KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Tyler police seek your help finding the driver in a hit-and-run. On Thursday around 9:10 a.m., police responded to W. Gentry and Englewood on a vehicle crash involving a motorcycle and suburban. Carl Lee, 63, was the operator of the motorcycle and was eastbound on W. Gentry in the outer lane. Lee was struck by a dark blue or black suburban heading south on Englewood crossing Gentry. The driver of the suburban failed to remain at the scene of the crash and left heading south on Englewood. Lee was transported to ETMC with non-life threatening injuries by EMS. The suburban will have front end damage to the grill area.

Anyone with information about the suspect is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department, at 903-531-1000, or Crimestoppers, at 903-597-CUFF (903-597-2833). Crimestoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest and charges filed against the suspect.

LONGVIEW — Longview police are continuing to investigate an early morning car/pedestrian accident that sent a man to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. He is identified as John Paul Jones, 37, of Longview. Officers were dispatched shortly before 6:00 Wednesday morning to the intersection of Estes Parkway and Gilmour Road in connection with a victim who had been struck by a vehicle. Officers said at one point, they were told that the man had died. They were later notified that doctors were able to revive him. The man was reportedly walking in the roadway in dark clothing when he was hit. The car’s driver was not ticketed for any traffic violations.

TYLER — Two men have been arrested after confessing to stealing diesel fuel. According to Tyler Police, surveillance was set up at Reynolds and Kay construction in the 3300 block of Walton Road after numerous reports of diesel fuel theft had been reported. Michael Mathis, 47, (pictured) and Kermit Hall, 36, both of Tyler, were arrested Wednesday after officers saw them drive onto the property and fill two large plastic barrels with diesel fuel. The men confessed to stealing approximately 6,168 gallons of diesel fuel over the past several weeks. The total amount of stolen fuel was valued at $21,834. Mathis and Hall were both booked at the Smith County Jail on felony theft charges.

KILGORE – A Longview man was rescued from his burning vehicle early Wednesday morning. Christopher Chadwick, 23, flipped his SUV on Danville Road, just out side of Kilgore. He contacted a police dispatcher who was able to determine his location. The vehicle started leaking gas and caught fire. This caused shotgun and hand gun ammunition in the trunk to discharge. Kilgore police were able to contain the fire until firefighters and emergency medical personnel arrived and were able to free Chadwick from the overturned vehicle. He remains hospitalized today.

TYLER –The University of Texas at Tyler names the Administration Building in honor of founding president Dr. James H. Stewart, Jr. As part of the university’s 40th anniversary celebration events, an unveiling ceremony was held Thursday at the University Center theater to recognize Stewart and his contributions to the institution that is now UT Tyler.

“In recognition of Dr. Stewart’s remarkable achievements as the first president, the UT System Board of Regents approved my recommendation for this honorific naming. This building was constructed during Dr. Stewart’s era, and it is fitting that it be named for him,” said school President Dr. Rodney Mabry. Serving 1972 to 1981, Stewart is the only president to have led all three institutions – Tyler State College, Texas Eastern University and The University of Texas at Tyler. He was instrumental in developing the only public degree-granting institution of higher education in the 14-county East Texas Planning Region and responsible for the plans to move the university to its present-day location in 1976.

Stewart established a higher education program based on academic excellence, developing a fully-accredited institution. Under his leadership, enrollment increased from 176 in spring 1973 to more than 1,900 in spring 1981. Stewart also led the university through four major construction contracts totaling more than $21 million. Stewart was named President Emeritus of UT Tyler in 2005.

LONGVIEW – LeTourneau University’s “Sting” Precision Flight Team won first place overall, first place in ground events and second place in the flying events at the recentNational Intercollegiate Flying Association’s 2011 Region IV SAFECON competition. It was hosted by Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi. The team’s first place overall win at regionals qualifies the students to compete in May in Salina, Kansas at Kansas State University.

“This is the fourth consecutive year we have won first place in this competition,” said Brad Wooden, assistant chief flight instructor, faculty advisor and team coach. “Our team performed excellently this year. Our students competing in the landing competition did extremely well in very difficult wind conditions. Trent Wiens, who was a late substitution, was our top performer in the landings placing 4th and 10th in his landing events. We also continued our domination of the ground events. In both the Manual Flight Computer (E6B) and Aircraft Recognition written tests, our students took the top four spots. Two of our ladies, Jessie Robinson and Whitney Brouwer were also the top scoring females.”

