KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — 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 edge repairs on Interstate Highway 20 between State Highway 155 and U.S. Highway 271. A second crew is scheduled to continue ditch work on Farm Road 346 between U.S. Highway 69 in Flint and Farm Road 756 near Whitehouse. 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. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates

TYLER — Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith looks back on his first few months in office. On KTBB’s “Staff Meeting,” he pointed out that his troops have cleared several homicides dating back to 2012. According to Smith, “Since January 1, we’ve had three homicide cases; we’ve cleared all three of those…so we’re at a 167% clearance rate on homicides this year.” Among other things, smith also mentioned that he’s added some narcotics officers to the force. And he noted that he’s put more deputies on the street, something he says local residents have noticed.

MARSHALL — Employees at the Norit Americas plant on Marshall’s west side had to evacuate Friday night after fire erupted in an outdoor production area. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Marshall Fire Department Capt. Randall Jeans said firefighters responded to the blaze shortly after 10 p.m. in the 3200 block of University Avenue, near Loop 390. Jeans said some of the product manufactured at the site ignited while employees were cleaning a gas-fired furnace used during production. Continue reading Employees Evacuated during Fire at Marshall Plant

MT. VERNON — The Northeast Texas Area Crime Stoppers and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office are asking for help with this week’s Crime of the Week. Last Wednesday and Thursday, several people broke into Stanley Store, near the intersection of Highway 37 and FM 71. KETK reports the suspects then took cash, change from cans, cigarettes, lighters, and rolling papers. Anyone with any information that will lead to the arrest and/or recovery of the stolen property is asked to call Northeast Texas Crime Stoppers at 903-577-8477 or send a tip through text by sending NTX plus your tip to 274637. Tipsters could get a reward up to $1,000 in cash.

LONGVIEW — Longview police are seeking the identity of a suspect in a credit card theft. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, officials said the female suspect used a stolen credit card on June 4 at an ATM in the 2600 Block of Gilmer Road. If you have any information on the suspect’s identity, contact Detective Rebecca Reeves at (903) 237-1199 or Crimestoppers at (903) 236-7867.

TYLER — Tyler Fire Department officials say they believe a Friday night fire was possibly started due to an electrical problem. But KETK reports the fire is still under investigation at this time. One person was injured in the blaze, reported around 8:00 Friday night in the 1500 block of Haynie Avenue. The house was said to have been a total loss. No word on the extent of injuries.

AUSTIN (AP/Staff) – The superintendent of a Dallas-area state mental hospital where a review found an East Texas woman died amid poor medical care has resigned. The Austin American-Statesman reports Dr. Joe Finch quit as superintendent of Terrell State Hospital. Carrie Williams with the Department of State Health Services said Friday that the departure gives the agency an opportunity to focus on evaluating the hospital and making improvements. A recent report from the U.S. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services says Ann Simmons died in February 2012 of a pulmonary embolism. The 62-year-old Pittsburg woman was held in restraints for 55 hours. The report concluded Simmons didn’t get proper care. Finch couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Saturday. Jay Norwood with the state’s Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services was named acting superintendent.

TYLER — Republican State Rep. Matt Schaefer of Tyler adds his voice to legislative activity involving capital murder punishment. The Texas House on Friday tentatively approved a revised bill adjusting the sentence for 17-year-olds who commit capital murder, adding life without parole as an option even though the U.S. Supreme Court earlier banned that punishment. According to a news release, Schaefer successfully proposed an amendment to Senate Bill 23, which ultimately passed by a vote of 110-28. Continue reading Schaefer Adds Amendment to Capital Murder Measure

TYLER — A second suspect has been named in the murder of Scott Lester, 26 of Tyler. His body was found in room 218 of American Inn Motel, 1800 West Erwin, just before 7:00 last Sunday morning. It is believed Lester was involved in the sale of narcotics in his motel room before he was killed. Friday, investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Darian Pilkington, 18, of Tyler. Judge Kennedy signed the warrant for capital murder and set the bond at $750,000. Investigators were able to make contact with Pilkington, who turned himself in at around 4:00 Friday afternoon. They are still looking for the second suspect, Lawrence Charles Murphey Jr., 20. Continue reading Suspect in Tyler Murder in Custody

RUSK COUNTY — A one vehicle accident in Rusk County has left one person dead. The accident occurred around 7:15 Thursday night on State Highway 43. Dead at the scene was Martin de Jesus Carranza-Perez, 27, of Waco. He was reportedly not wearing his seat belt. According to the Department of Public Safety. He was heading southwest when he lost control of his car, which hit a guardrail and overturned.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man who is scheduled to be tried later this year for murder will have to serve 22 months for a probation violation. Troy Carnell Sadler, 19, pleaded guilty in 2011 to to the unauthorized use of a motor vehicle charge. He was sentenced to 4 years which was probated. The Longview News-Journal reports he was arrested three months later and charged with the death of Orion Peoples, 31. He was found dead of gunshot wounds inside a home in the 100 block of Hutchings Boulevard.

