KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at events and work planned in the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation:

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – Weather permitting, Texas Department of transportation contract crews are scheduled to begin seal coat operations this week on the following roadways:
*FM 773 between Interstate 20 and the Henderson County Line;
*SH 64 between FM 16 and FM 773;
*FM 47 between US 80 and I-20; and
*US 80 between the Kaufman County Line and FM 2965 in Wills Point. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates

TYLER – The car stolen in last Friday’s Smith County bank robbery has been recovered. The 2009 Cadillac, stolen from a bank employee, was found abandoned early Sunday near the town of Cuney, in northwestern Cherokee County. Sheriff Larry Smith said the vehicle was taken to a Smith County Sheriff’s Office facility where it was processed by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit.The bank robbery occurred shortly after 7:00 Friday morning. The robbery was at the Austin Bank, located at 16909 Highway 155 South in Noonday. A small-framed black male who was wearing an ace bandage over his face held a female employee at gunpoint as she arrived for work and prepared to enter the building. The robber instructed the woman to take him into the bank. She complied, and the robber left the bank with an undetermined amount of money using her vehicle to make his getaway. The bank employee was not injured.

LONGVIEW – The Longview School Board has scheduled a special meeting this evening at 6:30. The meeting is on the hiring of a school superintendent. According to the meeting agenda, after the meeting starts, school trustees will go into a closed session on the superintendent’s vacancy. The board will then reconvene in open session to take action on the vacancy. The school board had previously named Horace Williams as the district’s lone superintendent finalist. Continue reading Superintendent’s Issue Back Before Longview School Board

GLADEWATER (AP) — A former church-turned-art gallery in East Texas has a new role thanks to a 1950 Union High School graduate who wanted to give back to the district. The Longview News-Journal reported Saturday that the structure will be a performing arts complex for the Union Grove Independent School District. Property owner Joan Sturkie donated the Whisenhunt Center in Gladewater. Trustees earlier this month accepted the contribution that will be used starting in the upcoming school year. The district plans to use the 430-seat building for its drama department and one-act plays, as well as community events and theater performances. School district theater director Sandy Spears says a smaller campus venue that’s currently being used only seats about 200 and has a limited stage area.

CORPUS CHRISTI (AP) — Four Texas legislators have been honored by a journalism group for their public service. The Texas Press Association on Saturday announced the awards for Senator Kevin Eltife of Tyler, House Speaker Joe Straus of San Antonio, Senator Rodney Ellis of Houston and Representative Todd Hunter of Corpus Christi. The Friend of the First Amendment awards were presented Friday during the Texas Press Association’s summer conference in Corpus Christi. Jim Moser, CEO of Moser Community Media and head of the association’s legislative advisory committee, praised the lawmakers for their efforts to promote and protect open meetings, open records and government transparency in general. It’s the second time that Ellis and Hunter received the award.

KILGORE – A newborn baby is in the hospital after being dropped off at a Kilgore Fire Station. The Safe Haven or Baby Moses Law, passed in Texas in 1999, allows infants under 60 days old to be dropped at a hospital, fire station, or emergency medical services (EMS) station, no questions asked. Kilgore Fire Chief Johnny Bellows told KETK that the newborn baby boy was dropped off at the Kilgore Fire Station #2 around 12:30 Saturday morning. Child Protective Services will now take over the case.

RUSTON, La. — According to the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana, two East Texas men were killed when an oil rig exploded. Ryan Henson, 36, of Longview, and Cashies Samuel Thomas, 40, of Nacogdoches, were killed at the Wild Horse drilling rig near Ruston, La., around 11:45 p.m. Thursday, Sheriff Mike Stone tells KETK. “It is understood that tremendous pressure that was present on some components gave way, causing the release of pressure,” Stone said. “Specifics into the events that occurred leading up to the accident are still being investigated.” Lincoln Parish is in North Central Louisiana, about 60 miles east of Shreveport.

