KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – A Houston man has been arrested after being accused of using stolen credit card information in Tyler. Yoslays Garcia Torres, 34, was arrested as his vehicle was leaving the Wal-Mart on the Troup Highway. Officers found numerous gift cards in his possession that were purchased with stolen cloned credit card information. Some of the information belonged to Tyler residents. They believe he got the stolen credit card information from gas pump skimming. He has been charged with fraudulent use or possession of identifying Information. He is in the Smith County Jail under a $1 million bond.

TEXARKANA – The 6th Court of Appeals in Texarkana has upheld the new 99 year prison sentence given to 58 year old Bernie Tiede. At his new sentencing trail in 2016, he was given 99 years for the murder of 81 year old Marjorie Nugent in Carthage in 1996. After stealing millions from the woman, he is said to have shot her in the back and hid her body in a freezer. He appealed the sentence, saying the court should have enforced an agreement between his lawyers and the district attorney that would have given him a shorter sentence. The Texarkana appeals court said there was no evidence of such an agreement. The three judge panel also rejected Tiede’s claims that his confession was improperly admitted at trial and that his indictment should have been voided because of bias by a grand juror.

LINDALE – A multiple vehicle accident on Interstate Highway in Smith County has killed at least one person. It was reported shortly after 11:45 Thursday morning when a pickup hit the rear of a passenger van that had slowed down for the traffic ahead. The van’s driver was killed. No word at this time on any injuries. The accident occurred in a west bound lane of the interstate near the Highway 110 exit. Both west bound lanes had been shut down, but now both are open.

EAST TEXAS – Area stores are preparing for an influx of shoppers this weekend. Just in time for back to school shopping, it’s the sales tax weekend in Texas. It runs Friday through Sunday. The law exempts most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks priced for less than $100 from sales tax. The state comptroller’s office says this will save shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend during the weekend. State-wide, shoppers are expected to save around $87 million in state and local sales taxes during the sales tax holiday, which has been an annual event since 1999. You can go to the Comptroller’s website, http://www.texastaxholiday.org for lists of apparel and school supplies that may be purchased tax-free.

TYLER — Even as millions mourn legendary entertainer Glen Campbell, it’s been announced that his widow will be visiting Tyler in November — discussing the disease that ravaged the final years of his life. Kim Campbell will keynote the Alzheimer’s Alliance of Smith County’s sixth annual Butterfly Hope Luncheon November 15 at Willow Brook Country Club. This year’s event will be kicked off the day before with a screening of the Glen Campbell Documentary “I’ll Be Me.” You can get more details on the ktbb.com Calendar of Events.

KILGORE – Kilgore police report two separate accidents, both involving drivers who had been using K2. In one, a car was resting against a tree with the driver passed out, his foot on the brake and the vehicle still in drive. In the second case, a driver hit a guardrail before hitting another vehicle. No injuries were reported and the drivers were charged with DWI. Kilgore police report that K2, a synthetic cannabinoid, is now bought in unlabled bags as opposed to the flashy packaging that was previously sold in stores. And they remind you, using K2 can be extremely dangerous.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — A Gun Barrel City teen has died, four others were injured, following a two vehicle wreck. According to the DPS report, it happened Wednesday night around 7:35 on VZCR 2801, about 10 miles north of Mabank. A Pathfinder, driven by James Jones, 16, ran a stop sign and struck a minivan. Jones and two other occupants were ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The other 16-year-old and a 14-year-old were transported to Dallas for treatment. The driver of the other vehicle and a passenger were taken to ETMC in Gun Barrel City.

EAST TEXAS — The first of three funeral services for the East Texas Boy Scouts killed in a boating accident at Lake O’ the Pines was held Thursday morning. Will Brannon, 17, of Hallsville, was remembered at the First Baptist Church in Hallsville. The boys were sailing in a catamaran Saturday when their 30-foot metal mast hit a power line. The contact caused them to be electrocuted. Continue reading Funeral Services for Three Boy Scouts

HOUSTON (AP/STAFF) — Former Governor Mark White was remembered Wednesday as a dedicated and caring Texas leader by someone who later held the same elected position, George W. Bush. Bush, the nation’s 43rd president, spoke at White’s funeral at Second Baptist Church in Houston. Two other prominent Texas Republicans, Gov. Greg Abbott and ex-Gov. Rick Perry, now U.S. Energy Secretary, were among the hundreds of mourners. White, a native of Henderson, who battled kidney cancer, died Saturday at age 77. White, his casket draped in a Texas flag, was a lawyer and Democrat who served one term as Texas governor, from 1983 until early 1987.

