KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Dr. Alisa White has been named provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at The University of Texas at Tyler, effective June 1, President Rodney H. Mabry announced. She follows Dr. Donna Dickerson, who has served as interim provost and vice president. One of four finalists, White will come to UT Tyler after serving two years as the provost of Midwestern State University. White holds a master of science in library and information science as well as a Ph.D. in mass communication, both from the University of Tennessee. Her professional experience includes part ownership of a medium-market radio station in Tennessee and conducting market research for public relations and advertising firms in Louisiana and Georgia. She also has authored and co-authored many refereed publications.

TYLER – Tyler ISD officials say they’ve announced changes to the current leadership team “in light of the new accountability system and the desire to meet the needs of 21st century learning.” Kim Tunnell, Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction, will move to a new position, Executive Director of Strategic Planning and Continuous Improvement, in July. Officials say this change will be budget neutral for the district. According to TISD press materials, in this new position, Tunnell will lead the district as it moves forward with long range planning, implementation, and accountability. The district is accepting applications for the Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction position.

TYLER — Beautiful weather greeted locals and visitors as Tyler’s 53rd annual Azalea and Spring Flower Trail moved through its first weekend. Tourists can tour the trails for two more weekends and attend annual events scheduled all over Tyler. The Azalea and Spring Flower Trail features a ten mile tract of azaleas, dogwoods, and other spring flowers. The ambassadors of the Trail, the Azalea Belles, will be on hand to greet guests and pose for pictures.

The event kicked off with a ribbon cutting and opening ceremony Friday morning at the Pyron Home located at 212 W. Dobbs. Every year the Azalea and Spring Flower Trail brings a substantial economic impact to Tyler. In 2011, the estimated economic impact for Tyler was over $2 million. For more information about the trail, download a brochure of events at http://www.visittyler.com or contact Kim Morris at 903-592-1661. Visitors may also obtain trail information at The Chamber of Commerce, located at 315 N. Broadway, Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. from March 23-April 7. Complimentary visitor packets are available at or at http://www.visittyler.com or by calling 800-235-5712.

LUFKIN (Staff/AP) — It used to be the Post Office in downtown Lufkin. But in the 80s it became the Ward R. Burke Federal Courthouse, a transformation that officials say the famous Texas politician Charlie Wilson helped make possible. But now, because the courthouse doesn’t have a resident judge, it’s on a list of 60 Federal Courthouses across the United States that also don’t have resident judges — and may close. David Maland, the U.S. District clerk for the Federal courts in East Texas, tells KETK it’s a ranking based on how much use the court is getting, number 1 being the least used. “When it all shook out, our Lufkin facility was 45th on a list of 60. Which really is a better place to be,” Maland said.

A local attorney definitely doesn’t think closing the Federal Courthouse is the answer. “I think it’s a shame…because it’s gonna create more problems for people to do things they need to in federal court,” said John Tatum. Tatum says East Texans should be able to have access to the justice system in Lufkin. “The couple of Federal cases I had…at least you can go over there and have a hearing here with the judge on a teleconference. So it’s just easier. Now we’re gonna have to drive to Beaumont with $4.00 in gas,” Tatum said.

Maland says he and his colleagues have until the 13th of April to give feedback to the 5th Circuit in New Orleans. He says they will make the case that the courthouse should remain open. “We’ve got a pretty active case pattern and we’re a growing district. Otherwise, we’ll have to build some new place for a judge to stay in the future and that will cost more money than keeping Lufkin open for a while,” Maland said. Maland also says there are 4 other courthouses in the 5th circuit that are ahead of Lufkin on the list, so he says that looks pretty good for Lufkin.

MT. ENTERPRISE — Three persons have been arrested following a big drug bust in Rusk County. Thursday afternoon, the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division, with the assistance of Rusk County and Henderson Police Department Tactical Units, executed a search warrant at 107 Gatlin Cemetery Road in Mt. Enterprise. According to KETK, officers found over 27 grams of methamphetamine, over 77 grams of marijuana, and approximately $880 during the search.

Stacy Lynn Ammons, 37, and Harold Edwin Duke, 54, both of Mt. Enterprise, were arrested. Ammons was charged with Manufacture/Delivery of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, 1st degree felony and Possession of Marijuana, Class A Misdemeanor. Duke was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance, a State Jail Felony. The investigation continues and more arrests are expected. Both suspects were arraigned Friday. Ammons’s bond was set $15,000, while Duke’s bond was placed at $10,000. Ammons posted bail and was later released, while Duke remains in the Rusk County Jail.

NACOGDOCHES — The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant Thursday evening that netted a large amount of crack cocaine packaged in bulk form, as well as several ecstasy pills and a firearm. According to KETK, the warrant was executed at a location known to be frequented by street gang members. One confirmed member of the Crips gang was arrested during the raid. Sheriff’s deputies say other arrests may follow.

TYLER – After deliberating around two hours, a jury has convicted a Tyler man of attempted sexual assault. The punishment phase for Dearion D’Shon Dews, 19, began Friday. He had been accused of attempting to assault a woman last summer. The woman told investigators she was jogging on Varsity Drive at Old Omen Road when the assault occurred. The woman said a man grabbed her and attempted to drag her toward the tree line between Old Omen Road and parking lot 7. The man began groping the victim. She screamed several times. A passing motorist noticed the incident taking place and slowed down. At that time, the suspect released the victim and ran from the scene toward parking lot 7. Dews was later arrested by University of Texas at Tyler police. He faces up to 10 years in prison for the third-degree felony.

LUFKIN (AP) — A former co-worker of an East Texas dialysis nurse on trial for allegedly killing five patients says she believes the clinic the two women worked for wanted to blame someone for the deaths. Prosecutors say Kimberly Saenz killed five patients in Lufkin by injecting bleach into their dialysis lines. Saenz’s attorney, Ryan Deaton, says officials at the facility, the DaVita Dialysis clinic, have fabricated evidence against his client. The Lufkin Daily News reports that during testimony Thursday, former DaVita employee Connie Baker told jurors about what she felt was a threatening comment made after the first two deaths in 2008 by a regional manager, who allegedly said, “I will not go down for this. I will take someone with me.” Saenz could get the death penalty if convicted.

MARSHALL – A Harrison County couple have been charged with sexually assaulting a 16-year old girl. Case Jones, 26, charged with three counts of sexual assault. His wife, Heather Jones, 24, is charged with three counts of indecency with a child by exposure. Each have been placed in the Harrison County Jail under bonds of $15,000. Investigators say the sexual assault of the teen has occurred over the past several months.

LONGVIEW — Longview fire officials say an apartment blaze caused some problems on Lake Lamond Road around 7:30 yesterday morning. According to KETK, officials say the fire started in the bedroom of a second floor unit and was caused by improper use of smoking materials. A man was reportedly sleeping at the time, and authorities say his son was able to wake him up and get him out of the house. Three adjacent units were evacuated, but none were damaged. No one was injured.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP/Staff) – The federal government is considering closing court sites in 29 states, and one East Texas town is on the list. The government ranked the 60 federal court facilities that could close based on categories including cost, usage and location. Lufkin is ranked number 45. Many on the list are in rural areas. Other facilities on the chopping block in the Lone Star State are in Amarillo, San Angelo, Pecos, and Wichita Falls. Critics are concerned that the closures could make it more difficult for people to get to court proceedings.

WILLS POINT — Van Zandt County authorities say 35 neglected animals have been seized. On Wednesday, the Sheriff’s Office and the SPCA of Texas seized 22 dogs, 11 cats, one pig, and one goat from an alleged puppy mill in Wills Point. According to a Sheriff’s Office news release, “The animals were cruelly confined, forced to live in their own filth, and were not receiving proper water or care…All of the animals were living in unsanitary conditions, which were infested with mice, roaches and fleas. The animals are suffering from a variety of issues, including hair loss, eye discharge, long nails, flea infestation and many are thin.” According to authorities, the animal owner and a family member both said the animal owner had been breeding the dogs and selling them.

