KTBB News, Weather, Talk

GILMER — The National Weather Service has confirmed a tornado in Upshur County December 27th. The EF-1 tornado began just over 2 1/2 miles west of Gilmer around 3:30 that afternoon. It ended about 7 1/2 miles north of Gilmer after traveling just over 8 1/2 miles with a width of 1338 yards. Wind speeds were estimated to be between 90 and 100 mph. No injuries were reported, but two homes were damaged by falling trees and some building lost metal roofs and some trees were snapped and uprooted. That makes three tornadoes in Northeast Texas on December 27. An EF-2 tornado was reported at Woodlawn, north of Marshall and an EF-0 tornado was reported in Bowie County near De Kalb.

BEREA, OHIO (AP/STAFF) — Johnny Manziel rejoined his teammates in time to pack up after another dismal season. Manziel, from Tyler, was at the team’s headquarters Monday as the Browns regrouped one day after a loss to Pittsburgh and the firings of coach Mike Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer. According to several players, Manziel, who was seen in Las Vegas over the weekend, was in attendance as Cleveland’s players were addressed by owner Jimmy Haslam and Sashi Brown, the team’s newly appointed head of football operations. The Browns were unsure of Manziel’s whereabouts on Sunday. Manziel was not required to be at the season finale because he was recovering from a concussion and following the NFL’s protocol on head injuries. Haslam said the quarterback missed a medical treatment at the team’s facility. Manziel did not come into the locker room to speak with reporters.

MARSHALL — A teenager is the latest to be arrested in a Marshall homicide. Devante Thomas, 17, of Marshall, surrendered to authorities. He had been named in a murder warrant in the December 22nd shooting death of Dominique Moody, 22. He was found shot to death at the Ward Plaza Apartments on Martin Luther King Boulevard. Previously arrested in the case was Norris Wayne Jackson, 22, of Marshall. Both suspects remain in the Harrison County jail, each under a $1 million bond.

TYLER — Smoke in the building caused an evacuation Monday at Cumberland Academy High School, on Paluxy Drive in Tyler. The Tyler Fire Department reports first arriving crews found a heating unit to be the source of the problem and quickly killed power to the unit. Other than smoke in the building, no damage has been reported. Teachers were having in-service and quickly evacuated the building without injury. There were no students present at the time.

GILMER — A Gilmer ISD bus was involved in a two-vehicle crash Monday morning on Pine Street. According to KETK, Gilmer ISD Superintendent Rick Albritton says at 7:30 a.m., bus #35 crashed into a home during a wreck. Paramedics said there were no serious injuries and all children are safe. Eight students were checked at the scene. No one was taken from the scene by ambulance, although two children left with a parent. All other children were taken to school, where they saw the nurse, counselor and principal. Parents were contacted as soon as possible. Gilmer ISD is working with the Gilmer Police Department to determine what happened.

GREGG COUNTY — The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an armed robbery at a Longview convenience store. According to Deputy Josh Tubb, the robbery happened Monday morning around 6:00 at Mr. C’s Convenience Store on Alpine Road, near Alpine Golf Course and Loop 281. Deputy Tubb said a black male wearing dark clothes reportedly entered the store, displayed a handgun and demanded cash, then fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money. Witness said the suspect was of medium build, between 5’05” and 5’10” with scars on his hand. His face covered with some type of mask. No injuries were reported. Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator Falco with the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office at (903)236-8438 or CrimeStoppers at (903) 236-STOP.

