KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health) announces that nominations are now being accepted for the 2022 W.T. “Doc” Ballard Award for Excellence in Public Health. According to press materials, this 23rd annual award will honor an individual or organization exemplifying the concept of public health distinguished by dedication to the goal of protecting and promoting the health of the community. The nominee does not need to be a public health professional. Services provided by the nominee may be in the area of civic, cultural, health, welfare, religious, or philanthropic endeavors. All nominations must be physically received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 20. Click here for more information.

KILGORE — A 21-year-old woman was arrested Saturday by the Kilgore Police Department for an alleged improper relationship between a student and an educator. Monica Sanchez of Kilgore was charged with three counts of improper relationship between an educator and a student and was also charged with assault causing bodily injury as well as sexual assault, according to judicial records. According to our news partner KETK, Sanchez was booked on Saturday with $26,000 worth of bonds. Kilgore ISD’s website shows that Sanchez was employed by KISD as an ESL aide.

TYLER — Early voting for the May 24 primary runoff election begins Monday, May 16. Early voting will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, May 16-20. There will be five early voting locations throughout Smith County: the HUB in Tyler, the Tyler Heritage Building, Lindale Masonic Lodge, Noonday Community Center, and Whitehouse United Methodist Church. The election includes a Republican runoff in the Constable Precinct 2 race, several runoffs for Democratic and Republican precinct chairs, and several statewide runoffs for the Republican and Democratic primaries. Click here for more details.

LONGVIEW – A new beer garden and outdoor sports complex is causing controversy in Longview. According to our news partner KETK, a proposal for the business said it was expected to be built right off Bill Owens Pkwy., near the Paul Boorman trails. After hearing from several residents, city council unanimously voted to rezone the area from multi-family to general retail. But just hundreds of feet both north and south of the potential business are residential areas. Some say the development would be great to help the city grow economically and socially. But others are worried that the business will create light and sound pollution to those living near the area. The business will have to abide by certain requirements. Construction can now begin, but it is unknown when owners will decide to break ground.

TYLER – A Tyler man pleaded guilty Thursday to murder in the 2019 death of another man, who was stabbed 22 times. According to our news partner KETK, Humberto Lauro Leal, 42, is expected to be sentenced May 16. A Smith County detective found Luis Rene Maruffo-Castaneda in the driver seat of a car. He was dead and covered in blood. Officials interviewed Leal, who said he stabbed Castaneda in self-defense. Leal was shot in his lower abdomen and was taken to UT Health East Texas. When he was first interviewed, Leal said he stabbed Castaneda four times and that Castaneda was standing when he fired the gun, but this did not match what officials discovered. Leal later told officials the men were arguing earlier that day at a different place. They had also had a fight six months before the murder.

TYLER – Smith County Precinct 1 Constable Curtis Traylor-Harris was placed back into the Smith County Jail for allegedly violating his bond, records show. According to our news partner KETK, online judicial records indicate Traylor-Harris was arrested by the Smith County Adult Probation Office, and was booked on Friday on a $500,000 bond. According to a bond violation report, Traylor-Harris was seen on a YouTube livestream on May 10 for the 2022 Police Academy Graduation for Navarro College. A supervisor with Smith County watched the video, which officials say shows Traylor-Harris receiving his diploma in full uniform and in possession of his weapon. Continue reading Graduation video leads to arrest of constable for alleged bond violation

TYLER — A well-known East Texas pastor accused of taking a significant amount of property from an elderly couple now has a trial date of August 15. According to our news partner KETK, Rev. Dr. Jerome Milton is charged with theft of property worth more than $30,000 and less than $150,000. A probable cause affidavit states that Milton was caring for and had power of attorney for the couple. Milton has been out of jail since Oct. 22, according to records. Among other things, Milton took the lead in originating Tyler’s annual downtown Martin Luther King, Jr., celebration and had a highly successful career as a coach and dean at Bishop Gorman High School.

