KTBB News, Weather, Talk

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.

LONGVIEW – Longview police continue their investigation of the deaths of two men. The bodies of Dekeilen Joe Nelson, 20, of Gilmer and Kevin Lorenzo Stephenson, 28, of Henderson, were found shortly before 8:45 Wednesday morning along a section of railroad tracks near the intersection of Estes Parkway and South Eastman Road. Both men had been shot to death. Police say they say they have no suspects in the case. Police spokeswoman Kristi Brian tells the Longview News Journal it’s unclear if the deaths are related to Longview gang activity. Investigators have not said if the men had been shot there, or were shot elsewhere and bodies dumped where they were found. There have now been four homicides in Longview this year.

LONGVIEW – A state prison inmate is now in the Gregg County Jail as he faces additional sexual assault charges. The Longview News Journal reports 40 year old Shawn Glen Blake had been in state prison, serving a 14 year sentence for indecency with a child. He was brought to Gregg County where he faces two new child assault charges. Blake is scheduled for arraignment April 1 on charges of indecency with a child by sexual contact and aggravated sexual assault of a child. The charges are said to stem 2005 and was said to have involved a girl who was under 14 at the time.

PALESTINE – A street in Palestine will be closed today. The city will be closing South Dorrance Street from Willie Myers Park on West Campbell Street, the intersection of South Dorrance and West Montana Street, and the intersection of South Dorrance and West Burkitt Street. It is being closed for Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church’s annual Easter Eggstravaganza. It will be closed starting at 11:00am and should be reopened sometime after 4:00pm.

MARSHALL – The Marshall Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating one of their most wanted fugitives, Demarquiatwon “Demarcus” Henderson. He is wanted for possession of a controlled substance, evading arrest with previous conviction, and possession of marijuana. The board of pardons and parole also has an outstanding warrant on Henderson for parole violation. He has been on the run since August of last year. The Marshall Police Department asks that if you have any information leading to the location of Henderson please call them at 903-935-4575 or 903-935-4540. If you wish to remain anonymous call Marshall/Harrison County Crime Stoppers at 903-935-9969.

KILGORE – A Metroplex murder suspect has been arrested in Gregg County. The arrest occurred Wednesday night after the suspect lead a variety of law enforcement agencies on a chase. Wanted by Fort Worth police was 36 year old Johnnie Warren. He had been wanted for murder and aggravated robbery. After being arrested in the Kilgore area, Warren was booked into the Gregg County jail. Bond was set at $250,000.

TYLER – With the Azalea Belles on hand, the ribbon has been cut officially opening the 57th Annual Azalea & Spring Flower Trail. The ceremony was held Friday morning at the historic Pyron home at 212 West Dobbs. Activities run through April 10th. Weather has curtailed attendance the past couple of years. Susan Travis, Vice President of Tourism-Servicing with Visit Tyler, says with flowers in bloom, and the weather cooperating, around 100,000 persons will visit Tyler for the activities and to drive or walk through over ten miles of beautiful historic homes with azalea bushes dating back to the 20s and 30s.

MARSHALL – Marshall police are asking the public’s help in locating a stolen trailer. The 2007 dump trailer was stolen from a residence on East Grand Avenue in Marshall. The suspect was driving a 1992-1996, dark blue, Ford F-150. Click on this link https://youtu.be/jZG_ukfZjmw to see a video of the theft. If you can identify the vehicle or person that it belongs to please contact Marshall Police Department at 903-935-4575 or if you wish to remain anonymous, call Marshall-Harrison County Crimestoppers at 903-935-9969

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott has appointed three persons to the Sulphur River Basin Authority Board of Directors. Their terms expire on February 1st, 2021. They are Katie Stedman of Mount Pleasant, Bret McCoy of Omaha and Mike Sandefur of Texarkana. The Board has the responsibility to construct, maintain, and operate inside the state and in the watershed of the Sulphur River and its tributaries. They can also operate inside or outside the boundaries of the authority any works considered essential to the operation of the authority and for its administration in controlling, storing, preserving, and distributing the water of the Sulphur River and its tributary streams, including the storm water and floodwater.

