KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – State District Judge Jack Skeen has granted a defense motion for more DNA testing in the capital murder case against Gustavo Zavala-Garcia. He appeared in court Thursday morning for a pretrial hearing. Both the prosecution and the defense agreed there needed to be testing of additional small hairs found on the victim’s T-shirt and skirt. This would have to be done at a private lab or the University of North Texas lab. Zavala-Garcia is charged with capital murder in the November, 2016 death of Kayla Gomez-Orozco. She was abducted from a Bullard church. Her body was found days later inside a well on the suspect’s property.

SMITH COUNTY — Due to weather conditions Wednesday night, several roadways remain closed due to downed power lines and/or trees. Two of the most heavily damaged roads in Smith County, CR 1125 (Greenbriar Road) and CR 1113 (Lake Placid Road) have been cleared for drivers but crews continue to work to clean up downed trees and power lines. Smith County Road and Bridge crews are working to clear 19 county roads with downed trees. They include CR 1148, 1150, 1151, 192, 1113, 1139, 1134, 1205, 1206, 1140, 196, 1141, 2103, 2161, 235, 337, 397, 437 and 438.

TYLER – All non-emergency Smith County offices will be closed for business on Friday, for Good Friday. Offices will reopen for normal business hours on Monday. But, even with Smith County offices closed, the county elections office at 302 East Ferguson will open from 9:00am to noon. The Texas Secretary of State’s Office is requiring the elections office to open for three hours on the holiday to give people a chance to turn in their applications for a mail ballot for the May 4 city and school elections. Friday is the deadline to turn in the applications. Early voting begins next Monday and runs through Tuesday, April 30.

TYLER – Three Tyler residents have been indicted by a federal grand jury in a counterfeit immigration documents conspiracy. The indictment against Jose Luis Marquez Rodriguez, 53; Eleazar Juarez Juarez, 45; and Virginia Colis Rodriguez, 52, was returned on Wednesday. The three are said to have produced phony United States Permanent Residence Cards, United States Social Security Cards, and driver’s licenses. They are said to have sold them for around $200 apiece. Rodriguez is to to have kept detailed records of their distribution efforts and last month alone, recorded 90 sales of counterfeit U.S. identification documents. If convicted, the defendants each face up to 15 years in federal prison.

DALLAS — A North Texas woman is desperately searching for the wedding ring her mother was wearing saturday — the day she was killed in the tornado near Caddo Mounds State Historic Site in Cherokee County. Kerrie Bell’s mom and step-dad were on their way home when their van was overturned by the tornado. Her mom died — and her wedding ring was nowhere to be found. Bell says, “The ring itself is not worth a lot; emotionally it is.” Bell says she wants her little sister to have the ring. They’ve been back to the scene, even looking with a metal detector, with no luck. She says the gold ring has a solitary diamond. The band is a size four or five.

EAST TEXAS — Some East Texas schools started classes late or canceled them altogether on Thursday due to power outages from early-morning storms. According to our news partner KETK, Brownsboro ISD schools and offices were cancelled for Thursday. Kilgore High School also canceled classes, but it was business as usual for all other campuses. Due to a widespread power outage, Chapel Hill ISD delayed school start time by two hours. Palestine Westwood ISD also had a two hour delay. Buses ran with a delay of two hours.

ALTO – Cherokee County will not be getting any help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the wake of the tornadoes last weekend. That is what County Judge Chris Davis told our news partner KETK. The reason that FEMA will not help is because the damage does not meet the threshold necessary to receive federal disaster assistance. FEMA told KETK that the state had not requested help from them.

HENDERSON – The Rusk County Sheriff’s Department is seeking the public’s help in solving some theft cases. They say that the car pictured here has been involved in numerous thefts and burglaries in the Tatum area. The suspect has been stealing from carports and inside homes. If you can provide any information, you are asked to contact Investigator Wright or Investigator Perrault at 903-657-3581.

TYLER – A 33-year-old Salvadoran citizen has been indicted by a Tyler federal grand jury for immigration violations. Jose Eduardo Melara-Carcamo was named in an indictment returned on Wednesday. He was arrested in March for public intoxication in Athens. The deportation officer who interviewed him was the same one who processed him for deportation last year. A check of records confirmed that Melara had been previously removed to El Salvador in 2007, 2013, and 2018. Each time he reentered the United States without consent. If convicted, he faces up to 2 years in federal prison and deportation.

AUSTIN – As the result of last weekend’s storms, several area counties are under a state disaster declaration. Nine counties are contained in the declaration, including Cherokee and Nacogdoches. The Governor has authorized the use of all available resources of state government and of political subdivisions to aid in response efforts. The governor said his action is to ensure those impacted have the resources they need to recover as quickly as possible. And, he added, “Working together, we will ensure that these East Texas communities are rebuilt stronger than ever before.”

KILGORE – The East Texas Council of Governments has received a $375,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration. It will be used to help in the development of a regional broadband strategic plan for 14 counties in East Texas. They applied for the grant in December. They proposed to develop a strategic plan that will help identify and address existing gaps in broadband access for businesses across the region. The grant is issued to the East Texas Economic Development District, which is administered by ETCOG. With this grant, ETCOG and its local economic development partner agencies have committed to an additional investment of $161,000 in local matching funds. This bring the total project funding of $536,000. Continue reading A Grant for a Regional Broadband Infrastructure Development Plan

GILMER – A Longview man has pleaded guilty in Upshur County to evading arrest with a vehicle. And, being a habitual offender, Daniel Eugene Smith, 47, was sentenced Tuesday to 30 years in prison. Back in January, Smith fled from a Longview traffic stop. Later a state trooper saw him just, before 11:30 that night, without a working headlight traveling over 100 miles an hour in a 50 mile per hour zone. He chased the car until Smith wrecked it near Union Grove. He then fled on foot and jumped into a lake to swim away. He was identified through papers found in his car. Smith had previously been sentenced to prison in 1991 and 2003 out of Harrison County for burglaries.

ATHENS — A child is dead after being hit by a falling tree. Athens Police were called to a home on West Tyler Sunday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, police said the child’s parents told investigators that a tree had fallen on the child while it was being trimmed. The child was rushed to a local hospital in a private vehicle, then airlifted to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas where the child later died. The unidentified child attended Bel Air Elementary. In a statement put out by Athens ISD, the district wrote: “It is with great sadness that we have to share that one of our sweet kindergarten babies has passed away in a tragic accident. Counselors will be available all week to support our students. Please keep this student’s family and friends in your prayers.”

ALTO – The tornado that hit Alto Saturday caused major damage to the Caddo Mounds State Historical Site. Mark Wolfe, executive director of the Texas Historical Commission was among those who toured the site to assess the damage. Roughly 50% of the visitors’ center building was demolished by the storm. They are working to obtain a structural assessment of what remains. The estimate to rebuild the visitors’ center, to replace vehicles and equipment, and to make other necessary repairs, is $2.5 million. Continue reading Caddo Mounds Suffers Major Storm Damage

FLINT- A Flint man has been charged with kidnapping and burglary. Arrested early Tuesday morning was Kody Rasmussen, 19. A woman called the sheriff’s department to say that he had broke into her home, assaulted her and kidnapped her young daughter. A state trooper chased his vehicle, which crashed at the intersection of County Road 1170 and Lakeway Harbor Drive. The driver fled on foot but was quickly arrested by the state trooper. The girl was uninjured. Besides the kidnapping and burglary charges, Rasmussen is also charged with evading arrest with a vehicle, no drivers license and no insurance. He is in the Smith County jail under bonds totaling $120,561.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler has announced that it was recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as one of four public institutions in Texas to have shown noteworthy improvement in completions, or the number of degrees awarded. This is part of the 60x30TX initiative. This is a state plan designed to ensure that at least 60% of Texans ages 25 to 34 will have a certificate or degree by the year 2030. Over the last three years, UT Tyler has increased its completions in almost all of the areas the Coordinating Board monitored. Categories in which UT Tyler demonstrated high levels of improvement, compared to peers, were overall completions and completions among African-American students, economically disadvantaged students, Hispanic students, and male students. Continue reading State Board Recognizes UT Tyler

MARSHALL – Harrison County authorities are looking for a missing man. They are looking for Howard “Howie” Waldon, 34. He was last seen leaving Sammy’s Primetime Restaurant and Tavern in Jefferson Saturday night around midnight. They believe he was headed to his home in the Uncertain and Karnack area. He was driving a 2016 blue-gray four-door Dodge truck. If you know where he can be found you are asked to contact the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office of the Jefferson Police Department.

LONGVIEW – A Harrison County woman was sentenced Tuesday for her part in a double murder in Longview. Patricia Francine Baker, 22, of Hallsville, was sentenced to five years in prison. Last December she pleaded guilty to aggravated kidnapping. She, along with Dustin Bennett, 39, of Longview and Craig Davison, 54, of Hallsville, had been arrested for the shooting deaths of two men, whose bodies were found in March of 2016 near railroad tracks off Estes Parkway. The other suspects have been previously sentenced in the case. The three had been arrested in April, 2016, at a home on Roy Green Road near Hallsville as the result of a Crime Stoppers tip.

LONGVIEW – All Longview elementary students will get free meals starting with the new school year. Thanks to the federal Community Eligibility Provision program, Longview’s elementary students will get a free breakfast and lunch starting in August. School trustees approved it at Monday night’s meeting. A part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, a provision allows qualifying schools that serve populations with high poverty rates to provide free breakfast and lunch. The program is for an initial three years with a bonus fourth year if the board so chooses. The district’s Director of Child Nutrition, Phyllis Dozier, said the program will benefit students and parents as well as the district.

