KTBB News, Weather, Talk

GILMER — A two vehicle accident north of Gilmer has left one person dead and one injured. The wreck was reported shortly after 6:15 Tuesday night on State Highway 155, about 11 miles north of Gilmer. Dead at the scene was Elisha Gilliam Sablan, 33, of Avinger. Injured was the driver of the other car, Ann Laura Yazak of Alba. She is listed in good condition at Tyler’s Mother Francis Hospital. The head on collision remains under investigation.

TYLER — A firearms violation is sending a Henderson county man to prison for 75 months. Robbie Devon Wilkins, 31, of Athens, was sentenced in Tyler federal court Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Michael Schneider. Federal prosecutors say last December, Wilkins sold a semi-automatic rifle to another individual for $500. The rifle had been stolen during a burglary of WULF Outdoor Sports store in Athens on December 14, 2009. Wilkins admitted that he knew the rifle was stolen property when he sold it. Wilkins was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6, 2010 and charged with federal firearms violations.

TYLER — Smith County sheriff’s deputies are credited with saving a woman from her submerged car. The Department of Public Safety reports the woman’s car, for some reason veered off Lake Placid Road, struck a bridge culvert and ended up in the water. The accident happened around 10:00 Tuesday night. The woman was not seriously injured and is being treated at Mother Frances Hospital. The accident remains under investigation.

TYLER — Smith County is putting the old Carlton Hotel up for sale. Now known as the Smith County Office Building, the 90,000 square feet, multi story building on West Elm Street now only houses the administrative offices of the sheriff’s department. They will be moving out early next year. Bids for the building will be accepted by the county through 2:00pm on Wednesday, January 5th.

TYLER – City crews are getting ready today for the Christmas season, placing an approximately 28-foot tree on the square. The tree was donated by Jackie and Debbie Merket of Merket Christmas Tree Farm in Beckville. Crews will place the finishing touches on decorations next Monday and Tuesday. The activity is in preparation of the 25th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony to be held Thursday, December 2nd.

TYLER – A 43-year-old Athens man has been sentenced in Tyler to federal prison for child pornography violations. James Clifford Hendrix pleaded guilty on June 2, 2010, to possession of child pornography and was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider.

According to information presented in court, on Aug. 15, 2008, Hendrix mailed his laptop computer to a computer repair business in Florida. During the repair, employees discovered images of child pornography and notified law enforcement authorities. A federal search warrant was obtained and executed at Hendrix’s home, during which an additional computer was located which also contained child pornography images. An analysis of the computers revealed approximately 42 videos and 49 photographs of child pornography. Some of the material depicted children less than 12 years of age engaged in sadistic or masochistic conduct. Hendrix was indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 4, 2009.

TYLER — The City of Tyler Traffic Engineering Department has begun installation of new poles and traffic signals in the downtown. The installation of the signals at 14 intersections is expected to take 4-6 weeks. Funding for the project came from a $1,005,700 U.S. Department of Energy grant to improve the efficiency of vehicular traffic in the downtown area. The plans call for the replacement of the existing signal equipment including poles, signal heads, control boxes, wiring, pedestrian signals and communication systems. “The poles and signal heads for this project were selected to match the historic ambience of the downtown,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel. “The enhanced performance as well as the historic appearance is a tremendous improvement in the downtown.”

Currently, the system is operated on a fixed time basis, which cannot be adjusted to meet varying traffic demands. The new system will utilize camera detection that officials say will allow for more efficient operation. The camera detection identifies a waiting vehicle and changes the signal as warranted. This allows the more heavily traveled corridor to have the majority of green time. “The equipment now in use dates back to the 1950’s,” said Traffic Engineer Peter Eng. “As these signals age and become inoperable, it has been increasingly difficult to locate replacement parts as they are no longer manufactured. This funding will allow the complete replacement of these obsolete signalized intersections.”

