KTBB News, Weather, Talk

GILMER – Gilmer police are seeking the name of a man taking pictures of children at a playground in the city. The photographer is a white male, who appears to be in his 40s, and had a baby at the playground of the Yamboree Grounds. He was said to have been driving a Chevrolet Silverado pickup. He was taking pictures of girls going down a slide. A witness said it appeared the man was attempting to take photos up the dresses of the children. If you know who was driving this truck, you are asked to contact Gilmer police.

LONGVIEW – The Sabine River Authority of Texas will award the City of Longview a Community Assistance Program Grant. The $10,000 will be used to assist the city to build a pond on the city’s arboretum site at 706 West Cotton Street. The city says this will help prevent run-off and improve drainage.

TYLER – A Tyler man is heading to prison on child porn charges. Benjamin Andrew Cole, 34, pleaded guilty in state district court in Tyler Monday morning. He pleaded guilty to child pornography charges and an online solicitation charge. He was sentenced to 8 years in prison. Cole was arrested last August 17th following an extensive investigation by the Department of Public Safety. He has been in the Smith County Jail since his arrest. The child porn charges stem from incidents which investigators say occurred on August 17, 2017, and September 25, 2017. The online solicitation charge is said to have occurred on August 17, 2017.

KILGORE – Two drivers have been killed in a two vehicle accident in Kilgore. It happened just before 4:00 Sunday afternoon on U.S. Highway 259 near Farm Road 349. One driver, 19 year old Dakota Patrick Harris, of Kilgore, later died in a Tyler hospital. The other driver, 79 year old Mary Virginia Cameron, of Overton, died in a Longview hospital. Police reports indicate Cameron’s car drove into oncoming traffic, for unknown reasons, and hit Harris’ car head-on. The accident remains under investigation.

HARRISON COUNTY — A Marshall woman has died after she was hit by a semi. According to the DPS report, around 12:30 Saturday afternoon, Lea Celeste Williford, 32, was walking on the shoulder of I-20, 7 miles west of Waskom. Officials said she ran into the path of the tractor trailer. Williford was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported and the incident remains under investigation.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the TxDOT Tyler District during the Week of March 19. Among the highlights: expect some changes in lane closures on the U.S. 175 project between Larue and Poynor. Also, a Wednesday night closure of I-20 westbound moves traffic to the ramps for work on the FM 849 bridge at Hideaway. You can check http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/012-2018.html for a complete rundown.

TYLER — This month, Visit Tyler and Downtown Tyler joined efforts to launch two new websites that will complement each other in order to reach a broader audience, according to a Visit Tyler news release. Staffers say the new sites will feature user-friendly designs and layouts as well as highlight attractions, amenities, events, and facilities. The websites will also be compatible with mobile devices, according to the news release. Go to http://www.VisitTyler.com or http://www.DowntownTyler.net to view the new sites.

TYLER — The city of Tyler has issued a rundown of work planned for the weeks of March 19 and March 26. Among the highlights: the Runway 4/22 Rehabilitation Project 4 at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, which has been delayed due to wet weather. Work is due to continue in March and April. The contractor has given 45 days’ notice to enter phase 3 of the project, which includes beginning the critical work in the intersection of Runway 4/22 and 13/31. Work also continues on the Legacy Trails project from Old Jacksonville to Cumberland Road and Gresham. Crews started on the east trail at Three Lakes Parkway and Old Jacksonville, where 3,800 linear feet out of a total of 7,900 linear feet are substantially complete. You can go to http://www.cityoftyler.org/News.aspx for more details.

LONGVIEW — A bicyclist riding Friday night on McCann Road in Longview was left with serious injuries after colliding with a car, police spokesman Sgt. Shane McCarter reported. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report details of the collision were not immediately available. McCarter said the cyclist was driving north about 7:40 p.m. near Fire Station No. 6 when the vehicle “struck her.” The woman was taken to a local hospital. “The last I heard, she is fine,” he said. “She had some serious injuries, but it looks like she will be all right.”

CANTON — Legal proceedings are moving forward after 60 dogs and puppies suffering from various health issues were rescued from a possible puppy mill. KETK reports the SPCA of Texas and law enforcement officers took them from a property in Canton on Wednesday. The SPCA says twelve dead dogs were also found wrapped in plastic bags in the kitchen freezer. The animal owner let investigators know that dogs on the property were being sold for profit. It wasn’t immediately clear if the owner is properly licensed. The surviving animals are being cared for by the SPCA until a March 23 custody hearing. “It’s possible this case could go on for another week to another several weeks,” said the SPCA’S Maura Davies.

