KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — UT Tyler Police Chief Mike Medders announced Wednesday that Randal Duke has been named the university’s new emergency management coordinator. Duke has been a member of the UT Tyler police department since 2012, serving as a telecommunications operator and a public safety officer. Prior to that, he was a high school teacher and coach for 22 years. In a news release, Medders says Duke’s experience makes him “extremely familiar with crisis management” and “has given him a better perspective of law enforcement responsibilities during an emergency situation.” Continue reading UT Tyler Appoints Emergency Management Coordinator

QUITMAN — Investigators with the Wood County Sheriff’s Office say they recently wrapped up an eleven-month probe into a large scale methamphetamine distribution network. KETK reports the multi-agency investigation resulted in 55 federal indictments of multiple defendants the county. The indictments were for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for the use of firearms to further that crime. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with DPS CID Special Agents, worked jointly with sheriff’s investigators. As a result, officials say over a pound of methamphetamine was seized and taken off the streets. In a news release, Sheriff Jim Brown says his office “remains committed to using all necessary resources to make sure the streets of our county remain safe.”

LONGVIEW — There’s new information on the two Longview parents who were arrested in the death of their 2-year-old daughter. According to KETK, an arrest warrant revealed the child’s maternal grandmother called after the mother, Jamie Nelson, 24, told her the child was having seizures after hitting her head. The police say the child’s injuries were inconsistent with the parents’ story. The child had marks all over her body, and police are now saying the parents failed to act after the child was unresponsive for two hours. Aaron Bowling (pictured), 26, is being held on charges of injury to a child with intent to commit serious bodily injury. Nelson posted bond.

TYLER — It has been said of the U.S. Postal Service, “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” But it says nothing about a postal truck on fire. A Tyler mail truck caught fire Tuesday afternoon on Holly Lake Circle. The Tyler Fire Department responded to the blaze shortly after 12:15. The truck was carry around 2,000 pieces of mail, around 90% of which was destroyed. No injuries were reported. No word on how the fire started.

SMITH COUNTY — Two Smith County roads damaged from heavy rains December 27 have reopened to traffic. Officials say County Road 415, in the New Harmony area, and County Road 2188, outside Whitehouse, are now open to drivers. Smith County Road and Bridge crews replaced culverts on both roads and continue to work on other roads also damaged in December storms.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County detectives have recovered the body of 74-year-old Timothy James Bender of northwestern Smith County. Authorities say a welfare check was issued for Bender during the recent flooding. The welfare concern was initiated by relatives in Michigan. Bender’s vehicle was found parked on the side of the road near Enchanted Lakes in northwestern Smith County. ALERT Academy of Big Sandy assisted the Smith County Sheriff’s Office in the search Tuesday after the vehicle was located. The body was found in a field near the abandoned vehicle. The flood waters had at one time submerged the vehicle.

TYLER — A Smith County grand jury has indicted one of the suspects in an August shootout at a Bunny’s convenience store on Tyler’s northern outskirts. D’Mio Antunez Ingram, 24, of Longview, has been charged with murder and was arraigned Tuesday before 241st District Court Judge Jack Skeen, Jr. Skeen set Ingram’s bond at $750,000. According to a news release from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Ingram is a documented member of the 2200 12th Street Gang from Longview. The investigation is ongoing at this time. More than 300 people were said to be involved in the incident, which left one person dead and injured three others. Several others have also been arrested in the case.

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the identifies of three burglars who stole several wheels and tires from a local business. According to KETK, the Gregg Count Sheriff’s Office says thieves took 20″ wheels and tires from Custom Auto Sales on FM 449 in Longview. This past Saturday at approximately 11:15 p.m., two men and a woman were seen arriving at the location in what appeared to be a 1980s to early 1990s model Dodge pickup with overhead lights and walk through the lot with a flashlight. Continue reading Authorities Seek IDs of Tire Burglars

LONGVIEW — Longview police are investigating the death of a two year old child. The youngster’s mother took her to Good Shepherd Medical Center on December 30th. Because of the severity of her injuries, she was later flown to a Dallas hospital. As officers began to investigate the case, the parents provided a story that was not consistent with the child’s injuries. The youngster died last Saturday. The girl’s mother, Jamie Nelson, 24, of Winona, was originally arrested for abandoning/endangering a child by omission or criminal negligence. Aaron Castile Bowling 26 of Longview, was arrested for abandoning/endangering a child by omission or criminal negligence. Bowling’s charges have been upgraded to injury to a child with intent to commit serious bodily injury.

KILGORE — A chase through Gregg County has resulted in one person being arrested and one being sought. The chase started around 7:45 Monday night after sheriff’s deputies spotted a pickup reported stolen in Longview. It ended on Commerce Street in Kilgore when the truck stopped after crashing through a traffic circle. A passenger in the vehicle was arrested. The driver remains at large.

