KTBB News, Weather, Talk

DIBOLL — A one-vehicle accident Tuesday evening claimed the life of a Diboll resident and sent a Diboll teenager to the hospital with critical injuries. David Bush, 24, was traveling west on Pine Forest Road, north of Diboll, when he lost control of his 2003 Chevrolet Silverado, according to a Texas Department of Public Safety official. The truck skidded off the dirt road, struck trees and came to rest in a creek bed. Bush was pronounced dead at the scene.

Jessica McAdams, 16, was unresponsive when she was transported to Memorial Medical Center-Lufkin and was listed in critical condition Tuesday night. Another occupant of the vehicle, Weston McLeroy, 19, was also transported to Memorial and was listed good condition with abrasions. Bush and McAdams were not wearing seat belts.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man has been arrested after he was accused of twice slashing his brother’s face with a steak knife. Jeffrey Allen Miller, 27, was arrested at his home yesterday morning and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The victim told officers that he and his brother had been in a heated argument. He also said his brother was drunk at the time. The victim was taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center for treatment.

BIG SANDY – In a surprise move, Big Sandy Mayor Wayne Weese has announced he was resigning. He made the announcement at last night’s city council meeting. Weese has been in city government for the past ten years, the last five of those as mayor. He said feels mayors of small towns need to either be independently wealthy or retired. So he said it’s been difficult to juggle his duties in the city and his full time job. He told KETK-TV he had to cancel more and more appointments as mayor and he has been thinking about stepping down for the past few months. Weese says he won’t be stepping down until after the upcoming election this spring.

MARSHALL — A 53-year-old Marshall man has pleaded guilty to federal drug violations. Gary Lynn Corpier pleaded guilty in Marshall yesterday to possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine before U.S. Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne. Corpier faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set. According to federal prosecutors, on June 9, 2009, Corpier purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a Walgreens and a Wal-Mart store in Marshall, as well as on other occasions at other stores in the area, all in furtherance of his methamphetamine manufacturing activities.

MARSHALL — A 33-year-old Marshall, Texas man has pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges. In Marshall yesterday, John Michael McConnell pleaded guilty to wire fraud in an appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne. McConnell faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set. Federal prosecutors say from August 2010 to September 2010, McConnell engaged in a scheme to defraud MB Trading by making false material representations in an online application for a trading account and by emailing a fictitious bank statement to MB Trading.

MARSHALL — A 63-year-old Longview woman has been sentenced for social security fraud charges. Gaylynne Gale pleaded guilty last July to theft of government property. She was sentenced to 5 years probation and 2 months house arrest yesterday by U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap in Marshall. Gale was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $152,518.30 to the Social Security Administration and the Texas Medicaid Program and ordered to the forfeiture of $47,530.00.

According to the indictment, from February 2004 until June 2010, Gale intentionally concealed her living arrangements with her ex-husband in order to receive more than $47,000 from the Social Security Administration in the form of Social Security Supplemental Security Income payments. Her misrepresentation also caused a significant loss to the Texas Medicaid Program.

TYLER — A new charter school that starts in August at UT Tyler will feature a new way to learn. According to KETK, it will emphasize studies in math, science, engineering, and technology. University officials say they’re striving to create a more interactive form of learning for pre-college students. Students will meet for four hours in the morning for regular class study. The rest of the day will consist of projects and field trips. This first year will only be offered to students between third and sixth grade, with each year adding one more grade, up through high school. The charter school will be available at all three UT Tyler campuses, in Tyler, Longview, and Palestine. Organizers say the schools will focus on making the student aware of the importance of what he or she is studying.

UPSHUR COUNTY — A fire destroys a house in Upshur County Tuesday morning. Fire officials tell KETK it happened just after 9:00 in the 6600 block of FM 1795, just south of Lemon Road. Fire officials say when they got there, half the house was already gone. No injuries were reported.

TYLER – A 28-year-old Houston man has pleaded guilty in Tyler federal court to drug trafficking violations. Phillip Andrew Garcia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie.

