KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — On September 4-5, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by the United States Marshals Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force (JETF), arrested eighteen Smith County registered sex offenders for various violations. Those include failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements. According to a news release from the sheriff’s office, sex offenders were identified as failing to comply with their registration requirements during the Summer Home Compliance Operation executed by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and the JETF on June 12th and 13th.

Operation Summer Home Pick Up was initiated to locate and arrest the 22 sex offenders who were previously identified. Eighteen offenders were taken into custody, one additional offender was located in Bexar County jail in San Antonio, and active investigations are currently being conducted on the remaining three individuals, according to officials.

There are approximately 320 registered sex offenders living in Smith County. Periodic compliance operations are conducted to ensure the safety of the community and that sex offenders are fully complying with all sex offender registration requirements, according to the news release. During these compliance operations law enforcement officers make contact with each offender to make sure all information that has been reported by the offender is accurate and up to date, officials say. If any violations of the sex offender registration requirements are found, a warrant will be issued for those offenders, according to authorities.

Sheriff Larry Smith says he is committed to utilizing whatever resources are needed to ensure that the sex offender registrants are in compliance. Sheriff Smith also expressed his appreciation for the assistance of the United States Marshals Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force and its participating local and state agencies.

The United States Marshals Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force is made up of members from Gladewater Police Department, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, Longview Police Department, Palestine City Marshal’s Office, Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, Smith County Constable Precinct 4 Office, Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Office of Inspector General, Tyler Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service.

HARRISON COUNTY — A Louisiana man was pronounced dead Monday morning following a head-on crash in Harrison County. According to KETK, Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Megan Pinson says the accident took place around 5 a.m. on FM 9 North. The judge stated an SUV was headed north in the southbound lane when it collided with a truck. The SUV caught fire, but the driver was able to be rescued and flown to a Shreveport hospital. He was identified as Damon Reeves, 38, of Waskom. His current condition is unknown. The driver of the pickup was identified as Kelly Pace, 49, of Bethany, Louisiana. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:13 a.m. by Judge Pinson. The body has been sent to Tyler for autopsy. The DPS also responded to the crash.

TYLER — UT Health Northeast hosted an open house Monday for its new Senior Behavioral Health inpatient unit. “Our region of Texas has a severe shortage of available inpatient facilities and care providers for mental and cognitive illnesses,” said Dr. Kirk Calhoun, president of UT Health Northeast. As the only university medical center in our region, we felt it was our responsibility to step up and help to alleviate some of the pressure on local providers and emergency rooms to find resources for those with acute behavioral health needs.” Continue reading UT Health Northeast Celebrates New Senior Behavioral Health Inpatient Unit

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Sheriff’s Deputies are investigating a report of shots fired. It happened Sunday evening around 5:30 in the 3700 block of Hwy 271, in the northeastern part of Smith County. According to authorities, a woman and her husband reportedly repossessed a vehicle in northeast Tyler and were followed back to their residence by a group of people. At that time, the husband retrieved a handgun from inside the couple’s home. The man allegedly told the group of people to leave the premises and fired warning shots into the ground. No injuries were reported. So far, no arrests have been made.

FRUITVALE – A lengthy standoff with law officers in Van Zandt County had a safe and successful conclusion when a man wanted for kidnapping surrendered to authorities. Taken into custody was Robert L Walker, 37, of Fruitvale. The incident occurred early Saturday morning at 406 Van Zandt County Road 1919, just east of Fruitvale. Continue reading East Texas Man Charged with Kidnapping after Standoff

TYLER — Drivers who use Toll 49 should plan for delays during the weeks of September 8 and September 15th. The west side of the toll road just north of the intersection of State Highway 64 through the intersection with I-20 will experience lane closures while preventive maintenance is performed. There will be one lane open at all times and work will be performed on the road during the day during non-peak hours. Similarly, delays will also be experienced on the toll road at the intersection of Old Jacksonville road while the toll collection equipment east of the intersection is being upgraded. The West bound exit and East bound Entrance will be closed September 8th through Monday, September 15th. Please allow extra time and make adjustments to your travel plans accordingly. Message boards are in place at both locations to alert drivers of the delays.

