KTBB News, Weather, Talk

DIANA – A 9-year-old girl has died after she was struck by a vehicle while crossing the road. According to the Department of Public Safety report, it happened around 6:00 Monday night on SH-154 in Upshur County, just east of the city of Diana. Troopers said Isabella Grace Smith, Diana, was crossing the road to check the mail when she was hit by a truck driven by Patrick Johnson, 59, of Harleton. The driver was unable to see the child and struck her in the roadway. Smith was transported to Good Shepherd Medical center Longview where she was later pronounced dead. The crash remains under investigation.

SMITH COUNTY — Only three Smith County roads remain closed due to high water from recent heavy rains. Officials report County Roads 2180, 420, and 421 will remain barricaded and off limits to drivers until the high water recedes enough to be safe. County Roads 354, 2138, 113 and 129 have been reopened.

RUSK – An East Texas actress who was known for her role in “Bernie” has died. According to KETK, family members say Kay Epperson of Rusk died Sunday night at age 75. The former hairdresser auditioned for the role of the “town gossip” in the film that starred Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, and Longview High School graduate Matthew McConaughey. She soon found herself in Bastrop working on the project. According to her IMDB page, Epperson also had roles in “Joe” with Nicolas Cage, “Everybody Wants Some,” and “Manglehorn” with Al Pacino. Visitation for Epperson will be held on Friday with the funeral to follow on Saturday.

TYLER — Visit Tyler has announced the 2018 Azalea Belles. The girls, dressed in antebellum garb, will greet visitors and answer questions during the annual Azalea and Spring Flower Trail, which runs March 16 through April 1. The girls are chosen through an application process and must also go through an orientation session. Continue reading 2018 Azalea Belles Announced

TYLER – Tyler ISD hosts three community meetings this week to discuss the newly approved Middle School Redesign plan. Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford will be joined by district administrators and Board of Trustees members to lay out the plan and answer questions. Light refreshments will be served. The meetings begin at 6 p.m. Following a Monday night get-together at Hogg Middle School, officials have scheduled a Tuesday gathering at Moore MST Magnet School and a final session Thursday at Caldwell Elementary Arts Academy.

TYLER – Minor injuries were reported in a car-train accident in Tyler Sunday afternoon. It occurred around 3:30 at the railroad crossing at Oakwood Street and Spring Avenue. A witness told officers the car had already entered onto to the tracks when the crossing arms came down. The driver tried to make a U-turn, but was hit by the slow moving train. In the car was a woman and three children ages 3, 9 and 10. The investigation into the accident is continuing.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the week of February 26. Weather conditions have had a significant impact on work schedules so some schedules have not changed from the previous week. Schedules are always subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones.

In Smith County, the contractor for the Lindale Relief Route is planning daily lane closures on Farm Road 16 at Toll 49, and on Interstate Highway 20 at Toll 49. Expect lane closures on FM 16 from 9:00am to 4:00pm., Monday-Friday, February 26 – March 2. Various I-20 lane closures will also be conducted from 9:00am to 4:00pm, Monday – Thursday, February 26 – March 1, and from 9:00am to noon, on Friday, March 2. The schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions. Local law enforcement will be assisting with work zone traffic control. Continue reading TxDot Area Road Work Update

LIBERTY CITY – One person has been arrested in connection with a Gregg County stabbing. It happened around 4:15 Friday morning on Smallwood Road in the Liberty City area. Joshua Hyatt, 30, of Tatum, was found in the road with stab wounds. He was taken to the hospital for treatment. Sheriff’s department spokesman Josh Tubb based on what Wyatt and a witness told them, Hyatt and Carter Riley Brown, 20, of Gladewater, got into an argument over a woman. The argument led to the stabbing. Brown has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He’s being held in the Gregg County Jail on a $75,000 bond.

TYLER – A Tyler business was robbed Sunday morning. It was the Valero Gas Station on the Old Jacksonville Highway at Rice Road. The man, who had a handgun, entered the store around 4:30. He took an undisclosed amount of money from the cash register and fled on foot. He is described as a black male wearing blue pants, a grey jacket and red hat. No injuries were reported.

TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Department is looking for four persons in connection with numerous stolen vehicles in Smith, Cherokee, Titus and Henderson counties. They are identified as Jacob Spivey, Frank Meadows, Ashley Hoag and Adam Leal. If you know where anyone of them may be found, you are asked to contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. They say Jacob Spivey (pictured) is running from officers since he knows there is a warrant out for his arrest. He is known to stay in several locations in Tyler as well as Bullard. Authorities say Frank Meadows is a known drug dealer in the area. They feel he may be with Ashley Hoag, who has also been named in a felony warrant. As far as Adam Leal, investigators say he is known to stay in the North Tyler Area. You can see pictures of all of the suspects on the Smith County Sheriff Office’s web page.

GUN BARREL CITY – Two persons have been arrested on drug charges in Gun Barrel City. Concerned residents reported what they believed to be illegal drug activity. On Friday, the police served a search warrant at a residence on Tara Trace in the WillowWood subdivision. The two persons were arrested after officers found narcotics, paraphernalia, and weapons. The suspects names have not been released.

LONGVIEW – Crime dropped in Longview last year. The report was presented to the city council last week. According to the numbers presented by Police Chief Mike Bishop, violent crime dropped by 21.7%, property crime fell by 26.8% and the overall Part I crimes decreased by 26.4%. Murder dropped 50%, with 7 reported last year and 14 were reported in 2016. The only area not to see a decrease was in forcible rape, with 60 reported in Longview last year. The same number was recorded in 2016.

TYLER – Three persons have been arrested in connection with the Wednesday afternoon shooting in the parking lot at Best Buy, on South Broadway. Charged with aggravated assault was Wyatt Levi Proud, 22, of Tyler. He’s in jail under a $150,000 bond. Two persons, who were stopped the day of the shooting near Copeland And Shiloh roads were determined to be a part of the incident. Charged with unlawfully carry a weapon were Davonta Tramane Hill, 24, and Michael Franklin, 17, of Tyler. Investigators said an altercation in the parking lot led to the shooting. They say it was a drug related incident. No injuries were reported.

JACKSONVILLE — TxDOT is conducting a relief route study for a heavily congested area in Jacksonville. According to KETK, Studies show the highway in Jacksonville is operating at an undesirable level. Eight miles of Highway 69 go directly through the city, with intersections that slow down travel time. The highway is a designated hurricane evacuation route. At a public meeting Thursday night, Mayor Dick Stone also said the study is looking at truck traffic coming from Beaumont and the East Coast. Stone says, “I think it will be beneficial to the majority of people…If they do the route it will have to go through someone’s property, so I imagine the people that are directly affected would probably be opposed to it. But I think overall it will make it a little safer to drive through.” He added it would also benefit emergency vehicles traveling in that area.

NACOGDOCHES – The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Department has made arrests in a milti-county auto burglary ring. Along with the arrests, they have recovered property in 26 car burglaries that have occurred in the county. Arrested were Jamarcus Suell (pictured), 23, and Kindrick Davis, 23, both of Lufkin. Warrants are out for a third suspect. They have also identified four additional suspects in thefts in other counties. Investigators say the theft ring operated across five different counties. As the investigation continues, more charges are pending.

PALESTINE – One person has been wounded by a Palestine police officer. It all started as an officer tried to stop a vehicle with two persons around 11:00 Friday morning. But it wouldn’t stop and officers chased into it into the county. When they finally got the vehicle stopped, The passenger pulled a gun. An officer shot the man. He was taken to a Tyler hospital where he is being treated for a life threatening injury. His name has not been released. The other person, a woman who was driving, was not injured, and was questioned. No officers were injured. At a late afternoon news conference, police chief Andy Harvey said that they believe the man was involved in methamphetamine distribution. The Department of Public Safety and Texas Rangers are investigating the shooting.

PANOLA COUNTY – A Longview woman has been killed and another one injured in a Panola County shooting. Killed was Elania Johnson, 44, and wounded was Raven Dotrey, 21. The shooting occurred Wednesday night on a private road in northwestern Panola County. A woman is said to have rescued Dotrey’s two year old daughter from the suspect. Following a ten hour standoff, Jeffrey Mickens, 47, of Carthage surrendered to authorities. He is said to have been Johnson’s boyfriend. He has been charged with murder, attempted capital murder of a peace officer, aggravated assault and aggravated kidnapping. Continue reading Two Longview Women Shot, One Killed, In Panola County

TYLER — Tyler Police have arrested a man for impersonating a police officer. Officer responded to an aggravated assault report around 12:30 this morning on Highway 64 and Loop 323. The victims said a man driving a silver Ford Explorer had tried to pull them over and had displayed a handgun in the process. The victims were able to get the license plate and police found the vehicle a short time later at Broadway and the Loop. Khristian Welch, 18, admitted to trying to pull the victim’s vehicle over after observing them run a red light. A red and blue strobe light was found on the front seat of the Explorer. Welch was booked into the Smith County Jail on an impersonating a public servant charge. Police are also investigating a similar report around 7:00 Thursday night. Continue reading Tyler Man Arrested for Impersonating an Officer

COLORADO CITY – And Upshur County man has been killed and a Dallas man injured when hit by a tractor trailer rig on Interstate Highway 20 near Colorado City. Dead at the scene of the Tuesday accident was Skyler H. Anderson, 32, of Gilmer. The Dallas man is in a Lubbock Hospital with critical injuries. The Abilene Reporter-News reports the two men were standing in a ditch following an accident. They were hit when the truck served to avoid the wreck. The accident remains under investigation by the Department of Public Safety.

