KTBB News, Weather, Talk

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.

LONGVIEW – The Longview Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness is asking for items that will go in homeless outreach bags. The bags could include such items as individually wrapped bottled water, pulled top caned food and trail mix. You can also donate new socks, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hairbrushes as well as plastic forks and spoons. The task for says, by providing nonperishable items rather than cash, you can help meet someone’s immediate need without feeding a possible addiction. The items are being collected at the Longview Public Library during regular hours. The bags will be distributed at the Homeless Resource Day on March 24 at the Longview Fire Department Training Center at Teague Park.

MARSHALL — A former East Texas district clerk has been arrested again. Mellinda Craig, a former Harrison County district clerk, was arrested Tuesday for theft of a firearm. The stolen gun was found in her home while police officers investigated her son’s involvement in a recent double homicide in Marshall. Thomas Andrew Craig, 18, of Hallsville, is charged with evidence tampering; he’s said to have hidden the gun that killed a Marshall couple. While Mellinda Craig is not believed to have been involved in the capital murder, she was arrested and charged for having the stolen gun. She was elected to be Harrison County’s district clerk in 2010 but was removed from office during 2014 following an arrest for numerous assault and deadly conduct charges.

TYLER — Once again, from March 16 through March 22, Habitat for Humanity of Smith County will transform Tyler’s downtown T.B. Butler Plaza with a fun and colorful display of children’s playhouses. That follows Wednesday’s delivery of the playhouses to the Plaza. The grand finale on the 22nd includes a ticketed dinner and live auction hosted by Jack Ryan’s Steak and Chophouse across the street. You can check the ktbb.com calendar of events or visit http://www.playhousesontheplaza.com for more information or to purchase your event ticket online.

PALESTINE – One person has been wounded in a Palestine shooting. It happened shortly before 9:00 Monday night on San Jacinto Street. First taken to a Palestine hospital, and later flown to a Tyler hospital, was Carlos Scott, 34, of Palestine. Investigators say he had suffered multiple gun shot wounds. The investigation is ongoing.

LONGVIEW – LeTourneau University theology professor Jonathan Lett has been awarded a grant to travel during the next two summers to Oxford, England. He will be working in an enhanced summer program developing interdisciplinary skills in science and religion. The grant is provided by Bridging the Two Cultures of Science and the Humanities II, a project run by Scholarship and Christianity in Oxford. This is a British subsidiary of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, with funding by Templeton Religion Trust and The Blankemeyer Foundation. The two month-long summer research seminars in Oxford start this summer.

LONGVIEW – The Sears store in the Longview Mall is one of four Sears stores and four adjacent Sears Auto Centers being bought by Washington Prime Group. The Ohio-based real estate group owns and manages the mall. According to the company website, Sears will continue to operate the properties. The Company will have control of these properties for future redevelopment should Sears decide to close them. The purchase price for all the properties is $28.5 million. The acquisition is expected to be completed in the second quarter of the year.

KILGORE – Kilgore police are trying to identify two men involved in a burglary last month. It occurred February 27th at East Texas Warehouse and Storage on Warehouse Drive. If you can identify these men, you are asked to contact the Kilgore Police Department or Gregg County Crimestoppers at 903-236-STOP.

LONGVIEW – A former Spring Hill coach admitted to administrators he had an improper relationship with a student. That information is contained in a warrant that was filed Monday in the case of Jacob Vincent Badgett, 25, of Longview. He is currently free on a $50,000 bond following his arrest last week. The Longview News Journal reports, the day before his arrest, Badgett told the athletic director to “call 911.” He said he “had an explicit relationship with a student.” Badgett also resigned the day before his arrest.

SULPHUR SPRINGS (AP) – Texas and federal agriculture authorities are testing birds and poultry in a northeast Texas county after inspectors detected a low-pathogenic form of avian flu at a poultry farm. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the H7N1 influenza was found last week during routine surveillance of a commercial breeder’s flock of about 24,000 chickens in Hopkins County, about 75 miles northeast of Dallas. Authorities now are testing other poultry within about 6 miles of the Hopkins County farm. Federal officials last week confirmed a similar occurrence at a turkey farm in southwestern Missouri but said it poses no risk to the food chain.

