KTBB News, Weather, Talk

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

TYLER – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue base and pavement repairs on East Loop 323 between the Loop 323 Extension and Commerce Street.
Meanwhile, construction crews have resumed paving work on Farm Road 14 between North Loop 323 in Tyler and Interstate Highway 20. Motorists should expect long delays in this area.
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. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates

SMITH COUNTY – A two vehicle accident in Smith County has killed two persons. The Department of Public Safety says the accident happened shortly before 4:45 Saturday afternoon on Interstate Highway 20, near U.S. Highway 271, about 8 miles north of Tyler. Dead at the scene was a Dallas couple, Eddie Eugene Allison, 47, and Kamesha Shardae Allison. The Department of Public Safety reports the accident occurred when the couple’s motorcycle hit the rear of a tractor-trailer rig. The truck had stopped because of another accident on the interstate.

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department says a missing snake has been found. They had been looking for a 16 foot long Burmese Python. It is similar to the one seen in the picture. The snake escaped from a home on Lynwood Lane. The snake was described as tan with brown spots and missing one eye. It was found in the attic of it’s home.

TYLER — Three seniors from John Tyler High School recently took first, second and third place honors at the Region 7 Texas Citizen Bee competition held in Kilgore. Under the direction of teacher Patty Tucker, DaVonte Wilson, 17, took first place, Jasinto Martinez, 17, placed second and Raul Olmos, 17, placed third in the competition. DaVonte will join first place winners from the other 19 regions across the state to compete in the State Citizen Bee Competition in Austin on Saturday, April 26. Continue reading Three John Tyler Students Competition Winners

MINEOLA — An East Texas man with alleged ties to the Mexican drug cartel is in the Wood County Jail after he was arrested during a drug interdiction stop. According to KETK, at approximately 9:00 p.m. Thursday, Wood County Sheriff’s Office investigators encountered and arrested Eric McQuilliams, 25, of Mineola on Highway 80 in Mineola. According to authorities, McQuilliams claimed to have ties with the cartel, and authorities say he admittedly is one of the largest dealers in the area. Continue reading East Texan with Alleged Ties to Mexican Cartel Arrested

TYLER — The 2014 Smith County Wide Clean Up event will be wrapping up today. Smith County citizens can bring trash and bulky items to the Greenwood Farms Landfill for free through midday Saturday. The county’s Environmental Crimes Unit, Sheriff’s Office, Precinct Constables, and Commissioners Court are working together to host the event, which kicked off March 31. Continue reading Smith County Wide Clean Up Nearly Over

TYLER — Tyler will once again be a host site for the worldwide Leadercast 2014 conference taking place on Friday, May 9. The Tyler venue will be the Green Acres Crosswalk Conference Center. The one day event is broadcast live from Atlanta, Georgia. This year’s theme, “Beyond You,” challenges leaders to focus outward rather than inward, according to press materials. “Leadercast is a top-quality learning opportunity and will benefit all who want to improve themselves and have a positive impact on others,” said Carroll Roge, president of Leadership Tyler. Continue reading Tickets on Sale Now for Leadercast 2014

LUFKIN (AP) – The Lufkin area’s “Panty Burglar” may have struck again. A burglary this week in Lufkin where, the only missing items are women’s or girl’s underwear, is at least the 17th such break-in over the past two years. The latest case believed to have occurred Tuesday is the first since December. Police spokesman Sgt. David Casper tells The Lufkin Daily News the owners of a home reported to police on Wednesday that all of the woman’s panties had been taken, including those waiting to be laundered. Both city police and Angelina County sheriff’s deputies have been at the home to check on similarities with the previous burglaries both in the city and the county. Casper says authorities still don’t know much more than that the underwear is gone.

GLADEWATER — A 45-year-old Gladewater man has been jailed after Gladewater police found 100 grams of methamphetamine. KETK reports that Wednesday morning, officers with the Gladewater Police Department began a project targeting specific locations allegedly involved in the trafficking of illegal narcotics. Police Chief Rob Vine said the specific locations were selected due to information being brought to the police department by citizens indicating these locations were in some way involved with the use or sale of drugs in the city. Officers from the Gladewater Police Department Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations Division, Administration, Litter Abatement, the Lake Warden, the School Resource Officer, the city’s Warrant Officer and two investigators from the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office were all involved in the project. Continue reading Man Jailed after Police Find 100 Grams of Meth

HENDERSON COUNTY — An East Texan accused of beating his wife to death in 2011 is back behind bars. Kelly Gage was booked in the the Henderson County Jail Thursday on charges of assault and family violence. According to KETK, Gage was accused of beating his wife, Patti, to death in a drunken rage on Thanksgiving Day. He was released after prosecutors couldn’t find enough evidence to convict him. Henderson County Jail staffers could not confirm if Thursday’s arrest is connected to to the 2011 incident. They did say Gage is set to be transferred to the Smith County Jail in the coming days.

