KTBB News, Weather, Talk

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.

MOUNT PLEASANT – Mount Pleasant authorities have charged a man with the June 25th murder of Kathleen McNally, 42. Wednesday, a murder warrant was issued for Robert Boyler, 48, who was already in custody.

Last Saturday night, McNally’s body was found lying on the floor of a residence in the 400 block of Crooks Drive. An autopsy performed in Dallas Sunday indicated the death was a homicide.

Officers learned of a man seen leaving the area and traced him to the 1300 block of North Edwards. Boyler was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant from Camp County for criminal nonsupport/child support. Now he is facing a murder charge.

LOG CABIN – An ongoing domestic dispute has turned deadly in Henderson County. Authorities have charged a woman in her husband’s death. Taken into custody Thursday was Eula Kate Robinson, 69. She is accused of the shooting death of James Harold Robinson, 76. He died from a single gunshot wound to the chest. The shooting occurred around 11:45 Thursday morning.

MANGUM, OKLA. (AP) — A Greer County prosecutor says a 12-member jury has been selected for the wife of a former prison warden who allegedly fell in love with an inmate and aided his escape. Assistant District Attorney Eric Yarborough said Thursday the jury and three alternate jurors were chosen for the trial of Bobbi Parker, 48, who is charged with assisting a prisoner to escape. Jury selection in the case began on May 16. Yarborough says prosecution and defense attorneys will present their opening statements on Tuesday.

Parker is accused of helping convicted killer Randolph Dial break out of the Oklahoma State Reformatory in 1994. Defense lawyers say Dial kidnapped Parker and held her hostage until she was rescued in Texas at a Shelby County chicken ranch in 2005. Parker was charged in 2008. She has pleaded not guilty.

TYLER – An off duty Tyler police officer was slightly injured while trying to stop two shoplifting suspects. It happened around 3:00 yesterday afternoon at Dillards in the Broadway Square Mall.

The officer, J.R. Smith, was working a part-time job at Dillards when he was notified by loss-prevention of two black males that were in the store who have previously stolen from Dillards. The men, who were in the process of filling garbage bags full of merchandise, immediately began fleeing on foot when Smith approached them.

The officer chased them into the parking lot on the west side of the mall where the two got into a silver vehicle and accelerated rapidly in reverse out of the parking stall, nearly running over Officer Smith. The officer gave numerous commands for the suspects to stop and also struck the vehicle with his baton. The men then rammed an unoccupied vehicle causing it to collide with another unoccupied vehicle. They then fled in their car north bound on Old Bullard. Officer Smith sustained minor injury to his right hand and was treated by EMS at the scene.

RUSK – The four persons accused of trying to rob an Alto bank have been arraigned. They are Evandreal Cadarius Simpson, 19, of Palestine, Channing Nicole Johnson, 24, of Elkhart, Carl Kenneth Kelly, 22, of Palestine and Mujibur Whyamme Shaw, 36, of Palestine and previously of Jacksonville. They have all been charged with aggravated robbery, evading arrest, tampering with physical evidence and engaging in organized criminal activity.

Authorities say the four, all wearing bandanas, drove up to the Bancorp South Bank in Alto Wednesday afternoon. One of the suspects, armed with a handgun and carrying an empty bag, tried to enter the bank, but the doors were locked. It was just after 3:00 and the bank had just closed for the day. The suspects were later arrested on Highway 84 by Rusk police officers.

The attempted robbery came three weeks after the Alto Police Department was shut down because of a money crunch. The plan is to bring back the department in December.

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating a Thursday stabbing. Police responded to the 400 block of E. Line on a report of a male who had been stabbed in the upper chest. Officers were told that the victim, suspect, and witness had been drinking in a wooded area just off Line Street. The victim and suspect had reportedly gotten into a verbal altercation when the suspect allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim in the chest. Police say the victim then walked out of the wooded area into the intersection of Line and Frank and asked for help.

EMS responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital. The extent of his injury is unknown at this time. Police say the suspect fled the area on foot and has not been located by police. He was described as white, 5’7’’, heavy build, 30 to 40 years old. Police said the victim’s name will not be released until it has been confirmed.

TYLER — The Texas Transportation Commission has awarded $120,000 to the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority to go towards the Smith County Multimodal Facility. NET RMA Chairman Jeff Austin III stated, “We appreciate being able to work with TxDOT and Smith County in this partnership and value the hard work of Mr. Jamal Moharer, Chairman of the East Texas Coordinated Regional Transportation Planning Steering Committee (ETCRTPSC) to take another critical step toward allowing this to become a reality.”

NET RMA applied for this funding through a broad partnership to undertake preparatory and planning activities for a Multi-Modal Facility (MMF) transit hub in Tyler. Partners include the Smith County Commissioners Court and its Smith County Transportation Advisory Committee; the Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization; the City of Tyler; Tyler Transit; NDMJ, Ltd.; Greyhound Bus Lines; the East Texas Council of Governments; and ETCRTPSC.

Austin said, “To fund the ultimate project, the Legislature has given RMA’s new tools to work with the Counties in the area of project delivery including Design/Build and Design/Build/Finance to find the most cost effective and efficient manner to construct and fund the project. This is a great model to centralize multimodal facilities in a County and can be a model for other counties/cities to consider.”

According to a news release, the MMF will consolidate and focus several transportation elements at a single site and allow for increased connectivity for residents of Smith County and the East Texas region to access other areas of Texas and the nation. Officials say available transit services at the MMF will include Greyhound and Kerrville Bus Lines (intercity bus) and charter bus service, transportation to Amtrak train stops in the region, Tyler Transit, a park and ride lot, and demand-response rural transit services. “This was the reason that RMA’s were established — to partner to find transportation and mobility solutions for our region,” said Austin.

TYLER — East Texas Medical Center facilities have received an accreditation and a recertification. The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons has granted three-year accreditation with commendation to the cancer program at the ETMC Cancer Institute. ETMC received the reaccreditation following the on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor in May. The commission is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients through education, standard-setting, prevention, research and monitoring the quality of cancer care.

In 1990, ETMC’s Cancer Institute was the first oncology program in East Texas to be certified, placing it among the elite hospitals in the nation with approved cancer programs. “We are very pleased to have this approval again because it’s only given to facilities that have voluntarily committed to providing the highest level of quality cancer care,” said Todd Sigmon, vice president of the ETMC Cancer Institute.

Also, ETMC Tyler’s stroke care program has been recertified as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations with a Gold Seal of Approval. ETMC Tyler was the first hospital in East Texas and one of the first in Texas to receive this designation in 2005 with recertifications in 2007 and 2009. ETMC voluntarily pursued this designation in part because of the alarming rate of stroke-related deaths in East Texas. The Joint Commission conducted an on-site review this spring to review compliance with national standards, clinical guidelines and outcomes of care.

“The East Texas region has one of the highest stroke rates in our state,” said Sigmon, who also serves as ETMC Neurological Institute vice president. “Since part of the effort to earn the certification includes a focus on stroke prevention, we believe it will help us meet our goal to help change that factor in our region.”