CHAPEL HILL – Chapel Hill High School teacher William Perkins has been charged with of the display of harmful material to minor. He surrendered at the Smith County Jail shortly after noon on Monday and was later released on a $2,500 bond. At school, Perkins is said to have had a laptop that was displaying multiple pornographic images. Several students recorded the images and reported them to school personnel. Perkins’s laptop was seized and the case was forwarded to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division for investigation. After getting a search warrant, officers found multiple images on the laptop’s hard drive. Investigators say the pictures were sexually explicit.

TYLER — The new logo for the University of Texas at Tyler is now officially in use following a recent unveiling. UT System regents had approved several variations for the logo last month. UTT President Dr. Michael Tidwell says the new design focuses on the four pillars of the university’s five-year strategic plan. Those include student success, student experience, research and scholarship, and community engagement.

LAKE FORK – For the third time in less than two weeks, Lake Fork has delivered what many anglers dream about for a lifetime – a 13-pound-plus largemouth bass. Angler Alex Finch, of North Richland Hills, landed the 13.06 pound Legacy Class largemouth bass during a solo fishing trip March 11. The catch checked off a “bucket list” item he’s been aiming at for years. The fish is now in the “Lunker Bunker” at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. The fish’s roommates are two other Legacy Class entries for the season. One caught on March 8th and one on March 2nd.

ATHENS — An East Texas mom is indicted, accused of exposing her kids to meth. Crystal Bass from Gun Barrel city is charged with two counts of endangering a child. An arrest affidavit indicates Child Protective Services called the sheriff’s office and a six-year-old child along with a five-year-old child tested positive for meth exposure in December.

NACOGDOCHES – Nacogdoches County authorities have filed more charges in a probe of a theft ring ring that is responsible for 26 car burglaries. Warrants have been obtained on Kawmain Singleton, 23, of Center and Jamonie Nash 18, of Timpson. Jamarcus Suell, 23, from Lufkin, who sheriff investigators have established was one of the ring leaders in this theft ring, remains in jail on 20 counts of burglary of a motor vehicle. Investigators say this theft ring was responsible for car burglaries in Nacogdoches County, Sabine County, Shelby County, San Augustine County, and Angelina County, and may be possible linked to cases in Newton and Cherokee counties.

TYLER – The city of Tyler will be featured in an upcoming program on C-SPAN. During a news conference Monday, it was announced this is part of an effort to highlight the history and literary stories of cities across America. C-SPAN’s 2017 Cities Tour takes two shows on the road – Book TV and American History TV. According to a city news release, they visited various literary and historic sites, interviewed local historians and non-fiction authors, and conducted educational and community outreach, wrapping up their filming this morning. Tyler’s program will air on May 5 and May 6 on the BookTV show on C-SPAN2 and on the American History TV show on C-SPAN3.

TYLER – In an effort to stop drunk drivers, the Tyler Police Department will have extra patrols out during spring break this week. In Texas each year, over half of drivers involved in deadly drunk driving crashes are between the ages of 17 and 34. The Tyler Police Department and law officers across the state have increased DWI patrols. It’s an effort to identify and stop impaired drivers. During last year’s spring break in Texas, there were 410 crashes involving young drivers who were driving under the influence of alcohol. Those crashes killed 20 people and seriously injured another 48. Officers are urging drivers to plan a sober ride as part of their spring break activities. The increased enforcement runs through March 20th.

LONGVIEW – The investigation of a fatal Longview fire continues. Randall Russell and his daughter, Lisa Russell Tesmer died in the Cherie Lane fire around 11:00 Friday evening. Fire Marshal Kevin May said Monday they have yet to rule on the cause of the fire. According to the police department’s Facebook page, the residents in the adjacent duplex were not injured.

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott has appointed 12 persons to the Governor’s Commission for Women. He reappointed to the panel Laura Koenig Young of Tyler. Young is president of sales and marketing for Brighton Collectibles. Her term will expire December 31st, 2019. The committee has been asked to develop a strategy and to implement a plan to help make Texas the number one state for women-owned businesses. It will also help address the issue of human trafficking and help rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Harvey.

