KTBB News, Weather, Talk

FLINT – Officials say a toddler found unresponsive Wednesday and rushed to Tyler’s East Texas Medical Center has died. The Noonday Volunteer Fire Department was called out shortly after 6:30 last night at the Villages Resort in Flint after the boy was found in the pool. The boy is identified as Jaquion Grant, 4, of Jacksonville. An autopsy has been ordered.

CANTON — Van Zandt County Sheriff R. P. “Pat” Burnett, Jr., was elected Sergeant-At-Arms of the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas at their 133rd Annual Training Conference held in Houston. Sheriff Burnett has served as Sheriff of Van Zandt County since November 2000. The Sheriffs’ Association of Texas is one of the oldest law enforcement associations in the nation. The Sheriffs of Texas met for the first time on August 14th, 1874, in the courthouse in Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas.

AUSTIN – A couple of East Texans have received awards at the state’s Public Safety Commission meeting. Director Steven C. McCraw thanked all of the award winners and said, “Your exceptional service and sacrifice is in keeping with the proud tradition of the Texas Department of Public Safety and the State of Texas.”

The Purple Heart was presented to Trooper Larry Michael Vaughn, Quitman (pictured here). He received the award for injuries sustained when he served a warrant on a dangerous fugitive. The suspect discharged a shotgun through a closed window, striking Trooper Vaughn and causing serious bodily injury. Trooper Vaughn was temporarily disabled, but has now made a full recovery and has been able to return to work.

A Director’s Award was presented to Kyle Evans of Canton. Evans received the award for his bravery and heroism when he entered a vehicle that crashed and was engulfed in flames in order to pull out the driver. Mr. Evans’ actions saved the life of the vehicle’s driver.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A poultry giant has recalled more than five tons of ready-to-eat chicken made in Texas because the products could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a type of bacteria that can cause food poisoning. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., was recalling two products.

The first is 390 pounds of Fully-Cooked Grilled Chicken Breast Fillets with Rib Meat. Made at Pilgrim’s Waco plant, it was distributed through a foodservice distribution center in Columbus, Ohio.

And about 10,850 pounds of Sweet Georgia Brand Fully-Cooked Breaded White Chicken Nuggets Shaped Patties was recalled. It was Produced at Pilgrim’s Mt. Pleasant plant, it was sent to foodservice distribution centers in New Jersey and Texas.

The problem was discovered during on-site internal testing at each plant.

TYLER – A young Tyler boy rushed to a Dallas hospital after being pulled from a back yard swimming pool is said to be in “stable” condition. Officials say he is currently on a ventilator. Noah Weisberg, 2, was found floating in an above the ground pool at 628 South Kennedy around 4:45 Thursday afternoon. The boy’s mother is employed by the Tyler Police Department as a Dispatcher. She lives at the residence with her parents and her two children.

Family members told police that they were in the process of grilling outside. They were unaware that Noah had got out into the backyard and into the pool. The grandfather who owns the residence found his grandson floating in the pool and immediately pulled him out. It’s unknown how long the youngster was in the pool when he was discovered.

Family members started CPR on the child until emergency personnel arrived on the scene and took over. The child was transported to East Texas Medical Center Hospital and was flown to Children’s Hospital in Dallas.

TYLER — A public flag-raising at 8:00 this morning dedicates Smith County’s new Armed Forces Reserve Center, part of the military’s Base Realignment and Closure project. The facility, basically a training center, puts local Army Reserve and National Guard functions all under one roof. First Sgt. Christopher Cassano of the 141st Quartermaster Company says it’ll be a big benefit to the local military. Cassano says features include up-to-date classrooms with projection screens, a gymnasium a big motor park, and a big maintenance facility. The location is Highway 31 across from the old Kelly-Springfield, or Goodyear, plant.

LONGVIEW — Longview resident Johnny A. Mumphrey, 37, has pleaded guilty to having sexual contact with a minor. He received ten years deferred adjudication probation. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Mumphrey could face up to 20 years in prison if he violates his probation. Mumphrey was accused of five counts of sexually assaulting a youth for a decade between the ages of 8 and 18. The man is now 20. The guilty plea ended a Gregg County district court trial in which the jury was having trouble reaching a verdict.

TYLER — In an effort to educate residents about the Tyler Municipal Court’s ability to put a hold on the renewal of driver’s licenses for people who have fines and/or warrants pending in the court, the Municipal Court will hold a “Keep Driving” sweep beginning Friday and continuing through August 6. To help residents “keep driving,” the court will remove the warrant fee(s) from residents who pay their fines in full; officials say this can result in a savings of up to $50 per violation. Once a resident has paid his or her fines in full, the Municipal Court will remove the hold on the driver’s license renewal so the individual can “keep driving.” Holds on driver’s license renewals cannot be removed until all of a driver’s fines are paid in full.

