KTBB News, Weather, Talk

MINEOLA — On January 29, a line of strong to severe thunderstorms moved through East Texas during the evening and early nighttime hours. One of those storms produced a tornado near Mineola around 6:15pm. According to KETK, the National Weather Service Office in Shreveport confirmed that an EF-0 tornado (winds 65-85 mph) occurred on the eastern shore of Lake Holbrook, which snapped tree limbs and peeled the roofs off a few boat houses. No other tornadoes were confirmed in East Texas that evening, but this was not the only area to see damage from the storms. Damaging winds from the storms also caused numerous downed trees as well as power outages. Other significant damage included parts of the roof of the Walmart warehouse in Palestine being torn off, and a couple trailers blown over in Cass County.

GILMER — One woman has been killed and two hospitalized with stab wounds following an Upshur County incident. The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office answered a call for help a little after 5:30 Wednesday afternoon on Ginger Road in northern Upshur County. Sheriff Anthony Betterton says when deputies arrived at the scene, two people were inside the home, suffering from multiple stab wounds. The victims told deputies that Eddie Baker, 26, of Gilmer, had doused the home in gasoline and threatened to set it on fire before he ran away. Authorities say deputies chased down Baker, arrested him, and charged him with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

It was later reported to the sheriff’s office that a woman who was living with Baker at the time, Tana Fuller Warren, was missing. Deputies arrived at the missing woman’s home, where she was found dead. Baker is also being charged with murder. His bonds total $1.1 million.

TYLER — A Tyler student was hit Thursday morning by a vehicle in the Robert E. Lee parking lot. According to Tyler ISD Spokeswoman Dawn Parnell, the 18-year-old was hit by an automobile driven by another student. KETK reports the student was treated by medical personnel and released with minor injuries.

LONGVIEW — Fire officials responded to a major house blaze that displaced six people in Longview. Shortly before 12:30 Thursday afternoon, emergency crews were called to the scene on the 1800 block of Holly Street. KETK reports firefighters were able to put out the fire in a short time. The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced people. No one was injured, and the cause is under investigation.

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office has announced the addition of John Moore as its new Public Information Officer (PIO). Moore is expected to join the department later this month. Moore, a former radio personality, has served as the PIO for Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics for the past 13 years. He previously was Director of Marketing for Stewart Regional Blood Center.

“When I was campaigning for the office of Sheriff of Smith County, one of my pledges was for this office to do a better job of keeping the news media and the public informed of what was going on in their county,” said Sheriff Larry Smith. “What John brings to the table is exactly what I was looking for in a public information officer. He knows how to work with the news media to meet their needs and he is trained in social media so that he can also keep the public up-to-date.”

Sheriff Smith said Facebook and Twitter would be used when appropriate to update the public. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page is already active and has over 400 followers. For more information on the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, visit http://www.smith-county.com/law/Sheriff or click “Like” on Facebook @ Smith County Sheriff’s Office.

TYLER — Tyler Pounds Regional Airport: in the works for an upgrade. KETK reports the Federal Aviation Administration offered a grant to fund those improvements. A new runway is the airport’s master plan. The project will include a full-length taxi-way that will create a longer runway. Airport Manager Davis Dickson says they’re making assessments to see how much more elbow room they’ll need for expansion. Dickson says we can expect to see the new runway in 2014.

RUSK COUNTY — Slippery roads are being blamed for a crash involving a state trooper Wednesday night. It happened just after 8:00 on Highway 259 near Kilgore’s Loop in Rusk County. According to KETK, the trooper’s car slid off the road, struck a culvert and ended up in the creek bed. The officer was not injured.

TYLER — A Tyler woman has been killed in a one vehicle accident west of Tyler. Killed late Wednesday night was Virginia Watt, 55. The accident occurred at 13025 Highway 64 West, just east of County Road 4134. The Department of Public Safety reports her vehicle left the road and hit a tree.