LONGVIEW – One person has been arrested in connection with some damaged cars in Longview. The cars were damaged at a dealership in the 800 Block of Highway 31 around 4:45 Wednesday morning. The suspects had fled the scene by the time officers arrived. A short time later officers found the suspect’s vehicle in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 2900 Block of Eastman Road. Arrested, hiding behind a dumpster, was 36 year old Dustin Charles Bennett of White Oak. He was arrested on an outstanding motion to revoke probation warrant, one outstanding city warrant, and was charged with evading arrest. They’re still looking for the second suspect.

LONGVIEW – The two men found dead in Longview have been identified. Longview police have identified them as Dekeilen Joe Nelson, 20, of Gilmer and Kevin Lorenzo Stephenson, 28, of Henderson. Their bodies were found shortly before 8:45 Wednesday morning along a section of railroad tracks near the intersection of Estes Parkway and South Eastman Road. Justice. Authorities are treating the deaths as a homicide since both men had been shot. Investigators are trying to determine if the men had been shot there, or were shot elsewhere and bodies dumped there.

KILGORE — Good Shepherd Emergency Room in Kilgore has opted for new security measures. The ER will no longer be using Kilgore police officers. According to KETK, instead, a psychiatrist on staff will create new protocols for handling aggressive behavior. Good Shepherd has not addressed the reason behind the changes.

TYLER — Tyler Police are investigating an early Thursday morning aggravated robbery. Officials said they received the report of a robbery at the Lavanderia Express laundromat on south Vine Avenue around 5:20. The employee told police that a black male, armed with a knife, wearing all black clothing and a mask, entered the business and demanded money. The suspect reportedly left the business on foot with an undetermined amount of cash. No injuries were reported. Continue reading Armed Suspect Sought in Early Morning Robbery

HAWKINS – Police in Hawkins are looking for a registered sex offender who disappeared with his son. The suspect is Tucker Maxson, 37, who was last seen on Tuesday running into a wooded area with his three-year-old son in his arms. The boy has been found and returned to his mother. The search for his dad is continuing. There is currently an active warrant for Maxson for assault causing bodily injury and family violence. According to the Wood County Crime Stoppers Facebook page, if you spot Maxson, contact the Hawkins Police Department or the Wood County Sheriff’s Department.

WHITEHOUSE – Two new officials will be taking duties in Whitehouse as city manager and school superintendent. Aaron Smith will assume duties as Whitehouse City manager between April 30th and May 2nd. A graduate from Tyler’s Robert E. Lee High School, Smith brings managerial experience from Ogallala, Nebraska and Tulia, Texas. He will be succeeding Kevin Huckabee who was embroiled in controversy last year. Continue reading Two Positions in Whitehouse Will Soon Be Filled

TYLER – The principal at John Tyler High School, Dr. Kenneth Gay, has been named a Texas Principal of the Year for the Tyler area by the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators. Dr. Gay will compete for a National Alliance of Black School Educators Principal of the Year award this fall. With Dr. Gay at the helm, John Tyler has seen improvements in student performance in all student groups receiving the rating of “Met Standard” on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness for the past two years. The school has also received national, state and local recognition for the campus, students, and staff members. Dr. Gay was associate principal at Nimitz High School in Aldine when he was named the John Tyler Principal in 2013. He came to a campus that had seen seven principals and two interim principals since 2002.

