KTBB News, Weather, Talk

HENDERSON — Fatal accidents are becoming a regular occurence in the city of Henderson.and in Rusk County. Henderson Fire Department Captain Cody Crawford tells KETK, “We’ve seen at least a double in fatality wrecks in the last year and a half to two years.” Since January, 20 people have died in car accidents on Rusk County roads — four in the last two weeks. Crawford and his crew are usually the first on scene of a wreck. And he says there have been many more fatal crashes this year than in years past.

County Judge Joel Hale and other county leaders have called meetings to address this issue. Now they plan to implement the mission from an organization called “Pay Attention East Texas.” According to Hale, “Their mission is something that we will adopt, and we’re still in the process of how we are going to get the word out, and how we are going to disseminate information to people.” Continue reading Rusk County Urges, “Pay Attention East Texas”

LONGVIEW — The Pine Tree school board leaves the case of football coach and athletic director Derek Fitzhenry in the hands of the school district’s top administrator. KETK reports Fitzhenry was placed on administrative leave last week, accused of mistreating student athletes. The board meeting drew a packed house, the majority of them supporting the coach. Four speakers were allowed to give their thoughts. Even some of his players spoke in favor of Fitzhenry. Around 11 Monday night, the board decided any punishment should be doled out by the superintendent. Officials say a decision is due today.

JACKSONVILLE — Some East Texas health officials are taking note as pertussis continues on the rise in Texas. As of August 27, Texas has reported 1,935 cases to the CDC. If the trend continues, Texas may report the highest number of pertussis cases it has had in over 50 years, officials say. According to a news release, the Cherokee County Public Health Department is monitoring the situation. Under State law, health care providers, hospitals, laboratories, schools, childcare facilities and others are required to report patients who are suspected of having pertussis. Officials say the Cherokee County Public Health Department will complete an epidemiologic investigation on all suspected pertussis cases that are reported and work to ensure that control measures are implemented for those exposed to pertussis. One case of pertussis has been confirmed in Cherokee County. Continue reading Cherokee County Notes Increasing Number of Pertussis Cases in Texas

TYLER — Smith County fires that burned over 400 acres over the weekend have finally been contained. What started as 8 small grass fires grew to a blaze that destroyed a mobile home, an empty home and a barn, multiple cars and out buildings. No injuries were reported. While the cause of the fire is thought to be from a spark from a shredding tire, the cause remains under investigation.

TYLER — Tyler school trustees are in the process of selling the old Jones Elementary School property. The sale was discussed at a board workshop yesterday. While the name of the buyer was not announced, school officials say the price tag on the property is $465,000. The sale of the property is expected to close later this month.

KILGORE — The East Texas Police Academy at Kilgore College, passed its annual inspection by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) with “no areas of non-compliance.” In the report delivered to the academy, TCOLE noted that the ETPA had also maintained a 99.23% pass/fail rate for the last three years for the academy’s Basic Peace Officer Course. Out of 622 students over the three-year period, 618 passed the state exam on the first attempt. Continue reading Police Academy Excels in Annual Evaluation

TYLER — Three biomedical researchers at UT Health Northeast recently received separate grants of more than $300,000 each to fund important studies in the areas of lung disease and blood clotting. The grant recipients and the amounts of their three-year grants are Amir Shams, Ph.D., $325,500 from the Flight Attendants Medical Research Institute (FAMRI); Sreerema Shetty, Ph.D., $325,500 from FAMRI; and Hema Kothari, Ph.D., $308,000 from the American Heart Association. Continue reading Grants for Three Scientists at UT Health Northeast

LONGVIEW — A Longview man will be going to prison in connection with a shooting death that occurred during a game of Russian roulette on November 17th, 2012. Byron Houston, 30, was indicted on manslaughter charges in the shooting death of Barbara Hudson, 39. She was shot in the back at her home in the 1100 block of North Third Street in Longview. Houston pleaded guilty and was sentenced Monday to 28 years in prison. Continue reading Longview Man Going to Prison for Manslaughter

GILMER — A man has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with a body found August 26 inside an Upshur County residence. Douglas Edward Gilliam, 58, an Upshur County resident, was arrested on August 28th on unrelated charges. His arrest came two days after Jack E. Pierce, 45, of Gladewater was found dead inside a residence in the southwest part of the county. The murder charges were added last Friday and Gilliam was arraigned on Sunday.

