KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the Tyler TxDOT district during the Week of Oct. 10. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones.

Sunday work is planned for the Loop 323 at SH 31 project in Tyler. Motorists are encouraged to avoid this work zone once work kicks off at 1 p.m Sunday continuing throughout the week. The contractor is realigning the northbound lanes to the permanent configuration and moving traffic to allow project construction to progress. Work will be conducted pretty much around the clock Sunday through Thursday. Get more details about this project in the Smith County section of this story. Continue reading TxDOT’s Weekly Roadwork Update

SMITH COUNTY — Sheriff’s officials are investigating after a gunshot was fired into a Smith County nightclub early Sunday. Sheriff Larry Smith says deputies responded to a disturbance at Visions Gentlemen’s Club, formerly Bare Assets, on Hwy 31 East around 1:30 a.m. They were told three white male suspects had left the scene in a silver Chevrolet pickup, and a victim had a scratch on his leg. The victim said the suspects had started a disturbance in the club and were told to leave. He said as they were leaving he was standing by the door. As they drove out, a shot was fired and went through the door of the club. Smith says the victim was hit possibly by a bullet fragment and did not require any medical treatment. Evidence was collected at the scene. If you have any information on this incident, you’re asked to contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at 903-566-6600.

TYLER — Tyler police seek your help solving a convenience store robbery. Officers answered the call to the store at East Commerce and Loop 323 shortly after 8:15 Sunday morning. The clerk told them a white female had robbed her at gunpoint. The suspect left running southbound on the loop with an undisclosed about of money. No injuries were reported. The suspect had her face covered. Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000 or Tyler/Smith County Crime Stoppers at 903-597-CUFF.

TYLER – Tyler Police Chief Jimmy Toler promotes Lieutenant David Long to Assistant Chief and Sergeant Jason Burton to Lieutenant at a ceremony this afternoon. Long has been with the Tyler Police Department since February, 1994. He has worked in numerous departments during his police career. He was promoted to Sergeant in December 1999. In August, 2002, he was promoted to Lieutenant. Continue reading Two Tyler Policemen Promoted

TYLER — The Tyler Salvation Army is now standing by to help Hurricane Matthew victims as needed. The agency was due to send 3 disaster volunteers and its mobile kitchen unit to Florida Friday in response to the storm. But Friday afternoon, Salvation Army officials say they were asked to stand down their active deployment and to remain on standby until further notice. Salvation Army spokesperson Lindsey Galabeas says the agency did prepare Friday morning for disaster relief and was loaded down with enough food to make 1500 meals for initial response.

LONGVIEW – A Longview traffic stop has resulted in an arrest on drug charges. The car, driven by Terrence Domond Walton, 31, of Longview, was pulled over on West Marshall Avenue near Avenue D. The Longview News Journal reports Walton told the officer, “Here, I’m gonna make this easy on you.” He then handed the officer marijuana, a bottle of codeine and a loaded gun. He has been charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon, possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance. There was also several outstanding city warrants on him, one of which was using a cell phone in a school zone. Walton was booked into the Gregg County Jail with a bonds totaling $53,000.

GILMER – A Longview man is going to prison for aggravated sexual assault of a child. Danny Ray Copeland, 42, pled guilty is state district court in Upshur County. He received a 40 year prison sentenced for aggravated sexual assault of a child, 10 years in prison for indecency with a child and 10 years in prison on a second charge of indecency with a child. The three sentences will run concurrently. Copeland is also under indictment in Gregg County, and as part of Friday’s plea agreement, he will plead guilty to Sexual Performance of a Child, a second degree felony, and receive a 20 year prison sentence to run concurrently with his Upshur County sentences. Continue reading Longview Man Draws Prison Term

LONGVIEW – A man described by police records as a transient, has pleaded guilty in Longview of two counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact. State District Judge Alfonso Charles sentenced Justin Thomas Lowery, 28, to 10 years in prison. He had been accused of having sexual contact with a girl younger than 17 on two occasions last year.

