KTBB News, Weather, Talk

MINEOLA — An investigation continues into a fatal Wood County construction accident. Killed in the Mineola accident, on Loop 564 and U.S. Highway 69, was Romualdo Gonzalez-Paramo, 40, of Waskom. He was a member of a work group drilling a hole under the road for a utility line. Paramo was crushed to death when a large piece of construction equipment overturned and fell into the hole on top of him. The accident happened Monday evening.

TYLER — A Tyler home has received minor fire damage. It was reported just after 3:15 yesterday afternoon at 1319 East Front Street. A caller reported that a tree limb had fallen on a power line and the line had fallen on a house. According to the caller the house started to smoke after the wire fell on it. No one was home at the time of the incident. Three engines and one Ladder Company, along with a District Chief and an Investigator, responded to the scene. The house apparently only sustained slight smoke damage in the living areas and light smoke damage in the attic area due to smoldering insulation in the attic.

SMITH COUNTY — More details on a fatal weekend fire. Relatives connected with the fatal Winona house fire spoke exclusively with KETK Monday. Nina Torres and Katherine Parker are the mother and aunt of Bryan Dear, respectively. Dear’s house caught fire around 3 a.m. Sunday in the 200 block of Kay Street. Fire officials said a candle caused the fire, but further investigation is needed. Dear and his wife Heather, along with eight children, were inside the house at the time. Six of the children were related. Two friends were sleeping over that night. The two adults and five of the children were able to make it out okay. Heather’s sons, 9-year-old Colby Watson and 6-year old Riley Hickman, were killed. Family friend 4-year-old Jax Davidson also died in the fire.

Parker says Colby died in the fire while trying to save one of his brothers. “Colby was a sweet, sweet baby,” Parker said. “He’d do anything for anybody … And Riley was always smiling. Always ready to give you a hug.” Torres says Bryan, Heather and Bryan’s son, Colten were taken to the hospital and treated for burns. Bryan has been released. Colten is still in ICU at the LSU burn unit. Heather remains in critical condition at a Tyler hospital. Torres and Parker say the children’s bodies are undergoing autopsy. When results are complete, a funeral date will be set. Lloyd James Funeral Home in Tyler has offered to pay for the entire cost of the funeral, coffins and plots. Torres and Parker say the funeral for all three children will be done together. The boys will be buried next to each other at New Harmony Cemetery.

The family lost everything, including both of their cars. There are a number of funds set up to help the family:
– First Bank of Hughes Springs
P.O. Box 570 Winona, TX 75792
903-877-2501
“Dear Fire Victim Memorial Fund”
– Capital One Bank (any location)
“Brian Dear Donation Fund”
– First Baptist Church, Winona, TX

TYLER – A 51-year-old Yantis woman has pleaded guilty to federal firearms violations in a case that led to the Philippines. Andrea Jaine Burns London pleaded guilty to conspiracy to not keep required records Tuesday in Tyler before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith Guthrie.

London and Lucretia Beth Brown, 45, also of Yantis, were indicted on July 11, 2012, and charged with gun trafficking violations. Federal agents executed search warrants at their home and business in November 2011. A warrant was issued for their arrest, but it was soon discovered that the pair had left the United States for the Philippines in February 2012.

Assistance was requested from the International Investigations Branch and a lead was sent to the Diplomatic Security Service in Manila. On Oct. 9, 2012, Philippine Immigration Agents arrested London and Brown in Cebu without incident. Both subjects were transported to Manila to begin the deportation process. On Nov. 8, 2012, London and Brown were escorted by Philippine Immigration Agents from Manila to Los Angeles, where they were taken into custody by the Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force.

According to information presented in court, from January 2011 to July 2011, London and Brown transported guns from the inventory of Lake Fork Gunslinger & Outdoors in Emory, Texas, to gun shows in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas. Officials say the two then sold the guns without properly recording the name, age, and place of residence of the buyers. Brown pleaded guilty on Feb. 14, 2013, to conspiracy to fail to perform backgrounds checks and is awaiting sentencing. London faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

WORTHAM (AP) – The son of slain Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland says his father kept a gun “in every room of his house” but couldn’t reach one when his killer or killers slipped into his home because he had put the weapons away hours before. J.R. McLelland told The Dallas Morning News the guns had been stored for the protection of visitors attending a party the night before. McLelland says he believes that, had the weapons been in their normal spots, his father likely would have tried to reach one. Mike McLelland (pictured) and his wife Cynthia were found shot to death March 30. Those slayings occurred two months after Assistant DA Mark Hasse was gunned down outside the county courthouse. No arrests have been made in either case.

GRAPEVINE — The state’s top law enforcement officer makes his first comments about the murders of public officials in Kaufman County. Attorney General Greg Abbott made a promise during remarks at a Tarrant County Tea Party event in Grapevine. Abbott said, “We are going to track down these murderers and bring them to justice to protect the men and women who prosecute these criminals in the first place and put them behind bars.” Meanwhile, at the capitol, a bill that would make killing a district attorney in Texas a death penalty offense got a House committee hearing. If passed, though, it would not apply to the murders of DA Mike McLelland and Assistant DA Mark Hasse.

WELLS — Investigators with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department have made two arrests in connection with the burglary of the City Hall building in Wells. KETK reports that on November 26, 2012, deputies were called to the scene at City Hall, where the glass had been broken out of the front door, and burglars had entered the building. Once they gained access, the burglars stole an undisclosed amount of cash, checks, and money orders.

Authorities suspect that Willian Todd Pounds, 47, and Joshua Kerry Rains, 27, both of Wells, may have been involved. Investigators arrested Pounds and Rains at their house in Wells, and charged them with burglary of a building. The charge is a state jail felony offense. They could face up to two years behind bars if convicted. In addition to confinement, they could be fined up to $10,000.

TYLER — The United Way of Smith County has exceeded its 2012-2013 campaign goal of $1.7 million by $3,000. The news came Tuesday at the agency’s Annual Campaign Celebration & Awards Luncheon in the Rose Heights Church Fellowship Hall. According to information from the local United Way, the goal was surpassed “thanks to literally thousands of donors in Smith County.” Along with the announcement of money raised, the event recognized local businesses, donors and volunteers who contributed to the campaign.

TYLER — Officials are putting out the word that the Smith County Veterans Services Office has moved to a new location in downtown Tyler. Full services are now available in the new location at 210 East Ferguson. The former Veterans Services Office location in the Cotton Belt Building at 1517 West Front Street is no longer open. Officials say the new downtown office location offers customers convenient parking and street level access as well as an expanded customer service area. You can call the Veterans Services Office at 903-590-2950 for more information.

HOUSTON (AP) — Guy Lewis has difficulty speaking because of recent strokes. But the huge grin on the face of the former Houston coach, and Arp native, on Tuesday conveyed his elation at finally being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame a day before.

Lewis, 91, coached the Cougars for 30 years, but is best known for leading the Phi Slama Jama teams in the 1980s.

His daughter Sherry Lewis says, “It’s pure joy and we’re not even upset that it took so long … dad is used to winning in overtime.”

The event was attended by former player Elvin Hayes, a fellow Hall of Famer. Hayes had campaigned for Lewis’s election and boycotted all events related to the Hall since his induction in 1990 because Lewis hadn’t received the honor.

HUNTSVILLE (AP) – A Texas convict with a lengthy criminal history has been executed for fatally shooting a man and raping the slain man’s fiancee. Fifty-year-old Rickey Lynn Lewis of Tyler received a lethal injection Tuesday evening for the murder of 45-year-old George Newman more than 22 years ago. Newman’s slaying and the rape of Newman’s fiancee took place at their home in a rural area of Smith County. Lewis had been in and out of prison five times in less than seven years when he was arrested three days after Newman was killed in September 1990. No last-day appeals were filed to try to delay the punishment. It’s the second execution in Texas this year. At least 11 others are scheduled for the coming months.

TYLER — As part of the Tyler 1st comprehensive planning process, the City of Tyler is seeking input from residents about the future of Parks, Open Space, Recreation, and Lakes in the community. Residents may provide input in two ways:

· By going to http://www.Tyler1st.org and taking a quick survey.

· At a Public Open House from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on April 16 at Harvey Convention Center, 2000 W. Front St.