CLEVELAND (AP/STAFF) — The Browns are not commenting on a report that quarterback Johnny Manziel went to Las Vegas on the day before the season finale. Manziel, a Tyler native, was not playing Sunday against Pittsburgh following his concussion last week. He is in the NFL’s protocol on head injuries. USA Today quoted an employee and patron who said they saw Manziel at Las Vegas’ Planet Hollywood on Saturday. It’s not clear if the team has a policy prohibiting players from traveling when they are out with an injury. Continue reading Manziel’s Las Vegas Trip Under Scrutiny

LIBERTY CITY – A one vehicle accident near Liberty City has killed a Sabine High School junior. According to the Kilgore News Herald, killed was Robert Landon “Bo” Bates, 17. The accident occurred around 3:30 Sunday afternoon on Farm Road 1252 near Old Kilgore Highway. His vehicle left the road and overturned. Bates, who was thrown from the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident remains under investigation by the Department of Public Safety. Counselors will be on-hand at the school to speak with students on Tuesday.

LONGVIEW — Three people have been hospitalized following an accident in Longview, just after 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon on Loop 281 near Best Buy. KETK reports their names, ages, and conditions were not immediately known. Keep checking this web page and stay tuned to KTBB for further updates.

TYLER — With classes starting up again Monday in Tyler ISD, it’s time to renew preparations for this spring’s first annual TISD-TV Student Film Festival, sponsored by Suddenlink. According to a news release, the festival is an opportunity for students to develop their visual literacy and expand their educational experience. There will be an awards ceremony April 4. The period to submit entries runs through February 8. You can go to http://www.tylerisd.org for more information on Film Festival guidelines, categories, and important dates, and to submit your entries.

EAST TEXAS — The Sabine River is at historic levels in East Texas. Near Gladewater, the river is at “major flood” stage, cresting just under 40 feet. Flood stage at this point of the waterway is considered 26 feet or above. Forecasters say the Sabine will fall to 37 feet by mid-week. Local residents say they never seen anything like it. Farm Road 2087 (pictured) between Loop 281 and Interstate Highway 20 in Longview/Gregg County remains closed due to the high Sabine River water. No thru traffic is allowed as water has breached one lane and continues to overtake the road at this location. Crews are monitoring the location as they wait for the water to recede. Continue reading High Water, Road Closures Continue to Affect East Texas

WHITE OAK — Oil prices that shielded Texas from the worst of the 2008 recession and a U.S. recovery as slow as molasses have lost that superpower as 2016 dawns. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. With a barrel of U.S. oil falling 30 percent in 2015 to finish the year at $37.04 a barrel — a far cry from the $100-a-barrel mark achieved in 2008 — a Northeast Texas economy that’s still closely tied to oil’s fortunes is bracing for more hardscrabble times. “I hope we’ve seen the bottom of this,” said Stoney Lake, Vice President of Sales for White Oak compressor maker Energy Weldfab. “But if it goes down to $30 in the near future, you’ll see some layoffs. … In this area, we’re really tapped into the energy industry, and it’s a trickle effect.” Continue reading East Texas Bracing for $30 Oil

TYLER — The City of Tyler Street and Engineering Departments are working to replace a collapsed drainage system on Old Bascom Road between Shiloh Road and Old Omen Road. Construction began Sunday in hopes of being completed by January 8. This portion of Old Bascom Road will remain closed until construction is complete.

TYLER — Tyler police are calling it “an excellent life-saving effort” by officers. Police announced around 10:00 Friday morning that Benny Pettigrew, who will be 80 next Wednesday, had been rescued from a creek. He’d last been seen at 509 House Avenue and was reported missing around 1:25 Friday morning. Pettigrew was considered to be a Critical Missing Adult due to his age and medical needs. According to a Tyler Police Department news release, several officers were assigned to the search, including Charles “Chuck” Barber, Wayne Thomas, Tom Whitworth, Richard Strother, and Steve Black. Continue reading Missing Tyler Man Rescued by Police

MT. VERNON — The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Mount Vernon Police Department, assisted by the Texas Rangers, are investigating the murder of a 6-year-old boy — reportedly at the hands of his stepmother. KETK reports Wesley Benjamin “Ben” Roycroft was killed at the Logan’s Pointe Apartments on Whitten Drive in Mount Vernon. Suspect Christie Lynn Roycroft, 30, was taken into custody at the scene by responding officers and placed in the Franklin County Jail on $2.5 million bond on a capital murder charge. Continue reading Woman Arrested, Charged with Stepson’s Murder

TYLER — New Year’s Day brought a rate hike for drivers who use Toll 49. The toll rate adjustment is not something new. Everett Owen, Interim Executive Director of the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority, said it was decided previously that the rate adjustments would be incremental to bring Tyler closer to the state average. The revenue from the tolls is used to maintain and expand the toll road. You can go to http://www.netrma.org and find the new rate schedule.

