KTBB News, Weather, Talk

AUSTIN – Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced today he is endorsing Matt Schaefer for re-election. Schaefer is the State Representative of House District 6. According to a news release from Austin, “Representative Schaefer has been committed to working with Governor Abbott to secure our border and implement pro-life protections, and Governor Abbott is honored to endorse his candidacy for re-election.”

TYLER – The Tyler Fire Department has released the final version of this year’s Cold Weather Response Plan. Last month, a group of representatives from various public service agencies met to discuss the plan and offered suggestions for improvements. It is designed to serve as a guide and to provide useful information to the public. It includes tips on avoiding exposures, as well as recognizing the signs and symptoms of cold weather-related emergencies. It also highlights resources that are available to the public during the winter months, including sheltering locations. You can go to the Tyler Fire Department’s website, http://www.tylerfiredept.com to see the plan.

RUSK — A Houston man has been killed in a Cherokee County accident involving two tractor-trailer trucks. It happened shortly before 9:00 Monday morning on U.S. Highway 69, just south of Rusk. Dead at the scene was Aurelio Amaya, 46. Keith Jackson, 46, of Nacogdoches, was treated and released at a Tyler hospital. According to the Department of Public Safety report, Jackson’s truck was traveling west on County Road1101 and Amaya’s truck was heading north on Highway 69. The report says Jackson failed to yield the right of way, entering the intersection of US-69 in front of Amaya and the two vehicles collided. The accident remains under investigation.

WASHINGTON (AP/STAFF) — The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Trump administration to fully enforce a ban on travel to the United States by residents of six mostly Muslim countries. Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert said the travel ban should have been a’ho-hum, but of course’ ruling. But Gohmert said, with judges and justices becoming ever the legislative and executive branches while wearing black robes, this was an absolutely critical ruling. And he added, ” We are grateful the Supreme Court took it up promptly before lower courts ended up with both blood and a shredded Constitution on their hands.” This is not a final ruling on the travel ban: Challenges to the policy are winding through the federal courts, and the justices themselves ultimately are expected to rule on its legality.

LONGVIEW – Three persons have been arrested on drug and weapons charges in Longview. The arrests came as the Gregg County Organized Drug Enforcement Unit, the police department’s Special Investigations and Apprehensions Unit and the SWAT Team served search warrants at two separate locations. Arrested on Idylwood was Bob Huiett Jr., 42. Arrested at a home on Myrle Street were Ronnie Dwayne Fitts, 46 and Adrian Deron Fitts, 27. All three are from Longview. Continue reading Three Busted in Longview on Drug Charges

TYLER – Last month, over two dozen persons were killed at a rural Texas Church. To make sure you are prepared for such a situation, the Smith County Sheriff’s Department is offering Active Shooter training. The free training is Tuesday night at at 6:30 at Tyler’s Green Acres Baptist Church. It will cover such items as common actions of the suspect, the law enforcement response and actions you can take to help you and your loved ones survive such an attack. This subject is graphic and some portions of the training may not be suitable for children under the age of 13. You can get more information by contacting Sgt. Darrell Coslin at the sheriff’s department.

LONGVIEW – The Gregg County Sheriff’s office is alerting area residents to an email scam. According to the email it is from D H L Express. It says, “the address we have on our record is incorrect and this has hindered the delivery of your pack.” It then list a label number. It then says to view the document and revert as soon as possible.” It also notes that parcels that are undelivered within one week will be returned to the sender. The sheriff’s department says not to click on the link. If you want to check the validity of an email from DHL call them directly at 1-800-225-5345.

LONGVIEW – A Longview woman is accused of assault on a peace officer after being accused of biting one. Jasmine Mychelle Fluellen, 20, was found in a vacant apartment on South Fredonia Street Saturday morning. Officers say she started walking away from them, disobeying their commands to stop. As they approached her, she is said to have tried to punch an officer. And, as she was being handcuffed, she is said to have bitten an officer on the leg. She’s in the Gregg County Jail under a $40,000 bond.

TYLER — Here’s a look at work planned in TxDOT’s Tyler District during the week of Dec. 4. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure, or other unforeseen issues. In Smith County, daily lane closures continue on I-20 eastbound and westbound at Toll 49 as the contractor for the Lindale Relief Route conducts work on the Toll 49 Mainlane Bridge. These daytime closures are set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, Dec. 4 through Dec. 15. Work will be conducted from 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays. No weekend work is planned. Go to http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/062-2017.html for a complete rundown.

MARSHALL — The Marshall Police Department is investigating a fatal accident involving a pedestrian. Police say around 9:23 p.m. Saturday, officers were sent to the site of the mishap on East End Boulevard South near the Johnson Street intersection. 59-year-old Raymond Williams of Marshall was initially taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center in Marshall and later transferred to Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview, where he died. Police said further details were pending.

TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is looking for an East Texan wanted for abandoning or endangering a child, a state jail felony. KETK reports Payton Raymond, 23, is known to frequent the Flint and Chandler areas. Through an investigation, detectives learned that Raymond’s 9-month-old child tested positive for methamphetamine. Contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at 903-566-6600 with any information.

