other larger purchasers of health benefits. The Hospital Safety Score was calculated under the guidance of The Leapfrog Group’s Blue Ribbon Expert Panel using publicly available data on patient injuries, medical and medication errors, and infections. U.S. hospitals were assigned an A, B, C, D or F for their Safety.

“Being given an ‘A’ by The Leapfrog Group so soon after being ranked as one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters is a great honor and a testament to the commitment, focus and dedication that our administration, physicians and employees have given to help ensure that Mother Frances Hospital is delivering some of the best care in the nation, right here in Tyler, Texas,” said Laura Owen, FACHE, CEO, Mother Frances Hospital-Tyler.

TYLER — Citizens can now pick up their vouchers for the annual Smith County Wide Clean-up Event. The County Clean-up event is an opportunity for residents of Smith County to bring trash and bulky items to the Greenwood Farms Landfill for free. Smith County Environmental Crimes Unit, Precinct Constables and Smith County Commissioners Court are working together to host the event June 11 – 23. The County will provide vouchers to the public that are good for up to three cubic yards per person; about a full-sized truck bed. Vouchers are available to pick up at all Justice of the Peace and Constable Precinct offices or the Smith County Courthouse Annex, Commissioners Court Office.

There is a limit of one voucher per household, and businesses may not participate in the voucher program. The vouchers will be good Monday-Friday, 6:30am to 4:30pm and on Saturday 6:30am to noon. The vouchers come with a list of items that the Greenwood Farms Landfill, an Allied Waste Company, will not take. Items not accepted during the County Wide Clean-up include: hazardous waste, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, gasoline, oils, paint, acid, batteries, asbestos, Freon, whole tires, refrigerators, freezers, televisions and computers. Directions and a map to the Greenwood Farms Landfill are provided with the vouchers.

For more information or to pick up your voucher, please call: Pct. 1 (Tyler) Constable Henry Jackson, 903-590-2609; Pct. 2 (Noonday) Constable Andy Dunklin, 903-590-4840; Pct. 3 (Troup) Constable Dustin Rust, 903-590-4744; Pct. 4 (Winona) Constable John Smith 903-590-4879; or Pct. 5 (Lindale) Constable Dennis Taylor, 903-590-4901.

WINNSBORO — The FBI is investigating two Winnsboro police officers for allegedly planting drug evidence in cars. The case involves a bust in 2008. According to KETK, the city was sued in civil court two years ago over the incident but settled out of court. The two officers, a man and a woman, are still on the force. Police Chief J.L. Miller says he’s convinced they’re innocent.

LONGVIEW — Two suspects have been arrested in a May homicide in Longview. On Friday at approximately 1:15 p.m., Longview police officers, along with the SWAT team, served a capital murder arrest warrant and a search warrant at 104 Vesta Drive. The warrants came as a result of the investigation of the shooting death of De’Aundreay Lamanze Rossum, 23, of Kilgore, on May 15. Police arrested Torry Jamal Reed, 17, of Longview. A 16-year-old juvenile suspect was also taken into custody on a directive to apprehend for capital murder in connection with the killing. Police say Reed was transported to Gregg County Jail without incident, and the juvenile was transported to the Gregg County Juvenile Detention Center.

RED SPRINGS — One person is dead at the scene and one person, a child, suffered serious injuries after a one-vehicle wreck Friday on FM 14 at CR 325 in Red Springs. According to KETK, the driver of a red Chevrolet Corvette lost control of the vehicle and went off FM 14 just before 11:00 a.m. The driver died. A family member has identified him as Dresdan Thomas. The child is his son, Kiyondrez Thomas, 7. A helicopter transported the child to Children’s Hospital in Dallas.

HENDERSON — A 21-year-old woman is sentenced in Henderson to a year in prison for copper theft. April Ann Morris, of Caddo Mills, and her then-boyfriend, Jacob Earl Donahue, were seen by witnesses cutting down wires in September 2011. Morris sold 179 pounds of copper to a Panola County scrap dealer.

