KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in TxDOT’s Tyler District during the Weeks of Nov. 21 and 28. The schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure, or other unforeseen issues. You’re asked to slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones.

Smith County – Tyler Maintenance plans to address routine maintenance issues such as patching potholes and debris cleanup around the county. The following week, edge work is scheduled for FM 2710 between FM 14 and FM 16 as is base repairs on SH 135 between Troup and Arp. Expect lane closures at both locations with flaggers providing traffic control. Continue reading TxDOT’s Weekly Roadwork Update

TYLER — Starting today, Baker and Reid Company will be repairing the damaged bridge on Creekside Trail on Tyler’s Rose Rudman Trails. City officials say repairs will take place during business hours, barricading this section of the trail. At the end of each day, the barricades will be removed so the trail can be used. Repairs are estimated to last four weeks, continuing through the end of December.

TYLER – Thanksgiving travelers using Tyler’s Pounds Regional Airport this week will be greeted by two Therapet human-animal teams. They will be at the airport today and Wednesday to greet arriving and departing travelers to help them beat holiday stress. Therapet Executive Director Carianne Fisher said research has found that people’s blood pressure and heart rate go down, their positive hormones increase and it helps people relax when they love on a dog for a little while. Fisher said they hope they can extend their holiday visits past Thanksgiving into the Christmas season.

TYLER – A contractor has closed Old Pleasant Retreat Road, also known as County Road 1184. The closure is between Parker Road (CR 1185) and Negem Road (CR1141). The closure and construction of this area should last around 5 to 6 weeks. The closure is for the realignment of Old Pleasant Retreat Road as it directly affects Project 3 of the Runway 4/22 Rehabilitation Project at Pounds Regional Airport. The realignment will allow for over an additional 530 feet of runway to be constructed this winter. So, if you have to travel in this area, you are advised to use caution.

KILGORE – Kilgore College wants your input. They want to know what you think about carrying concealed handguns on the college’s campuses. This legislation took effect on university campuses August 1. The law does not go into effect for Texas public community colleges until August 1, 2017. School President Dr. Brenda Kays, has formed a campus carry taskforce made up of faculty, staff and students. This taskforce will develop policy recommendations for consideration by the college president and the Board of Trustees. But they also what your feedback. You can go to the Kilgore College website to get more information on Senate Bill 11. There is also a link there leading you to a campus carry survey.

LONGVIEW — Three weeks after being badly burned in an explosion in his catering trailer, Dudley’s Cajun Café owner Dudley Lang returned to work Friday — his spirits lifted by what he says has been an “outpouring” of support from his patrons. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Doctor’s orders, however, are keeping Lang from getting back in the kitchen as he recovers from his injuries. “I missed it,” Lang said of working at his restaurant. “It’s great to be back. We’ve got great employees. My wife and our front-end manager have both done a good job while I’ve been gone. But it’s great to be back.” Continue reading Restaurant Owner Returns to Work Weeks after Suffering Burns

TYLER — Tyler police are seeking leads on a motor vehicle accident apparently caused by a gunshot. Officials say police responded to East Erwin and Loop 323 around 7:16 Friday evening. Upon arrival, officers determined a Mitsubishi was northbound on Loop 323 stopped for the light and preparing to turn west onto East Erwin. Authorities say a back seat passenger in the Mitsubishi shot the driver through the seat, causing the driver to drive into oncoming southbound traffic, where a Toyota hit the Mitsubishi head-on. At least two people fled on foot from the Mitsubishi. The driver and two passengers in each car were transported to the hospital by ambulance. