KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – TxDOT has issued its summary of work planned in the Tyler District during the week of Oct. 30. These 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. You can go to http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/053-2017.html for a complete rundown. In a slight modification, note that in the Gregg County section of the link, once complete, a hot mix overlay operation moves to FM 2275 between FM 1845 and FM 3272.

AUSTIN – In a safety enhancement effort, the Texas Transportation Commission has approved more than $44 million for 46 bicycle and pedestrian projects, including several in East Texas. The Tyler Bikestripe project will add 56 miles of bike lanes to existing wide roadways throughout the city. City officials note that the project “is a key component of [the regional trail] system.” The Guthrie Creek Shared Use Path project in Longview will complete two gap sections within the Guthrie Creek Trail system. The concrete path will include pedestrian bridges and underpasses, crosswalks, warning signs, benches, shade trees, and trash receptacles. The Meadows and Knight Street Sidewalks project in Winnsboro will construct 6-foot-wide sidewalks along Meadows/Martha Drives and Knight Street and through a future city park.

GREGG COUNTY — Authorities say a man wanted on a homicide charge in Mississippi has been captured after tossing a stolen gun from his car during a Gregg County traffic stop. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report a DPS trooper arrested 34-year-old Jreymarcius Jreymaine Reason of Natchez, Mississippi, Wednesday on a charge of evading arrest. On Friday, a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm was added, setting Reason’s bond at $500,000 after law enforcement learned of the Mississippi case. Authorities say the trooper tried to stop Reason’s vehicle on I-20 but Reason continued to drive. He eventually pulled into a gas station after leaving the freeway and was arrested. The trooper said he noticed in surveillance video that Reason tossed something from his vehicle and a search found a .38 revolver in a grassy median.

LONGVIEW — An Overton man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Friday for shooting up a house on Raney Street in Longview and injuring two people in August 2016. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Traymon Davis, 26, had been charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Davis must serve half his sentence before he will be eligible for parole. A shooting victim told police that at least two people with guns had been outside the house and tried to get him to leave his house. One of the people outside started shooting up the home. Davis was arrested in a separate incident the following day during a traffic stop, with police finding shell casings in the car that matched those found at the crime scene.

BRYAN — A trial date has been set for an East Texas man charged with the brutal murder of six people at an Anderson County campsite. According to KETK and the Palestine Herald-Press, the trial for William Mitchell Hudson is scheduled to begin Wednesday at the Brazos County Courthouse. Hudson is accused of murdering Kade Johnson, 6; Karl Johnson, 76; Hannah Johnson, 40; Thomas Kamp, 46; Nathan Kamp, 23; and Austin Kamp, 21, at a Tennessee Colony campsite in November 2015. Anderson County District Attorney Allyson Mitchell will seek the death penalty. Continue reading Trial Set in East Texas Campsite Murders

ATHENS — A 28-year-old-woman faces multiple charges after being arrested Friday morning in the Bonita Point subdivision, just east of Gun Barrel City. According to Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse, it all began with a call regarding a suspicious vehicle. Hillhouse says responding officers found Eardley inside the vehicle at an abandoned residence. Eardley was found to have outstanding arrest warrants out of Kaufman County for possession of a controlled substance, speeding, and violating a promise to appear in court. While Eardley was being arrested for the warrants, Hillhouse says she was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and marijuana. Eardley remained at the Henderson County Jail on $21,000 bond for the warrants, along with charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana.

PALESTINE – A former Anderson County commissioner is among four arrested in a Palestine park. KETK reports Randy Watkins, 68, Montalba, was arrested on October 6 for indecent exposure. The four were arrested by Palestine police for indecent exposure and public lewdness stemming from actions at a city park. The investigation started from complaints received by the city’s Community Services department at Upper and Lower Lake Park. Throughout the month, detectives investigated the area and obtained evidence on several men using the park for lewd acts. The investigation is still ongoing and additional arrests may occur. Continue reading Former Anderson County Commissioner among Those Arrested in Palestine Park

TYLER – A Smith County constable has started serving his time in a federal prison. Shortly before 2:00 Friday afternoon. Precinct 1 Constable Henry Jackson was booked into the federal prison at Seagoville. He pleaded guilty to four counts of willful failure to file a federal income tax return and was sentenced to six months in prison. He was also ordered to pay restitution of over $160,000. Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran sent Jackson a two-page letter asking him to resign. He also repeated the request in a face to face meeting. Jackson has refused.

TULSA, Okla. (AP/STAFF) – A federal judge has denied motions to dismiss a civil fraud lawsuit against an Oklahoma emergency medical services company and a Texas contractor. The Tulsa World reports a U.S. District Judge has rejected requests for dismissals by the Emergency Medical Services Authority, its former CEO, Texas contractor Paramedics Plus and others named in the case. The lawsuit filed in January claims that Paramedics Plus and its parent company, East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System, entered into a $20 million kickback scheme to obtain and keep a profitable public ambulance services contract awarded by the authority and its director. It claims the “pay to play” scheme violates anti-kickback statutes and the False Claims Act. Company officials say they “fundamentally disagree with the allegations” in the lawsuit and believe the claims are unsupported.

