KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – While they may look like they have a hard exterior, on the inside this group of East Texas bikers have soft hearts. According to our new s partner KETK, the group known as Bikers Against Bullying East Texas, or Babet for short, said they just want to spread joy this holiday season and the rest of the year. The bikers teamed up with Mobile Home Masters in Tyler to make the Christmases of many foster kids a lot brighter, bringing in bags of toys, not on Santa’s sleigh, but on motorcycles. The president of Mobile Home Masters, Matias Pena, said it was a no-brainer partnering together for a good cause. “Getting involved with the kids is very important. They are our future, so making sure that we take care of them, put a smile on their face is something they’ll remember forever,” said Pena. It’s the toy run’s third year, and it’s bigger than ever before.

PALESTINE – A firefighter was injured by a handgun accidentally going off outside of Palestine Fire Station #2 on Saturday Dec. 3, according to our news partner KETK. Officers from Palestine Police Department arrived at the station and said they found the injured firefighter who had already been given emergency medical aid by members of Palestine Fire Department. According to Palestine PD, the firefighter was transported to Palestine Regional Medical Center ER and they expect them to recover. Witnesses said that one of the injured firefighter’s co-workers took their new gun from their vehicle and was showing it off when it discharged. The Palestine Fire Department employee whose gun went off accidentally has been placed on administrative leave while Palestine PD investigates.

TYLER — Law enforcement officials said they arrested a man in Tyler Friday evening, who was wanted for capital murder. According to our news partner KETK, Jason Edward Rhodes, 21, was arrested after a chase around 6:30 p.m. Rhodes led officers on a chase in a vehicle before running away in the area of Bow Street and Valentine Street, prior to his arrest. Deputies attempted to pull over the vehicle, a black Ford Mustang, on FM 14 but the driver drove away heading south. The driver lost control and hit a pole at Fannin Avenue and Valentine Street, officials said. When the car crashed, the passenger, identified as Rhodes, ran from law enforcement and the driver was taken into custody. Rhodes was caught in the 400 block of Bow Street. According to the sheriff’s office, Rhodes was the last of three suspects in a capital murder case out of Tyler to be arrested.

TYLER — The Tyler Salvation Army reports it’s diligently working to reach its Angel Tree goal, but the December 10 deadline is fast approaching. The Salvation Army registered over 2,500 children and seniors for gifts for this holiday season. As of Friday afternoon, 1,400 remained unclaimed. According to website information, the Angel Tree program of Tyler helps families in need by providing new clothing and toys to 2,300 children each year. For more information, call Greg Mason at 903-592-4361 or 903-203-7686.

TYLER — A lawsuit has been filed by the family of a young man whose relatives helped find a suspect in a Halloween hit and run in Tyler that put the man in the hospital. According to a news release from the McGuire Firm, on October 30, Noah Mireles was leaving a Halloween party, dressed as an inflatable dinosaur, when he was run over by a driver who immediately fled the scene. The firm says Mireles’s injuries caused him to spend multiple days in the hospital and suffer significant pain and impairment. After reporting the incident to the police and seeking help from the public, Mireles’s family did their own detective work and tracked down the suspect vehicle, according to the release. Continue reading Lawsuit filed after victim’s family helps locate Halloween hit and run suspect

LONGVIEW – Authorities say a man has been missing since being released from the Gregg County Jail. According to our news partner KETK, the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is looking for 39-year-old Thomas Walter Pennix, who has been missing since Nov. 16. He is described as a Black male with black hair and brown eyes, who stands roughly six feet tall and weighs between 160 and 180 pounds. Authorities said Pennix is from Virginia and does not have family locally. His family members have reportedly not seen or spoken to him since his release. If you or anyone you know has information leading to Thomas or his whereabouts, you’re asked to contact Investigator Tyler Myers at 903-237-2527 or the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 903-236-8400. Reference case number C22-16815.

RAINS COUNTY – Officials say an investigation is underway after the Rains and Hunt County Sheriff’s Offices found human skeletal remains in Rains County on Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, the Texas Rangers are working with the two sheriff’s offices on the investigation. Authorities said they additionally found other “evidentiary items.” The remains were sent to the University of North Texas to identify the person. “Our agencies are aware there have been postings on social media regarding evidence and assumptions that the remains are of a missing Quinlan man, however proper identification has not been made and can only be made by dental records or DNA,” said the Rains County Sheriff’s Office in a prepared statement. Officials also asked people to be mindful of the family if they post information about the case.

