KTBB News, Weather, Talk

KILGORE — The 32nd season of a Texas tradition is in full swing. The Texas Shakespeare Festival continues till July 30 in the Anne Dean Turk Fine Arts Center on the campus of Kilgore College. This year’s productions include Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Richard III.” Other productions are “Cyrano de Bergerac,” the musical “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” the children’s production “The Witch of Pickle Patch,” and “Did You Hear Thunder.” You can get tickets and more information at http://www.TexasShakespeare.com or by calling the ticket office at 903-983-8601.

TYLER — Tyler Pounds Regional Airport has posted an online survey seeking input from residents on preferred destinations. Officials say the airport has recently been in contact with several airlines about adding service to and from Tyler. The questionnaire form says the different airlines have shown an interest in servicing Tyler Pounds once the construction on Runway 4/22 is completed; that’s expected no later than December 2018. Airport officials say each airline has asked for data to support the service it would offer. Several potential destinations are included in the survey. The possibilities include Houston, additional flights to DFW, and a some out-of-state locations. You can go to http://www.cityoftyler.org/Portals/0/Documents/Airport/Surveys/Air%20Travel%20Questionaire.pdf to learn more and take fill out the questionnaire.

EAST TEXAS — A North Carolina man indicted last month on an aggravated sexual assault of a child charge in Longview has been arrested. Javier Bahena Quintana, 42, of Clemmons, North Carolina, is awaiting extradition to Gregg County. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Quintana has been jailed in Guilford County, North Carolina, since May 5. Quintana is accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl at least three times between April 2010 and May 2011. He also faces an indecency with a child/sexual contact charge from April 2016. A Gregg County grand jury indicted Quintana on the charges in May. The girl told investigators during a Dec. 30, 2016, video interview that Quintana sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions.

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY — A Chandler man accused of murder is indicted by a Nacogdoches County Grand Jury. Lester Butcher, 54, was booked into the Nacogdoches County Jail June 30 on a $1 million bond. According to KETK, Nacogdoches County Deputies discovered the body of James Steitler during a welfare check on April 10. Officials said the body showed obvious signs a homicide had occurred. Butcher was arrested in Henderson County.

EAST TEXAS – Tyler renews an annual tradition with its big 4th of July fireworks show. Tyler police alert drivers of route changes for the celebration at Lindsey Park. All traffic attending the Fireworks show at Lindsey Park is required to enter at the main entrance off of Spur 364.The Greenbriar Road park entrance will be for exit only. Beginning at 9:00 tonight, Spur 364 at Loop 323 will be closed to all westbound traffic. Officers are requesting any resident who lives off Spur 364, who needs to get home during this time, to present their driver’s license showing proof of their residency to the officers stationed at this location. Officers will allow residents only to proceed westbound on Spur 364. After the fireworks show all eastbound traffic on Spur 364 will be forced to turn right onto Loop 323 heading towards Highway 155. Continue reading Tyler, Longview Hold July 4 Celebrations, Issue Safety Advisories

MARSHALL — If you’re planning to shoot fireworks, beware of one that is seemingly safe for kids but can cause serious injuries. 4th of July celebrations are planned statewide, and many families will celebrate with casual fireworks displays of their own. Marshall Fire Chief Reggie Cooper says a popular firework marketed to kids can be very dangerous. Cooper says sparkers “put off a tremendous amount of heat,” resulting in numerous injuries to children. In 2016, there were an estimated 900 emergency room visits related to sparklers. Roughly 400 of those injuries were children under the age of four.

RUSK – Court documents show Rusk Volunteer Fire Chief Donald Lankford has entered into a pre-trial diversion program and charges against him have been dismissed. KETK reports as part of the agreement, Lankford must undergo six months of probation, 20 hours of community service (may self-report), and pay a $500 fee. Lankford, 44, applied to the program while facing two counts of deadly conduct via the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. The charges stem from an incident in December 2015 when he chased after two teenagers, who claimed the fire chief tried to run them off the road twice. He allegedly followed them all the way to a neighboring county. Continue reading Rusk VFD Chief Agrees to Pre-Trial Diversion Program, Charges Dismissed

TYLER — A local health official will soon move into the top position with a nationwide health leaders’ group. The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) has elected George T. Roberts, CEO of the Northeast Texas Public Health District, to its 2017-2018 Board of Directors as its new Vice President. Roberts began his one-year term as Vice President on July 1, and he will then become the President of NACCHO in July 2018. In a news release, Roberts says he’s “honored to be part of NACCHO’s solutions to the growing healthcare needs of our country.” As the governing body, the NACCHO Board of Directors is NACCHO’s public face and represents members in matters of policy, public health practice and collaboration with health partners in the public and private sectors, according to the news release.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man remains in jail following his Thursday arrest after police said he injured his girlfriend, sending her to the hospital. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report bond was set at $7,500 for Emile Fitzgerald Porche, 48. He’s charged with assault of a family/household member with previous conviction. Police say his girlfriend told officers that Porche had slammed her onto the ground and hit her with a lawn chair Thursday on Wylie Circle. Porche has three previous convictions for assault/family violence.

