KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The “Golden Anniversary” of Apollo 11 occurs in less than a week, Saturday, Tyler Junior College began celebrations early featuring Tyler Junior College alumnus and former NASA engineer, Charles R. Price. According to our news partner KETK, Price presented, ’50 years with NASA’ covering his work with NASA on Apollo 8 and Apollo 11 missions. Price was on the team designing the path Apollo would take to the moon. July 20 is the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 and TJC will host another event called ‘Moon Day’. For more info click here. http://sciencecenter.tjc.edu/event/0dbffe408f2f91176506c96d7b6a3e0f

TYLER — The countdown to the 86th annual Texas Rose Festival continues following Friday night’s Kick Off Celebration at Tyler’s Willow Brook Country Club. Rose Queen Hanna Claire Waits says she’s been busy in the months since she assumed the title. She tells KTBB “it’s been really fun so far” meeting the kids from out of town who are part of the festival and “letting them see what the Rose Festival is really about and…the awesome impact that it has on our community.” As Hanna and her court continue rehearsals, she also acknowledged “the hundreds of volunteers” who “are working backstage constantly, making sure we’re all in the right place, that everybody’s calm.” Public ticket sales begin September 1, and the festival is set for October 17th through 20th. Go to http://www.texasrosefestival.com to learn more.

TYLER — Saturday featured the grand opening of the Faulkner Skate Park. The park is located on W. Cumberland Rd. Faulkner is Phase 1 of a bigger project that Tyler Parks and Recreation hopes will eventually replace the deteriorating Noble E. Young skate park and become a regional hub for skaters.

TYLER — Whataburger and the East Texas Food Bank are teaming up to fight hunger across East Texas. Forty-two Whataburgers across East Texas will participate in the drive. On Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. customers who visit Whataburger and donate a minimum of two cans or non-perishable items will receive a free Whataburger. The East Texas Food Bank provides nearly 21 million meals each year to over 200 partner agencies and feeding programs in 26 East Texas counties.

KILGORE — Students going to Kilgore College this Fall are encouraged to take advantage of 4 opportunities to enroll. Benefits includes wider choices of times and instructors, lower monthly payments and avoiding the rush of registering in August. Registration is free, but students should register online at http://www.kilgore.edu/ranger-registration. Appointments are available at the Kilgore campus on July 17, July 20; and July 24. You can pre-register for Kilgore College in Longivew on Thursday, July 18. For each advising appointment, students will be paired with an academic advisor. For more information on Ranger Registration, contact Ronda Lee at 903-988-7491 or [email protected].

TYLER — TxDOT expects Tyler Maintenance crews to be on SH 110 at Grande Blvd. Work will be in the southbound outside lane. Expect lane closures with traffic control devices in place. Longview Maintenance crews will be improving SH 135 in Kilgore from the Traffic Circle to the Rusk County line. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control. Go to https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/038-2019.html for a complete rundown of work throughout the district.

KILGORE — The “Where We’ve Been” map is filling up quickly, as the Rangerettes performed at the World Bands Challenge 2019 in Modena, Italy. This is nothing new for the in-demand dance team. Through the years, they have high-kicked their way across the U.S.A. and on a number of international tours, including performances in Canada, Venezuela, Hong Kong, Macao, Korea, Romania, France, Japan, Singapore, and Ireland. But they say, no matter how far they travel, they always love coming home to Texas!”

TYLER — Tyler Police are asking for your help in finding two people for inquiry. This couple is wanted to discuss several missing pieces of jewelry from a merchant in the Broadway Square Mall. If you can identify either of them, contact Det. Thomas of the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1035.

TYLER — The Grand opening of U.T. Tyler’s INTUNE Mobile Healthcare primary care clinic took place on Thursday. The event featured a health fair at the UT Tyler Alumni House. The goal is to make healthcare more accessible for rural and underserved East Texans. The partnership is part of a UT Tyler federal grant project, INTUNE, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration.The project provides clinical training for primary care nurse practitioner students by immersing them in diverse populations, particularly rural and under served areas.

HENDERSON COUNTY — A stolen truck was recovered in Berryville on Thursday and authorities say the suspect may have been carrying drugs. Patrick Brea-Williams Langston, 26, was charged with theft. The truck was reported stolen out of Corpus Christi in June. Langston said he purchased the vehicle, but could not provide documentation. During the arrest, a search revealed two small, clear baggies containing a substance believed to be methamphetamine. Langston is currently awaiting arraignment.

