KTBB News, Weather, Talk

MARSHALL — East Texas Baptist University is accepting donations for Texas Baptist Men’s Disaster Relief efforts to help individuals affected by Hurricane Ida in Louisiana. The items listed below may be dropped off at ETBU’s Ornelas Student Center at the marked donation drop-off point through Tuesday, September 7. This is the same building where community members visit Chick-fil-A. Among the items being sought: gift cards from Home Depot or Walmart for families, bottled water and bottled Gatorade, infant and/or adult diapers, baby wipes, and work gloves (sizes L and XL). Continue reading ETBU collecting donations for those affected by Hurricane Ida

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) – Authorities at Grand Canyon National Park say they are scaling back the search for a Texas man who has been missing for nearly three months. Park officials say 49-year-old Charles Lyon of Tyler was last seen at a hotel in Tusayan on June 10. They say Lyon abandoned his vehicle on the canyon’s South Rim along Desert View Drive near Lipan Point on or around June 11 and was believed to be traveling alone. Beginning on June 11, crews searched extensively by ground and helicopter in the vicinity of Lipan Point and along Desert View Drive but there was no sign of Lyon. Park officials say the search will continue in a limited and continuous mode.

WASHINGTON. D.C. – A Washington, D.C., federal judge has granted an emergency motion by a Carthage native charged in the Capitol riot to allow him to travel to Louisiana with the Cajun Navy to help with the Hurricane Ida cleanup. According to our news partner KETK, 34-year-old Alex Harkrider is out on bond awaiting trial. There was no opposition to the motion from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Kira West, Harkrider’s head defense lawyer, wrote that he “can effectively be monitored by Pretrial Services for this volunteer effort. There is no threat to the community posed by Mr. Harkrider.” The motion also said Harkrider has “volunteered by selling tickets, making t-shirts, and working at a fundraiser in his community for a fellow marine who has cancer.”

KILGORE – Kilgore Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing 18-year-old woman. According to our news partner KETK, Dakota Conert went missing between 12:30 and 1:30 Monday morning. The department said in a Facebook post that she left her apartment in a pickup truck and her family has not heard from her since. She was last seen wearing a gray quarter-zip jacket and shorts. If you have any information regarding her whereabouts, contact Detective Joshua Sims at 903-218-6907 or Joshua.Sims@cityofkilgore.com. To submit an anonymous tip via text message to the Kilgore Police Department, text KILGORE and your tip to 847411 (tip411).

UPSHUR COUNTY – A small community in Upshur County was rendered almost completely without power after vandals caused a massive outage Wednesday morning, according to a release from a power company. Upshur County Electric Cooperative Corporation released a statement after 9:30 a.m. Wednesday saying that much of Glennwood was in the dark after “vandals broke into the sub and caused significant damage to equipment.” According to our news partner KETK, a company spokesman said the vandals broke into the substation and cut over 500 feet of ground wire, which eventually caused a fire. He described how dangerous the situation was and that he was surprised no one was hurt during the break-in. The UCECC says power has now been restored and the company is working with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Department as part of its investigation.

TYLER — Wednesday, lots of new laws went into effect in the state. One law that had lots of people on both sides of the issue was permit less carry. Representative Matt Schaefer, of Tyler, authored the bill. He said, “Second Amendment rights have been restored for millions of of law abiding Texans.” The law will allow Texans ages 21 and older to carry handguns without training or a license as long as they are not legally prevented from doing so. SMU Political Science Professor Matt Wilson says it remains to be seen if this law will have an effect on violence and gun sales. Continue reading Rep Schaefer’s permitless carry law now in effect

CHEROKEE COUNTY –  Two Cherokee County employees were arrested for allegedly tampering with a government document to gain power of attorney, according to Sheriff Brent Dickson with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. According to our news partner KETK, Peggy Cornelius and Suijuan Chen are being charged with tampering with a government document and also giving a false statement to peace officers. The issue did not involve city business, said Dickson. Cornelius and Chen turned themselves in on Friday and were arrested then. Continue reading Cherokee County employees arrested for allegedly tampering with government document

RUSK – A man has been arrested and charged with kidnapping after an Amber Alert was activated early Tuesday morning for two children who were later found in Kilgore. According to our news partner KETK, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office says 32-year-old Jesse Schmidt has been booked into the Cherokee County Jail and his bond was set at $500,000. “This case is still active and more charges are pending at this time,” said the sheriff’s office. 11-year-old Desmond Wells and 10-year-old Ashlynn Wells had last been seen in the Rusk area Monday afternoon when the alert was activated. Officials say they have now been released to CPS custody.