MARSHALL – The City of Marshall has resumed efforts to control mosquitoes. Weather permitting, fogging takes place on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, twice a month, beginning at 4:00am. The city is divided into seven “zones” for the spraying. The spraying will not occur during rain or if the wind speed is 10 mph or greater. In case of adverse weather conditions, spraying will be delayed until the conditions become favorable. The pesticides have been judged by the EPA “not to pose an unreasonable risk to human health.” Spraying is scheduled in the early morning hours to limit exposure to people. The spraying is not designed to eradicate the mosquito population, but is used as a method to help control the influx of mosquitoes that typically occur during the spring and summer months. Each season is different, but spraying efforts will normally continue through September.

EAST TEXAS – According to a posting on the district’s Facebook page, Alto schools will reopen on Monday, April 22nd. Weekend storms caused major damage to buildings of the Alto school system, prompting a temporary shutdown. No damage was noted at the elementary and middle school. More inspections are planned for the high school. There is a possibility that high school classes will have to be held on other district campuses. Continue reading Alto Schools to Reopen Monday

TYLER – The East Texas Center for Nonprofits has a new Director. She is Stephanie Lamb. She succeeds Gina Anderson. The new Program Coordinator for ETCN is Angel Davis who succeeds Lamb in that post. She had been with the United Way since last October.

TYLER – A Louisiana woman has pleaded guilty to stealing from a Smith County business. In state district court Monday, Ashley Robin Stephens, 34, pleaded guilty to stealing over $60,000 from a Lindale business. State District Judge Kerry Russell sentenced her to 4 years in prison. Last October, authorities started looking for Stephens, who was also known as Ashley Boyd. It was said she had been living in the Mineola area and changed her appearance to avoid arrest. She was arrested in late October in Reeves County, in west Texas.

TYLER – Time is running out for students to enter Fit City Tyler’s Youth Art Contest. The contest is for aspiring artists from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Students are encouraged to submit original artwork pieces following the theme of “Fit for Life.” The 3rd annual contest is open to all Tyler area students. The artwork will be judged in four age categories based on creativity in expression of the theme. Entries must be received by this Friday. You can go to http://www.fitcitytyler.com for entry forms and consent forms.

TYLER – From 8:00 till 5:00 on Tuesday, it will be international Day at Tyler Junior College. This marks the 26th year for the activities at TJC. There will be cultural exhibitions, international music, entertainment, food fair, and arts and crafts from countries all around the world. There will be over forty countries represented as well as other educational exhibits. Entertainment throughout the day includes Greek dance, African tribal dances and even the hula. The U.S. Post Office will have a table set up for passport applications and renewals. Continue reading TJC’s International Day

HAWKINS – A two vehicle accident in Wood County over the weekend left one person dead and one injured. It occurred just before 10:45 Saturday morning on Farm Road 14, just over 2 miles north of Hawkins. Steven Joseph Almanza, 28, of Dallas, died in a Tyler hospital. His passenger, Jenny Paine, 31, of Dallas, is in serious condition in a Tyler hospital. The Department of Public Safety says the accident happened when a pickup driven by Emily Catherine Moore, 17, of Hawkins, hydroplaned and crossed the road and hit Almanza’s SUV. Moore was treated and released at a Tyler hospital. The crash remains under investigation.

TYLER – TxDOT is planning to conduct the following construction and maintenance work throughout the district during the week of April 15. Schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Tyler Maintenance crews plan to continue base repair operations on State Highway 110N near Farm Road 3271. Crews will also conduct ditch maintenance on roadways around the county. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control. Continue reading TxDOT Road Work Update

EAST TEXAS – Heavy thunderstorms rumbled through East Texas Saturday afternoon. Some produced deaths, injuries and damage. In Angelina County, two children, ages three and 8, were killed when a tree fell on their car. Some streets around Alto are closed to traffic because of storm damage. We have had reports of trees down and damage to homes and businesses. Over 20 persons were injured at the Caddo Mounds Historic Park, where they were part of a group celebrating Caddo Culture Day. The park has been closed till further notice. Public Information Officers Kathi White in the TxDOT Tyler District office says crews are assessing roadways after possible tornadic activity in Alto in Cherokee County. Current closures are on US 69, SH 21, and SH 294. Caution is advised for motorists traveling through this area. Visit DriveTexas.org or call 1-800-452-9292 for updated road conditions and closures. Continue reading Storms Pound the Area

ARP – A Harris County man has been killed in a Smith County accident. It happened just after 3:00 Thursday afternoon on U.S. Highway 64, three miles west of Arp. Dead at the scene was Lejuan Keith Holmes, 47, of Humble. In stable condition in a Tyler hospital was James Whitney Callis, 43, of New London. The Department of Public Safety says Holmes changed lanes, hitting the car next to him. That car then hit a tractor-trailer rig driven by Timothy Julius Johnson, 53, of Bullard. Johnson was not injured. The crash remains under investigation.