KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW — A family was displaced from their central Longview home after an electrical fire. It happened on the 600 block of North Fredonia Street shortly after1:45 Monday afternoon in connection with a residential structure fire. Fire Marshal Johnny Zackary said three people were in the home when the fire started. No injuries were reported.

Zackary said a fuse had blown, and about 15 minutes after the resident replaced the fuse, a fire ignited. He said the house received about $5,000 worth of damage, but the residents left because the electricity in the home had to be cut off.

HARRISON COUNTY — One of the peace officers officer hired by the Hallsville Police Department this past week is facing the grievance phase of his termination from Longview Police Department. Paul Montoya, 32, was hired as a patrol officer with Hallsville to fill one of the three vacant positions opened after the mayor fired the police chief and two officers and the lone remaining officer resigned.

City of Longview spokesman Shawn Hara said Montoya was employed as a patrol officer from August 1, 2005 to December 15, 2011 when he was terminated. Hara did not elaborate about the termination because it is in the “grievance phase,” in which a panel of employees will hear what Montoya has to say in regards to the termination, he said.

Montoya was among two who were hired to fill vacant positions within the department this past week.

GLADEWATER — A 16-year-old Gladewater High School student is in Good Shepherd Medical Center after being shot in the face this past weekend. Late Monday afternoon, a suspect in the case surrendered to authorities. Charged with aggravated assault in the case was Kari Darryieus Harper, 17.

Gladewater Police Chief Farrell Alexander said officers were dispatched to Weldon Bumble Bee Park on South Main Street shortly after 12:15 Saturday morning. The call was in connection to a report of multiple shots fired in the area. Alexander said while officers were responding, another caller reported a gunshot wound victim at the Valero Gas Station near the intersection of U.S. Highway 80 and Lee Street. “The victim was able to say who shot him and give us a little information about what was going on,” Alexander said. The shooting is said to have stemmed from an ongoing dispute over a girl.

TYLER — The City of Tyler has converted the intersection of Old Omen Road and Varsity Drive from a single stop condition to an all-way stop. The stop signs and stop ahead warning signs are erected on north and south bound approaches of Old Omen Road at Varsity Drive. The University has already informed students and faculty of the change.

TYLER — A woman is arrested following a shooting in Smith County. Around 11:45 Monday morning, the Sheriff’s Department got a call about a shooting in the 4000 block of Morningside Driver. Officials say Shannon Deanna Grimes, 41, had called her boyfriend of 8 years, John Paul Parker, 41, to come to her house to work out their failing relationship. While Parker was there, Grimes reportedly found a suspicious text message on his phone and pulled out a .22 rifle. Authorities say she shot at Parker as he went to leave, and the bullet just grazed his scalp. He was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Sheriff’s officials say Grimes asked a relative living nearby to hide the gun. Grimes has been booked into the Smith County jail for aggravated assault. Her bond is set at $200,000.

WILLS POINT – The driver involved in a fatal hit and run accident in Van Zandt County has been identified. Killed in the early Friday morning accident was Casey Eggeling, 16, of Wills Point. It appears as if Eggeling and another teen were sleeping in the road when the accident occurred. The other teen was not injured. The Department of Public Safety reports Ruben Lann, 67, of Wills Point, contacted authorities after learning of the accident. He said he thought he hit a bag in the road. Charges are not expected to be filed in the case.

LONGVIEW — Longview police take a woman into custody after finding drugs at a local hotel. On Sunday, officers responded to a call at a hotel in the 500 Block of South Access Road. The caller told Police that they thought there was someone dealing drugs out of a hotel room. Eyewitnesses told Police that several people were going in and out of a particular room and that the room was getting an excessive amount of phone calls.

When Police knocked on the door they a spoke with a woman, later identified as Jaime Bautista, 35, of Longview, who told Police the room was rented to her. According to authorities, When Officers searched Bautista they located several baggies of suspected methamphetamine. Bautista consented for her hotel room to be searched, and officers reportedly located more suspected narcotics as well as cash, scales, and other drug paraphernalia. Police say the methamphetamine weighed approximately 20.9 grams. Bautista was arrested on a charge of Manufacturing/Delivery of a Controlled Substance, which is a felony offense. She was transported to the Gregg County Jail and booked in without incident.

