KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating a case in which a child was badly burned. Tuesday morning just before 9:30, police responded to 4201 Aberdeen to assist EMS on an injury to a child incident. Upon arrival it was determined that a two-year-old girl identified as Bridget Walker had been severely burned on the bottom of her feet from hot water in the bathtub. The adoptive parents were home at the time of the incident. Walker was transported to ETMC and then transferred to Parkland Hospital in Dallas. Child Protective Services was contacted by police to initiate an investigation. Tyler investigators are currently investigating to determine if this was an accident or foul play may be involved.

TYLER – Tyler ISD announces the 2012 Campus Teachers of the Year. All 30 campus teachers of the year will be recognized at the annual Teacher of the Year Banquet on Tuesday, May 8. This year’s theme is “Tyler ISD’s Galaxy of Stars: Our Teachers Light the Way.” During the banquet a District Elementary Teacher of the Year and a District Secondary Teacher of the Year will be named for the 2011-2012 school year.

The 2012 District Teachers of the Year will be eligible to be selected as the regional honoree. Regional honorees are eligible for two titles, Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year and Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year. Texas Teacher of the Year is the highest honor that the State of Texas can bestow upon a teacher.

The 2011-2012 Campus Teachers of the Year:

Rhona Meads – T.J. Austin Elementary School
Kelly England – Bell Elementary Global Communications Academy
Tom Matteucci – Birdwell Elementary School
George Brigman – Bonner Elementary School
Lawren Phillips – Boshears Center for Exceptional Programs
Beth Lockhart – Caldwell Elementary Arts Academy
Anna Dickey – Clarkston Elementary School
Natasha Balfour – Dixie Elementary School

Sharon Camille Becton – Douglas Elementary School
Ashley Rayner – Griffin Elementary School
Thurndotte Ray – Dr. Bryan C. Jack Elementary School
Sandy Ferris – Jones Elementary MST Academy
Jim Westwood – A. W. Orr Elementary School
Mary Rouquette – Owens Elementary School
Wanda Wilson – W. A. Peete Elementary School
Brenda Evans – Ramey Elementary School

Jennifer Thrasher – Rice Elementary School
Alicia Guajardo – St. Louis School
Patricia Cooper – TARGET
Becky Tilson – Andy Woods Elementary School
Christie O’Neal – Boulter Middle School
Satoya Dodd – Dogan Middle School
Leah Huffstetter – James S. Hogg Middle School
Jacob Payne – Hubbard Middle School

Chris Rasure – Moore MST Magnet School
Mary McGough-Skinner – Stewart Middle School
Laura Berns – John Tyler High School
David Howard – Robert E. Lee High School
Pennie McKeller – Plyler Alternative School
Joshua Graves – PACE

HENDERSON — A Henderson man is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child. According to KETK, the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office obtained an arrest warrant for 41-year old Juan Manuel Bernal. Bernal was taken into custody and arraigned, with his bond set at $250,000. He remains in the Rusk County Jail. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and more charges could be added.

TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for a black male who walked into a business on Industrial Avenue Wednesday morning and reportedly threatened to shoot employees inside the building. According to KETK, the employees at the business told police the man left and headed south on Industrial Avenue.

LONGVIEW — A re-trial is underway for a Hallsville man whose capital murder conviction was reversed in 2010 by a Gregg County appeals court. Desmond Dewayne Jackson, 30, is accused in the 2007 slaying of 56-year-old Melvin Brad Mitchell, while robbing the Cash America Pawn Shop on High Street in Longview.

According to KETK, Jackson was sentenced in 2009 to life in prison without parole, but the verdict was reversed by the appeals court, because it found the introduction of evidence from an unrelated Harrison County robbery to be prejudicial to Jackson’s case, Gregg County District Attorney Carl Dorrough said at the time.

HENDERSON — RUSK COUNTY — Authorities are searching for two women in connection with a Tuesday morning bank robbery that shut down a Henderson bank for several hours while officers investigated. According to KETK, Citizen’s National Bank in Henderson was robbed about 10:00. It’s not known how much money was taken. The woman reportedly entered the store wearing sunglasses and a hospital mask.

