KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The holiday season is big business for porch pirates. The US Postal Service is projecting 800 million package deliveries between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. And an estimated 23 million Americans have had a package stolen from their front porch or mailbox. This summer, Governor Greg Abbott signed a law making it a felony to steal packages off front porches, but that’s not likely to deter every thief. BBB reminds consumers that there are steps which can be taken to prevent porch pirates from getting away with the goods.“Online ordering has made it convenient to shop both during the holidays and the rest of the year, “Mechele Agbayani Mills, President and CEO of Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas said. Continue reading ‘Tis the Season- Watch Out for Porch Pirates

KILGORE — The Kilgore College Rangerettes will present their ninth annual Christmas show on Sunday, Dec. 8, with two shows set for 2 and 5 p.m. in Dodson Auditorium on the Kilgore campus. The one-day-only Broadway-style show, “A December to Remember,” will feature the world-famous Rangerettes and guest performances by local dance groups. Tickets are $15 each and all seating is reserved. Remaining tickets from pre-sale will be sold 45 minutes prior to each show. Continue reading Rangerettes to Perform “A December to Remember”

TYLER — An investigation that began in October resulted in an arrest Friday of a Smith County Emergency Services District 2 employee. County detectives say through investigation they discovered that Silas Austin Franks – 25 of Terrell, was arrested for Possession/Promotion of Child Pornography with a bond of $250,000. Franks is in the Smith County jail. Investigators say they received full cooperation and assistance from members of Smith County ESD 2. Continue reading Suspect Arrested for Child Pornography

TYLER — Carter BloodCare is asking the local community to give blood to replenish a deficiency. Linda Goelzer told KTBB on Friday that the blood shortage is critical in the immediate area. “We provide over 90% of the blood in the region.” Often surgeries surgeries require blood, and we always need to be prepared for a mass casualty, in addition to wrecks or other major events. Golezer went on to say, “This is us on the rooftop asking for people to please help.” You can get more info by clicking the link. http://www.carterbloodcare.org/donate-blood/

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University will host a retirement reception for Senior Director of the Belcher Center Cynthia Hellen from 3 to 5 p.m. next Wednesday, in the lobby of the Belcher Center. ETBU’s Janet Ragland said “It’s a great opportunity to get to honor her, and the work that she has done over the last 13 years, bringing incredible world class entertainment to the East Texas area.” The reception is open to the community.

TYLER — The SPCA is reminding East Texans that they are going all in “fur” the pets to Kick Off 2020. You are invited to get your tickets now for the New Years Eve Gala. the night will feature “The Pictures Band” that will help you dance the night away right into a new decade. Organizers say the Band will keep you grooving straight into 2020. Fur Ball 2019 takes place at the Cascades Country Club. Guests will be treated to hors d’oeuvres and desserts, and three bars serving premium beverages. Continue reading SPCA of East Texas Presents “Fur Ball 2019”

Tyler – Jack Elementary School 5th graders are spreading the warmth of the holidays for those in need. On Friday 5th grade teacher Tristan Arrington, told KTBB that the students are very excited. “I have heard many students say they love helping others and wish they could do more.” Arrington went on to say, “the students give up their recess time to tie the blankets and prepare them.” The current total blankets is closing in on 150 that will be given out to those less fortunate on Saturday. The students and teachers will partner with Jesus’ Closet, a local ministry of Faith Community Church, to pass out blankets to the homeless on Saturday. Continue reading Jack Elementary Students to Pass Out Blankets

LINDALE — Police in Lindale are looking for two men believed to be responsible for a burglary at the Hampton Inn off the I-20 exit in Lindale. According to our news partner KETK, several tools were taken from a storage area and possibly put into duffel bags. The get-away vehicle is believed to be either a Chevy Silverado or a GMC Sierra pickup. If you have any information pertaining to this case, contact Lindale police.

MARSHALL (AP) – Officials say East Texas deputies trying to serve a search warrant fatally shot a man who tried to speed away from the scene. A spokesman for the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office says special tactics deputies were trying to serve the narcotics warrant about 11 a.m. Thursday at a house in southwestern Marshall when 31-year-old Demetrius Williams tried to flee the scene in a minivan. Lt. Jay Webb says while trying to speed away, Williams tried to run over a deputy. That’s when deputies opened fire, killing Williams. There were no other injuries. Webb said Williams was the subject of their investigation. Sheriff Tom McCool has asked the Texas Rangers to investigate the shooting, and Chief Deputy Brandon Fletcher said the deputies involved have been placed on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation.

