KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW — Bronco Oilfield Services will close its Longview facility and cut 52 employees about the end of October. According to KETK, state regulators said Tuesday that they were notified last week of the plans, which come as low crude oil prices continue to hammer the energy industry. In a letter dated Aug. 31, the company said it was closing its facility at 5175 Whitehurst Drive in Longview, one of four offices it has in Texas. Continue reading More Bad News for Local Oilfield Workers

TYLER — Investigators are trying to determine the cause of an apartment fire that slightly injured one woman. She was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation in the 500 block of South Bois D’Arc. The fire was reported a little after 2:00 Wednesday afternoon. The fire was contained to the apartment where it started.

TYLER — We’ll find out today about the future plans for Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith. He has scheduled a news conference late this morning to discuss his intentions regarding next year’s sheriff’s election. Smith’s law enforcement career spans 3 years with the Gregg County, Texas Sheriff’s Department; United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); and United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF). Two persons announced last month they planned to run for sheriff. They are former jail administrator and Smith County Chief Deputy Gary Pinkerton and retired game warden Chris Green, who lost to Smith in 2012.

MARSHALL — Marshall police have arrested Sharketra Shardae Hildreth, 29, of Houston on a murder charge in a May 23 wreck that killed Todd Lane Davis of Waskom. According to KETK, Marshall police say the two-vehicle crash occurred at the intersection of U.S. Highway 59 and U.S. Highway 80 at 3:19 a.m. That’s when a vehicle driven by Hildreth, which was traveling southbound, reportedly disregarded a traffic light and struck Davis’ vehicle, which was traveling eastbound. At the time of the crash, Hildreth’s children, both minors, were in the car with their mother. Continue reading Houston Woman Charged with Murder in Marshall Crash

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University is again ranked in the top tier of the national 2016 U.S. News and World Report’s annual rankings of “America’s Best Colleges.” According to a university news release, LETU is ranked 32nd among all the universities in its category of “Best Regional Universities in the Western Region” for 2016. This year marks the 22nd year the university has ranked in the top tier. You can go to http://www.usnews.com/colleges to view the rankings, which include nearly 1,800 schools nationwide. The guide will be available in print on newsstands September 29. Continue reading U.S. News Again Ranks LETU in Top Tier of “America’s Best Colleges”

LONGVIEW – TxDOT and the city of Longview are drawing your attention to a couple of roadwork projects. Motorists who travel FM 2087 at the Sabine River in Longview will have a slower commute at the end of the week as planned work requires temporary lane closures. The Texas Department of Transportation says in a news release that the work will be conducted over two days, weather permitting. According to TxDOT, crews will be taking soil samples for the proposed bridge design on Thursday and Friday. Work will be conducted on the bridge located half a mile north of the Interstate Highway 20 Frontage Road. Motorists can expect closures between 8:00am and 5:00pm both days. Continue reading TxDOT Plans Work on FM 2087, I-20 in Longview

TYLER — The City of Tyler has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its fiscal year 2014-2015 budget document. This is the ninth consecutive year that the city’s budget document has received the recognition, according to a news release. The award was granted by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) and was presented to the city during Wednesday’s City Council meeting. According to the release, City of Tyler Chief Financial Officer Keidric Trimble says the award reflects the city’s “commitment…to meet the highest principles of governmental budgeting.”

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler Wednesday announced a 9% enrollment increase for fall 2015. Preliminary enrollment is 8,862, according to President Rodney H. Mabry. In a news release, officials say this marks the largest fall semester enrollment increase in UT Tyler’s history. Last year, the total headcount was 8,114 on the 12th class day, which is the fall census date. Continue reading UT Tyler Celebrates 9% Enrollment Increase

LUFKIN (AP) – Some elected officials in East Texas have dropped the public forum part of meetings amid concerns about abusive speakers. The Angelina County Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to eliminate the public forum portion of future meetings. County Judge Wes Suiter says the forum had become more of an attack or a grievance against a member of the court or another elected official. One resident, Don Lymbery, said the public forum is a way for individuals to let commissioners know about things coming up in the county. Lymbery says doing away with the public forum takes away the opportunity to talk to commissioners directly. Commissioners, whose meetings are held in Lufkin, previously allowed a person about three minutes during the public forum to bring up a topic.

LONGVIEW — A man found dead in a Longview motel room last Friday died from a stab wound to his neck. The preliminary autopsy report on the death of Arnold Lee McCollaum Jr., 47, of Longview, was released yesterday. It said, when he was stabbed, his jugular vein was perforated. McCollaum was found dead in a room at the American Dream Inn in the 2000 block of East Marshall Avenue, where he lived. Arrested in the case was Gary Don Murphy, 51, of Kilgore. (Pictured) He was arrested without incident and charged with murder several hours after the body was discovered. His bond was set at $250,000.

