KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The public is invited to an annual Memorial Day Service in Smith County. It’s set for this morning at 11:00 at the Tyler Memorial Park Field of Honor, 12053 State Highway 64 West. There will be patriotic songs, a rifle salute, bagpipes, taps, and a U.S. Air Force fly-by. Special guests will be Lt. Commander Matt Schaefer, U.S. Naval Reserve, and Sgt. Fernando Bravo.

LONGVIEW — Richard Manley with R Manley Enterprises has recently been invited to participate on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Council on Small Business. According to a news release from the Longview Chamber of Commerce, Manley “will be a strong advocate for small business and will have a vital role in shaping policy for small businesses through a dedicated commitment and involvement in the political process.”

Manley is a former executive committee member and board member of the Longview Chamber Board of Directors. He’s currently a member of the Longview City Council, representing District 5. According to the Longview Chamber news release, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business organization representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions.

WHITEHOUSE — Officials say a brush fire was contained Saturday afternoon near Whitehouse after burning about 35 acres. According to KETK, one firefighter received treatment for heat exhaustion. Otherwise, no injuries were reported in the blaze at Farm Roads 346 and 756. Earlier, the fire was said to be threatening multiple structures, but it apparently did not reach them. Officials say they are unsure what caused the fire.

TIMPSON — The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting that a 2.5 magnitude earthquake shook East Texas Saturday morning. According to the USGS, the quake hit about 7 miles southeast of Timpson, near the intersection State Highway 87 and Farm Road 1645. This earthquake was even smaller than the last, which only ranked at 2.7 on the Richter scale. So far, this is the fourth quake to hit the Timpson area in a 16 day period. No injuries were reported.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP/Staff) – A man captured in East Texas and charged in the fatal kidnapping of a barista returned to an Alaska courtroom two days after he broke his leg irons and tried to escape. 34-year-old Israel Keyes wore leg irons and handcuffs when he appeared Friday under heavy guard by U.S. Marshals at U.S. District Court in Anchorage. Keyes is charged with kidnapping resulting in 18-year-old Samantha Koenig’s death. Koenig was abducted Feb. 1 from the Anchorage coffee stand where she worked. Keyes was arrested in Lufkin in March. Koenig’s body was recovered April 2 from a lake.

Friday’s proceeding continued a hearing halted Wednesday when Keyes tried to scale the bar separating the public from the defendant’s table. He was quickly subdued. The dramatic escape attempt was caught by a court audio recording. At Friday’s hearing, Keyes’ trial date was scheduled for March 11, 2013.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department says after a narcotics search warrant was executed Friday night at an area house, they were able to seize crack cocaine and marijuana from inside. Police tell KETK the house is located at 1318 West Fourth Street in Tyler. Police say the case is still under investigation at this time.

TYLER — A suspect in a failed Tyler robbery is in custody. On Saturday at approximately 2:30 a.m., Tyler Police received a 9-1-1 call at the Texaco Gas Station at 1118 W. Gentry Pkwy. Shortly after arriving on scene, Officer Tim Hutson discovered that a 17-year-old, later identified as Alan Michael Rodriguez, had allegedly just attempted to rob the store. According to police, Rodriguez immediately attempted to flee the area on foot but was quickly captured by Officer Hutson. Investigation revealed that Rodriguez allegedly displayed a knife to the store clerk and allegedly demanded cash from the register. Police say Rodriguez did not get any money from the clerk. Rodriguez was later booked into the Smith County Jail for aggravated robbery, evading arrest, and resisting arrest.

TYLER — Tyler Water Utilities has begun construction of a new water main on the east end of Jeb Stuart. Work began Friday and is expected to continue for approximately 10 days from that date. It is anticipated that construction will cross some residential driveways, possibly limiting access. “The City of Tyler appreciates the patience of the residents in the area while we complete this important project,” said Public Works Managing Director Greg Morgan. Officials say the project will enhance fire protection for the citizens in the area. They say by increasing the diameter of the line, more hydrants may be added with greater water pressure. Questions may be directed to Kevin Olson, operations manager, at (903) 531-1285.

CANTON — Two suspects face multiple charges after they were arrested in Van Zandt County. On Thursday, the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a burglary in progress on VZCR #4407 in Ben Wheeler. Deputies arrived at the scene and located a man identified as Taylor Leon Davidson, 20, of Tyler, and a woman identified as Amy Renee Orozco, 36, of Ben Wheeler, who had allegedly burglarized the residence by entering through a window.

