KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – Trustees at Tyler Junior College have approved a a tax rate increase for 2018-19. At Thursday’s meeting the trustees approved a half-cent tax hike. It would bring the tax rate to just over 20 cents per $100 valuation. The proposed rate is still contingent upon further information from the Smith County Appraisal District. The tax increase will help offset the 10% decrease in per-student funding from the state over the last five years. If the proposed rate is approved at the trustee’s August meeting, the average homeowner would see an estimated increase of 65 cents per month. Public hearings on the rate hike have been set for August 16 and 23.

TYLER – A Tyler man has been arrested for stealing a cash drawer from a business. Arrested early Friday morning was 60 year old Gary Lorenzo McCain. Police say shortly after 2:15, he entered the Food Fast on West Houston. When the clerk turned to get the customers’ cigarettes, McCain is said to grabbed the crash register and pulled the drawer from it, and fled. He was spotted walking near the intersection of Glenwood and Houston, trying to conceal the cash drawer under a shirt. He took off running when he saw officers, but was quickly caught. McCain was booked into the Smith County Jail. He is being charged with theft, with 2 previous convictions, evading arrest and 4 city warrants.

GREGG COUNTY — A 2-year-old was killed in a wreck that left three others injured. It happened just after 1:00 Thursday morning on I-20 in Gregg County. According to the DPS report, a truck, driven by Michael Paul Templin, 28, of Longview, was headed east on I-20 when when he drifted into a car parked on the side of the interstate. The impact forced the car into the concrete barrier. The driver of the parked car, Willie Mack Cooper, 29, and a passenger Beatrice Avila, 25, both of Ft. Bliss, were treated at a local hospital and released. Two children, ages 1 and 2, were airlifted to a Shreveport medical center, where the 2-year-old later died. The 1-year-old remains in the hospital. Templin was not injured in the crash. They were all wearing seatbelts.

GILMER – There is another burn ban in northeast Texas. The latest was issued Thursday by Upshur County. It is a ten day outdoor burn ban. Other area counties under a burn ban include Henderson, Harrison, Rusk, Camp and Van Zandt.

TYLER — Some major changes could be on the way to downtown Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, the city council has agreed to apply for $5 million in federal funds for the project. Local architect Steve Fitzpatrick came up with the idea, which involves medians, wider sidewalks — and, he hopes, fewer empty buildings. The city will have to kick in $1 million if the grant is approved. Fitzpatrick says the city will find out in December if it gets the grant. He says if everything goes through, the first phase would take about two years, and he has more plans for the future.

LONGVIEW – Longview police say they now have an ID on a body found this week. The body has been identified as that of Felishia Marieann Pearson, 28, of Longview. She had been previously reported as missing. She had last been seen on July 14th. Her body was found Tuesday in the woods off a dirt road off West Birdsong Street. As the investigation continues, the body has been sent for autopsy to determine the cause of death.

TYLER – A power line is down on South Broadway in front of Wagner Cadillac. All traffic lanes are blocked. All north and south bound lanes are shut down to traffic until the line can be removed from the roadway. Because the power line is down, numerous traffic control lights are out in South Tyler, up and down South Broadway south of the loop – around loop 323 – Grande and the Old Jacksonville Highway. Motorists are advised to use caution in these areas.

TYLER – Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith has been elected Sergeant-At-Arms of the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas. It occurred at their 140th Annual Training Conference which ended earlier this week in Grapevine. The Sheriffs’ Association of Texas is one of the oldest law enforcement associations in the nation.

LONGVIEW – It’s time for the annual Great Texas Balloon Race in Longview, which has been proclaimed “The Balloon Race Capital of Texas” by the state legislature. Hot air balloon flights began Friday morning with a flight over Longview and continue each morning through Sunday over the East Texas Regional Airport. Launch and landing sites change each day as they are always determined by wind and the weather. The host of activities include balloon glows followed by live entertainment on Friday and Saturday evening. You can go to http://www.greattexasballoonrace.com for more details.

