KTBB News, Weather, Talk

GLADEWATER — Firefighters continue to battle a massive fire on Cole Bottom Road south of Gladewater after it rekindled late Tuesday. According to KETK, residents were evacuated Monday night and are still not allowed to return home. The sheriff’s office and highway patrol have entrances blocked on FM 2207 and are only allowing firefighters in the area at this time. And now that fire has merged with another major fire that’s been burning since Sunday near Gladewater on the other side of Highway 135.

RUSK COUNTY — Evacuations continue in the Price/Carlisle area. Residents living on County Roads 4110D, 4113, and 487, of Price, were told late Monday afternoon to evacuate immediately. Authorities also closed County Roads 4110D, 4113, and 487 in Price, along with FM 850 1.5 miles West of Highway 42, in New London. Officials said the fire in question was likely caused by old trees falling on power lines. Officials late Monday began evacuating the Carlisle School District due to the danger of wildfire. There will be no school in the Carlisle schools today. Also, residents living north of the intersection of Rusk County Roads 476 and 477 up to the Macedonia Baptist Church in Carlisle have been advised to evacuate due to fire in that area. A separate fire has rekindled on Rusk County Road 272 between FM 1716 and Highway 43. According to KETK, that fire has been contained.

OVERTON — A fatal shooting is reported in Overton and now, two suspects are in custody. Overton Police have arrested Anthony Arterberry and Regina Bayless. According to KETK, both have records including theft and indecency with a child in the case of Arterberry. The identity of the victim has not been released pending notification of next of kin. Authorities say the victim was shot on the side of Denman Road at least 6 or 7 times. The shooting happened Monday, and the body was found Tuesday morning.

ANGELINA COUNTY — Two women are suing their former employer, Dollar King, after being secretly photographed in the Lufkin store’s bathroom. While criminal charges of improper photography have been brought against the former manager, Nathan Scott Kesler, 36, joint employers Emergent HR, Inc., and Dollar King, LLC, now face a civil suit alleging negligence and wrongful termination.

The civil suit stems from an incident in which Kesler is alleged by police to have put his cell phone on a bathroom cabinet of the business in a position to photograph the toilet using a spy camera application. The two store employees were photographed in the restroom when the application, which uses motion detection, took the photos.

TYLER — The Northeast Texas Public Health District is issuing an advisory on health threats from wildfire smoke. Smoke from wildfires is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and other plant materials. Smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung disease. Common symptoms of smoke exposure include:
• Coughing
• Scratchy throat
• Irritated sinuses
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Headaches
• Stinging eyes
• Runny nose
Smoke may worsen symptoms for people who have pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as respiratory allergies, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). When smoke levels are high enough, even healthy people may experience some of these symptoms. Limit your exposure to smoke. Following are ways to protect your health:

If you experience any of these symptoms, take the following measures:

• Limit outdoor activities as much as possible.
• Keep the windows and doors of your home shut.
• Run the air conditioner with the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside. If you do not have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed, seek shelter elsewhere.
• Avoid cooking as much as possible.
• Do not burn candles or use fireplaces.
• Do not use vacuum cleaners which can stir up dust already inside your home.
• Keep your airways moist by drinking plenty of water. To help relieve dryness, breathe through a warm, wet cloth.

If you have asthma or other lung disease, follow your doctor’s advice about medicine and call your doctor if your symptoms worsen. Be careful when traveling as smoke from the wildfires can pose serious visibility issues in some areas. For more information, stay tuned to local radio or television.

DIANA — A wildfire in the Diana flared up again Tuesday afternoon. That’s according to KETK. Earlier, residents were allowed to return home after evacuations were initiated over the Labor Day weekend due to the large blaze along Farm Road 726. Officials now say the fire has burned at least some 2,500 acres and was moving south toward Farm Road 1650.

FORT WORTH (AP) — American Eagle, which operates regional flights for American Airlines, including flights to Tyler, said Tuesday that traffic rose 10.2 percent in August, outstripping an increase in passenger-carrying capacity. Eagle said paying passengers flew 855.1 million miles last month, up from 776 million miles in August 2010.

The airline raised capacity by 7.5 percent, to 1.14 billion available seat miles, a measure of one seat flown one mile. Airlines add capacity by adding flights, using bigger planes or flying longer distances.

The airlines’ parent company, AMR Corp, is in the process of spinning off American Eagle to shareholders as a separate company.

