KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — A jury has sentenced 20-year-old Dikembi Spencer of Tyler to 50 years in prison for engaging in organized criminal activity. According to the Smith County district attorney’s office, Spencer and two others arranged to buy marijuana at a Tyler apartment complex in November 2017. Authorities say Spencer and Davonte Black went in and robbed the drug dealer at gunpoint, making off with the marijuana and another gun. Police detectives were able to recover a video posted by Spencer showing him and Black displaying the stolen goods and the guns used in the heist. Continue reading Prosecutors: Ranking Gang Member Gets 50 Years for Robbery at Gunpoint

SMITH COUNTY – The east bound lanes of Interstate Highway 20 in Western Smith County are now open. According to a tweet from the Tyler TxDot Office, “The repairs are complete and all travel lanes of I-20 at Caney Creek are open and normal traffic flow resumed.” Monday evening, after a sinkhole developed at the bridge abutment at the creek, traffic had to be rerouted around the area. Crews opened the outside eastbound lane on Wednesday. The other lane was opened on Thursday.

AUSTIN – Texas game wardens have completed a two day operation to find businesses who were trying to circumvent laws regulating commercial seafood operations. More than 50 facilities, including seafood restaurants, fish markets, and wholesale commercial fish dealers, were targeted in the operation. More than 60 warnings and citations were issued for a range of commercial seafood health and safety related violations. At a Wood County business, game wardens seized around $1,600 worth of oysters packaged in 37 undocumented one gallon plastic storage bags. Investigators also took possession of undocumented oysters in Gregg, Nacogdoches and Angelina counties. They promise they will be conducting more frequent inspections in the future with warnings replaced with citations and arrest warrants.

EAST TEXAS – A line of severe thunderstorm caused heavy damage around East Texas Thursday morning. The storms brought severe lightning and straight-line winds which included winds up to 50 and 60 miles an hour. One hard-hit area was Kilgore, where thousands of homes were damaged and power knocked out. The damage calls to the city started coming in around 3:15 Thursday morning. City crews and emergency responders spent Thursday working to clear trees from streets. Officials said The Kilgore College Parks Fitness Center, on Laird Street west of Broadway Boulevard, is open to the public. Anyone in need will be able to shower and charge their electronic devices.

TYLER – According to new data from Terminix, 7 Texas cities are on the company’s list of the Top 50 most termite-infested cities in the United States. Number 7 on the list is Tyler-Longview. According to the company’s web site, as temperatures increase, so does termite activity. They say the average cost associated with treating and repairing damage from an infestation is over $8,000. Termites cause around $5 billion in damage in the U.S. every year. Continue reading Two Area Cities on the Most Termite Infested List

PALESTINE – A man accused of robbing a Palestine gas station last month, and setting a customer on fire, has been indicted by the Anderson County grand jury. Robert Lawrence Thompson, 40, is charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of arson. He is said to have bound the employee and a customer with duct tape. He then doused both women with lighter fluid and set the customer on fire. She was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas for treatment. Thompson was later arrested at another Palestine gas station. He remains in the Anderson County Jail under bonds totaling $4,000,000.

TYLER – The Smith County Fire Marshall’s office has not been able to find the cause of a that killed a mother and her daughter last month. Killed were Alejandra Mayorga Chavez, 66, and Herlinda Beltran, 35. The February 12th fire was reported shortly after 5:15 that morning in their mobile home in Chapel Hill. Assistant Fire Marshall Chad Hogue said his office and the ATF, have completed their investigation into the fire. He said, while the cause of the fire is undetermined, foul play is not suspected.

MOUNT PLEASANT – East Texas businesses have been alerted to watch out for checks written by John Granger. He has been passing hot checks around the area. The Mount Pleasant Police Department reports he has written over $85,000 in hot checks in their area. He has bought vehicles, jewelry and other expensive items. And he hasn’t stopped there. His checks have also turned up in Marshall, Gilmer, Pittsburg and Omaha. And they expect many more hot checks will be reported. They say he is on the run and is extremely deceptive. They believe he is driving a new truck purchased with a stolen check. Continue reading Hot Check Artist Alert

TYLER – The deadline for filing income tax returns is fast approaching. Senior adults in the Tyler area have some help in preparing their returns. The Tyler Senior Center is partnering with Tyler AARP to provide help for local seniors. The Senior Center on Garden Valley Road is 1 of 4 locations to provide help with Free Tax Aid Preparation Service. Every Monday and Wednesday from 9:00am to 1:00pm, on a first come first serve basis, seniors can meet with accountants and enjoy coffee and popcorn while waiting. Since the service is free, service and assistance is not guaranteed on a given day if demand is high. The service will run through April 15th. You can call the Tyler Senior Center at 903-597-0781 for more information.

PALESTINE – Palestine police have increased patrols during spring break. The increased enforcement will focus on speeding, seat belt, safety seat, and DWI violations. The police department will utilize the Texas Department of Transportation Selective Traffic Enforcement Grant to fund overtime for off-duty officers to work this increased enforcement effort in an effort to help eliminate traffic crashes and fatalities. The increased enforcement will run through March 24th.

