KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW – A man remains in the Gregg County Jail following a slow-speed chase in Longview. Joshua David Verhoef, 35, was arrested on Friday. He is identified as as being from Houston but has lived in White Oak. It all started with a report of a reckless driver at Horseshoe Lane. and Tall Pines Avenue. He refused to stop and led officers on a 12 minute chase that never exceeded 30 miles an hour. He was finally stopped on Johnston Street where officers were forced to break the truck window to remove him. He was taken to a hospital for treatment before being booked into jail, his 33rd visit to the jail since April 2000.

HENDERSON — 34-year-old Randall Looney II of Henderson has been sentenced to 75 years in prison for multiple cases of aggravated assault. KETK reports a jury convicted him after a trial that spanned nearly two weeks. According to court documents, Looney was accused of breaking in a door to find his then-girlfriend. Looney allegedly went on to stab a man three times in the back before grabbing his girlfriend and forcing her from the house. He is required to serve 30 years before being eligible for parole.

ATHENS – A Henderson County sheriff’s deputy, who stopped to assist two motorists, ended up arresting them on drug charges. Deputy Tell Walker saw a dark-colored passenger car being pushed off Highway 31 into a downtown Athens parking lot around 5:00 Monday morning. When the couple appeared to be unsteady and intoxicated, he conducted a search of their vehicle. Two plastic baggies containing a white powdery substance under the driver’s and passenger’s seats. The field test kit determined the substance to be methamphetamine. Edgar Ismael Espino, 23, and Destiny Lanette Conner, 18, both of Athens, were charged with possession of a controlled substance.

TYLER — Tyler police have released the names of a couple involved in what’s believed to be a murder-suicide. According to officials, Anna Marie Lee, 65, and Stephen Wayne Lee, 64, were found dead Sunday morning. Police said they were called to 1207 Wimbledon Street around 8:20 after a family member found the couple and called authorities. Investigators believe Mr. Lee shot his wife and then took his own life. The investigation is ongoing. Autopsies have been ordered.

TYLER — Tyler Innovation Pipeline memberships are available beginning today. According to a city news release, the Pipeline brings together those working to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and community involvement. The brick and mortar location is on East Oakwood Street across from the old Cotton Belt Depot. Continue reading Tyler Innovation Pipeline Memberships Available

TYLER — Starting today, the Tyler Streets Department will be replacing a drainage culvert on W. Douglas Blvd., south of Front Street in the hospital district. During these repairs, West Douglas will be closed to through traffic between the north and the south entrances to the adjacent parking lot. Traffic will still have access on the north from Front St. and on the south from E. Douglas Blvd./Houston St. The closure will run through Friday, May 12, at noon.

LONGVIEW — The High Street underpass in Longview has been reduced to two lanes. Two-way traffic will be maintained along High Street in both directions from Tyler Street to Cotton Street, but left turns will not be allowed at Cotton or Tyler as the northbound and center turn lanes will be closed to traffic. Officials say the closure is necessary to make street pavement repairs, to install a brick veneer, and replace the sidewalk, curb, and gutter. Continue reading High Street Additional Underpass Lane Closures (Tyler to Cotton)

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in TxDOT’s Tyler District during the Week of May 8. 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.

Smith County – Tyler Maintenance crews plan to conduct edge repairs on FM 2607 and pavement repairs on FM 2493 north of Bullard. Expect lane closures at both work locations. Continue reading TxDOT’s Weekly Roadwork Update

CANTON – Assistance continues for East Texas residents affected by recent tornadoes. Starting Monday, Red Cross representatives will be at the Canton Distribution Center at the Canton Fair Grounds. They will be able to answer questions and make arrangements for casework. The Red Cross’s Tammy Prater says they will remain there as long as the center remains open. Additionally, says Prater, mobile caseworkers are out in every affected community trying to reach as many victims as possible. Continue reading Assistance Continues for East Texas Storm Victims

EAST TEXAS – John Tyler and Robert E. Lee High Schools will be undergoing major renovations in the next few years. That’s the outcome of Saturday’s bond election, in which the makeovers were approved by a margin of approximately 83 to 17 per cent. School district officials value the project at $198 million. Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford is among those celebrating. He says the results show “Tyler’s commitment to its kids, and it’s a game changer for generations of kids in Tyler, Texas.” Next up: fine-tuning architectural plans, with an eye on breaking ground next spring. Crawford estimates construction will take about two years. Continue reading Tyler ISD Bond Proposal Passes by Wide Margin; Other Election Results