TYLER — Family members are acknowledging that a body found Friday afternoon in Tyler is that of 32-year-old Brandon Harward, reported missing October 23. Police say the decomposed body was discovered in a drainage area in the vicinity of Shiloh Road and Shiloh Village Drive. They said investigators would wait for preliminary results of an autopsy before releasing any official information on identification or cause of death. But according to KETK, family members are moving forward with plans to have Harward buried in Utah, and they’ve set up a GoFundMe page to that effect. You can go to https://www.gofundme.com/brandonharwardmemorial for more details, including background on Harward’s struggles with mental illness — and how much his family cared for him.

TYLER – St. James CME Church and Tyler Transit hosted an event Friday to mark Rosa Parks Day. The celebration came 62 years after Parks refused to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama. Her action touched off the historic Montgomery bus boycott, widely seen as a pivotal event in the civil rights movement. “We have to remember the woman who stayed in her seat, she sat there, and made a difference in the lives of future generations,” St. James Pastor Orenthia Mason told KETK. Continue reading Tyler Celebrates Rosa Parks Day

TYLER — Police in Tyler are investigating a Friday credit union robbery. Police received an alarm and phone call at 5:34 p.m. about the gunpoint heist, which had just occurred at the Altra Federal Credit Union on Highway 64 West. An unknown white male suspect said to be in his late 50s with gray hair and a lazy eye, wearing a plaid shirt, blue jeans, and cap, approached the teller and told her to place the money in a bag while displaying a handgun. Police say the suspect left in an unknown direction, with no vehicle information immediately available. If you recognize the suspect in the surveillance photo, you’re asked to contact police immediately at 903-531-1000 or call Smith County Crime Stoppers at 903-597-2833.

TYLER — A Smith County jury has sentenced James Arthur Fulton to the maximum sentence of 10 years for causing the death of an East Texas woman in 2016. KETK reports Fulton, 42, of Bulverde, was convicted Thursday of criminally negligent homicide in connection with last year’s death of Haile Beasley, 21. On the night of May 14, 2016, Fulton’s truck hit Beasley’s car head-on in the eastbound lanes of West Grande Boulevard in Tyler. Investigators determined that Fulton was responsible for the accident. Beasley was pronounced dead at the scene. Fulton was not injured. Continue reading Man Gets Ten Years in Fatal 2016 Wreck

TYLER – The ETMC Cancer Institute in Tyler has unveiled a new state-of-the-art radiation technology. The Elekta Versa HD is used to treat a broad spectrum of tumors throughout the body, while enabling treatment of highly complex cancers that require extreme targeting precision. Another benefit is shorter treatment times. The Versa also delivers ultra-low doses of radiation making it safer for the patient. Radiation therapy provides techniques for destroying abnormal cells. Hospital officials say, In many instances, radiation therapy is the single best method for the treatment and cure of cancer. ETMC began offering cancer services in Tyler in 1982 and in Athens in 2009.

NACOGDOCHES – A recent parolee is back behind bars in East Texas today, accused of the continuous sexual abuse of a child. Rusk County authorities arrested Dwayne Steel 49, of Cushing, at his job Friday. Nacogdoches County authorities say a child, younger than 14, reported the assaults. An investigation showed the suspect had continuously assaulted the victim for over a month and half at a residence. Steel was arrested after a warrant was obtained for his arrest. He is in the Rusk County Jail, awaiting transfer to Nacogdoches.

ETOILE – A Nacogdoches County man has surrendered to authorities on animal cruelty charges. Dakota Harrell, 17, was booked into the Nacogdoches County Jail on 7 counts of animal cruelty. At his home on County Road 566 in Etoile, authorities found 7 dogs who were chained and without shelter. They had no food or water and appeared to be malnourished and showed other apparent medical issues that had been caused from neglect. At a court hearing, the dogs were awarded to the Nacogdoches Animal Shelter.

KILGORE – The East Texas Council of Governments and the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division, are have awarded a $200,000 in grant to Kilgore College. The money will be used to resurface and repair the school’s East Texas Police Academy driving track. It’s been in service for almost 30 years and needs major repairs. It is used by regional peace officers, fire fighters and ambulance drivers for emergency vehicle operations training. One of only four driving tracks for police training in the state, the track, which is at the Winfred J. Spear Training Center in Rusk County, is used to equip first-responders in the surrounding 24-county area with the safe driving tactics needed to serve the public.

TYLER – Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert has filed to run again. He is seeking re-election to represent the First Congressional District, a spot he has held since 2005. One of his big concerns is the national debt. It currently stands at $21 trillion. Gohmert says the only way we are going to cover this debt is to let the economy grow 3 or 4 percent, then we can grow out of this multi trillion dollar debt. He feels that a major tax cut, especially of the corporate tax, and a reduction of the tariff we put on our own goods, so we are more competitive, will also help us reduce that large debt figure. Gohmert says he is also concerned about the attacks on our freedom of religion and freedom of speech. The filing deadline for the March 6th primary is December 11th. So far, Gohmert is the only Republican in the race. The only Democrat who has filed so far is Brent Beal of Nacogdoches.

