KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LINDALE — Two more tornado sirens will be added in Lindale. KETK reports the city council approved the addition in a meeting earlier this week. The sirens were on the council’s agenda last week, before Friday’s tornadoes hit the area. City Manager Craig Lindholm says, “With the addition of these two we’ll have 8 early warning sirens, tornado sirens in the city of Lindale. Lindale says he thinks the move will “enhance public safety tremendously.” He adds the city is grateful for the support in cleanup efforts after last week’s storm.

VAN ZANDT — Van Zandt County Precinct 2 Constable C.B. Wiley has passed away. According to KETK, wiley passed away early this morning after serving Van Zandt County for over 50 years. Wiley was born in Seguine and moved to Van Zandt County as a young boy. He graduated from the Kilgore Police Academy after his service in both the 82nd and 11th Airborne Paratrooper Division of the U.S. Army, serving much of his time in Germany. He was permanently licensed as a Texas State Peace Officer and completed more than 800 hours in police and law enforcement training, some at the University of Texas in Austin. Continue reading Longtime Van Zandt County Constable Dies

SMITH COUNTY — A group seeking to remove Smith County Judge Joel Baker from his seat is now calling for Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham to remove himself from the case. According to KETK, JoAnne Fleming, a spokeswoman for the plaintiffs, said Bingham disqualified himself through previous actions. “We believe it is absolutely clear that District Attorney Matt Bingham is disqualified from joining our case due to his explicit recusal on one of the causes (ATS traffic camera contract) cited in our case for the removal of Judge Joel Baker from office. Our attorneys are preparing a formal response,” Fleming stated. Continue reading Group Wants D.A. off Judge Baker’s Case

TYLER — Smith County’s disaster declaration has been extended indefinitely. The Smith County commissioner’s court took the action during an emergency meeting on Thursday. County Judge Joel Baker first issued the declaration late last Friday night following Lindale’s tornadoes. Smith County Fire Marshall Connie McCoy-Wasson said 169 homes in Lindale were affected by the storms, suffering either major or minor damage. Ten homes were destroyed. The disaster declaration also covers the flooding that occurred in the southern part of the county, including flooding inside the cities of Whitehouse and Troup. McCoy-Wasson said The Troup High School and Middle School suffered water damage. They are still trying to gather numbers on the rest of the flooding damage and they continue to get calls daily from people all over the county reporting property damage.

LONGVIEW — Longview police are asking for the public’s help in locating a runaway teen. She is 15 year old Angel Nicole Johnson. She was last seen on April 22 at Longview Early Graduation High School getting into a grey passenger car. There is no information on what she was wearing when last seen. She is described as a black female with shoulder length brown hair with brown eyes. She is about 5’1 and weighs 110 pounds. If you have information on where she may be, you are asked to contact Detective Chris Bethard at 903-237-1161 or call 911.

LONGVIEW — Longview police have arrested a suspect in a murder in January, 2015. Arrested earlier this week was Aaron Undria McCoy, 24, of Longview. He is accused in the death of Garrett Dawn Neal, 30. He was found shot to death in a home in the 1700 Block of Sandlin Street. Police say the arrest followed a tip. After corroborating the information, they obtained an arrest warrant for McCoy. He remains in the Gregg County jail.

TYLER — The Department of Public Safety says a medical condition may have caused a fatal Smith County accident. The victim is identified as 66 year old Jerrell Willie Goodson of Tyler. He was killed when his truck left the road and hit a tree. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident occurred shortly before 5:45 Wednesday afternoon near the intersection of County Roads 1141 and 1140, southwest of Tyler

TYLER — May is Elder Abuse Prevention Month. In the last fiscal year in Texas, 43,759 cases of elder abuse were confirmed. In Smith County, 780 elder abuse and disabled adults cases have been investigated with 585 validated and action is being taken. Smith County Adult Protective Services Board member Jenny Wells says it’s not all physical or mental abuse. There is also financial exploitation abuse. Self-neglect is a major issue for the elderly And the elder population in Texas is growing. There are over 3 million people in Texas who are 65 or older and nearly 2 million people who have a disability and are eligible for Adult Protective Services. Wells says you can report suspected cases of elder abuse on line at http://www.txabusehotline.org or you can call 1-800-252-5400.