TYLER – A San Antonio man convicted in a head-on collision on an infamous road in Tyler that killed 21-year-old Haile Beasley in 2016 will now have a new sentencing trial scheduled for December 6. That’s according to our news partner KETK. 46-year-old James Fulton was convicted in 2017 of criminally negligent homicide for the wreck on Grande Boulevard. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The new sentencing trial was granted after an appeals court ruled that Fulton received ineffective counsel. Fulton has been out on bond since August 2019.

TYLER — KTBB news and operations director Paul Berry died Tuesday afternoon of an apparent heart attack. He joined KTBB more than 20 years ago after having previously been the program director and morning air personality on KTBB’s then sister station, KDOK. In addition to overseeing the editorial operation of the KTBB newsroom, he also managed the day-to-day technical operations of KTBB 97.5 FM, 600 AM and 92.1 FM, The TEAM Sports Radio. “Paul and I really loved the radio business,” said KTBB president and owner Paul Gleiser. “We spent a lot of time talking about the work of the great broadcasters that we both admired and we also spent a lot of time looking for just one more way to make this station better. Somewhere in all of that an employment relationship morphed into friendship. I’m going to miss him.” Paul is survived by his close companion Angie Swearingen of Tyler. He was 52.

MARSHALL – The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said they are looking for a missing woman with a medical condition. According to our news partner KETK, Jessica Adair was reported as missing by her son on Aug. 30 around 7:30 p.m. She was last seen at her home on Harris Rd. Adair needs to take medication every day, according to the sheriff’s office. She is 46, and 5’5.” Adair has blond hair and weighs 155 lbs. She was last seen wearing an “H&W Honda” black t-shirt, blue jeans, and black tennis shoes. Adair also does not have her purse, medication, or cell phone with her. If anyone has information regarding the location of Jessica Adair, please contact the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office at 903-923-4000 or call 911.

TYLER – Tyler ISD announces the hiring of Suzette Farr as the executive director of the Tyler ISD Foundation. The foundation’s board approved Farr’s appointment Tuesday morning. Farr joins the foundation from Mentoring Alliance, where she recently served as Vice President of Marketing & Community Engagement. Farr previously worked as the East Texas corporate marketing director for the American Heart Association and as the marketing and business development director at Cooperative Teachers Credit Union. She is also a former TISD Foundation Board member, serving from 2014-2018. Farr will officially begin her new duties September 7. The foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides grant funds to teachers for projects and programs that are not funded, or are underfunded, by the District’s operating budget.

TYLER – Champions for Children, the Tyler Area Business Education Council, and Texas Home Visiting at UT Health Science Center at Tyler announce they have teamed up with Bright by Text, a national parent texting program. According to a news release from Champions for Children, the participants plan to put expert tips, games and child development information directly into the hands of parents and caregivers in East Texas. According to the release, Bright by Text is a unique resource as many children are learning from home and many families have a difficult time accessing the services they need. The texting service (for ages prenatal to eight years) includes topics on brain development, games and activities, health and wellness, and more. You can learn more by visiting this link or calling (903) 592-1454.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — East Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert is calling for “bold action” by the U.S. in Afghanistan. In a video commentary, Gohmert says, in part, “I am begging you, President Biden — please get off your knees, stop your begging of the Taliban for mercy for American citizens and our Afghan allies, get as many of our weapons to the Pansjirs valley where our allies are, and bomb the weapons you have insanely left with America’s most vicious and savage enemy. As we saw with the Iranian treatment of President Carter’s begging of Iran, such savages do not respect weakness. They will not be rehabilitated. Give our allies those weapons that you can so they can defeat them again.” Gohmert says if Biden can’t do that, he should resign.

