KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW — Changes may be coming in the way Longview runs its elections. Mayor Jay Dean has proposed possible addition of a filing fee or requiring candidates to acquire a certain number of signatures before being placed on the ballot for city elections. The proposal comes after a Dean opponent moved away just before the May election. Dean says he just wants to make sure taxpayers’ money isn’t being wasted. According to Dean, some of the people who filed for the election weren’t “serious candidates.” He says they “really didn’t plan to win the election, they didn’t plan to serve, it was just an emotion thing.” Right now, city officials are exploring other options. According to KETK, any changes would have to be approved by the Department of Justice and then voted on by local residents.

TYLER — A local group has filed paperwork with the Smith County Elections Office to oppose the “Buy Local First” organization and the sale of alcohol in Tyler and Smith County Justice Precinct 2. According to KETK, “Stand Strong for Tyler” filed paperwork last week and is led by Dr. Michael Daniels, pastor of Landmark Baptist Church. Buy Local First has been collecting signatures since April to vote on the referendum in the November elections.

CANTON — Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers has authorized $700 in rewards for nine recent tips that led to the arrests of four local individuals. The organization also re-emphasized how the anonymous tipsters can collect their rewards.

In two of the recent cases, Crime Stoppers received multiple tips. Those tips resulted in the arrests of a Colfax man wanted on warrants for assault and drug possession, and a Wills Point man wanted on a child support warrant. The other arrests were of a local woman wanted on several warrants, including forgery and organized criminal activity, and a Wills Point woman wanted on a bad check charge.

Noting that there might be some confusion about how tipsters can collect on a reward, Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers President Andy Flowers offered advice. “The Crime Stoppers board approves rewards on the second Monday of each month, so anytime after that, callers can call the tip line, 903-567-STOP, again to get their instructions for claiming their reward,” Flowers said. “Callers are assigned a temporary number at the time of their original call, and when they call back to find out if there is a reward, they are given their final number, and told which bank to go to so they can pick up their reward.”

Once rewards are approved, they are left active for six months. Crime Stoppers currently has several 2012 rewards available that haven’t yet been picked up. “We realize that not everybody calls Crime Stoppers for the reward. They may just want to be able to help the authorities anonymously,” Flowers said, “and we appreciate that. We just want to be sure that anybody who has earned a reward can get it if they want.”

Crime Stoppers’ cash rewards are designed to encourage anonymous tips that lead to the arrest of a criminal offender who has either just committed a crime or is wanted on a warrant. The Crime Stoppers number is 903-567-STOP (567-7867). Rewards of up to $1,000 are financed by criminal court fines and donations. More information about Crime Stoppers is available online at http://www.vanzandtcrimestoppers.org or on Facebook.

KILGORE — Authorities report a rash of mannequin burglaries in downtown Kilgore. According to KETK, officials say a mannequin was stolen from the Kilgore Historical Preservation Society office on the 100 block of Kilgore Street. The burglar appears to have smashed the display window with a small 7.5 pound barbell weight. A similar crime took place recently at the Crystal Spur across the street. If you have any information about this crime, you’re asked to contact the Kilgore Police Department at 903-983-1559.

HARRISON COUNTY — A construction worker has been struck by a vehicle in western Harrison County on Interstate Highway 20. Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Eric Nieves said a small cargo truck was involved in a wreck with a pickup shortly after 6:15 Monday morning in a construction zone in the eastbound lanes of I-20.

According to The Longview News-Journal, the cargo truck struck the worker while pulling onto the roadway’s shoulder. The construction worker was sent to the hospital with what are believed to be non-life threatening injuries.

Motorists are urged to use caution and watch out for workers when traveling in construction zones

JACKSONVILLE — A three-vehicle wreck sent two people to a Tyler hospital Monday morning. The wreck happened just before 6:00 on Highway 79 in Jacksonville at the city limits, according to KETK. One person was airlifted to a Tyler hospital, while another was transported by ambulance. The extent of their injuries is not known.