KILGORE — Four East Texans were arrested Thursday in Kilgore after police said they led officers on a high-speed chase, pulled into a woman’s garage and attempted to hide inside her home. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Andre Renauld Taylor (pictured), 33, of Kilgore, Georgelee Holt, 30, of Longview, Cheyanne Renee Worthington, 23, of Kilgore and Summer Dawn Wyatt, 22, of Kilgore were booked into the Gregg County jail. A trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety attempted to stop Taylor on Thursday on Texas 31 for speeding, reporting that Taylor was driving 109 mph in a 65 mph zone. Taylor led the trooper on the chase for about 12 minutes before turning onto Echo Lane in Kilgore, entering a private driveway and garage, then crashing into a deep freezer, the trooper said. The trooper said four people then fled the vehicle and entered the home. The trooper kicked in the front door of the home and found Worthington and Holt hiding in the living room. Continue reading Suspects Arrested Following High Speed Chase

TYLER – A Smith County Sheriff’s deputy has been injured and a suspect officers have been chasing has been arrested. The chase started around 3:00 Sunday morning on North Loop 323 and County Road 35. The chase hit speeds up to 105 miles an hour, and the suspect even turned off his lights as he drove along County Road 492. On County Road 489, the suspect’s vehicle collided with another deputy’s vehicle. Sheriff Larry Smith says the patrol unit appeared to have been intentionally rammed by the suspect, identified as Dabrett Black, 32, of Lindale. The deputy was treated and released from a Tyler hospital. Black was charged with evading arrest, aggravated assault on a public servant and reckless driving. He remains in the Smith County Jail.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of July 3rd. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.

Due to the high volume of traffic during the holiday, TxDOT-Tyler will not allow lane closures on its construction and maintenance projects through Tuesday, July 4. Work will resume Wednesday, July 5.

In Smith County, spot repair operations continue Thursday, July 6, on I-20 at various entrance and exit ramps as well as some mainlane locations. Expect lane closures at all work locations. Once completed, operations move to Van Zandt County. Continue reading TxDOT Road Projects Update

EAST TEXAS – Strong thunderstorms moved through East Texas Saturday, knocking trees and disrupting power. At one time, over 22,000 people were without electricity. Hardest hit appears to be the Longview area where over 14,000 were without power. In the Marshall area, the figure was put at 2,500. In the Tyler area, around 1,700 people were without power.

PALESTINE – An arrest has been made in the murder of 46 year old Ricki Deann Taylor of Palestine. The police department, on their Facebook page, announced they have arrested her ex-husband, Andrew Glenn Taylor, 50, and charged him with murder. He is currently in the Anderson County Jail under a $1 million bond. Detectives got a search warrant for Taylor on Friday and he was arrested, without incident, at his home on Magnolia Street. The body of the woman was found Friday night, June 23rd, in a remote location between Grapeland and Latexo in Houston County. She was last seen last Wednesday night, June 21th, and reported missing the following day. Her blue Ford pickup was found in Willie Myers Park in Palestine. The autopsy report said she died from a gunshot wound to the head.

TYLER – A lone gunman has robbed a Tyler business. It happened around 3:00 Friday morning at the Exxon station on the North Northeast Loop. The station employee said a man with a handgun entered the store and escaped in an unknown direction with an undisclosed amount of money. He is described as being possibly a Hispanic male with a dark beard. He was wearing a Black hat, a black jacket, and black pants. No injuries were reported.

LONGVIEW – Eight Longview retailers have been issued citations for selling tobacco to minors. The citations came during and undercover sting operation on Friday. Police officers, along with juveniles under 18 years of age entered 32 Longview stores. On their Facebook page, Longview police say they encourage you to educate your children and employees of the dangers and consequences of using and selling tobacco products to minors. Continue reading Citations Issued in Longview Tobacco Sting Operation

TYLER – An East Texas man has been served with a warrant in his Tyler hospital room in connection with an officer involved shooting on June 17th. Kenneth Alan Carner, of LaRue, has been charged with aggravated assault on a public servant. Once released from the hospital will be taken to the Smith County Jail. He was shot by sheriff’s deputy Lauren Fite following a traffic stop on County Road 35, also known as Lavender Road. Continue reading Man Charged in Officer Involved Shooting

NACOGDOCHES – Two persons are in custody for sexual assault of a child, and one of them is the victim’s mother. Arrested were Noemi Saenz and Leonel Hernandez. The victim, who was under 14, told family members about the incident, who them reported it to authorities. After an interview with the youngster, a warrant was obtained for Hernandez. When investigators learned the mother was a witness to the sexual assault and did not report it, she was arrested. While Hernandez was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, the youngster’s mother has been charged with failure to stop or report an aggravated sexual assault, a class A misdemeanor. Both have been booked at the Nacogdoches County Jail.

