KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – Tyler’s Salvation Army is a beehive of activity. Preparations are underway for the annual community Thanksgiving meal. They expect to feed up to 1,500 persons Thursday between 11:30 and 1:00. The staff and volunteers started the preparations Wednesday afternoon. Over 200 volunteers have signed up this year to help with the Thanksgiving festivities. The Hubbard Family, a 5-piece East Texas musical group will be performing as the guests enjoy their meal. It consists of Greenberg Smoked Turkeys, dressing, fruit salad, green bean casseroles, candied yams, and pie. The cost of the meal is underwritten by many in the community.

PALESTINE — An East Texas woman has been arrested, accused of stabbing another woman in Anderson County. According to KETK, investigators say Brandi Davis and her boyfriend were driving down a county road when they saw 25-year-old Ashley Whiteside walking along the road. They stopped to confront her, and it then became physical. Davis was stabbed three times. She was taken to the hospital, where we’re told she’s recovering from severe internal injuries.

TYLER – What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? Tyler’s Goodman Museum wants to know. The museum plans to build a Trail of Gratitude. Through December 1, the museum invites you to share your thanksgivings. They will even supply colorful paper and writing utensils for you. These papers will be collected and laminated and hung from posts to create a trail on the property for the community to walk through and enjoy. The trail will be on display through the second weekend in January.

ATHENS – A traffic stop southeast of Athens has resulted in a drug arrest. The sheriff’s deputy stopped motorcyclist Durrell Lee Hopkins, 57, of Larue, for a traffic violation at the intersection of Farm Road 804 and County Road 4712. A search turned up illegal drugs and a .45 caliber handgun. Hopkins was booked into the Henderson County Jail on charges of unlawfully carrying a weapon and possession of a controlled substance.

PALESTINE – A Palestine woman has been reported missing. She is Haley Dawn Grant, 24. Grant’s family and friends told officers Monday that they had been unable to make contact with her. She was last seen at a convenience store last Saturday. Grant is described as having dark hair, 5’8″ tall and weighing 120 pounds. Anyone with any information regarding this case is urged to contact the Palestine Police Department at 903-729-2254 or Sgt. David Kassaw at 903-731-8482.

NACOGDOCHES – The secretary of state’s office has accepted the filing of another candidate seeking to unseat Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert. The application is that of Brent Beal of Nacogdoches. He went on a tour of the 1st congressional district to get petition signatures in lieu of paying a filing fee. He submitted over 800 signatures. 500 signatures had been required. Beal who is a business professor at The University of Texas at Tyler, will be running in the Democratic Primary against Shirley McKeller, who is running for the 4th time. Beal is critical district’s current congressman. He said, “Gohmert has failed to represent East Texans beyond those in his far-right GOP base.”

LONGVIEW – Longview’s National Night Out activities was once again one of the top ones in the country. According to the National Town Watch Association, the Longview/Gregg County activities ranked 11th for a community with a population size from 100,000 to 300,000. National Night Out Block Party were held in neighborhoods and businesses around the city and county. A total of 134 parties registered for National Night Out, which was held on October 3. The activities, which are coordinated by the Longview Police Department, Partners in Prevention and the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office ranked 14th in the competition last year.

SULPHUR SPRINGS — A nightmare for some staffers at a Sulphur Springs veterinary clinic. A sick unvaccinated dog bit a technician at the Bright Star Veterinary Clinic in September. The owner agreed to put the animal down, and the head was removed to test the dog for rabies. It was shipped to the state — but the package never made it. And that meant technician Heather Brinkman and two others had to get a series of rabies vaccinations. THe total cost for all three: $80,000. Brinkman says, “I have a little boy. I’m all he has. I wasn’t gonna take my life and say, ‘Okay, no, I’m not gonna get these’ — I needed to have them.” They had to make several trips to Dallas’s Parkland Hospital for the shots. Brinkman’s hoping workmen’s comp will pay.

LONGVIEW – LeTourneau University recently placed one of its computer programing teams in the Top 10 national rankings in the IEEEXtreme 11.0 programming competition. In the competition, students compete against each other from across the globe to solve a set of programming challenges. The competition is organized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. LeTourneau won 1st place in the Southwestern region, 8th place nationally, and 161st out of 3,350 teams worldwide. Team members are computer science engineering major Azrael Brown of Duncanville, Texas; computer science engineering major Chandler Griscom, of Coatesville, Pennsylvania; and computer science network security major Brian Scott of Anniston, Alabama.

AUSTIN – Two Tyler residents have been recognized in the state in the area of nursing. Vania Padilla is the Texas Health Care Association’s Nurse of the Year for Region 4. Lucretia Howard is the Texas Health Care Association’s Certified Nurse Aide of the Year for Region 4. Region 4 is one of 10 statewide, and includes Central Texas. Both employed by the Heights of Tyler Nursing Home. Both were nominated by their co-workers and selected by a panel of long term care clinicians from across the state. They were honored during the Texas Health Care Association’s Annual Convention and Trade Show in Houston.

LONGVIEW – A woman wanted in Tennessee has been arrested in Longview. Arrested was Valrie Ann Hart,36, of Longview. She was taken into custody at a home on Alpine road by U.S. Marshall’s Service Violent Crime Task Force Agents. They were assisted by the Gregg County Organized Drug Enforcement Unit. Hart was named in warrants for robbery, aggravated robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, theft, and two outstanding felony warrants for homicide. The warrants are out of Polk County, Tennessee. Continue reading Longview Woman Wanted in Tennessee

TYLER – Because of two businesses, some area residents will have a ham to go with a holiday meal. Hormel Foods and the Brookshire Grocery Company have donated over a 1,000 Hormel Cure 81 half hams to the East Texas Food Bank. In total, the two companies are donating over $100,000 in hams to dozens of food banks and food kitchens in communities where Brookshire’s, Super 1 Foods and Spring Market stores operate. The truck with the hams arrived Tuesday morning.

TYLER – Preparations are being made to usher the Christmas season into Tyler. The city’s Christmas tree was brought in on Monday. It is sitting on the downtown square. It’s a Leyland Cypress that is 28 feet tall and 14 feet wide. For the third straight year, the city’s Christmas tree has come from the Bright Star Farm in Alba. It will be decorated in preparation for the lighting ceremony. That will take place following Tyler’s Christmas parade on November 30th. Throwing the switch to light the tree again this year will be a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital’s Miracle Child. The child’s name will be announced next week.

TYLER – An inmate found hanging in his Smith County Jail cell earlier this month has died. Just before 11:00 Tuesday morning, Quincey Butler, 44, was removed from life support at a Tyler hospital. His body has been sent to a Dallas lab for autopsy. The former New Orleans resident had been placed in a single inmate cell since he was considered to be a danger to other inmates and was also on a suicide watch. Sheriff Larry Smith says Butler was on a required ten minute observation and had been checked nine minutes prior to being found hanging in his cell. Per department protocol, the Texas Rangers are investigating the death.

GREGG COUNTY — AEP Southwestern Electric Power Co. and other utility companies are warning residents of scams from fake sweepstakes to people claiming to be police, according to the Longview News-Journal. “Scammers are targeting local businesses, senior citizens and customers whose native language is not English,” said Brett Mason, SWEPCO’s director of customer service and marketing. SWEPCO teamed with other electric, water and natural gas utilities and trade associations this past week in support of Utilities United Against Scams, a weeklong advocacy and awareness campaign. Scammers pose as electric, water, or natural gas company employees, and they threaten a customer’s services will be disconnected or shut off if immediate payment isn’t made — typically using a prepaid card or other non-traceable form of payment, according to SWEPCO. Continue reading Officials Warn of Utilities Scam

UPSHUR COUNTY — A Gilmer man accused of capital murder beat an 11-month-old toddler to death, an indictment shows. According to the Longview News-Journal, Javarrious Troy Kimeyan Dixon, 22, of Gilmer remained jailed Monday in Upshur County on $5 million bond, charged with capital murder in the March 2 death of Armani Troy Berrospe. A grand jury indictment obtained Monday says that Dixon “intentionally or knowingly” caused 11-month-old Armani’s death by “striking him on or about the head, face and neck with the hands, fists, arms or feet” or with an unknown object. The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office said in March that deputies responded to a 911 call March 2 to FM 2088 near Bettie in reference to an injured child. The child was taken to East Texas Medical Center-Pittsburg, where he later died from the injury. A preliminary autopsy released in March showed that Armani died of “blunt force injury to the head” with the manner of death believed to be homicide. Longview police arrested Dixon Friday on an Upshur County warrant and booked him into the Gregg County Jail. He was transferred from Gregg County to Upshur County.

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY — The Nacogdoches Sheriff’s Office is searching for a woman who authorities say escaped a high-speed chase and subsequent manhunt. According to KETK, Terran Speaker, 32, of Huntington, is being sought in connection with the incident on November 19 when the sheriff’s office received a call from a homeowner reporting a theft in progress. When deputies arrived on the scene, they saw a vehicle with three adults leaving the area. After a high-speed chase along Highway 59, the car pulled into a residence on CR 250 and the three suspects ran away. Deputies were able to catch Julie Saxon, 33, of Corrigan, and Travis Wilbanks, 33, of Hudson, after a short chase. Both were taken to the Nacogdoches County Jail, where they were charged with theft of a firearm and evading arrest. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office at 936-560-7794.

TYLER – Tyler police have identified a suspect in a recent theft at Bishop T.K. Gorman High School. After receiving numerous tips from the public, he has been identified as Vernell Richardson, 23, of Tyler. He was arrested Monday afternoon after meeting with his probation officer. He is on probation for burglary of a building. He is now in the Smith County jail. He is said to be the man got into the Gorman gym early last week by telling a student that he was there to work on the floors. He then went to the boys’ locker room and stole several cell phones and personal belongings. The following day, a man used the same story to enter the All Saints locker room and steal the same type of items. The All Saints burglary case remains under investigation.

LONGVIEW – A missing Longview teen is said to be safe. Longview police have been looking for Sophia Torres, 16. She was believed to be with “Robby” Robert Dale Amburn, 27, of Longview. A Facebook posting says she has been located and is safe. Police spokesperson Kristie Brian says, since she is a juvenile they can’t discuss more than she was a runaway and has returned home on her own.

KILGORE – Kilgore police are now saying a wreck on Interstate Highway 20 last Friday, which involved a cattle trailer, was caused by a hit an run driver. The accident, which caused a traffic flow problems for several hours, occurred between Mile Markers 588 and 589. The trailer had turned over in the median, trapping over 60 head of cattle and killing several of them. The investigation has shown the truck had been hit by another vehicle, which continued east bound on the interstate. The truck was described as a white pick-up with black and gold pinstriping and lettering down the side. It may have been a company truck. It should have damage to the front driver’s side.

TYLER – Tyler’s Beauty and the Box Program continues to grow. The beautification program began last year. It takes traffic signal boxes scattered around the city and turns them into works of art. What started as a pilot program of ten boxes in the Downtown Business Arts and Culture District has grown to 17 vinyl-wrapped boxes. The newest box added to the collection is at the corner of Erwin and Bois D’Arc. It is sponsored by Marvin United Methodist Church. You can go to http://www.KeepTylerBeautiful.com to see how you can sponsor a utility box.

TYLER – Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith is seeking the public’s help in identifying a man who stole a travel trailer earlier this month. It happened in the early morning hours of November 3rd. It is described as a 26 foot long white and gray Grey Wolf Travel Trailer. It was taken from the Cubesmart Storage Facility on Hwy 155 South just outside the Tyler loop. It was taken by a white male driving a white, newer model, Chevrolet 4×4 crew cab pickup. If you recognize him, you are asked to contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Department.

GUN BARREL CITY — We all love free stuff — but one East Texas man is accused of taking that a little too far. A federal indictment accuses Michael Barnes, 36, of Gun Barrel City of pretending to be a musician to get guitars, headphones, and amps that he said would be used in photo shoots. He wrote one company, claimed he played for the Texas Rangers, and got himself baseball gloves. Former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Richard Roper says, “And you’d wonder, gosh, maybe a member of the Texas Rangers organization would have enough money to buy his own gloves or get one from the club.” Roper adds any prison time depends on the value of the swag. Barnes is charged with 29 counts of wire fraud, eight counts of mail fraud, and four counts of aggravated identity theft.

LUFKIN (AP) — An East Texas woman found incompetent to stand trial in the death of her nephew has remained in county jail eight months after she was committed to a mental health facility. The Lufkin Daily News reports that Billie Jean Cuttler, charged with capital murder after the body of 3-year-old Mason Cuttler was found in a pond, was ordered to a state hospital to undergo a program to better understand court proceedings. Afterward she would stand trial or charges would be dismissed. During a competency trial, an expert testified that Cuttler intellectually functioned below 99.8% of the population. The boy’s father and Cuttler’s then-boyfriend Bobby Woods Jr. is also charged

TYLER – Thanksgiving travelers using Tyler’s Pounds Regional Airport this week will be greeted by Therapet human-animal teams. They will be at the airport today and Wednesday to greet arriving and departing travelers to help them beat holiday stress. Therapet Executive Director Carianne Fisher said research has found that people’s blood pressure and heart rate go down, their positive hormones increase and it helps people relax when they love on a dog for a little while. In addition to the Thanksgiving holiday, Therapet will also be visiting during the Christmas season on December 21 and 22.

LONGVIEW – The next segment of the new Farm Road 2275/George Richey Road Extension in Longview opens today. According to TxDOT, the $12.4 million project runs from McCann Road westward to State Highway 300. The remaining work will be conducted with the roadway open to traffic. This project is part of a new location four-lane divided highway designed to provide a safer and more efficient east/west thoroughfare for Longview. It stretches four miles from U.S. Highway 259 to State Highway 300. The contractor, East Texas Bridge, Inc., of Longview, started construction on this Phase II segment in summer 2016. Phase I from U.S. Highway 259 to McCann Road, at a cost of $34.3 million, opened to traffic in October 2016.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district for the next two weeks (Week of November 20 and 27). Weather conditions or other unforeseen issues could change these work schedules. Due to the high traffic Thanksgiving Holiday, TxDOT Tyler will not allow lane closures on construction and maintenance projects from Wednesday, November 22 through Sunday, November 26th. You can go to http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/060-2017.html and see the project update for TxDOT’s Tyler District.

MARSHALL — A Harrison County grand jury has indicted a 24-year-old Hallsville man on a charge of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle in connection with the death this summer of a Gladewater teen. According to the Longview News-Journal, Melvin Brandon Bradshaw also was indicted on a charge of intoxication assault with a vehicle, causing serious bodily injury. According to the indictment, on June 29, Bradshaw, “operated a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated, causing the death of 17-year-old Bobbie Renee Burke, by accident or mistake, by operating the vehicle at an unsafe speed causing the vehicle to leave the roadway, resulting in a collision.” According to Texas Department of Public Safety officials, the one-vehicle wreck occurred west of Harleton in Harrison County. Burke was one of three passengers in the vehicle driven by Bradshaw that crashed.

MINEOLA — Tammy Stanford was inside her home on Friday. She was getting ready to go into town when her cell phone began ringing, “ADT, the alarm people called and said you have a fire.” According to KETK, Stanford says she ran out of her bedroom to see her house up in flames. “I didn’t just want to run out and save myself. I love my bird and I wasn’t going out let nothing else die in my house. I started dragging the cage, I kept tugging it and that’s when I fell down and got trapped under the cage.” She was at home, all alone with no one there to help her. “I was just yelling and yelling because I couldn’t move my body and then this guy came,” said Stanford. Mike Nance, a neighbor who lives, “probably 200 yards” away from Stanford’s home heard noise and he came running. “If he wouldn’t have gotten here with five more minutes we would have been dead,” said Stanford.