The grant was part of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG), authorized in Title V, Subtitle E of the Energy Independent and Security Act (EISA), signed into law on Dec. 19, 2007. This grant was made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

HENDERSON — Last Wednesday, the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office investigated allegations of a child sex assault. The investigation has now resulted in the arrest of 22-year-old Geraldo Rubio Vasquez of Longview. KETK reports Vasquez was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, which is a first-degree felony. Vasquez was arraigned by Rusk County Justice of the Peace Precinct 5 Bob Richardson, who set his bond at $40,000. Vasquez is currently being held at the Rusk County Jail. The Henderson Police Department and the Longview Police Department assisted in the investigation.

TYLER — Smith County Purchasing Director Kelli Davis was elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Texas Public Purchasing Association (TxPPA) in 2011 by fellow association members during the TxPPA Annual Conference hosted in Tyler this month. Mrs. Davis was nominated for the post by current Board Member and Past TxPPA President Jack Beacham, Purchasing Director for Tarrant County. She says she is looking forward to beginning her term in January. “I am excited for the opportunity to serve the Texas Public Purchasing Association and represent Smith County and all of East Texas in the upcoming year,” Mrs. Davis said. “It has been an honor to be elected.”

Mrs. Davis has been commended over the past year for her efforts to create an interlocal community purchasing co-op among East Texas cities, counties and regional government bodies, to help all members benefit from low group purchasing prices. “Mrs. Davis is absolutely the quality of purchasing professional to take TxPPA to its next level of success,” Beacham said in a letter nominating Mrs. Davis. “She will make an outstanding contribution to this association and will be one of the future leaders in Texas Public Procurement.” During the conference, which brought approximately 300 public purchasing directors from across the state to Tyler, Mrs. Davis was also awarded with the 2010 Presidential Award of Merit in Appreciation of Outstanding and Dedicated Service to TXPPA.

AUSTIN (AP/Staff) – A House investigative committee has declined to take action in an inquiry into allegations that allies of Republican Texas House Speaker Joe Straus threatened to use redistricting to punish his political adversaries. Rep. Chuck Hopson of Jacksonville, chairman of the House General Investigating and Ethics Committee, said Tuesday the committee did not have sufficient evidence of misconduct. The committee spent more than three hours behind closed door questioning lawmakers involved. Rep. Larry Phillips, a high ranking member of the committee, was identified as the source of the threats. Phillips said he would step aside from his official duties during the proceedings.

The probe is getting under way as Straus, considered too moderate by some, faces a challenge from two conservative Republicans who want his job when the Legislature reconvenes in January. Mineola Republican Representative Bryan Hughes is sticking by his story. Hughes says a threat was made in a phone conversation with Phillips — but Phillips says he never made such a threat.

LANEVILLE – A man is wanted in an alleged wife-beating incident in East Texas. According to KETK, the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office got an aggravated assault call Saturday morning at a house on County Road 4170 South in Laneville. Deputies found a 63-year-old woman who had been assaulted in her home. The woman was severely beaten and later admitted to a local hospital because of the injuries she sustained from the assault. She told deputies her estranged husband attacked her, gathered some of his belongings– including a gun — and left the house. The suspect, 68-year-old Ernest Maynard Brinkmann, drove away in a 2010 Red Jeep Cherokee Laredo, with the Texas License Plate BG5 J079. Investigators have gotten a warrant for Brinkmann’s arrest. They say he may have a gun and is considered dangerous. If you see him, you’re asked to call authorities right away.

TYLER — Tyler police investigators have charged the mother of deceased one-year-old Jeremy Silva for abandoning or endangering a child, a state jail felony. The mother is identified as 19-year-old Emma Torres of Tyler. Police say Torres had left her two children ages one and four alone in her residence while her boyfriend had taken her to work in Lindale Tuesday morning.

Tyler Police responded to Mother Frances Hospital at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday to investigate Jeremy’s death. The child was picked up at his residence located at 114 N. Ross and transported to the hospital by his aunt. The child showed signs of physical abuse and was pronounced dead on arrival by emergency room personnel. Tyler Police Investigators were called to the hospital to investigate the incident. The cause of death has not been determined at this time. An autopsy has been ordered and will be conducted at Southwest Forensics in Dallas. The investigation continues, and police say further details will be released as they develop.