HENDERSON – Two persons have been arrested in connection with a string of burglaries in Henderson and Rusk County. They are identified as Jeremiah Tremaine Boone, 20, of Henderson and Christian David Cannon, 20, of Yukon, Oklahoma. Both are in the Rusk County jail, where they are facing numerous charges. The two were arrested during a joint operation between Henderson Police and the Rusk County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities believe the men are responsible for 8 church burglaries and two restaurant burglaries. Tyler police are said to have assisted with the investigation and recovery of some of the stolen property. Continue reading Church Burglary Suspects in Jail

SMITH COUNTY — The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals will decide if the Texas “revenge porn” law can be enforced. The court agreed to hear the case of Jordan Bartlett Jones. He was accused of using social media to post a naked photo of an ex-girlfriend. A state appeals court in Tyler struck down the revenge porn law three months ago, saying it violated First Amendment protections. The State of Texas has appealed the 2015 statute which says photos and videos cannot be posted without permission, even if the visuals were recorded consensually.

TYLER – Some Tyler park improvements have been approved. The go ahead for the improvements came at Wednesday’s city council meeting. A $54,000 donation was recently received for improvements at Faulkner Park. These improvements include new picnic tables and shade structures. There will also be more playground equipment, including a “double-winged elephant” swing that’s ADA handicap accessible. There will also be some improvements at Hillside Park. Included will be benches and more playground equipment. Also in the works are proposed improvements for Gassaway Park on Martha Street. Work at Hillside Park could begin early next month. The work at Faulkner Park could start in late next month or early October.

HENDERSON – Arrests have been made in connection with Rusk County church burglaries. The Henderson Police Department reports, not only have arrests been made, but a large amount of property stolen in the burglaries have been recovered. A total of 9 churches were burglarized in Henderson and Rusk County. More information about the case is scheduled to be released Thursday morning.

LONGVIEW – A wanted sex offender in Longview has been arrested. The Gregg County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday had asked for the public’s help in locating is Joseph Wayne Burnette, 41. He was wanted for failure to register as a sex offender and indecent exposure. Sheriff’s department spokesman Cpl. Josh Tubb said had been caught and booked into the Upshur County Jail. The Longview News Journal reports that Gregg County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Kirk Haddix told them in 2013 that Burnette was a suspect in a 2006 unsolved murder. A woman’s body was found in October, 2006, face down on a burning wood pile. Known only as Jane Doe, the paper reports her body was exhumed in 2013 in hopes of finding hard evidence against Burnette.

NACOGDOCHES – Three Cherokee County residents have been arrested in Nacogdoches County for burglary. A witness called authorities to report a burglary in progress on Highway 21 West. Deputies found, in a metal building, two persons loading items into a car. They found a third person hiding in the building. Charged with burglary of a building were Ronnie Johnson (pictured), 37; Tommy Johnson, 37; and Margaret Kirby, 50, all from Rusk. Tommy Johnson also had additional warrants out of Anderson County for burglary of a building and theft. All three were booked into the Nacogdoches County Jail.

CANTON – Van Zandt County is now on the growing list of East Texas counties that have issued burn bans. According to our news partner KETK, Van Zandt County officials say the order will remain in effect until further notice. The ban prohibits outdoor burning of any kind, including trash in burn barrels, or the use of aerial fireworks. Officials say they enacted the burn ban because of extreme wildfire danger due to hot, dry conditions.

TYLER (AP) – Police have arrested a man accused of opening fire at an East Texas house in gunfire that left his former girlfriend wounded and her new boyfriend and her teenage son dead. Gregg County jail records show Tony Waters, 55, of Kilgore was being held Wednesday on a capital murder charge, with bond set at $1 million. Tyler police say Waters was arrested Tuesday in Longview, a day after the deadly shootings. Officer Don Martin says the gunfire killed Charlie Verdell, 51, and Daquan Munson, 17. Martin says Munson’s mother remained hospitalized Wednesday. Her condition wasn’t immediately released. Martin says the mother and son recently moved into the house and that Verdell had been dating the woman.

LONGVIEW – A body found in Longview has been sent off for autopsy to determine the cause of death. It was in the woods off a dirt road off West Birdsong Street. We will have more information when it becomes available

TYLER – A person has been arrested in a Tyler shooting that left two persons dead and one wounded. He is Tony Waters, 55, of Kilgore. He was arrested Tuesday in Longview through the efforts of the Longview Police Department’s Special Investigation and Apprehension Unit along with the U.S. Marshals’ Violent Crime Task Force. His bond has been set at $1,000,000 on a charge of capital murder. Investigators are still looking into the motive behind the shooting. The shooting happened just before 10:00 Monday night on West Dobbs. Killed was Charlie Verdell, 51, and Daquan Munson, 17. The teen’s mother, Ladidre Patrice Blevins, 32, was wounded. Her condition has not been released.