TYLER – Following a public hearing Friday, Smith County Commissioners approved a tax abatement for a business coming to the county. The five-year, 80% tax abatement for GG Distributing Company, a beverage distribution company that operates in several states and distributes beverages to a 30-county area in Texas. GG Distributing plans to invest $15 million and create at least 160 jobs in northeast Smith County. Tyler Economic Development Council President/CEO Tom Mullins said the project will allow the company to consolidate its distribution facilities in Palestine, Longview and Nacogdoches onto one property. That would be the former U.S. Postal Service facility on Farm Road 3311 in Owentown. Continue reading Smith County Commissioners Approve a Tax Abatement

BULLARD – The collision of two SUVs near Bullard has left one person dead and three injured. The crash occurred around 6:00 this morning on Highway 344 in southern Smith County. Dead at the scene was Taryn Coker-Minyard, 30, of Whitehouse. Injured was Jessica Butler, 31, of Bullard. She, and a 9 year old passenger were taken to East Texas Medical Center in Tyler. An 11 year old passenger was airlifted to ETMC and then flown to Dallas Children’s Hospital. The crash occurred when Minyard’s vehicle traveled into the opposite lane of traffic and hit Butler’s vehicle hit head-on.

EAST TEXAS — Tyler Police along with, Athens Police, Canton Police, Lindale Police, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office and Smith County Sheriff’s Office are all investigating residential and auto burglary cases believed to have been committed by the same suspect. Officials are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect, who has been caught on surveillance video cashing stolen checks, using stolen credit cards and pawning stolen property. Police said he’s driving a 2002 to 2005, white Dodge Ram, 4-door, 1500 SLT, pick-up. If you recognize this suspect please contact Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000, Tyler Smith County Crime Stoppers 903-597-2833 or your local Law Enforcement agency.

LUFKIN – A Lufkin man has been convicted in a June, 2013 murder. Rakeem Levon Rhodes, 20, had been charged with capital murder. A jury, after deliberating around 5 1/2 hours Thursday, convicted him of first-degree felony murder. The judge ordered a 45-day pre-sentencing investigation in the case. Rhodes had been charged in the shooting death of Albert Hodge, 60. He was found with multiple gunshot wounds in a house in the 700 block of Weaver Avenue. He later died at a Lufkin hospital. Rhodes was later taken into custody by Nacogdoches County sheriff’s deputies and U.S. Marshals. He had been charged with capital murder since it was alleged the killing occurred while the victim was being robbed.

KILGORE – Gregg County Crime Stoppers has increased its reward to to find Sheryia Grant. Crimestoppers announced it increased the reward to $5,000 for information which leads investigators to Grant. This, coupled with the $5,000 being offered by her family, brings the total to $10,000. She was eight months pregnant when she disappeared. She was last seen on August 20th. Police previously said they believe the woman was in danger and suspected foul play. Continue reading Reward Increased For Missing Kilgore Woman

LONGVIEW – Longview police are reporting one person has been injured in a Wednesday night shooting on the city’s south side. It happened near the intersection of 13th Street and Homer Avenue. Residents in the area report hearing multiple shots.The victim was transported to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Police spokesperson Kristie Brian says the victim is being uncooperative and they have nothing new to release at this time.

LONGVIEW – A librarian at Longview High School has been reprimanded after posting a a full size cut out of Donald Trump And Hillary Clinton at the library entrance. A paper sign on the Trump cutout read, “SIGN IN OR YOU WILL BE DEPORTED.” The sign on the Clinton cutout read, “This is the … door to use … Deplorables use the other door.” The text on the photo is partially obscured by a note on the door. School district spokeswoman Sarah LeBus said after the cutouts were discovered, they were removed and the staff member responsible for them received a written reprimand. She said the district is also considering further disciplinary actions. Continue reading Longview School Librarian Reprimanded, Could Face Further Discipline

TYLER – The principal of T.K. Gorman Catholic School is stepping down at the end of this school year. The school made the announcement Thursday. Jim Franz has been Gorman’s principal since 1998. Bishop Joseph Strickland has named the Very Rev. Daniel P. Dower to head the search committee that will look for the school’s new principal. He will be assisted by Dr. James Klassen, the Diocesan Superintendent of Schools.

HOUSTON – A couple of area organizations will be getting grants from the The Episcopal Health Foundation. Each organization is working to improve the health of the poor in Texas. The Bethesda Health Clinic in Tyler will be getting a $100,000 grant. The funds will be used to provide operating support for the clinic. The Samaritan Counseling Center of Tyler will be getting a $166,160 grant. The funds will be used to provide affordable, quality counseling and to ensure project sustainability through development support. And Community Healthcore of Gregg County will receive $144,178. A news release said the grant is to fund the recruitment, hiring and training of persons with experience of mental illness for peer-to-peer support that expands the care for persons with severe mental illness.

TYLER – The trial for former Smith County Judge Joel Baker has been rescheduled. Baker had been scheduled to go on trial October 31st. But at a Thursday pre-trial hearing, Attorney General’s Office prosecutor Daniel Brody requested a continuance. Visiting Judge Jack Carter agreed and rescheduled the trial for the week of December 12th. Baker was indicted in June on three counts of violating the Texas Open Meetings Act. The charges stem from meetings in which the commissioners agreed to purchase traffic cameras for school zones. Baker has resigned his position, effective November 4th.