TYLER — Tyler’s PATH agency is lauding community participation in its annual Coats for Kids drive. PATH held the coat drive throughout October and distributed those coats Saturday and Sunday. People lined up around the building across from PATH to wait patiently for their turn to pick out new coats for their children. “It was a huge success despite the mild weather,” said Becky Duncan, community outreach coordinator for PATH. “We always worry that people may not be thinking about coats if we haven’t really experienced ‘coat’ weather.’ The timing was actually perfect considering the cold front we’re expecting for Thanksgiving. We were thrilled to see so many people come and even more thrilled to see the smiles on the faces of the kids who got to pick out their new coats.”

87 volunteers helped sort coats, get the children the sizes they need and helped them try them on. 1,185 children and their families attended the distribution over the past weekend. Any remaining coats will be given to St. Paul Children’s Foundation, Goodwill and the Emerald Bay Benevolence Center. New and gently-used coats were given out. Gently-used coats were cleaned for free by area dry cleaners including Lucky’s Cleaners, VIP Cleaners, Hart’s Cleaners, Eagle Cleaners, Shannon’s Cleaners, Gentry Dry Cleaners, Dry Clean Super Center, Regency Cleaners, Lindale Cleaners and The Cleaning Company. PATH is issuing thanks to all the volunteers, the dry cleaners and those who donated coats or funds to buy Coats for Kids.

TYLER — Brookshire Grocery Co. announces it is huddling with Kraft Foods to tackle hunger in East Texas. Brookshire Grocery Co. is part of Kraft Foods’ Huddle to Fight Hunger, which is the food company’s largest branded hunger-relief program designed to achieve a significant goal: give 20 million meals or more to Feeding America. On Tuesday, Brookshire Grocery Co. and Kraft Foods presented a $10,000 check to the East Texas Food Bank, part of the Feeding America network. To celebrate the launch of Huddle to Fight Hunger locally, Brookshire Grocery Co. and Kraft Foods are donating the monetary equivalent of 70,000 meals to Feeding America on behalf of local food banks in the area, as well as encouraging local residents to join the team.

“Hunger is a very serious issue in our country that often goes overlooked,” said Rick Ellis, Senior Vice President/Chief Marketing Officer, Brookshire Grocery Co. “Sadly, 49.1 million Americans, or one in six of our neighbors struggle to put food on their tables. That’s why we’ve joined Kraft Foods in their ambitious effort and are encouraging members of the community to huddle with us to address this problem. It can’t be overlooked anymore.”

Huddle to Fight Hunger combines three things Americans are passionate about – football, food and helping others. To reach the end zone, Kraft Foods has huddled together its power brands and high-profile celebrities including football legend Joe Montana, sports journalist Erin Andrews and chefs Pat and Gina Neely to champion the cause. The company also coordinated a variety of marketing support vehicles, such as consumer incentives, high-impact media like cinema, newspaper and magazine ads, a major public relations campaign, as well as social and mobile activities. The campaign will culminate in San Francisco on January 9, 2011, with the first-ever Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl featuring college football teams from the WAC and PAC-10.

“Having supported Feeding America for decades, we want to make sure everyone knows how committed we and our partners like Brookshire Grocery Co. are to reaching our goal,” said Lisa Mann, Vice President of Consumer Experiences, Kraft Foods. “So we’re pulling out all the stops – we’ve secured great celebrity partners to help champion the cause, enlisted the support of our brands and partners and coordinating a series of local events like those that Brookshire Grocery Co. has planned in East Texas across the country.”

Local residents can help Kraft Foods meet and exceed their donation goal by visiting http://www.HuddleToFightHunger.com to learn about all the ways they can get in the game. For each person that joins the “Huddle” on the site, Kraft Foods will donate one meal donation to his or her local Feeding America food bank.

TYLER — A Smith County teen was arrested Sunday night for attacking his family with a baseball bat. Deputies say Joshua Bill Copeland, 19, got into an argument with two of his brothers and when Copeland went for the bat, another relative called 911. When authorities arrived, he put the bat down and went for a knife. He’s charged with four counts of aggravated assault, three of those against officers and one against a relative.

