KTBB News, Weather, Talk

KILGORE — Two men are being sought for a home invasion that took place on Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, the 2 male suspects are identified as Jaylen Marcel Reese, 18, and Ajailion Shequan McFarland, 17. Kilgore Police say they are believed to be “armed and dangerous.” The Kilgore police say if you come in contact with the men, do not approach them, but instead contact authorities. Continue reading Kilgore PD Search for 2 Wanted in Home Invasion

TYLER — The City of Tyler Solid Waste Department and Keep Tyler Beautiful will provide 2 locations for Christmas tree and wreath recycling in Tyler beginning the day after Christmas. Residents can bring non-decorated, non-flocked, natural Christmas trees and wreaths starting on Dec. 26 through Jan. 19. There will be allocated areas at Golden Road Park and Fun Forest Park in Tyler. Golden Road Park is located on McDonald Rd. and Fun Forest Park is on N Forest Ave. All lights, ornaments, garland and tinsel should be removed from the Christmas trees and wreaths before drop off. Continue reading Christmas Tree Recycling to Run Dec. 26 -Jan. 19

KILGORE –Workforce Solutions East Texas has received a Texas Rising Star Child Care Award. On Monday Lindsey Vanderbilt told KTBB that the WSET was recognized as one of the top 3 centers in the state. “Our goal is to provide a first class workforce for all of the local businesses and the future businesses that come to East Texas and what they are looking for and what they need.” Along with the acknowledgment comes a $75 thousand incentive grant. Continue reading Texas Rising Star Child Care Award for WSET

RUSK COUNTY — The Texas Department of Public Safety is issuing an advisory in the wake of a fatal accident in Rusk County. Authorities say the two-vehicle crash Saturday evening on SL-571, 2.5 miles south of Henderson, was caused by a driver who had apparently fallen asleep at the wheel. The preliminary report indicates that Marshall Lee Tucker, 50, of Longview was traveling north when he fell asleep, traveled across the roadway, and struck a vehicle driven by Antonio Garcia, 62, of Henderson. Garcia was killed in the wreck. Tucker and a passenger in his vehicle were both taken to UT-Health–Tyler in serious condition. The crash remains under investigation. The DPS reminds motorists to get plenty of rest, avoid distracted driving, and buckle up everyone in your vehicle.

TYLER — The grit of the West as captured through the lens of renowned photographer Laura Wilson is on display in the Tyler Museum of Art’s newest major exhibition, according to a news release. That Day: Photographs in the American West opened to the public Sunday and runs through March 15 in the Museum’s North Gallery. Taken over a span of more than three decades, the images in That Day explore the places and individuals that have shaped and define one of the nation’s most dynamic regions, according to the release. They include depictions from legendary cattle ranches to six-man football teams. You can go to https://tylermuseum.org for more information.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has approved a $477,000 contract to provide asphalt crack sealing for the streets identified for seal coating and resurfacing in 2020. Asphalt repairs are prioritized according to the pavement condition index scores and staff evaluations of the city’s streets, according to a news release. The crack seal project is scheduled to begin in January and continue through August 2020. Crack seal work is done prior to overlaying or resurfacing a street.

TYLER — The year end rally of St Paul’s Children’s Foundation is seeking to raise $350,000 from the community. On Friday,Patrick Wells told KTBB that St. Paul serves 31 East Texas Counties with 5 areas of focus. “A pediatric medical clinic, a pediatric dental clinic, a food pantry and clothes closet, mental health and wellness, and some additional community partnerships and organizations that we work with in order to provide these services.” You can get more info on St Paul’s Children’s Foundation by clicking the link. https://www.stpaulchildren.org/. Continue reading St. Paul Children’s Foundation Makes Year-End Push

KILGORE — Workforce Solutions East Texas (WSET) has been recognized for outstanding performance with a Texas Rising Star Child Care Award and a coinciding $75,000 performance incentive grant. The honor was handed out at the Texas Workforce Commission’s Annual Texas Workforce Conference in Grapevine. It all means WSET has been designated as one of the top three performing agencies in the State. The East Texas board has been a recipient of the award for each of the three years it has been available. According to a news release, the award honors local boards that have improved the quality of child care through the development of exemplary child care programs. The program honored this year was “Recipes for Early Childhood Quality Education.”

AUSTIN — Tyler and Longview continue to show positive numbers in monthly sales tax allocations from the state. For December, Tyler totaled $3,806,257.47, compared to $3,651,504.92 a year ago. For the year to date, the figure is $45,841,556.15; it was $43,655,209.86 at this time in 2018. Longview’s December figure is $2,795,078.21; a year ago it was $2,648,236.15. For the year to date, Longview has collected $34,436,922.42. Its total for the same period in 2018 was $32,891,679.13. Statewide figures are also up from a year ago in both categories.

