KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Let’s Talk Tyler will offer a Virtual Town Hall on Thursday. Dr. Pamela Phoenix told KTBB on Wednesday, “This week our focus will be on Millennials. We want to sit down and have a chat and get an understanding from their generations perspective about race and the generational gap between the Millennials and the Baby Boomers, the Millennials and Generation C, Generation D and the Baby Boomers and every other generation twixt in between.” Continue reading Let’s Talk Tyler plans virtual meeting for Thursday night

TYLER — The Foundry Coffee House announced Tuesday, they would be temporarily closing after an employee tested positive for the coronavirus. According to our news partner KETK, the popular downtown Tyler coffee shop will be using the time to thoroughly clean the building. The establishment is expected to be closed at least on Wednesday, and will post to their social media with more information about when they will be reopening.

WASHINGTON — Congressman Louie Gohmert shared his thoughts on the Executive Order of President Trump to extend and expand the suspension of certain visas through the end of the year in an interview with Fox’s Lou Dobbs. On Tuesday night Gohmert said, “He’s [Sen. Graham] right when he says it’ll hurt the economy. It will hurt the economy of China, the economy of India – and it will be good for America’s economy. It will be good for the working people who are out of work. It will be good for those who have seen their wages stymied and stagnant over recent years when the Obama Administration was letting people pour in here…” Continue reading Gohmert on Trump’s Executive Order halting foreign worker Visas

ATHENS — The Athens ISD board of trustees has announced Dr. Janie Sims as the lone finalist for superintendent. The board released the decision early Wednesday morning on their social media page. Dr. Sims will be leading the district following the death of Mr. Blake Stiles, who died in May at the age of 45. Stiles had led AISD for 9 years. Sims has been with the district for 20 years and served in a variety of roles including Deputy Superintendent and most recently Acting Superintendent. Sims also brings 26 years of educational experience to the new role.

TYLER — The East Texas Food Bank will resume its farmers-market style produce distributions on Friday. The East Texas State Fairgrounds will host the disbursements from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The events will give free produce and fresh items, pending availability, on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are no eligibility or ID requirements. Moving forward, the provision allotments will be held on the first and third Friday of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., with the exception of July 3.

TYLER — A University of Texas at Tyler professor will assist in efforts to send humans back to the moon by 2024. Dr. M. A. Rafe Biswas, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, has been named a 2020 NASA Faculty Glenn Fellow. Biswas will help build and design futuristic, renewable fuel cell systems to power spacecrafts for the proposed lunar missions. Biswas has served at U.T. Tyler since 2014.

TYLER — County Commissioner’s in Smith County voted Tuesday, to approve the sale of the third tranche of voter-approved road bonds at an historically low interest rate. The court noted in the release, they had received seven competitive bids. Specialized Public Finance Inc. bid general obligation bonds, and will net the county $7.75 million towards the third year of the first phase of the three-year bond package. Of the 7 bids received, Huntington Securities, Inc. won the bid at a true interest cost of 0.959 percent.

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Historical Summer Lecture Series continues on Thursday. Larry Ferguson will speak on “The History of Texas Longhorn Cattle.” Organizers say the story starts in Europe and progressively ends with the cattle drives in the 1880’s. This free lecture will show the quality of the cattle and how they created a culture in society that is still growing. The series continues each Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at the Lacy Crain Exhibit Center, and is limited to 40 guests.

TYLER — The introductory draft of the Smith County Budget for the Fiscal Year 2021 seeks to lower the property tax rate from 34.5 cents per $100 valuation to 33.5 cents. On Tuesday, Judge Nathaniel Moran told KTBB, “You know these are extraordinary times with an economic downturn as a result of COVID-19, and we want to take extraordinary measures to hopefully provide some economic relief to property tax owners in Smith County.” Continue reading County Commissioners hold first fiscal year 2021 budget workshop includes proposal to lower tax rate

TYLER — TISD said in a news brief on Tuesday, they will proceed with the previously approved 20-21 School year calendar. The District has a start date of August 19th, and is planning to end next year on May 26th. District leaders have given consideration to multiple scenarios and factors surrounding COVID-19. The District will attach any missed instructional days, to the end of the calendar, pushing the last day of school past the planned May 26 date. Continue reading Tyler ISD continues with previously approved 20-21 calendar

KILGORE — Kilgore College announced on Tuesday, that 576 students have been recognized for the Spring 2020 President’s and Dean’s list. Students earning a perfect 4.0 grade point average and enrolled in at least 12 credit hours, excluding developmental classes, have been named to the President’s List. Dean’s List honorees achieved at least a 3.5 GPA and were enrolled in at least 12 credit hours, excluding developmental classes.

TYLER – D.P.S. Troopers responded to an overturned truck-tractor semi-trailer on I-20 Monday night, near the city of Marshall in Harrison County. The investigators preliminary report indicates Aundre Brenard Bagley, 35, of Henderson, lost control of the vehicle, entered the median and rolled while in a side skid, and struck a tree. Another vehicle, driven by Marvin Thomas Cureton, 60, of Kilgore was beside the truck and trailer and sustained damage from the towed trailer. Bagley died at the scene. Cureton was not injured. The crash remains under investigation.

TYLER — Tyler Police have made an arrest in the Friday night shooting at a South Tyler convenience store. Officers arrived at the City Fuel Express on S.Broadway finding Milburn-Rudee Beam, 32, of Whitehouse, had been shot in the leg. Beam, an employee, was shot while taking the trash out. Sonjay Pgsee, 17, of Tyler, was located and arrested two days later. During his arrest, officers say, Pgsee gave false identification to officers. Pgsee was arrested on charges of aggravated assault, and failure to identify as a fugitive from justice.

TYLER — Tyler City Council meetings will open back to the public starting Wednesday. Adriana Rodriguez tells KTBB, “Wednesday we are going to be opening the council meetings back up to the public. They will still be available on Facebook live, and on-demand after the meeting is over. But, people can also come. We will have a maximum capacity of 22.” Continue reading Tyler City Council meetings to reopen to the public

TYLER — The City of Tyler Beauty and the Box program has added 2 new vinyl-wrapped boxes in their beautification program. In 2016, the program began which takes traffic boxes and covers them with works of art by local artists. The program has grown to 56 total boxes across the city, from the initial start with 10 boxes in the Downtown Business Arts and Culture District. The most recent are at South Beckham Avenue and East Houston Street: Sponsored by Tyler Museum of Art. Artwork is by Courtney Wrenn. Continue reading Beauty and the Box expands in Tyler

TYLER — Tyler Police and the Tyler Fire Department responded to a report Monday, of a naked man on top of a building on Bonner Ave. Officer’s got on the roof after finding a man threatening to jump. Responders say Kenneth Hampton, 21, of Tyler, was in an agitated state. They gave him water and attempted to talk him off the roof. A ladder truck arrived and a Fire Fighter talked Hampton onto the ladder. He was brought down safely and transported to UT Health for a mental evaluation.

LONGVIEW — Longview Police are investigating a Saturday morning homicide. According to our news partner KETK, just before 10:30, officers were called to a house on 8th Street for a welfare check and found a deceased male. He was later identified as Llewellyn Williams, 58, of Longview. The preliminary autopsy and evidence at the scene determined Williams’ deaths was a homicide. Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact Longview Police (903)237-1110 or Gregg County Crime Stoppers (903)236-7867.

TYLER — An 8-year-old Lindale girl was killed in a two vehicle wreck on Toll 49 Monday. DPS Troopers responded to the scene on the just south of Hwy-64 W in Smith County around 8:30. The preliminary report indicates that the driver of a 2018 Mazda CX5, Daisy Pineda, 28, of Lindale, was traveling south on Toll 49 at a speed that was unsafe for the roadway conditions. The driver lost control of the vehicle and traveled into the path of a north bound Dodge 2500 pick-up towing a trailer driven by Steven Joseph Worl, 69, of Whitehouse. The vehicles collided causing extensive damage to both. Continue reading Fatal Toll 49 wreck under investigation

TYLER — The debate to change the name of Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler has resurfaced. According to our news partner KETK, over 75 protestors supporting the change showed up outside Monday night’s board meeting with one goal – to put the topic back on the board’s agenda. Back in 2018, after several months of debate, the motion to change the school’s name was ultimately tabled with no action taken. Continue reading Robert E. Lee High School name change debate resurfaces

TYLER — An inmate in the Smith County Jail died over the weekend. On Monday, Sg.t Larry Christian told KTBB, “Detention officers found Tommy Gene Lindsey, 64, unresponsive in his cell at 4:44 a.m. They immediately called, what’s called a code blue. Medical staff responded, as well as the detention officers of course. They immediately began to perform C.P.R. and used the A.E.D. device until E.M.S. staff arrived.” The report states that Lindsey was being housed in a separation cell on special observation due to behavior. Attempts to revive Lindsey were unsuccessful. Texas DPS Rangers are investigating the death.

TYLER — The City of Tyler will host the annual Independence Day celebration at Lindsey Park. On Monday Adriana Rodriguez told KTBB, “We wanted to still do the Fourth of July Celebration, but due to Covid, we’ve had to modify it. So we will still do the fireworks show. It will start around 9:15 once the sun goes down. But, we will not be having any entertainment, food, kids zone, or any kind of thing like that .” Continue reading Modifications for Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration at Lindsey Park

JACKSONVILLE — Austin Bank has been named as one of the 2020 Best Companies to Work for in Texas. The press release states this is the 12th year in a row for the honor. The bank was recognized at the Texas Association of Business virtual awards presentation. “Austin Bank is especially proud to receive this honor because it came from the input of our employees,” said Jeff Austin III, Vice Chairman of the Board. Continue reading Austin Bank Named “One of 2020 Best Companies to Work for in Texas”

TYLER — Four-thousand cornavirus cases Saturday another 38-hundred reported yesterday…the numbers just keep going up. Dr. David Lakey with University of Texas System says caution fatigue is a real thing, “We’re getting tired of the virus and the virus will continue to spread. So, I don’t think this stops until we reach what is called herd immunity, where enough people have seen the virus have immunity to the virus through a vaccine or natural infection to defeat the virus to prevent the spread in the community. Continue reading Coronavirus numbers on the rise in Texas

TYLER — Rusk and Wood County will offer several free coronavirus tests this week. On Monday, NET Health announced the free COVID-19 plans for this week in Henderson and Mineola. The locations include Carlisle ISD, Mineola Civic Center, Henderson Civic Center and the Quitman Fire Station. The tests include registration and non-registration sites, with a variety of criteria. The testing also includes drive-thru and walk-in tests. The screenings begin Tuesday and go through Saturday of this week. Click the link for all of the details. https://www.nethealthcovid19.org/im-sick.

SMITH COUNTY — One man injured, one man jailed following a shooting early Sunday morning. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a home on CR 3104, near Gladewater, on a report of shots fired at a large party. Officials said one victim with a gunshot wound to the head had been transported to Good Shepherd Hospital in Longview by private vehicle. The victim was identified as Quavion Mumphrey, 23, of Overton. Mumphrey was later flown to Parkland Hospital in Dallas for further treatment and is in serious condition. The alleged shooter was identified as Trevor D’Jaun Tinney, 19, of Overton. Continue reading Smith County shooting under investigation

TYLER — Students and alumni of Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler are organizing to make another attempt to change the name of the school. According to our news partner KETK, they have been making plans to address the school board at its next meeting, outlining talking points and even gathering solutions for alternative names. So far, Rose City High School has proven most popular. The issue of changing the school’s name, which many consider offensive, has been raised multiple times in the past, and voted down each time. Continue reading Tyler Lee students, alumni hoping to change school name

TYLER — The Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas (BBB), in partnership with Kelly Community Federal Credit Union and Ark-La-Tex Shredding, will be hosting their annual “Secure Your ID” day on July 18 from 8:00 a.m. until noon at the BBB Offices (3600 Old Bullard Road in Tyler). The event was supposed to be held in April but was postponed due to Covid-19 regulations/recommendations. The services are provided free, and attendees are encouraged to bring paper documents that contain personal and/or financial information to be destroyed as well as electronics such as old computers, hard drives, and cell phones. Go to https://www.bbb.org/article/events/21702-2020-shred-day-tyler to learn more.

TYLER – TxDOT is planning to conduct another week’s worth of construction and maintenance work in the Tyler District during the week of June 22. One highlight: dstrictwide seal coat operations are ongoing with work in Smith County. Motorists should expect lane closures and delays during this work to seal and protect roadways from water, and provide a longer life cycle. Go to https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/023-2020.html for a full rundown of work scheduled around the district.