KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LUFKIN — A Lufkin teen pleads guilty to assault. Amber Michelle Branum, 19, punched an emergency room nurse in February. She was sentenced to five years of deferred adjudication in addition to a $500 fine. She will also participate in anger management classes and alcohol and substance abuse counseling.

LONGVIEW — Gregg County officials investigating a fire that destroyed Southwest Plastics in Gladewater have ruled the cause of the blaze undetermined. “We were not able to determine a single source of ignition,” Gregg County Fire Marshal David Kidder said. Kidder said the fire started on the west side of the plant in the area close to where the finished product is stored prior to being shipped. “There is heat involved in producing the product, but there shouldn’t be any heat source in the final product, not that could have started this fire,” Kidder said. Gladewater firefighters were dispatched at about 1:30am on March 7 to Southwest Plastics in the 1000 block of East Commerce Street after a witness noticed flames, according to Gladewater Fire Chief Wayne Smith.

LUFKIN — A former Lufkin nursing home worker accused of trying to make a 91-year-old woman touch him last year was released from jail Tuesday on a personal recognizance bond. A State District Judge granted the motion in Telesforo Vasquez III’s case for a PR bond, as the accused has no financial means to post his collective $150,000 bond. The 25-year-old has been in jail since turning himself in Dec. 1. Vasquez is charged with one count of injury to an elderly and one count of attempted sexual assault of an elderly for the Nov. 24 incident in which he allegedly exposed himself to the female Castle Pines resident and directed her to touch him, according to an arrest affidavit. When she refused, Vasquez reportedly forced her down, causing an injury to her hip and buttock area.

As part of the terms of his release, Vasquez must have no contact with hospitals, nursing homes or retirement facilities, Bryan said, adding “no means no.” He must also have no contact with the victim. Although Charanza told the judge Vasquez is ready to plead, that did not take place in the courtroom Tuesday. Vasquez faces up to 10 years in prison on each of the two third-degree felony charges.

FLINT — Authorities have identified the person killed in a two vehicle accident south of Tyler Monday. He’s Gary Gene Parrish, 47, of Balch Springs. Authorities say Parrish’s van slammed into the rear of a UPS truck on Highway 69 south. The Department of Public Safety says Parrish had to be cut from the wreckage and was not wearing a seat belt. He later died at a Tyler hospital.

HUDSON — An East Texas father and his 17 year old son have been charged with raping a 16 year old girl. The gang rape occurred earlier this month. It came to light after the girl told a school counselor. Arrested was Clinton “Bubba” Johnson Sr., 53, and his son Clinton, both of Hudson. Both are in the Angelina County Jail, the dad being held on a $150,000 bond and the son on a $100,000 bond.

PALESTINE – The superintendent of the Palestine School District is moving up to 5-A. He’ll be moving to Bryan. According to a note on the Bryan School District web site, “The Bryan ISD Board of Trustees has named Dr. Thomas Wallis as the sole finalist to replace retiring superintendent Mike Cargill. Dr. Wallis is currently superintendent of Palestine ISD in East Texas, a post he has held since 2008. He was previously principal of Mabank High School.” The Bryan school board’s action came in a Monday afternoon meeting. Following state law, the Bryan school trustees must wait 21 days before formally offering the position to Wallis.

LIBERTY CITY — Three salt water tankers caught fire Monday morning in Liberty City after a lightning strike during severe weather. Fire officials say one tanker was struck by lightning and caught fire at Sabine Disposal on Farm Road 2207. The fire then spread to two other tankers. It happened around 9:00am. The fire was put out by the Kilgore Fire Department.

WINNSBORO — A former Winnsboro band director pleads guilty Friday to sexual assault of a child and to child indecency. Paul Bramlette was indicted back in March of last year on 8 counts of sexual assault. Franklin County Officials say along with having to register as a sex offender and removal of his teaching license, Bramlettte was also sentenced to 30 days in jail with a $3,000 fine and two 10 year probation sentences.

HENDERSON — Jessica Carson entered a not guilty plea Monday morning in a Rusk County District courtroom. Carson is charged with capital murder in connection with the December 2, 2008 beating death of her 13-month-old daughter, Amora Bain Carson. Her boyfriend, Blaine Milam, also was charged in the child’s death. He was sentenced to die by lethal injection almost a year ago by a Conroe jury after being found guilty of capital murder. Rusk County prosecutors said they are not seeking the death penalty for Carson, but will seek life in prison if she is convicted.

Sheriff officials received a 911 call that morning from the couple’s home in the 13000 block of County Road 2125 saying that Amora was not breathing, according to Lt. Reynold Humber, chief criminal investigator with the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office. Once the first deputy arrived, paramedics told him the child was dead under suspicious circumstances, he said. Humber said deputies found the child on a bedroom floor; she had several injuries, including severe trauma that appear to have been caused by a heavy object.

Humber said the couple gave several explanations about the child’s injuries; including they had left the child unattended and someone broke in and bludgeoned her. In Milam’s trial, authorities said they found more than 20 bite marks on Amora and said she was hit with a hammer. Neither Milam nor Carson testified in Milam’s trial.

LONGVIEW – Investigators will be back on the scene today of a Longview fire. It was reported late Sunday afternoon at Southwest Plastics and Fiber, a recycling facility, 3403 Estes Parkway. The blaze was extinguished within thirty minutes, before it could spread to the large amount of combustible materials in the building. The cause of the fire hasn’t been determined.

HOUSTON (AP/STAFF) — The head football coach at George Ranch High School, a female educator and her estranged husband have all been found shot to death at a Rosenberg hotel. The bodies of the three were found shortly before 5:00 Friday afternoon at the Regency Inn. The Houston Chronicle has identified the dead as coach Trevor White, pictured here, of Katy. He is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin University and formerly coached in Garrison. Also killed were Destiny Pickett of Richmond, and her estranged husband Clifford. Court records show Pickett had filed for divorce and a restraining order against her husband in February.

LAS VEGAS (AP/STAFF) – Even though Taylor Swift was named entertainer of the year, the over all winner at the Academy of Country Music awards Sunday night was Lindale’s Miranda Lambert. She will be returning to East Texas with four first place trophies. For the second straight year she was named female vocalist of the year. Her hit single “The House That Built Me,” was named both single and song of the year. The song was voted video of the year as well.

Lambert was also a performer on the show. Between her signing and winning awards, she received a lot of stage time. Her main squeeze Blake Shelton was the show’s co-host. Shelton joked Lambert will soon be giving up her second job as a wedding planner. They’ll be married in a matter of weeks.

TYLER — The Humane Society of East Texas is struggling financially, more so than ever in its 43-year history, according to Executive Director Gayle Helms. On KTBB “Staff Meeting,” she says one way you can help is to become a “Friend of the Shelter.” Helms says that’s sort of like being a member, at a cost of $30 or whatever you can afford above that figure. But Helms points out that any donation, large or small, “is just critical to us.” She also hopes you’ll come see the “Cause for the Paws” benefit concert, featuring Lindale’s own Miranda Lambert, to be held in downtown Tyler April 30. You can go to http://www.hsoet.org for more information. You can also listen to the “Staff Meeting” show at http://www.ktbb.com/audio beginning early Monday morning.

UNDATED — Here’s a quick look at other work planned in the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

SMITH COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform resurfacing operations on Farm Road 2661 east of Tyler between State Highway 64 and State Highway 31. A second crew is scheduled to perform base repairs on Farm Road 317 south of Chandler between Farm Road 314 and Farm Road 315. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement-repair operations on State Highway 19 in Canton between Interstate Highway 20 and State Highway 64. Once that work is complete, crews will be performing the same work on SH 64 west of SH 19 and on State Highway 243 west of State Highway 198. A second crew will be performing fog-seal operations on Farm Road 751 between Wills Point and the Hunt County Line. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

LONGVIEW — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue pavement-repair operations on Loop 281 between State Highway 31 and US Highway 259 (Estes Parkway). Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

Also this week in Gregg County, TxDOT contractor Knife River renewed its plans to shift traffic to the newly constructed lanes on the State Highway 135 project north of Interstate Highway 20 beginning mid-week. Motorists are encouraged to use caution in and around the construction zone.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform resurfacing operations on Farm Road 85 between the Navarro County Line and State Highway 274 in Seven Points. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform resurfacing operations on State Highway 110 between New Summerfield and Ponta. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repair operations on U.S. Highway 259 between State Highway 322 and Farm Road 850 north of Henderson. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform edge repairs on Farm Road 323 southeast of Palestine between U.S. Highway 84 and Farm Road 1817. 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 be at work on the following roadways in and around Wood County:
*Farm Road 778 between State Highway 37 in Quitman and Farm Road 49; and
*Farm Road 857 between U.S. Highway 80 in Grand Saline and Farm Road 1255. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

TYLER – A search for a missing boy caused a lockdown at Tyler’s Caldwell Zoo late Saturday afternoon. The 8 year old boy had wandered away from his aunt and brother around 5:45. The lockdown started about 6:00 and was lifted around an hour later when the found was found. The youngster was found about two miles from the zoo, near the intersection of the loop and Highway 69 North.