According to information presented in court, on March 9, 2011, Garcia and two co-conspirators traveled from Houston to Tyler with 2 kilograms of cocaine for distribution in the area. Garcia admitted that he possessed between 15 and 50 kilograms of cocaine for distribution in East Texas. Garcia and four others were indicted by a federal grand jury on July 13, 2011. Garcia faces a minimum of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set. All of Garcia’s co-defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

TYLER – A 56-year-old Avinger man has pleaded guilty in Tyler to federal drug violations. Scott R. Kelly pleaded guilty to possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie. According to prosecutors, on April 17, 2010, Kelly purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a Walgreens store in Longview as well as on numerous other occasions at other stores in the area, all in furtherance of his methamphetamine manufacturing activities. Kelly was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 6, 2011. Kelly faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

LUFKIN — A Tenaha, Texas couple has pleaded guilty to federal firearms violations. Roderrette Dewrayne McClure, 39, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. His wife, Jeannie Lynn McClure, 32, pleaded guilty to providing a firearm to a convicted felon. The McClures entered their guilty pleas yesterday in Lufkin in front of U.S. District Judge Ron Clark. The McClures each face up to 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

According to federal prosecutors, last August, the FBI and ATF executed a search warrant at the McClure’s home. Several firearms were seized during the search. Roderrette McClure has a prior felony conviction for attempted sexual assault in Harris County in 2000. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.

NACOGDOCHES — Police say emergency responders were called to a Nacogdoches apartment where three persons had eaten a muffin that was reported to contain THC. According to KETK, two of these individuals were complaining of sickness. They were taken to the hospital for observation. What remained of the muffin was collected by officers for testing. The incident is currently under investigation.

LUFKIN — Crime Stoppers of Lufkin wants your help identifying the suspects in two theft investigations. According to KETK, investigators have not found a connection between these crimes or suspects, but both cases involve thieves in pajamas stealing merchandise from a Lufkin-area convenience store. The suspect in theft number one is a black female wearing a pink hat and pink pajama pants. She filled a shopping cart with merchandise and walked away from the store without making payment. The suspects in theft number are two black males and a black female; the female was wearing green pajama pants. Between them, the suspects hid six bottles of Smirnoff Ice in their pants and ran from the store.

Crime Stoppers personnel say they chose to profile these crimes as a warning to other would-be thieves. Punishments for these thefts can be stiff, and prior theft convictions can enhance the penalty to a felony. If you can identify any of these suspects, call Crime Stoppers of Lufkin at 936-639-TIPS. You never have to give your name, and Crime Stoppers may pay a cash reward of up to $100 for information that leads to the arrest of any of these suspects.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department wants to remind drivers to use caution when they approach or pass, from either direction, a school bus, especially loading and unloading. State law prohibits drivers from passing school buses when the bus is operating a visual signal and shall stop before reaching the school bus when the bus is operating a visual signal and may not proceed until:
• the school bus resumes motion;
• the operator is signaled by the bus driver to proceed; or
• the visual signal is no longer actuated.

An operator is not required to stop if the highway has separate roadways and the bus is on a different roadway. The law defines a separate roadway as a roadway that has intervening space or where vehicles are not permitted to drive, a physical barrier, or clearly indicated section constructed to impede vehicular flow. A highway is not considered to have separate roadways if the roadway is only separated by a left turn lane.

TORONTO (AP/Staff) – TransCanada has pushed back the possible startup date of a controversial pipeline that would carry Canadian oil to refineries in Texas. The Calgary, Alberta-based company said Tuesday in an earnings release that its executives continue to work with Nebraska to determine the best route that avoids Nebraska’s environmentally sensitive Sandhills region. Last month, the administration of President Barack Obama denied a permit for the project, but left the door open for TransCanada to apply for a new pipeline route. The company said last month it expected the new application would be processed in an expedited manner so that it could be in service in late 2014. TransCanada has now moved that back to early 2015. As originally planned, the pipeline would run through much of East Texas, including eastern Smith County.

CHIRENO (AP) – Investigators say a woman and two of her grandchildren have been killed but another grandson survived a one-vehicle wreck in East Texas. The Department of Public Safety says the accident happened late Monday near Chireno. DPS says Annie Diggles Jones, 54, of San Augustine apparently was speeding when her SUV went out of control on a curve and hit a tree. Jones and Armontay Woods, 12, died at the scene. State Trooper John Henley says Anfernee Diggles, 14, was pronounced dead at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital. Amauryia Diggles, 11, was hospitalized in good condition late Monday. DPS says the woman and the youngsters were not wearing seat belts.