TYLER — Beginning Monday, weather permitting, eastbound traffic on Cambridge Road in Tyler will shift from the south side to the newly paved north side at Townhouse Drive. Drivers will move back to the south side of Cambridge Road just before reaching Potomac Drive to continue traveling east. Officials say the shift is needed for demolition of the south side of the roadway to make the area ready for new asphalt pavement. Residents on the south side of Cambridge Road, Bishops Gate Lane, Southland Drive, and Radcliff Drive will continue to use the existing pavement for eastbound travel until their access road or driveway is cut to match the newly paved elevation. Continue reading Cambridge Road traffic shifts to north side as construction continues

KILGORE — Kilgore police said they apprehended a “reckless driver” after it hit two vehicles in the Walmart parking lot, but the “driver” was actually a dog. According to our news partner KETK, an owner of one of the cars that was hit said he saw a suspect barreling down on him but he couldn’t get out of the way. The person was shocked to see that the driver was a dog. KPD said the dog was behind the wheel when the crash happened. Their investigation revealed that the dog was sitting in the unoccupied car waiting for its owners while they shopped, but apparently got a little antsy and “bounced around” in the cab, setting the truck into motion. Continue reading ‘Reckless driver’ crash turns out to be dog behind the wheel in Kilgore

WOOD COUNTY — A man was no-billed by a grand jury this week after being arrested earlier this year for the capital murder of Brittany McGlone. According to our news partner KETK, Hope McGlone, Brittany’s half-sister, said the family is disappointed in the decision. “Everything points to this person, so my biggest question to them is why,” Hope said. “I don’t understand when the sheriff felt like there was an overwhelming amount of evidence, that we should have received an indictment.” McGlone was tragically beaten, sexually assaulted and murdered in 2007. 15 years later, the family thought they had found justice when Chad Carr was arrested. Continue reading No closure in East Texas cold case following no-bill

TYLER — UT Health Tyler has named Zach Dietze as CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2023. The organization said that Dietze is an experienced healthcare executive who most recently served as chief operating officer of Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Before that, he served as assistant administrator, then as CEO of Seton Medical Center in Harker Heights and as a program manager at Harris Health System in Houston. “We are thrilled to welcome Zach back to Texas and to UT Health East Texas. He is a people-first, physician-driven leader who understands that serving people is at the heart of everything we do,” said Donald Baker, market president of UT Health East Texas, as quoted in a news release. Dietze received his bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas at Austin and his Master of Healthcare Administration from Trinity University in San Antonio.

TYLER – Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed Judge Taylor Heaton to the new 475th District Court in Smith County according to our news partner KETK. Heaton’s term will start in the court on Jan. 1 for a term set to expire at the end of 2024. Heaton is currently judge of the County Court at Law No. 2 in Smith County, and has previously served as an assistant district attorney in Tyler for over 12 years. Gov. Abbott signed the house bill in June 2021 to create the 475th District Court to help reduce backlog of criminal cases, according to former Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran, who said the courthouse’s backlog had nearly doubled after the pandemic. Smith County District Attorney Jacob Putman testified in favor of the bill for a new district court in front of the House of Representatives before it was signed.

TYLER – The City of Tyler is celebrating Rosa Parks Day with a reserved seat on a Tyler Transit bus, according to our news partner KETK. The holiday, observed on the day of her arrest, honors Parks after she refused to give up her bus seat, going against an Alabama law in 1955 that required Black passengers to relinquish seats when a bus became full. “Her actions led to a 1956 Supreme Court decision banning segregation on public transportation,” the city said in a statement. “Today, Tyler Transit honors Rosa Parks and her legacy with her own designated seat.” The seat left in honor of Parks, 67 years after she was arrested for not giving up her bus seat, features a photo of Parks with the words “this seat is reserved for Rosa Parks.”

EAST TEXAS — It’s almost time for the Tyler and Longview Christmas parades. The Rotary Clubs of Tyler is putting on the Rose City event, and the local AMBUCS is presenting the Longview attraction. Both are set for December 1 in the cities’ downtowns, with the Tyler parade kicking off at 6 p.m. and the Longview activity beginning at 6:30 in the evening. The Tyler event will be capped by the lighting of the downtown Christmas tree by this year’s Children’s Miracle Network Miracle Child, three-year-old Hannah Harlow. Longview’s parade includes marching bands, floats, and an appearance by Santa. Click here for more on what’s happening in Tyler. Check this link for more information on the Longview parade.