TYLER — A Tyler Junior College student has been injured after being struck by a car on a campus parking lot. Shortly after 8:45 Monday morning, Jamie Guerra was struck by a car as she was walking across the faculty/staff parking lot located near the Pirtle Technology building at the corner of East Lake Street and South Mahon Avenue. The vehicle was driven by its owner, TJC employee Zereda “Precious” Ivy. According to reports, Ivy was on her way to work and was driving in the faculty/staff lot and Guerra was hit from the back and fell, with the car rolling over her. Continue reading TJC Student Injured in On-Campus Accident

TYLER — A Shreveport, Louisiana, man has been sentenced to pay over $14,000.00 in restitution and serve 48 hours of community service as conditions of a two year probated sentence for federal wildlife violations in East Texas. Stephen Anderson Sipes Jr. pleaded guilty on June 10 to negligent transportation of wildlife. He was sentenced Monday by U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love. Continue reading Louisiana Man Illegally Transported Deer in Texas

NECHES — Some residents between Jacksonville and Palestine are dealing with some water issues. The Neches Water Supply Company tells KETK a downed pump caused one of its wells to be shut down. People living east of Highway 79 in the area lost their running water. Officials said once service was restored, residents would be told to boil water until further notice.

LONGVIEW — A Longview teen was injured in a wreck Sunday afternoon after he lost control and flipped his vehicle. KETK reports it happened just after 12:30 on H.G. Mosley Parkway in Longview. Police say the 17-year-old was driving 70 miles per hour in a 40 mph zone. They added that the teen lost control of his vehicle while taking a turn. He hit a parked truck and flipped his car multiple times. He was taken to a local hospital.

TYLER — PATH Week 2013 kicked off celebrated September 8 and continues through September 14. According to the website for PATH, People Attempting to Help, “the week is designed to raise awareness of PATH and the PATH programs helping to change the face of poverty, homelessness and hunger in the community.” Continue reading PATH Week Underway

LONGVIEW — A train derailment closed a portion of a Longview street. The Union Pacific train derailed in the area of Gum Springs and East Cotton. No injuries were reported when the two railcars derailed around 12:30 Sunday morning. Longview Fire Marshal Johnny Zackary says they were told the cars came off the track during a switching operation. Gum Springs Road was closed from Eastman to Cotton, but it has since been re-opened. Longview Police and Fire departments were on hand for traffic control.

LONGVIEW — A Kilgore man has been arrested on a variety charges. It began around 10:45 Friday night when Gregg County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Anthony Scott Neckel, 38, of Kilgore on charges of aggravated assault. He has also been charged with resisting arrest and assault on a public servant. His bond has been set at $26.000.

MARSHALL (AP) — A former hotel in East Texas will be used for higher education. The Marshall News-Messenger reports the Hotel Marshall property has been donated to East Texas Baptist University for its graduate school. The owners, Jerry and Judy Cargill and Richard and Christina Anderson, on Saturday announced the donation as part of a three-year project to overhaul the structure. The former hotel is expected to be used for offices, classrooms, labs and living areas. Continue reading Former Marshall Hotel Being Donated to University

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

VAN ZANDT COUNTY–Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews on Monday are scheduled to resurface Farm Road 3227 between Farm Road 47 and State Highway 198 south of Canton, then move to perform the same work at the intersection of State Highway 19 and the North Interstate Highway 20 Service Road. The westbound IH 20 ramps at SH 19 will be closed Tuesday thru Thursday during working hours while the work is in progress. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates

TYLER — Around 60 Smith County homes had to be evacuated because of a series of wildfires. Those families have since been allowed to return to their homes. Roads even had to be closed as numerous fire departments battled the fires along Farm Roads 2767 and 2908 just east of the Tyler Loop. Over 300 acres were burned by the fires. KETK reports two structures, multiple out buildings and multiple vehicles have been lost and two firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is also reminding citizens that Smith County is under a burn ban which means no outdoor burning of any kind is permitted.

TYLER — A rally against U.S. air strikes against Syria has been held in Tyler. Demonstrators gathered Saturday at the intersection of South Broadway and Loop 323. The rally was conducted by The Tyler Liberty Alliance. Among the signs they carried was one that read, “Mr Gohmert vote NO on war with Syria. Protester Erick Alvarez told KETK a report put out last week by NATO has gone un-noticed. It said 70% of Syrians are against U.S. intervention in Syria. According to Alvarez, “it doesn’t make sense of us to intervene and make things worse.”

SLOCUM — A boil water notice has been extended for some Anderson County residents. The boil water notice that went out August 30th for parts of the Slocum area was extended Friday. Because of a new line installed on County Road 181, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is requiring residents on County Roads 181, 1814, 1811 and 1812 area to boil their water prior to consumption until further notice. The Slocum Water Supply Corporation will notify residents when it will no longer be necessary to boil the water.