KILGORE — Kilgore police discover a suspect had heroin stashed in a body cavity after a weekend traffic stop ended in three arrests. Kadeem Brackins Ray, 21, Dallas, was being booked Saturday into Kilgore City Jail when police made the discovery. According to the Longview News-Journal, Good Shepherd Medical Center staff later removed 41 packets of heroin from Ray’s body. Ray was one of two passengers in a car driven by Jedarious Rashad Lowery, 19, Dallas. Jerry Bernard Collins II, 22, Dallas was also in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle turned up two handguns, several bags of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and more than $3,000 in cash.

Ray has been charged with delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, tampering with evidence and possession of marijuana. His bonds total $142,500. Collins has been charged with theft of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of marijuana. His bonds total $22,500. Lowery has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of marijuana. His bonds total $17,250.

NACOGDOCHES – One person has been killed and one injured in a one vehicle accident in Nacogdoches County. The wreck occurred shortly after 9:00 Sunday night on Farm Road 343, 10 miles south of Cushing, in the Looneyville area. Killed when his pickup left the road and hot a tree was Gregory Colt Lucky, 28, of Cushing. A passenger, Larry Wayne Dosser, 41, of Cushing, is in fair condition at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital. The Department of Public Safety reports Lucky was not wearing a seat belt, but his passenger was.

EAST TEXAS — Some Texas landowners went public Monday about their fight against the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, even though it’s been tabled for now. Eleanor Fairchild of Wood County says TransCanada used bully tactics to get her to sign a deal. Fairchild also says the oil sand that would move through the pipeline would corrode over time and destroy the fresh spring water on her land. But Sean Howard with TransCanada says the product is safe and even replacing the heavier oil that currently comes into the United States through Mexico and Venezuela. Howard says TransCanada is considering extending a pipeline that already exists in the state, which would not require a federal permit.

TYLER — TYLER — DPS Regulatory Agents and Texas Rangers have arrested three Smith County Precinct 3 Deputy Constables for violations of the Texas Private Security Act. According to KETK, in an investigation that began in 2011, DPS received information that the constables had been providing security for three locations in Smith County without having obtained proper licensure. Four deputy constables, Monty Ward, Thomas Burns, Mark Pierce, and Justin Stockwell, will be charged with operating a private security company without a license, a class A misdemeanor. DPS officials say Thomas Burns has yet to be arrested, but does have an outstanding warrant.

Earlier, Precinct 3 Constable Dustin Rust said deputies in his department are accused of stealing fuel for use in their off-duty jobs. According to a release from Smith County, the commissioners court did some followup as part of its budgetary responsibility after Rust began inquiring about obtaining additional fuel money for his office in the spring of 2011. The release says in part, “Of particular concern to commissioners is the possibility of unauthorized and potentially improper use of county resources. After referring the matter to law enforcement, the commissioners court has had no further involvement and will make no further comment regarding any pending criminal investigation of the Pct. 3 Constable’s Office.”

LONGVIEW – Seven Longview businesses have been cited in a tobacco undercover sting operation. Last Friday’s undercover sting utilized 14-16 year old minors, accompanied by Longview Police Officers, who entered stores and attempted to purchase tobacco products. The stings are funded through a grant issued by the Texas Comptroller’s Office.

The Texas Health and Safety Code states that it is unlawful for a person to sell, give or cause to be sold or given a cigarette or tobacco product to someone who is younger than 18 years of age. A violation of this statute is punishable as a class C misdemeanor and the fine is over $500.00.

Citations were issued to the clerk at each location that sold tobacco to the undercover minor and the clerk will have to appear at the Longview Municipal Court to resolve the citation. The undercover officer/minor teams went to 50 Longview area tobacco retailers and of those, 7 retailers sold tobacco to the undercover minors.The locations that sold tobacco products to minors include:

Food Fast, 1316 Alpine Rd
Super 1 Foods, 1217 E. Marshall
Food Fast, 427 E. Loop 281
E-Z Mart, 1910 Judson Rd
Valero, 3400 Gilmer Rd
J&B Food Mart, 1600 S. Green
Briana’s Stop & Shop (Texaco), 3122 Estes Pkwy

KILGORE — Drugs, money, and guns turn up in a weekend traffic stop in Kilgore. According to Kilgore police press materials, just after 2:45 Saturday morning, Corporal Terry Linder stopped a vehicle for several traffic violations in the 200 block of Henderson Blvd. According to KETK, the driver was identified as Jedarious Rashad Lowery, 19, from Dallas, pictured here. During the stop, Corporal Linder reportedly noted evidence of drug activity within the vehicle.

