KTBB News, Weather, Talk

MARSHALL — The Marshall Police Department is investigating a fatal five-vehicle crash on East End Boulevard shortly before 5 p.m. on Tuesday. KETK reports two people died in the wreck and four more were injured. The deceased victims have been identified as Ronny Toland, 58, of Morris County and Carlie Pruitt Barnard, 47, of Hughes Springs. Further details were pending.

DALLAS (AP) – About 87 percent of schools in Texas met state academic standards this year, according to ratings from the Texas Education Agency. The Dallas Morning News reports that schools and districts with poor assessments had an opportunity to contest after preliminary ratings came out in August. Thirteen districts and 59 schools in the state filed appeals, including nine schools in Dallas, seven in Fort Worth, and three in Richardson. Two Dallas charter schools, Focus Learning Academy and Nova Academy Southeast, also tried to convince the agency that they deserved a better rating. Two districts and 13 schools won appeals statewide, including Nova Academy Southeast. The agency has released a list of schools and districts that won but hasn’t explained Education Commissioner Michael Williams’ decisions.

AUSTIN — Harrison County is not required to release criminal history information involving recently resigned Hallsville ISD coach Dean McDaniel, according to an opinion from State Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report that McDaniel, who remains on paid administrative leave until his resignation takes effect at the end of December, entered a “voluntary” separation agreement with the district Sept. 25. Superintendent Jim Dunlap said in September that McDaniel resigned for “personal reasons.” Continue reading AG: Harrison County Can Withhold History on Coach

TYLER — The families of the victims are breaking their silence for the first time since proceedings ended in the case of Carl Crabtree. Crabtree, 31, of Bullard, received a 40-year prison sentence this week after pleading guilty in a double-fatality crash in southern Smith County. The DPS says Crabtree was driving down Old Jacksonville Highway March 4 when his vehicle crossed the center line and collided head-on with an SUV. Dana Regester, 41, of Flint, and Pasha Zapolsky, 18, of Bullard, died in the wreck. Crabtree pleaded guilty to intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault Continue reading Families of Victims in Fatal Alcohol Induced Crash Release Statement

TYLER — The chancellor of the University of Texas system, William McRaven, discussed his Texas Prospect Initiative during a Distinguished Lecture at UT Tyler Tuesday night. According to KETK, McRaven said he hopes the initiative will foster engagement between independent school districts and UT Tyler. “Look at the Pre-K through 12,” says McRaven. “A lot of people would say what does that have to do with Tyler, well it has everything to do with Tyler. It has to do with the students that are part of the pipeline that will come to Tyler next year and over the next eons.” Continue reading Chancellor Shares His Vision for the U-T System

TYLER — A rabid skunk has turned up in Tyler. The Texas Department of State Health Services advised Tyler Animal Services yesterday the test was positive for rabies. The animal was found near the intersection of Kingsmill Circle and Sawgrass, in south Tyler. The persons who were exposed to the skunk have been identified. Continue reading City of Tyler Issues Rabies Advisory

MARSHALL — An East Texas radio news director has been placed on three years deferred probation following an incident in July. According to KETK, Ashli Marie Acker Dansby pleaded guilty Tuesday on a charge of failure to stop and render aid after an accident involving bodily injury. Dansby is news director for KMHT Radio in Marshall. Continue reading Marshall News Director Pleads Guilty in Hit and Run

TYLER — Smith County Commissioners will hold two public hearings on Tuesday, November 17, to gather input on the Voting Centers implemented in the November 3 election. A news release reports the hearings will be held at 9:30 a.m. in Commissioners Court, 200 E. Ferguson, and at 5:30 p.m. at the R.B. Hubbard “Hub” Center at 304 E. Ferguson St. Voting Centers are an early-voting concept on Election Day, allowing residents to vote at any polling place without being restricted to their precinct. Continue reading Public Hearings Set for Input on Voting Centers

GREGG COUNTY — Claims by a former Gregg County Jail inmate that his Islamic faith was violated have been settled locally. According to the Longview News-Journal and KETK, a federal judge will have to sign off on any pending deal before it is official. Mohammad Moosa Yahya sued Gregg County, Sheriff Maxey Cerliano, six of his deputies and two federal law enforcement agencies in March. He claimed in the federal lawsuit that he was denied meal accommodations during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which that year coincided with his stint in the Gregg County Jail in the summer of 2014. Continue reading Former Inmate Settles Suit with Gregg County

