KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – Fall commencement ceremonies were held Friday at Tyler Junior College. The 10:00am ceremony recognized graduates in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences and the School of Professional and Technical Programs. The 1:00pm ceremony recognized graduates in the School of Engineering, Mathematics and Sciences and the School of Humanities, Communications and Fine Arts. In the morning ceremony, three graduates crossed the stage and received TJC’s first Bachelor of Science degrees in dental hygiene. It was awarded to Amanda Camp of Lufkin, Shannon Kassaw of Palestine, and Michelle Trammell of Tyler. Continue reading A First for Tyler Junior College

BULLARD – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department has issued a Silver Alert for a missing Bullard man. He is Terry Darnell Young, 64. Young, who is said to suffer from a cognitive impairment, was last seen around Friday morning shortly before 12:15 in Terrell. He was driving a black 2016 Chrysler 200 with the license plane number HFL 6870. He is about 5’5″ and weighs around 155 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. If you see him, you are asked to contact emergency officials.

HIDEAWAY – Starting at noon on Sunday, Farm Road 849 at Hideaway will be closed for the demolition of the bridge that sustained major structural damage last month. Interstate Highway 20 eastbound and westbound at this location will be closed with traffic reduced to one lane in each direction on the ramps. Motorists should use alternate routes to avoid the extreme delays expected during this work. According to TxDOT, removal of the existing bridge will signal the start of an emergency contract to expedite the replacement project for the FM 849 Bridge over I-20. The closure of I-20, from noon Sunday through Wednesday morning, is required for the safe, efficient removal of the existing structure and the safety of motorists. Continue reading Section of I-20 to be Closed Starting Sunday

TYLER – There are a wide variety of holiday activities around the area this weekend. One of the most unusual is north of Tyler at the Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge. You are invited to stop by on Saturday to meet Santa Paws. Santa Paws will be visiting Saturday from 10:00am to 2:00pm. You are invited to visit the cats for pictures, hot cocoa, story time, reindeer games, and other festive activities. And be sure to wear your ugly Christmas sweaters. The ugliest will receive a grand prize. Tiger Creek is also offering free pictures with Santa Paws so you can remember the occasion. Tiger Creek is located just three miles north of Tyler State Park on Farm Road 14, just three miles north of Tyler State Park.

CHANDLER – A handcuffed woman was unsuccessful in her attempt to run away from a Henderson County Sheriff’s Deputy. Deloris Yvonne Belcher, 36, of Chandler, was stopped for a traffic violation on Niceview Drive in the Sunrise Shores Addition just outside of Chandler on Thursday. She was put in handcuffs after the deputy smelled a strong odor of marijuana on her. She ran away and tried to get into a nearby house. She was arrested and a search of her car yielded methamphetamines, several loose pills and marijuana. She has been charged with escape while under arrest, possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana. Her bonds total $15,000.

TYLER – In Tyler Federal Court on Thursday, a former Texas pilot has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and arson charges. At sentencing, Theodore Robert Wright, III, 32, of Las Vegas, Nevada, formerly of Kemah, Texas, faces up to 20 years in federal prison on the wire fraud conspiracy count and 5 to 20 years in federal prison on the arson conspiracy count. Continue reading Pilot Pleads Guilty In Federal Court in Tyler

TYLER – Smith County authorities are looking for an armed robbery suspect. The man is said to have robbed the AZ Food Mart on Highway 69 North just before midnight on December 1st. Two days later the same man robbed AB Country Store on Farm Road 14 in the Red Springs area. In both robberies, he was armed with a black, semi-automatic handgun. He is described as a white male around six feet tall, slender to medium build and in his late 20s or early 30s. Continue reading Smith County Robbery Suspect at Large

LONGVIEW – Beginning Friday, the intersection of Center Street and Whaley Street in Longview will be closed to all traffic. Center Street will remain closed between Whaley and Methvin. The intersections at Methvin will remain open. Scheduling of this closure was done to avoid conflict with downtown events. The work is part of the 2011 Street Bond Fund. This project consists of reconstructing Center Street from Cotton to Whaley with curb and gutter, upgraded drainage inlets, sidewalks, signs, and water and sewer improvements. The work is being done by by East Texas Bridge of Longview.