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating a Friday night fight in which gunshots were reported at the Shiloh Pines mobile home park on East Shiloh Road. Police say they responded shortly after 10 p.m. after numerous callers reported a large fight at the mobile home park and at least 4 gunshots. While officers were headed to the scene, it was reported that a car was involved and fleeing the scene. Officers say they stopped the car in the parking lot of the Valero gas station at Paluxy and Shiloh. Several juveniles and a .45-caliber handgun were found in the vehicle. Several .45-caliber shell casings were found around the pool area at the mobile home park. One of the juveniles was placed under arrest for unlawfully carrying a weapon. There were no injuries.

TYLER — Smith County authorities have arrested a suspect in a bomb threat. On March 5, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office received an email in which the writer made threats referring to blowing up the building. On March 6, detectives followed a lead to Sabine County and obtained a search warrant for a home there. On March 7, they executed the warrant, seized several items of evidence, and arrested Heather Janea George, 32. She was jailed in Sabine County on a charge of tamper/fabricate physical evidence during the warrant execution. On March 13, detectives obtained another arrest warrant for George for terroristic threat/influence of state government, a 3rd degree felony. George was arrested at her home the following day and is now held in the Smith County jail on $250,000 bond. Authorities say the investigation is active and ongoing.

TYLER – Traffic on Rice Road in Tyler is being diverted until 4:00 this afternoon between Kinsey Drive and Old Bullard Road due to roadwork and construction. Rice Road will be closed to local traffic between Cloverdale Drive and Briar Cove Drive and closed to truck traffic from Kinsey Drive to Old Bullard Road. A city news release says the work should take around nine hours to complete.

ATHENS – Three men are facing drug charges following their arrests southwest of Athens. They are Ricky Hurt (pictured), 60; Gerald Loden, 65; and Bradley Lowe, 25. The three were arrested at a property on County Road 1208. Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said they had received information from citizens about possible drug activity in the area that started the investigation that led to the arrests.

LONGVIEW – A fatal Longview fire appears to be arson. The fire in a duplex on Cherie Lane the night March 9th killed Randall Russell and his daughter, Lisa Russell Tesmer. The fire department says the investigation into the fire continues. The Longview News Journal, quoting a search warrant, says the police are investigating the fire as arson. It also says Kimberly Nicole Bruton, 32, is a suspect in the fire. She is currently free on a $1,000 bond after being charged with arson. She was arrested as she stood outside the burning home holding bottle of charcoal lighter fluid.

TYLER – Tyler Police are asking your help in identifying the suspect who stole several Coach items. The expensive items were taken from the Dillard’s store in the Broadway Square Mall. If you can identify this man, you are asked to contact the Tyler Police Department.

JACKSONVILLE – A felon wanted by Jacksonville police has been arrested. Last week we told you 26 year old Drayshadrian Hunter, who is also known as “Stinky Butt, was being sought. He was wanted on warrants out of the Jacksonville Police Department as well as Smith, Van Zandt and Kaufman counties. Friday, acting on a tip, the police went to a home on Talley Nichols Drive, where they found Hunter hiding in a closet. He was arrested without incident and booked into the Cherokee County Jail.

TYLER – Two Smith County residents are accused of trying to smuggle items into the county jail. They are Brittney Chene Boyd, 25, of Lindale and Andria Michelle Smith, 20, of Tyler. They are charged with a prohibitive substance or item in a correctional facility. Each is under a $25,000 bond. A deputy was patrolling the jail perimeter when she saw two women attempting to pass cigarettes over the wall. One was standing on top of the other one. They were immediately arrested. Continue reading Accused Jail Smugglers Arrested

AUSTIN — The Texas Medical Board has recently punished nearly 50 doctors across the state, one of whom is from Tyler — Dr. Norman Joel McCall. According to KETK, he was found to have violated a 2009 order under which he was required to attend an AA class and show the paperwork to the board. Now McCall has until April 1 to be evaluated by a psychiatrist and follow all recommendations for care and treatment.

HENDERSON COUNTY — A known drug dealer has been arrested after leading deputies on a high speed chase Thursday. The Henderson County Sheriff said Bill Monday, 33, was believed to be in Athens with a large amount of illegal narcotics. He refused to stop his motorcycle and led law enforcement on a lengthy chase through Athens before he was eventually arrested. Monday was booked into the Henderson County Jail on several charges including manufacture and delivery of a substantial amount of a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence and evading arrest.