VAN (AP) – A man and two women have been charged with trespassing and criminal mischief after an East Texas oil storage tank exploded. Van Zandt County fire Marshal Chuck Allen on Thursday announced the arrest of H.R. Price, 24, of Mineola, Brandy Wolfe, 24, of Grand Saline and Heather Wolfe, 25, of Van. Allen says Price and Brandy Wolfe were atop a storage tank during the January 29 blast near Van. Investigators have said both apparently were smoking and were treated for burns sustained in the blast. Warrants were issued Wednesday for the suspects with bond set at $150,000. All were no longer in custody Thursday. Officials didn’t immediately say whether the two women are related.

MARSHALL — East Texas Baptist University named Jack Terrell of Whitehouse as “The Best Mathematics Student In East Texas” among area high schools. Terrell was the top finisher in the UIL Math and Science practice meet held on campus. The ETBU Department of Mathematics hosted nine area schools with 46 students last weekend, competing in areas of Number Sense, Calculator, Math, and Science.

Terrell, a junior at Whitehouse High School, had the highest combined score in Number Sense, Calculator, and Math, winning a $16,000 ETBU Mathematics Scholarship and an Apple iPad.

Participants in the practice meet came from Whitehouse High School, Longview High School, Marshall High School, Ore City High School, Jefferson High School, Elysian Fields High School, Carthage High School, New Diana High School and Waskom High School.

Whitehouse High School won first place overall in Division I with Ore City High School garnering the top spot among the Division Two schools competing.

AUSTIN — The State Senate unanimously passes Senate Resolution 6, honoring Texas A&M’s latest Heisman Trophy winner, Tyler native Johnny Manziel. State Senator Charles Schwertner, who introduced “Johnny Football,” was just as star-struck and giddy as all the other lawmakers at the Capitol. Manziel’s hometown senator, Kevin Eltife, even jokingly took credit for Manziel’s success. Eltife drew chuckles as he told the gridiron star, “But I think I threw the football with you in the back yard — and I am certain I had an impact on your career!” After the toasts, then it was picture time with all the members of the House and Senate — even the Texas Exes.

JACKSONVILLE — Feral hogs continue to plague property owners in East Texas, but Jacksonville has been working to keep them at bay. Officials say more hogs have moved into the area, creating a problem not only for citizens but also for city property and parks. According to KETK, that’s why the city of Jacksonville has placed hog traps around the area, looking to make a dent in the seemingly endless rutting cycle. Officials say they’re trying to stop the breeding because babies just seen in the past week will themselves be old enough to breed in a matter of months — making the problem worse. According to one official, “It’s very hard to repair their damage. They are incredibly stout; their snouts are incredibly strong.”

LONGVIEW — Longview Police need the public’s help identifying two people who forged checks earlier this year. Police say the man and woman were captured on surveillance video using forged checks in at least two Longview locations on January 25th. KETK reports hundreds of dollars of merchandise has been lost because of the crime. If you can help police identify these alleged criminals,you’re asked to contact local law enforcement.

ANCHORAGE (AP) – The FBI has released handwritten notes found beneath the body of confessed Alaska serial killer Israel Keyes. But it says the writings offer no investigative clues or names of victims. Keyes died December 2 in an Anchorage jail cell after he slit his wrist with the blade of a disposable razor embedded in a pencil. He also strangled himself with a bedsheet. He was awaiting trial in the 2012 slaying of 18-year-old Anchorage barista Samantha Koenig. Keyes confessed to killings in Alaska and Vermont and alluded to other possible victims in other states. The notes appear to include poetry and about violence and deception. Keyes was arrested in March in Lufkin, Texas. He had sought a ransom and used Koenig’s debit card.

TYLER — A 26-year-old Longview, Texas man has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking violations. In an appearance yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love, Jason Ray Ragan pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He faces up to 40 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set. According to information presented in court, on August 2, 2012, Ragan was found in possession of approximately 8 grams of methamphetamine.

TYLER — A 42-year-old Mineola woman has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking violations. Jennifer Northcutt pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in an appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie. She faces up to 40 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

According to federal prosecutors, on August 21, 2010, Northcutt was found in possession of methamphetamine which she intended to distribute to others. She admitted to possessing approximately 17 grams of methamphetamine and to being in possession of a firearm while distributing the drug.

TYLER — A 45-year-old Marshall, Texas, man has been sentenced to federal prison for bank fraud violations. Mark Alan McCullars pleaded guilty last November to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. He was indicted in the case last May. McCullars was sentenced yesterday to 51 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider.

Federal prosecutors say beginning in May 2011, McCullars and co-defendant, Amanda Henderson, created counterfeit checks which appeared to be payroll checks from businesses in East Texas. They also created fraudulent drivers’ licenses so that they could cash the counterfeit checks at check-cashing businesses. McCullars and Henderson cashed over 100 fraudulent checks resulting in over $55,000 in losses to businesses in East Texas. Henderson is awaiting sentencing.

BIG SANDY — Power was restored to most of Big Sandy by mid-afternoon Wednesday, according to officials with SWEPCO. A large outage earlier on Wednesday left at least 670 customers without power. households in Spring Hill. Authorities tell KETK that although storms blew through the area Wednesday morning, they can’t confirm that they are the cause of the outage at this point. Crews were sent out to investigate the cause. Big Sandy ISD superintendent Scott Dean told KETK school dismissed early because of the outage. School buses began running at 2:00 p.m.

CANTON (Staff/AP) — The Van Zandt County Fire Marshal’s Office has issued warrants for three individuals believed responsible for the recent explosion and fire at an oil storage facility. The incident happened at Three Folks Operating Company, LLC, near Van, on January 29. The warrants are for Criminal Mischief-Over $200,000, which is a First Degree Felony, and Criminal Trespass of a Critical Infrastructure, which is a Class A Misdemeanor. These individuals are identified as H.R. Price, Heather Wolfe, and Brandy Wolfe.

According to earlier reports, Price and Brandy Wolfe were allegedly trespassing and smoking onsite when the explosion occurred; both were sent to Dallas’s Parkland Hospital. Van Zandt County Emergency Management Coordinator Chuck Allen says, “It is my understanding from social media outlets that both victims that received medical treatment at Parkland have been released.” Allen says the fire ended up completely destroying three 400-barrel storage vessels, while three other 400-barrel storage vessels were damaged. Allen didn’t have any immediate word on exactly what happened to cause the explosion, or how Heather Wolfe might be connected to the blast. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of these individuals is urged to call Van Zandt County Crimestoppers at 903-567-7867.

LONGVIEW — A proposition to allow beer and wine sales for off premise consumption will go before the Longview City Council at its February 14 meeting to be placed on the May 11 election ballot. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Longview City Secretary Shelly Ballinger has verified the minimum 5,375 signatures of registered Longview voters on the petition to call the election, said city spokesman Shawn Hara. If the proposition passes in May, grocery and convenience stores in the historically dry areas of west and north Longview would be able to sell beer and wine, but not hard liquor. “The City of Longview does not have the option of deciding whether or not to call the election; they are putting it as an action item to call it,” Hara said.

EAST TEXAS — The jury selection and trial process is underway for two fugitives with East Texas ties. Andrea London, 51, and Lecresha Brown, 45, both from Yantis, were indicted in July and charged with 26 counts of gun trafficking. According to KETK, both were found in the Philippines and extradited back to East Texas.

TYLER — Citizens and school officials discussed the future of Tyler’s Stewart Middle School. Dozens were on hand at St. James Baptist Church, many expressing their love for the 50 year old campus and their wish for it to stay as is. The current proposal would see Stewart become home to the PACE Alternative program with several new middle schools being built. School officials emphasize that nothing is cast in stone yet and encouraged residents to remain part of the dialog as plans are worked out.

EAST TEXAS — West Rusk schools will now have police security. The decision came down Tuesday night at a meeting with the board of trustees. According to KETK, the district said they’ll be hiring Police Chief Paul Thompson, who is currently police chief of New London. He’ll begin on March 4th. District officials said that arming faculty and staff was not something the school district was comfortable pursuing.

