KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The Tyler Municipal Rose Garden is set to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places. According to a relase from the city, a ceremony will be held in mid-October following the two-year application process. Established in 1952, the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden is the nation’s largest rose garden, spanning 14 acres, with over 38,000 rose bushes and 600 different varieties.

LONGVIEW — A trial originally set to begin on Monday has been pushed back two weeks. According to our news partner KETK, the man accused of threatening East Texas high schools on social media will now start on Monday, the 30th. David Nelson, 22, will stand trial in the 188th District Court in Longview. Nelson according to Kilgore police said it was a practical joke. Nelson is charged with making terroristic threats, for posting threats to Kilgore and Longview High Schools on Snapchat. If convicted of the 3rd degree felony, Nelson faces up to ten years in prison and a fine of $10,000.

TYLER — According to our news partner KETK, a female student was found unresponsive Saturday evening in one of the school’s residence halls. EMS “was immediately called,” but the student died. The school notified the student’s family and met with them on campus. Foul play is not suspected, according to the statement. The TJC Police Department is investigating, and an autopsy has been ordered. In a Facebook post, Terrell ISD identified the student as Na’Khyria Lampkin, a 2019 graduate of Terrell High School. She was in her Freshman year at Tyler Junior College. The school is encouraging students, faculty and staff to utilize the campus resources available to aid in their grief.

TYLER — The City of Tyler Parks and Recreation Department has partnered with Healthy Kids Running Series to offer a five-week running program which promotes an active, healthy lifestyle for kids. The goal is to provide a fun, positive environment and to challenge commitment to an active lifestyle. The program begins 2 weeks from Sunday and will continue for five consecutive Sundays. Registration is currently open for children ages 2 to 14 and is $35 per child. Children will receive a finisher’s medal, race bag and a t-shirt for their achievements. Continue reading Healthy Kids to Run Series Offered at Pollard Park

TYLER–The cost of owning a car begins after the purchase. Whether you’re dealing with an oil change or have major repairs to take care of, it’s important to use a mechanic or auto shop who is worthy of your trust. In 2018, BBB received 1.6 million inquiries and over 7,650 complaints on auto repair shops. BBB reminds consumers to do their homework before choosing a mechanic for vehicle repairs and maintenance. Continue reading BBB Column: Avoid Auto Repair Despair

TYLER — Vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of death among children. This week marks National Child Passenger Safety Week. A call to action that hopes to bring awareness to the importance of children being properly buckled, in the right car seat. The Texas Department of Transportation and its partners are hosting two FREE car seat checkup events. The first is Tuesday, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Maude Cobb Convention Center AG Pavilion on Grand Blvd. in Longview. Continue reading Free Car Seat Checkups for Child Safety Week

TYLER — The Junior Achievement of the Greater Tyler Area revealed their 2019 Stock Market Challenge on Friday. The inaugural event has a goal to inspire youth and adults to learn about saving and investing. The event will take place mid October at Tyler Junior College. The JA Stock Market Challenge will prepare youth for the unpredictable ride of the highs and lows of the stock market! Continue reading Junior Achievement Announces Stock Market Challenge

TYLER — The Texas Twelfth Court of Appeals will hear Oral Arguments at the Smith County Bar Foundation’s annual Constitution Day event on Tuesday. The “proceedings” will start at 10 a.m. in the Apache Rooms of Rogers Student Center, on the main campus of Tyler Junior College. The Twelfth Court of Appeals consists of Chief Justice James T. Worthen, Justice Brian Hoyle and Justice Greg Neeley. Admission is free, but reservations are required due to limited seating. Continue reading Constitution Day to be Honored on Tuesday at TJC with Court of Appeals

MARSHALL — The national 2020 U.S. News and World Report’s annual rankings of “America’s Best Colleges” has been announced and LeTourneau University comes in ranked 25th in its category of “Best Regional Universities in the Western Region.” LETU has been in the top tier for more than a quarter-century. Among “Great Schools Great Prices” ranking of schools that provide a “Best Value” for regional universities in the West, LETU was ranked 14th. The computation looks at ratio of quality to price, need-based aid and average discount.

