KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – New commercial air service is coming to Tyler. City officials will be joined by representatives from the airline to make the announcement. That will take place next Tuesday morning at 10:00 at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport.

GLADEWATER – Two lawsuits have been filed against the Truman W. Smith Children’s Care Center in Gladewater, and its parent company, over the deaths of two children. The Longview News Journal reports the suits, filed on behalf of the childrens’ mothers, allege negligence. The suits say the children died from catastrophic injuries two years ago while being care for by the center. A lawyer who filed one of the suits, Van Wey , told the paper, that the suits were filed “to help the families find out what happened to their children and to ensure that the lapses in care have been fixed so that tragedies like these do not continue to occur at this facility.”

GLADEWATER – The Gladewater Chamber of Commerce has handed out its annual awards. It occurred Thursday night at the chamber’s annual banquet and awards ceremony. TICO (Technical Installation Co. LLC) has been named Business of the Year. Also honored were Gladewater Economic Development Corporation board member Charla Nash, Woman of the Year and GEDCO board Vice President John Ussery, the Man of the Year. The “Educator of the Year” award was presented to Gladewater ISD Teacher/Coach Kevin Clark and Rashaud Johnson was selected as “Youth of the Year.” The Marilyn Godfrey Volunteer Service Award was presented to Jamie Ballard. The Chamber’s annual business awards are presented to companies and individuals for their contributions to the city of Gladewater and its economic growth.

TYLER – This fall, the University of Texas at Tyler will launch the new UT Tyler Pre-Med Academy. It’s a program to help students succeed in getting admitted to and being well-prepared for top medical schools across the nation. The new program will also focus on encouraging East Texas high school students to consider careers in medicine. The academy will operate through the College of Arts and Sciences. This is the latest addition to the University’s portfolio of medical-related programs. Others are the nationally ranked School of Nursing, the Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy and the Department of Health and Kinesiology.

AUSTIN – County Judge Bill Stoudt of Longview has been reappointed to the state Commission On Jail Standards. He currently serves as chairman of the commission. Governor Greg Abbott made the announcement Friday. The term of the appointment, which is subject to senate confirmation, is set to expire on January 31, 2025.

HENDERSON – Search crews will be combing Rusk County Saturday, looking for a missing East Texas woman. The search is for Kimberly Flint, 57, of Reklaw, who was reported missing last September. Her car was later found wrecked on the Highway 84 bridge over the Angelina River. The car had hit a guardrail. Previous searches turned up no trace of the woman. Crews from ‘1st Priority Search and Recovery’ will be involved in Saturday’s search, using dogs and ATVs. Her family and Crimestoppers are offering a $6,000 reward for leads to help find her.

KILGORE – A large-scale cleanup effort continues in Kilgore following the severe straight-line winds that hit the city just over a week ago.The storm damaged homes and vehicles, downed power lines and trees. The damage was primarily to the city’s south side. An estimated 160 homes were damaged, with 40 having major structural damage and a dozen that are structurally unsound. The city continues to have crews collect tree and brush debris. But, due to the extensive damage, it could be a month or more before the cleanup is completed. Continue reading Kilgore’s Storm Cleanup Continues

SMITH COUNTY – After four months, County Road 411 is back open to drivers. Road crews replaced a bridge, closing the road between County Road 417 and Interstate Highway 20 last November. The bridge and roadwork was completed on Thursday.

AUSTIN – The unemployment numbers for Tyler and Longview continue to be among the best in the state. The Texas Workforce Commission reports the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held at 3.8%. February marked the 106th consecutive month of annual growth for total nonfarm employment in Texas. Tyler’s February unemployment rate was 3/7%. It was 4% in January and 3.8% in February of last year. Longview’s unemployment rate went from 4.3% in January to 4.1% last month. In February last year, Longview’s unemployment rate was 4.5%.

NACOGDOCHES — Nacogdoches Police are searching for the gunman responsible for killing one person Thursday night. According to our news partner KETK, authorities were called around 8:00 to the 2200 block of Lola Street in reference to a report of a gunshot victim. Officers found Damien Wade, 18, of Nacogdoches, dead from a gunshot wound. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact the Nacogdoches Police Department at (936) 559-2607.

TYLER – A man named in warrants in Angelina County has been arrested in Smith County. Bryan James Thompson, 27, of Lufkin, was arrested Thursday afternoon by Smith County Sheriff’s deputies. He was named in two stalking warrants and one for burglary of a habitation. Angelina County authorities said Thompson had recently made direct threats to his ex-wife by threatening to shoot her. Deputies went to a manufacturing plant on Shiloh Road where he worked. When he saw the deputies he ran into a wooded area where they later arrested him. Besides the original warrants, Thompson is now charged in Smith County with evading arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia. He has been booked into the Smith County Jail.