UNDATED – Here’s a quick look at work planned in the Tyler District during the Week of September 8.

CHEROKEE COUNTY –Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) maintenance crews are continuing the overlay and widening project on Farm Road 747 north of U.S. 79 west of Jacksonville. Motorists can expect the roadway to remain at one lane and are reminded to watch for flaggers and other traffic control devices when traveling through the work zone. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates

TYLER — As of today, The Discovery Science Place is closed for a brief renovation period to update current exhibits and refresh the museum, Dr. Michael Odell, vice president for research and technology transfer at The University of Texas at Tyler, announced. Odell says the museum staff is excited to bring in the new interactive Orion spacecraft exhibit, which will allow children of all ages to explore first-hand the inner workings of the spacecraft. The Discovery Science Place will re-open Saturday, September 27 from 10:00am to 7:00pm and partake in the Smithsonian magazine’s 10th annual Museum Day Live! event. This nationwide event offers free admission to visitors presenting a Museum DayLive! ticket at a participating museum or cultural institution. Continue reading Discovery Science Place Temporarily Closing for Renovations

EAST TEXAS – Heavy thunderstorms rumbled through the area last night, bringing heavy rain, gusty winds and vivid lightning displays. It also brought power outages. Power is expected to be restored today to the impacted areas. Oncor reported power outages around Tyler, Lindale and Whitehouse. SWEPCO also reported power outages around Rusk County.

PALESTINE – Two suspects are being sought in connection with a home invasion in Palestine in which an elderly man was injured. The 86 year old victim said the incident began around 3:00 Friday morning at his home in the 200 block of Joe Louis. He said two men, both with hand guns, forced their way in through a rear door and demanded money. They hit the man numerous times with their guns. After taking the man’s wallet and some change, the two fled. They were described as black males about 5’5” and 5’8” and with medium builds. Both were wearing gloves and ski masks. The victim was treated and released at a Palestine hospital.

TYLER — Information has been brought to the attention of the Smith County Sheriff’s Office management staff that documents required to be kept in the normal course of jail operations were being falsified. An employee who had been employed in the jail for only a few months brought the incident to the attention of supervisors once other detention officers attempted to add his name to the form and he did not participate in the required jail check. As a result of the criminal and administrative investigation, one Detention Sergeant and three Detention Officers have resigned. Also, one Detention Sergeant and two Detention Officers have been placed on administrative leave. Sheriff Smith stated that additional administrative actions are expected over the next two weeks, however he is awaiting recommendations from his Jail Administrator and Chief Deputy. Continue reading Smith County Detention Officers Disciplined Over False Records

TYLER — Texas Senator John Cornyn was on the UT Tyler campus Friday meeting with local leaders to discuss and to learn more about the university’s initiatives in the area of primary education, particularly as it pertains to science, technology, engineering and math. Sen. Cornyn made a statement to members of the local media regarding the importance of those initiatives, saying that education must be pursued in such a way as to avoid the danger of having acquired skills become obsolete. A portion of his remarks may be seen in the video below.

During the event, KTBB’s Paul Gleiser asked Sen. Cornyn to address the U.S. response to the terrorist organization ISIS. His response is in the video below.

TYLER — On Thursday, September 11, the City of Tyler Traffic Department will be intermittently closing lanes on the Southwest Loop from Spur 364 to Donnybrook Avenue to perform necessary maintenance on traffic signal poles. That’s according to a city news release. Work will begin at 9:00am and is expected to be finished at 3:00pm. Drivers are asked to seek alternate routes, if possible. According to the release, “The Traffic Department is committed to upholding the safest environment possible for all motorists while maintaining the city’s traffic equipment to the highest standard with minimal impacts to traffic flow.” For any questions or comments, go to http://www.cityoftyler.org/Departments/TrafficEngineering or call the City of Tyler Traffic Department at 903-531-1201.

