KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Bergfeld Park will be the site for “Family Fun Night” set for Thursday Night from 6 to 8 p.m. The Tyler Parks and Recreation Department invites households to enjoy oversized yard games, horseshoes, cornhole and cool off in the new Splasher water feature. Food trucks will be available at your cost. For more information, contact Debbie Isham at (903) 531-1214 or http://parksandrec.cityoftyler.org/.

TYLER — A victim of a February shooting in Henderson has died. According to our news partner KETK, Billie Gail Pyers died Friday in a Tyler hospital. Pyers was one of four people shot at the Oak Manor Apartments in Henderson. That shooting killed Justin Smith, and Holly Jones. Pyers was Smith and Jones’ mother. Cassandra Shaffer, was also injured in the shooting. Randy Winn, 62, was indicted on capital murder charges for the shootings. He remains in the Rusk County Jail. Family members say Pyers had been in and out of hospital and rehabilitation facilities since the shooting.

TYLER –Authorities in Smith County are warning residents to be on guard to a recent scam that took place in the county. The fraud involves a victim receiving a call and being told they have a warrant for their arrest for Credit Card Abuse. They instruct the victim to purchase a gift card for $600. Once the card is purchased the victim is instructed to provide the numbers on the gift card. The caller remains on the line with the victim the entire time. Smith County reminds citizens that neither they, nor any other law enforcement agency, will call an individual and request cash or monetary payment by phone.

TYLER — Smith County Deputies responded to a body found last February. The deceased man has now been identified as Christopher John Michael, 53. Michael was located in a wooded area of the highway. Michael was a veteran of the United States Air Force. The department used DNA evidence and assistance from Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences to identify Michael. The cause of death is natural undetermined and no foul play is suspected.

LUFKIN (AP/Staff) – Police in Lufkin have found the person suspected of taking a tub of Blue Bell ice cream from a Walmart freezer, removing the top to lick the ice cream and then returning it to the freezer. She is a juvenile from San Antonio, tied to the Lufkin area through her boyfriend’s family. The girl’s case is being turned over to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. Because she is a juvenile, her identity is not being released. A short video posted to social media last week shows a girl laughing as she places the top back on the half-gallon container and returning it to the freezer. Police now say the girl and her boyfriend have been forthcoming and admitted to the act. Police add they’ve been talking to prosecutors about the involvement of the boyfriend, who is an adult.

TYLER –The Tyler Parks and Recreation Department is hosting the 10th annual Great American Food and Arts Fair at the Harvey Convention Center, July 13th and 14th.  The event includes culinary and salsa contests, artisan demonstrations, live entertainment and food trucks. Displays and demonstrations include hand sewn and machine sewn quilts. Admission is $3. All veterans, active duty and first responders get in free with ID. Limited vendor space is available. For more information contact Debbie Isham at (903) 531-1214, or online at http://parksandrec.cityoftyler.org/.

ATHENS – Henderson County authorities arrested an Athens man after a vehicle chase. John Wesley Dodd, 34, was captured near Coffee City. In a press release, Sheriff Botie Hillhouse says Dodd began throwing items from his vehicle during pursuit. Deputies recovered a pouch of what they believe to be methamphetamine and a syringe of the illegal drug. He was placed under arrest for three active warrants out of Henderson County for theft. Dodd is also charged with evading arrest with a vehicle, possession of a controlled substance and tampering with physical evidence.

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating after a man’s body was found with multiple gunshot wounds near a grocery store Friday morning. According to our news partner KETK, the body was located near the Brookshire’s parking lot on Roselund Boulevard, in the Bergfeld Shopping Center. Police are investigating the cause of death as a possible suicide. The body has been sent for autopsy. Detectives and a crime scene unit remain at the scene. A portion of the parking lot has been blocked off.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department requests that drivers be aware of route changes for the 4th of July celebration at Lindsey Park on Spur 364. Beginning at 9:00 p.m. Spur 364 at Loop 323 will be closed to all westbound traffic. Officers are requesting any resident who lives off Spur 364 between Loop 323, who needs to get to their residence during this time, to present their driver’s license showing proof of their residency to the officers stationed at this location. Officers will allow residents only to proceed westbound on Spur 364.

MARSHALL — The City of Marshall announces the hiring of Eric Powell as Public Works Director. According to a news release, the position is responsible for managing all aspects of the Public Works Department, including streets, engineering, distribution and collection, wastewater treatment, and municipal drainage, among other duties. Powell will begin his duties on July 8. He’s currently employed by the Township of Sparta, New Jersey, as the Director of Community Development and will be retiring after nearly 30 years of serving that community.