TYLER — The largest shopping day of the year, commonly called Black Friday, is approaching fast and auto burglars will shop the easy way, by stealing your gifts, purses wallets, packages or other valuables you leave in plain sight inside your vehicle.

Authorities say, every 2 ½ minutes, a vehicle is burglarized in Texas with its contents stolen. These crimes escalate during this time of year when people increase shopping and do not take the necessary precautions to protect personal items left in a vehicle. Auto burglars scout shopping malls and other large parking lots, waiting for the opportunity to break into a vehicle. Within seconds, they take your items, your identity, and sometimes, your car. Drivers need to understand careless actions with vehicles and items left inside actually help auto burglars and thieves.

The Tyler Police Department offers these basic safety tips to motorists and shoppers
to prevent these crimes from occurring during the holiday season.

1) Do not follow too closely to the vehicle in front of you, slow your vehicle
speed down, don’t run red lights and please don’t Drink and Drive.

2) Hide your belongings and gifts from eyesight and lock them in your trunk or
cover them.

3) Lock your car, take the keys, and be aware of your surroundings at all times.

4) Do not be a victim of a Pigeon Drop. Suspects will make you think you are
going to get a large amount of money and end up taking all of yours.

Officials say suspects will usually want to take you to your bank or ATM machine and these scams normally involve large sums of money. The department will have an increased patrol presence in shopping areas by providing bike officers and patrol officers.

OVERTON — A man walking his dog has stumbled across a body in an Overton alley. The body of the woman, thought to be in her mid 50s, was found Sunday afternoon. Authorities believe it’s a woman who had recently moved to the area from Florida. Her name has not been released pending notification of relatives. Foul play is not suspected but an autopsy has been ordered and the investigation is continuing.

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University’s “Sting” Precision Flight Team won first place overall, first place in ground events and third place in the flying events at the recent National Intercollegiate Flying Association’s 2010 Region IV SAFECON competition. It was hosted by Central Texas College in Killeen, Texas. The team’s first place overall win at regionals qualifies the students to compete May 16-21, 2011 in Columbus, Ohio at The Ohio State University.

“This is the third consecutive year we have won first place in this competition,” said Brad Wooden, assistant chief flight instructor, faculty advisor and team coach. “Weather played a role in the scheduling of events this year. Tuesday, the weather was cold, rainy and windy, so we weren’t able to practice landings. All the ground events were completed on Wednesday. Thursday was too windy to safely do landings, so navigation and message drop were held. Landings were done on Friday when wind died down.”

LeTourneau competes regionally with schools in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

Members of the 2010-11 “Sting” Precision Flight Team from LeTourneau University are, pictured from left, Rachel Ballou, Michael Felts, Caleb Waite, Brandon McCann, Sam Myers, Steve Hederstedt, Bennett Hoogewerf, Jered Gebel, Patrick Harney, Stephanie Amavisca, Ken Misiak, Alex Minium, Chad Mertz, Jessie Mellon, Marc Gravelle and Daniel Johnson.

CANTON — The Sheriff’s Association of Texas awarded a $500 scholarship to Arlene Holt, daughter of James and Kristi Holt of Wills Point. The scholarship was presented by Sheriff R. P. “Pat” Burnett, Jr. This was one of many scholarships awarded by the Sheriff’s Association of Texas all over the state. This is a by-product of being an associate member of the Sheriff’s Association of Texas along with Officers receiving free training. Ms. Holt is attending the University of North Texas in Denton and is majoring in English. Pictured are Sheriff Burnett and Arlene and Kristi Holt.

TYLER — The economy doesn’t seem to be affecting people’s plans for a big Thanksgiving feast. Sam Greenberg with Greenberg Smoked Turkeys in Tyler says business is booming this year. Initially, he expected to sell about 200,000 birds. But now he says, “If Thanksgiving is any indication, that won’t be enough this year. I have never seen anything like our demand this year — and it looks like the consumer is back.” Most of Greenberg’s sales are done online, but the company has started providing turkeys through Central Market Stores.