The Sheriff’s Office contacted the SPCA of Texas on March 14th regarding suspected animal cruelty. According to law officers, the SPCA then attempted to work with the animal owner to bring the animals’ living conditions into compliance with Texas Health and Safety Code. Officials say there was no response from the animal owner, so the SPCA contacted the Sheriff’s Office Investigator on March 20th and visited the property. As the animals’ living conditions had allegedly not improved, the SPCA and the Sheriff’s Office concurred that the animals needed to be removed. A custody hearing will be held on Thursday, March 29th, at 10:00am at the Van Zandt County Justice of the Peace Pct. #3 Courthouse in Wills Point.

CUSHING, OKLA. (AP) — President Barack Obama wants to speed up work on a pipeline from an Oklahoma oil hub to refineries on the Texas Gulf Coast. The pipeline is scheduled to run through eastern Smith County. Obama said yesterday in Oklahoma that global economics are driving the run-up in gasoline prices and increased drilling across the country won’t bring prices down right away.

LUFKIN — A Lufkin man is behind bars after police reportedly found him naked in the streets early Thursday morning. According to KETK, police were first called to the 100 block of Moss Street to reports of a man, possibly high on PCP, tearing his house up shortly after 3:30. When officers arrived, a man, identified as Bryan Carl Albro, 30, was reportedly standing naked in the street next to a woman, who appeared to be trying to calm him down. Police immediately ordered the man to get on the ground, but they say he did not comply until a taser was pulled.

When officers took Albro into custody, his hands were reportedly covered in blood from destroying the inside of his house. Police say he also had a strong smell of a chemical substance and was taken to a local hospital. Authorities say Albro later admitted to taking PCP and was arrested for public intoxication.

LONGVIEW — A motorcyclist has died in a Longview accident. On Wednesday night just before midnight, officers responded to an accident with injuries at the intersection of Ruthlynn Drive and McCann Road. When officers arrived they determined a man, later identified as Garrett Jordan Robinson, 20, of Longview, was driving his motorcycle at a high rate of speed southbound on McCann Road. Robinson struck a car driven by Amy Beavers, 27, also of Longview, in the intersection, as she was making a left turn from McCann onto Ruthlynn. Robinson was pronounced dead on the scene by Judge B.H. Jameson. Beavers was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. The accident remains under investigation, but police say alcohol may also have been a factor in the crash.

LONGVIEW — A Longview woman’s house catches fire and she says her dog saved her life by waking her up. It happened on the 3300 block of Thompson Street. According to KETK, firefighters were able to keep the blaze contained to the front part of the house and officials say if it wasn’t for the owner’s dog, it could have been much worse.

TYLER –– A Tyler shooting remains under investigation. It happened just before 9:45 Wednesday night. Police received a 911 call of shots fired at 1807 North Ross. A neighbor living across the street from the home owner was taking out trash when he observed a suspicious person lurking around the outside of the residence. The home owner, identified as Terry Traylor, 33, was contacted by telephone about the person his neighbor saw. Traylor reportedly walked outside armed with a handgun while on the telephone with the neighbor.

Police say he was confronted by the suspect, identified as Jason Raychard Williams, 27, (pictured) who told Traylor not to move or he would kill him. Williams was also armed with a handgun. Traylor allegedly shot Williams one time striking his handgun with the round ricocheting into the suspect’s head.

Williams is currently in critical condition at East Texas Medical Center. The investigation into the details surrounding the shooting continues. No arrests have been made.

TYLER — A Tyler burglary suspect is in custody. It happened around 3:45 yesterday morning in the 1300 block of South Azalea Drive. Authorities said the caller’s husband and neighbor had caught the suspect and were holding him until officers arrived. Once on scene, the victim told officers he witnessed the suspect, Ronald Carter, 53, of Tyler, break into his vehicle and remove his property. The victim reportedly confronted Carter when a struggle ensued, slightly injuring the victim. Officers said Carter was then caught by the victim’s next door neighbor. He was booked into the Smith County jail on a robbery charge.