TYLER –The free bulky item collection is coming soon to the City of Tyler residential customers. This happens a courtesy of the Solid Waste Department and Keep Tyler Beautiful. The campaign for the free collection period is Sept. 30 through Oct. 4. If you plan on participating, items need to be at the curb by Monday the 30th. Once crews have picked up your street, do not put more items out. Continue reading Bulky Items Collection in Tyler

LONGVIEW — Longview Community Ministries is preparing for the 11th annual TOUCH A TRUCK~ FEED A FAMILY fundraising event. The funis set for Saturday, October 5 from 11-3p.m. at the Longview Mall. Admission is free, however a donations of a jar of peanut butter or a monetary donation would be greatly appreciated. There will be entertainment, great food, and lots of vehicles for you to see up close and personal. There will be trucks, buses, cranes, helicopters, children’s activities, entertainment and more! Continue reading Fundraising Event Coming to Longview

TYLER –The Texas Medical Board temporarily restricted the licenses of Dr. James Martin Stocks. According to our news partner KETK, the board temporarily restricted, without notice, Dr. Stocks license and he is prohibited from possessing, distributing, or prescribing controlled substances in Texas. The moved came after the board found Stocks was arrested for felony diversion of a Schedule II controlled substance including opioids. Continue reading Tyler Doctor’s License Restricted- Accused of Illegal Diversion of Opioids

TYLER — Gallery Main Street has partnered with the 86th Annual Texas Rose Festival to create Portraits of Inspiration, an art exhibit inspired by the original costume design of Winn Morton. The Gallery, on W. Erwin St. will host an opening reception Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. This free event will offer the opportunity to meet many of the artists, the 2019 Rose Queen, and Mr. Winn Morton. Morton has been designing the costumes and scenes of the Texas Rose Festival since 1982. Continue reading Art Exhibit Partners with Texas Rose Festival

TYLER — Surveyors are in the Shackleford Creek and Lower West Mud Creek watersheds area working to map storm drain discharge locations. The Shackleford Creek watershed borders East Grande to the North and runs south past Toll 49 and from Paulxy Drive to the East to U.S. Highway 69 to the West. Lower West Mud Creek is near Texas Highway 155 in the North, South past Toll 49 and from County Road 192 and Farm-to-Market Road 2493 to the West, to Highway 69 on the East. Continue reading Surveyors Mapping Storm Drain Discharge Locations

RAINS COUNTY — The Department of Public Safety responded to a two vehicle fatal crash on SH-276 just on Thursday afternoon. The wreck took place just inside the city limits of East Tawakoni. The investigation indicates Eddy Clyde Yeley, 32 on Lone Oak, crossed over onto the wrong side of the highway and struck a vehicle driven by Richard Clayton Lemoine, 29, of Point TX. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger, identified as Robert Michael Jones, 74, also of Point TX was transported to Hunt County Regional Hospital where he later died. The crash remains under investigation.

KILGORE — The city of Kilgore experienced a major power outage on Friday morning. According to the Kilgore police department facebook page, “a large critter” got into a switching station off of Longview street. Over 1,900 customers were without power, including Kilgore ISD who posted on social media that they had been impacted by the outage. Swepco had electricity restored before noon.

TYLER — Tyler Junior College has reached a new milestone for the 2019 fall semester. The student enrollment of 12,585 is the highest attendance in the schools 93 year history. This academic year marks a 2.6-percent increase from TJC’s fall enrollment of 12,270 students in 2018. This is a continuation of growth for TJC. Enrollment has risen from 10,934 in 2015 to the current total of 12,585 students in 2019 – a 15-percent increase. Tyler Junior College was established in 1926.

FLINT — A new fire station is in the works for the Flint – Gresham Volunteer Fire Department. On Thursday evening Smith County ESD 2, fire fighters, and community members came out for the ground-breaking ceremony. According to our news partner KETK, the new facility will be located a mile away from the current Station 1 at the corner of Burkett Road and Spruce Hill Road in Flint. The old facility was built in 1974 and the department says it’s showing age, maintenance and other issues. The new station will feature training spaces and ample storage to house the department’s equipment.

ATHENS — A trial for an Athens ISD bus driver has been pushed back after a hearing in the 392nd District Court. John Stevens was driving a bus last January when a collision with a Union Pacific train claimed the life of one student and injured a second. Judge R. Scott McKee granted a continuance on Thursday following a brief discovery status hearing. Defense lawyers have filed an open records request with AISD and said that it would take time to go through it. Stevens, 78, was present, but remained silent during the entire hearing. Continue reading Athens Bus Driver Trial Pushed Back likely to 2020

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler announces a multimillion-dollar gift to endow and name the new Jasper Department of Chemical Engineering. Officials say the gift, from Jasper Ventures, is the largest in the history of UT Tyler’s College of Engineering. In a news release, university President Dr. Michael Tidwell says, “As a leader in the hydrocarbon industry, Jasper Ventures is the perfect partner for us as we build a world-class chemical engineering program.” Among other things, officials say the gift will establish the Jasper Endowed Scholarship Fund for chemical engineering students and the Jasper Endowed Chair in Chemical Engineering.

