KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — A former cafeteria worker at Lindale High School has been given a 10 year probated sentence for improper relations between an educator and a student. Lisa Walker, 41, had pleaded guilty to the complaint. A hearing will be held in several weeks to determine if she will have to register as a sex offender. The incident between Walker and the 15 year old student, which is said to have offs school property, was reported back in January. The 15 year old male student has since moved out of state.

BULLARD — An ordinance is under consideration that would ban new billboards within the city limits of Bullard. Bullard Mayor Teresa Adams-Wilks says prohibiting new billboards will help the health, safety, and welfare of people who live there. She also says it will “prevent eye sores and maintain Bullard’s beauty.” KETK-TV reports there is another reason for the billboard ban. Adams-Wilks says if the alcohol measures pass in next month’s elections, she doesn’t want alcohol advertised.

TYLER — The American Red Cross, Smith County Chapter, is participating in the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. Red Cross officials say the Veterans History Project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the first-person accounts of American wartime veterans and civilian workers who supported the war efforts by preserving their stories of service to our country.

The Library of Congress and the American Red Cross are offering free training for volunteer interviewers to collect veterans’ stories on behalf of the Library of Congress. The Smith County Chapter will host the training on Thursday, November 4, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and again from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at the American Red Cross office located at 320 E Rieck Rd., Tyler. The training is to be conducted by Stephen Sloan, Oral Historian at Baylor University. It’s open to anyone in 10th grade or older wanting to become a part of the project. Seating is limited, so you’re advised to reserve your space today by emailing the Red Cross’s Linda Edwards at [email protected] or calling 903-581-7981.

Edwards says, “Every day we all get older, and every day more and more stories are lost. This is one way that everyone can help capture this information. She urges residents to “join us and keep our veterans’ voices alive for future generations.” You can visit http://www.loc.gov/vets to learn more about the Veterans History Project.

TYLER — Former President George W. Bush is tonight’s Distinguished Lecturer at U.T. Tyler — and the event is now sold out. The Joseph Z. and Louise H. Ornelas Lecture will begin at 7:30 p.m. KTBB is among the media sponsors and will be on hand for the speech. The evening will also include a dinner to aid the university’s scholarship program.

TYLER — The next hearing is about two months away in the custody fight over Jaden McLean. According to KETK, two-year-old Jaden is recovering from a near-fatal head wound suffered when he found a loaded gun in the sports bar owned by his grandparents. Now, his divorced parents are fighting for custody, and proceedings continued Friday. Among other things, Accusations of drug use and excessive drinking flew back and forth as family members watched. Judge Carole Clark ruled Jaden will remain in foster care while both parents are drug tested and treated for anger management and co-dependency.

LONGVIEW — A 22-year-old Gilmer woman dies in a Longview accident. Monday morning just before 12:40, Longview Officers responded to a one-vehicle crash that occurred in the 1200 Block of West Marshall Avenue.

Officers found that Destiny Boyle had been westbound on West Marshall Avenue when her vehicle left the roadway in a curve and struck a utility pole. There were no other occupants in Boyle’s vehicle and no other vehicles were involved. Boyle was pronounced dead at the scene, and it was determined that she was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

TYLER — Tyler Rescue Ministries has a couple of fundraising events scheduled in its continuing effort to help the area’s homeless. Founder/CEO Maurice Barnes invites everyone to a concert Thursday featuring Casey Rivers and Beyond the Ashes. It’s set for 7:00pm at First United Methodist Church of Lindale. Saturday, it’s the ministry’s 13th Anniversary Banquet, featuring Congressman Louie Gohmert. That event will take place at 6 p.m. at Tyler’s Southside Baptist Church. Barnes says you must make a reservation for the banquet; to do that, you can e-mail [email protected] or call 903-877-9252. Both events are free, but love offerings will be taken.

Tyler Rescue Ministries currently consists of Kathryn’s House, a facility for single women and women with small children. But the organization’s “Catch the Vision – Save a Family” capital campaign, which includes the two upcoming events, seeks to raise funds for expansion of the ministry’s work. That involves purchasing an additional 40 acres to provide care for eight intact families at one time. Barnes says once the campaign’s work is done, “We will be the only Christian ministry shelter in nine counties that will allow the entire family to learn, to grow, and to serve together as a family.” You can go to http://www.tylerrescueministries.org for more information.

