KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW — Investigators have concluded a fire at a Longview business is intentionally set. Firefighters responded to Buccaneers Satellite Company around 3:00 Thursday morning. According to KETK, they were able to get the fire under control in less than an hour. No injuries were reported but the damage is estimated at $100,000.

BIG SANDY — No new charges will be filed for a Big Sandy student. Ashley Williamson, 17, is in the Upshur County Jail charged with manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance in a school zone. Authorities say Williamson is connected to the death of her 16-year-old friend, Britnee Mount, who was also a Big Sandy High School student. According to KETK, police say the events leading up to her death happened at the school. School officials say they have grief counselors on hand.

WHITEHOUSE — A one vehicle rollover accident on Hwy 110 Wednesday night, in the Whitehouse area, leaves one woman dead. According to KETK, Barbara Holmes was driving southbound when she attempted to move around a slower vehicle. Troopers say her car went off the road and hit a light pole and rolled over. The 46-year-old died on impact.

TYLER — There’s more on a Tyler drug case that emerged this week. On Tuesday evening, the Tyler Police Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant on 28 year old Christopher Browning’s apartment in the Fox Run Apartment complex. Investigators say they located a small amount of illegal narcotics in the apartment along with a key piece of evidence that led them to a hotel room in south Tyler that was rented to Browning. Upon searching the hotel room, investigators say they discovered 39 lbs. of marijuana in one pound bags, 3 lbs. of powder and crack cocaine, 75 grams of Xanax tablets, and $28,000 in cash. The street value of the illegal drugs is estimated at $250,000 to $300,000. Browning is in Smith County Jail on a $402,500 dollar bond.

Earlier Tuesday, the Tyler Narcotics Unit had Browning’s apartment under surveillance when a suspect was observed exiting the apartment with two bags and talking to a female in the parking lot. Investigators believe that a marked unit was spotted in the area by the male suspect. The suspect then walked over to a dumpster and placed the two bags into it, allegedly so that he would not be in possession of the contents. The male and female got into a vehicle, left the apartment complex, and were followed by investigators. The bags in the dumpster were searched immediately after the suspects left the area. Police say they recovered three handguns, narcotics, and drug paraphernalia.

Officers conducted a felony traffic stop on the suspects in the 3000 block of Santa Elena, where narcotics were allegedly recovered upon search of the vehicle. Along with Browning, police arrested 23-year-old Latrice Danelle Whitaker of Jacksonville. Both suspects were initially charged with possession of narcotics.

TYLER — There’s more on a Tyler drug case that emerged this week. On Tuesday evening, the Tyler Police Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant on 28-year-old Christopher Browning’s apartment in the Fox Run Apartment complex. Investigators say they located a small amount of illegal narcotics in the apartment along with a key piece of evidence that led them to a hotel room in south Tyler that was rented to Browning. Upon searching the hotel room, investigators say they discovered 39 lbs. of marijuana in one pound bags, 3 lbs. of powder and crack cocaine, 75 grams of Xanax tablets, and $28,000 in cash. The street value of the illegal drugs is estimated at $250,000 to $300,000. Browning is in Smith County Jail on a $402,500 dollar bond.

Earlier Tuesday, the Tyler Narcotics Unit had Browning’s apartment under surveillance when a suspect was observed exiting the apartment with two bags and talking to a female in the parking lot. Investigators believe that a marked unit was spotted in the area by the male suspect. The suspect then walked over to a dumpster and placed the two bags into it, allegedly so that he would not be in possession of the contents. The male and female got into a vehicle, left the apartment complex, and were followed by investigators. The bags in the dumpster were searched immediately after the suspects left the area. Police say they recovered three handguns, narcotics, and drug paraphernalia.

Officers conducted a felony traffic stop on the suspects in the 3000 block of Santa Elena, where narcotics were allegedly recovered upon search of the vehicle. Along with Browning, police arrested 23-year-old Latrice Danelle Whitaker of Jacksonville. Both suspects were initially charged with possession of narcotics.

