KTBB News, Weather, Talk

MARSHALL – The Marshall Police Department said that two people were arrested Thursday after a driver-by shooting. According to our news partner KETK, operators received a call from someone who said that they were shot at late Thursday night on East Bowie Street, near Albert Street intersection. When police arrived at the scene, they found no one was injured.

The two identified suspects in the shooting are, 18-year-old Abdiel Vences and Jordan Hernandez, 17. Both are in the Harrison County Jail. Vences is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, engaging in organized criminal activity, failure to identify/giving false/fictitious information and possession of marijuana .

TYLER – Smith County District Clerk Penny Clarkston was arrested for contempt of court for not handing over information related to a high profile case. According to our news partner KETK, Court documents said that the district clerk was given several chances over the last two months to hand over information to the district court pertaining to the William Davis capital murder case. Davis was found guilty and sentenced to death in October 2021 after accusations that he intentionally blew air in the arterial lines of patients at a local hospital where four patients were killed and several injured.The case has recently reentered the spotlight with accusations that Davis’ defense team was harassing jurors in April.
Continue reading Smith County District Clerk arrested

CANTON – East Texas landowners made themselves heard at a public meeting Thursday night in Van Zandt County hosted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, according to our news partners at KETK. They were there to ask questions and voice concerns about a proposed permit of land use of biosolids in Mabank. According to the EPA, biosolids come from the wastewater treatment process. It’s human waste converted into organic materials that can be used as fertilizer. The permit reveals that Denali Water Solutions, based in Arkansas, would distribute biosolids on a landowners farm in Mabank raising concerns about potential risks. Continue reading East Texans raise concerns on proposed land use of biosolids

TYLER – On Wednesday, July 24, the City Council approved a contract for the development of the Lake Tyler Master Plan, which will consider the City’s current and future needs at Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East. The contract will total $449,275, and Halff Associates, Inc., was selected to provide the City with a comprehensive set of recommendations for the Master Plan. The Lake Tyler Master Plan will focus on areas like recreation and tourism, water quality, public safety, planning and development, and grant funding opportunities. Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East are owned and operated by Tyler Water Utilities and are treated as a single reservoir. Continue reading Council approves development of Lake Tyler Master Plan

AUSTIN — Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar is reminding shoppers they can save money on clothes and school supplies during the state’s sales tax holiday on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 9-11. This will be the 25th year of Texas’ oldest sales tax holiday.

State law exempts sales tax on qualified items — such as clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks — priced below $100, saving shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend. The dates of the sales tax holiday and list of tax-exempt items are set by the Texas Legislature. Continue reading Texas sales tax holiday is Aug. 9-11

TEXAS – The ACLU of Texas said Wednesday it found 51 school districts, including three East Texas school districts, in violation of the Texas CROWN Act, which bans race-based hair discrimination, and urged them to update their dress code policies, according to the Texas Tribune and our news partners at KETK. The Texas CROWN Act prohibits schools, workplaces and housing authorities from discriminating against hairstyles historically associated with race such as dreadlocks, cornrows or afros. Continue reading Three East Texas school districts violate the Crown Act

LONGVIEW — A 17-year-old is dead and another minor is injured after an alleged “thwarted burglary.” According to our news partner KETK, officers responded to a report of a residential burglary in progress on Mahlow Drive around 2:20 a.m. on Wednesday. Officials said that they found a 17-year-old male inside the residence with life-threatening injuries. Police said that the 17-year-old was taken to a hospital where he later died from his injuries. Longview PD said that “it was determined he was the suspect that unlawfully entered the home.”

Shortly after arriving on the scene, officers were notified that another juvenile arrived at a local hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries, and after investigation it was “determined the juvenile was associated with the incident on Mahlow Drive,” police said. Continue reading Teen dead following ‘thwarted burglary’

ANGELINA COUNTY — According to our newspartner KETK, a Lufkin man has died after spending nearly two days in the Angelina County Jail where he displayed “erratic and unusual behavior.” According to a release from Angelina County Sheriff Tom Selman, on Sunday deputies were dispatched in regards to a call of an individual at the Clawson Assembly of God church who reportedly had been behaving erratically and appeared to be under the influence of drugs.

Deputies located Michael Stolich, 46 of Lufkin, near a pickup truck in the parking lot. After speaking with him for several minutes, officials reportedly determined he was under the influence of some type of narcotic or intoxicating substance. Stolich was then taken into custody. Continue reading Inmate displaying ‘erratic behavior’ dies in custody

WINNSBORO – A family filed a lawsuit against Winnsboro ISD accusing the district of engaging “in a yearslong retaliatory campaign” against them after they tried numerous times to report bullying against their son according to our news partner KETK. The lawsuit, filed in federal court against WISD and its board members, asserts that the district ignored complaints of sexual harassment and physical abuse, detailing alleged instances in which the district retaliated against the plaintiff’s family.

Board members named in the lawsuit are Duncan McAdoo, Brandon Green, Stacy Brown, Jay Murdock, Kristie Amason, Billy Saucier and Brian Busby. The lawsuit accuses them and other high ranking school officials of violating Title IX and ADA laws in addition to FERPA violations. Continue reading Family sues Winnsboro ISD over harassment allegations

TYLER — The cause of death for a missing Tyler man has been released, according to our news partner KETK. The Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences at Dallas revealed Jose Alejandro Perez’s manner of death was ruled as “homicide violence including chop/blunt force injuries and neck compression.”

Perez initially went missing on April 26 from the Towne Oaks Apartments off Old Bullard Road, where his mother had last seen him. Officers reportedly discovered his vehicle at Autumn Glen apartments off Hollytree Drive, about a mile-and-a-half from his last known location.

By May 5, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office received a call at around 3:40 p.m. where the caller indicated human remains may have been located in the area of 15400 block of FM 346 East between Troup and Whitehouse. Continue reading Death of missing Tyler man ruled homicide

TYLER – The SPCA of East Texas welcomed a new Executive Director last week. According to our news partner KETK, Emily Heglund comes from Athens where she served as executive director for the TVCC Foundation in Athens for the past three years and worked as executive director of CASA Trinity Valley prior to that. Heglund will oversee the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the SPCA of East Texas, their rescue and adoption program and their SNIPPET Clinic. “I first became involved with the SPCA as a foster home in 2020,” Heglund said. “I know firsthand the incredible impact this organization Heglund has a degree in news-editorial journalism from Texas Christian University, and a certificate in Fund Raising Management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University Indianapolis.

TYLER – A juvenile suspect was arrested Wednesday for multiple bomb threats and swatting hoaxes in Tyler. A joint investigation was conducted by the Tyler Police Department, Smith County Sheriff’s Department, Collin County Sheriff’s Department, and the FBI. The Tyler PD apprehended the youth and charged him with six criminal offenses. The juvenile is currently at the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center.

TYLER — Two Smith County firefighters have been hit by cars while working traffic calls all within the span of a month. Officials weigh in on the importance of slowing down and moving over. “Reminding motorists to watch their speed, do all you can to pay attention, put your phones away,” Jeff Williford, TxDOT Tyler District public information officer, said.

According to our news partner KETK, Sunday on FM 850 east of Tyler a firefighter was working the scene of a wreck when a vehicle hit them and took off. The firefighter has since been released from the hospital and authorities are still searching for the person responsible. Continue reading Officials talk safety after firefighter hit by car

GREGG COUNTY — One person is dead following a shooting in Longview on Monday. According to our news partner KETK, the Longview Police Department said officers were dispatched to a shooting at the Townhouse South Apartments on W Loop 281 around 10 p.m. When officers arrived, they reportedly discovered a man had sustained a gunshot wound with life threatening injuries. The victim, identified as Isaiah Dickson, 21, was taken to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Police said the incident appeared to be a disturbance between known parties with the suspect, Tavyon Stephenson, 18, shooting the victim and then fleeing the scene. Longview PD, assisted by the Marshall Police Department, located Stephenson in Marshall on Tuesday at around 1 p.m. where he was arrested alongside another individual on separate charges.

NACOGDOCHES – A Nacogdoches man was sentenced to 50 years in prison for murder in the case of a 2019 murder. According to our news partner KETK, Victor Torres was 19-years-old at the time he was initially arrested after a Sunday morning shooting in November 2019.

Authorities reported at the time that Torres approached five men who were working on a barn and began shooting at them with a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle. Among the men, 34-year-old Jose Rojo-Velasco was pronounced dead at the scene. Torres reportedly told confessed to being the shooter and said he had an ongoing problem with one of the victims.

Torres was sentenced to 50 years in prison on July 5 for murder, and 20 years in prison for other charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The sentences are set to run concurrently.

TYLER – If you still need help from FEMA for damages suffered by severe weather in Smith County from April 26 through June 5, you can talk to them in person at the Disaster Recover Center in Tyler until Monday. FEMA will close its Disaster Recovery Center on July 29. Until then, it will be open 8 a.m. To 6 p.m. through Saturday at The Hub, 304 E. Ferguson St. in Tyler. As of Monday, July 22, FEMA had approved 3,261 Smith County residents for individual assistance, for a total of $12,098,877, Smith County Emergency Management Coordinator Brandon Moore reported.

The Disaster Recovery Center has been open nearly every day since June 22. Citizens have had the chance to get in-person help there by FEMA personnel, as well as representatives from the Small Business Administration, Lone Star Legal and the local nonprofit organization, Crisis Response Ministry. Others have applied for assistance by visiting http://www.disasterassistance.gov or calling FEMA’s helpline: 800-621-3362.

FEMA has set a deadline of August 15, for Smith County residents to register for individual assistance with their storm damages.
 

SMITH COUNTY — Two men have been indicted for aggravated kidnapping for ransom or reward in an incident Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said is directly related to cartel activities. According to our news partner KETK, on March 17 at around 4:06 p.m., the sheriff’s office received a call of a woman claiming her husband was taken at gunpoint by two men in a red Honda passenger car. The woman’s sons reportedly followed the Honda and pulled over at a donut shop on Highway 271. The accused kidnappers, identified by the sheriff’s office as Julio Cesar Cordova and Walybert Eron Cordova-Rascon, allegedly threatened the sons with a gun and told them they had to pay a $10,000 ransom to get their father back. Continue reading Two men indicted for kidnapping

TYLER – FEMA is committed to helping all eligible Texas households recover from Hurricane Beryl, including U.S. citizens, non-U.S. citizen nationals and qualified non-citizens. You or a member of your household must be U.S. citizen, non-U.S. citizen national or qualified non-citizen to apply. Families with diverse immigration status, including adults who are undocumented, can apply as long as at least one family member is a citizen, non-U.S. citizen national or qualified non-citizen. For instance, if you are undocumented and have a child under 18 who is a U.S. citizen and lived in the household during the time of the disaster, you can apply for FEMA assistance. Continue reading FEMA explains citizenship guidelines

POLK COUNTY — The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said one person is dead from a gunshot wound following a “family disturbance” on Saturday according to our news partners at KETK. According to a release, officials responded to 911 calls in the 3700 block of FM 3459 in Onalaska. When detectives arrived, they reportedly discovered Gerald Fields, 56 of Onalaska, dead at the scene. Witnesses reported that a disturbance occurred between two family members where Fields died from a single gunshot. The sheriff’s office, Onalaska Police Department and the Texas Rangers Office processed the crime scene and conducted interviews. An autopsy has been ordered for Fields to be performed by the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office. The sheriff’s office said the investigation is ongoing and no further information will be released at this time.

HENDERSON COUNTY — A Payne Springs man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after officials discovered nearly 50 grams of meth during a search of his vehicle. According to the Henderson County District Attorney’s office and our news partner KETK, Richard Blane Sims, 48 , was sentenced on July 11 for manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance.

In May of 2023, an officer with the Mabank Police Department reportedly “observed a vehicle pulling a trailer with defective equipment and initiated a traffic stop.” Sims allegedly did not have a driver’s license. The district attorney’s office said the passenger of the vehicle had an open warrant and a baggie of methamphetamine was found in her clothing during her arrest. A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted where officials found a metal box that contained a scale and a large bag that was determined to be 48.64 grams of methamphetamine.

TYLER – Darius Jubarn’e Davis, 31, Tyler, was arrested March 13, after officers responded to calls of a shooting at Liberty Arms apartments on North Broadway Avenue. According to our news partner KETK, when police arrived they found a 3-year-old shot in the buttocks. The child was taken to local hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries. Davis has been indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance between 4 and 200 grams and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

JEFFERSON — 60 dogs have been rescued from a former bar turned into a “makeshift shelter” in Jefferson after a rescue group determined it unsafe. According to our news partner KETK, the Animal Rescue Corps (ARC), visited the shelter, and found it had become overwhelmed by the number of homeless animals. ARC reportedly rescued 21 dogs, and sent supplies including pet food and an air conditioning unit.

In their last visit, a release from ARC said, “they found 39 dogs inside and outside the facility housed in a variety of pens, cages, and kennels. Some tarp-covered wire cages outside held up to five dogs while inside dogs were exposed to high ammonia levels and kept in dirty makeshift kennels with urine-soaked straw.”

The dogs were then sent to the groups rescue center in Gallatin, Tenn. On arrival, each dog is reportedly given an exam by a veterinarian, vaccinations and other medical treatment that is needed. Once the dogs are well, they will be transported to a trusted shelter to be adopted.

People can visit the ARC website to donate or volunteer to support the rehabilitation of these dogs.

TYLER – A Tyler man charged with the murder of his father is due back in court this September. According to our news partner KETK, 44-year-old Christopher Tilley was indicted in June for the murder of his father, 79-year-old Del Tilley.

Christopher is accused of fatally shooting his father over an argument on who would care for an injured dog in their home. He told officers his father began to choke him, so he shot him once in self-defense. Investigators reported the Tilley residence didn’t show any signs of disturbance. They also noted, Del Tilley suffered three gunshot wounds. Two in close contact to his stomach and one wound to his head and neck.

Christopher waived his arraignment. He’ll be back in court Aug. 1 for a plea docket agreement. His jury trial begins Sept. 9.

SMITH COUNTY — Our news partners at KETK report that officials are searching for the driver of a vehicle that reportedly hit a firefighter while responding to a wreck on FM 850 on Sunday. Smith County Emergency Services District 2 said just after 8:30 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to a wreck when a firefighter was struck by a vehicle. Officials said the firefighter was transported, treated and has since been released. However, this is the second time a firefighter has been hit in the last month. Continue reading Officials search for hit-and-run driver after firefighter injured

TYLER –A former Tyler doctor whose medical license was suspended in June 2023 has been indicted on multiple charges of sexual assault and practicing medicine without a license according to our news partners at KETK. Kenneth Haygood, 55, was initially arrested in February for three charges of sexual assault and one charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child after an investigation into him had opened in November 2023. His medical license had previously been suspended by the medical board for inappropriate conduct. Continue reading Former Tyler doctor indicted on multiple charges of sexual assault

SMITH COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK report a house caught fire in Smith County after authorities reported on Sunday that a car fire had spread to a nearby house. According to Smith County ESD 2, they received a call about a car fire and before they arrived it had spread to the house and upgraded to a Box alarm. The homeowner’s dog was found by crew members during a primary search and was rescued. No injuries were reported from the incident. Multiple crews and volunteer firefighters responded to the scene, with a crew going interior, and another establishing a rapid intervention team.