MARSHALL — Marshall’s artist-in-residence David Alexander Elam was found dead over the weekend. Elam, an internationally known boogie woogie music performer, died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Marshall Mayor Chris Paddie expressed sadness upon hearing the news. Paddie said, “Well, obviously, the city of Marshall, and the world, for that matter, has lost a musical legend, and it’s just such a tragedy.” Marshall is the birthplace of boogie woogie, and Elam was widely regarded as Marshall’s last living link to the music genre. Elam performed worldwide under the stage name Omar Shariff.

TYLER — Tyler firefighters battle an early Sunday morning blaze at Wood Trails Apartments, 1909 Shiloh Road. The initial alarm was received around 3:30. The first arriving units reported heavy smoke conditions and quickly upgraded the incident to a two-alarm response. Investigators determined that the fire originated in the kitchen and resulted from food left cooking on the stove. The fire quickly spread to the adjoining cabinets and into the wall space. Flames progressed into the subflooring of the upstairs apartment and caused damage to the apartment above. While smoke alarms were present, occupants indicated that they failed to activate. One occupant was transported to an area hospital for symptoms of smoke inhalation. Five engines and one Ladder Company, along with a district chief and an investigator, responded to the scene.

Meanwhile, officials have issued updated information on a Saturday morning fire at Autumn Glen Apartments in Tyler. Fire authorities now say two apartments sustained fire damage, while a total of 10 apartments received smoke and/or water damage. The cause hasn’t been determined, but officials say they do not suspect foul play. No injuries were reported.

LONGVIEW — The closing of Kilgore Crisis Center four months ago has not significantly boosted the number of abused spouses seeking shelter at a sister shelter in Longview, officials report. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. The Kilgore Crisis Center closed September 9 after state auditors discovered payroll discrepancies resulting in a roughly $130,000 debt. Since then, Kilgore police have looked to the Women’s Center of East Texas in Longview when they encounter people who need immediate rescue from abuse.

“Our shelter (population) numbers have not gone up much at all,” Women’s Center director Shannon Trest said, adding that there has been a small increase in non-shelter needs devoted to Kilgore spouses — services such as basic financial training, legal advocacy and support groups. “Our non-residential numbers have gone up about 12 percent, and that’s only been since September,” said Trest. “We’re very, very stable. “It was heartbreaking when that program closed, but we moved quickly and hopefully with minimal damage.”

Randy Renshaw, a sales broker/associate with Coldwell Banker Lenhart Properties in Kilgore, said Wednesday that he’s had no serious bites on the crisis center property (pictured). Renshaw, who also is a Kilgore city councilman, added, “I know there are a lot of people who would like to see somebody purchase the building and reopen the crisis center. There’s definitely a need for it.”

MANY, LA. (AP) – Opposition is growing to the proposed contract to sell water from Toledo Bend Reservoir to a private company in Texas. The Town Talk reports more than 500 people have submitted comments to the Sabine River Authority of Louisiana. The newspaper reports only a dozen lean toward support should the contract get some tweaking. But the rest are adamantly opposed. The Caddo Parish Commission has joined in the discussion with a resolution last week also opposing water sales across the state line. At issue is the proposal from Toledo Bend Partners LP seeking a commitment of 600,000 acre-feet of water annually for its Texas customers. The 13-member Sabine River Authority Board is expected to vote on the proposal later this month.

MARSHALL — Harrison County authorities believe they’ve made a significant cocaine haul. Around 9:45 Sunday morning, Trooper Josh Roraback stopped a vehicle on Interstate Highway 20 for a traffic violation. Upon contacting the driver of the vehicle, he believed he had a vehicle transporting illegal contraband. Authorities say the information that the driver, Annette Alvarez, 38, gave to the Trooper did not make sense. She stated she was going to Lake Charles, La. but officials say she was on the wrong highway. She also reportedly told the Trooper that she thought she was on Interstate Highway 10.

Trooper Roraback contacted Harrison County K-9 deputy Randy Payne, who came to the scene because the Trooper smelled what he believed to be fresh paint coming from the interior of the vehicle, as if the vehicle had been recently modified. Deputy Payne arrived and also smelled what he believed to be fresh paint coming from the vehicle’s interior. Deputy Payne then conducted a walk-around of the vehicle with K-9 Rusty. Rusty alerted on the right front fender. The Deputy and Trooper opened the hood and reportedly found a false compartment loaded with approximately 39 pounds of what appeared to be cocaine.