LUBBOCK — The race for Texas agriculture commissioner between two East Texans is getting nasty. Democrat Hank Gilbert of Whitehouse says incumbent Republican Todd Staples of Palestine is at fault for the death of a Lubbock toddler. Vantashia Samuels died from inhaling fumes. Her family purchased pesticides supplied by an employee who wasn’t licensed to do so. Gilbert blames Staples for lax regulations and inspection, saying, “He knew this agency was understaffed when it came to regulatory inspectors. He did nothing.” In a statement, Staples said Gilbert has stooped to an all-time low with what he calls the latest false, libelous and slanderous accusation.

TYLER — Brookshire’s Grocery Company announces the big winner of its “Thanks a Million Collect and Win” game.
Ferral Bonnette of Tyler brings home $50,000. Numerous customers participated, picking up game pieces in the checkout line.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department holds an outstanding warrant for a 2nd degree felony robbery charge on the suspect allegedly involved in Wednesday’s robbery of a Family Dollar Store. He has been identified as 36-year-old Michael Wayne West. Police are investigating the robbery shortly after noon Wednesday at the store, located at 530 S.S.E. Loop 323. Officers were advised that a man entered the business and demanded money from the clerk. He did not display a weapon. The clerk gave him an undetermined amount of money. The man ran out of the store and got into a black SUV. The SUV was occupied by two women. A Smith County deputy constable followed the SUV and saw the man and one woman get out of the SUV at the Super 1 Foods located at 1105 East Gentry. The SUV then drove to the Family Dollar store located at 1401 E. Gentry.

Officers contacted the remaining woman in the SUV and arrested her for the robbery. Officers were advised that the two other suspects were seen leaving the Super 1 Foods. Officers were able to locate the second female suspect in the area of E. Line and Anderson Street in Tyler and arrested her for the robbery. Officers are continuing to search for the man. He’s described as around 6 feet tall weighing about 180 pounds, thin build and last seen wearing blue jeans and a black hoodie. The two females arrested have been identified as Lara Michelle Trumble, 37, of Tyler, and Amber Cordell Martin, 33, of Jacksonville. The woman have been transported to the Smith County Jail.

Anyone with information about West 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 his arrest.

TYLER — VOTE YES Committee Co-Chairs Senator Kevin Eltife and former Mayor Joey Seeber say their committee’s continuing a push to inform the public about the TISD bond proposal on the November ballot, which VOTE YES supports. Eltife and Seeber say 17 informational meetings have been scheduled in the last two weeks before the election. The $89.8 million dollar package is Phase 3 of the ongoing plan to finish the work started on elementary schools and to build a new middle school relief campus for overcrowding and growth. Eltife and Seeber say the bond package can be funded with the current debt service tax rate and does not require a tax rate increase.

“We will continue right up to election day to do our best to inform the voters. We can finish the job we started on elementary schools and build a relief campus for middle school overcrowding with no increase in the tax rate. We believe the more information we can provide the taxpayers on this bond proposal the more they will like it. These public presentations allow the public to gather information on the bond proposal and to ask whatever questions they may have,” Eltife said.

Seeber added, “As we get additional requests from service groups and community organizations we will do our best to accommodate them in the short period of time we have until the election on November 2. We’re all working hard to make sure everyone gets as much information as possible before election day. Members of the TISD Administration and Board Members will make the presentations and answer questions and the Vote Yes Committee will continue to work to promote the bond proposal.” The public is also invited to join the VOTE YES Committee. For more information, you can call the campaign office at 903-360-VOTE (8683).

The citizen group Grassroots America – We the People (GAWTP) is opposing the bond issue, saying it entails too many unanswered questions. GAWTP also claims that information bond backers are supplying on tax impact is misleading. GAWTP recently requested that VOTE YES and TISD schedule a town hall meeting on the bond issue.