WHITEHOUSE An RV has been destroyed on Highway 110 South in Smith County after an unknown source sparked a fire inside the vehicle. According to KETK, around 11:30 Friday morning, a Whitehouse volunteer firefighter spotted smoke in the air and began to search for the cause. After a short time, he found an RV burning in the 15000 block of Highway 110 near Toll 49. He quickly called for backup and notified the owners. Continue reading RV Goes Up in Flames in Southern Smith County

TYLER — The Children’s Park of Tyler, at 110 East Dobbs, broke ground Friday on its Phase II Expansion. Local community leaders, including Mayor Martin Heines and past Mayor Barbara Bass, were on hand to help celebrate, along with several Major Donor families. Continue reading Ground Broken on Phase II of Children’s Park

ATHENS — An Athens teenager has been indicted for the murder of a 23-year-old man killed during an apparent robbery. According to KETK, the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office says Raheem Mark Miller, 19, was indicted by a grand jury for capital murder on Thursday. He is accused of shooting and killing Cedrick Collins on June 8. The suspect was arrested nine days after the incident. Police said they found the Malakoff man lying beside his vehicle in the 700 block of Robbins Road in Athens with a gunshot wound. Miller was taken to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his wounds. Investigators say they determined the victim was shot during a robbery. The suspect is being held on $2 million bond.

ATHENS — An Athens woman has been indicted for the murder of her young daughter in Henderson County. According to KETK, the Henderson County District’s Office says Stacie Marie Parsons, 25, was charged with one count of capital murder and three counts of attempted capital murder. An autopsy showed she allegedly killed her 4-year-old by “blunt force injuries of the head, stab wound of the chest and drowning” on July 22. According to authorities, she later admitted to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office that she committed the gruesome crime. Officials said the murder took place at a bridge on County Road 1500. Parsons is being held on $2 million bond.

TYLER — As an ongoing effort to improve customer service, Tyler Water Utilities will be conducting computer software upgrades this weekend, according to a city news release. Note that these upgrades will affect online and telephone payment options. Continue reading Tyler Water Utilities to Upgrade Software

TYLER — The Tyler Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire at a Texas College dormitory Thursday night at 9:00. The dormitory, located at 2404 North Grand Avenue, was evacuated. Initial calls indicated that the fire was on the 3rd floor of the building, with smoke inside the structure. Investigators believe that the fire started as a result of clothing placed on top of a room lamp. There was very little smoke or fire damage and no injuries were reported.

RUSK — Investigators are still working to determine the identity of a decomposed body found in Cherokee County after a preliminary autopsy failed to yield any answers. According to Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Captain John Raffield, the apparent female sent to Tyler for autopsy could not be identified. He also stated the cause of death was not determined. According to KETK, Raffield said the body will now be moved to the University of North Texas anthropology department for forensic testing. Officials will attempt to link the body to a missing Angelina County woman, 33-year-old Sheila Ann Morton. She was last seen in Huntington on June 2. Continue reading Autopsy: No ID or Cause of Death Returned on Cherokee Co. Body

TYLER — Tyler Police are continuing to search for a second suspect wanted in an auto burglary and shooting. Just before 6:30 Thursday morning, the Tyler Police Department received a call of an auto burglary in the 3200 block of Curtis. According to police, the caller indicated that they had observed two people in the neighborhood in a blue Cadillac. The passenger in the Cadillac got out of the vehicle and walked up to a pickup truck. The witness observed the Cadillac driving away. The passenger of the Cadillac broke out a window on the truck. As he was doing so, witnesses went to the pickup to contact the suspect. The suspect ran from the scene, and the witnesses followed. Continue reading Suspect Still Sought Following Auto Burglary and Shooting

MARSHALL — The Marshall Police Department has established an Internal Affairs Section. KETK reports the Internal Affairs Section is designed to be a fact finding entity and its purpose is three-fold: Protection of the Public, Protection of the Department, and Protection of the Employee. Continue reading Marshall PD Establishes Internal Affairs Section

GUN BARREL CITY — A Dallas woman was taken into custody for allegedly possessing methamphetamine in Henderson County. According to KETK, deputies stopped a vehicle around 6:22 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Oak Harbor Drive and Welch Lane in Gun Barrel City. The vehicle matched the description of one seen driving away from the scene of a disturbance at Wedgewood Loop in the Oak Harbor subdivision. The driver was identified as Joyce Patricia Williams, 55. Her vehicle was searched and a baggie of meth was found inside, according to officials. The suspect was arrested and booked into the Henderson County Jail for possession of a controlled substance.

TYLER — A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit between an East Texas man and Famous Chicken of Shreveport, L.L.C., after the man accused a Longview Popeye’s of employment discrimination due to his having HIV. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report an agreement between the parties was reached Tuesday in federal court. The agreement requires Famous Chicken, the parent company of the Longview Popeye’s Chicken & Biscuits, to pay $25,000 to Noah Crawford. The company was also ordered to train its management in federal anti-discrimination laws with additional hours of school for its human resources director. Crawford said he was denied employment because he has the virus that causes AIDS. The suit was filed last September 13 in Tyler federal court.

KILGORE — The Kilgore Police Department is continuing to seek the whereabouts of an accused child predator. Police tell KETK Lewis Lavon Jones, 51, of Kilgore, is wanted for aggravated child sexual assault and indecent exposure. He reportedly ran from police in Rusk County and was able to escape capture. Jones is known to drive a 1992 tan Ford pick-up truck with Texas license plate number BNK-4913. If you know of this suspect’s whereabouts, contact the Kilgore Police Department at (903) 983-1559. If he is spotted in Rusk County, call the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office at (903) 657-3581. You can also contact Rusk County Crime Stoppers at (903) 655-8477, and you may be eligible for a reward for information leading to an arrest of Jones.

SMITH COUNTY — One person was injured and cited after an early Thursday morning wreck south of Tyler. Just before 6:45, an 18-wheeler and passenger vehicle collided at Highway 69 and County Road 152 near Bullard. According to KETK, the driver of a passenger car fell asleep at the wheel. As the 18-wheeler was driving northbound on Highway 69, the car struck the semi. The driver of the car was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injures and was cited for causing the wreck.

MARSHALL — After being determined competent in July to stand trial, Christopher Lynn Hamilton, the suspect accused of attacking two Marshall Wal-Mart associates and a customer with a hatchet, has now been declared legally insane. That’s according to KETK and the Marshall News-Messenger. Hamilton, a 28-year-old Arkansas transient, was arrested last December and charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Continue reading Hatchet Slinging Suspect Declared Insane

WELLS — According to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, a decomposed body has been found near Wells, in the southern part of the county. KETK reports that around 10:45 Wednesday morning, the body was found by a TxDOT contracted mowing crew off Highway 69 near County Road 2620. The body, which was found in a median, is believed to be a female. The approximate age and race are unknown at this time. The median was last mowed in June. Law enforcement said an Angelina County investigator was en route to the scene. Authorities are currently looking for a missing female in the area. Officials at the scene said the body would be sent to Tyler for autopsy.

ATHENS — Deputies arrested two Henderson County men Tuesday evening in connection with a home burglary. According to KETK, at 7 p.m., The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office stated it received a 911 call from a resident on FM 3273 in the Cross Roads area. The caller told dispatchers there were two men breaking into a home. A Malakoff police officer, along with a deputy, found and pulled over a suspect vehicle on Railroad Street in Malakoff. Authorities say they determined the two men were responsible for the burglary in Cross Roads. The suspects were still in possession of all the stolen items, according to the Sheriff’s Office. John Wesley Dodd of Cross Roads and Jamie Lee Phillips of Athens were arrested and booked into the Henderson County Jail for burglary of a habitation. Both men remain in the Henderson County Jail on $50,000 bond.

AUSTIN (Staff/AP) — A veteran Lindale firefighter seriously injured during a January house fire received a prestigious Star of Texas Award Wednesday morning from Governor Rick Perry. KETK reports Joe Yeakley was battling the blaze when part of the roof collapsed on him. Yeakley was among dozens of police officers, firefighters, and first responders honored with the awards, distributed during a ceremony at the Texas Capitol. All recipients were killed or severely hurt in the line of duty. The award was created to honor police and other emergency personnel who exhibited extraordinary service to the state. Some 363 awards have been distributed since it was first distributed in 2004.