TYLER — The Tyler District Office of the Texas parole division is seeking volunteers. The office’s chaplain and volunteer coordinator, Jesse McLendon, said on KTBB “Staff Meeting” that parolees have various needs. Current parole programs address such issues as literacy, life skills, parenting, and substance abuse. McLendon says it’s all with an eye on keeping former prisoners from returning to prison. If you’d like to help, you can email McLendon at [email protected] or call him at 903-581-8311 or 903-312-7780. McLendon also discussed other aspects of the parole division’s work. You can go to http://www.ktbb.com/audio to hear the “Staff Meeting” show online beginning early Monday.

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at events and work planned in the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

SMITH COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform edge repairs on Farm Road 346 between U.S. Highway 69 in Flint and State Highway 110 in Whitehouse. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

LONGVIEW — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repairs in various locations on Spur 63 in Longview. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

QUITMAN — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue approximately two weeks of resurfacing operations on State Highway 154 east of State Highway 37 near Quitman High School, and begin base-repair operations on Farm Road 2966 north of Quitman. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform edge and pavement repairs on Farm Road 3062 between Malakoff and Star Harbor, and on Ranch Road 2588 between LaRue and the end of state maintenance. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to conclude several days of resurfacing operations in various locations on U.S, Highway 84 east of U.S. Highway 259 in Mount Enterprise, followed upon completion by the same work on Farm Road 13 between State Highway 42 and Loop 571. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform resurfacing operations in various locations on Farm Road 315 between U.S. Highway 175 in Poynor and Farm Road 837 in Brushy Creek, and on Farm Road 837 between State Highway 19 and U.S. Highway 175.

A second crew is scheduled to make pavement repairs on U.S. Highway 287 between the Trinity River Bridge and Cayuga, and on Farm Road 2054 between Farm Road 321 and the Coffield Prison Unit. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

BOSTON (AP) — Native East Texan Mildred Jefferson, the first black woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School and a nationally recognized leader of the anti-abortion movement, has died at age 84. Anne Fox, the president of Massachusetts Citizens for Life, says Jefferson died Friday in Cambridge. She says Jefferson recently became ill.

Jefferson helped establish the National Right to Life Committee. Communications director Derrick Jones says she was its at-large director when she died. Jefferson was born in Pittsburg, Texas, in 1926, the daughter of a schoolteacher and a minister. She grew up in Carthage and graduated from Texas College in Tyler and earned a master’s degree from Tufts University in Medford, Mass.

Jefferson had also taught as an assistant clinical professor of surgery at Boston University Medical School. She was given honorary degrees by 28 schools.

JACKSONVILLE — An accident at the Mud Creek off-road park in Jacksonville has killed a Tyler man. Michael Chad Gray, 26, had become separated from his group. He was found around 12:15 Saturday morning with a severe head injury. Attempts to resuscitate him failed. His body was sent to Tyler for autopsy.

TYLER — A Tyler man is hospitalized after firefighters rescued him from his burning home. The man was found in the bedroom of his duplex at 3907 McDonald Road around 4:30 Saturday morning. Firemen reported smoke and fire billowing from the home when they arrived. The cause of the fire, which is believed to have started in the living room, remains under investigation.

TYLER — Ideal weather brought out thousands who lined the streets for the Texas Rose Festival Parade. The parade, which helps end the annual rose festival, starts at Glenwood and West Front and then proceeds into Trinity Mother Francis Rose Stadium. Capping off Saturday’s parade was the Queen’s Float with Rose Queen Mary-Lawson Bracken Walden. This year’s festival theme is “A Tapestry of Blessings.”

In other activities, the Ladies’ Brunch featured New York Times best-selling author Sandra Brown. Legendary financier T. Boone Pickens keynoted the Men’s Luncheon. Both of those events were held Friday. Also on Friday were the Queen’s Coronations.

TYLER — A former Tyler seminary student has received five years probation and will be deported to Columbia. State District Court Judge Kerry Russell says Jorge Sanchez, 31, will remain in the Smith County Jail until he is deported. He will not be able to return to the country without permission from the U.S. Attorney General. Sanchez, a native of Columbia, was a student at Tyler’s Cathedral of Immaculate Conception after previous studies in Houston at the University of St. Thomas seminary. Sanchez was arrested in April on charges that he engaged in sexual contact with a teenage girl who was in a church youth group. Last month, he pleaded guilty to indecency with a child.

HALLSVILLE — A one vehicle accident on Interstate Highway 20, near the 610 Mile marker, has killed a Florida driver. The accident occurred around 12:45 Friday afternoon. Dead at the scene was Harold Spicer, 54.

The Department of Public Safety reports Spicer was west bound when his car started veering off the road. It hit a concrete culvert and traveled another 300 feet before stopping upside-down in a creek. Investigators feel Spicer may have had a medical problem or may have fallen asleep at the wheel. An autopsy has been ordered.

BEAUMONT – A 59-year-old Lufkin man has been sentenced to federal prison for child pornography violations. Philip Charles Taylor pleaded guilty on May 21, 2010, to possession of child pornography and was sentenced to 102 months Friday in Beaumont by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.

According to information presented in court, on Jan. 26, 2010, law enforcement officers made contact with Taylor after receiving information that Taylor was viewing child pornography in a Lufkin motel room with at least one child present. According to authorities, officers received consent to search Taylor’s computer and several DVDs found in the room, and discovered nine videos of minors involved in sexually explicit conduct. Prosecutors say some of the videos depicted children less than 12 years of age engaged in sadistic or masochistic conduct. Taylor was indicted by a federal grand jury on Mar. 17, 2010. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.

TYLER — Police say they now have all three suspects in custody in this week’s robbery at a Tyler dollar store. On Friday, Tyler Police Investigators received a Crime Stoppers tip on the location of 36-year-old Michael Wayne West. Police went to Town Village South apartments at 200 Muller Garden and found West in his mother’s apartment. Police say West was taken into custody without force and transported to Smith County Jail.

The other suspects were apprehended soon after the robbery, which happened shortly after noon Wednesday at the Family Dollar store located at 530 S.S.E. Loop 323. Officers were advised that a man entered the business and demanded money from the clerk. He did not display a weapon. The clerk gave him an undetermined amount of money. The man ran out of the store and got into a black SUV. The SUV was occupied by two women. A Smith County deputy constable followed the SUV and saw the man and one woman get out of the SUV at the Super 1 Foods located at 1105 East Gentry. The SUV then drove to the Family Dollar store located at 1401 E. Gentry.

Officers contacted the remaining woman in the SUV and arrested her for the robbery. Officers were advised that the two other suspects were seen leaving the Super 1 Foods. Officers were able to locate the second female suspect in the area of E. Line and Anderson Street in Tyler and arrested her for the robbery. The two females arrested have been identified as Lara Michelle Trumble, 37, of Tyler, and Amber Cordell Martin, 33, of Jacksonville. The women have also been transported to the Smith County Jail.

LUFKIN — A Lufkin man accepts a lesser charge earlier this week for attacking a deputy during the 4th of July weekend. According to KETK, 25-year-old Norman Thacker was on drugs when he ran from and kicked a deputy. Having already served 101 days in jail, Thacker will finish out his six-month sentence.

TYLER — Tyler Police arrest two suspects after an alert citizen notifies authorities of suspicious behavior. It happened Friday morning around 2:00 in a neighborhood off of Rhones Quarter Rd. Police say during a traffic stop of the suspicious vehicle, numerous stolen electronic items were found. Aaron Brady Jones, 18, who is pictured here, and Kelton Derk Wilson, 18, both of Tyler, were arrested and charged with four counts of burglary. Officers say the two were reportedly only breaking into cars that were left unlocked. Police say they are attempting to find the owners of stolen property that was recovered.

LONGVIEW — Investigators have concluded a fire at a Longview business is intentionally set. Firefighters responded to Buccaneers Satellite Company around 3:00 Thursday morning. According to KETK, they were able to get the fire under control in less than an hour. No injuries were reported but the damage is estimated at $100,000.