SPRING (Staff/AP) — A Spring resident who called Nacogdoches home has lost his battle with a fatal form of cancer. Daniel Fleetwood’s wife, Ashley, said on her Facebook page that Daniel died in his sleep Monday night. Daniel’s dying wish was to see the new, unreleased “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” An online campaign, #forcefordaniel, went viral, resulting in his wish being granted thanks to the film’s producers, director and Disney. Star Wars star Mark Hamill also helped support the cause. The movie is scheduled for release to the public December 18th. Fleetwood had told People magazine if he got to see the movie, he might actually die from happiness. Continue reading East Texas Star Wars Fan Loses Battle with Cancer

GREGG COUNTY — A Longview man charged with aggravated assault in a Smith County shootout in August was released Monday from the Gregg County Jail, according to the Longview News-Journal. Tyson Dewaylon Dixon, 22, made arrangements with a Longview municipal judge to make payments on a $664 fine attached to the theft conviction. He was arrested Sunday on a misdemeanor theft warrant. Continue reading Suspect in Shootout Released from Jail

TYLER — University of Texas System Chancellor William H. McRaven will open the 2015-16 Distinguished Lecture Series at The University of Texas at Tyler R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center. McRaven is scheduled to speak at 7:30 this evening. He became UT System chancellor this past January. Tickets are $37, $27 and $17, and can be purchased online at http://www.cowancenter.org or by calling the box office at 903-566-7424. The box office hours are 9:00am to 4:00pm Monday through Friday and one hour prior to each event.

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help locating a fugitive. According to KETK, Crime Stoppers says Lucio Jose Perez-Rodriguez is wanted for violation of probation and driving while intoxicated 3rd or more. If you know Perez or his current location and he is arrested based on your tip, you could be eligable for a reward. Contact Crime Stoppers at http://www.greggcountycrimestoppers.org or 903-236-7867.

HAWKINS — A Hawkins church is calling for the city to rescind its decision to remove a controversial “Jesus Welcomes You to Hawkins” sign. KETK reports Mark McDonald, an administrator trustee with Jesus Christ Open Altar Church, said the church closed on the property in question on Friday. The land was purchased from Crowley Funeral Home and Beatty Funeral Home. McDonald said the sign is now without question on private property, and that the church will do everything in its power to protect the sign — and have anyone prosecuted who takes or damages its property. The church says it reached out to the city through an attorney but has not received an official response. Continue reading Church Buys Land, Vows to Protect Controversial Sign

HOUSTON — A dying wish for a man from East Texas comes true. One of the first people to see “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” the unfinished version, is Daniel Fleetwood. He now lives in Spring, but his Facebook page lists Nacogdoches as his hometown and says he attended Stephen F. Austin State University. Fleetwood lobbied for quite some time online for a chance to see the movie, and it’s because he’s running out of time. Doctors say he has a few months to live because of cancer, which has spread to 90 percent of his lungs. Continue reading Man Granted Dying Wish to See New “Star Wars” Movie

ABILENE — Funeral services are set for 10:00 Tuesday morning at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville for a Jacksonville teenager who was thrown from his pickup truck on I-20 in Abilene. According to KETK, police said Hunter Vess, 19, was westbound shortly before 6:30 a.m. Saturday and passed another vehicle in the inside lane, then merged back into the outside lane. Witnesses said Vess drove into the grass on the outside median, where he lost control. He then re-entered the roadway, where the vehicle began to roll. The truck traveled back onto the grass median, where Vess was ejected. Police said Vess was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Vess was not wearing his seatbelt. It was not immediately known if drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash, which remains under investigation.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of November 9. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.

District wide Seal Coat Operations are wrapping up with final striping being applied to various roadways in Anderson, Cherokee, Rusk, Van Zandt, and Wood counties. Expect lane closures.

SMITH COUNTY – Tyler Maintenance crews plan to conduct work on various roadways. One crew will be maintaining ditches on State Highway 64 at the State Highway 135 intersection Monday; on State Highway 110S just north of Mud Creek on Tuesday; and on Farm Road 16 just west of Lindale on Thursday. A second crew will conduct shoulder work on FM 1253 using heavy equipment on Monday and Tuesday. This crew will start a new mill and inlay job on Thursday at the intersection of SH 110 and Grande. On Friday, the job moves to the northbound lanes of US 69N just south of the county line. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control at all locations. Continue reading TxDOT Road Projects

TYLER — The Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is holding a public open house this afternoon to update the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) and Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). Officials say the amendments include adding a project that will allow the Texas Department of Transportation to participate in the purchase a 7.25 mile portion of abandoned right-of-way currently owned by Union Pacific Railroad to use for a future multimodal trail. The open house will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Tyler Development Center’s Large Conference Room at 423 West Ferguson Street. Continue reading Tyler MPO Holds Open House on Transportation Plan

ANDERSON COUNTY — The National Weather Service says Thursday’s storm damage along Anderson County Road 142 was caused not by a tornado as previously believed, but by straight line winds. KETK reports the damage began around 5:25 p.m. and lasted for about a minute, with wind speeds between 55 and 65 mph. The narrow damage path began 4 miles south of Palestine and had a length of about 1 mile. Local law enforcement and state officials said several trees and power lines were blown down onto the road. A garage door was damaged by the winds, several trees were uprooted, and a storage building was destroyed.

