KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Smith County Juvenile Services’ H.O.P.E. Academy is already receiving national acclaim after only two years of service to the community. According to a county news release, the H.O.P.E. (Helping Others Pursue Excellence) Academy was recently named as a 2016 Achievement Award Winner by The National Association of Counties. It is a six-to-nine-month residential program for male juvenile offenders, focusing on behavior modification and family/parent relationships and vocational training. Continue reading Smith County H.O.P.E. Academy Wins National Award

KILGORE — First responders were called to the scene of a structure fire at a strip club in Kilgore. The fire, at Fantasy Ranch on Highway 31 E, was reported just before 4:00 Monday morning. According to KETK, officials said the blaze began in the back of the building and that no one was inside when it started. Details were limited.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Weeks of June 27th. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.

Smith County construction projects updates:

Loop 323 West Widening
*Limits: Tyler’s West Loop and SH 31
*Contractor: Longview Bridge and Road, Ltd., of Longview
*Cost: $12 million
*Anticipated Completion Date: Winter 2016
The contractor continues to excavate the existing northbound lanes as well as conduct work on the new railroad bridge and Bellwood Road West. A temporary detour is in place. The project includes widening Loop 323 from SH 31 to Shaw Street. The speed limit on Loop 323 in the work zone has been reduced to 45 mph from SH 64 to
Shaw Street. Continue reading TxDOT Road Projects

LONGVIEW – A police standoff in Longview ends peacefully with the suspect in custody. It started just before 3:00 Saturday morning with a report of a man in a home on Mamon Drive. The man, Sonny Dee Edwards, Jr., 31, of Longview, was under a protective order and not suppose to be in the house. Two women in the home were able to escape through a bedroom window. Edwards was said to have fired several rounds at a police robot, slightly damaging it. Shortly after 10:30, Edwards surrendered peacefully. He was booked into the Gregg County Jail on charges of violation of a protective order and criminal mischief.

MARSHALL – A man found lying in a Marshall yard around 7:00 Friday night has died. Police were called to a home on Sledge Street where a man, who may have been shot, was found lying in his front yard. He later died at a Marshall hospital. When it was thought another person may have been barricaded in the house, a SWAT team was called out. No one was found in the residence. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death. The victim’s name has not been released. The investigation continues.

LONGVIEW – The Gregg County grand jury has indicted three persons in connection with the deaths of two men back in March. The bodies of Dekeilen Joe Nelson, 20, of Gilmer and Kevin Lorenzo Stephenson, 28, of Henderson, were found near railroad tracks off Estes Parkway. Indicted this week for capital murder in the case was Dustin Charles Bennett, 36.(pictured) Indicted for aggravated robbery in connection with the case were Craig Deallen Davison, 50, and Patricia Francine Baker, 19. The three were arrested in April at a home on Roy Green Road near Hallsville. The arrests were made as the result of a Crime Stoppers tip.

TYLER – The North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority has a new Executive Director. He is Christopher R. Miller of Mobile, Alabama. In his most recent position, Miller was the Executive Director of the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission, a position he has held for several years. For six years prior to that, he was the Deputy Director of the organization. Miller, who starts to work on Monday, is succeeding Interim Executive Director Everett Owen. The organization helps accelerate the development of transportation projects in Smith and 11 other Northeast Texas Counties.

TYLER – County Court at Law No. 3 Judge Floyd Getz is being appointed to handle Smith County Judge Joel Baker’s judicial duties. This follows Judge Baker’s recent suspension without by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. Administrative Judge Mary Murphy made the appointment this week. The appointment runs through the end of the year. At next Tuesday’s county commissioners’ meeting they will start the process of selecting an acting county judge. Continue reading Judge Getz Gets Some of Judge Baker’s Duties

TYLER – Police are investigating the robbery of a Tyler business. The Eggroll Express at 510 West Front Street was held up shortly before 11:45 Friday morning. A man with a covering over his face, armed with a handgun, fled with an undisclosed amount of money. He was described as a black male, about 5’9 and with a thin build. There was one customer in the store at the time of the robbery. No injuries were reported.

MARSHALL – The Marshall Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating one of their most wanted fugitives. He is Turahn Mitchell, 22, of Jefferson. He is accused of renting over $2,500 worth of property from a rent to own business and then not returning it after he stopped paying for it. He is described as a black male 5’9, 190 pounds with a medium build. Mitchell has black hair and brown eyes. If you know where he can be located, call 903-935-4575 or 903-935-4540. If you wish to remain anonymous call Marshall/Harrison County Crime Stoppers at 903-935-9969.