TYLER — Three have been arrested in Smith County on drug and weapon charges, according to Sheriff Larry Smith. The arrests came Monday after deputies conducted a vehicle stop at Loop 323 and Highway 110 North in Tyler. The suspects are named as Victor Alfonso Borja, 24, of Tyler (pictured); Bradley Mark Roberts, 34, of Dublin; and Amanda Carol Tucker, 29, of Cleburne. All three are charged with manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance with a bond of $250,000. Sheriff Larry Smith says the controlled substance was methamphetamine. Continue reading Three Suspects Arrested for Drug and Weapons Violations

LONGVIEW – Police are investigating the deaths of two men in Longview. A Union Pacific employee found the bodies shortly before 8:45 Wednesday morning along a section of railroad tracks near the intersection of Estes Parkway and South Eastman Road. Justice of the Peace James Mathis said both men died from gunshot wounds. At last report, the victims had not been identified.

TYLER – Two people thought to have been involved in a high speed chase in Smith County are in custody after police surrounded the South Tyler Residence Inn. Authorities received a tip that the car involved in the chase northwest of Tyler Monday night was in the hotel parking lot. During the chase, shots were fired at pursuing sheriff’s deputies, but no one was injured. At the hotel, officers took a man and a woman into custody. The two were taken to the sheriff’s department for questioning. The man has been identified as Jeremy Robinson, 31, Hutchins. He’s charged with aggravated assault on a public servant with bond set at $2,000,000. The woman has not been identified. Officers searched two vehicles at the hotel, one thought to be the car involved in the chase. In one vehicle they found assault weapons and meth.

KAUFMAN (AP/Staff) – Authorities say one person was killed and the gunman wounded in a shooting inside a Kaufman Wal-Mart store, and both were from Henderson County. Kaufman police say 55-year-old Donald Ray Coleman shot 59-year-old Wal-Mart employee John Morgan multiple times Tuesday morning in the garden center of the store. Coleman, who then shot himself in the head, is hospitalized in critical condition. Police Capt. Ed Black says the men had an ongoing dispute over Coleman’s estranged wife, who it’s believed Morgan was seeing. Both men were from Gun Barrel City, located about 25 miles southeast of Kaufman. The store was evacuated and no other injuries were reported. Kaufman County sheriff’s Capt. Fred Klingelberger initially said the gunman died but later said police subsequently told him the gunman survived.

HALLSVILLE – Hallsville school trustees have made it official, the new school superintendent is Jeff Collum. On February 25th, they named Collum the lone finalist for the post from over 50 candidates. Monday night, the Hallsville school board voted unanimously in favor of Collum, who will start his new duties July 1st. He will be succeeding Jim Dunlap who was named interim superintendent in 2011 and in 2012 was named permanent superintendent. Collum comes to Hallsville from Benton, Arkansas where he has been serving as school superintendent.

TYLER — More residents, including the ex-husband of the woman who accused Judge Joel Baker of inappropriate conduct, have called for him to step down from his position. KETK reports they spoke up during Tuesday’s commissioners court meeting. During the meeting, James (J.C.) Hardman, the ex-husband of Felisha Hardman (Felisha Smith), the woman accusing Baker of inappropriate conduct, spoke out against Baker. James Hardman began by saying, “You recognize my last name. You cannot cover up a lie with another lie.” He said he never saw any of the messages between his ex-wife and Baker, but claims to have seen the original friend request via Facebook. James Hardman referred to Felisha Hardman as “a victim.” However, Felisha Hardman has stated she also willingly sent lewd text messages to Baker. James Hardman abruptly left the courthouse before KETK reporters could speak with him following the meeting. Continue reading Judge Baker Remains Under Fire

EAST TEXAS — There’s a call to re-sentence an admitted East Texas arsonist who is serving life plus 20 years. Jason Bourque set a string of church fires in early 2010. His attorney Mike Snipes says Bourque is very sorry and says the sentence is way too long. He says some from the clergy have expressed forgiveness. Snipes, who presided as judge over the Kaufman County district attorney murder cases notes, “The getaway driver/accomplice and planner, that being the wife of Eric Williams, who slaughtered two district attorneys and then planned to kill others, got 40 years.” He asks how this case is more egregious than that case? Snipes said prescription drugs Bourque took led him to set the fires and says he is in no way a future danger.