KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – It is time for a Thanksgiving tradition in Tyler. A big meal served by the Salvation Army. They are planning on feeding up to 1,500 persons between 11:30 and 1:00 on Thanksgiving day. The feast is a community event and is open to anyone in need of a meal. The menu includes Greenberg Smoked Turkeys, dressing, fruit salad, green bean casseroles, candied yams and pie. Over 200 volunteers have signed up to help with the Thanksgiving festivities this year. Some started arriving Wednesday to start cooking for the meal. And, along with the food, will be musical entertainment provided by the 5-piece East Texas musical group, the Hubbard Family.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Texas football hero is helping to raise money for the fire victims in California. Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes of Whitehouse donated the jersey he wore in Monday night’s classic with the L.A. Rams. Despite six touchdown passes from Mahomes, the Chiefs lost the game, 54-51. The Mahomes jersey — grass stains and all — is now up for bids on the NFL’s official auction site, and the bidding is already well into five figures. All proceeds go to fire relief. The auction runs through December 3. Mahomes is in his second year out of Texas Tech and played his high school ball at Whitehouse High School.

TYLER – Tyler’s Christmas tree has arrived. It is a 22 foot Leyland Cypress. It was donated by the Scott Lyles family with Bright Star Farms in Alba. The tree will be decorated on the city square in anticipation of the Christmas Parade and the 33nd annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony to be held on Thursday, November 29

TYLER – For five days, starting January 21st, the Transportation Security Administration mobile preenrollment center will be in the terminal of Pounds Regional Airport. Travelers will be able to schedule their in-person appointment for that week to complete the background check and fingerprinting at the enrollment center beginning December 5. Before applying, be sure to go to the TSA website at https://www.tsa.gov/precheck for full enrollment details. The membership allows travelers to speed through security. If preenrolled, you don’t have to remove your shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 baggies of liquids, belts or light jackets in designated lanes. In October, prescreened passengers waited less than 5 minutes. Signs will steer you to the lobby area where the enrollment center is located.

TYLER – There has been two late night aggravated robberies of restaurants in Tyler in the past week. The Kilgore police department has posted tips for area businesses. The suspects hide outside a business at closing time, usually in bushes, and then rob the employees as they leave. Kilgore police recommend lighting and cameras around businesses. They also say, never leave the back door of a restaurant open or unlocked. Also, change up your closing routine often, and walk out with multiple staff members if possible. And, if you notice suspicious activity, call the police to come check it out.

LONGVIEW – A Wood County man is being held in the Gregg County Jail because of a variety of child sex crimes. Daniel Wayne McCormick, 42, of Quitman, is in jail on bonds totaling $255,000. He is also being held on a a U.S. Marshals Service detainer. The Longview News Journal reports a federal indictment against McCormick lists 10 dates, from June through August of this year, where he is accused of recording a child engaging in sexual acts with himself. The charges are indecency with a child/sexual contact, invasive visual recording, possession/promotion of child pornography and sexual assault of a child.

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott has named two men to the Correctional Managed Health Care Committee. One of the men, Dr. Rodney Burrow of Pittsburg, was named the chairman of the committee. His term is set to expire on February 1, 2021. is the Director of Medical Affairs and the Associate Director of Primary Care for Titus Regional Medical Center in Mt. Pleasant. He is also a practicing Board Certified Family Physician at the Family Care Center in Mount Pleasant and a registered pharmacist.

PALESTINE — Palestine police have arrested three people after a shooting sent two victims to the hospital on Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, just before 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, officers from the Palestine Police Department responded to a residence on Lamar Street in reference to a reported shooting. Officers arrived and found two victims with apparent gunshot wounds. The male victim was identified as Alex Afshari, 19, of Palestine. The female victim was identified as Christine Kelly, 18, of Palestine. Both victims were transported to a local hospital. Continue reading Three Men Arrested Following Shooting in Palestine

TYLER — Thanksgiving travelers using Tyler’s Pounds Regional Airport this week will be greeted by Therapet human-animal teams. The dogs were at the airport on Monday to greet arriving and departing travelers to help them beat holiday stress. They will be back on Wednesday from 9:30am till 1:30pm. Research has found that people’s blood pressure and heart rate go down, their positive hormones increase and it helps people relax when they love on a dog for a little while. A total of seven dogs are taking part in the project at the Tyler airport.