LONGVIEW — A Kilgore man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to intoxication manslaughter. Thursday’s plea of Thomas Henkel, 34, was in connection with an accident last year that killed Lauren Elrod of Harleton. Police say his Range Rover was traveling east on loop 281 when he crossed over the center median and hit Elrod’s car head-on. She was ejected from the vehicle after it rolled, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

PAYNE SPRINGS – A traffic stop for a simple violation results in serious charges against a man from the Metroplex. A car with four persons was stopped Wednesday night on Highway 198 between Caney City and Payne Springs. In the vehicle deputies found a large amount of suspected methamphetamine, and other items commonly used in the distribution and sale of the drug. Christopher Williford, 52, of Garland has been charged with the manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance. And, since the vehicle was used during the commission of a felony, the Sheriff’s Office will request that a seizure of that vehicle be filed through the District Attorney’s Office. Continue reading Man Busted for Drugs in Henderson County

AUSTIN – Norbord Jefferson OSB has partnered with Texas State Technical College in Marshall to provide job training using a $223,939 Skills Development Fund grant from the Texas Workforce Commission. The money will benefit workers in the Workforce Solutions East Texas area. The funds will be used to provide customized training to 93 new and incumbent workers for industry-related topics. The instruction will be focused on pump repair, rigging, coupling alignment and hydraulics. Trainees will include electrical engineers, maintenance technicians and production supervisors. Upon completion of training, the workers will receive an average wage of $22.27.

AUSTIN – A commemorative ornament from Tyler Junior College can now be found on the Texas House of Representatives Christmas tree in Austin, thanks to a creative student. Molly Mosby, a freshman Apache Belle from Rockwall, created the ornament which was hung on the tree in the State Capitol building by Tyler State Representative Matt Schaefer. Her design for the ornament incorporated the Belles and Band’s 70th anniversary logo, the school’s black and gold colors, and feathers for TJC’s Apache mascot. She also used roses, representing the city of Tyler. The ornament can be seen on the 23-foot, Texas-grown Christmas tree that will stand in the House Chamber Through January 2nd.

MARSHALL – East Texas Baptist University in Marshall has entered into its 9th articulation agreement with area schools. The latest is with Angelina College. The agreement was signed Thursday morning by ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn and AC President Michael J. Simon. It will provide an affordable avenue for AC students to pursue a quality, Christian education at East Texas Baptist. The agreement will enable a smooth transition through the admissions and enrollment process. It also guarantees a successful transfer of approved credit hours to ETBU from AC for transferring students. Continue reading ETBU and Angelina College Join Forces

TYLER – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler has been named a Top General Hospital for the second time in four years. The Top Hospital designation is awarded by The Leapfrog Group, an independent hospital watchdog organization. To qualify for the award, hospitals must submit a Leapfrog Hospital Survey. The selection of Top Hospitals 2017 is based on surveys from nearly 1,900 hospitals. Performance across many areas of hospital care is considered in establishing the qualifications for the award, including infection rates, maternity care, and the hospital’s capacity to prevent medication errors.

PRICE — East Texas high school administrators say they’re doing everything they can to find out why several girls have started having regular seizures on campus. KETK reports Carlisle ISD Superintendent Mike Payne is perplexed. Five of his high school students began having seizures about a month ago, and now the episodes are happening more and more frequently. Two traits connect them all: the students are girls and are involved in high school athletics. The seizures have happened in the classroom, at pep rallies, and even during a basketball game.

GREGG COUNTY — An East Texas gang member has been sentenced to 11 years behind bars on a deadly conduct charge. According to KETK, Otto Estell, of Longview, was sentenced Monday to 10 years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and one year in State Jail. He’s a TYB gang member. The case stems from an October 10, 2016, incident in which Longview police responded to a shots fired call. Police at the scene located two people who matched the suspect’s description, however, the suspects were able to get away. No on was hurt inside the home where shots were fired. Police recovered the weapons used in the shooting and later arrested Estell at Good Shepherd Medical Center after receiving a report of an individual admitted with a gunshot wound to the buttocks. Estell will serve half of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

GLADEWATER – Gladewater police have arrested a woman in the robbery of a 75 year old woman. The robbery occurred in the woman’s home on West Gray Avenue shortly after 10:15 Wednesday morning. She told officers a woman entered her home with a knife and demanded money. She left with an undisclosed amount of money. Gladewater Police detectives later got a warrant for Lasandra Ann Peoples, 39 of Gladewater, and arrested her without incident around 5:15 Wednesday afternoon. She has been charged with aggravated robbery.

PITTSBURG – A Longview man has pleaded guilty to a Camp County murder. After pleading guilty in state district court in Pittsburg Wednesday, Jaylon Lamar Jones, 24, was sentenced to life in prison. He is accused of shooting three persons during a robbery in Pittsburg in June of 2015. It occurred at a residence on North Greer Boulevard. Two of the persons, Traderrion Crowder, 24, of Pittsburg, and Keelean Walker, 22, of Longview , died in the shooting and a third person was wounded. After a warrant was issued for Jones, he turned himself in to authorities.

AUSTIN – Sales tax allocation checks are in the mail from the State of Texas. Both Tyler and Longview will be getting a little more than they did last year. The state comptroller’s office is sending out just over $695 million in local sales tax allocations for December. This is up nearly 11% from December of last year. The funds are based upon sales made in October. Tyler’s sales tax allocation for December is over $3.1 million, or nearly 5 1/2 percent above last December. For the year, Tyler has received over $40 million, and increase of over 3 1/2%. Longview’s December check is for $2.2 million, an over 10% increase from last year. For the year’s Longview’s sales tax allocation is over $29.6 million, an increase of about half a percentage point.

TYLER – With just over two weeks to go, the Salvation Army in Tyler is under half way toward this years goal on its Red Kettle Drive. So far, the Salvation Army has been has been able to raise 27% of this year’s goal. But, with time running out, they still have a way to got to reach this year’s goal of $375,000 in Smith County. The funds are used in many ways. During last year’s Christmas holidays alone, The Salvation Army assisted 3,976 people, gave 13,182 gifts and 1,088 Christmas food boxes to families in need. And this is just a sample of what the Salvation Army does for those in need of hope. Donations can be given at any Red Kettle, online at http://www.salvationarmytyler.org or by texting jingle to 41444.

TYLER – The CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Ross Breast Center has announced it is now the first health care organization in Northeast Texas offering patients the Hologic® 3D Mammography System and the Genius® 3D Mammography Exam. The equipment gives providers the ability to detect up to 65%more invasive breast cancer. Conventional 2D mammograms provide doctors with a 2D image to evaluate the breast. This can be limiting due to overlapping layers of tissue, which can sometimes produce unclear results or false alarms. Genius exams deliver a series of detailed breast images, allowing physicians to better evaluate patients’ breasts layer by layer. According to the hospital, studies show that the Genius 3D Mammography exam has greater accuracy than 2D mammography for women across a variety of ages and breast densities, and it is the only mammogram FDA-approved as superior for women with dense breasts.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been arrested on numerous drug charges. Michael Jermaine Roberson, 25, of Longview was held Tuesday on bonds totaling $108,500, according to the Longview News-Journal. Officers arrested Roberson after watching him as he repeatedly left his apartment to meet with people in their vehicles. Roberson was said to be in possession of heroin, cocaine, marijuana, Xanax, digital scales and a coffee grinder with heroin residue. He was charged with three counts of manufacturing or delivering, possession of a dangerous drug and possession of a controlled substance. Roberson was also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and evading arrest. Roberson attempted to outrun officers when they tried to arrest him during a traffic stop.