BIG SANDY — No new charges will be filed for a Big Sandy student. Ashley Williamson, 17, is in the Upshur County Jail charged with manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance in a school zone. Authorities say Williamson is connected to the death of her 16-year-old friend, Britnee Mount, who was also a Big Sandy High School student. According to KETK, police say the events leading up to her death happened at the school. School officials say they have grief counselors on hand.

WHITEHOUSE — A one vehicle rollover accident on Hwy 110 Wednesday night, in the Whitehouse area, leaves one woman dead. According to KETK, Barbara Holmes was driving southbound when she attempted to move around a slower vehicle. Troopers say her car went off the road and hit a light pole and rolled over. The 46-year-old died on impact.

TYLER — There’s more on a Tyler drug case that emerged this week. On Tuesday evening, the Tyler Police Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant on 28 year old Christopher Browning’s apartment in the Fox Run Apartment complex. Investigators say they located a small amount of illegal narcotics in the apartment along with a key piece of evidence that led them to a hotel room in south Tyler that was rented to Browning. Upon searching the hotel room, investigators say they discovered 39 lbs. of marijuana in one pound bags, 3 lbs. of powder and crack cocaine, 75 grams of Xanax tablets, and $28,000 in cash. The street value of the illegal drugs is estimated at $250,000 to $300,000. Browning is in Smith County Jail on a $402,500 dollar bond.

Earlier Tuesday, the Tyler Narcotics Unit had Browning’s apartment under surveillance when a suspect was observed exiting the apartment with two bags and talking to a female in the parking lot. Investigators believe that a marked unit was spotted in the area by the male suspect. The suspect then walked over to a dumpster and placed the two bags into it, allegedly so that he would not be in possession of the contents. The male and female got into a vehicle, left the apartment complex, and were followed by investigators. The bags in the dumpster were searched immediately after the suspects left the area. Police say they recovered three handguns, narcotics, and drug paraphernalia.

Officers conducted a felony traffic stop on the suspects in the 3000 block of Santa Elena, where narcotics were allegedly recovered upon search of the vehicle. Along with Browning, police arrested 23-year-old Latrice Danelle Whitaker of Jacksonville. Both suspects were initially charged with possession of narcotics.

TYLER — There’s more on a Tyler drug case that emerged this week. On Tuesday evening, the Tyler Police Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant on 28-year-old Christopher Browning’s apartment in the Fox Run Apartment complex. Investigators say they located a small amount of illegal narcotics in the apartment along with a key piece of evidence that led them to a hotel room in south Tyler that was rented to Browning. Upon searching the hotel room, investigators say they discovered 39 lbs. of marijuana in one pound bags, 3 lbs. of powder and crack cocaine, 75 grams of Xanax tablets, and $28,000 in cash. The street value of the illegal drugs is estimated at $250,000 to $300,000. Browning is in Smith County Jail on a $402,500 dollar bond.

Earlier Tuesday, the Tyler Narcotics Unit had Browning’s apartment under surveillance when a suspect was observed exiting the apartment with two bags and talking to a female in the parking lot. Investigators believe that a marked unit was spotted in the area by the male suspect. The suspect then walked over to a dumpster and placed the two bags into it, allegedly so that he would not be in possession of the contents. The male and female got into a vehicle, left the apartment complex, and were followed by investigators. The bags in the dumpster were searched immediately after the suspects left the area. Police say they recovered three handguns, narcotics, and drug paraphernalia.

Officers conducted a felony traffic stop on the suspects in the 3000 block of Santa Elena, where narcotics were allegedly recovered upon search of the vehicle. Along with Browning, police arrested 23-year-old Latrice Danelle Whitaker of Jacksonville. Both suspects were initially charged with possession of narcotics.

LUBBOCK — The race for Texas agriculture commissioner between two East Texans is getting nasty. Democrat Hank Gilbert of Whitehouse says incumbent Republican Todd Staples of Palestine is at fault for the death of a Lubbock toddler. Vantashia Samuels died from inhaling fumes. Her family purchased pesticides supplied by an employee who wasn’t licensed to do so. Gilbert blames Staples for lax regulations and inspection, saying, “He knew this agency was understaffed when it came to regulatory inspectors. He did nothing.” In a statement, Staples said Gilbert has stooped to an all-time low with what he calls the latest false, libelous and slanderous accusation.