LONGVIEW — A Longview man was arrested Thursday after reportedly leading officers on a high-speed chase. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Kerry Dale Rawlinson, 61, was held Friday on bonds totaling $17,500. He was charged with evading arrest detention with a vehicle and possession of a prohibited weapon. Continue reading Police: Longview Man Leads Officers on High-Speed Chase

TYLER — A new historical restoration project has been announced by the Friends of the Mayfair, a non-profit organization. According to a City of Tyler news release, the project will focus on bringing the Mayfair Building on West Front Street to full restoration. City officials say the organization is committed to saving the Mayfair Building and has been working to complete a preservation master plan for its restoration. The building is owned by the City of Tyler, which has allowed the Friends of the Mayfair group the opportunity to spearhead and work on the project. Continue reading Historic Mayfair Building Restoration Project Announced

WASHINGTON (AP/Staff) – The Republican chairman of a House committee is telling several government agencies to hold back communications with his committee when asked to provide them under the federal open records law. Jeb Hensarling of Dallas, whose district stretches into East Texas, says those are congressional records — not agency records covered under the Freedom of Information Act. He says they often contain sensitive and confidential information. The advocacy group Public Citizen says Hensarling’s letter violates the spirit of the open records law. Hensarling is the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. The committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Maxine Waters of California, says it’s hypocritical of Hensarling to shield himself from the oversight of the American people. She says people should ask, “What is he trying to hide?”

TYLER – Smith County Sheriff’s deputies are looking for two persons who robbed a man north of Tyler. It happened shortly after 1:15 Friday afternoon in a business parking lot on U.S. Highway 271 at Interstate Highway 20. The victim had gone there to meet a person to sell a cell phone. He was approached by two black males with a handgun who stole his phone. They fled in a in a tan Mercury Grand Marquis. A black woman was seen in the vehicle. No one was injured during the offense. Deputies searched the area but were unable to locate the suspects. The investigation is active and ongoing. Continue reading Smith County Robbery Probed

DALLAS — A Dallas County jury has reached a guilty verdict in the death penalty capital murder trial of a former Dallas Mavs Maniac Dancer, who was a highly regarded high school footballer in Tyler. Erbie Bowser was accused of killing four people in two cities in August of 2013. The victims were his estranged wife, her daughter, his ex-girlfriend, and her daughter. The case has now moved on to the life or death punishment hearing. Bowser is a 1987 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler, where he was an all-state football selection in 1986.

TYLER – Two teens, who are being called runaways, are being sought by Smith County Sheriff’s deputies. Angel Michelle Owen and Mason Alexander Bautista, both who are 15, were reported as runaways on Wednesday. They were last seen in a Gold 2003 Jeep Liberty with Texas License Plates CLL-2436. The vehicle has since been observed via video and both juveniles were safe at that time. The Sheriff’s Office and the Whitehouse Police Department are asking for the public’s help in locating these two. Continue reading Two Smith County Runaways Sought

AUSTIN – An employee with the Texas Department of Transportation has been presented the 2017 RAMP (Routine Airport Maintenance Program) Coordinator of the Year award. She is Rebecca Petty, who is employed with the TxDOT-Tyler District. She has maintained 100% grant participation in the program from airports located within the district. According to a TxDOT news release, working with district maintenance staff, she has provided project and contract management assistance, resulting in extensive pavement maintenance work utilizing district work forces and contracts. Continue reading Tyler Resident Wins State Award

LONGVIEW – A Boy Scout troop in Longview will be holding a special celebration on Saturday. It will be celebrating its 100th anniversary. Scout Troop 201 was chartered in 1917, a little under seven years after the Boy Scouts of America was founded. The Longview Lions Club is the current sponsor of the troop, a role it has held since 1935. The celebration will be held from 11:30 till 4:30 at the scout hut above Teague Park. Among those on hand for the celebration will be Governor Gregg Abbott. He joined that scout troop in 1967, when the troop celebrated its 50th anniversary.