MARSHALL — The city of Marshall is shutting down its red light camera program. On June 1, Governor Greg Abbott signed a law prohibiting cities from operating photographic traffic camera systems that catch citizens speeding or running red lights and issuing fines; the law took effect June 2. But citations for violations that occurred before that date are still valid. Marshall officials say anyone with outstanding citations issued for violations before June 2 should send a check, money order, or cashier’s check made out to the City of Marshall. The payment should be mailed to the Marshall Police Department, ATTN: Photo Enforcement, 2101 East End Blvd. North, Marshall, Texas 75670.

WASKOM — A reproductive rights group has erected two signs on I-20 near Waskom reading, “Abortion is Freedom.” According to our news partner KETK, the signs went up three weeks after the city declared itself a “sanctuary city for the unborn.” On June 11, the city council unanimously approved a measure calling Roe v. Wade unconstitutional — and null and void in Waskom. In response, the Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity said in a Facebook post that abortion is still legal in Waskom and elsewhere throughout the country. The group says it partnered with NARAL Pro-Choice Texas to erect the signs to promote NeedAbortion.org. Citizens who supported the city declaration said it will have to be an all-out effort to make it to the Supreme Court to challenge Roe v. Wade.

LUFKIN — It’s a video that has sparked outrage — a woman licking a half-gallon of Blue Bell Ice Cream and returning it to the store freezer. It appears that the tub has been found. Blue Bell posted on its website that it has identified a Walmart store in Lufkin as the store where the incident took place. A woman recorded herself on Instagram taking the lid off of a half gallon of Blue Bell Tin Roof Ice Cream, licking the top, putting the lid back on and putting it back into the freezer. The “Little Creamery in Brenham” says based on security footage, the location and inspection of the carton, it believes that it has recovered the tampered container. Continue reading Police Working to Identify “Lufkin Licker”

TYLER — Brookshire Grocery Company has been fined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration – but the company is contesting the fine. OSHA levied a charge of $26,520 in connection to a death last March in their Tyler warehouse. According to our news partner KETK, Kasper Holland, 22, was killed in an industrial accident on March 16. The fine was for what were termed two “serious” violations by the company. It is unclear what the violations were. Continue reading Brookshire’s Contests OSHA Fine

KILGORE — The Kilgore Police Department is asking for your help in finding a missing person. Francisco Venegas, 30, walked out of a local emergency room early last Friday morning; that was the last time he was seen. Venegas is a Hispanic male with dark shoulder length hair and a beard. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and a gray flower camouflage shirt. According to our news partner KETK, Venegas is believed to have physical and mental ailments that may put him in danger. Anyone who has information about the whereabouts of Venegas is asked to contact Kilgore police.

TYLER — The City of Tyler hosts the annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration at Lindsey Park. Following a 2 p.m. gate opening and a 4 p.m. start for the activities, the fireworks show will begin after dark (around 9:15 p.m.) The park gate is located off of Spur 364, and admission is free. There is a rainout date set for Saturday, July 6. Attendees have been asked to arrive early for prime parking. Carpooling is highly recommended to help alleviate traffic congestion. Parking is on a first come, first serve basis. There will be no parking allowed on soccer fields and parking along Spur 364 will be allowed once all the parking lots are full in Lindsey Park. Continue reading Tyler Celebrates the Fourth of July; City Issues Advisories

LONGVIEW — Uncle Kracker will headline the July 4th Celebration at the Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center in Longview. The country rocker will be the featured act for the free outdoor concert. The fireworks event afterwards is billed by officials as “the biggest fireworks show in East Texas.” Many other activities are scheduled. Activities including amusement rides, wet and dry inflatables, and much more. For more details visit https://www.longviewtexas.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=1975. Continue reading Fourth of July Celebration Info, Safety Advisories Issued in Longview

TYLER — Tommy Joe Allen, age 60 of Tyler, was arrested on two counts of intoxication manslaughter in connection to the fatality crash January, 9. Authorities say Allen was driving at a high speed and struck a motorcycle killing Michael Anthony Gonzalez, 26 of Tyler. Susan Pennock Allen, was with the suspect and died days later as a result of injuries from the crash. Judge Jack Skeen issued an arrest warrant for Tommy Joe Allen. He was arrested on Wednesday. His bond was set at $500,000 on each charge.

