KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler is offering free dementia and brain-related screenings to the East Texas community. According to our news partner KETK, the screenings will be conducted at 3531 S. Broadway Ave. in Tyler. To make an appointment or get more information, you can call 903-630-7479 or email marc@uttyler.edu. expect an appointment to last anywhere from five to eight hours, as the length of interviews and testing vary from patient to patient.

TYLER – Severe thunderstorms came through East Texas Tuesday bringing severe thunderstorm warning across East Texas. According to our news partner KETK, A total of 10,199 outages were reported by Oncor, SWEPCO, Upshur County Rural Electric and Wood County Rural Electric. Some counties experienced flood advisories and many saw large hail. KETK’s Chief Meteorologist Carson Vickroy said historically, June is a month East Texas will see hail storms. “All of that potential energy from those warm temperatures results in large hail stones from strong updrafts, as we know can create a lot of damage,” said Vickroy. After the storm left Tyler, people and businesses checked every vehicle and rooftop for damage. Vickroy said to stay weather aware and get you and your cars to safety ahead of the storm. “We have all modes of severe weather pretty much year-round in East Texas and the best thing to do when there is a big hail threat in the forecast is asking ‘How am I going to protect first my life? and if the storm is going to be a threat to my property?,’” said Vickroy.

NACOGDOCHES – The online systems at Stephen F. Austin University were a target of a cyberattack. Officials at the university said the attack may have started between Saturday night and Monday morning. According to our news partner KETK, the university cut their internet connection to stop attacks from continuing. They are now working with IT personnel and the UT system to gauge the amount of damage to their website. School officials say at this time don’t they do not know when they will be back online and asked that students, faculty and the public follow SFA social media while their online assets are down.

TYLER – Two local Girl Scouts were honored with a prestigious award for their community work.
According to our news partner KETK, Aspen Cunningham and Jordan Crum were awarded the Gold Award, which is given to exemplary scouts who help fix a community problem or make a lasting change in the world.

Cunningham’s venture revolved around improving day to day environments for local and transitory birds at Tyler State Park. She developed bird homes to furnish birds with a dependable water source that is solar powered with battery reinforcement and put away from park predators.

At White Oak High School, Crum organized a health fair on campus just for high school students. Free eye exams, the police department’s drunk driving simulation, interactive booths, and a demonstration on the effects of smoking on the lungs were among the activities Crum invited community partners to host. The fair pulled in 420 students.

According to our news partner KETK, Crockett Police have arrested Forlando Moten of Crockett in the death of 59-year old Willie Campbell, also of Crockett. Detectives say that Campbell was found Friday afternoon on West Oak Street in Crockett with a single gunshot wound. He later died in a local hospital. Police officers interviewed Moten who allegedly admitted to shooting Campbell. He was then arrested, charged with murder and has a 150 thousand dollar bond set. Crockett police are still investigating this case.

HALLSVILLE – According to our news partner KETK, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said they arrested a man in connection to a Sunday fatal shooting that left two men dead on Roberson Road in Hallsville.

The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office says that around 7:36 p.m. on Sunday, deputies and investigators responded to a call of shots being fired. Two men were then discovered dead in the front yard of a Roberson Road property from what appeared to be gunshot wounds. The dead were identified as Keyan Jernigan, 29, and Duane Jernigan, 49.

A reported suspects vehicle was seen nearby and 26-year-old Darius Celedra Gates Jr. was found to be the driver and he was arrested. Gates was booked into the Harrison County Jail and accused of evading capture/detainment with a vehicle, unlawful ownership of a gun by a felon, possession and delivery of marijuana and capital murder of multiple persons.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK report that a Van Zandt County deputy was killed in a wreck Sunday afternoon. Sgt. Jeremy McCoy was off-duty when the accident happened Sunday around 4 p.m. and reportedly had his child in the vehicle with him. The child was life-flighted with non-life-threatening injuries. DPS is investigating the wreck.

JACKSONVILLE – The city of Jacksonville and East Texas came together Saturday for the 39th annual Jacksonville Tomato Fest. According to our news partner KETK, the festival hosted in downtown Jacksonville, had over 300 vendors, a kids zone, a “Got Talent” contest and a tomato eating contest. Andy Calcote, co-chair of the Tomato Fest said it takes about 200 volunteers to make the Jacksonville Tomato Fest a reality each and every year. Calcote said they are already planning the 40th Tomato Fest for 2024.

ATHENS – A 17-year-old pedestrian died after being hit by a car in a crash on FM 317 around 2:37 a.m. on Sunday, according to our news partner KETK. Haylie Grimes, 17 of Gun Barrel City, was speaking to the driver of a vehicle stopped partly in the westbound lane of FM 317 when a 2008 Dodge Charger drove into the eastbound lane, disregarding a no passing zone and stopped , officials said. According to a Texas DPS report, Grimes was crossing the westbound lane to be picked up by the Dodge when a 2021 Kia Rio failed to control its speed and hit the Dodge and Grimes. Grimes was declared dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Tonya Norris, DPS reported. The driver of the Dodge was treated for injuries at the scene and released. Officials said the driver of the Kia, Chance Tyler Barnhart, 19 of Athens, was arrested and had his blood voluntarily drawn. Barnhart was charged with intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle and booked into Henderson County Jail.

TATUM – Law enforcement in Tatum would like your help in identifying those responsible for a robbery at the Brake Time convenience store Friday in Tatum. According to our news partner KETK, the Tatum Police Department has made available video and photos of the incident for you to see. To view photos and video of the robbery, just click here.

Tatum Police ask if you have information in the material shown to contact them.

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that happened on the 400 block of Johnson Street on Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, officials stated that around 4:16 a.m., Longview police officers were informed that the victim, Jamie White, 25, had been transported by private vehicle to a nearby hospital.

According to authorities, White died at that hospital as a result of his injuries.

Longview Police Department is investigating this case and they ask that anyone with information call them at 903-237-1110.

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department said they’ve arrested a suspect in relation to a shooting that happened in the 600 block of Harrison Street on Saturday.

Longview Police officers responded to reports around 2:52 a.m. on Saturday to find two males with apparent gunshot wounds, according to the authorities. Authorities said that Aleksei Gamez, 19, was articulated dead at the scene and the other casualty was taken to a neighborhood clinic with dangerous wounds. Jose Rodriguez Jr., 25, was later taken into custody by Longview detectives and charged with capital murder. He has a bond of $500,000 and is being held at the North Jail.

SHELBY COUNTY – Our news partner KETK reports that 110 grams of meth and three handguns were seized during a traffic stop in Shelby County.

On June 7, officials answered reports of a reckless driver on Parkway 87 North in Center. According to the authorities, a search of the vehicle yielded three handguns and 110 grams of methamphetamine during the traffic stop.