KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — A law officer’s missing cemetery marker has been returned to its gravesite, thanks to the efforts of a citizen. Tyler police say in May of this year a veteran’s cemetery marker was found at a residence that was being renovated by a new homeowner. Upon finding the marker the homeowner did some research and determined that the marker belonged to a Milus (Mike) Nichol, who died in the line of duty on October 12, 1962, while serving with the Tyler Police Department. Continue reading Citizen’s Effort Brings Closure to Fallen Officers Cemetery Marker

LIBERTY CITY — Family members of a Liberty City teenager missing since April say a person matching her description has been spotted near Leadville, Colorado — a small town about 100 miles west of Denver. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Vickie Raymond, Paiglynn Raymond’s grandmother, said over the weekend two East Texas men traveling through Colorado on business saw a young girl wandering around a gas station, and it struck both of them as strange. “They considered asking her if she needed transportation, but they didn’t want to scare her,” she said. Continue reading Gregg County Runaway May Have Been Spotted in Colorado

TYLER — Pets for People, formerly The Humane Society of East Texas, is in danger of closing its doors. Executive Director Gayle Helms told KETK,”We make our money strictly from private donations. We’re not government funded by any way, we’re not funded by any of the national organizations, so everything that we get actually comes from private donations.” Helms says Pets Fur People needs another $20,000 per month in order to continue operation, with each pet costing the agency about $13 per day. According to Helms, if the organization does not receive the funding, it will shut down by the end of July. “That would be a real tragedy for Smith County and East Texas, not having a brick and mortar no kill animal shelter here,” said Helms. Continue reading Pets Fur People Faces Possible Closure

AUSTIN — Governor Greg Abbott added 24 more counties to the states disaster declaration, including five from East Texas. According to KETK, Nacogdoches, Polk, San Augustine, Shelby and Trinity counties joined a long list of others. Continue reading More East Texas Counties Added to Disaster Declaration

TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for two suspects involved in a reported aggravated assault Thursday morning. It happened around 1:45 at Target, 7003 South Broadway. Officials said an employee was outside waiting to enter the business when he was approached by two black males with their faces partially covered. One of the suspects was armed with a pistol and demanded all of the victim’s property. About that time, another employee unlocked the door from the inside to let the victim in. The suspects fled in a white vehicle and have not been located. Please contact police with any information. At this time the case is still being investigated. Anyone with information concerning this case is encouraged to call the Tyler Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 903-597-CUFF.

GLADEWATER — Gladewater police reported a registered sex offender was arrested early Wednesday after he was allegedly caught peeking into several homes. KETK reports that around 1:30 a.m., authorities received a call about a person looking into the windows of homes in the 100 block of N. Cotton Street. When police made it to the scene, they found a suspect matching the description that was called in to dispatchers. The man had reportedly been spotted at two different houses. Continue reading Police: Sex Offender Caught Peeking into Gladewater Homes

LONGVIEW — Cargill Trail in Longview will be temporarily closed from the Hollybrook trailhead and south to the bridge for the removal of trees, according to a city news release. The temporary closure will take place Thursday morning, June 4, and the trail is scheduled to reopen when the job is complete on approximately Saturday afternoon, June 6. According to officials, the project is not a city of Longview project, but trail closure is necessary to accommodate tree removal on an adjacent property.

HENDERSON — Rusk County officials are warning the public about potential issues with city debris piles. According to KETK, Public Information Officer David Chenault with the Rusk County Office of Emergency Management says debris placed around hydrants and gas meters is creating potential deadly hazards for cleanup crews. Citizens are asked to avoid these areas for dumping. Chenault’s advisory is the latest in a series in the aftermath of a tornado that caused heavy damage in the county last month. He says city debris piles could hide potentially deadly hazards. Continue reading Rusk County OEM Warns of Hazardous Debris Piles

DALLAS — Not everyone is happy with the bill Governor Abbott signed allowing epilepsy patients to use THC cannabis oil, co-sponsored by Tyler State Sen. Kevin Eltife. For its part, the Marijuana Policy Project calls it a good start. But spokeswoman Heather Fazio says there are a lot of other sick people who are being left out. Fazio mentions “cancer patients, veterans suffering from PTSD, multiple sclerosis patients, who require a higher level of THC to see relief.” She’s also not excited about Governor Abbott’s declaration that it’s the only marijuana bill he’ll sign as governor. Fazio points out the public supports decriminalization by a wide margin.

MARSHALL — Harrison County officials are asking for the public’s help finding a missing teenager. According to KETK, the Sheriff’s Office says Natalie Kelley, 14, of Hallsville, disappeared May 31. Officials say she may be in the company of her mother, Donna Craver, in the Longview area. Kelley is described as a white female with blond hair and hazel eyes, 5 feet 3 inches, and approximately 120 pounds. She is listed as a runaway in the Texas Crime Information Center (TCIC) computer system. If you have information on the Natalie’s location, contact law enforcement.

