KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The Tyler Fire Department says a faulty relay switch that operated the exhaust fan over the grill was responsible for a fire at On the Border Restaurant, 4301 South Broadway. Because the exhaust fan did not operate, excessive heat was able to build up inside the duct work causing the fire. The fire was contained inside duct work and firefighters were able to extinguish the fire before any structural damage occurred. Continue reading Officials Determine Cause of Restaurant Fire

LONGVIEW — The October 5 shooting that took the life of a 17-year-old Hallsville girl was unprovoked, witnesses tell Kilgore police. That report comes from the Longview News-Journal. According to a search warrant filed in Gregg County 124th District Court and made available Monday, witnesses said Coby Ray Hudgins, 22, leveled a gun and shot Kayla Williams for no apparent reason at his home in the 3000 block of Mustang Drive in Kilgore. “The witnesses stated there had been no threats, no violence or arguments amongst any of the individuals in the house before the shooting,” the warrant said. Continue reading Witnesses: Murder of Hallsville Teen Unprovoked

AUSTIN – An East Texas company has received a statewide employment award. The Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities has announced the winners of the 2013 Lex Frieden Employment Awards, which recognize employers who go above and beyond the legal requirements in hiring, training and maintaining positive working relationships with employees with disabilities. The Small Employer of the Year honor goes to Stencor Company of Jacksonville. The winners will be honored at a luncheon on Friday at the Waco Convention Center. The event is hosted by the Waco Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities, and is open to the public by reservation. Nominations for the awards were submitted by individuals and organizations from communities throughout the state, and winners were selected by a panel of judges from the public and private sectors familiar with disability issues.

EAST TEXAS – The Tyler Police Department has confirmed that both suspects, Michael Robert Ward (pictured) and Tracy Lynn Mallewick, are now in custody in a series of burglaries. Ward, 35, was arrested Monday in Van Zandt County; Mallewick, 42, was arrested in Dallas County. The two were apprehended as East Texas police agencies continued to investigate numerous reports of burglary of coin-operated machines in hotels. Several warrants were issued for the suspects’ arrest. Tyler police believe they struck again Sunday night at the Holiday Inn Express on West Gentry. The last known location where the suspects were residing was in the Canton area.

GREGG COUNTY — Gregg County Sheriff Maxey Cerliano released additional information regarding the investigation into the death of a female jail inmate. Debra Ingram Duffie, 52, died August 19. Justice of the Peace, B.H. Jameson, ordered an autopsy and according to the report, Duffie’s cause of death was listed as hypertensive and ischemic heart disease. Officials said no foul play was found to contribute to Duffie’s death. The investigation is ongoing.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been arrested after being accused of striking the mother of his children. The Longview News-Journal identifies him as Jason Brian Rawls, 32. The incident is said to have occurred around 11:30 Sunday morning as he was driving home from church. He was booked into the Gregg County jail. His bond was set at $5,000. Gregg County judicial records show Rawls has been convicted three times for assault causing bodily injury to a family member.

LUFKIN — A Lufkin man has been arrested after an officer said he saw him steal a bed frame and a World Atlas from a Goodwill Donation Center. Lance Crager, 54, was arrested around 2:45 Monday morning 2200 block of South First Street. KETK reports a search of his car turned up drug pipe. Crager was charged with theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.

LONGVIEW — Police are investigating a reported shooting in Longview. It happened just before 9:30 Saturday night in the area of Mobberly Avenue and Birdsong Street. One person, identified as Ricardo Duran Rivera, 29, was taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center. His condition was not believed to be life threatening. Authorities said they do know of a suspect but so far, no arrests have been made. Officials are asking anyone with information contact to Longview Police Department at 903-237-1199 or Gregg County CrimeStoppers at 903-236-7867.

ANGELINA COUNTY — One of two youngsters found floating in a swimming pool in Angelina County has died. 20-month-old Amarie Rodriguez died late Sunday afternoon in Houston’s Children’s Memorial Herman Hospital. Ayden Bentley, 2, is listed in fair condition in the same hospital. The youngsters were found floating in the pool around 11:00 Saturday morning in the the 2000 block of Allentown Loop. Child Protective Services along with the Angelina County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the incident.

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at other work planned in the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

SMITH COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to make base and pavement repairs on State Highway 155 in Winona, while a second crew performs similar work on State Highway 135 between Troup and Arp. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates

SMITH COUNTY — An elderly woman is hospitalized after she was run over by her own car. It happened Sunday afternoon just before 1:00 in the New Harmony Baptist Church parking lot northwest of Tyler. According to KETK, she was attempting to get out of her car when it rolled and she became trapped underneath. Dixie firefighters responded to the scene. She was transported to the hospital. Her condition is unknown at this time.

TYLER — The candidates running for Lieutenant Governor took part in a debate at the Ornelas center at UT Tyler. The four candidates running for Lieutenant Governor are Incumbent David Dewhurst, State Senator Dan Patrick, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples. As the presiding chairman of the State Senate, the Lieutenant Governor sets the agenda for the Texas Senate and chooses the committee chairs for Senate committees. Continue reading Lt. Governor Candidates Held Debate in Tyler

GREGG COUNTY — A child was killed and another injured following a wreck in Gregg County. According to KETK, Longview Police responded to reports of a car that had driven into a guardrail near mile marker 595 on Interstate Highway 20 just after 2:45 Saturday afternoon. When police arrived on the scene, they found Adam Ross Bryant, 30, along with his kids, trapped inside their vehicle. Officials used the jaws of life to get them out of the car. Bryant was not injured in the crash but his two children were taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injures. Evan Ross Bryant, 4, died at the hospital. Sadie Bryant, 6, was taken to a Dallas area hospital. Her condition is unknown. The crash remains under investigation.

TYLER — Saturday’s 26th Annual Festival on the Square concert was cancelled due to wet conditions. The decision to cancel was made at approximately 5 p.m. on Saturday.

“Our volunteers started setting up the event last night and continued very early this morning into the late afternoon,” said City of Tyler Main Street Department Leader Beverly Abell. Continue reading Festival on the Square Cancelled by Rain

GREGG COUNTY — A Shreveport man was arrested after police said they found cocaine, marijuana and an assortment of prescription drugs in a vehicle he was driving. According to the Longview News-Journal, Maxell Vann Coates III, 31, was traveling east on Interstate 20 when he was stopped by a Gregg County Sheriff’s Deputy. Coates let Freeman search the vehicle. According to police reports, and Freeman found a pipe and grinder, 4.5 ounces of marijuana, 97 Hydrocodone pills, 83 Clonazepam pills, 60 Lorazepam pills, 75 Xanax pills and about an ounce of cocaine. Coates was held Friday in the Gregg County Jail on bonds totaling $28,500. He’s charged with possession of marijuana and four counts of possession of a controlled substance.

GREGG COUNTY — The family of a Hallsville teenager shot to death at a Kilgore residence is seeking assistance to pay for funeral costs. According to the Longview News-Journal, services for Kayla Elizabeth Williams, 17, are scheduled 2:00 this afternoon in the chapel at Welch Funeral Home, 4619 Judson Road. Visitation will be 12:00-2:00, just before the funeral service. Continue reading Funeral Scheduled for Hallsville Teenager Shot to Death

LUFKIN — Lufkin Police are investigating the death of an infant. According to KETK, it happened around 10:00 Thursday morning in the 1500 block of Williams Street. Police say a 19-year-old mother called 911 telling officials that her 8-week-old infant was unresponsive. An ambulance took the emaciated baby to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead Friday morning. The infant’s name is being held at this time pending further investigation.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Staff/ESPN) — The 2-year-old son of Minnesota Vikings running back and Palestine native Adrian Peterson has died from injuries suffered after allegedly being assaulted by another man, the Sioux Falls (S.D.) Police Department confirmed Friday. According to ESPN.com, the child had been in critical condition in a South Dakota hospital, and a man who police say was caring for the child has been arrested. Peterson’s father, Nelson Peterson, had told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that the child is Adrian Peterson’s son. Joseph Patterson, 27, is being held on two felony counts of aggravated battery of an infant and aggravated assault domestic. He was in court Friday for a probable cause hearing where bail was expected to be discussed. Continue reading Adrian Peterson’s Son Dies

GILMER — Former Upshur County Commissioner Lloyd Crabtree pleaded guilty Friday and was sentenced to five years’ probation on a 10-year prison sentence for taking a firearm from a peace officer. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. The third degree felony stemmed from an Oct. 6, 2012, incident in which Game Warden Shane Bailey allegedly was disarmed and detained at gunpoint by Crabtree and his son, Todd, while the officer was making a routine check on Crabtree’s property for hunting. District Attorney Billy Byrd said terms of Crabtree’s plea bargain and probation sentence include a public apology, 240 hours of community service, a $1,000 fine and a ruling that Crabtree cannot have firearms. Crabtree, his attorneys, and Byrd agreed to the plea bargain.

LONGVIEW — A Longview woman was arrested Thursday after a routine traffic stop led to the discovery of drugs, according to officials. KETK reports Monica Michelle Adair, 41, was arrested for five outstanding city warrants before officials reportedly discovered illegal drugs in her car. Around 4:00 p.m., Longview police officers initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for an expired inspection sticker, according to authorities. They say Adair was taken into custody on the warrants without incident. While officers were inventorying her car, they reportedly found 6 vials inside the vehicle believed to contain traceable amounts of PCP. Adair was also arrested for possession of a controlled substance. She was booked in to the Gregg County Jail

TYLER — Tyler Police responded to several reports of shots fired late Thursday night. It happened around 11:40 near the downtown square. Responding officers searched the area and located several subjects they believed to be involved in the incident. One person was reportedly in possession of a firearm and said to be responsible for firing the weapon moments earlier. According to KETK, the suspect is Joseph Scott Mendoza, 22, who allegedly fired shots from a rooftop downtown. Mendoza was booked into the Smith County Jail and charged with discharging a firearm within city limits and driving the wrong way on a one-way street. No injuries were reported.

