KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LUFKIN — An Angelina County grand jury indicted a Lufkin man in the stabbing deaths of his girlfriend and her brother. According to KETK and the Lufkin Daily News, Terrance Demound Barnes, 31, was indicted on a charge of capital murder, according to county records. Barnes confessed to stabbing Rosa and Pepe Pina to death July 26 at the home they shared on John Kolb Road east of Lufkin, according to Angelina County Sheriff’s Office investigators. Following a 20-hour manhunt on state Highway 103 east, Barnes was found hiding under a log inside a hunting lease off Farm Road 1669, 10 miles from where the murders took place.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department will participate in the “No Refusal” enforcement campaign for this Labor Day Holiday. Since January 1, the department has arrested 256 drivers for DWI. Law enforcement agencies in Smith County will be out in force during the Labor Day Holiday, on the lookout for intoxicated drivers on streets, highways, and lakes. Again, officers won’t be taking “no” for an answer once again. The No-Refusal initiative got underway today and continues through Monday.

A multi-joint effort involving the Smith County District Attorney’s Office and police agencies from all over the county will participate. Upon the arrest of a suspected drunk driver, he or she will be asked to blow into a breath-test instrument or take a blood test. If the driver refuses, officers will obtain an immediate search warrant signed by an on-call judge to have blood drawn by a certified nurse on staff at the Smith County Jail. The blood will then be analyzed to determine whether the driver’s blood-alcohol concentration is 0.08 or higher, the legal limit for driving in Texas.

Police say it is the intent of all law enforcement agencies that this joint effort will act as a deterrent, persuading people to avoid driving while intoxicated because they know that police officers will be determining sobriety with or without the driver’s consent.

TYLER — A 44-year-old San Bernardino, California man has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges. Reginald Lavann Eastern faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set. According to information presented in court, on March 1, Eastern was in possession of about 1 kilogram of cocaine which he intended to deliver in East Texas.

SMITH COUNTY — The parents of 2-year-old Jacob Kimbley, who was found dead near his home last week, have been indicted and arrested on charges of child endangerment. Sabrina and David Kimbley were arrested during a hearing in a Smith County courtroom on Thursday. According to KETK, they were charged with 13 counts of child endangerment/abandonment. They are currently in the Smith County Jail. Bail is set at $1.3 million a piece.

Officials with Child Protective Services cited “neglectful supervision” of so many children, which resulted in Jacob’s death, as the reason for the indictment. Earlier reports said Jacob went missing during a game of hide-and-seek.

The Kimbleys’ five remaining children have been in foster care since the incident, and will stay in foster care during the course of the hearings. KETK has been told that the children are doing fine, and are undergoing medical check ups. The Kimbleys will not be allowed to visit their children during this time. Officials say there will be several more hearings over the next few months.

DALLAS (AP) — Ashes of celebrated car designer Carroll Shelby have finally been buried in East Texas after months of bickering between his children and wife over how to bury him. A family statement to The Dallas Morning News says the Wednesday burial was in a family plot in Leesburg, in Camp County.

Shelby died in a Dallas hospital May 10 at 89. His three children say their father signed a document giving them permission to have his body cremated, but his last wife Cleo said the document was a forgery. Late last month, the family finally reached agreement to cremate Shelby’s body and divide the remains five ways between his children, his wife and Wednesday’s burial.

Shelby built souped-up versions of the Cobra, Mustang and Viper sports cars.

CANTON — Van Zandt County authorities say two people have been caught but another remains at large following a pair of burglaries earlier this month. On Friday, August 10, a residence in Van Zandt County was burglarized; numerous electronic devices, jewelry, and a spare truck key were stolen. The burglars took the spare key and later stole the victim’s truck from his job. The suspects have been identified as Christopher Deweese and Michael Schwankner, also know as Big Mike. Deweese was arrested on Wednesday for burglary of a habitation. Bond has been set at $50,000.

On Friday, August 24th, two additional residences in Van Zandt County were burglarized; several guns, electronic devices, and money were taken. The suspects were identified as Crystal Jordan and Michael Schwankner. Jordan was arrested on Tuesday for burglary of a habitation times two. Bond is set at $50,000 for each charge.