TYLER – Smith County Fire Marshal Connie McCoy-Wasson has received two awards from the local chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. They are the Fire Safety Commendation Award and the Law Enforcement Commendation Medal. The medal is intended to recognize exceptional service or accomplishment in the field of law enforcement. The fire safety award is presented for accomplishments and/or outstanding contributions in an area of fire safety and service. McCoy-Wasson has been the Smith County Fire Marshall since 2015. She was reappointed by the county commissioners to another two year term last December.

CONROE – A Conroe man has been arrested on child pornography charges. Authorities feel there could be more victims in East Texas. Being held on a $250,000 bond is Chadrick Lashun McNeal, 23. He is accused of extorting inappropriate images online from girls all over the world using a variety of social media platforms. The DPS Special Crimes Bureau Chief, Tyler Dunman, says they believe there could be hundreds of child victims across the country and even worldwide. They are asking anyone who has interacted with McNeal or has additional information about his activities to immediately contact their law enforcement agency. The DPS says he has operated under the SnapChat usernames pboi58, jayyboyy56, and koolkids6.

TYLER – Six women have been honored in Tyler for their accomplishments in their careers and their public service. They were honored by group called Women in Tyler. It was founded in 1999 to as a way to celebrate Women’s History Month and to honor women who have contributed to the quality of life in the community. A planning committee selects the women who are honored at the yearly banquet, which has as a theme this year, “Women With A Passion.” Continue reading Tyler Women Honored

TYLER – It is time for the annual Azalea and Spring Flower Trail in Tyler. This year marks the 60th year of the trail. It features mile after mile of blooming azaleas, dogwoods, and spring flowers. The official ribbon cutting, and opening ceremony, was held at the Pyron home at 212 West Dobbs Street, starting Friday morning at 10:00. The ceremony is always free and open to the public. Activities include a quilt show, arts and crafts fair and even an Alice in Wonderland movie and tea party. Activities run through April 7th. You can go to https://visittyler.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AzaleaTrail19-fullweb.pdf for a look at the many activities going on for just over two weeks.

NASHVILLE – The largest Christian retail chain in America has announced plans to close all 170 stores this year and shift its offerings entirely online. A couple of months ago LifeWay Christian Resources announced plans to reduce its locations this year due to declining sales and financial pressures. LifeWay now announces it will close all of its stores. That includes the Tyler store on South Broadway and the Longview store on North Eastman Road. LifeWay says all of its brick an mortar stores will be closed by the end of the year. The Baptist Press reported LifeWay hadn’t had sales exceed its operating expenses in more than a decade. The margin between the two grew from $2.3 million in 2010 to $35.5 million in 2017.

MARSHALL – A Harrison County jury has handed out a lengthy sentence for sexual assault of a child. The jury took less than an hour to convict Christopher David McCartney, 29, of Harleton, of five counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. They deliberated around half an hour to determine his punishment. Our news partner KETK reports he was sentenced to 75 years on each charge. And since the judge ordered that the sentences run consecutively, at the request of on an assistant district attorney, that means McCartney was sentenced to 375 years in prison.

TYLER – Beginning Friday, and running through August first, Robertson Avenue will be closed to through traffic where it intersects with Sunnybrook Drive. This schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions or other unforeseen issues. The action is needed because workers will be replacing an existing drainage structure as part of the Sunnybrook Drive structure replacement project.

TYLER – A suspect has been arrested in an attack on a woman running in a Tyler park last week. He is James Earl Roberts Jr., 32, of Tyler. Investigators were able to locate a fingerprint on the victim’s phone that was found in the park by police that eventually led to the identity of Roberts. He is said to be the man who attacked a jogger at Rose Rudman Park. She was attacked around 7:30 last Thursday evening. The woman was running on the paved trail in the middle of the park when a black male grabbed her from behind and dragged her into a wooded area. Officials said the suspect attempted to sexually assault her as she fought and screamed to keep him away. The man fled on foot. Roberts has been charged with aggravated kidnapping. He is now in the Smith County Jail under a $350,000 bond.

AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved just over $16 million in competitive local park grants. The money will help fund projects that will create and enhance outdoor recreational opportunities like nature trails, native gardens, playgrounds, splash pads, dog parks and sports fields at 38 community parks across the state. The grants, allocated to local government entities, appropriate state and federal funds for facilities in Texas on a 50/50 reimbursement match basis. Once funded, all grant-assisted sites must be dedicated as parkland in perpetuity, properly maintained and open to the public. Continue reading Park Grants Awarded From the State

TYLER – Two Tyler campuses are now part of the Adopt-a-Spot program. It is hosted by Keep Tyler Beautiful. Through the program, the community can adopt a street, park or campus and vow to keep it clean from litter. In 2017, Tyler Junior College was the first to adopt their campus. Now, the University of Texas at Tyler and Texas College have both officially adopted their campuses, joining the Keep Tyler Beautiful program. Each quarter the adopted campuses are to be cleaned by student groups. Keep Tyler Beautiful’s Adopt-a-Spot program has 38 miles of roadway, seven parks and now three college campuses adopted. Anyone can adopt a street or park in the City of Tyler. You can go to http://www.KeepTylerBeautiful.com for adoption agreements and program details.

