KTBB News, Weather, Talk

ATHENS — A court appearance for the driver of an Athens ISD bus involved in a fatal accident with a train has been postponed. John Franklin Stevens, 80, is charged with criminal negligent homicide and injury to a child. According to our news partner KETK, authorities believe Stevens pulled onto railroad tracks and the bus was hit by a train on January 25, 2019. Christopher Bonilla, 13, a passenger on the bus, was killed. An elementary school student, Josylynn Torres, 9, was injured in the crash. Stevens has entered a plea of not guilty. Continue reading Court case delayed for driver in fatal AISD bus accident

GROESBECK — (A.P./Staff) The funeral service for D.P.S. Trooper Chad Walker begins at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the high school football stadium in his hometown of Groesbeck. Walker, 38, was shot multiple times March 26 by DeArthur Pinson, of Palestine, who fled the scene before committing suicide. Walker started his career with the Groesbeck Police Department in 2003. He also worked in the Athens PD and for the Henderson County and Limestone County Sheriff’s Department. Walker joined D.P.S. in 2015. Walker died March 31 at a Waco hospital. He is survived by a wife and four children.

CANTON — Two women have been arrested for selling counterfeit products at First Monday Trade Days in Canton. According to our news partner KETK, Nhu Ngoc La and Chiquita Peoples were vendors at the flea market. Authorities originally detained the pair last weekend. Investigators discovered fake designer clothes, bags and accessories from brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton. Felony charges are pending for the pair. The total value of the fake designer items found by law enforcement from both vendors is $70,000, but would have been worth $1.3 million if real.

HENDERSON — Law enforcement officials arrested a couple in Henderson after guns and drugs were discovered while executing a search warrant. According to our news partner KETK, Aaron Knight and Natasha Knight were arrested at the scene. The pair is facing felony charges of possession of controlled substances and felony firearms charges. The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office found fire arms, over 14 grams of what they believe is methamphetamine, THC-infused cannabinoid substance and a powdered substance believed to be DMT. Juveniles found during the search were put into custody of Child Protective Services.

TYLER – The Texas Department of Public Safety have released investigation details from a fatal weekend accident. The wreck took place on SH-64, three miles east of Tyler. Investigators believe Jonathan G. Perkins, 44, of Baton Rouge, lost control and ran off the roadway and struck a signal pole at the intersection of Spur 248. Perkins died at the scene and was transported to Lighthouse Funeral Home in Tyler. The crash remains under investigation.

ATHENS — The memory of Mike McGee will live on at Trinity Valley Community College. In April of 1969, competing in a rodeo as a sophomore bull rider for Henderson County Junior College, he was killed in a tragic accident. In a ceremony, Monday, TVCC President Jerry King announced an endowed scholarship in McGee’s name had been established. The scholarship comes about after McGee’s brother Kenneth and wife Reba made a generous donation. Kenneth is a former member of the college’s board of trustees. King said the annual scholarship would be available for two bull riders on the college’s rodeo team, which the coach will determine.

TYLER – Zachary Tatman, 23, was arrested for intoxication assault with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury. According to our news partner KETK, Tatman is charged in connection to an incident Thursday night where a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed near Old Jacksonville Highway and Oak Creek Boulevard struck a bicyclist. The bicyclist was transported to CHRISTUS Mother Frances with what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries. Tatman was transported to UT Health with non-life threatening injuries. Tatman was booked into the Smith County Jail Friday with bond set at $10,000. He bonded out the same day.

TYLER — Additional COVID-19 vaccines have opened for anyone 16 and older at UT Health East Texas. Vaccines will be given by appointment only. Appointments can be made by clicking here. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/ut. New commitment times will continue to open as more vaccine arrives. If you need help navigating online sign-up or know of people without access to the internet, they should call 903-747-4VAC (4822) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The vaccines will be given at UT Health North Campus on U.S. Highway 271. Walk-ins for vaccines will not be available. There is no charge for the vaccine, but residents are asked to bring their insurance card.