LONGVIEW — A Kilgore man, who is facing multiple fraud charges, has been arrested and booked into the Gregg County Jail. Bond on Christopher Alan Kemp, 25, has been set at $275,000. Kemp was taken into custody this week after multiple arrest warrants were filed against him. In March of last year, Kemp was indicted by the Gregg County grand jury on charges of obtaining or attempting to obtain a controlled substance by fraud, fraudulent use of a prescription form and fraudulent use or possession of identifying information. According to the Longview News-Journal, the indictment included two counts of obtaining or attempting to obtain hydrocodone through misrepresentation, forgery, or deception. In November 2011, he was indicted on five counts of credit card abuse.

LONGVIEW — Longview will be considering a plan to simplify recycling and trash collection. The goal of the simplified collection proposal is to increase recycling participation while also reducing the long-term cost of trash collection. Prior to consideration of the proposal by City Council, residents are encouraged to learn more. Continue reading Longview Considering Simplifying Recycle and Trash Collection

TYLER — The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) has awarded Tyler’s Texas College the status of “Accredited,” without any sanctions and no further reports due. It has also been announced that the school’s Teacher Preparation Program has received the status of “Accredited” by the Texas Education Agency. According to school President Dr. Dwight Fennell, “these are Herculean accomplishments and ones that I hope we can all be proud of. Thank all of you who assisted in making this possible. I declare that God has His hands on this institution and we continue to have a mighty work ahead of us.” Texas College was founded 1894 by a group of ministers of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME Church).

COMMERCE — Next month, Congressman Ralph Hall and A&M-Commerce President, Dan R. Jones, will sign an agreement finalizing the donation of Congressman Hall’s historical papers to the university. The public signing ceremony will take place at A&M-Commerce’s Rockwall facility, 2610 Observation Trail in Rockwall at 11:00am on July 2nd. The agreement will designate A&M-Commerce’s Gee Library as the permanent location for Congressman Hall’s personal papers, official documents, and memorabilia. The university will archive and preserve the material as historical documents. Continue reading Congressman Hall’s Papers to A&M Commerce

LONGVIEW — Longview police investigate the theft of a pair of jet skis. On June 14, at approximately 7:02 a.m., an unknown white male driving a single cab super duty Ford truck took the two jet skis and the trailer they were on from the 300 Block of West Grand Avenue. Both jet skis are purple and tan 2003 model Sea-Doo Bombardier personal water crafts. The registration numbers are TX-1013RB and TX-1015RB. The suspect took both jet skis and the trailer they were on from the yard at the location. Continue reading Pair of Jet Skis Stolen from Yard

TYLER — Flames leave their mark on a Tyler home. It happened Thursday along the 500 block of Bandera Drive just before noon. Tyler firefighters tell KETK the fire broke out in the utility room near a breaker box and dryer. Flames spread to the attic. The homeowner, along with a passerby, helped get everyone to safety. The passerby assisted after the homeowner saw the flames, went back, and tried to put the fire out. No one was hurt. The majority of damage was contained in the utility room and attic.

NACOGDOCHES — A woman is behind bars after police say she abandoned her infant son at her Nacogdoches apartment. Police tell KETK it happened a little before 10 Thursday morning. A woman crying, clothed in only a t-shirt and underwear, was seen running along the 2100 block of Pearl spurring phone calls to police. Officers were able to catch up to the woman who seemed intoxicated and offered her a courtesy ride to her apartment, just down the road, according to officials. It was there they discovered she had allegedly left her infant son in the apartment alone. Police say they also found a small amount of marijuana. Lesley Eckenfels, 25, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and abandoning/endangering a child. The infant was placed in custody of child protective services.

HARRISON COUNTY — A police chase that began in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, ended in Harrison County early Friday morning. Harrison County officials tell KETK that the chase began in Greenwood, La. when authorities attempted to stop Enrique Barrera and Tiffany Conner. Barrera, 36, had a felony warrant for his arrest in Caddo Parish. He refused to stop, and a chase ensued down I-20 and into East Texas, according to authorities. Harrison County officials were called in to assist with the chase. Eventually, authorities say, a tire blew out on Barrera’s vehicle near the 597 mile marker in the Longview area and his car came to a stop. Both individuals were taken into custody and transferred to the Caddo Parish jail. There were no injuries involved and no other drivers were hit on the interstate during the pursuit or blow-out.

