KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – This year marks the 90th annual Texas Rose Festival. The kickoff celebration was held at the Willow Brook Country Club in Tyler on Friday, July 12th. It comes at the end of a long week of practices and walk-throughs. 2023’s Rose Princess, Conley Cavender, took the time to welcome out-of-town guests, the committee and sponsors. 2023’s Rose Queen, Laura Bryan, taking the moment to thank all of the volunteers after a long week of coronation practices. Tickets go on sale to the public starting September 1st at the UT Tyler Cowan Center.

TYLER – Smith County law enforcement are investigating a shooting that left two people injured early Saturday morning. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, and our new partner KETK, deputies responded to a deadly conduct call in the 13300 block of Highway 64 West and found two people with gunshot wounds around 5:15 a.m. They started first aid at the scene until paramedics arrived.

While investigating, deputies reportedly talked with witnesses at the scene who said both of the gunshot victims were in an argument with each other. They were taken to different Tyler-area hospitals. One was in surgery for life-threatening injuries and the other is in stable condition. The identity of both people is being withheld pending notification of family.

DALLAS – The Texas Department of Public Safety has issued an Amber Alert for a 11-year-old girl who may have been abducted Friday night. Tanya Jackson was last seen at 8 p.m. in the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, according to the Waxahachie Police Department. She is 5’7″ tall, weighs 170 lbs., and has brown eyes and black hair. She was last seen wearing a white t-shirt with red lettering.

If you know where she is or if you have seen her, please call the Waxahachie Police Department at (469) 309-4400.

TYLER – Our news partner KETK reports that a man was arrested after a standoff with law enforcement on Friday night. Deputies with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance call in the 9800 block of CR 4136 just northwest of Tyler around 10:45 p.m. When they arrived, they said 29-year-old Victor Morales ran into the residence and barricaded himself in a bedroom.

Several minutes after failed attempts at contact, Morales allegedly called his wife and told her that he was locked in the bathroom with a gun and the baby was on the bed. The SWAT Team entered the residence and retreived the baby from the bedroom. The baby was unharmed and was safely returned to the mother. Morales was taken to the Smith County Jail and booked for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, endangering a child, assault family violence and evading arrest/detention.

TYLER – Police are investigating a homicide after a man was found dead in Tyler Saturday morning. According to our news partner KETK, around 7:40 a.m., the Tyler Police Department and EMS responded to a shooting on McKenzie Drive. The victim,  identified as Jaraine Tyrone Johnson, 38, of Tyler, was taken to a local hospital by EMS but reportedly died. A first-degree murder warrant was obtained for Leeautrey Morgan, 31, of Tyler, who was identified as the victim’s brother. He was booked into the Smith County Jail with bond set at $1 million.

LONGVIEW – CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Hospital in Longview has been named one of 262 hospitals in the nation who have met high-level standards for cardiac patient care. According to our news partner KETK, the hospital was awarded the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR (National Cardiovascular Data Registry) Chest Pain – MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2023.

This is the hospital’s first time winning the award and the first time any hospital in Longview has won the Platinum Performance Award, according to CHRISTUS Health. Only 262 hospitals have won the award across the entire United States.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine and School of Health
Professions have partnered with the East Texas Human Needs Network to present survey results on the
health status of Smith County. The presentation will be at the Power of Partnership Symposium noon – 2
p.m., July 18, at the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center. Continue reading The UT Tyler: Smith County Health Status Results

MABANK – A juvenile is in custody after allegedly fatally shooting a Canton man in the head, officials said.

According to Mabank police, they were dispatched to the 1400 block of Pharm Hills Road in Mabank on Thursday where they found an adult man who had a gunshot wound to his head inside a residence. Officers started life-saving measures on the victim who was taken to UT Health in Gun Barrel City where he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.

The victim was identified as 24-year-old Peter Parker from Canton, officials said.

After reportedly speaking with three other men at the location, investigators took a juvenile male into custody. He was taken to the Van Zandt County Juvenile Detention Center after being booked in for manslaughter, a second degree felony.

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK report that one person is dead and four are injured after a tanker truck hauling diesel crashed Thursday afternoon near the Motor Vehicle Weigh Station on US 59 between Lufkin and Nacogdoches. According to DPS, a preliminary investigation found that around 12:30 p.m. the truck was traveling south on the road when a 2014 Hyundai Sonata traveling north reportedly made a U-turn in front of the truck and was struck on its passenger side. The truck then overturned. Continue reading 1 dead, 4 injured after tanker truck crash on US 59

LUFKIN – Our News partner KETK reports that a Lufkin man was arrested around 5:45 p.m. on Thursday after allegedly fleeing the scene of a crash at the intersection of Frank Avenue and Hill Street. Chester Ray Jones, 38 of San Augustine, who was driving a Ford Expedition, rear-ended a Chevrolet Cruze after disregarding a traffic light and veering into the turn lane to avoid a stopped vehicle, according to a press release. Officials said the Ford continued through the intersection and left the road. Once stopped in the tree line, Jones reportedly ran from the vehicle before he was arrested moments later on Ellis Avenue, the press release stated.

The driver of the Chevrolet was taken to a local hospital by ambulance because she was complaining of a laceration to her leg, officials said. According to the city of Lufkin, Jones was arrested and taken to have his blood drawn.

ANDERSON COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK a man was found to be in possession of a “white crystalline substance” while being arrested for three previous warrants out of Anderson County, according to authorities. On July 11, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office served a warrant on CR 3704 and arrested Cedric Dupree on three warrants that involved two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of evading arrest with previous conviction. During the arrest, authorities said Dupree was found to be in possession of a “white crystalline substance.” Dupree received an additional possession of a controlled substance charge and was booked into the Anderson County Jail with a total bond of $60,000.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK a man was arrested on Tuesday after a multi-agency narcotics search warrant operation in Cherokee County. According to the sheriff’s office, 25,000 pills, five pill presses, five ounces of meth, about 40 pounds of powder prepared to be turned into pills and multiple firearms were located in rural Cherokee County on CR 2510 during the search. Robert Martin, 44 of Alto, was arrested at the scene and officials said he is facing anticipated charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. “He’s passing these pills out or selling them. They can get into the hands of children, they can get into the hands of an adult who thinks they are taking something else. It can be detrimental to our community and the communities around us,” said Cherokee County Sheriff Brent Dickson. Continue reading 25,000 pills seized in narcotics operation in Cherokee County

LUFKIN – Angelina College officials Thursday accepted a nearly $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education on behalf of the college. According to our news partner KETK, the Title V grant has two main parts. Establishing new tech programs for in-demand occupations and making better support services. Marcy Anthony, Title V project director said. “We’re now going to offer a networking administration degree, which is actually starting this fall in year two of the grant. Then, in year three, we’ll be able to offer a software development program as a new degree.” In addition to the new degree programs, the college will also provide more services designed to ensure student retention and success. In 2022, Angelina College was one of 78 higher education institutions selected to receive the Title V grant.

TYLER – Jaime W. Burke-Hicks, a teacher and student council adviser at The University of Texas at Tyler University Academy Longview campus, has been named the National Student Council Middle-Level Adviser of the Year at the 2023 Vision National Leadership Conference. She was named the Texas Association of Student Councils’ Middle-Level Adviser of the Year in May.
“This national recognition speaks volumes about Mrs. Hicks and her contributions to the district. I congratulate her, and we are extremely proud,” said Dr. Jo Ann Simmons, UA superintendent. Continue reading UT Tyler teacher named national adviser of the year