KTBB News, Weather, Talk

EAST TEXAS — An East Texas tea party group has withdrawn its endorsement of Mary Lou Bruner for the State Board of Education, saying the candidate’s statements have raised questions about her integrity. According to the Longview News-journal and KETK, Grassroots America-We The People, based in Tyler, said Wednesday evening that it had voted to drop its endorsement of Bruner, who is in a runoff for the Republican nomination for the District 9 seat that represents 31 East Texas counties. She is facing Keven Ellis, president of the Lufkin ISD school board. Continue reading Local Group Pulls Endorsement for Candidate

TYLER — Tyler ISD trustees continue to seek comment on what could end a 46-year-old desegregation order, with a vote expected this evening. KETK reports that pros and cons were heard as the school board opened the floor Tuesday evening. Since July 27, 1970, TISD has been ordered to desegregate their schools. Since then, the district said they have complied with federal regulations to maintain racial diversity. “We have come to conclude that this school district has satisfied its burden and is eligible for unitary status,” said Marcos Ronquillo, an attorney from Friedman & Feiger law firm in Dallas. Continue reading TISD Trustees Meet Again Tonight on Unitary Status

KILGORE — Further details are pending in a crash involving a Longview ISD bus. According to KETK, Kilgore police say they were called to Highway 259 and Highway 31 near Interstate 20 around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. LISD spokeswoman Sarah Lebus said seven students and two adults were on board. The Judson Middle School students were returing from Region 7 in Kilgore. No injuries were reported. The bus received minimal damage.

LONGVIEW — A Rusk County man remains in the Gregg County Jail, accused of the aggravated sexual assault of a child. James Richard Hicks of Mount Enterprise is in jail under a $50,000 bond. He is accused of sexually assaulting two young girls over a dozen of times between October 1993 and October 1997. A written complaint was filed with a Texas Ranger back in March. Hicks was arrested on the charges on Monday in Henderson.

HENDERSON — Henderson police are asking for the public’s help in locating a man reported missing this week. Dominique Rashawn Cade, 22, was last seen between 6:30 and 7:00 Monday night. He was leaving work from the parking lot of Sadler’s Smokehouse on North Frisco Street. Henderson police say he has black hair and brown eyes, is 5’10” and weighs around 130 pounds. His family is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to his whereabouts. If you know of where Cade can be found, you are asked to contact the Henderson Police Department.

GILMER — A three vehicle accident in Upshur County has killed an Overton man. The wreck occurred around 3:30 Wednesday morning on U.S. Highway 271 north of Gilmer. Dead at the scene was Robert Wayne Williams, 57. He was killed when his pickup pulling a utility trailer hit a truck involved in an earlier accident. An 18-wheeler traveling north, crossed into oncoming traffic, sideswiping another semi traveling south. The northbound truck tipped and landed across the roadway and was hit by Williams’ pickup. It took several hours to clean up chicken parts one truck spilled across the highway.

LONGVIEW — One person has been injured in a drive-by shooting in Longview. It happened just before 10:00 Tuesday night near the intersection of White City Street and Common Street. The injured man is hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Investigators say they have a person of interest in the shooting, but no arrest has been made.

TYLER — Tyler Police have released additional information surrounding a fatal head-on crash in Tyler. In a released statement, police said the at-fault driver admitted to drinking, but officials said he was not intoxicated. James Fulton, 40, of Tyler, told officers following the crash he had two beers at a local restaurant. Fulton then passed several field sobriety tests at the scene. On the night of Saturday, May 14, Fulton’s truck hit 21-year-old Haile Beasely’s car head-on in the eastbound lanes of W. Grande Boulevard. Investigators determined Fulton was responsible for the accident. Beasely was pronounced dead at the scene. Fulton was not hurt in the accident. The crash remains under investigation.

LUFKIN — The Lufkin Police Department has started an investigation after card skimmers were found inside gas pumps at two local convenience stores. The devices can read and transmit credit card information via a wireless signal. Workers for the companies that service pumps at Crown Colony Food Mart on U.S. 59 south and Kwick Korner Shell on South Timberland Drive and Chestnut Street found the devices. The card skimmers from both locations appear to be the similar. Investigators say about three weeks ago a woman reported finding unauthorized transactions on her credit/debit card. She told an officer that the last place she used it was Crown Colony Food Mart. Public Relations Specialist Jessica Pebsworth with Lufkin Police suggested if you have used your debit or credit card at the gas pumps at these two stations, it would be wise if you contacted your bank or credit card company to have a new card number issued.

