KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Smith County departments will be on hand at a Job Fair on Thursday, October 20. Representatives from eight departments will be onsite to meet applicants, provide more information, and take applications. The event will be held from 1-3 p.m. at The Hub on E. Ferguson in downtown Tyler. Representatives from the Human Resources Department will also be assisting interested job applicants for departments that will not be at the job fair. Click this link for all the details.

TYLER — TxDOT schedules another week’s worth of roadwork in the Tyler District. In Smith County, Tyler maintenance will have a base failure crew on FM 2493 just south of Loop 323 in Tyler. Expect lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic. A second crew will be performing ditch maintenance at various locations throughout Smith County. Longview maintenance will perform mill and inlay operations on FM 3053. Expect lane closures with flaggers and a pilot car controlling traffic. Click here for a complete rundown of roadwork around the district.

LONGVIEW — Court documents show a former Longview police lieutenant who was arrested by the FBI and accused of attempting to engage minors in sexual activity online was released from jail on a conditional order. According to our news partner KETK, Seth Vanover was released from the Smith County Jail on Thursday. The specific conditions of his release were sealed by the court, but he will have a third-party custodian, according to documents. Vanover was ordered to appear in court in the middle district of Florida, where the charges are pending, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia Barksdale on Oct. 24 at 2 p.m., to answer those charges. Continue reading Judge orders former Longview police lieutenant’s conditional release

HARRISON COUNTY — Harrison County Sheriff’s Office announced Sunday they arrested a suspect in an aggravated assault case that involved vehicular assault, stabbing and arson near Lansing Switch and Interstate 20. According to our news partner KETK, Jeffery Wade Berry was arrested after fleeing the scene where two people were allegedly hit with a car, one person was cut with a knife and a camper was lit on fire. Officials said that after arresting Berry, EMS was able to provide medical assistance to the three victims and West Harrison Volunteer Fire Department was able to put out the flaming camper. Berry was charged with two counts of aggravated assault family violence with a deadly weapon, assault family violence causing bodily injury and arson. Two of the victims were released and one is in stable condition, according to authorities.

TYLER — The City of Tyler will be picking up bulky items for free, this Monday through Friday Oct. 17 to 21. The City of Tyler Solid Waste Department and Keep Tyler Beautiful sponsor twice a year FREE bulky item collections for City of Tyler residential customers (excluding multi-family home communities and businesses) in the Fall and Spring. Bulky items to be picked up at NO CHARGE include furniture, appliances, carpet and fencing material, old toys and other large items that would normally require a special fee. No tires, liquid waste, limbs, brush or tree stumps will be picked up. Paint must be dried out with oil dry or kitty litter.

RUSK COUNTY — Rusk County Sheriff’s Office announced Saturday that several people were concerned after a phone call told them they had a warrant for missing jury duty. According to our news partner KETK, officials said that they will never call you asking for warrant money and to be careful because these scammers will take your money. The Federal Trade Commission says that you can protect yourself from phishing scams by setting up security software on your computer, keeping your phone software up to date, backing up your data and enabling two-factor authentication.

MARSHALL — Police in Marshall continue to investigate after three people were arrested in a gunfire incident. Police say around 10:15 p.m. Thursday, the Marshall Emergency Telecommunication Center received several calls reporting gunfire in the area of Poplar St. and Summit St. Officers arrived in the area and discovered an unoccupied white four-door vehicle with its engine running. The vehicle appeared to have been struck several times by projectiles and had a flat front passenger-side tire, according to a news release. Officers established a perimeter around the area and contacted the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office for assistance from a K-9 officer. Continue reading Marshall police seek more leads following gunfire arrests

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is now hiring detention officers. Starting pay is $43,575, and pay goes as high as $53,881, with additional money for those with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Benefits include health plans, paid leave plus 13 paid holidays, and advancement opportunities, according to a flyer released by the sheriff’s office. No experience is required, but you must be at least 18 years old. You can learn more and apply for a position here.

LONGVIEW — The Downtown Longview AMBUCS Christmas Parade returns on Thursday, December 1, at 6:30 p.m., and registration is open through Friday, November 11. Participants are encouraged to design entrants that celebrate the theme of this year’s parade, “A Pineywoods Christmas.” Officials say space is limited, so register soon. The parade is organized by Downtown Longview, Longview Main Street, and Longview AMBUCS, and is sponsored by Peters Chevrolet. The parade begins at 6:30 p.m. Starting at Green Street, the parade route travels west along Whaley Street, turns south onto Horaney Street, then returns east along Methvin Street, and ends at First Street. Continue reading Registration open for Downtown Longview AMBUCS Christmas Parade

TYLER – Shawana Tabassum, PhD, assistant professor of electrical engineering at The University of Texas at Tyler, has received a nearly $319,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to develop wearable sensors for freshwater fish to enhance water toxicity monitoring. According to a news release, a recent report from the Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Integrity Project found that half of U.S. rivers and streams are so polluted that they are classified as “impaired.” “It is crucial to provide ‘early warning’ monitoring of the fish health, which in turn, signifies water quality,” said Tabassum as quoted in the release. “This is an innovative project that addresses an important problem, which is the preservation of aquatic environments,” said Steven Idell, MD, PhD, UT Tyler senior vice president for research, also as quoted in the release.

LONGVIEW — The City of Longview and Longview Metropolitan Planning Organization are seeking feedback on the East Loop 281 Corridor Study, which proposes traffic alternatives for Loop 281 between Tryon Road and Delia Drive/Page Road. Officials say this corridor study is intended to develop roadway and intersection alternatives to support enhanced connectivity, safety, and travel efficiency along E. Loop 281 for the benefit of all users of the roadway network. A community meeting to discuss the corridor study was held Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the East Texas Builders Association and Event Center. A copy of the presentation from that meeting as well as an online form to submit feedback are available at this link.

LONGVIEW — Longview Parks and Recreation is seeking feedback on proposed enhancements for Spring Hill Park. Officials say the proposed changes, which would cost about $968,000, include the installation of a larger pavilion, a new trail, and splash pad improvements as well as site work, electrical improvement, and erosion control. The improvements are funded through the $24.7 million parks bond package approved by voters in 2018. A community meeting to discuss the proposed changes was held Tuesday, Oct. 11, at Spring Hill High School. A copy of the presentation from that meeting as well as an online form to submit feedback are available at this link.

ATHENS – Officials with Henderson County said on Thursday they are searching for a missing man who was last seen on Sept. 8. According to our news partner KETK, Cody Eugene Gates, 45, is 5’10” tall and weighs about 200 pounds. Officials said he is normally seen wearing a baseball cap but is known to shave his head. “Cody has a teenage son who is very concerned about his dad,” officials said. “Cody was last seen with an unknown female by the name of Sam.” Officials said Gates is reported to have at one time been driving a 2004 White Dodge Avenger with a possible Texas license plate of PLN 2426. Anyone with information on his whereabouts or how to reach him is asked to contact Henderson County Sheriff’s Office’s Investigator Sherry Powers.

GILMER — A body found by a Gilmer ISD bus driver has been identified as Louise Grant Jr., 51, of Pittsburg, and officials said foul play is not suspected. According to our news partner KETK, Upshur County Sheriff Larry Webb says an autopsy has been ordered. The Gilmer superintendent said Wednesday that the driver found the body on the side of Lavender Road, north of Gilmer, while dropping off students at home.