KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — East Texas Christian Academy has made the decision to close their campus at the end of May. On Thursday Myron Bruce told KTBB, “Systematically over the course of the last 4 or 5 years our numbers have dropped and our numbers have been down considerably. Our fund-raising and gifts and contributions just were not coming through.” The ETCA President went on to say, “there are several good private and public schools in the area as well.” ETCA was founded 40 years ago when families had fewer choices for private education. The school, which offers PK through 12th Grade classes, will officially close their doors on May 31 of this year.

TYLER — The Tyler MSA home sales were released on Thursday and show an increase in the Tyler market of 4.9% in 2019 to 2,953 single-family home sales. The median price increased 6.3% to $209,900 during the same time frame according to the 2019 Texas Real Estate Year in Review report by Texas Realtors. Across the state, Texas home sales volume and home prices continue to break records. This is the 5th year in a row for records in home sales volume and home pricing in the state. Continue reading MSA Home Sales Up in Tyler, Prices increase in 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C. — East Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert was one of only four votes against a bill to make lynching a federal hate crime. He says he couldn’t support a ten-year prison term for lynching as outlined in the bill. Gohmert said, “That’s ridiculous. First of all, I have trouble with the federal nexus of…lynching. I’d rather — like in the James Byrd case, I preferred those defendants be tried under Texas capital murder (statute) rather than under federal hate crimes law.” Two of Byrd’s killers received the death penalty. The other received a life sentence in the notorious 1998 Jasper dragging death.

TYLER — Friday marks the end of the early voting period for the upcoming Primary Election in Smith County. Polls for Early voting are open now and continues until 7 p.m.  On Wednesday, 1,840 people cast their ballots in Smith County, bringing the totals so far to 12,992 votes. Continue reading Friday is Last Day for Early Voting in Primary Election

TYLER — The Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County has been gifted a $50,000 Grant from the East Texas Communities Foundation. With this award, ETCF has now distributed more than $100,000,000 in cumulative grants over the course of 30 years. “We don’t usually celebrate the overall dollar amount of the grants we make in a year, but this year is special,” said Kyle Penney, President of East Texas Communities Foundation. Continue reading ETCF Reaches $100 Million Granting Milestone

TYLER — The City Council took action Wednesday approving $333,205.65 for the construction of the 2020 ONYX seal project. The project involves ONYX seal treatment for about 22 lane miles, which equals 11 miles of 49 streets in the city. Those lanes will be prioritized according to the pavement condition index scores and staff evaluations. ONYX is a surface treatment that prolongs the life of the asphalt and gives drivers a safer surface to drive on. The weather dependent project is scheduled to begin in June and will be complete at the end of July.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council took measures on Wednesday enabling Tyler Police to apply for, and if selected, accept grants totaling just over $40,000. The department will pursue a $40,019 grant request to the East Texas Council of Governments State Justice Assistance Grant for purchase a Mobile Pro System Security Camera Trailer. The equipment helps ensure the safety of residents and visitors at large events. “This grant is a great opportunity for our community,” said Police Chief Jimmy Toler. “With additional safety equipment, we can provide additional surveillance at events with large crowds.”

ATHENS — The proceedings for a Tyler man on trial for murder continued on Thursday in the 392nd District Court in Athens. According to our news partner KETK, Dennis Odell Metcalf, 40, is facing charges for the shooting of a 24-year-old in 2017. Law enforcement officials say that Tyler admitted to shooting James Arthur Featherston, of Murchison. Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said, at the time, that Metcalf surrendered in Chandler’s Forest Grove subdivision. According to reports, witnesses say there was no indication of an altercation between the two before the shooting.

KILGORE — Kilgore College announced on Wednesday that local philanthropist and KC alumnus Mike Clements has given $630,000 to the Kilgore College Foundation. That money will create 40 individual student scholarships. These new scholarships are available through the KC Foundation, providing financial assistance to students in need. Clements, is the owner of Energy Weldfab, has a long and proud partnership with the college that began in 1974 when Mike met his late wife, Amy, while attending classes at KC.

SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler man accused in a fatal shooting at Westwood Shopping Center in 2018 made his first court appearance Wednesday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, District Attorney Jacob Putman asked for a delay in the case to allow for further DNA testing. Kristian Perdomo, 26, has been charged with the murder of Bradley Brockman, 45, after a shooting at the shopping center at Loop 323 and Chandler Highway. Investigators believed that Perdomo was connected to four other shootings that had occurred over the previous two weeks. Perdomo has only been charged with Brockman’s murder. Continue reading Murder Trial Delayed for Additional DNA Testing

TYLER — A Tyler man pleaded guilty Wednesday to two charges of intoxicated manslaughter stemming from a wreck in January 2019. According to our news partner KETK, Tommy Allen was driving on south Broadway Avenue when he struck Michael Gonzalez, 26, who was waiting at the Amherst Street red light on his motorcycle. Gonzalez later died from his injuries at a local emergency room. Allen’s wife, Susan, was a passenger in the truck. She died two days after the crash. Allen was sentenced to 12 years for each death. The sentences will run concurrently. According to an arrest warrant, Allen had numerous drugs, including Hydrocodone, Xanax and cocaine, in his system.

TYLER — A body found in Tyler Wednesday morning has been identified as Jimmy Lee Ball, 63. His body was discovered around 7:00 in a parking lot on Broadway. Investigators said foul play was not suspected. The body was sent for autopsy.

TYLER — Wednesday morning at around 7:00 a.m. officers with the Tyler Police Department were sent to N. Broadway Ave on report of a dead body in a parking lot. Police quickly located a male later identified as Jimmy Lee Ball, 63. Investigators were called to the scene and do not believe foul play was a factor. Ball’s body was sent off for an autopsy. Family members were notified and the case is still under investigation.

TYLER — The city of Tyler approved an amendment on Chapter 16 of the Ordinance Code that will increase the subscription fee for curbside recycling by forty-one cents monthly. The new rate becomes effective in the April billing cycle, and will increase from $5.35 to $5.96. This fee change will cover the increased tipping fee of $65 per ton for single-stream recycling. The main reason for the increased price is the decline in the market value for most recyclable materials. Continue reading Curbside Recycling Fees Increasing

TYLER — On Wednesday, Tyler District 4 City Councilman, Don Warren fulfilled his last day in office as part of the city council to continue his campaign for the Mayor of Tyler. The 2020 Mayoral candidate told KTBB on Wednesday what went through his mind as he looked out in the crowd following his last city council meeting, “I looked out in the crowd and thanked the staff for the last six years. I thanked the other councilmembers for the last 6 years, and I also thanked the mayor. Mayor Heines, has been a great leader. He’s been a mentor. We have not always agreed, we have had bumps in the road, but many of those bumps in the road, we learning experiences for me.” Continue reading Tyler Councilman Serves Last Day to Continue Campaign for Mayor

TYLER — A former TK Gorman graduate will attempt to qualify for the Toyko Summer Olympics later this summer. Mia Behm, a former Bishop Gorman graduate, will be racing at the Olympic marathon trials in Atlanta this weekend. On Wednesday, Mike Lee told KTBB, “the TK Gorman family is really happy and excited for Mia.” The current athletic director continued, “Mia was a great runner and a state champion when she was at Gorman, and then went to the University of Texas and made a huge mark there. Everyone in the Gorman Community is just really proud of her.” Continue reading Gorman Grad at Olympic Trials this Weekend

ATHENS – Trinity Valley Community College has announced that they are adding soccer in the near future. The school says they will haven men’s and women’s programs beginning in the fall of 2021. The college plans to play a club schedule in the spring of 2021, before competing as a NJCAA-sanctioned program in the fall of 2021. According to Jay Kinzer, Ph.D., vice president of student services and athletic director, “We are very excited to add soccer to our successful athletic program,” Kinzer said. “It provides us another way to better serve our students and community.” Continue reading TVCC Adding Soccer to Athletics Dept

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department’s Officer of the Year is Rex Pitts. Pitts joined numerous others honored Tuesday evening at the department’s annual Awards Banquet. According to department officials, Pitts “is highly respected among all employees” and “a hard worker (who) volunteers for calls no matter where they are.” Officials add, “He has been known to hit the street before the official start of his shift if calls are stacking up in order to promptly serve our community… He is great at de-escalating situations and is very knowledgeable after 24 years of service to Tyler.” Continue reading Tyler PD Hands Out Annual Awards

TYLER — Tyler ISD is working to reassure parents of its health and safety plan as concerns continue about coronavirus. According to a news release, the district is aware of a recent national news article where Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, encouraged parents to call school districts regarding plans in the event of a possible coronavirus outbreak. According to the release, Tyler ISD reminds parents and the community that Tyler ISD Health Services actively monitors for potential health issues within the district. Continue reading Tyler ISD Reassures Parents of District Health and Safety Plan

DALLAS (AP) – Two reproductive rights groups are suing seven small East Texas cities that have declared themselves “sanctuaries for the unborn” with anti-abortion ordinances that prohibit them from operating within city limits. The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of the Texas Equal Access Fund and the Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity in U.S. district court in Texas. The lawsuit is filed against the cities of Waskom, Naples, Joaquin, Tenaha, Rusk, Gary and Wells, which have passed largely symbolic ordinances. The lawsuit says the ordinances label TEA Fund, the Lilith Fund and other abortion-rights organizations as “criminal organizations.”

LONGVIEW — Midwives can play a crucial role in providing a community with a team-based, high-quality fetal medicine program. That is the reason CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic announced anaddition of its new Midwife group and team of Certified Nurse Midwives on Tuesday. A Midwife is a health professional who cares for mothers and newborns around childbirth, and the education and training for a midwife is similar to that of a nurse. Continue reading Region’s First Midwife Group Launched

TYLER — On Tuesday the Smith County Court recognized Lorri Robertson for 20 years of service to Smith County. Robertson started working for the County Clerk’s Office in 2000, but has been an employee of the District Attorney’s Office since 2005. She has worked as a legal assistant for the misdemeanor and felony divisions and currently works in the hot checks department. Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran pointed out that several people from the DA’s Office were in the Commissioners Courtroom to attend Ms. Robertson’s recognition. “She is a shining example of what makes this county great,” he said.

TYLER — A man accused of threatening to “shoot up” a Tyler Wal-Mart has be found guilty by Judge Jack Skeen. Trumaine Washington waived his right to a jury trial, and was found guilty on Tuesday of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. According to our news partner KETK, Washington showed little emotion after the verdict was read, an absolute variation of his testimony earlier Tuesday morning. Judge Skeen spent just over two hours in his chambers to deliberate before returning the verdict. A sentencing hearing for Washington has been set for March 19 at 10 a.m. Washington faces up to 20 years in prison.

AUSTIN — The University of Texas System Board of Regents will be meeting on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the possibility of a new medical school in Tyler. Dr. Kirk Calhoun told KTBB, “We are certainly hoping to have the support of the U.T. Board of Regents’, we will also need the support of our elected officials because next January when the state legislature goes into session we will be going there to seek approval at the state level for a medical school here in East Texas.” Continue reading Board of Regents to Meet Wed to Discuss Possible New East TX Med School

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Authorities have arrested an East Texan in a timber theft case valued between $100,000 and $200,000. According to our news partner KETK, Troy Lee Grice, 48, was arrested on charges of “timber purchase as a trustee with intent to defraud.” Grice turned himself into authorities for the 2nd Degree Felony charge. He posted bond and has been released.

LAPLACE, La. (AP) – Louisiana State Police say a pregnant woman expecting twins and her 7-year-old son were killed in a two-vehicle crash involving a Tyler man. Police say 27-year-old Tyandra Lewis was driving a 2005 Toyota Camry traveling eastbound on Interstate 10 when she stopped in the left lane. A 2002 Ford F-350 truck driven by Willy Buchan of Tyler struck the Camry from behind. Lewis and her son were fatally injured in the crash. Lewis’ front-seat passenger, 43-year-old Clarence Muse and his 3-year-old son were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Buchan wasn’t injured. It’s unclear why Lewis stopped in the left lane. It also wasn’t clear if anyone involved in the crash was wearing a seat belt. The investigation is ongoing.

TYLER — Two East Texas men have been arrested for reportedly beating a nonverbal autistic teenager in the head as well as choking him, according to an arrest warrant obtained by our news partner KETK. Authorities say Bubacarr Ceesay, 24, was captured on a hidden camera hitting a 19-year-old man, who is nonverbal, with a shoe on his head. The victim has to be helped to the restroom during the night, and Ceesay was reportedly seen hitting him with his shoe to wake him up. The video was taken after the victim’s father set up a hidden camera because he “wanted to see what [he] did every day.” Continue reading Two Arrested in Beating of Nonverbal Autistic Teen

ATHENS — An Athens mother of three was shot and killed in her mother’s yard over the weekend. According to a press release on Monday, Ashley Nicole Koonce, a mother of 3 was shot and killed in a domestic disturbance with an estranged boyfriend at approximately noon on Saturday. Athens police arrived shortly after to find Koonce had been shot multiple times and was dead in the front yard. Dameon Tarrel Williams, the long-time boyfriend of Ms. Koonce, and father of the oldest child, would eventually turn himself in at the Henderson County Sheriffs office. Williams was arrested on the charge of murder and bond was set at $1 million. Continue reading Athens Mom Gunned Down by Estranged Boyfriend

GILMER — The Gilmer Police are asking for your help in locating a missing man. Officials say they are looking for Carl Wayne Wheless, 64, of Gilmer. He was last seen Sunday around 2 p.m. at the Weley House, located on Quail Drive. It is not clear to authorities whether Wheless, left on foot or in a vehicle. If you have information on the whereabouts of Mr. Wheeles contact Gilmer Police at 903-843-5545.

TYLER — The 2020 Great Decisions Global Affairs Discussion Program continues on Wednesday at the Tyler Public Library when Dr. John Barrett, Assistant Professor of Political Science at LeTourneau University in Longview will speak. Barrett will share at noon on “Red Sea Security.” Additional information on the Great Decisions Program can be found at: https://www.fpa.org/great_decisions/. Attendees may bring their bag lunch. Coffee, water, and cookies will be available.