KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – A Tyler man will be going to prison for federal firearms violations. Martrice Smith, 38, pleaded guilty last October to being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider.

Federal prosecutors say Smith admitted that on October 20, 2010, he was in possession of a shotgun. Further investigation revealed Smith was a convicted felon, having previously been found guilty of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas in 2005; possession of a controlled substance in Smith County in 2005; possession of a controlled substance in Smith County in 2004; and burglary of a vehicle in Smith County in 1997. As a convicted felon, Smith is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. Smith was indicted by a federal grand jury last September.

WINFIELD (AP) – Authorities say a man has been fatally shot by a northeast Texas police officer during a traffic stop. Police in the small town of Winfield say the shooting happened Wednesday after police stopped a vehicle for erratic driving and speeding on Interstate 30. KLTV-TV reports police say the officer handcuffed the suspects inside the police unit before he was to search the vehicle. During the search, one suspect retrieved a weapon and fired at the officer, who returned fire. Police say 23-year-old Brian Michael Fuller from the state of New York was pronounced dead at the scene. The Mount Pleasant Daily Tribune reports the other suspect was a 17-year-old arrested on charges including theft of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance. Texas Rangers are helping investigate.

TYLER – A Mt. Pleasant man has been sentenced in Tyler federal court to prison for drug trafficking crimes. Ernesto Valles Moreno, 42, pleaded guilty last April to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced yesterday to 150 months in federal prison by U.S. District judge Michael H. Schneider.

Co-defendant Hector Nieto, 40, pleaded guilty on November 2, 2010, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison on August 31, 2011. Nieto was also ordered to forfeit ownership of commercial property in Mt. Pleasant, Texas valued at $93,000.00, a 2005 GMC, K3500 pickup truck, and $21,473.47 in US Currency.

According to federal prosecutors, in July 2009, Nieto and Moreno knowingly delivered approximately three kilograms of cocaine to others with instructions to transport the cocaine to Chicago, Illinois for sale and distribution. They were indicted by a federal grand jury on July 14, 2010 and charged with federal drug trafficking crimes.

CANTON — Authorities are continuing their investigation of a fatal shooting that reportedly occurred during a cockfight in Van Zandt County. Sunday morning around 3:30, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office responded to East Texas Medical Center in Athens in reference to a 21-year-old man who was brought in with a fatal gunshot wound. Henderson County contacted the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office when they learned the offense occurred at a residence off Farm Road 1861. Van Zandt County responded to the residence, where investigators were told that the victim, Luis Rodriguez of Athens, was at the residence during an illegal chicken fight when an argument occurred and the victim was fatally injured. Rodriguez was driven from the scene and taken to ETMC/Athens, where he was pronounced dead.

Authorities say numerous roosters along with fighting paraphernalia were seized at the location with the assistance of the S.P.C.A. of Texas. The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Rangers and the Van Zandt County District Attorney’s Office continue to investigate the incident.

HENDERSON — Rusk County officials are asking for the public’s help in finding a missing Mt. Enterprise man. According to KETK, the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office says 58-year old James “Jimmy” Tidwell is missing. Tidwell is described as 5’3″ and about 170 pounds.

On Tuesday morning around 11:30 officials received a call from Tidwell’s employer requesting a welfare check when he did not report to work. Tidwell’s employer says he was last seen at work Wednesday, February 15. On Wednesday, investigators found Tidwell’s abandoned truck on FM 95 and Hwy 315, approximately 5 miles from his house. As the investigation continues, anyone with information on Mr. Tidwell’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Robert Stinehour at (903) 657-3581 or call Rusk County Crime Stoppers at (903) 655-TIPS (8477).

TYLER — A Tyler Jack in the Box restaurant closes temporarily after a woman crashes her car into it. Authorities tell KETK the wreck occurred on Northwest Loop 323 Thursday afternoon. Officials say the incident is under investigation. No one was hurt during the accident.

TYLER – A Tyler man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for federal drug and firearms violations in Eastern Texas. Gary Anderson, 30, pleaded guilty last October to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. He was sentenced in Tyler yesterday by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider. Anderson was also ordered to forfeit $50,000 in cash.

According to information presented in court, on March 9, 2011, Anderson possessed more than 15 kilograms of cocaine, which he distributed in the Smith County area. He also admitted to possessing two pistols while in possession of the drugs. Anderson admitted to purchasing from 2 to 4 kilograms of cocaine per week from a source in Houston, paying approximately $24,000 per kilo and was in possession of over $50,000 in cash at the time of his arrest. Law enforcement officers seized ½ kilogram of crack cocaine, marijuana, cocaine powder, cash, body armor and firearms at Anderson’s residence. Anderson had the highest criminal history points possible under the federal sentencing guidelines. Anderson was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 13, 2011, along with four co-defendants.

LUFKIN — A former Lufkin veterinary clinic bookkeeper was sentenced on Wednesday to 13 years in prison and ordered to pay restitution for stealing more than $350,000 from the business. According to KETK, Melissa “Missy” Suzanne McCleskey, 33, stood before state District Judge Barry Bryan for the hearing after pleading guilty in December to a first-degree felony theft charge without recommended punishment.

McCleskey turned herself in last December after admitting to stealing the money from East Texas Veterinary Clinic Incorporated. According to an arrest report, McCleskey kept the books for both Lufkin locations of East Texas Veterinary Clinic, Inc., which included the East Texas Veterinary Clinic on U.S. Highway 69 south and Lone Star Veterinary Clinic on Brentwood Drive.

PITTSBURG — Pilgrim’s Pride, along with corporate real estate company Binswanger, is in negotiations with Region VIII Education Service Center to sell the former Pilgrim’s world headquarters site on U.S. 271 North, with an undisclosed amount on the table.
“I cannot disclose that, by law, but we have had offers,” said Kip Collins, an agent with Binswanger who is handling the property.

According to KETK, the building, which is still involved in a lawsuit over property taxes with the Camp Central Appraisal District, has had a handful of offers in the past 12-month period, Collins said, and is listed for $11.9 million. Pilgrim’s has been selling off large tracts of property since the bankruptcy in 2008, including a large sale of 2,875 acres to the Titus County Fresh Water Supply District, a non-taxable entity, with more than 1,900 acres of that being in Camp County, which removes them from the tax roll.

TYLER — A salon owner accused of illegally injecting women with an unknown substance was in a Tyler courtroom yesterday morning. Carmel Foster, 38, the owner of Queen Diva’s Hair Salon and Spa, in Tyler, has been arraigned in Smith County on two charges of practicing medicine without a license.

The FDA is still working to confirm what substance was used in the injections as part of a breast augmentation. Those findings are expected later this week. Foster remains in the Smith County Jail on $200,000 bond.

According to KETK, one of the victims is still in a Longview hospital in critical condition.

SMITH COUNTY — A driver who flipped his vehicle while searching for his cell phone Thursday morning was not injured, according to DPS. The wreck happened on Highway 69 North just south of I-20 Shortly before 6:00. Although EMS responded to the scene, the driver, whose name has not been released, was not transported to the hospital. According to KETK, lanes going both directions were temporarily blocked, but later reopened.

EAST TEXAS — An additional shift at surviving U.S. Postal Service processing plants should ensure the pace of letters and packages sent from Northeast Texas is unchanged by the likely closing of the Tyler facility, that’s according to a postal spokesman. The Longview News-Journal reports, McKinney Boyd in the Dallas U.S. Postal Service office said 200 positions eliminated in Tyler, if Congress fails to act by May 15, will be absorbed by attrition. Boyd said employees will have the opportunity to apply for new jobs in new locations. Post offices in Overton and Easton closed during the summer.

RED SPRINGS – A home in the Red Springs area of Smith County has been damaged by fire. The house is located in the 1000 block of County Road 333. This is just north of the Tyler loop off U.S. Highway 271. No one was at home when the fire broke out yesterday afternoon and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

TYLER — Some Tylerites looking to sell their homes are eliminating the middleman, their real estate agent, in order to keep more money in their pockets once their house is sold. Local resident Frank McKinney is one such person. McKinney’s used real estate agents in the past, but he tells KETK times have changed. According to McKinney, “Because of the market today, because it is truly a buyer’s market in all ways, form, and fashion — I felt that what value the realtors would bring would be far less than in previous times that I’ve sold homes.” McKinney says he’s pleased with the results he’s getting so far.

TYLER — Tyler Tea Party members aren’t happy with Mitt Romney’s wins this week in Michigan and Arizona. The Tea Party’s Shawn Bradley tells KETK, “We want somebody who will really deal forthrightly and truthfully with the issues as they are, and Romney is just not proving to be that guy.” Candidates will now gear up for Super Tuesday March 6.

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating a case in which a child was badly burned. Tuesday morning just before 9:30, police responded to 4201 Aberdeen to assist EMS on an injury to a child incident. Upon arrival it was determined that a two-year-old girl identified as Bridget Walker had been severely burned on the bottom of her feet from hot water in the bathtub. The adoptive parents were home at the time of the incident. Walker was transported to ETMC and then transferred to Parkland Hospital in Dallas. Child Protective Services was contacted by police to initiate an investigation. Tyler investigators are currently investigating to determine if this was an accident or foul play may be involved.

TYLER – Tyler ISD announces the 2012 Campus Teachers of the Year. All 30 campus teachers of the year will be recognized at the annual Teacher of the Year Banquet on Tuesday, May 8. This year’s theme is “Tyler ISD’s Galaxy of Stars: Our Teachers Light the Way.” During the banquet a District Elementary Teacher of the Year and a District Secondary Teacher of the Year will be named for the 2011-2012 school year.

The 2012 District Teachers of the Year will be eligible to be selected as the regional honoree. Regional honorees are eligible for two titles, Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year and Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year. Texas Teacher of the Year is the highest honor that the State of Texas can bestow upon a teacher.

The 2011-2012 Campus Teachers of the Year:

Rhona Meads – T.J. Austin Elementary School
Kelly England – Bell Elementary Global Communications Academy
Tom Matteucci – Birdwell Elementary School
George Brigman – Bonner Elementary School
Lawren Phillips – Boshears Center for Exceptional Programs
Beth Lockhart – Caldwell Elementary Arts Academy
Anna Dickey – Clarkston Elementary School
Natasha Balfour – Dixie Elementary School

Sharon Camille Becton – Douglas Elementary School
Ashley Rayner – Griffin Elementary School
Thurndotte Ray – Dr. Bryan C. Jack Elementary School
Sandy Ferris – Jones Elementary MST Academy
Jim Westwood – A. W. Orr Elementary School
Mary Rouquette – Owens Elementary School
Wanda Wilson – W. A. Peete Elementary School
Brenda Evans – Ramey Elementary School

Jennifer Thrasher – Rice Elementary School
Alicia Guajardo – St. Louis School
Patricia Cooper – TARGET
Becky Tilson – Andy Woods Elementary School
Christie O’Neal – Boulter Middle School
Satoya Dodd – Dogan Middle School
Leah Huffstetter – James S. Hogg Middle School
Jacob Payne – Hubbard Middle School

Chris Rasure – Moore MST Magnet School
Mary McGough-Skinner – Stewart Middle School
Laura Berns – John Tyler High School
David Howard – Robert E. Lee High School
Pennie McKeller – Plyler Alternative School
Joshua Graves – PACE

HENDERSON — A Henderson man is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child. According to KETK, the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office obtained an arrest warrant for 41-year old Juan Manuel Bernal. Bernal was taken into custody and arraigned, with his bond set at $250,000. He remains in the Rusk County Jail. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and more charges could be added.

TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for a black male who walked into a business on Industrial Avenue Wednesday morning and reportedly threatened to shoot employees inside the building. According to KETK, the employees at the business told police the man left and headed south on Industrial Avenue.

LONGVIEW — A re-trial is underway for a Hallsville man whose capital murder conviction was reversed in 2010 by a Gregg County appeals court. Desmond Dewayne Jackson, 30, is accused in the 2007 slaying of 56-year-old Melvin Brad Mitchell, while robbing the Cash America Pawn Shop on High Street in Longview.

According to KETK, Jackson was sentenced in 2009 to life in prison without parole, but the verdict was reversed by the appeals court, because it found the introduction of evidence from an unrelated Harrison County robbery to be prejudicial to Jackson’s case, Gregg County District Attorney Carl Dorrough said at the time.

HENDERSON — RUSK COUNTY — Authorities are searching for two women in connection with a Tuesday morning bank robbery that shut down a Henderson bank for several hours while officers investigated. According to KETK, Citizen’s National Bank in Henderson was robbed about 10:00. It’s not known how much money was taken. The woman reportedly entered the store wearing sunglasses and a hospital mask.

Authorities also believe the suspect left in a vehicle that was parked at the Valero gas station next door to the bank. Authorities said the female driver went into the gas station. Surveillance photos were taken of her. Officers have not been able to identified the driver. Investigators said the women left the bank in a light-colored car, but they were unsure of the make and model. The FBI, Texas Rangers, Rusk County district attorney investigators and sheriff’s deputies also were called to investigate the robbery.

GREGG COUNTY — A Georgia woman has been arrested on Interstate 20 after troopers found more than 40 pounds of cocaine. According to our news partner, KETK, Department of Public Safety officials arrested Vickie Ann Watts, 38, of Statesboro, Georgia at around 8:45 after stopping her for a traffic violation. Officials said Watts was charged with possession of a controlled substance and marijuana. Bond was set at $300,000. Her passenger, Herman Rainey, 52, of Newark, N.J., was also arrested for possession of marijuana. His bond was set at $500.

WHITEHOUSE — Whitehouse Police Chief Rick Waller is on voluntary leave while DPS investigates him for alleged misappropriation of county funds. According to KETK, on Tuesday, the city council welcomed a new face, Assistant Police Chief Craig Shelton. He has more than 26 years experience with the Smith County Sheriff’s office. The city hired him after an audit illustrated some problems in the department.

TYLER – A Tyler woman is safe following a reported kidnapping. It happened shortly after 4:30 Tuesday afternoon in the 1000 block of Robertson Avenue. A witness said she saw a Hispanic male holding onto a female as he was forcing her into a vehicle. The witness said that they also heard her yelling for help.

Just after 5:15 officers found the suspects vehicle. Inside were three persons: the driver, Kevin Estilito Loria, 22, the victim, a Hispanic female age 22, and another passenger who was 17. Investigators determined that the victim was assaulted by Kevin Loria during the commission of the kidnapping.

The victim was transported to a local hospital and was treated for minor injuries. Loria was arrested for Aggravated Kidnapping and booked into Smith County Jail. The other passenger, Mark Morales, 17, was charged with possession of marijuana.

TYLER — (AP & STAFF) The owner of a Tyler beauty salon wanted for practicing medicine without a license remains in the Smith County Jail, and more details are emerging about allegations against her. Tyler Police tell KETK Carmel Foster, the owner of Queen Divas Hair Salon and Spa, faces charges related to a botched breast augmentation allegedly performed in her salon. She was arrested in Harrison County last week and was being held there pending extradition.

Police were contacted by family members of Sheena Bradford who said that she had a breast augmentation procedure performed on both her breasts February 15 and had been admitted into a Longview hospital for severe chest pains. Her condition remains critical. Tyler Investigators determined that the procedure was conducted for a fee in a back room of the salon located at 102 East Martin Luther King Street, in Tyler.

Bradford was hospitalized with severe chest pain after the injection administered at Carmel Foster’s beauty shop. In a police affidavit, Bradford said Foster injected her with 12 syringes filled with the unknown clear gel on Feb. 15, her breasts immediately became swollen and the gel oozed from the sites holes until Foster sealed them.

Two days later, Bradford was hospitalized with what doctors diagnosed as built-up blood and air in her lungs. Foster’s charged with two counts of practicing medicine without a license and is in Smith County Jail. According to jail records, her bond has been set at $2,000,000.