Authorities also believe the suspect left in a vehicle that was parked at the Valero gas station next door to the bank. Authorities said the female driver went into the gas station. Surveillance photos were taken of her. Officers have not been able to identified the driver. Investigators said the women left the bank in a light-colored car, but they were unsure of the make and model. The FBI, Texas Rangers, Rusk County district attorney investigators and sheriff’s deputies also were called to investigate the robbery.

GREGG COUNTY — A Georgia woman has been arrested on Interstate 20 after troopers found more than 40 pounds of cocaine. According to our news partner, KETK, Department of Public Safety officials arrested Vickie Ann Watts, 38, of Statesboro, Georgia at around 8:45 after stopping her for a traffic violation. Officials said Watts was charged with possession of a controlled substance and marijuana. Bond was set at $300,000. Her passenger, Herman Rainey, 52, of Newark, N.J., was also arrested for possession of marijuana. His bond was set at $500.

WHITEHOUSE — Whitehouse Police Chief Rick Waller is on voluntary leave while DPS investigates him for alleged misappropriation of county funds. According to KETK, on Tuesday, the city council welcomed a new face, Assistant Police Chief Craig Shelton. He has more than 26 years experience with the Smith County Sheriff’s office. The city hired him after an audit illustrated some problems in the department.

TYLER – A Tyler woman is safe following a reported kidnapping. It happened shortly after 4:30 Tuesday afternoon in the 1000 block of Robertson Avenue. A witness said she saw a Hispanic male holding onto a female as he was forcing her into a vehicle. The witness said that they also heard her yelling for help.

Just after 5:15 officers found the suspects vehicle. Inside were three persons: the driver, Kevin Estilito Loria, 22, the victim, a Hispanic female age 22, and another passenger who was 17. Investigators determined that the victim was assaulted by Kevin Loria during the commission of the kidnapping.

The victim was transported to a local hospital and was treated for minor injuries. Loria was arrested for Aggravated Kidnapping and booked into Smith County Jail. The other passenger, Mark Morales, 17, was charged with possession of marijuana.

TYLER — (AP & STAFF) The owner of a Tyler beauty salon wanted for practicing medicine without a license remains in the Smith County Jail, and more details are emerging about allegations against her. Tyler Police tell KETK Carmel Foster, the owner of Queen Divas Hair Salon and Spa, faces charges related to a botched breast augmentation allegedly performed in her salon. She was arrested in Harrison County last week and was being held there pending extradition.

Police were contacted by family members of Sheena Bradford who said that she had a breast augmentation procedure performed on both her breasts February 15 and had been admitted into a Longview hospital for severe chest pains. Her condition remains critical. Tyler Investigators determined that the procedure was conducted for a fee in a back room of the salon located at 102 East Martin Luther King Street, in Tyler.

Bradford was hospitalized with severe chest pain after the injection administered at Carmel Foster’s beauty shop. In a police affidavit, Bradford said Foster injected her with 12 syringes filled with the unknown clear gel on Feb. 15, her breasts immediately became swollen and the gel oozed from the sites holes until Foster sealed them.

Two days later, Bradford was hospitalized with what doctors diagnosed as built-up blood and air in her lungs. Foster’s charged with two counts of practicing medicine without a license and is in Smith County Jail. According to jail records, her bond has been set at $2,000,000.

TYLER — The Texas Alliance for Life PAC has endorsed GOP incumbent Leo Berman’s candidacy for re-election as state representative of District 6. Executive director Dr. Joe Pojman stated TAL’s decision was based on Berman’s consistent support for pro-life issues in the Texas Legislature. Berman also earned the President’s Award at the Smith County Republican Club’s annual Presidents Day dinner on Saturday evening. Berman faces Matt Schaefer in this year’s Republican primary.

LINDALE – The first rabid animal in Smith County this year has been found in the Lindale area. Texas Department of State Health Services advised the City of Lindale that a skunk that was submitted for analysis tested positive for the disease. The skunk was found near the 13000 block of County Road 4200.

Citizens are advised not to handle bats, skunks, raccoons, or other wild animals. It is important for children to tell their parents of any contact with wild animals or any sick animals. Anyone who knows of a person being bitten by an animal must report the bite incident to the Smith County Rabies Control Authority for proper investigation.

Smith County Rabies Control Authority advises all citizens to confirm that their dogs and cats are currently vaccinated for rabies. City of Tyler Ordinance and Smith County Ordinance require annual rabies vaccinations for all dogs and cats. Preventive immunization for rabies is the only effective defense against this always fatal disease.