TYLER — A date has been set for closure of the downtown Tyler Post Office. Officials say the facility will shut its doors November 30. City officials confirmed the closure plan Thursday. It’s happening despite a petition that circulated in August, trying to keep the facility open. KETK reports the two downtown employees will be transferred to the main post office on Martin Luther King, Jr., Boulevard.

LUFKIN –A Hudson couple was arrested on methamphetamine charges after a concerned citizen reported a chemical smell in a trailer park Tuesday night. According to KETK, Hudson Police responded to Hudson Heights mobile home park Tuesday night, discovering the “chemical smell” reported to be an active “shake and bake” meth lab inside the home of Melissa Brown, 31, and Marshall Kelley, 44.

Upon arriving, Hudson Police Officer Joe Burton cleared the home of Brown, Kelley, a female house guest and the woman’s 7-year-old child. Another man was then discovered “within reach” of the meth lab in a bathroom, according to Hudson Police Chief Jeff Burns.

LONGVIEW — A Longview maintenance man at a mental heath facility was charged Tuesday with sexually assaulting at least one woman where he worked, according to police records. According to court documents, the woman was a patient at Heavenly Care Community Home, in the 400 block of Main Street. Calvin Laforest Hutchings, 48, who was Heavenly Care’s maintenance man and lived one block away, forced the woman to have sex with him multiple times. According to the Longview News-Journal, Hutchings remained jailed at last report on $10,000 bond.

BIG SANDY – A Big Sandy High School student has been arrested for giving her friend drugs at school. The friend later died. Charged Wednesday with manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance in a school zone was Ashley Williamson, 17. She is said to have given the drugs to Britnee Mount, 16. A week ago, Mount had a heart attack at her home. She later died at Children’s Hospital in Dallas. Authorities feel the drugs may have been responsible for Mount’s death. Additional charges could be filed in the case.

TYLER — The 77th annual Texas Rose Festival continues through today. This year’s Ladies’ Brunch featured New York Times best-selling author Sandra Brown. Legendary financier T. Boone Pickens keynoted the Men’s Luncheon. Both of those events were held yesterday. Also yesterday was the Queen’s Coronations. Today, with ideal weather, the usual big crowds are expected for the Rose Parade. This year’s festival theme is “A Tapestry of Blessings.” You can go to http://www.texasrosefestival.com or check the ktbb.com Calendar of Events for more information.

MONROE, La. (AP) – Three finalists, including one from Tyler, have been named for consideration as the next president of the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Interviews with the three will begin on Oct. 22. The finalists are Peter J. Fos, provost and executive vice president at the University of Texas at Tyler; Nick J. Bruno, vice president for business and finance for the University of Louisiana System; and Thomas F. Moore, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty at Winthrop University. The final decision will be made by the University of Louisiana System Board.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — It may seem like an unlikely move. But 87-year-old Rockwall Congressman Ralph Hall — first elected in 1980, and a longtime East Texas representative — has signed the U.S. term limits Constitutional amendment. The measure would limit House members to three two-year terms and senators to two six year terms. Hall, now a Republican, says he introduced a term limits bill in the 90s, when he was a Democrat — but says the bill went nowhere. According to Hall, “Even though I’ve been there thirty years, I would have term-limited myself.” He says he wouldn’t be on Capitol Hill if he could have passed the measure. So why does he keep running? Hall remarks that he knows and likes what he does — and that his people want him to keep doing it. A recent Fox News poll showed nearly 80 percent approval for term limits.

LONGVIEW — Authorities in Longview arrest a drug suspect. On October 12 at around 6:30 p.m., the Gregg County Organized Drug Enforcement Unit executed a narcotics search warrant at 801 Buchanan Street. Authorities say agents made entry into the residence without incident and located approximately 10 ounces of crack cocaine, worth an estimated street value of $30,000. 35-year-old Bob Huiett Jr. of Longview was arrested and charged with manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance. Huiett Jr. was booked into the Gregg County Jail.

