KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — More glowing reports were heard Thursday at the 26th Annual Tyler Economic Development Council Investors and Contributors Appreciation Luncheon. Guest speaker Carlton Schwab, executive director of the Texas Economic Development Council, addressed Tyler as well as the Longview/Kilgore area. Schwab commented, “This region’s strong, and it’s a testament to the economic development efforts around here.” Schwab added that economic development is important in any community because of “incredible” competition from the regional to the global level — and he noted the importance of economic diversification. Schwab also expressed faith that the state’s current House speaker and governor will lead Texas down the right road economically. Continue reading TEDC Celebrates 26 Years

OVERTON — Overton police and school officials are following up after a possible threat prompted an evacuation in the Overton Independent School District. According to school officials, at approximately 9:15 Thursday morning, Overton High School principal Kendall Smith received an email, apparently from a student, that he perceived as a potential bomb threat to the high school building. Smith contacted OISD superintendent Stephen DuBose and then proceeded to call the Overton Police Department and begin the evacuation of the high school building. Continue reading Possible Bomb Threat Investigated in Overton ISD

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — The Canton Police Department is asking for the public’s help identifying a man who is considered a person of interest in the scamming of a 97-year-old. According to KETK, on March 25th, the victim was reportedly tricked into a home repair scam. Authorities said a white male in a reflective vest spoke with the homeowner and said the smart electric meter had reported electrical problems in the home. The victim wrote the suspect a check for the fake repairs. The Canton Police Department described the person of interest as a white male, 35-45 years of age, approximately 6’0” tall and weighing 165-180 pounds. Continue reading Canton Police Searching for Scammer

TYLER – Freedom for a Smith County jail inmate was brief last night. Shortly after 6:45, the inmate escaped custody as he was being transferred from the central jail facility on East Elm Street in downtown Tyler to the low risk facility. The inmate, identified as Rexorlandus Jackson, was being held on charges of driving while intoxicated, assault, violation of a protective order and evading arrest. He was recaptured and will now be charged with assault as a result of the attempted escape and will be housed at the maximum security jail downtown. Bond will be set on Jackson this morning regarding the new escape charges. Continue reading Smith County Jail Escapee Recaptured

GILMER – An instructional aide in the Gilmer school system has been arrested and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child. The Longview News-Journal identified the employee as Orlandos Lugene Johnson, 46. He has been an employee of the school system over 20 years. He was arrested after a former student made allegations of sexual abuse. School Superintendent Rick Albritton says Johnson was immediately placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.

LONGVIEW – A Titus County man has been found guilty by a Gregg County jury of indecency with a child by exposure. The jury deliberated around 45 minutes Wednesday before returning the verdict against Diego Mena, 52, of Mount Pleasant. He had been accused of trying to get into bed naked with his girlfriend’s granddaughter. The incident occurred in a Longview motel June 20, 2014. He will be sentenced at a later date, following a pre-sentence report.

GREGG COUNTY — An access road off Interstate 20 in Gregg County was closed for several hours due to a fuel leak that emerged Wednesday morning. According to the Longview Police Department, the access road on the off-ramp of exit 595-A was shut off to traffic. TxDOT said the road reopened later Wednesday. KETK reports that the cause of the leak was not immediately announced but police said the ramp had to remain shut down until the fuel was cleaned up.

CEDAR PARK — Law enforcement agencies teamed up around noon Tuesday in an effort to find for more evidence in the Katie Eager case. According to KETK, Cedar Park Police in conjunction with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team searched a retention pond near the scene of Eager’s murder. The victim, a former Pine Tree student, was found shot to death on February 27. Her boyfriend, 31-year-old Adam Solis, is held in the shooting. A spokesperson with the CPP said the search was not related to a tip, but rather a thorough investigation. The gun used in the murder has not yet been found, according to police.