SMITH COUNTY — The Whitehouse mother convicted and sentenced to die for the capital murder of her mentally challenged babysitter was in the Smith County 241st District Court Wednesday morning for a hearing. According to KETK, Judge Jack Skeen appointed attorneys who will handle her appeal.

Cargill was charged with the June 2010 death of Cherry Walker. Walker was killed one day after she was subpoenaed to testify in a custody hearing over Cargill’s 4-year-old son. Cargill testified Wednesday that walker died of a seizure. Cargill said she tried CPR on her, but was unsuccessful. She then testified that she burned the body.

TYLER (AP) – A businessman who lied about having almost $4 million in property and cash has been sentenced to nearly two years in prison for fraud in East Texas. Federal prosecutors in Tyler on Friday announced the punishment for Danny Wood, 61, Idabel, OK. Wood in February pleaded guilty to wire fraud and was sentenced Thursday to 20 months in prison. Wood also was ordered to pay nearly $2.1 million in restitution to Lone Star Production Credit PCA in New Boston. Prosecutors say Wood in 2009 faxed a fake report from Arkansas to the financial institution saying he had $3.7 million in lumber inventory and about $93,000. Investigators say Wood’s intent was to defraud Lone Star. Further details on the financial fraud were not immediately released.

GREGG COUNTY — Longview Police arrest two women on a charge of aggravated assault after separate stabbings. The first incident was investigated by police just before 7:00 Tuesday evening. It led to the arrest of Donneka Jones, 30 (pictured), at an apartment complex on Hawkins Parkway. The investigating officer found Jones’ live-in boyfriend, who had reportedly locked himself in a bathroom after Jones allegedly struck and threatened him with a steak knife, according to the arrest affidavit. According to the Longview News-Journal, Jones’ three children told police at the scene they restrained her after she attempted to attack the victim with the steak knife.

The second woman charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon was Jessica Ballard, 30. Ballard was arrested at 12:52 Wednesday morning at an apartment complex on High Street. According to her arrest affidavit, Ballard is charged with threatening and attacking her sister with a kitchen knife.

TYLER — Workers at the Trane plant in Tyler continue to wait as union representatives negotiate their contract with the company. Some new information has been passed along since Trane employees held a moment of silence Thursday morning.

A Trane employee told KETK that the contract the company is offering its employees details no raises for three years, with a 25 cent raise for the fourth year. An anonymous Trane employee said officials are having trouble making an agreement with Ingersoll Rand, the company that owns Trane. Rand reportedly wants to switch insurance plans from the current 90/10 Blue Cross Blue Shield program to the 80/20 Ingersoll Rand company insurance. Workers are unhappy with a change in the contract that will cut off medical, dental and life for anyone who retires after the new contract is signed. Also, any new employees hired after the contract is signed will have no retirement benefits. Trane representatives declined to comment on the contract negotiations. A vote on the new contract is set for Sunday.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — An East Texan had his say Thursday as the House Judiciary Committee grilled Attorney General Eric Holder on Operation Fast and Furious. That was the sting operation that allowed firearms to be purchased illegally in order to track them down through Mexican drug cartel members. But agents lost track of hundreds of firearms in the process. According to KETK, Congressman Louie Gohmert of Tyler put Holder’s feet to the fire. Gohmert asked, “Did you not ever go back to your office and say, when you found out about Fast and Furious, ‘I demand to know who authorized this?’ Are things so fast and loose in your office that somebody can authorize the sale to international criminals of American guns that are bringing about the death of even American agents — and nobody has to do that in writing?”

Holder testified that Fast and Furious was flawed, both in concept and execution. He said he asked the department’s inspector general to conduct an investigation, and he’s put in new leadership at the ATF.

JACKSONVILLE — A lightning strike damages a house in Jacksonville, around 4 a.m. Thursday on Bainbridge Street. According to KETK, firefighters say the ringing of the doorbell woke up everybody in the house. They were able to get outside safely and call for help. The fire also destroyed two cars.

