KTBB News, Weather, Talk

MOUNT PLEASANT – Mount Pleasant detectives are investigating a homicide but do say they have a person of interest in the case. Saturday, they body of Kathleen McNally, 42, was found lying on the floor of a residence in the 400 block of Crooks Drive. An autopsy performed in Dallas Sunday indicated the death was a homicide.

Officers learned of a man seen leaving the area and traced him to the 1300 block of North Edwards. The 48 year old man was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant from Camp County for criminal nonsupport/child support. At last report he had not been charged in McNally’s death. The investigation is continuing.

TYLER – The teenage girl accused of starting the June 15th fire at a Tyler Dollar General Store has been sent to a San Antonio psychiatric facility. The order came Monday from Judge Floyd Getz. The judge said there were concerns that the 14 year old Kaufman County girl might not get her required medication if she was to remain at the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center. The store, which suffered minor damage, has reopened.

TYLER — Lane closures will be in effect on Loop 323 between Shaw Street and Walton Road from 8:00am till 8:00pm today and possibly tomorrow. The lane closures will be in effect on both northbound and southbound sides of the street. Drivers can expect delays and are encouraged to seek alternate routes. Drivers are reminded to drive safely and use caution while workers are present.

BEAUMONT – A 44-year-old Lufkin man has been sentenced to life in federal prison for his role in a double homicide that took place in Nacogdoches in August 2007. Carl Carver pleaded guilty in January to committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity. He was sentenced in Beaumont Monday by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone. Specifically, Carver admitted that he had participated by directing two Aryan Brotherhood of Texas subordinates to murder David Mitchamore.

According to federal prosecutors, Carver was a general of the ABT, a race-based statewide organization that operates inside and outside of state and federal prisons throughout Texas and the United States. Authorities say the hierarchical ABT enforces its rules and promotes discipline among its members, prospects and associates through murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, assault, robbery and threats against those who violate the rules or pose a threat to the enterprise. Members, and often associates, are required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members, such as Carver, without question.

According to court documents, ABT member David Mitchamore and his girlfriend, Christie Rochelle Brown, were murdered by Brent Stalsby and Charles Cameron Frazier as a result of a “direct order” issued by Carver due to Mitchamore’s failure to repay an outstanding debt he allegedly owed to Carver. The bodies of Mitchamore and Brown were discovered in Nacogdoches County on August 10, 2007. Last month, Brent Stalsby was sentenced to life in federal prison, and his wife, Terry Stalsby, who aided and abetted the double murder, was sentenced to 162 months in federal prison. Last week, Frazier was also sentenced to life in prison.

LUFKIN — A Lufkin couple has been indicted on a charge of child endangerment after their second infant in two years died while sleeping in their bed against Child Protective Services instruction. That’s according to KETK and the Lufkin Daily News. Mark and Vanessa Clark, both 32, were formally charged by a grand jury last Thursday in their infant boy’s July 9, 2010, death, according to District Attorney Clyde Herrington. As for the grand jury’s decision to indict the couple, Herrington said it is a peculiar case as the couple lost another baby in a similar sleeping incident 14 months earlier.

“There was a previous investigation with another child by Child Protective Services. The first infant’s death was ruled (sudden infant death syndrome),” Herrington said. “In the (new) case, the child was about 3 or 4 months old and sleeping in the bed with the parents. They woke up and found him not breathing.” Following the first infant’s death, the couple was given a course by Child Protective Services in safe sleeping practices, according to CPS spokeswoman Shari Pulliam. That information strictly states sleeping with an infant puts the child at risk for suffocation, Pulliam said. Herrington went on to say that the infant’s death is neither a negligent homicide nor a murder, but the grand jury felt the parents put the child in danger by sleeping with him.

LONGVIEW — Longview police are following up in the wake of a fatal accident. Late last Friday afternoon, officers responded to an accident with injuries in the 2400 block of South High Street. A silver Cadillac pulled out from a private drive in front of a silver Dodge pickup that was northbound on High Street. The Cadillac was struck in the area of the driver’s side door, killing the 79-year-old Hispanic male driver. The identity of the victim is known, but police have not been able to locate family members. Anyone with possible information is asked to call the Longview Police Department at 903-237-1170.