LONGVIEW – On Thursday, Industrial Drive in Longview will be closed between Marshall Avenue, U.S. Highway 80, and Cotton Street. It will be closed to through traffic from 8:00am to 5:00pm. The Railroad Crossing on Industrial will be closed to all traffic for railroad track maintenance. Drivers are encouraged to use Eastman Road as an alternate.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man finds himself back in jail on, among other things, forgery charges. In the Gregg County Jail under bonds totaling $138,500 is Mark Sebren Greer II, 34. He is also charged with fraud and theft of property. The Longview News Journal reports he is accused of passing counterfeit $100 bills at several businesses. He is also accused of using a Fort Worth man’s identification to buy a $97,000 car last month. Surveillance video and witness statements led authorities to Greer, who is a convicted felon.

TYLER – The Better Business Bureau has presented its annual Awards for Excellence during a ceremony in Tyler. Over 30 businesses were nominated in 5 categories. The winner in the nonprofit category was Champions for Children. The small business winner was SEO Skyrocket. The recipient for the Mid-Size Business Category is The Original Evans Air Conditioning and Heating. The large business winner was Encore Multimedia. And, this year for the first time, the BBB recognized outstanding veteran-owned businesses. That award went to Dean Waskowiak with Encore Multimedia. The BBB say the awards went to organizations who exemplify ethical behavior and display integrity in all aspects of their operations.

TYLER – More information has been released about the arrest of a T.K. Gorman High School assistant coach. Ja’Keal Latrenton Lockett, 24, was arrested last week by the University of Texas at Tyler police. He has been charged with burglary of a habitation with intent to commit a sex offense. Our news partner KETK reports the arrest warrant says Lockett stole his girlfriend’s master key card and PIN code that allowed him to access to any apartment in her complex. His girlfriend is a resident assistant at the complex, which houses UT Tyler students. Lockett remains in the Smith County Jail under a $250,000 bond. The school says he had been put on administrative leave until the case worked its way through the courts.

SMITH COUNTY — A reminder is going out to those who’d been expecting a Wednesday trip to the Smith County Courthouse. The county has cancelled jury duty for Wednesday, March 13. Smith County residents who were planning to report for jury duty on Wednesday with their yellow cards don’t have to make the trip to the courthouse. However, if you have been asked to return for jury duty by a specific court, you must still report.

SMITH COUNTY – A sinkhole is causing TxDOT to shut down all eastbound traffic on Interstate Highway 20 at Caney Creek in Smith County near mile marker 544. As a precaution, Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) crews have closed the eastbound lanes of the highway until repairs can be made. Repairs are expected to take 2 to 3 days. Traffic is being detoured at Van onto southbound Farm Road 314, eastbound Farm Road 1995 and northbound State Highway 110 back to I-20. Motorists traveling eastbound I-20 should expect delays or take alternate routes.

AUSTIN – Two largemouth bass over 13 pounds were caught by anglers in Texas over the weekend, bringing the total number of “Legacy Class” Toyota ShareLunker entries up to four for the selective breeding program’s 2019 donation season ending March 31. The fish were caught out of the top two ShareLunker producing lakes of 2018, Lake Fork and Lake Conroe. Barry Prince of Lindale caught 13.73 pound ShareLunker 579 from Lake Fork Friday evening on a shallow diving crankbait in 4.5 feet of water. Prince said this is the first double digit bass he’s ever caught in more than 30 years of fishing.

SMITH COUNTY – A man has been arrested after fleeing from a traffic stop in Smith County. Arrested was Dakota Allen, 26, of Tyler. A Smith County Sheriff’s Patrol Sergeant first stopped the man’s truck on Lavender Road, north of Tyler late Monday morning, after seeing him speeding and weaving in and out of traffic. He was acting extremely nervous as the officer talked with him. When asked to get out of the vehicle, he sped away. He was arrested after he crashed into a tree. Officers found a zippered bag with about two pounds of crystal meth, various instruments used for the sale of narcotics and over $7,000 in cash. Allen has been charged with manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, evading arrest or detention w/vehicle and tampering with physical evidence. He was booked into the Smith County jail under bonds totaling $105,000.

SMITH COUNTY – The Sheriff’s department were using jail personnel and trustees to round up a large group of loose cattle in eastern Smith County. The cows have been loose on Big Oak Bay Road near Lake Tyler. Two of the cows were hit by motorists. Sheriff’s department public information officer Larry Christian says the owner of the cattle has been found, the fence breach was repaired and the cows are now back home.

KILGORE – Kilgore police used a dog and a drone to look for a registered sex offender. The police went to were they were told he was working. As they approached, he climbed over a fence and ran down the railroad tracks behind Walmart. They set up a perimeter and brought in a K-9 And a drone to look for Richard Marcus Miller, 39. When he was spotted hiding in some thick underbrush, the dog was brought to the location. When he heard the dog approaching, he surrendered to the officers. With at least 15 prior arrests, he was wanted on failure to ID as a fugitive from Kaufman County, a bond forfeiture on a DWI charge and a parole warrant out of Gregg County. Kilgore police have also charged him with evading arrest.