LONGVIEW – Longview police have arrested a burglary suspect. He was found ducking down behind a truck in the 3400 block of MLK Boulevard around 3:30 Friday morning. Officers say they learned that Jonarious Deyone Williams, 26, of Longview, had burglarized at least one vehicle. They also found additional property, which they believe was stolen, in the car he was driving. He was charged with burglary of a vehicle and booked into the Gregg County Jail.

TYLER – An attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s office is free on bond today after being arrested for DWI. Free after posting a $500 bond is Richard Lee Moore, 65. He was arrested after his car was stopped on Rice Road near Hollytree Drive in Tyler on Thursday.

LONGVIEW – There has been another healthcare merger in the area. In the wake of Tyler’s Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals’ May merger with CHRISTUS Health, Longview’s Good Shepherd Health System announces it is being acquired by Tennessee-based Duke LifePoint Healthcare. Included in the acquisition, Good Shepherd NorthPark in Longview, Good Shepherd Medical Center in Marshall, emergency services in Kilgore and provider offices at over 30 locations. Also included are immediate care centers and outpatient and health and wellness services across East Texas. Good Shepherd will now be working through the Gregg County Commissioners Court to amend its current lease for purposes of the acquisition. The chairman of the Board of Directors for Good Shepherd Health System, Bill Huffman, said in a news release, they are confident joining Duke LifePoint will allow them to continue to advance health care services in East Texas for generations to come.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Staff/ABC) — Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert angrily faces down congressional Democrats in the midst of a 25-hour sit-in over gun control — attributing the recent Orlando massacre to “radical Islam.” Speaking later with KETK, Gohmert said, “Even though…throughout congressional history there’ve been many, many occasions where there’s been vitriol, yelling at each other, and that kind of thing, we can’t find any precedent to one political party just violating the rules and acting so lawlessly, like they were some ‘Occupy Wall Street’ operation, a bunch of hooligans, and taking over the floor.” The Democrats finally ended their sit-in without getting the votes they wanted, but they vow to keep up their push for gun control.

PALESTINE – A suspect is in custody in connection with the death of a Palestine puppy that died after being set on fire. After information was received in the case, an arrest warrant was issued Wednesday for Perla Miranda Fernandez, 20, of Athens. Athens police took her into custody Thursday morning. She is being held on a $5,000 bond in the animal cruelty case. Others are still being sought. Six people were seen leaving the scene Monday morning after a witness said they poured a fluid on the three month old puppy and were then seen lighting it. The puppy suffered burns of 50% of her body.

LONGVIEW – An Upshur County man found guilty of four counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and four counts of indecency with a child, has been sentenced him to a long prison term. Gregg Lee Haden, 41, of Diana, was sentenced late Thursday afternoon to 380 years in prison. The jury sentenced Haden to 75 years on each of the assault charges and 20 on each of the indecency counts. State District Judge Alfonso Charles decided to stack the sentences. Haden was arrested in June of 2011 after arriving at a Longview location where he had agreed in a text to meet what he thought as a 14 year old for sex. But, instead of a boy, he had been communicating with an undercover officer.

TYLER – Tyler’s People Attempting to Help is again helping area residents stay cool this summer. PATH’s annual fan drive is underway to help battle, what they say is a huge problem. In the heat of summer, many don’t have air-conditioning to keep their homes at a comfortable, or safe temperature. So they are collecting box fans for residents in Smith and neighborning counties. Last year, PATH distributed 1,173 fans. PATH Executive Director Greg Grubb says there are several ways you can help. Tyler’s Home Depot is selling 20-inch box fans for only $10.00. Just mention PATH’s fan drive when you buy it. You can also bring donations or box fans to the PATH office on West Front Street in Tyler.

TYLER – An attorney acting on behalf of the state of Texas has declined to issue a necessary citation in the civil suit seeking the removal of Smith County Judge Joel Baker. The action was filed Thursday in 7th District Court in Tyler. The civil suit seeking the judge’s removal was filed by Grassroots America We The People. Attorney Jim Parsons of Palestine said the citation wasn’t necessary since circumstances arising since his appointment have mooted the issues raised in the petition. Those circumstances are the indictment of Baker and the State Commission on Judicial Conduct suspending the judge without pay. Grassroots spokeswoman JoAnn Fleming told KETK their attorney will file papers agreeing to suspend their petition. The judge is accused of holding illegal closed meetings He is also under investigation for allegations he was involved in explicit sexual behavior online while conducting government business. Continue reading Civil Suit Against Judge Baker Halted

TYLER — Ride sharing apps such as Uber and Lyft may be one step closer to hitting Tyler. According to KETK, City Manager Edward Broussard says officials hope to have a plan by August that they can bring to council for approval. They’re looking at similar sized cities such as Lubbock and Beaumont to see how it operates there. They’re also trying to create a level playing field with existing taxicab companies. Broussard says, “There may be some deregulation of our current taxicab industry in order to then make it competitive for them with the network-based companies that Uber and Lyft are.” Officials are also discussing different options in terms of safety and background checks for the drivers.