TYLER – Two men, including one from Tyler, have appeared in federal court in Tyler for sentencing on drug charges. Juan Gutierrez-Mojica, 44, of Tyler, was sentenced to 180 months for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, and money laundering. He appeared before United States District Judge Michael H. Schneider. His co-conspirator, Norberto Pineda, 41, of Houston, was sentenced to 70 months for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and money laundering. Continue reading Two Men Sentenced in Federal Drug Case

TROUP — Smith County Justice of the Peace Pct. 3 James Meredith and Constable Pct. 3 Jimmie Blackmon shut down their offices early Wednesday afternoon because of an electricity outage in Troup. Meredith reported closing the office, at 313 E. Duval St. in Troup, for the rest of the day.

JACKSONVILLE – Authorities have begun rounding up suspects charged with distributing methamphetamine in Cherokee County. The suspects are among 27 indicted following a lengthy investigation into a drug trafficking organization dealing methamphetamine. At last report, 17 of the 27 suspects have been arrested. U.S. Attorney John Bales announced a combined task force of federal, state and local law enforcement began executing federal arrest warrants and search warrants this week as a result of the investigation. If convicted, the defendants each face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison. Continue reading U.S. Attorney: 27 Charged in East Texas Drug Trafficking Organization

TYLER — Smith County authorities say they’ve arrested a man who was carrying a gun as he ran along a roadside. At around 9:30 Wednesday morning, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office received a report of the incident in the 10800 block of Spur 164. Deputies responded and located the suspect walking along the roadway with what appeared to be a rifle or shotgun, according to a news release. Deputies made contact with the suspect, who reportedly refused to put the gun down and also allegedly refused to cooperate with the deputies in identifying himself. Continue reading Authorities: Man Arrested after Running along Roadside Carrying Gun

NACOGDOCHES – Two people were injured Monday night during an officer-involved shooting. According to KETK, the Nacogdoches Police Department reports that at 9:52 p.m. authorities were dispatched to a disturbance call with weapons in the 4700 block of Warr Circle. When an officer made it to the scene, a man was seen reportedly forcing a woman into a vehicle. As the policeman approached the vehicle, a shot rang out and the woman fell to the ground. The suspect, who was holding a .357 magnum, tried to go back inside, but was shot by the officer in his arm and lower body. Both of the injured were taken to a local hospital. Continue reading Two Wounded in Officer-Involved Shooting in Nacogdoches

LARUE — The investigation continues and the suspect has been identified after Henderson County deputies were involved in a shooting Tuesday afternoon while serving a warrant near Larue. KETK reports that around 1 p.m., four deputies were attempting to execute the warrant at a home on the 3400 block of County Road 4305 when the incident took place. When authorities circled to the back of the house, they found the fugitive who then grabbed an AR-15 from a four wheeler and began firing at law enforcement, according to authorities. Deputies reportedly returned fire and hit the gunman several times. Continue reading Officials Identify Man Wounded in Law Enforcement Shooting

MARSHALL — An East Texas man is behind bars after reportedly shooting a firearm at a local park. According to KETK, the Marshall Police Department says around 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, officials located a vehicle believed to be occupied by a wanted felon. Officers conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of George Gregg and Loop 390 on an SUV and arrested Harvey Justin Woodkins, 22, on a warrant for deadly conduct in reference to a shooting that occurred on Sunday at Smith Park in Marshall. Continue reading Man Jailed for Deadly Conduct for Incident during Family Memorial

TYLER — Officials report a big jump in collections during the recently-completed third annual Smith County Warrant Round Up. According to a county news release, 385 warrants were cleared and $132,870 was collected. That compares to $90,000 collected in 2014 and $80,000 collected in 2013. “This is the most successful warrant round up the county has ever had,” Smith County Judicial Compliance Supervisor Sheryl Keel said. “We’re definitely going to do this again in the future.” Continue reading Smith County Warrant Round Up Deemed Successful

LONGVIEW – A Longview home has been heavily damaged by fire. It was reported around 2:00 Tuesday afternoon in the 500 block of Buchanan Avenue. It took firemen just over an hour to extinguish the blaze. No injuries were reported. No word on what started the fire, which is said to have started in a rear room of the home.