MEXIA (AP/STAFF) — Governor Greg Abbott was among those on hand Friday morning at the Mexia High School football stadium for the funeral of a DPS trooper shot to death Thanksgiving day. Trooper Damon Allen had been with DPS for more than 15 years. He was remembered during the service for his dedication to holding “the thin blue line.” Among the terms used to describe Allen were “a hero,” “a class act,” “a family man” — and “a goofball.” 32-year-old Dabrett Black of Lindale is held in the killing, charged with capital murder of a peace officer. Allen was shot and killed during a traffic stop along I-45 near Fairfield.

NACOGDOCHES — An East Texas man surrendered to police in connection with the robbery of a gas station. According to KETK, Darrell Twain Forney, 47 of Nacogdoches, turned himself in to authorities at the Nacogdoches Police Station Thursday. He was wanted in connection with the Wednesday night robbery of a Chevron on University Drive and Martinsville. Forney’s in the Nacogdoches County Jail charged with robbery. His bond has not been set.

TYLER – A police search near downtown Tyler for a robbery suspect who escaped from Van police turned up no trace of the man. He was brought to a Tyler hospital for injuries he received in a Thursday morning crash. Because of his injuries, he was handcuffed with his hands in front of him. He is said to have jumped up from a wheelchair and ran toward South Baxter in Tyler, Thursday afternoon. Tyler and Van police, along with a K-9, unsuccessfully searched for the suspect. He first gave authorities his brother’s name. But KETK says it has learned his true identity is Drashaydrian Montell Hunter, who is in his mid 20s. He was last seen wearing pajama pants or sweats that are black or navy with a red pattern. He was taken into custody for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is also said to be a suspect in an aggravated robbery and stolen vehicle in Jacksonville.

LONGVIEW – A woman has died from her injuries received in a two vehicle accident in Longview earlier this week. Maria Jovana Canchola, 22, of Longview, was pulling out of the Longview Mall parking lot on Monday when she pulled into the path of a truck driven by Justin Mitchell Stevens, 31, of Winona. Longview police say Stevens hit Canchola’s driver’s side door after she ran a red light attempting to turn left into the intersection at McCann Road. She has died from her injuries at a Longview Hospital.

TYLER – A Tyler jury has found a San Antonio man guilty of criminal negligent homicide. James Arthur Fulton, 42, was found guilty Thursday in connection with the death of Hailey Beasley, 20, of Tyler. She was killed in May of last year when Fulton’s pickup, which was headed in the wrong direction on West Grande Boulevard, hit Beasley’s car head-on. Police said Fulton admitted to drinking, but it was determined he was not intoxicated following multiple field sobriety tests. A voluntary blood draw was not taken. Beasley was pronounced dead at the scene. It’s now up to the jury to decide Fulton’s punishment.

MARSHALL – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Marshall Pottery have reached a settlement in the death of the assistant plant manager on Easter Sunday. According to a news release from OSHA, Marshall Pottery agreed to pay a penalty of $545,160. The company had been cited for six willful violations and 21 serious violations. The body of Arturo Gonzalez, 42, was found on April 17th stuck in a kiln at the business. He had worked at the business for 11 years. The final autopsy, which was performed by at Forensic Medical of Texas in Tyler, showed he died from environmental hyperthermia. The autopsy confirmed it was an accidental death. Continue reading Marshall Business to Pay a Fine in an Employee’s Death

TYLER – Tyler police are searching the downtown area for a robbery suspect who escaped from Van police. Demedrick Hunter was brought to a Tyler hospital for injuries he received in a Thursday morning crash. Because of his injuries, he was handcuffed with his hands in front of him. He is said to have jumped up from a wheelchair and ran toward South Baxter in Tyler. Tyler and Van police, along with a K-9, are searching for the suspect. Continue reading Escaped Fugitive Sought in Downtown Tyler

KILGORE – A portion of a highway in Gregg County has been named in honor of a former Kilgore businessman. The highway is State Highway 31. The section between State Highway 42 and the Smith County line is now called the Jack Ward Memorial Highway. He died nearly a year ago in a wreck on the highway in Smith County. Ward served the community in many ways, including as a city commissioner and president of the Kilgore Chamber of Commerce. Republican State Representative Jay Dean filed the legislation that created the designation of the memorial highway. Family members and friends got to see the new highway sign on Wednesday.

TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the person who broke into a vehicle and stole a prosthetic leg. The burglary occurred on the afternoon of November 18th on County Road 228 in the southeast part of the county. Investigators says the prosthetic leg was in the victim’s truck. It is a left leg, with a hydraulic ankle, and a blue coupling with white letters showing “JT LIONS” on it. The foot is a size 13 and it had no shoe on it. Also taken was a Craftsman toolbox, a T-Post driver, and a come a long hand operated winch which were in the bed of the truck. If you have any information about this, you are asked to contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Office.