AUSTIN — A committee to advise The University of Texas System Board of Regents on the selection of a president for UT Tyler was announced Thursday by Regents’ Chairman Paul L. Foster, according to a UT System news release. The UT Tyler presidential search advisory committee will make recommendations on possible successors to Rodney H. Mabry, Ph.D., who announced in February his plans to retire at the end of 2016. The search advisory committee will be asked to present names of potential candidates to the board, which will make the final decision. Continue reading UT Tyler Presidential Search Advisory Committee Named

SMITH COUNTY — One person is dead following a one-vehicle crash near Tyler. According to KETK, DPS says around 6 p.m. Wednesday, a truck near the intersection of Smith County Roads 1141 and 1140 hit a tree. A man died at the scene. A trooper at the site said it appears the man had a medical condition that may have caused the crash.

TYLER — The usual big crowd was on hand once again for Tyler’s 25th Annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast at Harvey Convention Center, part of the National Day of Prayer. Mayor Martin Heines singled out local faith-based and nonprofit organizations for special thanks, noting that local government can’t do it all. Prayers were offered up for various segments of the community, and special music was also featured.. Heines closed it out with with a prayer for the community from Rabbi Alan Learner, specifically targeting those in need and those who serve. The prayer said, in part, “May God give strength to all of us to bring about change to better the lives of all our citizens; to eliminate hatred, bigotry, and vice.”

DALLAS (AP/Staff) – A Dallas judge has ordered former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel to have no contact with the alleged victim in his domestic violence case. The Tyler native was in court less than 15 minutes Thursday as Judge Roberto Canas set conditions for his release on $1,500 bond. Manziel cannot contact ex-girlfriend Colleen Crowley, nor can he be in possession of any firearms. The Heisman Trophy winner from Texas A&M was indicted last month after Crowley said he hit her and threatened to kill her in January. No plea was entered, but defense attorney Robert Hinton says Manziel plans to plead not guilty. The 23-year-old Manziel faces a misdemeanor that carries a penalty of up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. A status hearing was set for June 24.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Adrian Peterson is donating $100,000 toward relief efforts after flooding ravaged his hometown of Palestine. And the Minnesota Vikings running back is asking others to help as well. Peterson is teaming up with the Salvation Army on a fundraising campaign. Six Palestine residents died, including four children and a high school classmate of Peterson’s, in the floods that hit Texas on Saturday. Peterson says it’s been heartbreaking to see his working class hometown suffer such devastating loss of life and property damage. He says he is working to get food and water to the region as quickly as possible for those in need. Continue reading Adrian Peterson Donating $100K to Flood Relief in Hometown

TYLER — Tyler Police are investigating a reported robbery Wednesday night. According to authorities, just after 9:00 at the Broadstone Apartments, on south Broadway, two teenagers said three suspects, one with a handgun, knocked on the door and forced their way into the apartment. The victims were told to go to a back bedroom while the suspects reportedly stole electronics, then fled the scene. No injuries were reported. The suspects were described as light skinned black males in their late teens or early 20’s. The suspect carrying the handgun was said to be wearing a red/orange jacket, gray pants, black and white Adidas shoes and a dark colored bandana tied around his face. One of the other suspects was said to be wearing a Star Wars backpack. Continue reading Tyler Police Search for Armed Robbers

EAST TEXAS — Over the past few days, the American Red Cross has completed the emergency phase of the East Texas tornado and flood response and has ramped up its beginning of the recovery phase. According to a news release, to date, Red Cross has identified well over 100 damaged homes which are unlivable at this time with another 200 affected in some way. After making sure that everyone had a safe place to stay, Red Cross teams closed the temporary emergency shelter in Lindale on Tuesday. Continue reading Red Cross Continues Storm Relief Efforts

LONGVIEW — An undisclosed threat caused the evacuation of Pine Tree High School Wednesday. Students with cars were allowed to leave the campus. All others were directed to the school auditorium to wait for parents. The evacuation started shortly before 3:00 p.m.

TYLER — A Tyler radio personality has been arrested on drug charges. Patrick Aaron Aguirre, 39, known on the station “The Breeze” as Brain, was arrested Tuesday in the 700 block of Becky Drive. The arrest came as officers served a warrant. A search of the house turned up 12 ounces of marijuana. He has been charged with felony possession of marijuana, more than four ounces and less than five pounds. Aguirre is currently free on a $7,500 bond.

TULLOS, LOUSIANA — Two Louisana men are in custody in the deaths of two Texans from Wood County. The men are charged in the deaths of Chelsey Copling, 19, and Demond Garner, 26, both of Hawkins. They were reported missing April 24th after leaving a house in Tullos, about 100 miles southeast of Shreveport. Their bodies were found in a wooded area near the town last Thursday. The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office tells local media that the two suspects were arrested last Friday. Both have been charged with second degree murder and criminal conspiracy to commit second-degree murder.