Alvarez, was arrested and placed in jail; the vehicle was then impounded for evidence. Alvarez had with her a 13-year-old girl who was later identified as her daughter. The daughter was released to Child Protective Services.

TYLER — The new queen of the Texas Rose Festival wasn’t expecting the good news. Haley Anderson says, “I wasn’t thinking anything this big, I mean, it was a shock.” Haley was introduced over the weekend. She’s an All Saints High School graduate and a freshman at the University of Alabama. Haley says she’s especially looking forward to meeting the out-of-town duchesses, because “I think we can take this opportunity to make some new friends.” She adds, “I’m excited to represent Tyler in a good way.” This year’s festival is October 18-21.

TYLER — A special celebration is coming up at Tyler’s historic Camp Ford landmark. Randy Gilbert is vice president of the Smith County Historical Society. According to Gilbert, although the state of Texas had an aggressive history marker program during the 1936 Centennial, no new historical markers were erected until 1962, when a new program for more informative aluminum plaque markers was implemented. The site of Camp Ford, a Civil War Prisoner of War camp, was selected for the first of the new markers, and the Number One marker was dedicated on January 14, 1962.

The Texas Historical Commission, in conjunction with the Smith County Historical Society, is hosting a program commemorating a half century of the Texas marker program at the Camp Ford Historic Park on January 14 at 2:30pm. Representatives from the Texas Historical Commission and local officials will be present. The park is located at 6500 US Highway 271, at the corner of US 271 and Camp Ford Parkway. Gilbert says the public is invited and encouraged to attend, and to take a look at the park. He points out that Camp Ford is the only interpretive historic park in the county.

Camp Ford was the largest POW camp west of the Mississippi River, existing from July 1863 until May 1865. At its peak in July 1864, the camp held over 5,000 union prisoners from 27 different states. In 1995 the site was acquired by Smith County and developed as a historic park. The site is managed by the Smith County Historical Society.

LONGVIEW – A dedicated professor for 45 years at LeTourneau University has died. William H. “Bill” Kielhorn, 80, died Friday. Kielhorn was a professional engineer and a certified welding inspector for the American Welding Society for decades. Last May, LeTourneau University dedicated its Materials Joining Engineering Building in honor of longtime engineering professor Bill Kielhorn. The lab now is the Kielhorn Welding Engineering Lab.

According to the university web site, Kielhorn, who never missed a class during his 45 years of teaching at the university, was featured on ABCNEWS.com for teaching the final class of his career from his hospital bed in the Intensive Care Unit of Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview. Kielhorn was released from the hospital for a few hours so he could attend the dedication ceremony.

A celebration of his life will be 7:00pm Wednesday at the LeTourneau University Student Center, on the third floor. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the William H. Kielhorn Scholarship Fund at LeTourneau University.

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

TYLER — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews on Monday and Tuesday are scheduled to close Spur 235 for pavement repairs and resurfacing. Spur 235 runs between West Front Street and West Erwin Street just behind the TxDOT District Complex. Once the work on Spur 235 is complete, crews are scheduled to move to Farm Road 2813 and perform resurfacing operations on various locations between Farm Road 2493 (Old Jacksonville Highway) in Flint and U.S. Highway 69, just south of Toll 49. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zones.

GREGG COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to begin approximately two weeks of pavement repairs on South Loop 281 between Farm Road 2205 (Jaycee Drive) and Estes Parkway. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

MOUNT ENTERPRISE — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to resume pavement-repair operations on U.S. Highway 259 in Mount Enterprise. Crews are also scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 2496 between Farm Road 1798 in Laneville and US 259 north of Mount Enterprise. 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.

WOOD COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to complete fog seal operations in various locations on Farm Road 2088 between State Highway 37 in Quitman and the Upshur County Line. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes to avoid delays.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform resurfacing operations in various locations on Farm Road 1995 between State Highway 110 near Garden Valley and Farm Road 314 south of Van. 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.

