KTBB News, Weather, Talk

SULPHUR SPRINGS — A train/truck accident in Hopkins County has left one person dead. Killed was truck’s driver, Martin Ruiz-Herrera, 33, of Point. The accident happened around 7:45 Wednesday night on County Road 4721 and the I-30 Service Road in Sulphur Springs. The accident is being investigated by the Department of Public Safety.

TYLER — A Tyler man has died from his injuries following a two vehicle accident about four miles north of Tyler. Killed was Anthony Todd Wilkerson, 34. His motorcycle hit a pickup hauling a trailer. The Department of Public Safety reports the truck was making a U-turn when the accident occurred. The truck’s driver was identified as Todd Ryan of Whitney. The accident happened around 7:00 Wednesday night on U.S. Highway 271 just south of Interstate Highway 20.

TYLER — If you’ve taken a trip through Tyler recently, you’ve probably noticed many street lights aren’t working properly. Now we know why. The city’s traffic engineer, Peter Eng, tells KETK the city is conducting a software upgrade, which means temporary changes to intersections. Eng says crews are working on 150 signal lights around town, and so far, only half have been updated. According to Eng, “If you do see an intersection that’s going on red flash, please treat it as a 4-way stop and use extreme caution and make sure to yield to others who are already there.” Eng says the flashing red lights are only temporary, and lights should be back to normal very soon.

LONGVIEW — A Diana man has been found guilty of driving while intoxicated, his fifth offense. Robert Jearl Wyatt, 46, admitted to four prior convictions of driving while intoxicated. Wyatt faces 25 years to life in prison. Wyatt’s bond was set at $100,000. Wyatt was in the Gregg County Jail awaiting sentencing.

TYLER — Members of the Tyler Fire Department Soccer Team recently participated in the 2012 Texas Firefighter Games in Lewisville, Texas, on July 16th and 17th. After taking first place the past two years in Division 5, Tyler was moved up to Division 4 and won their third straight gold medal. Competing with over 30 teams from across the State, Tyler went undefeated and won in overtime against Plano in the Championship game. Team Tyler outscored their opponents in the tournament 23 – 4. In order to advance to the championship, Tyler defeated teams from San Angelo, San Marcos, Plano, Fort Worth, and Houston. Tyler was the only team to go undefeated in the tournament this year.

The Tyler Fire Department Soccer Team was first organized in 2008. Since that time,they have participated in four State competitions and have a record of 18 wins and only 4 losses. Members of this year’s team include: Brian Phillips, B.J. Arnold, Greg Crenshaw, Steve Wieczor, Logan Luttrell, Jay McClung, Shawn Wilson, Jason Beasley, Terence Thedford, Eric Rozell, Bruce Hill, Mason Edney, Luke Terry, Chris
Mahler, Matt Hazel, and Coach Tony Gumber.

WASKOM — A physicians assistant in Harrison County is under arrest for allegedly sexually assaulting three women. The victims tell investigators that Christopher Magill, 25, asked personal question unrelated to the examinations and exposed himself when they were alone in the exam room. One woman also said he touched her breasts inappropriately during an exam for an unrelated illness. McGill is now free on an $8,500 bond after being charged with indecent exposure and assault.

JACKSON, MISS. (AP) — Egg producer Cal-Maine Foods says it will buy two Texas plants from Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. Terms were not disclosed. The sale is expected to close in August.

Mississippi-based Cal-Maine says it’s the largest producer and distributor of shell eggs in the United States, doing business in 29 states. Cal-Maine said the two egg plants near Pilgrims’s Pride headquarters in Pittsburg, Texas, will add to Cal-Maine’s Texas business. The plants can hold 1.4 million hens.

Egg production for grocers and food service users has been a sideline for Pilgrim’s Pride, the second-largest U.S. chicken producer behind Tyson Foods. Brazil’s JBS SA owns 75% of Pilgrim’s Pride.

LONGVIEW — The owner of Longview’s famous Johnny Cace’s Seafood & Steakhouse, Gerard Cace, has died of an apparent heart attack. According to KETK, restaurant employees say Cace suffered a heart attack around 2:30 Wednesday while on a fishing trip in Alexandria, Louisiana. Cace was 59.

TYLER — A 21-year-old Tyler man, already charged in a recent robbery, has now been charged with aggravated assault in a separate incident. Elliott Bernard West Jr. was jailed on a charge of aggravated robbery in connection with an incident Sunday in which a an 82-year-old woman was robbed of the cash in her purse at the Tyler Public Library. The new charge involves a Saturday incident in the parking lot of a medical office on Hospital Drive.

On Saturday evening, West allegedly approached another man sitting in a vehicle, produced a handgun, and demanded the vehicle. The victim walked away, leaving the keys in the car. The suspect did not take the car but fled the area on foot toward Tyler Junior College. Officers from TJC located and stopped a man matching the suspect’s description and identified that person as West. According to police, further investigation later revealed West to be the suspect in both incidents. West remains in the Smith County Jail with a $750,000 bond issued by Judge Jack Skeen.

CANTON — Authorities in Van Zandt County say they arrested three suspects Tuesday in a theft that had just occurred. Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office Investigators, along with the Canton Police Department, Department of Public Safety and the Constable of Precinct #4, responded to Highway 64 in the Myrtle Springs Community. The dispatcher told them a car with two males and a female had just left the property with items after being confronted by a witness. Responding deputies observed a car matching the description and made contact with the suspects, identified as David Alan Campbell, Mary Toland, and Shawn Nunez, all of Grand Saline. Officials say the property taken was recovered and returned to the owner.

The suspects were taken to the Van Zandt County Justice Center pending arraignment on theft charges. Toland was arrested in December of 2011 for theft of precious metals. Campbell was arrested on theft charges last September and October. Additional charges may be pending after further investigation.

HENDERSON — The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help identifying two suspects in a weekend burglary. Two people Saturday night took several power tools from a construction site on County Road 297, according to a department news release. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report the pair took a generator, floor sander, power saw, and circular saw, among other items. Officials are asking anyone with information about the incident to call the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office at 903-657-3581 or Rusk County Crime Stoppers at 903-655-8477.

MARSHALL — A 16-year-old Harrison County girl has been missing since July 12th. According to KETK and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Kimberly Burns was reported missing by her mother, Tewana Morris. Morris says her daughter was last seen at their house around 5:00 Thursday morning. She says she believes her daughter may have called someone to meet her and take her to an unknown location. The missing teen may be in the Longview area, where she has several friends.

Kimberly Burns is black, and is approximately 5’3” tall. She weighs about 165 lbs, and has brown eyes and black hair. If you have any information about Burns’ whereabouts, you are urged to contact the Harrison County Sheriff’s department, at 903-923-4000.

HENDERSON — Authorities are investigating a rash of mail thefts throughout much of rural Rusk County. According to KETK, the sheriff’s office is asking people across the county to use caution when sending out mail. Deputies have arrested two thieves so far, but the thefts have not stopped. Rusk County Sgt. Viki Penny says the bandits are watching for raised red flags on mailboxes, then taking what’s inside. The thefts have happened randomly countywide.
When sending payments by mail, authorities recommend you contact the recipient to ensure payments were received or take mail directly to the post office. The postal service has been notified, and as the investigation continues, the citizens of Rusk County are urged to use caution with outgoing mail.

TYLER — Two Kilgore residents have been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in East Texas. David Christopher Wheeler, 30,(pictured) pleaded guilty on March 7 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison Tuesday. Raelene Dawn Ferguson, 27, pleaded guilty on March 6, to the same charges and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison. Both appeared in Tyler federal court, appearing before U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis.

According to information presented in court, on February 16, 2011, Wheeler and Ferguson were involved in a conspiracy responsible for distributing methamphetamine in Gregg County. Wheeler admitted to being responsible for the distribution of 50 grams of methamphetamine while Ferguson admitted to being responsible for the distribution of 40 grams of methamphetamine. They were named in a federal indictment returned by a grand jury last November. Another co-defendant, Matthew Dean Willis, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison on June 12 while three additional co-defendants are awaiting sentencing.