The 14th national prescription drug take back day is today. There is a site in Tyler to help you get rid of old medications. The Medication Cleanout Event is being hosted by the Tyler Police Department and the Broadway Square Mall. It will be set up from 10:00 till 2:00 in the mall parking lot on the northeast side of J.C. Penney. You just drive up and drop off your unused and expired medications for safe disposal without getting out of your vehicle. The event is free with no questions asked. Continue reading Take Back Drug Day in Tyler

LONGVIEW – Yahoo emails are once again being accepted by Gregg County. Earlier this month the county suspended Yahoo emails because of the recent increase in viruses and other suspicious activity. At the time, County Judge Bill Stoudt said the action was the recommendation of the county’s IT director, Donald Miller. Thursday, Miller lifted the suspension. But they will continue to closely monitor the system. Nearly seven years ago, an international cyber attack on the Gregg County Tax Assessor cost at least seven taxing entities a total of about $200,000. Investigators traced the malware to a Russian website.

TYLER – A Longview man has been arrested following a federal indictment on drug charges. The indictment against Joey Deshun Hymes, 39, was unsealed Thursday following his arrest. He is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The indictment says he distributed 28 grams of cocaine on December 20th of last year. He is scheduled to appear at a detention hearing next Tuesday. He remains in the Smith County Jail. He could get up to 40 years in prison if convicted.

LONGVIEW – What started out as a criminal trespass case turned into a drug arrest in Longview. Arrested was Tristan Ray Griffith, 20, of Longview. Officers were called to East Hawkins Parkway Thursday afternoon. When the officer and his K-9 arrived, they were told a suspect was selling drugs. When they found Griffith, he was arrested for possession of marijuana. He was also issued a criminal trespass warning for the location. Griffith is currently free on bond. Continue reading Drugs Seized in Longview Arrest

KILGORE – Several persons have been injured in a fire at a Kilgore apartment complex. The fire was reported just before daybreak Friday morning at the Stone Ridge Apartments on Stone Ridge Road. When they arrived firemen found one building, which contained 8 apartments, on fire. The injuries occurred when some of the residents jumped from their second story apartments. The injuries were said not to be serious. The fire was contained to that one building. The displaced residents were taken to Forest Home Baptist Church to await the Red Cross. Investigators are now trying to find out how the fire started.

LONGVIEW — A massive fire in North Longview Thursday afternoon has been extinguished. KETK reports it started around 3:00. Officials said high winds helped the fires spread in a Gregg County pasture and woods. First responders evacuated residents along Williams Road. After five hours, around 8:00, the scene was cleared, with the command officer telling everyone it was OK to go home. The Gregg County Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the blaze that scorched 20 acres.

ARP — New details have emerged after the Arp Elementary School counselor was arrested. According to KETK, Barbara Lynn Orpineda, 31, of Arp, was arrested Wednesday by the Arp Police Department on two counts of improper relationship between a student and educator and two counts of sexual assault of a child. She was booked into the Smith County Jail on $200,000. She has since been released. It’s uncertain whether the accusations happened on school grounds or inside Orpineda’s home or elsewhere. The accused counselor was a former teacher at Arp Middle School. She recently transferred to the elementary school and has been working on a yearly probationary period without being certified through the state. Continue reading New Information on Arp Counselor Accused of Improper Relationship

MARSHALL – A Marshall robbery suspect is in jail. Friday morning Marshall police said they were looking for Dandre Torrez Dunn, 24, of Marshall. A warrant had been issued charging him with one count of aggravated robbery. He is said to be the armed ram who robbed a convenience store on East End Boulevard South around 10:00 Monday night. The suspect escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect was taken into custody by Longview police Thursday afternoon.

LONGVIEW – More information has been released about a fatal Longview shooting. The October 15 shooting on Annette Drive killed Nicholas Trevion Johnson, 22. He died from multiple gunshot wounds. Charged with murder in the case is Cody Dewayne Fortman, 21. The Longview News Journal reports, according to an arrest warrant that has been returned in the case, the shooting followed and argument between the two men over a woman and money. Fortman remains in the Gregg County Jail under a $100,000 bond.

JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville is getting a new driver license office. The current office on East Pine Street will close at 5:00pm Friday. The new office on East Rusk Street will open Wednesday morning at 8:00. It will be nearly 3,000 square feet and feature queuing technology that allows customers to get in line online before they arrive at the office.

LONGVIEW – State funds are coming to Longview for one of its trails. The Texas Transportation Commission announced grant funding in the amount of $3,028,235 for expansion of Guthrie Creek Trail. When completed, the extension will provide a connection between the existing Paul Boorman Trail and Cargill Long Park Trail. Together, the three trails will combine to provide over 10 miles of continuous Shared Use Paths in Longview. Earlier this year, the Longview Economic Development Corporation (LEDCO) funded $1,983,923 million for Phase 1 of the project from Cargill Long Park to Akin Park. LEDCO also has pledged to provide up to an additional $4,678,013 for grant matching and other grant-ineligible costs associated with Phase 2 and 3. Construction is expected to begin this year on Phase 1.