Michael Schwankner is still at large. Schwankner has several felony warrants from Van Zandt, Kaufman, and Hunt counties. According to authorities, he is known to carry a firearm on him at all times and is considered to be armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office or Crime Stoppers in Van Zandt County.

CANTON — Van Zandt County officials report an arrest in a motor vehicle theft. On Monday, August 13, a Van Zandt County resident filed a report of the crime. The vehicle was recovered on August 22 in an undercover sting operation by the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect, Andrew Mark Harris of Grand Saline, was arrested and charged with theft of property on August 26. Bond has been set at $50,000.

TYLER — Tyler police seek help identifying a burglary suspect. Police say an unknown white male with tattoos and a thin beard burglarized the coin operated machines at Pit Stop Car Wash, 5030 Hwy. 31 West, on August 15 and August 17. According to police, the suspect was driving a pewter color 4 door GMC or Chevrolet pickup. You’re asked to call Tyler police or Crimestoppers if you have any leads.

TYLER — Tyler police are continuing their investigation of the death of a youngster who died after drowning in a bathtub. Nine month old Charlotte Rodriguez was found at a home on Hollyoak, just off South Broadway, around 4:15 Wednesday afternoon. Tyler firemen and EMS personnel worked on the youngster. She was taken to Mother Frances Hospital. According to KETK, a neonatal unit from Children’s Medical Hospital in Dallas came to Tyler to pick her up, but her condition was deemed too unstable for her to be transported. Charlotte died at 10:31 Wednesday night.

Investigators say the child’s mother had placed Charlotte in the bathtub with her 22-month-old sister with the shower on, the drain open, and toys in the bathtub. Police say the mother then left the bathroom briefly. According to authorities, when she returned, the bathtub was filling up with water and Charlotte had gone under. Police say the mother believes that the toys or the drain stopper got stuck in the drain and blocked it, causing the bathtub to fill with water. Charlotte’s father was at work when the drowning occurred.

The 22-month-old sibling has been placed with family by CPS until the investigation is complete. They will determine if any charges will be filed at that time. Police say they have been to the Rodriguez residence before on a domestic disturbance call.

TYLER — A new section of roadway extending from Loop 323 to State Highway 155 was opened Thursday in Tyler at a special ribbon cutting ceremony featuring football legend and Tyler native Earl Campbell. “We are so proud that we could honor Earl Campbell in this way,” said Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass. “His legendary contributions are something the entire community can be proud of.”

Earl Campbell Parkway extends approximately two miles. There are four traffic lanes, two bike lanes, a raised landscaped median, and sidewalks along the stretch of roadway. To beautify the corridor, 230 trees and hundreds of roses were planted. In addition, curb, gutter, and a sidewalk were added along Old Noonday Road, and the entire road was repaved as part of the project. A traffic signal was also added at Old Noonday Road and Earl Campbell Parkway. The project began on August 20, 2010 and opened to traffic Thursday afternoon. The construction cost was $14,100,000, which was paid for in cash with Half Cent Sales Tax funding. You can go to http://www.cityoftyler.org/ to read more.

TYLER — A mistrial has been declared in the case of an alleged attempted kidnapping in Tyler. According to KETK, the incident happened on January 26 shortly after 4:15pm at the FRESH by Brookshire’s parking lot, on the 6900 block of Old Jacksonville Highway. A woman told police a gunman, later identified asWilliam Easley, 34, of Flint, tried to force her back into her vehicle. After the woman screamed for help, two customers came running to her aid. Police say Easley ran from the victim’s vehicle and jumped into a car, speeding away. The next day, authorities caught the accused kidnapper at his house. Easley is charged with attempted kidnapping and faces up to 10 years in prison. After hours of deliberation in a Tyler courtroom this week, jurors were unable to reach a verdict.

NACOGDCOHES — A series of small fires along Nacogdoches County Road 555 north of Kingtown on Tuesday have been called suspicious by Texas Forest Service officials. According to KETK, volunteers from Woden and Kingtown were joined by TFS crews to fight the multiple fires which burned on both sides of the road Tuesday afternoon. TFS spokesperson John Boyette said the location and spacing of the fires made them appear “suspicious in nature.”