TYLER — The Texas Alliance for Life PAC has endorsed GOP incumbent Leo Berman’s candidacy for re-election as state representative of District 6. Executive director Dr. Joe Pojman stated TAL’s decision was based on Berman’s consistent support for pro-life issues in the Texas Legislature. Berman also earned the President’s Award at the Smith County Republican Club’s annual Presidents Day dinner on Saturday evening. Berman faces Matt Schaefer in this year’s Republican primary.

LINDALE – The first rabid animal in Smith County this year has been found in the Lindale area. Texas Department of State Health Services advised the City of Lindale that a skunk that was submitted for analysis tested positive for the disease. The skunk was found near the 13000 block of County Road 4200.

Citizens are advised not to handle bats, skunks, raccoons, or other wild animals. It is important for children to tell their parents of any contact with wild animals or any sick animals. Anyone who knows of a person being bitten by an animal must report the bite incident to the Smith County Rabies Control Authority for proper investigation.

Smith County Rabies Control Authority advises all citizens to confirm that their dogs and cats are currently vaccinated for rabies. City of Tyler Ordinance and Smith County Ordinance require annual rabies vaccinations for all dogs and cats. Preventive immunization for rabies is the only effective defense against this always fatal disease.

TYLER — The City of Tyler announces that Centene Corporation, a leading manager of health care services, has chosen Tyler as its first choice in Texas for the location of a multi-state regional claims processing facility in the new 140-acre Tyler Business and Technology Park. Officials say the move could create about 325 new jobs in Tyler. The St. Louis, MO-based Centene, the nation’s fourth-largest Medicaid manager, would be the first owner of a site within the Tyler Business and Technology Park, which was developed by the Tyler Economic Development Council (TEDC). TEDC has owned and managed 150 acres within the park since 1994. The park is located at the intersection of West Loop 323 and Robertson Road and is occupied by a variety of manufacturing, office, distribution, and retail businesses.

Centene is currently working with the TEDC, the City of Tyler and the State of Texas to define the business terms and begin due diligence for the project. Centene anticipates that it will take four to six months to satisfy the conditions leading to a final decision to move forward with land acquisition and construction. “We are excited at the prospect of having Centene Corporation as a new corporate citizen that brings quality jobs to Tyler,” said Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass. “Centene has a reputation as an active and generous corporate citizen in the communities in which it has offices.”

Upon satisfaction of feasibility conditions, construction of the Centene building is expected to begin this summer with completion anticipated in the summer of 2013. “We are still early in this process, however we are very encouraged by the progress that has been made,” said Tom Ellis, chair of the TEDC. “The potential addition of 325 well-paying jobs in Tyler is something we can all celebrate.”

TYLER — A man law officers say is responsible for beating his wife so badly in November that she later died from her injuries is now a free man. Smith County authorities tell KETK that Kelly Gage was released from custody Tuesday. Gage’s bond was dropped from $1 million to a $10,000 personal recognizance bond. Smith County DA Matt Bingham says there’s just not enough evidence to indict the suspect for murder.

Patty McHugh Gage was on life support after what appeared to be a drunken beating on Thanksgiving Day by her husband, Kelly Gage. Patty Gage later died, and her son says she’d endured years of physical abuse. Bingham says the investigation is ongoing, but that based on what he’s been told by experts, his office was unable to secure the evidence needed to indict the defendant within 90 days. Bingham cites the victim’s blood alcohol content, which he says was over 4 1/2 times the legally intoxicated limit. He says that raised doubts about whether Mrs. Gage was beaten to death or perhaps fell and hit her head.

Noting Kelly Gage’s lengthy criminal history, Bingham says he’d love to keep him in custody. But he says the suspect’s past criminal history is not admissible in the guilt/innocence stage.

TYLER — Tyler school officials are looking into the possibility that a gun maybe on the Robert E. Lee High School campus. According to a district news release, Lee administrators learned of a Facebook post warning that a gun may be on campus. They reportedly contacted district officials, who immediately provided increased security on the campus and began investigating the situation. Officials said they have not found anything and will continue to investigate the matter. Increased security was on the campus throughout the day.