KTBB News, Weather, Talk

AUSTIN — The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released the 2013-14 School Report Cards (SRC) for each school in Texas. KETK reports Region VII schools in East Texas received mostly positive reports, but some campuses were listed under an “Improvement Required” accountability rating. Continue reading TEA Report Cards Issued

TYLER – 64-year-old Joseph A. Masso of Athens will turn over more than $2 million and faces possible prison time after pleading guilty to federal income tax violations, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales Friday. Masso was charged with making and subscribing to a false tax return for the calendar year 2011. Continue reading Athens Man Guilty of Federal Income Tax Violations

TYLER — After months of delays, the new Smith County Jail is just about ready to take in inmates. An open house was held Thursday to showcase the renovated structure. KETK reports the 60,000-square-foot facility can hold up to 385 new beds. Cells are isolated pods stacked together to form housing units. The county had the jail designed with longevity in mind, and officials say it will serve the needs of the community for decades to come. They say the county was spending about $2 million a year housing inmates in other counties — but this has stopped that and the county has already reduced that number from about 250 to about 15 to 20. The county worked closely with architects for four years to develop the design of the new facility.

TYLER — Tyler Junior College held commencement ceremonies Friday in Wagstaff Gymnasium, recognizing 689 candidates for graduation for the fall 2014 semester. The morning ceremony recognized graduates in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences and the School of Professional and Technical Programs. The afternoon ceremony recognized graduates in the School of Engineering, Mathematics and Sciences and the School of Humanities, Communications and Fine Arts. TJC President Dr. Mike Metke conferred the degrees and certificates of proficiency and certified the graduates. Presenting diplomas and certificates were TJC board members Dr. Joe Prud’homme, board president; Ann Brookshire, first vice president; Mike Coker, second vice president; Rohn Boone; John Hills; David Hudson; Clint Roxburgh; Peggy Smith; and Lonny Uzzell.

MARSHALL — A teenager has been killed in a wreck in Marshall. The one vehicle accident was reported around 1:00 yesterday afternoon in the 3800 block of Rosborough Springs. Investigators say the car driven by Colby Vernon, 17, a junior at Marshall High School, was heading north when she lost control of the vehicle and it struck a tree. Colby, seen here in her Facebook photo, was rushed to Good Shepherd Medical Center Marshall where she died. An autopsy was ordered to determine the exact cause of death. The accident investigation is ongoing.

ATHENS — On Wednesday afternoon, a Henderson County jury delivered a quick verdict after deliberating for only eight minutes in a case that involved a wild chase and manhunt last June. KETK reports jurors convicted Joshua Paul Calhoun, 34, of Athens, of evading arrest or detention with a motor vehicle — and also found that he used the vehicle as a deadly weapon in the course of committing the offense. Calhoun has numerous arrests, including an arrest in March of 2009 for theft of an airplane from the Athens Airport. Continue reading Man with Lengthy Record Found Guilty in Chase, Manhunt

TYLER – The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announces completion of the bridge replacement project on County Road 1141 over the Union Pacific Railroad. The project was a joint effort between TxDOT and Smith County. According to TxDOT, the contractor, East Texas Bridge, replaced the existing timber structure, which had inadequate vertical clearance over the railroad tracks, causing it to be hit by passing trains on several occasions. The new concrete structure provides adequate vertical clearance as well as improved vertical and horizontal geometry along CR 1141, according to a news release. Continue reading TxDOT Completes CR 1141 Bridge Replacement Project

LONGVIEW — The city of Longview and the Veterans Recognition Foundation hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for a new veterans plaza planned for Teague Park. According to a city news release, the Veterans Recognition Foundation plans to design and build the plaza to honor the service and sacrifices of veterans and their families. The foundation is a registered non-profit corporation working in coordination with other veterans organizations in the region to make the plaza a reality. The plan is to locate the plaza on approximately two acres along the west shore of the lake at Teague Park. The plaza will be open to the general public. Plans include a Vietnam memorial wall, MIA/POW memorial, wall of tears, and more.

