KTBB News, Weather, Talk

WHITEHOUSE — A Young Smith County girl is in critical condition after being run over by a van. The accident happened around 1:30 Sunday afternoon in a driveway in the 18000 block of County Road 2323 near Whitehouse. The two year old girl was first taken to a local hospital by private vehicle. She was later flown to Children’s Hospital in Dallas with life threatening injuries. According to Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith, the driver and two passengers in the van that ran over the child were reported to be on the way to the grocery store when the incident occurred. Names have not been released. The accident remains under investigation.

TYLER – TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Weeks of March 7 and 14. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.

Smith County construction projects updates:
FM 1253 Widening Project
*Limits: From County Road 462 south, 1.3 miles north of FM 857 south to FM 1805; FM 1804 from Wood County line to US 69; FM 2015 from CR 313 to FM 16
*Contractor: Longview Bridge and Road, Ltd., of Longview
*Cost: $7.5 million
Pavement repair work is set to begin on FM 1253 while the contractor will also address the structures on FM 2015. Expect lane closures at both locations. No work is scheduled for FM 1804. This contract consists of widening, sealing and resurfacing all three roadways. Continue reading TxDOT Road Projects

QUITMAN — The Wood County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a case of severe child abuse which left an infant with a multitude of fractured bones and her father behind bars. According to KETK, the sheriff’s office says a 2-month-old girl arrived at a Qutiman hospital with four fractured ribs on each side of her chest and a fractured right humerus, or upper arm bone. The child was moved to Children’s Hospital on Tuesday, February 23, for further evaluation. Doctors in Dallas determined the infant had 19 fractured bones and additional bruising on her body. The child is now in Child Protective Services custody. CPS and Wood County investigators are working the case together. Continue reading Infant Suffers Numerous Broken Bones, Father Arrested

BULLARD – Brook Hill High School Athletic Director Wally Dawkins has announced that Scott Ryle has been named as the new Head Football Coach at the school. After receiving over 80 applications, resumes, and letters of interest, Ryle was selected to succeed Bobby Brasher. He retired from the post last December. Brasher will remain at Brook Hill as Dean of Students. Continue reading New Coach Heading to Brook Hill

LONGVIEW — A Longview woman, involved in a 2014 crash that injured two sanitation workers, has been sentenced to prison. Appearing in State District Court on Friday, Susan Skinner, 47, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for intoxication assault with a vehicle and possession of a controlled substance. In June of 2014, Skinner’s car rear ended a sanitation truck on Alpine Road. Two workers were seriously injured, one whose left leg had to be amputated. Skinner was arrested in connection with the accident nearly a year later.

GLADEWATER — A local agency has assumed ownership of some horses recently taken from their owner. Last week, the 9 horses were seized from a Gladewater residence after allegedly being cruelly treated; one later died. KETK reports that since then, Safe Haven Equine Rescue has been nursing the surviving horses back to health. This week, the agency went to court against the owner, who reportedly left the horses malnourished. The judge decided to hand over the horses, and give ownership to Safe Haven. Continue reading Safe Haven Equine Rescue Gets Custody of Seized Horses

TYLER – A company has been selected to build another portion of Toll Road 49. At their monthly board meeting, the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority picked one of the state’s largest transportation companies to build segment 4 of Toll 49 northwest of Tyler. The Board selected Webber, LLC, the lowest bidder at $68.7million, for the construction of a 6.6-mile segment that stretches from Interstate Highway 20 to U.S. Highway 69 North of Lindale. Also called the Lindale Relief Route, it will be a 2-lane undivided road, projected to be completed in 2018.

EAST TEXAS — An East Texas School Board candidate is making news for her bizarre statements. Former teacher Mary Lou Bruner wrote, “Obama has a soft spot for homosexuals because of the years he spent as a male prostitute in his twenties, that’s how he paid for his drugs.” The Republican also said school shootings started after school started teaching evolution. SMU Political Scientist Matthew Wilson says she’s elected, it will be a black eye for the state. Wilson thinks the 68-year-old will win, partly because many are not familiar with candidates in downballot elections. And he says if that happens, people outside Texas and the south will ridicule the state. Bruner took 48 percent of the vote against Dr. Kevin Ellis Tuesday. He’s been on the Lufkin School Board for four years. She’s painting him as the establishment candidate. There will be a runoff.

TYLER – It appears as if there is no let up in construction in Tyler. 2016 appears to be picking up where 2015 left off. The city issued building permits last year totaling around 157-million dollars. This came on the strength of 392 residential and commercial building permits. This easily surpassed the 2014 figures which saw around 100-million dollars in construction. This was generated by 279 building permits Director of Pplanning for the City of Tyler, Heather Nick says 2016 is off to a good start. Last year, 69 commercial building permits were issued. This year 35 commercial building permits are already on the books.