HOUSTON (AP) — A Texas university that booked Matthew McConaughey as its May commencement speaker has broken the silence on the former Longview resident’s speaking fee. The University of Houston said in a statement Tuesday that it was paying the actor speaking fees totaling $135,000 plus travel expenses, as well as a $20,250 commission to the Celebrity Talent International booking agency engaged by the university. Meanwhile, the statement says McConaughey is donating his fees to a foundation he started to provide tools to help high school students lead active lives and make healthy choices for the future. The university initially balked at revealing McConaughey’s fee, citing a confidentiality agreement with the booking agency. However, the university says its business with the agency is finished and the confidentiality agreement is no longer binding.

TYLER — The motion for continuance of pre-trial in the case of an East Texas man accused of murder has been granted and a new pre-trial date has been set. According to KETK, 241st District Court Judge Jack Skeen says the pre-trial hearing for James Calvert has been slated for 9:00 a.m. Monday, April 6. Calvert recently entered a motion to change his original plea from “not guilty” to “not guilty by reason of insanity” in a 2012 murder-kidnapping that began at a Tyler home. Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham says James Calvert also refused to consent to a voluntary psychological evaluation by court-appointed experts. Continue reading Pre-Trial Hearing Set in Calvert Case

CARTHAGE (AP) — A judge has appointed a special prosecutor to handle the retrial of the man whose murder conviction inspired the dark comedy “Bernie.” Judge Diane DeVasto issued the decision Tuesday, a day after Panola County District Attorney Danny Buck Davidson asked that he and his staff be removed from the case because he was now a witness. DeVasto granted the request and appointed Assistant State Attorney General Adrienne McFarland to the retrial. Tiede was convicted of killing wealthy widow Marjorie Nugent and storing her body in a freezer. He was released from prison after a judge agreed to reduce his sentence, and Davidson agreed that the former mortician was wrongly sentenced to life imprisonment. DeVasto also canceled a pre-trial hearing Tuesday. No new hearings or trial dates have been set.

TYLER — Smith County Commissioners Tuesday approved engaging the services of HDR Architecture Inc. to conduct a District Courts Feasibility Study for optional strategies to accommodate renovated or new space for the Smith County District Courts. “The last piece of the 2008 Master Plan was to address the Smith County Courthouse and court system space,” County Judge Joel Baker (pictured) said. “That is what this study will do.” The focus of the study is to determine the viability for renovating the existing Carlton Building (the former Smith County Office Building) and associated parking garage to house the District Courts. The study will also estimate the cost for constructing a new facility, according to a county news release. Continue reading Smith County Courts Study Approved

TYLER – Officials with UT Health Northeast announced that respected physician Dr. Paul McGaha has joined the administrative team as associate professor of community health and preventive medicine and as deputy director of The Center for Rural Community Health. Since 1988, Dr. McGaha served the citizens of northeast Texas through the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). He began his career with DSHS as public health physician and then beginning in 1995, as regional medical director for Health Service Region 4/5 North. He also concurrently served DSHS in Austin, TX as acting assistant commissioner of the Division for Regional and Local Health Services in 2012-13. Continue reading Dr. Paul McGaha Joins UT Health Northeast

PALESTINE — The Palestine Police Department is continuing the investigation into an incident that left a five-year-old child in serious condition. According to KETK, On March 29, shortly before 9:00 p.m, officers were dispatched to the 200 block of Victory Street, after receiving a report of a child being hit by a vehicle. Police arrived and found the child had been taken by his father to Palestine Regional Medical Center in a private vehicle for treatment. Continue reading Man Accused of Hitting Child with Vehicle, Leaving Scene

MARSHALL — The Marshall Fire Department is investigating an arson that occurred Sunday in a prayer room at St. Joseph Catholic Church. That’s according to KETK and the Marshall News-Messenger. Fire Chief Reggie Cooper reports minor fire damage to a prayer room. Father Denzil Vithanage, pastor of the church, said there was damage done to the window of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament chapel, where parishioners come to pray and receive Holy Communion. He said during the incident, the suspect or suspects stole communion bread, part of the Eucharist, representing the body of Christ. Vithanage said the suspect or suspects burned the tabernacle window in order to get the sacrament. Vithanage said the incident occurred between noon and 2 p.m. Sunday when he was in the course of his midday prayer during the Hispanic mass service.

