KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Tyler’s Gallery Main Street is celebrating 10 years of serving the community and supporting local artists, according to information from the city. To commemorate the milestone, they will take what’s termed a fun spin on the annual 6×6@110 fundraiser event. Instead of hundreds of 6x6s filling the Gallery, they will pay tribute to “10 Years” by showcasing 110 local artworks, from selected artists on 10×10 canvases. The exhibit will be open from Saturday, June 8, until Friday, July 5. The exhibit opening and reception will take place on June 8 from noon until 7:30 p.m. Check the ktbb.com Calendar of Events for more information.

TYLER — Due to unforeseen issues, Fun Forest Pool on N. Glenwood in Tyler (pictured at left) will be closed for the 2019 summer season — but residents still have other options. That’s the word in a pair of news releases from the city. During recent ADA construction and while prepping the pool for summer use, officials say they became aware of critical leakage issues. A third party was brought in to evaluate the pool structure, pump system, and needed repairs. It was determined the city could not open the pool at this time due to unsafe swimming conditions. The needed repairs to the 50-meter Olympic size pool, originally built in 1938, are expected take approximately three months or longer. Continue reading Fun Forest Pool Closed for Summer, but Other Options Remain

TYLER — For the first time, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and the Tyler Police Department will join together to present free active shooter training to the public. The training, “Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events,” teaches what happens during an event and actions you can take to help you survive the attack. The training will be Saturday June 8th, at 9:00 a.m. in the Crosswalk Conference Center at Green Acres Baptist Church. Officials point out that this subject is graphic and some portions of the training may not be suitable for children. Parents are strongly encouraged not to bring children younger than 13 to the training.

LUFKIN (AP) — Police who surrounded a house in eastern Texas because they thought they had a burglary in progress found a deer instead. The homeowner called Lufkin police early Thursday after she heard glass breaking. The woman hid in a closet and realized she had left her weapon in the kitchen. Officers were worried it could end up in the hands of the suspect. Video posted on Facebook shows officers entering the home, yelling, “Police! Let me see your hands!” Police say as the officers rounded a corner, they came “face to face with one very frightened doe.” An officer shouted “It’s a deer! It’s a deer! It’s a deer!” The officers used chairs to shoo the deer out the door.

TYLER — The UT Tyler Cowan Center unveils its schedule for 2019 and 2020. It all kicks off with rockers Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo September 10. A show biz legend visits Tyler January 30 as the center presents “An Evening with Rita Moreno.” Distinguished lecturer Carly Fiorina comes to town April 14. Go to http://www.cowancenter.org/schedule.html for a complete rundown.

LONGVIEW – Former Sabine ISD teacher’s aide Cassie Dowden, 27, was arrested for improper relationship between an educator and student. The offense allegedly happened March 1. The investigation is still underway by the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office. According to our news partner KETK, Dowden remained in the Gregg County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

TYLER — 31-year-old Jeffrey Hampton of Flint picks up a second charge in a fatal Lake Palestine accident. According to our news partner KETK, he’s now accused of failure to stop and render aid/bodily injury. He remains in Smith County Jail on an $850,000 bond. According to officials, Hampton was driving his boat on Lake Palestine recently when he struck 14-year-old Roberto Carlos Bermejo Hernandez and drove off. Hernandez was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities say they arrested Hampton on a tip and initially charged him with manslaughter.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department announced Thursday that due to ongoing safety concerns and complaints about the operation of golf carts on public roadways, officers will now begin issuing citations for anyone not meeting the legal requirements when operation a golf cart on a public roadway within city limits. The Texas Transportation Code (section 502.001) defines a golf cart as a motor vehicle. The legal requirements for motor vehicles apply to the use of a golf cart on a public roadway and requires the operator be a licensed driver and obey all traffic laws. The Texas Transportation Code (section 551.404) does allow for the operation of golf carts in certain municipalities or counties. However, the City of Tyler has not authorized the use of golf carts, with the required equipment, under this statue.

GREGG COUNTY — A former Carthage Junior High School teacher accused of an inappropriate relationship with a student used FaceTime to send a sexually explicit video of herself to that student, according to the Longview News-Journal. Lauren Nolan, 25, of Longview, has been indicted on a charge of improper relationship between educator/student. Nolan resigned from her job as a teacher and coach within Carthage ISD in 2018, with the district saying at the time she had engaged in “inappropriate behavior.” A Panola County grand jury indicted Nolan during their May session. Continue reading Former Teacher Indicted following Alleged Relationship with Student

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office says it’s been receiving a large number of criminal mischief reports in the southwest portion of the county, dating to May 14. Officials also say Tyler police are getting lots of similar reports. The sheriff’s office reports 12 incidents on May 17 alone. Whoever’s responsible appears to be using a BB gun to shoot at vehicle windows — mainly on parked vehicles, though one moving vehicle has been hit. Also, one parked patrol vehicle was struck and temporarily put out of commission. Lately, businesses along Highway 155 are being targeted too. In at least two instances, a dark-colored vehicle was implicated. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at (903) 566-6600.