OTTAWA, ONTARIO (AP) — Canada’s ambassador to Washington says he’s confident a pipeline from western Canada to the Texas Gulf Coast will win approval from the Obama administration if the decision is based on merit and not the “noise” opposing it. Ambassador Gary Doer said Wednesday the proposed pipeline meets U.S. energy security needs, and that it passes all U.S. State Department environmental criteria.

Calgary-based TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL pipeline faces widespread opposition from environmentalists who fear it will leak and contaminate the Ogallala aquifer, which supplies drinking and irrigation water to eight states. The proposed route takes the pipeline through eastern Smith County.

President Obama has said the decision will be based on what is best for the economy and the American people, including their health.

GLADEWATER — Authorities are seeking suspects in an aggravated robbery that occurred around 9:15 Tuesday night at Lambert’s liquor store on Highway 271 south of Gladewater. According to KETK, two men accosted the store owner as he locked up the store for the night. At least one of them showed a handgun and took the owner to the north side of the store, then tried to get him to open the store and get money. After the store owner didn’t comply, they took his wallet and other items. The men then ran from the scene to the north and east of the store into a wooded area.

A perimeter was quickly formed using officers from Gladewater, Gregg County, and Texas DPS. The Texas DPS helicopter arrived to look for the suspects using FLIR thermal imaging. A Kilgore Police K-9 officer arrived, and the K-9 was used to track the suspects. Officers searched the area for some time and finally lost the track. The store clerk suffered injuries, but was not taken to a hospital.

TYLER – Federal drug violations are sending a Gregg County man to prison. Larry Dale Smith, 48, of Kilgore, pleaded guilty last December to possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine. He was sentenced yesterday to 105 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.

According to information presented in court, on October 8, 2009, Smith purchased 2.40 grams of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. From October 8, 2009 through January 21, 2010, Smith purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine on 34 separate occasions which amounted to a total of 84 grams of pseudoephedrine which he planned to use to manufacture methamphetamine. Co-defendant Joy Smith has been sentenced to 121 months in federal prison and Jack Ramsey has been sentenced to 58 months in federal prison. They were indicted by a federal grand jury in May of last year.

TYLER – A Henderson County woman has been sentenced to federal prison for a credit card scam. Elizabeth Pickrell, 25, of Chandler, pleaded guilty in April to access device fraud and was sentenced yesterday to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. Pickrell was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $95,407.55.

According to federal prosecutors, on August 18, 2010, a federal search warrant was executed at a co-defendant’s residence, during which law enforcement officers recovered counterfeit charge card making equipment, hundreds of counterfeit charge cards, and cash value cards. Further investigation revealed that Pickrell conspired with Christopher Michael, his brother, Nathan Michael, and Corey Davis to commit access device fraud in Henderson and Smith counties. The four defendants obtained goods and services by using fraudulent credit card account numbers obtained through the internet and at Chicken Express in Tyler, Texas, where Pickrell was employed at the time of the fraud.

According to evidence, over 500 accounts were compromised in Tyler alone. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on November 3, 2010, charging the four individuals with federal crimes. Christopher Michael pleaded guilty on May 10, 2011, to access device fraud and was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison on August 15, 2011. Nathan Michael and Corey Davis have also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

JACKSONVILLE — Our ongoing drought is certainly doing more harm than good. But one East Texas lake community is taking advantage of dropping water lines. Both Lake Jacksonville residents as well as the city are doing their part to tidy up the lake. The city is enhancing boat ramps by removing silt that’s washed up and collected over the years. Officials say it’s also a good time to remove exposed stumps. If the lake’s full, they say, you don’t really know whether a stump needs to be cleaned out or not — but now you can see exactly what needs to be removed, and it’s easier to remove a stump while it’s exposed. City staffers tell KETK two of the lake’s boat ramps are closed, and one is barely accessible.

TYLER – A Smith County man will be going to federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations. Jerry Gilstrap, 43, of Flint, pleaded guilty on July 5, 2011, to possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He was sentenced yesterday to 180 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.

According to information presented in court, on February 16, 2011, Gilstrap was found in possession of a Ruger LCP .380 semi-automatic pistol while in possession of 50 grams of pure methamphetamine which he intended to distribute in East Texas. Gilstrap was indicted by a federal grand jury back in April and charged with federal drug and gun violations.