RUSK – A new company is now operating the Texas State Railroad. At a Wednesday night meeting, the railroad’s board finalized a contract with the Western Group to operate the railroad. The new group plans food service and shopping options at the Rusk and Palestine depots and a new rolling stock museum, that will be located in Palestine. They plan to have improvements underway by the middle of the month and completed by mid-June, with the exception of the museum. Included in the planned upgrades are coach car renovations, new interiors for cabooses, and the makeover of unique observation car #1511 which has hosted Texas governors and U.S. presidents going back to Lyndon Johnson. Continue reading The Western Group Managing the Texas State Railroad

GLADEWATER – Gladewater school trustees have named a former middle school principal as their new school superintendent. After two final interviews and a one hour executive session Thursday night, school trustees named Sedric Clark as the district’s lone superintendent finalist. He had been the Foster Middle School principal from 2004 to 2010. He left to become principal at Mansfield High School in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana, where he is today. They must now wait at least 21 days before officially offering Clark a contract. He will succeed J.P. Richardson, who resigned in March to become school superintendent in Tatum.

TYLER — After picking up 10 DWI arrests in the past 13 years, a Tyler man has been sentenced to eight years in prison. According to KETK, Smith County judicial records name 44-year-old Christopher Rawlings. His most recent DWI arrest was in July of last year. Judicial records show Rawlings’s sentence began Tuesday.

LONGVIEW – A woman suspected of shoplifting is in custody on drug charges. The police were called to the Family Dollar Store on East Marshall. A clerk said it was thought that Jessica Ferguson, 36, of Longview had placed several items in her purse, and they were unsure if she had paid for them. The Longview News Journal reports officers didn’t find any stolen items. But she was arrested on an outstanding warrant for camping within the city. And, when, a small bag of meth fell out of her bra, she was also charged with possession of a controlled substance. She remains in the Gregg County Jail.

ATHENS — The body of an Athens teen was recovered after officials say he tried to swim from the shoreline to an island on Coleman Park Pond Thursday night. According to KETK, three people reported their friend, identified as James Riley Wallace, 19, went under when trying to swim around 8:00 p.m. Officials from the Athens Fire and Police Departments, as well as a dive team from Longview and an ETMC helicopter, searched the pond and surrounding areas. Wallace’s body was recovered around 12:55 this morning. Foul play is not suspected. The body has been sent for autopsy.

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office completed a compliance check of registered sex offenders who reside in Smith County. Of the 373 individuals who were checked on May 3rd and 4th, eighteen were found to be out of compliance. Unannounced residential checks are conducted on a regular basis. The residential checks were executed by approximately 40 officers from eight different local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, coordinated with the U.S. Marshal’s Service Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force. Participation agencies included the Tyler Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Criminal Justice – OIG, Smith County Adult Probation Office, Palestine Police Department, Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshal’s Office.

PALESTINE – A warning is being sent out to the residents of Palestine about a fraudulent service that is attempting to collect payment from the citizens on behalf of the city. There is an online bill pay service, identified as doxo.com., which has a link established to collect payments for water services from the city. According to a news release from the city, this service is not authorized to take payments on behalf of the City of Palestine and any payment sent through this service is not forwarded to the city in a timely manner. Utilizing this service may dramatically decrease the speed of a payment, causing the payment to be received by the city long after the due date. This may result in a disconnection of services, creating inconvenience to the water customer. The service also charges a premium service fee to the customer for using the system. Continue reading Palestine Fraud Alert

WASHINGTON, D.C. — One of the 217 Congress members who helped the Obamacare repeal pass the U.S. House was Tyler’s Louie Gohmert. He offered a thumbnail on what helped push the bill through. Gohmert told KTBB, “We had gotten with the president, and he put pressure on, we got some provisions in the bill that will help us bring premiums down sooner rather than later.” Gohmert added, “It’s been a good day…we’re gonna get control back to patients.” 213 House members voted against the bill, which now heads to the Senate.

TYLER – A Smith County couple is sentenced in Tyler federal court for health care fraud violations. Gerard Dengler, 61, and Suzanne Dengler, 52, pleaded guilty back in January. Judge Thad Heartfield sentenced Gerard to to 24 months in Federal prison. Suzanne received a sentence of five years of probation. Both were also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $161,695, which represented the loss to Medicare. Last December, the Denglers and Elite Lab agreed to pay the United States $3.75 million to settle a false claims act lawsuit in connection with the case. This stems from a lawsuit filed by former Elite Lab employee. Continue reading Smith County Couple Sentenced in Federal Court

ATHENS – An Athens man who died in a fire on April 22nd has been identified. Authorities say it was Arthur Delmar Jones, 77, who died in that fire on East College Street. The fire was was reported just before 8:45 that night. Jones lived on the second floor of that two story home. Early the next morning, firemen found a his body in the debris. Athens Fire Chief John Mcqueary says the fire was started when two electrical cords, which had been connected, overheated the homes circuit box.