TYLER — Tyler police continue their participation in the ‘No-Refusal’ DWI Campaign. It started Thursday afternoon at 3:00 and will run through Saturday. Upon the arrest of a suspected drunk driver, he or she will be asked if they would submit to a breath or a blood test. If the driver refuses and says “No” officers will obtain an immediate search warrant signed by a judge on call to have blood drawn by a nurse on staff at the Smith County Jail. Continue reading Tyler’s “No-Refusal” DWI Campaign

TYLER — The Better Business Bureau of East Texas is warning area home owners about a door-to-door roofing company which reportedly swindled a property owner out of hundreds of dollars. One consumer claimed he paid $500 to a roofer who did substandard work and provided false contact information for himself and his company. This company is currently under BBB Investigation. Storm chasers and other door-to-door salespeople often peddle dubious deals that may be costly to homeowners and create serious headaches, often requiring advance payment and making big promises on which they have no intention of delivering. Continue reading Warning About Dishonest Door-To-Door Roofing Companies

TYLER — A vehicle-pedestrian accident west of Tyler has left one person injured. The wreck occurred just before 1:45 Thursday afternoon at Highway 64 and Toll 49. The Department of Public Safety reports the man was flown to a Tyler hospital. The initial report was his injuries were not life threatening. The accident remains under investigation.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Louie Gohmert of Tyler Thursday discussed his federal version of “Kari’s Law” as he guest hosted the Sean Hannity show, heard on KTBB. Gohmert says he wants the law to apply nationally to any business that currently requires something other than direct 911 dialing in an emergency. Governor Greg Abbott signed a Texas version of the bill into law last May. Kari Hunt Dunn was murdered in 2013 by her husband in a Marshall hotel room. The couple’s daughter tried to call 911 but didn’t realize she had to dial “9” first to get an outside line. The incident prompted a nationwide effort to allow callers to dial 911 directly from hotel rooms and other multi-line systems.

TYLER — Brookshire Grocery Company’s annual Spirit of Christmas Food Drive has once again proved to be a big success. Because of the 34th annual food drive, more than 16,000 families throughout Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas received a week’s worth of food this holiday season. For just over 4 weeks, ending December 22nd, participating BGC stores collected donations of non-perishable food items and also sold pre-assembled “grab bags” and scan coupons for cash contributions. All donations stayed within each store’s community. Continue reading Brookshire’s Food Drive a Huge Success

WOOD COUNTY — Farm Road 2869 at Holly Lake Ranch in Wood County remains closed after the roadway sustained damage during last weekend’s storms. The road is expected to remain closed for several more days as crews work to make the needed repairs. Continue reading Wood County Farm Road Remains Closed

BIG SANDY — One of two persons rescued from high water in Upshur County has died. She is Peggy Hagler, 57, of Gilmer. she was rescued around 5:30 Tuesday morning north of Big Sandy at Big Sandy Creek on Farm Road 1002 and Aspen Trail. After being rescued, Hagler was taken to Tyler’s Mother Francis Hospital, where she later died. Smith County Justice of the Peace James Meredith, ordered an autopsy. About an time later a driver, who drove around the fire trucks, also had to be rescued. He was not injured. Fire department crews from Big Sandy, Gilmer, Pritchett and Mount Pleasant fire departments took part in the rescues.