KILGORE – With the approval of the school’s trustees, there will be a new director of the Kilgore College Fire Academy. Trustees are being asked to name Michael D Simmons to the post. He would replace Ronnie Gothard who retired at the end of May after serving as the director of the Fire Academy for more than 10 years. Simmons is currently the Assistant Chief of Operations at the Kilgore Fire Department, a position he has held since 2012. He also serves as coordinator of the City of Kilgore Emergency Management and is on the board of directors of the Texas Association of Fire Educators. Simmons will become full-time at the college in November, but is scheduled to be on campus each week until then to oversee the academy. Continue reading New Leadership for the Kilgore College Fire Academy

LONGVIEW – Two women have been arrested by Longview police for prostitution during a sting operation. The undercover operation occurred Thursday. Records indicate the two agreed to engage in sexual conduct with an undercover officer. Arrested were Penny Ann White, 37, (pictured) and Shawntell Aimie Wion, 27, both of Longview. Both were charged with Prostitution, previous conviction and booked into the Gregg County Jail.

There is a new leader today at CHRISTUS Health. Named as Senior Vice President of Group Operations for CHRISTUS Health is Chris Glenney. He also becomes Chief Executive Officer of CHRISTUS Health Northeast Texas. Glenney has been with the health care system since 1998. In in new position, he is succeding Lindsey Bradley, who has retired after 36 years in the health care industry. Continue reading A Promotion at CHRISTUS Health

TYLER – Law enforcement agencies in Northeast Texas will be out in force over the 4th of July weekend, trying to make your holiday a safe one. State troopers will be highly visible over the Independence Day weekend. Tyler police, with the help of a state grant, will have extra patrols on the street, looking for DWI motorists. Tyler police along with Smith County law enforcement agencies will be out in force for another ‘No-Refusal’ DWI campaign. If a suspected drunk driver refuses a breath test or blood test, a search warrant will be obtained and blood will be drawn by a nurse at the Smith County Jail. Tyler police spokesman Don Martin says this program has proven to be an effective tool to combat drunken drivers. Continue reading Efforts to Make Your Holiday a Safe One

KILGORE — A Kilgore woman has been indicted on two felony counts of aggravated kidnapping of a Kilgore College Rangerette. Police said Nancy Alice Motes, 57, kidnapped Alexa Blair, 19, at gunpoint from Blair’s home on Airline Drive in Longview. She was reportedly choked until she passed out and later was tied up in a storage building in Rusk County. Blair was able to escape and call police. Blair’s mother, Rangerettes Director Dana Blair, was at home at the time of the kidnapping and was bound by Motes. Authorities have declined to discuss possible motives for the kidnapping.

KILGORE – The Kilgore College administration, through routine internal processes, has found some money missing from the institution. Currently, the figure appears to be less than $6,000. The college police department is working in consultation with the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office and an external auditor to fully investigate the issue. An employee was terminated in late May as a result of the initial discovery. School president Dr. Brenda Kays said in a news release, “Certain matters are still under investigation and it would not be appropriate to comment further until those inquiries are complete.”

LINDALE — Authorities have released the name of the woman killed in a fire near Lindale. She is Bettie Lloyd, 78. Her dog also died in that blaze on County Road 4119 in the Lindale area around 5:00 Wednesday afternoon. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

PALESTINE – A member of the Smith County Sheriff’s Department is a finalist to become Palestine’s police chief. Sgt Darrell Colsin is one of four persons in the running for the Palestine post. With over 32 years of law enforcement experience, St. Colsin is the Public Information Officer and administrative supervisor for the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. A certified master peace officer, Coslin attended McNeese State University and Navarro College. Continue reading Smith County Deputy Could be Palestine’s New Police Chief

HARLETON – A Hallsville man has been charged in an accident near Harleton that killed a Gladewater teenager. Melvin Bradshaw, 24, is facing a variety of charges in the crash. Shortly after 12:45 Thursday morning, Brahshaw’s vehicle left County Road 4310 and crashed into a tree. Dead at the scene was 17 year old Bobbie Renee Burke. Brandshaw and two other persons in the vehicle were injured. Brandshaw was arrested Thursday and charged with intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle, intoxication assault with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury, driving with an invalid license with previous conviction and traveling at an unsafe speed.

HENDERSON – Nearly four dozen animals have been seized from property near Henderson. The SPCA of Texas along with the Rusk County Sheriff’s Department seized the 46 animals earlier this week. There were 28 dogs, nine kittens, six puppies, two cats and one turtle. Investigators also found multiple remains of deceased dogs. The animals were taken to a rescue center in Dallas. A custody hearing for the animals has been scheduled in Henderson on July 6th. Continue reading Animals Seized From Rusk County Property

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott is applauding a local state senator over a piece of legislation coming up in the special session July 18th. He is saluting Senator Bryan Hughes, of Mineola, a co-author of legislation that prohibits both state and local governments from deducting union dues from public employees paychecks. This issue was one of the 20 items the governor previously announced will be added to the special session agenda. He thanked him for the work on behalf of Texas taxpayers. The governor has said that Texas taxpayers should not be on the hook for collecting union dues.