TYLER (Staff/AP) – The Chapel Hill murder case that sent shock waves throughout East Texas is still pending. According to KETK, Amanda Anderson’s 15-year-old brother Nathaniel, who has been accused of her murder, was ordered held in the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center for another 10 days after a detention hearing in Tyler Monday morning. Assistant DA Tonda Curry tells the Tyler Morning Telegraph that Nathaniel is charged with delinquent conduct because he is a juvenile — too young to be charged with murder unless certified to stand trial as an adult. Attorneys J. Brett Harrison, Buck Files and Jennifer Deen will be representing Anderson. Tyler attorney Cynthia Kent has been appointed as the boy’s guardian, since his parents are also the victim’s parents. So far, plans for Nathaniel to be tried as an adult have not yet been sought. The next hearing in the case will be on December 6th.

AUSTIN — Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples has officially recognized the city of Henderson as a GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Community (CRC). The CRC Program helps communities attract retirees and potential retirees to make their homes in Texas. Henderson is the 39th community in the state to be certified.
“I extend my most sincere congratulations to the citizens and leaders of Henderson for achieving this notable certification,” Commissioner Staples said. “Not only do retirees have a significant economic impact on the regions in which they reside, but they also bring a wealth of knowledge and energy to community service, employment and business.” To become a CRC, communities must complete an application and retirement desirability assessment covering a wide range of topics.

LONGVIEW — Longview Police along with the assistance of the Gregg County Organized Drug Enforcement Unit executed a narcotics search warrant at 213 South Houston Street Friday around 1:45. Authorities found a quantity of methamphetamine and GHB was also located. Timothy “Timbo” Hutchison of Longview was arrested and charged with possession of controlled substance and delivery of controlled substance.

TYLER — An arrest has been made in a Monday morning stabbing incident in Tyler. Police responded to 518 West Selman around 6:00 on a disturbance call. Investigators determined that two neighbors who both live in separate apartments in the same large residence were involved in an argument. Police allege that Joshua Ishiah Malina, 20, stabbed Marcus Williams, 31, several times with a knife during the altercation. According to police, Williams was transported to East Texas Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries, and Malina fled the scene on foot.

Police say during the investigation, Malina showed back up at the scene of the incident and was taken into custody by police. Malina was charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and placed into the Smith County Jail with a $100,000 dollar bond.

TYLER — The Chapel Hill teen charged in the shooting death of his sister is scheduled for a hearing today. Amanda Anderson, 18, was found 8 weeks ago murdered in her Chapel Hill home. Her brother, Nathaniel, is being detained in the Smith County Juvenile Detention Center. According to KETK, the prosecution says his detainment is suggested because he may represent a possible danger to himself and the public. Anderson’s attorney, Jeff Haas, has asked for a mental evaluation for the teen suspect.

TYLER — The Texas Department of Transportation has announced that it expects to complete three projects by the end of this month, which would bring the total number of projects under construction to 18 across the Tyler District.

In Smith County, TxDOT announced contractor APAC-Texas, Inc., of Dallas, is scheduled to complete a $1.3 million repair-and-resurface contract on the westbound lanes of Interstate Highway 20 between State Highway 110 and the Van Zandt County Line. The project let to contract in August and began October 11. “We’ve made some huge improvements in our pavement on the Interstate in the past few years,” said TxDOT spokesman Larry Krantz. “This is one of the areas that we’d had on hold while we’ve gotten the other projects done. We’re very pleased that it will be open to traffic for the Thanksgiving holiday.”

Also in Smith County, contractor Simon Traylor & Sons, of Jacksonville, is scheduled to complete a $165,000 project to repair and resurface Cedar Camp Loop Road and campsite pads in Tyler State Park. The project let to contract in July and began in October.