“We frequently hear that residents were not aware of the court’s ability to place a hold on their driver’s license and that they need to renew their license right away,” said Court Administrator Cam McCabe. “This program will make it easier for them to pay their fines and renew their license.”

While all courts in the State of Texas have the ability to place holds on driver’s licenses, this program applies only to fines that are due to the Tyler Municipal Court and does not apply to parking violations or fines totaling less than $200. Drivers can call 1-800-686-0570 to find out if any court in the state has placed a hold on their license. “Even when paid in full, it can take from seven to 30 days for the hold on the driver’s license to be removed,” added McCabe. “So those who wait until the last minute may face several weeks of not being able to renew their license.”

As part of the “Keep Driving” sweep, the Municipal Court will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6. The Tyler Municipal Court is at 813 N. Broadway Ave., and its regular business hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

TROUP — Homeowners in Troup are not too happy about a new store that could move into the middle of their neighborhood. It’s happening along the 100 block of South Georgia. Homeowners tell KETK the former gas station’s been vacant for years. But after the city approved alcohol sales, the landowner’s looking to turn the building into a new package store. Homeowners say they’re fighting the move every step of the way.

NACOGDOCHES (AP) – A Nacogdoches man convicted of murdering his estranged wife and sentenced to life in prison agrees to terminate the parental rights of his two daughters. Kyle Barnhill, 47, worked out an agreement on a settlement to terminate his rights Wednesday in a Nacogdoches courtroom. A family not related to Barnhill has cared for the girls and has been seeking to adopt them. The girls were ages 10 and 3 at the time of the slaying. Melissa Barnhill was shot through a kitchen window in March 2009. The girls were in the house but not injured. Kyle Barnhill was caught 500 miles away, in the Eagle Pass area. A jury in October 2009 convicted Barnhill of murder and sentenced him to life behind bars.

NOONDAY — The controversy surrounding a new gun range in Noonday continues. KETK told you last week about the neighborhood association trying to shut it down over noise and safety issues. The pursuers have lawyers and an expert. The gun range is less than a thousand feet from an upscale subdivision, and the residents want it shut down. They have sent photos of the range to the man who wrote the original safety guidelines for gun ranges for the National Rifle Association, Richard Whiting, though he hasn’t worked there since 1994. Don Layton, the co-owner of the property has an NRA certification for the range and carry NRA insurance. Layton says they’ve met the state standards and will wait on any action from the Smith County DA.

MARSHALL – Investigators are trying to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed a Marshall home. It was reported around 10:30 Tuesday morning at the Robie Haggerty residence at 415 Sanford Street. The couple was able to escape the burning house without being injured. The fire is thought to have started in a bedroom of the home.

NEW YORK (AP) — East Texas-based Lufkin Industries says that second-quarter profit jumped 74% as higher oil prices boosted demand for the company’s services. Lufkin President and CEO John Glick said yesterday orders for company services are on the rise in both its oil field and power transmission divisions.

WHITEHOUSE (AP/Staff) – More information has emerged about what apparently prompted a stabbing incident in Whitehouse. Shaun Lawler, 32, of Whitehouse remains jailed on $300,000 bond in Smith County after authorities say he stabbed his fiancee as she returned an engagement ring. Lawler turned himself in to authorities Monday night after an argument turned violent. It happened around 10:45 Monday morning at a business at the intersection of Highway 110 and Hagan Road in Whitehouse. Police say Lawler attacked the victim, stabbing her multiple times. The woman, Jessica Wimpee, 23, remained hospitalized following emergency surgery.

TYLER — Tyler Police Investigators have identified and arrested the suspect in a hit-and-run incident involving alleged unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. The incident occurred at Southtown and S. Broadway Tuesday around 11:15 p.m. The suspect is identified as Jeremy David Turner, 32, of Tyler. Turner has been arrested for unauthorized use of motor vehicle, along with felony and misdemeanor hit and run. Turner is now in Smith County Jail on a $60,000 bond set by Judge Tom Dunn.

The owner of the vehicle works at Buffalo Wild Wings. She told officers Tuesday night that Turner had taken her vehicle without her permission. While officers were heading to the scene they were advised that the vehicle the suspect was in had been stolen in the 7900 block of South Broadway prior to the accident.

Investigators say a black 2002 Honda Civic had been struck from the rear causing that vehicle to strike a white 2011 Ford Focus. The 31-year-old male driver of the Honda Civic was not injured. The 51-year-old female driver of the Ford Focus was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. The stolen vehicle, a black 2009 Nissan Altima was recovered in the roadway in the 6200 block of Hollytree Drive. The vehicle had extensive damage to the front end. The driver had fled the scene.