KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – Tyler’s city limits could soon reach Interstate Highway 20. Tyler’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted Tuesday to annex just over 11 acres of land near U.S. Highway 69 and the interstate. It would be zoned for commercial use. It still must go before the city council. That could occur later this month.

MARSHALL – An escaped Harrison County Jail inmate is back in jail. Gary Lynn Gorman, 36, escaped Saturday night. He was with a crew that took out trash to the jail dumpster and he didn’t return. He was spotted in the Woodlawn area of Harrison County around 7:00 Tuesday morning. A DPS helicopter, with infrared radar, found him hiding in some brush and directed ground crews to his location. As he attempted to flee, he was tackled by a sheriff’s deputy who held him until other officers arrived. Gorman is now facing a felony escape charge. Continue reading East Texas Escapee Arrested

HUNTSVILLE (AP/staff) – The state’s top criminal appeals court has blocked the execution of a man set for later this month for the slaying of a 93-year-old woman during a robbery at her Tyler home. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Tuesday sent the case of Clifton Williams, 34, back to his Smith County trial court to review whether Williams is intellectually disabled and ineligible for execution. Williams was set to die June 21 for the fatal beating and stabbing of Cecilia Schneider at her Tyler home in 2005. Evidence showed Williams entered through a back door, attacked Schneider and then set her body and bed on fire. He fled with her car and purse containing $40. Authorities say he wanted the money for drugs. Williams was within hours of execution in 2015 when the same court halted his punishment.

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott has appointed 10 student regents to their respective universities for terms set to expire on May 31, 2019. Appointed to the University of Houston System was Andrew Teoh of Tyler. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and finance from the University of Houston. Continue reading Governor Appoints Student Regents

KILGORE – The Kilgore Chamber of Commerce has a new president and chief executive director. She is Jill McCartney from Ohio, who will be starting her new duties in Texas on Wednesday. The was selected from nearly 40 candidates for the job. She began her career in chambers of commerce in 2000. She comes to Kilgore from Marietta, Ohio where she has been the outreach and development director of the Buckeye Hills Regional Council. She succeeds Cindy Morris, who resigned in February to take a similar job in Oklahoma.

TYLER – The East Texas Food Bank’s Summer Food Program is now underway. It was kicked off Tuesday morning at Tyler Emmett J. Scott Park on North Confederate Avenue. The program, which runs into August, serves children in low-income communities who take part in free and reduced feeding programs during the school year. Since these programs end when school does, the Summer Food Service Program helps fill the gap, ensuring that children continue to receive nutritious meals during the summer. The program covers 26 East Texas Counties with 14 serving locations in Tyler. Continue reading Summer Food Program Underway in East Texas

NACOGDOCHES — A Nacogdoches man has been arrested for multiple charges after entering a residence where he did not live early Saturday morning. Joe Howard Jr., 38, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, criminal trespass of a habitation and resisting arrest. According to our news partner KETK, Howard allegedly entered a home on CR 805 around 1:45 a.m. and got into bed with the homeowners. The homeowners immediately called 911 and also asked Howard what he was doing inside their residence. He said he lived there. A deputy arrived and found Howard sitting on the couch in the living room. Continue reading Man Arrested after Climbing Into Wrong Bed

TYLER — It takes a big screen to convey the effects of big weather — of special interest with hurricane season now on people’s minds. TJC’s 40-foot, dome theater is now home to “Extreme Weather,” the newest show at the Center for Earth & Space Science Education at TJC. According to information from the college, the show features insights from experts demonstrating how climate change is rapidly affecting land, oceans and atmosphere to produce natural disasters as ruinous as they are spectacular. The film unveils the surprising linkages between these three areas, demonstrating how a small change in one place can have large effects elsewhere, according to the college. You can find more details on the ktbb.com Calendar of Events.

TYLER – Tyler police make a discovery as they investigate the death of a woman found dead in a dumpster. Investigators say they have confirmed that Linda Tribble was an avid collector of items that are discarded into trash containers. They say she has been known to get into containers to search for discarded items on numerous occasions. According to police, after investigators removed her body from the dumpster they observed no evident signs of trauma to the body that would immediately indicate foul play. Investigators are waiting for results from the autopsy to determine the cause of death. The 65-year-old’s body was found in a dumpster behind the Family Dollar store on the North Northwest Loop. Her husband had called police Saturday afternoon to report his wife missing.

ATHENS — Authorities say a Eustace woman wanted on several outstanding warrants was arrested around 3:00 Monday morning after she tried to flee and resisted. Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse says 26-year-old Rochelle Bowden was spotted driving westbound on Main Street in Gun Barrel City in a vehicle that was known to be stolen. Hillhouse says initially she yielded to a deputy, then took off, but the vehicle wrecked in a nearby pasture. Hillhouse says Bowden then resisted arrest before being subdued. She’s charged with resisting arrest, search and transport, unauthorized use of a vehicle, evading law enforcement with a vehicle, and a parole violation.