KILGORE — Romeo Pinkerton, the man convicted of killing five people at a Kilgore KFC in 1983, has again been denied parole. Pinkerton was convicted of abducting the victims from the restaurant, driving them to a remote oilfield in Rusk County, and shooting them to death. According to our news partner KETK, a second person, Darnell Hartsfield, was also convicted and is serving a life sentence. For over 20 years the case went unsolved, until Pinkerton pleaded guilty in 2007. He was sentenced to five life terms. Pinkerton became eligible for parole in April 2014, but was denied back then as well.

LONGVIEW — MooneyMAX Aviation Maintenance and “Right Seat Ready!” will be conducting an educational conference on aviation maintenance and flying Thursday through Sunday at East Texas Regional Airport and Longview’s Hilton Garden Inn. For non-pilots who travel as passengers, there’ll be a two-day clinic. Topics include safety, what to do should the pilot become incapacitated, ways to help the pilot in emergency situations, and ways to prevent emergencies before they happen. The conference is open to the public, and you can get more information on the ktbb.com Calendar of Events.

TYLER — A Tyler man has been booked into the Smith County Jail following a stand-off with police. According to Tyler Police, officers responded to a home on Stagecoach around 7:30 Monday evening for a welfare check. Family members told officials the man, later identified as Jesse Glynn Adams, 53, was off his medication and intoxicated. Officers approached the backyard where Adams was located when he fired several rounds at them. The officers took cover and called for assistance. The brief stand-off ended when Adams placed his weapon on the ground and put his hands up. Adams has been charged with four counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon. No injuries were reported. Bond was set at $4,000,000.

MARSHALL — The Marshall Independent School District will be offering free breakfast and lunch to all students in the 2019-2020 school year. According to our news partner KETK, MISD will be able to provide the free meals due to the district’s participation in the National School Lunch Program Community Eligibility Provision. The CEP provides an alternative to household applications for free and reduced-price meals for economically disadvantaged students in local educational agencies and schools.

SMITH COUNTY — Authorities have identified a 14-year-old who was struck and killed by a boat while swimming at Lake Palestine Sunday evening, and a GoFundme page has been set up to help with funeral expenses. According to our news partner KETK, Roberto Carlos Bermejo Hernandez was pronounced dead at the scene. The boat left the scene before officials arrived. Jeffery Hampton, 31, of Flint, was arrested and charged with manslaughter. He was booked into the Smith County Jail with bond set at $750,000. Officials took blood to be sent off for a toxicology report. Hampton has previous convictions for DWI and drug possession. He was caught after deputies received a tip from a witness. Go to https://www.gofundme.com/carlos-bermejo-hernandez for more information.

TYLER — The IdentoGo TSA Pre✓ Mobile RV will be stationed at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport and will provide service Monday, June 17, through Wednesday, July 3. The Mobile Enrollment Center will be located in the airport’s long term parking lot. To get started, customers must pre-enroll online at the TSA Pre✓ website. TSA Pre✓ is an expedited screening program for identified low-risk air travelers. Visit the TSA Pre✓ website for questions about enrollment.

ATHENS — The driver in a deadly Athens ISD bus crash has been indicted in Henderson County. According to our news partner KETK, John Stevens, 78, is facing charges of criminal negligent homicide, and injury to a child. The school bus he was driving was hit by a Union Pacific train on January 25 at the railroad crossing at Cream Level Road. The train pushed the bus to the next crossing at Murchison Street. The crash killed Christopher Bonilla, 13, after he was thrown from the bus. The accident also injured Joselyne Torres, 9. The Athens Police Department released a report on February 11 stating Stevens did stop before driving onto the tracks, in accordance with state law. Continue reading Athens ISD Bus Driver Indicted after Deadly January Crash