TYLER – Smith County Commissioners have approved a five year tax abatement for a business moving to the county. Wyoming Machinery Company plans to move a new division, Dragline Service Specialties, to just west of Tyler On Highway 64 on a property that has been vacant for years. This will be the businesses’ second location. They plan to start with 34 employees, but eventually hire 88 people and invest $14.9 million. Their plans are to start operation on August 1st. Continue reading Proposed Smith County Business Gets Tax Abatements.

TYLER – Tyler police are investigating a body found Tuesday afternoon. A citizen found the body shortly before 1:45 in the woods behind the Valero Gas Station at East Front Street and SSE Loop 323. Investigators did not observe an evident signs of foul-play on the body, which was in a state of decomposition. Investigators have recovered he man’s identification. He is said to be 50. His name is being withheld pending notification of his family. The body will be sent to Dallas for an autopsy.

LONGVIEW – The Gregg County Sheriff’s Department is seeking the public’s help in locating a sex offender. He is Joseph Wayne Burnette, 41, who is wanted for failure to register as a sex offender and indecent exposure. He stands stands 6’1 and weighs 195 pounds. Sheriff’s department Public Information Officer John Tubbs says, if you see Burnette, do not attempt to stop, detain, or approach him, only observe and report his whereabouts to local law enforcement.

JACKSONVILLE – A man has been charged with capital murder in connection with a weekend slaying in Cherokee County. The shooting occurred around 6:00 Sunday evening on North Main Street in Jacksonville. Shot to death was Malcolm A. Hunter Jr. He was shot numerous times. while he was a sleep, by a man who had kicked in the front door of the residence. Witnesses identified the shooter as Jacolbe Kirby, 27, of Jacksonville. While the investigation was underway, Kirby showed up at the police department to “clear his name.” He was charged with capital murder since the shooting occurred during a burglary. Two other suspects are still being sought.

TYLER – Smith County sheriff’s deputies have arrested an man from Arp for continuous sexual assault of a child. Detectives arrested Jessie James Liggins, 38, and placed him in the Smith County Jail. His bond has been set at $400,000. The assault was reported late last week. Investigators learned the suspect has assaulted the girl, under the age of 14, on various occasions over an 18 month period. The last assault was witnessed by a family member. Investigators got a warrant for Liggins arrest.

TYLER – Tyler police report the traffic signal at West Front Street and Glenwood is back in operation. The intersection was turned into a four-way stop with stop signs on Monday when an accident knocked out the signal. The signs were taken down when the signal was repaired.

TYLER – Smith County has cancelled jury duty for Wednesday, July 25. Smith County residents who were planning to report for jury duty with their yellow cards don’t have to make the trip to the county courthouse. No new panels will be needed according to Smith County Jury Coordinator Lisa Bennett. However, if you have been asked to return for jury duty by a specific court, you must still report.

MARSHALL – A fatal Harrison County accident remains under investigation. It occurred shortly after 2:45 Monday morning on Interstate Highway 20, about a mile east of Marshall. Dead at the scene was Arthur Eugene Ford, 64, of North Richland Hills. The Department of Public Safety reports he was heading west when his tractor trailer rig ended up in the median and rolled over on it side. It then caught fire.

HENDERSON – Church burglaries are plaguing Rusk County. The sheriff’s department reports 7 churches have been broken into. The burglaries have occurred over the past several days. Several items have been reported stolen from each church. There is a person of interest in the cases. The person drives a Chevy S-10 pickup, which has been seen at some of the churches. If you have any information about the burglaries, you are asked to contact the Rusk County Sheriff’s Department.

TYLER — Tyler Police are investigating a Monday night shooting that left two people dead and one injured. It was reported just before 10:00 on W. Dobbs. 51-year-old Charlie Verdell and 17-year-old Daquan Munson were killed. Arriving officers found Verdell on the front porch; he died later at a hospital. Munson and his mother, 32-year-old Ladidre Patrice Blevins, were found inside. Munson was dead at the scene. Blevins remained in a hospital at last report; her condition was not immediately released. A witness told officers they saw a black male with a gun running from the scene. Authorities announced Tuesday afternoon a suspect is in custody in the case. Arrested in Longview was Tony Waters, 55, of Kilgore.

TYLER – We may find out next month about a possible name change for Tyler’s Robert E. Lee High School. At Monday’s night meeting school trustees said they may vote on the issue at their next meeting, which will be in August. Plans call for a vote to take place when all board members can be present. The action came after both sides of the issue addressed school trustees.