KTBB News, Weather, Talk

HENDERSON — Rusk County officials continue to work with the community on recovery efforts following an EF-2 tornado last month. KETK reports David Chenault, public information officer with the Rusk County Office of Emergency Management, updated the community Monday morning. Chanault says as of 8 a.m. Monday, both Rusk County Electric Cooperative and AEP SWEPCO reported that all customers have had power restored. Continue reading Rusk County Offers Storm Recovery Update

PALESTINE — The Palestine Police Department and the Texas Rangers are investigating an overnight officer involved shooting which left one person dead. According to KETK, just before midnight Sunday, Palestine Police responded to Wal-Mart on Loop 256 in reference to a theft. Officers were told that a man had stolen beer from the store and fled towards Applebee’s, also on Loop 256. He was found a short time later in the men’s restroom of the restaurant. Continue reading Fatal Officer Involved Shooting Under Investigation

TYLER — Tyler Firefighters are mourning the loss of one of their own. Firefighter Travis Milligan, 32, experienced a sudden illness while at his home on Friday. He was transported to a local hospital, where he passed away the following day. Milligan was hired by the department in November 2008. He was named the 2010 Firefighter of the Year and was a well-respected and valuable member of the Tyler Fire Department. Milligan is survived by his wife Erin and his 18 month old daughter Rori, along with his parents, his siblings, and his extended firefighting family. Arrangements are pending at this time. Continue reading Tyler Firefighter Dies of Sudden Illness

GRAMBLING, La. (AP/Staff) – A committee set up to find the next president of Grambling State University has narrowed the list to five, including one from East Texas. The candidates are Glenda F. Carter, executive vice president and provost and professor of education at Wiley College in Marshall; W. Wayne Brumfield, former vice president for student affairs at the University of Louisiana at Monroe; Thomas J. Calhoun Jr., vice president for enrollment management at the University of North Alabama; Willie D. Larkin, chief of staff at the office of the president at Morgan State University; and Gilbert L. Rochon, president’s council of the University of New Orleans and former president of Tuskegee University. Candidates will sit for public interviews Tuesday and Wednesday on Grambling’s campus. The University of Louisiana System Board is expected to announce a decision Thursday.

VAN — Children in Van were grinning from ear to ear on Saturday because they got an early visit from “Jolly Ole Saint Nick.” KETK reports the Lone Star Santas took to Van over the weekend to bring some much needed cheer in the wake of their disaster. With a convoy of toys, the Santas set up shop at Van Middle School. They handed out toys and presents to children affected by the twisters. The Santas said they wanted to restore a little bit of joy into the lives of little ones and continue to spread joy. Continue reading Santa Brings Toys to Children in Van

WOOD COUNTY — Saturday’s storm activity has taken its toll on another East Texas road. TxDOT reports FM 69 from SH 37 to FM 515, two miles north of Quitman in Wood County, has been closed due to flooding. TxDOT says crews are monitoring the situation. We’ll have more information as it becomes available.

LONGVIEW — Longview police Friday arrested 29-year-old Sondra Rene’ Kroll of Longview in the 100 Block of White City Street following a series of dog attacks. Longview police say they worked closely with Longview Animal Control officers on four cases involving Kroll’s dogs that reportedly occurred over a period of several days. In all the cases Kroll’s three pit bull dogs are believed to be the dogs that attacked citizens in the 100 Block of White City. On all four occasions the victims went to the hospital for treatment of their injuries. One of the victims required emergency surgery to repair the damage he received during an attack. Kroll was charged with attack by dog causing serious bodily injury, a third-degree felony, and booked into the Gregg County Jail without incident, according to police.

TYLER – Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics has announced Fadi Nasrallah, M.D., as the new Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer of Mother Frances Hospital Tyler effective June 1. Dr. Nasrallah joins Trinity Mother Frances from the University of Colorado at Denver, where he has served as an Associate Professor, Medical Director of the Operating Rooms, Director of Quality Improvement, and Associate Director of the Medical Science Anesthesiology Program. Continue reading Mother Frances Hospital Adds New Senior Official

AUSTIN (AP/Staff) – An East Texan is weighing in after Texas lawmakers voted Friday to dismantle the state’s high school steroids testing program. The program ran eight years and saw more than $10 million spent collecting thousands of samples that turned up only a handful of cheaters. Once lauded as a model for the nation, the program instead turned into a target for critics who called it an ineffective waste of money. Several lawmakers defended it Friday as an effective deterrent against steroid use, but said it was no longer needed. “We spent a lot of money. We raised awareness. We saved lives,” said Rep. Dan Flynn of Van, a Republican who helped write the original testing law in 2007. The budget will be sent to Gov. Greg Abbott to sign into law.