TROUP –Property owners in Troup got a suprise vistior on Thursday after an Arkansas National Guard Blackhawk landed in a field. The helicopter suffered a transmission issue and landed out of caution. According to our news partner KETK, the landing occurred at 4:30 p.m. The pilots were not injured and stayed in a neighbor’s home for the night. The Arkansas National Guard sent a maintenance team to evaluate the helicopter. It is intact and appears undamaged. Crew members say within 10 minutes of landing, they had ice-cold water and a place to sleep for the night.

UPSHUR COUNTY — An Upshur County inmate, jailed on two counts of sexual assault of a child, died suddenly on Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, Omega Lynn McCellon, 65, felt ill in his cell and suddenly became unresponsive. An Upshur County deputy, who was a certified EMT, provided immediate assistance until medics arrived. McCellon was transported to Good Shepherd Hospital in Longview where he was later pronounced dead. An autopsy has been ordered. The Texas Rangers are investigating the incident.

TYLER — On Wednesday Shirley McKellar was sworn in as the District 3 City Council Member for Tyler. McKellar is a retired Army nurse. She won the runoff race in June against Pamela Phoenix to claim the seat. Ed Moore held the seat for the maximum 3 previous 2-year terms. McKellar has projected goals of park improvements in her district and bringing new businesses to the North Tyler area.

TYLER — The City of Tyler’s Beauty and the Box program has 2 new additions. The pilot program started with ten boxes in the Downtown Business Arts and Culture District. Today there are 40 vinyl-wrapped boxes all across the City of Tyler. The new boxes are located on Broadway Avenue and Old Troup Highway. For more information contact Angela Bennis at (903) 595-7217 or email [email protected]. Get more information on the website at http://www.KeepTylerBeautiful.com.

LIBERTY CITY — A bank robbery on June 29 in Liberty City may have ties to another heist outside of Austin.Gregg County investigators believe that both cases are strikingly similar. According to our news partner, KETK the Sheriff’s Office is confident in the connection due to the suspect’s clothing, mask, and bag seen in surveillance videos. The first robbery occurred in Wimberley on June 20. If you know the identity of the person pictured at left, contact the Gregg County Sheriff’s Department.

TYLER — Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith received an award on behalf of his department from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE recognized Smith county for their work with that agency through the 287 (g) program. According to our news partner KETK, the 287 (g) program works like this; when an undocumented immigrant is confirmed, the inmate must wait for ICE in jail and is unable to bail out. The department is confident this helps to keep Smith county safe. The county was accepted into the program in January 2017.

TYLER — The 115 acre project off West Cumberland Road will add single and multi family homes, commercial, office, and mixed-use properties. Expansion of the Hollytree area is not new. According to our news partner KETK, the Tyler City Council approved nearly 300 acres of land for development in April. Modifications of the original 115 acre plan include reducing density, controlling direct access to Hollytree Drive, possibly adding a roundabout to calm traffic, and waiting to clear trees until development begins.

SCITUATE, Mass. — Native East Texan Miranda Lambert is being praised. A Massachusetts animal shelter is thanking the country music superstar for a huge donation — and they’re passing the savings along to you. The Scituate Animal Shelter is waiving adoption fees after getting a large donation from Lambert’s Muttnation Foundation. No word on exactly how much it was, but the shelter is hoping that the waived fees encourage more to adopt. They even put up a sign that reads, “No Adoption Fees until July 19! Thanks to Miranda Lambert.”

TYLER — A Tyler man is sentenced to life in prison after his latest brush with the law. Larry Hicks, 47, was sentenced Wednesday for the assault of a parole officer. Officials said in May 2018, the officer went to Hicks’ residence to check on him because he had just installed an ankle monitor three days prior. Hicks had since cut the ankle monitor off. Hicks charged at the parole officer and assaulted him. When law enforcement arrived, Hicks refused to exit the residence, leading to an hour and half standoff with Smith County Sheriff’s Office Deputies. Continue reading Parolee Sentenced to Life in Prison for Assaulting Public Servant

LONGVIEW — Gregg County sheriff’s officials are trying to identify the man in this surveillance picture. The man in question is suspected of using stolen credit cards at local stores and businesses in the Longview area. If you have any information about this person’s identity, contact Investigator Jennifer Nieves at 903-237-2544 or Gregg County Crime stoppers at 903-236-STOP.

TYLER — Tyler ISD will continue grant-awarded Head Start wraparound services for qualifying students in the fall, according to a statement from the school district. According to Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford, the move comes “after dialogue with the Head Start office in Washington.” As quoted in the statement, Crawford adds, “There will be State aligned instructional equity across the District as opposed to separate systems of instruction, which was the model formerly used.” The statement continues, “The District also plans to enhance attention to the Head Start initiative by identifying additional opportunities” in several areas. According to our news partner KETK, some residents were concerned that Head Start was going to be cut from the district’s budget.