JACKSONVILLE — The program director of a Jacksonville Christian radio station left her post following a July drug arrest. According to KETK, Eddie Rae Baiseri, 51, Bullard, was arrested by the Eustace Police Department on July 27 after she was allegedly found with drugs during a traffic stop.

According to jail records, Baiseri was allegedly found with between 4 ounces and 5 pounds of marijuana, and between 1 and 4 grams of a controlled substance. She was booked into the Henderson County jail around 3:30 p.m. and charged with possession of marijuana, a state jail felony because of the quantity, and manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance, a second degree felony. She was released on July 29 with bonds totaling $18,500.

TAMPA, FL — KTBB’s Paul Gleiser is in Tampa covering the Republican National Convention. Yesterday it was Mitt Romney’s show as he delivered the most important speech of his presidential campaign and one that introduced him to many television viewers.

Saying the hope and change America voted for “gave way to disappointment and division,” Mitt Romney presented an optimistic picture of the future in a Romney/Ryan White House, as he accepted his party’s nomination for president last night.

Romney began a speech in which he spoke of his youth as a Mormon, and then as a married man with five rambunctious sons.

But the speech also contained repeated criticism of President Barack Obama, particularly his failure to spur a more robust economic recovery. Romney said Obama can “tell us it was someone else’s fault” and that in the next four years “he’ll get it right” — but that he can’t tell Americans that they are better off than when he took office.

Gleiser will be in Florida all week. Follow him on Twitter @KTBBdecision12 or http://www.ktbb.com/decision2012

TYLER — A man is hospitalized after a one vehicle wreck Wednesday night. It happened around 11:00 on North Broadway and Gentry. Witnesses told Tyler police a dark color SUV was East on Gentry when he struck the southern turn lane median. The vehicle struck two traffic light poles and rolled over. The driver, identified as Clarke Hodge, 49, was ejected from the vehicle. He was taken to East Texas Medical Center with injuries that are believed to be non-life threatening at this time. All traffic control signals have been repaired.

TYLER — A second person has been arrested in connection with a sexual assault case in Tyler. The latest to be taken into custody is Todd Gifford Wisdom, 21, who is pictured here. He was booked into the Smith County jail and his bond was set at $22,500. He has been charged with distributing harmful material to a minor. Previously arrested was Thomas Brookbank, 21. They are charged in connection with sexual assaults that occured at a clubhouse in the woods behind a mobile home park at 2525 Shiloh Road.

A 9 year old girl told her mother that she and some of her friends had been sexually assaulted by a 21-year-old man who lives in the mobile home park. The victim stated that the assaults had occurred on numerous occasions over the past month in a wooded area, where the suspect, known as “Tom,” had made a club house. Five children have been identified as victims in the case.

KILGORE — The Kilgore school superintendent is heading to Longview. Jody Clements announced Wednesday he had accepted the job of Assistant Superintendent of Administrative and Student Services in Longview. Clements has been in Kilgore over four years. He will start his new duties in Longview in mid-September.

On the Kilgore ISD web site, Clements said “Effective Friday August 31st, Deputy Superintendent Dennis Williams will take over as Interim Superintendent until such time as the board can meet and determine their plan for replacement of the Superintendents position. I am very confident that the staff can keep things going and handle this transition. I have been blessed to have a great staff, board and community. I hope only the best for the future.”

DALLAS (AP/Staff) — State health officials say the tallies of Texas West Nile fever cases and deaths have more than doubled over the past two weeks, and there’s been another West Nile death in East Texas. Two cases were reported Wednesday to have ended in death, one each in Panola and Dallas counties, bringing the state total to 35. Earlier this month, a Gregg County resident died of West Nile virus. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported Wednesday that 894 Texas cases had been reported so far this year, up from an Aug. 16 count of 336.

The August 16 death toll was 14. Texas has been a hotbed of West Nile fever spread by a mosquito-borne virus. At least 22 of the 36 reported Texas deaths were in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with 13 in Dallas County. The most recent Dallas County death was reported Wednesday in Rowlett in northeastern Dallas County.

