KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW — On a 5 to 2 vote, The Spring Hill School Board has approved accepting a separation between the district and school superintendent Wes Jones. The voted followed a public hearing last night. KETK reports Jones will receive $127,411.08 for a buyout of his contract. That money will come from the fund balance and not the school budget itself. Jones has been the Spring Hill Superintendent since 2006.

BULLARD — Multiple crews responded to a truck explosion and fire on Highway 69 north of Bullard Friday afternoon. According to the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office, they received reports of a truck on fire at Lone Star Concrete shortly after 2:00 p.m. at 21107 Highway 69 South. Following the truck’s explosion, flames spread to a nearby field and burned half an acre, said fire officials at the scene. KETK reports the blaze, which began in the cab of the truck, was put out within 30 minutes. According to employees at the business, the truck was owned by an independent contractor and was not a Lone Star Concrete truck. Traffic was not affected by the accident. No injuries were reported. Flint-Gresham, Noonday and Whitehouse Fire Departments responded to the call.

KILGORE — A Kilgore man has been arrested following an investigation, which revealed he was knowingly purchasing stolen scrap metal, police said. Officers conducted an operation to confirm beliefs the business owner at Cisneros Scrap, at 820 State Highway 135 North, was buying stolen property. KETK reports that based on evidence recovered in the sting, Jose Cisneros-Tamoyo, 60, was taken into custody. Authorities say they were able to develop the suspicion through interviews with a person or people who had committed scrap metal theft and other investigation techniques. The suspect was charged with felony theft and metal recyclers/fail to furnish. Cisneros-Tamyo was booked into the Gregg County Jail. His bail was set at $5,000. If you have any further information in regard to this case, contact Detective Newbill at 903-983-1559.

PITTSBURG — An East Texas teacher and coach has resigned after being suspended from his position over allegations of inappropriate contact with a student. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. The Pittsburg Independent School District reports Colby Dickson, 26, was suspended indefinitely for unprofessional conduct prior to submitting his resignation. The 2014 school year was Dickson’s first full year at Pittsburg after a stint at Henderson ISD as the wide receivers football coach and a science teacher. Dickson followed legendary East Texas head coach Dickey Meeks to Pittsburg from Henderson. In high school, Dickson served as the quarterback for the Mount Vernon Tigers. We’ll update this story as more information comes in.

ALBA — Authorities are investigating a shooting in Wood County. KETK reports deputies received a call for help at around 8:15 Friday morning on reports of a trespasser on County Road 1600 near Alba. While en route to the location, officials received a second call stating a person had entered the home of the caller, and the individual had been shot by the homeowner. More law enforcement officers were dispatched at this time. Continue reading Officials: Homeowner Shoots Trespasser in Wood County

TYLER – The East Texan who shot one of the most-published photographs in history is in the spotlight with the Tyler Museum of Art’s latest major exhibition, “Scott M. Lieberman, M.D.: At the Vantage Point.” Opening to the public yesterday, “At the Vantage Point” represents the first-ever solo museum exhibition for Lieberman, the Tyler cardiologist who gained instant international acclaim for his digital photograph capturing the Space Shuttle Columbia’s re-entry disintegration over East Texas on February 1, 2003. The exhibition prominently features the image of the Columbia disaster that earned Pulitzer Prize nominations for Lieberman, the Tyler Morning Telegraph and the Associated Press, and landed on the cover of Time magazine and the front pages of more than 100 newspapers worldwide. Continue reading Scott Lieberman’s Photos Featured at TMA

TYLER — The Texas Comptroller’s Office announced this week that Smith County is the recipient of its highest financial transparency award. Smith County is one of only 10 counties in the state to achieve the Platinum designation in the Texas Comptroller Leadership Circle, the newest and highest level of transparency recognized by the State Comptroller’s Office. According to the Comptroller’s announcement, this award is reserved for entities that are “raising the bar for open government at the local level.” Continue reading County Awarded Top Honor For Financial Transparency

TYLER — The Women in Tyler Planning Committee honored “Women Who Care” Thursday at a luncheon held at the Rose Garden Center as a way to celebrate Women’s History Month. According to press materials, Women in Tyler was founded in 1999 to honor women who have contributed to the quality of life in the Tyler community. Each year, a diverse planning committee has gathered to select women who are then honored at a celebratory luncheon held each March. This year’s co-chairs are Sharon Brown and Christi Kennedy. Continue reading Six Honorees Celebrated at Women in Tyler Day Luncheon

LONGVIEW — A man struck by a car in Longview has died. It happened around 7:45 Thursday night in the 1700 block of East Marshall. Antonio Segura, Sr., 54, was walking southbound in the roadway when hit by a car driven by Wendell Deakins. Segura was rushed to Good Shepherd Medical Center where he later died. No charges are expected to be filed in the accident.

TYLER — A Tyler youngster has been injured in a vehicle/pedestrian accident. It happened around 5:00 yesterday afternoon in the 1700 block of North Moore Street. A woman had just crossed the street, but didn’t realize a three year old was trying to catch up with her. The youngster was hit by a pickup driven by Charles Miller. The child, who received minor injuries, was taken to the hospital for further evaluation. Tyler police Sgt. Paul Robeson said Miller was not at fault and no citations were issued.

WINONA — Investigators are trying to determine what caused a fire that destroyed a home in Winona. It was reported around 10:00 Thursday night in the 1700 block of County Road 366. According to KETK, a man at home when the fire started was able to escape safely and no injuries were reported.

RED SPRINGS — A two story home in Red Springs has been destroyed by fire. It was reported around 11:30 Thursday night in the 5300 block of County Road 334. KETK reports no one was at home when the fire started and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

DALLAS (AP) — A doctor says that quintuplets born in North Texas are doing “remarkably well.” Dr. Vijay Nama is director of neonatology at the Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. He told reporters Thursday that he expects the babies to remain in the hospital for six to seven weeks. Michelle Seals delivered four girls and one boy at the hospital on Tuesday. The babies were born at 29 weeks — about eight weeks early. Mia weighed 2 pounds 10 ounces, Tessa 2 pounds 14 ounces, Gracie 2 pounds 7 ounces, Rayleigh 2 pounds 8 ounces and Brant 3 pounds 6 ounces. Michelle Seals and her husband, Steven, also have a 2-year-old son. They live in Maud, 17 miles southwest of Texarkana.

TYLER — Tyler’s annual Azalea and Spring Flower Trail kicked off Friday morning at 10:00 with a ribbon cutting at the home of Guy & Joan Pyron at 212 W. Dobbs St. According to website information, the trail “travels through eight miles of residential gardens and historic homes sites.” Organizers note, “The two trails have been routed to maintain an orderly traffic flow so visitors can see as many flowers as possible.” A number of events are planned during the yearly celebration, which wraps up April 6. You can go to http://www.visittyler.com/azaleatrail for complete information.

LONGVIEW — Officials Thursday named the man seriously hurt when hit by a truck Wednesday in Longview. According to police, Lowell Harmer, 53, of Longview, remains hospitalized after he was hit while crossing West Marshall Avenue. KETK reports the turning lane from Spur 63 onto Marshall Avenue was closed for a short time as police investigated the accident. Harmer was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. No charges were filed against the driver of the truck as police say Harmer was at fault.

