KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The Texas Department of Transportation’s Tyler District announced it planned to break ground on one construction project in the month of July, but brought five others to a close in June, bringing the total number of projects under construction in the eight-county district to 26.

TxDOT’s Larry Krantz says TxDOT would be breaking ground in mid-to-late July on a repair-and-resurface project on State Highway 31 between State
Highway 42 and Business U.S. Highway 259 in Kilgore. The $981,000 project
let to contract in May to Knife River Corp., South, of Waco, and is
scheduled to take approximately two months to complete once begun.

With the addition of the State Highway 31 project, Knife River has eight
current Tyler District projects worth more than $82 million, including the Loop 281 project in Longview, the State Highway 155 project between
Frankston and Pert, and the U.S. Highway 69 overpass project at Farm Road
344 in Bullard. Contractor R.K. Hall, of Paris, has seven active projects in the Tyler District, including the night work on U.S. Highway 69 (South Broadway), for a combined $19.4 million, and while Longview Bridge and Road, Ltd. has only three ongoing projects locally, including both Loop 49 projects and the nearly completed US 69 expansion between Lindale and Mineola, those projects are worth a combined $97 million.

Meanwhile, TxDOT contractors also brought five construction projects to a
close in June, including the $737,000 resurfacing project on Farm Road 2493(Old Jacksonville Highway) in Tyler between South Loop 323 and State Highway57/Grande Boulevard. Contractors also finished a $1.5 million resurfacing project on U.S. Highway 69 in Lindale between Interstate Highway 20 and Farm Road 1804, and a $385,000 left-turn lane project on State Highway 110 at Farm Road 344 between Whitehouse and Troup.

TYLER — Smith County authorities have identified the body of a woman found of County Road 2191 last weekend. She is Cherry Diane Walker of Tyler. Her body, which appeared to have been burned, hand been dumped along the side of the road. Investigators continue to search for clues that could lead them to a motive for the slaying and the woman’s killer.

TYLER – The North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA) Board of Directors has selected Englewood, Colorado-based CH2MHill as the design/build firm for Toll 49 Segment 3B. “The selection of a firm to construct Segment 3B of the Toll 49 project demonstrates the project’s continued momentum. The next step is to prepare to sell bonds,” said NET RMA Project Director Everett Owen. “Our colleagues in the financial industry are still very bullish on the deal and believe that there is no better time to sell a transportation bond than right now.” Toll 49 Segment 3B is a 9.7 mile section of roadway that stretches between State Highway 31 and Interstate 20.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) has announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the Tyler Pounds Regional Airport $2,500,000 to improve a runway safety area and acquire safety equipment. “Upgrades to Texas’ airports are critical for the regional economy and for the traveling public,” Senator Hutchison said. “These infrastructure and safety improvements to Tyler Pounds Regional Airport will help ensure the safe and smooth flow of goods, services, and people.”

TYLER — “It’s All Here.” That’s the theme of UT Tyler’s 2010-2011 Cowan Center season, with an October 19 appearance by former President George W. Bush among the highlights. That and other presentations are co-sponsored by KTBB. Cowan Center Executive Director Susan Thomae-Morphew is very pleased with the variety. Gladys Knight, Howie Mandel, and touring companies of “Mamma Mia” and “The Color Purple” are just a few of the others on the schedule. Thomae-Morphew thanks all the supporters, saying, “We are not getting any state funding to do the Cowan Center’s work, and it’s important to note that the community makes this happen.” Subscriptions are available starting at 9 a.m. Monday. You can go to http://www.cowancenter.org for lots more.

LONGVIEW — Longview investigators say two deaths appear to be suspicious. On Friday, authorities released the identities of two bodies found Thursday morning. Laura Beth Sullivan, 28 and Zocorius Lamonte Gray, 19, both from Longview were located around 9:10 after officers responded to a welfare call at 128 Myrle Street. The caller told dispatchers that two people at the location appeared to be dead. Authorities found Sullivan and Gray inside an upstairs garage apartment behind a duplex on Myrle Street. Authorities say the deaths appear to be suspicious and foul play is suspected.

Detectives are pursuing numerous leads, but an arrest has not been made and a motive for the shooting has not been announced. Detectives do feel certain the shooting was not a random act. “I believe the individuals were targeted,” said Justice of the Peace B.H. Jameson.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP or online at http://www.greggcountycrimestoppers.com. A reward of up to $1000.00 may be paid for information leading to the arrest of any suspects.

KILGORE — Kilgore has a new ordinance aimed at teens 16 and younger. According to KETK, those 16 and younger must remain off the streets and out of the parking lots too from 10:30 in the evening until 6:00 in the morning Sundays thru Thursdays. On weekends, they can stay out a little longer with a curfew from midnight to 6:00 in the morning. Exceptions include coming home from work, sporting events, public assemblies or an emergency errand. If you’re caught out past curfew, first offenders will get a warning and a letter to parents.