KTBB News, Weather, Talk

QUITMAN — Wood County officials are searching for two people in connection with the sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14. Authorities are looking for the child’s mother, Roni Michelle Curry, 24, and David Lee Bowman, 25. According to KETK, their bond is set at $200,000 each. If you have any information on their whereabouts, you’re asked to contact your local law enforcement.

FORT WORTH (AP/Staff) – East Texas will feel the effects after American Eagle announced plans to stop flying turboprop planes from its main hub in North Texas and switch to regional jets. The carrier, operating under bankruptcy protection, will replace turboprop planes at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport with Embraer 44-seat and 50-seat jets. American Eagle CEO Dan Garton on Tuesday notified employees of the changes, taking effect by Jan. 31, as the carrier seeks to streamline operations. The airline’s parent, Fort Worth-based AMR Corp., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month.

American Eagle uses turboprop planes to serve airports within about an hour’s flight of DFW, including College Station, Longview, Lubbock, Killeen, San Angelo, Tyler, Waco and Wichita Falls. The turboprop planes will be returned to a leasing company. American Eagle last week stopped hiring new pilots.

In Longview, initial reaction is upbeat, according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Officials say the move actually restores a jet fleet taken away from Longview’s East Texas Regional Airport during the summer. Planes land and take off mornings and evenings Thursday through Monday at East Texas Regional and once on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. In addition to running smoother and quieter, jets also move faster, cutting the time commuters must factor into reaching connecting flights at DFW. “This creates some options,” Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt said. “People may feel a lot more comfortable flying out of East Texas. My hope is that we can show that we can keep those jets full and add a third (daily) flight.”

LONGVIEW — After 29 years, the event known by most as “The Boat and RV Show” has been renamed according to the Longview Chamber of Commerce. With its new name, East Texas Outdoor Expo will take place January 27-29, 2012, at Longview’s Maude Cobb Activity Complex.

First held in 1982, it was called the East Texas Boat Show because it featured boats and yachts from Longview area boat and marine dealers. First held in 1982, it was called the East Texas Boat Show because it featured boats and yachts from Longview area boat and marine dealers. Dale Clark and Gene Brady, owners of Longview Marine at the time, founded the event with operational help from volunteers of the Longview Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber eventually assumed ownership of the event in order to help expand participation of exhibitors and vendors.

From being primarily a “boat show” with other watercraft, the event grew to include recreational vehicles, travel trailers, ATV four wheelers, motorcycles and vendors of a variety of merchandise and gear for outdoor activity. To be inclusive the name of the event grew to be the East Texas Boat, RV and Camping Expo. However, the name became too long and was shortened by almost everyone to the “Boat Show.”

Officials say without a good distinction, the event, held the last weekend of January each year, became confused with other boat shows in the region. According to press materials, it was time to consider a new name that would let people know what the event offered. After the January 2011 event, a survey was distributed by the Longview Chamber of Commerce to the exhibitors. A question regarding their support of a name change was included. The proposed name change was East Texas Outdoor EXPO. Of the surveys returned, 85% supported the name change because it was more inclusive and allowed for additional expansion for future years.

ANGELINA COUNTY — A Lufkin woman has been arrested Monday night after she bit and spit on a Lufkin Police officer responding to reports of her being bitten in the face by a dog. According to a police report, the officer responded to the 1100 block of Atkinson Drive, where he was informed that the victim of the attack, Jeanette Pool, 46, was intoxicated and was still inside the home with the dog loose inside the residence.

The officer directed that Pool exit the residence in order to be treated by EMS units on the scene. Pool became uncooperative and began swinging her arms violently as officers and medical staff tried to treat her injuries. Pool bit an officer’s hand, leaving teeth mark indentions, and then proceeded to spit on him. Pool was booked into the Angelina County Jail on charges of assault/family violence, harassment of a public servant and resisting transport.

GREGG COUNTY — Donations flooded into the Gregg County Welfare Board since more than $20,000 worth of Christmas gifts meant for foster children were stolen from a Longview storage facility. Board President James Pete said about $53,000 has been donated to the board since the gifts were reported stolen Dec. 7, and several organizations have given toys, as well. Pete said the organization received donations from across the country from businesses and individuals. Longview Fire Department Capt. Tommy Daniel said firefighters collected 1,500 toys from community members that were donated to the organization. So far, no arrests have been made.

TYLER — Due to heavy traffic conditions, driving during the Holiday Season can be a very stressful experience. The Tyler Police Department would like to remind all drivers to pay special attention to their driving skills. Drivers tend to become impatient with the heavy traffic flow and as a result, sometimes drive too fast for traffic and weather conditions and run red lights. The stress of the Holiday traffic sometimes results in aggressive driving like: cutting drivers off, tailgating , honking the horn, speeding, unsafe lane changes, driving over medians and failing to yield right of way.

Police ask you to keep both hands on the wheel and not your cell phone in case you need to take evasive action. Remember to buckle everyone up with a seat belt and don’t drink and drive. The Tyler Police Department encourages everyone to drive safe so that they may have a Happy Holiday!

TYLER — New details are released on a fatal hit and run in Smith County Saturday. It happened at the intersection of Farm Road 2767 and Farm Road 757. Authorities are saying that a Smith County Sheriff’s Deputy son may be involved. Jared Stinecipher, 25, son of Lt. Mark Stinecipher, was arrested early Sunday morning for parole revocation. Smith County Sheriff’s Deputy, Bobby Garmon, said Jared may be involved in the fatal hit and run. The head-on crash killed Authur Dewayne Murphy, 50, Tyler. Stinecipher was booked into the Smith County Jail.

LONGVIEW — Good Shepherd Medical Center has announced the addition of K. Gayle English to Good Shepherd Medical Center’s Board of Directors. Prior to his retirement in 1999, English served Eastman Chemical Company for his entire 39 year career.

During his time at Eastman Chemical’s Texas Operations, English advanced from working as a Chemical Engineer into administration as the Superintendent of their Plastics Division.

“Good Shepherd is proud to welcome Mr. English to our Board of Directors. We know his years of administration experience with Eastman will offer us a unique perspective towards the growth and future of our Medical Center,” said Good Shepherd Medical Center President and CEO, Ed Banos.

English’s years of service to the East Texas community includes serving as a Sunday school teacher for over 40 years, previous Chairman as well as service as a Deacon at Longview Baptist Church. English has also resided on the boards of the United Way Fund, the Salvation Army and Stewart Blood Bank in Tyler. English’s volunteerism includes several years as a Trustee for the East Texas Boy Scout Foundation and a decade of coaching little league baseball.

English received both his Masters of Science and Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana.

QUITMAN — Authorities have issued a warrant for Abraham Mendoz Eusebo Lopez, 25, in connection with a Wood County murder. Lopez is described as a Hispanic man, 6′ tall, 170 pounds, driving a blue and tan 2002 Ford Explorer, LP BV4T768. He is suspected to be in the Houston area. The case involves an incident in the 6,000 block of County Road 4470 in the Winnsboro area. According to KETK, around 3:00 Monday morning, Wood County deputies were notified of a shooting that left one person dead. Lopez was named as the suspect later on Monday.

TYLER — Tyler minister and publisher Darryl Bowdre announces a run for City Council District 2 in the May election. Bowdre says his focuses will include infrastructure, economic development, and preservation of traditional communities. He adds that he supports much of what city leaders have prioritized, such as Tyler 21 and the city’s Blueprint plan. It’s Bowdre’s first run for public office since he served on the Tyler school board in the early 1990s. The council seat’s currently held by Donald Sanders, who’ll be retiring in May due to term limits.

GLADEWATER – The name of a man killed in a Gladewater accident has been released. Killed when his motorized scooter was hit by a pickup was Tannis Torres, Jr., 59. He had left Texan Nursing and Rehab of Gladewater and was trying to cross U.S Highway 80 on Friday when the accident occurred. So far, charges have not been filed in the accident, which remains under investigation.

TYLER — Today, the City of Tyler will permanently close North Border Avenue at the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) track between the St. James Church and the Tyler Water Utility Business Office. This closure is part of the Quiet Zone Initiative the City Council approved at its regularly scheduled meeting on Oct. 27, 2010, that eventually will partially eliminate the blowing of whistles by trains passing through the City of Tyler. Once the quiet zone is completed, passing trains would only blow their whistle when the engineer spots an obstruction on the track. This will decrease the deafening noise from train horns experienced by the adjacent property owners.

To apply to the railroad for a quiet zone, the stretch of track must have gates at each street grade crossing. The gates serve as physical warning devices which the flashing lights cannot accomplish alone. Currently, the two crossings in the city limits which do not have gates are Claude Street and North Palace Avenue. Union Pacific will not allow gates to be placed at both of these crossings due to their close proximity to each other. Consequently, Claude Street will eventually be closed.

The crossing at Border Avenue currently has gates and cabinets for housing the batteries and electronics. The crossing is being closed, and the expensive railroad equipment will be moved to Palace Avenue to meet the requirement of a gate at each crossing.

TYLER — The Salvation Army of Tyler gets another anonymous donation of a 1 troy ounce American Gold Eagle bullion coin. It was dropped Monday in the kettle at the Coffee Bar entrance of Brookshire’s on Rice Road. Based on the current price of gold, this 1 ounce coin is valued at approximately $1,600. Although the donor wishes to remain anonymous, officials say The Salvation Army is aware that this coin is from the same person who donated a 1 ounce gold coin last Christmas. The donor has said the gold coins are a way to encourage others to give whatever they can. Earlier this season, a 1/2 troy ounce American Gold Eagle bullion coin was dropped in the kettle outside FRESH by Brookshires. The Salvation Army is still in need of volunteers to ring the bell throughout Christmas Eve. To sign up go to http://www.ringbells.org or call 903-592-4361.

QUITMAN — A Mineola man has been arrested by Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Special Ranger Larry Hand on two counts of hay theft after he allegedly conducted an online hay scam. Special Rangers Hand, Max Hartmann and Doug Hutchison investigated the case. Authorities say Steven Clues, 39, began advertising in late summer on internet hay sites. He collected funds by wire transfers on 98 round bales of hay from 2 victims worth an estimated $10,000 but failed to deliver the hay. The victims were from Fayette and Comal counties. Hand says that a Grand Jury will review the case for possible additional charges. Clues was released from the Wood County jail Saturday on a $10,000 bond.

Hand advises ranchers to be extremely cautious when using hay brokers. Get a contract, pay upon delivery when possible, or agree to one of many forms of escrow accounts to minimize your risk.

HENDERSON – A boil water order for parts of Rusk County has been lifted. South Rusk County Water Supply Corporation spokeswoman Shauna Brent said morning that samples returned good results, and there is no longer a need to boil water. The precautionary notice was issued Monday for Southern Rusk County residents in the Compton and McKnight area, including County Road 401, County Road 438 and the northern part of Farm Road 839.

AUSTIN (AP) — Former state Representative Paul Sadler of Henderson has announced that he will run for U.S. Senate as a Democrat. Sadler told The Associated Press on Monday that he sees an opportunity for a Democrat to win in 2012. He filed his paperwork after the only major candidate, retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, announced Friday that he was dropping out of the Democratic primary. Sadler served in the Texas House from 1991-2003 and was the chairman of several committees working on education issues. Most recently he has worked as the executive director of The Wind Coalition, a lobbying group for the wind energy industry. If he wins the nomination, Sadler will face stiff competition in Texas where no Democrat holds statewide office.

MT. PLEASANT – Three persons remain hospitalized following a fatal one vehicle accident in Titus County. Killed in the Sunday morning wreck was Maria Hernandez, 47, of Carpentersville, Illinois. She was a passenger in a car driven by Jose Gonzales, of Round Lake, Illinois.

The Department of Public Safety reports Gonzales was heading west on Interstate Highway 30 drifted off the roadway and hit the center median. He then over corrected, causing to vehicle to overturn several time. It ended up in a ditch. Gonzales and two of his passengers are being treated at Tyler’s East Texas Medical Center. Their injuries were said to be non life threatening.

