KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – Reports of gunshots sent Tyler police to the Best Buy parking lot on South Broadway around 2:30 Wednesday afternoon. There was damage to two vehicles, but it is unknown if it was from the gunshots at this time. Witnesses report seeing what appeared to be a tan SUV, possibly a Lincoln SUV leaving the scene. Officers saw a tan Lincoln Navigator, with four persons, traveling north on Copeland Road from Rieck Road. When officers stopped it, they arrested the driver and a passenger for unlawfully carrying a weapon and possession of marijuana. The other passengers were released. Investigators are still trying to determine if they were involved in the shooting.

MARSHALL – Work is underway to repair a broken water main in Marshall. The water main is at the intersection of Rosborough Springs and West Meredith. A gas main that was not marked was damaged during excavation. The intersection of Rosborough Springs and West Meredith is blocked off. Also Rosborough Springs from Georgetown to West Emory is blocked as well while Centerpoint Energy makes repairs to a gas line. Officials say the water main could be repaired sometime today. Until then, residents in this area may experience low to no water pressure.

LONGVIEW – The importance of smoke detectors has been pointed out by a Longview fire. The fire was reported on Monday on Kennedy Trail. It was started when an unattended candle ignited the window curtain. No injuries were reported, thanks to a smoke detector. A woman was asleep in a back room when she was awakened by a smoke detector. Longview fire officials say it is important to have a working smoke detector in each bedroom and adjacent hallway. If you can’t afford one, contact the Longview Fire Marshal’s office to see if you qualify for a free one.

SMITH COUNTY — As witnessed in Flordia, acts of violence continue to affect our lives. Are you prepared? Sheriff Larry Smith and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Smith County Young Republicans and Lone Star Church, are presenting a free active shooter training for the public. The training is Thursday night at 6:00pm, at Lone Star Church, 604 West 4th Street in Tyler. Continue reading Active Shooter Training in Tyler

ATHENS – Texas Parks and Wildlife Department inland fisheries staff found under an acre of invasive giant salvinia in Lake Athens. It was found Monday in various locations near the Lake Athens Marina boat ramp. The next day a containment boom was deployed from just west of the boat ramp across the cove to the Athens Municipal Water Authority office. The proximity of the Lake Athens’ infestation to the boat ramp leads biologists to believe giant salvinia was introduced by a boater or angler carrying the invasive species on their boat or equipment. Continue reading Giant Salvinia Found at Lake Athens

TYLER – A Palestine gaming room has been raided and two persons were arrested. Palestine officers raided the Win City gaming room on Highway 155 North. Undercover investigators from several agencies visited the gaming room and collected evidence leading to Wednesday’s raid. A total of 59 gaming machines used in the operation and more than $5,000 were seized during the raid. The owner of the gaming room was not present at the time of the raid. Two Palestine residents were arrested on non-related drug charges. Juan Manuel Vega, 34, and Viri Fernandez, 21, were charged with possession of a controlled substance. Fernandez was also charged with possession of marijuana.

TYLER — The filing deadline has passed, and there are only two contested races on the May local election ballot in Tyler. Martin Heines, seeking a third and final term as mayor, will be challenged by Joel Rando for the third time. Broderick McGee faces Beverly Beavers-Brooks for the District 2 seat on the city council. Current District 2 councilmember Darryl Bowdre will step down in May due to term limits. Continue reading Only Two Contested Races on May Ballot in Tyler

TYLER — Tyler Police are asking drivers to avoid the intersection of Shiloh and Paluxy following a traffic accident. It happened around 9:00 when a driver, traveling westbound on Shiloh Road, left the roadway and struck a utility pole. The driver was not seriously injured. All east and westbound lanes of Shiloh are closed east of Paluxy. Power outages have been reported in the area.

TYLER – The Tyler Police Department held its Annual Awards Banquet Tuesday night at the Harvey Convention Center. During the ceremony, employees of the Tyler Police Department along with civilians were honored for their actions and service to the City of Tyler.

Named as officer of the year was Garrett Martin. He has been constantly busy. Martin teaches classes at the academy and for Tyler Junior College. According to the presentation, he has been vital in reaching out to the community and has participated in over 30 public relations events in the last year. He routinely speaks to groups about his work and this includes many demonstrations for children and at schools talking about what a police officer does. He is always willing to alter his work hours to reduce overtime costs but this officer is always a call away and ready to be sent out with his K9 partner. Continue reading Officers and Civilians Honored in Tyler

TYLER – The annual Chick-fil-A Soup Drive has been a success. Because of the drive 6,034 bowls of soup are on the way to The Salvation Army in Tyler. Chick-fil-A operators Jeff Johnston and Ikey Eason presented the donation to The Salvation Army Tuesday morning. The soup that was donated was generated from the annual soup drive that was started by the late Ed King over 10 years ago. The drive was held from January 15th to January 31st. It is a big help to the Salvation Army in Tyler, which serves 12,000 meals a month.

LONGVIEW – A search warrant has led to a drug arrest in Longview. Arrested was Vandoil Artez Williams, 37, of Longview. He has been charged with four counts of the manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and theft of a firearm. He also had one outstanding Class C misdemeanor warrant. His bonds total $412,500. The warrant was served Monday at a home on Tammy Lynn Drive in north Longview. During the search of the residence officers found a large quantity of marijuana, Xanax, cocaine, ecstasy, and Tramadol. They also located two pistols, one of which was reported stolen in Longview in December, 2016.

TYLER – A Tarrant County man has been charged in a fatal Smith County accident. Arrested Saturday was Gilberto Gomez, 26, of Saginaw. He has been charged with three counts of intoxication manslaughter in connection with the February 12th wreck that killed three persons. It happened on State Highway 110, 8 miles west of Lindale. The Department of Public Safety reports the truck, driven by Gomez, was heading south when it crossed over the double yellow lines and hit a northbound car. Two Lindale residents in the car were killed as was an unidentified passenger in the Gomez vehicle. Gomez remains in the Smith County Jail under bonds totaling $2,250,000.

TYLER — Tyler ISD trustees Monday voted to make some changes to the district’s middle schools, including attendance zones — and moved forward with changes in high school attendance zones. The district says the middle school redesign is the kick start for its new Pathfinder Program. KETK reports three different learning models are being offered: comprehensive or traditional, choice, and innovation. Assistant Superintendent Rawly Sanchez says, “It really provides an opportunity for parents and children to really seek within themselves that inner kid and that intelligence that they have, which varies within our school district.” Students will be able to choose unique electives that fit their passions. For example, Caldwell Arts Academy will become a K through 8 magnet campus. Continue reading Big Changes Coming in Tyler ISD

TYLER – Tyler Police have located Aviona Sowells at 11:50 in the complex of 2911 Shiloh Road. She was located safe and returned to her family. Additional details were not available. According to her grandmother, Sowells, 11, was last seen around 7:15 Monday night at The Park at Shiloh Apartments on Shiloh Road. She had taken out the trash and did not returned to the apartment.

TROUP – The Troup school system and former athletic director and head coach Dennis Alexander have reached a settlement on a suit Alexander had filed. He filed the suit last November, seeking $1.6 million and reinstatement to his former job. He was fired by the school system in March, 2016. He was fired following allegation that he struck a student. Alexander denied the allegation. Alexander told KETK they settled the suit and the school district will pay him $200,000.

TYLER – Five persons have eared the right to be Tyler police officers. At a badge pinning ceremony Monday afternoon, they received their symbol of authority. The five new Tyler police recruits have just graduated from the Tyler Junior College Police Academy. Monday’s ceremony was conducted by Chief Jimmy Toler who give the recruits the oath of office and officially welcomed them as new Tyler Police Officers. The new officers are Jonathan Stone, Jimmy Johns, Jackson Hug, Alejandra Flowers and Aaron Keathley.

KILGORE – A large explosion rocked the Kilgore area, but, there was noting illegal about it.The explosion occurred shortly after 7:30 Sunday evening. The sound was even heard in Smith County and Western Louisiana. Police dispatchers were flooded with calls about the explosion. The Kilgore police department even posted on their facebook page that it was overwhelmed with calls about the explosion and to please not to call them unless it was an emergency. According to the Rusk County Sheriff’s Department, the explosion was caused by folks in the Lakeport area using Tannerite to blow up a tree stump. Tannerite is the brand name of a patented exploding target used for firearms practice. It is legally purchased at sporting goods stores.

TYLER – Early voting begins Tuesday in the March 6th primary elections. The election will include contested races for U.S. and state representatives, judges, district attorney, district clerk, commissioner and justices of the peace. Most of the contested races will be decided in the primary election. The early voting will run through March 2nd. You can vote at the R.B. Hubbard Facility, next door to the Elections Office on East. Ferguson in Tyler; the Lindale Public Library; the Heritage Building on West Bellwood Road in Tyler; the Whitehouse Municipal Court, and the Noonday Community Center. Continue reading Time for Early Voting in Smith County

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler has announced it would be renaming the College of Business and Technology. It will now be know as the Soules College of Business. The new name is part of an agreement for John Soules Foods to make a major investment supporting the college. The amount of the contribution was not disclosed. But the Chief Communications Officer at U-T Tyler, Lucas Roebuck, told KTBB, the investment will be the largest single private contribution to the university in its history. It will augment the university endowment, providing funds in perpetuity for Soules College of Business student scholarships, business innovation grants and research. Continue reading A Major Contribution to UT Tyler

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in TxDOT’s Tyler District during the Week of Feb. 19. A key ongoing effort in Smith County is the FM 849 Bridge Replacement Project at the I-20 interchange. Expect daytime single lane closures on I-20 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. as work is conducted on the concrete barrier wall and metal beam guard fence. Bridge superstructure work continues as do earthwork on the north and south sides of I-20. You can go to http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/008-2018.html for a full rundown of the coming week’s work around the district.

TYLER — Big changes could be approved Monday night for Tyler ISD’s middle schools and attendance zones. The school board will consider a number of items, including a specialized elementary/middle school with an emphasis on fine arts at Caldwell Fine Arts Academy. Other highlights on the list of suggested changes include districtwide science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) opportunities; middle school/high school feeder alignment; and repurposing of Dogan Middle School. The agenda says realignment of attendance zones is a necessary part of the process. Continue reading TISD Board to Consider Major Middle School Re-Design

KILGORE — The paint shop of General Dynamics in Kilgore was destroyed Saturday evening by a fire that caused crews to re-direct trafic for a time. KETK reports the fire broke around 5:45. The plant is located at Business 259 and Longview Street; both thoroughfares were shut down in the immediate area while teams from the Kilgore Fire Department, Sabine Fire & Rescue, and the Longview Fire Department extinguished the flames. No one was injured, and the cause of the fire wasn’t immediately known.

LONGVIEW – A victim of a domestic disturbance in Longview is now listed in stable condition following surgery. KETK reports the incident left one person dead and the other critically injured. The couple were found Thursday night in a car in the parking lot close to Planet Beach Tan on West Loop 281. Kenneth Jack Jordan (pictured), 54, of Longview was dead at the scene from a gunshot wound. Officers found a severely injured Diana Jordon, 46, of Longview, his wife, in the front seat of the vehicle with a gunshot wound. She underwent the surgery Saturday for what was initially deemed a life threatening injury. It appears as if the man shot his wife and then shot himself. Diana had filed for divorce last month and a protective order was issued against Kenneth on Thursday.

PALESTINE – A Palestine man has been sentenced to 99 years for possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell. KETK reports Darryl Wayne Lewis, 44, was sentenced Friday by an Anderson County jury after his conviction the day before. Lewis was arrested in 2014 after Palestine Police Department officers and a SWAT team executed a “no knock” search warrant at a home occupied by Lewis and his wife, Gina. Once inside the home, officers found methamphetamine pipes, a set of digital scales, a cell phone, and Lewis’ parole ankle monitor station. Officers downloaded the recovered phone and discovered multiple text messages sent by Lewis. Police Sgt. Matt Kerr testified that the texts indicated Lewis was selling methamphetamine. Lewis is a habitual offender. He has been incarcerated 4 times on 6 different felony cases out of Anderson County beginning in 1992.

LONGVIEW – A Gregg County man has been sentenced to 75 years in prison for aggravated sexual assault of a child. KETK reports Cody Miller was sentenced Friday for a June 11, 2014 incident. During cross examination, Miller admitted to sexually assaulting at least eight different child victims of both sexes ranging in age from 4 to 14. Judge Alfonso Charles held Miller in contempt of court for refusing to answer questions regarding Miller’s now approximately 9-year-old-nephew.

KILGORE – Kilgore College’s Mary Hawley was recently named Support Specialist of the Year by the Texas Association of Literacy and Adult Education (TALAE). Hawley, a support specialist for the school’s Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) program since 2010, was recognized at the association’s annual conference earlier this month. This is the second year in a row a KC employee has won the award with Betsy Rodriguez, AEL support specialist, earning the same distinction last year. The KC AEL program offers a full range of free services to help adults improve their lives including ESL, basic literacy skills, exam preparation, GED, Integrated Education/Training and Intensive College Readiness preparation. Day and evening classes are offered at 26 locations.

MARSHALL – East Texas Baptist University has received generous endowment gifts that will be used for scholarships. The school has a received $200,000 from the James A. “Buddy” Davidson Foundation. It will be used to start the James A. “Buddy” Davidson Endowed Ministry Scholarship. The grant is one of the largest foundation grants to ETBU in the last two decades. Another significant endowment gift comes from Johnny Mosley. He contributed $100,000 to launch the Johnny Eugene Mosley Endowed Scholarship. It is designed to help students of strong Christian character and leadership who are in financial need.

TYLER – Ardent Health Services and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler have announced a newly formed 10-hospital health system . It is being created by the purchase of East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System, which will be named UT Health East Texas. The Ut System board of regents approved the partnership at Thursday’s meeting. UT Health East Texas will include the 502-bed East Texas Medical Center in Tyler, UT Health Northeast hospital and clinics, and the UT Health Northeast MD Anderson Cancer Center. Also included are eight regional hospitals, more than 50 clinic locations and an EMS fleet of more than 45 ambulances and four helicopters. The sale is projected to close March 1. Continue reading A Major Medical Partnership in East Texas

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Staff/AP) — President Donald Trump Friday signed Kari’s Law, a bill named after an East Texas woman and filed by Rep. Louie Gohmert of Tyler. Introduced first in 2015, Kari’s Law of 2017 will ensure anyone who dials 911 can reach emergency personnel even if the phone typically requires the user to dial a prefix such as “9” or “7” to reach an outside line. The bill is named in memory of Kari Hunt Dunn, who was fatally stabbed in December 2013 by her estranged husband in a Marshall hotel room. The couple’s 9-year-old daughter tried to dial 911 four times during the struggle, but was unsuccessful because she didn’t realize she had to first dial an access number or an extra “9” to get an outside line. Continue reading President Trump Signs Kari’s Law