TYLER — Mother Frances Hospital has been included in Becker’s Hospital Review’s recently published 2014 edition of “100 Great Community Hospitals.” According to a Mother Frances news release, that’s a list based on hospitals’ accolades, quality of care, and services provided to their patient populations. “We are incredibly pleased to again be included in this prestigious list of hospitals who are distinguished nationally for their quality of care, service and skill,” said John McGreevy, Chief Executive Officer, Mother Frances Hospital Tyler. “This recognition is a strong example of the tireless effort and energy given by each member of the Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics team to ensure that our patients receive the highest quality healthcare available.” Officials say Mother Frances Hospital is one of only six hospitals in Texas, and the only medical facility in East Texas, to be named to the list.

SAN AUGUSTINE — The body of an East Texas woman who has been missing since July, 2006, has been found. Shunte Coleman, of Jacksonville, was last heard from by her grandmother on July 2, 2006. The San Augustine County Sheriff’s Office tells KETK a forester uncovered human skeletal remains in March 2014 near the intersection of Farm to Market Road 1196 and County Road 347. A Sam Houston State University forensic anthropologist examined the remains prior to sending them off to The University of North Texas Center for Human Identification, where DNA extracted from the remains was entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). The remains were then determined to be those of Coleman. Continue reading Body of Jacksonville Woman Missing Found

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department announces that starting today, you will be able to monitor traffic enforcement locations through Facebook Monday through Friday. Police Chief Gary Swindle notes, “Our goal is to improve the safety of motorist by reducing traffic violations. Motorist awareness and following traffic laws can drastically reduce citations and keep our community safe.” Anyone can go to https://www.facebook.com/TylerTexasPolice?ref_type=bookmark to access this information and provide feedback through the Facebook page Continue reading New Facebook Traffic Enforcement Daily Post

NOONDAY – Smith County Sheriff’s Deputies continue their investigation an early morning bank robbery. Shortly after 7:00 Friday morning, dispatchers with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting that the Austin Bank, located at 16909 Highway 155 South in Noonday, had been robbed. A small-framed black male who was wearing an ace bandage over his face held a female employee at gunpoint as she arrived for work and prepared to enter the building. The robber instructed the woman to take him into the bank. She complied, and the robber left the bank with an undetermined amount of money using her vehicle as the getaway car, according to officials. The woman was not harmed. The vehicle is a white diamond colored 2009 Cadillac CTS 4-door, Texas license plate number CJ7 Z230. Continue reading Smith County Deputies Investigate Noonday Bank Robbery

LONGVIEW — One person was detained by the Longview Police Department following a house fire. The blaze broke out on the 1200 block of Chad Street around 4:30 Thursday afternoon. The back of the home, living room and kitchen were heavily damaged by heat and smoke before the fire was contained. According to KETK, one person was taken into custody for questioning by officers but their identity is unknown. Fire officials are currently investigating the blaze. The cause has not been determined, but officials did report the fire began in the living room. One person has been displaced.

LONGVIEW — The man accused of murdering two people in a Longview home was transferred from Smith County to the Gregg County Jail Wednesday, and his bail has been set at $2 million. Isaiah Christopher Roberts, 36, of Tyler, had been held in the Smith County Jail since he was caught following a multi-county chase, ending in Tyler. KETK reports the pursuit began after Roberts allegedly shot and killed two people in the 300 block of Thelma Street in Longview Sunday morning. The victims were identified as Robert’s ex-wife Chanda Martin, 38, and her friend Kimberly Rayson, 35. Continue reading Double Homicide Suspect Moved; $2 Million Bail

LONGVIEW — A case in which a Longview woman was hit and killed by a car in December 2013 has been no-billed, according to the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office. KETK reports Tabitha Rodriguez was struck and killed by a vehicle December 21 on South Green Street in Longview. The Longview Police Department investigated the circumstances surrounding the victim’s death, including the initial and follow-up investigations and interviews. In January of this year, an individual who believed they might have been involved in Rodriguez’s death contacted the Longview Police Department and provided information. After investigating the circumstances, police delivered their findings to the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office for presentation to a grand jury to determine if sufficient probable cause existed to bring any charges; the grand jury decided such probable cause did not exist.

LONGVIEW — According to Longview criminal defense attorney Hayward Rigano, his client Michael James Chalmers, 43, has been found not guilty of continuous sexual abuse of a child. Rigano tells KETK three charges were tried under the continuous abuse charge, which is the highest of the three felonies. As a result of the exoneration, the charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child and sexual performance by child will be dropped. “My client is very glad to be done with this,” Rigano said. The trial took place in Gregg County’s 124th District Court. A 16-year-old girl had accused Chalmers of sexually assaulting her in 2011.

EMORY (AP) – A fired East Texas sheriff’s deputy has pleaded not guilty to an animal cruelty charge in the shooting of a farm dog that was later euthanized. KLTV reports a lawyer for Jerrod Dooley entered the plea Wednesday in Emory. Rains County Sheriff David Traylor fired Dooley, saying the rookie deputy used bad judgment during the April 18 burglary call near Point. The sheriff’s office and Dooley received numerous threats following the shooting of a blue heeler named Candy. Dooley has said the dog charged him before he opened fire. Jail records show Dooley was arrested May 27 and was freed the next day on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond. His attorney, Pete Schulte of Dallas, says a necropsy shows the bullet Dooley fired wasn’t fatal and that the dog might have survived had its owner not drowned it to euthanize it.

ATHENS — Athens Police have reported the arrest of one person related to the June 8 murder of Cedrick Collins. On Tuesday, Raheem Mark Miller, 18, of Athens, was arrested on a capital murder warrant and booked into the Henderson County Justice Center. KETK reports bond on Miller has been set at $2 million. Collins, 23, of Malakoff, was found lying beside his vehicle in the 700 Block of Robbins Road on June 8 with what appeared to be a gunshot wound. Collins was transported to the local hospital and died a short time later. Based on information developed during the investigation, officials say Collins was shot during the course of being robbed. Continue reading Athens PD Arrests Teen in Connection with Murder

TYLER — Personnel with the UT Tyler Cowan Center are getting the word out about the facility’s recently-announced 18th season. The 2014-2015 highlights include Larry The Cable Guy, Justice Clarence Thomas, “Sister Act,” and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis Holiday Show. KTBB’s Bill Coates recently sat down with Cowan Center Executive Director Susan Thomae-Morphew for a full-length interview. You can go to Susan Thomae-Morphew Interview to hear their conversation in its entirety. Continue reading Cowan Center Continues Promoting 2014-2015 Season

EAST TEXAS — Marjorie Nugent’s family members are asking the state’s highest criminal court to hear their side as it weighs a motion that could free Bernie Tiede from a life sentence he was serving for Nugent’s murder. According to KETK, Nugent family spokesman Ryan Gravatt of Austin said Wednesday the family also has sent Panola County District Attorney Danny Buck Davidson a letter asking why he agreed Tiede should be freed after serving 15 years of a life sentence jurors handed him in 1999. Tiede left Carthage on special probation this past month after Davidson said he would have prosecuted Tiede under a lesser charge had newly uncovered evidence been available before the trial.

RUSK — Treatment continues for an Oncor worker injured while repairing a utility pole in Rusk. The worker was initially flown to a Tyler hospital following the Wednesday morning incident. He was then transferred to a Dallas hospital burn unit for further treatment. His name has not been released. Oncor spokesman Charles Hill told KETK a second crew was sent to repair major outages reported in the area. The incident is under investigation.

SEVEN POINTS – Henderson County authorities have arrested two suspects on a variety of narcotic charges. Landon Wayne Wyrick and Alona Betty Rodriguez, 32, were arrested as law officers executed a search warrant at a home in Seven Points just after 5:00 Wednesday morning. KETK reports officers recovered a quantity of suspected methamphetamine, suspected xanax and three handguns. Wyrick was charged with manufacture/deliver of a controlled substance penalty group 1 over four but under 20 grams. Rodriguez was charged with possession of a controlled substance