JASPER (AP) — Four people are dead after a head-on collision of two vehicles on a dark recreational road in East Texas. The Texas Department of Public Safety reports the accident happened about 8:30 Friday evening on Recreational Road 255, about a mile east of the Neches River and about 120 miles northeast of Houston.

Jasper County Justice of the Peace Freddie Miller tells the Beaumont Enterprise the dead are Christopher Lemond Douglas, 28, Stacey Rae Henry, 37, Tyra Moye, 13, and Tiara Moye, 11. DPS Trooper Lester McCray says the Woodville residents were in a sport utility vehicle Douglas was driving when it slammed into an oncoming pickup truck.

The truck driver, Bryan Paul Baker, 49, of Kountze, is listed in stable condition at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital.

TYLER — The Tara McSwain trial is set to begin this week. The case had most recently been on the docket last month in Tyler’s 7th State District Court. The DA’s office explained that the trial was bumped due to a load of trials involving jailed suspects. Jailed defendants’ cases are given priority when scheduling trials. McSwain is currently out on bond.

McSwain, 38, is the former owner/manager of East Texas Billing and former manager of Apple Swim & Fitness Center. She faces nine counts of fraudulent possession of a controlled substance, a 3rd degree felony. Last June 16, an employee of Walgreens at 5415 South Broadway called police and said there was a woman in the drive-thru attempting to pick up a fraudulent prescription for hydrocodone. Patrol officers and vice investigators arrived on the scene and took McSwain into custody after further investigation.

Investigators say they found several pieces of paper with physicians’ and patients’ names on them in McSwain’s purse. Police say the materials were discovered during the search incident to arrest and were believed to be used in a fraudulent manner. Police say because of her billing service for physicians, McSwain had access to doctor and patient information.

After investigators contacted several physicians and former patients, they say they developed probable cause that on six different occasions in 2011, McSwain provided fraudulent information to obtain a controlled substance from pharmacies in Tyler. On June 23, investigators arrested McSwain on six warrants for fraudulent possession of a controlled substance. She was booked into Smith County Jail on a total bond of $120,000, set by Judge Randall Rogers.

NACOGDOCHES — Using $1 million of his inheritance, 21-year-old senior John Ramsey of Stephen F. Austin State University has founded what’s been dubbed the “Brat PAC.” The Liberty for All Political Action Committee is an army of college Republicans going after the old establishment, modeling their beliefs around the libertarian-leaning Ron Paul. Ramsey says government has no place in the bedroom. He says when it goes there, it’s an attack on civil liberties, “and that’s not what a free republic is all about.” Ramsey’s PAC is also getting involved in a Democratic race in Travis County, supporting Michael Cargill for constable. Cargill’s an openly gay African-American who’s also pro-Second Amendment.

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at other work planned in the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

ANDERSON COUNTY — The Texas Department of Transportation’s annual preventative maintenance program known as “District-Wide Seal Coat” is scheduled to resume Monday in Anderson County, weather permitting. Crews are scheduled to apply a seal coat to Farm Road 315 between Farm Road 837 and State Highway 155 in Palestine; SB State Highway 155 between Farm Road 2267 in Pert and Farm Road 315 north of Palestine; and Farm Road 323 between U.S. Highway 84 and Farm Road 1817.

A second crew on Wednesday is scheduled to seal Farm Road 2706 between U.S. Highway 287 and Farm Road 321. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two lane areas. Loose gravel may be present for several days following a seal coat application. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — The Texas Department of Transportation’s annual preventative maintenance program known as “District-Wide Seal Coat” is scheduled to begin work later this week in Cherokee County, weather permitting. Crews are scheduled to apply a seal coat to U.S. Highway 69 between the north end of Farm Road 1911 near Alto and the Angelina County Line in Wells, and on U.S. Highway 84 between U.S. Highway 69 in Rusk and the Angelina River. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two lane areas. Loose gravel may be present for several days following a seal coat application. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

