KTBB News, Weather, Talk

GILMER — Another defendant in the case of a mentally disabled Longview man’s murder was sentenced Thursday in an Upshur County courtroom. KETK reports Sarah Haslam pleaded guilty to the murder of Ronnie Gammage in December 2012. She was sentenced to life in prison. The Upshur County District Attorney had planned to seek the death penalty for Haslam. Haslam was one of three defendants in the case and is the second to be sentenced. Another defendant, Daniel Jones, entered into a plea agreement in October 2013, and received a life sentence without an opportunity for parole. The third defendant, Andrew Norwine, is still in jail awaiting trial. Continue reading Woman Pleads Guilty, Gets Life in Beating Death of Longview Man

LONGVIEW — Brittany Ashby’s maternal instincts took over Tuesday night when a house fire forced her to escape through a second-story window with two small children in tow. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Ashby was about to tuck her 2-month-old son Gunner and his 1-year-old sister Sophie in bed when she smelled smoke. She tried to find out where it was coming from but only made it to a smaller room beside hers. “The smoke was already so strong. I couldn’t go any further. I panicked and grabbed my kids, and I went to the window and the smoke was filling up the house,” she said Thursday afternoon speaking from her hospital bed at Good Shepherd Medical Center, where she was hospitalized for smoke inhalation. “I put my daughter out the window first, then I got my son out,” she said, adding the flames started pouring out of the window after them. “I had to act fast because I felt like I was about to pass out.” Continue reading More Information Released on Major Longview House Fire

TYLER – A Smith County Jail inmate has died of an apparent suicide. Officials say John Hays, 45, of Tyler, was found unresponsive in his cell at 8:42 p.m. on February 26. Hays died by apparently hanging himself in his shower with a piece of bedding material. The announcement of Hays’s death was delayed until his family could be notified, according to a news release from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. Continue reading Smith County Inmate Apparently Takes His Own Life

TYLER — The Rusk TJC Citizens Promise, the first scholarship program of its kind in Texas, may fund two years at Tyler Junior College for the top 50 percent of qualifying Rusk High School graduates. A TJC news release says the new initiative, announced during Thursday’s TJC board meeting, begins with the Rusk High School graduating class of 2014. The Rusk TJC Citizens Promise covers $4,000 per year (for two years) for each qualifying student who graduates in the top half of the class. Continue reading Rusk TJC Citizens Promise Funds TJC Scholarships for Rusk Graduates

LONGVIEW — A Gladewater man is being held on bonds totaling $110,000 after being charged with multiple child sex offenses. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Jeffrey Ray Willoughby, 27, appeared Wednesday morning before 188th District Court Judge David Brabham to hear the charges against him. Acting on the recommendation of prosecutor Pamela Ibeh, Brabham set Willoughby’s bond at $50,000 each on the two charges of continuous sexual abuse of a child younger than 14 and $10,000 on a charge of forgery. Willoughby said in court he did not understand what a bond or court-appointed counsel meant. “This is my first time in jail,” he told the judge. “I don’t know about this bond stuff or whatever.” Continue reading Bond Set at $110K in Child Sex Case

TYLER — A Tyler jury has sentenced a Louisiana man to prison and fined him following his conviction of manufacturing and delivery of a controlled substance. Officials say he was found in possession of over a pound of methamphetamine by a DPS trooper. A jury in the 114th State District Court had earlier convicted Joseph Pierce, 35, of Greenwell Springs, Louisiana. After deliberating Wednesday afternoon, Pierce was sentenced to 70 years in state prison. He was also fined $250,000.

LONGVIEW — A stabbing has sent two men to the hospital and then to the Gregg County jail. The men had gotten into a fight late Tuesday night in the 1700 block of Lakeshore Drive. Chase Caldwell Ramirez, 21, received a chest wound and Cody Ryan Eaves, 22, was stabbed in the hand. Both men have been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has approved the plans for a brand new all-inclusive playground at Southside Park. The Tyler Area AMBUCS, Tyler Sunrise Rotary, the City of Tyler, and Child’s Play Incorporated of Dallas have teamed together to design the playground. The proposed all-inclusive playground would replace the current structure at Southside Park. It would be funded through donations from the community. Continue reading City Acts on Proposed New Playground at Southside Park

TYLER – The Tyler City Council Wednesday approved initial plans for an arts and innovation center presented by the Arts Task Force. In July of 2013, Mayor Barbara Bass appointed a task force to make recommendations to the City Council regarding the potential use of parts or all of the S.A. Lindsey Building at Elm Street and Broadway Avenue as an arts and innovation center. The S.A. Lindsey Building was gifted to the City of Tyler in 2010 by the R.W. Fair Foundation and the Fair Estate. It is located at 123 S. Broadway Ave. and is currently vacant. The structure has eight floors and more than 50,000 square feet of space. Continue reading Arts Center Task Force Recommendations for S.A. Lindsey Building

NACOGDOCHES — The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office has been making arrangements to transport a teenager back home after she was found safe in Lubbock. An Amber Alert for 15-year-old Noemi “Mimi” Vasquez of Nacogdoches was discontinued Wednesday afternoon, and a man wanted for her kidnapping was taken into custody. KETK reports Juan Delacruz, 28, was arrested at a job site on the Texas Tech campus by FBI officials and Lubbock police. Shortly after taking Delacruz into custody, law enforcement authorities were able to find Mimi, who was in a nearby motel room. She had been reported missing Monday night.

