KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Three people with impressive community service resumes were the big honorees at Tuesday’s annual meeting of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. The husband and wife team of Drs. Sasha Vukelja and Larry Anderson received the T.B. Butler Award as Tyler’s most outstanding citizens. In an emotion-filled acceptance speech, Vukelja found time for a bit of humor about her old New York friends. Vukelja told the crowd, “They told me I lost my mind when I moved to Texas — but every time they come to Texas, we can’t get ’em out of the house; they keep coming back!” Anderson said as he looked at the list of past honorees, “It’s just a who’s who of Tyler, and we’re humbled to join it.” Continue reading Chamber Award Winners Voice Their Appreciation

MARSHALL – A Longview man has been indicted in connection with a fatal Harrison County accident. Brian Keith Woods, 48, was indicted for intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle and two counts of intoxication assault with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury. He is accused of hitting three pedestrians who had stopped to help a driver parked on the side of the road. The May 19th accident occurred on Interstate Highway 20 near Marshall. Killed was Sylvia Marie Keiter of Shreveport, Louisiana. One of the two persons injured was Sherri Beeson, 41, of Winona.

BULLARD – The new Director of School Safety for the Bullard school system is now on the job. Sworn in on Monday was John C. Jones. He was named to the post in late July. Over the past 20 years, Jones has served as a staff sergeant for the mortar section, of the United States Army National Guard. He has also served as a Special Agent for the FBI. He joined Bullard ISD after his retirement from the FBI. Jones and his wife have three children in the Bullard school system.

TYLER – An elderly Tyler man, who had been reported missing, has been found. Tyler Police had asked for help in finding Isiah Champion, 83. He left his home on West 34th Street Tuesday morning and was believed to have walked towards a park in the area. He had not been seen since he left his home. The police report he has been found safe and returned home.

LUFKIN – A missing East Texas teen is safe. The Angelina County Sheriff’s Department had put out a missing persons report for Vanity Anastasia “Ana” Jones, 18. She had been last seen at her home in Huntington on Sunday. She was said to have been missing and considered endangered .The sheriff’s department reports she was found in Tyler, with the help of the Tyler Police Department.

TYLER – The Smith County grand jury has indicted two men in connection with the death of a Bullard woman in July. Last week, the grand jury indicted Charles Edward Lennon III, 29, of Bullard, (pictured) with capital murder. His father, Charles Edward Lennon Jr, 56, of Tyler, was indicted for tampering with evidence. They had been charged in the death of Rachel Lynn Jackson, 31. The son is said to have been beaten her to death with a tire knocker.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler is looking for participants for their early childhood reading program. The program is called “Born to Read.” It is for soon-to-be parents and parents of children who are 3 and younger in Tyler and East Texas. The program is designed to give parents the tools they need to support their children’s early language and literacy development. The cost is free to the first 25 parents who sign up by October 12. Parents who register for the program are expected to participate in a 2-hour training seminar in October and one-hour monthly meetings from November to June 2019. Parents will also receive free access to literary resources and training. Continue reading Born to Read Program at UT Tyler

EAST TEXAS – Don’t be surprised if your cell phone, and all those around you, goes off Wednesday. In fact, cell phones all across the country will go off Wednesday afternoon at 1:18 East Texas time. It is first nationwide test of a wireless emergency alert system. FEMA says the alert will not interrupt a phone call or an active data session. Even if you have opted out of other emergency alerts, you should still receive the national alert. The message will say, “Presidential Alert: This is a test of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” About two minutes later, the broadcast system will send a similar message through radio and television stations. Continue reading Nationwide Alert Set for Wednesday

EAST TEXAS – State troopers have begun a month-long project that highlights school bus safety. During October, state troopers will be riding on or following school buses to catch motorists who break the law. State troopers will also be patrolling areas where school buses pick up and drop off students. School officials from 14 area counties, Anderson, Henderson, Van Zandt, Cherokee, Smith, Rains, Wood, Camp, Upshur, Gregg, Marion, Harrison, Rusk and Panola, have identified areas along their bus routes where traffic violations are common. They have passed on this information to local troopers. Drivers who violate the law could face fines as much as $1,250. Continue reading School Bus Safety Stressed

BERRYVILLE – A small aircraft crash has been reported near County Road 4117 in Berryville. According to our news partner KETK, Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse says it involves a “gyroplane,” which is a small, one person aircraft. According to Hillhouse, persons on scene radioed saying “they didn’t need EMS.” We’ll keep you up to date as more information comes in.