TYLER – City of Tyler Street crews will be making multiple street repairs on South Broadway Avenue from Elm Street to Front Street. Drivers should expect multiple lane closures and proceed with caution. Work is expected to continue until 4 p.m. today and any remaining work will be completed Tuesday starting at 7 a.m.

NACOGDOCHES — The Lumberjack Marching Band at Stephen F. Austin heads overseas today. It’ll perform at the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin, Ireland next Saturday. David Campo is the associate director of bands at SFA. He calls the invitation “a great honor” and “an incredible challenge.” He says this all started five years ago, when the band was invited to march in the New Year’s Day parade in London and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. At this parade, Campo says the band will play the SFA fight song, his own arrangement of “The Yellow Rose of Texas,” and an arrangement of “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” — adding, “We’re sort of covering all our bases.”

NEW LONDON – An east Texas volunteer fireman has died from injuries received in an accident last month. KETK is reporting M.V. Hudson passed away Saturday morning. Hudson and two other firemen were heading to a grass fire on February 28th when the driver lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle rolled, trapping the men inside. The other firemen, Mark Norwood and Larry Bathke, received minor injuries.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the week of March 12th. Schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones.

In Anderson County, Palestine Maintenance will conduct base repair operations on Farm Road 2267 between State Highway 155 and Farm Road 321. Edge repair work will be performed on U.S. Highway 287 from Farm Road 321 to Farm Road 2706. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control at both locations. You can go to https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/011-2018.html and see the project update for TxDOT’s Tyler District.

EAST TEXAS – Severe thunderstorms rumbled through east Texas Saturday night and Sunday morning, resulting in death and golf ball size hail. One of the storm deaths was in Longview. It happened at the Flamingo Mobile Home Park on West Fairlane Drive when a tree fell on a mobile home around 4:30 Sunday morning. Relative tells KETK the victim was Angel Rocha, 41, of Henderson. He had been living in the mobile home the past four or five months. His 12 year old son was taken to the hospital where he was treated and released. Continue reading Storms Cause Deaths in East Texas

LONGVIEW – Two persons have died in a Longview fire. It was reported shortly after 11:00 Friday night on Cherie Lane. Family members have told KETK the victims are Randall Russell and his daughter, Lisa Russell Tesmer, 52. No word on the cause of the fire. According to the police department’s Facebook page, the residents in the adjacent duplex were not injured.

BROWNSBORO – A Brownsboro volunteer fireman has died in a one vehicle accident in Henderson County. It happened just before 8:45 Friday evening ten miles south of Brownsboro on County Road 3600. Dead at the scene was Joseph Gentry, 28, who was a passenger in a car driven by Christopher Garrison, 21. Gentry, who was not wearing a seat belt, was tossed from the vehicle. Garrison was not seriously injured. The Department of Public Safety report says the driver lost control of the vehicle in a sharp curve and the front end hit a ditch.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man arrested for criminal trespass is also facing drug charges. Jack Monroe Hollins, 57, was arrested shortly before 11:30 Thursday night on East Marshall Avenue. In one pocket, officers found a bag of pill bottles and pieces of foil which they say contained several small baggies of powder cocaine. In the other pocket was a pill bottle with more baggies of cocaine. More baggies were found in his wallet. Hollins is also charged with charged with manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance. His bonds total $51,000.

EAST TEXAS – Two persons have been arrested after authorities served search warrants at two East Texas game rooms. One was in Diana and the other was in Gladewater. Over 100 computers were seized from the two rooms. A large amount of money and suspected methamphetamine were seized when a third warrant was served at a Gladewater residence. Charged with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence were Hussain Imtiaz, 51 and Fahad Imtiaz, 25, both of Gladewater. Investigators say additional charges may be filed in the investigation. The raids followed a fatal stabbing outside the Diana game room last weekend. Continue reading Two Arrested Following Game Room Raids

CANTON – A traffic stop in Van Zandt County has led to the seizure of a quantity of drugs. The west bound vehicle was stopped by a sheriff’s deputy and a state trooper. Officers found two pounds of heroin. That led them to a home near the traffic stop. There, they found $18,700 and around 33 pounds of heroin valued up to $3 million. The suspects will not be identified pending further investigation.