LUFKIN — Blue Bell may be thinking about changing its packaging in light of the ice cream licking case. In a statement, the Brenham based creamery says it is ‘looking at methods within our manufacturing process to add additional protection to the carton.’ The company didn’t get specific, but Blue Bell has been criticized following the case in Lufkin for not including familiar protections in is packing process, like seals under the lid or some sort of plastic wrapping. Blue Bell says when it makes its ice cream, it flips the package which freezes the ice cream to the lid, and should make it obvious when a package has been opened.

PALESTINE — An 84 year old Palestine woman has been charged in the death of her husband 35 years ago. Johnnie Albritton was fatally shot in May of 1984 while he was entering his Leon County home. The case was first investigated as a murder during a burglary in progress. But Sheriff Kevin Ellis started looking back at the case in 2015 and even reached out to the TV show Cold Justice. He assigned two investigators exclusively to the case. Norma Albritton was arrested July 1. She’s currently free on a $50,000 bond. Ellis said she did not seem confused and didn’t confess or deny the crime.

GREGG COUNTY — Henderson woman was arrested Tuesday afternoon for DWI with a child under the age of 15 and evading arrest. According to our news partner KETK, Laura Biggs, 36, of Henderson, was taken into custody around 2:15 p.m. The age of the child is unknown. She was booked into the Gregg County Jail. Bond has not been set. Biggs has an extensive criminal record. This is her second DWI arrest with a child in the car. She was convicted in 2017 for the same crime and sentenced to 10 years in prison. She was released on probation earlier this year. Biggs has multiple past convictions for assault on family members over the past two decades.

TYLER — Smith County has a new Human Resources Director. Commissioners took action on Tuesday appointing Esmeralda Delmas to the role. Delmas said her passion has always been helping others, and she believed she could do this through pursuing a career in human resources. She started working as a probation officer for Smith County in 2008, and became HR Coordinator in 2015. Delmas was born in Tyler and studied at Tyler Junior College before earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in human resources development from the University of Texas at Tyler.

HIGH ISLAND (AP) — A message in a bottle tossed overboard last year by a Massachusetts couple sailing in the West Indies has been found thousands of miles away on a Texas beach. The Houston Chronicle reports James Howie Hill of Carthage says he was thrilled Friday to discover the algae-covered green bottle near High Island. That’s nearly 2,400 miles from where George and June Smith of Nantucket, Massachusetts, threw the bottle into the water off Martinique. Hill, who was beachcombing with family and friends, says they were all excited about the bottle with a note inside dated Dec. 22. The Smiths wished the finder “good fortune” and asked to be notified.

TYLER — Jay Brooks has been named Smith County Fire Marshal. Brooks served as assistant fire marshal from 2008 until 2015, and briefly served as the county’s fire marshal before leaving to work in the private sector. On Tuesday, the Smith County Commissioners Court voted to appoint Brooks as the Smith County Fire Marshal. He and two other candidates were interviewed during executive session. As fire marshal, Brooks will also serve as the county’s emergency management coordinator. After 26 years at Smith County, current county fire marshal Connie McCoy-Wasson is retiring. Brooks will take over the position on July 29, and will fill the unexpired term through December 2020.

TYLER– The winners of 2 Tyler Cattle Barons’Gala Raffles were announced Tuesday. Phil Smith of Whitehouse won a 2019 GMC Sierra contributed by Hall Buick GMC. The truck is valued at nearly $52, 000. Truck Raffle tickets raised a total of $52,900. Dr. Duke McHugh is this year’s winner of a Rolex watch valued at $7,850. It was donated by Susan Robinson Fine Jewelry. A total of 697 Cattle Barons’ Gala Watch Charitable Raffle tickets were sold raising $11,860 for the 2019 Tyler Cattle Barons’ Gala benefiting the American Cancer Society.

LONGVIEW — The City of Longview is asking for input of citizens for design of a welcome monument that will be installed along a southern Longview entryway. The city will host a public meeting Tuesday July 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the LeTourneau University Belcher Center. This is part of the planned reconfiguration of the intersection approved as part of the 2018 bond package. The public is invited to attend and provide comments and suggestions. https://www.longviewtexas.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=1991

TYLER — A $100,000 federal grant will revamp the perimeter fence to help protect the safety of the Tyler Pounds airfield. The aid comes through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program. In a press release from the Senator, Cornyn saying “access to safe and efficient infrastructure is critical as so many Texans travel for work, leisure, and visiting loved ones.” The fencing covers 10,900 feet.