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying a vehicle burglary suspect. He is accused of burglarizing vehicles in Southern Smith County and also attempting to steal one. According to the sheriff’s department Facebook page, after finding the keys in a vehicle he went to the address later that night, but was confronted by the owner and wrecked the vehicle in front of the house trying to get away. He then jumped into his vehicle, which is believed to be a mid 2000’s Chevy Colorado Z71 4 door pickup Silver in color with black fender flare. Truck has a tool box mounted in the back and believed to occupied by one suspect. If you have any information contact Detective Larry Swinford at 903-566-6600.

LONGVIEW — You can get a safe ride home from your New Years Eve activities thanks to Longview Transit and R&K Distributors. For the eighth consecutive year, Longview Transit will give free rides to anyone within the Longview city limits on New Year’s Eve between 8:00pm and 3:00am. The curb to curb service is available to any destination within the city limits of Longview. The service is offered to the general public, including individuals that have had a couple of drinks or those that simply do not want to drive that evening. They encourage rides to schedule trips in advance. You can get more information about Longview Transit or Safe-Ride-Home by visiting http://www.longviewtransit.com or by calling 903-753-2287 ext. 10.

EAST TEXAS — Starting next Monday, Workforce Solutions East Texas will have a reduction in their days of operation at six of their centers. The six will go from a five day a week schedule, to a split schedule, sharing staff at the centers which are close in proximity. The group’s board approved the changes at their meeting earlier this month. The changes were made in order to balance the budget due to rising facility costs. This realignment of services will allow Workforce Solutions Eat Texas to maintain a presence in all 14 counties. These are the changes: Emory, Pittsburg and Carthage centers will be open Wednesday through Friday from 8:00am till 5:00pm each day. The centers in Canton, Gilmer and Henderson will be open each day from 8:00am till 5:00pm.

BEREA, OHIO (AP/STAFF) — Browns starting quarterback and Tyler native Johnny Manziel is being evaluated for a concussion and could miss Sunday’s season finale against Pittsburgh. The team said he reported to its facility on Wednesday complaining of concussion-like symptoms, Manziel rushed 11 times for 108 yards, but wasn’t sacked in Sunday’s 17-13 loss to Kansas City. Browns coach Mike Pettine says the team will be cautious with Manziel and doesn’t know yet whether the quarterback will have to enter the league’s concussion protocol. If Manziel can’t play, backup Austin Davis will make his second start this season.

BEREA, OHIO (AP/STAFF) — Browns starting quarterback Johnny Manziel, of Palestine, is being evaluated for a concussion and could miss Sunday’s season finale against Pittsburgh. The team said he reported to the facility on Wednesday complaining of concussion-like symptoms, Manziel rushed 11 times for 108 yards, but wasn’t sacked in Sunday’s 17-13 loss to Kansas City. Browns coach Mike Pettine says the team will be cautious with Manziel and doesn’t know yet whether the quarterback will have to enter the league’s concussion protocol. If Manziel can’t play, backup Austin Davis will make his second start this season.

ATHENS — Trinity Valley Community College has announced a Cardinal basketball player is dead. He is Melvin Swift, 21, who was shot in Houston Tuesday night. The shooting occurred in a home that had been burglarized and was about a block from Swift’s house. Investigators say Swift may have been shot during a home burglary. The residents returned to their home around 8:00 Tuesday night and found a man with a knife in their house. One of the adults is said to have confronted the burglar and shot him in the leg. He was taken to a hospital and later died. Houston police have not officially identified Swift as the suspected burglar., but the shooting took place at the same location of the burglary. Swift, a 6’8″ forward for the Cardinals, had gained interest from such Division I colleges as Memphis, Arkansas, Maryland, and Wichita State, according to 247Sports.

MARSHALL — The Marshall Police Department says a 16-year-old girl who had been missing since Christmas Eve has been found. Emmera Johnson of Marshall had last been seen on December 24th around the Belaire Manor Apartments. Police had sought the public’s help in locating the teenager. The Marshall Police Department says the girl was found in Longview and was returned to her family.