KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW — The City of Longview received national acclaim Thursday. The city announced they have been recognized as 15th in a list of the Top 25 most mature public sector Geographic Information Systems programs in North America. According to the release, the 2020 Geospatial Maturity Index, released by PSD Citywide, asked questions in three competency categories: Readiness, Implementation, and Impact. Data was then gathered through a survey made up of 88 questions. Participants showcased innovative ways they use GIS to better serve the public, including the use of GIS in public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here.

QUITMAN — A Wood County grand jury has indicted a Mineola woman charged with two counts of criminally negligent homicide, for a wreck that killed two people in January 2020. According to our news partner KETK, Kaylie Hasten, 25, is charged in the deaths of Anna Ruth Bates, 46, of Quitman, and her seven-month-old grandson Zander. DPS reports show Hasten crossed into the opposite lane on HWY 37 and hit the car driven by Bates head-on. Bates died at the scene, Zander died from his injuries three days later. Continue reading Mineola woman indicted from wreck that killed 2 last year

TYLER — Next Step Community Solutions will host “Stand Up to Stigma” April 30 at Liberty Hall in downtown Tyler. On Thursday, Rebecca Smith told KTBB News, “I think we are one of the best kept secrets in east Texas, because we have seen nearly a 1,000 students across the 60 campuses with our licensed professional counselors. A lot of times our school counselor’s can be over-burdened with academics but really our Next Step counselors just see students for mental health issues. We have seen a 40% increase in need for services since the pandemic began.” Smith described the upcoming event. “Our headliner is Aaron Aryanpur he was a semifinalist in both Comedy Central’s Up Next Search and NBC’s Stand Up for Diversity. We also have Tyler Elliott, Hannah Vaughan, and Ralph Barbosa that will open.” Ticket options include a virtual ticket for $25, and tickets at the event are $50 and will include some drinks.” Learn more here.

TYLER — Carter Bloodcare says the pandemic has kept the blood supply at levels not seen in decades. With that thought in mind, multiple drives are scheduled in May. The goal is to replenish the potential loss of more than 50,000 units of blood not collected due to shuttered workplaces and schools moving to virtual learning because of the coronavirus. Organizers ask you to consider donating blood at any of the numerous locations in Tyler during various dates in May.
Saint Francis Episcopal Church is hosting a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, May 2, at 3232 Jan Avenue in the parking lot on the Carter BloodCare bus. To receive more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Kathy Dunn at (903) 593-8459. Continue reading Carter BloodCare trying to recoup 50,000 units of potentially lost blood due to pandemic

TYLER — A six-year-old found unresponsive last week at a Tyler motel has died. On Wednesday, Tyler Police Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh told KTBB News, “On April 15th, it was around 5:00 p.m., that we responded to a call at the Town House Motel in Tyler. It was reported that a six-year-old child was found unresponsive in a bathtub in one of the rooms. When we got there, the child was transported to CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances. I can’t go into to many details about what we saw in the room or what was found in the room because this is still under investigation.” Continue reading Child found unresponsive at Tyler motel last week, dies in Dallas

PITTSBURG — In East Texas, it’s the home that chicken built — and it’s back on the market. The 18,000-square-foot mansion once belonged to chicken magnate Bo Pilgrim. Built in Pilgrim’s hometown of Pittsburg in 1985, the massive home, sometimes called Cluckingham Palace, has six bedrooms and 10 1/2 baths. Pilgrim died in 2017. The house was auctioned off in 2019, shortly after the death of Pilgrim’s wife, Patty. The buyer is now putting the estate back up for sale. The asking price is nearly $5 million.

MARSHALL — A $560,000 renovation has been approved for Marshall ISD. The district says they will use the funds to renovate their four decade plus old auditorium at the high school, as well as improve the schools exterior. Funding for the projects were approved by trustees at this weeks board meeting. The money will come from the district’s general fund balance and is scheduled for the upcoming summer break. Officials say these are the latest efforts of a long list of achievements to improve facilities that started in 2018. The district is currently building a new Ag Barn. Read more here.

TYLER — The Northeast Texas Public Health District continues giving immunizations through Saturday of this week at Harvey Convention Center. On Wednesday, NET Health’s George Roberts updated KTBB News on vaccine numbers, “We’ve given a grand total 59,690 through NET Health, (32, 876 first doses and 26, 814 second doses) Our partners out at UT-Health Science Center have given over 47,000 doses so far and we know that area pharmacies have given a lot doses as well. Smith County has given well in excess of 100,000 doses so far, since mid-December.” Roberts said If you get vaccinated now, chances are you will spend less time waiting than those in the early going. Continue reading No appointment vaccines at Harvey Convention Center through Saturday

TYLER — Kevin Eltife of Tyler was sworn into his second term on The University of Texas Board of Regents Wednesday. According to the release from Smith county, Judge Nathaniel Moran led the observance that happened in the commissioners court chambers. Eltife has been influential in uniting UT Tyler and UT Health Science Center at Tyler. Working with state legislators and UT Tyler President Dr. Kirk Calhoun, he is focused on creating a medical school in Tyler. According to The Perryman Group’s analysis of the school, would produce an additional $1.9 billion annually, while creating 18,145 new jobs. Eltife was first appointed as a regent in 2017, he became the board chairman in December of 2018. Gov. Greg Abbott recently reappointed Eltife to a second six-year term.

TYLER — Tyler police have arrested two men and are searching for five others for allegedly beating one of their friends unconscious and abandoning him in a ditch. An arrest warrant obtained by our news partner KETK, revealed Daymond Gray, 18, and Jesus Tinoco, 17, are accused of jumping their friend with five other people because the unnamed victim cooperated with police, landing another friend in jail. The victim says when he came to, he was in a concrete drainage ditch and his billfold and cash were gone. Police are looking for Andres Urrutia, Alexander Villegas, and three unidentified men.

RUSK COUNTY — The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Corrections were searching for a man in the wooded area near the River of Life Ministries on Highway 79 South, according to Rusk County Sheriff Johnwayne Valdez. Our news partner KETK reports, the man’s body was discovered by a K-9 officer approximately 100 yards from the church before noon on Tuesday, and it was badly decomposed. Doctors told authorities it could have been in this area for 10 to 12 days. Law enforcement were looking for the man on Monday and the search was extended into Tuesday. Continue reading Decomposed body discovered in Rusk County

TYLER — Americans have been inundated with coverage of COVID-19 for months leading many to ask the question, why does American coverage of the pandemic always seem like bad news? On Tuesday, Paul Seegert, a managing partner with PCS consulting firm told KTBB News, “The biggest takeaway is we should be sharing some optimism with our population, that we are getting into herd immunity or that we are already at herd immunity. Looking at the CDC’s own recently published research, eight times more Americans have had COVID than have been confirmed to have COVID.” Seegert went on to say, “Yesterday [Monday] we got to 31.7 million confirmed cases of COVID. Multiply that by eight and you add the two together and you are over 270 million. Which is the original number that Dr. Fauci initially used as that herd immunity number.” Continue reading Research unveils COVID coverage negative 90% of time

SEAGOVILLE — Two East Texas teens reported missing have been found safe. The Seagoville Chief of Police confirmed with our news partner KETK, Tuesday, that an Amber Alert issued April 19 has turned out to be a hoax. Chief Ray Calverley said in the phone interview that the investigation exposed 17-year-old Marina Nelson and 16-year-old Devany Betancourt as staging an alleged abduction from the Seagoville Trade Days Flea Market. Continue reading 2 ‘missing teens’ found safe, believed to be part of elaborate hoax

TYLER — Smith County leaders say residents will be eligible to take one free trip to the landfill during the annual Smith Countywide Cleanup. The county announced Tuesday the dates will be observed as May 3-29. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office Environmental Crimes Unit and Commissioners Court are teaming up again to offer the Countywide Cleanup program. The program enables residents to take one truck-load of bulky items, which is three cubic yards of solid waste, to the Greenwood Farms Landfill for free. Organizers say that one voucher per resident is available in-person at the Courthouse Annex on East Ferguson. Read more here.

TYLER — The Harvey Convention Center has been a COVID-19 vaccine hub since December. The Northeast Texas Public Health District’s George Roberts tells KTBB News with over 50,000 immunizations they have been able to streamline the process, “Typically we can have you back for a shot in probably 15 minutes. Then, you have a waiting period of 10 to 15 minutes depending on if you have had an allergic reaction. So, your time in here could be 30 to 45 minutes. We try to move people through pretty quickly.” Continue reading Vaccine times continue to improve inside Harvey Convention Center

TYLER — The Tyler ISD Board of Trustees has advanced the career of an assistant principal in the district. LaRena Brooks has been working in the capacity of assistant at Peete Elementary School, but has been elevated after the districts approval Monday night. In a prepared statement, Brooks said, “I am so excited to continue the excellence of Peete Elementary School by serving as principal.” According to the district, Brooks promotion will fill the vacated role of Cassandra Chapa, who was named Chief Innovation Officer for Tyler ISD in March. Brook’s educational career began in 2007 as a kindergarten teacher at Griffin Elementary School.

TYLER — A Henderson man is one of two individuals that has pleaded guilty to their involvement in postal offenses in Texas and Louisiana. According to Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei, Paul Kennedy, 39, of Henderson, pleaded guilty to burglary of a United States post office, possession of stolen mail, possession of stolen money orders, damage to government property, theft of government property and access device fraud on Monday. In March, Angela Moore, 37, of Longview, pleaded guilty to possession of stolen mail. Information presented in court revealed a burglary spree on Dec. 23 and Dec. 26 of Dec. 2019. Kennedy faces up to 10 years in federal prison. Moore faces up to five years. The sentencing date has not yet been set.

TYLER — The city of Tyler has a free bulky item collection for residential customers planned to start May 3 and run through through May 7. Bulky items will be removed at no charge. Items may include furniture, appliances, carpet, fencing material, old toys and other large items. Those items normally require a special fee. Organizers say tires, liquid waste, limbs, brush or tree stumps will not be picked up. The pick-up excludes businesses and multi-family home communities. Read more here.

TYLER — The man accused of murdering an East Texas pastor pleads not guilty. Back in January, Pastor Mark McWilliams was the first to encounter 21-year-old Mytrez Deunte Woolen. He was running for deputies and using the church as a hideout spot. Woolen is accused of killing the pastor with his own gun after a struggle inside the church and then leaving the scene. Woolen has been charged with capital murder. If convicted, Woolen could face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

TYLER — Tyler police were called to a pedestrian involved accident on Troup Highway around 7:00 Tuesday morning. According to Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh, Timothy Nickelbur, 30, from Tyler, was crossing Troup Hwy when he was struck by a vehicle. The victim was not in a marked crosswalk. Nickelbur was taken to a local hospital where he died as a result of his injuries. The incident is under investigation.

TATUM (AP) – One person was killed in the crash of a small airplane in East Texas. The Texas Department of Public Safety reports the twin-engine Cessna 310 crashed and burned about 3:20 p.m. Monday in a rural area near the Louisiana line northeast of Tatum, about 135 miles east of Dallas. DPS Sgt. Sara Warren says the fatality involved the only person believed to have been aboard. No identity of the pilot nor cause for the crash has been determined. According to the Rusk County Office of Emergency Management, the pilot took the plane out for a maintenance flight. The scene was closed off until the Federal Aviation Administration could arrive.

SEAGOVILLE — Police in Seagoville have issued an Amber alert for two teenage girls who disappeared from a flea market Sunday afternoon. 16-year-old Devany Betancourt and 17-year-old Marina Nelson were at the flea market along Highway 175 in Seagoville Sunday afternoon. Both live in Bullard, and Seagoville Police Chief Ray Calverley says both disappeared about 2:20 Sunday afternoon. He says Dallas police and the FBI have joined the investigation but they don’t have any suspects or a description of the car the two might be in. Calverley says they just know these two might be in immediate danger.

TYLER — The Junior League of Tyler is obtaining books for Tyler ISD’s new Literacy Bus. According to TISD, the bus is planning to make rounds throughout district streets this summer. The goal is to ensure children have access to books and resources year-round, including in the summer months. Some books will be given to students so they can build their own home library. The bus is a way to continue the Junior League of Tyler’s efforts to promote literacy initiatives in the community. Over the last few years, numerous summer reading camps have been hosted, with students taking home their own book following the camp.

MARSHALL — The city of Marshall updated details Monday on a weekend fire on East End Blvd. According to the Marshall Fire Department, crews were dispatched to a single family structure fire, as well as two commercial trash dumpster fires located in the vicinity of 1500 E. Grand Ave. The city said that fire department personnel put out all three fires and reported no injuries in any of the incidents. Each fire remains under investigation by the Fire Marshal’s Office. Two individuals were detained for questioning by the Marshall Fire Department Fire Marshal and Marshall Police Department. One arrest was made and the individual was transported to the Harrison County Jail Annex.

TYLER — A Tyler woman self-confessed to writing more than 100 fraudulent checks to herself from the business where she was employed. According to our news partner KETK, Vicki Melhart falsified checks ammounting to over $40,000. Melhart, 39, wrote 107 checks between October 2, 2019 and April 4, 2020, while employed by Deerbrook Storage Unit. Police say the owner told them Melhart’s job had been renting units, paying various bills, and taking payments. She was dismissed once the owner realized she had been writing the checks and forging his or his son’s signature. In total, the checks added up to $40,125.35. Melhart is in the Smith County Jail on a $100,000 bond. Her first court appearance has not yet been scheduled.

TYLER — COCHON555 will have a different look in 2021. On Monday, last year’s winner, Owner and Executive Chef of Tyler’s Culture ETX, Lance McWhorter, told KTBB News, “So COCHON approached us, while COVID was still going on about doing this carryout with COCHON program. It’s kind of an interactive take-home dinner, where everything is included. It will include five different courses…the fun part of this is we will have a 45 minute zoom meeting. I will walk you through how I plate things, and different insights to different ingredients.” Organizers say the virtual and interactive feast will bring the essence of the event directly into participants’ homes. For Tickets and more information click here. Continue reading Cook with highly acclaimed Chef in virtual event

TYLER — Hope Haven of East Texas received a $7,500 grant from Girls Invested in Volunteer Efforts over the weekend. According to our news partner KETK, the gift will be used to expand the program’s Supervised Independent Living. The non-profit, Hope Haven, is geared toward providing housing to girls in need. GIVE is an initiative of the Women’s Fund of Smith County that began in 2014 and is patterned after the Women’s Fund model of collective giving, with the goal of fostering leadership and philanthropic values in high school aged girls. Hope Haven says, they can now expand the SIL program and offer a home to three young women who can no longer participate in the traditional foster care system yet still need care as they begin adulthood.

TYLER — Over 150,000 vaccines have been given in Smith County since they began last December. NET Health’s George Roberts told KTBB News how COVID-19 vaccines were able to be designed so quickly. “What I’ve read on that is they were able to isolate the virus in the lab pretty quickly and then they were able to start working on the trials for the vaccine Pfizer and Moderna developed is a pretty new type of technology. Roberts went on to say, “They can actually go in and if they find variants and things, they can go in and make tweeks to the formulation of the vaccine. So that is some things they are looking to doing as variants come in…They made it a priority to get this thing developed as quickly and safely as they possibly could.” First doses continue Wednesday at Harvey Convention Center, to sign up click here.

SMITH COUNTY — Early voting for the May 1 Election started Monday morning. Local races include elections for the City of Tyler, City of Hideaway; and Lindale, Bullard, Chapel Hill and Troup Independent School Districts. Early voting will take place at five polling places from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, April 19-23, and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, April 26-27. Election Day will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 1, at 15 polling places. Continue reading Early voting for May 1 election has begun

TYLER — A 13-year-old girl from Alabama was rescued from a home in Tyler around 5:00 Saturday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, Daniel Dylan Skipworth, 19, Tyler, was charged with kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault of a child, sex-trafficking of a child and resisting arrest. His bonds total to $560,000. Tyler police received information from the FBI that the girl might be at a location on Woods Boulevard. Police talked to Skipworth and found evidence that the girl could possibly be at the location. Continue reading Tyler man arrested for kidnapping after police rescue Alabama teen