Officials say the purpose of the survey and public open house is to seek citizen input on the importance and quality of Parks and Open Space as well as future needs. City officials say they’ll analyze the input and incorporate the citizen feedback into their decision process during the Tyler 1st Comprehensive Plan update.

Tyler 1st, originally Tyler 21, is the City’s comprehensive plan. Go to http://www.cityoftyler.org/ and click on the News tab for more information.

SMITH COUNTY — One person is dead following a two vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 271, just south of Interstate Highway 20. The crash happened around 1:15 Monday afternoon. DPS Trooper Jean Dark says a passenger car was struck by a pickup after pulling onto the northbound side of the highway. The driver of the car was killed. The driver of the pickup was hospitalized for what were termed “non-incapacitating injuries”; his passenger was treated at the scene. The northbound lanes were blocked for a time but reopened late Monday afternoon. The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of family.

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating a reported shooting. Around 9:00 Monday night officers responded to the 1000 block of North Bois d Arc in reference to an aggravated assault call. Officers learned that the victims Monica Christian and Neambi Hunter were involved in an ongoing disturbance with the suspects Tony Traylor (pictured), 20, and James Clark, 19. The victims were fleeing from the suspects in their vehicle.

According to police, the suspects approached the victims and Traylor is said to have produced a handgun and fired into the vehicle striking Monica Christian in the arm. The victims also suffered minor injuries from flying glass. Both victims were treated for non-life threatening injuries at local hospitals.

Taylor was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and aggravated assault. Clark was arrested and charged with Possession of a controlled substance. This case remains under investigation.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been charged in connection with a weekend shooting that sent one person to the hospital. Larry Donnell Davis, 49, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

The shooting happened around 5:15 Sunday afternoon in the 200 block of Davis Street. Arriving officers were told a man had been shot once in the head with a handgun. The suspect left the area prior to the officer’s arrival. The suspect, identified as Davis, was located a short time later in the 2300 block of 12th Street. The victim was said to have been alert when taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center. His name has not been released.

LONGVIEW — A registered sex offender who broke into a LeTourneau University dorm will spend 10 years in prison after reaching a plea agreement. Robert Roy “Trey” Saurenmann III, 53, was arrested in November 2011 after he broke into Tyler Residence Hall and tried to take improper pictures. No students were harmed and no property was stolen following Saurenmann’s entrance into the dorm. It was unclear what he was trying to photograph in the dorm. Saurenmann was charged with burglary of a habitation.

At the time, faculty credited students with aiding in his arrest after they saw Saurenmann, recognized the man was out of place and called police. Saurenmann has been in the Gregg County Jail more than two dozen times since 1985 on charges ranging from aggravated kidnapping to drug possession. In 2001, he was convicted of indecency with a child and served a six-year prison sentence.

LONGVIEW — Representatives with the Office of Civil Rights, a division of the U.S. Department of Education, was in Longview Monday, investigating the Longview School District. The feds are looking into whether the district is in violation of the U.S. Title IX anti-discrimination statutes. They interviewed school personnel and students and looked over district facilities and equipment. They were checking for gender equity in compliance with Title IX. Instituted in 1972, Title IX bans discrimination in sports and academics based on gender.

BURLESON — The Burleson Police Department issued a Silver Alert Monday for a missing woman diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. She is Carole Kunclrs, 66, who left her home in Burleson around 4:00 yesterday afternoon heading to Fort Worth. Her family believes she may be on Interstate Highway 20 since they received a call from her around 9:00 last night and she said she saw a road sign that said “Canton.” Kunclrs is described as 5-feet 2-inches tall, 220 pounds, with gray hair and blue eyes. If you have seen this lady you are asked to contact your local law enforcement agency.

KAUFMAN — Family members of the Kaufman County murder victims want to see the reward for information at $1 million, saying the current $200,000 is insignificant. Kaufman County Crime Stoppers board member Dirk Gibbs says, “There’s a lot of speculation and people talking out of school…about things they don’t understand or don’t have full knowledge of.” Crime Stoppers in Kaufman County is an all-volunteer organization. Gibbs adds, “We need the support of our community, and it’s very important because we don’t get federal, state, or local funding.” You can also go to http://www.kaufmancountycrimestoppers.org to submit a tip or a donation online.