TYLER —To help students learn the benefits of a nutritious diet early in life, the Texas Department of Agriculture is promoting National School Lunch Week, Oct. 11-15. Officials say this year’s theme, “School Lunch – What’s on Your Tray?,” is designed to help students learn that eating a healthy school lunch is essential to getting the most out of each day. During National School Lunch Week, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples visited Orr Elementary School in Tyler to tour the school and eat lunch with students. Commissioner Staples says he’s committed to working with districts across the state to ensure children have access to healthy meals that will allow them to excel in the classroom and in life.

“Right now, taxpayers are picking up the tab for poor eating choices,” Commissioner Staples said. “It’s estimated each year Texas taxpayers spend nearly $5.8 billion on avoidable obesity-attributable health care costs. By educating students on the need to adopt the 3E’s of Healthy Living —Education, Exercise and Eating Right, children have the opportunity to grow up healthy and keep our economy strong. National School Lunch Week is the perfect occasion to remind students and their parents that adopting a healthy lifestyle is an investment in our future.”

This year’s National School Lunch Week marks one year since the full implementation of the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy (TPSNP). According to Staples, the TPSNP sets nutrition standards above and beyond federal guidelines. Staples says that’s so Texas students have access to the highest quality school lunches served in an overall environment that eliminates or restricts the availability of carbonated beverages, candy, foods prepared through deep-fat frying methods, and other foods said to have minimal nutritional value.

Staples says the National School Lunch, School Breakfast and Summer Nutrition Programs significantly increase the nutritional mealtime options to children at school. But he says the battle against poor eating and lifestyle choices must also be waged at home. According to Staples, encouraging youth to adopt the 3E’s of Healthy Living – Education, Exercise and Eating Right – helps them make decisions that can lead to active, healthy lives.

National School Lunch Week was established in 1963 to help raise awareness of the role the National School Lunch Program has in the nutritional health of students. The National School Lunch Program provides low-cost or free lunches for more than 3 million Texas schoolchildren daily. In 2003, the Texas Department of Agriculture became the state’s administering agency for the program in public schools. In 2007, TDA began administering the National School Lunch Program for private and faith-based schools in the state.

AUSTIN (AP/Staff) – Republican State Representative Leo Berman of Tyler says he’s dropping out of the Texas House speaker’s race. Conservative Warren Chisum, a Republican from Pampa, filed his speaker candidacy paperwork Wednesday with the House Ethics Commission in Austin. Berman says he’ll support Chisum, who’s been considering a run for several weeks. Chisum is challenging incumbent Republican Speaker Joe Straus, a moderate from San Antonio who took over as speaker in 2009. Chisum has said he wants to make sure experienced leaders are in place to tackle the state’s mounting budget shortfall in 2011.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Constables say they obtained warrants for Fredrick McLeod for marijuana possession and fleeing to avoid capture. Officials say they got word that he checked himself in to the America’s Best Value Inn in Smith County sometime during the night. Wednesday morning, after obtaining warrants, they went to pick him up from the inn. That’s when he walked out of his room and ran for the woods again. A K9 unit and DPS chopper from Garland have been deployed. Officials say the man does have a criminal history. Apparently he had been charged with both murder and assault of a peace officer in the past.

According to KETK, a deputy tried pulling over a Ford Explorer round 4:00 Tuesday afternoon, but the driver refused to stop. Deputies say the suspect exited Hwy 155 at I-20 and jumped out of the SUV and ran into the woods. A search of the vehicle turned up 8 pounds of marijuana, along with McLeod’s I.D.

TYLER — Smith County owns Tyler’s downtown square. So when business owners around it began noticing an increase in loitering, Tyler P.D. asked the county to do something about it. “It was really Tyler P.D. that came up with it, but we had our sheriff’s department do a survey. There were actually people sleeping out there in tents and sleeping bags, so this is our way of protecting our downtown area,” said County Commissioner JoAnn Hampton. According to KETK, Commissioners passed an ordinance to close the Tyler Square every morning from 1:00 to 5:30, just before dawn. Signs will be posted about the new ordinance and Tyler P.D. will patrol the area and tell people to move along.