GILMER – A Kilgore man has waived his right to a jury trial for an Upshur County murder. The Court will now proceed in January with the case against Xavier Mumphrey, 19. He is one of four defendants charged in the murder of Kendrick Lemichael Jackson, 29. He was found shot to death in his home in the Lafayette community of Upshur County. A co-defendant, Decorian Quantez Robbins, 19, of Avinger, is scheduled for jury selection on January 8.

TYLER — A body found in Tyler last Friday has been positively identified. Tyler police say the body found off Shiloh Road is that of Brandon Harward, 32. They also say the preliminary autopsy showed no signs of foul play. Harward had been missing since October 23rd. Family and friends of Harward held a candlelight vigil Tuesday evening at Arbor Creek Apartments on Shiloh Road.

GILMER – An Upshur County woman has received a stiff prison sentence for drug possession. Kristal Lynne Bragg, 43, of Gilmer, Texas, pleded guilty to the second degree felony of possession of a controlled substance. The offense occurred in June of this year. Bragg was sentenced to 20 years in prison. As a condition of the plea, she waived her right to appeal.

TYLER – Smith County Commissioners learned about the community of New Chapel Hill during Tuesday’s commissioners’ court session. The presentation came from Mayor Riley Harris, who has served his city for the last 10 years. Except for a few years living in Winona, Harris has lived in New Chapel Hill his entire life. The city of New Chapel Hill formed in 1969, but there was a school there long before that time. It was a farming community, where people raised peanuts, cotton and tomatoes. According to Harris, the city has “very little business,” brings in little income and has little growth. “I think that’s kind of the way the city likes it,” he said. “It’s been that way all of my life.” Continue reading New Chapel Hill Highlighted Before County Commissioners

LONGVIEW – Two persons will be on the ballot early next year for the special election for the Longview City Council. The district 3 position has been vacated by Kasha Williams who has announced she is running for the Gregg County Commissioner Precinct 4 position. The filing deadline for the city race ended on Monday for the February 3rd election. Filing for the city post is Lonnie Murphy, who is retired and Wray Wade, a business owner. They are scheduled to draw for positions on the ballot Thursday morning. Early voting in the election is at city hall starting on January 17th.

TYLER – Final exams on paper are one way to find out what a student knows. But the final exam for the Criminalistics II course at Tyler Junior College took a different form. TJC’s Pirtle Technology Center was transformed into a mock crime scene for the student’s final exam. The scene was secured with crime scene tape. It included empty alcohol containers, fired bullet casings, stage-prop-style weapons, imitation blood stains, and a crime scene dummy that simulated a body. There was also a dirt area outside with shoe impressions. Next semester, many of these students will continue their criminal justice education with a more intense class in the associate degree program. Continue reading A Crime Scene at TJC That was Not a Crime Scene

TYLER – One of two armed robbery suspects sought by Tyler police, who have been described as armed and dangerous, has been arrested. Tyler police and the US Marshals Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force arrested Devonte Antoinne Black, 23, of Tyler. He was arrested Monday on Rice Road for aggravated robbery. When arrested, he was in possession of marijuana. Officers are still looking for Dikembi Spencer, 18, of Tyler. They are wanted for a November 14th armed robbery at the Fox Run Apartments. They are said to have stolen A pound of marijuana along with a firearm.

EUSTACE – Henderson County authorities have arrested a woman outside a game room on drug charges. Sarah Jo Donaldson, 45,of Eustace, was arrested around 3:45 Tuesday morning near County Road 2830 and State Highway 198. A deputy detected the order of burning marijuana coming from her vehicle. Inside the vehicle they found a small quantity of suspected methamphetamine and marijuana along with paraphernalia commonly used to smoke it. She was booked into the Henderson County Detention Center for possession of a controlled substance.