GREGG COUNTY — One person has died following a late Tuesday night shooting at a club near Kilgore. According to KETK, Gregg County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Kirk Haddix says the shooting happened around 9:15 p.m. at The Platinum Club on Highway 31 near the Smith County line. When they arrived, deputies found Reginald Ward, 39, of Kilgore, in the parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds. Ward was taken to a Tyler hospital where he later died. An autopsy has been ordered. Deputies have identified someone in connection with the shooting but have not made an arrest. The suspect’s name has not been publicly released. If you have any information concerning the shooting, call Investigator David Falco at 903-236-8438 or Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-7867.

LONGVIEW — Two people were injured early Wednesday morning in the second shooting in Longview in 24 hours. Shortly after midnight, someone knocked on the door of a residence on Aurel Street near 12th Street and shot a man who answered. According to the Longview News-Journal, the man’s son was also shot. Both victims, whose names have not been released by police, were taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center. The elder victim’s injuries are described as life-threatening. The younger victim was treated and released. Police have no suspects. Continue reading Two Men Injured in Another Shooting in Longview

LUFKIN — Nearly 200 local, state and federal emergency responders are in Lufkin for the 18th annual Wildfire and Incident Management Academy. Jan Amen with Texas A&M Forest Service said one focus is training multiple agencies to use the same acronyms, codes and signals so they can be on the same page when responding to a large scale disasters. Participants learn everything from wildfire suppression to operating large equipment to clear debris following tornadoes and floods.

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott Tuesday hosted a ceremonial bill signing on the heliport at the Dallas Convention Center, where he discussed the investments in transportation infrastructure made this legislative session. The Governor previously declared transportation an emergency initiative in his State of the State address. One of the bills was co-sponsored by Sen. Robert Nichols of Jacksonville, who serves as chairman for the Senate Transportation Committee. Another was co-sponsored by State Sen. Bob Hall of Edgewood. Continue reading Abbott Signs Transportation Bills

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Officials have released additional information on a major crash that happened Monday in Van Zandt County. DPS Trooper Jean Dark says at approximately 2:30 p.m., troopers responded to the multi-vehicle fatal crash on I-20, two miles east of Canton. The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2006 Freightliner truck towing a trailer was traveling east in the right lane. Dark says the driver of the Freightliner failed to control his speed and ran into the back of a 2007 Ford Escape traveling in the same lane. The Ford Escape was then pushed forward into a 2013 Ford SEL. The Ford SEL was then pushed into a 2015 KIA Soul, which was then pushed into a 1998 Peterbilt truck towing a flatbed trailer. Continue reading Details Released on Multi-Vehicle Fatal in Van Zandt County

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department says a missing senior citizen has been found. Police had been searching for Joan Brown, an 82-year-old diagnosed with dementia. Prior to being found, she had last been seen ay 1:45 p.m. Tuesday at University and Loop 323.

TYLER – East Texas Medical Center Tyler has filed suit in excess of $1 million against three of the largest health insurance carriers in East Texas. According to a news release, the suit claims that the hospital’s exclusion from the preferred provider networks (PPO) of these companies has created serious and negative consumer impacts. The insurance companies named in the suit are Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Texas, a division of Health Care Service Corporation; Aetna Health, Inc., Aetna Life Insurance Company; Cigna Healthcare of Texas, Inc.; and Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company. Continue reading ETMC Sues Three Insurance Companies

TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office reported during Tuesday’s Commissioners Court meeting that it has become necessary to house nine county inmates outside Smith County. Last week, the Sheriff’s Office began housing 96 female inmates in the newly opened 384-bed facility in downtown Tyler. In order to meet the detention officer to inmate ratio required by the Texas State Jail Commission of 1 to 48, the personnel managing those inmates had to be moved with the inmates, according to a news release from Sheriff Smith. Continue reading First Inmates Housed Out of County in Several Months

PALESTINE (AP/Staff) – Authorities in Palestine have identified a man fatally shot by police after he allegedly stole beer and pointed a BB gun at officers trying to question him. Palestine police say 47-year-old James D. Bushey of Anderson County was shot while outside a restaurant. Police Chief Mike Alexander says officers Sunday night responded to a theft report at a Wal-Mart and a suspect seen leaving the store. Alexander says officers located the man hiding in the bathroom of a nearby restaurant. Police say Bushey left the restaurant, struggled with officers, and pointed what appeared to be a pistol at them. Both officers fired. Bushey was declared dead at a Palestine hospital. Police later determined he had a BB gun and recovered some alleged stolen items. The officers have been put on administrative leave.