Christina Fulsom with PATH says it’s just punishing the homeless for sleeping. “Because they now have this ordinance, people could be arrested and placed in what are already overcrowded jail conditions. I just don’t think this is the right solution,” Fulsom said.

The Smith County sheriff’s office says those patrolling the area will use quote: “common sense” when enforcing the ordinance.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Deputies investigate the death of a mother of seven. Authorities are trying to find out if Brandy Blevins, 30, jumped from a moving truck or was pushed. Deputies say Blevins was seriously hurt after hitting the pavement at Loop 323 and FM 14 Sunday. According to KETK, she later died at a local hospital. Authorities are looking at a possible link recent domestic disturbances at her New London Address.

TYLER — The custody battle continues for Jayden McLean, the two year old boy who shot himself with a handgun at his grandparents sports bar. Jayden is currently in foster care after CPS called an emergency hearing last week with Judge Clark to remove him from Dustin McLean’s custody. According to KETK, on Friday, Judge Clark will hear the remainder of the trial and determine who gets custody of Jayden.

TYLER — Nacogdoches police say a dangerous suspect wanted in Tyler and Nacogdoches has been arrested in Louisiana. Michael Lee Hail, 52, was arrested last night in Baton Rouge, Louisiana without incident. He was arrested after a relative talked him into surrendering to authorities. He will remain Louisiana until he can be extradited back to East Texas.

On Tuesday, Tyler Police responded to a 9-1-1 call around 5:30am from a woman who said her ex-husband came to Tyler and threatened to kill her and her son who is a college student in another city in Texas. The suspect, identified as Hail, was reportedly driving around Tyler in an attempt to locate his ex-wife. Police say Hail had located her in south Tyler and pursued her in his vehicle. According to authorities, Hail fired a round from a shotgun, striking his ex-wife’s vehicle, but she was not injured. Police say Hail was last seen driving a gray 2010 Ford F-150 truck bearing Texas license plate AP70782.

Tyler police say they’ve confirmed that Hail also fired a weapon at a woman in Nacogdoches Monday night, but she was also not injured. The Nacogdoches Police Department has an outstanding warrant as a result of that incident.

TYLER — The East Texas Food Bank is one of 36 food banks in 18 states to receive a grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation as part of a $1.1 million donation to Feeding America to connect low income Americans with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program formerly named the Food Stamp Program. The $1.1 million donation is the largest gift in the organization’s history to support SNAP outreach efforts. East Texas Food Bank was awarded $30,000 to hire an outreach staff member.

“Understanding the enormous need for food assistance in this country and in the East Texas community, SNAP awareness and outreach is one of the most important things we can do to ensure that no American goes to bed hungry,” said Gregg Davis, First Vice President, Bank of America Merrill Lynch. “As part of our work to help strengthen communities, Bank of America is opening up and shepherding opportunities for individuals and families in need by helping them receive food benefits and other essential human services,” added Brent Mills, Tyler Banking Center Manager, Bank of America.

At East Texas Food Bank, the grant will improve access and provide pre-screening and application assistance for low‐income individuals and families seeking emergency food assistance who are eligible for SNAP benefits. The Food Bank’s SNAP Outreach workers will be better equipped to research and assess the areas of greatest need; to provide awareness, education and application assistance; and to train staff and volunteers from partner agencies to assist SNAP‐eligible clients in completing applications.

“On behalf of the 183,000 people that the East Texas Food Bank serves, we are deeply grateful to Bank of America for its tremendous generosity and recognition that food assistance and hunger relief remain a top priority nationally and locally,” said Dennis Cullinane, executive director of the East Texas Food Bank. “This funding will enable food banks like ours to connect SNAP‐eligible people who visit emergency shelters, food pantries and soup kitchens with the right information and resources to get the benefits they need and overcome any barriers to receiving them.”