JACKSONVILLE — Four persons have been killed in a two vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 79 at County Road 3209 south of Jacksonville. The Department of Public Safety says the wreck occurred shortly after 2:15 Sunday afternoon when a car driven by Kashundra Rogers, 34, of Jacksonville, veered into oncoming traffic and hit a pickup driven by Kelly Jones, 35, of Rusk. Killed were Rogers, as well as two children in Roger’s car, Kaleigh Hinton, 12, of Jacksonville, and Ronjenne Williams, 12, of Tyler. The fourth victim, Leighann Montgomery, 24, of Woodstock, Alabama, was a passenger in Jones’ pickup.

DPS officials said Jones was listed in serious condition after being transported to East Texas Medical Center in Tyler for a broken femur and pelvis. The three other passengers, a 14-year-old was listed in critical condition at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas; a seven-year-old boy was listed in serious condition at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas; and a two-year-old girl was listed in critical condition at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas.

LONGVIEW — Longview Fire Department officials are investigating the cause of a Saturday afternoon fire that burned down a home. Fire Marshal Johnny Zackary said firefighters were dispatched to a house in the 800 block of Butler Drive about 4:30. Zackary said the home was unoccupied and had no utilities because it was being remodeled. He did say the fire looked as though it was intentionally set.

LONGVIEW — A Longview couple accused of endangering their 14-month-old child is indicted. Misty Ann Beasley, 27, and Jason Wayne Beasley, 34, were arrested May 16 after the father told a neighbor he believed someone had killed his child’s mother. Police said Jason Beasley was hallucinating and had chased imaginary people with a knife and pistol, discharging the firearm in public. The couple told police that they had taken meth in the past few days, but no one else was there to care for the 14-month-old child, who was in a crib in a separate room.

TYLER – Funeral services were held Monday morning at Green Acres Baptist Church for former Tyler Mayor Bob Layton, with burial following at Tyler Memorial Park. Layton, who was 86, died Friday after a brief battle with cancer.

Layton served as a member of the Tyler City Council from 1974-1976. He was elected mayor of Tyler and served from 1975-1976. According to the Stewart Family Funeral Home obituary, he was a member of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, where he was past vice president and served on and chaired several committees. He was a member and past president of the Tyler Rotary Club and district governor of the Rotary International in 1975-76. Mr. Layton served on the Board of Directors for the East Texas Hospital Foundation, the East Texas Medical Center Hospital, Leadership of Tyler, Mother Frances Hospital, and Good Will Industries of East Texas. He was past chairman of the Airport Advisory Committee, the Appeals Board for Building Codes, and the Airport Advisory Technical Committee for the City of Tyler. He was Chairman Emeritus of the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport.

Layton was initially employed by Layton Supply Company until 1950, when he founded the Layton Engineering Company, which he owned for over 40 years. In February 1987, he was appointed by President Ronald Reagan and later re-appointed by President George Bush, Sr. and began working as Regional Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 in Dallas, where he was responsible for directing federal environmental programs in five states. He rose to SES Level 6, the highest senior executive service level. He was appointed to direct a pilot program in Environmental Education at UT-Tyler in 1992-1993. He later became an environmental consultant on many environmental issues.

COOKVILLE – Three persons have been killed and one injured in a weekend accident in Titus County. The wreck occurred Saturday when a car hit the rear of a parked 18 wheeler on Interstate Highway 30 at the 174 mile marker near Cookville. Dead at the scene was Leah Eason., 30, of Rockwall. Her husband James Eason, 30, and their one year old son Luke, later died at Titus Regional Medical Center in Mt. Pleasant. Another son, Jace Eason, 3, is listed in stable condition at Children’s Hospital in Dallas.

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at events and work planned in the Tyler District:

GREGG COUNTY — This week, TxDOT maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs in various locations on State Highway 300 (Glimer Road) between Hawkins Parkway and Farm Road 1844, including work in the State Highway 300/Hawkins Parkway intersection on Monday and Tuesday. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid the work in the Hawkins Parkway intersection.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue base and pavement repairs in various locations on Ranch Road 2970 between Farm Road 753 and the end of state maintenance, followed by the same work on Ranch Road 2588 between U.S. Highway 175 in LaRue and the end of state maintenance. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

Also in Henderson County, TxDOT contractor Big Creek Construction, Ltd., of Hewitt, on Monday is scheduled to begin initial base-repair work on the $3.9 million project to repair and resurface State Highway 31 between Farm Road 314 in Brownsboro and the east end of Farm Road 3204 east of Brownsboro.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Beginning Tuesday, Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repairs at the intersection of State Highway 243 and State Highway 198 in Canton. The work is being redone at the cost of the material provider since the material was faulty. Once the work on SH 243 is completed, crews are scheduled to perform the same type of work on State Highway 19 in Canton between State Highway 64 and Interstate Highway 20.