Also this week in Cherokee County, TxDOT maintenance crews this week are scheduled to begin edge work on Farm Road 855 between U.S. Highway 69 in Mount Selman and Farm Road 2137. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

SMITH COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repairs in various locations on State Highway 110 on the north side of Whitehouse. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone. Looking ahead, construction crews are scheduled to begin night work on Tyler’s WSW Loop 323 beginning Sunday, June 24. Crews will be working between 7:00pm and 5:00am Sunday-Thursday between State Highway 155 (Frankston Highway) and Bellwood Drive, just south of West Front Street. The approximate $2.5 million project let in January. Big Creek Construction, Ltd., of Hewitt, is the contractor.

GREGG COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews are scheduled to continue several days of pavement repairs on Interstate Highway 20, both eastbound and westbound, between State Highway 135 and the Smith County Line. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress. Motorists should be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone. Loose gravel may be present for several days following a seal coat application.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue resurfacing operations on State Highway 323 between State Highway 135 in Overton and State Highway 42 near New London. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers and pilot vehicles will control traffic.

Looking ahead, work related to TxDOT’s District Wide Seal Coat program is scheduled to begin in Rusk County within the next 10 days, weather permitting. Crews will be applying a seal coat to the following roadways:
*FM 1716 between FM 2011 and SH 43;
*FM 2496 between FM 1798 and US 259;
*SH 149 between the Gregg County Line and Tatum; SH 322 between FM 2011 and FM 1249; SH 155 between Coffee City and Frankston

WOOD COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue edge repairs on Farm Road 312 between Farm Road 515 south of Winnsboro and Farm Road 49 in Pine Mills, then begin several days of pavement repairs on Farm Road 312 in Winnsboro between State Highway 11 and Farm Road 515. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

CANTON — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to begin base and pavement repairs in various locations on State Highway 64 in Canton. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

Looking ahead, TxDOT maintenance crews are scheduled on Wednesday, June 20 to begin several days of base and pavement repairs in various locations on Farm Road 47.Elsewhere in Van Zandt County, construction work continues to repair, add shoulders and passing lanes, and resurface State Highway 64 between Farm Road 314 and the Smith County Line, and add centerline rumble strips between Farm Road 279 in Ben Wheeler and the Smith County Line. The approximate $6.4 million project let to contract in June and began in October. The project is scheduled for completion in summer of 2013. Big Creek Construction, Ltd., of Hewitt, Texas, is the contractor.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform resurfacing operations on Farm Road 316 between U.S. Highway 175 and Ranch Road 2329. Meanwhile, construction work to rebuild Ranch Road 2329 continues with an eye toward completion this summer. Crews are working to repair and resurface Ranch Road 2329 between Farm Road 316 and U.S. Highway 175. The $1.2 million project let in January 2011 and began in May 2011. The project is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2012. A.L. Helmcamp, Inc., of Buffalo, Texas is the contractor. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

TYLER – One person is in custody in connection with a Tyler robbery. It happened just before 7:30 Saturday night in the parking lot of the Dollar General store at 1204 West Bow. The victim told officers while he was parking, and man got into his vehicle, pulled a knife and took some money from him.

When the suspect fled the scene in a white Chevrolet Impala, the victim followed him. When the suspect stopped in a parking lot in the 1800 block of West Gentry Parkway, the two got into an argument. The suspect is said to have damaged the victim’s vehicle and fled the area.

The victim was able to write down the suspect’s license plate number and gave it to police. The car was registered to Joshua OBryan Miles, 24, of Jacksonville. He was found sitting in the vehicle in the 1400 block of East Dawson, where he was arrested. Miles was booked into the Smith County Jail, charged with aggravated robbery.

SMITH COUNTY – Authorities in Smith County are looking for a Lindale man who led them on a chase. They are also looking for his truck and his passenger in the Friday night incident. It started when a deputy tried to pull over a white Dodge truck on County Road 2661 near The Villages.