KILGORE — The East Texas Council of Governments has announced the appointment of Charles Cunningham to the ETCOG management team as the Director of Finance. In this position Cunningham will be responsible for directing, planning, and coordinating financial activities; ensuring fiscal accountability to state and federal laws, regulations, and policies; developing funding forecasts; and preparing and monitoring budgets.

Cunningham brings with him over 30 years of experience in financial management and analysis in both the public and private sectors. He also served a number of years overseas working on development projects in Latin America and the Far East. Cunningham was most recently the Assistant City Manager / Director of Finance for the City of Kyle, Texas.

“Charles brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from both public and private sectors that make him an ideal director for ETCOG,” said ETOG Executive Director David Cleveland. “His extensive body of work with performance budgeting systems, various accounting systems and information technology combine to form the diverse skill set he will need to lead ETCOG’s Finance Team in the years to come. He also has a proven managerial, organizational development, and leadership track record that will benefit staff and customers alike. We are fortunate to have Charles and enthusiastically welcome him to the ETCOG Team!”

PALESTINE — On a 5 to 2 vote, the Palestine city council has fired city manager Dale Brown. The action is effective immediately. The vote came late Monday night following an executive session in which the city council discussed Brown’s performance. Brown has been the Palestine city manager for six years. His contract was scheduled to expire next January. In addition to his severance pay, Brown will also receive salary and benefits through the remainder of his contract.

TYLER — The annual Texans Against Crime (T.A.C.) night out event took place last night from 6:00 to 10:00. Celebrations were held throughout East Texas, and in the City of Tyler, 70 block parties were registered for this year’s event. According to police, the Texans Against Crime program is an annual event designed to unite neighbors and communities to encourage neighborhood communication, community involvement and crime prevention to create safer neighborhoods. T.A.C. encourages neighborhoods to host block parties as an opportunity to get to know your neighbor and fight crime.

Police say T.A.C. promotes neighborhood alliances to strengthen communities and preserve the quality of life in East Texas. Police add that the program helps to educate families, friends and neighbors about crime prevention and inform residents that communities are safer when neighbors work together. According to law enforcement authorities, getting to know your neighbors is an important step in keeping your community safe.

LONGVIEW — A man who was struck during an argument on October 10 has died at a Longview hospital. 48-year-old Darron Thomas was pronounced dead by Gregg County Justice of the Peace B.H. Jameson on October 11 at around 4:20 p.m. Thomas’s body has been sent to Southeast Texas Forensics Center in Tyler for an autopsy.

Longview Officers responded to a fight in progress call at 1504 Timpson Street on October 10 at around 6:55 p.m. Officers arrived and found 48-year-old Darron Thomas lying on the ground unconscious. Witnesses told officers that Thomas and another man had gotten into an argument when the man punched Thomas. After being punched, Thomas fell to the ground and struck his head on the pavement. 40-year-old Andre Neal of Longview was arrested around 3:00 p.m. Tuesday and charged with manslaughter.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Longview native Leona Gage, who in 1957 was named Miss USA but had the title stripped the next day when pageant officials learned she was married and a mother of two, has died in Los Angeles. She was 71. Gage died of heart failure after spending several weeks at a Sherman Oaks hospital, her son Robert Kaminer told the Associated Press.

Like Vanessa Williams and Carrie Prejean decades later, Gage’s pageant scandal probably brought her more fame than if she had kept the crown. Born Mary Leona Gage, she appeared as Miss Maryland USA in the competition in Long Beach, California. Gage also lied about her age, telling pageant officials she was 21 when she was 18.

After losing the trophy, prize money, trips and studio contracts that went to first runner-up Miss Utah, she pursued an acting career. But that didn’t take off. She had a difficult life in subsequent decades: Six failed marriages, lost custody of her five children, two of whom died before her, drug abuse and suicide attempts.