TYLER — East Texas and the rest of the country will take part as the National Association of Letter Carriers conducts its annual national food drive Saturday, May 14. Officials say the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, the country’s largest one-day food drive, provides residents with an easy way to donate food to those in need. Customers simply leave their donation of non-perishable food items next to their mailbox on Saturday. Letter carriers will collect these food donations on that day as they deliver mail along their postal routes, and distribute them to local food banks, pantries, shelters and churches. Donations collected locally go to the East Texas Food Bank. You can click this link for more details.

NEW ORLEANS — Texans now have a way of getting back on social media giants, like Facebook and Twitter, after being banned for voicing unpopular viewpoints. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans has re-instated the new law, that was blocked by a lower court back in December. State Senator Bryan Hughes of Mineola sponsored the new social media law. He says, “If a site does block or restrict a user based on viewpoint, the user can file suit against the site to get back online — and the site has to pay the user’s attorney’s fees.” Industry trade groups call the law an assault on the first amendment, and constitutionally rotten from top to bottom.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man has been indicted on a murder charge in a case in which the victim ended up recording his own death during a fight. According to our news partner KETK, 49-year-old Michael Ralston (pictured) was arrested March 19 for the killing of housemate Eric Wynns, 44. Two neighbors told investigators that Ralston and Wynns were having an ongoing “noise feud,” where they were both being “intentionally being loud to annoy each other.” A housemate told police that both were also hearing impaired, with Ralston being called the “Deaf Dragon.” After the shooting, police found Wynns’ cell phone next to his body, which was still recording. Several clips from earlier that night were also saved on the device. Ralston is being held in the Gregg County Jail and is still awaiting his next court appearance.

CHAPEL HILL — Chapel Hill ISD Student Services has partnered with Goodside Health to bring on-demand telehealth services to the high school and junior high. According to a news release, the pilot program is currently being offered only at those campuses with hopes of offering it to Kissam Intermediate, Jackson Elementary, and Wise Elementary students in the future. Through the partnership and with parent consent, students can be tested and treated for strep, flu, and COVID-19, as well as sore throat, headache, skin rash, pink eye, upset stomach, and the common cold. Goodside Health even allows children to receive age-appropriate mental health screenings with parental consent. Continue reading CHISD launches telehealth pilot program with Goodside Health

GILMER — The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced the opening of five Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in Texas, including one in Gilmer, to meet the needs of those affected by severe storms and tornadoes March 21. Officials say SBA customer service representatives will be on hand to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process, and help each individual complete their electronic loan application. No appointment is necessary. The Gilmer center will be located on the third floor of the Upshur County Courthouse, on West Tyler Street, in the Old Commissioners Meeting Room. It will be open as of 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 13. It will be available Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and closes at 5:00 p.m. Thursday, May 26. Click here for more information.

WINNSBORO — Dozens of people in Winnsboro are frustrated. They say a chicken fertilizer plant regularly lets out plumes of smoke causing people to feel unsafe outside. According to our news partner KETK, the Wood County courthouse was packed with Winnsboro residents focused on one thing, fighting for the health of their community. One resident said their COPD has become worse and that they are having a hard time breathing. “It makes me so sick, so I can’t even enjoy outside because the smell is so strong,” said a resident. According to attorneys, the toxic fumes have been coming from the Texas Sigma Partners plant for almost a year, leading to a lawsuit. Continue reading Fertilizer plant temporarily shut down after residents voice concerns

AUSTIN — Continuing to reflect a statewide and local trend, Tyler and Longview both show increases in sales tax allocations for May as announced Wednesday by the state comptroller’s office. Tyler’s monthly figure is $5,433,751.90, up from $5,332,564.37 a year ago. For the year to date, Tyler has amassed $24,790,993.92, up from $20,984,141.10 at this time last year. In Longview, the figure for May is $4,253,590.70, rising from $3,938,681.05 at this time in 2021. Longview’s year-to-date number is $18,194,154.92, compared to $15,234,616.57 at this point last year. Click here for a more comprehensive look.