TYLER — The Tyler Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting the Summer Playground Program again this summer at P.T. Cole Park, Emmett Scott Park, and Pollard Park. Thousands of Tyler children have been able to participate in the program, established in the 1950s. The program begins Tuesday and continues through August 3. Playground leaders will be at each location from 9:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. The program is free to children ages 6 to 12. Each location will provide breakfast and lunch along with sports, arts and crafts, games and other special events. You can check the ktbb.com Calendar of Events for additional details.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the week of June 4th. Schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones.

Districtwide seal coat operations are ongoing in the Tyler District. Motorists should expect lane closures and delays during this work to seal and protect roadways from water, and provide a longer life cycle. Because the time to complete work on each roadway is estimated, these schedules are subject to change. Continue reading TxDOT Area Road Work

LINDALE – Lindale police report a runaway teen they had been looking for has been found. Tabitha Tene is safe and in CPS custody. She had been last seen near Raceway around 5:00 Saturday afternoon. No information was released on where or how she was found.

MARSHALL – The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department is searching for an inmate who escaped from a work detail around 11:00 Saturday night. Gary Lynn Gorman, 36, was with a crew that took out trash to a dumpster and he didn’t return. He is said to have escaped with the help of another inmate’s girlfriend, Terry (Harness) Douglas of Longview. Gorman is believed to be making his was to Dallas County, but he also has connections in Gregg, Upshur, and Marion counties and law enforcement agencies in those counties have been alerted. Continue reading Officials Hunt for Escaped Harrison County Inmate

KILGORE – A hit and run accident in Kilgore remains under investigation. It is believed to have occurred between 9:00 and 10:00pm on Wednesday, May 23rd on Green Hills Road. A pedestrian was severely injured but is expected to make a full recovery. Detectives say they do not believe this was an intentional act. They suspect it was an accident and the driver simply panicked and fled the scene. They are asking the driver to contact them. If you have any information about the accident you are asked to contact the Kilgore Police Department.

LINDALE – Lindale police are looking for a teenage runaway. She is Tabitha Tene and she was last seen near Raceway around 5:00 Saturday afternoon. She was last seen wearing a navy blue shirt with white writing (something about Jesus), black pants, and black shoes. She has long dark hair that was pulled up. She is about 5’5” and weighs 150 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes. She also has multiple scars on her left wrist and several string bracelets on her right wrist. They believe she may be headed to Tyler, but possibly has contacts in the Rockwall area. If you know where she may be found you are asked to contact Lindale police.

TYLER – A Tyler man has been charged in the death of his father. Jody Colston, 58, had been struck by a car driven by his son, Aaron Colston, 31. The father was found in a wooded area off East Gentry Parkway after 2:15 Saturday afternoon. The father was taken to a Tyler hospital where he died. The son told officers that he was backing a vehicle and was unaware that his father was behind it when he ran over him. After investigating officers smelled alcohol at the scene, the son was placed under arrest for criminally negligent homicide and booked into the Smith County Jail.

GLADEWATER – A pilot has escaped with minor injuries after his plane crashes into Lake Gladewater. It happened early this morning. The ultra-light plane has been recovered from the lake. Our news partner KETK reports are the pilot was trying to land the plane on the lake when it flipped. Both the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating are investigating the crash.

KILGORE – Kilgore police are investigating the theft of items from a car belonging to a Rusk County Sheriff’s investigator. The break-in occurred on the night of Wednesday, May 23 or early morning of Thursday, May 24 while the car was parked at the Stoneridge Apartments on South Danville Road. The vehicle was entered by breaking windows and forcing open a toolbox. Taken was a handgun, body armor, a significant amount of ammunition, knives, clothing, a GPS and other miscellaneous items. Kilgore detectives are reviewing video from the area and asking anyone with information to contact the Kilgore Police Department or Gregg County Crimestoppers.

TYLER – After being closed for around an hour, the south bound lanes of Loop 323, just south of Walton Road, have been reopened. They were closed shortly after 1:45 Friday afternoon following a two vehicle accident. It occurred when a 71 year old driver, heading north, became ill and passed out. His pickup ended up in the southbound lanes where it hit a vehicle head-on. Both drivers were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

NACOGDOCHES – A Nacogdoches woman is being accused of starving her mother to death. Charged with injury to the elderly is Melissa Miller Broussard, 40. In February, her mother, Elizabeth Inez Cooper, 84, was taken to the hospital, where she later died. An investigation was started when it was noted that her body was emaciated. The autopsy revealed that the cause of death was due to dehydration and emaciation due to elder neglect. Investigators said the suspect had the means to provide health care, and other basic essential needs for the victim, but failed to do so. Sheriff Jason Bridges said the woman was in horrendous condition at the time of her death, which could have been prevented by the suspect. He said the case of neglect occurred over a long time span.