KILGORE — Kilgore police are searching for whoever who stole multiple vehicles from a local business. KETK reports the suspect vehicle is the gray/silver Dodge dually in the picture shown. Police believe multiple people may be involved in the crime because of the work needed to take the vehicles. Officials stated the stolen automobiles were snatched from behind a business on SH 135 North. Continue reading Kilgore PD Probes Theft of Vehicles from Business

TYLER – The son of a man killed by a Tyler home owner on Tuesday says his dad may have suffered from a mental illness. Luke Garrison, 44, was shot to death when he broke into the home of a 77 year old man and charged him. Garrison’s son, Seth, tells KETK about two months ago, his dad began exhibiting behavior that suggested mental illness. Acting confused, angry, and anxious are just a few of the symptoms he mentioned. He said his dad “didn’t seem like himself those past two months it was kind of like it was someone else.” Seth said his dad owned a construction company in Brownsboro and there seemed to be no apparent reason for him to commit such a crime.

LONGVIEW – A former football player for Longview High School and Texas Christian University is free on bonds totaling over $116,000 after leading Longview Police on a chase. That’s according to KETK. Officers had been looking for Andre El Pato Davis, 41, who had been named in an arrest warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. When officers tried to stop his car, he merged into traffic and led officers on a chase that ended in the 800 block of Harmon Drive. Officers are said to have found in his car a small blue plastic bag with 2.1 grams of Ecstasy and 0.5 grams of Viagra. According to the Longview News-Journal, Davis faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, evading arrest/detention with vehicle, possession of a controlled substance more than 1 gram but less than 4 grams, and possession of a dangerous drug.

TYLER — Two major downtown Tyler renovation projects are celebrating their completion today. Open houses will be held from 4:00 till 6:00pm at the Smith County Jail and Tyler Public Library. The jail event will include a ceremony set for 5:30. Attendees are asked to use the west entrance at 206 East Elm Street. Continue reading Open Houses for Renovated Jail, Library

TYLER — The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office is seeking information on what Fire Marshal Jay Brooks calls “by far one of the worst animal cruelty cases I have ever seen.” KETK reports that on Tuesday a tan pit bull was tied up to a private kennel near the intersection of Spur 248 and Highway 64 East. “This poor dog was starving and suffering due to injuries of its jaw,” said Brooks. “It is absolutely disgusting.” Continue reading Fire Marshal: Animal Cruelty Case One of the Worst He’s Seen

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday voted to approve two ordinances relating to mobile food vendors (food trucks). The approved changes establish food truck parks as a primary use of a property and allow food trucks to operate on private property as transient vendors, according to a city news release. The City Council also approved changes that establish a one-year Mobile Food Unit Street Vending pilot program on streets in the Midtown District; in the Texas College District; in the University Woods District; in the Downtown, Business, Arts and Culture zoning district (DBAC); adjacent to city parks; and at active construction sites. Continue reading Tyler Approves Ordinances to Allow Food Trucks

TYLER — The Tyler City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to enter into two professional service contracts to continue work to bring a full service hotel conference center to Tyler. The first contract is with GT Development, L.L.C., who will act as program manager to represent the city; the second contract is with Champ Hospitality who will seek private equity to develop the hotel portion of this project. “The hotel conference center is a public-private partnership, with the City primarily funding the conference center and private investment constructing the hotel,” said Tyler Mayor Martin Heines. “Bringing Champ and GT together to work on this project will give Tyler the best possible chance of bringing this project to fruition.” Continue reading Council Takes Next Step toward Conference Center

WASHINGTON, D.C. — North and East Texas Congressman Ralph Hall had to watch from Rockwall as his colleagues on Capitol Hill paid tribute to his 34-year congressional career. The 91-year- old Hall is in rehab for injuries from an October car accident. Among those praising Hall on the House floor was Congressman Louie Gohmert of Tyler. Representatives Joe Barton, Sam Johnson, and Kay Granger were among others who took the podium. Hall, the oldest member of the U.S. House, may not return before his term expires at the end of the year. He was defeated in the primary last May.

TYLER — Two are in custody in a recent large-scale burglary in southwestern Smith County. Sheriff Larry Smith reports it occurred November 26 in the 11000 block of CR 152 West. The victim was out of town and returned November 27 to find his residence had been burglarized. During the burglary, 17 firearms, a vehicle, three televisions, a compound bow, a Play Station3 and assorted female clothing and jewelry were taken from the residence. On November 29, the victim’s vehicle was located inside the city of Tyler along with two suspects. Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the location along with Tyler police officers. Deputies contacted the two suspects, Matthew Mills and Kelsi Beall, at the location. Continue reading Two Arrested, One Sought in Large-Scale Home Burglary

ALPINE — The charges for three suspects in the murder of a Kilgore man have been upgraded. Keith McWilliams, 49, of Alpine, Rhonda Bloom, 42, of Terlingua, and Charles Morrow, 30, of Benbrook were arrested and charges were upgraded from second-degree murder to first-degree murder, according to the Brewster County Sheriff’s Office. According to KETK, officials say Trey Sands (pictured), 28, was shot to death on Halloween. McWilliams was a coworker of Sands and reportedly led officials to his body. Sheriff Ronny Dodson says Sands’s body was found around 1:00 a.m. Friday, December 5, underneath a pile of rocks. Continue reading Charges Upgraded for Suspects in Murder of Kilgore Man

TYLER — One person has been arrested in connection with a Smith County shooting. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office received a call around 11:15 p.m. last Sunday from the East Texas Medical Center Emergency Room regarding a gunshot victim who arrived in a personal vehicle. Tyler police officers and Smith County sheriff’s deputies responded to the hospital. Continue reading One Arrested in Highway 31 Shooting

NACOGDOCHES — The man authorities believe fatally shot Dominique Brooks, 24, of Nacogdoches, has been arrested. According to KETK, Marcus Shwayne Isaac, 19, turned himself in to Shelby County authorities around 6:20 Tuesday night. Extradition back to Nacogdoches County was scheduled to follow. Brooks was shot and killed December 5th. Detectives later determined the alleged shooter had been involved in an altercation earlier that Friday with a resident of the house on Railroad Street where the shooting occurred. Continue reading Nacogdoches Murder Suspect Arrested Tuesday

TYLER – A Tyler home has been destroyed by fire. The fire in the rental house on South Fleishel Avenue and Skyline Street was reported around 6:00 Tuesday night. The mother and her two children were not home when the fire started. Investigators located the source of the fire in the kitchen area and determined that it started as a result of unattended cooking. The home suffered significant fire, smoke and heat damage throughout. There were no injuries reported.

TYLER – Two Jacksonville men have been sentenced in connection with a violent crime spree targeting area businesses. The sentences were handed down Tuesday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Michael Schneider. Jonathan Roshard Brown (pictured), 22, pleaded guilty on May 20, 2014, to interfering with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act conspiracy) and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. He was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for the Hobbs Act conviction and 80 months for the firearms conviction. Michael Dangelio Johnson, 25, pleaded guilty on Feb. 12, 2014 to interfering with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act conspiracy) and was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison. Continue reading Cherokee County Men Sentenced in Armed Robbery Crime Spree

MARSHALL — The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office is warning citizens about a new twist on an old scam in the area. According to KETK, the Sheriff’s Office has received over 12 calls from residents during the last few days asking if there is a warrant for their arrest. According to officials, the citizen receives a call from someone self-identifying as a “warrant deputy” from the Harrison County Sheriff’s office and then states that there is an active warrant for the “immediate arrest” of that person due to missing a court date or a jury summons. The caller then states even though the warrant is for the “immediate arrest,” the warrant will be removed after the payment of a fee that must be paid by a Money-pack” card or a pre-paid credit card. Continue reading Harrison County Warns of Old Scam with “New Twist”