TYLER – A Mt. Enterprise woman will be going to federal prison for drug trafficking in East Texas. Ivana Robinson Adkins, 35, pleaded guilty back in January to possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine. She was sentenced to 2 years in federal prison yesterday by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.

Federal prosecutors say Adkins traveled to multiple pharmacies in t East Texas to purchase cold pills containing pseudoephedrine, all in furtherance of her methamphetamine manufacturing activities. Adkins was indicted by a federal grand jury in May of last year.

GILMER — “In God We Trust” will soon be seen in another East Texas county. Upshur County commissioners approved adding the motto to the county seal during Monday’s Commissioners Court meeting. In recent months, Rusk, Smith, and Wood Counties have all added the saying to their courtrooms. Upshur County Judge Dean Fowler tells KETK the decision was based on the principles the country was founded on. He says, “I believe that they made that decision based on the principles that this country was founded on and the principle in our belief in God — and the necessity to remember that in our lives, in our courtrooms and in our country.” The county will raise private funds to pay for adding the motto to the courtroom.

SMITH COUNTY — An SUV pulling another vehicle catches fire and sends the driver to the hospital. It happened along FM 848 in Smith County just after 7:30 Tuesday evening. Investigators tell KETK they’re unsure of the cause but believe it might have been a broken fuel line. They say the driver suffered severe burns to his hands.

WICHITA, KAN. (AP) – Charges have been dropped against two East Texas hunters in the investigation of a Kansas camp where hunters paid thousands of dollars to kill deer illegally. At the government’s request, U.S. District Judges Eric Melgren and Monti Belot dismissed the misdemeanor charges in separate cases against James Donnan and Michael Scarber, both of Center, Texas. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says the dismissal relates to “technical issues” with the type of equipment allegedly used to hunt. Twelve hunters from Texas and Louisiana were charged in August with poaching-related misdemeanors connected to Camp Lone Star near Coldwater. Five pleaded guilty and seven pleaded not guilty. Two other Texas hunters were indicted in July on felony charges. The camp’s owner and his brother were sentenced in June to 41 and 27 months in prison, respectively.

EAST TEXAS — Upshur County Commissioners on Monday rejected lifting a burn ban temporarily or permanently. Gregg and Rusk counties also remain under burn bans. Rusk County commissioners are set to consider lifting the ban Thursday. Upshur County resident Dan Miles on Monday asked commissioners to consider lifting the burn ban for a week or two to allow residents who have been abiding by the ban to get rid of trash. However, Fire Marshal Paul Steelman said the time is not right. Commissioner Mike Spencer said he’d been informed by firefighters that while the ground might be a bit wet, there is not enough moisture up in the air to justify lifting the ban.

In Longview, Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt said his office had had no requests the ban end, temporarily or otherwise. Stoudt noted the recent wildfire outbreak that tested area resources. “I know it’s a hardship for some folks,” he said, “We’re going to be very cautious before we’re going to lift that ban.”

Rusk County Judge Joel Hale said he’s had requests to lift the ban, at least temporarily. Hale said he is leaning toward lifting at least parts of the ban, and making it provisional rather than unconditional, but that it’s an issue the court will have to discuss and reach an agreement on Thursday. Rusk County remains under an unconditional burn ban.

For now, the burn ban remains in effect in Cherokee County. County commissioners met Monday to consider lifting the ban because of the recent rains. The commissioners delayed voting on lifting the ban, saying they’ll take a look at it next week. In the meantime they are hoping a system Wednesday night and over the weekend will bring some badly needed rain.

LONGVIEW — A 17-year-old Longview teenager was charged with indecency with a child Tuesday morning after police said he was found in his boxers with a nude 14-year-old girl in a Longview park. Longview police were dispatched to Louis Jackson Park in the 200 block of Bill Owens Parkway about midnight Tuesday in connection with a suspicious vehicle. According to arrest reports, Joshua Oshay Hale and the minor were observed in the back seat. Police said when Hale opened the door to the vehicle, he was in his boxers, and the 14-year-old’s genitals were exposed. Police said both teens told police that they were just “hanging out.” Hale remained jailed Tuesday on $5,000 bond.