TYLER — Some UT-Tyler students found themselves without a classroom following a lab’s equipment failure. Just before 1:15 Wednesday afternoon, faculty and students had to be evacuated due to a gas leak on campus. Two floors of the Biology, Education and Psychology Building were emptied after a gas valve from a Bunsen burner would not shut off, according to UT-Tyler spokeswoman Hannah Buchanan. No students were ever in any imminent danger, but they evacuated as a precaution. According to KETK, it took crews about 10 minutes to fix the leak. Classes resumed, and no injuries were reported.

WINONA — It may be awhile before the cause of two-year-old Jake Kimbley’s death is known. Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 Mitch Shamburger tells KETK the results of Jake’s autopsy are still pending — and that the results could take up to another month before they are conclusive. Jake’s body was found in a septic tank near his Winona-area home last week after an hours-long search. For now, the death is being investigated as a homicide, and Jake’s siblings have been moved into foster homes.

TYLER — Two Tyler agencies hand out Community Builders Grants and request donors for a number of projects. The Community Builders Grant is a collaborative effort between East Texas Communities Foundation (ETCF) and United Way of Smith County. Officials say the effort makes grants in support of strong projects based on good ideas and compelling needs which have the potential to improve the Smith County community and the lives of its people.

With a little over $30,000 to allocate, the grant committee considered 42 applications requesting over $215,000 in funding toward a total of approximately $6,440,000 in project costs. The total amount awarded was $30,321. Checks will be presented at the Celebrate Giving event on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. at St. Paul Children’s Foundation in Andrews Park, 1358 East Richards. Meanwhile, ETCF and the United Way are asking residents to give to a local charity they were unable to fully fund with Community Builders Grant funds. You can go to the News tab at http://www.etcf.org for information on the grant recipients, those still seeking funding, and how you can help.

MOUNT PLEASANT — A hospital official said nearly 30 children were treated for minor injuries Wednesday morning after a Mount Pleasant school bus collided with a tractor-trailer. According to the Longview News-Journal, medical personnel at Titus Regional Medical Center treated “approximately” 29 children and the driver of the bus after the crash near Mount Pleasant. None of the victims’ injuries were life threatening and most had been discharged.

Mount Pleasant Police Chief Wayne Isbell said the driver of the bus and three students were taken by ambulance to Titus Regional Medical Center. Another 17 students were taken by bus to the hospital to be examined for “minor injuries,” according to Isbell. The bus driver was treated busted knee cap, Isbell said. Isbell said the bus was from a contracted bus company, and this school year was the first year the school district used the service.

DALLAS (AP/STAFF) — A Dallas-area shelter and two in East Texas have opened for possible evacuees of Tropical Storm Isaac. Volunteers with the American Red Cross were ready Tuesday at a shelter at Faith Baptist Church in DeSoto. American Red Cross spokeswoman Anita Foster said one person fleeing the storm had taken shelter there as of Tuesday afternoon. She said shelters also have been set up at St. Louis Baptist Church in Tyler and Williams Memorial United Methodist Church in Texarkana, Texas. Each shelter can accommodate about 150 people. KETK reports evacuees have begun to show up at St. Louis Baptist. City officials say that shelter opened up in response to calls from self-evacuees traveling from Louisiana along I-20.

The American Red Cross chapters in Houston and San Antonio say no shelters have been opened in their regions. Their officials say evacuees are being directed inland rather than to points along or near the coast.

Information on Tyler’s emergency efforts will be posted on the City web page (www.cityoftyler.org), the City’s social media pages (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/City-of-Tyler-Texas-Government/328744635747 and http://twitter.com/TylerEvents), and released to local media.

EAST TEXAS — Now that financially troubled Lon Morris College has canceled its fall semester, a couple of area colleges are welcoming students who were left in the lurch. A TJC rep says his school was given a list by Lon Morris of students who needed help, and TJC is answering the call. A Jacksonville College representative tells KETK that school has registered between 35 and 40 Lon Morris students.

MARSHALL – A 23-year-old Karnack woman has been sentenced to federal prison for her role in a sweeping drug trafficking case. Anna Lerey Woodall pleaded guilty in May to possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine. She was sentenced Tuesday in Marshall to 37 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap.

According to federal prosecutors, Woodall was involved in a conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine in East Texas. The conspiracy involved defendants traveling to multiple pharmacies to purchase numerous boxes of cold pills containing pseudoephedrine, which is used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. An 839-count federal indicted was returned on February 1, 2012, charging Woodall and 16 other co-defendants with federal drug crimes. Of those defendants, 14 have been convicted.