TYLER – Authorities are investigating new information connected to Tuesday’s shooting death of a Smith County woman. According to a sheriff’s office news release, an incident took place on CR 333 at approximately 8:00 a.m., prior to the murder, relating to numerous shots being fired near suspect Adrian Mata’s residence. Authorities say this was not reported to the sheriff’s office at the time of the event, but was learned during the investigation. The release says the sheriff’s office is still searching for the medium gray PT Cruiser in which the suspect reportedly fled. Continue reading More Charges Possible in Woman’s Death

TYLER – Smith County authorities say they’ve caught and arrested a fleeing burglary suspect and his suspected colleague — and it’s believed that additional burglaries may be cleared from the two arrests. Wednesday morning at approximately 6:05, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a call of a burglary in progress at the Chapel Hill Storage facility located on FM 3226 northeast of Chapel Hill. Multiple Sheriff’s units responded to this call. Upon arrival of the first two units, they observed a man entering a white Dodge pickup, which was parked at the rear of the storage facility. The individual fled the scene in the Dodge truck. Authorities say a pursuit ensued for several miles, resulting in the Dodge pickup crashing in a subdivision off East Side Road. Continue reading Authorities Arrest Two Burglary Suspects

AUSTIN – The battle for endorsements continues in the hotly-contested Texas House District 6 race, focusing of late on the medical front. The Texas Radiological Society political action committee (TRS-PAC) Wednesday announced its endorsement of Skip Ogle, who’s challenging incumbent Matt Schaefer in the GOP primary. Continue reading Ogle Gets Radiological Society PAC Endorsement

TYLER – Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler has achieved a place on Healthgrades America’s 100 Best Hospitals list. Healthgrades is an online resource that helps consumers search, evaluate, compare, and connect with physicians and hospitals. According to a news release from Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics, Healthgrades evaluated nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide based on objective measures of clinical performance. Trinity Mother Frances officials say this represents five years of advanced and continuous clinical quality excellence and patient care for Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler. “We are very proud to be included in this elite group of hospitals,” said Dr. Barbara Allen, Vice President of Medical Affairs.

COLUMBUS, GA. (AP/Staff) – An Arkansas man has been sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison after prosecutors say he called in bomb threats from Longview to the Carmike Cinemas’ headquarters in Georgia. Prosecutors say Keith Bowers, 59, of Jessieville, Ark., was sentenced yesterday. Bowers pleaded guilty in December to making two calls from Longview in August 2012 to Carmike’s headquarters in Columbus. Prosecutors say he used a “Hispanic accent” and said he was unhappy that Carmike underpaid immigrant workers for cleaning. He said he would detonate a bomb during a screening of “The Expendables.” Prosecutors say Bowers provided cleaning services to businesses, including Carmike, and was angry about rivals he said used immigrant labor and could undercut his bids.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man is in custody for allegedly endangering his 11-year-old daughter, who has been hospitalized in Dallas. KETK reports Longview police were called to 401 High Street around 10:30 Sunday night for reports of someone injured in the roadway. According to Officer Kristie Brian, the girl said that she and her father had gone to the store and when they left, he started “driving crazy.” The child says she wasn’t sure if her father was trying to kill himself or kill her, but she became afraid for her life. The girl then opened her door and jumped out of the vehicle while it was traveling at a high rate of speed. According to reports, she had facial fractures, a skull fracture, and brain bleeding. Her condition is unknown at this time. Continue reading Man Arrested for Child Endangerment; Daughter in Dallas Hospital

GLADEWATER — A paid study of Gladewater’s police department is complete — and KETK reports the results are not pretty. The study was conducted by former Dallas Police Chief Bill Rathburn, with the $22,000 assessment paid for by Gladewater’s city council. Rathburn told the council its department performs poorly and has no leadership. The report also accuses some in the department of mistreatment toward African-Americans in town. Rathburn’s study was conducted under the former police chief. He says new Chief Robert Vine can use the study as a blueprint to turn the department around.

MARSHALL — Harrison County investigators have issued a warrant for the arrest of Thorsten Nirmaier, 42, of Longview. KETK reports the warrant is the result of an investigation into the Schlumbeger parts warehouse burglary that occurred on February 14 in western Harrison County. Anyone with information on Nirmaier’s whereabouts is asked to call Kevin Johnson at the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office at 903-923-4000 or Crimestoppers at 903-935-9969.