TYLER — Baylor University and Tyler Junior College officials Wednesday announced the creation of a formal Baylor Bound program that will help students transfer more easily between the two institutions and will also continue to expand educational opportunities for young people all across Texas. That’s according to a TJC news release. TJC President L. Michael Metke and Baylor President and Chancellor Ken Starr signed the partnership agreement during a ceremony in the board room of TJC’s White Administrative Services Building. According to the release, beginning in fall 2015, the Baylor Bound program will serve highly motivated TJC students who, upon meeting the program’s criteria, will transfer to Baylor toward the goal of completing their undergraduate degree. Continue reading Baylor, TJC Announce Partnership on New “Baylor Bound” Transfer Program

PALESTINE — A man convicted of trying to steal a Palestine ISD school bus full of students was sentenced by an Anderson County jury to 82 years in prison Tuesday. KETK reports Cedrick B. Lewis, 31, was convicted on 20 of 30 counts of aggravated kidnapping and one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle. He was sentenced to 80 years on each count of kidnapping; those sentences will run concurrently. The suspect will serve an additional two years for the motor vehicle conviction. He was also fined a total of $210,000. Continue reading 82 Years for Attempted Kidnapping of Students

WINONA — The city of Winona has canceled the boil water notice issued on Monday. According to City Administrator Bryan Richards, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has given permission to lift the notice and stated the water is safe. According to KETK, city officials first issued the notice after the chlorine pump at Well #5 failed and was replaced.

LINDALE — Many students, parents and now school superintendents are frustrated with the State Assessments of Academic Readiness test or better known as the STAAR test. According to KETK, Lindale ISD superintendent Stan Surratt wrote a letter to parents assuring them that this test does not define their kids. The letter is getting state wide attention, and a lot of other administrators are following suite. The Lindale ISD also got an overwhelmingly positive response from parents. Continue reading Lindale Superintendent Shared Thoughts About STAAR Test

SMITH COUNTY – A one vehicle accident in Smith County has left one person dead and one injured. Dead at the scene on Farm Road 14, near John Soules Foods, was Brandon Knowles, 26, of Tyler. Injured was a passenger, Leslie Wilkins, 23, of Tyler. The Department of Public Safety reports Knowles’ car was south bound when it left the road and overturned. The accident occurred Monday evening around 10:30.

LONGVIEW – In a meeting lasting just over two hours, Longview school trustees made no decision about their superintendent finalist. Controversy continues after an initial search narrowed the candidates down to current Assistant Superintendent Horace Williams. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report school board negotiations first stalled over Williams’ salary demands. Since Williams’ apparent appointment was made public, though, questions have been raised over his history. That most recently included filed grievances, questionable employee hiring, extensive travel logs and financial deficits at Cedar Hill schools, the Dallas-area district he previously served as superintendent.

LINDALE — Lindale police are warning of a scam in East Texas that has popped up locally. According to KETK, police say groups of men are calling people stating they are either federal agents or members of a federal Texas police force. The caller will then say the recipient has won money or applied for a grant. The scam is to get personal information or ask you to send money to secure funds to be transferred to your account. If a person does not cooperate, the callers begin a tirade of verbal abuse and repeated calling, according to authorities. Police ask you not to continue the call once you learn the scam has started. Law enforcement advises residents to hang up and continue to do so when the calls continue. Do not engage in conversation or arguments.

TYLER — Smith County has received the prestigious National Association of Counties Achievement Award for developing a first-of-its-kind electronic bond posting system that has streamlined the process of bonding individuals out of jail and saved the County thousands of dollars in labor. That’s according to a county news release. The “Smith County eBond Program” was awarded the Achievement Award for the category of Information Technology, which highlights outstanding innovation and advancement of information technology in county governments, according to the release. Continue reading County Receives National Award for eBond Program

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department is seeking the help of the public in identifying two people who are believed to have stolen a wallet from a vehicle and used the credit cards. The picture shows the suspects entering the Wal-Mart on Highway 64 West, where they allegedly charged hundreds of dollars on the stolen cards. According to KETK, if you recognize the people in the picture or know of their location, you should contact Detective Brock at (903) 535-0122.