TYLER — The Tyler Fire Department reminds citizens to use caution when using outdoor cooking appliances. At this time, outdoor cooking with charcoal, propane or natural gas is allowed with the following restrictions:

· Outdoor cooking operations must be done in a completely covered container. The vessel should be fully enclosed to prevent any possible ignition source from escaping.
· Cooking must be done at least 10 feet from any house or structure.
· Cooking must be constantly monitored by an adult.

The Tyler Fire Department also recommends that a water source be constantly within reach and reminds citizens that any resulting damage or injuries will be the financial responsibility of the person cooking. Additionally, grills located in City parks should not be used unless they meet the above criteria. Citizens may bring personal grills to City parks, provided they comply with the above mentioned requirements.

Citizens are encouraged to remain alert and practice fire safety precautions during these unusually dry conditions. Contact the Tyler Fire Marshal’s Office at (903) 535-0005 for more information regarding fire safety and prevention.

SMITH COUNTY — Officials ordered an evacuation of County Road 119 Tuesday afternoon due to a blaze in southern Smith County. KETK reports one structure has been lost to the rekindled fire. The fire is between CR 119 and County Road 113 close to Kiepersol Estates between Whitehouse and Bullard. Smith County volunteer firefighters, who have been fighting the blaze, report the fire had been contained. One estimate had nearly 200 acres burned. So far, 9 people have been evacuated. Kiepersol has not been affected, just homes nearby.

TYLER — Smith County agencies release an after-action report from their most recent multi-agency No-Refusal DWI campaign, September 2nd through September 5th, 2011:

Total DWI arrests for the No-Refusal initiative for all agencies were 17.
-The DPS had 10 DWI arrests during the No-Refusal campaign. (DPS issued one citation for DUI-Minor and have one DWI arrest pending as a result of a wreck where the DWI suspect was hospitalized.)
-The Tyler PD had 5 DWI arrests during the No-Refusal campaign.
-The Smith County Sheriff’s Office had 1 DWI arrest during the No-Refusal campaign.
-The Whitehouse PD had 1 DWI arrest during the No-Refusal campaign.

Total number of search warrants for blood obtained was 4.
-The DPS obtained 1 search warrant for blood.
-The Tyler PD obtained 3 search warrants for blood.

ANGELINA COUNTY — The capital murder trial of a Lufkin nurse accused of killing five dialysis patients by injecting them with bleach begins today. Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty for Kimberly Clark Saenz, 37, a former nurse at DaVita Dialysis, where she worked for eight months.

Federal health officials became involved in a massive health investigation in late April 2008 after a series of patient deaths and illnesses at the Lufkin dialysis center. The center closed for nearly two months as investigators spent weeks combing through patient documents and preserving dialysis equipment for forensic testing. Lufkin Police linked Saenz to some of the center’s patient complications May 30 of that year when they charged her with aggravated assault. DaVita fired her a day before police filed charges. Police say two witnesses saw Saenz fill a syringe with bleach and inject the substance into two patients’ dialysis lines. Both of those patients survived.

NEW YORK (AP) – Lufkin Industries Inc. said Tuesday it plans to buy substantially all of the assets owned by Quinn’s Oilfield Supply Ltd. for about $303 million in cash. Quinn’s, based in Red Deer, Canada, makes a variety of industrial pumps. It operates two factories and 51 service facilities near North America’s oil and gas fields. Lufkin, an oil service company based in Lufkin, Texas, said the acquisition will expand its services in North America at a time when the industry is aggressively tapping underground shale wells. “The acquisition of Quinn’s will instantly give Lufkin a significantly larger footprint in Canada from which to market and service our other products,” John F. “Jay” Glick, Lufkin president and CEO, said. The deal is expected to close before the end of 2011.

SMITH COUNTY — High winds spreading flames fast destroy several homes and force a set of evacuations Monday afternoon in eastern Smith County. Fire crews went door to door on Farm Road 2767 and County Road 239 to evacuate families from their houses. The Jackson Heights Fire Department posted a command center to control the blaze. Smith County Fire Officials tell KETK the fire started off CR 239 in a residential area. Five homes have been destroyed and one home has been heavily damaged. Two of the homes were unoccupied at the time of the fire and the residents were able to escape the other two. Homes in a two mile area have been evacuated.

State Highway 31 and county roads in the area are now reopened. The fire will continue to burn or several days, but officials say no structures are currently in danger. According to a county press statement, volunteer fire departments from around the county will continue to monitor hot spots in the area until the fire is fully contained. Officials believe the fire might have started after charcoal from a grill fell on the ground, but they add they are not positive at this moment. An 18-wheeler holding animal feed was also destroyed in the fire. Water tanker trucks have been assisting due to low pressure and the difficulty of getting water to the area.