TYLER — Moderate fire damage and minor smoke damage were sustained in a Tyler house fire. The Tyler Fire Department was dispatched to 1716 E. Gentry after the initial call was received shortly before 5:30 Monday afternoon. The first arriving units reported active fire in the residence and immediately sounded a second alarm. Five engines and one ladder company, along with a district chief, responded to the scene. Continue reading Tyler Firefighters Respond to House Blaze

TYLER — A Smith County traffic stop has led to two arrests, with multiple charged filed. On Monday at approximately 7 p.m., a Smith County Sheriff’s K-9 deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop near the intersection of Hwy 64 West and Cotton Road, according to officials. Authorities say that as the deputy approached the vehicle, the driver accelerated and quickly pulled into a residence on Gentry Street. Officials say both occupants tried to exit the vehicle and enter a residence at this location. The deputy was able to detain both occupants and wait for assistance. Continue reading Suspects in Custody After Traffic Stop

HARRISON COUNTY — An East Texas man has been charged with solicitation of a minor, among other charges, after an online sting. Stephen C. Fuentez, 46, Waskom, could serve up to 70 years in prison and could be fined up to $75,000. According to KETK, Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit Detectives and members of the Northwest Louisiana ICAC Task Force initiated an undercover online investigation on an individual who posted a suggestive ad online. Continue reading East Texan Charged with Online Solicitation of Minor

KILGORE — Kilgore College has received letters from both the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), which exonerate the college of all wrongdoing related to the asbestos allegations made in November to the Longview News-Journal. The allegations were made by Dalton Smith, KC’s coordinator of physical plant. Both agencies have closed their investigations and the college is not required to provide any further documentation. Neither agency found any basis of fact that supported the allegation that KCstudents, staff or the public were ever in danger due to asbestos exposure. Both agencies also found no basis of fact to support improper abatement or disposal of asbestos materials on any KC property. Continue reading KC Exonerated from All Asbestos Allegations

TYLER — UT Tyler Political Science Professor Dr. Robert Sterken, Jr. has been named a Fulbright Scholar. Created in 1946, the Fulbright Program is a prestigious international exchange initiative that awards grants to American scholars each year to teach or conduct research in the more than 125 participatory nations throughout the world. “Professor Sterken’s achievement is extraordinary and is consistent with his many professional accomplishments,” said Dr. Martin Slann, The University of Texas at Tyler College of Arts and Sciences dean. “Recipients of the Fulbright Scholarship are among an academic elite who receive this prestigious recognition for their impressive teaching and research credentials.” At the same time, Professor Sterken will represent this genuinely great university in a southeast Asian country that will welcome and benefit from his expertise and knowledge.” Continue reading U-T Tyler Professor Named Fulbright Scholar

ATHENS — Authorities say a two-month-long investigation into an identity theft and forgery ring resulted in the arrest of three people Thursday in eastern Henderson County. According to KETK, after hearing from a victim in early February, authorities say they uncovered incidents in Tyler, Canton, Chandler, and the DFW area. Brandon Holloway, 27, of Arlington, is accused of operating the ID theft and forgery ring. He was arrested for fraudulent use/possession of identifying information as well as a parole warrant for a previous ID theft conviction. Brandon L. Lee, 27, of Brownsboro, was arrested for a weapons-related warrant from Ohio. Brandon Holloway’s wife, Steffanie L. Holloway, 37, of Arlington, was arrested for a parole warrant stemming from a previous arson conviction. Continue reading Officials: Wide-Ranging ID Theft/Forgery Ring Busted in East Texas