TROUP — A woman was taken to a local hospital after a one-vehicle rollover on Highway 110. It happened during the 1 p.m. hour Thursday several miles south of Troup. When Troup firefighters arrived on scene, they found a woman pinned inside her vehicle after it had rolled off the roadway, hit a fence and then a tree. KETK reports the woman was taken to a local hospital with unknown injuries. The cause of the wreck is unknown.

LONGVIEW — Two people are sent to the hospital after a late Thursday morning wreck in Longview. KETK reports it happened around 11 at H.G. Mosley and Gilmer Road. One car flipped, and firefighters had to free the driver. No word on injuries at last report.

LONGVIEW — Reel Road in Longview is now temporarily closed between Rodden Drive and Deer Park Court. Drivers wishing to travel between Gilmer Road and Pine Tree Road should use alternate routes. The purpose of the project is to replace the deteriorated metal culvert at Reel Road and Harris Creek with concrete culverts. The closure will be effective through mid-August. This project is being constructed by East Texas Bridge of Longview. If you have any questions related to construction, you may call the city’s project manager, Alton Bradley, at 903-237-1067.

HENDERSON — Two South Dakota residents are arrested in Rusk County. According to KETK, 45-year old James Boyter and 17-year old Winter Garneaux were arrested in Henderson after the stolen vehicle they were driving was located at a business there. Police say they discovered a zip gun in their possession; they say that’s a prohibited weapon. Boyter is charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle. Garneaux is charged with third degree possession of a prohibited weapon and first degree escape charges out of South Dakota.

TYLER — The United Way of Smith County is holding its annual Day of Caring today. Each year, volunteers donate time and skills for various projects that can be “done in a day” to help local nonprofits. This year 47 projects are scheduled. You can call (903) 581-6376 for more information.

TYLER — Smith County offices, located in the Courthouse, Courthouse Annex and Sheriff’s Administrative Building Downtown, shut down for the day Thursday due to a power outage. Regular office hours resumed today.

ANGELINA COUNTY — The Angelina County Democratic party disqualified two candidates from the general election. This means Republican candidate Greg Sanches is the new sheriff-elect of Angelina County. Angelina County Democratic Party chairman Jim Wark tells KETK that he’s looking into the legality of putting a replacement candidate on the Democratic ticket for both the Precinct 3 constable and sheriff. This comes after Angelina County Democratic candidate for sheriff Jim Hodges and Precinct 3 constable candidate William Wade were disqualified for voting in the GOP primary.

Wark says he does not have anyone in mind for either position at this time, but that he has several weeks to make a decision once he finds out if it’s legal for him to put new candidates on the ticket after the primary election. Democratic Party candidates are checking into the legality of that move.

NACOGDOCHES — Nacogdoches authorities are searching for two suspects who robbed the Best Western on South Street. According to KETK, it happened around 10:00 Tuesday night. Police say the robbers entered the lobby and one of the men forced the clerk into a corner while the other went through the cash drawer, taking an undisclosed amount of money. Both men ran out the door in an unknown direction. The robbers are described as black males, early 20’s, wearing blue jeans and cloths over their face. No weapon was seen.

TYLER — An elderly man is reported missing Wednesday afternoon. Tyler Police were called to Garden Estates at 2055 W. Grande on a missing person report. Officers said Conrad Lingren, 81, was last seen about 4:00 at Garden Estates by staff members. Lingren is a white male, approximately 6’2 and weighing approximately 175 pounds. He’s was believed to be wearing a light brown plaid shirt and Khaki pants. If you have any information that can help in locating Mr. Lingren please contact the Tyler Police Department at 903 531-1000.

EAST TEXAS — Thousands of East Texans were left without power after strong storms moved through the area Wednesday night. Thursday morning, more than 2,600 Oncor customers were without power in East Texas. According to KETK, SWEPCO did not report any outages. Crews continued working Thursday to get all the power back on.