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court has delayed a proposal to implement cameras in local school zones. KETK reports that in a meeting Tuesday morning, officials said they will take no action at this time, due to no appropriate locations available to suggest to the vendor, American Traffic Solutions (ATS). Smith County Judge Joel Baker first announced the program in late April. “Smith County is focused on public safety and limited enforcement to ensure the safety of the community’s school children,” Baker said at that time. “I believe it is a more efficient way to enforce laws that are already in place.” The program would include five cameras rotating in county school zones. The cameras were then delayed in early May following an uproar from the public. Continue reading Smith County Delays School Zone Cameras

LONGVIEW — Longview Police are investigating an early Tuesday morning shooting. It happened around 2:10 near the intersection of Harley Ridge Road and Bernice Drive. One of the men involved was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center with serious injuries. The other man involved received non life threatening injuries. He was treated and released from Longview Regional Medical Center, then transported to the Gregg County Jail on unrelated outstanding warrants. The case remains under investigation.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – East Texas native Adrian Peterson will be returning to the Minnesota Vikings, and the star running back tells The Associated Press that he hasn’t lost his love for the team. Peterson, of Palestine, sent an e-mail to the AP early Tuesday morning saying he’s excited to put on a uniform again after missing the final 15 games of last season while addressing child abuse charges in Texas. The Vikings opened their second set of three voluntary practices on Tuesday. Continue reading Adrian Peterson Returns to Minnesota Vikings

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department is investigating a missing person case involving a white female with special needs. Courtney Denise Dollgener, 26, was last seen at her home, 6100 Hollytree Drive, around 9:00 last night. She’s described as 5 feet tall, about 200 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing a red and white striped shirt and blue jeans. Anyone with information in reference to this missing person is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000.

AUSTIN –The Texas Workforce Commission is accepting applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) as a result of the Presidential Disaster Declaration (FEMA 4223-DR) for workers who lost their jobs and self-employed individuals who have been unable to work due to damage sustained from the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding. Severe weather, including destructive flooding, has devastated multiple counties and hundreds of homes and businesses have been lost, resulting in disaster-related unemployment. Applications for DUA must be submitted by July 1, 2015. TWC’s website contains more information about Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Continue reading Assistance Available for Some Workers Affected by Severe Storms

MARSHALL — A 24-year-old man died early Monday when he ran through a stop sign near Marshall. According to KETK, DPS says at 1 a.m., a pickup was headed east on Liberty Church Road approaching Highway 59 when it ran the stop sign. The truck crashed into the passenger side of a semi traveling south on Highway 59. The driver of the truck was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Clarice Watkins at 1:45 a.m. He has been identified as Marshall resident Edward Lee Williams, Jr. The driver of the 18-wheeler, 54-year-old Anthony Craig McQuerry of Georgia, was not injured. Williams’s body was taken to the Meadowbrook Funeral Home in Marshall.

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott Monday signed Senate Bill 339, co-sponsored by Tyler Senator Kevin Eltife, which will allow individuals with intractable epilepsy (IE) to access cannabidiol (CBD oil) to reduce seizures. “There is currently no cure for intractable epilepsy and many patients have had little to no success with currently approved drugs,” said Governor Abbott. “However, we have seen promising results from CBD oil testing and with the passage of this legislation, there is now hope for thousands of families who deal with the effects of intractable epilepsy every day.” Continue reading Abbott Signs Cannabis Oil Bill

LONGVIEW — A Longview woman involved in a 2014 crash injuring two sanitation workers has been arrested by authorities. According to KETK, Lt. Jay Webb says law enforcement took Susan Skinner into custody May 29 on Harrison County Road 968. She is charged with intoxication assault. On June 30, 2014, Skinner drove her car into the back of a sanitation truck on Alpine Road, according to officials. They say the collision threw Darron Craig, 46, of Longview, a few feet from the truck. The jaws of life had to be used to remove Dennis Montgomery, 33, of Longview, from in between the vehicles. Continue reading Woman Arrested in 2014 Crash with Longview Sanitation Truck

AUSTIN — State Senator Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, was elected the Texas Senate President Pro Tem Monday morning. KETK reports he succeeds Craig Estes. The Senate president pro tem is the third highest ranking state official, behind only the governor and lieutenant governor. Eltife has served the state since March 5, 2004. He also served on the Tyler City Council for three terms before becoming mayor of Tyler for three more terms. The senator is a Tyler native and graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.

TYLER — Jack Ryan’s Steak and Chophouse of Kilgore has found a second home in what’s termed downtown Tyler’s most prestigious historical building – the People’s Petroleum Building. According to a news release, renovations are underway, and Jack Ryan’s is expected to open its doors this fall. The owners of Jack Ryan’s, brothers Brad and Wes Ebey, are both graduates of Le Cordon Bleu in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and have experience at some of the nation’s finest restaurants and hotels, according to the release. The Ebey brothers say Jack Ryan’s cuisine is handcrafted each day from the freshest ingredients. Continue reading Jack Ryan’s Opening at People’s Petroleum Building

HENDERSON — Rusk County officials continue to work with the community on recovery efforts following an EF-2 tornado last month. KETK reports David Chenault, public information officer with the Rusk County Office of Emergency Management, updated the community Monday morning. Chanault says as of 8 a.m. Monday, both Rusk County Electric Cooperative and AEP SWEPCO reported that all customers have had power restored. Continue reading Rusk County Offers Storm Recovery Update