SULPHUR SPRINGS – A construction accident has killed a Sulphur Springs man. It happened around 10:00 Wednesday morning at Coleman Lake Park. Killed was Francisco Melendiz. Investigators say he had gone into a manhole in an effort to retrieve a plug. As water rapidly filled up the manhole, his foot became caught in a drain. He was trapped under water where he drowned.

GLADEWATER – A suspect is in custody in Gladewater in an attempted robbery. It happened around 6:30 Wednesday night when a man approached a couple in a pharmacy’s parking lot on East Broadway. The man is said to have tried to grab a woman’s purse. He is said to have punched the woman’s husband when he came to her aid. The suspect, who fled the scene on foot, was arrested a short time later. He has been identified as Adam Grzelczyk, 27. Formal charges are pending.

JACKSONVILLE — Fire crews in Cherokee County have discovered remains of a person following a house fire near Jacksonville. Wednesday morning around 7:45, Cherokee County 911 operators began receiving calls from several neighbors and passers-by about a house fire on County Road 3306 in the Churchill community west of Jacksonville. According to KETK, Earle’s Chapel VFD, North Cherokee VFD and ETMC EMS responded to the scene along with Cherokee County deputies. According to authorities, when crews arrived on the scene, smoke and flames were seen coming from the southwest corner of the house, which was later determined to be a bedroom, and were quickly beginning to spread. Officials say as firefighters were able to gain control of the blaze, they found the remains of a person in the doorway of the bedroom where the fire is believed to have started.

According to authorities, initial investigation appears to point to two heaters in the bedroom, a wood burning stove and a gas heater, as the possible origin of the fire, but the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation by Cherokee County constables. The body was sent to Dallas for autopsy. After officials interviewed witnesses and those believed to be family members of the victim, no foul play is suspected at this time. The name of the person found has not yet been released.

WASHINGTON — Tyler’s Louie Gohmert is among members of Congress who joined a political activist in speaking out Wednesday against the federal health care plan. Others on hand included Reps. Steve King (IA-05), Michele Bachmann (MN-06), Tom Price (GA-06), Joe Barton (TX-06), Phil Gingrey (GA-11), Paul Gosar (AZ-01) and Tea Party Patriots founder Jenny Beth Martin. The group addressed what they termed “Obamacare’s broken promises, new taxes, increased costs and expanded bureaucracy” in a Capitol Hill press conference.

According to KETK, Rep. Gohmert delivered the following remarks:

“President Obama’s health care bill was not a bill that needed to be passed. Simply stated, it allows any President to tread on the religious freedom expressly promised to us in the Constitution. It is my hope that liberal friends, across the country, who originally bought into the lies about how good this piece of legislation was going to be, will rise up and demand repeal upon realizing the power that this gives a President to trample on their favorite written and unwritten rights.

“If the President can overstep and tread on your First Amendment rights, then he can certainly overstep all kinds of other rights — all for the greatest good to the new federal health care system. This is such a devastating blow to our liberties for which so much has been sacrificed. As Dennis Miller said, ‘If our original founders would go to war over a tax on their breakfast drink,” they would certainly never stand for this massive usurpation of people’s choices in how to live.’

“ObamaCare was a situation where a minority of Americans dictated the life decisions to a large majority of Americans without their consent and, in fact, with their frequently stated opposition. Some want to nip around the edges and repeal small parts, but the entire monstrous cancer needs to be destroyed. Then, we can move on and get real health care reform that the people deserve.”

TYLER — The Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce is asking residents along the Azalea Trail to take down their political yard signs until after the Trail concludes April 8. Chamber officials say the city will be welcoming thousands of tourists. In 2011, the estimated economic impact for Tyler was over $2 million. According to Chamber CEO Henry Bell, “This is one of the most beautiful times of year in Tyler and we really want the Trail route to look its very best.” The annual event officially kicks off tomorrow morning with a ribbon cutting and opening ceremony beginning at 10:00 at the Pyron Home located at 212 West Dobbs.