TYLER — The City of Tyler announces that Centene Corporation, a leading manager of health care services, has chosen Tyler as its first choice in Texas for the location of a multi-state regional claims processing facility in the new 140-acre Tyler Business and Technology Park. Officials say the move could create about 325 new jobs in Tyler. The St. Louis, MO-based Centene, the nation’s fourth-largest Medicaid manager, would be the first owner of a site within the Tyler Business and Technology Park, which was developed by the Tyler Economic Development Council (TEDC). TEDC has owned and managed 150 acres within the park since 1994. The park is located at the intersection of West Loop 323 and Robertson Road and is occupied by a variety of manufacturing, office, distribution, and retail businesses.

Centene is currently working with the TEDC, the City of Tyler and the State of Texas to define the business terms and begin due diligence for the project. Centene anticipates that it will take four to six months to satisfy the conditions leading to a final decision to move forward with land acquisition and construction. “We are excited at the prospect of having Centene Corporation as a new corporate citizen that brings quality jobs to Tyler,” said Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass. “Centene has a reputation as an active and generous corporate citizen in the communities in which it has offices.”

Upon satisfaction of feasibility conditions, construction of the Centene building is expected to begin this summer with completion anticipated in the summer of 2013. “We are still early in this process, however we are very encouraged by the progress that has been made,” said Tom Ellis, chair of the TEDC. “The potential addition of 325 well-paying jobs in Tyler is something we can all celebrate.”

TYLER — A man law officers say is responsible for beating his wife so badly in November that she later died from her injuries is now a free man. Smith County authorities tell KETK that Kelly Gage was released from custody Tuesday. Gage’s bond was dropped from $1 million to a $10,000 personal recognizance bond. Smith County DA Matt Bingham says there’s just not enough evidence to indict the suspect for murder.

Patty McHugh Gage was on life support after what appeared to be a drunken beating on Thanksgiving Day by her husband, Kelly Gage. Patty Gage later died, and her son says she’d endured years of physical abuse. Bingham says the investigation is ongoing, but that based on what he’s been told by experts, his office was unable to secure the evidence needed to indict the defendant within 90 days. Bingham cites the victim’s blood alcohol content, which he says was over 4 1/2 times the legally intoxicated limit. He says that raised doubts about whether Mrs. Gage was beaten to death or perhaps fell and hit her head.

Noting Kelly Gage’s lengthy criminal history, Bingham says he’d love to keep him in custody. But he says the suspect’s past criminal history is not admissible in the guilt/innocence stage.

TYLER — Tyler school officials are looking into the possibility that a gun maybe on the Robert E. Lee High School campus. According to a district news release, Lee administrators learned of a Facebook post warning that a gun may be on campus. They reportedly contacted district officials, who immediately provided increased security on the campus and began investigating the situation. Officials said they have not found anything and will continue to investigate the matter. Increased security was on the campus throughout the day.

NACOGDOCHES — A Nacogdoches man pleaded this past week in Nacogdoches County District court on the charge of driving while intoxicated with a child passenger. According to KETK, Apolonio Vasquez, 30, received 90 days in county jail from a Dec. 4, 2011 incident. Officials said he continued to drive away from police for 13 blocks after they initiated emergency lights to pull him over for making an unsafe lane change.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department, along with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and Longview Partners in Prevention, conducted stings at area retailers. Thirty retailers were checked by the undercover teams and six of them reportedly sold alcohol to the undercover minors. The locations that sold to minors were:

1. 4108 W Loop 281 # 101 – Kyle’s Kwik Stop # 3
2. 100 S Access Road – Food Fast # 7
3. 3122 Estes Parkway – Brianna’s Stop n Shop
4. 1800 S High Street – Super 1 Foods
5. 2001 N Eastman Road – Zippy J’s No. 5
6. 1516 W Fairmont Street – Zippy J’s No.4

Authorities said the individuals that sold alcohol to the undercover minor were listed in offense reports for “making alcohol available to a minor”. This offense is a class “A” misdemeanor and the reports will be filed with the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. The TABC also issued administrative citations to each business.