LONGVIEW – A man has died after apparently suffering a heart attack and crashing into a Longview business. Police have identified the man as Wayne Bennett, 77, Beckville, The accident happened shortly after 5:15 Tuesday afternoon in the 300 block of South High Street. The man’s pickup hit the Ark-La-Tex Color Lab. He was taken to a Longview hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time after the wreck. Investigators say there was no indication that the death was caused by injuries from the crash.

PALESTINE – Funeral arrangements are pending for a Palestine school girl hit by a car over the weekend. Killed was Tyrona Whitt, 9. She apparently was trying to cross Farm Road 322 South of Palestine late Saturday morning when the accident occurred. She was first taken to Palestine Regional Medical Center before being flown to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas where she died Sunday. Extra counselors have been on duty at Southside Elementary to help the students. At last report no citations had been issued in the accident and the investigation was continuing.

AUSTIN — District Judge Gisela D. Triana of Austin has ruled in favor of landowners who would have their land condemned and taken if the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir were built and a timber company whose business depends on logging in the Sulphur River Basin. The landowners and timber company had filed suit against the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), challenging TWDB ’s finding that no interregional conflict exists between the Region C Water Plan and the Region D Water Plan.

The state develops its plan for the use of surface and groundwater through a regional water planning process, with the state divided into 16 regions. The Region D area is comprised of all or part of 19 counties in Northeast Texas. Region C includes all or part of the 16 counties surrounding Dallas and Ft. Worth.

The Region C Plan, which proposes ways to meet water needs for that region through the year 2060, recommends construction of the 72,000-acre Marvin Nichols Reservoir project, to be located in the Region D area. The Region D Plan strongly recommends against building Marvin Nichols Reservoir and states that it would be an interregional conflict for any region to propose the Marvin Nichols Reservoir because of the adverse impacts on crucial farming and timber resources in the region.

Under Texas law, it is the responsibility of the Texas Water Development Board to resolve such conflicts. TWDB, however, had stated that no conflict exists. Judge Triana disagreed. Judge Triana ruled that TWDB approval of the Region C Plan must be reversed and remanded back to TWDB “for further consideration not inconsistent” with her ruling.

RUSK – For now, the burn ban remains in effect in Cherokee County. County commissioners met Monday to consider lifting the ban because of the recent rains. The commissioners delayed voting on lifting the ban, saying they’ll take a look at it next week. In the meantime they are hoping a system Wednesday night and over the weekend will bring some badly needed rain.

SMITH COUNTY — A man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after reportedly leading officers on a foot chase. Smith County Precinct 4 Constable John Smith tells KETK officials were patrolling the area near the Cross Brand Cowboy Church on Farm Road 2015 when they were informed by a church employee that a man was behaving suspiciously down the road. The church employee told officials the man, Paul Alexander, 48, was looking for a gun. Officers say when they found Alexander, he took off running into the woods. They say he only got a few hundred yards before being captured by an officer and handcuffed to a tree until backup arrived. Alexander was booked into the Smith County Jail for evading officers. Additional charges are pending.

TYLER — East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System has expanded its presence in the growing mobile market through a partnership with iTriage — a consumer healthcare application that gives users on-the-go access to medical information and providers. ETMC officials say mobile users have quick and easy access to symptoms, diseases and hospital information. They say iTriage is available as a free download through the app stores for iPhone and Android mobile devices, and any Internet-enabled device. You can go to http://www.iTriageHealth.com for the download.

According to the most recent Nielsen statistics, 40 percent of mobile consumers in the U.S. now own a smartphone, with 50 percent adoption predicted by the end of 2011. ETMC officials say this growing trend has led ETMC to reach out to mobile users in the community by providing convenient access to information about its facilities and services. Schumacher Group, the nation’s third largest emergency and hospital medicine management firm, is partnering with ETMC to bring iTriage to ETMC hospitals throughout the region. Hospital system officials say the technology gives East Texas residents the resources to learn more about a specific medical condition and make the most informed decision about where to seek treatment. They say iTriage lets users:

• Research medical symptoms
• Learn about possible causes and treatment options
• Obtain medication information for treatment of a specific condition
• Find detailed ETMC information like services, specialties, hours of operation and turn-by-turn directions

TYLER – A 41-year-old Garland man has pleaded guilty in Tyler federal court to access device fraud. According to information presented in court, between December 2009 and December 2010, Ricky Dale Cox used fraudulent credit card numbers in an attempt to purchase gift cards and other merchandise from various retailers. Cox was indicted by a federal grand jury back in March. He faces up to five years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

TYLER — A Tyler man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the April 10 Tyler crash that killed Geneva Townsend, 88, and Jane Bohanon, 81. The two women were on their way home from church at the time. Joe Preston Rogers, 62, pleaded guilty to two counts of intoxication manslaughter with a deadly weapon on September 26. He will be eligible for parole once half his sentence has been served.

