KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The president and chief executive officer of Fair Oil Company, Bob Garrett, has been named chairman of the UT Health Northeast Development Board. Garrett succeeds Herb Buie, who led the board for 10 years. “First we want to thank Herb Buie for the outstanding job he did on our development board. And I am very excited to have Bob Garrett elected as our new board chairman,” said Dr. Kirk A. Calhoun, president of UT Health Northeast. “His energy, enthusiasm, and passion will inspire our 900 employees, scientists, and physicians to do an even better job for our patients and our community,” Dr. Calhoun said. Continue reading Bob Garrett to Chair UT Health Northeast Development Board

JEFFERSON — According to the Visit Jefferson Texas Facebook page, the first “Bed and Breakfast” in Texas caught fire early Wednesday morning. KETK reports the legendary Pride House in Jefferson sustained major damage in the blaze. Details are limited at this time, but we’ll update information as it becomes available.

HIDEAWAY — Neighbors in Hide-A-Way Lake, near Lindale, say they’re confused and upset about a recent investigation. It culminated with the firing of the property’s general manager. One resident who wants to remain anonymous tells KETK, “Everything’s on lock — it’s become this big secretive thing.” The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the community after receiving a complaint that the maintenance supervisor was getting a 50% kickback to cut down trees in the neighborhood. The resident also says the general manager of Hide-A-Way Lake, Dennis Godoy, has now been fired — and she claims this isn’t the first time she has been unhappy with the way things are run in her community. Continue reading Hide-A-Way Lake Probe Concerns Residents

TEXARKANA (AP) – A federal judge says a northeast Texas woman accused of sending ricin-laced letters to President Barack Obama and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is competent to stand trial. U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven said Shannon Guess Richardson is mentally competent for a trial during a brief hearing Wednesday in Texarkana. Richardson is accused of sending the letters to Obama, Bloomberg and a man who heads Bloomberg’s gun control organization. Richardson also pleaded not guilty Wednesday to two counts of mailing a threatening communication and one count of making a threat against the President of the United States. A federal affidavit alleges Richardson called authorities to implicate her husband before she was arrested in June in Mt. Pleasant. Richardson’s next court hearing is Sept. 11.

TYLER – A 40-year-old Mineola man has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking violations in East Texas. Larry James Hooks, Jr., pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine Wednesday in Tyler before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell. According to federal officials, on July 19, 2012, Hooks conspired with others to acquire and distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas and elsewhere. Hooks admitted to being responsible for assisting in the distribution of more than 34.8 grams of pure methamphetamine. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on March 27, 2013, charging Hooks and two others with drug trafficking violations. Hooks faces a minimum of five years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

ARMSTRONG COUNTY — Authorities say a Most Wanted Sex Offender with East Texas ties was captured this week in the Texas Panhandle after being on the lam for about two years. According to KETK, the Texas Department of Public Safety reports Doug Otis Sims, 32, of Center, was caught by deputies in Armstrong County on Monday. Officials say Sims attempted to evade police by using electrical tape to alter the numbers on his license plate. Continue reading Most Wanted Sex Offender from East Texas Caught in Panhandle

WHITEHOUSE– The Whitehouse municipal fire department is under ‘fire’ for a delayed response time when called to 207 Senter Avenue on Sunday, August 18th. Fire officials tell KETK, the blaze started around 1:00 a.m., that night, the homeowners were able to make it out on time, however their house was a total loss. Continue reading Fire Department Criticized for Response Time

LUFKIN — The name of the man found in a burned truck in Lufkin has been officially identified. DNA testing has confired that Efren Mora Elizondo, 47, of Lufkin, the vehicle owner, was the victim of the August 14 murder and vehicle fire. Continue reading Name of Man Found in Burned Truck Released

ODESSA (AP) — A man free on bond pending trial in two weeks for the death of a West Texas man has died in a fiery sport utility vehicle crash in East Texas. Clifford Paul Woods was set for trial in two weeks in Odessa in the November 2010 stabbing death of Brian Dillon, 29. Trooper David Hendry of the Texas Department of Public Safety tells the Odessa American that the 39-year-old suspect died when the SUV he was driving veered off a country road, slammed into a tree and burned. Sabine County Sheriff Tom Maddox tells the newspaper that Woods was unable to escape the vehicle and died in the flames of the Friday crash on FM 83 near Hemphill. Woods’ trial was to start September 9.