MARSHALL – A 33-year-old Marshall man has been sentenced to federal prison for wire fraud violations in the Eastern District of Texas. John Michael McConnell pleaded guilty in February to wire fraud. He was sentenced Tuesday in Marshall to 41 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap. McConnell was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $230,119. According to information presented in court, from August 2010 to September 2010, McConnell engaged in a scheme to defraud MB Trading by making false material representations in an online application for a trading account and by emailing a fictitious bank statement to MB Trading. McConnell was indicted by a federal grand jury last October, and charged with wire fraud.

NACOGDOCHES — Nacogdoches County DPS tells KETK that one person has died after the passenger vehicle he was driving collided with a logging truck around 6:30 Tuesday morning. DPS says the logging truck was pulling onto Highway 59 at Farm Road 2782, about halfway between Lufkin and Nacogdoches, when it was struck on its side by the other vehicle. The victim has been identified as Catarino Perez of Diboll, 56. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the logging truck, Jerome Bryant, 37, was not injured. At this time, no charges have been filed; however, the crash is still under investigation.

TYLER — The City of Tyler continues in a state of advanced preparedness should the City need to activate in any capacity due to Hurricane Isaac. Emergency officials participated in a statewide conference call Monday afternoon, determining the role Tyler could play in the State’s emergency response efforts as well as potential impacts the storm could have on the Tyler region. “The City has initiated advanced preparedness efforts as per our Emergency Response Plan due to Tropical Storm Isaac,” said Tyler Fire Chief Tim Johnson. “At this point, it is unknown what impact the storm could have upon Tyler; therefore we are taking all necessary steps to be prepared.”

Should Tyler be an evacuation location, the role would be to serve self evacuees and medical special needs evacuees only. Shelters will be stood up as needed. KETK reports the first emergency shelter has already been set up at St. Louis Baptist Church. The Red Cross says the church can house up to 150 people. Local residents are encouraged to check on their emergency kits, which officials term a good routine practice. You can go to http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit for information on building an emergency kit. The kit should contain food, water and emergency items to last for 72 hours.

Information on Tyler’s emergency efforts will be posted on the City web page (www.cityoftyler.org), the City’s social media pages (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/City-of-Tyler-Texas-Government/328744635747 and http://twitter.com/TylerEvents), and released to local media.

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court approved a 2013 budget Tuesday that officials say will decrease the tax rate while maintaining the same level of county services for citizens. County Judge Joel Baker, who serves as the county’s budget officer, credits careful financial management, conservative budgeting, and recent signs of economic growth over the past few years for the positive 2013 outlook.

With an anticipated $576,594 in additional revenue to be added to the tax roll this year due to new construction, Baker says the future looks more favorable for county coffers. “The overall picture is strong and enables us to make positive financial decisions this year that impact our employees, our citizens, and overall county management,” said Baker.

The Smith County Appraisal District certified the tax roll with a very slight increase in appraised value from the previous year. According to officials, county efforts to streamline operations also enabled Judge Baker to propose a slight reduction in the tax rate to the effective tax rate for the upcoming year without adversely affecting the quality of services provided to citizens. You can go to http://www.smith-county.com to view the complete budget.

TYLER — Tyler Police say one of their own was found dead Saturday. According to Public Information Officer, Don Martin, Ocie Coffer, 45, was found deceased over the weekend at his residence. Martin said he died from natural causes.

Ocie began his employment with the City of Tyler in 1999 with the Water Utilities Department. He came to the Police Department in 2002 as a Public Safety Officer.

“Ocie was a dedicated, kind hearted and hard-working employee who always had a smile on his face. He enjoyed serving the citizens of Tyler in their time of need and will be truly missed,” said Chief Swindle.

Ocie is survived by three children ages 23, 17 and 15. Visitation for Coffer will be held Thursday, August 30th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Harmon Undertaking, 1112 N. Palace. Funeral Services will be held at 12:00 p.m., Friday, August 31st at Smith Temple Church of God in Christ, 2400 Walton Rd, Tyler. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery.