KTBB News, Weather, Talk

HENDERSON — A Smith County man has been killed and two persons injured in a two vehicle accident in Rusk County. The accident happened around 6:30 Tuesday morning on State Highway 64, just east of County Road 421. Dead at the scene was Juan Carlos Guiterrez-Leon, 24, of Tyler. Injured were the drivers of both vehicles, Jennifer Hibbard of Nacogdoches and Andres Blas-Luviano of Tyler. The Department of Public Safety report indicates Hibbard’s car was west bound on Highway 64 when veered into the east bound lane and hit Leon’s pickup head-on. Everyone in the two vehicles was wearing their seat belts.

SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler man is killed following a three-vehicle accident Tuesday evening in northern Smith County. Killed was Russell Chamberlain, 64. The DPS says a pickup and Chamberlain’s car were southbound on Farm Road 14 at County Road 326. The car was waiting to make a left turn when the pickup hit the car, pushing it into the path of a north bound van. The car then collided with the van. Chamberlain was pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was injured. Officials say Chamberlain was wearing a seat belt. They also report that rain was falling and the road was wet at the time of the wreck.

TYLER — Testimony continues in the Mineola Sex Ring trial. Dennis Boyd Pittman, 47, is the fourth of six defendants to go on trial for the crimes in which three siblings were supposedly groomed to perform sexual acts. On Tuesday, an 11-year-old girl, one of the three siblings, took the stand. Testimony continues today. The other two defendants, Patrick Kelly, 43, and Jamie Pittman, 38, who were convicted and sentenced to life in 2008, recently had their sentences reversed in the 14th Court of Appeals in Houston, and will receive new trials. Those trial dates have not been set. Jamie Pittman is not related to Dennis Pittman.

TYLER — A festive celebration on Tyler’s downtown square Wednesday kicked off this year’s United Way campaign, with its $1.7 million goal. That’s how much the campaign raised last year. United Way President Nan Moore says it’s an optimistic goal, but still conservative based on the current state of the local economy. The good news: 30 percent of it has already been raised. The campaign wraps up in February. 24 agencies will divvy up the funds. Moore hopes to keep their funding levels flat; she says coming up short last year mainly affected the United Way budget, not the agencies. Moore is also expressing optimism that the campaign will bring in some new businesses and develop some new partnerships. With that in mind, she says exceeding the goal is not unrealistic.

TYLER — Officials have issued an after-action report from Smith County’s most recent multi-agency No-Refusal DWI campaign, July 2nd through July 4th, 2010. There were 18 total DWI arrests. Nine were made by DPS troopers, seven by Tyler police, and two by Bullard police. There were five total evidentiary search warrants for blood issued. Three were obtained by DPS, and one each by the Tyler and Bullard Police Departments.

AUSTIN (AP) – The chairman of the Texas House Corrections Committee says he thinks the state jail system may have outlived its usefulness. Rep. Jim McReynolds of Lufkin says recidivism rates for state jail inmates are higher than for regular Texas prisons. McReynolds says the state may need to consider modifying the original model. State jails were established by legislators in 1993 for nonviolent drug offenders, thieves and first-time offenders to be housed in separate lockups, with treatment and rehabilitation programs. Senate Criminal Justice Committee Chairman John Whitmire of Houston, who authored the state jail law, said Tuesday that he wants the program to continue and “the system has worked well.”

NACOGDOCHES – Dozens of employers are seeking to fill positions that East Texas job seekers have the opportunity to apply for at Congressman Louie Gohmert’s East Texas Job Fair at Stephen F. Austin State University today. The event is underway and continues till 2:00 p.m. in William R. Johnson Coliseum, 700 E. College Street in Nacogdoches. It’s being held in cooperation with the Deep East Texas Council of Governments, Stephen F. Austin State University, and Workforce Solutions Deep East Texas. The fair follows a similar one held recently in Marshall.

Rep. Gohmert stated, “Our country’s economy and many East Texans have done some struggling. That is why I am joining with some others to host two Job Fairs in East Texas to bring together businesses that need employees and people looking for jobs. My office and partnering organizations are dedicated to making these events as successful as possible, which will require active participation from both employers and job seekers. All types of employers and job seekers with a range of experiences are welcome to attend these free events. East Texas has a diverse job market and strong workforce, and I hope these fairs will help bring the two together to benefit the economic health of East Texas and its citizens.”

AUSTIN (AP) – Health officials are warning against eating fish caught in parts of the Trinity River in Tarrant, Dallas, Ellis, Kaufman, Henderson, Navarro, Freestone and Anderson counties. Wednesday’s advisory is from the Department of State Health Services. The area includes the Clear Fork of the Trinity River from the Benbrook Reservoir Dam, and the West Fork from the Lake Worth Dam, through the main stem of the river downstream to the U.S. Highway 287 bridge on the Freestone-Anderson county line. Testing found some fish had elevated levels of dioxins and polychlorinated byphenyls, or PCBs. Long-term consumption may cause cancer and other health problems. DSHS says elevated levels of PCBs and dioxins in fish do not pose a health risk for people swimming or other water recreation.

TYLER — Smith County Commissioners Court will adopt their new 2011 budget which will include plans to reduce overcrowding at the Smith County Jail. According to KETK, tax payers wonder if adding electronic monitoring ankle bracelets would solve jail overcrowding issues and reduce the cost on tax payers. Judge Joel Baker says he’s in favor of the devices, but that it’s up to the Smith County Sherriff’s Department to buy them. Whether they’re used to track a person’s whereabouts or their alcohol intake, monitoring devices are used nation-wide. In East Texas, GPS ankle bracelets are used as an alternative to incarceration programs to help keep track of people on probation. The bracelets monitor more than 300 people on felony misdemeanor or civil probation charges costing less than $6 per day.

TYLER (AP) – An 11-year-old boy has testified that he performed videotaped sexually explicit skits for paying adults as part of an alleged child sex ring. The testimony Wednesday in Tyler came on the second day of the criminal trial for a Mineola man charged with forcing three siblings to dance and engage in sexual acts. 47-year-old Dennis Boyd Pittman is one of six defendants facing charges of forcing three siblings as young as 5 to dance and engage in sexual acts for a paying audience in 2005. An alleged victim testified Tuesday that God told her the sexual acts she previously said happened didn’t really occur. After further questioning, the 11-year-old girl said she was given “silly pills” and danced for boys wearing a “sexy outfit.”

TYLER – A Whitehouse man has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges. Jose Zavala, 32, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie. According to information presented in court, from an unknown date to January 13, 2010, Zavala conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas. Zavala was arrested on January 20, 2010 and charged with federal drug trafficking crimes. Zavala faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

WHITEHOUSE — Smith County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating an apparent shooting at Outlaws, a club on State Highway 110 just north of Whitehouse. Details are sketchy, but KETK-TV reports it appears to have stemmed from “a gun deal gone bad.” Authorities are looking for a person who fire shots at a person or vehicle during Tuesday night’s incident.

JACKSONVILLE — A one vehicle accident in Cherokee County has left one person dead and one injured. Both were not wearing their seat belts. Killed was Amber Bird, 24, of Jacksonville. The driver, James Dillard III, 25, Jacksonville, is being treated at Tyler’s East Texas Medical Center. The Department of Public Safety reports Dillard’s pickup was southbound when it left the road, hit a dirt embankment, and overturned. The accident happened just before 6:45 Sunday afternoon on Farm Road 2138 South of Jacksonville.

TYLER — The United Way of Tyler/Smith County kicks off its 70th anniversary campaign with a public celebration on the Square in downtown Tyler today from 11:30-1:00. Guest speaker is Mayor Barbara Bass. There will also be check presentations by companies that have “set the pace” for this year’s campaign. A free hot dog lunch is being provided by Brookshire’s and Super 1 Foods, as long as supplies last. Frito Lay is providing chips; drinks are being provided by Coca-Cola, Community Coffee, Tyler Beverages, and Pepsi. The 2010 campaign will continue to remind everyone to “Live United.” You can go to http://www.unitedwaytyler.org to learn more.

TYLER — A suspected homicide at Winters Park in Tyler is still under investigation. Officers say they found the body of Ronnie Kemp, 48, Tyler, Monday night in the park on Peach Street. According to KETK, family members say Kemp called them and told them he was in trouble. Neighbors to the park say they are concerned for their safety. Police say they believe Kemp knew his attacker and that he had a criminal history in Smith County.

TYLER — Investigators say a toddler who died Monday afternoon accidently drank paint thinner. According to authorities, 18-month old Nathaly Velazquez was riding in a vehicle containing paint supplies. The paint thinner was in a water bottle and investigators believe the youngster drank it, thinking it was water. The youngster’s father drove her to the Mother Frances Hospital emergency room where she died. The Tyler Police Department and Smith County Child Protective Services continue to investigate the death.

TYLER — Tyler police say they’ve apprehended a burglar. Just after 1:00 Monday afternoon, officers responded to a report of a house being burglarized in the 800 block of West Dobbs. According to a police report, officers arrived on the scene and caught a suspect, identified as Terry Desmond Vaughn, 34, of Tyler, inside the house. Police say Vaughn surrendered to officers without incident. Vaughn was booked into the Smith County Jail for burglary.

TYLER — Investigators are looking into the death of a Tyler toddler. The 18 month old was brought in to the Mother Francis Hospital emergency room Monday afternoon for the accidental ingestion of unknown poisonous substance. The girl quit breathing and could not be revived and died at the hospital. Investigators from Tyler Police Department and Smith County Child Protective Services were called and the incident is under investigation.

TYLER — Tyler police say they’ve apprehended a burglar. On Monday at 1:01 p.m., officers responded to a report of a house being burglarized in the 800 block of W. Dobbs. According to a police report, officers arrived on the scene and caught a suspect, identified as Terry Vaughn, 34, of Tyler, inside the house. Police say Vaughn surrendered to officers without incident. Vaughn was booked into the Smith County Jail for burglary.

TYLER — The Tyler ISD Foundation has experienced a great number of successful achievements in the past few years, but it has now been singled out as the best public relations foundation in the nation, according to the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). The national organization is composed primarily of school districts across America and awards 43 Golden Achievement honors. This year, 42 of the awards went to major school districts for their achievement in image building through good public relations. But for the first time, the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) awarded one of its Golden Achievement Awards to the Tyler ISD Foundation — the charter award for an education foundation in the United States. The award will be given at the association’s national conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, July 10th through 15th.

“This is the highest honor we have ever received,” said Larry Goddard, Executive Director of the Foundation. Goddard will be making the trip to Charlotte to pick up the award, which honors the overall public relations campaign. “Positive community awareness is essential in fundraising,” said Goddard. According to Goddard, the foundation needs to tell prospective donors that it does things well, and awards such as the national Golden Achievement honor do that for the foundation. Goddard thanked the local media of Tyler, from radio, to newspapers, to weeklies, to magazines, and cable companies with helping the nonprofit’s community awareness of serving donors and supporting the District.

LONGVIEW — $4 million of left over money from a Longview ISD bond issue will be used to make repairs to Longview High School. According to KETK, the nearly $267 million bond was passed two years ago to build new schools and make necessary repairs. In September, taxpayers were promised the left over money would go back to them. However, Longview ISD hasn’t received any extra state funding this year, so school board members thought it necessary to dip into the extra bond money. Former school board president Sam Satterwhite is not fond of that plan. He says, “I was against using bond funds for these projects, but I was on the short side of a vote.” The taxpayer money will go toward repairing the high school’s roof, new stadium lights, and repairs to the track.

LUFKIN — A Lufkin couple is facing charges following a fake kidnapping. Last week we told you how Lufkin police were called to a store on North Timberland Drive by a woman reporting seeing a man forcibly shove a woman into the trunk of a car. The witness said she tried to follow the car when it sped away. That started search by a contingent of law officers.

About an hour later a woman returned to the store to tell officers she and her boyfriend had been watching the movie “Jackass” and thought it would be funny to see the reaction to a faked kidnapping. The boyfriend later told officers a similar story.