KETK reports deputy chased the truck just north of Highway 64 West onto County Road 47, where the driver pulled over, jumped out of the truck and ran into the woods. The deputy chased after him, but was not able to catch him.

While the foot case was going on, a passenger hidden in the truck, jumped into the driver’s seat and left the scene. Officers are still searching for the truck and the two men who were in it.

The truck was registered to a Tyler woman. She told officers her boyfriend stole the truck. An arrest warrant has been issued for Christopher Ely Morris, 30, of Lindale.

HOUSTON – Tyler Lawyer F. R “Buck” Files has been named as President of the Texas State Bar Association. Files, who is certified in criminal law, was sworn in Friday at the State Bar’s annual meeting in Houston. He succeeds Bob Black of Beaumont. Among his many honors over the years, Files was the Defense Lawyer of the Year, Criminal Justice Section of the State Bar of Texas in 2004.

TYLER — Citizens have one week left to take advantage of free trash services in Smith County. Vouchers are now available for the annual Smith County Wide Clean-up Event. The County Clean-up event is an opportunity for residents of Smith County to bring trash and bulky items to the Greenwood Farms Landfill for free. The Smith County Environmental Crimes Unit, Precinct Constables and Smith County Commissioners Court are working together to host the event through June 23.

The County will provide vouchers to the public that are good for up to three cubic yards per person — about a full-sized truck bed. Vouchers are available to pick up at all Justice of the Peace and Constable Precinct offices or the Smith County Courthouse Annex, Commissioners Court Office. There is a limit of one voucher per household and businesses may not participate in the voucher program.

The vouchers will be good Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and on Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to noon. The vouchers come with a list of items that the Greenwood Farms Landfill, an Allied Waste Company, will not take. Directions and a map to the Greenwood Farms Landfill are provided with the vouchers. Items not accepted during the County Wide Clean-up include hazardous waste, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, gasoline, oils, paint, acid, batteries, asbestos, Freon, whole tires, refrigerators, freezers, televisions, and computers.

For more information or to pick up your voucher, please call: Pct. 1 (Tyler) Constable Henry Jackson, 903-590-2609; Pct. 2 (Noonday) Constable Andy Dunklin, 903-590-4840; Pct. 3 (Troup) Constable Dustin Rust, 903-590-4744; Pct. 4 (Winona) Constable John Smith 903-590-4879; or Pct. 5 (Lindale) Constable Dennis Taylor, 903-590-4901. Vouchers are also available at the CBS 19 Newsroom in Tyler.

WELLS — Authorities report a 12-year-old boy has died as a result of a Cherokee County accident. He was one of two brothers hit by a car driving northbound on County Road 2741, or Preston Road, near Highway 69 in the city of Wells. According to KETK, David Stone died at the scene. Davion Stone, 6, is currently in fair condition at LSU Medical Center in Shreveport. The driver of the vehicle that struck the Stone brothers has been identified as Randall Nicholas Richard, 34, of Cleveland, TX. He did not have a current license, registration or inspection sticker. Authorities are also investigating whether or not Richard was speeding when his vehicle struck the boys.

WHITE OAK — A Gladewater man and an infant were killed in a four-vehicle wreck Thursday in White Oak. It happened around noon on Highway 80 at Hollingsworth, according to the White Oak Police Department. Brent Eric Young, 45, and 7-month-old Kennedi Burks, both of Gladewater, were killed in the wreck. They were passengers in a sedan that was rear-ended by a truck. The driver of the sedan was Mary Nicole Young, 45. She survived the crash. The driver of the pickup also survived. He was identified as Jared Tuel, 24, White Oak.

After the sedan was hit, it slid into oncoming traffic, and was struck by another vehicle, a Chevy Tahoe, driven by Patsy Ann Harrell, 65, White Oak. Harrell survived the crash. No word yet if there will be any citations given in the accident.

