KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Insomnia Cookies, a popular late-open bakery, is planning to open a location in Tyler soon. According to our news partner KETK, on the website for Insomnia Cookies, they list a location in Tyler as “coming soon.” The address is 3979 University Boulevard Unit 400, near the University of Texas at Tyler campus. Insomnia Cookies’ describes themselves as a bakery that is open late to cater to late night cravings, offering a number of cookies, brownies ice cream and more. According to their website their locations offer delivery of the sweet treats as well.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Former Payne Springs police officer Jonathan Hutchison pleaded guilty to charges on Monday. According to our news partner KETK, on Monday, Hutchison pleaded guilty to his charges of manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance as part of an open plea. The court said that a charge of money laundering is being considered.

In March of 2023, Hutchison, alongside former Payne Springs Chief of Police April Meadows, were arrested after search warrants revealed controlled substances in their homes. Continue reading Former officer pleads guilty to drug charges

SHELBY COUNTY — Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for seven East Texas counties that were impacted by severe storms and flooding from the past week. According to our news partner, KETK, a statement from the governor said that Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Newton, Panola, Shelby and Tyler counties continue to be affected by last weeks rain and flooding.

Throughout East Texas, authorities are continuing to access the damage as flood waters recede. Residents are asked to report damages to homes and using the he Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool, or iSTAT. Governor Abbott said the information in the iSTAT reports will help indentify disaster assistance and resources needed. To find iSTAT, click this link.

TYLER  — On Tuesday, Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith announced that through DNA testing, skeletal remains discovered in 1985 had been identified as Sindy Gina Crow, a 27-year-old from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. According to our news partner KETK, a mowing crew discovered the skeletal remains in a brush-covered gully 75 feet from I-20 east of Highway 69 in October 1985. The crew then contacted the Lindale Police Department who got in touch with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. During a search of the area, officials reportedly found a lady’s shirt, earrings and a watch.

The remains were then reportedly taken to the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas for an autopsy. There, officials believed the body belonged to a white or Hispanic female approximately 25 years of age with reddish-brown hair tied in a ponytail. Continue reading Smith County Sheriff identifies 1985 cold case victim

TYLER — Drivers can expect traffic delays on Loop 323 near Troup Highway after a mobile home fell over on Tuesday afternoon. According to the Tyler Police information officer Andy Erbaugh, westbound lanes are closed on Loop 323 near Troup Highway after a mobile home overturned across from Texas Roadhouse.

TYLER — The Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is hosting an open house for community members to update the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) on Tuesday, April 23, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The meeting will be in the Tyler Development Center’s large conference room at 423 W. Ferguson St. During the open house, community members will learn about revised construction dates, updated project cost estimates, and clarification edits to project descriptions for proposed highway and transit projects, including: widening FM 756 from Jeff Davis Drive to FM 346, Constructing an overpass at the intersection of FM 756 and FM 346 and widening FM 2493 from Loop 323 to FM 2813. Continue reading Transportation Improvement Program open house today

WHITEHOUSE — The Whitehouse Independent School District named Dr. Casey Whittle as their lone finalist for superintendent on Monday. According to our news partner KETK, the Board of Trustees sorted through nearly 40 candidates, and decided Whittle would be the best fit.

“Our goal was to find the person we thought could inspire our students more than anybody else and could equip them with those type of opportunities,” Todd Raabe, Whitehouse Board of Trustees president, said. “We really believe Casey Whittle’s our man.”

According to a release, Whittle has dedicated nearly 25 years to public education and served as assistant superintendent for human resources at Wylie ISD and as high school principal in Comal ISD. Whittle said he plans to help develop teachers, so they can take their students across the finish line. Continue reading Whitehouse ISD names superintendent finalist

GREGG COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, a former East Texas elementary school teacher pleaded guilty on Monday to four counts of injury to a child causing bodily injury. Cecilia Gregg, who reportedly had been working with the district since 2009, was charged with four counts for allegedly striking students with her hand.

In July 2022, six former J.L. Everhart employees were indicted for charges related to the mistreatment of elementary students: Paula Hawkins Dixon, 58, Cassandra Renee James, 48, Linda Kaye Brown Lister, 61, Priscilla Johnson, 56, Cecilia Gregg, 57, Cynthia Telley, 56.

Longview ISD released a statement in 2022 addressing the allegations. Continue reading Former Longview ISD employee pleads guilty to injuring students

TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office announced that they will be sharing new information regarding a cold homicide case from 1985. According to our news partner KETK, Sheriff Larry Smith announced that there will be a press conference on Tuesday at 2:45 p.m. concerning “positive identification of skeletal remains” that were found in 1985 on I-20. The sheriff’s office said that the remains were initially identified as a female homicide victim, but she remained a Jane Doe until recently.

AUSTIN – A Palestine resident claimed a top prize winning ticket worth $3 million in the Texas Lottery scratch ticket game Maximum Millions. The ticket was purchased at JJ’s Fastop, located on East Palestine Avenue. The lucky winner has decided to remain anonymous.

TYLER – The Tyler Junior College Apache Cheer squad won their second national championship on Friday after their first ever championship last year. According to our news partner KETK, the team competed in the National Cheer Association championships in Daytona, Florida. The TJC cheer team won first place in the intermediate large coed junior college category.

TYLER — A former employee of a Tyler nursing home pleaded guilty Friday in the death of a resident who was tied to a wheelchair. Bobby Posey, 23, was arrested after Larry Coffey, a resident of the Tyler nursing home where Posey worked, died after falling while tied to a wheelchair. Posey was charged with injury to an elderly or disabled person causing reckless body injury. On Friday, Posey pleaded guilty to the crime in Judge Austin Jackson’s court and received five years deferred probation.

Posey’s indictment said that he had a legal duty to act, and had assumed care, custody, or control of the elderly individual by virtue of his employment at the facility. For ignoring the man’s restraints, Posey was found partially at fault for his fatal injury. Continue reading Brownsboro man gets probation in death of a nursing home patient

RUSK COUNTY — The Gaston Museum announced on Sunday that the museum board has decided to close permanently. According to a release, the chairman of the museum said current and previous board members have devoted their time and sacrifice to remain open as long as they could and they did not make the decision to close lightly. “I personally have spent 15 years now assisting or serving and feel as a piece of my life is going away. I know you feel the same. My family just like yours, were centered in this community and the Gaston Museum has carried a legacy of our families through 30 years of honor and memories of an era like no other. I leave here in tears every time I come, mourning what has to be,” the chairman said. Continue reading Rusk County museum to close doors