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Child Welfare Board is still getting donations nearly two weeks after nearly $20,000 worth of gifts meant for area foster children were stolen. The board has in fact gotten more than $40,000 so far. According to KETK, donations are still pouring in, but the group is in need of electronics that were taken. If you’d like to help, contact Nancy Eldridge with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services at 903-233-5228 (office) or 903-918-1837 (cell). You can also use the address [email protected] to contact Eldrige by e-mail.

MARSHALL — A former Harrison County deputy is arrested for a second time after new sexual assault charges are brought against him. Harrison County Sheriff Tom McCool says a third person has come forward and accused former deputy Eddie Nichols. “We don’t know where that’s gonna end, says McCool. “There could very well be other allegations brought.” Nichols and his wife, Sharon, were both arrested and charged with indecency with a child earlier this year. Following the latest arrest, Nichols was released on $100,000 bond. Nichols was terminated from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department following his first arrest; however, he remains the pastor of a local church, Harvest Christian Fellowship.

TYLER — Heavy damage is reported in a two-alarm house fire at 1204 North Broadway in Tyler Monday. The initial call was shortly after noon when the caller reported flames were visible from the two story house. According to the Tyler Fire Department, the blaze appears to have started on the back porch and is still under investigation. The residents were not at home when the fire started. There was heavy fire damage to the entire house, including the attic. In addition, there was heavy smoke damage throughout the home. Officials tell KETK the building is a halfway house.

WINNSBORO — Wood County Criminal Investigation is currently working a suspicious death investigation in the 6,000 block of County Road 4470 in the Winnsboro area. According to KETK, around 3:00 Monday morning, Wood County deputies were notified of a shooting that left one person dead. Authorities say the suspect, Abraham Mendoza Eusebo Lopez, fled the scene in a blue and tan late 80s model Ford Explorer.

HARRISON COUNTY –Authorities say an investigation is still ongoing after a body is found Friday evening. Harrison County dispatchers received a call on the non-emergency line around 5:40 reporting a possible of a deceased person found in the area of St. James Cemetery. Deputies located the body of a black male at that location with extensive lacerations to the torso. He was identified as Kenneth Dale Dillard, Jr.22, of Marshall. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office at 903-923-4000 or Crimestoppers at 903-935-9969.

TYLER – A Lufkin woman has died in a Tyler hospital following a wreck December 12 in Angelina County. East Texas Medical Center confirms that Maria Cordero, 43, died last Friday. She had been critically injured in a two vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 59 north. The Department of Public Safety says her car was northbound when it clipped a SUV driven by Jaime Sifuentes, 30, of Nacogdoches, was not injured.

LONGVIEW — As of Monday, Fairmont Street in Longview is closed between Kingsbury Court and Regency Drive to through traffic. The closure will allow for drainage improvements on Weston and Fairmont Streets. Alternate routes are recommended. Depending on the weather, the closure will be effective for approximately one week. This project is providing drainage improvements per the Master Drainage Plan. This project is being constructed by Excel Utility Construction of Longview, Texas. For information about the construction, please call the City of Longview’s Project Manager, Alton Bradley, at 903-237-1067.

SHELBY COUNTY — Two teens were killed and two were injured in a rollover accident in Shelby County. It happened early Sunday afternoon on Farm Road 2026 in Shelby County. DPS officials tell KETK a 2004 truck was traveling westbound when it left the roadway and rolled several times. Officials say Daniel Cooks, 17 and Victoria Cooks, 18, have died. Two others were injured; one was flown to a Louisiana hospital. The wreck remains under investigation.

TYLER — An ongoing issue for the Tyler-based Meals on Wheels Ministry is the need for volunteers. On KTBB “Staff meeting,” Executive Director Mike Powell says recent government funding cuts are making that need even more urgent. Powell says using volunteers instead of paid drivers saves money, and right now, Meals on Wheels has about fifty openings in Tyler that it would like to fill. Powell says then Meals on Wheels would open up some new routes, and the extra volunteers would allow the agency to free up some funding to feed more people. You can go to http://www.mealsonwheelseasttexas.org to volunteer. You can also call 903-593-7385 or 1-800-451-2912. Go to http://www.ktbb.com/audio to hear the “Staff Meeting” show in its entirety.