TYLER — Smith County is continuing to seek public input and priorities from citizens on all county-related services and issues. Commissioners will host a community-wide meeting Tuesday to encourage public input, information, and ideas concerning county services. A short questionnaire is also available on the Smith County Website. Smith County officials plan to use the information gathered during the Public Input Project for the upcoming budget year and in long-term comprehensive planning. “We want to create an open platform for the citizens of Smith County to make their priorities known,” Smith County Judge Joel Baker said, “and, in turn, use the information we receive to prioritize projects and create specific long-term goals and measurements for county services.”

All citizens within Smith County are encouraged to fill out a short “Public Input Form” online at http://www.smith-county.com or at the community meeting scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Smith County multi-purpose facility located at 304 E. Ferguson. Citizens can also give input by calling their designated Precinct Commissioner directly at 903-590-4605. “We know there are a lot of citizens who may have county-related concerns, issues and ideas, but their schedule may not allow them to attend regular meetings of the Commissioners Court,” Commissioner JoAnn Hampton said. “We want to hear from everyone who has information or ideas and use that information to guide our decisions as we plan for the future of Smith County.”

The surveys, which can be filled out anonymously online, will be available to fill out electronically through April 9. Hard copies of the survey will be available at the community input meeting. Citizens can also pick up a “Community Input Form” at the County Courthouse Annex or contact their County Commissioner to receive a form via email.

NEW YORK (AP) – General Electric Co. will buy the oilfield equipment maker Lufkin Industries, Inc. for about $3 billion, furthering an effort by GE to grow its oil and gas operations. GE said Monday it would pay Lufkin shareholders $88.50 per share in the all-cash deal, a 38 percent premium over Lufkin’s closing price on Friday of $63.93. The companies value the deal at $3.3 billion. CEO Jeff Immelt is in the process of transforming GE from a sprawling conglomerate to one that is more tightly focused on providing services and equipment to industrial customers. The company has shed divisions such as NBC Universal and is shrinking its banking operations. At the same time, GE is trying to grow its energy-related operations. Lufkin, based in Lufkin, Texas, makes pumping equipment that helps drillers extract more oil out of older oil fields.

HOUSTON (AP) — Federal authorities have ordered a Houston-based food producer to cease operations until it improves products possibly contaminated by “filth.” The federal Food and Drug Administration found that shrimp egg rolls may have been “injurious to health.” Chung’s cannot process, prepare, package or distribute food until improvements are made.

LAS VEGAS (AP/Staff) – More honors are handed out to country music superstar and Lindale native Miranda Lambert. Sunday night at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, Lambert was named Female Vocalist of the Year for the fourth consecutive time. Her recording of “Over You” was chosen as Single Record of the Year.

WINONA — The investigation continues after three children were killed in an early morning house fire in Winona. It happened just before 3 a.m. Sunday in the 200 block of Kay Street. Winona Fire Chief Nelson Brumley tells KETK the fire started in the living room and spread to the kitchen. The mother and father grabbed four of the eight children in the home and got them to safety. But 9-year-old Colby Watson, 6-year old Riley Hickman, and 4-year old Jax Davidson were still asleep in the back bedroom and did not survive. A relative says the father has been released from the hospital. We’re told an 8-year old boy is still in the LSU intensive care unit and the mother remains in critical condition in a Tyler hospital.

LONGVIEW — An accident in Longview has left one person dead. The vehicle/pedestrian accident occurred shortly before 1:45 yesterday morning in the 1100 block of West Marshall. Witnesses tell police Anson Fuller, 30, of Longview, had been inside the Cloud Nine Club and was asked to leave because he was causing a disturbance. As he was crossing the roadway he was struck by a pickup driven by Calob Player, 20, of White Oak. Fuller was taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center where he later died.

