KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – A one vehicle accident two miles north of Tyler has killed one person. The wreck occurred shortly before 11:15 Monday night on County Road 4114. Dead at the scene was Gregory McKeehan, 35, of Lindale. According to the Department of Public Safety, McKeehan’s pickup was heading west when it left the road, hit a tree, and overturned.

LONGVIEW – A burglar alarm has led to the arrest of two Longview burglary suspects. The burglar alarm went off just before 2:00 Monday morning at a business on West Loop 281. The suspects were gone when police arrived. Their vehicle was found a short time later. In the vehicle officers found narcotics, guns and stolen property. Arrested were Haden Brant Satterwhite, 19, of Longview (pictured) and Shawn Wesley Maynard, 19, of Bryant, Arkansas. Continue reading Longview Police Arrest Burglary Suspects

TYLER – The plant manager at the Trane plant in Tyler,Ted Crabtree, has received an award. Trane’s parent company, Ingersoll Rand, has presented Crabtree with a Leadership Award. It was presented at the company’s global Integrated Supply Chain Conference. He was selected from among hundreds of Integrated Supply Chain leaders worldwide to receive the award. According to a company news release, the award recognizes Crabtree as a servant leader who exemplifies the key company’s values, including: integrity, respect, teamwork, innovation and courage.

WHITEHOUSE – Whitehouse High School Band Director Denny Whitley will be honored this summer. Whitley is a recipient of a 2016 Meritorious Achievement Award from the Texas Bandmasters Association. The award, which was first presented 16 years ago, honors those who exemplify the qualities of a perfect band director. Whitley has been the Whitehouse High School Band Director for the past 27 years. Previously he was band director at Clarksville High School for 13 years. Whitley will receive his award next month in San Antonio at the association’s annual convention.

BELTON (AP) – A former East Texas law enforcement officer has been convicted of capital murder in the 2014 fatal shooting of Little River-Academy police Chief Lee Dixon. David Gene Risner faces the death penalty or life in prison without parole for the slaying as Dixon responded to a report of a man with a gun. A Bell County jury on Monday convicted Risner in the June 2014 death of the only police officer in Little River-Academy, a town of about 2,000 located 60 miles northeast of Austin. The penalty phase was scheduled Tuesday in Belton. Law enforcement records show Risner formerly was a police officer in Edgewood, Gun Barrel City, and Grand Saline. He also worked for the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office.

TYLER — A truck driver has been killed in in a Tyler wreck involving two 18-wheelers. The wreck occurred shortly before 5:00 Tuesday morning on Highway 31 West near Spur 364. Killed was Steven Wayne Richter, 55, of Oglesby, Texas. The other driver was not injured. Tyler police report they have determined the tractor trailer driven by the person who was not injured was originally heading eastbound on Highway 31 west and made a U-turn to head back westbound when the two vehicles collided. Following the crash, Richter’s truck caught fire. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident remains under investigation.

TYLER – A suspect arrested Monday in a Tyler robbery has been charged in a second one. Arrested Monday near Lake Palestine was Wesley Devoughn Hall, 20, of Tyler. He was first charged with the May 11th robbery of the Dollar General Store at 303 West Gentry Parkway. Tuesday, a second warrant for Hall charged him with the April 9th robbery of the Family Dollar store at 1204 West Bow Street. No injuries were reported in either robbery. He remains in the Smith County Jail. His bonds total $500,000.

LONGVIEW — Longview Police are investigating a report of shots fired. According to police, around 3:30 Monday afternoon, officials responded to a house at the intersection of Scenic Drive and Spring Street. No victims were found at the location, however, authorities were notified of a male at a local emergency room with a gunshot wound. Police did confirm that the victim at the hospital, Victor Jessie, 21, was in fact connected to the shooting on Spring Street. According to KETK, Jessie suffered life-threatening injuries. No arrests have been made and police said witnesses were not cooperating with investigators.

CARTHAGE – A Gregg County man has pleaded guilty in connection to a fatal accident last year. Cody Ryan Bright, 32, of White Oak pleaded guilty Monday in state district court in Carthage to three counts of criminally negligent homicide. Bright was responsible for an accident South of Carthage in April of last year. The wreck killed a 33 year old woman, who was six months pregnant and her 11 year old daughter. Bright was sentenced to 2 years in prison on each charge, which will run consecutively for a total sentence of 6 years in prison. Under state law, that is the maximum sentence.

TYLER — For three days starting Tuesday, state troopers around Texas will be taking part in Roadcheck 2016. It’s an enforcement effort that will be taking place across North America. State trooper Jean Dark of Tyler says the object of the intensified commercial vehicle inspections is to increase motor carrier, vehicle, driver and cargo safety and security. The DPS will be looking for commercial vehicles, including buses, with serious equipment violations and drivers out of compliance with state and federal requirements. Continue reading Road Check 2016 Starts Today

TYLER – A suspect has been arrested in Tyler robbery last month. Wesley Devoughn Hall, 20, of Tyler was arrested Monday by the United States Marshal Service Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force. A Crimestoppers tip led officers to the suspect near Lake Palestine. He was wanted in the May 11th robbery of the Dollar General Store on West Gentry Parkway. He was named a suspect the da yafter the robbery. His bond was set at $250,000.

UPSHUR COUNTY — 19-year-old Haley Johnson (pictured) of Big Sandy has died in a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 154, six miles west of Gilmer. The accident also injured four others, at least one critically. According to DPS Trooper Jean Dark, preliminary investigation revealed that a Kia Soul was traveling west and a Chevrolet 1500 was traveling east in the westbound lane Friday night. The driver of the Kia veered left to avoid a collision, at which time the Chevrolet veered right, and the vehicles struck. Continue reading Teen Dead, Four Injured in Upshur County Wreck

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in TxDOT’s Tyler district during the Week of June 6. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.

On Monday in Longview, FM 2275/George Richey Road will be closed beginning at SH 300/Gilmer Road going east to the Spring Hill High School entrance for construction. This location will remain closed to traffic throughout the summer. Spring Hill High School traffic should use Spring Hill Road for access. Longview motorists can also expect brief delays Monday on FM 2087 at the Sabine River Bridge as work is conducted. Expect southbound to be closed with the northbound lane carrying two-way traffic. Flaggers will provide traffic control. Continue reading TxDOT’s Weekly Roadwork Update

LONGVIEW — The line of mourners stretched out of Trinity Episcopal Church, down to Padon Street, and around the block. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report they had come Saturday to pay their respects to Ron Horaney, the Longview businessman shot and killed Monday night at his home. Horaney, 54, was co-owner of the longtime Horaney’s Feed Store with his mother, Betty Horaney. His impact on the Longview community, including much of his charitable work, was the focus of the people gathered Saturday afternoon. Continue reading Mourners Remember Horaney’s Legacy

ANDERSON COUNTY — Anderson County game wardens say the body of a 36-year-old Jacksonville man was found in the Neches River behind Lake Palestine spillway. KETK reports the victim, Israel Rincon, was trying to help children Saturday night around 7:00. According to game wardens, some children were playing in the water. One or more got into distress. Adults jumped in to try and help the children. Rincon went under and was missing before a crew found his body. There were no other injuries.

TYLER — The work of three regional artists working in an unconventional medium is the spotlight of the Tyler Museum of Art’s newest major exhibition, according to a museum news release. “Pieced Together: Collages by Lance Letscher, Mark Lewis & Mary McCleary,” opens today and continues through Sept. 18. Admission is free. The exhibition features close to 30 works exploring the technique of collage, drawing inspiration from a vast array of thoughts and feelings, people, and places, according to the release. The display was organized by the TMA and curated by the museum’s Caleb Bell. You can call (903) 595-1001 or visit http://www.tylermuseum.org for more information about the exhibit or the museum.

LONGVIEW — Fourth Street in Longview will be closed between Highway 80 and Jefferson Street from June 5 through June 6 and June 12 through June 13 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Officials say the closure will allow for street repairs with asphalt overlay on Fourth Street. Drivers wishing to travel between Jefferson Street and Highway 80 should use alternate routes along Third or Sixth Street. The purpose of the project is to replace deteriorated asphalt and overlay. The project is being constructed by Reynolds and Kay of Tyler. If you have any questions related to construction, call the city’s project manager, Kevin Chumbley, at 903-237-1112.

TYLER – Officials with UT Health Northeast announced that Tyler philanthropists Joseph Z. and Louise H. Ornelas will be the recipients of the 2016 Galaxy Award during a dinner and ceremony September 13 at Green Acres Baptist Church CrossWalk Conference Center. In a statement, UT Health Northeast President Dr. Kirk A. Calhoun cited “the numerous heartfelt gifts” given to multiple entities by the honorees. Calhoun added that their contributions to UT Health Northeast “have been key to expansion on many areas of our campus.” UT Health Northeast Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Chief Development Officer Derrith Bondurant said that the Galaxy Award was created both to spotlight “stars” of philanthropy and to raise scholarship funds for students in healthcare and research. Continue reading UT Health Northeast Announces 2016 Galaxy Award Recipients

HENDERSON – The Rusk County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a man named in several warrants.They are looking for 35 year old Felipe Villanueva. The warrants for his arrest are for possession of a controlled substance, possession and delivery of a controlled substance, driving with a suspended license and speeding. Investigators say he weighs about 210 pounds and is 5 feet 9 inches tall. You are asked to call the Rusk County Crime Stoppers tip line at 903-655-8477 if you know where he can be located.

LONGVIEW – Funeral services are set today for Longview businessman Ronnie Horaney. He died after being shot at his home north of the city on Memorial Day. Following a 1 p.m. visitation and reception in the Fellowship Hall of Trinity Episcopal Church, services will be held at the church at 2:00. Burial will follow at Rosewood Park Mausoleum. Continue reading Horaney Funeral Services Scheduled

TULSA, OKLAHOMA – A Longview man has been sentenced to prison after pleading in connection with an Oklahoma murder. William Earl Garrett II, 27, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by a state judge in Tulsa. Assistant District Attorney Kevin Gray told the Longview News Journal Garrett pleaded guilty after his charge was modified from first-degree felony murder to accessory to murder. A second suspect in the murder was sentenced last week to life in prison. Two more Longview men have also been charged in the case. No trial date has been sent for James Vasco Jones, 43, and Sidney Aaron Randall, 20.

TYLER – Tyler non-profit agency People Attempting to Help, also know as PATH, has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. It’s the country’s largest independent charity evaluator. PATH Executive Director Greg Grubb says the award verifies the work they are doing and validates their efforts to do good work and to do it in a way that uses their resources wisely so they don’t waste a lot of money and they are very transparent about it. Grubb said, “It’s important that our donors trust that we are being a good steward of all the gifts that we receive.” He said the 4 star rating demonstrates to the agency’s supporters that they take this very seriously.

TYLER – A Professor of biology at the University of Texas at Tyler since 1979, Dr. Neil Ford, has received the 2016 Donald W. Tinkle Research Excellence Award. It’s from the Southwestern Association of Naturalists. The award is presented each year to a scientist who, in the past 10 years, has made a significant contribution to the knowledge and understanding of the animal and plant life of the southwestern United States, Mexico and Central America. This is done through scientific articles and books. At U-T Tyler, Ford conducts research into behavior, life history and ecology of snakes and lizards as well as the community ecology of freshwater mussels. Ford will be recognized at the association’s annual meeting next year in Lawton, Oklahoma

LONGVIEW — An elderly woman has died from injuries received in a Longview wreck. Killed was Anna Elder, 82, of Longview. She died Thursday afternoon at Longview Regional Medical Center. The wreck occurred around 3:00pm on West Marshall Avenue. Longview police report her vehicle collided with the rear of a tractor-trailer rig that was making a right turn.Chris Murphy, 51, the truck’s driver, was not injured.

PALESTINE – Palestine Police are no longer investigating a possible kidnapping. According to a police news release, around 2:00 this morning, both Natalie Pipkin and Christopher Calhoun were located in Pipkin’s 1999 Honda Accord near Pearland. An officer with the Pearland Police Department interviewed both Pipkin and Calhoun separately and determined Pipkin was not taken against her will. The Palestine Police Department has determined Pipkin is not considered missing-endangered and has cleared the case. Officers received a call from the family of Natalie Pipkin, 37, who did not pick up her 6-month-old child Thursday night. After several attempts, the family reached Pipkin who said she was traveling with her ex-boyfriend, Christopher Calhoun, 28, Palestine, to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Calhoun, who has been arrested for aggravated kidnapping in 2015, was considered to be dangerous.