TYLER — Tyler police are looking for several men responsible for an early morning robbery. It happened around 4:00 yesterday morning on Plauxy Drive. The victim told officers she heard a knock at the door and a woman’s voice asking for help. The resident opened the door and three armed men forced their way into the apartment. The woman was put in the bathroom while the suspects stole electronics. She was not injured but did leave the location to contact police.

The victim described the suspects as black males 25-30 years of age. First suspect was wearing a white “wife beater” shirt and black shorts with a baby blue bandana over his face. Second suspect was wearing a white shirt, black shorts and an orange bandana over his face. The suspect was also wearing orange tennis shoes with white laces. The victim was unable to give a description of the third suspect’s clothing.

TYLER — The trial of Carmel Foster is now scheduled to begin July 30th. It had been scheduled for this week, but because of another case before it, State District Judge Kerry Russell rescheduled the Foster case for the end of the month. Foster is accused of injecting an unknown substance into a woman’s breast during an illegal breast augmentation, after which the victim was hospitalized. She is charged with practicing medicine without a license. Foster owns the Queen Divas salon in Tyler, where the procedures allegedly were performed. She faces up to 10 years in prison as well as a $10,000 fine if she is convicted.

TYLER — The Volunteer Tyler program has announced that city volunteers have donated 4,989 hours back to their community. “Our goal for the program was to reach 5,000 volunteer hours by the end of the fiscal year,” said Breanna Hoard, volunteer coordinator. “We are on track to far surpass this benchmark and hit 6,000 hours this year.”

The program currently has 60 active adult volunteers in seven different City departments and has used 37 youth volunteers at the Tyler Public Library. “We are working to develop, strengthen and expand the Volunteer Tyler Program throughout the City of Tyler, and this is a sure sign that we’re on our way,” said Hoard.

Volunteer Tyler is currently seeking citizens to fill 30 vacant volunteer positions throughout City Hall, Parks and Recreation, Public Library, Police Department, Municipal Court, Vehicle Services, Tyler Pounds Airport, Traffic Engineering and the Planning Department. To find out more about these opportunities go to http://www.volunteertyler.com or contact Volunteer Tyler at [email protected] or call 903-531-1100.

TYLER – Tyler ISD trustees intend to name Gary Wayne Mooring interim superintendent upon the expected resignation of current Superintendent Dr. Randy Reid. He was recently named the lone finalist for Keller ISD superintendent. TISD anticipates that Reid’s appointment in Keller will be finalized Thursday, July 26. Mooring will not be instated as interim superintendent until that time.

Mooring will return to Tyler ISD, having previously served as deputy superintendent and interim superintendent. He was named deputy superintendent in August 2006 and served as interim superintendent following Dr. David Simmons’ resignation in December 2006. He has also served Tyler ISD in various other roles. “Having previously served in multiple positions for Tyler ISD, Mr. Mooring is familiar with our district, our staff, and our community,” Michelle Carr, Tyler ISD Board of Trustees President, said. “We are confident that he will step in and lead the district on a path of continued positive growth.”

Mooring is currently the director of dual credit programs at Tyler Junior College, from which he will take a leave of absence to serve as interim superintendent. He began his career in education 30 years ago, and has served as superintendent of two school districts: Bishop Consolidated Independent School District and Hutto Independent School District.

TYLER — A man suspected in two recent incidents, including the robbery of an elderly woman, is in custody. Arrested around 11:30 Tuesday morning was Elliott Bernard West Jr., 21. He is charged with aggravated robbery in connection with a robbery at the Tyler Public Library. Around 12:00 noon on Sunday, West allegedly approached the victim, an 82-year-old woman, in the library parking lot. Police say he produced a handgun and demanded to be taken to an unknown location. The victim refused, but was robbed of the cash in her purse.