LONGVIEW – A Fire has damaged a Longview club. The fire at J’s Place, on East Marshall Boulevard, was reported around 3:30 Sunday morning. The fire department’s Facebook page says arriving units found the roof on fire. They were able to contain the fire to the roof and attic with heat, water and smoke damage to the inside only. Since the building was closed at the time, there were no injuries. The fire is still under investigation but foul play is not suspected at this time.

HALLSVILLE – Federal authorities are continuing their investigation into a plane crash in Harrison county that authorities now say killed four persons. The plane went down around 7:30 Saturday night three miles south of Hallsville. Dead at the scene was the pilot, William Robert Kendrick, 51, of Huffman. The passengers were identified as Rebecca Marsh Kendrick, 47, of Huffman, and two Farmers Branch residents, Kaycee Ann Kendrick, 27, and Coty Ray Shrum, 25. The Department of public safety reports the Cessna T337C was traveling from Dallas to New Orleans when the pilot possibly encountered severe weather. The aircraft lost altitude and crashed.

MARSHALL – A two vehicle accident near Marshall has killed one person and seriously injured two. Wesley Sherard Timmins, 30, of Marshall was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in his car, and the other driver, Jerry Allen Wood, 78, of Karnack, were injured. The report from the Department of Public Safety says the accident occurred when Wood’s pickup crossed the center stripe at hit Timmins pickup. The accident happened shortly after 7:30 Sunday night on U.S. Highway 80.

TYLER – Tyler’s water taste and odor issues have been remedied. The Golden Road Water Treatment Plant came back online last Friday. Customers should no longer be experiencing a strong odor or earthy taste to the water. When the plant went down on February 4th, that left the Lake Palestine Water Treatment plant the sole provider of treated water. At the same time there was a spike in a taste and odor compound coming from Lake Palestine to the the plant. Now that both plants are online, the blending of the water will aid in eliminating the taste and odor issues. The city says, if you are continuing to experience strong “earthy” taste and odor in your area, you are asked to contact Tyler’s Water Service Center at 903-531-1285 to report your location.

LONGVIEW – Some Gregg County dads have learned the hard way, don’t get behind in child support payments. Around 4:00 Monday morning, a multi-agency operation began looking for men that have outstanding warrants for non-payment of child support. The teams received the information from the Texas Attorney General’s office. The warrant roundup teams arrested six men. One of them was arrested four years ago during a similar operation. They are continuing efforts to locate the persons who were not arrested during this first warrant sweep.

HARRISON COUNTY – The FAA has headed to the scene of a fatal Saturday plane crash near Hallsville. According to our news partner KETK, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed one person was on the plane and is confirmed dead. According to Harrison County Chief Deputy B.J. Fletcher, the general area of the crash is around FM 968, FM 450, Waldron Ferry Road, and Hut Horton Road, but he says the wreckage is in the woods, far off any roadway. Deputies initially responded to reports of a loud boom, but didn’t find anything. The crash was discovered in the woods by hunters Saturday evening. No information about anyone on board was immediately available.

TYLER – An unprecedented number of aspiring artists from local schools will have their first opportunity for a full museum exhibition with the Tyler Museum of Art’s 15th Annual High School Art Exhibition. It opens Sunday, March 31, and continues through May 5 at the museum, on the Tyler Junior College main campus. Admission is free. According to information from the museum, this year’s juried competition tops the previous record of 2018, featuring 109 students from a best-ever 20 high-school campuses in Tyler and nearby cities. You can check the April 2 entry on the ktbb.com Calendar of Events for additional information.

AUSTIN — State Representative Chris Paddie of Marshall has filed legislation linked to a fatal accident in August 2017. Three Boy Scouts were killed on Lake O’ The Pines when their boat’s mast came in contact with a 12,000-volt power line. According to our news partner KETK, electric utilities in Texas are currently not required to establish regular maintenance programs or carry out routine inspections of power lines and poles. In addition, the Public Utility Commission does not require utility companies or cooperatives to provide reports on accidents involving power lines. Paddie’s bill addresses both issues and some other requirements. Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative, the power source in the area of the accident, recently announced that the power lines responsible for it have been buried in an underground tunnel.

TYLER — Two men are dead following a head-on crash early Sunday on Toll 49 in Tyler involving the men’s pickup and a charter bus from Bullard’s Brook Hill School. 22-year-old driver Jeffrey Dalton Aynesworth of Rusk and 24-year-old passenger Payton Joseph Raymond of Flint were dead on police officers’ arrival. Police got the call shortly after 4 a.m. about the crash, a quarter-mile east of Broadway. The bus was returning from a trip to Orlando, Florida, with 32 people on board, including 25 students. Among the bus occupants, the driver, two other adults, and two students went to the hospital with minor injuries. Continue reading Two Men Dead in Crash Involving Charter Bus from Brook Hill School