The Tyler Transit Department has implemented adjustments to fixed-route schedules based upon customer feedback. These changes include the following:
Blue line:
*The first run has been modified by five minutes to ensure first run passengers can make a timely connection to Red Line 1A.
*A final run has been added to Blue Line headed southwest at 7:45 p.m. Green line:
*An additional run has been added from the main transfer point towards Texas College at 7:45 p.m. It is timed to connect customers from the Blue Line and Red Line 1A back to north Tyler. Red Line 1A:
*An additional run has been added starting at Heritage at 6 a.m.

Additionally, 20 stops have been added or moved to enhance service. Nine of the 20 stops are on the Yellow Line; these stops are highly requested stops and filled service gaps.

“These changes address feedback that we’ve received from our customers and provide additional connections,” said Heather Nick, transit manager. “These route enhancements will ensure that our customers are provided the best possible service.”

Tyler Transit will continue to observe the new routes and make changes as necessary to provide the best service possible to its riders. Currently, alternative routes are being explored to better connect the Yellow Line to the Red Line and a new transfer location is being explored to create a smoother transfer between these lines.

Additionally, Tyler Transit is looking at the timing of the Yellow Line to Green Line transfer at the University of Texas at Tyler and exploring the possibility of adding service to Green Acres Shopping Center and the new VA Clinic.

You can go to http://www.tylerbus.org where the new route maps and schedules are available. Brochures are also made available on all Tyler Transit buses.

TYLER – A Henderson County woman has pleaded guilty to federal firearms violations. Lehua Deann Mauala, 25, of Athens, pleaded guilty yesterday in an appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love. According to federal prosecutors, last December, Mauala burglarized a residence in Athens stealing a rifle and several pistols. She was indicted by a federal grand jury in May of this year and charged with federal firearms violations. Mauala faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

GREGG COUNTY — Two people were arrested early Tuesday morning in connection with a chemical bomb that detonated in the backyard of a Longview residence. Celeste Marie Tebow, 20, Longview and Benjamin Enloe Hilton, 30, Gladewater (pictured) were arrested at about 2:00 in the 100 block of East Hawkins Parkway.

Police were dispatched to the 1900 block of Wimberly Street at about 11:45 Monday night after the victim reported that a chemical bomb went off in the backyard of her home. Police found the remnants of two homemade bombs in the backyard. The devices “appeared to be constructed of a plastic bottle, tin foil and an unknown liquid.” The victim told police she suspected that it was Hilton who detonated the bomb because of an “ongoing feud.” Police made contact with Tebow and Hilton at Summer Green Apartments in the 100 block of East Hawkins Parkway.

During a search of Tebow’s vehicle, police found tin foil, toilet bowl cleaner and latex gloves. Police say Tebow admitted that the items were used to construct a bomb. Tebow told police that Hilton drove her to the victim’s home and helped plant the device with another person in the yard. Hilton admitted to police that he assisted in constructing and planting the bomb, according to arrest reports.

Tebow remained jailed on $7,500 bond, charged with possessing the components of explosives. Hilton remained jailed on $7,500 bond, charged with having a prohibited weapon.

PITTSBURG — It was no Halloween prank when two men wearing masks approached a man near Pittsburg after bumping his vehicle early Monday morning. The man was struck several times in the head, and his money was taken. It happened around 2:00 on U.S. Highway 271. Authorities say a black SUV, possibly a Chevy Tahoe, got behind him and followed him. When the motorist got to the stop sign on County Road 4220, at the intersection of Farm Road 557, the vehicle bumped the rear of his vehicle.

He attempted to get out when two subjects attacked him, striking him in the head with possibly a baseball bat and robbed him. The men were wearing Halloween masks. One was about 6 feet tall; the other was approximately 5 feet, 4 inches. An undetermined amount of cash was taken. The victim was taken to East Texas Medical Center Pittsburg where he received several stitches in the back of his head.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Crime Stoppers, 903-855-STOP, or the Camp County Sheriff’s Office, 903-856-6651.