KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LUFKIN – A Lufkin man is arrested after being accused of attacking and biting his mother. Jay Ebarb, 50, was arrested shortly before 12:45 Monday afternoon. His 73 year old mother told officers, when her son arrived, she told him to leave because she thought he was on drugs. It was then the man is said to have started tossing her around and biting her arms. A brother tried to help but Ebard is said to have swung a knife at him. When officers found him hiding in nearby woods, he still had the knife with him. While his mother was taken to the hospital for treatment, Ebarb was booked into the Angelina County Jail.

TYLER – The United Way of Smith County has been given the Woman’s Building on South Broadway in Tyler. They held a news conference Tuesday to discuss the gift. The building’s board of directors gave United Way the deed and the keys to the historic Tyler Woman’s Building, which was constructed in 1932. It is currently listed on 3 historic registries: The United States, The State of Texas, and Smith County. United Way of Smith County has outgrown their current facility and for many years has been in searching for a new home. Fitzpatrick Architects has been hired to assess and develop plans for the United Way’s new building, and preserve a Tyler landmark. The next steps include raising the additional funds needed to complete the renovations and rezoning the property. Continue reading Tyler’s Woman’s Building Given to the United Way

HARRISON COUNTY – More marijuana has been found growing in northeast Texas. The latest field was found over the weekend in Harrison County. Texas DPS agents made the discovery Sunday in a field in southern Harrison County. The nearly 3,000 live and dead plants were found in a area that was hidden by large trees. A destruction order was obtained to remove the plants to to an undisclosed location to be destroyed. No arrests have been made. Since mid August, similar marijuana fields have been found in Smith, Anderson, Henderson, Upshur and Van Zandt Counties.

TYLER — Downtown Tyler’s People’s Petroleum Building has racked up its second honor this month. At its recent annual meeting, Historic Tyler handed its yearly Preservation Award to the local landmark — together with Tim and Garnett Brookshire and Andy Bergfeld, the three men spearheading its renovation. Earlier, the structure was announced as one of three Tyler finalists for Texas Downtown Association President’s Awards to be presented in November. Continue reading People’s Petroleum Building Wins Historic Tyler Award

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County DPS Troopers are responding to a report of a hit and run accident involving a TISD school bus. According to authorities, the crash happened at Hwy 155 and Grande. no injuries reported. Additional details were not available.

WHITEHOUSE — Whitehouse residents will soon vote on a $94.8 million school bond. If passed, the bond could bring improvements to facilities across the district, including some new schools. KETK reports, on Monday, the school district held a town hall meeting to give the community a voice, as well as answer any questions they had. “This bond is a fairly large project that is being presented to the taxpayers and what it would do is several major construction projects that would set the course for the district for a number of years to come,” said Superintendent Dr. Chris Moran. After evaluating facilities for three years, Dr. Moran said Proposition One includes more urgent needs, such as the replacement of aging facilities. Continue reading WISD Holds Town Hall Regarding School Bond Issue

UPSHUR COUNTY — An Upshur County inmate is receiving medical treatment after officials say the inmate tried to commit suicide by hanging, according to the Longview News-Journal. A jailer was going through rounds around 6 p.m. Thursday and found the inmate in “a state of distress,” according to information released today by the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office. The jailer called for other jailers and medical staff and first responders were called. The inmate was taken by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment.

TYLER — Today is National Voter registration Day. Smith County Elections workers will be on the downtown square from 11:00am till 2:00pm on Tuesday helping residents register to vote. There are 133,840 registered voters in Smith County. This is a 30% increase from the 102,626 registered voters in the 2012 General Election. Smith County Elections Administrator Karen Nelson still wants to increase voter registration in the county. The last day to register to vote in the November presidential Election is October 11th. Early voting is from October 24th through November 4th. You can get more information by calling 903-590-4777. You can also go to the web sites https://www.smith-county.com/Government/Departments/Elections/Registration.aspx or at http://www.votetexas.gov/register-to-vote for voter registration applications, which include making changes to your voter record.

TYLER – A campaign is underway to raise funds for body armor vests for the Tyler Police Department and Smith County Sheriff’s Department. State Senator Kevin Eltife announced earlier this month a $20,000 contribution and the City of Tyler committed to half the cost of the vests for each officer. At a news conference Monday, Eltife announced the total cost for the vests is: $204,400. The City will pay $67,900 and the County will pay $34,300 and, along with Eltife’s contribution, the remaining $82,000 is the goal of the We Back Our Law Enforcement Campaign. Continue reading Body Armor Vest Campaign Underway

LONGVIEW – A man accused of stealing a car during a Longview traffic stop, is in custody. It started Saturday when a police officer stopped a car with a broken tail light on Pine Tree Road. While the officer was talking to the driver, a back seat passenger is said to have stolen the car and fled. After wrecking the vehicle, he then fled on foot with a black cloth bag. A short time later an officer was able to catch Draper Demetric Kennedy,37, of Longview. In the bag, officers found a variety pills and two stolen guns. Continue reading Car Stolen During Longview Traffic Stop

EAST TEXAS – Two Sulphur Springs men were killed in area accidents over the weekend. A Sunday evening accident killed Michael Kenney, 49. Shortly after 6:00pm, his car left the road and hit a tree. The wreck occurred near the intersection of State Highway 154 and Farm Road 1567, north of Yantis. Continue reading Two Hopkins County Men Die in Two Accidents

TYLER — Tyler police are searching for an armed suspect wanted in an early morning shooting. Officers said around 1:20 this morning, an unknown suspect fired numerous shots inside a home on Carlyle Avenue. A sleeping 12-year-old was struck in the foot and taken to a local hospital with a non-life threatening injury. The investigation is on-going. Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000 or Tyler/Smith County Crimestoppers at 903-597-CUFF. Crimestoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest and charges filed against the suspect in this case or any other felony case.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of Sept. 26. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones. Tyler Maintenance on Monday plans to resume overlay work on FM 2710 between Lindale and FM 14. Edge repairs will be performed on FM 1995 between SH 110 and the Smith County line. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control at all locations. Continue reading TxDOT Project Update

ATHENS — The FBI office in Dallas was contacted by the Athens Police Department after receiving a report of a hazardous materials concern. According to KETK, the Dallas FBI received a report of potentially hazardous materials at a residence in the 200 block of Guadalupe Street in Athens. FBI personnel responded to the residence and deemed there is no threat to public safety. The FBI said they are taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of law enforcement personnel involved. An Athens resident contacted KETK about concerns of FBI agents in hazmat suits in the city.

SMITH COUNTY — After a manhunt, lasting more than 24 hours, Smith County Sheriff’s Deputies have arrested Stanton Pearce, 52. Officials said he was arrested in the Jackson Heights Community off FM 2767. Pearce, along with two women, were arrested in connection to the death of a man whose body was discovered Thursday. Smith County officials located the body of Luis V Martinez, 62, of Tyler, in a cemetery in the Antioch Community. Laurie Perry, 56, Chandler, and Rebecca Bond 37, Tyler, have been charged with murder. Both women were booked into the Smith County Jail with bond set at $250,000 each. Pearce was also booked into the Smith County Jail on a charge of murder. His bond was set at $500,000.

GILMER – Another marijuana field has been discovered in the area. The latest was found Friday morning in Upshur County. A contingent of law officers converged on the fields around 5:00 this morning. It is located about eight miles north of Gilmer off Highway 155. Officers found six different fields with over 7,000 plants. And, like the others that have been discovered recently, they found a camp and a nearby water source that was used to irrigate the plants. No suspects were found at the site. The landowner told officers he didn’t know the plants were being grown on his property. In mid August, 2,500 plants were found growing in a field in northern Upshur County. Since then, other marijuana fields were found in Smith, Anderson, Henderson and Van Zandt Counties.

The annual East Texas State Fair is up and running in Tyler. The fair opened off west Front Street Friday morning with Boomers and Senior Day activities in the Rose Garden Center. Saturday night, JB and The Moonshine Band will perform. The entertainment is free with your fair admission. And today, you will be able to see a sword swallower, the extreme high dive show, exhibits, carnival and a lot more. The fair runs through October 2nd.

HENDERSON — A man wanted in Dallas County has reportedly been spotted around the Rusk County area. KETK reports 37-year-old Johnny Ray Smith is considered armed and dangerous. Authorities also say he’s a heavy drug user. If you see Smith, you’re asked to immediately call the Rusk County Sheriff’s office at 903-657-3581 or Rusk County Crime Stoppers at 903-655-8477.

TYLER – Testing results from ongoing monitoring show Tyler Water Utilities continues to improve the city’s drinking water quality. The latest readings from all eight sampling sites are below the maximum contaminant level threshold of 60 parts per billion for haloacetic acids. An excessive amount of the acid was noticed in the water last October. Very heavy rains last spring are believed to have caused the problem. Mayor Martin Heines requested a third party evaluation of Tyler Water Utilities and its water treatment processes. The company hired by the city found the facilities to be well maintained and effectively operated. They did make several recommendations to reduce the formation of disinfection by products. Some have been completed and others will be completed in several months.

