KTBB News, Weather, Talk

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Alto Rural Water Supply Corporation customers living in the Linwood community and on FM 851 are urged to boil their water before consumption. KETK reports this is due to conditions that have occurred recently in the water system.

TYLER — Tyler Junior College has received reports of young men approaching homes and businesses in the Whitehouse area, claiming to be selling magazine subscriptions on behalf of the TJC baseball team. TJC is asking that people be aware the college is not a sponsor of any such activity. According to KETK, anyone who encounters these people needs to make note of their physical descriptions and location and to contact the appropriate law enforcement authority.

LONGVIEW — A teenaged bicyclist was seriously injured this week, leading Longview police to issue an advisory on bicycle safety. On Wednesday at 5:25 p.m., officers were dispatched to an accident with injuries near the intersection of Premier and Harrison Roads. When officers arrived, they found that the youth had collided with a vehicle after reportedly failing to stop at a stop sign. 14-year-old Michael David Charles Bonham of Longview had been riding his bike in the area, allegedly failed to stop at the intersection, and collided with a 1999 black Mitsubishi Eclipse driven by 21-year-old Carlos Lopez-Alvarez. Bonham was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. He was later transported to a Dallas hospital. Continue reading Young Bicyclist Badly Injured; Bike Safety Urged

LONGVIEW — A Dallas man is being held in the Gregg County Jail on bonds totaling $41,000 after police say he evaded arrest and rammed his car into a police car — all while allegedly drunk. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, police say Bennie Joe Baker Jr., 32, appeared passed out in the driver’s seat of a car parked in the 200 block of West Sycamore Lane, near the Pine Tree Road intersection. A Longview police officer came across the car while responding to a call about a suspicious vehicle, according to police reports. The officer wrote in his report that Baker appeared to be intoxicated and drove away when the officer told him to turn off the ignition. Continue reading Police: Drunk Man Evades Arrest, Rams Police Car in Longview

MARSHALL — A Harrison County grand jury returned two murder indictments in connection with the 2009 murder of a Hallsville man. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Harley Blake Vaughn and Thomas Dean Richardson Jr. were indicted Thursday for murder in the death of Bobby Joe Inzer. The defendants were both 16 at the time of the crime. Because they are now 20-year-old adults, Harrison County Court-at-Law Judge Jim Ammerman, who presides over juvenile cases, signed an order earlier this month waiving juvenile jurisdiction for both defendants so that they could now be tried as adults in the 71st District Courtroom for the alleged crime. Continue reading Two Indicted in 2009 Hallsville Murder

EAST TEXAS — Texas drivers will soon be able to drive a little faster on country highways. According to KETK, TxDOT says 118 miles of highways in rural parts of Northeast Texas will soon see an increase of speed from 70 to 75 miles per hour. That increase was approved in December, but the department is currently installing new signs to make the limit official. Most rural interstate highway speed limits across texas were increased last year.

NACOGDOCHES – Five adolescents, between the ages of 12 and 15, are behind bars. They’re accused of burglary in Nacogdoches County. it happened on County Road 804 last weekend. Sheriff’s deputies tell KETK they found evidence at the teens’ houses that linked them to the crime. All five have been charged with burglary of a habitation.

LONGVIEW — Longview police are trying to identify two suspects who burglarized and damaged the Alpine Laundry. And they are asking the public for help. The two suspects broke into the laundry in April and again in May. They are said to have caused extensive damage. If you can supply some information, contact Detective Gary Shirley at 903-237-1199. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Gregg County Crimestoppers at 903-236-7867.

HENDERSON — The Department of Public Safety has identified the Henderson woman killed in a Rusk County ATV accident. Killed in the Tuesday afternoon wreck was Diana Sue Drake, 54. The DPS reports her ATV was hooked up to a tow strap and pulled by another ATV. As they were both going down hill, her vehicle passed the other ATV and her rear wheels got caught in the tow strap. Her vehicle overturned. She died about an hour later at a local hospital.

JEFFERSON — The help wanted sign is out in the Jefferson school district. School Superintendent Dr. Sharon Ross has resigned to accept the superintendent’s job in the Mexia school system. Earlier this week the Mexia school board named Ross the sole finalist for the position. Her last day on the job in Jefferson will be on Monday. In an emergency meeting on Tuesday, the Jefferson school board named former assistant superintendent Sandra Spencer as the district’s interim superintendent.

Dr. Ross has been the school superintendent in Jefferson for the past five years. Before that she was assistant superintendent of curriculum at Crockett ISD for nearly two years. The school district’s web site says Dr. Ross has also served as an elementary teacher in Lindale ISD, an elementary principal in Lindale ISD,Lufkin ISD and Overton ISD, and a middle school principal in Tyler ISD.