TYLER — A memorial service will be held Tuesday for longtime oil and gas executive Bob Herd of Tyler, also a major local philanthropist, who has died at 91. According to the Stewart Family Funeral Home website, the graduate of Mesquite High School and Texas Tech started his career in Athens. He moved to Tyler in 1965 to start Herd Producing Company, Inc. He eventually owned and operated hundreds of oil and gas wells throughout Louisiana and Texas. Herd and his late wife, Pat, started the Bob L. Herd Foundation in 1994. Among other things, they were responsible for Marvin United Methodist Church’s Herd Worship Center, the Pat Herd Women’s Center at Christus Trinity Mother Frances, and the Herd Family Intensive Care Center at UT Health East Texas.

TYLER — Tyler police seek the public’s help investigating a home burglary. According to a news release, police were called around 11 a.m. Friday regarding a residential burglary in progress on Shenandoah Drive. The homeowner, who was away from the residence, called dispatch to report seeing two unknown males entering the home via the home’s live surveillance system. An officer arrived at the location to find two males leaving the home. One was arrested, but the other left the scene on foot. Luis Angel Baeza, 27, was jailed and charged with burglary of a habitation. Continue reading Tyler Police Investigate Home Burglary

LONGVIEW — Longview High School was evacuated on Friday afternoon after an alleged bomb threat was directed at the campus. According to our news partner KETK, the threat came from a track phone. Administration was immediately notified and bomb threat protocols were put into action while officials made a sweep of Lobo Stadium. Once it was deemed safe, students and staff were moved to the stadium.

TYLER — Card 53 Comedy has been bringing the laughs to Tyler and East Texas for ten years. Jamey Whitley told KTBB that the comedy troupe tries to make guiltless jokes that are above the line. “We call it cleanish in a way to avoid embarrassing our wives, our significant others, our dogs our neighbors, or our places of employment.” The commemorative show starts at 8pm on Saturday night at Liberty Hall in downtown Tyler, and will highlight special videos, interviews, and loads of fun. https://libertytyler.com/events/2019/12/14/card-53-comedys-10th-anniversary

WASHINGTON D.C. — East Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert (TX-01) spoke at press conference after the vote in the House Judiciary Committee on “Articles of Impeachment.” He has told KTBB on numerous occasions he has been dissatisfied with this entire process and was clearly frustrated today. “This is an outrage, it sets the bar for any President of any party for the future to go through 3 years of hell like this President has, it’s really unfortunate, this is a sad day for the country.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaZNnQ8qsJc&feature=youtu.be

TYLER — Tyler City Councilman Criss Sudduth, died Thursday evening after a long illness. According to our news partner KETK, the Representative for District 6, was remembered by his colleagues as a devoted public servant and community leader. “It was my honor and privilege to serve with Criss,” said Mayor Martin Heines.“His strength of character, unwavering optimism and faith inspired our City Council and the entire East Texas community.” Continue reading Tyler Councilman Dies After Lengthy Illness

ATHENS — Funeral services for Kenneth Geeslin, 71, of Athens, are scheduled for December 21. The Henderson County 4 Pct Commissioner died last week. Henderson County Judge Wade McKinney told KTBB that with heavy hearts the county is looking at the next steps for the county. “At this point and time we have our elections administrator and county attorney looking into the direction that we need to take by statute, but as of right now we are waiting on that information to come back and waiting on the appropriate amount of time for this enormous loss.” Continue reading Services Announced for Henderson County Commissioner

SMITH COUNTY — The mother of Madison Williams, the 3-year-old Chapel Hill child who drowned in August, has been indicted. According to our news partner KETK, Tiffany Snyder, 29, was indicted December 5 on two charges, injury to a child and possession of a controlled substance. On August 18, authorities with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office responded to CR 210 between CR 850 and HWY 64 regarding a missing child. After several hours of searching, law enforcement located the body of Madison in a nearby pond on the property. Snyder was arrested that same day. She is being held in the Smith County Jail on bonds totaling $202,500.

AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has annulled the master electrician license of a Quitman resident after he allowed someone else to carry out electrical work using his license number and was not their to supervise the work as state law requires he do. The TDLR said on Thursday the revocation went into effect on Nov. 12. Timothy D. Rike signed an agreed order revoking his license and also declared to pay an administrative penalty of $4,500. Continue reading Quitman Man’s Master Electrician License Revoked

TYLER — On Thursday the University of Texas at Tyler announced that Dr. Prabha Sundaravadivel, assistant professor of electrical engineering, has received a National Science Foundation grant. It will be utilized to promote the advantages of smart healthcare. Smart healthcare is technology that leads to better diagnostic tools, better treatment for patients, and devices that improve quality of life. The three-year grant is for $500,000 and will also help encourage students develop an interest, or further an interest, in healthcare professions.