NACOGDOCHES – A fire in western Nacogdoches County has forced the evacuation of the Upshaw community. The fire started in Cherokee County, but jumped a river and headed into Nacogdoches County. Several fire departments along with the Texas Forest Service are fighting the flames. By late Monday afternoon the fire had grown to 300 acres and, because of the gusty winds, was still growing.

GREGG COUNTY – Fires in Gregg County have burned thousands of acres and are responsible for a couple of deaths. Community members are reacting after two bodies were found in a burned out mobile home on Gladewater’s Lincoln Springs Road. Killed was Valerie McBride, 20 and her 18-month old daughter K’loe Cheek. An autopsy has been ordered. Neighbor Debbie Johnston told KETK, “My heart does go out to them, because it’s one thing to lose stuff, but when you lose people, that’s terrible — that’s absolutely terrible. But this community is so strong. They’re tough…you can tell they’re all pulled together.” Gladewater Police also confirm evacuations in the following areas: Rosy Wady Road, Lincoln Springs Road, Old Hwy (Old Gladewater Road), Tennerville Road. The fire that has destroyed at least 7 homes, at last report, was 60% contained.

The Gregg County Sheriff’s Department has reported evacuations for the Liberty City area. A wildfire was affecting an area just south of Interstate-20, near the intersection of Goforth Road and Mt. Pisgah Road. According to KETK, officials were calling the blaze a “major fire,” and several homes were being threatened.

PALESTINE — Anderson County is among the areas of East Texas being hit hard by wildfire. Evacuations are underway in part of the county, and late Monday, a new fire sparked in the Mound Prairie Lake area. Meanwhile, according to KETK, firefighters are still battling the so-called New Chapel fire that broke out in Anderson County around midday Sunday. As of late Monday, the fire was said to cover about 1,000 acres and had destroyed about five homes. Officials said the blaze was about 40% contained. They said it was likely caused by branches touching power lines. Throughout Anderson County, wildfires have charred over 5,000 acres and destroyed five buildings.

LONGVIEW — Officials have announced a mandatory evacuation through much of Gregg County. According to KETK, a large wildfire has been burning out of control in the southwestern portions of the county. Evacuation has been ordered for everyone south of U.S. Highway 80 and west of State Highway 42 between Camp Switch Road and Lawson with a southern border of Merrils Road. Officials caution you not to drive into smoke or cross barricades.

NEW LONDON — According to the Rusk County Office of Emergency Management, a fire broke out Monday in New London. According to KETK, officials have been telling motorists to avoid the following areas due to fire activity: CR 1114, FM 3053, and 42/850 intersection in New London. We’ll provide more details as they become available.

EAST TEXAS — SWEPCO officials said at one point this morning, there were around 650 East Texas customers without power, most located in Longview and Gladewater. That number has since been reduced to about 114. The majority of the power outages from Sunday have been taken care of but the electric company was expecting more outage reports today due to high wind in the area.

TROUP — A Troup man died Thursday night in a two-vehicle wreck on Farm Road 346 in Smith County, the Department of Public Safety reported over the weekend. Anthony Long, 45, was driving a 2002 Nissan Altima south on the highway two miles north of Troup, shortly after 10:00pm, when he lost control of the vehicle on a curve. Authorities say the car and a northbound pickup then collided. Long was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the pickup, Ronald Decus, 45, also of Troup, was taken to an area hospital where he was treated and released. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts.

GREGG COUNTY — The Gregg County Sheriff’s Department has reported evacuations are underway for the Liberty City area. A wildfire is affecting an area just south of Interstate-20, near the intersection of Goforth Road and Mt. Pisgah Road. According to KETK, officials are calling the blaze a “major fire”, and several homes are being threatened. Gladewater Police also confirm evacuations in the following areas:

Rosy Wady Road, Lincoln Springs Road, Old Hwy (Old Gladewater Road), Tennerville Road

Officials say the fire is moving south.

TYLER — Fire officials tell KETK, a wildfire near Tyler Pounds Airport has now burned 25 acres of land. Multiple fire departments responded to the blaze which is said to have started around noon Saturday. Officials are still investigating the cause of that fire, but it may have been caused by a downed power line. Firefighters say the blaze is contained but due to the high winds, it has been very hard to put all the way out. No injuries have been reported.