GREGG COUNTY — A Gregg County grand jury has declined to return an indictment in the July beating death of a Longview man. Police said Sean Drake was punched in the head during a fight outside a Longview bar, which led to his death. According to the Longview News-Journal, it happened on the morning of July 12 in the parking lot of the Lodge Sports Bar and Billiards. Last week, the grand jury declined to indict the suspect, whose identity has never been released. Drake’s body was sent for an autopsy at the Tyler Forensic Center. On November 16, the coroner’s report indicated Drake died from blunt-force head trauma after being struck multiple times in the face and head. The autopsy report listed his death as a homicide. According to the police report, Drake and the suspect argued upon leaving the bar.

LONGVIEW — A grand jury has indicted a Longview man accused of shooting a woman in the back on a charge of manslaughter. According to the Longview News Journal, Byron Marcel Houston loaded a revolver with a single bullet, spun the chamber and fired at Barbara Hudson, 39, killing her. Hudson died November 17. The 30-year-old told investigators he occasionally played the game with Hudson in a joking manner because “it made her mad.” Houston was held Tuesday in the Gregg County Jail on bonds totaling more than $50,000.

LINDALE — A home on County Road 4126, near Lindale, has been destroyed by fire. It was reported around 2:45 yesterday afternoon. The only ones one when the fire started were the family three pet dogs, who died in the flames. The cause of the fire at the Mark Crews residence remains under investigation.

TEXARKANA (AP) — A Texarkana man accused of killing a sheriff’s deputy at a county courthouse has been ruled incompetent to stand trial. A judge has ordered Tucker Strickland confined in a state mental hospital until he’s considered fit for trial in the fatal shooting of deputy Sherri Jones in 2011.

TYLER — The Tyler ISD superintendent has mixed feelings about a judge’s decision ruling the Texas school finance system unconstitutional. Gary Mooring tells KETK he’s “very pleased at this point, but also very apprehensive, because we don’t know where it’s gonna end up.” Mooring says it was exciting that the court recognized what he considers the inequities and inadequacies of the existing funding system.

TYLER – A lengthy investigation has led to the arrests of 11 Cherokee County residents for drug trafficking in East Texas. Yesterday, a combined task force of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies began arresting individuals named in a federal indictment returned by a grand jury on January 23. The indictment charges the following with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine:
Javier Colmenero Loyola, 46
James Franklin Carpenter, 59
Bobby Joe Whiteley, 42
Brandon Wesley Kimble, 28
Christopher Trent O’Neal, 27
Toby Hill Coslett, aka “Crazy,” 41
Jeffrey Rainey, aka “Pee Wee,” 49
Stile Parker Denton, 48
Morris Edward Stone, 43
James Adrien Craig, aka “Ace,” 37
Christine Marie Hamer, 35

The defendants were scheduled to appear Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love in Tyler federal court. If convicted, the defendants each face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison. The indictment is the result of a joint investigation by the Tyler office of the FBI, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Police Department, and members of the Safe Streets Task Force. Numerous additional agencies participated in Tuesday’s arrests, including DEA, ATF, HSI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Texas Rangers Special Operations Group, and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department.

MARSHALL (AP) – Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials say an invasive plant that’s become a problem on Caddo Lake has been spread to at least four other East Texas lakes. The non-native giant salvinia is showing up on boat ramps at Lake O’ the Pines, Lake Wright Patman, Lake Gilmer and Lake Murval. Agency spokesman Lynn Wright tells the Marshall News-Messenger boaters accelerate the plant’s march through the state’s lakes because it clings to boats and trailers. A single plant can double in just a week. The plant grows to a thick carpet on the lake surface, blocking light for other plants beneficial to fish. Once established, the salvinia is nearly impossible to eliminate. The problem is severe this year on Caddo Lake, where most boat ramps are clogged with it.