KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – One person is injured following a head-on collision in Tyler. It happened around 7:00 Sunday night in the 1700 block of East Gentry. Police say a truck veered into on coming traffic, hitting another vehicle. KETK reports the truck driver is hospitalized, his condition not known at this time. The other driver was not injured.

MARSHALL – One person has been killed in a one vehicle accident in Marshall. The accident happened just before 5:00 Friday afternoon on Interstate Highway 20 just east of U.S. Highway 59. The name of the victim has not been released. For some reason, the 18-wheeler left the road, hit a tree and overturned and caught fire.

LONGVIEW — A Kilgore psychiatrist, wanted on human trafficking and prostitution charges, is in custody in Gregg County. Riyaz Mazcuri, 62, is accused of trafficking women from India for forced labor, including prostitution. KETK reports that Mazcuri is known as “The Doctor” in what’s being called a “criminal group” that operates in southern New York. According to court documents, Mazcuri and others, tricked woman by telling they would be part of a cultural program. But once they go to the U.S., the men are accused of forcing them into dancing at night clubs, and having sex with clients. The U.S. Marshals service is still looking for the other suspects in the case.

TYLER – Tyler ContinueCARE Hospital was recently recognized with an Excellence Through Insight award for “Overall Physician Satisfaction” by HealthStream, Inc. According to a news release from Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics, Tyler ContinueCARE was awarded the honor for commitment to excellence in medical staff satisfaction. To qualify for an award, a hospital must have been a medical staff satisfaction client of HealthStream in 2013, scored in the 75th percentile or higher, and conducted a minimum of 50 physician surveys. Tyler ContinueCARE was chosen for receiving the highest ratings in medical staff satisfaction from among HealthStream’s clients, as well as for exceeding industry standards. Continue reading Tyler ContinueCARE Hospital Receives National Award

GREGG COUNTY — The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information regarding a stolen mower. KETK reports that on July 18 at around 4:00 a.m., unknown thieves took a red and silver 2007 Brush Hog zero turn riding mower from a home on the 5700 block of Highway 300. The mower was valued at $5000. Video surveillance from a nearby business shows the mower in a white four door truck, believed to be a Ford F-250, traveling north on Highway 300 a short distance from Upshur County. If you have information about this theft, contact Investigator David Falco at (903) 236-8438 or Crime Stoppers at (903) 236-STOP.

MIXON — Authorities in Cherokee County raided an illegal lab Thursday and seized chemicals used to make steroids, according to Sheriff James Campbell. Campbell says investigators executed a search warrant at a home on Farm Road 3052 in the Mixon community at 6:30pm. According to KETK, the sheriff says the Texas Department of Public Safety and DEA agents assisted in the operation. Officials say during the search, they collected chemicals, including anadrol, D-bol and cialis; lab equipment speakers, flasks, burettes, tubing, and vacuum chambers; notebooks containing “recipes”; and outlines for the manufacture of steroids. No arrests have been made at this time. A value of the items has not yet been determined.

ATHENS — The autopsy on the death of a 4-year-old in Henderson County was released Friday. According to KETK, the Medical Examiner’s Office in Dallas County ruled the manner of death homicide. The document stated the girl was killed by “blunt force injuries of the head, stab wound of the chest and drowning.” Stacie Marie Parsons, 25, of Athens, is currently being held on a $2 million bond. She is charged with murdering her daughter on July 22. The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said she admitted to the gruesome crime. A motive has not been released.

QUITMAN (Staff/AP)— A Quitman man was arrested by local law enforcement for allegedly tampering with a Wood County case. KETK reports that according to Police Chief Kelly Cole, Thomas Wayne Liles, 19, was taken into custody by one of his officers on Thursday for tampering with evidence. At 1:51 a.m. Thursday, Quitman PD responded to reports of two young sisters who were not breathing and would not wake up. When authorities arrived, they found two girls, approximately ages two and three, dead. Continue reading Evidence Tampering Charges Following Girls’ Deaths

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office requests assistance in identifying a burglary suspect. Detectives say this man may be connected with multiple pharmacy burglaries across East Texas including Gregg, Smith, Henderson, Angelina, Cherokee, and Anderson counties. Crimestoppers pays up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest and charges filed in specific cases. If you have information, call Crimestoppers at 903-597-CUFF (2833). The Smith County Sheriff’s Office can also be contacted at 903-566-6600.