Police say a search of the vehicle resulted in the following items being located and seized: two loaded handguns (one of which was allegedly stolen), several bags of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and $3260 in currency. The driver and two other occupants of the vehicle were arrested. The other two occupants of the vehicle were identified as Kadeem Brackins Ray, 21, from Dallas, and Jerry Bernard Collins II, 22, also from Dallas.

All three were booked into the Kilgore City Jail. During the jail booking process it was reportedly discovered Kadeem Ray had secreted packets of heroin on his person inside of a body cavity. Ray was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center, Longview, where police say 41 packets of heroin were removed from his person. Ray was charged with delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, tampering with evidence, and possession of marijuana. Jerry Collins was charged with theft of firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of marijuana. Lowery was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon F3 and possession of marijuana.

TYLER — The man accused of shooting Smith County Deputy Josh Caulkins, Christopher Martin Summerville, 27, has been handed two life sentences after he entered a guilty plea in court Monday afternoon. Summerville was charged with two counts of aggravated assault against a public servant. Judge Jack Skeen of the 241st District Court heard the plea and assessed the sentences. Last October, Summerville was also indicted for aggravated robbery and failure to register as a sex offender.

In March 2011, Smith County Sheriff’s deputies and U.S. Marshals served a warrant on then 26 year old Summerville at The Arbors apartments on Chimney Rock in Tyler for failing to register as a sex offender. When officials attempted to enter the apartment, Summerville shot Caulkins in the chest. Luckily, Caulkins was saved by his bulletproof vest. After the shooting, Summerville was taken to a local hospital for a meth overdose. Officials believed at the time that Summerville injected himself with the drug just before they arrived at his apartment complex.

At the time of the shooting, Summerville was not charged with the assault, but in April, Tyler Police investigators secured the evidence to arrest him for Aggravated Assault of a Peace Officer, which is a first degree felony. Summerville was also charged with Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance and Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, both first degree felonies. Two other people, Kara Hanley and Jeffery Andrysiak, who were in the apartment at the time of the shooting, were also charged for Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity.

LUFKIN — As Darnell Bennett, 26, was laid to rest Monday, local authorities hunted the last of five men believed responsible for his murder. That’s according to KETK and the Lufkin Daily News. Rafael Orta, 20, remained at large Monday afternoon while his alleged co-conspirators, Jacob Woodard, 20 (pictured); Osalvado Hernandez-Escamilla, 18; Geraldo Renteria, 18; Jesus Vela, 17, all of Lufkin, were being held in the Angelina County Jail, charged with capital murder.

According to Lufkin Police Det. Cpl. Travis Strickland, Bennett’s shooting death was the result of a robbery pact gone wrong. Around 10:00pm on February 7, the five men reportedly drove to the home Bennett shared with his girlfriend Britney Nerren and her young son at 1408 California Blvd., intending to rob him. Strickland said the men were only acquainted with Bennett as someone who sold marijuana and had no prior issues with him. “They, all five together, decided to go rob my victim,” Strickland said. “No retaliation, no problems, no beef between them. It was a straight robbery.”

Just before the group showed up at Bennett’s back door, he received a phone call, Strickland said. Nerren, who was upstairs with her son at the time of the murder, reportedly heard Bennett asking “Did you call me from a private number?” and then gunshots. “She said she could tell that he was familiar with them and was upset,” Strickland said. “Two of them had guns, but we’ve identified Mr. Woodard as the shooter.” Bennett was taken to Memorial Medical Center-Lufkin with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead just after 10:20 that night.