AUSTIN – President Obama Friday evening granted a request for funds that will aid Texas counties, including hard-hit Van Zandt County, as they continue to recover and rebuild. On Friday afternoon, Governor Greg Abbott had requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration for the counties due to damage sustained from the severe weather, tornadoes and flooding. Continue reading Presidential Disaster Declaration Granted For Texas Counties

MARSHALL — The Marshall Police Department has released the name of a driver involved in a fatal crash last week. According to KETK, police say the crash killed Todd Lane Davis, 19, of Waskom, when a car headed southbound on Highway 59 disregarded a red light and hit another vehicle traveling east on Highway 80 at around 3:23 a.m. Sharketra Shardae Hilderth, 29, of Houston, has been identified as the driver the of the car that allegedly ran the light. In the car with Hilderth were her two children, a 10-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son. No further information is available at this time. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Charges are pending based on the findings of toxicology reports and medical records on the driver.

TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office Friday transitioned 91 female inmates into the new jail facility located on Elm Street in downtown Tyler. These are the first occupants of the new addition to the Smith County Jail upon its completion and inspection by the Texas Jail Commission, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Larry Smith said this is considered a transition due to the fact the new facility has direct supervision of inmates as opposed to indirect supervision — two totally separate jail operations. In a direct supervision environment, the detention officer is actually inside the jail pod with the inmates. Continue reading First Inmates Housed in New Jail Addition

TYLER — A Longview man has pleaded not guilty in the murder of a Tylerite. 21-year-old Carlton Champion Jr.’s pre-trial hearing is set for June 26 at 8:30 a.m. in Tyler, with jury selection slated for July 7. Judge Christi Kennedy has set Champion’s bond at $1,000,000. According to KETK, Don Martin with the Tyler Police Department says on January 29, police served a warrant on for the murder of Tyrone Lee Underwood, a 24-year-old transgender woman. Police say Champion and Underwood were, at some point, romantically involved. Continue reading Longview Man Pleads Not Guilty to Murder of Transgender Tylerite

SMITH COUNTY — Another dam has broken in Smith County following a downpour of rain over the past week. According to KETK, county officials say the dam of a private pond failed Thursday night and damaged County Road 4114. The road is still passable. The road is located west of FM 1804, north of Lindale. This is at least the third reported Smith County dam to give way to floods.

LONGVIEW — Four more Gregg County residents have tested positive for active tuberculosis following an initial confirmation weeks ago, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of State and Health Services said Thursday. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Christine Mann said “four close contacts” of the person who initially was diagnosed with active TB tested positive and are being treated. She also said about 60 residents are being screened. They are people who had possible contact with an infected person. Kilgore College officials and the state agency recommended tuberculosis testing for some students and Gregg County residents after a case of the disease was confirmed at the college in mid-May. The identity and other information about the student with tuberculosis were not released, college spokesman Chris Craddock said. Continue reading Four More Test Positive for TB in Gregg County

HENDERSON — Rusk County and the city of Henderson continue their recovery effort following severe storms that included an EF-2 tornado. KETK reports county and city leaders met Friday morning to discuss the current state of their efforts to repair damage across the area. The Office of Emergency Management says according to National Weather Service forecasts, additional rainstorms are expected to move through the area this weekend which could bring one to two additional inches of rain​. Officials say this could cause additional delays in cleanup efforts or cause partially damaged trees to fall. Residents are asked to be extremely careful and aware of potential problems to avoid injuries. Continue reading Rusk County Prepares for More Rain

CARTHAGE — The judge presiding over Bernie Tiede’s new punishment trial has moved it to January at the request of the special prosecutor and the convicted murderer’s lawyer. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Officials in the office of Panola County District Clerk Debra Johnson confirmed Thursday that visiting Judge Diane DeVasto also moved a hearing to settle pretrial issues to Dec. 1. That’s about six weeks before Tiede is scheduled to be resentenced for the 1996 fatal shooting of 81-year-old Carthage widow Marjorie Nugent. That trial is scheduled Jan. 11 in the 123rd District Court in Carthage. Continue reading Sentencing Rescheduled in Tiede Case

TYLER – Crews around the Tyler District are getting back to their normal routines while continuing cleanup efforts following the latest storms, according to a news release from TxDOT. Several roads are undergoing emergency repairs after being washed out by storms which also caused a rock slide on FM 2869 in Wood County. According to TxDOT, Mineola Maintenance continues to monitor flooding on FM 1804, and FM 1254 at Lake Fork Creek Bridge in Wood County while cleaning debris from the rock slide on FM 2869 near Lake Hawkins. The rock slide occurred in the early morning Wednesday and required closing FM 2869 at the location for the day. Crews were back there Thursday to remove any remaining loose rock and dirt with the roadway closed to traffic through Thursday. Continue reading Crews Clearing Roads, Right of Way after Storms

GLADEWATER — A former Gladewater kindergarten teacher is under investigation. KETK reports, authorities are looking into allegations that she injured a young student. The teacher is identified as Amanda Hickman. The boy’s mother claims her son had permission to be under the teacher’s desk to wind down when he becomes agitated or antsy. During this time the boy grabbed some candy from the teacher’s drawer. The mother said the teacher grabbed the boy by his feet and dragged him out of the classroom. School Superintendent J.P. Richardson told KETK charges have been filed against the teacher. The case was immediately turned over to the Gladewater Police Department.