TYLER – Tyler school trustees have unanimously named Dr. Marty Lane Crawford as the lone finalist for the District’s superintendent position. The announcement was made at last night’s monthly board meeting. The District is required to wait 21 days before officially hiring Dr. Crawford. “I am honored to be named the lone finalist for the superintendent position at Tyler ISD,” Dr. Crawford said. “I am excited to work with the District’s students, faculty and staff to meet and exceed our goals. Together we will be able to continue moving forward in achieving academic excellence.” Continue reading New School Superintendent for TISD

KILGORE – The new Vice President of Institutional Planning at Kilgore College will be Staci Martin. Starting August first, she will take over for Dr. Mike Turpin who was named Vice President of Instruction June 1. “I look forward to taking on this new challenge and working together with KC’s administration, faculty and staff as we strive together to provide high quality educational opportunities and services that promote student success,” Martin said. Continue reading Promotions at Kilgore College

TYLER – Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics became the first health system between Tyler and the Metroplex to perform a single-site (incision) laparoscopic gynecological surgery in East Texas when Dr. Daren Yeager successfully completed the procedure July 22 at Mother Frances Hospital Tyler. That’s according to a Trinity Mother Frances news release. Continue reading Groundbreaking Surgery at Mother Frances

TYLER — A Dallas County physician has been convicted of 15 counts of health care fraud violations in East Texas. Tariq Mahmood, 63, of Cedar Hill, Texas, was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, seven counts of health care fraud, and seven counts of aggravated identity theft following a four day trial before U.S. District Judge Michael Schneider. Mahmood faces up to 10 years in federal prison for the conspiracy conviction and two years for each aggravated identity theft conviction. A sentencing date has not been set. Continue reading Texas Doctor Convicted of Health Care Fraud Violations

AUSTIN (AP/Staff) – Two University of Texas football players, including an East Texan, have been arrested and charged with felony sexual assault after a female student said she was raped in a campus dorm room last month. Wide receivers Kendall Sanders, who is from Athens, and Montrel Meander have been released from the university police station. According to an arrest affidavit, Sanders (pictured) and Meander texted each other during earlier interviews with police to “get their story straight.” Sanders also faces a charge of improper photography tied to the alleged assault on June 21. First-year Longhorns coach Charlie Strong, who will welcome his team to preseason training camp in two weeks, said he had suspended both players.

HENDERSON — A man convicted of sexually abusing his three stepdaughters has been sentenced to 60 years in prison with no parole. According to the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, Barney Samuel Bradshaw, 35, was arrested in September 2013 for aggravated sexual assault after it was learned he was abusing his three children under the age of 14. KETK reports the sentencing was handed down after four hours of deliberation. Family members said they plan to appeal the conviction.

SMITH COUNTY — Due to this week’s power outages in the Tyler area, the Texas Commission on Environment Quality has ordered Jackson Water Supply to issue a boil water notice. KETK reports the notice affects the area north of FM 850, but not inclusive of FM 850. The road is located in the Jackson and Chapel Hill area. The public will be updated when it is no longer necessary to boil. If you have questions concerning this matter, please call Jackson Water Supply at 903-566-1320 or 903-343-9713.

AUSTIN (AP/Staff) – An East Texas lawmaker is asking the attorney general to weigh in on whether a state commission has the authority to allow a new form of betting called historical racing. Republican State Rep. Dan Flynn of Van is requesting a review of devices that are like slot machines and allow people to bet on horse and dog races that have already happened. Race track owners have asked the Texas Racing Commission to allow the machines as a way to help their struggling industry. They say it’s another form of legal betting. The public still has several days to comment and the commission could vote as early as next month. But Flynn says it amounts to an expansion of gambling and would require a two-thirds vote from lawmakers and approval from voters.

LONGVIEW — A Longview church has fired a daycare worker, after church officials say she hit a child with a shoe. The Longview News-Journal report a state investigation is now in place at Oakland Heights Baptist Church. The church’s childcare center fired the employee in June. Afterwards the church notified state officials about the incident. The Worker reportedly hit the child with a shoe as punishment for taking his shoes off.

EAST TEXAS — Thousands of East Texans have been affected by power outages in the wake of Wednesday night’s storm system. The Smith County Justice of the Peace and Constable Pct. 3 Offices shut down for the day Thursday due to a prolonged outage. The Precinct 3 offices are located at 313 E. Duval Street in Troup. Electricity was expected to be restored late Thursday night and normal office hours should resume on Friday, July 25, according to a county news release. KETK reports at least ten area counties have reported significant outages. According to Oncor, some places may be in the dark until early Friday morning.

