KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW — Longview Firefighters stay busy working several structure fires. Around 7:45 Wednesday night, the fire department responded to 2308 Kim Street for a reported structure fire. On arrival fire crews found a resident just inside the front door in a wheel chair that was unable to make over the threshold. Fire crews helped him through the door way. The fire started near the outside eave traveled into the attic of the home. Portions of the home sustained smoke and water damage with a loss of approximately $15,000. The cause of the fire was faulty wiring. No injuries were reported.

Firefighters responded to a second fire around 2:29 Thursday morning at 812 Spring Street. The house was engulfed about 50 percent upon arrival of the first units. No one was home at the time of the fire which originated in the back bedroom area. The cause of the fire which resulted in a loss of about $50,000 is still under investigation. No injuries were reported.

NACOGDOCHES — Two men are arrested after a traffic stops turns up illegal drugs. Travis Anderson, 32, and Tevorius McGee, 30, were booked on a number of charges including possession of controlled substances and marijuana. A Nacogdoches County Constable stopped their vehicle for a seatbelt violation Saturday on Hwy 59. The constable used a drug sniffing dog after he said the two men acted strangely and he noticed the odor of marijuana.

TYLER — A Tyler teen accused of killing Todd Henry, his John Tyler High School teacher, is indicted for murder. Byron Truvia was arrested for the crime March 22nd, on his 18th birthday. The indictment was handed down on April 21. Prior to that time, Truvia had been held for psychiatric evaluation. A motion is still pending regarding his mental competency to proceed in the legal system. He remains in the Smith County Jail on a $1 million bond.

SULPHUR SPRINGS – Bonds now top $1 million on a man charged with capital murder in Hopkins County. Brian Allen Tucker, 43, of Mesquite was arrested in Yantis Monday night. He has reportedly confessed to the slaying of Bobby Riley, 62. He was found dead in the Mahoney Community on Friday. Investigators say he had been dead four days. An autopsy indicated he had been strangled. Tucker was arrested after pawning some items taken from Riley’s home. The items, including guns and musical instruments were found in a Texarkana pawn shop.

Tucker has been charged with capital murder, theft of property and parole violation. Also arrested in the case was Sarilu Mettlen, 40, of Ephrata, Pennsylvania. She has been charged with theft after she confessed to pawning some of the items stolen from Riley’s home. Investigators are trying to determine if she is linked to the murder.

LUFKIN – A man is being held in the Angelina County Jail after being accused of raping his teenage daughter. His bonds total $100,000. The incident is said to have happened in January, 2004. The man’s name was not released in a effort to protect the victim’s identity.

The arrest affidavit says the first week of January 2004, around 4:00am, the father went into his daughter’s room and forced her to have sex with him. A couple of hours later, he allegedly came back into her bedroom, carried her into the living room and raped her again.

LONGVIEW – We had a report earlier this week about cocaine found in the underwear of a prisoner at the Gregg County Jail. Well, it has happened again. It happened Tuesday morning when Charles Desmond King, 38, of Longview, was booked into the jail.

After being stopped for running a red light, officers discovered he didn’t have a valid driver’s license. Searching his vehicle, officers found two white pills believed to be Vicodin, $700 cash and a small amount of marijuana. When King was booked into the jail officers found 12.4 grams of crack cocaine in King’s underwear. He has been charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of marijuana, possession of a dangerous drug and no drivers license.

AUSTIN — Governor Rick Perry has reappointed Kirk Aquilla Calhoun of Tyler and David Woolweaver of Harlingen to the State Health Services Council for terms to expire February 1, 2017. The council makes recommendations to the Department of State Health Services regarding the management, operation, policies and rules for public health, mental health and substance abuse.

Calhoun is president of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. He is a member of the National Public Health and Hospital Institute, National Association of Public Hospitals Executive Committee, Texas Emerging Technology Advisory Committee, and American and Texas Medical associations. He is a member of the American College of Physicians, American College of Physician Executives and Smith County Medical Society, and a board member of the Tyler Economic Development Council. He is also a past board member of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, East Texas Leadership Council, and Vision 2010 Task Force. Calhoun received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a medical degree from the University of Kansas.

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University dedicated its Materials Joining Engineering Building Thursday morning with a spectacular shower of arcs and sparks during a special torch-cutting ceremony to honor longtime faculty member Bill Kielhorn.

Kielhorn, who has never missed a class during his 45 years of teaching at the university, was recently 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 April 28.

Materials joining engineering professor Dr. Yoni Adonyi presented a special, torch-cutting event to honor Kielhorn and to celebrate $1.15 million in renovations to the building that will take place this summer.

TYLER — As a part of National Police Week, the nation will pay tribute to peace officers from across the country who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. On Monday, May 9, at noon, the Smith County memorial service will be held on Tyler’s downtown square. Honor guards from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Smith County Sheriff’s Office, and Tyler Police Department will take part in the ceremony to honor area law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for 2010-2011.