ANDERSON COUNTY – A recent graduate from Tyler’s All Saints Episcopal School has died from injuries received in an Anderson County accident. Kendall Spinks, 18, was removed Thursday from life support at Tyler’s Christus Trinity Mother Frances Hospital. She had been critically injured on Highway 155 on June 17th. The Department of Public Safety reports she lost control of her car while passing another vehicle. Her car ended up in a ditch where it rolled over several times. Investigators had earlier said that Spinks may have been texting prior to the accident.

TYLER — Downtown Tyler’s food truck park is rolling along nicely. According to KETK, the City Council passed its final approval Wednesday for a special permit allowing the park to move forward. The plan will be rolled out in two phases. Phase one will bring in the actual food trucks. Phase two, which was added in this week, includes turning the park into an entertainment venue with live music. Phase one is expected to be open sometime this fall. Phase two is still up in the air.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County DPS responded to a wreck on I-20 West near mile marker 573 between an 18-wheeler and an SUV. The SUV reportedly struck the back of the 18-wheeler, became lodged and caught fire. According to KETK, the driver of the SUV was transported to a local hospital for treatment. No major injuries were reported. The wreck is under investigation.

RUSK — A Rusk State Hospital employee is in big trouble for what he left behind at work. Last week a patient found a gun on the 243-bed campus. Staff was notified and the weapon was properly secured. Sources say the gun fell out of the psychiatric nurses’ assistant’s bag as he worked an overnight shift sunday. Hospital employees are not allowed to take firearms into state hospitals. Now the employee is on emergency leave pending disciplinary action. In a statement, a spokeswoman for the Department of State Health Services says the worker could be fired. The Office of Inspector General is investigating. A request for comment from that office has not yet drawn a response.

TYLER – Applications are now being accepted at Tyler City Hall for 17 city boards and commissions. They range from the Airport Advisory Board to the Civil Service Commission. Tyler City Clerk Cassandra Brager says applicants must reside inside Tyler City limits and should not have any delinquent city taxes, city utilities or other city assessments. In addition, they must not have any pending claims against the city. There may be additional requirements for some board positions. The application deadline is August 5th. The city council will make the appointments at the August 24th meeting. Continue reading Tyler Accepting Applications for City Boards and Commissions

PALESTINE — Police in Palestine report a pit bull puppy, set on fire, has died from her injuries. The search continues for the people who reportedly set the puppy on fire, and left it for dead around 7:15 Monday morning. It was found on South Street near the corner of San Jacinto Street. In a phone call, a witness told officers three black men, two black women, and one Hispanic woman were seen pouring an unknown accelerant on the puppy, and then lighting it. The three month old puppy suffered burns over 50% of her body. Continue reading Burned Palestine Puppy Dies

TYLER – A Longview man has died in a two vehicle accident in Tyler. The 18-wheeler and motorcycle collided around 6:00 Wednesday morning. The crash occurred on the Highway 271 extension in the 4100 block of NNE Loop 323. Dead at the scene was Christopher S. Rennison, 31. His motorcycle was heading south on the 271 extension when it collided with the truck which was making a left turn into the driveway of a business. Accident investigators say the driver of the tractor-trailer failed to yield the right-of-way to the motorcycle. The name of truck’s driver, who was not injured, has not been released.

GREGG COUNTY — The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office Fire Marshal has determined that a fatal fire was accidental and was caused by a child playing with an ignition source. The sheriff’s office announced Wednesday that the fire marshal has finished the investigation into the blaze, which killed a toddler June 14 on Victorian Oaks, north of Lake Cherokee. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Tasha LaShell Holland said her 3-year-old son, Ayden Bounds (pictured), was the boy who died. Two other children and the children’s father were injured but survived the blaze. Officials didn’t say which child was playing with the ignition source.

TYLER — A Flint woman has been charged with intoxication manslaughter following a two vehicle wreck on Paluxy Tuesday night. Investigators determined that just after 8:00, Charlotte Ann Williams-Gilliam, 42, was driving northbound in a White Buick when she lost control on the shoulder of the roadway. Officials said she over-corrected and traveled into the southbound lane striking a 2006 Black Nissan head-on with two occupants. Dead at the scene was Gilliam’s mother, Rose Mary Gilliam, 61. She was in the passenger seat of the Buick. Charlotte Gilliam and the two passengers of the Nissan were taken to local hospitals for treatment. Upon release, Charlotte Ann Williams-Gilliam was arrested for intoxication manslaughter, a 2nd degree felony. Her bond was set at $50,000.