EAST TEXAS — The Chapel Hill ISD board of trustees approved a temporary mask mandate on Monday. According to our news partner KETK, masks will be required during indoor classes and activities starting on Aug. 31. Students will be given a mask, if they do not have one. Longview ISD also previously issued a temporary mask mandate. Some East Texas schools have recently closed their doors due to an increase in COVID-19 cases.

LONGVIEW – The month-long search for a missing East Texas woman came to an end Monday when her body was positively identified. That’s according to our news partner KETK. On Aug. 20, Longview police were notified of a body on West Marshall Avenue. The body was sent for autopsy and later identified as 68-year-old Judy Akridge from Marshall. Akridge went missing July 27, and DPS issued a Silver Alert at the request of LPD. Her family members said she possibly had dementia and schizophrenia and wasn’t taking her medication. LPD said there is no foul play expected at this time and Akridge’s family has been notified.

TYLER — Pipeline Analysis will continue smoke testing sewer lines in sewer meter basins 13 and 17 as part of the City of Tyler’s ongoing sanitary sewer inspection program. Officials say smoke testing helps locate breaks and defects in the city’s sanitary sewer system. The information is used to repair and improve the sewer system, according to a news release. The testing will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, Sept. 3, in three areas. Continue reading Smoke testing locations through Sept. 3

TYLER — For the first time in over 30 years, a new senior pastor is officially on board at the largest church in East Texas. The website of Tyler’s Green Acres Baptist Church shows that Dr. Michael Gossett took over the reins effective Sunday, August 29. He succeeds Dr. David Dykes, who has retired as the longest-serving pastor in the church’s history. Dykes began leading the congregation in March 1991. Green Acres claims over 17,000 members.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – A former Louisiana FBI agent accused of exposing himself to two Tyler teenage girls is now facing charges in Florida. That’s according to our news partner KETK and its sister station WMBB in Panama City, Florida. 50-year-old David Harris is charged in Smith County as well as Louisiana for multiple incidents. He had been assigned to the FBI Field Office in New Orleans, where he investigated child sex crimes. Harris has since been fired by the FBI. The Florida incident dates to July 2019.

TYLER – Starting Saturday, Sept. 11, the Tyler Parks and Recreation Department is bringing back the popular Movies in the Park program at Bergfeld Park. For the 2021 fall season, there will be four movies hosted between September and October: Saturday, Sept. 11, at 7:45 p.m. – “Soul” (2020), Rated PG; Saturday, Sept. 25, at 7:30 p.m. – “Raya and the Last Dragon” (2021), Rated PG; Friday, Oct. 1, at 7:30 p.m. – “Mulan: Live Action Version” (2020), Rated PG 13; Saturday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. – “Suspicion” (1941), Not Rated. For more information or questions, contact Tyler Parks and Rec at (903) 531-1370 or visit this link.

TYLER — The U.S. Postal Service’s pilot offering for neighborhood businesses has added 24 sites in the Tyler area. The USPS Connect Local pilot launched on July 19 at seven Dallas and Houston sites and is now available at 385 Texas postal facility locations. More pilot locations will be added in the coming months as operational capabilities are refined. In Tyler, Connect Local now includes the Tyler Azalea, Tyler Main, and South Tyler Post Offices. According to a news release, USPS Connect Local helps businesses and organizations provide local-to-local same-day or next-day package delivery at affordable rates. Click here for all the details.

EAST TEXAS — Volunteers across Texas begin efforts to help with disaster relief in Louisiana and Mississippi. John Hall with Texas Baptist Men says volunteers headed down Monday for what he’s calling an extensive deployment. The American Red Cross is helping out, too. Volunteers from the north Texas chapter are already in Louisiana distributing cots, blankets, comfort kits and meals to people in hard-hit areas. Over the next few days, more response vehicles and volunteers are expected to be sent out from Abilene, Corsicana and Tyler. Texas is also sending power crews to help.