In Rusk County, TxDOT contractor Encino Landscape, Inc., of Cleveland, Texas, is scheduled to complete a $75,000 Green Ribbon landscaping project to add shrubbery to traffic islands around the Henderson Star. The project let to contract in August and began in October. Green Ribbon projects are landscaping projects that target counties either in or close to non-attainment of air-quality standards.

Looking ahead to December, TxDOT has one project set to break ground. Contractor A.L. Helmcamp, Inc., of Buffalo, Texas, is scheduled to begin a $2.2 million project to add 3-foot shoulders to and resurface Farm Road 344 in Smith County between Farm Road 346 in Teaselville and U.S. Highway 69 in Bullard. The project let to contract in August.

TxDOT also plans to let three projects to contract in December. In Henderson County, TxDOT is planning an approximate $782,000 project to add shoulders to and resurface Farm Road 314 between the Van Zandt County Line south of Edom and Henderson County Road 3300, approximately one mile north of State Highway 31 in Brownsboro.

A second project will repair and resurface State Highway 31 from Farm Road 314 in Brownsboro to the east intersection with Farm Road 3204.

Finally, in Cherokee County, TxDOT is planning a combined $1.4 million project to add 3-foot shoulders to and resurface a portion of Farm Road 752 south of Farm Road 241 in Rusk, and the same on Farm Road 2137 between Farm Road 344 west of Bullard and Farm Road 855.

TYLER — Tyler Police respond to a home invasion Sunday morning just before 1:30 at 533 Bandera Drive. Authorities say the suspects reportedly kicked in the victim’s door and came into the house. Officers say the suspects stopped when they noticed the homeowner. The victim stated he then heard a gunshot and fired a round from his handgun in response. No one was injured and the suspects fled the area immediately following the incident.

LINDALE — The Tyler Junior College presence in Lindale is growing to meet increased demand. The College has entered into a lease agreement that will provide an additional 2,700 square feet of space for TJC-Lindale, located in the Identity Center, 2808 N. Main St.

The lease agreement was approved by the TJC Board of Trustees on
Thursday. The new space is on the east side of the Identity Center Complex. It will provide three new classrooms and two additional office spaces, said Heather Stokke, TJC-Lindale site coordinator. The College presently operates two classrooms with office space on the north side of the Identity Center. TJC-Lindale is home to a cohort of licensed vocational nursing students and offers core curriculum credit and continuing education courses.

The new space will be ready for Spring 2011 classes.

TYLER — The decision has been made and Judge Kelly will stay on Patric Kelly’s case. Attorney Thad Davidson has been fighting to have Judge Jack Skeen removed from a child sex ring case. Kelly was convicted in 2008 for his alleged role in a Mineola child sex ring.

In June, a Houston appeals court found his conviction should be reversed and re-tried. The same court said that Judge Skeen gave Kelly an unfair trial and should be removed from the case. However, after reviewing paperwork, Senior District Judge Alvin Khoury ruled that there is no reason to remove him from the trial. Khoury says, “Judge Skeen, not being perfect because he is human, certainly could have done a better job, but i have to believe he gave it his best efforts.”

According to KETK, Kelly’s attorney Thad Davidson, says he respects Khoury’s decision, but still believes Kelly has not and will not get a fair trial.

No date has been set yet for Kelly’s retrial.

TROUP — The Assistant Principal of Troup High School has been placed on leave and allegations are being investigated. According to KETK, Mike Staples has been at Troup High School only since the beginning of this school year. He came to Troup from West Rusk High School where he was the assistant there as well.

Superintendent Marvin Beaty told KETK that there were allegations, and they are being investigated. He added though that Staples was under contract, and had not resigned. Under the terms of his contract, he can only be dismissed by the board, and that action has not taken place.

“Mr. Staples is on paid leave, and we are conducting an investigation,” said Beaty, “but there is no change in contract status at this juncture. We should conclude the investigation today, and then to make a determination as to exactly what happened and then meet with Mr. Staples. I’m in hopes of being done with this before thanksgiving. We just need to figure out what happened exactly first.”
Staples was the interim Principal at West Rusk High School while a search was completed and a new principal hired last Spring. He left there and went to Troup this year.