LONGVIEW — Longview officials are calling a “warrant round-up” successful. February 10th marked the first day of the Great Texas Warrant Round-Up. Longview Municipal Court participated in this program and said that between February 11th and 24th, a total of 914 warrants were cleared up and the courts collected $154,588.85 in fines and fees.

HARRISON COUNTY — A Marshall woman died Sunday morning after a one-vehicle crash in Harrison County. According to Department of Public Safety officials, Margaret Roberson Skinner, 60, was traveling west on FM 1997 around 11:15 when she drifted through the westbound lane and struck a tree. The Longview News-Journal reports, Skinner was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:15 p.m. by Justice of the Peace Nancy George.

LONGVIEW — The Longview ISD is facing a $5.5-million shortfall. But school officials say they were making preparations well before state funding for schools was cut last summer — and spokesman Adam Holland tells KETK the school district is in much better shape than others around the state. Holland says the district has in fact been preparing for the situation for years, and he says no layoffs are expected. According to Holland, there have been positions cut due to attrition. But he says that has been going on for several years, and school officials expect it to continue. The budget is in its preliminary stages, and school officials are unsure if a salary freeze will be lifted.

DOUGLASS — Deputies arrested a Douglass High School teenager accused of stabbing another student during the drive back from a school field trip last Thursday, according to Nacogdoches Sheriff Kerss. Authorities took into custody John Mark Kerr, 18, of Douglass. Kerr is charged with possession of an illegal knife in places prohibited. No other charges have been filed. Sheriff Kerss tells KETK it is illegal to carry a knife on any school property. The bus was in the school parking lot when the incident happened. The victim, stabbed in the leg with a pocketknife, was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Kerr’s bail is set at $3,500.

CANTON — Anonymous tips phoned into the Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers in the past several weeks have paid off, with six people arrested by sheriff’s deputies on a variety of charges, from drug trafficking to vehicle theft to burglary. The arrested suspects include one person from the sheriff’s 10 Most Wanted list.

The Crime Stoppers board authorized a total of $2,450 in rewards for the six tips that led deputies to arrest these individuals:

* A Ben Wheeler man who was on the 10 Most Wanted list, with warrants out for him for crimes such as two assaults on a public servant, several driving offenses, drug possession, and a revoked probation in Navarro County.
* Two young Canton men who were arrested for drug trafficking and theft of farm equipment, and who were later charged additionally after deputies allegedly found drugs, guns, and money in their residence.
* A Wills Point man on a warrant for a pair of vehicle thefts.
* A Wills Point man and his girlfriend, arrested on burglary warrant from Hunt County.

More information about Crime Stoppers is available online at http://www.vanzandtcrimestoppers.org or on Facebook.

LINDALE — The Lindale Independent School District is mourning the passing of longtime business manager Zane Beck. Beck died Sunday at the age of 60. Memorial services will be held Wednesday morning at 10:30 at Caudle-Rutledge Funeral Home in Lindale, 206 West South Street.

Beck provided his services as a business manager to several East Texas school districts. At the time of his passing, he worked with Lindale ISD Director of Finance Liz Stewart as a consultant. He first worked for Lindale from 1996-2002 as Assistant Superintendent for Business. He then began work for the Longview ISD as Assistant Superintendent for Business. After retiring from his position with the Longview ISD, he returned to Lindale in his consultant role.

Beck worked for the Tyler Independent School District as Director of Finance from 1979 to 1987 and served TISD as Assistant Superintendent for Business from 1987 to 1994. He worked for the Marshall Independent School District as Business Manager from 1994 through 1996. Beck also provided his services as a business consultant to a number of school districts, including Van, Pine Tree, Arp, Grand Saline, Nacogdoches, and Big Sandy, as well as the Region VII Education Service Center.

TYLER — Citizens have two more weeks to take advantage of the annual Smith County Wide Cleanup Event. The event is an opportunity for residents of Smith County to bring trash and bulky items to the Greenwood Farms Landfill for free. The Smith County Environmental Crimes Unit, precinct constables, and Smith County Commissioners Court are extending the annual event through March 10.

The County will provide vouchers to the public that are good for up to three cubic yards per person; about a full-sized truck bed. Vouchers are available to pick up at all justice of the peace and constable precinct offices or the Smith County Courthouse Annex, Commissioners Court Office. There is a limit of one voucher per household and businesses may not participate in the voucher program.

