KTBB News, Weather, Talk

KILGORE – The help wanted sign is out at the Kilgore Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Bureau. Tourism Manager Lexi Bass has resigned, effective April 1st. She has accepted the position of Director of Sales at the Holiday Inn Express North in Longview. Chamber president Cindy Morris said had helped them build the Visit Kilgore program to a new level and she will be greatly missed. The process for hiring a new tourism manager has not been finalized at this time. However, planning is underway and the job posting should be completed by the first of next week.

EAST TEXAS (Staff/AP) — Administrators in East Texas are among those trying to determine whether some students taking an online standardized test lost answers in a computer glitch. KETK reports Tyler, Longview, Lufkin, and Nacogdoches are just some of the districts that experienced problems during the online portion of the STAAR test Tuesday. Representatives with Tyler ISD say they experienced just a simple backlogging issue but that tech officials were able to work through it. Continue reading School Districts Try to Resolve Technical Glitch in STAAR Test

TYLER — Good grades can soon mean more money for students living on campus at Tyler Junior College. According to KETK, residential Life and Housing is rolling out a new trial program to reward students with a GPA of 2.0 or better. They will multiply the GPA by $100, giving students the chance to get up to $400 for a 4.0 GPA. Many students are excited for the opportunity. Some say it will also encourage good behavior. Others think it should not be limited to residential students. The program is launching as a trial phase and will work with students who have already paid tuition to also get them credit.

TYLER — Tyler residents should be aware that there have been reports of a scam in which the caller uses the Tyler Public Library’s name in making a sales pitch. If a citizen receives a call to purchase advertising and references the Library, officials say you should not share any personal, financial, or other sensitive information. The Library is not associated with any company to promote its business in this manner, according to a city news release. Should you receive a call like this, you’re asked to alert the Tyler Police Department immediately at (903) 531-1000.

MARSHALL -The Marshall Police Department is investigating a theft that occurred at Texas State Optical on March 23rd. Four women entered the store and took about $1,200 worth of merchandise. They left in a 2004-2007 beige or gold Chevrolet Malibu. You can go to https://youtu.be/-XTOf3Yveyg and check out the suspects. If you can identify any of them, please contact MPD at 903-935-4575 or if you wish to remain anonymous, call Marshall/Harrison County Crimestoppers at 903-935-9969.

MARSHALL – Marshall police are trying to located a couple of suspects in a theft from Wal-Mart. It first happened last Thursday afternoon paid for a pre-paid phone with a stolen debit card. They returned to the electronics department where they obtained a Playstation 4 game system and also paid for it with the stolen debit card. They returned to the store 30 minutes later and shopped around the lawn and garden center picking out several lawn items. They paid again with the stolen debit card. It is said they left possibly in an older model dark blue or black Dodge pickup with camper shell. You can go to https://youtu.be/SIln1w7wpdQ and see a video of the suspects.

EAST MOUNTAIN – A Longview man is in jail, accused of burglarizing a home with a sheriff’s deputy near by. Arrested was 25 year old Anthony Brikahaes. He is accused of burglarizing a home in the East Mountain area. A sheriff’s deputy saw the suspect talking on a cell phone and walking toward a home. He checked the back of the house and found evidence the house had been burglarized. About that time a neighbor called to report a man running from the home. Other units arrived and Brikahaes was found and arrested. Inside, they found the house had been ransacked and items had been placed for the suspect to remove them.

TYLER — Tyler area home sales increased 2 percent in February over February 2015, while home prices also increased. That’s according to the February 2016 Tyler area housing market report released Wednesday by the Greater Tyler Association of Realtors. GTAR Chairman Claudia Carroll says that’s a strong start for the year– and that things should get even more competitive as the summer selling season approaches. According to the report, 69 homes were sold in Tyler in February. The median price for Tyler area homes increased 6 percent from the previous February to $168,975. Continue reading Tyler Area Home Sales Increase, Prices Rise in February

EAST TEXAS — A former Baylor University student, along with her attorneys, will publicly announce the filing of a lawsuit against the school after they say Baylor authorities were deliberately indifferent to complaints by student victims of rape by Baylor football player Tevin Elliott (pictured). According to KETK, the press conference with Alex Zalkin and Ryan Cohen of The Zalkin Law Firm based in San Diego, California, on behalf of the plaintiff, Jasmin Hernandez, will take place this Thursday in Waco. Elliott, an East Texas native and graduate of Mount Pleasant High School, was sentenced to 20 years in prison and fined $10,000 for each of his two sexual assault convictions. The assaults occurred in 2012.

MARSHALL – Two Marshall police officers have been named as Officers of the Quarter. The award goes to officers Jose Burciaga (pictured) and Cory Adkinson. Both are in the department’s patrol Bureau. Shortly after 7:15pm on December 27, 2015, the officers were dispatched to the area of West Pinecrest and Loop 390 in reference to a vehicle in the ditch. They found a vehicle that had left the roadway and rolled over into a ravine and the driver was trapped inside. The officers were able to rescue the driver. They both received MVP awards for their actions. Continue reading Two Marshall Policemen Honored

AUSTIN – A Longview doctor is one of seven persons the governor has named to the Statewide health Coordinating Council. He is Yasser Zeid, the chief executive officer and medical doctor at Zeid Womens Health Center. He was appointed to a term set to expire August 1st, 2021. The Council ensures health care services and facilities are available to all Texans through health planning activities. Based on these planning activities, the SHCC makes recommendations to the governor and the legislature through the Texas State Health Plan (TSHP). The council also provides overall guidance in the development of the TSHP, submission of the plan to the governor, and promoting the implementation of the plan. Continue reading Longview Doctor Named to State Panel

TYLER – Smith County Commissioners have received a report on improved facilities for some county offices. The first plan, submitted by a Dallas firm that was hired last year, would remodel the old Carlton Hotel building and move into it all four district courts, along with some county offices. The price tag, just over $46 million. The second proposal would renovate the building and parking garage and move the judge’s chambers and court support offices, but not the courtrooms. All of that would cost nearly $33 million. To demolish the old building and build a new one on the site would cost just over $53 million. It’s all still in the early discussion stages and there is no timetable on when a go or no go decision would be made.

TYLER – A committee has been named to study the public comment policy of the Smith County Commissioner’s Court. At Tuesday’s meeting, the commissioners approved a motion by County Judge Joel Baker to name a panel to research what other counties are doing, as far as public comment and rules of decorum. The court’s public comment policy has come under criticism. Some say it limits the public’s access to the court. The current policy provides for 30 minutes for public discussion. Each person gets three minutes to speak and the topic must pertain to agenda items. The committee will report back in 30 days with recommendations for any changes. The action follows a standing room only meeting last week in which some commissioners and residents called for the resignation of Judge Baker. Continue reading Committee to Study Public Comment Before Smith County Commissioners’ Court

LONGVIEW — Longview adopts a new property code that will help maintain old buildings. According to KETK, council members voted to accept parts of the previous international property maintenance standards from 2012. Previously, the city had a similar code for multi-family complexes. but now, the new code includes single-family homes, commercial properties, and land. Michael Shirley, the city’s director of development services, says, “The main emphasis of the code is generic property maintenance. If you have items exterior that are deteriorated, you definitely want to take care of those. Those can have long term impact, if you don’t take care of it, it’s a domino effect.” The code will affect every property owner in Longview. Any building considered dangerous to public health and safety will face an investigation.

PALESTINE – Palestine has a new city Utilities Director. Jim Perry has been named interim Director of the department. He currently serves the city as Public Works Director and will serve both roles. Perry replaces Robert Sedgwick in the utilities office. Sedgwick retired from the city after 19 years as Utilities Director. The city also announced the retirement of Water and Wastewater Superintendent Curtis Logan. Logan has served the City of Palestine for four years.

ELYSIAN FIELDS — The Elysian Fields community is set to gather Wednesday to honor the memory of two teens who died in a car crash early Saturday morning. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Dexter Willie, 19, and Kristopher Ephriam, 17, were very close friends, Elysian Fields ISD Athletic Director Scott Ford said Monday. Ford said the two were going to get a haircut about 8 a.m. Saturday in DeBerry when they were killed in a head-on collision with a tractor-trailer. “Dexter graduated from Elysian Fields High School last year, and Kris was a sophomore,” Ford said. “They were both excellent football players, great friends and had a tremendous sense of humor. This is a special kind of pain I’ve never dealt with before. It’s been very hard.” Continue reading Vigil Set for Teens Killed in Wreck

KILGORE — Kilgore Police have arrested three suspects for reportedly attempting to pass counterfeit money. Officers said on March 24th, they received a report of a suspect at the McDonalds on Highway 259 attempting to pay with bogus money. Police located three suspects in a blue Chevrolet Cavalier who had just left the location. Officers noticed a $20 bill on the passenger seat. The vehicle was searched and police recovered several counterfeit bills both fully and partially printed along with containers of spray paint, paint brushes, color ink cartridges, sheet paper, desk top computer, laptop computer, a color printer and a small amount of methamphetamine. Continue reading Three Suspects Arrested after Attempting to Pass Bogus Bills

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler has developed a policy concerning concealed carrying of weapons on the university campus. It details the areas on campus where concealed handguns are not allowed, calls for the development of training to educate the campus about the law and basic requirements of campus carry, creates a structure for concealed carry within residential facilities and outlines enforcement guidelines for campus carry violations. The policy was formulated by a campus carry working group, which was comprised of faculty, students and staff. It takes effect August 1st if approved by the system’s board of regents. Continue reading Concealed Handgun Policy Developed for U-T Tyler

ATHENS – A Henderson County woman remains jailed today after being charged with sexual assault of a child. Arrested over the weekend was Kathryn Borr, 32. Booking information does not list a home town. The investigation began Friday after sheriff’s deputies received a complaint. Investigators say they learned the woman had an ongoing sexual relationship with a 14 year old boy. Borr was arrested on Saturday and booked into the Henderson County Jail. Bond was set at $100,000.

GARRISON – A three year old Nacogdoches County boy has died in an Easter weekend accident. It happened shortly after 4:00 Saturday afternoon on private property in Garrison. Killed was Romeo Tejeda Castro, who would have been 4 in May. Investigators say just before the start of an Easter egg hunt, a family member headed to the store in an SUV. As the vehicle started, the youngster, who could not be seen, was standing near the right front tire. When the SUV started to turn around in the driveway, the boy was hit and dragged about 60 feet down the driveway. The child was pronounced dead at Nacogdoches Medical Center. Continue reading Accident Kills Young Boy in Nacogdoches County

MARSHALL –The Marshall Police Department is asking the public’s help in solving a missing persons case from 1999. That was when Lakiesha Trenail Buckner went missing from East Fannin Street in Marshall. When she disappeared, Buckner was 16 years old stood about 4’6” tall and weighed about 115 pounds. She wore long-braided extensions in her hair. Buckner has two distinct identifying marks on her body. She has a mole over her left eyebrow and a scar on her right leg. Buckner also suffers from learning disabilities and speech impairment along with a heart murmur. Investigators have put in many hours on this case, but has yet to come up with the current location of Buckner. Continue reading Missing Marshall Resident Sought

TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for the driver that hit a bicyclist and left the scene. According to KETK, the wreck happened Sunday afternoon on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Gentry Parkway, near the Caldwell Zoo. Police said the driver ran a red light and hit the cyclist. Officials said when the suspect drove off, they left the license plate of the vehicle at the scene. The bicyclist was taken to the hospital for minor injuries.

TYLER – The annual Smith County-Wide Clean Up begins today. County residents will have the chance to use vouchers to take bulk items to the Greenwood Farms Landfill for free. Smith County residents can pick up vouchers to take 3 cubic yards of solid waste to be disposed of at the landfill for free through April 30. Vouchers are available at the Smith County Annex Building, 200 E. Ferguson, or at any Smith County Constable or Justice of the Peace Office. Continue reading Smith County-Wide Clean Up Starting Today

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Weeks of March 28. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.

Motorists should be prepared as night work is implemented on the Loop 323 West Widening Project in Tyler starting at 7:00 Monday. The contractor
will be placing hot mix on the roadway through Thursday night while also continuing the current daytime work. To avoid delays, motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes if possible during the nighttime operations. Continue reading TxDOT Road Projects

CARTHAGE – An accident northeast of Carthage has killed two teenagers. Pronounced at the scene was Dexter Willie, 19, and Christopher Ephraim, 17. KETK reports both have played football for the Elysian Fields Yellow Jackets. Willie was said to be a student at Tyler Junior College and Ephraim was still in high school. The Department of Public Safety says the accident occurred when a pickup veered off the road and then over corrected into oncoming traffic.