KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW — An undisclosed threat caused the evacuation of Pine Tree High School Wednesday. Students with cars were allowed to leave the campus. All others were directed to the school auditorium to wait for parents. The evacuation started shortly before 3:00 p.m.

TYLER — A Tyler radio personality has been arrested on drug charges. Patrick Aaron Aguirre, 39, known on the station “The Breeze” as Brain, was arrested Tuesday in the 700 block of Becky Drive. The arrest came as officers served a warrant. A search of the house turned up 12 ounces of marijuana. He has been charged with felony possession of marijuana, more than four ounces and less than five pounds. Aguirre is currently free on a $7,500 bond.

TULLOS, LOUSIANA — Two Louisana men are in custody in the deaths of two Texans from Wood County. The men are charged in the deaths of Chelsey Copling, 19, and Demond Garner, 26, both of Hawkins. They were reported missing April 24th after leaving a house in Tullos, about 100 miles southeast of Shreveport. Their bodies were found in a wooded area near the town last Thursday. The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office tells local media that the two suspects were arrested last Friday. Both have been charged with second degree murder and criminal conspiracy to commit second-degree murder.

LONGVIEW — The death of a Longview teenager may be drug related. The Gregg County Sheriff’s Department would only say it is investigating the death of 16 year old Jessup Sanders. The Longview High School sophomore and junior varsity baseball player collapsed died Saturday. The Longview News Journal quotes a cousin of Sanders as saying he died from smoking the synthetic drug K2. The cousin, Todd Peterman, wrote on Facebook that Sanders “had died as a result of a stupid, spontaneous, teenage decision.” The investigation into the death is continuing.

GALVESTON — Longview Fire Chief J.P. Steelman has been named the 2015 Fire Chief of the Year by the Texas Fire Chiefs Association (TFCA). The award presentation took place May 3 at the annual TFCA Executive Conference in Galveston. According to a city of Longview news release, Steeleman was recognized for his dedicated service and involvement on the Texas Commission on Fire Protection Fire Fighter Advisory Committee. He was also honored for serving as the Northeast Regional Director for TFCA’s Executive Board and serving as a member of the Development Team for TFCA’s Company Officer Symposium, as well as TFCA’s newly developed Texas Fire Service Diversity Committee. Continue reading Steelman Named Fire Chief of the Year

HARRISON COUNTY — Caddo Lake in far East Texas is in flood stage. Davyon Hill with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says it’s in moderate flood stage, at 175 feet. Hill expects it to get up to about 178, which is considered major flood stage, on Friday morning. Lt. Jay Webb with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office says there are no evacuation orders — and as for the homes that could be threatened, many people are already out of their homes and have left the area following flooding in April. For now, there is an emergency order declaring a local state of disaster.

GILMER — A former Gilmer ISD instructional aide has pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. The Longview News Journal reports Orlandos Lugene Johnson, 48, was sentenced tuesday to 50 years in prison. According to Upshur County District Attorney Billy Byrd, Johnson must serve at least half of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Byrd said that Johnson worked with special needs children in the district and that the sexual assault started when a student was a sixth-grader in the district and lasted until the student was 17. The child is said to have told what happened to him after trying to commit suicide and being confined to a mental hospital.

TYLER — The Smith County Road and Bridge Department opened a debris collection site at 9 a.m. this morning for Lindale area residents who suffered damage from Friday night’s tornadoes. Vegetation debris will be collected at the site, at 10347 Farm-to-Market Road 16, just east of County Road 4104. Furniture and household debris WILL NOT be accepted at the collection site. The Smith County Road and Bridge Department WILL NOT pick up tree debris from personal property. They also WILL NOT pick up any furniture or other household debris. Continue reading Smith County Vegetation Debris Collection Site Opens

LAKE TYLER — Water elevations have dropped, so City of Tyler Water Utilities staff have reopened the boat ramps on Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East. They had to be closed after heavy rains over the weekend. Officials are voicing their appreciation to the public for its cooperation while the ramps were closed.

PALESTINE – The City of Palestine continues to assess the damage caused by the massive flash flooding throughout the city April 30th. According to the National Weather Service, the city received 7.78 inches of rain in a 45 minute time span. According to a press release from Nate Smith, City of Palestine Communications Officer, the deluge of water overwhelmed the city’s storm water sewer system and caused massive flash flooding in the city. The flooding caused the deaths of six residents. Five residents were killed in rushing floodwaters on Timber Drive around 12:15 a.m. Autopsies were concluded on Lenda Asberry and her four great-grandchildren in Tyler Monday. Autopsy results are not available due to standard blood tests. The bodies of the residents were taken to a Dallas-area funeral home. Continue reading Relief Efforts Continue in Palestine

EAST TEXAS (AP/Staff) – More than 280 homes in East Texas were damaged or destroyed during last weekend’s tornadoes and deadly flooding. Teams from the American Red Cross on Tuesday assisted with recovery in Anderson, Cherokee, Harrison, Lamar, Smith, Upshur and Wood counties. Red Cross spokeswomen Anita Foster and Tammy Prater say 106 homes were left uninhabitable from the storms. They say another 175 homes sustained minor damage such as windows broken, shingles torn off or fences knocked down. Forecasters say more than 7 inches of rain fell in less than an hour Friday night in East Texas. Six people died in flash flooding in Palestine. Continue reading More than 280 East Texas Homes Damaged, Destroyed in Storms

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the death of a Longview High School student. On the sheriff’s department Facebook page, they say they are looking into the death of 16 year old Jessup Sanders. The sophomore and junior varsity baseball player died Saturday. The sheriff’s department will only say the investigation into Sander’s death is active with every resource is being utilized. Grief counselors were on the school campus Monday. The school district web site said said Sanders was “a great kid and well liked.”

AUSTIN — Texas attorneys have elected Tom Vick of Weatherford as the next president-elect of the State Bar of Texas. Vick received nearly 55% of the 17,935 votes cast during the month-long voting period that ended May 2. His opponent, Michael C. Smith, (pictured) a partner in the Marshall office of Siebman, Burg, Phillips & Smith LLP, received 7,879 votes or 44 %. Write-in candidates composed 1% of the votes cast. Vick will be sworn in as president-elect during the State Bar’s annual meeting next month.

ATHENS — The board of trustees at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, have named a President Pro Tem for the school. At a called Monday night meeting the board selected the school’s Vice President of Instruction, Dr. Jerry King, for the post. King has been with the school since 1975, serving in a variety of position. He was even Mayor of Athens for for 10 years, starting in 1995. The post became vacant late last month when school trustees suspended president Glendon Forgey. He was suspended with pay pending an investigation into his contract.

OVERTON — The help wanted sign is out in the Overton school system. Overton’s Athletic Director, Head Football Coach, and Secondary School Assistant Principal, Josh Barton, has submitted his resignation. It’s effective June 3. Barton has accepted the principal’s position at Bronte ISD which is located between San Angelo and Abilene. Barton was the head football coach for 4 seasons at Overton High School, with his teams advancing to the playoffs each season. the district will begin accepting resumes and applications immediately.

QUITMAN — Wood County has issued a disaster declaration from the storm damage that occurred on April 29. According to KETK, officials ask any homeowner effected by the storm to contact the Wood County Judge’s office at 903-763-2716 with the following information: name, address, phone number, estimated dollar amount of damage, damage description, whether the location is your primary residence, whether you have insurance, any damage pictures (can also be e-mailed to tdavidson@mywoodcounty.com), and if any flood damage, how high the water was inside your residence.

LONGVIEW — Two Longview teens arrested, accused of egging a car. The incident happened around 10:15 Monday night in the 300 block of Barbara Drive. The victim’s vehicle had received numerous dents, paint chips, and other damage after being hit with eggs. Officers were able to find a White Mazada that had been reported in the area. In the car, with a an egg carton matching the egg carton left at the crime scene, was Breaunna Leeann White,18, and Marissa Payge Smith. Both were booked into the Gregg County Jail on charges of criminal mischief.

DENVER (AP) – The Denver Zoo has euthanized a 3-year-old Lufkin-born lion that had been suffering from liver disease. The Denver Post reports Sango was euthanized Saturday. The zoo says he began having seizures about a week ago and worsened until he was unable to walk or position himself to drink. Veterinarians diagnosed liver disease, which affects brain function once the liver is unable to clear blood toxins. Sango was born July 28, 2012, at the Ellen Trout Zoo and was raised by zookeepers after his mother rejected him. He was moved to Denver in 2013. In September, he and 3-year-old lioness Neliah had the cubs, Kalu and Kamara. The Denver zoo also has another lioness, 3-year-old Sabi. A lion in a zoo lives an average of 16.8 years.

WHITE OAK — White Oak Police have arrested a teacher for allegations of indecency with a child. According to KETK, officials began investigating Jacovia Cartwright last April when White Oak Police were contacted by the school in reference to allegations of inappropriate texting between Cartwright and a juvenile female student. A search warrant was obtained for forensic examination of phones and computers belonging to Cartwright. Continue reading East Texas Teacher Arrested for Indecency with a Child

WHITEHOUSE — City of Whitehouse Mayor Charles Parker has issued a disaster declaration in conjunction with Smith County. According to KETK, City spokesman Madison Johnson said citizen are encouraged to fill out forms declaring estimates of damage received on Friday, April 29th during flash floods. The form can be found on the city’s website or Facebook page. Johnson also said it’s important citizens keep good records of expenses incurred by storm cleanup. Continue reading Disaster Declaration Issued for City of Whitehouse

TYLER — A third person has been arrested in a string of Smith County burglaries. Vincent Williams, 55, was the third suspect wanted in connection with over fifteen residential burglaries which occurred in Northeastern Smith County. Williams was arrested in northeastern Smith County off of FM 2767 on Sunday, May 1st and booked into the Smith County Jail. He is charged with Burglary of a Habitation. Bond on Williams was set by 241st District Court Judge Jack Skeen, Jr. at $350,000. Previously arrested in the case were Michael Horton, 27, and Devin Watts, 19, both of Tyler.

TYLER — A man is listed in fair condition after a weekend shooting in Smith County. The 44 year old man, whose name was not released, was shot in the eye in the 20,100 block of Highway 31 East around 2:00 Sunday morning. He was shot with unknown caliber firearm by an unknown suspect. The investigation is continuing. A witness was interviewed and subsequently arrested on a charge of Theft on an unrelated warrant.

MINEOLA — Authorities have identified a body pulled from a Wood County lake. The body was recovered from Lake Holbrook, located between Highway 69 and Highway 80 in Wood County. Smith County Game Warden Quint Balkcom told KETK the body was that of Marco Mendoza, 22, of Tyler. The accidental drowning occurred Sunday night as Mendoza was swimming with friends.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department has announced the arrest of two persons on drug charges. The arrests occurred when city and county officers served a search warrant at a house in the 1200 block of Jewel Drive. Taken into custody was Danquail Carter, 24, and Jarvis Williams, 24,both of Longview. Besides drug charges, Carter was also arrested on an unrelated Gregg County warrant for assault family violence. During a search of the house, officers located cocaine, marijuana, and hydrocodone.

EAST TEXAS — Friday evening to Saturday morning was a terrifying and destructive time in East Texas with damaging winds, large hail, tornadoes and deadly flash flooding. And after a survey by the National Weather Service, two more tornadoes have been added to the list. One was in the Alto area in Cherokee County. Officials in Cherokee County have declared a state of disaster following the Friday night storms.

The National Weather Service also confirms a tornado in the northern part of Harrison County. Continue reading Six Tornadoes Now Confirmed in Northeast Texas

TYLER — The Faulkner Park entrance at Cumberland Road is closed for the next several weeks. It should be closed through May 23rd. It is closed because of the ongoing construction for the Cumberland Road extension.Construction includes removal of the median at this entrance, reconfiguration and striping of the intersection, widening of Cumberland Road, asphalt paving and concrete paving. The parking lot entrance will remain open for the Faulkner Park ball fields.

TYLER — Smith County officials have updated conditions around the county in the aftermath of weekend storms. Due to high water, County Roads 420 and 421 have been added to the list of Smith County road closures. The remainder of the road closures are the same as they were on Saturday. Continue reading Smith County Storm Aftermath Update

ORE CITY — Friday’s storms in Northeast Texas appears to be responsible for an Upshur County death. A tree across Farm Road 1649, about a mile west of Ore City, is responsible for an accident that killed Victoria Harris, 49, of Ore City. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The Department of Public Safety reports her minivan was northbound when it hit a large oak tree that had fallen across both lanes of the highway. The wreck occurred shortly before 5:15 Saturday morning.