AUSTIN — East Texas is on the itinerary as Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar embarks on a 27-city, two-month Good For Texas tour, meeting with local officials and citizens to talk about the future of the Texas economy. Here’s a rundown of the stops he plans in our area:

Tuesday, Sept. 22:
*Lufkin-Angelina Chamber of Commerce, 1615 S. Chestnut, Lufkin — 10:00 a.m.
*Nacogdoches County Exposition and Civic Center, 3805 NW Stallings Drive, Nacogdoches — 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 23:
*Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, 315 N. Broadway, Tyler — 9:30 a.m.
*Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Complex, 100 Grand Blvd., Longview — 2:00 p.m. Continue reading Hegar’s Good For Texas Tour Coming to East Texas This Month

TYLER — On Monday, Sept. 14, Tyler’s Discovery Science Place will close for two weeks to update current exhibits and perform maintenance renovations. Executive Director Chris Rasure says the hands-on children’s museum will reopen at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, participating in Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day Live! event. The nationwide event offers free admission to visitors presenting a Museum DayLive! ticket at a participating museum or cultural institution. You can go to http://www.Smithsonian.com/museumdaylive to download your Museum Day Live! ticket. Visitors who present the ticket will gain free entrance for two at participating venues for one day only. One ticket is permitted per household, per email address. Continue reading Discovery Science Place to Close Temporarily for Updates, Renovations

TYLER — The city of Tyler has just come up with a way to alleviate the heartbreak of losing a dog. According to a news release, with approximately seven million dogs lost every year, Tyler Animal Services is integrating with Finding Rover in an effort to reunite families with their pets. Using facial recognition technology, Finding Rover is a free social media app that is just a download away, according to city officials. Continue reading Tyler Animal Services Launches Finding Rover App

LONGVIEW — A man found with a gunshot wound Monday night in Longview has died from his injuries. Fedrick Jones, 35, was found around 10:00 in the roadway in the 300 block of Scenic Drive, according to the Longview Police Department Facebook page. Authorities said Jones had a gunshot wound and was taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview where he later died. Police have no suspects in the shooting. Continue reading Longview Shooting Victim Dies at Hospital

EAST TEXAS — A driver and passenger are in custody after a chase through multiple towns between Tyler and Longview. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, it began around 3:30 Monday afternoon on State Highway 31 and ended about 20 minutes later when state troopers used road spikes to stop the vehicle. State Trooper Jean Dark said the pair were in a car that might have sped away from a traffic stop. “I don’t know what they initially were pulled over for,” she said, adding that more details should be available later.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — East Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert has an offer — though he admits it’s unlikely he’ll be taken up on it. The longtime Republican lawmaker says he won’t run for re-election if House and Senate leaders “treat the Iran agreement as the treaty it is and as the Constitution requires.” Gohmert spoke with KTBB after initially announcing his offer while sitting in for talk show host Sean Hannity Friday afternoon. Gohmert said he’d file a resolution Tuesday declaring that the Iran nuclear agreement “is a treaty, and…that since it’s a treaty, the House does not get a vote, but 2/3 of the Senate must vote for it, or it is not binding on America.” Continue reading Gohmert Makes Unusual Offer on Iran Deal

LUFKIN — Deep East Texas Crime Stoppers wants to pay you for information that leads to the arrest of a man sought by the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office for three narcotics trafficking warrants. According to KETK, a judge issued three state jail felony arrest warrants August 31 following an investigation into Samual Rodriguez for manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance. Law officers are looking for Rodriguez (AKA Sammy), a 28-year-old Hispanic male who stands 5’9″ tall and weighs approximately 200 pounds. He has a scar through his left eyebrow and tattoos on his right arm, hand, and calf. Continue reading Drug Suspect Sought in Lufkin Area

TYLER — The 5th Annual “Art Of Peace – Tyler” is a series of peace-themed events beginning with the opening of an art exhibit today at the Tyler Museum of Art. Activities last until the actual International Day of Peace on September 21. Other highlights include a Liberty Hall concert featuring Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Ruthie Foster and a peace meal at Marvin United Methodist Church. You can visit http://www.tylerpeace.com for all the details.

KILGORE — The Kilgore Fire Department will be taking a new approach to assisting in emergency situations. KETK reports it’s the first department in East Texas to purchase a drone. Last week, the department presented the drone, known as Eric — “emergency response information collector” — at the city council meeting. Eric was bought by the Kilgore Rescue Unit, which drew funds from the city, Gregg and Rusk Counties, and donations. The department has now applied for the FAA certificate of authorization, and should receive approval within sixty days. Fire Chief Mike Simmons says, “As we start to move forward in the phase one of training in the FAACLA process, we’ll have a formalized class where all the folks that want to fly the thing or be trained to fly it will go through training — how to operate it, how to use the fail-safe features.” Continue reading Kilgore FD Prepares to Put New Drone to Work

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University hosted a short swearing-in ceremony Monday morning for its new chief of police, Michael Schultz. Gregg County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Tim Bryan administered the oath of office. Schultz succeeds Terry Turner, who left the university in May after serving in the role for nearly 16 years. Before coming to Longview, Schultz served as police sergeant for Spring ISD for 17 years and Cypress-Fairbanks ISD for three years.