MARSHALL — A woman who was arrested in August for reportedly orchestrating a murder-for-hire scheme has been indicted by a Harrison County grand jury for solicitation to commit capital murder. According to our news partner KETK, the indictment for Trisha Groot George, 33, shows she attempted to request, command and induce a man to cause the death of her husband, William George. The Marshall Police Department Criminal Investigations Division received a tip indicating Trisha George was reportedly attempting to hire someone to murder her husband. She was booked into the Harrison County Jail with bond set at $1 million.

LONGVIEW — Police are investigating two drive-by shootings at the same residence. Sgt. Shane McCarter of the Longview Police Department confirmed two shootings occurred at a home on Lane Wells. According to our news partner KETK, the first shooting occurred September 29 at 2:30 am, the second shooting Monday at 10:30 am. Neighbors and residents of the home are cooperating with the investigation. The targeted occupants say they are unaware of why anyone would want to hurt them. No injuries have been reported. The incident is now classified as a “deadly conduct” event.

TYLER – The month of September 2018 in Tyler was warmer and wetter than normal. Compared with September 2017, The National Weather Service reports, the month was 1.4 deg. Warmer, and 5.91 inches wetter. It was wetter because September 2017 was the second driest September on record, with only 0.01 inch of rainfall. The year-to-date rainfall was 10.50 inches less in 2018 than in 2017, due largely to the month of August 2017, in sharp contrast to September 2017, was the wettest August on record with 11.65 inches. Climate data record for Tyler date back to 1883.

LONGVIEW — On Tuesday, neighborhoods throughout Longview are being invited to plan neighborhood parties for the 35th Annual National Night Out (NNO) crime and drug prevention event. The City of Longview, the Longview Police Department, Partners in Prevention and the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office coordinate this annual event for the first Tuesday in October. Parties can be as simple as hanging out with friends and enjoying some good food. In the past, some parties have had pony rides, dunking booths, music, and clowns. You can visit http://www.LongviewTexas.gov/NNO to get more information. By the way, Marshall is also in on the event, planning a downtown activity.

TYLER – Tyler police have issued a warning about an increasing number of phone scams. The callers are very convincing. They may may identify themselves as a police or sheriff’s department and ask for payment for a bond for a family member. They say the bond can be paid by way of a gift card. No business or government agency will require payment using gift cards, iTunes cards or shopping cards for any reason. They remind you, never release financial or personal identification information over the phone. Hang up the phone and report the call to your local law enforcement agency. For more information or to verify a potential scam call, please reach out to the
Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000 and request to speak with the Financial Crimes and Fraud unit.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler announced today that it has received a five-year grant totaling $564,250. It from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. According to a news released from the school, the funds will be used to support entrepreneurship and revitalize economic development in East Texas. The UT Tyler Soules College of Business and the College of Engineering will collaborate on this project to provide business and manufacturing expertise to East Texas.

TYLER – Here’s a look at road work planned in the Tyler district of TxDOT during the week of October 1st. 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 and Special Jobs crews plan to continue milling operations on State Highway 110N at the Van Zandt County line moving south for a mile. Base repair work continues on Farm Road 2908 just north of Farm Road 2767. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control at all work locations.

You can go to https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/042-2018.html to find other work projects in TxDOT’s northeast Texas District.

TYLER — The 45th anniversary banquet of Meals on Wheels Ministry will be held Tuesday at Green Acres CrossWalk Conference Center in Tyler from 10:30 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. The doors will open at 10:30 a.m. and kick off the silent auction, lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. and the program will start at noon. The event theme of “Farmers Market” will showcase the natural beauty and home-grown abundance of local farmers markets, according to a news release. The event will also highlight the nutritional foundation of MOWM, which serves nearly 3,000 homebound senior and disabled people living across six counties in East Texas. You an check the ktbb.com Calendar of Events for more information.

HARRISON COUNTY – A Louisiana man is in custody in Gregg County, accused of kidnapping and robbing a Tarrent County man. Richard James Darby Jr., 28, is accused of robbing the Uber driver who picked him up in Bedford. The Longview News Journal reports Darby is said to have put a knife to the driver’s throat and ordered him out of the vehicle. After a couple of law officers found the suspect, he abandoned the vehicle in a ditch off Interstate Highway 20 in Gregg County. After running between cars on the interstate, deputies arrested him. He remains in the Gregg County Jail on charges of aggravated robbery, unauthorized use of a vehicle and resisting arrest.

