KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Smith County citizens are invited tonight to attend the last of three transportation-related public meetings this week. The primary topic of discussion will again be the proposed Smith County Transportation Reinvestment Zone, Number One (Toll 49 Reinvestment Zone). The meeting is at 6:00pm at First Baptist Church of Whitehouse, and it’s hosted by Precinct 2 Commissioner Cary Nix. Visit the Smith County Website at http://www.smith-county.com for more information on the proposed Transportation Reinvestment Zone (TRZ).

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday approved the amendment of student semester passes and the inclusion of day passes for Tyler Transit bus services. Tyler Transit has been working with post-secondary education organizations within the city to develop semester bus passes for students who attend local colleges and universities. To promote public transportation and increase overall ridership for Tyler Transit among the student population, Tyler Transit is amending the fare structure. “Tyler is home to three colleges so it is important to ensure students have access to quality transportation,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel. Continue reading Tyler Transit Launches New Student Pass Rates and Day Passes

TYLER — After meeting in executive session Wednesday morning to discuss the performance of City Manager Mark McDaniel, the Tyler City Council voted unanimously to rate his performance as outstanding. “We are blessed to have the City leadership that we have,” said Mayor Barbara Bass. “We know it takes great leadership at the top to achieve what we have and we don’t take it for granted. There is no one in the state who could have done better.” Continue reading Tyler City Manager Receives Outstanding Performance Evaluation

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday approved a contract for $803,500 to Wisenbaker Fix & Associates for the construction phase for the Lake Tyler Dam Repair project. Last January, Wisenbaker Fix & Associates and their geotechnical subconsultants began the engineering and design for the repair of the seepage at the Lake Tyler Dam. The plans were forwarded to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Dam Safety Section for review in September. The TCEQ provided comments and requested additional modeling that had to be addressed before the project could proceed into construction, according to a city news release. Wisenbaker Fix & Associates is currently finalizing its response to the TCEQ, with an anticipated re-submittal date of Dec. 15. Construction is anticipated to begin in March 2014. Continue reading Council Approves Construction Phase for Lake Tyler Dam Repair

TYLER — Tyler ISD District 5 Trustee Brad Spradlin has announced his resignation from the school board effective December 16. “With an honored and grateful heart, I am resigning my position as Single Member District 5 Board of Trustees member of the Tyler Independent School District,” Spradlin said. “The desire for greater focus and balance on family and business responsibilities has led me to this decision. I am most appreciative for the support of the community, administration, teachers, staff and the Board of Trustees during my 11 years of service. Together, we have accomplished many significant and positive changes resulting in a stronger, healthier district. The future is bright and promises even greater steps forward as we strive toward excellence for the students of Tyler ISD.” Continue reading Spradlin Resigns from Tyler ISD Board of Trustees

LONGVIEW — Longview Police say they encourage everyone to have a safe, happy, and festive Holiday season. Unfortunately, they point out, sometimes that festivity can also mean unexpected tragedy. This holiday season the Longview Police Department encourages everyone to choose a designated driver or stay sober. Drinking and driving is an avoidable crime that affects many innocent people’s lives every day, according to an LPD news release. Longview Police say they’ll be out in force over the next few weeks working to make streets safer for the citizens and visitors to Longview. Officers will be keeping an eye out by working under the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) program to find those drivers who chose to drink and then get behind the wheel of a car. Police say there will be zero tolerance for those who choose to drink and drive. Continue reading Longview Police STEP Up Holiday Patrol

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday reduced the current 55 mph speed limit on a portion of FM 2493 (Old Jacksonville Highway) to 50 mph. According to a city news release, the decision was based on the combination of traffic accident data and a speed study along FM 2493. The new speed limit will begin just north of Rice Road and will extend to the south city border, just south of Stewart Funeral Home. Drivers will have to start slowing down when the new speed limit signs go up, which officials say should be soon. Continue reading Speed Limit Reduction on FM 2493

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday approved and adopted several recommendations from the city’s Affordable Housing Task Force. Mayor Barbara Bass launched the task force April 2 with a goal of examining how the City may collaborate or partner with the private sector to create more affordable housing opportunities. Primary collaborators would be local builders, realtors, non-profits, and lenders. The Task Force has met four times to discuss opportunities to grow the inventory of affordable housing options in the community. City Councilmembers Darryl Bowdre, Sam Mezayek, John Nix, and Ed Moore also participated on the Task Force. Continue reading Affordable Housing Task Force Recommendations Approved

TYLER — Tyler’s Junior Achievement (JA) Board of Directors Wednesday announced that Southside Bank has been chosen as the 2014 Laureate for the JA Business Hall of Fame — the highest honor given by Junior Achievement. The word came at a press conference at Peete Elementary School. The award will be presented at a reception for Southside March 6, 2014, at Willow Brook Country Club. “Southside Bank was selected for their outstanding contributions to the Tyler community and for being a role model for all aspiring business leaders and entrepreneurs,” said Steve Wiggs, regional president for Austin Bank and chairman of Tyler’s Junior Achievement Board of Directors. “Southside embodies the spirit of what JA represents as an organization, which is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in the global economy.” Continue reading Southside Bank Named Junior Achievement Laureate of the Year

TYLER – Tyler ISD will soon begin using its Blackboard Connect notification system to send important information quickly via text messages to parents, students and employees when an event is urgent or time-sensitive. Examples could include event cancellations, school closures or delays, lockdowns or any other notice that the District deems necessary to send via text message. “The Blackboard Connect text messaging feature provides another opportunity for the District to communicate more effectively with our parents, students, and employees,” Tyler ISD Superintendent Gary Mooring said. “Sending texts, in addition to the phone call system already in place through Blackboard Connect, will further enhance our ongoing efforts to improve communications across the District.” Continue reading Tyler ISD to Launch Additional Feature to Communications Efforts

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has approved the creation of a seven-member Animal Care Advisory Board to assist with the development of the city’s animal shelter. The layout of the shelter is currently under consideration after the purchase of land was authorized in November. Consistent with state law, the ACAB will have at least one licensed veterinarian, one municipal official, one representative whose duties include the daily operation of the animal shelter, and one advocate from an animal welfare organization. The members of the board will be accountable for making recommendations to the city council and city staff regarding state law responsibilities, operation of the shelter, and community animal welfare. Continue reading Tyler City Council Approves Animal Care Advisory Board

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler 2013 criminal justice graduates are among the best in their field, President Rodney H. Mabry announced. For the first time in university history, UT Tyler graduates scored in the top five percent nationally on the Education Testing Service Major Field Test for Criminal Justice. The test is given to graduating criminal justice seniors and used to assess and compare the program’s effectiveness to programs at similar institutions nationwide. The exam covers criminological theory, the law, law enforcement, corrections, the court system, research methodology and statistics as well as critical thinking. Continue reading UT Tyler Criminal Justice Graduates among Best Nationwide

DALLAS — There’s a call to shut down TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline, even as oil inside is headed for Texas. It’ll be about a month before the crude makes it from Cushing, Oklahoma, to Port Arthur. The oil will travel through much of East Texas along the way, including part of eastern Smith County. Tom Smith with Public Citizen says it’s not too late to stop the flow. He says federal regulators have found a number of problems with the pipeline’s construction, like concerns about coating that prevents corrosion. He wants Congress to step in. Smith says, “Yeah, there’s oil in it, but there’ve been lots of times when the pipelines have been stopped, tested to make sure they’re adequate for additional commercial operations you’re allowed.” Continue reading Public Citizen Wants Keystone XL Pipeline Shut Down

TYLER — Emergency crews have rescued a naked 19-year-old man who was hiding in a sewer pipe near Trinity Mother Frances and East Texas Medical Center in Tyler. Rescued after three hours under ground was Roemello Lewis. It all began around 2:30, when police say they received a call saying a mentally ill patient who is on a peace officer warrant was in the sewers of East Texas Medical Center. As he escaped to the sewer, he managed to rip off his clothes and hid in the sewer with temperatures in the 30s. The water department, fire department, and sewer technicians all headed to the scene to assist in the removal of the Lewis.

TYLER — Friday evening at 6:00, The Salvation Army will have a recognition ceremony for Andre Thompson, a new Salvation Army World Record holder with 105 hours of continuous bell ringing. The ceremony will take place in front of Walgreen’s on Rieck Rd. and South Broadway Ave. On Tuesday, December 3rd, at 11:00am, Andre (pictured here with KTBB’s Melissa Kiser) started ringing the bell in competition with three contestants in California, one in Montana, and one in Minnesota. Andre was allowed a five minute break for every hour that he rang the bell. He was only allowed to eat meals and sit during his breaks. Within the first 24 hours two contestants put their bells down. After 105 hours of bell ringing, Andre along with Captain Brickson in Minnesota and Major Soriano in California decided to end the contest with a three way tie. Continue reading Bell Presentation for World Record Bell Ringer Andre Thompson

TYLER – U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced Tuesday that 16 individuals have been arrested following a lengthy investigation into drug trafficking in the Eastern District of Texas. A combined task force of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies Tuesday began arresting individuals named in a federal indictment returned by a grand jury on Nov. 20. The indictment charges the suspects with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana in the Eastern District of Texas. Continue reading Major East Texas Drug Bust

HOUSTON — Oil is flowing towards Texas through the Keystone XL pipeline. TransCanada has begun putting oil into the pipeline’s southern leg, which runs from Oklahoma to Port Arthur, Texas. The route includes part of eastern Smith County as well as other portions of East Texas. Houston energy analyst Andy Lipow says commercial operations will begin in about a month. That’s how long it will take to fill the pipeline with oil. According to Lipow, “For Texas refineries, it’s good news, because they can now access that mid-continent oil which has been bottled up due to the lack of logistics around Cushing, Oklahoma.” He says the oil will increase supply and ultimately translate into lower gasoline prices.

MARSHALL — A 28-year-old alleged illegal alien who resided in Harrison County has been arrested in Mexico for the February 2012 death of an East Texas toddler. KETK reports that on Monday, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office and Harrison County District Attorney’s Office were notified by the U.S. Marshal’s Office that Jose Luis Casiano-Aburto had been taken into custody. Casiano-Aburto was listed as the sole suspect in a murder case of February 15, 2012, involving the death of two-year-old Yeli Madalyn Jimenez (pictured). Her death was attributed to blunt force injuries reportedly received after Casiano-Aburto struck the child. Casiano-Aburto was dating the mother of the child at the time of her death. Continue reading Alleged Illegal Alien Arrested in Mexico for East Texas Toddler’s Death

BOSSIER CITY, LA. — Bossier City police say a missing woman has been found safe. KETK reports Machel Smith Long, 48, of Bossier City, was recently reported missing by family members. While police say there is no indication that foul play had anything to do with Long’s disappearance, investigators and family members were concerned for her welfare. Police thought Long may have been in East Texas. No word on where or how the woman was found.

EAST TEXAS — State Senator Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for Attorney General, demonstrated strong East Texas support Tuesday. During a campaign swing through the area, Paxton released a list of more than 220 Smith County business and community leaders, Republican activists, and current and former elected officials endorsing his candidacy. The list includes all three Smith County Republican County commissioners, Former Tyler Mayor Joey Seeber, Former State Representative Leo Berman, both State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) members who represent Smith County, and numerous GOP precinct chairs. Senator Paxton has previously been endorsed by State Representatives Matt Schaefer and Bryan Hughes, both of whom represent Smith County. Continue reading Paxton Draws Strong Support in East Texas

TEXARKANA (AP/Staff) – A Bowie County woman has pleaded guilty to sending ricin-laced letters to President Barack Obama and New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Shannon Guess Richardson entered her guilty plea Tuesday in Texarkana, Texas. Her attorney, Tonda Curry, has said the plea deal caps any prison sentence at 18 years. A sentencing date has not been set. Curry said Richardson was ready to admit her role in sending toxic letters to Obama, Bloomberg and the head of Bloomberg’s pro-gun control group. Prosecutors say that before her arrest in Mount Pleasant in June, Richardson tried to frame her now-estranged husband for mailing the letters containing ricin, a powdery substance that can cause respiratory failure if inhaled. Richardson has had minor roles in the television series “The Walking Dead” and the movie “The Blind Side.”

TYLER — A Tyler man has been sentenced in Tyler to life in prison for continuous sexual abuse of a child. Officials with the Smith County District Attorney’s Office say David Brice Hartman, 42, had earlier pleaded guilty. The range of punishment for the offense is 25 years to 99 years or life. State District Judge Jack Skeen, Jr., assessed the sentence after reviewing a pre-sentence investigation and arguments from the prosecution and defense. Under Texas Law, there is no possibility of parole for continuous sexual abuse of a child.

GLADEWATER — Gladewater police are looking for two men who held up a convenience store over the weekend. The men, armed with a handgun, robbed the G and J food Mart in the 200 block of South Main Street around 11:00 Saturday night. The men, one armed with a handgun, are described as white males, one standing 5’9″, with a slender build and the other being 5’6″, with a slender build. No injuries were reported.

LONGVIEW — The Balloon Federation of America’s U.S. National Championship will remain in Longview for a 4th year. Officials with Longview’s Great Texas Balloon Race made that announcement yesterday. The championship had originally been set for three years. But a bid was submitted for a fourth year and that bid has been accepted by the national organization. Continue reading U.S. National Hot Air Balloon National Championship Stays in Longview Longer

NEW YORK (AP) — Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel is one of six finalists invited to New York for Saturday’s Heisman Trophy ceremony. The Aggies quarterback, and Tyler native, is trying to become the second player to win the award twice. But Florida State’s Jameis Winston is the overwhelming favorite to win this year.

TYLER — After being postponed last week by the weather, Tyler’s Christmas parade will take to the street tonight. The Jaycees Christmas Parade and the tree lighting ceremony on the square will now be held this evening at 6:00 in Downtown Tyler. The tree will be lit by one-year-old Micah Emory Read, who was named the 2013 Miracle Child, representing the Children’s Miracle Network at Trinity Mother Frances Health System. The tree lighting will take place after the parade.

NACOGDOCHES — A Nacogdoches man has been arrested for indecency with a child. The youngster is said to have been younger than 12. Taken into custody was Paul Thomas James Buchanan, 27. The incident is said to have occurred at a home of relatives he was visiting. Investigators tell KETK the youngster was able to escape Buchanan and went to the master bed room to tell her family what had happened. Buchanan was later arrested at a home on County Road 825. He was booked into the Nacogdoches County jail and his bond was set at $50,000

TYLER — The Smith County Jail has received a certificate of compliance after an inspection was completed by State officials. Sheriff Larry Smith said that the Smith County Jail was inspected on December 4 and 5, and there were no deficiencies noted. The Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards should issue the certificate of compliance after a review of the inspection report. “Jail inspections are done annually and without prior notification,” said Sheriff Smith. “I am pleased that my staff has worked hard to make sure that we are operating the jail at the level that I expect and that the State requires.”

GALLATIN — An investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department has resulted in the arrest of two persons on drug charges. Taken into custody was Steven Ray Davis, 42, of Gallatin, and Samantha Douglas, 26, of Jacksonville. Both have been charged with the manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance and theft of a firearm. Their bonds total $45,000 each. Continue reading Drug Bust Nets Two in Cherokee County

MARSHALL (AP) — Three people have been hurt in a hatchet attack at a Wal-Mart in East Texas and police arrested a transient on assault charges. Marshall police Detective Sonya Johnson said Monday that Christopher Hamilton of Crawford, Ark., allegedly had the hatchet with him when entering the store. Two female workers and a male shopper were attacked early Sunday. Authorities are trying to determine a motive. Police don’t believe Hamilton knows the victims. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. spokeswoman Betsy Harden says one worker was treated and released while the other should soon be discharged from a hospital. The customer was slightly hurt trying to help the workers and he didn’t seek medical help. Hamilton was being held Monday on three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon with bond set at $225,000.