MARSHALL — Charges have been dropped against a Marshall School District employee who had been charged with animal cruelty. Following his arrest, Paul Warren Smith, 61, a maintenance/pesticide technician with the school district, was placed on administrative leave. Yesterday, the Harrison County grand jury decided there was no probable cause to proceed with prosecution. Smith was arrested after a video showed him dropping puppies over a fence. Continue reading Charges Dismissed Against Marshall School District Employee

ATHENS — A Payne Springs man was taken into custody on Wednesday for multiple charges, including driving a stolen vehicle out of Tennessee. KETK reports authorities arrested Shawn Dyvene Smith, 27, following a traffic stop for no brake lights. During this time, the Payne Springs Police Department learned the car’s license plate is registered as stolen out of Maryville, Tennessee. The suspect was also wanted on five local warrants. Smith was arrested and booked into the Henderson County Jail. He is charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle and five outstanding warrants. He was released Thursday on $9,166 bond.

(AP) – A federal appeals court has agreed to consider an appeal from a 48-year-old East Texas man on death row for the 2002 slaying of his 2-year-old daughter. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals says it will look at arguments on whether the rights of Robert Roberson III were violated when his trial judge in Palestine refused to allow testimony from a neurologist. Roberson was convicted of the death of his daughter, Nikki Curtis, at their Palestine home. His attorneys contend the physician would have said Roberson didn’t deliberately kill her, a key element in his defense. The appeals court said late Wednesday the Supreme Court has made clear defendants are entitled to a meaningful opportunity to a complete defense. The 5th Circuit has ordered briefings to address the issue.

LONGVIEW — Jim Kendrick, chief executive officer of Longview Regional Medical Center, has resigned his position effective the end of July to accept a newly created position as Network CEO for 10 Community Health Systems-affiliated hospitals in Oklahoma. That’s according to KETK. “This was not an easy decision because we have accomplished so much at Longview Regional and opportunities still exist to advance the care we provide the community,” said Kendrick. “There is a solid infrastructure in place to continue the vision we’ve established and a leadership team that will support its success. I will miss all of Longview’s talented employees, volunteers, board members and medical staff and wish them all the best in the future.” Continue reading Longview Regional CEO Headed to New Job

TYLER — Smith County Veterans Service Officer Michael Roark presented information about the new Veterans Treatment Court Thursday to members of the Smith County Bar Association. Roark serves as program director for the new veterans court, which has recently been implemented and has one veteran participating. He gave his presentation about the court to members of the Smith County Bar Association attending the seventh annual Honorable Thomas A. Dunn Criminal Law CLE at the R.B. “Hub” Hubbard Center. Continue reading Smith County Veterans Court Rolled Out to Local Attorneys

EAST TEXAS — Thursday was another day off for a number of East Texas students following damage from Monday’s storms. Jacksonville, New Summerfield, and Henderson all canceled classes Thurday. According to KETK, officials said Henderson ISD was closed due to unexpected difficulties with efforts to restore power at the middle school. ​School officials say they’re confident that all campuses will be open Friday. In New Summerfield, elementary students will be out the remainder of this school year. Secondary students, because of final exams, will be updated on a day to day basis. Carlisle had a two hour delay on starting classes Thursday. Troup schools had an early release.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man remains jailed, charged with assault of a family or household member with a prior conviction and possession of less than 28 grams of a controlled substance. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Kelan Tevorion Richardson, 24, is held on a total of $11,000 in bonds. He was arrested Tuesday in the 700 block of Texas 31 after Longview police said he was beating a woman in a parking lot. The woman said Richardson asked her to bring him a cigarette, then punched her several times in the face after she brought it, police said. Police said Richardson also dropped a plastic bag that contained 20 pills of Xanax from his pocket while talking to an officer. Officers said the drugs weighed 3.1 grams, according to the arrest report.

GREGG COUNTY — A Longview man found dead in March near the Boorman Trail was connected to the burglary of a nearby pawn shop a few days before and apparently was running from police when he fell into water and drowned. According to the Longview News-Journal, the body of Kendrick Fitzgerald Hill, 32, was found March 6 floating face down in shallow water near the trail. According to an autopsy performed by Forensic Medical of Texas in Tyler, Hill died of hypothermia and drowning, and his death was ruled accidental. Hill also tested positive for PCP. Continue reading Longview Man Found Dead in Creek was Also Burglary Suspect

GLADEWATER — Because of unsafe conditions, Lake Gladewater Park is being closed. According to a notice on the city’s Facebook page, In the interest of public safety, the city of Gladewater has decided to close the Lake Gladewater Park due to the potential for unsafe water conditions caused by the area’s recent rainfall and runoff amounts. The lake has seen a significant increase in the water level and with more runoff and rain expected in the near future this is the logical and responsible thing to do to protect our citizens. Boaters who live on the lake are strongly encouraged to stay on the north side of the lake and avoid areas south of the boat ramps. Both public boat ramps are also closed as a result of this decision. The entire park will remain closed until deemed appropriate and safe to reopen.