LONGVIEW — The death of a Longview teenager may be drug related. The Gregg County Sheriff’s Department would only say it is investigating the death of 16 year old Jessup Sanders. The Longview High School sophomore and junior varsity baseball player collapsed died Saturday. The Longview News Journal quotes a cousin of Sanders as saying he died from smoking the synthetic drug K2. The cousin, Todd Peterman, wrote on Facebook that Sanders “had died as a result of a stupid, spontaneous, teenage decision.” The investigation into the death is continuing.

GALVESTON — Longview Fire Chief J.P. Steelman has been named the 2015 Fire Chief of the Year by the Texas Fire Chiefs Association (TFCA). The award presentation took place May 3 at the annual TFCA Executive Conference in Galveston. According to a city of Longview news release, Steeleman was recognized for his dedicated service and involvement on the Texas Commission on Fire Protection Fire Fighter Advisory Committee. He was also honored for serving as the Northeast Regional Director for TFCA’s Executive Board and serving as a member of the Development Team for TFCA’s Company Officer Symposium, as well as TFCA’s newly developed Texas Fire Service Diversity Committee. Continue reading Steelman Named Fire Chief of the Year

HARRISON COUNTY — Caddo Lake in far East Texas is in flood stage. Davyon Hill with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says it’s in moderate flood stage, at 175 feet. Hill expects it to get up to about 178, which is considered major flood stage, on Friday morning. Lt. Jay Webb with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office says there are no evacuation orders — and as for the homes that could be threatened, many people are already out of their homes and have left the area following flooding in April. For now, there is an emergency order declaring a local state of disaster.

GILMER — A former Gilmer ISD instructional aide has pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. The Longview News Journal reports Orlandos Lugene Johnson, 48, was sentenced tuesday to 50 years in prison. According to Upshur County District Attorney Billy Byrd, Johnson must serve at least half of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Byrd said that Johnson worked with special needs children in the district and that the sexual assault started when a student was a sixth-grader in the district and lasted until the student was 17. The child is said to have told what happened to him after trying to commit suicide and being confined to a mental hospital.

TYLER — The Smith County Road and Bridge Department opened a debris collection site at 9 a.m. this morning for Lindale area residents who suffered damage from Friday night’s tornadoes. Vegetation debris will be collected at the site, at 10347 Farm-to-Market Road 16, just east of County Road 4104. Furniture and household debris WILL NOT be accepted at the collection site. The Smith County Road and Bridge Department WILL NOT pick up tree debris from personal property. They also WILL NOT pick up any furniture or other household debris. Continue reading Smith County Vegetation Debris Collection Site Opens

LAKE TYLER — Water elevations have dropped, so City of Tyler Water Utilities staff have reopened the boat ramps on Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East. They had to be closed after heavy rains over the weekend. Officials are voicing their appreciation to the public for its cooperation while the ramps were closed.

PALESTINE – The City of Palestine continues to assess the damage caused by the massive flash flooding throughout the city April 30th. According to the National Weather Service, the city received 7.78 inches of rain in a 45 minute time span. According to a press release from Nate Smith, City of Palestine Communications Officer, the deluge of water overwhelmed the city’s storm water sewer system and caused massive flash flooding in the city. The flooding caused the deaths of six residents. Five residents were killed in rushing floodwaters on Timber Drive around 12:15 a.m. Autopsies were concluded on Lenda Asberry and her four great-grandchildren in Tyler Monday. Autopsy results are not available due to standard blood tests. The bodies of the residents were taken to a Dallas-area funeral home. Continue reading Relief Efforts Continue in Palestine

EAST TEXAS (AP/Staff) – More than 280 homes in East Texas were damaged or destroyed during last weekend’s tornadoes and deadly flooding. Teams from the American Red Cross on Tuesday assisted with recovery in Anderson, Cherokee, Harrison, Lamar, Smith, Upshur and Wood counties. Red Cross spokeswomen Anita Foster and Tammy Prater say 106 homes were left uninhabitable from the storms. They say another 175 homes sustained minor damage such as windows broken, shingles torn off or fences knocked down. Forecasters say more than 7 inches of rain fell in less than an hour Friday night in East Texas. Six people died in flash flooding in Palestine. Continue reading More than 280 East Texas Homes Damaged, Destroyed in Storms

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the death of a Longview High School student. On the sheriff’s department Facebook page, they say they are looking into the death of 16 year old Jessup Sanders. The sophomore and junior varsity baseball player died Saturday. The sheriff’s department will only say the investigation into Sander’s death is active with every resource is being utilized. Grief counselors were on the school campus Monday. The school district web site said said Sanders was “a great kid and well liked.”