KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Through May 14th, an amnesty program is underway at the Tyler Public Library. It’s an effort to get past due books and materials returned. Currently, $640,228.10 is owed to the library in delinquent fines and lost materials dating back over a dozen years. Past due items include books, audio books, DVDs and Kindles. During the first two weeks of May, persons who have overdue materials can return them and receive amnesty on the late fees. Library Circulation Supervisor Ashley Taylor says once the amnesty period is over, Unique Management Services, Inc.has been retained to aid in the collection of fines and fees still owed the library.

TROUP — A Union Pacific train has derailed on County Road 2153, next to Anthony Chip Mill in Troup. According to KETK, Union Pacific Railroad authorities said the train hit a washout spot Sunday morning around 8:00. Seventeen cars carrying cargo containers were derailed. No hazardous material was involved. Union Pacific is working to get access to the area. No injuries have been reported.

EAST TEXAS — Significant damage was reported in the Lindale area following a possible tornado touchdown. Several injuries were reported from Friday nights storms. According to KETK, ETMC has released the following statement: “ETMC EMS transported two victims from last night’s storms near Lindale. One was a child with a traumatic injury who was transported to Trinity Mother Frances Hospital. The other was an adult who was trapped in an a house and taken to ETMC Tyler. Both were from different locations outside of the city limits of Lindale and both were non-life threatening injuries.” Continue reading Disaster Declaration Issued for Smith County

SMITH COUNTY — About 20 Smith County Road and Bridge employees worked throughout the night, responding to reports of 32 roads throughout the county that had downed trees, were unpassable because of water over the road or were washed out. All available Road and Bridge employees were asked to report to the yard at about 8:45 p.m. Friday, April 29, and those who worked throughout the night, returned to their homes around 8 a.m. Saturday. Of the 32 roads they reported to, 21 had trees over the road, while the others had high water and/or water damage. Continue reading East Texas Road Closures

UPSHUR COUNTY — A suspected tornado has left a trail of destruction in a rural area of East Texas. Upshur County sheriff’s dispatcher Jeremy Henderson says 15 to 20 homes have been reported damaged or destroyed in a rural area near Big Sandy. There were no immediate reports of injuries from the storm, which struck the area shortly before 6:30 p.m. Friday. The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office reports multiple trees down on FM 1002 in Big Sandy all the way to Highway 154 at the Upshur/Wood County line. Deputies stated drivers should keep off the road in this area, due to live downed power lines and flooding. No injuries have been reported. In Wood County, the National Weather Service reports at least one home was damaged in the area of FM 14 and FM 2869.

SMITH COUNTY — Significant damage has been reported in the Lindale area following a tornado touchdown. At least one business received heavy damage. According to KETK, Hibbett Sports on Main Street was destroyed. Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith says several injuries have been reported, but fallen tree limbs and power lines are slowing first responders from reaching some areas. A trained storm spotter saw a tornado near Lindale shortly before 6 p.m. Friday. Smith County Judge Joel Baker issued a disaster declaration late Friday night. A press conference will be held at the central fire station at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

LUFKIN — The Angelina County grand jury has indicted a Lufkin man involved in a fatal accident last summer. The panel has indicted Daniel Lee Martin, 29. He was indicted on intoxication manslaughter and intoxicated assault charges. The July 2015 accident happened on U.S. Highway 69 North near Farm Road 706. The Department of Public Safety said Martin’s SUV crossed the highway, struck a culvert causing the vehicle to overturn, and hit several trees. Two Lufkin brothers were in his vehicle. One was dead at the scene and the other seriously injured and flown to a Tyler hospital for treatment.

LONGVIEW — A former Kilgore coach and teacher has been indicted for an improper relationship with a student. Brian Eugene Bird, 34, of Gladewater, was arrested last November. The Gregg County grand jury has now indicted him on charges of improper relationship between educator and student, indecency with a child and sexual performance by a child. Besides being the boys and girls golf coach and assistant boys basketball coach at Kilgore High School was also a geography teacher. Bird is currently free on bond.

TYLER — Smith County authorities have arrested two suspects, and are looking for a third, in connection with numerous burglaries. Arrested on Wednesday were 27 year old Michael Horton and 19 year old Devin Watts, both of Tyler. They are still looking for a suspect identified as Vincent Williams. (pictured) The suspects were arrested when authorities served two felony arrest warrants at their home on County Road 233 in southeastern Smith County. They were also able to recover items taken from at least fifteen separate Smith County burglaries. The burglaries occurred over a span covering several weeks. Continue reading Suspects Arrested in Smith County Burglaries, One Sought

EAST TEXAS — Infamous East Texas killer Bernie Tiede was resentenced to life in prison one week ago. Now, his lawyers want another sentencing trial. Tiede stole millions from 81 year old Marjorie Nugent in Carthage, then shot her in the back and hid her body in the freezer. Her body was found 9 months later. That was back in 1996. The case was brought to life in the hit movie Bernie. Defense Attorney Mike Degeurin contends the jury was tainted by emotional testimony from Nugent’s son who said Tiede deserved the death penalty. He also says the trial should have been moved out of East Texas due to publicity. Matthew Orwig, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas predicts Tiede’s team will be denied.

SMITH COUNTY — Tyler Police and Firefighters were both called to the scene of an accident near De Charles Street and Curtis Drive Thursday evening. Tyler Police Lieutenant Paul Robeson told KETK, Matthew Dean, 33, Tyler, was driving an SUV when he swerved off the road and crashed into a tree. He suffered minor injuries to his leg and chest. Dean was taken to a hospital for treatment, then is expected to be booked into the Smith County Jail on a charge of DWI. Officers said they were notified by another driver following Dean that he was driving erratically and was possibly under the influence. According to online jail records, Dean has a lengthy criminal history, including several DWIs and assault.

MARSHALL – Two freshman football players at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall have drowned. They are identified as Darrian “D.J.” McClintock, 20, of Spring, Texas and Norvontre “Trey” Harrison, 19, of Shreveport, Louisiana. The drowning occurred around 3:00 Thursday afternoon in a popular swimming area known locally as the “clay pits.” School President Blair Blackburn said at a news conference witnesses say one of the students was having trouble swimming and the other student went to their aid. But both drowned. Their bodies were recovered around 5:30 Thursday afternoon. Continue reading Two ETBU Students Drown

CANTON — An escapee in Van Zandt County is back in custody. Jay Scott McEvers, 46, escaped the Van Zandt County Detention Center around 8:00 Wednesday night. He was jailed on a charge of possession of a firearm by a felon and also has a previous arrest for armed bank robbery. His mother, Carolyn McEvers and his girlfriend Cynthia Heese, were also arrested. McEvers was arrested on Van Zandt County Road 3418 after he believed he was having vehicle trouble with the second vehicle he stole after the escape. Continue reading Officials Capture Escaped East Texas Inmate

LONGVIEW — A Longview woman is free on bond after her arrest following a hit and run accident. Free on a $10,500 bond is Wendy Lee Edney, 40. She was arrested following the Wednesday afternoon accident at the intersection of North Eastman Road and Hawkins Parkway. The Longview News Journal reports the other driver involved in the wreck is said to have followed Edney to her Tryon Road home where authorities arrested her. Police say, not only did the woman have two daughters ages 7 and 11 in her car at the time of the wreck, her blood-alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit.

TYLER — Tyler’s East Texas Medical Center will be an in-network provider for all UnitedHealthcare plans starting May 1st. The president/CEO of ETMC Regional Healthcare System, Elmer Ellis, said they are “very pleased that their plan members can now choose ETMC Tyler for their healthcare needs.” The insurer and hospital system finalized this week new provider agreements.

The Jacksonville police chief, who came under fire for what residents are calling offensive Facebook posts, has resigned. A news release from the city of Jacksonville, released shortly after noon on Thursday, said Chief Reece Daniel’s resignation is effective immediately. Until a replacement is hired, assistant police chief Captain Daniel Franklin will serve as interim police chief. Daniel came under fire for messages he posted on Facebook, calling out politicians and residents. The city attorney’s office had even been investigating to see whether any of the activity occurred on the city’s time. Continue reading Jacksonville’s Police Chief Steps Down

JACKSONVILLE — THE Jacksonville police chief is under fire for what residents are calling offensive Facebook posts. KETK reports Reece Daniel posted messages on his Facebook calling out politicans and residents. He said, “By the way dummies, your name shows up even when you post anonymously.” He was referring to an app called “See-Click-Fix” that allows residents to share concerns about the city. City Attorney Joe Angle says his office is looking into the case. According to Angle, “Things that people say on their own time on their own computers may be things that you or I wish they hadn’t said, but they are entitled to their own freedoms under the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The city attorney’s office is investigating whether any of the activity occurred on the city’s time.

LONGVIEW — Emergency agencies in Longview are looking for a missing teenager. She is 15 year old Tyler Hinton. According to the police department’s Face Book page, she was last seen in Longview on January 18th. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children says she may have traveled to Dallas. She is a black female with brown eyes and black hair. She is 5’5″ tall and weighs around 120 pounds. You are encouraged to contact area law enforcement agencies if you know where she can be found.

TYLER – The East Texas Food Bank this week launched its “More Space. More Meals.” expansion campaign. Executive Director Dennis Cullinane says the effort includes the construction of a new Volunteer and Nutrition Education Center, expanding the Cold Dock area of the warehouse, and renovating some of the existing warehouse areas. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2017. Continue reading Food Bank Launches Expansion Campaign

WOOD COUNTY — An East Texas judge was arrested Thursday morning for driving while intoxicated. According to KETK, Wood County Judge Bryan Jeanes was arrested by the Wood County Sheriff’s Office and his bond was set at $5,000. He was released Thursday morning on a personal recognizance bond. Jeanes was re-elected without opposition in 2014 for a term that expires December 31, 2018.

RUSK — The Athletic Director for the Rusk School District has been arrested. Lloyd Homer Keel II was arrested after his wife filed a complaint against him. She accused Keel of assault her last Friday. It was said to have occurred at the couple’s home in the 400 block of East 5th Street. KETK reports Keel was arrested Wednesday on two warrants for assault family violence. The case against the 40 year old Keel, who began work in Rusk earlier this year, will be forwarded to the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council voted unanimously to accept a letter of intent from Champ Hospitality to continue work to bring a conference center to the Rose City. A conference center would be attached to a privately owned hotel in the city. Champ Hospitality will seek private funding to develop the hotel portion of the project. Mayor Martin Heines said the hotel-conference center is a public-private partnership, with the city primarily funding the conference center and private investment constructing the hotel. The conference center would be located on city-owned property next to the new Village at Cumberland Park retail development at Broadway and Loop 49. Continue reading Work Toward a Tyler Conference Center

DALLAS (AP/Staff) – A Dallas judge has set a $1,500 bond for Tyler native and former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel in his misdemeanor domestic assault case. Manziel’s attorney, Robert Hinton, said Wednesday that the 23-year-old quarterback is expected to turn himself in for booking next week, though no date has been set. The Heisman Trophy winner and former Texas A&M star was indicted by a grand jury this week after his ex-girlfriend alleged he hit her and threatened to kill her during a night out in January. She alleged she was hit so hard that she temporarily lost hearing in one ear. Manziel faces a Class A misdemeanor that carries up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Manziel has been dropped by two agents and his endorsers.

TYLER — A Smith County grand jury has returned a 6-count indictment on 36-year-old Michael Koch following an incident in which he allegedly shot a police dog to death. The indictment lists evading arrest, interference with service animal, felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, and theft. Officials say several of the charges have been enhanced due to his prior criminal record. Koch remains in the Smith County Jail awaiting trial. K9 Ogar was fatally shot following a traffic stop on January 19, after which Koch allegedly fled on foot. Continue reading K9 Shooting Suspect Indicted on Six Counts

TYLER — Members of the Sunrise Rotary Club in Tyler are pleased with progress on the Sunrise Paw Park. KETK reports the park will be the first dog park of its kind in the area. THere will be no need to bring a leash, because there will be plenty of room to run around. Separate fenced-in areas will be available for different sized dogs. The club hopes to be open this summer, but it’s still seeking donations.

EAST TEXAS — Multiple law enforcement officials are searching for the person involved in a multi-county high speed chase Tuesday. KETK reports the chase started in Hunt County and ended in northeast Smith County. The Smith County Sheriff’s office says the driver of a motorcycle, wanted out of Hunt County, had been seen in the area. Officers chased the person on FM 14 but lost the motorcyclist on Interstate 20. Speeds reportedly reached more than 100 miles an hour.

TYLER — Tyler Water Utilities continues to improve drinking water quality, as testing results from ongoing monitoring show, according to a news release from the city. Officials say the latest readings from all eight sampling sites are below the maximum contaminant level threshold of 60 parts per billion (ppb) for haloacetic acids. After customers received notice of the exceedance of haloacetic acids in the drinking water last October, Mayor Martin Heines requested a third party evaluation of Tyler Water Utilities and its water treatment processes. Enprotec/Hibbs &Todd, Inc. (eHT) was hired by the City manager to conduct this review. Continue reading Tyler Officials: Test Results for Water Quality Remain Compliant

TYLER — Tyler Police have announced a medication drop off event Saturday at Brookshire’s on Rice Road from 10:00 a.m. will 2:00 p.m. They will be hosting, along with the Drug Enforcement Agency and Brookshire’s. Officials said anyone interested can just drive-up and drop off your unused and expired medications for safe disposal without getting out of your vehicle, “No questions asked.” The event is free and allows people the opportunity to turn in unused and expired medications. Continue reading Tyler Police Host Medication Drop Off