ATHENS — An estimated crowd of more than 5,000 came to rally on the Henderson County Courthouse lawn Saturday in response to recent efforts to get county officials to remove the nativity scene on the southeast side of the square. By the end of the Nativity rally it was clear from the words of the rally’s speakers that they have higher goals than saving the inanimate figures that spurred the controversy.

“We are seeing unfold before our very eyes, the beginning of persecution of Christianity in our nation,” First Baptist Church Malakoff Pastor Nathan Lorick said. “It seems it is no longer acceptable to express and exhibit the doctrines of our faith in the nation that was founded upon those same doctrines. That is why thousands are here today.”

The rally grew out of the controversy that arose when Freedom From Religion Foundation of Madison, Wisconsin sent a letter to county officials Dec. 1. The letter stated that it was written on behalf of a Henderson County resident who objected to the display on grounds that it was religious in nature and a violation of a United States Supreme Court decision.

The sea of people who gathered in response to the FFRF efforts was overwhelmingly in support of the nativity scene. The audience alternately applauded and cheered approval of the speakers. Any dissenters that might have been present were quiet as the four pastors who organized the rally spoke during the hour-long event. Lorick thanked the Henderson County and Athens government officials who have refused to remove the manger scene in the face of the complaints. Derrick Rogers, who pastors in Corsicana but lives in Henderson County, said Christians need to present a unified voice against those who seek to keep them on the fringe of public life.

Attempts by FFRF to get a banner placed on the courthouse lawn offering a non-Christian message were not successful. The item has not come before commissioners’ court and is not on the agenda for Tuesday, the last meeting before Christmas.

LONGVIEW — Police arrested three Longview men Thursday on multiple drug charges. Ted Vanvleet, (pictured) 45, David Dewayne Bender, 29 and Joseph Allen Acles, 21, remained in jail Saturday. The men were arrested on charges relating to the manufacture and delivery of as much as 200 grams of a controlled substance, two counts of manufacture and delivery of between 0.75 grams and 28 grams of a controlled substance and possession of less than two ounces of marijuana. Bond was set at $41,000 for Acles and Benderson. Vanvleet, who also faces a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, has bond set at $41,500.

LONGVIEW — A viral outbreak at Gregg County’s only animal shelter means a death sentence for at least 155 dogs. Humane Society of Northeast Texas Executive Director Christine Kerr through teary eyes confirmed Saturday that a dog adopted from the shelter died from what a local veterinarian determined was distemper. Canine distemper is a contagious, incurable, often fatal viral infection that affects a dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems.

The shelter, which welcomes stray and unwanted animals from at least three counties, is closed until, at the earliest, Dec. 27. Shelter and Longview environmental health officials have set up a temporary intake facility at the Maude Cobb Activity Complex rodeo grounds on Grand Blvd. Meanwhile, through Monday night, Kerr and her staff are euthanizing the 154 dogs that were at the shelter Friday when the outbreak was discovered.

It is the first distemper outbreak at the shelter in about five years. Because canine distemper does not affect felines, all 136 cats at the shelter Friday have been spared. Humane Society of Northeast Texas leaders are asking residents to delay any animal surrenders until the shelter reopens.

MARSHALL — A Marshall man was killed late Friday and police investigations into his death included a related stand-off Saturday afternoon on Harleton Road. Kenneth “Junior” Dillard, 22, of Marshall was found dead Friday near St. James Cemetery, according to Harrison County Sheriff Tom McCool. Several suspects under investigation are part of a circle known for drug-related offenses and that police suspect drugs could be a factor in the case.

Authorities said hundreds of people gathered Saturday afternoon on the streets outside a home at the corner of Yaney Street and Harleton Road, where police attempted to coerce the resident outside. Special Response Teams from the Marshall Police Department and the Harrison County Sheriff’s department were attempting to capture a felony bond forfeiture suspect whose original charge was manufacture of a controlled substance. The unnamed suspect was seen by an officer, running along Harleton Road at noon, and the stand-off lasted until about 4:30.

During that time, police got a telephone into the house and one occupant came outside, but was not arrested. The person of interest for the stand-off was not found inside, though police had seen the person at the location earlier in the day. McCool confirmed that the two events were linked.