NET-Health-1-150×150.png” alt=”” width=”150″ height=”150″ />TYLER — The Northeast Texas Public Health Authority has announced that first doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be available for anyone over the age of 16 later this week. NET Health says appointments should be made now for Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Time slots are available between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Organizers also reminded people who have had their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on March 13, 16, or 17, they should set up an appointment for Tuesday or Wednesday of this week. Read more here.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County has announced the cancellation of jury duty for Tuesday, April 6, at the Tyler Rose Garden Center. The county says if you have a summons for a different day, you do need to appear at the scheduled time.

TYLER — The East Texas Crisis Center held a bi-annual Hope Awards Ceremony at the Tyler Public Library Monday. According to our news partner KETK, Tyler Mayor Don Warren declared the month of April Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Commemorations were given to citizens and businesses that the city and East Texas Crisis center felt went above and beyond as volunteers and professionals to help survivors of sexual violence. The East Texas Crisis Center has acknowledged Sexual Assault Awareness Month as a goal to increase awareness in the community about the nature and prevalence of sexual violence.

TYLER — Bicycle lane work began Monday on a project approved in January by the city of Tyler. Officials say upon completion, there will be 36 miles of designated roadway for bicyclists. Plans are to have the initiative completed by the middle of August. All of the routes will be added to existing pavement that will make up 11 different routes with a hub near downtown. Development includes a combination of signage and lane markings. The disruption to commuters should be minimal. Read more here.

RUSK COUNTY — The Texas Department of Public Safety released details Monday of a fatal one vehicle weekend accident. The crash took place Saturday on FM 2276 two miles east of Kilgore. DPS investigators say Richard Dale Thomas, 47, of Kilgore, was driving south and drifted off the right edge of the roadway before over correcting to the left and crossing over the road and striking a tree. Thomas died at the scene and was taken to Cunningham Funeral Home in Kilgore. Officials say the crash remains under investigation.

TYLER — Several East Texas law enforcement agencies are joining the upcoming National Drug Enforcement Agency’s Takeback event. Rebecca Smith was a recent guest on KTBB’s “In Focus” and named several regular drop off locations that are available to throw out old prescriptions. “There’s two in Tyler at the Smith County Sheriff’s office and the downtown office in the emergency services center. There is one at Longview P.D., Marshall, Kilgore. We are really placing these boxes in as many areas as we can.” Continue reading DEA take back locations announced for East Texas

DIANA — The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a homicide after a body was found Saturday night. According to our news partner KETK, witnesses found the body of a man inside a home on Swan Road, in Diana, and called authorities around 11:30 p.m. According to police, the person appeared to be the victim of an assault. Police say the victim is known to his neighbors, but the sheriff’s office is not releasing the name until next of kin can be located.

TYLER — Part of Sunday services at minority churches included reminders for those who have already received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to get the second dose this week. NET Health says almost 1,500 people received their first COVID-19 vaccines at three minority churches March 16-19, are asked to return this week to the same place for their second doses. Organizers are asking only those who received their first shots at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church and St. Louis Baptist Church in Tyler, and New Zion Baptist Church in Winona, to return to the same location on the same day of the week at around the same time as their first vaccine. Continue reading Second dose reminders for COVID19 vaccinations at minority churches

TYLER — Friends of the Parks Tyler is reminding groups to register for the upcoming cleanup next Saturday, from 9 a.m. to noon. Keep Tyler Beautiful will provide litter-control supplies and T-shirts. The group limit is 20 volunteers per cleanup area. Organizers say supply pickup can be done anytime between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, at the Parks Administration offices in the Harvey Convention Center, on West Front Street. T-shirts will be distributed after the cleanup report is turned in. Get more information by calling (903) 531-1335, or to register your group click here.

TYLER — The Texas Department of Transportation announced the road work schedule for the upcoming week. Some of the planned operations in Smith County include shoulder-up work on FM 344 between US 69 and FM 756. In Gregg County, pavement repairs will take place in Longview, on Loop 281, near Tryon Road. Later in the week, crews will continue on Loop 281, from Spur 63 to Bill Owens Pkwy. Learn more about road work for the entire eight county Tyler district by clicking here.