JACKSONVILLE — A woman who escaped police custody and allegedly stabbed a man at a Jacksonville apartment complex was arrested on Monday. According to KETK, Jacksonville Police were dispatched to the Creekside Village Apartments on S. Bolton Street on reports of a disturbance. When they arrived at the location, a man told officers an unknown person had entered his apartment and began stabbing him. Officers reported that most of the information the victim was giving to them was not consistent. Continue reading Stabbing Suspect in Custody after Brief Escape

KILGORE – A suspected meth dealer has been arrested by Kilgore police. The three week investigation resulted in the arrest of Brian Calhoun Stansbury, 40. He was arrested in a home on Farm Road 2776 around 12:15 Wednesday afternoon. Inside the house, officers recovered around 1/4 pound of methamphetamine, many firearms, rifle suppressors and two police tactical vests. Stansbury is a convicted felon and can’t possess firearms, but they say the house was full of them. Officers also recovered many stolen items, including a motorcycle and a zero turn lawn mower. He has been booked into the Rusk County Jail and charges are pending.

PALESTINE – Palestine police have identified the suspect in a shooting that left one person dead. He is 54 year old Lawrence Tatum Jr. of Palestine. He is accused of the Monday night shooting of 28 year old Paul Kennedy of Palestine. He was found in the front yard of a home on West Point Tap Road. He later died at a Palestine hospital. The next morning, Tatum was arrested in the case. He has been charged with murder and is in the Anderson County Jail with a bond of $250,000.

TYLER – The campaign to raise funds for body armor vests for the Tyler Police Department and Smith County Sheriff’s Department is nearing the half way mark. With the $10,000 contribution Wednesday from Southside Bank, the drive has now gathered $85,000 toward a goal of $204,000. State senator Kevin Eltife said the money comes from 89 gifts from $10.00 and up. And he added, “With additional pledges still outstanding, we expect to make a big announcement next week.” Continue reading We Back Our Law Enforcement Campaign Fund Growing

NACOGDOCHES – Stephen F Austin English teacher Seth Wilson has finally met his match. His 13th game on the TV show Jeopardy turned out to be unlucky. Wilson only bet $5 on the final Jeopardy round. He got the answer correct, but the other player out bid him and won. For his second place finish, with $2,000, his grand total on the show was $267,002.

LONGVIEW – Cotton Street will be reduced to one-way traffic from Green Street to Mobberly Avenue starting on Thursday. The purpose of the project is to replace deteriorated utilities and pavement; and add sidewalks. Drivers wishing to travel west between Mobberly Avenue and Green Street must use alternate routes along E. Methvin Street or Marshall Avenue (Highway 80). Through traffic will be allowed to travel along Cotton from Green Street to Mobberly Avenue. The closure is expected to last until next summer.

LAKE TYLER — New details have been released about an arson investigation involving a house on Lake Tyler owned by the Manziel family. According to KETK, the smith county fire marshal says accelerants were not used to start the fire. Investigators originally thought the fire was suspicious — and despite these negative test results, the department is still treating this as arson. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is also investigating a possible burglary that took place before the fire. The two-story house was owned by Paul Manziel, Johnny Manziel’s grandfather. According to the Smith County Appraisal District, the property was valued at over $408,000.

LONGVIEW – Good Shepherd Health System is once again looking for an affilation partner. Plans had been for Duke LifePoint Healthcare to partner with the Longview healthcare system. But, Duke LifePoint has decided not to pursue the acquisition of Good Shepherd. The memorandum of understanding to be acquired by Duke LifePoint expired on September 30. A news release from Good Shepherd quotes board of director chairman Bill Huffman as saying, “While we are disappointed in the outcome of this process, we respect Duke LifePoint’s right to make business decisions that achieve their organization’s goals.”The Good Shepherd Board of Directors immediately began working with their financial advisors and resumed the search for an appropriate partner.

TYLER — For the second time within a month, a Tyler man has been arrested on drug charges. Tyler Police narcotics investigators Wednesday executed a search warrant at 506 Valentine Street. Their investigation showed that 60 year old Aubrey Ray Wilbanks, was once again selling Methamphetamine while out on bond after being arrested on September 15. Wilbanks has been charged with manufacturing and delivery of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, and possession of dangerous drugs. Police say investigators also located stolen property and firearms while searching Wilbanks’ property.