KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – Here’s a quick look at work planned in the Tyler District during the Weeks of September 29 and October 6. Please be advised that this is a schedule of work being planned but it is subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforeseen issues.

SMITH COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) maintenance crews in Smith County are starting the day off Monday conducting milling operations on Spur 248 at Loop 323. Crews will then continue milling operations on State Highway 155 North from Winona to the County Line. Expect daytime lane closures, slow down and be prepared to merge in and around work zones. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates

HAWKINS– A two vehicle accident in Wood County has left one person dead and two injured. The head on collision around 6:30 Saturday morning occurred on Farm Road 14 near Hawkins. Killed was Christopher Benson, 48, of Hawkins. The driver and passenger in the other vehicle, Mark Thomas Jr., 22, of Tyler, and Jerry Summerville, 31, of Winona, are hospitalized in stable condition. According to the Department of Public Safety, Benson was south bound when his car crossed over to the north bound lane and hit the other vehicle.

TYLER – A mobile home west of Tyler has been destroyed by fire. It was reported Saturday evening on Airline Avenue near Pounds Field Regional Airport. Residents of the mobile home were not injured, but a firefighter suffered a minor knee injury when he fell through a floor. Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire.

LONGVIEW – A Longview woman has been arrested on shoplifting charges. It turns out she is also wanted in two Northeast Texas counties. Arrested at Wal-Mart in Longview was Christy Ann Gaucin, 37. She is also wanted for forgery in Morris County and theft in Titus County. She remains in the Gregg County Jail.

AUSTIN — The first case of Enterovirus D-68 has been reported in East Texas. The Texas Department of Health reports out of the 34 patient samples tested in North Texas nine came back positive, one of those being a 9 year old child from Anderson County. KETK reports the nine cases were among Texas residents treated at Dallas hospitals for respiratory illnesses between late July and early September. Continue reading Enterovirus D-68 Found in East Texas

LONGVIEW – A Gregg County man has been arrested after Longview police say he choked and beat up his ex-fiance. Placed in the Gregg County Jail under a $50,000 bond was Ryan Alan Pease II, 29, of Longview. The complaint is assault against a family member by impeding breath or strangulation. According to KETK, Pease’s ex-fiance called him a “liar” during an argument over a cell phone. Police say that’s when Pease choked the woman until she became dizzy, and then he threw her into a closet. Police also say Pease slammed the woman’s head into a wall, hit her in the mouth and choked her again.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man has been arrested after being indicted in Smith County for aggravated assault. Taken into custody was Troy Allyn McClain, 18. He was indicted by a Smith County grand jury. He was arrested in the 400 block of East Marshall Avenue. KETK reports he was named in the arrest warrant because he had been accused of cutting a man with glass in May of this year. He is being held in the Gregg county jail under a $225,000 bond.

LONGVIEW – A Gregg County man has been arrested after Longview police say he choked and beat up his ex-fiance. Placed in the Gregg County Jail under a $50,000 bond was Ryan Alan Pease II, 29, of Longview. The complaint is assault against a family member by impeding breath or strangulation. According to KETK, Pease’s ex-fiance called him a “liar” during an argument over a cell phone. Police say that’s when Pease choked the woman until she became dizzy, and then he threw her into a closet. Police also say Pease slammed the woman’s head into a wall, hit her in the mouth and choked her again.

LINDALE — The Lindale ISD school board has approved a $193,464.00 contract with the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office to carry the commissions of three school resource officers. The officers’ commissions are currently carried by Smith County Constable, Pct. 5, but that contract will expire soon. “I am glad that we could find a solution that will allow Lindale ISD to continue providing uninterrupted security for its campuses,” Pct. 3 Commissioner Terry Phillips said. “The most important thing in this situation is the safety of the students, faculty, and staff at Lindale ISD.” Continue reading Lindale ISD Approves Campus Resource Officer

TYLER – Tyler police continue looking for the armed man who robbed the Family Dollar Store at 1401 East Gentry Parkway around 8:30 Thursday night. Witnesses say the suspect entered the business through the front door and immediately displayed a handgun while demand money from the clerk. After taking an undetermined amount of cash the suspect fired a single round inside the business and then fled. No one was injured. A search of the area turned up no trace of the suspect. He was described as a black male, 5’9″ to 6’0″ tall, 200 to 220 pounds and wearing a black shirt, a yellow raincoat, blue jeans, and a dark colored cloth mask. The suspect matches the description of the man who robbed the Dollar Store at 1527 WNW Loop 323 Monday night.

TYLER — The Fair Plaza Garage, Tyler’s African American Heritage Trail, and Regions Bank have all been named finalists of the 2014 Texas Downtown Association (TDA) President’s Awards Program. The announcement comes in a city of Tyler news release. Since 1998, the Awards Program has recognized more than 150 projects, events and people that make a difference in Texas downtowns. Continue reading Downtown Tyler Finalist in Three Texas Downtown Award Categories

TYLER – Better Business Bureau (BBB) Serving Central East Texas is the recipient of this year’s Outstanding BBB Award in Communications from the Council of Better Business Bureaus at the 44th International Assembly of BBBs, held in New Orleans, Louisiana. The award recognizes outstanding overall communications by a local BBB in print and broadcast media, programs before groups, BBB originated material and material from other sources, cooperation with private and public consumer protection groups, and maintenance and expansion of membership support. According to a news release from the local BBB, all 112 BBBs throughout North America were invited to submit award entries based on outstanding BBB work. Continue reading Local BBB Wins Award at International Assembly

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert joins numerous other Republicans who aren’t sorry to see Attorney General Eric Holder go. In a statement issued Thursday, Gohmert says, “For many years now, I have been calling for Attorney General Holder’s resignation. Not only has he lied before Members of Congress and, ultimately, been held in contempt, he has obfuscated the truth and been the most partisan, partial, prejudiced and self-pitying Attorney General in my lifetime, including John Mitchell who went to jail for his crime.” Continue reading Gohmert Responds to Holder’s Resignation

TYLER — Smith County Sheriff’s Office detectives executed an arrest warrant Thursday morning on an individual suspected of theft from a fast food restaurant last week. Shortly after 2:45 Wednesday morning, September 17, Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies responded to a call from the night manager of the fast food restaurant regarding a theft of cash from the cash register by an unknown man. According to customers in the restaurant, located on the 12400 block of Highway 155 South, the man entered the restaurant, covered his face with his shirt, took money out of the cash register and left without incident. The suspect is identified as Tristian Ford, 27, of Tyler. Ford was jailed for a theft of property warrant issued by County Court at Law No. 2 Judge Randall Rogers, who set bond at $5,000.

BIG SANDY — A teenager is being treated in a Dallas hospital after he was hit by an SUV while riding his bicycle in Big Sandy. The Big Sandy Police Department and first responders were called shortly before 6:30 Wednesday evening to the intersection of N. Pearl St. and E. Beck St. According to KETK, police say the SUV had been traveling north in the 400 block of N. Pearl St. when the boy entered the intersection from E. Beck St. without stopping. The boy was struck and thrown from his bicycle, sustaining several lacerations and abrasions as well as possible other injuries. He was then transported by ambulance to a Longview hospital and later flown to Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. Continue reading Teen Hit by SUV in Big Sandy, Flown to Dallas

GLADEWATER — Following Wednesday’s accident that took the life of 18-year-old Gladewater student Nikalas (Nik) Wisinger, the community has banded together to create a memorial fund in his honor. According to KETK, those wishing to donate can contact any Austin Bank branch. The account is set up under the Nikalas Wisinger Memorial Fund and will assist the family with funeral expenses. The Gladewater branch can be reached at (903) 844-2805. Donations can also be made at Gladewater High School, according to Gladewater PD. Funeral arrangements are still pending. Continue reading Fund Set Up for Gladewater Player’s Family

MARSHALL — Harrison County authorities are following up after a reportedly accidental shooting left a woman severely injured. KETK reports 911 operators received a call for an ambulance and deputies to come to a residence at 108 Rosebud, Marshall, around 10:15 Thursday morning. Upon arrival, Marshall EMT found a woman in a bedroom with a gunshot wound through her stomach and side, according to the sheriff’s office. Her husband, Larry Watkins, stated he was placing a loaded 7.65 MM rifle in the gun case when it discharged one time, striking his wife, who was standing in the closet. Continue reading Officials: Woman Severely Injured in Accidental Shooting

TYLER — For the second year in a row, Tyler Junior College has received national recognition for overall performance in educational fundraising. The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) recently named 84 colleges and universities and 20 independent schools as recipients of its 2014 Educational Fundraising Awards. According to a TJC news release, those awards recognize institutions for overall performance and improvement in educational fundraising programs. Continue reading TJC Receives Educational Fundraising National Award

TYLER – A child locked in a car has led to a grandmother being arrested in Tyler. It began with a call about a welfare concern at the Carmike Theater at 7415 South Broadway. When officers arrived around 8:15 last night they found firemen had unlocked a car and removed a child. Carmike Theater personnel were contacted and assisted in locating the owner of the vehicle, identified as Felicia Lucille Green, 49, of Tyler, who was in the theater. The child, who was five months old, had been in the car around an hour. The child, who was unharmed, was released to a family member. Green was booked into the Smith County Jail on a charge of child endangerment, a state felony.

MARSHALL — The ex-husband of a missing East Texas woman is released from the Harrison County Jail after warrants for his arrest in Colorado are dropped. But KETK reports Craig Deallen Davison remains on probation in Colorado, currently under the watch of Texas probation officers. Davison has been named a person of interest in the case of Christina Rae Davison, 43, of Kilgore. A purse containing her belongings was found in Marshall in May. Continue reading Ex-Husband of Missing Woman Released from Jail

FAIR PLAY — According to the Panola County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office, one of its own has been killed in an off-duty car accident. Officials tell KETK the accident involving Deputy Constable Byron McMillen, 63, occurred around 7:00 Wednesday morning. The collision happened on Highway 79 near Fair Play, stated the Panola County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO). Fair Play is located about halfway between Henderson and Carthage. McMillen was pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 David Gray. McMillen worked for both Precincts 1 and 4 during his time in Panola County. The deputy constable also worked as a reserve deputy for the sheriff’s department from 1984 to 2012, when he retired as a captain. He was additionally a part-time instructor for the East Texas Police Academy.