HENDERSON COUNTY — A Henderson County man was killed after being ejected from a one-vehicle crash five miles south east of Murchison. The Department of Public safety said Randy Hammond, 25, of Brownsboro, was killed Thursday night, when he attempted to curve left, but his vehicle slid off the roadway into a ditch. His car then struck a concrete culvert, which ejected Hammond. D.P.S. says the investigation remains open at this time.

MINEOLA — Iron Horse Square was busy Saturday with the opening of the 2021 Iron Horse Mini Train season. According to our news partner KETK, regular runs will be on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from April through September from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with special run times for holidays and events. Read more here.

HENDERSON COUNTY — A Mabank man was sentenced to 18 years in prison Friday, for burglary of a home with a child inside and assault of two officers. According to our news partner KETK, Jerry Moye Jr, 34, was indicted for the crime in the Eustace area in January of 2020. A 13-year-old was inside the home at the time of the burglary, but found safety at a neighbor’s house after seeing Moye inside. Authorities determined Moye stole electronics and jewelry. Court records showed two Henderson county investigators were assaulted during the arrest of Moye.

LONGVIEW — A local 501(c) (3) is preparing to celebrate a new retail store in Longview. Heartisans Marketplace is inviting the community to their open house, on Gilmer Road, next Thursday.The new space is described as a unique gift shop that provides a customized job readiness program to unemployed women living in the community. Profits generated from the store, along with community donations, provide training and employment opportunities for program participants. The gathering is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Learn more here.

PANOLA COUNTY — Panola County Judge Lee Ann Jones established an Emergency Operations Center coordinating efforts for response and relief for victims of March 27 tornadoes. On Friday, leaders announced the EOC will be operated by the Hand Up Network. The organization is based out of Tyler, which operates within the belief, “Everyone needs a hand-up, some need it now.” The EOC is being housed at the Panola County Exposition Center.Residents wanting to donate supplies can do so in person at the Hand Up Network on N. Beckham in Tyler.You can learn more here.

HENDERSON — UT Health Henderson has COVID-19 vaccines appointments available for next Tuesday. According to the press release, the immunizations are available to people 18 and older that have not received their first vaccine dose. You must have an appointment, no walk-ins will be permitted. Times slots available are from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at U.T. Henderson on Wilson Street. The vaccine is provided at no cost, but people should bring their ID and insurance card to their appointment. On the day of the appointment, people will be registered, vaccinated, and monitored for 15 minutes. Register here.

TYLER — A local non-profit has announced their first ever monopoly tournament fund-raiser. The 501(c)3 Habitat for Humanity has scheduled the event for April 24 in the lobby of First Christian Church in Tyler. Organizers say registration is $25, and that space is limited. Registration is open now for players 10-years-of-age and up. For more information click here.

EAST TEXAS — Vaccinations will continue next week at Harvey Convention Center in Tyler. The Northeast Texas Public Health Authority President George Roberts told KTBB news, “We will not be doing vaccines this weekend, but anyone over the age of 16 can make an appointment for the first Pfizer vaccine at the Harvey Convention Center in Tyler, either next Thursday, Friday, or next Saturday April 8th through the 10th, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.” Continue reading Vaccine clinics will restart at Harvey next Tuesday

MARSHALL — A special called meeting by Marshall ISD’s Board of Trustees Thursday announced the lone finalist for the superintendent position. Dr. Richele Langley, is a graduate from Marshall High School. The former teacher, principal and administrator in the district, was part of the class of 1983. Langley will become the 24th superintendent in the history of Marshall public schools and the second female superintendent in the history of the district. Read more here.

WASHINGTON D.C. — President Biden’s 2 trillion dollar spending bill is being rolled out as an overhaul of the nations infrastructure. However, critics say less than half of the bill actually goes towards infrastructure, and less than five percent will go towards roads and bridges. Congressman Louie Gohmert told KTBB news, “Early in the Obama administration they were doing just a fraction of the spending that is now taking place. We had our debt downgraded. We warned at that time, what should be a warning to us today. If we continue to spend like this our debt will be further downgraded, it will mean the interest rates get much higher, and we will be worse than Greece.” Continue reading Congressman Gohmert warns of pitfalls of reckless spending