TYLER — Tyler Police responded to a report of shots fired on Shiloh Road just before 9:30 Thursday night. Witnesses said the shots were fired at The Waterton on Shiloh and that the possible suspect left the scene. Witnesses followed the suspect to Chelsea Creek Apartments until officers arrived. Juan Carlos Garcia, 21, was believed to be the person of interest. A gun was found at the scene. Garcia was booked into the Smith County Jail on charges of robbery, deadly conduct, criminal mischief and possession of marijuana. Bond has not been set. No injuries were reported.

TYLER – Azalea Orthopedics has named Anthony Brooks as its new Chief Executive Officer. His appointment was effective February 26. Brooks previously served as the Chief Operating Officer of Longview Regional Medical Center since 2016. Prior to that he was the Chief Financial Officer for Sparks Health System in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and later as the Assistant CEO for Sparks Health System – Van Buren.

KILGORE – Three years of work will come to an end Saturday with the opening of a new Kilgore sports complex.A baseball tournament will open the complex. There are six baseball fields at the site, which is across from Driller Park on South Commerce. It will be known as the Whataburger Sports Complex because they signed a 10-year deal for the naming rights. They paid $50,000 up front and will pay $20,000 a year for the next ten years. The city paid for the complex with $2.2 million from the Kilgore Economic Development Corporation. A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for Saturday morning at 11:00.

MARSHALL – A Henderson woman is accused of providing false documents to get a job. The case against Stephanie Garcia, 29, first surfaced last November. The complaint maintained Garcia had been practicing nursing without a license at Davita Dialysis in Marshall. Investigators say they discovered that she had used another person’s license number in order to get the job. Garcia was arrested on Wednesday and booked into the Harrison County Jail under a $35,000 bond.

TYLER – The 59th Annual Azalea and Spring Flower trail begins in Tyler Friday morning. It all starts at 10:00 with the ribbon cutting and opening ceremony in the garden of the Pyron home on West Dobbs Street. Then, through April 1st, thousands will visit to see the blooming azaleas, dogwoods and spring flowers. There are two marked routes, the Lindsey Trail and the Dobbs Trail. Along with the flowers and the azalea belles greeting you at the many gardens, there is a host of activities, including a horse show, quilt show, an arts and crafts show at Bergfeld Park and the East Texas Symphony Concert. Continue reading It Is Azalea Time in Tyler

TYLER — An arrest warrant has been served for an already-jailed suspect in a Tyler credit union holdup — who’s also accused in several other bank and business robberies around the state. Wayne Alan Watson of Ft. Worth, who turns 58 on Friday, is accused in a December 1 gunpoint heist at the Altra Federal Credit Union on Highway 64 West in Tyler. On February 13, Watson was arrested at his home and turned over to Wichita Falls police during a raid by numerous agencies. Watson is being held in the Fannin County Jail under the supervision of the the U.S. Marshals Service. His bond was set at $250,000 by Judge Christi Kennedy of Tyler on a charge of aggravated robbery.

HARLETON — Harleton ISD announced Wednesday the resignation of their superintendent after he was reinstated following an investigation. According to KETK, action had been taken against Dr. Greg Coleman at a school board meeting on February 20. He was placed on leave during the investigation, however, the school district never released a reason for their decision. In the most recent release, the school board cited a difference in philosophy. The school board will soon begin its search for a new superintendent as not to disrupt the district’s operations. Tina Cox is the current acting superintendent. Coleman had been the superintendent for the school district since 2007.

PALESTINE – The University of Texas at Tyler Innovation Academy in Palestine may close at the end of the school year. UT Tyler spokesman Lucas Roebuck told the Palestine Herald-Press the school building failed the fire marshal’s inspection in August. UT Tyler President Michael Tidwell outlined the university’s strategic plans to Palestine City Council members on Monday. He did not say anything about closing the school. They are working on holding a public meeting with parents and students in Tyler Monday to discuss the situation. The charter school has over 200 students from second through 11th grades.

EAST TEXAS – The cleanup continues in the wake of the east Texas storms that killed two persons. A Longview man died when a Sunday morning storm toppled a tree onto his mobile home. At the Brushy Creek Campground at Lake o’ the Pines, high winds blew a tree onto a tent. A woman was killed and her husband seriously injured. Their three children escaped injury. The Corp of Engineers has released pictures of some of the damage around the lake. There are so many trees down, it is still hard to reach some sites. The damage is so extensive, they say it could be several months before the campground will reopen.