Also this week, a second crew is scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 314 between Interstate Highway 20 south in Van and Farm Road 1995. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes to avoid delays.

SMITH COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue work to install right-turn lanes on Farm Road 2661 at its intersection with State Highway 31 near Chandler. A second crew will also be performing edge repairs on Farm Road 2661 between State Highway 31 and Big Eddy Road. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

Looking ahead, TxDOT contractor Reynolds & Kay, Ltd. of Tyler, is scheduled to begin nighttime resurfacing work on Tyler’s WSW Loop 323 between State Highway 155 and New Copeland Road as early as Tuesday, July 5. Crews have been making repairs to storm-drain inlets and access areas in the past few weeks in preparation for the work. Once the night work begins, crews will be closing lanes between 8 p.m.-5 a.m. each night except for Fridays and Saturdays. The work is scheduled to take approximately two months to complete.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on U.S. Highway 84 between Reklaw and the Rusk County Line. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

Also in Cherokee County, beginning Tuesday, July 5, TxDOT contractor TNT’s Pipeline, Corp., of Southlake, is scheduled to begin nighttime resurfacing work on U.S. Highway 69 in Jacksonville between U.S. Highway 79 and South Loop 456. Crews will be at work and lane closures will be in place between 7:00pm and 5:00am each night except Friday and Saturday while the project is in operation.

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repairs on Farm Road 1990 between State Highway 294 and U.S. Highway 79 in Palestine. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

WOOD COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue pavement repairs in various locations on Farm Road 69 north of Farm Road 515 in Coke. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

Also in Wood County, beginning Tuesday, July 5, the Union Pacific Railroad is scheduled to replace ties on its overpass on U.S. Highway 80 near Fruitvale. The work will be conducted over the next two months with various daytime lane closures possible while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue resurfacing operations on Farm Road 1798 between Farm Road 839 in McKnight and Farm Road 1662 near Laneville. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

TYLER — The Texas Agrilife Extension Service joins the chorus of voices strongly discouraging outdoor burning during the current drought — even if your county’s not under a burn ban. Sarah Bolt of the Tyler extension office says conditions remain very dry, with no relief on the way in the near future. Bolt discussed the issue on KTBB “Staff Meeting” — adding some important notes about watering. Bolt said you should be putting about an inch of water a week on your lawn — and don’t fertilize it, because that makes it require more water. On the other hand, says Bolt, gardens need to be fertilized and heavily watered so they’ll keep producing. You can go to http://www.ktbb.com/audio to hear the “Staff Meeting” show in its entirety beginning early Monday morning. Log on to http://smith.agrilife.org to learn more about the extension service and its programs.

TYLER — Tyler police investigate a report of a Saturday night robbery. Police responded around 11:20 at the Southside Motor Bank on South Broadway. A 28-year-old woman reported that she had just been robbed by the bank’s ATM. The victim said she had pulled up to the machine in her vehicle when an unknown black male entered her vehicle and demanded that she withdraw money from her bank account. The robber reportedly pulled the victim’s hair and held an unknown object to the back of her head.

The victim said she withdrew money from the ATM, and that the money was taken by the robber. The robber then reportedly directed the victim to drive out of the bank parking lot and to an apartment complex at 5621 Old Bullard Road. The victim said the robber exited her vehicle and fled the area on foot in an unknown direction. The victim told police she then drove away from the apartment complex and called 911. Police searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000 or Crime Stoppers at 903-597-2833.

GILMER — One person is dead in a weekend Upshur County accident involving a motorcycle and a large cow. Officials say it happened shortly after 9:30 Friday evening on State Highway 154, four miles west of Gilmer. The DPS report says the motorcycle, driven by Rafeal Gunter, 20, of Gilmer, was eastbound when it struck the cow in the roadway. Gunter was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities say it’s unknown whether Gunter was wearing a helmet.