KTBB News, Weather, Talk

ATHENS – A 17-year-old pedestrian died after being hit by a car in a crash on FM 317 around 2:37 a.m. on Sunday, according to our news partner KETK. Haylie Grimes, 17 of Gun Barrel City, was speaking to the driver of a vehicle stopped partly in the westbound lane of FM 317 when a 2008 Dodge Charger drove into the eastbound lane, disregarding a no passing zone and stopped , officials said. According to a Texas DPS report, Grimes was crossing the westbound lane to be picked up by the Dodge when a 2021 Kia Rio failed to control its speed and hit the Dodge and Grimes. Grimes was declared dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Tonya Norris, DPS reported. The driver of the Dodge was treated for injuries at the scene and released. Officials said the driver of the Kia, Chance Tyler Barnhart, 19 of Athens, was arrested and had his blood voluntarily drawn. Barnhart was charged with intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle and booked into Henderson County Jail.

TATUM – Law enforcement in Tatum would like your help in identifying those responsible for a robbery at the Brake Time convenience store Friday in Tatum. According to our news partner KETK, the Tatum Police Department has made available video and photos of the incident for you to see. To view photos and video of the robbery, just click here.

Tatum Police ask if you have information in the material shown to contact them.

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that happened on the 400 block of Johnson Street on Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, officials stated that around 4:16 a.m., Longview police officers were informed that the victim, Jamie White, 25, had been transported by private vehicle to a nearby hospital.

According to authorities, White died at that hospital as a result of his injuries.

Longview Police Department is investigating this case and they ask that anyone with information call them at 903-237-1110.

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department said they’ve arrested a suspect in relation to a shooting that happened in the 600 block of Harrison Street on Saturday.

Longview Police officers responded to reports around 2:52 a.m. on Saturday to find two males with apparent gunshot wounds, according to the authorities. Authorities said that Aleksei Gamez, 19, was articulated dead at the scene and the other casualty was taken to a neighborhood clinic with dangerous wounds. Jose Rodriguez Jr., 25, was later taken into custody by Longview detectives and charged with capital murder. He has a bond of $500,000 and is being held at the North Jail.

SHELBY COUNTY – Our news partner KETK reports that 110 grams of meth and three handguns were seized during a traffic stop in Shelby County.

On June 7, officials answered reports of a reckless driver on Parkway 87 North in Center. According to the authorities, a search of the vehicle yielded three handguns and 110 grams of methamphetamine during the traffic stop.

TTLER – Our news partner KETK reports that seven people were injured in a two-vehicle wreck Thursday evening.

The crash happened at the intersection of County Road 24 and Highway 31, east of Tyler. Officials say it occurred after one vehicle made a U-turn on Highway 31.

One lane of traffic was temporarily blocked following the crash. According to officials, several people were hospitalized due to their injuries.

The story is currently developing and updates will be provided when available.

TYLER – Tyler Junior College is the ninth community college to join the Texas A&M University engineering transition program. According to our news partner KETK, the students will attend TJC for their first two years to complete their core curriculum courses and basic engineering classes.

Texas A&M University Chancellor John Sharp said distance and cost tend to keep students away but with the academy, it will help make the transition to an on-campus environment easier and cheaper.The engineering academy will begin this fall at Tyler Junior College. The application can be completed by visiting TJC online through July 31.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Our news partners at KETK report that a 25-year-old man died following a crash about two miles northeast of Athens on Wednesday morning.

According to a preliminary DPS report, a 2014 Toyota Corolla was traveling west on Highway 175 around 6:53 a.m. The vehicle reportedly left the roadway to the north, struck a concrete culvert and vaulted into the air.

DPS said the driver, Aaron Nicholas Weeks, of Tyler, was ejected. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

ANDERSON COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK report that a man is dead after drowning on Lake Palestine Thursday afternoon.

According to Cherokee County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 Rodney Wallace, 31-year-old Gary Woods from Jacksonville was pronounced dead around 4:22 p.m. Thursday. He reportedly drowned on the Anderson County side of Lake Palestine.

Woods’ family has been notified.

TYLER, Texas (KETK) – Our news partners at KETK report that a Tyler woman who pleaded guilty on Friday to injury of a child was sentenced to one year deferred adjudication.

Jessica Fowler, 36 of Tyler, who according to an arrest warrant treated a special needs child “like a ragdoll”, was employed as a nighttime nurse for a child who had several medical conditions that need constant and sensitive care.

The warrant said that another nurse noticed the child had not been using their right arm prompting them to check a hidden camera in the home.

According to the warrant, more than 50 clips showed Fowler allegedly tossing the child “like a rag doll” from one side of their crib to the other.

An affidavit said there was also footage where Fowler allegedly tied the child’s arm behind her head that may have left bruising on their left arm.

The case investigator observed clips where Fowler allegedly was “using her phone light to inspect [the child] as though she was looking for any marks or bruising” and “would intentionally turn off the [heart rate] alarm alert on a monitor.”

As a part of her sentence, Fowler will also have to do 100 hours of community service.

UPSHUR COUNTY, TX – The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office had issued a warrant for a suspect in relation to an aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Our news partners at KETK report that man, 41-year-old Quinton Branch, has now turned himself into authorities.

Branch, of Helena, Montana, was identified by authorities as a suspect in the case after an investigation. Officials said he is a former resident of Upshur County and has relatives and acquaintances in the area.

The victim and their family know Branch and said he allegedly had contacted them and threatened to harm himself, officials said.

NOONDAY — According to our news partner KETK an invasive species called hammerhead flatworms are found in several areas in Texas and have been a cause for concern for some residents, but experts say there is no reason to panic. You may have heard that they are highly toxic to pets, but the Texas Invasive Species Institute says that’s not completely true. “It’ll make your animals feel sick for a day or two, it doesn’t cause anything more severe than that,” said Ashley Morgan-Olvera, Director of Research and Education at Texas Invasive Species Institute.

The worms are also not harmful to people unless you are allergic, then you may have a reaction like you would with poison ivy. Experts say if you do come in contact with the hammerhead flatworm to wash your hands immediately and get rid of it. You can seal it in a bag with salt, or spray it with vinegar but never cut it in half. “They will regenerate so you can just end up creating more creatures instead of less,” said Morgan-Olvera.

We may not hear about the hammerhead flatworm often but they have been known to be in northern, central and eastern Texas since 1901. If you find a hammerhead worm, let someone know, send a picture and the place you found it to Texas A&M AgriLife or the Texas Invasive Species Institute so they can keep track of the population.

LONGVIEW – Authorities have arrested a Longview man for arson and murder. According to our news partner KETK, 21-year-old Donald Ray Miller Jr. was booked into the Gregg County Jail Thursday in the death of Ronnie Moody, 66, also of Longview. Longview Police say that Moody died early Wednesday morning in a building fire on East Avalon avenue. Investigators believe that arson was the cause of the fire with Miller as the suspect. They also add that even with the arrest their detectives are still conducting an investigation.

JACKSONVILLE – According to our news partner KETK, A $500 reward is being offered by the Cherokee County Crime Stoppers for information leading to the arrest and indictment of anyone involved in the vandalization of public restrooms in Jacksonville.

According to Jacksonville police, during Monday and Wednesday evenings, the public restrooms at the Lake Jacksonville Concession area were destroyed causing thousands of dollars in damages. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jacksonville Police Department or to remain anonymous, contact the Crime Stoppers tip line at 903-586-2546.

TYLER – A man was arrested in connection to the May shooting at Liberty Arms Apartment complex, and his warrant reveals more details about the incident. According to our news partner KETK, 21-year-old Marqus Gray was arrested on Tuesday and booked into the Smith County Jail on several charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and deadly conduct/discharge of a firearm.

Both Gray and 18-year-old Kerick Johnson are accused of taking part in the north Tyler shooting. Gray’s warrant states that surveillance video from Liberty Arms apartment complex cameras show the May 22 incident. A red Hyundai Elantra is seen in the parking lot when two women exit the vehicle and one of them begins to speak with Gray, who appears in frame to be wearing an orange mask over his head, according to the warrant.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler offers nonprofit management certification classes to East Texas professionals through a partnership with United Way of Smith County. Previously available only at the United Way Building in downtown Tyler, workshops will now also be available in Longview at the UT Tyler Longview University Center.

“Since moving to Longview, I have noticed the community’s strong commitment to giving back, and it’s an infectious culture that permeates the entire area,” said Dr. Rodney Ellis, LUC director. “As a consequence, there is a need to enhance the knowledge, skills and abilities of those currently in the nonprofit industry here in the area or those who desire to be in the industry.”

The UT Tyler Department of Social Sciences is collaborating with United Way of Smith County to manage the East Texas Center for Nonprofits, which provides the workshops to enhance the skill sets of nonprofit professionals. This expansion comes on the heels of UT Tyler’s new Master of Public Administration nonprofit management track.

“We will be merging these efforts so ETCN workshops will lead students to MPA degrees,” said Dr. Thomas Guderjan, UT Tyler professor and department chair. “Community members who serve on nonprofit boards or staff members of nonprofits will now be able to further their education and earn a quality UT Tyler degree.”

Registration fees vary between workshop/certification and includes Continuing Education Units and workshop materials. Partial scholarships are available. Attendees must attend all classes to receive certification.

UPSHUR COUNTY – The Sixth Court of appeals of Texarkana Wednesday affirms the conviction of an Upshur County man of eight counts of indecency with a child. According to our news partner KETK, 49 year-old Matthew McCoy was found guilty in 2022 of the charge with a 10-year old child and sentenced to 125 years in prison. Upshur County DA Billy Byrd said the child testified in addition to the physical abuse, McCoy had threatened to kill the childs family.

LONGVIEW – Longview police are investigating a homicide after finding a body while working a structure fire early Wednesday morning. According to our news partner KETK, Longview Fire Department responded to the scene in the 100 block of East Avalon Avenue around 1:15 a.m. Firefighters extinguished the fire and found a body. “Upon initial investigation foul play is suspected, and Longview Police Department is currently investigating this as a homicide,” officials said. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Longview Police Department at 903-237-1110 or Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-7867.

RUSK – A historic psychiatric hospital in Rusk has a new $200 million state-of-the-art patient complex and administration building, and officials say they hope it will be a model for future builds in the state. The new three-story, 227,368 square-foot patient complex includes a 100-bed non-maximum security unit and expanded their maximum security unit from 40 beds to 100, and features single-person rooms, natural light in rooms and common areas, outdoor spaces and a variety of therapeutic, recreational and social experiences to prepare patients for life outside the hospital.

State Sen. Robert Nichols, State Rep. Travis Clardy and State Rep. Cody Harris took on the job to get it done. Construction began in 2017 and $200 million was raised.

“Not only is this newest, state-of-the-art, it is one of a series that follows, so it kind of lays the formula for the rest of the state on how to do it,” Nichols said.

Gov. Greg Abbott sent a message to local officials saying the new Rusk State Hospital is just the start of making mental health a priority in our hospitals.

MARSHALL – According to our news partner KETK, Just after 1:30 a.m., Marshall’s emergency dispatch received calls about a person lying in the roadway on Alexander Street. When they arrived, officers found a young male dead from an apparent gunshot wound. “Investigation showed that the young man had been lying in the street long enough for at least two cars to drive past, yet they did not call police,” according to Marshall police.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call MPD at 903-935-4575. Anyone who wants to remain anonymous is asked to call Marshall/Harrison County Crime Stoppers at 903-935-9969.

Because the victim is a juvenile, police will not release any identifying information.

TYLER – Ernest Blanton of Tyler went missing Sunday night after he walked into some woods. However, Ernest has dementia. He has a Project Lifesaver bracelet from the Alzheimer’s Alliance of Smith County. The radio tracking bracelet is waterproof. So, when Ernest was missed, his wife called the Tyler Police Department with his bracelets tracking number. And they located Mr. Blanton quickly. Claudia Blanton said, “We are very thankful to have the bracelet. We would be a loss without it.. To me it is a Godsend. I appreciate Tyler Police Department.” According to the National Alzheimer’s Association, the survival rates of dementia wanderers falls to about 34% after 24 hours

TYLER – Smith County Clerk Karen Phillips has filed lawsuits with her son and a family friend alleging that a Smith County deputy infringed on Voss’s right to travel, assaulted him and used coercion to obtain his ID. According to our news partner KETK, she is referring to an incident March 28 when Cody Voss, a friend of the family, was pulled over by Smith County deputies with a tail light out. The officer asked Voss for his drivers license. On bodycam, Voss can be heard saying “I’m not driving. This is the county commissioner’s house and the county clerk.” Officials with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office said both Phillips were arrested for interfering with the traffic stop, and they can be heard shouting at deputies on the bodycam footage. Karen Phillips is suing for $10 million while Cody Voss and Derek Phillips are suing for $150.5 million. Full story

TYLER – Tyler Water Utilities (TWU) is pleased to announce that its 2022 drinking water quality report is now available for all customers to read. The report shows that TWU consistently provides safe, high-quality drinking water that safeguards public health.

TWU meets and exceeds all safety guidelines set by state and federal regulations. The utility tests drinking water throughout the treatment process and at locations throughout the City, ensuring the water they deliver to their customers is under the maximum contamination level (MCL) for all national primary drinking water standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, 26 water experts with a combined 259 years of experience and a variety of degrees and TCEQ-issued licenses performed over 252,000 water quality tests in 2022.

Tyler is also fully compliant with the EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Program. This is a program the EPA uses to collect data for contaminants suspected to be present in drinking water but that do not have health-based standards set under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Residents can find the water quality report on TWU’s website. It will be sent to every customer’s home or business and emailed to residents who signed up for electronic billing. Residents who live in an apartment, condo, or rental property in Tyler can view the report online or request a copy from your property manager or owner.

Customers can contact TWU at (903) 531-1238 if they have any questions or concerns.

HENDERSON COUNTY – The Henderson County Fire Department and the Emergency Management team said they are now stepping up enforcement. Our news partner KETK spoke with Henderson County Fire Marshal Shane Renberg who said he believes his county is growing exponentially. He said with more people living in the county, it’s limiting space for concerned folks and junk just builds up on their property. “Basically keeping out trash, debris, junk, tires, old appliances, couches furniture,” said Renberg. “If it doesn’t belong outside in your yard, it needs to be inside or in your property.” Continue reading Henderson stepping up health, safety code violations

SHREVEPORT — According to our news partner KETK, the National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Ozone Action Day Wednesday June 7. Counties included are Smith, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Rusk and Upshur counties. An Ozone Action Day is posted when weather conditions in combination with pollution emissions to form high levels of ozone close to the ground and it could cause harmful health effects. People with breathing conditions should be mindful of this.

TYLER – A portion of the South Tyler Trail system will be closed for almost two weeks later this month. The trail segment between Rieck Road and South Donnybrook Avenue will be closed for tree maintenance and cleanup starting next Monday June 12 through June 23. Out of concern for public safety, that part of the trail will not be accessible to the public during that time. The South Tyler Trail is four miles of looped concrete trail. All city trails are open daily from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m. For more information on Tyler trails you can visit their website.