GREGG COUNTY — A Longview man will face trial next July for the murder of 2 women in Gregg County. According to our news partner KETK, Joseph Wayne Burnette, 42, is accused of murdering Felisha Pearson and a woman known for more than a decade only as “Lavender Doe”. Both cases have been set for July 20th in the 188th District Court in Longview. The court date will be one year to the day since Felisha Pearson was reported missing by her mother. Continue reading East Texan to Stand Trial Next July for 2 Murders in Longview

TYLER — Wednesday evening was a night described by some attendees of New Life Worship Center as “enlightening.” The church on HWY 69 S in Tyler hosted a symposium in the “family life center gymnaisium” that Pastor Rudy Bond told KTBB was ironic because it was all about families being aware of “predators and their strategies. “The symposium was phenomenal, it gave insight on things to do, things not to do.” Continue reading Awareness Symposium Hosted at New Life Worship Center

TYLER — On Wednesday the Tyler City Council approved nearly $1.45 million to pay for finished work and funding for new contracts to maintain the city’s wastewater system. Project work is in the works that would strengthen the sewer lines that cross or run near creeks to help prevent unauthorized discharges of sewage into the environment. Continue reading Council Approves $1.45 Million for Sewer System

TYLER — With the recent ground breaking in it’s rear-view mirror, the Better Business Bureau of Central East Texas is moving full speed ahead. On Thursday the BBB’s President/CEO Mechele Mills told KTBB that weather permitting the new facility should be open by next June. “We are very very excited. What it will mean is that we can conduct more classes, and provide more opportunities for consumers and businesses to learn how to be better at what they do and how to be better consumers as well.” The new location will be at Copeland Point Professional Park in South Tyler.

JACKSONVILLE — The Austin Bank Board of Directors has designated Russ Gideon as the Bank’s President / CEO effective January 1, 2020. Gideon succeeds John P. Williams who is retiring on December 31, 2019 after nearly 3 decades with Austin Bank. The promotion was approved during the December Board of Directors meeting at the Austin Bank corporate office in Jacksonville. Continue reading Austin Bank Names Russ Gideon President / CEO

TYLER — The Tyler Pounds Regional Airport will hold a public meeting at the Aviation Memorial Museum, on Airport Dr. this Thursday at 6 p.m. The gathering will deal with the vision for the future. This will be the first meeting held as part of the Airport Master Plan and will introduce the anticipated needs for the airport over the next 2 decades. Project details will be presented. The public is invited to attend, share and learn about the future of the Tyler Pounds Regional Airport.

TYLER — The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler is hosting 14 public health leaders from 13 different countries on Thursday. UTHSC’s Jake Martin told KTBB on Wednesday the group would be meeting with a goal of improving health care overall. “They are going to visit the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler and visit with our faculty and staff here in our new school of Community and Rural Health, and discuss different health care and specifically world health care disparities with-in their own countries.” This is part of a three-week International Visitor Leadership Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

TYLER — Silas Franks, the Smith County Emergency Serves District 2 employee was arrested last week and charged with child porn possession. On Wednesday our news parnter KETK, said some of the allegedly uploaded pictures included victims as young as 2 years old. In an arrest warrant Franks is said to have uploaded the pornography while on duty for the ESD2. Franks, 25, had been under investigation after Tyler police received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Continue reading According to Warrant ESD2 Employee Uploaded Child Porn while On Duty

HARLETON — Texas Parks and Wildlife is partnering with public school districts across the state to get kids interested in archery. Harleton Superintendent Brian Gray says nearly 180 students in his district participate. Gray says, “It teaches kids focus and responsibility, and it’s a niche for a lotta kids.” Last year more than 2,200 students participated in the state Bullseye Championship Tournament.

TYLER — An in-depth investigative study by Better Business Bureau finds fraud is widespread in the online rental home and vacation rental market. The study shows almost 1 in 2 online shoppers encountering a fake listing and more than 5 million consumers losing funds to scams. The investigative study, notes that 85% of clientale encountering fake rental listings do not fall for them. However, these figures suggest that the volume of rental scams lurking on the internet is staggering. Read the full study by clicking the link. https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21033-bbb-investigation-rental-scams

HENDERSON COUNTY — The Athens ISD bus driver from January’s deadly crash that killed one student was back in court on Wednesday for another status hearing. According to our news partner KETK, the first pretrial hearing for the case has been set for February 5 in the 392nd District Court in Athens. John Stevens, 79, is charged with criminally negligent homicide and injury to a child after the bus he was driving collided with a Union Pacific train in Athens January 25. The collision killed 13-year-old Christopher Bonilla after he was ejected from the bus and severely injured 9-year-old Joselyne Torres. Stevens was also injured in the collision. Continue reading First Pre-Trial Hearing Set for Athens ISD Bus Driver