LUFKIN — Some layoffs are expected as General Electric consolidates its facilities in Angelina County. The announcement was made Tuesday when GE Oil & Gas officials met with Lufkin City Manager Keith Wright. KETK reports the city was told of GE’s plans to close the Buck Creek facility and consolidate operations in downtown Lufkin. The site will focus on gear repair and assembly. There are currently 600 jobs at the Buck Creek facility. How many will be impacted is not known. GE cut 260 jobs in the Lufkin area last August. Earlier that year they also trimmed 330 jobs.

TYLER — Several Smith County roads remain closed as the result of storms that hit the area in late April. Smith County Engineer Frank Davis brought the county commissioners up to date on the situation at Tuesday’s meeting. Around 30 miles of county roads had trees and or limbs blocking them from the Lindale tornadoes and flooding in southern Smith County. Only three roads remain closed. County Road 450 west of Lindale and County Road 369 east of Winona are both awaiting new culverts to be delivered. County Road 294 east of Arp still needs trees removed after a 75-foot road washout. Continue reading Some Smith County Roads Remain Closed

QUITMAN — Wood County authorities are asking the public’s help in finding a man who is accused of severely injuring his infant daughter. Jeffrey Lynn Arnold, 32, of Quitman has been charged with continuous family violence. Authorities say the 2 month old girl suffered fractures and bruises. It appeared as if the injuries occurred over a period of time. Arnold is described as a white male, 5′ 8″ tall and weighing around 145 pounds. A $1,000 cash reward is being offered for his arrest. He may be in the Athens and Henderson County area. Continue reading Search for a Man Accused of Injuring His Daughter

LONGVIEW — A state district court judge in Longview has ordered substance abuse and behavior treatment for a man who set his girl friend on fire. The Longview News Journal reports prosecutors had been seeking to revoke the probation Cannon Jay Ebarb, 37, of Elysian Fields. They said he was behind in performing his community service, behind in paying probation fees, and and violated terms of his probation concerning substance abuse. He was convicted in October 2014 of aggravated assault/family violence and was sentenced to eight years’ probation and 384 hours of community service. He had admitted to pouring lighter fluid on his girlfriend and then lighting her shirt. If Ebarb doesn’t complete the new program, his probation could be revoked, and he could face up to eight years in prison.

AUSTIN — A bold amendment to the Texas GOP platform seems to put Governor Abbott at odds with the delegates over marijuana — an issue that put Longview state Representative David Simpson (pictured) in the spotlight last year. Abbott signed legislation making the marijuana extract CBD oil legal for epilepsy patients. But he added that Texas should not “open the door for conventional marijuana to be used for medicinal purposes.” Now Republican delegates have voted to allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana as part of their 2016 platform. Ann Lee founded Republicans against Marijuana Prohibition. She says, “All we did in the platform, we gave the doctors a little bit more leeway.” Simpson, also a Republican, had similar legislation rejected last session. Simpson, now running for the Texas Senate, has said, “I’ll continue to advocate for medical freedom and getting politicians out of the way.”

EAST TEXAS — The Leapfrog Group, a patient safety watchdog organization in Washington D.C., has released its annual hospital safety scores. The survey, by the organization that was founded in 2000, showed some area hospitals fared much better than others. They assign letter scores based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. Among the hospitals with an A grade are: Mother Frances Hospital Regional Health Care Center – Tyler – The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler – Nacogdoches Medical Center – Good Shepherd Medical Center-Marshall – ETMC – Crockett – Titus Regional Medical Center – Woodland Heights Medical Center- Lufkin Continue reading East Texas Hospitals Get Mixed Grades

PALESTINE – A call center is coming to Palestine and with it will come 500 jobs. It was announced on Monday Results Companies will be expanding to Texas and will be leasing a 45,000 square foot building in the Willow Creek Business Park. The center is scheduled to open next month. The company started negotiations with the Palestine Economic Development in late February. The company will start activity in Palestine with a series of hiring events starting June 2nd.

TYLER – Tyler ISD will hold a special Board of Trustees meeting tonight at 6:00 on the future of the school district’s 46-year-old desegregation order. Trustees and the public will hear a presentation by Friedman & Feiger on Unitary Status for the district, which would mean removing the 1970 order. Following the presentation, there will be a time for public comment. This will be the second presentation to the Board by Friedman & Feiger, the first presentation occurring during the Board Workshop held on May 9. You can go to http://www.tylerisd.org to read the first presentation in its entirety. A lengthy process is anticipated before any action would be taken on the matter.