MARSHALL – The Marshall Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying a copper thief. Shortly after 5:00am on February 15th, he entered Keith’s Air Conditioning and Heating on East End Boulevard. He is said to have stolen around $1,500 worth of copper. If you can provide information about the suspect’s identity, you are asked to contact the Marshall Police Department. You can go to the Marshall/Harrison County Crime Stoppers Facebook page to see a video of the suspect.

TYLER – Brookshire Grocery Company has announced it is buying 8 Winn-Dixie stores in Louisiana from Southeastern Grocers. They are all in southern Louisiana. The stores will carry BGC’s Super 1 Foods banner. After the closing process is over, the stores will undergo a brief transition period. They will then re-open as Super 1 Food Stores.

SMITH COUNTY – The City of Tyler Water Utilities is temporarily closing all public boat ramps on Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East. Because of the recent rains, the lakes are currently at an elevation of 376.46 feet Mean Sea Level. The Spillway elevation is at 375.5 feet. Ramps were closed because of boating hazards resulting from debris washed into the lakes by the recent rains. They were also closed to reduce damage from erosion of the shoreline caused by boat wakes. In addition, the lakes are closed to boat traffic from lake residents. The ramps will remain closed until the water recedes.

SMITH COUNTY — One person was taken to the hospital following a Thursday morning shooting in Flint. According to KETK, it happened shortly before 6:15 on Frederick Circle, just off Highway 69 South. A male was shot in the backyard of the home. Smith County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Darrell Coslin said the man accidentally shot himself in the shoulder. The wound is not life threatening.

SMITH COUNTY – More Smith County roads have been closed due to high water. The number now stands at 7. County Roads 354, 2180, 2138, 420, 421, 113 and 129 have been barricaded and closed. The barricades will remain up until the water over the roadways recedes. Drivers are warned to take alternate routes.

TYLER — A trial date of April 11 has been set for an East Texas business owner accused of sexually assaulting a child. KETK reports Grant Cook, owner of Grant Cook Music in Flint, is accused of fondling a girl younger than 14 last July. His girlfriend’s granddaughter is the reported victim. The girl told her sister Cook had assaulted her, and the sister in turn told the grandmother. Investigators say the girl was lying on the couch asleep when it happened.

AUSTIN – A Tyler man has been named to head up a state board. Governor Greg Abbott has named Peter Lake chairman of the Texas Water Development Board. He had appointed Lake to the board in 2015. The Board provides leadership, planning, financial and technical assistance for the development of water for the state. Lake is the former head of business development at Lake Ronel Oil Company, and previously served as director of special projects for VantageCap Partners and as director of research at Gambit Trading.

HENDERSON – A Rusk County man has drawn a long prison term for murder. Earlier this week, Lamarlon Tremone Thompson, 39, of Mount Enterprise, pleaded guilty after a jury had been impaneled in his trial. According to the district attorney’s Facebook page, the jury later sentenced him to 99 years in prison. Thompson had been charged with the death of Floyd Thompson, 60. He had been missing for a month when his body was found in a well off Highway 135 near Mount Enterprise. He had been shot to death. When Thompson was arrested in September of 2016, he admitted to the killing and hiding the body.

BROWNSBORO – A Tyler chiropractor has been killed in a two vehicle accident in Henderson County. Sharn Alexander Dewet of Bullard was killed in the wreck on State Highway 31, just over 3 miles west of Brownsboro. The accident happened around 10:00 Wednesday night. The Department of Public Safety says, for some reason, a pickup ended up in the opposite late of traffic. The truck, driven by 27 year old Bunheng Sok of Athens, hit the victim’s car. Dewet was pronounced dead at the scene. Sok is in critical condition in a Tyler hospital.

TYLER – Reports of gunshots sent Tyler police to the Best Buy parking lot on South Broadway around 2:30 Wednesday afternoon. There was damage to two vehicles, but it is unknown if it was from the gunshots at this time. Witnesses report seeing what appeared to be a tan SUV, possibly a Lincoln SUV leaving the scene. Officers saw a tan Lincoln Navigator, with four persons, traveling north on Copeland Road from Rieck Road. When officers stopped it, they arrested the driver and a passenger for unlawfully carrying a weapon and possession of marijuana. The other passengers were released. Investigators are still trying to determine if they were involved in the shooting.