LINDALE – Lindale police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a theft suspect. He is said to have entered WalMart in Lindale on numerous occasions and took items without paying for them. He has been seen in a gold Buick and an older black Chevy truck. If you can identify him, you are asked to contact the Lindale Police Department.

TYLER – A Longview man, Desmond Denard Brown, 31, is heading to prison for drug trafficking. Brown was sentenced Wednesday to just over 65 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark in Tyler. Brown pleaded guilty back in March to possessing with intent to distribute and distribution of crack cocaine. Federal prosecutors say Brown distributed about 28 grams of crack cocaine in Gregg County.

TYLER – A Tyler man is facing a variety of charges following a traffic stop and foot chase. Byron Leanthony Taylor, 23, ran from the traffic stop, but was chased down and arrested. He showed officers where he had a gun hidden. It had been reported stolen. They also found some marijuana in his vehicle. Taylor is charged with theft of a firearm, unlawful carrying a weapon and possession of marijuana. There was also a warrant out for him for an accident involving injury charge from a previous Smith County case. He was booked into the Smith County Jail with bonds totaling $7,500.

AUSTIN – Sales tax allocations for Texas cities are up slightly. But some East Texas cities continue to show a slight decrease. The state comptrollers office shows sales tax allocations to Texas cities for August are up just over 1%. Tyler’s sales tax allocation is down nearly half a percent from the same period last year, to over $3.8 million. Tyler’s year to date figure is up 3% to over $27.2 Million. In Longview, the August figure is down over 20% to just over $2.6 million. For the year, Longview has received over $19.8 million. This is down nearly 3% from the figure in 2016.

TYLER — Card skimmers continue to pop up on gas pumps across the state — and just this week, another one was found in Tyler, at the Exxon at Commerce Street and Loop 323. Tyler Police Sgt. Adam Colby tells KETK, “This is the typical skimmer that we’ve been finding — Bluetooth enabled.” And it takes just seconds for the thieves to covertly retrieve your information. Most of the card skimmers found in East Texas have been either on a gas pump on the city’s loop, or close to the interstate. Texas Agriculture Commisioner Sid Miller says Bluetooth on your smartphone is the best way to detect a skimmer, but the only one way you can fully protect your identity is by paying with cash, inside.

LONGVIEW — Longview police say a Longview man kicked an officer in the chest and face as he was being arrested. According to KETK, police say Samuel North was lying in front of a room at the Express Inn and when police asked him to leave, he refused. He was taken to the back seat of the patrol car, where he’s accused of kicking the officer. He’s been taken to jail and charged with assault, resisting arrest, and criminal trespass.

TYLER – A slight tax increase is contained in Tyler’s proposed budget, which was presented to the city council Wednesday. The one cent tax hike takes the city’s tax rate from 23 cents to 24 cents per $100 valuation. The increase is proposed to cover lower sales tax revenues and a decline in the oil and gas sector. But, the tax hike is not the only proposed increase. Hikes are also proposed for city water, wastewater and garbage collection. Public input on the proposed budget will be taken at the city council meetings on august 23rd and 30th. The final adoption of the budget is scheduled at the council meeting September 13th.

LONGVIEW — An Athens woman has been sentenced to prison for driving while intoxicated. According to KETK, on Tuesday, Carol Hurley, 61, was given a 15 year prison sentence. On September 11, 2016, a DPS Trooper saw a car blocking traffic on the exit ramp of I-20 and Joy Wright Mountain Road, in Longview. Hurley’s blood alcohol content was .214, more than twice the legal limit. Hurley had four prior DWIs.

TYLER – Smith County commissioners have been given a look at a proposed six year road and bridge capital improvement with a price tag of between $100 million and $120 million. The plan lists projects for more than 1,167 miles of roadway. It was formulated from three citizen input meetings and meetings with representatives from cities within the county, as well as the Texas Department of Transportation. The commissioners also discussed potential ways of financing the plan, including the possibility of a bond election. You can go to https://www.smith-county.com/Commissioners/CommunityInput/RoadImprovement.aspx for more information about the county’s road and bridge plan, or to submit road opinions through an online form. The citizen feedback forms are also available at the Smith County Commissioners Court offices located at 200 East Ferguson, Suite 100. They can also be found at any of the Justice of the Peace/Constable offices throughout the county.

LONGVIEW – A man charged with several child sexual assault charges, is in jail in Longview. Javier Bahena Quintana, 42, of Longview, was arrested in North Carolina. He was booked into the Gregg County jail on Monday. He is facing three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and one count of indecency with a child sexual contact. Besides being held on bonds totaling $400,000, he is also held on an Immigration and Naturalization Service detainer.

