KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department and other Smith County law enforcement agencies will be out in force during the New Year holiday on the lookout for drunken drivers, and they won’t be taking “no” for an answer. Starting Thursday and continuing through Sunday, a multi-joint effort between the Smith County District Attorney’s Office and police agencies from all over Smith County will participate in the “No-Refusal” DWI Campaign once again. Upon the arrest of a suspected drunk driver, he or she will be asked if they would submit to blow into a breath-test machine or take a blood test. If the driver refuses, officers will obtain an immediate search warrant signed by a judge on call to have blood drawn by a nurse on staff at the Smith County Jail. The blood is then analyzed to determine whether the driver’s blood-alcohol concentration is 0.08 or higher, the legal limit for driving in Texas.

Tyler police say this program has proven to be an effective tool to combat drunken drivers. According to a police department news release, it is the intent of all law enforcement agencies that this effort will act as a deterrent, persuading people to avoid driving while intoxicated because they know that police officers will be conducting sobriety testing with or without driver’s consent. Simply put, according to police: “Please don’t drink and drive!”

LONGVIEW — Police in Longview are investigating a hit-and-run accident that happened Tuesday evening shortly after 10:15. Police say Khanh Vu, 52, of Longview walked eastbound across the 900 block of Pine Tree Road, failed to yield right of way, and was struck by an oncoming vehicle. The vehicle then fled the area without stopping to provide aid. Khanh Vu was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Longview Police Department.

GLADEWATER – Authorities are currently investigating reports of possible vandalism in Gladewater after five fire hydrants were found with broken caps. City Manager Sean Pate says city officials received emergency text notifications around 4:00 Wednesday morning. Officials originally thought it was due to a water main break, but on arrival, they suspected someone had broken five hydrants. Water levels dropped drastically in the northeast part of town but are now back up to a sustainable level. Officials estimate half a million gallons of water was lost. Pate asks citizens in the area to conserve water until further notice. The city has filed a report, and the Gladewater police are investigating the case.

TYLER — Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert says caution is the byword as a Republican majority prepares for next year’s House session. Gohmert visited Wednesday with radio host Mark Steyn, subbing for Rush Limbaugh on KTBB. Gohmert said, “We’re right to be optimistic, but people can’t just put down their marching orders, they have got to continue pushing.” He cited the lame-duck passage of the tax extension bill, backed by many Republicans. Gohmert commented, “I was really shocked to hear people saying, on our side of the aisle, ‘We have to do this now, this is our best leverage.’” Gohmert says his party should have held out for a better option, remarking that Republicans should not have agreed to an additional 13 months of unemployment benefits.

LONGVIEW — Sheriff’s investigators and the Texas Rangers are investigating the early morning death of a woman who was in custody at the Gregg County Jail. Staff members found Amy Lynn Cowling, 33, of Gilmer unresponsive in a separation cell at the North facility before midnight Tuesday. Cowling was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center and was deceased on arrival. “Late Tuesday night, jailers discovered Cowling, and a team from the Medical Staff responded and immediately administered CPR to her,” Captain Mike Claxton said. Longview Fire Department paramedics were called to the facility at 12:22 a.m. and had picked up Cowling and arrived at the hospital trauma room by 12:39 a.m. Cowling had been in custody since December 24, 2010.

Sheriff’s procedure is that custodial death investigations are worked by the Rangers with assistance from Sheriff investigators. Judge B.H. Jameson ordered an autopsy examination be performed on Cowling at the Southeast Texas Forensic Center at Tyler. Authorities say it is likely that the results of that procedure will be learned in the coming days.

LONGVIEW — Police in Longview arrest two suspects in a Tuesday night robbery. Shortly before 9:45, officers were called to the 2900 block of McCann Road. The victim, Michael Jackson, Jr., told police that his wallet, cell phone, and GPS were taken from him while he was held at gunpoint. Officers say they located the suspects as they were attempting to leave the area. Kayldon Kelly, 22, and Renauldo Smith, 24, of Longview were arrested and charged with aggravated robbery.

JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville police are looking for two men they say were involved in a robbery earlier this week. It happened at Murphy’s gas station along South Jackson. Police say the men took more than $10,000 in cash and merchandise. Officers believe the same pair could be involved in similar robberies in the Jacksonville area.

GILMER — Upshur County commissioners are considering putting public commenting back on their agenda at Thursday’s meeting. Since commissioners banned public comments in September, some people have shown up with duct tape over their mouths and wearing shirts protesting the ban. Thursday’s meeting is the last one scheduled this year and the final meeting for two of the court’s current commissioners.

TYLER — Officials with Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics and Carter BloodCare say the blood supply is really low, and TMF and the other hospitals use a lot of blood. So, TMF and Carter are giving people an incentive to come give blood on Thursday: someone will win a $100 gift card to the mall and someone else will win a $100 gift card to Brookshire’s/Super One.

Here’s how it’ll work. The Carter BloodCare bloodmobile will be in the Trinity Clinic-Douglas parking lot, located at 520 Douglas in Tyler today from 8:00am until 4:00pm. If you donate between 8:00 and noon, you’re registered for the $100 mall gift card (Simon Properties gift card). If you donate between noon at 4:00 you’re registered for the $100 Brookshire’s/Super One gift card.

This drive is open to everyone, employees and the public, so you’re encouraged to bring your family and friends. Every donor gets a t-shirt. Also, Everyone will be registered for Carter BloodCare’s grand prize contest for a pair of suite tickets to the February 7 Dallas Mavericks game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Go to http://www.carterbloodcare.org/givelikeapro.aspx to read more about this contest. You can give blood if you haven’t donated in the last 8 weeks, are 17 or older, are feeling well, have eaten in the previous four hours, and have a valid I.D.

TYLER – A man has been injured in a Tyler fire. It was reported around 1:30 Wednesday morning in the 300 block of West Lorance. Reports from the scene say the man was burned on his face and upper body and has been taken to a Tyler Hospital. KETK reports an explosion at the scene was originally thought to be from live ammunition inside the home. But firefighters say it was actually from a power line that sparked as they were battling the blaze. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

ATHENS — An Anderson County woman has died in a Henderson County wreck. Dead at the scene Monday morning was Jenifer Rosemary Houston, 22, of Elkhart. The accident happened on State Highway 19 south of Athens. The Department of Public Safety reports her car was north bound around 6:00am when it veered off the road and hit a tree. She was not wearing a seat belt.

TYLER — Two men are in custody following an afternoon chase in Smith County. According to Sheriff’s Lt. Tony Dana, deputies spotted Tyrone Campbell, 33, and his brother Tyrus Campbell, 35, in the area of 69 north and County Road 429. Dana says the deputies knew the men had felony warrants. They attempted a traffic stop, and Dana says the suspects fled to the area of County Road 428. According to Dana, they then bailed out of the car and fled on foot. Dana says deputies captured and arrested them after a short foot chase. Tyrone had three previous bond violation warrants and a parole warrant. He was also charged with evading arrest and resisting arrest. Tyrus had a warrant for child support and was also charged with evading arrest and resisting arrest. Dana says both men have a history of evading police.

LONGVIEW — Authorities offer details on two Longview fires. The more serious of the two was reported around 1:00 yesterday morning. That’s when the Longview Fire Department responded to Towne Oak Apartments at 2501 Eastman Road, Building 200, for an apartment fire involving both floors and the attic. On arrival, crews found heavy fire coming from the downstairs and upstairs of apartments 200A and 200B. Due to the amount of fire involvement, a second alarm was called for. This resulted in all equipment in the city except for one engine and one medic unit to be committed. Elderville, West Harrison and White Oak each sent an engine to back fill three of the fire stations that were at the fire.

Three of the occupants living in the building sustained minor injuries. Two were transported to local hospitals, and the third did not want to be transported. One firefighter was transported to Longview Regional ER for exhaustion and dehydration. All occupants were able to self evacuate, and at least 4 dogs and a cat escaped the fire. The apartment manager was working on finding available units to relocate the 7 families affected by the fire. Fire damaged two of the apartments heavily including the roof structure. The adjacent apartments sustained minor smoke and limited water damage as a result of a very aggressive fire attack for the fire crews on scene. The cause of the fire is unintentional as a result of improper handling of smoking material.

At or around 6:00 Monday evening, the Longview Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 424 South Fredonia Street. On arrival fire crews found fire in the walls and ceiling of the living room adjacent to the fireplace. The occupants had modified the original brick fire place by adding a metal box. Due to the modification, fire extended beyond the fire place causing the surrounding combustible materials to ignite. No injuries were reported at this fire. Damages are estimated at about $25,000.

LONGVIEW — A pedestrian has been struck and killed by a train between Green Street and Fredonia Street in Longview. Officers responded around 5:44 Tuesday morning. When they arrived, they located an unidentified male who was deceased. A witness said the victim was walking down the railroad tracks waving at the train as it came towards him and he was ultimately struck and killed by the train. An autopsy was ordered by Judge Sam Lawson.

TYLER — More details are released in the Christmas Eve shooting death of Nicole Cartwright, 15, of Longview. According to Tyler police, investigators have learned that Nicole left Club REO in Longview to meet with family and friends, also from Longview, at a car wash on West Bow Street in Tyler. Once they were at the car wash, police say, a disturbance occurred in the parking lot involving four females in a gray or blue car with dark tinted windows, possibly a Pontiac, and a group of individuals in a red Dodge Challenger. Shots were fired, and Nicole was struck; she later died at a local hospital. Investigators say they’ve determined that Nicole was not involved in the disturbance and was not in either vehicle. Investigators are requesting assistance in identifying the females in the gray or blue car, as well as identifying the suspect or suspects involved in the shooting.

Sergeant Matt Smyser earlier said that around 1:30am officers answered a disturbance call meant for Williams Chicken at 1118 West Gentry. While police were en route, shots were fired, and when officers arrived, the victim was found at the car wash, at 1103 West Bow. You’re asked to call Tyler police at 903-531-1000 or Crimestoppers at 903-597-CUFF if you have any helpful information.