BEN WHEELER — Van Zandt County authorities say an armed man was killed by a homeowner Wednesday night. According to a county press release, during the late night hours, the Sheriff’s Office and Precinct 4 Constable Pat Jordan responded to a shooting near Ben Wheeler. Upon arrival, sheriff’s investigators say they determined that around 10:30 p.m. an individual later identified as Michael Todd Brown, 40, of Canton, drove to the home, apparently got out of his vehicle, and began randomly shooting a 9mm handgun and threatening the homeowner. The homeowner advised deputies that Brown had been at the home earlier and had been instructed to leave the property and not return. Investigators believe Brown returned to the home intending to assault the homeowner. Continue reading Authorities: Homeowner Kills Armed Individual

WINONA — A home in Smith County burned to the ground early Thursday morning. At approximately 7:40 a.m. the Winona Volunteer Fire Department received a call concerning a mobile home engulfed in flames in the 16,000 block of County Road 3215 near Winona. According to KETK, when officials arrived on scene, the home was ablaze and was almost completely gone. The house was vacant, and no injuries were reported from the fire. The homeowner was staying at a family member’s house nearby. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

LONGVIEW — A 22-year-old Longview man has been arrested on charges of child sexual assault. KETK reports that according to Gregg County Jail records, J’Aaron Deevon Harvey was jailed Wednesday after a warrant was issued by Gregg County officials on April 1. According to the Longview Police Department, the pastor of Harvey’s church told authorities Harvey had sexually assaulted a child who is a church member. Harvey was awaiting arraignment at last report, but a bond of $150,000 was recommended.

QUITMAN — A Wood County jury has handed an East Texas man two life sentences in prison for aggravated sexual assault of a child. KETK reports William Jason “Pooh” Pugh was sentenced Wednesday. Jury selection began on April 7. The victim told the jury what were termed horrific details about “Uncle Bill” sexually assaulting her. As the trial unfolded, two other victims described sexual acts committed against them by Pugh. One child detailed four years of abuse, while the other described four different assaults. The jury returned the guilty verdicts in less than an hour. Continue reading Man Gets Two Life Sentences for Sexually Assaulting Children

WASHINGTON (AP/Staff) – Eleven Senate Democrats are urging President Barack Obama to approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline by the end of May. The senators say the five-year review of the Canada-to-Texas pipeline has been “exhaustive” and taken longer than reasonably justified. The letter sent Thursday says approval is needed to ensure the pipeline doesn’t miss another construction season. But politics is likely a larger factor. Six of the Democrats who signed the letter face challenges this year. They are Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Mark Begich of Alaska, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, John Walsh of Montana, Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Mark Warner of Virginia. Democratic efforts to keep control of the Senate could hinge on those races. The southern leg of the pipeline began pumping oil through East Texas and elsewhere in January.

TYLER – Tyler ISD broke ground Thursday on the new Boulter Middle School campus. The new school, which will be built on the grounds of the current campus, will feature nearly 150,000 square feet of state-of-the art learning space and is scheduled to be complete in the fall of 2015, according to officials. The project is part of the recently-passed $160.5 million TISD bond issue. Two other middle schools, a new Moore facility and a new campus in the Three Lakes area, are also included in the bond package.

TYLER — Ground was formally broken Wednesday on Tyler Junior College’s newest residence hall, at 1327 S. Baxter Ave. Slated to open in Fall 2015, the new residence hall will provide housing for 248 students, seven resident advisors, and a hall director, according to a TJC news release. Officials say the four-story, 68,000-square-foot structure will provide generous common spaces on the ground floor, including a campus plaza, lobby seating, game lounge, computer lab, dining area with a Chick-fil-A restaurant, and resident laundry facilities. The upper floors will be organized into two wings, or neighborhoods, each with its own small study nook and generous daylight exposure in common corridors, according to the release. Continue reading TJC Breaks Ground on New Residence Hall

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday approved the acquisition of the traffic control equipment Iteris in order to complete the Front Street Adaptive Control System (ACS). ACS is state of the art traffic control equipment and software that allows for the adjustment of signal timing in real time given traffic conditions, according to a city news release. Officials say Tyler was among the first cities nationwide to deploy this traffic mitigation tool. Continue reading Council Approves Traffic Control Equipment

KILGORE — Two East Texas men are behind bars after police say they were cutting up stolen oilfield pipes in a wooded area along Fritz Swanson Road. According to police, on Sunday, while on patrol, Kilgore Police Officer Josh Sims found two men on an oil lease road off of Fritz Swanson Road cutting up numerous oil field pipes in an area at the end of the lease road. According to KETK, police say initial investigation revealed the pipe was stolen from a local business. The two suspects are identified as John Phillip Elder (pictured), 45, and Jason Dean Henson, 44, both of Kilgore. The men were arrested for theft. Authorities also allege Henson was found in possession of a pistol; he was charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon.

