KTBB News, Weather, Talk

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County fire officials are continuing to investigate a mobile home fire on CR 1104 in the Noonday area around 8:30 Friday morning. Officials say the home was completely destroyed. According to KETK, no one was home at the time of the blaze. Some nearby trees also caught fire. Officials say CR 1104 was shut down due to the threat of a propane tank exploding.

The fire marshal says there was a family argument at the home at 2 a.m. and the home owner, Daniel Hippe, asked everyone to leave. Officials say they don’t know what started the argument, but that it’s a linchpin to the investigation. However, investigators said they don’t believe the probe will lead to an arrest. The exact cause of the fire is still being sought.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Economic Development Corporation (LEDCO) has announced that American HomePatient, Inc., one of the nation’s largest home health care providers, will expand its patient support center operations into Longview this summer. The firm will occupy an existing building at 2920 Tuttle Boulevard and will employ over 200 when fully operational.

American HomePatient is a national respiratory provider with locations in 35 states. The company is based in Brentwood, Tennessee, and owned by funds managed by Highland Capital Management, L.P. (Highland), a Dallas-based, SEC-registered investment adviser with approximately $23 billion of assets under management. The focus of American HomePatient is respiratory services, delivering sleep therapy, aerosolized medications and oxygen to patients across the country. From the Longview facility, the firm will provide telephonic support for its customer patients to monitor their therapy.

“The economic impact to the Longview area will be significant,” said Steve Metcalf, President of the LEDCO Board of Directors. “American HomePatient will invest in new equipment and facilities in the City of Longview, Gregg County and the Longview Independent School District. The total payroll, benefits, capital investment and taxes paid will reach $80 million over the next ten years.” Patrick Daugherty, Head of Private Equity at Highland, stated: “American HomePatient’s investment in Longview is an important component of the company’s growth strategy and demonstrates Highland’s commitment to American HomePatient.”

A LEDCO news release says LEDCO — aided by city officials and staff, local community colleges and universities, and existing businesses — worked for several months to attract the company to the area. Officials say the company will invest over $300,000 in building improvements and hire approximately 70 people this year. “LEDCO really worked hard to understand our city selection evaluation process and adapted quickly to our needs, making our company feel like we could add value to the community,” said Chris Johnson, American HomePatient Vice President.

In April, the LEDCO Board of Directors unanimously approved a seven year $1.1 million performance grant as an incentive for American HomePatient to expand and grow in Longview. “We are very proud and thankful to our board of directors for their forward-thinking, aggressive approach to this incentive package,” said Susan Mazarakes-Gill, LEDCO’s Executive Director. “This package sets higher, more competitive standards for the economic development industry in the U.S. and proves Longview can compete and win high-wage, sustainable jobs for the region.”

TYLER — A pedestrian suffered serious injuries after being struck by a vehicle. Tyler Police say it happened Friday morning around 10:00 in the 2600 block of South Broadway when a vehicle had pulled out of the U.S. Postal Service driveway heading north and struck a 63-year-old pedestrian as he was crossing the road. Authorities say Larry Taylor, Tyler, was taken to Trinity Mother Frances Hospital by EMS. The driver of the vehicle was interviewed by police at the scene and was released. Taylor was found at fault for failing to yield the right of way.

WINNSBORO — A Winnsboro teen has died in a one-vehicle wreck around 11:45 Thursday night. Hopkins County Department of Public Safety Officials say Autumn Dale Romine, 16, was headed east on Highway 11 near County Road 2401 when her vehicle left the north side of the roadway, hit a tree and caught on fire. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The DPS report said she had been wearing her seat belt but failed to control the car’s speed.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man was arrested Wednesday after a child told police she was sexually assaulted. Leelliot Deniro Johnson, 31, was arrested around 6:00 in the 300 block of West Cotton Street. Johnson is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child younger than 14 years old. His bond was set at $100,000. On May 20th, the victim reportedly told police in a forensic interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center that she was sexually assaulted by Johnson on May 7th.

ANGELINA COUNTY — A Lufkin man facing a murder charge in connection with a 2010 drive-by shooting accepted a plea deal Thursday for six years in prison. Elton “June” Gibson, 20, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault in connection with the January 2010 shooting death of Joseph Cooper, 63. In addition to the six-year sentence, Gibson received five years for violating terms of his probation, stemming from a failure to stop and render aid charge in 2009.

Gibson was the last of three to face charges in Cooper’s death. His then girlfriend and co-defendant Kendall Thompson, 20, walked last month on a murder charge, while Johnx Greer, 20, was sentenced to 20 years in prison last week in a plea agreement for aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury.

Gibson was offered the deal in exchange for agreeing to testify against Thompson and Greer about the night Greer reportedly shot and killed Cooper.

DALLAS — Noticed more grasshoppers lately? The folks at Texas Agrilife Extension Service have been fielding lots of calls from folks who are seeing more of the insects. They’re especially more noticeable in Northeast Texas, from Fort Worth to Smith and Rusk Counties. The Extension’s Dr. Chris Sansone says it’s all courtesy of the drought. According to Sansone, “It’s dry, grasshoppers are moving off their natural feeding deals and coming into hay pastures, so producers are trying to defend their hay pastures. Homeowners still are trying to keep their landscapes alive, and grasshoppers are coming in and eating their landscape.” Sansone says people normally think of insect outbreaks happening when it’s wet, but drier conditions lead to an uptick of these critters.

TYLER — According to documents from the Texas Ethics Commission, Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith broke multiple Election Codes and Ethics Commission Rules. The documents state Sheriff Smith did not disclose campaign contributions, file a timely semiannual campaign finance report, or file campaign finance reports correctly; was improperly reimbursed for political expenditures; and used contributions for personal use. Reports show Sheriff Smith used $3,920.36 worth of political contributions for two books, one of which has been published, “The Christmas Day Murders.” The commission fined Sheriff Smith $1,600 for his violations. Smith wasn’t immediately available for comment.

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center has announced its 15th anniversary season. The Distinguished Lecture Series includes An Evening with Senator Fred Thompson September 13 and An Evening with P.J. O’Rourke January 19. Among the other offerings: Disney’s “Beauty And The Beast” on October 22, Huey Lewis and The News October 29, Tony winner Idina Menzel November 19, Mel Brooks’s new musical “Young Frankenstein” on March 16, and Bill Cosby April 14. New season subscriptions are on sale now at http://www.cowancenter.org or at the Cowan Center box office. You can also call 903-566-7424. Box office hours are 9:00am to 4:00pm Monday through Friday. The deadline to purchase season subscriptions is Friday, August 5.

“We are so proud of the talent and variety we have put together for East Texas performing arts fans to enjoy this season,” Thomae-Morphew said. “A million memories have been created since our center opened its doors in 1997, and we plan to make more great ones with our fifteenth anniversary celebration. Buying season tickets is the only way to assure patrons of getting the best seats at the lowest price. In addition, our subscribers become part of our Cowan Center family with their loyal attendance. We hope everyone will consider subscribing to one, two or all of our series.”

TYLER — A Tyler woman who’d pleaded guilty to manslaughter gets 20 years in prison, the maximum sentence she could have received. Authorities say Jerdene Boyd, 51, had trace amounts of cocaine, marijuana and opiates in her system last September 2 when she ran from police and fatally rear-ended a Plano man. But they say the vehicle was the weapon, and she was not under the influence of the drugs. Authorities say she rear-ended Robert Bass, 55, of Plano, on South Broadway while Bass was stopped at a light. He was pronounced dead at the scene. According to authorities, investigators determined that Boyd has never been issued a Texas Drivers License and had no insurance.

LUFKIN — Lufkin police officers are looking for two suspects in a late-night robbery at the Dairy Queen at 301 North John Redditt Drive in Lufkin. Around 11:00 Wednesday night, officers responded to the business in reference to a robbery reported to have just occurred. According to police, employees said that two unidentified suspects appeared at the restaurant as the employees were closing for the day, They said one displayed a handgun and ordered the employees to lie on the floor, stole a cash box containing currency, and then fled on foot from the restaurant.

The employees described the suspects as black males, 5’10″ to 6’00” tall, weighing 150 to 175 pounds, wearing dark-colored, long-sleeve shirts with red text or graphics on the front and back sides, dark-colored Dickie-style pants, dark-colored wave caps on their heads, and blue bandanas covering the lower portions of their faces. The responding officers were unable to locate the suspects but recovered evidence from the area; the incident was referred for further investigation.

MOUNT ENTERPRISE — The fire that killed a 25-year-old woman and her two children Tuesday morning has been ruled undetermined, according to the preliminary report issued Wednesday from the state fire marshal. Rusk County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Viki Penny said the fire marshal spent Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday investigating the fire, but was unable to determine an official cause. The fire still is under investigation. Penny said a witness told officials that the fire started near a window air conditioning unit and the house didn’t have any smoke detectors installed.

Firefighters from Mount Enterprise, Eastside, Timpson and Garrison volunteer fire departments were dispatched to the house fire in the 4000 block of County Road 3175 about 6:30 Tuesday morning. After the fire was extinguished several hours later, officials found three bodies in the home. Penny said April Nicole Yarbrough was found dead in the home with her two sons, Zi’Quaven Ki’onta Yarbrough, 7, and Tyrell Deshawn Dixon, 3. Sheriff’s department officials encouraged residents to make sure they have working smoke detectors in their home.

EAST TEXAS — A former Winnsboro band director has been sentenced to prison for sexual assault and indecency with a child. During a sentencing hearing in Franklin County, Paul Bramlett’s probation was revoked and he was sentenced to two 15 year prison sentences to be served concurrently. The District Attorney said during the hearing that Bramlett admitted to the crimes and pleaded guilty. He also admitted to having an improper relationship with a student while he was teaching at a private school in Fort Worth.

LONGVIEW — A Longview teen was arrested Wednesday morning after police said he tried to steal a necklace from a convenience store. Dillon Wayne Scott, 17, remained jailed Wednesday on $21,000 bond, charged with theft, resisting arrest and possession of a controlled substance. Scott was arrested around 1:00 at the Texas Best Smokehouse in the 3300 block of South Eastman Road. During a search, police found 3.6 grams of methamphetamine in his shirt pocket.

LONGVIEW — A Gladewater man was arrested on a driving while intoxicated charge after police said he was found passed out in his truck in the Whataburger drive-thru. Leon Charles Gearhart, 49 was released from jail on $5,000 bond, charged with driving while intoxicated, third offense. Longview Police arrested Gearhart around 2:45 Tuesday morning after a Whataburger employee in the 2400 block of Gilmer Road reported that a man was passed out in his vehicle in the drive-thru.

Officials said when police arrived, Gearhart was found asleep in a truck with the vehicle still in drive. The officer put the truck in park, turned off the truck and woke up the driver. Police said he refused part of a sobriety test. Gearhart was transported to the jail for suspicion of driving while intoxicated and a mandatory blood sample was drawn because he had two prior convictions.

NACOGDOCHES – A Nacogdoches man has been arrested and charged with falsifying evidence that helped overturn the capital murder conviction of a Cushing woman. Arrested Tuesday night was James Patrick Capps, 31. Investigators say they have evidence that Capps forged documents regarding Marcia Kelly’s murder-for-hire case; He has been charged with two counts of falsifying evidence.

TYLER – A Mexican national has appeared in Tyler federal court to be sentenced to for drug trafficking violation in East Texas. Gabriel Hernandez Rodriguez, who was illegally living in Tyler, pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine. He was sentenced yesterday to 135 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis. Rodriguez was also ordered to submit to forfeiture in the amount of $50,000.00.

Federal prosecutors say, from an unknown date to January 13, 2010, Rodriguez conspired with Jose Zavala of Whitehouse to distribute methamphetamine in East Texas. Rodriguez also possessed a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities. Rodriguez was arrested last September 28 and charged with federal drug trafficking crimes.

Zavala pleaded guilty last July and was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison on March 28, 2011.

TYLER — Tyler ISD is holding a public hearing on its redistricting plan this afternoon at 5:30 in the Birdwell Elementary School cafeteria, 2010 Talley Avenue. Officials say residents are invited to address proposed redistricting Illustrative Plan 1 concerning new boundaries for TISD trustee districts. Officials say the board will receive comments but will not discuss the plan or its relative merits. According to the 2010 Census data, the school district’s trustee districts are not of sufficiently equal population and must be redrawn in order to comply with the “one-person, one-vote” principle established by the U.S. Constitution. The hearing will be followed by the regular monthly school board meeting, also to be held in the Birdwell cafeteria.