Woodard was arrested Saturday with the help of the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office, while the additional arrests were made Monday, two of those with the help of the Lufkin ISD Police Department, as Renteria and Vela are high school students, Strickland said. Although Bennett may have been targeted because of drug connections, Strickland said it doesn’t lessen the need for justice in the case. “I worked narcotics for a long time and had never seen Mr. Bennett’s name before,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what someone has done in the past, no one deserves to die.” The four men arrested remained in jail Monday afternoon.

LONGVIEW — A man and a woman have been arrested in Longview and accused of stealing copper from a vacant building. According to KETK, Longview police arrested the two on Saturday night after seeing them enter a vacant building on Judson Road. Police say that one suspect, Timothy Emerson, 48, tried to flee, while Melody Hawthorne, 37, was arrested without incident. The copper wire the two were allegedly attempting to steal was recovered. Emerson and Hawthorne have been charged with theft and criminal trespass. Emerson has also been charged with attempting to flee.

TYLER — Five students from The University of Texas at Tyler were awarded top honors at the 2012 National Model United Nations–Europe Conference in Lille, France, Dr. Martin Slann, College of Arts and Sciences dean, announced. In recognition of their excellence in committee, Alisa Cerney of China Springs, Alina Dolzhenko-Tatkova of the Ukraine, Kenisha Schuster of Comanche, Hannah Waggoner of New London, and Samantha Winn of Tyler received “Outstanding Delegation.” This is the highest honor presented by NMUN and given to the top five delegations based on teamwork, leadership, speaking and negotiating abilities, knowledge of issues and proper use of procedure rules.

The UT Tyler delegation, representing the Republic of Lebanon on three committees, also received the“Outstanding Position Papers” award for papers written for the Security Council and the UN Conference on Sustainable Development. This award recognizes high achievement in preparation for the conference as demonstrated through knowledge of the agenda topics, recommendations for courses of action and the ability to effectively communicate the policies of one’s country.

In addition, Schuster, Winn and Cerney were voted “Outstanding Delegates in Committee” by their peers for their exemplary work in committee. Schuster and Winn represented Lebanon on the Security Council, while Cerney represented Lebanon on the UN Conference on Sustainable Development. These three students also spoke on behalf of their respective committees at the conference’s closing ceremony.

NOONDAY — Noonday firefighters are called out for a weekend grass fire near the intersection of Highway 155 and CR 189. KETK reports flames sparked next to the Salina Bay RV Park and scorched just under a couple of acres. No injuries were reported.

NACOGDOCHES – Two girls abducted in Nacogdoches County have been released unharmed. The girls, ages 9 and 10, were abducted from a driveway near their residence located off Farm Road 698. The suspect drove west for about a mile before releasing the youngsters. He was driving an older model maroon or red pick-up. The vehicle was believed to be either an extended cab or four door body style and had dents on the fender. He is described as a while male, possibly in his 40s, with a bald head and rotten teeth. He is said to have had a tattoo on his arm. Authorities say he had what appeared to be a camouflage colored hand gun but did not point it directly at the girls.

LAKE PALESTINE — Family and friends grieve in the aftermath of a tragic airplane incident. Fred Scholz, 85, was found dead Saturday morning on the rocks of the Lake Palestine Dam after his plane was found in the lake Thursday. Game Warden Gary Dugan told KETK a bit about how the search for Scholz was conducted. According to Dugan, “First thing we look at is where the wind direction blows during the night, and that’s where we looked that morning because…once they come up, they’ll float that way.” Scholz’s pastor Mark Braaten says he’s been struck by “the support and care of the East Texas community, law enforcement, the neighbors, the church community.” The plane was pulled from the water Friday. An autopsy on Scholz’s body has been ordered.

LAKE PALESTINE (AP/Staff) – Authorities have found the body of a pilot missing after his plane was found in Lake Palestine this week. Capt. Gary Dugan, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game warden, says the body of 85-year-old Fred Scholz was found Saturday morning on the rocks of the Lake Palestine Dam. Friends tell KETK Scholz was from Iowa and had a part-time residence in the Frankston area. He was reported missing Wednesday after taking off earlier in the day in his single-engine plane from a Jacksonville fueling station. Dive crews found the plane in Lake Palestine on Thursday morning. Department of Public Safety Trooper Lynn Hubert has said all indications are the pilot landed the plane in the water without severely damaging the aircraft and was able to open the window. Dugan says the body has been sent for an autopsy.