Van Zandt County investigators responded to the scene. Upon an investigation, according to authorities, it was discovered that the suspects were in possession of a firearm, drug paraphernalia, a stolen trailer, and stolen property that was taken from a burglary of a building in Canton. The investigation led to a search warrant being executed in Canton, where officials say more stolen property was recovered.

Both suspects were booked into the Van Zandt County Jail and arraigned on a charge of theft of property, with bond set at $10,000. According to authorities, it has been discovered that both suspects were found to have committed several other burglaries and thefts throughout the county. Additional charges were pending. The recovered property is valued at approximately $3,500.

AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry says the state is investing $1.3 million through the Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) in Centene Corp. to open its third U.S. claims center in Tyler. KETK reports that contingent upon completion of a local incentive package, Centene will create more than 300 jobs and $15 million in capital investment. “Here in Texas, we’ve fostered an economic environment that allows employers to create jobs and opportunity by keeping taxes low and regulations predictable, and making sure our courts are fair and our workforce is skilled and educated,” Gov. Perry said. “Texas Enterprise Fund investments like this one in Centene help provide jobs for Texans and capital investment across our state.”

Centene provides health care-related services to organizations and individuals. The Tyler facility will be an integral part of the company’s national managed care system, processing claims from physicians, hospitals and other health care providers. “Centene is pleased with the state’s action and continues to progress with due diligence actions aimed at building a new facility in Tyler,” Centene Chairman, President, and CEO Michael F. Neidorff said. “We have already hired almost 60 people and look forward to further enhancing the economic climate in Tyler. We anticipate breaking ground this summer.”

“We are looking forward to having Centene as a new corporate citizen that will bring quality jobs to Tyler,” Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass said. “By having one of the lowest municipal tax rates in Texas, an abundant workforce and a tremendous quality of life, Tyler is an ideal place for a business such as Centene to locate.”

The Legislature created the TEF in 2003 and has re-appropriated funding in every legislative session since then to help ensure the growth of Texas businesses and create more jobs throughout the state. TEF projects must be approved by the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the House. The fund has since become one of the state’s most competitive tools to recruit and bolster business. To date, the TEF has invested more than $466.8 million and closed the deal on projects generating 63,086 new jobs and more than $21.4 billion in capital investment in the state.

TYLER — Tyler Junior College will send a registration team to Jacksonville to help students of Lon Morris College register for core curriculum classes through TJC while they await word on the restoration of classes at Lon Morris. TJC will also offer discounted, on-campus housing at its Main campus in Tyler for students requiring a residence hall during their studies. Core curriculum courses are basic courses designed to transfer to other state-assisted colleges and universities.

TJC’s move comes after Lon Morris announced the furlough of most of its employees and an interruption in college courses and services earlier this week due to financial constraints. With the exception of distance education courses, Lon Morris cancelled its regular summer course offerings. “We want to help ensure that these students have the opportunity to continue on a smooth pathway toward their educational goals,” said TJC President Dr. Mike Metke. “We know these students will wish to continue at Lon Morris when classes resume, but extending our summer classes to them will help them stay on track.”

Representatives from TJC residential life, the registrar’s office and financial aid will be available in Jacksonville to assist Lon Morris students from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Friday, June 1. Lon Morris students should come to the TJC-Jacksonville site, on the fourth floor of East Texas Medical Center, Jacksonville, 501 S. Ragsdale. Students are asked to bring their Lon Morris identification card and a current printed transcript, if available. Summer I term classes at TJC begin June 4; the Summer II term begins July 9.

LONGVIEW — Police in Longview continue seeking people who were on the scene of a crash earlier this month. On May 11 at 6:07 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 2500 block of West Marshall Ave. When officers arrived, they located two vehicles that had been involved in a crash. According to a witness, the driver of a 2003 GMC Yukon, Thomas Montgomery of Gladewater, lost control, over-corrected and traveled into the path of a Chevrolet S10 driven by 26-year-old Kevin Blake Gassett of Greenville. Gassett later died from his injuries.

