KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – Tyler is home to the largest municipal rose garden, and on Rose Sunday, the community came together to honor our city of roses. Tyler’s rose garden blooms with more than 15,000 rose bushes, seeing 100,000 visitors every year according to our news partner KETK. On Rose Sunday, people gathered to celebrate these beautiful blooms. “We are here to promote our rose garden, our beautiful 14 acres that are blooming out there and promote our city,” said Executive Director for the Texas Rose Festival Association Liz Ballard. There to honor Tyler’s roses was the Texas Rose Festival court, and the 2023 Rose Queen Laura Bryan. Today, more than one-third of the nation’s rose bushes are processed, packaged and shipped from this area. It’s building up excitement for the 90th Texas Rose Festival in just a few months.

TYLER — The Bed Bath and Beyond stores in Tyler and Longview are both closing and offering store-wide sales, according to employees. Local store employees confirmed to our news partner KETK that they are closing and that everything in the store is between 10% and 30% off. Bed Bath and Beyond’s website said similar sales are happening across the country. The stores in East Texas are closing along with every Bed Bath & Beyond store nationwide after the chain filled for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier in April, according to the Associated Press. It is unknown when the stores will officially close but the last day to use any gift cards or store credit is May 8, 2023, according to the company’s website.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Beginning Monday, May 8, the Texas Department of Transportation will begin widening operations on FM 768 in Jacksonville. The work will widen the roadway from 18 feet to 23 feet, from Loop 456 in Jacksonville to FM 22. Motorists should expect lane closures while work is in progress with flaggers and a pilot car controlling traffic. Delays are expected.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department said Saturday 63-year-old Mark Horner was discovered dead in Marion County. According to our news partner KETK, Horner, a teacher for Trinity School Of Texas, had been missing since April 19th. It was reported that Chase County Kansas Sheriff’s Department said they may have seen Horner in their area. That proved to be false. The Marion County Sheriff’s department, who are conducting the investigation, said there are no signs of foul play in the death of Horner.

TYLER — On Friday night, DeMarvion Overshown alongside family and friends in Tyler, got to hear his name called, getting drafted by the Cowboys in the 3rd round of the 2023 NFL draft. According to our news partner KETK, after playing safety in Arp, Overshown signed with the Texas Longhorns, where he moved over to linebacker and led the Horns in tackles. Now he will get the chance to showcase the skills he learned in Arp and in Austin and take them to his new football home in Dallas.

BULLARD – The Brookshire’s grocery was evacuated Saturday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, store management received an anonymous phone call that a “device” had been placed inside the store. Bullard police conducted a search and issued an all clear after no device had been found. The Bullard Police Department is continuing an investigation in the case.

HENDERSON COUNTY – The Henderson County Sheriff’s office report a shooting in rural Henderson county that left one person dead late Friday night. According to our news partner KETK, officials say they found 27-year-old Justin Jordan at that location with multiple gunshot wounds. Jordan later died of those wounds. Also at the scene, Sheriff’s deputies arrested Cody Alan Jones, age 30. He admitted shooting the decedent. Jones was then arrested and charged with murder and taken to the Henderson County jail. Jail records show that Jones has not yet received bond.

ATHENS – Athens Police Chief John Densmore’s last day with the department was Friday, the city announced. According to our news partner KETK, Densmore announced his resignation in order to go into the private sector. “During his tenure, Chief Densmore has worked tirelessly to keep our city safe and enhance the quality of life for all of our citizens,” according to a release from the city. “On behalf of the city, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for his dedicated service to our community. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors and are confident that he will continue to make a positive impact in his new role.” Previously, Densmore worked at the Cedar Hill Police Department as a Lieutenant before moving to Athens and becoming chief in February 2021. The search for a new police chief will begin immediately.

TYLER — There are many changes to P.T. Cole Park which has been in the community since 1955. Tyler Parks and Recreation along with city councilmen welcomed the new park with a ribbon cutting on Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, this has been a working project in the community since October 2022. The 2.3-acre park has playground equipment, basketball courts and a splash pad for the hot East Texas summers. District 2 councilman Broderick McGee said this is a way for children to make new memories. “It’s going to be exciting that you know for years to come, they’ll be able to come back to this park still here and bring their kids,” said McGee. Continue reading Grand opening: Long-standing P.T. Cole Park in Tyler renovated

TYLER – Memorial services have been set for an Arp High School senior who passed Wednesday after a car crash in Smith County. Services for Thomas Fuller will be held at the Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler with a visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday and the funeral service will be on Monday at 10 a.m. “Thank you very much for your support during this difficult time for our school district,” Arp ISD said. “Grief counselors are available for Arp ISD students and staff as needed on all three of our campuses.” The school district said Fuller was a member of the football team, powerlifting team and ran track during his junior year.

TYLER — After severe weather caused damage across Texas this week, the Texas Division of Emergency Management is urging all impacted Texans to report property damage to a TDEM survey. According to our news partner KETK, Texas residents are encouraged to self-submit damages to their homes and businesses using the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool damage survey. “Reporting storm damage is a critical step to helping Texas communities recover from this severe weather,” said Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd. Continue reading Texans impacted by severe weather urged to report damage in state survey

TYLER — Due to recent heavy rains in the area, the Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East boat ramps will be temporarily closed and the lakes are closed to boat traffic from lake residents, the City of Tyler announced. The lakes are currently at an elevation of 376.4 feet Mean Sea Level and are continuing to rise. The ramps are closed due to hazards from debris that washed into the lakes from recent rains. This is also an effort to reduce damage to the shoreline caused by boat wakes. The closure is effective until further notice and Tyler Water Utilities anticipates reopening the ramps once lake levels decrease.

LONGVIEW – Two achievement awards are heading CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System’s way for demonstrating commitment to stroke care, according to our news partner KETK. These achievements highlight the hospital’s following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of stroke, leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions. Studies show that someone in the U.S. has a stroke every 40 seconds, with strokes being the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and patients can recover better when providers consistently follow treatment guidelines. CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System, a participant in the Get with the Guidelines program, qualified for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to improving quality care. CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System in Longview and Marshall both received “gold plus honor roll elite” recognition for stroke care and “gold plus honor roll” recognition for type 2 diabetes care. Continue reading CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System receives national recognition for stroke care