LINDALE — While all the businesses on the 400 block of S. Main in Lindale have been boarded up, each has been affected differently by the results of Tuesday morning’s fire and water damage, according to the Lindale Chamber of Commerce. According to KETK, Innovative Pest Control is open for business; MCS Technology is closed, but is due to reopen for business Thursday morning. Glenn’s Jewelry Repairs and Collectibles will be closed for 2-3 weeks for repairs but plans to open again “better than ever” and will have a grand opening celebration at that time. Anyone wishing to contact the scorched business can call 903-920-3313.

Glenn’s went up in flames around 5:00 Tuesday morning. The owner says he has insurance on most of the items inside the store, but several personal items were lost or damaged. No word on the cause, but the owner speculates the weather may be responsible, with power surges or lightning as possible culprits.

CHAPEL HILL — An alleged moonshine operation is busted and one man is arrested in Smith County. KETK reports it happened yesterday morning in the 9300 block of County Road 2301. Authorities say three different homes in the Chapel Hill area were raided and two active stills were found. Officials with the Constable Precinct 5 office say they found several jars of moonshine as well as the items needed for its manufacture. According to authorities, the moonshine found is corn liquor. Law officers arrested Donald S. Clark, the owner of the property on which the material was found, Wednesday afternoon at his home. Smith County authorities say they were tipped off to the moonshine by a young Lindale man.

HENDERSON — A Rusk County constable arrested on weapons and drug charges last week is still a candidate for re-election in the May primary. According to KETK, Precinct 2 Constable Benjamin Thomas Ferrell, who’s served in the office since 2004, was indicted earlier this month. Legally, Ferrell’s name will be left on the ballot because of the deadline to withdraw was March 12, and his arrest was days later.

LUFKIN — A suspected drunk driver reportedly ran his Cadillac Escalade sports utility vehicle into the back of a Lufkin school bus Monday morning. The bus driver and eight children on the bus were not injured, according to a school official. According to KETK, the bus was stopped in the 800 block of Abney Avenue when the SUV driven by Richard Flores, 25, failed to stop and crashed into the back of the bus. Flores has been charged with driving while intoxicated, failure to maintain financial responsibility, driving without a license and failure to stop for a school bus.

GREGG COUNTY — The trial for a former 911 supervisor accused of killing his police officer wife two years ago was moved on Monday to May 21, online records show. Harry Goodan, 41, was arrested in December 2010 when he summoned police to the Tryon Road apartment he shared with his wife, Jamie Ellyn Goodan, and son, Nicholas, now 9.

According to KETK, a police report of the incident said Goodan told officers he had shot his wife, a Longview police officer since 1998. The report, partially released under an open records request, says the couple had been fighting and that the husband struck his wife to the ground. It also says he didn’t recall shooting her. Goodan faces up to life in prison on the murder charge.

ALTO (AP) – The mayor of an embattled East Texas town has quit with just a few words. Monty Collins says he went to the city secretary in Alto, wrote a note that said, “I quit on this date,” and left. He tells the Jacksonville Daily Progress that his departure is effective immediately. Alto, a town of about 1,200 people, laid off all five police officers last year during a budget crunch over Collins’ objections. The city council voted to reinstate its police department months later. City council members have accused Collins of talking to reporters without their permission and ignoring other requests. Collins says he’s leaving to avoid a fight and calls his move a separation, not a divorce.

LUFKIN (AP) – A former co-worker of an East Texas dialysis nurse on trial for killing five patients is backing up a defense theory that syringes were used to measure bleach for cleaning. Prosecutors say Kimberly Saenz killed five patients in Lufkin by injecting bleach into their dialysis lines. Saenz’s attorney, Ryan Deaton, says his client was spotted measuring bleach into a syringe because she wanted to put the right amount into cleaning water.

The Lufkin Daily News reports that defense witness Nick Luker said Tuesday that he saw workers at the DaVita Dialysis clinic use both cups and syringes for bleach. Other DaVita employees who testified for the prosecution said they never used syringes that way. Saenz could get the death penalty if convicted. Her trial entered its 13th day Wednesday.