GILMER — The National Weather Service has confirmed a tornado in Upshur County December 27th. The EF-1 tornado began just over 2 1/2 miles west of Gilmer around 3:30 that afternoon. It ended about 7 1/2 miles north of Gilmer after traveling just over 8 1/2 miles with a width of 1338 yards. Wind speeds were estimated to be between 90 and 100 mph. No injuries were reported, but two homes were damaged by falling trees and some building lost metal roofs and some trees were snapped and uprooted. That makes three tornadoes in Northeast Texas on December 27. An EF-2 tornado was reported at Woodlawn, north of Marshall and an EF-0 tornado was reported in Bowie County near De Kalb.

BEREA, OHIO (AP/STAFF) — Johnny Manziel rejoined his teammates in time to pack up after another dismal season. Manziel, from Tyler, was at the team’s headquarters Monday as the Browns regrouped one day after a loss to Pittsburgh and the firings of coach Mike Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer. According to several players, Manziel, who was seen in Las Vegas over the weekend, was in attendance as Cleveland’s players were addressed by owner Jimmy Haslam and Sashi Brown, the team’s newly appointed head of football operations. The Browns were unsure of Manziel’s whereabouts on Sunday. Manziel was not required to be at the season finale because he was recovering from a concussion and following the NFL’s protocol on head injuries. Haslam said the quarterback missed a medical treatment at the team’s facility. Manziel did not come into the locker room to speak with reporters.

MARSHALL — A teenager is the latest to be arrested in a Marshall homicide. Devante Thomas, 17, of Marshall, surrendered to authorities. He had been named in a murder warrant in the December 22nd shooting death of Dominique Moody, 22. He was found shot to death at the Ward Plaza Apartments on Martin Luther King Boulevard. Previously arrested in the case was Norris Wayne Jackson, 22, of Marshall. Both suspects remain in the Harrison County jail, each under a $1 million bond.

TYLER — Smoke in the building caused an evacuation Monday at Cumberland Academy High School, on Paluxy Drive in Tyler. The Tyler Fire Department reports first arriving crews found a heating unit to be the source of the problem and quickly killed power to the unit. Other than smoke in the building, no damage has been reported. Teachers were having in-service and quickly evacuated the building without injury. There were no students present at the time.

GILMER — A Gilmer ISD bus was involved in a two-vehicle crash Monday morning on Pine Street. According to KETK, Gilmer ISD Superintendent Rick Albritton says at 7:30 a.m., bus #35 crashed into a home during a wreck. Paramedics said there were no serious injuries and all children are safe. Eight students were checked at the scene. No one was taken from the scene by ambulance, although two children left with a parent. All other children were taken to school, where they saw the nurse, counselor and principal. Parents were contacted as soon as possible. Gilmer ISD is working with the Gilmer Police Department to determine what happened.

GREGG COUNTY — The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an armed robbery at a Longview convenience store. According to Deputy Josh Tubb, the robbery happened Monday morning around 6:00 at Mr. C’s Convenience Store on Alpine Road, near Alpine Golf Course and Loop 281. Deputy Tubb said a black male wearing dark clothes reportedly entered the store, displayed a handgun and demanded cash, then fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money. Witness said the suspect was of medium build, between 5’05” and 5’10” with scars on his hand. His face covered with some type of mask. No injuries were reported. Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator Falco with the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office at (903)236-8438 or CrimeStoppers at (903) 236-STOP.

CLEVELAND (AP/STAFF) — The Browns are not commenting on a report that quarterback Johnny Manziel went to Las Vegas on the day before the season finale. Manziel, a Tyler native, was not playing Sunday against Pittsburgh following his concussion last week. He is in the NFL’s protocol on head injuries. USA Today quoted an employee and patron who said they saw Manziel at Las Vegas’ Planet Hollywood on Saturday. It’s not clear if the team has a policy prohibiting players from traveling when they are out with an injury. Continue reading Manziel’s Las Vegas Trip Under Scrutiny

LIBERTY CITY – A one vehicle accident near Liberty City has killed a Sabine High School junior. According to the Kilgore News Herald, killed was Robert Landon “Bo” Bates, 17. The accident occurred around 3:30 Sunday afternoon on Farm Road 1252 near Old Kilgore Highway. His vehicle left the road and overturned. Bates, who was thrown from the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident remains under investigation by the Department of Public Safety. Counselors will be on-hand at the school to speak with students on Tuesday.

LONGVIEW — Three people have been hospitalized following an accident in Longview, just after 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon on Loop 281 near Best Buy. KETK reports their names, ages, and conditions were not immediately known. Keep checking this web page and stay tuned to KTBB for further updates.

TYLER — With classes starting up again Monday in Tyler ISD, it’s time to renew preparations for this spring’s first annual TISD-TV Student Film Festival, sponsored by Suddenlink. According to a news release, the festival is an opportunity for students to develop their visual literacy and expand their educational experience. There will be an awards ceremony April 4. The period to submit entries runs through February 8. You can go to http://www.tylerisd.org for more information on Film Festival guidelines, categories, and important dates, and to submit your entries.