TYLER – Spring break is next week. The Better Business is warning about a grandparent scam, which is popular during spring break. It starts with a call from someone claiming to be the person’s grandson or granddaughter who is in trouble and needs money. Once that money is wired, it’s gone and can’t be recovered. Kaylen Burgess with the Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas says this has proven to be an extremely lucrative con for scammers because the scam preys on the love of a grandparent for their grandchildren. Continue reading A Spring Break Scam Aimed at Grandparents

PALESTINE – A mass murder suspect in Anderson County has pleaded not guilty to capital murder. At his arraignment, William Mitchell Hudson, 33, entered the plea to three counts of capital murder. He is accused of killing six persons last November. Four of the victims were discovered in a pond behind the suspect’s home on County Road 2217. The other two were found dead in a travel trailer near the site, located between Tennessee Colony and the Harmony Community. So far, a trial date has not been set. And there is no word from the district attorney’s office on if the death penalty will be sought. Continue reading Murder Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

LONGVIEW — A Longview convicted felon returned to jail for the second time this year on a new felony charge. KETK reports Longview police arrested 28-year-old Brandon Ray Williams Sunday on felony possession. He was taken to the Gregg County jail, where he posted bond. Williams was already out on bond for a January 15 arrest for evading arrest, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, marijuana possession, and assaulting a Longview police officer. Williams served a five-year prison sentence for a 2010 conviction for manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance.

TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for an armed robbery suspect after a shot was fired during a hold-up Thursday morning. Officers said they responded to the Fast Fuels gas station on Shiloh Road where they were told by the clerk that a black male, wearing dark colored clothing, entered the store and demanded money. He fired a shot into the ceiling and fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. No injuries were reported.

NACOGDOCHES — An East Texas man has been taken into custody for allegedly sexually assaulting a relative under the age of 10. The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office said they were notified of the assault Tuesday morning after a forensic interview and exam was conducted. According to KETK, authorities were able to determine the victim was sexually assaulted at his home in Nacogdoches County. Deputies stated the attacker gave the boy money to keep him quiet. Alfredo Torres Reyes, 40, Nacogdoches was arrested at his home. His bond was set at $500,000. Officials discovered that Reyes is in the country illegally and Homeland Security has placed a hold on him. Sheriff Jason Bridges stated another sexual assault has been discovered and more charges are pending against Reyes.

EAST TEXAS – Now that the primary election is in the books, most candidates are now focusing on the general election in November. But several candidates have a more immediate challenge, and that is a May 24th runoff election. Still to be decided is who will be the Republican nominee for Senate District One. That spot became open when Senator Kevin Eltife announced his retirement. State Representative Bryan Hughes led the race. But he did not end up with a majority. He will face David Simpson in May. Third in the race was James “Red” Brown. He’s only 13 votes behind Simpson. He’s still holding out hope that provisional ballots will propel him past Simpson and into the runoff. Continue reading Time to Look Ahead to Runoff Elections

Gregg County Crime Stoppers and the Longview Fire Department is seeking the public’s help solving some arson cases. The 12 fires occurred from January 10th to February 13th. The structure fires were on 12th Street, Dunbar Drive, Washington Street, White City Street, North Jean Drive, Birdsong Street and three on Butler Drive. Many of these locations were unoccupied and no injuries occurred. Plus there were vehicle fires on Oden Drive and Vesta Street. Gregg County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information that leads to the identity and arrest of the suspect or suspects responsible for these fires.

TYLER – Tyler’s 12th Court of Appeals has set aside an injunction that allowed East Texas Medical Center to be an in-network hospital in the Blue Cross Blue Shield preferred provider organization. Last year, ETMC Tyler filed suit against Blue Cross Blue Shield, saying the hospital’s exclusion from the organization’s preferred provider networks has created serious and negative impacts on a large group of consumers. A November 12 injunction granted in-network provider status to ETMC Tyler. The following month, Blue Cross Blue Shield filed an appeal. This week the Tyler appeals court dissolved the temporary injunction and remanded the case to the trial court for further proceedings. Hospital spokesperson Rebecca Berkley said, “We view this as a momentary interruption, and we look forward to the trial later this year.” She said they remain focused on their mission of care, and, as always, continue to welcome all Blue Cross and Blue Shield patients at ETMC Tyler.