TYLER – A Dallas man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug violations in East Texas. Jose Gaona-Arroyo pleaded guilty on June 1, 2010, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison yesterday by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis.

According to federal prosecutors, beginning in 2007, Gaona-Arroyo conspired to distribute methamphetamine in Dallas County, which was then transported through the Eastern District of Texas to be delivered elsewhere. Gaona-Arroyo was arrested in Smith County on July 23, 2009, in possession of approximately one pound of methamphetamine. Gaona-Arroyo and five others were indicted by a federal grand jury on August 5, 2009.

TYLER – A 33-year-old Henderson woman has been sentenced to federal prison for drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas. Marianna Matthews pleaded guilty on Dec. 8, 2010, to possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine and was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison Wednesday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. According to prosecutors, from April 2009 to February 2010, Matthews purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at various stores in Kilgore, Tyler, Longview, and Henderson. The pills were purchased in furtherance of Matthews’ conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine with others. Matthews and five others were indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6, 2010.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has voted unanimously to accept an agreement with the City of Lindale that will establish Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) boundaries for both communities. Due to annexations by both cities, their extraterritorial jurisdictions have reached each other. Officials say representatives of both cities have had discussions and arrived at an exchange of extraterritorial jurisdiction area resulting in a north boundary for Tyler and south boundary line for Lindale. Officials say that’s in order to provide for orderly development — particularly along the I-20, Loop 49, and U.S. Highway 69 corridors — and to provide for a mutually agreeable settlement. “We have been working with our neighboring communities to ensure there is agreement on where the ETJ is for each of us,” said Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass (pictured). “We want to work together to do what is best for the region.”

A community’s ETJ is typically established by the number of residents in a community. Tyler’s current ETJ extends five miles while Lindale’s is one mile from the city limit line; as annexations occur, the city limit line moves, which results in a community’s ETJ also extending. An ETJ is considered a future planning area and is an anticipated area of growth for a community. “As both of our cities grow, we will need to work together,” said Lindale City Manager Owen Scott. “The agreement we have reached is in the best interests of both communities.”

TYLER — The Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas has recently been alerted of a scam that is again plaguing local hotels and their guests, in which a scam artist obtains the credit card information of hotel guests over the phone. The calls are typically made in the middle of the night. The caller indicates he or she is a hotel employee and the hotel computer system has crashed. In order to complete the hotel audit, the caller says he or she must have the call recipient’s credit card number. Many times, the caller also offers a discount on the room for the inconvenience. BBB officials say these callers are very convincing, and many hotel guests do fall for this scam. Whether the scam artist is actually a guest in the hotel, or whether the calls are coming from outside the hotel and the scammer has obtained the direct number to each room, has not yet been determined.

Hotel managers are being asked to alert their guests of this scam and remind them not to provide their credit card information over the phone during their stay. The managers are asked to let guests know if there is ever a problem with billing, the hotel staff will handle it at the front desk and not over the phone. To report a fraud or scam, you can call the BBB Hotline: (903) 581-8373.

LONGVIEW — Two 12-year-old boys were arrested Tuesday evening on charges related to bicycles that were stolen from a Longview home. Officers responded to a residential burglary in progress shortly after 5 p.m. A witness said he saw three young males walking up and down the street. He said he saw them open the garage door to a home located on Rockwall Drive. He reportedly saw them take at least one bicycle out of the garage and leave the area. Authorities found the boys on bicycles in the 200 block of Ward Street. After speaking to them and to other witnesses, officers say they determined that the bicycles were taken from the garage of the home on Rockwall Drive by two of the youths. The bicycles were valued at approximately $800.

Both suspects were transported to the Gregg County Juvenile Detention Facility and charged with burglary of a habitation. Police say it was later determined that both youths had given the arresting officers false information about their identities, so both were also charged with failure to identify.

Once again, Longview police remind citizens to do their part and be aware of their neighborhood and suspicious circumstances and people. Police say being a proactive and watchful neighbor, just as in this case, will deter and help solve crime in Longview neighborhoods.