KILGORE – The Kilgore Police Department has set up an exhibit to show you the dangers of leaving children or animals in a hot car. They have put together an interactive simulation call Project Hot Car. It is designed to show you how quickly the inside of a car can become hot and cause a heat stroke. The car is parked at Walmart on Stone Street. You will see the temperature go up and the day goes along. The display also contains some information about the state laws on leaving children and animals in a car. Kilgore police say, on the average, 37 children die each year from heat stroke. Countless other children are injured. There are no good stats on animals.

SMITH COUNTY – More accidents have been reported today on Interstate Highway 20. Following two wrecks yesterday, The Department of Public Safety worked two accidents in the west bound lanes near the 544 and 546 mile markers. This would be near the Smith and Van Zandt county line. The wreckage has been cleared and traffic is flowing normally.

AUSTIN – A Henderson County man is one of 5 persons to be appointed to a state panel. Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Donald Donnie Lewis of Athens to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy. His term is set to expire on August 31 of next year. Lewis is a staff pharmacist for Malakoff Pharmacy and Tyler Hematology Oncology Pharmacy. According to a news release from the governor’s office, the board fosters the provision of quality pharmaceutical care and regulates the practice of pharmacy in accordance with the highest standards of ethics, accountability, efficiency, effectiveness and openness.

LONGVIEW — No injuries reported after a small plane crashed in a Longview neighborhood. According to the DPS report, the accident happened just after 7:30 this morning in the Mission Creek subdivision, between Airline Road and East Loop 281. The pilot has been identified as Randall Coggin, 74, of Longview, who advised that he had made repairs to the plane and was testing it when he experienced engine failure and made a hard landing. The aircraft took off from a private runway approximately two miles from the crash site. Coggin and his passenger Coby Melvin, 67, of Longview, were treated and released at the scene. Officials from the NTSB and FAA are en route to the scene for further investigation.

TYLER – The National Weather Service reports the month of May was much warmer and much drier than normal. In fact, it was the second warmest and fifth driest May. The 30 day outlook for May 2018, issued on April 19, called for near normal temperatures and near normal precipitation. When revised on April 30, it called for near normal temperatures and above normal precipitation. The average temperature was 78.9 F., and rainfall was 0.87 inch. The warmest May was 79.5 in 1896 and 1998, while the driest May was in 1998 with 0.02 inch. Compared with May 2017, the month was 6.5 deg. Warmer and 4.34 inches drier. Year-to-date rainfall was 1.92 inches less in 2018 than in 2017. The spring of 2018, though 0.5 degree cooler than spring 2017, which was the fourth warmest spring, still saw well above normal temperatures. The mean was 68.4, 2.6 degrees warmer than normal. Rainfall was 4.11 inches below normal at 7.59 inches. March and May were very warm, while April was cool; March saw near normal rainfall, while April and May saw below normal precipitation.

ATHENS – A Silver Alert has been discontinued for a Henderson County man. The Sheriff’s Office Friday morning reported Johnny Robert Bandy, 78, of Athens, has been located. The previous report stated he was last seen around 1:15 Thursday afternoon heading to a residence in Athens, but never arrived. Additional details were not released.

REKLAW – A two vehicle accident in Cherokee County has killed one person and left three injured. It happened around 1:15 Thursday afternoon on U.S. Highway 84, four miles west of Reklaw. Dead at the scene was Bridget Stinson, 46, of Rusk. Two passengers in her car were injured. Lindsey Fannin, 18, of Rusk, is being treated at a Tyler hospital while a two year old child was taken to a Dallas hospital. The driver of the other vehicle, Cole Falzerano, 19, of Miford, is also in a Tyler hospital. The Department of Public Safety report said the accident happened when Falzerano was passing in a no passing zone and his pickup hit Stinson’s car.

LUFKIN – The FBI in Lufkin is seeking the public’s help in identifying the man who robbed an Alto bank on May 25. They say he is considered armed and dangerous. The man entered the BancorpSouth Bank on Marcus Street, armed with a semi-automatic handgun. After ordering the tellers to open the bank vault, he fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of money. He is described as a black male, between 5 feet 7 to 10 inches tall, ranging in age from 25 to 40 and weighing around 160 to 190 pounds. He was wearing a camouflage jacket and hat, shorts, dark sunglasses, a mask and hand gloves. Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI Lufkin Resident Agency at 936-637-3834 or the FBI Dallas Field Office at 972-559-5000.