MARSHALL – A Marshall businessman and former two term Marshall city commissioner is announcing he is running for the Texas house. Garrett Boersma announced Thursday he is running for District 9, the post currently held by Chris Paddie. The district includes the counties of Cass, Marion, Harrison, Panola, Shelby and Sabine. Boersma is currently president of Commercial Resources, a commercial real estate development and financing company.

TYLER – Tyler school officials were on hand Thursday morning for groundbreaking ceremonies at John Tyler and Robert E Lee High Schools. In the spring, voters approved the District’s $198 million bond proposal that included renovations and additions to both of the city’s high schools. TISD says, because of the package’s approval, around 5,000 students will be in new or renovated spaces. The John Tyler renovations will run $87 million, because the school is newer and they will be able to use more of the existing buildings. The Lee renovations will run around $122 million because the only current buildings to remain will be the field house, auditorium and varsity gym. And the school will stretch south to Shiloh Road.

MARSHALL – Marshall police are looking for a man accused of an armed robbery. The suspect is identified as Dandre Torrez Dunn, 24, of Marshall. A warrant has been issued for Dunn charging him with one count of aggravated robbery. He is said to be the armed man who robbed a convenience store on East End Boulevard South around 10:00 Monday night. The suspect escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash. You can go to https://www.dropbox.com/l/scl/AACRYYAvoZm7XwlPgzCtJ1sT1g1U4Be1bL8 and see a video of the robbery made by the store’s surveillance cameras.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man was arrested after police say he was involved in a hit-and-run after leaving the scene of another hit-and-run. According to the Longview News-Journal, Brandon James Brown, 18, of Longview was released Monday on $5,000 bond, charged with accident involving injury. Police said Brown was arrested Monday evening at a convenience store parking lot at West Marshall Avenue and H.G. Mosley Parkway, where a witness to a hit-and-run was blocking Brown’s car from leaving the scene. Brown told police he was speeding, lost control and struck a pickup. Police said that happened as Brown was fleeing the scene of the earlier wreck.

TYLER – A Tyler man has been reported missing and his family is asking for the public’s help in locating him. He is Brandon Harward, 32. They feel he may be in danger. He is diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, which is an autism spectrum disorder. His family says he may be having a breakdown or in distress. Harward was last seen walking west on Shiloh Road about 2:00 Monday afternoon near Rose Rudman Park. He moved to Tyler more than two months ago and worked at Walmart on Troup Highway near Shiloh Road and lived in an apartment on Shiloh Road. He left without any of his belongings including his bicycle, wallet, phone and keys. He is 5-feet-7-inches tall, weighs 130 pounds, is blond-haired and balding, and has blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a long sleeve gray shirt with blue jeans and black dress shoes. If you have seen him or know where he can be found, you are asked to contact Tyler police.

CHAPEL HILL – Detectives with the Smith County Sheriff’s Department have found a credit card skimmer. It was found Wednesday on a pump at a station on Highway 64 East in the Chapel Hill area. The device captures credit card information which is used by the thieves to make fraudulent purchases. Detectives believe that this is part of a large criminal operation targeting a large area.

KILGORE – The Gregg County Sheriff’s Department is looking for two men who robbed the E-Z Mart on Highway 135 in Kilgore. It occurred around 4:15 Sunday morning. The suspects are described as two thin males; both wearing dark clothes and both had their faces concealed. They were said to be driving the car pictured here. You can go to the department’s Face Book page for an audio recording of the robbery.

PALESTINE – Palestine police are looking for the armed man who robbed a service station Tuesday night. It happened at the Mini Mart station on West Palestine Avenue. He was last seen running across the parking lot and into a residential area. A search was unable to locate him. He is described as a black male wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt, black pants, and a white or gray skull mask. The suspect had what appeared to be duct tape around both of his hands as well as both of his shoes. He was armed with a black handgun. No injuries were reported.

TYLER – Republican Texas House Speaker Joe Straus has announced he will not seek re-election. He will step aside in December of next year when his term ends. Tyler Republican State Representative Matt Schaefer was pleased with Straus’ decision. Scahefer said we have had conservative leadership from Governor Abbott and Lt. Governor Patrick. But he said, “we have had a speaker of the house who has stood in opposition to much of what conservatives have been asking for.” Continue reading Rep. Schaefer Applauds the Decision of Joe Straus

KILGORE – A new vice president of administrative services and chief financial officer is on the job at Kilgore College. He is Fred Gore, who comes to Kilgore from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, where he served as associate vice president of finance. Gore graduated from The University of Texas at Austin’s Honors Business Program with a bachelor’s of business administration, earned a master of business administration in finance and accounting from Missouri State University and is currently pursuing a doctorate of business administration in higher education finance from the University of South Florida Muma College Of Business. Gore has worked 31 years as a CPA and 25 years in the non-profit business world which he says will really help with the technical part of accounting at Kilgore College.