LIBERTY CITY — It has been more than seven months since Liberty City teenager Paiglynn Raymond disappeared down Interstate 20, and now the reward for information leading to her return has gone up substantially. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Vickie Raymond, the girl’s grandmother, said her family has not given up hope — and neither have their friends. “A gentleman who grew up with Paiglynn’s father (Chris Raymond) has doubled the reward to $10,000 in the hopes it may encourage someone to come forward,” she said. “You do not even have to leave your name; you can use the tip line at (903) 236-STOP and remain anonymous.” Continue reading Reward Doubled for Missing Teen

KILGORE — Kilgore College staffers and residents crowded into the college’s Stewart H. McLaurin Administration Building Thursday to meet the first of four finalists to replace retiring President Bill Holda. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. “I am a strong proponent of the student success model for education,” said Kyle Wagner, vice president of instruction and economic development at Coastal Bend College in Beeville. “If we focus on what our students need to get out of the college — designing our programs to meet those needs — Kilgore College will grow and grow.” Continue reading Kilgore College Meets First of Four Presidential Finalists

WHITEHOUSE — A fire in a dryer around 9:45 Friday morning in Whitehouse High School’s athletic department forced an evacuation of the school and an early dismissal of classes. Once the smoke cleared, students were allowed to return to the buildings to get their belongings and then classes were dismissed for the rest of the day. According to KETK, the school district says no students were hurt but one employee was taken to a local hospital about an hour after the incident. There was no immediate word on his condition or on the cause of the fire. Classes are expected to resume as normal Monday morning.

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP/Staff) – Three finalists for the position of administrative director and head of campus at Mississippi State University-Meridian have been announced, and they include an East Texan. Terry D. Cruse is vice president for enrollment services at LeTourneau University in Longview. The other candidates are from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi. Officials say the candidates will attend on-campus interviews in the next few weeks. Finalists also will participate in forums for faculty, staff, and students that will include presentations on their visions for MSU-Meridian. An LETU official has declined comment.

BROWNSBORO — A Brownsboro ISD bus carrying students was involved in a crash Friday afternoon on Highway 31. KETK reports the bus and a truck were the only vehicles involved in the wreck. No injuries were reported, but the superintendent said three students would be taken to a nearby hospital as a precautionary measure.

LONGVIEW — Three counterfeiting suspects were arrested by Longview police just before 5:00 Thursday afternoon, after police responded to a report of suspicious activity at a motel on highway 31. Arrested were Marcilin Allenon Smith (pictured), 44, of Longview; Jeremy Michael Norton, 35, of Hallsville; and Buffy Renee Driggers Norton, 34, of Hallsville. Acting on a search warrant, officers found over $5000.00 in counterfeit currency, numerous fake ID’s, stolen driver’s licenses, counterfeit checks, and stolen credit cards. Officers also located computer equipment used in the production of such counterfeit money and other counterfeit products such as fake ID’s and checks. All three men were booked into the Gregg County Jail.

LONGVIEW — Authorities say it was a Longview man who died Thursday morning near Longview. Killed in the wreck on Interstate Highway 20 near Estes Parkway was Billy Minor, 63. He was pronounced dead at the scene after his vehicle hit the rear of a tractor-trailer. The Department of Public Safety says the truck had stopped because of construction work. The truck’s driver was not injured.

WASHINGTON (AP/STAFF) — President Barack Obama says he’s rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline because he does not believe it serves the national interest. Obama says the pipeline has played an overinflated role in political discourse. Obama is speaking at the White House after meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry. The decision caps a seven-year saga that became a flashpoint in Obama’s presidency. Killing the pipeline allows Obama to claim aggressive action on the environment. Three phases of the project are in operation, including the one running through eastern Smith County. The Smith County section was part of phase three of the project, which runs from Cushing, Oklahoma to refineries at Port Arthur. It was completed in January of last year.

LONGVIEW — Two persons are hospitalized following a Longview shooting. It happened just before 1:30 Friday morning on East Melton Street. Police received reports of several gunshots in the area. They found two persons injured. One had been shot and another, who had a broken bone, had not been shot. Both were transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center for treatment of non life threatening injuries. Authorities have not identified a suspect in the shooting.