TYLER – Over six miles of major roadwork was completed In Smith County last month, while another 18.5 miles of road construction projects are getting under way. That’s the report that Smith County Engineer Frank Davis gave to the commissioners court this week. He said only 2.96 miles of roads were paved last month because of rain. More than 5 miles of roads are scheduled for paving in this month and next month. And he feels with good weather they will meet or exceed that goal. Continue reading Smith County Road Report

TYLER – Tyler police have released the city’s crime statistics for 2018. Overall, crime in the city dropped. The report shows crime in Tyler was down nearly 3% last year. The Part 1 crimes, the major crimes, dropped by just over 4% compared with the previous year. But there was a nearly 35% increase in sexual assault. There were 105 sexual assault cases last year, compared to 78 in 2017. The least serious offenses, Part 2 crimes, were down about 1%. But, sexual offenses that were not rapes were up by 83% last year. Police Chief Jimmy Toler it was a challenging year, but the over all crime stats are heading in the right direction, down.

LONGVIEW — 64-year-old Neal Woods III of Longview is accused of punching a firefighter Saturday at a free standing emergency room. According to our news partner KETK, Longview police say Woods is charged with assault on a public servant . The firefighter did complain about some pain but was checked out and is okay.

TYLER — Tim Vaughn, the former mayor of White Oak and Gregg County GOP Chairman, is facing decades in prison after being indicted on multiple charges of lying to banks. According to our news partner KETK, Vaughn has been charged in federal court on two counts of making a false statement to a bank and two counts of aggravated identity theft. A federal grand jury returned the indictment on Feb. 20. An initial trial date is scheduled for May 13. According to the indictment, Vaughn is accused of making false statements to Southside Bank (then First Bank & Trust East Texas) on March 18, 2016, and then to Texas Bank and Trust on March 29, 2016. Continue reading Former White Oak Mayor Indicted in Bank Scam

LONGVIEW – Residents in northern Gregg County want beer and wine sales in their area. The Longview News Journal is reporting that a petition of more than 2,000 signatures has been submitted to the Gregg County Elections department. It is asking that the Commissioners Court call an election to approve off-premise beer and wine sales in Precinct 1. The commissioners will likely will discuss the petition at their March 25th meeting. Gregg County Elections Administrator Kathryn Nealy told the paper the earliest that the court could call an election would be in November.

HALLSVILLE – The pilot involved in a fatal Harrison County crash on March 9th, was not certified to fly the plane. According to FAA records, William Robert Kendrick, of Huffman, was certified to fly a single-engine aircraft. The plane that crashed was a twin engine craft. The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report also said that Kendrick’s pilot log shows he had not flown in nearly 14 years. His plane, which was on its way to New Orleans, crashed 10 miles from the East Texas Regional Airport. Also killed in the crash was the pilot’s wife and daughter and her boyfriend.

SMITH COUNTY – Wednesday is Texas Tobacco-Free Kids Day. There will be at least 70 students and faculty at each of 5 Smith County high schools wearing the Texas Tobacco-Free Kids Day shirts. The number 70 represents the number of people that die every day in Texas from tobacco related cuases. At each participating school there will be an announcement about what’s in a cigarette, such things as rat poison, ammonia and nail polish remover. They will remind the students that they have the power to be tobacco free. The Campus Crimestopper student board members came up with this plan after attending a Texas Tobacco-Free Teen Leadership Conference. The participating schools are: John Tyler High School, Robert E. Lee High School, Early College High School (Tyler ISD), Chapel Hill High School and Whitehouse High School.

MARSHALL – An East Texas man has died in a Tyler hospital from a Harrison County accident. Killed was Tristen Alexander Jackson, 20, of Humble. The Department of Public Safety report says his car went off the roadway to the right and the driver over corrected to the left and went off the road. The car hit a culvert and became airborne, hitting a tree. He was not wearing a seat belt. The accident happened around 1:30 Saturday morning on U.S. Highway 59, Nearly 5 miles north of Marshall.

MARSHALL – One person has been arrested in a Marshall murder. The shooting was reported shortly after 11:30 Monday night on Elsie Street. Rushed to a Marshall hospital, where he later died, was Tyshun Darty, 22, of Marshall. The shooter was identified as Nathan “Nate” Irving,(pictured) 20 of Marshall. He was found, and arrested without incident, Tuesday morning. Irving has been booked into the Harrison County Jail on a murder charge