GREGG COUNTY — A trial date is set in federal court for a lawsuit in which a mother claims her son died because he was denied his prescription drugs while an inmate at the Gregg County Jail. According to the Longview News-Journal, jury selection is Feb. 9 in Marshall. Betty Madewell seeks unspecified monetary damages in the March 2013 death of her 51-year-old son, Bobby Joe Madewell Jr. Betty Madewell claims the county denied her son prescriptions for Xanax and hydrocodone. The county, which has since amended its jail drug policy to be wider, denies Madewell’s claims. Continue reading Date Set for Inmate’s Death Trial

LONGVIEW — Longview police are looking for a gunman after one person was hospitalized with a gunshot wound. It happened around 5:20 Tuesday afternoon in the 600 block of Baylor Drive at the Guthrie Creek Apartments. Arriving officers were told a suspect approached the victim in the swimming pool area of the apartment complex. The victim and suspect exchanged words and the suspect shot the victim in the head, according to reports. The victim was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries and has since been released, according to KETK. The suspect fled the scene prior to officers’ arrival. The shooting remains under investigation.

LONGVIEW — A missing Longview teenager is back home. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office had asked for help finding Hannah Nicole Barker, 15, who has last been last seen last Sunday. Jay Webb, administrative lieutenant of the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, said Tuesday that Barker is believed to have run away from her home on Peggy Ruth Road. Webb said that he wants to thank the public for its assistance. He said the girl has returned home and is safe.

TYLER — Smith County commissioners have rejected two resolutions addressing possible housing for illegal immigrants. Commissioner Terry Phillips believes an overwhelming number of illegal immigrants in the county would be both a health risk and a safety concern. County Judge Joel Baker agreed with Phillips but said the county has no authority to deny cooperation with the state or federal government. Baker told KETK, “I agree that the borders need to be secure and this immigration issue needs to be dealt with in an appropriate manner, and it’s not being dealt with in an appropriate manner. But we cannot as a commissioners court effect the proper change.”

TYLER — The sprayground at Tyler’s Faulkner Park will be closed on Thursday, July 24, for maintenance. It is expected to reopen on Friday, July 25. Faulkner Park is located at 410 W. Cumberland Road.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday received a Lean Six Sigma presentation regarding Fire Department planning for future facilities. As part of the Lean Six Sigma initiative, a study was conducted concerning fire station locations in Tyler, according to a city news release. Officials say the analysis was performed to determine the most fiscally sound means for construction and staffing of stations while also addressing the need to replace some of the city’s oldest and outdated fire stations. Continue reading Fire Department Plans for Future Facilities

GLADEWATER — A Gladewater man was arrested Tuesday on a charge of solicitation of a minor. Cody Jacob Richardson, 19, is being held in Gregg County Jail on $150,000 bond after a warrant was issued for his arrest, according to jail records. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Gregg County Sheriff’s Office investigator Terry Mitchell said Wednesday that an offense report was filed against Richardson on June 30 by deputy Christopher Lee. According to Lee’s report, Richardson had been exchanging inappropriate text messages with a minor female. The victim’s mother told Lee that her daughter had been communicating with Richardson through a friend’s Apple iPod. Continue reading Gladewater Man Accused of Inappropriate Communication with Minor

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday was presented the City Council of the Year Award from the Texas City Management Association (TCMA). According to a city news release, the honor was based on continued commitment to ethics, prudent financial management, support for employee professional development, focus on positive community relations, and unique community initiatives. A few examples noted include a new city ethics policy, one of the lowest tax rates in the state, establishment of a comprehensive citywide Lean Six Sigma program, a AAA bond rating, zero general obligation debt, a robust city education program called City University, and the Industry Growth Initiative. Continue reading Tyler Earns City Council of the Year Honors

TYLER – A 60-year-old former meat company executive from Tyler has been sentenced to federal prison for making false statements on a loan application. Bobby Gene Loggins pleaded guilty on Dec. 5, 2013, to making false statements to a bank. He was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison on July 22 by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis of Tyler. Loggins was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,773,371.52. Continue reading Former Meat Company Executive Sentenced for Loan Fraud

LONGVIEW — A chase through two East Texas counties ends in an arrest. 33-year-old Robert Moorhead was arrested Monday night. Gregg County deputies tell KETK the chase stemmed from an argument in Gladewater between Moorhead and his ex-common law wife. She claims he followed her and her four children home, then rammed his truck into her car. When deputies found Moorhead, he reportedly led them on a chase through Gregg and Smith Counties before crashing off Old Highway 135 in Liberty City. He’s now in the Gregg County Jail.