In 2010 (158 officers) and to date 2011 (65 officers), 223 peace officers joined the ranks of these officers nationwide. Once again, Texas led the country with the death of 17 peace officers in 2010 and 6 officers in 2011, including Smith County Deputy Robert Britton Jr. on March 28. In 2010, the average age was 40 and average tour of duty was 11 years, 6 months. The event will include the posting of the colors, a wreath ceremony, Taps, a 21-gun salute, a riderless horse, and a fly-over by a Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter. All families of fallen officers and the public are invited to attend this ceremony.

TYLER — The City of Tyler hosted a ceremony Wednesday at 1407 S. Lyons to unveil a marker in the Reflections Program honoring Katie A. Stewart. The dedication coincides with National Preservation Month, during which thousands of individuals across the country will be “Celebrating America’s Treasures” as part of a month-long celebration sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

In accordance with the Tyler 21 North End Action Plan, in 2009 the City of Tyler launched a three-year program to promote Tyler Historic Landmarks and the installation of historic markers and plaques at North End locations important to City history, including the history of the African-American community. The Reflections Program encourages citizens or interested organizations to submit nominations for the designation in the North End as Tyler Historic Landmarks, Tyler Historic Subject Markers or Half Mile of History stones.

According to materials from the city, “Katie A. Stewart, the only child of the Reverend Dr. Albert Thomas and Garthelia Willeta Harris Stewart, learned from her parents the value of an education and the everlasting impact of one’s contribution to the community. Her life was an example of true dedication and commitment to the teaching and training of children, youth and young adults, both in the educational systems and in organized church work. All through her life she gave credit to her parents for this example. It is for this strategic modeling that Stewart Middle School in the Tyler Independent School District bears her father’s name.

“Katie A. Stewart’s education opened the doors of opportunity for her to teach and train children at T.J. Austin Elementary School and Emmett Scott High School. Her church and community affiliations also received the benefit of her gifts and talents. These include the East Texas Chapter of the Links, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., the Utopia Civic and Art Club, and her church home, True Vine Baptist Church.”

RUSK — The Cherokee County Grand Jury has returned a no-bill regarding allegations that County Commissioner Katherine Pinotti broke the law. That’s according to a news release from Pinotti’s attorney, Cynthia Kent. Pinotti was under investigation for authorizing repairs to Patterson Lane, formerly identified in county maps and records as County Road 3427. Pinotti says she’s grateful that the grand jury took time to consider all the evidence. She adds, “The taxpayers and residents on Patterson Lane had urged me to make needed repairs to their road which had fallen into such disrepair as to be dangerous for the families and children living in that community.”

According to prior reports, many said Patterson Lane was actually a private road, not a county road. But according to Pinotti, if the road had been labeled correctly, there wouldn’t have been a problem. Pinotti says it’s one of many Cherokee County roads improperly labeled on official county maps. At a recent meeting, commissioners pushed off a vote to make changes to the maps. One suggested seeking advice from counsel before making such a move.

CUSHING — Authorities suspect possible arson after a series of house fires in East Texas. There are reportedly similarities among three house fires within a two-mile radius in the Cushing-Looneyville area. The Nacogdoches County sheriff says everything is too closely related with the fires.

SULPHUR SPRINGS – A suspect is in custody in connection with a Hopkins County murder. Charged with capital murder is Brian Allen Tucker, 44, of Mesquite. He is accused of the Friday slaying of Bobby Riley, 62. He was found dead in the Mahoney Community. An autopsy indicated he had been strangled. Tucker was arrested in Yantis late Monday night after pawning some items taken from Riley’s home. The items, including guns and musical instruments were found in a Texarkana pawn shop.

AUSTIN (AP) — Dog owners could face life in prison if their dog kills an infant or an elderly person. If the attack results in serious injury, the possibly penalty is third degree felony. In a bill passed Tuesday, owners of a dog that kills a child under the age of 18 or an adult older than 65 can be charged with a first degree felony. The maximum sentence for a first degree felony is life in prison. The bill was authored by state Representative Chuck Hopson, a Jacksonville Republican. The House approved the bill on a 123-7 vote. Following a procedural vote, the measure will go to the Senate for consideration.

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University has named Dr. Larry J. Frazier as its new dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, effective July 1. Frazier is the current associate provost and dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and a professor of religion and philosophy at Chowan University in Murfreesboro, N.C.

“Dr. Frazier was chosen following a national search and comes heartily recommended,” said LETU President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford. “He is a native of East Texas and a proven leader who brings a passion for graduating students who will integrate their Christian faith into their professional careers.”

Frazier was his class salutatorian when he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from East Texas Baptist University, double majoring in Christian Ministry and Behavioral Sciences in 1990. He earned a Master of Arts in Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1994 and a Ph.D. in religion from Baylor University in 2002. At Baylor, his work focused mainly on the history of Christianity and his dissertation applied a sociological methodology in examining the responses and adjustments of Baptist churches in East Texas during the oil boom of the 1930s.

“I am honored to join Dr. Lunsford, Dr. Coyle, and the rest of the LETU faculty and staff,” Frazier said. “During my brief time on campus I got a sense of the spirit and mission of this special place, and I look forward to being a part of what God has in store for the future of LETU.”