KTBB News, Weather, Talk

GILMER — An Upshur County woman has been found dead after an apparent shooting. Authorities say the shooting happened on Nutmeg road west of Gilmer. The names of the victim, as well as a possible suspect n the case, have not been released. The case is under investigation and little details are known at this time.

HENDERSON — A Henderson man waived his extradition rights to New York, where he is charged in a first degree felony sex crime. Georgio Antwaan White, 23, is charged with criminal sexual act in the first degree in New York for an offense that occurred Sept. 5, according to a complaint signed by Gregg County Justice of the Peace B.H. Jameson on Wednesday. White had been in the Gregg County Jail on $25,000 bond since March 5, when Kilgore police arrested him for evading arrest and detention in a vehicle, resisting arrest and failing to identify a fugitive from justice. On Friday, White told Gregg County District Judge Alfonso Charles that he was “ready to go back to New York” to face the charges. Charles signed White’s extradition.

SULPHUR SPRINGS — A man baling hay on Thursday near Sulphur Springs’ western city limits discovered a human skull, leading police to find 10 to 15 bone fragments, articles of clothing and a Chicago, Ill., identification card. “At this time, we don’t suspect any kind of foul play,” Sulphur Springs Police Det. Bo Fox said Friday afternoon. “It looks like the remains were there for several months.” Police are not releasing the location where the remains were found, maintaining an active crime scene to continue its investigation and keep unwanted traffic from the area. The bones have been sent to a Denton lab.

LONGVIEW — A Longview woman charged with child endangerment was back in jail Friday charged with theft. Misty Ann Rhodes Beasley, 28, remained jailed Friday on bonds totaling $35,500 for violating her Harrison County probation for burglary of a habitation and a misdemeanor theft charge, after authorities said she tried to steal between $50 and $500 in merchandise from Walmart in the 500 block of East Loop 281.

In May, Beasley and her husband were arrested at their Clay Drive home on child endangerment charges. According to police, Beasley was unconscious and her husband, 34-year-old Jason Wayne Beasley, was hallucinating and chasing imaginary people with a knife and pistol. A 14-month old child left unattended in a separate room of the house was taken from the Beasley home by Child Protective Services.

UPSHUR COUNTY — Upshur County has implemented an emergency fireworks ban — maybe. Precinct 1 County Commissioner James Crittenden sent an emergency disaster declaration to the governor’s office without informing fellow commissioners, according to Upshur County’s Precinct 3 Commissioner Lloyd Crabtree. Though Crabtree and other commissioners did not vote on the emergency declaration, it might still be valid. Crabtree said residents in the county can still purchase fireworks, but cannot set them off. Franklin County recently enacted a similar emergency declaration banning fireworks.

The ban comes after fireworks have been on sale for several days in Upshur County. Upshur County Fire Marshal Paul Steelman said he is going forward with the ban as usual. The ban, however, will not affect the fireworks display Sunday evening at Gilmer’s Buckeye Stadium.

TYLER — During the Fourth of July holiday, the City of Tyler is reminding residents that the use of fireworks is prohibited at City parks and recreation areas, unless permitted. Section 8-4 of the City Code prohibits the use of fireworks or explosive devices at City parks within or outside the City limits. “With the extremely dry conditions we have experienced this summer, we are actively enforcing the prohibition on fireworks in City park areas,” explained Tyler Police Chief Gary Swindle.

The City will also enforce the prohibition on fireworks at Lake Tyler (Chapter 6) and will provide police officers to patrol the camping and picnicking areas of the lake to enforce this restriction. A permit was granted to Brian Conaway from Conaway Enterprises for Sunday night’s professional fireworks display at the west dam. And a permit has been issued to the Tyler Jaycees for the professional fireworks display July 4 at Lindsey Park, with gates open as of 4 p.m. and fireworks beginning around 9:30 p.m. “In the situations where a permit has been granted for a fireworks display, the vendor must have a fire truck and firefighters on site, as well as a professional pyro technician,” explained Chief Swindle.

TYLER — Tyler Police were called to a traffic accident on West Loop 323 north of Bellwood Road around 6:00 last night. According to officers, a Mexican national, Eduardo Gonzales, was driving a semi-tractor that was piggybacking two additional semi tractors.

Investigators say the load was too high to fit under the railroad overpass that crosses the loop and Gonzales struck the overpass, tearing the top off of the trucks. A motorcycle rider that was behind Gonzales had to take evasive action to avoid the debris and crashed his bike. He complained of minor injuries but refused treatment by EMS. Authorities say Gonzales had no driver’s license and no insurance. Prior to Mr. Gonzales’ vehicle being towed from the scene, he was able to get someone to bring proof of insurance for his vehicle to the scene. He was issued a citations for no license.

TYLER – Law enforcement agencies around Smith County are out in force this 4th of July holiday period, on the lookout for intoxicated drivers on streets, highways, and area lakes. Officers won’t be taking “no” for an answer. The No-Refusal DWI campaign began Friday and continues through July 4. The District Attorney’s Office is also involved.

Upon the arrest of a suspected drunk driver, he or she will be asked to blow into a breath-test instrument or take a blood test. If the driver refuses, officers will obtain an immediate search warrant signed by an on-call judge to have blood drawn by a certified nurse on staff at the Smith County Jail. The blood will then be analyzed to determine whether the driver’s blood-alcohol concentration is 0.08 or higher, the legal limit for driving in Texas.

TYLER — Tyler Police responded to a hit and run report made by the victim as they were in pursuit of the suspect. It happened around 5:15 Friday afternoon. Officers attempted to pull the suspect over in the area of W. Martin Luther King and N. Palace when the suspect began evading police. After a short pursuit, the suspect, Elvia Zarate, 21, Tyler, was arrested in the 2200 block of N. Broadway. She was charged with evading in a vehicle and failure to stop and give information. The suspect has also been charged with failure to identify after she gave a false name to officers.

TYLER — Over the 4th of July holiday, Smith County Judge Joel Baker urges all residents of Smith County to use extreme caution in their outdoor holiday activities due to the extremely dry conditions. “I am continuing to monitor conditions to determine whether to issue a disaster declaration and burn ban due to the drought. Many factors go into the decision-making process regarding the issuance of a burn ban. I always consult with the County Fire Marshal in evaluating the issuance of such an order,” Judge Baker said.

Factors in determining the need for a burn ban include:
1. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index
2. The current temperature, humidity, and wind speed
3. The weather forecast
“We also consider the type and volume of calls for emergency service due to fires,” Judge Baker added.

Officials say the majority of recent fires have been due to factors that a burn ban would not prevent, e.g., lightning strikes, electrical sparks from damaged lines, cigarettes being thrown from traveling vehicles. The current drought index is 654, and the county has historically issued burn bans when it is at our near 700. The occurrence of scattered thunderstorms in the county over the past week has brought and kept the drought index down. However, with the current weather forecast, it appears that there may be a need to issue a burn ban by Tuesday of next week substantial rainfall is not received by Monday.

The celebration of Independence Day brings the tradition of outdoor activities that may be risky due to the drought conditions throughout the state. Residents are urged to carefully monitor any outdoor cooking to insure that all combustible materials remain confined to grills or fire pits, and that any fireworks are controlled events with adult supervision. These activities should only take place, if at all, where running water is readily available. “We just want everyone to exercise common sense over the holiday weekend,” Smith County Fire Marshal Jim Seaton said.

Residents are reminded that it is a violation of state law to start a fire or cause an explosion and in so doing: (1) recklessly damage or destroy a building belonging to another or (2) recklessly cause another person to suffer bodily injury or death (Texas Penal Code §28.02 [a-2]). Such a violation is a state jail felony punishable confinement from 180 days to 2 years in a state jail facility and up to a $10,000 fine. Additionally, pursuant to Texas Penal Code §28.04, a person commits an offense if, without the effective consent of the owner, he recklessly damages or destroys property of the owner. Such a violation is a class-C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500.

LONGVIEW — Upshur County Sheriff Anthony Betterton is facing charges of violating a gag order because he announced his bid for re-election this week. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Betterton declined to comment Friday on his re-election campaign citing that he has been charged with violating a gag order. The order is on a case that is unrelated to his bid to be named Upshur County’s sheriff for his fourth consecutive term.

Betterton is facing charges of official oppression and gift to a public servant by a person in his jurisdiction. He was indicted in December along with County Judge Dean Fowler and Commissioner Lloyd Crabtree, who are each charged with official oppression and abuse of capacity, after a man was removed from a Commissioners Court meeting when he repeatedly wore duct tape over his mouth to protest that public comment had been removed from agendas. District Judge Lauren Parish put a gag order on the case before recusing herself.

TYLER — Tyler Police have arrested a suspect believed to be involved in an attempted ATM robbery and are searching for two more suspects. William Alexander Walker, 22, Garland, was charged with unauthorized use of motor vehicle and evading arrest. It started Friday morning when officers were called to the Dove Tree Apartments, 1600 Rice Road Rice Road, around 3:45 on a report of a suspicious vehicle driving through the parking lot. Officers were told the driver had a bandanna covering his face.

Police found the described vehicle leaving the parking lot of American State Bank on Old Jacksonville Hwy with a large chain dragging behind. The three suspects ran into some nearby woods where Walker was taken into custody. Police are still seeking the identity and whereabouts of the two other suspects that got away. Officers also determined that the suspects had stolen the maroon Z71 pickup from Meadow Brook Apartments located at 4600 Paluxy. Charges were pending for the incident with the ATM.

TYLER — The woman involved in a fatal motorcycle crash on South Broadway Avenue in May has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing. Helen Turner, 71, was cleared by a grand jury. Turner was turning left onto Independence Drive from S. Broadway to enter the Broadway Square Mall parking lot on a flashing yellow light May 10 when her vehicle collided with a motorcycle driven by Kendrick Clark, 23. Clark, who was trapped under his burning motorcycle, later died of his injuries.

ANGELINA COUNTY — Federal agents took over the scene of an Angelina County Sheriff’s Office methamphetamine bust Thursday evening off FM 1819 after high explosives were found. The SWAT team arrived at the home of Raymond Bell Thursday evening to find he was not at home, but authorities say, Larry Flournoy, who was at the home, was taken into custody. A search of the house uncovered a full lab, six grams of finished product, guns and high explosives in another building. Hill said investigators had been warned there could be explosives on scene.

Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were immediately contacted. Investigators said they had been running surveilance on Bell for about a year. Flournoy was taken to the Angelina County Jail Thursday night. Bell agreed to talk to investigators Friday morning.

EAST TEXAS (AP/STAFF) — Sudden thunderstorms unleashed damaging winds and hail in parts of East Texas Thursday evening, damaging roofs and downing power lines. In Smith County, strong winds damaged the Best Western Motel at Interstate Highway 20 and U.S. Highway 69. Part of the roof was blown off, landing in the parking lot.

Police in Gilmer report storm winds damaged roofs and canopies Thursday. They say the storms caused extensive damage to the Upshur County Courthouse. In Longview power outages were reported when winds knocked down tress and power lines. No injuries have been reported from the storms.