West allegedly fled the area on foot, reportedly running to Marvin United Methodist Church. Police say he was confronted there by an off-duty Tyler Police Officer working in a security role for the church. West reportedly told the officer he was interested in becoming a member of the church but needed to go to the bathroom first. Investigators say they later learned that West hid the weapon used in the robbery in a church bathroom. The weapon used was determined to be a pellet gun that resembles a real handgun.

On Saturday, July 14th, around 6:30pm, an aggravated assault occurred in the parking lot of a medical office on Hospital Drive. A man approached another man sitting in a vehicle, produced a handgun, and demanded the vehicle. The victim walked away, leaving the keys in the car. The suspect did not take the car but fled the area on foot toward Tyler Junior College. Officers from TJC located and stopped a man matching the suspect’s description and identified that person as West. According to police, further investigation later revealed West to be the suspect in both incidents. An arrest warrant is pending for the aggravated assault charge. West is currently in the Smith County Jail with a $750,000 bond issued by Judge Jack Skeen.

CROCKETT — More information has come out about a fatal wreck Monday near Crockett. According to KETK and the Houston County Courier, two of the victims involved were Farrell and Mildred Hooks. Farrell was flown to ETMC-Tyler with a head injury. Family members say he is talking and lucid. Mildred suffered only cuts and bruises. The child flown to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas has been identified as a three-year-old girl. Her name has not been released.

A man identified as Teddy Chance of Milam was killed and eight others injured in the four-vehicle wreck shortly before 11:00 a.m. Monday, one mile east of Crockett on Highway 7. Those injured included a construction flagger for Pinton Construction, according to TXDOT. Two were flown via helicopter to Tyler, one to Dallas, and five others to ETMC – Crockett. The wreck happened when three passenger vehicles that were stopped at a construction zone were run over by an 18-wheeler carrying lumber. The lumber truck did not brake; investigators are working to find out why.

TYLER — “Well, they’re at it again,” is the word from the Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas. The BBB has received reports of an e-mail scam, this time from someone claiming to be Sprint, asking for credit or debit card card numbers for an immediate payment. BBB officials say phishing scams are generally associated with e-mail messages, hijacking the name and logo of familiar companies to trick victims into divulging personal information by masquerading as a trusted source. While the phone number on the email is legitimate, the “pay now” button does not take you back to the Sprint website.
BBB offers consumers the following tips to protect against these types of scams:
* Be wary of e-mails, text messages or phone calls that request personal information.
* Don’t give your personal information to anyone who contacts you by phone, email or text. Give those details only when you initiate the contact.
* If you receive a phishing email, forward it to [email protected] and to ic3.gov. If you think the email might be legitimate, call back using the business’ published number.
If you or someone you know is a victim of a phishing or vishing scam, you’re urged to call the BBB Hotline: 903-581-8373.

AUSTIN — Democrat Paul Sadler of Henderson, favored to win the U.S. Senate primary runoff, says don’t count him out in November. Sadler told supporters in Austin if the party unites behind him, he can win. He said, “We are a diverse, great state of powerful, strong people and a hearty and rich land, and we can win this race for the United States Senate.” But the former state representative is little known outside East Texas, and he’s raised little money. His runoff opponent, Grady Yarbrough of San Antonio, is a native of Smith County.

NACOGDOCHES — A man led Nacogdoches Police on a car chase, eventually hitting another car before running away on foot. It happened Tuesday evening just before midnight. According to Nacogdoches Police reports, a police officer was leaving the scene of a vehicle burglary on the 200 block of North Stallings Drive, when the officer spotted a truck that matched the description of the one involved in the burglary. KETK reports, the officer attempted to stop the vehicle, a Ford pick-up, but the driver refused to pull over.
The man led police on a short chase down the North East Loop 224, and onto the 4000 block of Jade Street, where the driver abandoned the truck and ran away on foot. After he left the vehicle, the truck rolled into a parked car, causing damage. The truck was found to have been stolen from the Houston area. The thief managed to get away. If found, he could face evading arrest charges in addition to charges for the theft of the vehicle. Police are investigating the crime.

