KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – A Smith County man has won a new car by donating to the United Way of Smith County. Herbert Washington of Tyler was surprised on the job at Trane by United Way representatives. He was presented keys to a Volkswagen Jetta from Patterson Volkswagen. The names of anyone who pledged at least $5 per week to the local United Way campaign in 2018 were put into a drawing and Washington was the winner. Washington not only gave last year, he has given to the United Way campaign consistently each week for more than 30 years.

LONGVIEW – Longview police are looking for a silver Cadillac that was involved in a hit and run accident. It happened just before 12:45 Tuesday afternoon at the intersection of High Street and Avalon. Investigators say a 20 year old man was in the crosswalk when he was hit. He was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler has announced that it will launch a new baccalaureate program this fall. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has approved UT Tyler’s new bachelor of science in chemical engineering program. The University’s new degree program will offer students the option of one out of four concentrations. The choices are biomedical, energy, environmental engineering and material science. The school has also partnered with Houston Community College to allow students to earn a bachelor of science degree in engineering at the UT Tyler Houston Engineering Center.

TYLER – Tyler Junior College officials have announced new leadership roles in the institution’s enrollment management and advancement divisions. The announcement invloves 5 persons. Britt Sabota has been named TJC registrar. She will oversee services including student records management, academic transcripts, enrollment verification, course schedule and registration maintenance, and graduation. Chris Fontaine has joined TJC as director of academic advising. He will oversee services such as selection of appropriate areas of study, test interpretation, transfer requirements, goal setting and academic plan development. Continue reading New Leadership Roles at TJC

SMITH COUNTY – A fatal weekend fire in Smith County remains under investigation. Pronounced dead at the scene was Tammy Kirkley, 52. Her dog was also killed by the fire in her mobile home at the Northgate Mobile Home Park on Farm Road 14. It was reported around 9:15 Saturday morning. They are still trying to determine the cause of the fire, which started in the bathroom. Investigators say there were no smoke detectors in the home.

KILGORE – An Overton teen has been killed in a one vehicle accident in Rusk County. Bagley Mahdessian, 15, died in a Longview hospital following the accident, which occurred around 7:00 Monday night. She was a passenger in a car driven by Demarcus Keshaun Holsome, 18, of Reklaw. The Department of Public Safety reports that Holsome was traveling at and unsafe speed went he went off the road in a curve. He over corrected and ended up in a ditch where the car rolled onto its top. Holsome is said to be in stable condition in a Henderson hospital. The accident occurred on County Road 165, about three miles south of Kilgore.

TYLER – Expect some temporary delays at Shiloh Road/Rice Road and South Broadway because of the replacement of the signal box — but not until Thursday. The work had originally been scheduled for Tuesday morning from 8:00 to 10:30 but will now take place Thursday during the same time period. The replacement will take about two and a half hours. During this time, there should be a 30-minute time frame where the traffic lights will be out of service. The Tyler Police Department will have officers at the intersection to direct traffic. Drivers should anticipate delays and travel with caution near the intersection. Officials also note that all repairs are dependent on weather.

ATHENS — An aggravated robbery outside Malakoff has led to three arrests, according to Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse. The suspects are 18-year-old Robert Hocutt Jr., 27-year-old Stetsen Hall, and a juvenile. Around 3:15 Monday morning, the sheriff’s office got a call reporting that two men had entered the residence on Highway 31 west, one with a knife and one with a gun. According to the caller, the men said they were the “law” and put a gun to a victim’s head, placing him in the closet. After sheriff’s deputies and Malakoff police responded, all three suspects were arrested and charged with aggravated robbery. Hillhouse also says investigators recovered some property that was taken during the home invasion.

TYLER – It’s time for the annual Educator of the Year Banquet in the Tyler school system. Their school administrators and staff selected the winners at each campus. They were selected because they exemplify extraordinary models of leadership and excellence in teaching. This ultimately helps create successful student achievement. Tyler ISD will honor all Campus Teachers of the Year. During the banquet, the secondary and elementary teacher of the year will be announced. The banquet starts at 6:30 at the Crosswalk Conference Center at Green Acres Baptist Church. The high school campus winners are Nancy Caraway at John Tyler and Melinda Tefteller at Robert E Lee. Continue reading Tyler Educators to Be Honored

SMITH COUNTY – Portions of two Smith County roads have been closed because the recent rains have caused wash outs. In Precinct 2, west of Troup, CR 2186, from CR 2138 to County Line Road bordering Cherokee County, is closed until further notice due to a washed out pipe. In Precinct 3, northwest of Overton, CR 26 is closed between CR 29 and the city of Overton, due to a washout behind the bridge. It will also be closed until further notice. Drivers will need to seek alternative routes.