TYLER — Since 3,000 mailers were sent out to warn people with arrest warrants about the upcoming Smith County Warrant Round Up, more than 100 cases have been resolved, according to officials. The county’s fourth annual round up is set for Saturday, March 5. The Smith County Judicial Compliance Department mailed out 3,000 yellow flyers February 19 to people with outstanding arrest warrants for delinquent, court-ordered fines and fees. Those people have until Saturday to take care of the outstanding warrants in person before Smith County law enforcement officers begin searching for them at their homes, businesses and/or schools. Continue reading Officials Release Smith County Warrant Round Up Tally

TEXARKANA – Eleven East Texas suspects have been indicted on federal charges in what’s termed a conspiracy involving the needy and elderly. The announcement comes from U.S. Attorney John Bales in a news release. Officials say the case involved conspiracy to commit an offense and to defraud the U.S. government and theft of government property or money. The defendants were named in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury Feb. 17. The violations are alleged to have caused over $1.2 million in losses to a distributor of federal grant funds to the needy and elderly. Continue reading East Texans Charged in Northeast Texas Opportunities, Inc. Conspiracy

TYLER — The Tyler Economic Development Council and the City of Tyler Wednesday hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for construction of a new facility for Fresenius Medical Care, a major area employer, at Earl Campbell Parkway and South Bennett Avenue. Mayor Martin Heines and TEDC President/CEO Tom Mullins cite 300-350 additional jobs to be created with Fresenius’s expansion in Tyler. In a news release, Heines says that’s directly in line with the goal of the city’s Industry Growth Initiative. According to the news release, Fresenius is the world’s largest integrated provider of products and services for individuals undergoing dialysis due to kidney failure. To date, the company has three clinics and a business support center in Tyler with a combined workforce of approximately 120 employees. Continue reading Groundbreaking for New Fresenius Medical Care Location

LONGVIEW – Two Longview residents have been busted for drug violations. They were arrested Tuesday as the Gregg County Organized Drug Enforcement Unit, with assistance from Longview Police, executed a narcotics search warrant at 605 Martin Luther King Boulevard. Officers found a large quantity of crack cocaine individually packaged for sale. It was found in a toilet where one of the suspects is believed to have tried to flush it. Arrested was Teresa Ann-Margaret Bean, 43 and Gerald Dwayne Templeton, 55. Besides the drug charges, the two were also charged with weapons violations.

AREA RESULTS
GOP PRIMARY
UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 1
225 OF 252 PRECINCTS
ANTHONY CULLER 4,584
LOUIE GOHMERT 92,327
SIMON WINSTON 15,822

STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 1
298 OF 298 PRECINCTS
BRYAN HUGHES 63,844
DAVID SIMPSON 28,288
JAMES K. RED BROWN 28,275
MIKE LEE 12,360
HUGHES AND SIMPSON IN RUNOFF

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 5 85 OF 85 PRECINCTS
COLE HEFNER 12,759
HOLLY COGGIN HAYES 1680
JAY MISENHEIMER 7524
PHILLIP HAYES 2074
RANDY DAVIS 3725
HEFNER AND MISENHEIMER IN RUNOFF Continue reading Local Election Returns

MT PLEASANT — An East Texas homeowner held a burglary suspect at gunpoint until law enforcement could arrive. According to KETK, Mount Pleasant Police responded to a burglary in progress on West 5th Street. The homeowner reported a man was in his garage and was removing the tires from his car. When officers arrived they found the homeowner holding the suspect at gun point in his garage. Officers found the vehicle up on blocks and the tires removed from the car. Jose Luis Martinez, Jr., 24, Mount Pleasant, has been charged with residential burglary and booked into the Titus County Jail.

GREGG COUNTY — A Longview gang member was held Tuesday after police said they found marijuana, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and guns in his vehicle. According to the Longview News-Journal, Robert Michael Wood, 28, and Torchelle Reel, 21, also of Longview, were held Tuesday on bonds totaling $37,500 each, charged with possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of marijuana. police said Wood is a documented member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas. DPS troopers said they stopped Wood because his car had a malfunctioning brake lamp. Continue reading Traffic Stop Leads to Arrest of Gang Member

MARSHALL – A Panola County woman has drawn a prison term for for the theft of cattle and ranching equipment. District Court Judge Brad Morin sentenced 44 year old Stacie Laine Soape of Carthage to 12 years in prison. The woman had pleaded guilty to stealing the equipment and 12 head of cattle from a Harrison County rancher. Judge Morin sentenced her after after reviewing a joint investigation by a Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association special ranger and an investigator from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department. KETK reports one other suspect in the theft ring has already been sentenced to prison. Two other suspects are awaiting trial.