TYLER — Four new principals have been named for Tyler schools. The announcement was made at last night’s school board meeting. The new principal at John Tyler High School is Dr. Kenneth Gay. Most recently, Dr. Gray has been an assistant principal in the Aldine School District in the Houston area. Other school principals named last night; Laurie Greathouse at Owens Elementary, Alajandra Lara at Orr Elementary and Michelle Jarnagin at Ramey Elementary.

KILGORE — Three teens have been busted by Kilgore police on shoplifting charges. The three had been detained by store employees at the Wal-Mart on Stone Road. The three, who were said to have been shoplifting together, are identified as Stanley Allen, 18, and Justin Jordan, 18, both from Gladewater and Aaron Michael Duncan, 19, of Kilgore. Each was placed on a $2,500 bond.

TEXARKANA (AP) — A Texas woman accused of sending ricin-laced letters to President Barack Obama and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg in an attempt to frame her husband will undergo a psychological evaluation. U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven on Thursday ordered that Shannon Richardson (pictured) undergo the exam after her court-appointed attorney, Tonda Curry, requested it. Curry said in a court motion that she had observed “a pattern of behavior” that made her wonder if Richardson can assist with her defense. Continue reading Woman Accused in Ricin Case to Undergo Psych Exam

TYLER — The new director of The University of Texas at Tyler Longview University Center is Dr. Van Patterson. Dr. Alisa White, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs says he assumes his duties July 15th. “Dr. Patterson will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our Longview campus and indeed the entire university,” White said. Patterson currently serves as vice president for institutional advancement at Panola College. Continue reading New Director at U-T Tyler Longview University Center

WASHINGTON — A group of senators says it is getting close to a bipartisan agreement on border security that paves the way to citizenship to millions living in the country illegally. It would would grant legal status to immigrants living in the United States unlawfully. But Tyler congressman Louie Gohmert is not a fan of the proposal. Gohmert says the senate’s Gang-of-Eight immigration bill goes about immigration reform exactly backwards. “First they seek to legalize at least 11 million people illegally here now and then trust the Obama administration to secure the border later. We should have learned our lesson from the 1986 bill that provided legal status or amnesty, but the promised border security was never accomplished, which has led us to another amnesty or legal status bill today. We cannot let that happen again.” Continue reading Gohmert Not Happy with Bipartisan Agreement on Border Security

LONGVIEW — Longview police are looking for a man who met a woman on line and then allegedly stole from her. The couple met at Pleantyoffish.com. According to the Longview News-Journal, the woman invited the man, who said he was from Tyler, to her home. Once in the house he is said to have taken her wallet with cash, credit cards and gift cards.

LONGVIEW — The board that oversees Good Shepherd Health System has ended an 8 month search for a new president and chief operating officer. It was announced yesterday morning that certified public accountant Steve Altmiller from Tupelo, Mississippi, has been named to the post. During his 35 year career, Altmiller has headed hospitals in Texas in New Mexico. Currently, he is president of North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. Continue reading New CEO for Good Shepherd Health System

EAST TEXAS (Staff/AP) — The mayors of three East Texas towns have asked federal regulators for an update on the Keystone XL pipeline. The mayors of Reklaw, Alto and Gallatin want to know why crews have been replacing sections of the pipeline and whether there are any safety issues involved. Environmental groups and Texas landowners along the southern section of the Keystone XL have been working to stop the project. The protests increased after a breach in an ExxonMobil pipeline caused a major spill in Arkansas. Continue reading Update Sought on Keystone XL Pipeline

TYLER — East Texas Medical Center announced Thursday that effective in mid-July, it will no longer be stationing an ambulance fleet in the cities of Gladewater, Frankston, Van, Alto, and Wells. According to KETK, ETMC says this is due to cuts from Medicare and other hospital programs. Continue reading ETMC Cuts EMS Services to Some Cities

HENDERSON — Authorities Have identified the man killed in a Rusk County accident. He is Daniel Westbrook, 24. The wreck occurred shortly after 11:00 Wednesday morning on Highway 64 west of Henderson. According to the Department of Public Safety, Westbrook overcorrected and rolled his vehicle. The victim’s name has not been released.

TYLER — The Boy Scouts of America office in Tyler confirms a troop from Tyler has had to evacuate a camp in Colorado due to wildfires — and some of the troop’s property has likely gone up in flames. According to KETK, the BSA got a call around 9:15 a.m. Thursday, informing the main office there was a fire danger alert issued in the area where the Tyler troop was located. The campsite, called Spanish Peaks Ranch, is near Walsenburg, Colorado. Continue reading Tyler Boy Scouts Evacuated from Colorado Camp due to Wildfires