TEXARKANA (AP) — A Texas appeals court has upheld a lower-court ruling that allows the developer of the disputed Keystone XL oil pipeline to condemn Northeast Texas farm land for pipeline right of way. In a 29-page ruling handed down Tuesday, the 6th Texas Court of Appeals in Texarkana ruled unanimously that a Lamar County court-at-law judge was within his authority to allow TransCanada to condemn the right of way. In a statement, landowner Julia Trigg Crawford says she will appeal the ruling to the Texas Supreme Court. Continue reading Appeals Court: Condemnation for Texas Pipeline OK

TYLER — A 37-year-old Wills Point man has been sentenced to federal prison for firearms violations. Michael Jack Callaway pleaded guilty on November 20, 2012, to possession of an unregistered firearm. He was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. Callaway was also ordered to forfeit the shotgun and seven additional firearms to the government. According to federal prosecutors, on August 22, 2012, law enforcement officers found a short barrel shotgun among several rifles, pistols, and shotguns, as well as several hundreds of rounds of ammunition, when they ran a search warrant at Callaway’s residence. It is located on County Road 2144.

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court unanimously approved the Fiscal Year 2014 budget Tuesday. According to a news release, County Judge Joel Baker, who serves as the county’s budget officer, credits careful financial management and conservative budgeting for a budget that emphasizes the core functions of county government. “This budget meets our current service demands while it demonstrates cautious management of funds and careful planning for the future,” Judge Baker said. Continue reading Smith County Unanimously Approves 2014 Budget

TYLER – A 51-year-old Fruitvale man has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking violations in the east Texas. Billie Earl Johnson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine Tuesday in Tyler before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell. Continue reading Van Zandt County Man Guilty of Dealing Methamphetamine in East Texas

JACKSONVILLE — Some business owners in downtown Jacksonville are still feeling effects from the Yum Yum’s Restaurant fire in April. A few weeks ago, the city cleaned debris off the road and alley from the blaze, but people in the area say it’s not enough. Business owner Emily Griffin is next door to the former eatery. Her building was heavily damaged, and she has not been able to move back in. She tells KETK the city should take part in demolishing the building. The city maintains it’s private property and it has no jurisdiction. Neighbors say the eyesore will not help attract future development. KETK reports property owner Robert Lane has not returned phone calls seeking comment.

TYLER — Smith County has extended its burn ban for 90 more days. The Smith County Fire Marshal tells KETK the extension was voted on Tuesday morning by the County Commissioners Court. Grilling is permitted under the current burn ban with extreme caution and only within a vessel specifically designed for the preparation of food that contains all open flames and flammable materials. Continue reading Smith County’s Burn Ban Extended for 90 More Days

KILGORE — Police have identified the body of a woman who was found dead in the front seat of a car in Kilgore early Tuesday morning — and a man has been arrested for allegedly transporting the corpse. KETK reports the body of Amanda L. Woods, 30, of Kilgore, was found around 3:18 a.m., in a car near the area of FM 349 at the intersection of FM 2276. Police were originally dispatched on reports of an accident. Upon arrival, officials found a car in a ditch beside the road. It was then when Woods was discovered. The initial investigation revealed Woods may have been a homicide victim. Continue reading Body Identified in Kilgore; Man Arrested on Tampering Charge

TYLER – A 45-year-old Kilgore man has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking violations in east Texas. Paul Bryan Jones pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on August 26 before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love of Tyler. According to officials, on September 18, 2011, Jones possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it in the Eastern District of Texas. On that same day, law enforcement officers seized 17.26 grams of pure methamphetamine at Jones’ residence. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on February 27, 2013, charging Jones and three others with drug trafficking violations. Jones faces a minimum of five years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

WHITE LAKE, N.C. (AP) – A paratrooper from Longview, stationed at Fort Bragg, has drowned while swimming in White Lake, N.C. White Lake police Sgt. Terry Fell says 21-year-old Pvt. Jordan Miles was swimming with others at the lake last Saturday when he apparently hit his head on a pier. Rescuers were called and found his body about 20 minutes later. Fell says the drowning was ruled accidental. He said it’s the second drowning at White Lake in 2013. Miles was an intelligence analyst assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division.

MT. PLEASANT — A Mount Pleasant man has been placed in the Titus County Jail on allegations of burglarizing and torching a downtown Mt. Pleasant building early Sunday. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Police Chief Wayne Isbell said Edvardo Antonio Rodriguez, 23, was taken into custody on Washington Street a few blocks from KMPL-TV shortly after a fire was reported in the building on West 3rd Street, about 2:20am. Continue reading Mt. Pleasant Man Arrested in Arson Case

JACKSONVILLE — Officials say charitable donations will cover unpaid wages for ex-employees of defunct Lon Morris College. KETK says the announcement came in a news release. A few years ago, employees of the Jacksonville school began to see delays in their paychecks. After months of questions and confusion about the future of the school, most of the employees were notified of their ultimate termination by email in May of 2012. Lon Morris finally filed for bankruptcy later that summer. Continue reading Former Lon Morris Employees to Get Unpaid Wages Thanks to Donations

RUSK — A woman arrested after an April high speed chase in East Texas has been charged in the crime. Jennifer Cross, 33, was indicted on three counts of evading arrest and one count of tampering with physical evidence. According to authorities, Cross led state troopers on a chase along Highway 69 for more than 35 miles. Reports of the incident said one trooper was forced to stop Cross by spiking her car tires. Officials say she crashed into a street sign in Rusk.