TYLER — A former Tyler pharmacist accused of sexually assaulting a child is free on bond today. James Carey Prosperie, 73, posted a $100,000 surety bond and was released from the Smith County Jail around 11:30 Thursday night. Prosperie was arrested following a standoff with police. He is accused of sexually assaulting a 14 year old relative at least twice. He is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child. According to the arrest affidavit, the detective working the case feels there is good reason to believe that Prosperie assaulted the teenage on June 8th. According to a report from the CPS, Prosperie told a friend, who is a lawyer, that he had sexual contact with the underage relative on at least two separate occasions. Continue reading Former Pharmacist Posts Bond On Sex Complaint

BOSSIER CITY LA. — A third person has been charged along with two East Texans with the attempted theft of an automatic teller machine from a Bossier City bank. The latest to be arrested was Zachary Allen Stone, 29, of Little Elm, in Denton County. Previously arrested was Carl Gearhart III, 29, of Tyler, (pictured) and Gerri Davis, 24, of White Oak. The three are said to have put a chain around the ATM and, using a pickup, pulled it from its foundation. They then drove off, leaving the ATM and money behind. Authorities spotted their pickup and chased it into Shreveport where it ran of Interstate Highway 20. Gearhart and Davis were arrested there, but Stone fled on foot.

TIMPSON — Another earthquake hit the Timpson area in East Texas early Friday morning. KETK reports that according to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake was a magnitude 2.4 on the Richter scale and hit about two kilometers west of Timpson. This marks the third earthquake to hit that region in less than a week. On Monday, the area experienced a 4.1 magnitude quake around 5:00 p.m., followed by a 4.3 magnitude earthquake later in the day. According to the USGS, the quake could be felt in Timpson and Garrison.

NACOGDOCHES — Nacogdoches County deputies arrested two men from Tennessee after they reportedly found ten pounds of pot in the trunk of their car. The suspects are identified as 25-year-old Mario Harvey and 27-year-old Richard Briars. Sheriff Jason Bridges tells KETK a deputy pulled the men over for a seatbelt violation on Loop 224 and Highway 21 East. Both men are charged with felony possession of marijuana.

GLADEWATER — Fire investigators come up empty-handed after searching for a cause in the fire that burned down Gladewater’s historic Bumpus house. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, the Gladewater Fire Department has closed the case without finding an exact cause. The paper reports the house was too unstable for a thorough investigation. The local landmark caught fire in the predawn hours of August 16.

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler celebrated a significant milestone in its history with an enrollment of 7,534 for fall 2013, President Rodney H. Mabry announced. Last year at this time the total headcount was 6,875. “This is a celebratory moment for UT Tyler. We knew we were going to reach 7,000 this fall, but blowing right past that goal while also raising the quality of our students was very exciting. This nine percent increase once again places us among the top one or two fastest growing universities in Texas. I am so proud of our faculty and staff who continue to make UT Tyler a special place for students to feel comfortable and be successful, while giving students one of the strongest educations available in our state,” President Mabry said. Continue reading UT Tyler Enrollment Tops 7,500

EAST TEXAS — Some men arrested for allegedly breaking into a house in Smith County recently may be facing more charges in two other East Texas counties. Officials say a homeowner caught the men in the act. One of the men reportedly told the homeowner he was with a local electricity company. They were charged with burglary of a habitation. The Wood County sheriff tells KETK news the men had been linked to five burglaries in that county and possibly some in Van Zandt County. He says they would be wearing Reliant Energy shirts when they committed those crimes. Investigators are working to charge the men in those cases.

UVALDE — Uvalde Mayor J Allen Carnes Thursday announced his candidacy for Texas agriculture commissioner and took a moment for a phone interview with KTBB. Carnes says he’s the only candidate for the post “who is a farmer, a producer and mayor of a growing municipality who understands what must be done in rural, urban and suburban Texas to keep our state sustainable, to avoid Texas’ dependence on foreign lands for our food, clothing and shelter.” Continue reading Ag Commissioner Hopeful Chats with KTBB

LONGVIEW — According to multiple sources, Pine Tree Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Derek Fitzhenry, has been suspended until further notice. KETK reports action is being taken against Fitzhenry for allegedly pushing a student after Pine Tree’s win over Van Friday night in Longview. Fitzhenry was not at the Pirates’ football practice, Wednesday. Continue reading Pine Tree Football Coach Placed on Administrative Leave