TYLER — Randall Wayne Mays, 60 had his execution stayed days before he was set to be put to death in October of this year. According to our news partner KETK, on Thursday he received a new date to be executed after a judge in Henderson County deemed Mays competent. Mays shot and killed 2 Henderson County Sheriffs officers, Paul Habelt and Tony Ogburn, in May of 2008. Mays opened fire on the officers as they investigated a domestic disturbance at his home. Mays is set to be executed in May of 2020.

Tyler–Tyler ISD is inviting the community to get into the Holiday Spirit with a FREE holiday event from noon to 3 p.m. this Saturday at the Career and Technology Center. Guests will enjoy holiday crafts, games, face painting, and hot cocoa, as well as cookies and milk with Santa! TISD’s Jennifer Hines told KTBB on Thursday that families will also be able to learn about the districts Pathfinder Program. Continue reading TISD to Host Free Holiday Event

LONGVIEW — The Arts!Longview President Nancy Murray told KTBB on Thursday that Cynthia Hellen will embrace the new role of Executive Director. “We are so excited that Cynthia applied for this important position. Her knowledge, experience and creativity are exactly what we need to move this new organization forward to benefit our entire community.” Hellen is scheduled to begin her position on Jan. 2 of next year. For more information on the Arts!Longview, visit the website at https://artslongview.org/.

TYLER — A Tyler teen was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his involvement in an April shooting that left one person dead and two others injured. According to our news partner KETK, Treyvon Maddox, 19, of Tyler, waived his right to a trial and plead guilty Wednesday with the plea for the deadly shooting of Keyundta Devor Barrett, 20, of Tyler. Kentrell Marquie Miller, 21, and Ira Brown Jr., 18, both from Tyler sustained minor injuries. Deputies were called to the crime scene on Tidwell Drive after 1 a.m. last April.

SAN ANTONIO — The trial of a man accused of killing a Trinity College cheerleader started Wednesday. Investigators say Mark Howerton killed Cayley Mandadi, 19. According to our news partner KETK, it happened as they traveled between San Antonio and Houston in October 2017. Body camera and dash camera footage, shows what Howerton told investigators the night he dropped her off at a hospital in Luling. Continue reading Murder Trial Begins in San Antonio for Tyler Man

TYLER — The Tyler Christmas Parade will take over the Square tonight. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. in downtown Tyler and is followed by the 34th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the T.B. Butler Fountain Plaza immediately after the parade.This year’s theme is “Rotary Connects the World”. Santa Claus will be taking photos immediately following the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Photos with Santa Claus will be limited to 30 minutes following the ceremony. Continue reading Tyler Christmas Parade Kicks-Off Thursday Night

SMITH COUNTY — Hawkins police have captured Thomas Sweet, 28, Winona, after a multi-agency manhunt. Sweet was booked into the Smith County Jail Thursday on multiple charges, including theft, grand theft auto, criminal mischief and burglary. Bond has not been set. The manhunt started Wednesday in the area of CR 499 and CR 431 in Lindale. Sweet was wanted by multiple agencies across East Texas.

GREGG COUNTY — An East Texas man wanted by Gregg County authorities on several charges including assault, family violence and failure to appear in court has been arrested in Shreveport. According to our news partner KETK, Marcus Bresler, 39, was captured and arrested on Wednesday in Shreveport by Louisiana State Police. Bresler was scheduled to appear in court in October, but did not show up. Authorities had warned the public that Bresler had a history violence and was considered to be dangerous. GCSO was assisted in the search for Bresler by Louisiana State Police and the U.S. Marshal’s Office in Tyler.

TYLER –On Wednesday Tyler Pipe sustained an accident at the plant that had one employee of the company hospitalized with serious injuries. According to our news partner KETK, the mishap involved a forklift. Authorities say the worker has serious but non-life threatening injuries. OSHA will head up the investigation into the accident with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office assisting.

TYLER — On Wednesday afternoon, Smith County detailed events from Tuesday’s standoff at an Econo-Lodge. Shortly after 2pm a Smith County Sheriff’s K-9 Deputy initiated a traffic stop on a known felony suspect in the parking lot off WNW Loop 323 in Tyler. According to the statement, additional personnel with the department and D.P.S. were also on location. Nasir Saleh-Saad Jabr -35, parked his truck and officers say he barricaded himself in the truck right away and did not cooperate with law enforcement. Continue reading Standoff Ends With Suspect Arrested

ATHENS — A Henderson County Commissioner that had served Precinct 4 since 2010 died on Tuesday. Ken Geeslin won his 3rd term of service in 2018. County Judge Wade McKinney spoke with KTBB on Wednesday. “I was fortunate enough to serve with Ken for 9 years, I had known him for 15. He was a man of principal, a man of determination, and in constant pursuit of the facts of every issue.” McKinney continued saying, “He was relentless in knowing every aspect of whatever we were dealing with at the time. His contribution is larger than what it would seem as one individual. He is going to be sorely, sorely missed.” Geeslin is survived by his wife, Katherine, four children, and five grandchildren. Funeral arrangements have not been announced at this time.