EAST TEXAS — The Sabine River is at historic levels in East Texas. Near Gladewater, the river is at “major flood” stage, cresting just under 40 feet. Flood stage at this point of the waterway is considered 26 feet or above. Forecasters say the Sabine will fall to 37 feet by mid-week. Local residents say they never seen anything like it. Farm Road 2087 (pictured) between Loop 281 and Interstate Highway 20 in Longview/Gregg County remains closed due to the high Sabine River water. No thru traffic is allowed as water has breached one lane and continues to overtake the road at this location. Crews are monitoring the location as they wait for the water to recede. Continue reading High Water, Road Closures Continue to Affect East Texas

WHITE OAK — Oil prices that shielded Texas from the worst of the 2008 recession and a U.S. recovery as slow as molasses have lost that superpower as 2016 dawns. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. With a barrel of U.S. oil falling 30 percent in 2015 to finish the year at $37.04 a barrel — a far cry from the $100-a-barrel mark achieved in 2008 — a Northeast Texas economy that’s still closely tied to oil’s fortunes is bracing for more hardscrabble times. “I hope we’ve seen the bottom of this,” said Stoney Lake, Vice President of Sales for White Oak compressor maker Energy Weldfab. “But if it goes down to $30 in the near future, you’ll see some layoffs. … In this area, we’re really tapped into the energy industry, and it’s a trickle effect.” Continue reading East Texas Bracing for $30 Oil

TYLER — The City of Tyler Street and Engineering Departments are working to replace a collapsed drainage system on Old Bascom Road between Shiloh Road and Old Omen Road. Construction began Sunday in hopes of being completed by January 8. This portion of Old Bascom Road will remain closed until construction is complete.

TYLER — Tyler police are calling it “an excellent life-saving effort” by officers. Police announced around 10:00 Friday morning that Benny Pettigrew, who will be 80 next Wednesday, had been rescued from a creek. He’d last been seen at 509 House Avenue and was reported missing around 1:25 Friday morning. Pettigrew was considered to be a Critical Missing Adult due to his age and medical needs. According to a Tyler Police Department news release, several officers were assigned to the search, including Charles “Chuck” Barber, Wayne Thomas, Tom Whitworth, Richard Strother, and Steve Black. Continue reading Missing Tyler Man Rescued by Police

MT. VERNON — The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Mount Vernon Police Department, assisted by the Texas Rangers, are investigating the murder of a 6-year-old boy — reportedly at the hands of his stepmother. KETK reports Wesley Benjamin “Ben” Roycroft was killed at the Logan’s Pointe Apartments on Whitten Drive in Mount Vernon. Suspect Christie Lynn Roycroft, 30, was taken into custody at the scene by responding officers and placed in the Franklin County Jail on $2.5 million bond on a capital murder charge. Continue reading Woman Arrested, Charged with Stepson’s Murder

TYLER — New Year’s Day brought a rate hike for drivers who use Toll 49. The toll rate adjustment is not something new. Everett Owen, Interim Executive Director of the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority, said it was decided previously that the rate adjustments would be incremental to bring Tyler closer to the state average. The revenue from the tolls is used to maintain and expand the toll road. You can go to http://www.netrma.org and find the new rate schedule.

TYLER — Tyler police continue their participation in the ‘No-Refusal’ DWI Campaign. It started Thursday afternoon at 3:00 and will run through Saturday. Upon the arrest of a suspected drunk driver, he or she will be asked if they would submit to a breath or a blood test. If the driver refuses and says “No” officers will obtain an immediate search warrant signed by a judge on call to have blood drawn by a nurse on staff at the Smith County Jail. Continue reading Tyler’s “No-Refusal” DWI Campaign

TYLER — The Better Business Bureau of East Texas is warning area home owners about a door-to-door roofing company which reportedly swindled a property owner out of hundreds of dollars. One consumer claimed he paid $500 to a roofer who did substandard work and provided false contact information for himself and his company. This company is currently under BBB Investigation. Storm chasers and other door-to-door salespeople often peddle dubious deals that may be costly to homeowners and create serious headaches, often requiring advance payment and making big promises on which they have no intention of delivering. Continue reading Warning About Dishonest Door-To-Door Roofing Companies

TYLER — A vehicle-pedestrian accident west of Tyler has left one person injured. The wreck occurred just before 1:45 Thursday afternoon at Highway 64 and Toll 49. The Department of Public Safety reports the man was flown to a Tyler hospital. The initial report was his injuries were not life threatening. The accident remains under investigation.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Louie Gohmert of Tyler Thursday discussed his federal version of “Kari’s Law” as he guest hosted the Sean Hannity show, heard on KTBB. Gohmert says he wants the law to apply nationally to any business that currently requires something other than direct 911 dialing in an emergency. Governor Greg Abbott signed a Texas version of the bill into law last May. Kari Hunt Dunn was murdered in 2013 by her husband in a Marshall hotel room. The couple’s daughter tried to call 911 but didn’t realize she had to dial “9” first to get an outside line. The incident prompted a nationwide effort to allow callers to dial 911 directly from hotel rooms and other multi-line systems.