HENDERSON COUNTY — One man is dead after hitting power lines just outside of Eustace. According to our news partner KETK, Henderson County deputies responded to a call near FM 2329 and County Road 2857 around 9:15 Thursday morning. Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse, said the man was in a hang glider when it got tangled up in power lines. The Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Public Safety were also on scene. The FAA has now taken over the investigation.

TYLER — Smith County officials say they have seen a positive increase in Veteran service office visits this year. In 2018, there were 1253 in office visits. In 2019, the number increased to 1,482. The office has also aided veterans in filing 907 claims this year, compared to 720 in 2018. Officials attribute the uptick in visits to an initiative that the Smith County Commissioners Court and the Veteran Services Office held on how to better serve those who served. Smith County says that there are roughly 16,000 veterans across the county. For more information visit http://www.smith-county.com/government/departments/veterans.

TYLER — Four businesses situated in Tyler and Smith County were recently burglarized and investigators believe those burglaries are all connected. The suspects are described as two black males- one average size and the other heavy set. The heavy set male uses a crowbar or sledgehammer to make entry. Once inside, they steal a large amount of tobacco products and escape the area within minutes. The suspects have their faces covered and currently there is no suspect vehicle information. Continue reading Burglaries in Tyler and Smith County Connected

TYLER — A Tyler man has been apprehended following a brief chase with Tyler Police Thursday morning. According to our news partner KETK, it started around 7:00 when a woman called police to report that her ex-boyfriend, Joshua Allen Cowart, was following her. She wrecked her vehicle a short time after the call near Copeland and Loop 323. The man fled the scene in his vehicle and ended up in the Hobby Lobby parking lot on Loop 323. That’s where police found him armed with a knife. Cowart refused to comply with the officer’s instructions and was shot twice with a bean bag gun. The gun was ineffective and he run away again. Continue reading Suspect Arrested following Brief Pursuit

AUSTIN — Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced on Wednesday that he will send cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts $801.5 million in local sales tax allocations for September, 8.5 percent more than in September 2018. Locally, Tyler will receive $3,828,592.89 up 10% over the month of September in 2018. Longview will get $2,678,445.29 up 2.58% over September 2018. Overall Tyler and Longview are up more than 5%, compared to this time last year. To compare other cities across the state, click the link. https://www.comptroller.texas.gov/transparency/local/allocations/sales-tax/cities.php

TYLER — The North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority heard from several East Texans at a Tuesday night Board of Directors’ meeting. Safety, Preservation of natural spaces, and NETRMA making a good fiscal decision, were all common themes from the 17 individuals that spoke to the proposed extension through east Tyler. The Toll 49 Segment 6 Project is an initiative of NET RMA to explore projected route options for a proposed extension of Toll 49 north to US 271 .

LONGVIEW — Finalists for the 2019 President’s Awards Program were recently announced in Austin. For over 30 years the awards program, sponsored by the Texas Downtown Association, has recognized outstanding projects, places, and people of Texas downtowns. Longview has two finalists for 2019 awards. R. Lacy, Inc. is a finalist in the category of new Construction, and for Best Downtown Business, Oil Horse Brewing Company is also a finalist. Continue reading Finalists Announced for the 2019 TDAs President’s Awards Program

TYLER — The East Texas Food Bank and Main Event Pro Wrestling have teamed up in “The Fight To End Hunger.” East Texas Food Bank presents the “Brawl At The Brewery” on Saturday night at True Vine Brewing Co. in Tyler. ETFB says Admission is free with a non-perishable food donation. The family friendly events ultimate goal is to raise awareness in the battle to end hunger in East Texas. ETFB serves over 250,000 clients in 26 counties.

TYLER — In August, the Tyler ISD school board voted unanimously to sell the John Tyler Agriculture Learning Center. According to our news partner KETK, TISD has moved forward with the sale and is taking sealed bids until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday. The district says the sale of the property makes sense since the facility has not been used in years. Should the facility sell, that money will go into the district’s general funds. The Chief Financial Officer will determine how the money should be used.