KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Former Tyler Legacy High School Dean of Instruction John Smiley is the 2021-2022 Region 7 High School Assistant Principal of the Year. The award is sponsored by the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals. Smiley says he’s “honored” by the recognition. In a press release, Legacy Principal Dan Crawford calls Smiley “one of the hardest working, most dedicated educators with whom I have had the opportunity to work.” This fall, Smiley will be one of 20 regional winners from across Texas to apply for state honors. The state winner will be announced at the June 2022 TASSP Summer Conference. Continue reading Smiley named Region 7 High School Assistant Principal of the Year

TYLER — Keep Tyler Beautiful’s beautification program Beauty and the Box adds four new boxes to the list of wrapped traffic cabinets. The program began in 2016 with the objective of taking utilitarian traffic boxes and transforming them into works of art by local artists, according to a news release. What started as a pilot program of ten boxes in the Downtown Business Arts and Culture District has grown to 81 vinyl-wrapped traffic cabinets across the city. Continue reading Beauty and the Box: Four new boxes showcase local art

BULLARD — Bullard Southern Baptist Church on North Houston Street is hosting a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 30, in the Jam Room. To receive more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Scott Parrish at (903) 894-9267. It’s all part of a continuing effort to replenish the blood supply. Carter BloodCare continues to term the situation “urgent” due to continuing effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

TYLER — A Tyler man is grieving after his nephew was killed in a mass shooting in California. A total of nine people were killed after a man opened fire at a railyard in San Jose, California, on Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, Hector Garza of Tyler said his nephew, 29-year-old Adrian Balleza, was among the victims. Family members said he was the sweetest and most kind hearted person. Despite the loss, they mentioned God’s will was at hand. Adrian and his older brother Juan Jose Balleza worked together at the railyard.

TYLER — A Tyler mother of a 3-year-old girl who drowned in a Chapel Hill pond in 2019 was sentenced to eight years in prison after she entered a guilty plea on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, Tiffany Snyder, 31, pleaded guilty in 7th District Court to an injury to a child charge for Madison Williams’s death. Williams disappeared from her home early on August 18. After nine hours, Smith County Sheriff’s deputies and volunteers found Williams dead in the water. According to investigators, Williams had drowned. Sheriff Larry Smith said at the time Williams was known to walk between her mother and grandmother’s home.

TYLER — The City of Tyler’s Fun Forest Pool, on N. Glenwood Blvd., was renovated in 2020 and is set to open for the 2021 season Saturday, May 29. A Grand Opening Ceremony will take place at noon on Saturday, and the pool will open to the public at 1 p.m., according to a city news release. The pool is free to the public and will be open during the 2021 pool season Wednesday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. Tyler Transit will be offering free rides to the pool all summer. Riders will need to notify the driver that they are going to the Fun Forest Pool to receive the free ride. All children 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. For more information or questions, contact Tyler Parks and Recreation at (903) 535-1370 or click here.

TYLER — 34-year-old Michael Fry of Whitehouse gets a life prison sentence for threatening deputies with a firearm in March 2020. According to the Smith County District Attorney’s Office, the deputies were trying to arrest Fry at his home for an outstanding warrant when he began to resist. He eventually grabbed a handgun and pointed it at both deputies, who drew their own guns. Fry’s brother intervened and got the gun from Fry, who then fled but was apprehended. No shots were fired during the incident, and no one was injured. Fry had two prior misdemeanor convictions and two prior felony DWIs.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department is investigating after a dead body was found early Friday morning on the city’s northeast side. According to our news partner KETK, police say officers were called to a group of tents near railroad tracks at the intersection of Division Avenue and Commerce Street around 9 a.m. Police say at this time, they do not suspect foul play. We’ll provide updates as they come in.

TYLER — Authorization for the Health Science Center at UT Tyler to allocate its resources to attain accreditation of a doctor of medicine (MD) program, a step needed to create a new medical school, has passed through the Texas Legislature and will soon be on its way to Governor Abbott’s desk for signature. According to a press release, the authorization is included in Senate Bill 1, the state’s biennial budget. Led by Chairman Kevin Eltife, of Tyler, the UT System Board of Regents approved a proposal in February 2020 to launch efforts to establish a medical school in Tyler. Continue reading Texas Legislature gives approval to new UT medical school

TYLER — The City of Tyler unveiled a new Half Mile of History Marker Thursday at the Plaza Tower Atrium on the downtown square, honoring the Rotary Club of Tyler as the club celebrates 100 years. According to a city news release, the club was chartered May 1, 1920. Through the years, the club has supported education by highlighting area high school seniors and giving a banquet for Tyler Rotary Young Citizens Club members from Smith County since 1930. The club has contributed funds and support for all major organizations of Tyler, such as the Literacy Council of Tyler, the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, The Texas Rose Festival, and Tyler Museum of Art, according to the release. Continue reading City unveils new Half Mile of History marker

TYLER — Carter BloodCare continues its efforts to replenish the local blood supply. Hollytree Dental on Old Jacksonville Highway is hosting a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. To receive more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Kaila Wimmer at (903) 270-1100. Carter reiterates that the pandemic has kept the blood supply at levels not seen in decades. Shuttered workplaces and virtual schooling led to blood drive cancellations and a potential loss of more than 50,000 units of blood collected, according to a news release.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department will be participating in the “Click It or Ticket” seat belt safety campaign. Officers will be watching to make sure all vehicle occupants are properly restrained with a seat belt over the Memorial Day Holiday. Statistics show wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of dying in a crash by 45%. The Tyler program runs May 28-June 1. The statewide program, organized by TxDOT, began May 24 and continues through June 6.

TYLER — With more people getting vaccinated everyday, more people are willing to travel. According to our news partner KETK, Tyler Pounds Regional Airport has been working on a master plan for more than two decades. Their goal is get more commercial airlines to come to the airport, but, first they hope to renovate some areas. On Wednesday, City of Tyler and airport leaders met to discuss this. Officials want to focus on fixing runway 1331, since the pavement is old and in bad condition. Experts said it also may only last another 1-5 years. Continue reading Officials discuss possible changes to Tyler Pounds Regional Airport

AUSTIN — The Legislature is close to passing a bill that would require new signage in some public buildings. Under Senate Bill 797 some public schools and universities would be required to display the phrase “In God We Trust” in prominent places inside all campus buildings. The bill, authored by Republican Senator Bryan Hughes of Mineola, would require that any school that had a poster or framed copy of the phrase donated to it would be required to hang it in a conspicuous place in each building of the school. A spokesman for Senator Hughes said Wednesday afternoon that the bill has gone back to the Senate for further review after receiving preliminary passage in both legislative chambers.

KILGORE — Tickets are available to purchase online for the 36th season of the Texas Shakespeare Festival at Kilgore College. The festival will run from July 1 to Aug. 1 at Van Cliburn Auditorium on the Kilgore campus. With the relaxation of COVID-19 protocols in accordance with Gov. Abbott’s recent declaration, capacity for the productions will be 100%, allowing for more patrons to attend the summer productions, according to a news release. Face coverings are optional, although patrons are encouraged to wear a face covering if they feel it is necessary. Click here for more information.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council unanimously voted to authorize a $348,218 contract with A&B Construction, LLC to replace and reroute a 10-inch sanitary sewer line and install four manholes in the 2800 block of South Southwest Loop 323. That’s near the Walton Road intersection. “The City assessed the line and determined the segment of sewer line is eroding and compromising the line and adjacent manholes,” said Environmental Engineer Paul Neuhaus. According to a news release, the project includes removing and replacing about 982 linear feet of a gravity sanitary sewer main, rerouting the line and constructing and installing four manholes.

EAST TEXAS — Thousands lost power in East Texas Tuesday afternoon as storms passed through the area. According to our news partner KETK, at one point over 3,000 outages were reported in Tyler, with many more spread around the region. Crews were working to get things back to normal. More rain is expected Wednesday and later in the week as well.

TYLER — The City of Tyler Housing Agency, Neighborhood Services, will open an online portal for residents to apply for housing assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher Program. The portal opens Wednesday, May 26, at 9 a.m. and will remain open through 6 p.m. Friday, May 28. According to a news release, applications will be selected and ordered using a computer-generated random system for 2,000 available slots. The random, computer-generated selection of applicants will be performed on June 2 after the online application process closes on May 28. The time and date of receipt of the online application does not determine whether an application will be selected for the waiting list, according to the release. Click here and scroll down to “Tyler News” to learn more.

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s office is investigating a high-speed pursuit that ended in a fiery crash early Tuesday. Officials say the suspect car, flashing hazard lights, approached a patrol vehicle from behind on Highway 31 East. It then swerved towards the patrol vehicle and then sped off without maintaining a single lane. Deputies pursued the car until it lost control on a curve on CR 26, ran off the road, rolled over, and burst into flames. 39-year-old suspect Cederick Billington of Tyler was able to crawl out of the car and was taken to the hospital, with his condition not immediately known. No charges were immediately filed.

AUSTIN (Staff/AP) — State Representative Matt Schaefer of Tyler is upbeat about passage of his permitless carry bill by the full Legislature. He told KTBB, “It’s important to defend Second Amendment rights. It’s equally important to restore Second Amendment rights that have been eroded over the years. This bill will allow Texans to enjoy the same Second Amendment freedoms that millions of other Americans enjoy — and now is the time.” Governor Abbott says he’ll sign the still-controversial measure into law. The bill lets people carry handguns without a license, and bypass the corresponding background check and training.

LONGVIEW — A man has been charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of a Longview man in his home on Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, Adam Tuan Nguyen, 23, Longview, is in Gregg County Jail facing murder, drug and tampering with physical evidence charges and a charge for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is accused of killing Brantravious Williams, 21. Police went to Williams’s home in the 1200 block of Second Street at 11:15 Saturday morning in response to reports of gunfire. Williams was found dead in the home. Another person who had been shot was taken to a hospital with what police said were non-life-threatening injuries. The case remains under investigation.

TYLER — A variety of law enforcement agencies collaborated in the arrest of eight people in an undercover prostitution sting, according to a news release from the Smith County District Attorney’s Office. Officials say the online effort targeted persons soliciting prostitutes in the Smith County area. The news release notes that over the last several years, human traffickers have moved their criminal enterprise online.

TYLER — Smith County Republican Party Chairman David Stein Monday announced his intent to run for re-election in the March 2022 Primary. “We made progress both organizationally and structurally in our party and I look to continue that trend for another two years,” said Stein in a prepared statement. Stein is president and area developer for Office Pride of East Texas, a commercial cleaning company. Among other volunteer work, Stein currently serves the community as Board Chair for United Way of Smith County and has been a volunteer there for 20 years.

TYLER — Tyler’s Goodman-LeGrand Museum is undergoing Phase 1 renovations, which include foundation work, through Thursday, May 27. The museum will be closed to the public during this time, according to a city news release. Renovation funds for this project have been raised through private gifts and donations, grant funds, and Historic Tyler Inc. The five phases of the restoration project will require approximately $827,600 to complete. The projects are estimated to be completed in 2024. Private gifts and grants are being sought to help preserve the historic home. Anyone interested in donating to fund the projects can click here. For more information, call Debbie Isham, special events and Goodman Museum supervisor at (903) 531-1286.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Louie Gohmert of Tyler is concerned about treatment of suspects in the January 6 Capitol riot. Gohmert acknowledges that any found guilty should be punished. But he tells KTBB, “It seems like the Justice Department is going out of its way to particularly punish people that supported Donald Trump.” Gohmert says people who rioted over the George Floyd incident aren’t getting the same treatment. He also says the commission being appointed to study the riot, though bipartisan, is being chosen by Democrats — which also concerns him.

TYLER — TxDOT has begun its annual “Click It or Ticket” seat belt campaign with law enforcement increasing efforts to enforce compliance through June 6. Tyler-based DPS Sgt. Jean Dark is among those reminding drivers and passengers to wear their seat belts. Officials say unbuckled vehicle occupant deaths increased in 2020. According to TxDOT, putting on a seat belt only takes a few seconds and doing so reduces the risk of dying by up to 45% for people in the front seat of passenger cars and up to 60% for people in pickup trucks. Click here for more information on seat belt use and the Click It or Ticket campaign.

AUSTIN — A bill limiting how students learn about current events and historic racism has passed the Texas Senate with some changes. Senator Bryan Hughes of Mineola introduced the Senate version. The bill aims to ban critical race theory in public schools. The new version requires new standards for civics education with a new teacher training program to start in 2022. Dallas schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa thinks if passed, the bill could negatively affect business in Texas. Supporters say the bill only ensures that students aren’t taught that one race or gender is superior to another. The bill now goes back to the House for another vote.

EAST TEXAS — NET Health is holding two-dose Pfizer vaccine and the one-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine clinics at the Harvey Hall Convention Center, this Tuesday through Friday (May 25th -28th) from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. All of NET Health’s COVID vaccine clinics will be closed this Saturday May 29th and will resume operation on Tuesday June 1st. Mobile COVID vaccine clinics are also being held at several school campus locations this week and are open to anyone above the age of 12,any employee within the listed school district, and any citizen or community member who travels to the vaccine clinic location. For more information, click here

TYLER – A Tyler woman who confessed to writing more than $40,000 in checks to herself from the business that employed her has been indicted by a Smith County grand jury. According to our news partner KETK, an arrest warrant indicated Vicki Melhart, 39, wrote the checks while working for Deerbrook Storage Unit. The 107 checks were made out between October 2, 2019, and April 4, 2020. The owner of the company told police that Melhart’s job had been “renting units, paying various bills, and taking payments.” She was fired when the owner found out that she had been writing the checks and forging his or his son’s signature. In total, the checks added up to $40,125.35. Continue reading Tyler woman indicted for embezzling from her employer

TYLER — Green Acres Baptist Church has chosen their next senior pastor, who will replace senior pastor David Orlo Dykes. According to our news partner KETK, Dr. Michael Gossett was selected as the next senior pastor, effective Sept. 1. “He is a genuine guy who has a passion for God, and a passion to reach people for Jesus Christ,” Dykes said. Dykes has been pastor at Green Acres for 30 years, and announced his retirement in February. A committee then started the process of finding a candidate to recommend as pastor. The pastor search committee said Gossett was picked unanimously.