SMITH COUNTY (Staff/AP) — The State Commission on Judicial Conduct has announced Smith County Judge Joel Baker has agreed to resolve the pending SCJC investigation against him by signing a Voluntary Resignation Agreement. According to KETK, the Commission approved the agreement. The effective date of his resignation from the office of Smith County Judge will be the earlier of the resolution of the pending TOMA criminal case or November 4, 2016. The Commission’s Suspension without Pay Order remains in effect until the effective date of this agreement. Continue reading Suspended Smith County Judge Resigns

MARSHALL — Marshall police have recovered the body of a woman reported missing. Officials said around 7:50 Thursday night, they department received a call regarding a suspicious vehicle parked at the entrance of the “clay pits” on Bell Cut Off. Officials said the car belonged to Frances Jackson, of Marshall. Jackson had been reported missing by her family. A short time later, Texas Game Wardens recovered her body from the water.

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a body found Thursday morning and officials said foul play is suspected. The victim is said to be a male. According to KETK, a large law enforcement presence was seen in the 10,700 block of County Road 383 near Littlefield Drive. Authorities say the body was found in the Antioch Community near a cemetery. Authorities are searching for a person of interest.

TYLER – After searching for nearly half a year, the City of Tyler has selected David Coble of Fort Worth as the new fire chief. He will officially start his new job on November 7. Coble served as the executive assistant fire chief for Fort Worth for the past seven years and was the acting fire chief for most of 2015. He managed two of the department’s three divisions, including the Educational and Support Services division which includes the functions of training, EMS, supply, fire equipment services, fleet management, communications and emergency management. Coble succeeds Tim Johnson, a 35-year veteran of the City of Tyler Fire Department. He retired in April.

TYLER – It’s time for the ten day run of the East Texas State Fair in Tyler. The fair runs through October 2nd off West Front Street. It all started with Boomers and Senior Day activities this morning. And this year, those activities took place in the Rose Garden Center. Entertainment this year includes Restless Heart and Tracy Bird. And the entertainment is free with your fair admission. Add to that the attractions, livestock exhibits, a carnival and the great fair food, its entertainment for the entire family. You can go to East Texas Fair-dot com for a schedule of activities. Continue reading It’s Fair Time in Tyler

WASHINGTON (AP) – Scientists used radar from satellites to show that five East Texas earthquakes, one reaching magnitude 4.8, were caused by injections of wastewater in drilling for oil and gas. In 2012 and 2013, earthquakes – five of them considered significant – shook an area near Timpson. A team of scientists for the first time were able to track the uplifting ground movements in the earthquake using radar from satellites. A study in the journal Science on Thursday says it confirms that these were not natural, something scientists had previously said was likely using a more traditional analysis. Study co-author Stanford University William Ellsworth said the technique provides a new way to determine what quakes are man-made. Ellsworth said the shaking stopped when injection of wastewater was dramatically decreased.

TYLER – Starting at 8:00 Friday morning, the intersection of Tenneha Avenue and 26th Street will be closed. This is being done as part of the Palace, 26th and Grand Project. Construction plans for this area include a sanitary sewer relocation, installation of two six foot by six foot box culverts and grading, subgrade and asphalt work. All of this is for the extension of 26th Street from Tenneha Avenue to North Palace Avenue. The intersection is expected to be closed for the duration of the construction, whic his estimated to take about two months

LONGVIEW – A Gregg County man is in custody in a sexual assault case. The Gregg County Sheriff’s Department has arrested Thomas Levi Coty Ferrell, 22, of Gladewater. He has been charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child. Ferrell has been booked into the Gregg County Jail. His bond is $100,000.

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University has been issued a U.S. Patent for a closed-loop microwave joining device. It can weld ceramics to metals and has the potential to be used in numerous industries. Two engineering professors, Dr. Yoni Adonyi and Dr. Seung Kim, along with two LETU engineering alumni, Alan Worchester and Ithamar Glumac, are co-inventors of the patent, number 9,374,853. All four names appear on the patent, which marks the first U.S. patent awarded to full time LETU faculty working with full time students since the school was founded in 1946. Potential uses for the device are where critical joints between advanced metals, ceramics and composites cannot be made any other way in the electronics, defense and aerospace industries. While the vast majority of microwave joining applications focus on polymers, or plastics, this invention tackles the other two major material types, advanced manufacturing of metals and ceramics.