Sunday, authorities identified the couple as William Short, 25, and Tamara Day, 23. They will be charged with interfering with public duties.

TYLER — Carol Johnson is the facilitator of a peer support group, “Touched by Suicide,” which has been gathering since last August in Mt. Sylvan. On this week’s KTBB “Staff Meeting,” Johnson said it’s for anyone who has lost someone they care about to suicide. Johnson was moved to start the group after her son took his own life. She also aims to create more awareness of suicide and how to prevent it.

Right now, according to Johnson, there’s a need for better services to deal with the problem in East Texas. But her group is growing. It recently received a grant that Johnson hopes will allow it to expand its scope, including achieving 501(c)3 status. Touched by Suicide is also planning a couple of awareness events for this fall. You can call Johnson at 903-574-3127 or e-mail her at [email protected] for more information. You can also go to http://www.ktbb.com/audio to listen to the “Staff Meeting” show beginning early Tuesday.

LONGVIEW — Beginning Tuesday in Longview, Birch Drive between Scenic and Silver Falls Road will be temporarily closed. The closing is needed because of construction work on the Silver Falls Road Widening Project. The road closure will continue through late July. Silver Falls Road will also be limited to southbound traffic only from Pine Tree Road to Spring Street. Northbound traffic on Silver Falls will detour along Spring Street. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes during this construction period.

The Silver Falls Road Widening Project was approved by voters as part of the Capital Improvements Bond Election in May 2007. This project is being constructed by Longview Bridge and Road.

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at events and work planned in the Tyler District this week.

TYLER – The Texas Department of Transportation’s annual preventative maintenance program known as “District-Wide Seal Coat” is scheduled to resume on Tuesday in multiple locations around the district, including Anderson, Cherokee and Rusk counties. The crews are scheduled to be at work this week in the following locations in the order they appear, weather permitting:
First Crew
* U.S. Highway 79 from the Neches River Bridge north to Farm Road 747 north, just west of Jacksonville; and
* U.S. Highway 69 in Cherokee County between Farm Road 2493 in Bullard and U.S. Highway 175 in Jacksonville.
Second Crew
* State Highway 21 in Cherokee County between Alto and the Houston County Line;
* State Highway 204 in Cherokee and Rusk counties between U.S. Highway 84 and the Nacogdoches County Line;
* Farm Road 1798 in Rusk County between Farm Road 839 in McKnight and Farm Road 225 in Laneville;
* Farm Road 840 in Rusk County between U.S. Highway 259 in Henderson and State Highway 315; and
* State Highway 322 in Rusk County between Farm Road 1249 and U.S. Highway 259 in Henderson.
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. Loose gravel may be present for several days following a seal coat application. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

SMITH COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement-repair operations on State Highway 135 north of Arp between Farm Road 838 and the Rusk County Line. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

GREGG COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repairs in various locations on Interstate Highway 20 in Gregg County and on State Highway 149 between Lakeport and the Rusk County Line. 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.

ATHENS — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement-repair operations on SH 31 in various locations between Loop 7 in Athens and Farm Road 314 in Brownsboro. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zones.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 1255 between Interstate Highway 20 and Farm Road 773. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

WINNSBORO — Beginning Monday, July 12, Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews are scheduled to perform pavement repairs on State Highway 37 between Farm Road 515 and State Highway 11 in Winnsboro. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists should be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

LONGVIEW — The body of a woman found at a Longview motel has been sent to Tyler for Autopsy. The body was found around 11:30 Friday morning at Express Inn, in the 3200 block of Estes Parkway. Authorities say there were empty pill bottles found near her body and they do not believe foul play was involved.

TYLER — Tyler police are looking for the man who robbed the CVS Pharmacy at 1702 South Broadway. It happened around 3:30 Saturday morning. Employees told officers a man came to the sales counter and told them he had a gun. He was given an undisclosed amount of merchandise and then fled. No one was injured. The suspect is described as a tall black male, possibly bald, wearing a white polo-style shirt and black pants. He was last seen heading eastbound on foot.