LONGVIEW — Fire has damaged some units of Longview’s Hidden Hills Apartment complex on Gilmer Road. The Tuesday morning fire was reportd shortly after 10:00. According to KETK, callers reported heavy smoke coming from the building. Crews were able to contain the fire quickly. The cause of the fire is unknown. No injuries were reported.

LONGVIEW – Funeral services are pending for a former Longview city councilwoman who died over the weekend. Sidney Bell Willis died Sunday at the age of 76. She served as District 3 city councilwoman from 2002 until 2011. After retiring after 43 years as a Longview school teacher, she ran for public office. Willis was a member of the NAACP, and a recipient of the city’s Race Relations Committee Unity Award. She was a member of Top Ladies of Distinction and the first Top Teens Advisor.

GILMER — A Longview police officer has been released on bond from the Upshur County Jail, after being charged with assault family violence during the weekend. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Aulderson Levi Franklin, who was commissioned in February as a Longview police officer, was released on $5,000 bond Sunday, according to the Upshur County Jail website.

Upshur County Sheriff’s Lt. Freddie Fitzgerald said deputies were dispatched to Orange Road in Big Sandy about 9:45 p.m. Saturday in reference to a disturbance. Deputies spoke with witnesses as well as Franklin, and determined “family violence” had occurred at the location, Fitzgerald said. The victim, a relative of Franklin’s, had been choked. Franklin was booked into the county jail and charged with assault family violence enhanced, impeding breath. The felony charge carries a sentence of two to 10 years if the suspect is convicted, Fitzgerald said.

MARSHALL – A 52-year-old Marshall man has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking violations in east Texas. Randy Lee Smart pleaded guilty Monday in Marshall to possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne. According to information presented in court, on June 13, 2010, Smart purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a CVS store in Marshall with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. Smart also admitted that the total quantity of pseudoephedrine that he possessed was between 100 and 300 grams. Smart was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 4, 2011. Smart faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

LONGVIEW — A suspect is in custody in a Longview shooting incident. Saturday night shortly after 7:30, officers were dispatched to the 1900 Block of Wagster Street. When they arrived, witnesses stated that a male victim had been shot and was taken by private vehicle to Good Shepherd Medical Center. Officers determined the victim had been shot one time and his injuries were not life-threatening. The suspect, identified as LaDerrick Morgan, 37, of Longview, later came to the Police Station and spoke with detectives. According to statements made to detectives, the two men had an argument, and the victim followed Morgan into his home, where Morgan allegedly shot the victim one time. Morgan was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. The case remains under investigation.

TYLER — A group known as the Smith County Tea Party Special Election Committee forms to support sheriff candidate Chris Green. The group claims Green has been wrongfully attacked during the campaign. Green faces Larry Smith in a July 31 GOP runoff that will decide the county’s next sheriff. Smith’s backers include Grassroots America – We the People. Go to http://www.SmithCountyforGreen.com to learn more about the new group.

CANTON — A man is jailed in Van Zandt County on multiple charges connected to a series of auto thefts. On Friday, Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers put out a call of a suspicious vehicle in the area of Farm Road 47 and Farm Road 2475 North of Wills Point. Shortly thereafter, an officer arrived in the area and was notified that the vehicle had been stolen. The deputy then located the vehicle and initiated his emergency lights. Authorities say the driver then tried to evade, traveling south towards Wills Point. After a short pursuit the driver reportedly bailed out on foot near FM 47 and County Road 3849.

The deputy was able to apprehend the suspect, identified as Jeremy Lee Daniel of Point. Officials say Daniel is a subject of interest in several motor vehicle thefts throughout the county. The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, Grand Saline Police Department, Wills Point Police Department, DPS, Rains County Sheriff’s Office, and several other agencies had all been working together to locate Daniel. He’s currently in the Van Zandt County Justice Center on three counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle and one count of evading arrest, with a combined bond amount of $155,000. Several agencies are currently seeking further charges on Daniel.