TYLER — Brookshire’s Grocery Company announces the big winner of its “Thanks a Million Collect and Win” game.
Ferral Bonnette of Tyler brings home $50,000. Numerous customers participated, picking up game pieces in the checkout line.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department holds an outstanding warrant for a 2nd degree felony robbery charge on the suspect allegedly involved in Wednesday’s robbery of a Family Dollar Store. He has been identified as 36-year-old Michael Wayne West. Police are investigating the robbery shortly after noon Wednesday at the store, located at 530 S.S.E. Loop 323. Officers were advised that a man entered the business and demanded money from the clerk. He did not display a weapon. The clerk gave him an undetermined amount of money. The man ran out of the store and got into a black SUV. The SUV was occupied by two women. A Smith County deputy constable followed the SUV and saw the man and one woman get out of the SUV at the Super 1 Foods located at 1105 East Gentry. The SUV then drove to the Family Dollar store located at 1401 E. Gentry.

Officers contacted the remaining woman in the SUV and arrested her for the robbery. Officers were advised that the two other suspects were seen leaving the Super 1 Foods. Officers were able to locate the second female suspect in the area of E. Line and Anderson Street in Tyler and arrested her for the robbery. Officers are continuing to search for the man. He’s described as around 6 feet tall weighing about 180 pounds, thin build and last seen wearing blue jeans and a black hoodie. The two females arrested have been identified as Lara Michelle Trumble, 37, of Tyler, and Amber Cordell Martin, 33, of Jacksonville. The woman have been transported to the Smith County Jail.

Anyone with information about West is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department, at 903-531-1000, or Crimestoppers, at 903-597-CUFF (903-597-2833). Crimestoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to his arrest.

TYLER — VOTE YES Committee Co-Chairs Senator Kevin Eltife and former Mayor Joey Seeber say their committee’s continuing a push to inform the public about the TISD bond proposal on the November ballot, which VOTE YES supports. Eltife and Seeber say 17 informational meetings have been scheduled in the last two weeks before the election. The $89.8 million dollar package is Phase 3 of the ongoing plan to finish the work started on elementary schools and to build a new middle school relief campus for overcrowding and growth. Eltife and Seeber say the bond package can be funded with the current debt service tax rate and does not require a tax rate increase.

“We will continue right up to election day to do our best to inform the voters. We can finish the job we started on elementary schools and build a relief campus for middle school overcrowding with no increase in the tax rate. We believe the more information we can provide the taxpayers on this bond proposal the more they will like it. These public presentations allow the public to gather information on the bond proposal and to ask whatever questions they may have,” Eltife said.

Seeber added, “As we get additional requests from service groups and community organizations we will do our best to accommodate them in the short period of time we have until the election on November 2. We’re all working hard to make sure everyone gets as much information as possible before election day. Members of the TISD Administration and Board Members will make the presentations and answer questions and the Vote Yes Committee will continue to work to promote the bond proposal.” The public is also invited to join the VOTE YES Committee. For more information, you can call the campaign office at 903-360-VOTE (8683).

The citizen group Grassroots America – We the People (GAWTP) is opposing the bond issue, saying it entails too many unanswered questions. GAWTP also claims that information bond backers are supplying on tax impact is misleading. GAWTP recently requested that VOTE YES and TISD schedule a town hall meeting on the bond issue.

TYLER — A date has been set for closure of the downtown Tyler Post Office. Officials say the facility will shut its doors November 30. City officials confirmed the closure plan Thursday. It’s happening despite a petition that circulated in August, trying to keep the facility open. KETK reports the two downtown employees will be transferred to the main post office on Martin Luther King, Jr., Boulevard.

LUFKIN –A Hudson couple was arrested on methamphetamine charges after a concerned citizen reported a chemical smell in a trailer park Tuesday night. According to KETK, Hudson Police responded to Hudson Heights mobile home park Tuesday night, discovering the “chemical smell” reported to be an active “shake and bake” meth lab inside the home of Melissa Brown, 31, and Marshall Kelley, 44.

Upon arriving, Hudson Police Officer Joe Burton cleared the home of Brown, Kelley, a female house guest and the woman’s 7-year-old child. Another man was then discovered “within reach” of the meth lab in a bathroom, according to Hudson Police Chief Jeff Burns.