During the course of the investigation police have learned that there may be other witnesses who observed the events that led up to, or actually witnessed, the crash. Police believe several potential witnesses may have posted comments on media and social media websites. Accident investigators are asking for anyone with any information to come forward and contact Officer Jeremy Higginbotham at [email protected] or 903-475-2009.

CANTON — Van Zandt County authorities arrest a felon accused of possessing a firearm. On Thursday, investigators from the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office along with the Constable of Pct. #4 received information in reference to stolen items at a location north of Ben Wheeler. When officers arrived, they located a man who was out on bond for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon from the Van Zandt County Justice Center. The man was identified as Timothy Layne Simpson II, 29, of Brownsboro. Officers say they found that Simpson was again in possession of a firearm. Authorities say the property was taken into evidence, to be returned to Henderson County. Simpson was taken into custody and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, a third-degree felony.

LINDALE — Four people were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries following a crash in Lindale. According to KETK, officials say the Friday morning accident happened in the 1400 block of South Main St., which is also Highway 69. According to Lindale police, the wreck began when a car in the center turning lane was hit from behind. Officials say a service truck had drifted left, hitting the back end of the car and knocking it into a SUV driving in the opposite direction. The SUV then hit the service truck and flipped. The truck’s steering and brakes were broken on impact, shooting the driver off the road and into a business sign’s pole. Traffic was delayed for a short time.

JACKSONVILLE (AP) – The mayor in the East Texas town where Lon Morris College is located says he’s optimistic about the future of the 158-year-old school even though all but 11 of its employees have been furloughed. Mayor Kenneth Melvin told the Tyler Morning Telegraph that the private, two-year institution is “doing everything they can do” to reopen in the fall. Dave Hubbard, executive director of student enrollment, says the school is still working on freshman orientation and is “full speed ahead” despite its ongoing financial woes, including three missed payrolls. The college 110 miles southeast of Dallas furloughed most of its workforce Wednesday. At the same time, Miles McCall resigned as the college’s president. An Austin-based consulting firm is working to help the school reorganize. Enrollment is about 1,000 students.

LONGVIEW — Longview Police said the driver of the SUV who crashed into a Longview church on Thursday fell asleep at the wheel. Officials say drugs or alcohol were not a factor in the accident. Kelly Burk, 20, has been issued two citations for no drivers license and no insurance. He has been released from the hospital.

Five people, including three children and one teacher, were taken to a Longview hospital after an SUV crashed into Spring Hill First Baptist Church’s day care center in the 4000 block of Gilmer Road near Spring Hill Road around noon Thursday. KETK reports emergency crews had to use the “Jaws of Life” to remove the driver from the SUV. The children and teacher, along with 30 other kids, were inside the church for a Parent’s Day Out at the time of the crash.

According to the Longview Police Department, the SUV went through a fence near the intersection of Elmira Drive and Spring Hill road, then cut across a field and hit the back of the church. A utility pole was also knocked down during the wreck.

TYLER (AP/STAFF) — An East Texas woman acquitted by reason of insanity in the 2003 stonings of her three children, two of them fatal, has been released from a state mental hospital.

Court documents obtained by KLTV-TV show Deanna Laney, 47, of New Chapel Hill was released from the Kerrville State Hospital after four psychiatrists testified behind closed doors last week that she no longer posed a threat to others. State attorneys disagreed.

However, she is subject to a list of conditions, including that she have no unsupervised contact with minors and submit to regular drug tests to ensure that she takes required medication.

A Smith County jury acquitted Laney in 2004 of the deaths of two sons, Joshua, 8, and Luke, 6. Son Aaron, then 14 months old, survived but suffered brain damage.

DALLAS (AP) — A 20-year-old man has been charged with driving while impaired after the cattle truck he was driving overturned, closing a major Dallas freeway for about nine hours. Dallas County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Carmen Castro says Marcus Melvin Brownlow of Palestine was booked into the Dallas County jail after the 1:30am Thursday crash of his truck on Interstate 35E northbound at the Trinity River Bridge. Castro says deputies suspect amphetamines were a factor in the crash.

Dr. Tim Holt was a veterinarian called to the scene. He says 16 of the 89 cows in the trailer died in the accident or had to be euthanized, and the others were captured.