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

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue resurfacing operations on State Highway 294 between Elkhart and Farm Road 323. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

LONGVIEW – A Longview Home has been extensively damaged by fire. It occurred at 1302 block of Dale Street. No injuries were reported. Fire Marshal Johnny Zackary told the Longview News-Journal it appears as if the fire started in the area of the couple’s dryer in the garage. Zackary said an article of clothing caught fire in the dryer earlier in the day, but the couple extinguished it themselves.

TYLER – Ten apartments at a Tyler apartment complex have been damaged by fire. The blaze was reported around 3:00 Saturday morning at the Autumn Glen Apartments on Holly Tree Drive. It’s believed the cause of the fire was electrical. No injuries were reported but several residents were treated for smoke inhalation.

DALLAS (AP) — A federal grand jury has returned two indictments charging 16 Dallas area residents with running a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy linked to the La Familia drug cartel. The U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration announced that 14 of the 16 were arrested December 14 during a takedown by law-enforcement officers in Tyler, and in the Dallas metro area. Agents executed 11 search warrants at that time, seizing about $700,000 in cash, 70 firearms, 20 pounds of methamphetamine and a kilogram of cocaine and a methamphetamine conversion lab. Federal officials say the La Familia cartel is based in Mexico but has distribution cells throughout North Texas.

WILLS POINT – A Van Zandt County Teenager has been killed in a hit and run accident. Dead at the scene was Casey Eggeling, 16, of Wills Point. He was walking south on Farm Road 47 when he was hit. The accident happened around 2:30 Friday morning about eight miles north of Wills Point. Authorities believe they know who was driving the vehicle, but have released no other information.

LONGVIEW – A Longview mother has been arrested and charged with injury to a child. In the Gregg County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond is Cynthia Cecilia Gonzalez, 26. Her daughter, Aura Delgado, 2, is at Children’s Medical Hospital in Dallas. Investigators say the little girl suffered bruising to her right eyelid and on the right side of her chest, two absent front teeth, one loose tooth and a gum line laceration, along with a bone fracture underneath her skull and bleeding on the surface of her brain. Police spokeswoman Kristie Brian described the youngster’s injuries as life threatening. The woman’s four other children have been placed in foster care.

LAFAYETTE, LA. (AP) — A 53-year-old Northeast Texas man is in custody, accused of killing his older brother during a domestic disturbance in Lafayette. Police responded about 6:30 Thursday evening to calls of a shooting at a residence and found Michael Granstaff, 61, of Lafayette, dead from a gunshot wound. Investigators also found Granstaff’s brother, Danny Granstaff, of Sulpher Springs, Texas, injured. Police say he apparently shot himself in the leg and was listed in serious condition at an area hospital. Police said Friday that officers are guarding his hospital room and upon discharge, he will face a charge of second-degree murder in Michael Granstaff’s death. Authorities have not said what sparked the shooting.

GREGG COUNTY — A Longview restaurant has donated a percentage of last night’s sales to the family of a man who died in a recent motorcycle wreck. Johnny Carino’s Italian Restaurant is giving the funds to the family of Patrick Alexander Ramey, who died in the Tuesday crash. Ramey was a staff member at the restaurant. Carino’s General Manager Matt Langham also said donations to assist Ramey’s family with funeral expenses can be dropped off at the restaurant. Funeral services were held yesterday at Rader Funeral Home.

HAWKINS – The president of Jarvis Christian College has resigned. The action was taken by Dr. Cornell Thomas just weeks after it was announced the college’s accrediting agency had placed the school on warning. According to a statement on the school’s website, “The Board of Trustees of Jarvis Christian College is announcing that Dr. Cornell Thomas, President, will be pursuing other interests and is leaving Jarvis after three years of service. This decision is effective as of December 27, 2011. The board would like to thank Dr. Thomas for his contributions and wish him and his family the best in their new endeavors. The board has plans for succession in place and will be making a decision regarding Dr. Thomas’ replacement soon.”

According to the website, “Carolyn Hernandez, senior adviser to the president, and Reginald Dickens, vice president for administration and finance, are coordinating the “day-to-day activities at the college,”

The Hawkins college was placed on a six-month warning by the Southern Association of Colleges and School Commission on Colleges, in December after not being in compliance with several core requirements, mostly related to finances and audits.

