KTBB News, Weather, Talk

AUSTIN – A Palestine resident claimed a top prize winning ticket worth $3 million in the Texas Lottery scratch ticket game Maximum Millions. The ticket was purchased at JJ’s Fastop, located on East Palestine Avenue. The lucky winner has decided to remain anonymous.

TYLER – The Tyler Junior College Apache Cheer squad won their second national championship on Friday after their first ever championship last year. According to our news partner KETK, the team competed in the National Cheer Association championships in Daytona, Florida. The TJC cheer team won first place in the intermediate large coed junior college category.

TYLER — A former employee of a Tyler nursing home pleaded guilty Friday in the death of a resident who was tied to a wheelchair. Bobby Posey, 23, was arrested after Larry Coffey, a resident of the Tyler nursing home where Posey worked, died after falling while tied to a wheelchair. Posey was charged with injury to an elderly or disabled person causing reckless body injury. On Friday, Posey pleaded guilty to the crime in Judge Austin Jackson’s court and received five years deferred probation.

Posey’s indictment said that he had a legal duty to act, and had assumed care, custody, or control of the elderly individual by virtue of his employment at the facility. For ignoring the man’s restraints, Posey was found partially at fault for his fatal injury. Continue reading Brownsboro man gets probation in death of a nursing home patient

RUSK COUNTY — The Gaston Museum announced on Sunday that the museum board has decided to close permanently. According to a release, the chairman of the museum said current and previous board members have devoted their time and sacrifice to remain open as long as they could and they did not make the decision to close lightly. “I personally have spent 15 years now assisting or serving and feel as a piece of my life is going away. I know you feel the same. My family just like yours, were centered in this community and the Gaston Museum has carried a legacy of our families through 30 years of honor and memories of an era like no other. I leave here in tears every time I come, mourning what has to be,” the chairman said. Continue reading Rusk County museum to close doors

MARSHALL – Our news partners at KETK report that Wiley University received a grant from Interfaith America, to further interfaith learning on the campus. According to a statement, the $30,000 grant will be used to “embed interfaith education and attention to religious diversity into the general education course.” Wiley University said that the grant will help to fund guest speakers with faith traditions outside of the Christian perspective, to widen the understanding of the students. Continue reading Wiley University receives $30k ‘religious pluralism’ grant

TYLER – The City of Tyler announced that street repairs downtown may cause traffic delays. City officials say that brick street repairs on South Bonner Avenue between West Front Street and West Houston Street will close the street to through traffic until May 1 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

TYLER – The Junior League of Tyler hosted their annual Touch a Truck event to raise money for local nonprofits and provide a fun, educational experience for the whole family. According to a statement, the Junior League of Tyler’s event hosted a variety of public service vehicles, heavy equipment pieces and representatives of several industries for children to see and touch. Continue reading Junior League of Tyler gives back

PALESTINE – The Palestine Police Department said that a pedestrian was killed in a crash in the 800 block of Crockett Road at around 12:20 a.m. on Friday.

When Palestine PD officers arrived at the crash scene they found a 2021 blue Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck that hit the pedestrian and a telephone pole, according to a press release.

Marcos Sanchez, 51 of Palestine, died at the scene because of his injuries from the crash.

Palestine PD said that the driver of the Ram was travelling north on Crockett Road when he reportedly crossed the road into oncoming traffic and hit Sanchez while witnesses saw him taking his trash out to the curb.

Dillon Wayne Fogle, 39 of Elkhart, was arrested for intoxication manslaughter after officers reportedly smelled alcohol on his breath and found a open alcohol container in his truck.

Fogle was taken to the Anderson County jail and bonded out after being charged with intoxication manslaughter and unlawfully carrying a weapon.

CHANDLER – Our news partners at KETK report that a Facebook post by the Chandler Chamber of Commerce has caused a rift in the tight-knit community over the announcement that a Starbucks was coming to town. A lot of people would prefer anything but a Starbucks. It’s set to open right next to Brookshire’s alongside Highway 31, in the building previously used by Texas Famous Fried Chicken. Dozens of comments, detailing the community’s opposition to the business and reasons why.

“A lot of people don’t want it here as well as myself,” said Cody Richardson, Chandler resident. “The traffic is already bad, and they’ve had a lot of wrecks there,” said Wood. “Unless they do something about putting a traffic signal in, I think it’s going to create more havoc.” “Something else would have been better,” said Susie Wood, Chandler resident. Continue reading Chandler residents voice concerns over new Starbucks

TYLER – The Tyler Police Department said that a woman driving a motorcycle was hospitalized after crashing with a vehicle on Troup Highway and Dulse Street on Friday according to our news partners at KETK. The crash reportedly happened at around 8:19 p.m. near Green Acres Baptist Church. Details of the crash are limited but the driver of the motorcycle has been sent to a local hospital and her condition is unknown. Tyler PD said that traffic heading south on Troup Highway was diverted while law enforcement responded to the crash.

TYLER – Jack Benson, a former Douglas Elementary School student visited the campus Friday to celebrate his recent donation of $100,000 to the school. The staff and students made it special for for Mr. Benson, welcoming him with a special “Thank You” parade. According to a release from Douglas Elemetary, school personnel took Mr. Benson on a tour of school grounds and showed him the areas in which his generous donation will be used. The plan is to install new playground equipment and create a covered outdoor learning area for students.

As the tour progressed Mr. Benson said that, “Douglas holds a special place in my heart,” Benson said. “It shaped my childhood, and I always knew I wanted to give back.”
Continue reading Douglas Elementary celebrates 100K donor

TYLER – Chapel Hill ISD announced on Friday the current high school principal will be assuming the role of assistant superintendent. According to our news partner KETK, Matthew Strode will start those new duties July 1.

Strode said in a release from CHISD, “I am immensely grateful for the trust and support extended to me by Chapel Hill ISD as I transition into the role of Assistant Superintendent. I am deeply appreciative of the opportunity to contribute to our district’s continued success and am eager to collaborate with our dedicated team in serving our students, staff, and community.”

Strode has been with the Chapel Hill school district for five years.

TYLER – All public boat ramps on Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East are open. But, Tyler Water Utilities advises all lake users to remain cautious on the water. There may still be floating debris from the recent rain, which can pose safety risks to boaters and watercraft. There is also a chance for high wakes, which can impact not only boaters but can also affect properties along the shoreline. TWU asks that boaters to be mindful of their speed and the wakes they create as a courtesy to others and to prevent erosion or damage to shoreline properties.