TYLER — Congressman Louie Gohmert continues his assault on the federal health care reform plan. During a visit to KTBB, Gohmert criticized the government’s $20 million deal with the public relations firm Porter Novelli to promote the plan. He says the Obama Administration’s spending big money “to tell us how good a bad product is that most Americans know we should not be doing.” A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says, “Section 4004 of the Affordable Care Act directs the Department to conduct this effort as one way to encourage utilization of preventive benefits and services. This public education campaign is part of our ongoing education efforts that will inform the American people about the steps they can take to prevent disease and illness and stay healthy.”

QUITMAN — An East Texas woman is taken into custody for a North Texas slaying that occurred over 28 years ago. KETK reports that on Tuesday, investigators with the Collin County Sheriff’s Office obtained arrest warrants for Alonzo Grayson, Jr., of Dallas, and Tina Ann Taylor of Mineola for first degree murder. Both are accused of murdering Bobby Ray Taylor, the brother of Tina Taylor.

On January 4, 1984, Bobby Taylor was reported missing to the Frisco Police Department. His body was found 3 days later at a rock pit near Preston Road and Eldorado Parkway in Collin County. He had been shot 5 times and hidden behind a large rock. Originally Grayson and Taylor were interviewed and claimed they witnessed Rogelio Elizondo commit the murder. Mr. Elizondo was arrested but no-billed by the grand jury, and the case went cold.

In October of last year the Sheriff’s Office received information about the murder that was not available during the initial investigation. An investigator was assigned the case, and with the new information, obtained additional information that led to the confessions of Grayson and Taylor, according to authorities. Officials say the two also admitted to falsely accusing Rogelio Elizondo. Elizondo died in March of this year. Tina Taylor, 45, is currently in Wood County jail. Grayson, 45, is being held in the Collin County Detention Facility. Both are held on $100,000 bond.

TYLER — One student has been injured in a large fight that took place near a Tyler ISD Campus. Tyler Police tell KETK the student suffered minor injuries in the brawl in the Big Lots parking lot on Loop 323 in Tyler, which is near Robert E. Lee High School. Police say up to 300 teens gathered in the parking lot, but not all participated in the fight; some were reportedly spectators. The teens are believed to be students at Robert E. Lee. Once police arrived on scene, everyone scattered. Nobody was taken into custody. A similar size fight took place toward the end of the school year last year.

AUSTIN — Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples Thursday announced the Texas Department of Agriculture has awarded $150,000 in federal funds to the city of Overton for a downtown revitalization project made possible through the Texas Capital Fund. According to Staples, the award will help upgrade sidewalks to comply with ADA standards and support other projects that ultimately will create new economic development opportunities for the city.

Staples also announced the ag department has awarded $150,000 in federal funds to the city of Mount Vernon for a Main Street Improvement project through the Texas Capital Fund. The award will help support infrastructure projects to develop sidewalks and improve city lightings. The Texas Capital Fund, federally funded through the Texas Community Development Block Grant program, provides more than $8 million in competitive awards each year to boost economic development in small Texas communities.

TYLER — A Tyler man has been arrested and charged with one count of aggravated assault following a shooting. Johnathan Daniel Johnson, 27, has been charged with one count of aggravated assault following a shooting. Johnson’s bond is set at $150,000. The late Wednesday night incident in Smith County left a man nursing his wounds at a local hospital. It happened shortly before midnight on the 20,500 block of County Road 26. Authorities tell KETK Kevin Brantley, 35, was shot in his lower abdomen. According to law enforcement, Brantley’s wife and Johnson’s fiance were arguing when Brantley tried to break them apart. For unknown reasons, Johnson allegedly pulled a gun from his waistband and shot Brantley once. The investigation is ongoing.

SMITH COUNTY — Two 17-year-old boys lead authorities on an early morning chase. The incident began Wednesday night at Emerald Bay on Lake Palestine when a security guard noticed two suspicious people. According to KETK, when the guard approached the duo, they jumped into a truck and drove away. After receiving reports of the stolen vehicle, a Smith County deputy spotted the truck in Tyler around 1:30 and a chase began. The chase went through Flint, Bullard and back into Tyler and ended in the 2700 block of South Broadway when officers used spike strips. Daniel Bennett, Bullard, (pictured) was arrested and charged with evading arrest and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Christopher Hamrick, Bullard, was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

TYLER — A May court hearing for a Rusk County constable accused of manufacturing and selling illegal drugs was continued. Benjamin Thomas Ferrell, 36, of Henderson was scheduled for a pretrial hearing May 14 in U.S. District Court in Tyler. According to the Longview News-Journal, Ferrell was arrested in March and charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and delivery of a firearm to a felon. He was freed on $10,000 bond after his arraignment on the charges.