UPSHUR COUNTY — A veterinarian in Gilmer said she started treatment Wednesday on a dog that was found after being thrown into a trash bin at RobRoy Industries. Gilmer Police were seeking information on the person or persons who committed the crime. The perpetrator could face charges of cruelty to an animal and abandonment of an animal, police said. Cherie Nazzal of Animal Medical and Surgical Hospital in Gilmer said the female mixed breed dog was placed in the dumpster around 6:00 Tuesday morning. Gilmer Police retrieved the dog and brought her to Nazzal’s office. Nazzal said the dog’s right rear hip is out of joint and that the dog is “extremely malnourished and full of parasites.”

Nazzal said she has opted not to take the dog to the Northeast Texas Humane Society for fear the dog would be euthanized because of her condition. The dog is about 9 to 12 months old.

GREGG COUNTY — Police arrested a woman Tuesday after a man said she had separated him and his wife while they were arguing and stabbed him. Stephanie Jimenez, 20, of Longview was arrested near where the argument took place at the intersection of Whaley and Horaney streets. The victim told police the stabber used a green pocket knife. Jimenez has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

TYLER — There’s a new speed limit in parts of East Texas. According to KETK, you can now drive 75 MPH on parts of I-20. The five MPH increase was passed by the state legislature last year. That happened after a study by TxDOT showed most people already drove that fast. The new speed limit signs are currently being put up. TxDOT’s Larry Krantz says the job should be done by the end of the week for the entire Tyler district, which includes I-20’s route through Smith, Gregg, and Van Counties. He notes that until the signs are changed out and say 75 MPH, the speed limit remains 70. Krantz also cautions you to use good judgment and remember to slow down whenever it’s raining or foggy.

TYLER — The so-called Mineola child sex ring case is now in Tyler’s 12th Court of Appeals. Reports say Dennis Pittman’s lawyer thinks the outcome of the case would have been different if the court had allowed the showing of taped interviews of the children in the case. According to KETK, Pittman was convicted of engaging in organized criminal activity. He was sentenced to life in prison. The appeals court has two years to make a decision.

TYLER — The battle lines are drawn between Smith County sheriff’s candidate Chris Green and some supporters of Green’s opponent, Larry Smith. The current controversy began when Green referred to Grassroots America – We the People as a “fringe political action committee.” Grassroots America’s executive director, JoAnn Fleming, and her group’s board support Smith in the July 31 runoff.

Fleming tells KETK, “We have professionals, pastors, we have blue collar people that are in our organization… Now name calling is usually a clear sign that you have lost your focus in a campaign and you’ve just decided you’re going to be a rock thrower.” She adds, “I would suggest that Chris Green owes Grassroots America – We the People, an apology.” Fleming has also accused Green of making false allegations against Smith. She recently said, “we have the evidence to back up everything we have on our website regarding Mr. Green’s allegations against sheriff’s candidate Larry Smith. The proof is Mr. Green’s own words, which are documented in writing and on video.”

Now Green is publicly requesting that Fleming release all Republican primary sheriff candidate interview videos produced by her organization to the general public in the videos’ original unedited format so members of the public can judge for themselves. According to a statement KETK received from Green, his request is in response to “Fleming’s ongoing political stunts and screened threats that she will make the content of the videos known.” Green adds, “Fleming has concocted a story about Chris Green unfairly attacking her candidate Larry Smith when in reality the attacks in the race for sheriff have been coming directly from Smith and Fleming.” Fleming says she has no problem releasing the videos, but she’ll have to check with her board.

In a statement released Wednesday, Smith says, in part, “I want this election to stay on the high road. My position is what I can do for the citizens of Smith County.” We’ll continue to follow and update this story.

HENDERSON — Henderson I-S-D has a new policy involving electronic devices. The “BYOD,” or “bring your own device,” rule will allow students to bring their own portable electronic devices to school starting in the 2012-2013 school year. According to KETK, the new rule is an experimental one for the upcoming school year to see how students and teachers will make classrooms more interactive.