TATUM — A one vehicle accident in Rusk County has left one person dead. It was reported around 9:00 Saturday morning just south of Tatum on State Highway 43. All we know at this time is a passenger in the vehicle has been killed and the driver critically injured.

LONGVIEW — One person is in custody following a Longview murder. The victim’s body was found at the American Dream Inn, 2105 East Marshall Avenue shortly before 6:00 Friday evening. He was pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace Tim Bryan and the body sent to a Tyler lab for autopsy. Investigators were able to determine that the person responsible for the murder was Gary Don Murphy, 51, of Kilgore. He was arrested for murder several hours later without incident. His bond was set at $250,000. More details will be released as they become available.

CANTON — A young boy who was sought because it was believed he was in need of medical attention, has been located. Child Protective Services says Jayden Malone, 10, was found Friday with his grandmother. Teresa Matteson, 47, was arrested on a felony charge. Authorities said the child has numerous medical conditions. CPS has been granted custody of the boy to ensure his safety.

CANTON — Officials are asking for the public’s help locating a child believed to be in need of immediate attention for a serious medical condition. According to KETK, Child Protective Services says Jayden Malone, 10, is the missing boy. Authorities said the child has numerous medical conditions. Malone is suspected to be with Teresa Matterson in the Canton/Van Zandt County area. CPS has been granted custody of the boy to ensure his safety. If you have any information about Jayden or his whereabouts, call CPS at 903-253-2374 or 903-203-7704.

TYLER — There wasn’t a safer place to be Friday morning than on Broadway in Tyler. KETK reports officers from several departments gathered together to pay respects to Deputy Darren Goforth and stand together in light of the recent attacks against law enforcement. Governor Abbott requested law enforcement flash their blue lights for one minute at 11:00 a.m. “Well, we’re out here to honor Deputy Goforth and other law enforcement, all other law enforcement that have lost their lives and are serving right now,” said Smith County Game Warden Brad Clark. Continue reading East Texans Pay Tribute to Law Enforcement

RUSK COUNTY — A law enforcement chase in Rusk County ended Thursday night in an exchange of gunfire. According to KETK, the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office says it started around 8:15 Thursday night, when officers were responding to a suicidal person in the 1600 block of Kilgore Drive in Henderson. When officers arrived the suspect drove away. After a pursuit on Highway 64 West, the man stopped the vehicle and fired shots at the officers. Officers fired back at the man, who was arrested shortly after. No one was injured. The name of the suspect was not immediately available.

LONGVIEW — Police Friday released the names of those involved in Thursday afternoon’s deadly accident in Longview. According to KETK, Longview police say Leing D. Hinson, 43, was killed when the van she was in ran into the back of a truck. The accident happened on I-20 at mile marker 595. Police say a truck traveling east in the outside lane was slowing down because traffic was backing up due to another accident. David Hinson, 49, was also traveling in the outside lane of I-20, but he was reportedly driving too fast. He tried to avoid the truck by swerving into the inside lanes. The right front passenger side of his car ran into the right rear driver’s side of the truck. Continue reading Names Released in Fatal Longview Wreck

TYLER – Tyler ISD is joining with schools, city agencies, community nonprofits, businesses, and others around the nation to celebrate Attendance Awareness Month. According to a TISD news release, these groups will work together to help raise public awareness, map local attendance gaps, and work with community partners to improve school attendance numbers. During the month, school leaders, community advocates, parents, and students are encouraged to act upon what school leaders term critical first steps to help stem chronic absenteeism: build a habit and a culture of regular attendance, use data to determine when and with whom chronic absence is a problem, and identify and address barriers to getting children to school.

TYLER — Smith’s Lone Star Event Center was packed Thursday afternoon as presidential candidate Ted Cruz made an appearance. KETK reports if elected President of the United States, Senator Cruz reaffirmed that he plans to do a lot in his first few days of office. The first step he will take: rescind every illegal and unconstitutional executive order that President Obama has made. Secondly- he plans to defund Planned Parenthood. Thirdly, he intends to stop religious persecution in our country. Cruz told the crowd, “Every one of us, regardless of faith, has the right to seek and worship God with all of our heart, mind and soul.” He also plans to “rip the Iranian Nuclear Deal to shreds” and repeal every word of Obamacare.

MARSHALL — Former Waskom High School teacher Justin James Kelly, arrested last October for sending inappropriate text messages to a student, pleaded guilty Monday to display of harmful material to a minor, a Class A misdemeanor. That’s according to KETK and the Marshall News-Messenger. “The initial charge was online solicitation, but that statute was held to be unconstitutional a little over two years ago, so we had to change the charge to the misdemeanor charge he ultimately pled to,” said Harrison County Criminal District Attorney Coke Solomon. “Based on the evidence that was the only offense we could proceed with.” Continue reading Former Teacher Gets Probation for Sexting Student