LONGVIEW — Gregg County Sheriff Maxey Cerliano says law officers have arrested a federal fugitive from Tyler for possession of a controlled substance and felon in possession of a firearm. Authorities say at about 3:00 Thursday morning, Gregg County deputies observed a black Ford truck traveling on Tryon Road with expired registration. When the deputies stopped the vehicle, the driver, 44-year-old Larry Shane Sillick of Tyler, was found to have an outstanding federal warrant for violation of probation. Officials say upon exiting the truck, Sillick dropped a purple-colored bag and stepped on it in an attempt to conceal it from deputies. Deputies found that the bag contained four baggies of suspected crystalline methamphetamine, later found to have a total weight of 7.8 grams. A search of the truck revealed a Ruger 9mm handgun in the console, according to officials. Continue reading Officials: Federal Fugitive Caught

TYLER – The Southwestern Institute of Forensic Science in Dallas has confirmed that the body found on March 17 on Highway 110 between Whitehouse and Tyler is that of Jacob Hamilton Garrett, 14, of Whitehouse. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office reports it received notification of the identity based on dental records. The family has been notified as to the positive identification. The family reported Garrett as a runaway on February 13, and the Sheriff’s Office utilized the media in an attempt to get the information out to the public. The autopsy revealed that no apparent foul play was involved; however, toxicology and other test results are pending and could take several weeks to determine the cause of death.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – An upcoming special episode of Investigation Discovery’s “Dark Minds” TV series says it has new information about confessed Alaska serial killer Israel Keyes. Keyes was believed to have killed at least 11 people before committing suicide in his Anchorage jail cell 15 months ago while awaiting a federal trial in the 2012 rape and strangulation murder of his last known victim, 18-year-old Samantha Koenig of Anchorage. Keyes was arrested in Lufkin, Texas, about six weeks later after using Koenig’s debit card. Three weeks later, her dismembered body was found in a frozen lake north of Anchorage. The two-hour, season-opening “Dark Minds” episode is scheduled to air April 2. The episode suggests a man who disappeared from Washington’s Olympia National Park in 2004 was a victim of Keyes.

MARSHALL — Harrison County officials said Wednesday there had never been any disturbance or domestic dispute calls at the home of Dudley Taylor II and Pamela Taylor, who died Tuesday in an what officials described as an apparent murder-suicide in Scottsville. “We’ve never answered a call out there, there’s never been a disturbance call out there, a call for help, ever at that location,” said Jay Webb, administrative investigator for the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report the couple married late last year. Webb confirmed that Dudley Taylor II was the brother of Harrison County Judge Hugh Taylor. Hugh Taylor was not available for comment Wednesday. The bodies have been sent to the North Louisiana Crime Lab in Shreveport for a forensic autopsy.

ATHENS — An Athens man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase. KETK reports troubles began for Michael Darrel Wideman, 26, in April of 2013. Henderson County officials say that’s when DPS Trooper Sam Nowell tried to pull Wideman over for a traffic violation. Wideman then sped up in an attempt to flee from Nowell. The ensuing chase reached speeds of 115 to 120 miles per hour as Nowell chased Wideman down Farm to Market Road 317, Loop 7, and finally Prairieville Street in North Athens.

LINDALE — A Smith County house has been destroyed fire. According to the Lindale Fire Department, the blaze erupted at the two-story home located in the 13,000 block of Farm to Market Road 724 just after 4:00 yesterday morning. Lindale, Van and Dixie firefighters all responded to the scene. Officials tell KETK the residents were able to escape unharmed and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

TYLER — Texas Senator Ted Cruz says he wants to repeal every word of Obamacare. His comment came in a Tyler stop yesterday. He told supporters his top priority is restoring jobs and economic growth. He said that is also the top priority for people of Tyler and East Texas as will as the entire lone star state. Cruz predicted 2014 would be a good year for Republicans. “I believe we’re gonna take control of the senate, we’re gonna retire Harry Reid as majority leader and the reason is simple, the Obama economic agenda isn’t working.” According to Cruz, This is an administration that’s violating the Constitution and that’s lawless. We need to get back to the principles that made our country strong.”

LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been arrested after being accused of stealing an item from the Kohls and pulling a knife on a store employee. A store employee is said to have seen Ralph Ivan Hunt, 44, put a charger in his pocket and leave the store without paying for it. When an employee asked Hunt to come back inside the store, he is said to have pulled a large knife and swung it at the employee. He then ran away. Hunt was arrested a short distance away and booked into the Gregg County Jail on a charge of aggravated robbery. His bond was set at $25,000.

FOPT WORTH (AP) — A water board in North Texas has approved a nearly $93 million construction contract as part of a pipeline project. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports the Tarrant Regional Water District board on Tuesday approved the agreement with Garney Construction. The $2.3 billion pipeline is meant to transport water from East Texas. The 149-mile pipeline will transport water to Tarrant County from Cedar Creek and Richland-Chambers reservoirs. It will also move water to Dallas from Lake Palestine. Experts say the first portion of the project is expected to be completed by 2018.

DALLAS (AP) — A Northeast Texas woman has given birth to quintuplets at a Dallas hospital. The Texarkana Gazette reports that Michelle Seals of Maud had the four girls and one boy Tuesday afternoon at Baylor University Medical Center via cesarean section. The children’s grandmother, Carol Pearce, says her daughter and all five babies are doing well. Officials at Baylor University Medical Center declined to immediately provide details of the births, saying a hospital statement would be released later Wednesday. Steven Seals says he and his wife have names picked out for the quintuplets but will have to decide what name fits which baby. The Seals also have a 2-year-old son.

NACOGDOCHES — A Rusk County man was arrested Tuesday morning after allegedly sending numerous text messages threatening to blow up the Nacogdoches County Courthouse and Sheriff’s Office, and to harm the sheriff. According to KETK, Sheriff Jason Bridges said he started receiving personal text messages on his private phone about two weeks ago from an unidentified number. The messages were random and it appeared the caller had the wrong number. The caller was advised several times to stop texting. Bridges says on Wednesday morning at about 5:00 a.m., the text messages started becoming very threatening, and a threat was made to use a bomb at the sheriff’s office. Continue reading Man Arrested for Alleged Threats against Courthouse, Sheriff, Sheriff’s Office

TYLER — Tyler mayoral candidate Martin Heines has been endorsed by the Tyler Professional Firefighters Association and the Tyler Patrolman’s Association. Heines served until recently on the City Council. There’s no word on any endorsements for his opponent, newcomer Joel Rando. Election day is May 10, with early voting taking place from April 28 through May 6.

TYLER — Tyler Police Officer Jason Seeton remains in East Texas Medical Center with a broken foot, broken rib, and back injury following a Tuesday accident. According to an update from Tyler police, “We would like to thank the community for their concerns and prayers for his welfare.” Accident investigators concluded that the other driver, 75-year-old Donald Blevins of Arp, was at fault in the accident; he was issued a citation for failure to control speed. Tuesday morning just before 8:30, officers responded after Seeton was struck from behind in the 2500 block of Calloway Road by Blevins’s pickup, which was traveling westbound. Police say Seeton is a 21-year veteran with the department and has been a motorcycle officer for 15 years.

TYLER — Standard and Poor’s (S&P) announced that it has reaffirmed the city of Tyler’s AAA bond rating using its new, more rigorous criteria. “The City has worked very hard for many years to maintain our AAA bond rating,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel (pictured). “This is the highest rating possible, and is a testament to our fiscal discipline.” Continue reading Tyler’s AAA Bond Rating Reaffirmed

TYLER — A Kansas man is facing sexual assault charges in Tyler after officials say he had sex with an underage girl multiple times. According to the Smith County District Attorney’s Office, Matthew Howell, 26, contacted a 16-year-old East Texas girl via Internet and came all the way to Tyler to meet her. Howell reportedly gave the teen presents along with allegedly engaging in the sex crimes. KETK reports Howell faced computer crime charges in Kansas for alleged online crimes with the teenager as well. The suspect was indicted on October 10, 2013, and jury selection for his trial began Tuesday in the Smith County 7th Judicial Distinct Court.