COMO – The Superintendent of the Como-Pickton Consolidated School District is announcing her retirement. Sandra Billodeau has announced she will be stepping down at the end of the school year. Billodeau has been superintendent of the district since 2007. At their regular meeting Monday night, school trustees are scheduled to consider hiring the Texas Association of School Boards search team to help in finding her replacement.

TYLER — University of Alabama freshman Haley McGrede Anderson is named Queen of the 2012 Texas Rose Festival, set for October 18-21. The announcement was made Friday night at the Winter Gala held at the Tyler Rose Garden. Haley is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rowe McGrede Anderson. She graduated from All Saints High School, where she was a cheerleader. Haley also participated in the Junior Symphony League and danced with the Spirit of Tyler dance studio while growing up in Tyler. Haley was introduced Friday night just prior to the Winter Gala, the annual fundraiser for the Tyler Rose Museum. The Duchess of the Texas Rose Festival for this year is Joy Lynn Ramey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry King Ramey. The 2012 Rose Festival theme is “Indochine — Celebrating All Things Oriental.”

MARSHALL — The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office identifies two suspects after issuing a plea for assistance Friday from the public regarding oilfield thefts that had been captured on video. The images of a white female were very clear, as was the vehicle they were driving, according to authorities. Officials say thanks to the information that was broadcast by the local media and the information that was presented, a Rusk County Sheriff’s deputy recognized the image as Jamie Gardner, 35, of Overton, and Brandon Galloway, 30, of Henderson, whom he had spoken to on January 4.

The vehicle they were allegedly driving in the images, ironically, matched a vehicle that Rusk County was interested in locating for oil field thefts in their county. Authorities say the vehicle had mechanical trouble and had broken down in Henderson when the Rusk County deputy spoke to them. By having this information, he provided the names of the suspects to Harrison County investigators, and a warrant has been obtained for their arrest. According to KETK, investigators are continuing their investigation and are currently seeking the suspects in the Rusk County area. Harrison County investigators believe the assistance of the media aided in the identification of these suspects and will assist in their arrest.

LONGVIEW – A Longview teenager has been arrested after being accused of assaulting a teacher and student at Longview High School. Arrested Thursday was Takeyah Terrell Carter, 18. Longview police say the teen went to a classroom and attacked a student. The teacher was injured when trying to keeping Carter from leaving. When police arrived Carter is said to have tried to flee, but officers were able to take her into custody. She is charged with assault of a public servant, evading arrest, assault causing bodily injury and is being held on a municipal warrant for failure to attend school dating back to February 8. Her bonds total $53,500.

LONGVIEW – A Longview animal control officer has sustained minor injuries by at least two pit bull dogs. The incident occurred shortly before 1:15 Friday afternoon in the
2300 block of South 12th Street.

Police say animal control officer Jacqueline Lynch was trying to take a loose pit bull dog into custody when another pit bull dog jumped a backyard fence and attacked her. She was able to escape the dogs by going into a neighbor’s home.

Officials will try and determine which dog bit Lynch, and then that dog or dogs will be quarantined for 10 days. The dogs have been taken to the Humane Society of Northeast Texas

TYLER — Tyler police are crediting some citizens with helping in an arrest. Shortly after 11:15 Friday morning, Tyler police were notified that several citizens were chasing an auto burglary suspect in the area of Paluxy and Loop 323. Police say the suspect, identified as Gabriel Harris, 23, of Tyler, was observed acting suspicious in a business parking lot located at 1828 ESE Loop 323. A witness reportedly saw Harris enter a parked vehicle and remove a woman’s purse.

Several men from the office building gave chase attempting to apprehend the suspect. Police say Harris threw the purse down in the nearby Texaco gas station parking lot and ran into a bathroom of an office building in the 3800 block of Paluxy. A City of Tyler waste disposal employee and Starbucks employee along with the original witnesses all chased the suspect and apprehended him until police arrived on the scene.

Harris is charged with auto burglary that is enhanced to a state jail felony due to prior convictions. According to a news release, “The Tyler Police Department would like to thank the citizens for their involvement in bringing this suspect to justice and recovering the stolen purse.” The Tyler Police Department reminds you not to leave purses or electronic items in your vehicle that may be stolen.