GILMER — The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two 14-year-old males in connection with the shooting death of a local teenager after the teen’s body was found in a car. KETK reports officials responded to a suspicious car call Sunday evening just before 9:45 in Diana. When deputies arrived they found Jacob Johnson (pictured), 17, dead from gunshot wounds. According to preliminary autopsy reports, Johnson died from two gunshot wounds to the head. Debbie Cobb, secretary to the superintendent of the New Diana Independent School District, says Johnson had withdrawn from school in October 2013. Authorities say they are investigating the incident as a homicide and more arrests are possible.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday received a report from the Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health) on the operation of the Center for Healthy Living located at 2815 Frankston Highway. The Center for Healthy Living was officially opened on Oct. 16, 2013 and provides:

* diabetic management
* cooking classes
* tobacco cessation programs
* nutrition counseling
* access to WIC
* immunization services
Continue reading Tyler’s Center for Healthy Living Exceeds Expectations

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday adopted the Tyler 1st five year update, designed to reflect the needs and aspirations of Tyler residents. “Though designed as a 20-year plan, it should be periodically reevaluated to ensure that the community’s vision and goals are still being met and that the strategies and action items for achieving the goals are still valid,” said Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass. “The plan must be a flexible document that can change according to the changing needs of the community.” Continue reading Council Adopts Tyler 1st Update

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday authorized a construction contract for the Lake Tyler Dam Repair project with Gracon Construction, Inc. In January, 2013, Wisenbaker Fix & Associates and its geotechnical subconsultants began the engineering and design for the repair of issues discovered at the dam. The plans were forwarded to the TCEQ Dam Safety Section for review in September, 2013. The TCEQ provided comments and requested additional modeling that had to be addressed before the project could proceed into construction. Revised plans were submitted on Dec. 20, 2013, and written authorization to bid and award the repair project was received on March 28, 2014, according to a city news release. Continue reading Bid Awarded for Lake Tyler Dam Repair

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday authorized a construction contract with Reynolds & Kay, Limited for the 2014 Asphalt Enhancement Program as well as the 2014 Seal Coat Program. “The pavement in the City of Tyler is one of our largest assets and it is important that we make every effort to maintain it through seal coats and overlays,” said City Engineer Carter Delleney. Continue reading Council Approves Annual Street Repair Programs

TYLER – Tyler ISD Superintendent of Schools Gary Mooring informed District employees Wednesday of his resignation effective June 30. According to a TISD news release, Mooring cited continued health concerns as the reason for his departure from the District. “On behalf of the Tyler ISD Board of Trustees we are saddened to be losing such a wonderful and dedicated leader who has been a beacon of support for the District,” said Tyler ISD Board of Trustees President Rev. Orenthia Mason. “Mr. Mooring has led Tyler ISD upward while demonstrating his commitment to our staff and students. While we hate to see him go, we understand his decision to make his health a priority for the sake of his family and himself.” Continue reading Tyler ISD Superintendent Announces Resignation

ORE CITY – The name of an Upshur County accident victim has been released. Shahzad Sultan, 33, of Ore City, died when his car skidded, left the road and hit a tree. The accident happened around 5:00 Monday afternoon on Farm Road 1649, two miles west of Ore City.

LONGVIEW — It was business as usual Wednesday at Longview’s Ned E. Williams Elementary School. The school cancelled classes Tuesday after a tree fell into a power line in the 1700 block of Monroe Corner. The school and around 200 homes in the area lost power Tuesday morning.

TYLER — Three seniors from Robert E. Lee High School have been invited to attend two of the nation’s military service academies this fall. Jack Oliver, 17, will attend the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis and Abby Halbrook, 18, and Philip White, 18, will attend the United States Military Academy at West Point. Continue reading Three Tyler Seniors Heading to Military Academies

WASHINGTON — Attorney General Eric Holder got into a heated argument with the Republican Congressman from Tyler Tuesday over the still-pending contempt case against him. Listen Now! Holder-Gohmert Exchange – Holder was testifying before the House Judiciary Committee when Rep. Louie Gohmert, began pressing him for documents in a separate investigation. Gohmert brought up an apparent sore spot, referencing the 2012 House vote finding Holder in contempt of Congress. Continue reading Gohmert, Holder Exchange Words about “Fast and Furious”

HOUSTON (AP) — A federal appeals court has rejected a death row inmate’s claims that he’s mentally impaired and ineligible for execution for the slaying of an East Texas woman nearly 18 years ago. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling Tuesday moves Robert Charles Ladd closer to execution for the murder of Vicki Ann Garner, 38, at her Tyler apartment in 1996. Her body, bound at the legs and wrists, had been set on fire and she was beaten with a hammer. A federal judge last year ruled Ladd’s attorneys had failed to prove their claim of mental impairment. The appeals ruling supports that finding. At the time of the slaying, Ladd was on parole after serving 13 years and pleading guilty to three other slayings in Dallas in 1978.