WOOD COUNTY — An 8th tornado is confirmed to have touched down in East Texas from last week’s storms, according to the National Weather Service. According to our news partner KETK, the tornado touched down in Wood County and was rated as an EF-0. Wind speeds for that rating can reach from 65-85 miles per hour. It was the second tornado to touch down in Wood County Wednesday. Five alone touched down in Canton. No serious injuries were reported.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Authorities in central Ohio say a woman is accused of killing her ex-husband and taking their two children to Texas. — and an East Texas law enforcement agency has helped in the investigation. Franklin County, Ohio, Sheriff Dallas Baldwin says deputies May 28 found 35-year-old Jeremy Edmond lying dead inside his home in Pleasant Township with a gunshot wound to the head. Detectives say Brandi Nicole Edmond, 25, had left for Texas. She didn’t have legal custody of the children. Franklin County investigators went to Texas, where they were assisted by police in Mount Pleasant and Mansfield and by Texas Rangers. Detectives found the two children safe at the home of Brandi Edmond’s parents. She was arrested May 31 on an aggravated murder count and was being held Monday in the Tarrant County Jail, pending extradition to Ohio. No attorney was listed for her.

CHAPEL HILL — The North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA) is hosting a second public workshop regarding the proposed extension of Toll 49 from State Highway 110 to U.S. Highway 271. The workshop is set for Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Chapel Hill High School. You’ll have the opportunity to provide input regarding six proposed route options, learn more about the evaluation process, ask questions, and leave comments. No formal presentation is planned. Attendees may come and go at their own convenience. You can visit http://www.netrma.org/projects/segment-6 for more information.

LONGVIEW — Improvements are on the way for several neighborhood parks in Longview, and a meeting is set for Tuesday evening as officials seek feedback. The Lois Jackson Park community meeting will take place at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Longview First Church of the Nazarene on H.G. Mosley Parkway. It’s just one in a series of community meetings on the bond-funded park improvements. You can check the ktbb.com Calendar of Events for more information.

AUSTIN — Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill that allows Texas residents to kill feral hogs without a license, according to state legislature records. The bill was proposed by Republican Sen. Bryan Hughes of Mineola. According to our news partner KETK, it received a large amount of support and was signed by Abbott on Friday. It was passed unanimously in the Texas Senate in April and only received two “no” votes in the House. The bill states that a landowner does not have to prove that the feral hog caused damage to property before killing it.

LONGVIEW – LeTourneau University’s Belcher Center is celebrating its 13th season of performances with “The Next Big Thing” season of events for 2019 and 2020. The season kicks off October 5 with Chonda Pierce, a comedian on her Still Laughing tour. Other highlights include the Vienna Boys Choir November 23 and “SpongeBob the Musical” January 23. Season ticket holder renewals begin July 8, new season ticket package sales start July 22, and individual show tickets go on sale Aug. 6. You can go to http://www.BelcherCenter.com to learn more.

WINNSBORO — For the Howell family, a fresh start in the Piney Woods sounded better the more they began to imagine the idea. “We lived down south during Harvey (Hurricane Harvey) and we lived through, and we lost a lot from it,” Amanda Billingsley-Howell told our news partner KETK. But just 20 days after they signed the dotted line to buy their new home in Winnsboro, an EF-2 tornado swept through their town and ripped apart a portion of their home. However, the Howell family has a guardian angel in the form of a friend who formed a GoFundMe page to help offset financial costs. You can click here if you’d like to help this family get back on its feet.

TYLER — Here’s a look at work planned in TxDOT’s Tyler District for the week of June 3. Weather conditions or other unforeseen issues could change these work schedules. In Tyler, night work to place the final surface is scheduled from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday on the FM 2493/Old Jacksonville Highway Turn Lane Project at Grande Boulevard. Night work is also being conducted on Rice Road. Motorists can expect lane closures and delays during this work. You can go to https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/030-2019.html for a complete rundown.

TYLER — Thanks to the work of the Tyler Area Partnership 4 Education, Tyler and Smith County have joined the Start Smart Texas network, a statewide movement to increase early reading proficiency. That’s according to a news release from the United Way of Smith County. The United Way’s Nan Moore says each community in the network has committed to targeting early literacy as an urgent priority. According to the news release, national tests show that more than half of all Texas fourth graders — many of whom are from low-income families — are not reading proficiently. Continue reading Tyler Named Newest Start Smart Texas Community

TYLER — Vortex Companies will be relining a large drainage pipe under Cumberland Road just west of Cherokee Trail in Tyler Monday, June 3, through Friday, June 7. City officials advise you to expect major delays and use alternate routes. You’re also asked to stay alert of workers in the area, as they will have limited workspace, and to obey all posted construction signage. This schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions or other unforeseen issues.

TYLER — Morton Enterprises will be sealing cracks on Cumberland Road between Wilder Way and Paluxy Drive in Tyler again Saturday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Crews were on the job Friday as well. Officials advise you to expect major delays, use alternate routes, and stay alert of workers in the area as they will have limited workspace. The schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions or other unforeseen issues.