TYLER — Smith County authorities say they’ve arrested a second suspect in a recent burglary and pursuit. Smith County Sheriff’s Office detectives executed an arrest warrant Wednesday morning on the suspect who allegedly fled from officers during an attempted arrest after a vehicle pursuit near downtown Tyler last week. Continue reading Second Burglary Suspect Arrested from Prior Pursuit

TYLER — The city of Tyler will begin converting its water disinfection process to free chlorine for a period of approximately one month beginning Oct. 7 and ending around Nov. 6. Generally, there are no noticeable changes in water quality as a result of this temporary conversion, according to a city news release. However, some individuals may notice taste and odor changes and a slight discoloration to the water. Continue reading City Changes Water Disinfectant Process for One Month

MARSHALL — Family members say a Marshall Junior High 8th grader who collapsed at football practice Monday will soon be transferred to Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. According to KETK, relatives say Khalil Wallace collapsed when his heart stopped and firefighters had to resuscitate the boy. Once Wallace was stabilized at a Marshall hospital, he was taken to a Shreveport medical center. Family members said he will soon move to Dallas. Khalil remains in the intensive care unit. All of the team’s games are canceled until further notice.

LONGVIEW – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has recognized Stephen Stossel, office manager for the Child Support Division’s Longview field office, for what’s termed his commitment to Texas children. Stossel, who was named “Office Manager of the Year,” received the honor Tuesday at the Statewide Child Support Managers’ Conference in Austin. “Stephen Stossel is a phenomenal manager whose leadership of the Child Support Division’s Longview office has made a real difference in the lives of Texas children,” Abbott said. “Thanks to dedicated managers like Stephen, the Child Support Division continues to break new collection records and earn top rankings for efficiency and effectiveness. The Child Support Division and Texas families alike benefit from Stephen’s commitment to public service and excellence.” Continue reading Abbott Names Longview Child Support Employee Office Manager of the Year

TYLER — Former National Football League lineman Shawn Harper will be the featured speaker for three presentations at Tyler Junior College on today. Harper was drafted by the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams in 1992 and played seven years of professional football before beginning a career as a life coach and leadership speaker. Harper travels the country sharing the wisdom he has gained through his life experiences. Continue reading Former NFL Player to Speak at TJC

RUSK (AP) – A family member of an elderly East Texas couple burned in a gas explosion says the blast probably saved their lives. Cherokee County Sheriff Capt. John Raffield says Wendell and Jean Nealey were hospitalized after the Monday night explosion at their trailer. He says the couple lit a heater and that gas ignited after the woman lit a cigarette. Doctors tell family member Terra Loden that if the couple had gone to bed, the gas probably would have killed them in their sleep. Loden says her great uncle suffered burns to 11 percent of his body and his wife 13 percent. She says the couple are in their late 70s or early 80s and she described their condition as stable on Tuesday.

NACOGDOCHES — Stephen F. Austin State University has once again been named to the U.S. News & World Report ranking of the best regional universities. Shirley Luna, SFA Executive Director of University Marketing Communication, says, “We think that we have the right combination of student engagement here, student opportunities for engagement, both within the classroom and in extracurricular activities.” Additionally, for the first time in recent history, SFA was featured on the Forbes Magazine list of America’s top colleges. SFA was ranked 617th from 3,500 eligible colleges and universities nationwide.

KARNACK (AP) — About 2,000 more paddlefish will be released into an East Texas lake after apparent success with initial restocking of the rare creatures. State and federal wildlife agencies joined conservation groups for Tuesday’s release into Caddo Lake. In March about 50 paddlefish implanted with radio transmitters were put in Caddo Lake and the Big Cypress Bayou. Officials with the Nature Conservancy say early data indicates those fish are doing remarkably well. The paddlefish experiment is part of a larger five-year project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to change how water is released from Lake O’ the Pines Dam. The releases are meant to mimic the watershed’s natural flows, along with flood control. Observers hope that paddlefish, on the Texas list of threatened marine life, will once again flourish.

RUSK — A Cherokee County jailer has resigned and been charged with improper sexual activity with an inmate. According to KETK, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office says after a former inmate’s release from jail, she reported to a separate law enforcement agency that a jailer had engaged in improper physical contact with her during her time in jail. The other agency then contacted Sheriff James Campbell. Authorities say an investigation was immediately opened. Due to the serious nature of the allegations, the Texas Rangers were asked to assist in the investigation, according to officials. The jailer resigned at the start of the investigation. Continue reading Cherokee Co. Jailer Resigns, Charged with Improper Sexual Activity