KTBB News, Weather, Talk

CHANDLER — A home in Chandler has been destroyed by fire. It was reported early Tuesday night in the 600 block of Hamilton Boulevard. No one was at home when the fire was reported and no injures were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

WHITEHOUSE — Votes in the Whitehouse wet/dry election will be canvassed May 21 by the city council. According to KETK, local businesses will be able to apply for permits from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission as soon as May 22. One business owner says the city’s proximity to Lake Tyler should help spur beer and wine sales. Such sales were approved for local stores this past Saturday, by a narrow margin.

GRANBURY (AP/STAFF) — Texas con man Billie Sol Estes, the colorful 1960s swindler whose case became a national sensation, has died. He was 88. County Sheriff Roger Deed says Estes was found dead in his home by a caregiver early Tuesday. Estes’ name was synonymous with Texas-sized schemes, greed and corruption. He became notorious in 1962, when he was accused of looting a federal crop subsidy program in a scam involving phony financial statements and non-existent fertilizer tanks. Several lower level agriculture officials resigned. Along the way he accused fellow Texan Lyndon B. Johnson of numerous crimes. Continue reading ’60s Texas Swindler Billie Sol Estes Dies; Was Tried in Tyler

LONGVIEW — A trial date has been set for a Kilgore man and woman being held in the Gregg County Jail on multiple charges of sexual misconduct with a child. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, court records show Jesse Dale Smith, 33, and Cassandra Stone, 32, were indicted in December. The pair are scheduled to appear before Judge David Brabham at 9 a.m. May 20, in the 188th District Court. Continue reading Sexual Misconduct Trial Date Set

LONGVIEW — Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission officials said Tuesday North and West Longview residents should have a little more than 45 days before beer and wine hit area store shelves. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Longview voters overwhelmingly granted area grocery and convenience stores permission to sell beer and wine Saturday, passing Longview’s Proposition 1 by nearly a 2-1 margin.

Roy Hale, a planner for the TABC, said after the results of the election are canvassed – which will take place at a special Longview City Council meeting Thursday – and an application for beer and wine sales is approved by city and county officials, the turn-around time for an application with the commission is about 45 days. Continue reading Beer, Wine Could Hit North, West Longview Stores in About 45 Days

UPSHUR COUNTY — A new sign outside the Union Grove schools serves as a warning to would-be disrupters: Employees in the Upshur County school district are armed and trained to “use whatever force is necessary” to protect students in the district. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. The sign went up last week as the district put into effect the policy approved in January when the Union Grove school board enacted a policy to allow select, licensed and trained teachers and administrators to possess a firearm on campus. Continue reading Warning: Union Grove Staff Armed

TYLER – When students at the University of Texas at Tyler come back to school this fall, they will see some major changes at one off-campus student housing community. Cambridge at Tyler is undergoing major improvements and will be re-branded as “Village At The U,” according to the property owner and manager. It’s largely an effort to address crime problems at the complex, which had come to be known as “Crimebridge” by many. The 588-bed student housing community is located directly across the street from campus at 3088 Old Omen Road.

The new property owner, led by Emet Capital Management, who purchased the community in December 2012 made the decision to spend more than $1 million on improvements to the community and to undertake a complete brand transformation. Continue reading Student Housing to Undergo Improvements, Rebranding

KILGORE — Kilgore Police have released the names of the people involved in a fatal wreck in early May. According to KETK, on Thursday morning, May 2nd, just after 6:00, authorities were called to a crash at the intersection of Farm Road 1252 and State Highway 42. A 2009 Ford truck had been traveling southbound on Highway 42 and a 2005 Chevy car had been heading westbound on FM 1252. They collided at the intersection. The driver of the truck was identified as Robert Hinson, 57, of White Oak. The driver of the car was identified as Felipe Tovar, 74, of Longview. There were also two passengers in the car. One of those passengers, Emelia Tovar, 73, of Longview was taken to a local hospital, where she later died. Kilgore Police are looking for witnesses to the crash. Several people were seen at the convenience store near the intersection at the time. If you have any information regarding this wreck, contact Kilgore Police Traffic Officer Carolyn Wink or Detective John Rowe at 903-983-1559.

LUFKIN — A Lufkin mother and her three children are homeless today after a fire destroyed their home. The fire in the 800 block of Cotton Street was reported just after 11:00 Monday morning. No injuries were reported, but the family’s pet dog died in the fire. The cause remains under investigation. Investigators say it appears as if the fire started on the screened in front porch.

GREGG COUNTY — The registered nurse gunned down by Longview police after an hours-long armed standoff Thursday had been using methamphetamine and assaulted her roommate earlier in the day, according to KETK. As the standoff wore on, police were attempting to arrest Candace Jackson for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon based on a complaint filed earlier Thursday by her roommate, identified as “K. Aldredge.” Jackson, 38, died of multiple gunshot wounds to her head and chest, according to a preliminary autopsy report released Friday by Justice of the Peace B.H. Jameson. Police said she was shot after emerging from a tear-gas filled house and firing toward officers. Continue reading Suspect Killed in Standoff Used Meth, Assaulted Roommate

MARSHALL — Two Longview woman have been arrested in a Harrison County murder-for hire plot. They are said to be involved in a plot to kill Hallsville police officer Jason Smith for his insurance policy. Amanda Denise Smith (pictured) and Sydney Brook Sides have been arrested on charges of solicitation to commit capital murder. The officer had filled for divorce from Amanda two months ago.

A Texas Ranger and a state trooper, acting undercover, are said to have met with the women at a Longview park last week. The meeting was arranged following a informant’s tip. He said he was offered $5,000 to kill Smith’s estranged husband. The woman are said to have told the potential hit man that Jason Smith must be killed before May 14th, when the divorce became final. After that date Amanda Smith would no longer be the beneficiary on his life insurance policy.

The two women remain in the Harrison County Jail. Bond on each is $200,000.

TROUP — A one vehicle accident near Troup has killed a Cherokee County teenager. Killed in the wreck, just before 10:30 Sunday night, was Marcos Antonio Lopez, 19, of Jacksonville. The Department of Public Safety reports his car was southbound when he ran off the road and overcorrected, and then hit several trees. The accident occurred on County Road 2177 near County Road 2180.

JACKSONVILLE — According to KETK, due to conditions which have occurred recently in the water system, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the system, (Craft-Turney Water Supply) to notify all the customers involved in the repair area to boil their water prior to consumption.

The area included in this boil water notice:

Not including but from CR 3135 (Dogwood Circle) off of CR 3108 (Southshore Drive) going back towards the Lake Jacksonville dam on CR 3108 to CR 3111 (Anticoh Road), including all of CR 3111 and all of CR 3113 (Summit Drive), and including the area on fm 747 south from the intersection of 3111 down to 3205.

To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to consumption. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes. In lieu of boiling, you may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source. When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, water system officials will notify you.

CENTRAL (AP) – An East Texas teenager’s prom has led to an unexpected evening with the sailor she plans to marry this fall. Savannah Anthony of Central thought 20-year-old Connor Burleson was out of state during her school prom Saturday night in Nacogdoches. The couple met four years ago at church. Burleson joined the Navy in 2011 and is training in Ballston Spa, N.Y. Anthony and Burleson hadn’t seen each other since January when he proposed. Family and friends arranged for Burleson to surprise Anthony at the dance, where the 17-year-old senior was named prom queen. Anthony said Monday that she had no idea her fiance would be at the prom and he made the whole night amazing. The two plan to marry Nov. 30.

LUFKIN — A Lufkin man is arrested after being found screaming in the roadway, according to police. KETK reports that Sunday morning at 12:30, police were called to the 900 block of Williams Street for a disturbance. The man they found is identified as Josiah Phipps, 35. Phipps was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and public intoxication. He was taken to the Angelina County Jail, and his bond was set at $1,000.

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

LONGVIEW – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform fog seal operations in various locations on Spur 502 (Judson Road) between U.S. Highway 259 north of Longview and Spring Hill Road, just north of Loop 281. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers and pilot vehicles will control traffic in two-lane areas. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid the long delays associated with fog seal work.

HENDERSON – Texas Department of Transportation contract crews this week are scheduled to resume mill-and-inlay operations on the Henderson Square, which halted unexpectedly last week because of equipment failure and inclement weather. Crews will continue removing the old pavement in the work area and replacing it with fresh hot mix, after which, weather-permitting, they will stripe the area before activating the new traffic signals. In addition to providing a brand-new driving surface, the pavement-repair work obliterates the old roadway striping that would not have been compatible with the new signals.

Also this week in Rusk County, TxDOT maintenance crews are scheduled to continue resurfacing operations on Farm Road 782 between Farm Road 1716 in Oak Hill and State Highway 149 near the Gregg County Line. Elsewhere, TxDOT maintenance crews are scheduled to continue edge work on U.S. Highway 259 between the south end of the Kilgore Bypass and Farm Road 850. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zones.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation contract crews this week are scheduled to resume mill-and-inlay operations on State Highway 19 in Canton between Interstate Highway 20 and State Highway 64. The work should last most of the week, weather permitting. Once that work is complete, the crew is scheduled to move to perform the same work at the IH 20/SH 64 interchange west of Canton.

Elsewhere in Van Zandt County, TxDOT maintenance crews this week are scheduled to conclude mill-and-inlay operations on U.S. Highway 80 in and around Grand Saline by Wednesday. A second crew is scheduled to begin deep-base repair work on Farm Road 1651 between Farm Road 47 and State Highway 198 southwest of Canton. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

NEW SUMMERFIELD – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue base and pavement repairs in various locations on State Highway 110 north of New Summerfield. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

ANDERSON COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue resurfacing operations on Farm Road 1137, between U.S. Highway 84 east of Palestine and the end of state maintenance. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

SMITH COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to conclude resurfacing operations on Farm Road 2661 west of Tyler, between the railroad crossing south of State Highway 31 and Big Eddy Road. A second crew is scheduled to perform spot-resurfacing operations on Farm Road 2710 east of Lindale between Farm Road 16 and Farm Road 14. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

WOOD COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to make pavement and edge repairs in various locations on Farm Road 2966 in Yantis. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

HENDERSON COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews on Wednesday this week are scheduled to conclude pavement-repair operations on U.S. Highway 175 between SE Loop 7 in Athens and Farm Road 804. The work is being done in preparation for a seal coat application later this summer. Once the work is complete on US 175, crews are scheduled to move to Farm Road 1667 south of Trinidad. A second crew is scheduled to perform ditch maintenance at the intersections of State Highway 31 and Farm Road 3204 east of Brownsboro. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

PARIS (AP) — Ninety-year-old Texas Congressman Ralph Hall, whose district use to cover Smith County, says he’s planning to run for another term next year, extending his tenure as the House’s oldest member. The Rockwall Republican first was elected in 1980, as a Democrat. He switched to the GOP in 2004. The Paris News reported Hall made his announcement official last week, a few days after his birthday on May 3.

Hall tells The Dallas Morning News he still runs two miles almost daily and is surprised by his good health, doesn’t understand it but likes it. He says a decline in his health would make him consider retirement.He says job creation and federal deficit reduction are his top priorities.

LONGVIEW – This week, Dundee Road will be under street overlay construction from Gilmer Road (State Highway 300) to Pine Tree Road (Farm Road 1845). Traffic will be delayed and detoured during the overlay work. Street work will continue on Dundee through the week. Drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes.

PALESTINE — An Anderson County jury deliberated around half an hour before finding Noble Lee Barrett Jr. guilty of the murder of his wife. The panel deliberated less than 10 minutes on Friday before sentencing the 54 year old Montalba man to 99 years in prison and fined him $10,000. He had been charged with killing his wife of less than a year at their home in December, 2011.

GILMER — Upshur County Commissioners have scheduled an emergency meeting Monday morning to tackle a possible budget deficit. County Judge Dean Fowler told the Longview News-Journal he was told by the county auditor that, on its current course, at the end of the county’s fiscal year there will be a budget deficit of $995,000. Fowler says he will propose Monday to cut about $250,000 throughout all departments and about $800,000 from the Road and Bridge Department for the remainder of the fiscal year.

AUSTIN — House Bill 1382 by Representative David Simpson of Longview passed third reading in the Texas House with unanimous support. Dubbed the “Farmers’ Market Sampling Bill,” it is part of a series of bills by members of the Texas House Farm-to-Table Caucus supporting local foods.

Currently, regulations for sampling at farmers’ markets across the state lack consistency and vary in complexity. Regulations meant for commercial establishments are enforced on and pose unnecessary hurdles for farmers and producers at farmers’ markets.

“Today the House took a positive step toward a more common sense approach to farmers’ markets that increases freedom for our citizens and small businesses,” said Representative Simpson. “By lifting unnecessary burdens off the backs of our farmers, I am hopeful that this bill will encourage a robust local foods movement and increase access to healthy food sources.”

HB 1382 simplifies and standardizes these procedures, making them practical in an outdoor venue. This bill provides consistency and simplicity to cooking demonstrations at farmers’ markets and eliminates some fees to encourage participation from both the producer and consumer.

AUSTIN (AP) — A legally blind 15-year-old pole vaulter cleared three heights at the Texas state championship but failed to win a medal.

Charlotte Brown of rural Emory Rains High School was one of the top qualifiers in girls’ Class 3A with a height of 11 feet, 6 inches. Her best vault of Saturday’s final was 10-6 and she missed on three chances at 11-0.

Brown was born with normal vision but developed problems while an infant. She has no depth perception, sees no color and cannot distinguish shapes. Her range of vision is similar to looking through a tiny straw. She reads Braille and will get a seeing eye dog next month.

Brown, a sophomore, says she’s honored to compete at the state meet and promises to return.

TROUP — A Tyler woman has been airlifted to Tyler’s East Texas Medical Center after a train and her car collided in Troup. Injured was Cynthia Strandberg, 36. She is listed in critical condition. The Friday afternoon accident happened on North Georgia Street and Colle Street. It appears as if her car drove around the crossing arms before being it. The train pushed the car about a half a mile down the tracks.

JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville ISD administrators at West Side Elementary enacted a shelter in place Friday morning when gunshots were reportedly heard somewhere in the surrounding vicinity of the school. KETK reports JISD administrators contacted authorities who responded and are currently investigating the origin of the disturbance. No JISD students were in any danger, but administrators enacted the shelter in place as a precautionary measure until authorities were on the scene, according to school officials. By late morning, the shelter in place had been removed, and students at West Side Elementary were back on their normal schedule.

According to JISD officials, “The safety of our students and staff is our primary concern at JISD, and we appreciate the cooperation and quick response of our school staff and city police departments in investigating this matter.”

EAST TEXAS — A number of items have been decided as East Texans headed to the polls Saturday. The most prominent in Smith County, a bond election in Tyler ISD, which voters have approved. The final unofficial tally shows For: 5,459 Against: 3,250. Following passage of the bond proposal, school superintendent Gary Mooring issued the following statement:

“On behalf of the Tyler Independent School District and the Board of Trustees, I want to thank the community for supporting the $160.5 million bond election. Because of you, thousands of children in the District will soon receive their education in safe schools that are designed to support 21st century learning.”

Over the next two years, Tyler ISD will build a state-of-the-art Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center that will serve students from both John Tyler and Robert E. Lee high schools; a new middle school in the southwest quadrant of Tyler; a new middle school at the current Boulter Middle School site; a new middle school at the current Moore MST Magnet School site; and remodel and additions to Rice and Dixie elementary schools. These facilities are all scheduled to be complete by August 2015.,

With input from the community, the Tyler ISD Board of Trustees carefully designed a bond package that would fulfill a commitment to finish renovations at our elementary campuses and begin addressing our secondary campuses. The six projects included in the bond will help us move forward with the District’s Long Range Plan.,

By the year 2020 we expect to have an additional 2,500 students, bringing our total student population to more than 20,000. At this point, the areas of the Long Range Plan that have not been addressed are John Tyler and Robert E. Lee high schools, as well as transitioning to a 5th-6th intermediate school and 7th-8th middle school configuration.

JoAnn Fleming represents Grassroots America – We the People and the “No More Excuses, Tyler ISD!” Coalition, two groups that opposed the bond. Fleming told KTBB, “Even though the bond election passed, our message has not changed. When Tyler ISD is compared to all Texas public schools, 80% cent of our Tyler campuses fall in the lower half of academic results. Every day our community turns a blind eye to these poor academic results for our Tyler schools is a day that the future for these kids grows dimmer. Our message will not change. We’re going to continue to insist that our school board and our administration work harder and come up with a better plan to produce higher academic results for all of our Tyler schools.”

Elsewhere in the county, the only proposition on the Whitehouse ballot would allow beer and wine to be sold in grocery and convenience stores. That measure has passed. For: 503 Against 478.

Longview voters have approved a proposition that pertains to legal sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption. Voters approved grocery and convenience stores in the historically dry areas of west and north Longview being able to sell beer and wine, but not hard liquor. That, and the other propositions on the ballot passed.
Off Premise beer/wine sales For: 2,018 Against 1,180
Proposition 2-Shall the City Charter be amended so that it requires a one hundred dollar ($100) filing fee or a petition for candidacy in lieu of a filing fee? For: 2,325 Against: 701
Proposition 3-Shall the City Charter be amended to provide for a twelve (12) month residency requirement of the Mayor and members of the City Council? For: 2,914 Against: 189.

TYLER – Thanks to what’s termed quick collaboration between The Smith County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation and Patrol Divisions, a suspect is in custody related to the theft of truck parts, forklift accessories, and other metal items. The materials, said to be worth several hundred dollars, were taken on April 27. Craig Andrew Hawkins, 30, was arrested on May 8 and charged with the theft at Transport Services, located at 2887 Highway 271.

Detective Ron Rathbun investigated the theft on April 29 and obtained surveillance video from the location. The video captured two unknown white males and a vehicle. Photos of the vehicle were distributed to the SCSO Patrol Division. During the early morning hours of May 3, the vehicle was located at a mobile home park on Highway 64 West by Deputy Justin Redding. Redding contacted Detective Rathbun, who, with another detective from the Sheriff’s Office, later made contact and spoke to the vehicle owner, Hawkins, a former employee of Transport Services. According to officials, Hawkins admitted that he was one of the individuals who took the items and sold them for scrap. He was arrested and booked in to the Smith County Jail. An arrest warrant is pending for the other suspect.

GLADEWATER — Gladewater police have arrested a Kilgore man for online solicitation of a minor. Arrested was Shawn Christian Glidden, 40. Police say a parent contacted them about a man who they knew from church. It was said that he had tried to contact their daughter by way of Facebook with with some inappropriate comments and requests. A detective, playing the role of a 13 year old girl, took the man’s phone call and agreed to meet the man in a restaurant parking lot for sexual intercourse. When the suspect arrived at the restaurant, he was taken into custody. Gliden’s bond has been set at $75,000.

UNION GROVE — A home being used by the Union Grove School District has been destroyed by fire. The building was being used as the district’s Information Technology Department. No injuries were reported in the fire that was reported around 7:00 Thursday night. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. School officials say it may he been started by lightning from some of the storms in the area.

EAST TEXAS — It spring graduation time at colleges and universities in east Texas. Tyler Junior College will hold commencement ceremonies at 10:00am, 2:00pm and 6:00pm today in Wagstaff Gymnasium, recognizing 909 candidates for graduation for the Spring 2013 semester. Graduates in the TJC School of Nursing and Health Sciences will be recognized at 10:00; the TJC School of Engineering, Math and Science and the TJC School of Humanities, Communications and Fine Arts will be recognized in the 2:00 o’clock ceremony; and the 6:00pm ceremony will recognize graduates in the TJC School of Professional and Technical Programs.

Kilgore College will host two spring graduation ceremonies today with the possibility of awarding 580 degrees and certificates. The two graduation ceremonies are set for 5:30 and 8:00pm in Dodson Auditorium on the Kilgore campus. The 5:30pm ceremony will include students receiving Associate of Applied Science and Certificates of Completion. At 8:00pm, Associate of Arts, Associate of Arts in Teaching and Associate of Science degrees will be awarded.

LONGVIEW — Officials say an hours-long standoff at a Longview home ended late Thursday afternoon after the person inside the home, Candace Jackson, 38, was shot and killed. That happened after police deployed tear gas. At that time Jackson exited the house with a weapon and fired several more rounds in the direction of the police. The officers returned the fire. Jackson was rushed to Good Shepherd Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead.

The house where the standoff took place is on the 2000 block of Eden. The incident started out as a welfare check that was being handled by a Longview Police sergeant. The call came in at 1:18 Thursday afternoon. Police did not believe that there were any hostages inside the house. However, there were an unknown amount of weapons inside. According to officials, the woman was in her house with multiple weapons. The Longview News-Journal said officers were fired upon from the home.

Police evacuated people in the surrounding neighborhood of the standoff. There were dozens of Police officers and SWAT on scene. During the ordeal, some residents who could not get to their homes due to the standoff situation were waiting at a nearby convenience store. Longview ISD officials said some bus routes were affected. KETK reports those impacted were the students coming from JL Everhart Elementary and Forest Park Middle School. The buses already running returned to campus. Parents were notified by the school district’s mass contact call system, and they told they could pick up their children at the schools. Additionally, streets in the area were blocked off while the situation continued. The case remains under investigation by the Texas Rangers.