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is now using the RSO Tracker online sex offender management system to better manage its sex offender caseload. That’s according to RSO Tracker officials, who say the usage began October 1. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Gregg County has 80 registered sex offenders who reside in unincorporated Gregg County and report to the Sheriff’s Office. By state law, sex offenders are required to report changes in their address, employment, and personal information to the law enforcement agency where they live. Continue reading Gregg County Sheriff’s Office Begins Using RSO Tracker

MARSHALL — An East Texas boy reported missing Thursday has been found. KETK reports 13-year-old Paul Bass was found around 11:10 a.m. Friday morning. Harrison County Patrol Deputies found Bass in the area of Farm to Market Road 2625 and Farm to Market Road 31, near the Crossroads Baptist Church. This is the same area where officials say he was seen by a housekeeping crew on Thursday night. According to KETK, Paul is well and will be held at Willoughby Detention Center until further disposition. Continue reading Missing Harrison County Boy Found

TYLER — The 26th Annual Festival on the Square Texas Music concert is set for Saturday in downtown Tyler. Four bands will play throughout the evening at the concert, which is a fundraiser for the City of Tyler Main Street Department. Gates will open at 5 p.m. An acoustic set by Rich O’Toole will begin at approximately 6 p.m., followed by Fred Andrews and Honeybrowne at 7 p.m. Sons of Fathers will take the stage at 8:30 p.m. The headliners, Cody Canada and The Departed, are scheduled to perform at 10:15 p.m. Continue reading Festival on the Square Concert Set for Saturday

TYLER — Tyler-area residents have a chance to interact with the candidates for Texas lieutenant governor this weekend. The East Texas Constitutional Alliance, of which Grassroots America is a founding member, will sponsor a Lt. Governor Candidate Forum and Straw Poll Saturday at the UT-Tyler Ornelas Center on Old Omen Road. Doors open at 2:00 p.m. The event begins at 2:30 and ends at 4:00 with straw poll voting until 5:00. Candidates who have declared for the race are Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, State Senator Dan Patrick, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, and Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples. The Republican Primary will be held on March 4, 2014. There is no cost for the October 12 event, and organizers say the public is urged to attend.

UPSHUR COUNTY — A capital murder charge is filed Thursday against a Gilmer man previously held on a charge of murder. Jonathan Ray Shepherd, 32, was in an Upshur County Courtroom for a bond reduction hearing, according to the Longview News-Journal.

Shepherd’s accused of fatally shooting Cheyenne Green, 29, Sept. 26 in the parking lot at Gilmer High School’s Buckeye Stadium during half-time at a sub-varsity football game. The Upshur County D-A said Shepherd’s charge was enhanced after evidence showed he was attempting to kidnap Green when she was killed. Bond remained at $1 million.

MABANK — A two vehicle accident in Mabank has killed one person. The accident happened around 8:00 Thursday morning in the 15,000 block of State Highway 198. Killed was 59 year old Ronny Andrews of Mabank. The accident occurred when the victim’s car hit the rear of a cement mixer. The truck’s driver was not injured.

MARSHALL — Two Marshall men are in custody, charged with aggravated robbery and evading/resisting arrest. They are accused of the robbery of the EZ Mart in the 2500 block of West Pinecrest Drive. They are identified as Eric Charles Cooks and Raymond Johnson, both 39. Marshall police say officers responding to the robbery tried to stop the men’s car which was leaving the vicinity of the robbery. The car failed to stop and a chase followed. The car finally stopped in the 1900 block of Holland Street with one of the men running from the vehicle. He was arrested after a brief foot chase. Both men were arraigned Thursday morning.

TYLER — A UT Health Northeast researcher has been awarded a $100,000 grant to continue work on blood clotting. Researcher Vijay Rao, Ph.D., received the one-year grant from the American Society of Hematology (ASH) to continue his study of how blood clotting works, with the goal of learning how to fix it when it goes wrong. Dr. Rao, a professor of biochemistry, and his team are investigating a protein called tissue factor that triggers the clotting process. Most tissue factor in cells remains idle until galvanized into action by an injury or disease condition, Dr. Rao said. The goal of Dr. Rao’s research team is to understand how tissue factor is activated and deactivated, so that blood clots that lead to heart attacks, strokes and other serious diseases can be prevented. Continue reading Tyler Researcher Gets Grant

NACOGDOCHES — The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office has filed charges on six people from Nacogdoches in connection with a four-wheeler theft ring. KETK reports the thefts occurred between July and September. Law officers arrested Jay Coutee, Christopher Randall, and Jason Briley, all 17, and two 16-year-old juveniles on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity. A warrant has also been issued for the arrest of Andrew Sanders, 17, for the same offense, according to officials. Continue reading Five Arrested in Four-Wheeler Theft Ring, One Still at Large