Ferrell, who is seeking re-election, represents Precinct. 2, which is Tatum and northeast Rusk County. Richard Parsons, a spokesman for the Secretary of State’s Office, said the indictment against Ferrell “does not impact his candidate status unless or until there is a final felony conviction.”

Ferrell’s wife, Amanda Gayle, faces a state jail felony charge of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance. Her charge is connected to the federal counts her husband faces, after a joint investigation by Rusk County authorities and the FBI. She, too, was freed on $10,000 bond after being charged.

Ferrell has a continuance until August 13. The judge set a deadline on August 27 to notify the court if there is a plea agreement. A pretrial conference is set on September 5.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County DPS officials are reporting a dump truck has rolled into a ditch on Farm Road 1253, just north of Farm Road 16 in Smith County. According to KETK, the rollover wreck was caused by a blowout. The driver was hauling dirt to a job site in the area of the 18,500 block of FM 1253 when his tire blew, causing the vehicle to roll. The driver was taken to local hospital, treated and released.

JACKSONVILLE – Nearly all employment at Lon Morris College has been furloughed. An e-mail sent to employees by Chief Restructuring Officer Dawn Ragan says “all employment by the College is hereby terminated…subject to confirmation where appropriate, excluding a minimal core group.” While the email says the employees were terminated, Jack Nelson, vice president of the Lon Morris College board of trustees, tells the Jacksonville Daily Progress that they were furloughed. Miles McCall also tendered his resignation as college president. Trustee Tim McRae says McCall was told negotiating with creditors would be easier if McCall stepped down.

The school has experienced financial problems and has missed its last three payrolls. In the e-mail, obtained by our news partner KETK, Ragan tells employees the due to insufficient cash flow, the college cannot continue to employ them.

The e-mail continues, “Moving forward, the College and the restructuring professionals are working together with lenders and various stakeholders to facilitate short term aid which would provide extremely limited funding for a period of approximately 30 days. During that time frame the professionals are exploring and investigating multiple options that could permit the College to continue to operate on a go forward basis in some form.

“At the present time, in the absence of information to the contrary, we are assuming there will indeed be a Fall semester which we will gear up for once the 30 day assessment has been completed and alternatives have been analyzed. Accordingly, it is anticipated in the third week of June we will be able to provide an update relative to the future of the College and the Fall semester.”

LONGVIEW – A child playing with something flammable is said to be responsible for a fire that damaged a Longview home. It was reported around 11:00 Wednesday morning in the 1800 block of Holly Street. A mother and the youngster were able to escape the house without injury. The fire damage was contained to a bedroom and attic with smoke damage in the remainder of the home.

TYLER – A Tyler elementary student has won a walking contest and has given the prize away to a fellow student battling cancer.

Fifth grader Mark Costanza, seen here on the left, laced up his tennis shoes and walked around the track at Andy Woods Elementary School as part of the early morning walking club. In the past six weeks he walked a total of 123 laps, or 12.3 miles around the track, making him this year’s walking club winner.

As a reward for his hard work, Mark received $100 to go shopping with the coaches to buy a new pair of shoes. But, instead of keeping the money he gave it to second grader Jordan Samples, on the right in the photo, who was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor last year. Over the past few months, Jordan has made huge progress through multiple surgeries and therapy, and Mark wanted to reward him for his hard work.

Last week Mark and Jordan, along with family members and coaches from Andy Woods, went shopping at Academy Sports and Outdoors and helped Jordan pick out his new shoes.

TYLER — Congressman Louie Gohmert stops by the KTBB studios and discusses his amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. The act, passed in the wake of 9/11, gave the president sweeping military powers. Gohmert says under the amendment, the president could not detain a legal U.S. resident indefinitely in a military installation without certain conditions. The suspect would first have to be brought to a federal district court for a writ of habeas corpus hearing. From there, says Gomhert, if authorities can’t bring charges, the suspect would be freed. The amendment is officially called the Gohmert-Landry-Rigell-Duncan-Barletta amendment. It passed the House this month and is working its way through the Senate.