TYLER – Tyler Police are looking for the man who tried to steal TVs from the Walmart on Troup Highway. It happened shortly before 1:15 Saturday morning. He is said to have placed 3 TVs in a cart and tried to leave without paying for them. Employees tried to detain him, but he broke free and ran, without the TVs, to a dark colored pickup. The truck is believed to be an extended cab Chevrolet. The suspect and the driver left before police arrived. If you know who this suspect is please contact Detective James Holt at 903-531-1028 or call Tyler Crimestoppers at 903-597-2833.

TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for an armed suspect after a restaurant manager said he was tied up and robbed. It happened just before 2:30 Monday morning at Razzoo’s on south Broadway. The manager told officers he was outside when he was approached by a man with a handgun. The victim said he was ordered back into the building and forced to open the safe. The manager claims he was tied up before the suspect fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of money. The victim said he was able to eventually cut himself loose and call police. The suspect was wearing all black clothing, gloves, and a ski mask. Anyone with information is asked contact the Tyler Police Dept at 903-531-1000.

ATHENS – Athens police continue their investigation into a shooting that left one person dead. April Nicole Taylor, 30, died after being taken to the hospital. The shooting was reported around 8:30 Sunday night at a Third Street residence.

LONGVIEW – A fatal Longview accident remains under investigation. Killed in the early Friday night accident was Benandre Wilson, 28, of Longview. His motorcycle accident was one of five vehicles involved in the accident around 6:30 Friday evening at the intersection of Gilmer Road and Heritage Boulevard. Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene. No injuries were reported.

TYLER – A new public safety and bachelor program is in the works at Tyler Junior College. School trustees have approved a Bachelor of Applied Technology degree at the school. This would be the third bachelor degree at TJC. School officials say they have been working in close partnership with city, county and state leaders to produce high quality public safety programs. TJC has in place other first responder programs including its Fire Science Academy as well as Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic. TJC’s first baccalaureate degree program, a Bachelor of Science in dental hygiene, began two years ago. Its second, a Bachelor of Applied Technology in healthcare technology and medical systems, will start next January.

TYLER — An armed suspect accused of robbing a pizza delivery driver has been arrested. Tyler police responded to the Foundry Apartments on Varsity Drive around 9:40 Sunday night following a call from a Domino’s Pizza delivery driver. The victim claims he was in the parking lot of the apartment complex when he was approached by a man with a pistol. The suspect reportedly demanded the driver’s money and pizza, then fled on foot behind a shed. Arriving officers found Brant Miller, 18, with the stolen property. He was booked into the Smith County Jail on charges of aggravated robbery and evading arrest.

NACOGDOCHES – What is being called large disturbances at a Nacogdoches club has left one person dead. A news release identified the victim as Lyric Polley, 21, of Nacogdoches. It appears as if Polley died from a gunshot wound to the head. The investigation into the incident is continuing.

TYLER – TxDOT is planning to conduct the following construction and maintenance work throughout the district during the weeks of November 19 and 26. Schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones.

Tyler Maintenance crews plan to conduct ditch maintenance on roadways around the county Thanksgiving week. The week of November 26, base repair operations resume on FM 2015 as well as on FM 2908. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control at both locations. Continue reading TxDOT Road Projects Update

LONGVIEW – A 5 vehicle accident in Longview has left one person dead. A motorcyclist was killed in the accident. It happened around 6:30 Friday evening at the intersection of Gilmer Road and Heritage Boulevard. No other information has been released. The accident remains under investigation.

MARSHALL – A Fatal accident in Marshall remains under investigation. It happened just before 6:00 Wednesday evening on East End Boulevard South. The preliminary report says it was caused by a car which rear ended another vehicle. The car then entered the opposite lane of traffic where it was hit by a large truck. Both occupants in the passenger car were transported to Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center in Marshall where the passenger later died. She has been identified as April Hayner, 44, of Marshall.