MARSHALL — After a week of counting the cash, Harrison County officials say about $1 million was found in a tractor-trailer that caught fire this past week on Interstate 20 before the driver was fatally struck by a pickup. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. “We can only estimate that there was approximately one million dollars within that vehicle,” Sheriff Tom McCool said Monday. Jay Webb, administrative lieutenant with the sheriff’s office, said the money was wrapped in plastic and then wrapped in a covering of aluminum foil. “Those funds had all the earmarks of being associated directly to organized crime — either U.S. Mafia or Mexican cartel — by the way it was being transported and packaged,” McCool said. He added that he and the Harrison County district attorney had been working to find the owner. Continue reading About $1M Found in Burned Tractor-Trailer in Harrison County

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating an incident in which a homeowner reportedly shot and killed a burglary suspect. Tuesday morning shortly after 10:15, officers responded to 919 Charleston on report of a residential burglary and shooting. Officers arrived and found that the resident, identified as Bobby Shaw, 77, of Tyler had apparently shot and killed Luke Garrison, 44, of Brownsboro. Shaw reported that he was in his home when he heard glass break. He said he retrieved his shotgun, went into the hallway, and saw Garrison (pictured) holding a large tool. He reported that Garrison charged him and he fired one time, striking Garrison in the chest. Garrison was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was sent for autopsy.

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court is moving forward with creation of a Transportation Reinvestment Zone along the present and future Toll 49. Commissioners recently passed a resolution which creates/sets the boundaries of the TRZ, according to information from the county. The motion did not include setting the amount of funds that will be dedicated from the zone or how they will be designated. Officials say that vote will be at a later date. The Court may choose to dedicate any amount (zero to 100 percent) to the Loop 49 project or to county roads. The project would capture a percentage of future property taxes along the corridor for whatever construction is eventually done. Continue reading County Moves Forward with TRZ

KILGORE — In November a Kilgore College staffer claimed the school exposed students and faculty to asbestos. KETK reports that since his claims surfaced, one of the school’s buildings was tested, and the test came back negative. Last month, longtime KC employee Dalton Smith told the Longview News-Journal the school has been exposing people to asbestos for years. After the accusations, Kilgore College hired ERI Consulting for air quality tests. “We’ve worked extensively over the past couple of decades to make sure every building is safe,” said college spokesman Chris Craddock. Craddock says all buildings that reportedly were infected were tested for asbestos on November 28. Recently, results came back negative for Dodson Auditorium. Continue reading KC’s Dodson Auditorium Tests Negative for Asbestos

TYLER – Drivers who use Toll 49 should plan for delays December 9th, 10th, and 11th in the late evening and early morning hours. The east side of the toll road from US 69 to SH 110 will be closed in both directions while preventive maintenance is performed from 10pm Tuesday, December 9th, till 5am Wednesday, December 10th. Additionally, the east side of Toll 49 will be closed from US 69 west to SH 31 for preventative maintenance from 10pm Wednesday, December 10th, till 5am Thursday, December 11th. You’re asked to allow extra time and make adjustments to your travel plans accordingly.

QUITMAN — A third suspect wanted in connection with the murder of two East Texas toddlers has been extradited back to the Wood County Jail. According to KETK, Dalton Lee German, 22, of North Little Rock, Arkanas, was arrested Thursday, November 20, in Pulaski County, Arkansas. He faces charges of injury to a child, a second degree felony. He was extradited back to Wood County December 5. Police said German was a friend to the mother, Daphne Elizabeth McDaniels, who has been charged with capital murder in the death of her daughters, Gabriella Guerrero, 3, and Natalye Price, 1. According to the autopsy, the girls died from blunt force trauma to the head. Continue reading Third Suspect in Quitman Murders Extradited to Wood County

MOUNT PLEASANT – A pilot escaped with minor injuries after his plane crashed in Titus County. The crash occurred shortly after 4:45 Monday afternoon at the intersection of County Road 4640 and County Road 4660, just northeast of Mount Pleasant. The plane is said to have hit some power lines and crashed before it could reach the Mount Pleasant Regional Airport. The single-engine plane, a Cessna 152, registered to Capps Aviation Services LLC in Mount Pleasant, was destroyed in the crash. The FAA is investigating the accident.