TYLER — Along with a new school year, there are some changes to one East Texas school district. Following the 160.5 million dollar bond approved for the Tyler Independent School District, Robert E. Lee has seen some upgrades. A new iron fence now surrounds the perimeter of the entire campus. According to KETK, because of the new fence there are some new traffic rules until further notice. Continue reading New School Year, New Changes

NEW BOSTON (AP) – The estranged husband of a Texas woman charged with sending ricin-laced letters to President Barack Obama and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has won temporary custody of the couple’s newborn son. The Texarkana Gazette reports a judge in New Boston on Monday granted temporary custody to Nathaniel Richardson. He’s divorcing Shannon Guess Richardson, who remains in federal custody and faces a competency hearing Wednesday in Texarkana. The incarcerated woman gave birth July 4 to a premature son. She wasn’t present at the custody hearing. An affidavit says Shannon Richardson tried to implicate her husband in the ricin letters before her June 7 arrest in Mt. Pleasant. He has not been charged. Shannon Richardson has been accused of sending tainted letters to Obama, Bloomberg and to a leader of the mayor’s gun-control group.

TYLER — Opening day enrollment in the Tyler school district is off from opening day last year. First day enrollment for the 2013-2014 school year totaled 17,048, while enrollment for the first day of classes in the 2012-2013 school year was 17,319. School officials say first day of school enrollment numbers fluctuate from year to year, and District leaders anticipate enrollment changing in the coming weeks. Continue reading TISD Releases 1st Day of School Attendance Numbers

KEMP — Authorities are looking for a man the say entered the Kemp Junior High School and tried to abduct two girls. They say the man entered the school on August 19th, and approached the two students in an inappropriate way. School Superintendent Sam Swierc said on the district’s web site, “there was no abduction, kidnapping or assault as some sources are indicating.” Continue reading An Attempted Abduction at a Kemp School

LONGVIEW — One person has been seriously injured in a Longview shooting. It happened Sunday night shortly after 11:15 in the 300 Block of Hughes Street. The victim, who was able to call 9-1-1, told officers he opened the door and someone shot him. Officers found Michael Boyd, 40, lying on the floor inside the home. Longview police say Boyd was taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. The investigation is continuing.

LONGVIEW — If you’re driving through Gregg County, look around. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report that one in every six vehicles you see in the county is driven by someone who is uninsured — the highest rate in Northeast Texas. Farmers Insurance Agent Tony Glanton in Marshall said he’s seen his share of liability claims resulting from clients who are hit by uninsured drivers. “One out of every five liability claims I process deals with an accident involving an uninsured driver,” Glanton said. Continue reading One in Six Gregg County Drivers Uninsured

LONGVIEW — Sheriff Maxey Cerliano and the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office are requesting the public’s assistance in identifying suspects in multiple burglary and credit card abuse cases. In the early morning hours of Sunday, August 25th, Gregg County Deputies responded to several vehicle burglaries in the Tryon Road area of Gregg County. Unknown suspects took several personal items including wallets and credit cards from the vehicles. According to officials, surveillance video at a local convenience store shows the suspects and their vehicle when they were using one of the stolen credit cards. Anyone with information concerning the suspects is asked to contact Investigator Floyd Wingo at (903) 237-2532 or Crime Stoppers at (903) 236-STOP.

WINONA — The inside of a house in Winona was destroyed by fire Sunday afternoon. Firefighters tell KETK an air conditioner most likely sparked the flames. The fire was reported around 12:45 along the 1100 block of Dallas Street. Firefighters say a woman and her three kids were home at the time but all managed to get out safely.

TYLER — Police have captured a suspect in a robbery that occurred at Sonic, 102 Loop 323 NNW in Tyler. Police say the suspect was in possession of a vehicle stolen during the incident. At Approximately 12:44 Monday morning, officers observed the stolen Volkswagen Jetta pulling into the Food Fast located at 5120 Old Jacksonville Hwy in Tyler. The suspect, who was identified as Paul Brant Fowler 38, of Tyler, was taken into custody without incident. Fowler was booked into the Smith County Jail for robbery of individual. Continue reading Tyler Individual Robbed; Suspect Caught