AUSTIN – The so-called “bathroom bill, which pased the senate last week, has not moved in the house. With the special session set to end next week, the bill has still not been sent to a house committee. The bill would require transgender Texans to use public restrooms corresponding to the gender on their birth certificates. Among those supporting the measure is Tyler Representative Matt Schaefer. He says privacy for women and girls in public bathrooms, showers and locker rooms is about safety and common sense. He says, “it’s also about sports and women’s programs.” Schaffer adds that private businesses should be protected from lawsuits if the business owner chooses to keep men’s and women’s changing rooms and bath rooms separate.

TYLER – According to a national publication, Tyler’s Christus Mother Frances Hospital is one of the best in Texas. The U.S. News and World Health Report has the Tyler hospital tied with 7 other hospitals for the 12th best in the state. It is also “Recognized” in the Piney Woods region.

MARSHALL – The trial for former Hallsville coach Dean McDaniel is currently underway in Marshall. McDaniel, a track and cross country coach for 13 years at Hallsville ISD, announced in October, 2015, he would resign at the end of the year. He cited personal reasons for his actions. He turned himself in two months later following a grand jury indictment. He is charged with three counts of indecency with a child by exposure and one count of improper relationship between an educator and a student. A panel of six men and six women was seated Monday to hear the case.

TYLER – Dallas-based developer Tai Ly is buying the Smith County office building that was formerly the Carlton Hotel. Smith County commissioners approved the sale at Tuesday’s meeting. County public information officer Casey Murphy says the selling price is $537,500. The building, at the corner of South Broadway and Elm, opened over 60 years ago. It was bought by the county in 1977. The last county office moved out, for better facilities, nearly four years ago. The new owner is now required to get the necessary building permits within the next 90 days. They are also required to invest at least $1 million into the project and spend over half of that amount on improvements whithin the next 18 months.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler is one of five institutions in the U-T System to receive funds for a campus-based project designed to enhance student success. The school will be receiving an $803,234 grant. The money will be used for a program designed to increase first-year GPA and retention of first-time, full-time freshmen.

TYLER — Despite repeated attempts to reach him, state Representative Matt Schaefer of Tyler has not responded to KTBB’s requests for comment on the so-called “bathroom bill.” A version of the bill recently cleared the state Senate but is said to face a much tougher fight in the House. Supporters and opponents of the measure are continuing to get lots of attention, but there’s been no word on when House members might begin debate. The bill would require transgender Texans to use public restrooms corresponding to the gender on their birth certificates. KTBB continues to await any observations Rep. Schaefer might have on the item.

EAST TEXAS — The family of an East Texas Boy Scout is donating his organs. The Longview News-Journal reports Thomas Larry, 11, of Hallsville had been airlifted Saturday to LSU Medical Center in critical condition after being electrocuted when the mast of the sailboat he was on struck a power line. Fellow Troop 620 Scouts Will Brannon, 17, and Heath Faucheaux, 16, were killed at the scene near Alley Creek Camp. All three were at a camp out at a private residence near Alley Creek on the reservoir’s north shore when the accident occurred. Continue reading Vigil after Third Local Scout Dies

TYLER — Tyler police are following up on two early Tuesday morning shootings. Officers were called to ETMC around 12:45 regarding a man who had been shot in the face and hand at a home on Trezevant Street. Several people were in the home at the time. The victim is in stable condition. His name has not been released. A second shooting was reported around 2:15 on Vance Street. Numerous rounds were fired at a home. No injuries were reported. Witnesses at both scenes were not able to provide any suspect information.

JEFFERSON — A Jefferson woman is dead and her son is charged with her murder. Marion County sheriff’s deputies say they discovered the body of Tonya Roxanne Kilgore, 46, during the weekend. She’d been beaten to death. Deputies arrested her son, 24-year-old Zachary McDaniel, at the scene.

TYLER – If you have a jury summons in Smith County on Tuesday and Wednesday, you can forget about it. Smith County Jury Coordinator Lisa Bennett says jury duty has been cancelled for all courts for both days. However, if you have been asked to return for jury duty by a specific court, you must still report.

AVINGER (AP/STAFF) — A third Boy Scout has died from injuries suffered when a sailboat struck an overhanging power line on an east Texas Lake. Thomas Larry, 11, died Monday at a Shreveport hospital. Killed Saturday in the accident were Will Brannon, 17, and Heath Faucheux, 16,. All are from Boy Scout Troop 620 in Hallsville. They were sailing in a catamaran when the mast struck the power line at Lake O’The Pines. The catamaran was on fire, with sails up, when game wardens arrived. It wasn’t clear Monday why the power line was hanging over the water, close to the boat. Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative, which owns the line, says it’s cooperating with the investigation.