TYLER — The issue of water is front and center for Eric Opiela, one of five agriculture commissioner candidates in the March 4 GOP primary. Opiela joined KTBB for a phone interview Tuesday. He terms himself a rancher and property rights advocate who splits his time between Karnes City and Austin. Opiela says the state needs an ag chief who has his experience with water concerns, calling water “the number one issue impacting the future of agriculture in this state.” Continue reading Opiela Brings Campaign to East Texas

HOUSTON (AP/Staff) – Following his arrest in Gladewater, an ex-neighbor has been charged in the December fatal stabbing of a 72-year-old woman whose body was found in her burned Houston-area home. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office says Ethen Drake, 21, has been charged with capital murder. Investigators believe he stole cash and drugs from Caroline Stagner, then set her house on fire. Stagner’s body was discovered December 13 by firefighters. Authorities say the victim’s discarded pill bottles labeled with her name were discovered about three blocks from her home and near where the suspect’s parents still live. An affidavit released Tuesday says Drake was arrested in Gladewater, where he faces similar charges of taking pills and money from a home and setting it on fire. He was arrested last month and faces being returned to Harris County.

RUSK COUNTY — A Rusk County resident has been taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas after being injured in a fire at his home. Several fire departments were called to the scene off Highway 42, just north of Farm to Market Road 2012 yesterday morning. Firefighters tell KETK that Phillip Wayne Williams, 42, was hospitalized locally after receiving several burns. He was later transferred to Parkland for additional treatment. A fund has been set up for Williams at Citizens Bank in Kilgore.

WINONA — Winona Elementary was temporarily evacuated Tuesday morning after reports of a gas leak in the school. Winona ISD tells KETK that an odor was detected. The school immediately took precautions and evacuated all students, faculty, and staff. All students were transferred to the high school while the city came out to investigate the problem. According to the city, the school is fine and all students got clearance to return to the school by mid-morning.

TYLER — The man accused in a fatal shooting at Broadway Square Mall now has an attorney. Ricky Neal Jr. was appointed an attorney in Judge Kerry Russell’s court. Neal is charged with murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. According to KETK, he’s accused of killing Chris Mass, 23, outside Broadway Square Mall last February. Neal’s trial is set to begin April 28th. Continue reading Trial Date Set in Fatal Mall Shooting

LINDEN — Good Shepherd Health System is announcing it is closing a Northeast Texas Hospital and two clinics. Closing on April 30th is the 25 bed Good Shepherd Medical Center – Linden, and Good Shepherd Medical Associated Family Health Centers in Linden and Hughes Springs. According to a news release from the hospital system, the closings are the results of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement cuts to hospitals, a pending loss of the Critical Access Hospital status, a cut in Medicare reimbursements from the federal sequester and low patient usage. Around 100 jobs will be lost as a result of the closures.

WASHINGTON (AP/Staff) — Governors are quoting President Barack Obama as saying he expects to decide on the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline in the next couple of months. Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman, a Republican who supports the pipeline, said Obama was asked about Keystone Monday at a White House meeting with about 40 governors. Heineman and Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin said Obama told governors he expects a decision “in the next couple of months,” but didn’t offer a specific timetable. Fallin, a Republican who chairs the National Governors Association, also supports Keystone. The southern leg of the pipeline began transporting oil in January. That leg runs through much of East Texas, including eastern Smith County. Continue reading Obama to Act On Keystone in ‘a Couple of Months’

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected the National Rifle Association’s appeals over limits on the gun rights of young adults. Justices have upheld a Texas regulation that prohibits most 18-to-20 year olds from carrying a handgun outside the home.

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit will receive two bullet-proof vests, thanks to a nationwide Groupon Event. The Sheriff’s Office says two dogs, Lanny and Endy, will receive their vests, which will protect them from both stabbings and bullets, in approximately 14 weeks. The “Occasions” campaign for Groupon Grassroots, which was launched to outfit police K9s with bullet and stab protective vests, runs through March 5th.
Continue reading SCSO K9 Unit to Receive Bullet-Proof Vests

TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for a teenage girl who has been missing since Christmas Day. KETK reports authorities are searching for Antonia Lobato, 14. She is a Hispanic female with brown hair and brown eyes. She is 5 feet 2 inches and weighs 120 pounds. At this time, there is no description of the clothing in which she was last seen. Anyone who knows of her whereabouts should contact Tyler Police at 903-531-1000.

HENDERSON — Rusk County officials are knocking on wood and crossing their fingers that the county’s lack of fatalities on roadways since the new year will continue. Sgt. David Roberts, spokesman for the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, said Thursday that no fatal wrecks have occurred in the county since Jan. 1. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, almost 30 people were killed on Rusk County roadways in 2013, prompting county officials to take action. Roberts said he can’t pinpoint one reason for the change, but said educating young people about the dangers of texting and driving has resulted in a change in attitude of students.