TYLER – Tyler’s bulky item collection week starts on Monday. The pickup of those large items is sponsored twice a year by Tyler’s Solid Waste Department and Keep Tyler Beautiful. It’s a great time for residential customers to get rid of those large items that would normally require a special fee to pick up. All you have to do is place the items on the curb Monday and a city crew will pick it up. There is no need to call the Solid Waste Office. But you need to note that items may be collected on a different day from your usual scheduled garbage collection. Items that will be picked up, at no charge, include furniture, appliances, carpet, fence material, up to four non-commercial vehicle tires, old toys and other such large items. No liquid waste, limbs or brush will be picked up. Paint must be dried out with oil dry or kitty litter. Continue reading Tyler’s Bulky Item Collection Week Is Starting

LONGVIEW — Longview police responded to a report of shots fired around 12:45 Saturday morning on Clover Lane. An individual called 911 and reported that a man had been shot on his front porch and was bleeding. Officers found the victim, Henry England Williams, 32, sitting in a chair on his front porch. Williams was transported to a local hospital where he died around 3:30 a.m. from injuries he sustained from being shot. Anyone with information is asked to contact Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP.

TYLER — Tyler Police continue to investigate a hit and run wreck involving a cyclist. It happened just before 10:00 pm September, 24 on Grande Blvd. Officers said a 38-year-old man, wearing a reflective vest and flashing lights on his bicycle, was struck as he was heading eastbound on Grande Blvd near Sutherland Street. The cyclist struck the windshield, then landed in the traffic lane. The driver failed to stop and render aid. A vehicle drove up on the injured person after it happened and called first responders. The bicyclist was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. The suspect vehicle should have front end damage and possibly a broken windshield. Tyler police are asking for anyone that may have information contact the department 903-531-1000 or Tyler Crime Stoppers 903-597-2833.

LONGVIEW (AP/STAFF) – The social media is spreading a story about Longview that the police department says is a fake. The online report says there is a serial killer on loose in Longview after the third pedophile has been found dead in a week. The story said law enforcement officials had held a press conference and were appealing to the community for any information about the murders. In a statement issued Friday, the police department says the report of three homicides in the city is false. It was carried on a site purporting to be CBS News 15. According to the police department statement, “There is no truth or validity that our sources can find that the author or the supposed news affiliate exists.” The site did not respond to a request from for a comment.

TYLER – A Tyler woman, who had been charged with murder, has not been indicted by the Smith County grand jury. The panel decided not to indict Alicia Guthrie, 25, of Tyler. She had been charged with the stabbing death of Jeremy Taylor, 34. He died after being stabbed at a home on Lennox Avenue back in June. Gutherie told investigators Taylor had hit her in the face, pulled her hair, choked her and threw her on the bed. She got a knife and told him to leave. She said, when he lunged at her son, she stabbed him.

MT. ENTERPRISE – Two persons have been killed in a two vehicle accident in Rusk County. The accident happened Friday morning on U.S. Highway 84, east of Mt. Enterprise. The accident was caused when a tractor-trailer rig, driven by Anthoney Bradley, 40, of Jacksonville, blew a tire. This caused the truck to to travel into oncoming traffic, hitting an SUV. Two women in the SUV were killed. Their names have not been released at this time.

ATOY- The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the death of a two year old boy who accidentally shot himself. The shooting occurred around 9:00 Thursday night east of Rusk near the Atoy community. The youngster, and a one year old brother, had gone with their mother to visit relatives. The young boy appears to have found a pistol in a bedroom and picked it up when it fired. He was hit once in the neck. They put the child in a private vehicle and headed to the hospital in Rusk. They were met by an ambulance and two attendants who worked on the boy, but he was dead. The body has been sent to a Tyler lab for autopsy. Investigators say no foul play is expected and no charges have been filed.

TYLER – Thursday’s temperatures in Tyler are evidence that autumn is here. The National Weather service reports the morning low was 60 degrees. This is the coolest morning low since May 7th. The afternoon high was 70. This is our coolest high since April 23rd.

KILGORE – Recently, some Kilgore residents had credit or debit card data compromised. Thursday, skimmers were recovered that had been placed on gas pumps at a store at South Henderson Boulevard and Leach. They were hidden deep inside the electronics of the machine, undetectable by customers or even gas station attendants. Only a trained pump technician might have located them. Kilgore police say, every store is vulnerable, and your card data can be compromised many different ways. If you are uneasy about paying with a card at the pumps then consider paying inside. Cash is always a good option as well. Also, be sure to stay on top of your bank account activity. The quicker you suspect fraud the quicker your bank and law enforcement can act.

LONGVIEW – Utility rates were one of the topics before the Longview city council Thursday. The Longview News Journal reports the council approved a rate decrease for AEP Southwestern Electric Power Co. For the typical customer, it amounts to about $3.66 a month. They also limited the proposed rate increase sought by Atmos Energy Corp. They had been asking for a rate hike of over 7%. At the advice of city attorneys, the council approved a 2% increase. If the company approves the lesser amount, the increase will take effect in a week. If they oppose it, they can appeal to the Texas Railroad Commission.