KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at work planned in the Tyler District during the Week of December 15, 2014:

SMITH COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) maintenance crews in Tyler are continuing pavement repairs on Loop 323 between the loop extension and Commerce Street. Expect lane closures in this work zone. Use caution when traveling through the following construction projects in Smith County:
State Highway 31East Widening Project
*Limits: From FM 757 to FM 1639
*Contractor: Reynolds & Kay, LTD
*Cost: $7.8 million
Approved by the Texas Transportation Commission in August, this project consists of widening SH 31 to add passing lanes for multiple sections of roadway in both the eastbound and westbound directions. Once the widening is complete, a seal coat and final surface will be applied. Motorists should expect delays as wells as a daily construction speed limit of 60 mph when work is being performed on this job which is expected to about 18 months to complete. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates

LONGVIEW — Longview Police have released the name of a man found Saturday night fatally shot in a wrecked vehicle. George Wrighten, 67, of Longview, was found with multiple gunshot wounds while crews were responding to a report of a wreck in the 300 block of Pecan Street. Officials had to use the jaws of life to free the victim from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Longview Police.

FLINT — The father of fatal car wreck victim is pleading for the return of his son’s memorial. Adam Nunn, 27, died in an accident on FM Road 2813 in August of 2013. According to KETK, after his son’s death, Terry Nunn put up a memorial along the road. “This was my only son, and this was his final resting place,” said Nunn. He was devastated when he found out the memorial was missing four crosses along with all his son’s keepsakes. The keepsakes were not worth a lot of money, but they are priceless to family and friends. “It’s valuable to me and his friends and his family,you know, who put the time and the effort into making these for him,” said Nunn. A family friend first noticed they were missing.

TYLER — Tyler Police respond to an accident involving a vehicle and pedestrian. It happened just before 7:00 Saturday night at the intersection of South Vine and 2nd Street. According to officers, a silver car was traveling north on South Vine in the inside lane when it struck a 46-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing the street in a motorized wheelchair. Officials said the pedestrian was not crossing at a crosswalk. The pedestrian was transported to East Texas Medical Center with serious but non-life threatening injuries. The female driver was not injured. Officers said there were no signs of the driver being intoxicated. No citations were issued and the driver wasn’t found to be at fault for the accident.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – A compliance check of the county’s 98 registered sex offenders, led by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, was performed Thursday with the help of 35 officers representing 13 agencies. According to the Jacksonville Daily Progress, 10 teams consisting of three to four officers began knocking on doors shortly after 6 a.m., in areas that included Wells, Rusk and Alto. The compliance check was done to verify if offenders’ addresses and vehicle information were current. CCSO will be securing warrants for at least six of these offenders because they had moved without giving correct addresses or they had moved without contacting officers, the release stated. Continue reading Cherokee County Officials Verify Sex Offenders’ Registration

TYLER — An East Texas man has been taken into custody for allegedly trying to hire a hit man to kill his wife, according to KETK. Judicial records show Chip Patrick Owens, 32, Tyler, was booked into the Smith County Jail shortly after 7:00 last night. His bond was set at $1 million dollars. Owens is charged with criminal solicitation.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP/Staff) – An arbiter appointed by the NFL to hear Adrian Peterson’s appeal has ruled that the Minnesota Vikings running back will remain suspended until at least next spring. The decision by Harold Henderson, a former league official, was announced on Friday. His ruling upheld the NFL’s decision last month to suspend the former Palestine star without pay for the remainder of the season and not consider him for reinstatement until April 15. The NFL Players Association balked at the punishment. Peterson was charged with felony child abuse in September for using a wooden switch to discipline his son, but he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor reckless assault in November. He had been on paid leave while his case moved through the court system.

TYLER – Students and staff at five Tyler ISD elementary campuses recently collected more than 6,000 books for Bill’s Bookshelf, a project of the Literacy Council of Tyler. Bill’s Bookshelf provides new and gently used children’s books free to families in the community. Bookshelves are placed at sites where low-income families have easy access to them, and children are invited to choose a book to keep. Continue reading TISD Campuses Donate over 6,000 Books to Literacy Council

TYLER — As bells continue to ring around Smith County, red kettles are being filled with dollars and coins. Interesting things are often found in the kettle, but Thursday’s find is not only interesting but valuable. Salvation Army officials report a local donor donated 29 Silver Eagle coins at various bell ringing locations in Tyler. Each coin is worth $17.01 and was wrapped in a one dollar bill. This unique donation totaled over $500. Corps Officer Major Ben Lawrence said, “This donation is really awesome! But even more than that, it’s amazing that someone supports The Salvation Army so much that they took the time to drive around to 29 different locations around Smith County and place a coin in each bucket. I thank God for this community and their giving hearts!” Continue reading 29 Silver Eagle Coins Dropped into Red Kettles

AUSTIN — The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released the 2013-14 School Report Cards (SRC) for each school in Texas. KETK reports Region VII schools in East Texas received mostly positive reports, but some campuses were listed under an “Improvement Required” accountability rating. Continue reading TEA Report Cards Issued

TYLER – 64-year-old Joseph A. Masso of Athens will turn over more than $2 million and faces possible prison time after pleading guilty to federal income tax violations, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales Friday. Masso was charged with making and subscribing to a false tax return for the calendar year 2011. Continue reading Athens Man Guilty of Federal Income Tax Violations

TYLER — After months of delays, the new Smith County Jail is just about ready to take in inmates. An open house was held Thursday to showcase the renovated structure. KETK reports the 60,000-square-foot facility can hold up to 385 new beds. Cells are isolated pods stacked together to form housing units. The county had the jail designed with longevity in mind, and officials say it will serve the needs of the community for decades to come. They say the county was spending about $2 million a year housing inmates in other counties — but this has stopped that and the county has already reduced that number from about 250 to about 15 to 20. The county worked closely with architects for four years to develop the design of the new facility.

TYLER — Tyler Junior College held commencement ceremonies Friday in Wagstaff Gymnasium, recognizing 689 candidates for graduation for the fall 2014 semester. The morning ceremony recognized graduates in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences and the School of Professional and Technical Programs. The afternoon ceremony recognized graduates in the School of Engineering, Mathematics and Sciences and the School of Humanities, Communications and Fine Arts. TJC President Dr. Mike Metke conferred the degrees and certificates of proficiency and certified the graduates. Presenting diplomas and certificates were TJC board members Dr. Joe Prud’homme, board president; Ann Brookshire, first vice president; Mike Coker, second vice president; Rohn Boone; John Hills; David Hudson; Clint Roxburgh; Peggy Smith; and Lonny Uzzell.

MARSHALL — A teenager has been killed in a wreck in Marshall. The one vehicle accident was reported around 1:00 yesterday afternoon in the 3800 block of Rosborough Springs. Investigators say the car driven by Colby Vernon, 17, a junior at Marshall High School, was heading north when she lost control of the vehicle and it struck a tree. Colby, seen here in her Facebook photo, was rushed to Good Shepherd Medical Center Marshall where she died. An autopsy was ordered to determine the exact cause of death. The accident investigation is ongoing.

ATHENS — On Wednesday afternoon, a Henderson County jury delivered a quick verdict after deliberating for only eight minutes in a case that involved a wild chase and manhunt last June. KETK reports jurors convicted Joshua Paul Calhoun, 34, of Athens, of evading arrest or detention with a motor vehicle — and also found that he used the vehicle as a deadly weapon in the course of committing the offense. Calhoun has numerous arrests, including an arrest in March of 2009 for theft of an airplane from the Athens Airport. Continue reading Man with Lengthy Record Found Guilty in Chase, Manhunt

TYLER – The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announces completion of the bridge replacement project on County Road 1141 over the Union Pacific Railroad. The project was a joint effort between TxDOT and Smith County. According to TxDOT, the contractor, East Texas Bridge, replaced the existing timber structure, which had inadequate vertical clearance over the railroad tracks, causing it to be hit by passing trains on several occasions. The new concrete structure provides adequate vertical clearance as well as improved vertical and horizontal geometry along CR 1141, according to a news release. Continue reading TxDOT Completes CR 1141 Bridge Replacement Project

LONGVIEW — The city of Longview and the Veterans Recognition Foundation hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for a new veterans plaza planned for Teague Park. According to a city news release, the Veterans Recognition Foundation plans to design and build the plaza to honor the service and sacrifices of veterans and their families. The foundation is a registered non-profit corporation working in coordination with other veterans organizations in the region to make the plaza a reality. The plan is to locate the plaza on approximately two acres along the west shore of the lake at Teague Park. The plaza will be open to the general public. Plans include a Vietnam memorial wall, MIA/POW memorial, wall of tears, and more.

KILGORE — Kilgore police are searching for whoever who stole multiple vehicles from a local business. KETK reports the suspect vehicle is the gray/silver Dodge dually in the picture shown. Police believe multiple people may be involved in the crime because of the work needed to take the vehicles. Officials stated the stolen automobiles were snatched from behind a business on SH 135 North. Continue reading Kilgore PD Probes Theft of Vehicles from Business

TYLER – The son of a man killed by a Tyler home owner on Tuesday says his dad may have suffered from a mental illness. Luke Garrison, 44, was shot to death when he broke into the home of a 77 year old man and charged him. Garrison’s son, Seth, tells KETK about two months ago, his dad began exhibiting behavior that suggested mental illness. Acting confused, angry, and anxious are just a few of the symptoms he mentioned. He said his dad “didn’t seem like himself those past two months it was kind of like it was someone else.” Seth said his dad owned a construction company in Brownsboro and there seemed to be no apparent reason for him to commit such a crime.

LONGVIEW – A former football player for Longview High School and Texas Christian University is free on bonds totaling over $116,000 after leading Longview Police on a chase. That’s according to KETK. Officers had been looking for Andre El Pato Davis, 41, who had been named in an arrest warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. When officers tried to stop his car, he merged into traffic and led officers on a chase that ended in the 800 block of Harmon Drive. Officers are said to have found in his car a small blue plastic bag with 2.1 grams of Ecstasy and 0.5 grams of Viagra. According to the Longview News-Journal, Davis faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, evading arrest/detention with vehicle, possession of a controlled substance more than 1 gram but less than 4 grams, and possession of a dangerous drug.

TYLER — Two major downtown Tyler renovation projects are celebrating their completion today. Open houses will be held from 4:00 till 6:00pm at the Smith County Jail and Tyler Public Library. The jail event will include a ceremony set for 5:30. Attendees are asked to use the west entrance at 206 East Elm Street. Continue reading Open Houses for Renovated Jail, Library

TYLER — The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office is seeking information on what Fire Marshal Jay Brooks calls “by far one of the worst animal cruelty cases I have ever seen.” KETK reports that on Tuesday a tan pit bull was tied up to a private kennel near the intersection of Spur 248 and Highway 64 East. “This poor dog was starving and suffering due to injuries of its jaw,” said Brooks. “It is absolutely disgusting.” Continue reading Fire Marshal: Animal Cruelty Case One of the Worst He’s Seen

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday voted to approve two ordinances relating to mobile food vendors (food trucks). The approved changes establish food truck parks as a primary use of a property and allow food trucks to operate on private property as transient vendors, according to a city news release. The City Council also approved changes that establish a one-year Mobile Food Unit Street Vending pilot program on streets in the Midtown District; in the Texas College District; in the University Woods District; in the Downtown, Business, Arts and Culture zoning district (DBAC); adjacent to city parks; and at active construction sites. Continue reading Tyler Approves Ordinances to Allow Food Trucks

TYLER — The Tyler City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to enter into two professional service contracts to continue work to bring a full service hotel conference center to Tyler. The first contract is with GT Development, L.L.C., who will act as program manager to represent the city; the second contract is with Champ Hospitality who will seek private equity to develop the hotel portion of this project. “The hotel conference center is a public-private partnership, with the City primarily funding the conference center and private investment constructing the hotel,” said Tyler Mayor Martin Heines. “Bringing Champ and GT together to work on this project will give Tyler the best possible chance of bringing this project to fruition.” Continue reading Council Takes Next Step toward Conference Center

WASHINGTON, D.C. — North and East Texas Congressman Ralph Hall had to watch from Rockwall as his colleagues on Capitol Hill paid tribute to his 34-year congressional career. The 91-year- old Hall is in rehab for injuries from an October car accident. Among those praising Hall on the House floor was Congressman Louie Gohmert of Tyler. Representatives Joe Barton, Sam Johnson, and Kay Granger were among others who took the podium. Hall, the oldest member of the U.S. House, may not return before his term expires at the end of the year. He was defeated in the primary last May.

TYLER — Two are in custody in a recent large-scale burglary in southwestern Smith County. Sheriff Larry Smith reports it occurred November 26 in the 11000 block of CR 152 West. The victim was out of town and returned November 27 to find his residence had been burglarized. During the burglary, 17 firearms, a vehicle, three televisions, a compound bow, a Play Station3 and assorted female clothing and jewelry were taken from the residence. On November 29, the victim’s vehicle was located inside the city of Tyler along with two suspects. Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the location along with Tyler police officers. Deputies contacted the two suspects, Matthew Mills and Kelsi Beall, at the location. Continue reading Two Arrested, One Sought in Large-Scale Home Burglary

ALPINE — The charges for three suspects in the murder of a Kilgore man have been upgraded. Keith McWilliams, 49, of Alpine, Rhonda Bloom, 42, of Terlingua, and Charles Morrow, 30, of Benbrook were arrested and charges were upgraded from second-degree murder to first-degree murder, according to the Brewster County Sheriff’s Office. According to KETK, officials say Trey Sands (pictured), 28, was shot to death on Halloween. McWilliams was a coworker of Sands and reportedly led officials to his body. Sheriff Ronny Dodson says Sands’s body was found around 1:00 a.m. Friday, December 5, underneath a pile of rocks. Continue reading Charges Upgraded for Suspects in Murder of Kilgore Man

TYLER — One person has been arrested in connection with a Smith County shooting. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office received a call around 11:15 p.m. last Sunday from the East Texas Medical Center Emergency Room regarding a gunshot victim who arrived in a personal vehicle. Tyler police officers and Smith County sheriff’s deputies responded to the hospital. Continue reading One Arrested in Highway 31 Shooting

NACOGDOCHES — The man authorities believe fatally shot Dominique Brooks, 24, of Nacogdoches, has been arrested. According to KETK, Marcus Shwayne Isaac, 19, turned himself in to Shelby County authorities around 6:20 Tuesday night. Extradition back to Nacogdoches County was scheduled to follow. Brooks was shot and killed December 5th. Detectives later determined the alleged shooter had been involved in an altercation earlier that Friday with a resident of the house on Railroad Street where the shooting occurred. Continue reading Nacogdoches Murder Suspect Arrested Tuesday

TYLER – A Tyler home has been destroyed by fire. The fire in the rental house on South Fleishel Avenue and Skyline Street was reported around 6:00 Tuesday night. The mother and her two children were not home when the fire started. Investigators located the source of the fire in the kitchen area and determined that it started as a result of unattended cooking. The home suffered significant fire, smoke and heat damage throughout. There were no injuries reported.