KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW – After 21 months of searching, Longview’s Mobberly Baptist Church has welcomed a new lead pastor. According to our news partner KETK, this comes after the death of former Senior Pastor Glynn Stone in March 2020 after a fatal one-vehicle crash. “In the 18 years of being a pastor, this has been the warmest and kindest welcome that we’ve ever received from a church. There is just a sense of excitement,” said new pastor Andrew Hebert. He was previously a lead pastor of Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo since 2016. Hebert is the sixth pastor in Mobberly’s 84-year history.

WELLS – It has been two years since a five-week-old infant went missing in Cherokee County. According to our news partner KETK, the sheriff’s office said there are no new leads on the Armaidre Argumon case. The baby disappeared on Sept. 18, 2020. He was last seen in on Old Forest Road in Wells at his grandmother’s home, said officials. An Amber Alert was issued for the child and later discontinued. DeAndre Argumon and Amanda Doss are the child’s parents. “Amanda says she was not here, but Dre says he gave the baby to Amanda. Neither parent has custody, my aunt, who is baby Dre’s grandmother, has custody,” said Deandre’s cousin, Jakeih Argumon in 2020. Continue reading Cherokee County infant still missing two years later

HARRISON COUNTY — Two people were arrested Sunday night after an attempted traffic stop led to a pursuit through East Texas, according to the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. Our news partner KETK reports, officials said deputies in Harrison County attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a stolen car from Dallas on I-20. When the vehicle refused to stop, officials said a pursuit began and continued west in Gregg and Smith counties. The vehicle eventually turned back eastbound, and officials said the pursuit continued into Louisiana until Greenwood Police spiked the car near the Louisiana Visitor Center. Officials said a foot pursuit began and shortly after Reginald Sanders, 22 of Shreveport, and Shauntavia Newson, 23 of Lancaster, were arrested. “Sanders was wanted out of multiple agencies in the DFW area, stemming from numerous robbery investigations,” officials said.

FRANKSTON — The Texas High School Bass Association is using the season’s first tournament for all nine divisions across Texas to raise money for the family of Cooper Reid, a Troup High School football player who was injured in their homecoming game, according to our news partner KETK. “Just to honor one of our anglers you know, and the family needs some help, so you know throughout the 10 years of THSBA there has been different instances of that. And if we have an opportunity that we can do to help a family of one of our anglers then we take those opportunities,” said Riley Fitzgerald, Texas High School Bass Association. Reid is a part of the Troup fishing team, and as a way to say thank you for all the support the family has received, they passed out BBQ plates. Continue reading High school fishing tournament raises funds for Cooper Reid

TYLER — The Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Committee is holding a regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, Sept. 22, at 2 p.m., in the Tyler Development Center’s Large Conference Room on W. Ferguson St. The committee will consider adopting an amendment to the Unified Planning Work Program to redistribute funds related to Task 5 – Special Studies and will additionally consider receiving a presentation on Statewide Safety Task Force recommendations from the North Central Texas Council of Governments. Residents can review the agenda here. Residents can contact the MPO through the department’s online contact form or by calling (903) 531-1175 option 5. Continue reading MPO Transportation Policy Committee meeting scheduled for Sept. 22

TYLER — TxDOT schedules another week’s worth of roadwork in the Tyler District beginning Monday. Work schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure, or other unforeseen issues. You’re urged to slow down and pay attention in work zones. On Tuesday, Longview maintenance will begin mill and inlay operations on FM 2207. In Smith County, Tyler maintenance will be performing pavement repairs on Spur 248 from Loop 323 to Old Omen Rd. Continue reading TxDOT’s weekly roadwork update

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Cherokee County officials say a Jacksonville man was arrested after a pursuit involving a stolen four-wheeler, and they claim he’s responsible for numerous thefts. According to our news partner KETK, deputies were patrolling the area of CR 1519 when they reported seeing a man riding a four-wheeler. Officials said when they tried to stop him, the man fled south on FM 768. The four-wheeler reached speeds of 60 mph and was traveling on the wrong side of the road, according to authorities. The pursuit reportedly continued until the suspect “attempted to turn down a trail and flipped his four-wheeler.” After the four-wheeler crashed, officials said the man fled on foot into the woods, where he was apprehended by a deputy. The four-wheeler was found to have been stolen from Palestine. Authorities say Anthony Henderson, 38, was arrested on felony charges of theft and evasion.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Precinct 5 Constable Jeff McClenny is resigning his position for a job opportunity to serve as police chief of a school district. “As most of you may know, I have resigned from office as Constable Precinct 5 of Smith County,” McClenny said. “This decision was the hardest, yet the easiest. My wife is a School Administrator at West Sabine ISD and it has created a distance barrier. I was presented with an opportunity to interview and was offered the Police Chief’s position at San Augustine ISD. McClenny has been Precinct 5 Constable, which serves the Lindale and Hideaway area, for six years. His resignation is effective October 5. After McClenny leaves office, the Smith County Commissioners Court will appoint an interim Constable to serve the remainder of his term. Continue reading Smith County Constable leaving Precinct 5 for job opportunity

TYLER — 32-year-old Robert Harrison Johnson IV has been indicted for arson for allegedly causing a fire that killed his half-brother last May. According to our news partner KETK, officials responded to a home on Smith County Road 1113 for a structure fire with a man trapped inside the residence. Jack McKenzie Ross, 35, who was both mentally and physically disabled, died after resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. At the time, the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office reported that Ross’s brother was able to escape the fire before responders arrived. Continue reading Man indicted for arson in fire that killed his disabled brother

MARSHALL – An East Texas law enforcement agency is cited after a major human smuggling network was taken down as part of a joint task force, according to a statement released Tuesday by the United States Department of Justice. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office was among a list of law enforcement agencies the DOJ attributed as giving substantial assistance toward the investigation that led to eight indictments. The operation, a part of Joint Task Force Alpha, included the arrest of eight alleged human smugglers whose indictments were unsealed this week in the Southern District of Texas. According to our news partner KETK, the network was allegedly led by 31-year-old Erminia Serrano, also known as The Boss Lady.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler College of Engineering is ranked 42nd nationwide by U.S. News and World Report as noted on the publication’s Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (no doctorate) list published this week. According to a news release, the College of Engineering has been on a steady climb up the publication’s top 100 list for four consecutive years, rising this time from last year’s ranking of 75. For the second consecutive year, UT Tyler is the highest ranked Texas public institution for undergraduate engineering programs with no doctorate.

LONGVIEW – Amtrak’s Texas Eagle service has started up again after some rail workers and railway owners came to a deal on Thursday. The service, which stops in Longview, Marshall, and Mineola twice a day, was stopped on Wednesday before a potential strike on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari expected normal operations to start Friday morning, meaning the Texas Eagle starting in San Antonio and arriving in Longview Saturday morning. Amtrak’s employees weren’t a part of the strike, but Amtrak trains run on rail lines owned by other companies that operate in Longview, like Union Pacific.

LONGVIEW — The Region 4 Sabine Regional Flood Planning Group (Sabine RFPG) is requesting public review and comment of the Draft 2023 Sabine Regional Flood Plan (RFP). The public comment meeting for the Draft 2023 Sabine RFP will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, September 26th, at the Longview Exhibit Center on Jaycee Drive. A recording of the presentation given at the public comment meeting will be made available for public viewing after the public meetings are held. Click here for more details.