KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – A committee has been named to study the public comment policy of the Smith County Commissioner’s Court. At Tuesday’s meeting, the commissioners approved a motion by County Judge Joel Baker to name a panel to research what other counties are doing, as far as public comment and rules of decorum. The court’s public comment policy has come under criticism. Some say it limits the public’s access to the court. The current policy provides for 30 minutes for public discussion. Each person gets three minutes to speak and the topic must pertain to agenda items. The committee will report back in 30 days with recommendations for any changes. The action follows a standing room only meeting last week in which some commissioners and residents called for the resignation of Judge Baker. Continue reading Committee to Study Public Comment Before Smith County Commissioners’ Court

LONGVIEW — Longview adopts a new property code that will help maintain old buildings. According to KETK, council members voted to accept parts of the previous international property maintenance standards from 2012. Previously, the city had a similar code for multi-family complexes. but now, the new code includes single-family homes, commercial properties, and land. Michael Shirley, the city’s director of development services, says, “The main emphasis of the code is generic property maintenance. If you have items exterior that are deteriorated, you definitely want to take care of those. Those can have long term impact, if you don’t take care of it, it’s a domino effect.” The code will affect every property owner in Longview. Any building considered dangerous to public health and safety will face an investigation.

PALESTINE – Palestine has a new city Utilities Director. Jim Perry has been named interim Director of the department. He currently serves the city as Public Works Director and will serve both roles. Perry replaces Robert Sedgwick in the utilities office. Sedgwick retired from the city after 19 years as Utilities Director. The city also announced the retirement of Water and Wastewater Superintendent Curtis Logan. Logan has served the City of Palestine for four years.

ELYSIAN FIELDS — The Elysian Fields community is set to gather Wednesday to honor the memory of two teens who died in a car crash early Saturday morning. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Dexter Willie, 19, and Kristopher Ephriam, 17, were very close friends, Elysian Fields ISD Athletic Director Scott Ford said Monday. Ford said the two were going to get a haircut about 8 a.m. Saturday in DeBerry when they were killed in a head-on collision with a tractor-trailer. “Dexter graduated from Elysian Fields High School last year, and Kris was a sophomore,” Ford said. “They were both excellent football players, great friends and had a tremendous sense of humor. This is a special kind of pain I’ve never dealt with before. It’s been very hard.” Continue reading Vigil Set for Teens Killed in Wreck

KILGORE — Kilgore Police have arrested three suspects for reportedly attempting to pass counterfeit money. Officers said on March 24th, they received a report of a suspect at the McDonalds on Highway 259 attempting to pay with bogus money. Police located three suspects in a blue Chevrolet Cavalier who had just left the location. Officers noticed a $20 bill on the passenger seat. The vehicle was searched and police recovered several counterfeit bills both fully and partially printed along with containers of spray paint, paint brushes, color ink cartridges, sheet paper, desk top computer, laptop computer, a color printer and a small amount of methamphetamine. Continue reading Three Suspects Arrested after Attempting to Pass Bogus Bills

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler has developed a policy concerning concealed carrying of weapons on the university campus. It details the areas on campus where concealed handguns are not allowed, calls for the development of training to educate the campus about the law and basic requirements of campus carry, creates a structure for concealed carry within residential facilities and outlines enforcement guidelines for campus carry violations. The policy was formulated by a campus carry working group, which was comprised of faculty, students and staff. It takes effect August 1st if approved by the system’s board of regents. Continue reading Concealed Handgun Policy Developed for U-T Tyler

ATHENS – A Henderson County woman remains jailed today after being charged with sexual assault of a child. Arrested over the weekend was Kathryn Borr, 32. Booking information does not list a home town. The investigation began Friday after sheriff’s deputies received a complaint. Investigators say they learned the woman had an ongoing sexual relationship with a 14 year old boy. Borr was arrested on Saturday and booked into the Henderson County Jail. Bond was set at $100,000.

GARRISON – A three year old Nacogdoches County boy has died in an Easter weekend accident. It happened shortly after 4:00 Saturday afternoon on private property in Garrison. Killed was Romeo Tejeda Castro, who would have been 4 in May. Investigators say just before the start of an Easter egg hunt, a family member headed to the store in an SUV. As the vehicle started, the youngster, who could not be seen, was standing near the right front tire. When the SUV started to turn around in the driveway, the boy was hit and dragged about 60 feet down the driveway. The child was pronounced dead at Nacogdoches Medical Center. Continue reading Accident Kills Young Boy in Nacogdoches County

MARSHALL –The Marshall Police Department is asking the public’s help in solving a missing persons case from 1999. That was when Lakiesha Trenail Buckner went missing from East Fannin Street in Marshall. When she disappeared, Buckner was 16 years old stood about 4’6” tall and weighed about 115 pounds. She wore long-braided extensions in her hair. Buckner has two distinct identifying marks on her body. She has a mole over her left eyebrow and a scar on her right leg. Buckner also suffers from learning disabilities and speech impairment along with a heart murmur. Investigators have put in many hours on this case, but has yet to come up with the current location of Buckner. Continue reading Missing Marshall Resident Sought

TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for the driver that hit a bicyclist and left the scene. According to KETK, the wreck happened Sunday afternoon on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Gentry Parkway, near the Caldwell Zoo. Police said the driver ran a red light and hit the cyclist. Officials said when the suspect drove off, they left the license plate of the vehicle at the scene. The bicyclist was taken to the hospital for minor injuries.

TYLER – The annual Smith County-Wide Clean Up begins today. County residents will have the chance to use vouchers to take bulk items to the Greenwood Farms Landfill for free. Smith County residents can pick up vouchers to take 3 cubic yards of solid waste to be disposed of at the landfill for free through April 30. Vouchers are available at the Smith County Annex Building, 200 E. Ferguson, or at any Smith County Constable or Justice of the Peace Office. Continue reading Smith County-Wide Clean Up Starting Today

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Weeks of March 28. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.

Motorists should be prepared as night work is implemented on the Loop 323 West Widening Project in Tyler starting at 7:00 Monday. The contractor
will be placing hot mix on the roadway through Thursday night while also continuing the current daytime work. To avoid delays, motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes if possible during the nighttime operations. Continue reading TxDOT Road Projects

CARTHAGE – An accident northeast of Carthage has killed two teenagers. Pronounced at the scene was Dexter Willie, 19, and Christopher Ephraim, 17. KETK reports both have played football for the Elysian Fields Yellow Jackets. Willie was said to be a student at Tyler Junior College and Ephraim was still in high school. The Department of Public Safety says the accident occurred when a pickup veered off the road and then over corrected into oncoming traffic.

LONGVIEW – Longview police continue their investigation of the deaths of two men. The bodies of Dekeilen Joe Nelson, 20, of Gilmer and Kevin Lorenzo Stephenson, 28, of Henderson, were found shortly before 8:45 Wednesday morning along a section of railroad tracks near the intersection of Estes Parkway and South Eastman Road. Both men had been shot to death. Police say they say they have no suspects in the case. Police spokeswoman Kristi Brian tells the Longview News Journal it’s unclear if the deaths are related to Longview gang activity. Investigators have not said if the men had been shot there, or were shot elsewhere and bodies dumped where they were found. There have now been four homicides in Longview this year.

LONGVIEW – A state prison inmate is now in the Gregg County Jail as he faces additional sexual assault charges. The Longview News Journal reports 40 year old Shawn Glen Blake had been in state prison, serving a 14 year sentence for indecency with a child. He was brought to Gregg County where he faces two new child assault charges. Blake is scheduled for arraignment April 1 on charges of indecency with a child by sexual contact and aggravated sexual assault of a child. The charges are said to stem 2005 and was said to have involved a girl who was under 14 at the time.

PALESTINE – A street in Palestine will be closed today. The city will be closing South Dorrance Street from Willie Myers Park on West Campbell Street, the intersection of South Dorrance and West Montana Street, and the intersection of South Dorrance and West Burkitt Street. It is being closed for Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church’s annual Easter Eggstravaganza. It will be closed starting at 11:00am and should be reopened sometime after 4:00pm.

MARSHALL – The Marshall Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating one of their most wanted fugitives, Demarquiatwon “Demarcus” Henderson. He is wanted for possession of a controlled substance, evading arrest with previous conviction, and possession of marijuana. The board of pardons and parole also has an outstanding warrant on Henderson for parole violation. He has been on the run since August of last year. The Marshall Police Department asks that if you have any information leading to the location of Henderson please call them at 903-935-4575 or 903-935-4540. If you wish to remain anonymous call Marshall/Harrison County Crime Stoppers at 903-935-9969.

KILGORE – A Metroplex murder suspect has been arrested in Gregg County. The arrest occurred Wednesday night after the suspect lead a variety of law enforcement agencies on a chase. Wanted by Fort Worth police was 36 year old Johnnie Warren. He had been wanted for murder and aggravated robbery. After being arrested in the Kilgore area, Warren was booked into the Gregg County jail. Bond was set at $250,000.

TYLER – With the Azalea Belles on hand, the ribbon has been cut officially opening the 57th Annual Azalea & Spring Flower Trail. The ceremony was held Friday morning at the historic Pyron home at 212 West Dobbs. Activities run through April 10th. Weather has curtailed attendance the past couple of years. Susan Travis, Vice President of Tourism-Servicing with Visit Tyler, says with flowers in bloom, and the weather cooperating, around 100,000 persons will visit Tyler for the activities and to drive or walk through over ten miles of beautiful historic homes with azalea bushes dating back to the 20s and 30s.

MARSHALL – Marshall police are asking the public’s help in locating a stolen trailer. The 2007 dump trailer was stolen from a residence on East Grand Avenue in Marshall. The suspect was driving a 1992-1996, dark blue, Ford F-150. Click on this link https://youtu.be/jZG_ukfZjmw to see a video of the theft. If you can identify the vehicle or person that it belongs to please contact Marshall Police Department at 903-935-4575 or if you wish to remain anonymous, call Marshall-Harrison County Crimestoppers at 903-935-9969

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott has appointed three persons to the Sulphur River Basin Authority Board of Directors. Their terms expire on February 1st, 2021. They are Katie Stedman of Mount Pleasant, Bret McCoy of Omaha and Mike Sandefur of Texarkana. The Board has the responsibility to construct, maintain, and operate inside the state and in the watershed of the Sulphur River and its tributaries. They can also operate inside or outside the boundaries of the authority any works considered essential to the operation of the authority and for its administration in controlling, storing, preserving, and distributing the water of the Sulphur River and its tributary streams, including the storm water and floodwater.

LONGVIEW – One person has been arrested in connection with some damaged cars in Longview. The cars were damaged at a dealership in the 800 Block of Highway 31 around 4:45 Wednesday morning. The suspects had fled the scene by the time officers arrived. A short time later officers found the suspect’s vehicle in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 2900 Block of Eastman Road. Arrested, hiding behind a dumpster, was 36 year old Dustin Charles Bennett of White Oak. He was arrested on an outstanding motion to revoke probation warrant, one outstanding city warrant, and was charged with evading arrest. They’re still looking for the second suspect.

LONGVIEW – The two men found dead in Longview have been identified. Longview police have identified them as Dekeilen Joe Nelson, 20, of Gilmer and Kevin Lorenzo Stephenson, 28, of Henderson. Their bodies were found shortly before 8:45 Wednesday morning along a section of railroad tracks near the intersection of Estes Parkway and South Eastman Road. Justice. Authorities are treating the deaths as a homicide since both men had been shot. Investigators are trying to determine if the men had been shot there, or were shot elsewhere and bodies dumped there.

KILGORE — Good Shepherd Emergency Room in Kilgore has opted for new security measures. The ER will no longer be using Kilgore police officers. According to KETK, instead, a psychiatrist on staff will create new protocols for handling aggressive behavior. Good Shepherd has not addressed the reason behind the changes.