TYLER – In the wake of the weekend city elections in Tyler, a candidate has come forward for the elections next year. A life long Tyler resident, Don Warren, has announced he is running for mayor. Warren, who is in the oil and gas business, currently represents district 4 on the Tyler city council. He says his immediate focus will be on infrastructure, including water, wastewater, streets and drainage. Warren also said he will work with the city council to add the latest traffic technology to keep up with the rapid growth Tyler is experiencing. He wants to succeed Martin Heines, who, because of term limits, will be unable to run again. He becomes the second person to announce for the position. City councilman John Nix resigned in March and announced he was running for mayor.

KILGORE – Kilgore police and the U.S. Veterans Memorial Association want the persons who caused some damage over the weekend. They damaged the Veteran’s Memorial in the city park. Sometime Saturday night, someone drove a vehicle into the park and crashed into the Veterans Memorial wall, a bench, and a sign. They then drove through the park and left near the northern parking lot next to Driller Stadium. Tire tracks indicate the vehicle may have struck a tree stump before leaving the park. They have estimated the damage at up to $5,000. Investigators feel it was not an accident, but the act was intentional. Continue reading Kilgore Vandals Sought

KILGORE – Removal of the pedestrian bridge at BU 259 at Kilgore College was completed and the roadway opened to traffic Sunday afternoon. TxDOT reminds drivers to use caution at this location due to pedestrian traffic. Pedestrians and drivers should remain alert for the safety of everyone, according to a news release. The bridge received severe damage when it was hit by an oversized load on April 27. TxDOT says the contractor set-up its field operations Saturday and downed the bridge on Sunday. Continue reading Pedestrian Bridge at Kilgore College Torn Down, Road Reopened

SMITH COUNTY – One person is in custody following a chase with state troopers and Smith County sheriff’s deputies. It started with a domestic disturbance call on Ravenwood Drive. Sheriff’s department PIO Larry Christian told our news partner KETK that the suspect took a car from the home without permission. State troopers were chasing the car when it wrecked and rolled over on Toll 49 near State Highway 31. The driver tried to run away but was arrested by sheriff’s deputies. He was treated for minor injuries at the hospital. The suspect, whose name has not been released, is facing a couple of charges.

LONGVIEW – Curbside recycling services will not be available in Longview through Thursday of this week. The change to regular recycling service is due to scheduled maintenance at Rivers Recycling, which is the local material recovery facility. During that time, contents from curbside recycling carts will be taken to the landfill with regular trash rather than being recycled. If customers prefer, they may choose to hold their recycling, until the week of May 13th, including any excess recyclables that cannot fit inside the cart. Trash collection, yard waste collection, bulky item pickup, and the compost site will continue to operate as normal during this time. You can get more information at LongviewTexas.gov/Recycle or by calling 903-237-1250.

MARSHALL – Starting Wednesday, the City of Marshall Municipal Court on West Burleson, the old police and fire building, will close to begin relocating to the Business Development Center, 110 South Bolivar Street, Suite 200 It will reopen on Wednesday, May 15. Those with unpaid tickets or pending cases will not be penalized during the relocation period and will be able to take care of their court business when the new courtroom opens. The new court is comprised of a modern judicial bench, plaintiff/counsel area, jury table, witness box and public seating area, as well as advanced technological and security features.

TYLER – TxDOT is planning to conduct the following construction and maintenance work throughout the district during the week of May 6. Schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. In Tyler, expect night work on the Turn Lanes Project at South Donnybrook as the contractor places the final surface at this location. The final surface will also be placed on U.S. Highway 69 at Cumberland Road during daytime operations. Expect lane closures and delays at both locations. Alternate routes are suggested to avoid delays. Continue reading TxDOT Roadwork Update

TYLER – The National weather service says April was the 5th wettest April on record with 9.28 inches of rain recorded. The month ended with Tyler recording 4.01 inches of rain over a two day period. Staring the Month of May, last Friday and Saturday, the rainfall total was 3.81. The May 3 and 4 rainfall was not the most recorded on those days. You have to go all the way back to 1887 for the record when 7.70 inches of rain was recorded.