KILGORE — Kilgore College began its fire academy in 1989, and so far has trained more than 1,700 students from all over the world. On Wednesday the school celebrated the 30th anniversary with class 108. Kilgore College was recently recognized as having a top-ranked online Fire Science Degree Program by intelligent.com. Fire Academy Director Mike Simmons told KTBB what separates the fire school from other programs, “The fact that all of our instructors are professional firefighters that do this for a living, that sets us apart.” Continue reading KC Fire Science Degree Program One of Best in Nation

TYLER — Preparations are being finalized for the annual Tyler Christmas Parade, hosted by The local Rotary International clubs. The parade will be held in downtown Tyler and begin at 6:00 p.m. Thursday. Another big step was taken Tuesday with the announcement of the Children’s Miracle Network Miracle Child, who will light the downtown Christmas tree at the close of the parade. According to our news partner KETK, she’s 4-year-old Kimber Jane DeLaCruz of Big Sandy. Born at just 27 weeks, Kimber is battling hemiplegic cerebral palsy — but despite her challenges, her family says her favorite phrase is, “I DO IT!” This year’s parade features more than 100 entries.

TYLER — The Junior League of Tyler’s annual holiday shopping and fun extravaganza, “Mistletoe and Magic,” kicks off Wednesday and continues through Saturday at Harvey Convention Center. It’s the Junior League’s biggest fundraiser of the year. The organization’s Maranda Rains appeared on a recent edition of KTBB’s “In Focus.” Rains says the Junior League provides professional volunteer hours to agencies in the Smith County area and other support of causes that affect women and children, with an eye on empowering the community. She says the big event is a way for the area to celebrate and kick off the holiday season, while celebrating the people and agencies that benefit from the Junior League’s work — and “having a fun time as well.” Go to http://www.juniorleagueoftyler.org for more information.

TYLER — A City of Tyler F-150 was involved in a crash Tuesday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, police were called to Loop 323 and Old Bullard Road shortly after noon. One person was placed in an ambulance. The extent of injuries is unknown at this time. Traffic was down to one lane on Loop 323. Westbound lanes of the Loop were closed off of Broadway until the clean up could be completed. No further details are available at this time.

TYLER — Smith County authorities ended an hours long stand-off with a wanted man after “flash-packs” were deployed. Smith County Sheriffs Public Information Officer Larry Christian told KTBB that the man had a felony blue warrant out of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The man was taken into custody and transported by ambulance to a Tyler Hospital at around 6:15 on Tuesday night.

TYLER — Phigenics Analytical Services Laboratory in Fayetteville, Arkansas, released a preliminary testing report dated Sunday, Nov. 24, showing no Legionella bacteria was found in water samples taken from Tyler’s Harvey Convention Center. Mayor Martin Heines told KTBB on Tuesday, “even though all logic pointed towards vendors from the East Texas State Fair, the city took it upon themselves, to close it and make sure that we aggressively cleaned Harvey Hall for the safety of the public.” The Mayor went on to say, “We have gone above and beyond the North East Texas Public Health District and the Centers for Disease Control’s expectations.” Continue reading Mayor Declares Harvey Hall Safe

WASHINGTON D.C. — House Republicans delivered a 123 page, point-by-point, line-upon-line rebuke to Democrats on Monday. Congressman Louie Gohmert described the inquiry proceedings to KTBB as a spectacle. “They got scared after the July 25th phone call, that conduct potentially involving Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, Ukraine, some of the things Ukraine was doing might get exposed. So we need to know, is that the reason they cooked up this whole thing about him being a whistle blower, when he was’nt.” The Judiciary Committee will conduct their first hearing on Wednesday.

LONGVIEW– A murder on Monday afternoon in Gregg County took place on C.R. 2087. According to our news partner KETK, Penelope Ann Stoudt, 56, was arrested and charged with one count of murder. The victim is Timothy Joe Stoudt, 65, from Kilgore. It is unclear how he died or how he is related to the accussed. A search of public records shows Stoudt had a DWI conviction in 2007.