UPSHUR COUNTY — U.S. District Judge Michael Schneider dismissed a lawsuit against Upshur County in which a former jailer claimed he was retaliated against for opposing sexual harassment of his wife and that his Fourth Amendment rights were violated by an illegal search. According to KETK, Schneider granted a motion for summary judgment, dismissing the claim. In his opinion on the case, Schneider said former jailer John Scott Rose did not prove it was “objectively unreasonable” for two Upshur County sheriff’s deputies to search his home and that the “allegations are insufficient” to show that Rose was retaliated against.

Rose and his wife, Crystal Rose, filed the lawsuit in May 2011 against Upshur County and sheriff’s office employees Terry Carter and Landon Burleson, the two deputies who searched his home. The complaint stemmed from a December 2009 event in which Rose said he learned two sheriff’s employees had made inappropriate sexual comments or suggestive communication with his wife, according to the lawsuit.

TYLER – Union employees at Tyler’s Trane plant have approved a new four year contract. The agreement between union employees and Trane was ratified last night. There is no word on the provisions of the agreement or the vote margin.

A news release from Ingersoll Rand, the parent company of Trane, quotes plant manager Mike Swift as saying, “We are pleased by the vote outcome. This new contract provides competitive wages and benefits for our employees while providing the business the flexibility needed to make us competitive in the marketplace.”

LONGVIEW – A Longview home has been extensively damaged by fire. It was reported shortly after 6:30 yesterday morning in the 300 Block of Ramblewood Drive. Fire Marshal Johnny Zackary says the fire started in the engine of a car in the garage. It then quickly spread through the garage and into the home’s attic. No injuries were reported.

TYLER — Home sales in Tyler are up from the same time last year. KETK reports they jumped in May by nearly 7%. 289 homes had a “sold” sign out front in May; 253 sold in April. Although home prices aren’t increasing as much as realtors or sellers would like, buying trends show the economy might be on the mend.

TYLER – There’s some good news on state test results in the Tyler ISD, but room for improvement as well. This school year, ninth grade students and seventh and eighth grade students enrolled in high school courses began taking the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) End of Course (EOC) exams rather than the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) tests.

School officials say TISD saw improved performance in math, an area where some Tyler ISD students have struggled in the past. School district leaders say they’re specifically pleased with the performance of African-American and economically disadvantaged students on the math tests. Science has also been an area of focus for Tyler ISD, and officials say the hard work of teachers and staff has again paid off. The average number of Tyler ISD students who passed the Biology EOC exam equaled the statewide average of 87 percent.

On the flipside, only 63% of Tyler ISD students who took the English I Reading EOC met the Level II passing standard, and on English I Writing, 45% of Tyler ISD students passed. Although these results are reflective of a statewide trend, they are below Tyler ISD’s expectations. Officials say the school district is committed to better prepare students for success on STAAR by analyzing the data provided by the state and leading training sessions for teachers targeting low performing categories. You can go to the “In the News” tab at http://www.tylerisd.org/ for more on the STAAR results.

LONGVIEW — For the second year in a row, Longview I-S-D teachers will not get a pay raise. According to KETK, the school board voted to freeze salaries in anticipation of millions lost in state revenue. Despite the pay freeze, though, Longview ISD is still one of the highest-paying school districts in East Texas.

GILMER — A jury is selected in the trial against a man accused of killing his sibling. Glenn Myers Jr., 54, of Big Sandy is charged with the shooting death of his sister, Cindy Espinoza, last July in Upshur County. According to KETK, the trial should begin Monday and is expected to last up to three days.

LONGVIEW — Charges against a 21-year-old Longview man, who has been held since May 17 in connection with the deadly ambush of a former Kilgore College football player, have been upgraded to capital murder, according to the Longview News-Journal. Brendan Douglas is held in the Gregg County Jail under bonds totaling $1 million. Also, a Gregg County prosecutor said Wednesday a decision is yet to be made on whether to try as an adult a 16-year-old-arrested this past week in connection with the death of DeAundray Rossum. 16-year-old Deion Reed was arrested along with his brother, 17-year-old Torry Reed, in connection with the May 15 shooting.