CHAPEL HILL — Three Smith County Sheriff’s Deputies were treated at ETMC-Tyler for injuries and exposure to blood after responding to a call of an assault in the Chapel Hill area. Around 3:30 yesterday morning, deputies responded to a call in the 12000 block of Farm Road 3226, where a woman reported she was cut with a knife by her husband. After arriving on the scene, deputies noticed blood outside the residence and a shattered glass door at the front of the home. Deputies heard a male’s voice inside and after locating the man, saw he was covered in blood and appeared to be intoxicated. Deputies ordered the man to lie down on the ground, but they say he refused and had to be subdued. The injured wife was found hiding outside the residence, but she refused medical treatment.

The man was transported by EMS to ETMC-Tyler for treatment. After his release, he will be booked in to the Smith County Jail on charges of assault, family violence and resisting arrest. The three Smith County Deputies were taken to ETMC-Tyler for medical evaluation after one suffered a knee injury and two were exposed to blood. The identities of those involved are being withheld pending arraignment and further investigation.

TYLER — Nine people, including adults and juveniles, have been taken into custody in a Smith County burglary case. Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call just before 10:30 Saturday night. at a residence in the 11600 block of County Road 1121. A resident at that location reported that several individuals were causing a major disturbance, were breaking into the resident’s vehicle, and were attempting to break into the residence. The four deputies who responded to the scene took nine suspects into custody. Five are juveniles and four are adults. All are facing charges, including burglary of a vehicle and criminal mischief. The names of the suspects are being withheld pending arraignment and additional investigation.

TYLER — U.S. Senator Ted Cruz was in Tyler Saturday evening. KETK reports he discussed the 13-hour filibuster over the drone program, his fight to protect American’s Second Amendment rights, and his efforts to defund and repeal Obamacare. Sen. Cruz said all of his efforts in Washington so far could not have been accomplished without the help of the people of Texas. The senator is visiting cities all across the state, and felt strongly about stopping in Tyler.

Senator Cruz says there are enormous challenges in our country right now and it’s time to restore economic growth and stand for principle. “East Texas is such a vital region to the state .My job is to represent every citizen in Tyler and every citizen in East Texas and 26 million Texans. I’m spending every day trying to travel the state, listening to people’s concerns and stand up for Texas, fight for our rights and fight for our constitution,” said Sen. Cruz.

Senator Cruz also talked about the national debt, saying his number one priority is to restore economic growth. “Over the last four years, our economy has grown 0.8% a year,” he said. “23 million people are out of work because the economy isn’t growing. Republicans and Democrats should work together to reform our taxes, to limit the burden and complexity of our taxes and to lift the regulatory burden off of small businesses.” Cruz said the only other period since WWII where our country had four consecutive years of less than 1% economic growth was from 1979-1982. He said how to fix this is by following the policies of President Reagan’s administration. “Limit the growth of government spending, cut taxes and simplify our tax code, reduce regulation, unchain the private sector and allow small businesses to flourish. Growth is the key to opportunity,” said Cruz.

And of course, there was the topic of gun control. Cruz fired back at California Senator Dianne Feinstein’s proposed ban on assault weapons, saying his goal is to safeguard the constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans. Cruz along with Sen. Rand Paul and Sen. Mike Lee sent a letter to Sen. Harry Reid stating that the three of them would use any procedural needs necessary, including another filibuster, to stop any legislation that violates citizens’ Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

KILGORE — A Kilgore woman has been arrested, accused of assault of a public servant and other charges. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Holly Sheppard, 21, was arrested about 9:30 Friday night in her home in the 3200 block of State Highway 31 by Kilgore police. In addition to assault of a public servant, police charged Sheppard with resisting arrest or transport and interfering with public duties. She was held Saturday in the Gregg County Jail on more than $18,000 in bonds. Further details on the case weren’t immediately available.

LONGVIEW — You’ve heard of three strikes and you’re out. Well, how about four husbands and you’re sent to prison, especially if you’re married to them all at the same time? Candice Andrade, 32, of Kilgore got a year in prison for each husband after being found guilty of polygamy.

According to Gregg County prosecutor Chris Botto, Andrade told the judge “she was just looking for the fairy tale and she just kept marrying different men ’cause she always thought she could do better.” Botto says Andrade is a drug addict and a liar, and that she married the men for their money, without bothering to file for divorce or sign off on divorce documents filed by her husbands. He says it all came to light when one of her husbands filed a police report claiming Andrade was a bigamist, and two more came forward. All the men live in East Texas.