TYLER – The National weather service says April was the 5th wettest April on record with 9.28 inches of rain recorded. The last rain event in Tyler saw 4.01 inches of rain fall. The one just before that saw 3.81 inches of rain fall. The May 3 and 4 rainfall was not the most recorded on those days. You have to go all the way back to 1887 for the record when 7.70 inches of rain was recorded

GLADEWATER – A woman has died after being hit by a train in Gladewater. It happened shortly after 6:45 Saturday evening. She has been identified as Heidi O’Brien, 39. Gladewater police say she was spray painting on the side of the track when the train hit her. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

EAST TEXAS – Complete and unofficial returns
It will be a runoff between Shirley McKeller and Pamela Phoenix for the city council seat.

Tyler City Council District 3
Dalila Reynoso133
Shirley McKeller 234
Pamela Phoenix 173 Continue reading Unofficial Election Returns

TYLER – A student research assistant in the Department of Biology at the University of Texas at Tyler has been recognized for her research work that focuses on lung disease. UT Tyler junior biology major Shandis Fancher of Lindale received second and third place awards in pathogenic microbiology research at this year’s American Society of Microbiology and the Beta Beta Beta Honors Society Conferences. Fancher plans to attend medical school after graduating from UT Tyler next year.

LONGVIEW – On Monday, June 10, at New York’s Carnegie Hall, Jim Taylor will lead a chorus of more than 130 voices, including members of two ensembles he directs, in the New York premiere of his own composition, Cambridge Songs Suite No. 2. It will be the first performance at the historic venue of a work by Dr. Taylor, and his first appearance there as a conductor. The LeTourneau Singers and the Longview Civic Chorus will be taking part in the concert.

East Texas — Water levels are high at lakes across East Texas. Lake Tylerand Lake Cherokee are closed. Lake Gladewater, which had been reopened, has been closed again because of rising water levels. The city of Jacksonville has reopened Lake Jacksonville.

TYLER – The Tyler Junior College Student Senate brought home several group and individual honors from the Texas Junior College Student Government Association Convention held in Dallas. TJC senate member Brooks Melton, of Tyler, was named state president for 2019-2020, which will also be the 50th anniversary year of the organization. TJC senate secretary Hannah Lair, of Carlinville, Illinois, served as state secretary of the organization this year. Continue reading TJC Student Senate Earns Honors

KILGORE – The Texas Department of Transportation is preparing to remove the pedestrian bridge at Kilgore College and reopen Business US 259 to traffic. Weather permitting, they plan to have the job completed by Monday. The bridge received severe damage when it was hit by an oversized load last Saturday. The roadway has remained closed for the safety of motorists. TxDOT says the contractor set-up its field operations Saturday and will conduct bridge removal activities today. Additional cleanup work will be conducted Monday before BU 259 is opened to traffic. That is the plan unless the work is delayed by unforeseen conditions. Continue reading Pedestrian Bridge at Kilgore College to be Torn Down

AUSTIN – A bill to strengthen power line safety inspections has been given unanimous support by the Texas House of Representatives. It is called the “William Thomas Heath Power Line Safety Act.” It was co-authored by representatives Chris Paddie of Marshall and Jay Dean of Longview.The vote was 145 to zero. The bill stems from a deadly accident on Lake O’ the Pines in August of 2017. Three boy scouts were sailing on the lake when their mast came in contact with a low hanging power line. The three boys were electrocuted. The measure now heads to the senate, where a positive vote there would send it to the governor.

TYLER – Tyler is seeking input about city parks now, and in the future. It is part of the city’s 1st comprehensive planning process for, not only parks, but also about open spaces, historic preservation and future land use and annexation. One of the ways you can make your thoughts known is at an open house next week. It will be held Tuesday evening from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Tyler Minicipal Rose Garden. The purpose of the open house is to seek resident input on the implementation and status of the selected areas of focus. It will also look at the city’s future needs. City officials will analyze the input and incorporate the resident feedback into their decision process during the Tyler 1st Comprehensive Plan update. Continue reading Planning for Tyler’s Future Parks Needs