GLADEWATER — Authorities make a big haul in an East Texas drug bust. On June 13th around 6:30am, the Gladewater Police Department, Upshur County Sheriffs Department, and the Gregg County Code Unit served a warrant for 58-year-old Larry Duraso. He was arrested on the 3000 block of George Richey Road in Gladewater. During a search of the property, officials say they found 3.6 pounds of marijuana, about $8,200 in cash, a truck, and two motorcycles. Duraso is charged with two counts of delivery of marijuana and was taken to the Upshur County Jail.

The warrant was the result of a lengthy investigation by officials. The Gladewater Police and Upshur County Sheriff’s Departments tell KETK that they are “steadily working hand in hand to rid our communities of drug dealers, to protect our citizens, and make our city and county a safer place for our families.”

LONGVIEW — Authorities recently conducted another set of alcohol stings and cited five retailers. On Friday, June 9, the Longview Police Department, partnering with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) and Longview Partners in Prevention (PIP), conducted off-premise minor stings at area retailers. 31 retailers were checked. The locations that allegedly sold to minors were:

1. 3305 S. Eastman Road – Food Fast # 77
2. 514 S. Eastman Road – Easy Access
3. 1001 Young Street – Cowboy’s # 13
4. 1910 Judson Road – E – Z Mart Store # 443
5. 3122 Estes Parkway – Brianna’s Stop n Shop

At these locations the individuals who allegedly sold alcohol to the undercover minor were listed in offense reports for making alcohol available to a minor. This offense is a class A misdemeanor, and the reports will be filed with the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. In addition, the TABC issued an administrative citation or citations to each business.

NACOGDOCHES — A mother may be facing injury to a child charges after intervening in a fight between her teenage daughter and another girl. According to KETK, the two 14-year-olds started fighting just before 9:30 on Wednesday night in the 1100 block of Orton St. in Nacogdoches. According police, the mother of one of the girls became involved in the fight and allegedly assaulted the other teenager. There were no serious injuries reported but the family of the girl she attacked may press charges against the woman. Injury to a child is a third degree felony. So far, no arrests have been made. The case is still under investigation.

TYLER — A Tyler man charged with capital murder was back in court for a pre-trial hearing. Authorities said Dramon Rashon Green, 20, is charged in the death of his daughter, A’yanna Webb, 2. Green was arrested back in August after investigators determined that he assaulted his daughter outside his apartment located on the 4400 block of Paluxy.

Investigators were initially called to the emergency room at ETMC August 19, after personnel reported a child with suspicious injuries. Officers learned that the child had been brought to the hospital by her parents and was being treated for major, life threatening internal injuries. A’yanna underwent emergency surgery to stop bleeding in her abdomen. In spite of the best efforts of the medical personnel, she died as a result of her injuries.

Green remains in the Smith County Jail with bond set at $1,000,000. A court date has been set for next year.

GREGG COUNTY — The Longview Fire Department and the Judson Metro Volunteer Department plan to let an oil lease blaze burn itself out. Those two departments responded after the fire was reported Thursday morning off Highway 259 north of Longview. Authorities say there’s no worry of the flames spreading because of the heavy rain that soaked the area Thursday morning. Officials said the fire may have been caused by a lightning strike.

LINDEN (AP) — A judge has set an August trial for a Texas man accused of contributing to the death of his 13-year-old son by failing to feed him. Bill Hudson appeared in a Cass County courtroom Tuesday. He faces three child abuse charges in the 2008 death of Samuel Hudson.

The Texarkana Gazette reports that Hudson’s attorney asked a judge to not allow prosecutors to try three child abuse charges against Hudson at once. The judge agreed and said August’s trial will focus on a single child abuse charge that alleges Hudson withheld food from Samuel.

Hudson and his wife, Cynthia Hudson, adopted Samuel from foster care along with two of his siblings. Cynthia Hudson was convicted of capital murder in the death but an appeals court overturned that conviction.