The vouchers will be good Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and on Saturdays 6:30 a.m. until noon through the period. The vouchers come with a list of items that the Greenwood Farms Landfill, an Allied Waste Company, will not take. Directions and a map to the Greenwood Farms Landfill are provided with the vouchers. Items not accepted during the County Wide Cleanup include hazardous waste, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, gasoline, oils, paint, acid, batteries, asbestos, Freon, whole tires, refrigerators, freezers, televisions, and computers.

For more information or to pick up your voucher, please call: (Tyler) Pct. 1 Constable Henry Jackson, (903-590-2609; (Noonday) Pct. 2 Constable Andy Dunklin, 903-590-4840; (Troup) Pct. 3 Constable Dustin Rust, 903-842-2664; (Winona) Pct. 4 Constable John Smith 903-590-4879; or (Lindale) Pct. 5 Constable Dennis Taylor, 903-590-4901.

GLADEWATER — Police in Gladewater are investigating an overnight break-in at Veterinary Service. According to an employee, a window was broken and about $150 cash was taken during the break-in. According to KETK, the business is open.

TYLER — A pregnant woman was struck by a vehicle in Tyler Sunday night. Tyler Police say the woman, who is about eight weeks pregnant, was struck by a car near Broadway Square Mall around 8:00. She was not seriously injured. According to KETK, the driver initially left the scene but returned a short time later and spoke with police. Charges have not been filed.

TYLER – A one vehicle wreck Southeast of Tyler has killed two persons. The wreck occurred around 3:30 Sunday morning on County Road 285. Dead at the scene were the driver, Andrew Jeremiah Whitton, 36, of Tyler, and a passenger, Sarah Katherine Brown, 38, of Tyler. The Department of Public Safety reported their car was southbound when the vehicle left the road and hit a tree. Neither was wearing a seat belt.

NACOGDOCHES – A one vehicle accident near Chireno, in Nacogdoches County, has killed one person. Dead at the scene Saturday night on State Highway 21 was Laddelle Fields Bolton, 41, of Nacogdoches. Her car was west bound when it left the road and overturned. The Department of Public Safety Report said Laddelle was not wearing her seat belt.

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

TROUP — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue pavement repairs on State Highway 110 in Troup, followed by the same work in various locations on Farm Road 15 in Troup. 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.

PALESTINE — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue pavement-repair operations on SE Loop 256 between U.S. Highway 287 South and U.S. Highway 84 East, which includes working in front of Palestine High School. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zones.

LONGVIEW — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on Spur 63 in Longview, specifically in the area of Academy and the Longview Mall. The work is being done in preparation for a resurfacing project planned for later this year. A second crew is scheduled to perform pavement repairs on State Highway 322 south of the Gregg County Airport. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

WOOD COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to begin approximately two weeks of pavement repairs on Farm Road 3056 between U.S. Highway 80 east of Mineola and Farm Road 778. The work is in preparation for a seal coat application this summer. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location 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 in various locations on Farm Road 177 and Farm Road 3052 in the Mixon area. 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 resurfacing operations in various locations on Farm Road 47 between Farm Road 2475 north of Wills Point and the Rains County Line. A second crew is scheduled to perform fog seal operations at Lake Tawakoni State Park. Finally, crews are scheduled to continue edge-repair operations on Farm Road 314 between Farm Road 1995 south of Van and SH 64 north of Edom. 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.

LANEVILLE — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform resurfacing operations on Farm Road 225 between Farm Road 1798 in Laneville and U.S. Highway 84 west of Mount Enterprise. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers and pilot vehicles will control traffic.

TYLER — Rev. Kyev Tatum of Fort Worth drew on the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Saturday night as he keynoted Tyler’s 11th Annual Black History Program. Tatum noted a passage in King’s “I Have a Dream” speech: “Out of a mountain of despair, a stone of hope.” Tatum said he and others at Saturday’s event are “The Stone of Hope Generation” — the freedom fighters King knew would come after him. Calling on attendees to be “servant leaders,” Tatum remarked, “God has called us to look out for the least, the last, the lost, the left out.” He noted that the battle today is not just for civil rights, but also for human rights. Tatum is himself following in King’s footsteps. He’s the Fort Worth president/CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the organization once headed by King.