TYLER – On Sunday, Governor Greg Abbott announced that TDEM, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, will partner with local authorities and open a new COVID-19 therapeutic infusion center in Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, the infusion center will begin accepting patients on Tuesday. It will provide Regeneron’s monoclonal antibodies to treat outpatient cases of COVID-19 who have a doctor’s referral. The treatment will be available at no cost.

TYLER — As a result of the increase of COVID-19 cases in Smith County, the Tyler Municipal Court is now requiring masks to be worn in the courtroom during jury selections and trials. According to a news release, this is in compliance with the Emergency Orders from the Supreme Court of Texas directing judges to take all reasonably necessary steps to avoid exposing court proceedings and participants to the threat of COVID-19. Jurors who appear and refuse to wear a mask will have the option to reschedule for a later date or speak with the judge regarding their concerns. Continue reading Tyler Municipal Court implementing COVID-19 precautions for jury trials

MARSHALL — East Texas Baptist University celebrates the second-highest recorded student enrollment in the University’s 109-year history with 1,688 total students, and an 84% undergraduate retention rate (2% higher than the five-year average). In addition, the total graduate enrollment exhibits the highest graduate enrollment in University history, up by 13% from last year, according to a news release. The first-time freshman enrollment total is 403, which is tied for the third-highest first-time freshman class (with Fall 2020). Four out of the last five years have had a freshman enrollment totaling 400 or more. New transfer student enrollment rises to 116 students, up 10% over last year, according to the release.

TYLER – This week, Visit Tyler and SPORTyler were presented with awards at the 2021 Texas Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus (TACVB) Annual Conference. To win the awards, the staff competed against destination marketing organizations from across Texas to position Tyler as a premier visitor destination, according to a news release. Officials say this was done by implementing new marketing and promotions to bring more publicity and tourism to the community. Continue reading Visit Tyler and SPORTyler win awards at annual conference

TYLER — Starting in September, Tyler Transit will offer veterans discounted rides on fixed routes when they present the Tyler R.O.S.E (Recognizing Our Service Members Everyday) Discount Card. According to a news release, veterans must show a driver the R.O.S.E. Card to receive the lower fare. All trips will be half the original cost except for the All Day Pass, which will remain $2 for everyone. The project is a partnership between the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and CampV. Tyler area veterans are invited to join the program by enrolling in person at the Chamber. To learn more, visit this link.

TYLER — Smith County felony prosecutor Trevor M. Rose Friday announced his intention to file as a Republican candidate for judge of Smith County Court at Law #3 in the 2022 Primary. In a news release, Rose cites what he terms his energy, dedication, and relevant trial experience in criminal, civil, and family law. Rose said he hopes to fill the need for “a more user-friendly and efficient court that will be ready to hear criminal, civil, and family law cases from day one.” Thus far, Rose’s GOP opponents are local attorneys Clay White, Cheryl Wulf, and Sara Maynard. Current County Court at Law #3 Judge Floyd Getz will be retiring following his current term.

TYLER — Federal funding for the Tyler Junior College TRIO program’s Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) has been renewed for another five years. According to a news release, the U.S. Department of Education awarded TJC the $1,365,000 grant, which will be distributed at $273,000 annually over the next five years, to serve 1,000 participants each year. The award was announced during Thursday’s regular meeting of the TJC Board of Trustees. The TJC EOC provides advising and information on college admissions to qualified adults who want to enter or continue a program of post-secondary education as well as services to improve the financial and economic literacy of participants, according to the release. It also advises participants on financial aid options such as basic financial planning skills, and it assists in the application process, according to officials.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — East Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert joins the chorus of those strongly criticizing President Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal policy. In fact, he’s now calling on President Biden to resign. During a news conference this week, Gohmert said, “The answer is to say to the Taliban, as President Trump did, ‘…You harm American citizens, we’re gonna do tremendous harm to you.’ We’re quite capable. We’ve done that with aerial support; it can be done again. But in the meantime, we don’t need American soldiers, once all the Americans are out, to stay in Afghanistan. We just need to arm our allies instead of doing like the Carter Administration did, the Obama Administration did, and now the Biden Administration is doing — arming our enemies to come hit us again.” Continue reading Gohmert weighs in on Afghanistan, calls for Biden’s resignation