LONGVIEW — Almost one hour after weather forecasters issued a fire danger alert for most of East Texas, authorities responded to a grass fire along Interstate 20 between Lansing Switch Road and Loop 281/FM 968.

The fire sent thick, white smoke across a more than three-mile stretch of the interstate, forcing Texas Department of Public Safety troopers to shut down the freeway in both directions, and DPS troopers from Gregg County were called to assist with directing traffic on nearby county roads.

Big Oak Park trailer park was evacuated due to the fires in the area. Interstate 20 has been reopened to traffic in both directions. Harrison County Fire Marshal Thomas Mock says he is hopeful that the fire is now about 60 percent contained. Several departments remained in the area battling the blaze. First Baptist church in Hallsville opened up for evacuees.

Shortly after 10 a.m. Sunday, the National Weather Service issued a “Red Flag Warning” until 7 p.m. for locations west of Marshall and north of Nacogdoches and Rusk. Sustained winds from the north and north-northeast increased throughout the day to as much as 30 mph, while humidity dropped to between 20 and 25 percent. Under a Red Flag Warning, extreme fire weather conditions such as dry vegetation and strong winds exist.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Van Zandt County Officials reported a large fire burning in the county. Multiple emergency crews are reported to have responded to the massive fire in the Van area. Authorities say the flames were sparked when a transformer exploded. The high winds spread the hot debris and flames quickly. Thousands are said to be without power.

LONGVIEW — Two Alabama residents are under arrest after a traffic stop uncovers a large amount of drugs Saturday morning. James Lloyd Smith, 55, (pictured) and 36-year-old Kristy Suzanne Wilkes remained jailed in Longview under felony charges of possessing between five and 50 pounds of marijuana. They were arrested around 10:45 on I-20. Additional information about the highway bust was not immediately available. Bonds for each were $7,500 on the pot charge, with Smith held under another $11,000 on his other three drug charges and Wilkes under another $6,000 in bonds.

SMITH COUNTY– A wildfire outside Tyler has damaged several structures. According to KETK, the fire was reported to be off of County Road 3161 and County Road 3151 just north of the old county work farm, close to the Jackson Heights subdivision. Two structures were reportedly destroyed and several others were in immediate danger. Red Springs, Winona, Jackson and the Smith County Fire Marshal responded to the scene. No injuries were reported and the cause of the blaze is under investigation.

DALLAS (AP) — Strong winds from Tropical Storm Lee combined with dry humidity to keep parts of South and East Texas on the lookout for wildfires. Showers associated with the storm fell on the deepest part of the East Texas Piney Woods on Saturday, from Liberty and Lufkin east to Louisiana. That left the rest of the eastern half of Texas with what the Texas Forest Service characterized as “critical fire weather.” A forest service statement Saturday said those conditions will dominate most of the state on Sunday. Meantime, crews battled 12 large fired across the state, including the 6,600-acre fire near Possum Kingdom Lake 70 miles west of Fort Worth. That fire which destroyed 39 homes and nine recreational vehicles, was 60 percent contained as of Saturday.

TYLER — Tyler Firefighters report a blaze has destroyed two vacant homes. The fire began Friday afternoon at a house in the 3100 block of Puckett Drive off Morningside Drive near East Loop 323. After consuming two houses, the blaze rapidly spread to a pasture, where it threatened more houses.

Smith County Fire Marshal Jim Seaton said a truck from nearly every department in the county was on scene with the Texas Forest Service and a chopper assisting with the fire. A couple of cars and a barn were also destroyed. Seaton said a family was in the process of moving into the house where the fire began and a relative was planning to move into the second house that burned. The family had reportedly gone to buy an air-conditioning window unit, and when they returned, the house was on fire. No injuries were reported.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County is currently under a burn ban but officials said that didn’t completely rule out Labor Day grilling. Under the burn ban issued by the Smith County Commissioners Court in July, county residents may still use a fully contained charcoal, propane or natural gas grill for cooking purposes only. Open barbeque pits are restricted.

Additional burn ban information for Smith County is now available by phone through the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office. Call 903-590-2656 and choose option five to check up-to-date information on the current burn ban in place for Smith County including specific information about restricted activities and ticketable offenses. Please do not call 9-1-1 unless it is to report an emergency.

Smith County has issued dozens of tickets for fire-related activities since the ban was instated in July. Anyone with questions about fire-related jobs or activities is encouraged to call the information line.

TYLER — The Tyler Fire Department responded to a 2-alarm fire in the 2900 block of specialty Drive. Officials say the warehouse storage facility was heavily damaged. No word on the estimated loss. The Tyler Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.