TYLER — Police continue their investigation of a fatal weekend accident in Tyler. The Saturday night wreck killed 21 year old Haile Beasley of Tyler. The police said Monday morning that alcohol was not a factor in the accident that happened on West Grande Boulevard near the Shady Oaks intersection. Beasley was eastbound when a pickup drove into oncoming traffic, striking her car head on. The driver of the truck, identified as James Fulton of Tyler, was found to be at fault. There was no word on possible charges. Fulton was not injured in the crash.

GILMER — A man, who had been living in Kilgore, has entered a plea of guilty to the aggravated sexual assault of his girlfriend’s daughter in 2014. In state district court in Gilmer on Monday, Gilberto Hernandez Garcia, 33, was sentenced to 25 years in prison by State District Judge Lauren Parish. Hernandez, who is in this country illegally, must serve at least one half of the sentence and would be required to register as a sex offender. Upon parole, he faces deportation. Continue reading A Prison Term for Sex Offender

GILMER — Prior to jury selection in Gilmer on Monday, 36 year old Jason William Anderson of Gilmer pleaded guilty to enhanced family violence. This was based on a prior assault family violence conviction. He was also enhanced for punishment based on a Rusk County felony where he received 5 years in prison for felony driving while Intoxicated. Anderson was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Continue reading Upshur County Man Gets Prison for Family Violence

ATHENS – A Henderson County couple, David and Cindi Wood, are trying a different approach to selling their home. It’s a 300 word essay contest. And the winning entry will get the 3-bed room home on 25 acres about three miles north of Athens. Cindi says they love the property, but they need to live closer to a U.S. Veteran’s medical facility for her husband’s future medical care. This special need has inspired them to seek an alternative way to sell the home and property. Continue reading Different Way to Sell a Home

SMITH COUNTY — East Texans are asked to be on the lookout for an alleged mail thief who authorities say they’ve now identified, though his name wasn’t immediately released. According to KETK, a camera captured a man reportedly stealing material from a mailbox in Starrville. Smith County Pct. 4 Constable John Smith says there have been several complaints of mail thefts in the Chapel Hill, Winona, Starrville, and Lindale areas. These crimes could lead to things such as identity theft and forgery. Contact Constable Smith at Jsmith@smith-county.com if you have seen this man or know his identity.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the TxDOT Tyler district during the week of May 16. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.

In Longview, McCann Road at the new George Richey Road/FM 2275 project will be closing on Monday, May 23, for an extended period of time. The closure is necessary to make the tie-ins to the new roadway. Motorists should be prepared for this change to their commutes and make plans accordingly during this phase of work. The outside southbound lane of Judson Road is also closed as it is tied in to the new road as well. This George Richey Road/FM 2275 Extension project runs from McCann Road to US 259. Additional project information is available in the Gregg County section of this story. Continue reading TxDOT’s Weekly Roadwork Update

EAST TEXAS — Early voting for the May 24 runoff elections is underway and continues through May 20. In East Texas, Bryan Hughes faces David Simpson in the battle for State Senate District 1. The winner will replace Kevin Eltife, who’s retiring from the post. Also, Cole Hefner squares off against Jay Misenheimer in the contest for Hughes’s State House District 5 seat. All four candidates are Republicans. There are other races to be decided as well. In Smith County, incumbent Precinct 4 Constable John Smith faces a GOP primary challenge from Josh Joplin. The winner will go up against Democrat Larry Reddic in November. There’s also a Republican runoff between Mary Lou Bruner of Smith County and Keven Ellis of Lufkin for State Board of Education District 9. The winner of that election will face Democrat Amanda Rudolph this fall.

TYLER — The newest exhibition at the Tyler Museum of Art is “Modern Masters: Twentieth Century Prints.” Organized by the Reading Public Museum, the show “highlights the wide range of artistic movements that occurred throughout the twentieth century including Fauvism, Minimalism, Pop Art and Surrealism,” according to information from TMA. Featured artists include Salvador Dali, Robert Indiana, Donald Judd, Roy Lichtenstein, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and Andy Warhol. Following a Sunday opening, the exhibition runs through July 24.

TYLER — Police continue their investigation of a fatal weekend accident in Tyler. The Saturday night wreck killed 21 year old Haile Beasley of Tyler. The police said Monday morning that alcohol was not a factor in the accident that happened on West Grande Boulevard near the Shady Oaks intersection. Beasley was eastbound when a pickup drove into oncoming traffic, striking her car head on. The driver of the truck, identified as James Fulton of Tyler, was found to be at fault. There was no word on possible charges. Fulton was not injured in the crash.