BEAUMONT — A 29-year-old Nacogdoches man has been sentenced to life in federal prison for his role in a double homicide which took place in Nacogdoches in August 2007. Charles Cameron Frazier, aka “Mojo,” pleaded guilty on Jan. 14th to committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity. Frazier admitted that he had participated in the murders of David Mitchamore and Christy Rochelle Brown. According to information presented in court, Frazier was a member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT).

TYLER — A sentencing trial is underway in a Smith County Courtroom for a Tyler woman guilty of intoxication manslaughter. Jerdene Boyd had previously plead guilty and is now facing sentencing of up to 20 years in prison. On September 2nd of last year, Boyd was under the influence of cocaine, marijuana and opiates when she ran from police on South Broadway and rear-ended Robert Bass, 55, Plano. Bass was stopped at a light. He was pronounced dead at the scene. According to authorities, investigators determined that Boyd has never been issued a Texas Drivers License and had no insurance.

ANGELINA COUNTY — A motorcyclist on his way to work was arrested Monday morning after leading authorities on a 100 mph chase that ended in a crash. Angelina County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Bryan Holley said he was patrolling Loop 287 around 5:50 a.m. when he came upon Kraig Kilgore, 23, of Diboll, riding at 90-100 mph in the northbound lane.

Holley said he stayed in close pursuit of Kilgore and watched as he hooked a left onto Spence Street, losing control of the bike. “He laid it over and the bike skidded across the pavement. Luckily he was wearing a helmet, but he had some pretty bad road rash,” Holley said. “He was taken into custody, given medical attention and then taken to jail.”

Holley said Kilgore told him he ran because he was on his way to work and didn’t have a motorcycle license. Kilgore is charged with evading arrest and was also ticketed for no motorcycle license and failure to control speed. Kilgore was released from jail Monday on a personal recognizance bond, according to jail records.

HUGHES SPRINGS – Cass County authorities say it appears to be a murder-suicide that claimed the lives of Kandi Nolen and her estranged husband Stan. Authorities were able to trace a 911 call to the woman’s home Monday night. It was in her home in the 1400 block of East First Street in Hughes Springs is where they found the bodies. Investigators say, based on the evidence at the scene, it appears as if Stan Nolen shot Kandi and then turned the gun on himself.

WICHITA, KAN. (AP/STAFF) — A Nacogdoches County man who ran a hunting camp in Kansas has been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for conspiracy and illegally trafficking in wildlife. James Bobby Butler Jr. was accused along with his brother with offering guided hunts to hunters who paid thousands of dollars to kill deer illegally. Butler, of Martinsville, Texas, was owner of Camp Lone Star in Coldwater, Kansas. His brother, Marlin, is expected to plead guilty to the charges on Friday and it is anticipated that he too will draw a prison sentence.

FORT WORTH (AP) — A renowned classical pianist from Texas is returning to Russia where his 1958 victory at a prestigious competition gained him international fame. Van Cliburn, who grew up in Kilgore, will be an honorary chairman for the piano part of the Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow. The Van Cliburn Foundation on Tuesday announced his trip for the contest ending next week.

Cliburn won the first International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition at the height of the Cold War. He says this is the first time he has returned to the competition, although he’s visited Russia several times through the years.

He’s involved with but doesn’t select winners of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. That competition is held every four years in his hometown of Fort Worth, Texas, most recently in 2009. Prizes include national concert tours for winners.

MT. ENTERPRISE — Rusk County officials have identified the victims of a fatal fire as April Nicole Yarbrough, 25, Zi’quaven Ke’onta Yarbrough, 7, and Tyrell Deshawn Dixon, 3. Mt. Enterprise firefighters received a call for help at around 6:30 yesterday morning. According to Rusk County spokeswoman Vicky Penny, April Yarbrough’s mother left the house for work at 3:30. Later, her brother saw smoke rising from the house while he was helping a friend that was out of gas. He rushed to the house and knocked on the window. When no one answered, he kicked in the door and saw the inside of the house fully engulfed by fire.

According to Rusk County Fire Officials the fire broke out on County Road 3175 off of Farm Road 95 near Mt. Enterprise. The fire was contained shortly after 9:30. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death for the victims, and a fire marshal is trying to determine the cause of the fire.