TYLER — A five-car pileup blocked some eastbound loop traffic for about an hour on Thursday afternoon at the intersection of Loop 323 and Old Jacksonville Highway. KETK reports the accident happened around 12:30, after one driver reportedly did not stop at a red light and caused a chain reaction with four other cars. Eight people were involved in the accident, but only two were taken to a local hospital, with unknown injuries. The driver who allegedly caused the accident was given a sobriety test after officers said that they smelled alcohol and that a 12-ounce container of beer was found in the car. The driver passed the sobriety test but was cited for the wreck and allegedly having an open container. .

HOUSTON (AP/Staff) – A Canadian company that is building a pipeline to carry tar sands oil to the Gulf Coast says it is repairing parts of the duct in Texas — mainly in Wood County, according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. TransCanada spokesman Shawn Howard says in an email that inspections of the pipeline revealed “small imperfections.” He says nine sections totaling about 81 feet will be repaired. He says 75% of the pipeline in Texas is complete. Howard says it will be in operation by late 2013. When done, the pipeline will run through much of East Texas, including eastern Smith County. Continue reading Repairs Done on Portions of Oil Pipeline in Texas

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court cut the ribbon Thursday, officially opening the new Smith County Election Administration Office and the R. B. Hubbard Center. The new facilities are located at 302 and 304 E. Ferguson, respectively. Officials say the new Elections facility offers customers ample parking, ground-level entry, and a spacious early voting area. The adjoining R. B. Hubbard Center, or as it has come to be called, “The HUB,” is a multi-purpose facility designed to suit public needs. Officials say it can be used for large gatherings, town hall meetings, or jury pools. The HUB was named for the fifteenth governor of Texas, Richard B. Hubbard, whose homestead was once located in the area that is now East Ferguson.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Child Protective Services tried to keep a 2-year-old Cherokee County boy, who died after accidently shooting himself in the face, out of his great-grandparents’ home. KETK reports that in addition to the deceased toddler, Trenton Mathis, two other children were also in custody of Mathis’s great-grandparents in Cherokee County. CPS obtained custody of the children in December 2012, because of a case that originated in Harris County. Continue reading CPS Tried to Keep Young Shooting Victim out of Great-Grandparents’ Home

LINDALE — As predicted, an overflow crowd turned out Wednesday night for a presentation of the patriotic musical “In God We Trust” by Lindale fifth graders. The play was presented in its original form after a parental complaint over the play’s religious references prompted school district officials to show a modified version last week. KETK reports that patrons were being directed into the overflow area 45 minutes before the curtains were raised Wednesday at the Lindale ISD Performing Arts Center. Some attendees were quite vocal in their support of the play. One commmented, “The American people need to stand up and speak that it’s in God that we trust and that’s what made this flag so great.” Continue reading Overflow Crowd Attends Lindale Play

TYLER — A former Tyler school bus driver is free on bond following his arrest on drug charges. Ronald Gain, 44, of Tyler is charged with possession of a controlled substance greater than or equal to one gram and less than four grams. Gain, who was hired last August, was fired last Friday, following his arrest.

TIMPSON — A Lamborghini, said to be valued at $1 million dollars, has been destroyed in an east Texas fire. It happened Tuesday afternoon at the Timpson Quick Stop in Timpson. The fire was extinguishd by the quick action of store employees and the towns volunteer fire department. There were no injuries. There was no report on how the fire started.

AUSTIN — The work’s obviously not done, with a special session looming. But Texas lawmakers are largely pleased with what was accomplished during the regular legislative session. That includes Tyler Senator Kevin Eltife, who shared some upbeat comments on the budget with KETK. According to Eltife, “The budget, I think, is a conservative budget. It’s under the rate of inflation and growth, but we added money to public education, higher education, community colleges.”

LONGVIEW — A man accused of killing a Bowie County deputy is currently being housed in the Gregg County Jail. Tucker Orton Strickland, 23, is accused of overpowering the 54-year-old deputy while being escorted from the Bowie County Courthouse in New Boston, grabbing her gun and shooting her dead. He was later arrested in Arkansas. Continue reading Man Jailed in Gregg County for Bowie County Deputy’s Death

TYLER — A Tyler man will be serving life in prison for the murder of one of his daughters. Dramon Green, 22, pleaded guilty Wednesday to capital murder. For the guilty plea, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Continue reading Life in Prison for Murder of Daughter

TYLER — As part of the Tyler 1st comprehensive planning process, the City of Tyler is seeking input from residents about the future of North End Revitalization. Residents may provide input in two ways:

· By sharing ideas for North End Revitalization and housing improvements on Tyler Speaks, an online forum hosted on the City of Tyler website. Go to http://www.cityoftyler.org and click on Tyler Speaks.
· At a Public Open House from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. today at Neighborhood Services, 900 W. Gentry Pkwy. Continue reading City Seeking Input on North End Revitalization for Tyler 1st Plan

TYLER — In celebration of Memorial Day, the Smithfield Packing Company has partnered with Brookshire Grocery Co. to donate a combined 40,000 pounds of food to the East Texas Food Bank. According to a Food Bank news release, “This significant donation in Tyler is part of Smithfield’s Helping Hungry Homes tour, the company’s coast-to-coast effort to help families and individuals become more food secure. Through this program, Smithfield has donated and delivered more than 25.4 million servings of protein to food-assistance organizations across the country.”

AUSTIN (AP/Staff) – Two state facilities face June deadlines to reform hazardous conditions or lose millions of dollars in Medicaid money — and the death of an East Texas woman is part of the reason. The Austin American-Statesman reports that Terrell State Hospital faces a June 4 deadline to implement reforms or face the loss of Medicare funding. That’s after Medicare investigators found significant nursing and patient rights problems in the wake of the February 2012 death of patient Ann Simmons. An autopsy blamed the death of the 62-year-old Pittsburg woman three days after her arrival on a pulmonary embolism related to restraints used on her. Continue reading State Facilities Face Reform Deadlines; East Texan’s Death a Factor

EAST TEXAS — Natural gas fueling stations are popping up around East Texas. KETK reports the first in Longview is set to be opened in a few weeks by Independence Fuel Systems. As the fuel becomes more readily available, it’s removing a big hurdle that has stopped local governments, school districts and buses in the past from converting vehicles to run on natural gas.

EAST TEXAS — The Texas Department of State Health Services is hosting events in Lufkin and Tyler to educate the public about West Nile virus. The events will include information from state and local officials about the disease, prevention efforts, and mosquito control, and will include question-and-answer sessions. Texas recently confirmed its first case of West Nile illness of the season, an adult male from Anderson County. Last year Texas reported 1,868 human cases of West Nile illness, including 89 deaths. Continue reading DSHS Hosts West Nile Events in East Texas

TYLER — Tyler police have issued the after-action report from the most recent multi-agency No-Refusal DWI campaign, held May 24th through May 27th. DPS had nine DWI arrests, Tyler PD had five, and Whitehouse PD had two. Texas Parks & Wildlife had two BWI (Boating While Intoxicated) arrests. TPWD also obtained two search warrants for blood. This is a grand total of 18 DWI arrests with 2 (11%) search warrants for blood obtained. Continue reading “No Refusal” After-Action Report

TYLER — A fire has damaged apartments in the 1600 block of East Earle Street. Tyler firemen responded to the blaze just before 2:00 yesterday morning. The building contained two separate apartment units, with tenants upstairs and downstairs. Luckily, the residents were able to escape unharmed. The upstairs apartment sustained heavy fire damage, with a total loss of the contents. The downstairs unit sustained extensive water damage as well. Fire investigators have indicated that the fire originated in an upstairs bedroom near an air conditioning unit. The Red Cross was notified for assistance with the displaced families.

LUFKIN — A Nacogdoches couple has been sentenced for federal tax violations. Reggie Cotton, 53, and Deborah Cotton, 57, pleaded guilty last November to failing to file tax returns for the calendar year 2004 and were both sentenced to five months in federal prison Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark. Their prison sentences will be followed by five months of home detention and restitution of $75,320 to the Internal Revenue Service. Continue reading Nacogdoches Couple Sentenced in Federal Court

TYLER — The new executive director of special academic programs at The University of Texas at Tyler is Dr. Paul Streufert. He is an associate professor within the Department of Literature and Languages and the founding director of the UT Tyler Honors Program. In this expanded role, effective July 1, Streufert will oversee both the honors and Global Awareness Through Education programs at UT Tyler. Dr. Jill Blondin, current GATE director, has accepted a position at Virginia Commonwealth University as director of the VCU Globe. Continue reading Streufert Named Executive Director at UT Tyler

TYLER — Tyler Junior College is one of four public, two-year institutions nationwide, and the only two-year institution in Texas, to be recognized by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), for overall performance in educational fundraising. CASE has named 68 colleges and universities and 18 independent schools as recipients of its 2013 Educational Fundraising Awards, which recognize institutions for overall performance and improvement in educational fundraising programs. Winning institutions will be recognized in the awards gallery at the 2013 Summit for Leaders in Advancement conference to be held in July in San Francisco. Continue reading TJC Receives National Award