TYLER — Frontier Airlines started service between Tyler Pounds Regional Airport and Denver International Airports on Tuesday. The airline bills itself as “low fares done right.” Frontier says they are focused on more than low fares, offering customers the ability to customize travel to their needs and budget. For example, customers can purchase options a la carte or in one low-priced bundle called the WORKS. Frontier is celebrating the launch of service of Tyler and Denver offering fares as low as $39. More info is available at flyfrontier.com

 

ATHENS — On Wednesday an Athens school bus driver pleaded not guilty of criminally negligent homicide and injury to a child causing serious bodily injury. According to our news partner KETK, John Stevens, 78 was driving last January with 2 children on board, when the bus collided with a Union Pacific train. According to reports, Stevens came to a stop, but then continued on. The train pushed the bus a quarter of a mile before it stopped. Christopher Bonilla, a 13-year-old, was killed when he was ejected. Joselyne Torres, a 9-year-old was also injured.

SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler man has been charged with murder following a weekend homicide. Humberto Leal, 39, was booked into the Smith County Jail Tuesday with bond set at $500,000. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a home on County Road 328 West around 1:25 Sunday morning and found the body of Luis Rene Murrufo, 36, of Tyler, inside a vehicle. He had apparently suffered fatal stab wounds. Another victim was found with a gunshot wound and was sent to the hospital with what are termed non-life-threatening injuries. The identity of the wounded person was not immediately available. Murrufo’s body was sent for autopsy.

TYLER — A jury in the 241st District Court found Karen Madrid guilty of exploitation of an elderly individual on Tuesday.  She was sentenced to six years in prison. According to our news partner KETK, Madrid was the caretaker for a man, but neighbors found him with no food and that she had stolen his car. She was found to have charged over $25,000 of expenses to the victim, including a trip to New York City with her boyfriend.

HARRISON COUNTY — On Tuesday a warrant was issued for Terri Ann Pace.  Pace turned herself in to authorities.  She was charged with abuse of official capacity worth between $1500 and $20,000 Dollars. According to our news partner KETK, Pace is accused of stealing money from the treasurer’s office. She faces two years in jail and a maximum fine of $10,000.

SMITH COUNTY — Over 3 miles of work which began in March was completed in June – Jim Hogg Rd., from Interstate 20 North to the Lindale city limits. Right and left turn lanes were added to the intersection at Sand Flat Road. The work included widening the road from 22 feet to 26 feet. The roadwork is located in Smith County Precincts 3 and 4, and ends at the Woodlands Drive intersection. The southern portion of Jim Hogg Rd is scheduled for Year 2 of the county’s road bond program.

MARSHALL — Marshall’s Oaklawn Municipal Golf Course will be temporarily closed July 8th (weather permitting) to allow contractors to spray for weeds and other unwanted vegetation. It’s part of the annual ground maintenance plan. Officials believe that closing the course is the most efficient way to keep the public safe and allow for proper spraying. If inclement weather arises, the spraying will be rescheduled. The plan is to reopen the course on Tuesday, July 9. For more information, contact the Support Services Department at 903-935-4470.

TYLER — Work is progressing on the renovation of TJC’s Wise Auditorium and the creation of the Rogers Palmer Performing Arts Center following a June 19th groundbreaking. Crews have installed safety fencing around the perimeter of the project. Inside Wise Auditorium crews have removed old fixtures and wiring. The Geese in Flight Fountain is being restored, and will have a fresh design in the plaza for the Rogers Palmer Performing Arts Center. Completion of the project is anticipated in early 2021.

TYLER — Tyler police report traffic flow is back to normal, with all lanes open, following a major crash at Front and Baxter. The accident, involving an 18-wheeler, was initially reported Tuesday morning and shut down the entire intersection for a time.

EAST TEXAS — A Carthage man has been convicted of drug trafficking. On June 28, Winfred Earl Ware Jr., 30, was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, obstruction of justice and witness tampering. Over a three year period, Ware distributed more than 50 grams of meth. Ware created fake Facebook posts pretending to be a government official trying to prove his innocence. Ware sent these to the court in one last attempt to save himself, but upon examination, the government determined that the Facebook posts were bogus. Ware faces a minimum of 20 years in federal prison.

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler announced the recipients of this year’s UT System Regents Outstanding Teaching Award. Dr. Amy Hayes, assistant professor of psychology, and Lauren Johnson, lecturer in chemistry, will each receive $25,000 in recognition of what was termed their superior undergraduate instruction and commitment to student success through teaching. They will be celebrated next month in Austin. Since the program began in 2008, the Board of Regents has presented more than $20 million to over 700 UT educators.