AUSTIN – Tyler’s unemployment rate continues to be better than the state’s number. The state’s unemployment rate fell to 3.7% in October, down from 3.8% in September. This is the lowest level since the state unemployment data series began in January 1976. The Texas economy added 32,300 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs in October. Annual employment growth for Texas was 3.1% in October, marking 102 consecutive months of annual growth. Tyler’s unemployment rate went from 3.5% in September to 3.4% last month. A year ago it was 4.2%. Longview’s unemployment rate in October was 3.8%. It had been 4% in September and 4.3% a year ago.

MARSHALL — The City of Marshall Public Works Department has closed the Marshall City Hall parking lot through 8:00am November 20 to complete a repave of the parking lot. During this project, those wishing to enter city hall will need to enter the building using the Columbus Street entrance on the second floor. Residents will also be unable to use the water billing payment drop box on the west side of city hall during this time. For more information, contact the Public Works Department at 903-935-4516.

LONGVIEW — A man has been arrested for arson in a Longview fire. Officials say the Longview Fire Department responded around 4:00 p.m. Thursday to a home on Nikki Court. When units arrived they found a chair and personal belongings on fire under a covered back porch of the duplex. The flames were extinguished and no injuries reported. Further details weren’t immediately provided in what authorities term an ongoing investigation.

TYLER – A Jacksonville man has been sentenced for drug trafficking violations. Devante Lee Johnson, 26, pleaded guilty May 22 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on premises where children are present. He was sentenced Thursday to 180 months in federal prison.

TYLER (AP) – An East Texas woman must serve nearly seven years in prison after pleading guilty to embezzling $1.8 million from some California companies and using the money to build a house. Federal prosecutors in Tyler say 49-year-old Lina Su, also known as Lina Perkins, was sentenced Thursday to 80 months and ordered to repay the money. The financial controller in June pleaded guilty to money laundering and wire fraud. Su split her time living in Hawkins and Los Angeles. The thefts began in 2015. Prosecutors say Su illegally transferred funds from VIG Furniture, Airport Van Rental and ACE Medical Transport into her personal account to pay credit cards, buy land and construct a house in Texas. Su must also forfeit vehicles and land.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County troopers were busy Friday morning, responding to three separate crashes within a small amount of time. According to our news partner and the Department of Public Safety, the first crash occurred at on Highway 64 at FM 279 involving a semi and passenger car. No word on any injuries. The second crash occurred about a quarter mile west of the first wreck involving Tyler ISD school bus #25. No students were reported injured. A second bus arrived shortly after and transferred the students to school. DPS said the driver of the truck involved in that crash was injured, the extent was not known. The third crash happened near near FM 2661. Additional information was pending.

TYLER — Three awards were handed out Thursday in Tyler at the local celebration of National Philanthropy Day 2018, hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals – East Texas chapter. Barbara Shtofman was named Outstanding Philanthropist based on her legacy of giving with an emphasis on the arts and women’s and children’s outreach programs. Jennifer Gaston was honored as Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser for her extensive work in support of area non-profits and the resulting monetary impact. Express Professional Services was named Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation based on what were termed its purposeful giving and active support of area charitable organizations.

TYLER — The trial for an East Texas nurse accused of murder has been pushed back to September 2019. According to our news partner KETK, all charges against 34-year-old William George Davis of Hallsville have been incorporated into his capital murder of multiple persons case. Those charges included several counts of aggravated assault. Davis was a registered nurse at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. He is accused of causing death or harm to patients by introducing air into their arteries.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma – A 27-year-old Oklahoma City man faces prosecution in connection with the murder of a former Longview woman in 2017 and 39 other crimes. According to our news partner KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Mario Nomore remained in the Oklahoma County Jail on 40 charges, including the murders of Ashley Easton, formerly of Longview, and her boyfriend, Bashar Burks; two other homicides; and 30 counts of robbery. Easton’s mother said she became suspicious when her daughter did not arrive in Longview as planned. The mother said Easton lived in Longview for much of her life but moved to Oklahoma several years ago.

TYLER – TxDOT will host a public hearing for proposed improvements to FM 2493 from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Bullard Elementary School on Panther Drive in Bullard. The purpose of the hearing is to present the planned improvements to upgrade and widen FM 2493 and to receive public comment. The project will convert the existing two-lane rural roadway to a four-lane divided roadway from FM 346 in Flint, south to U.S. 69 near Bullard, in Smith and Cherokee counties.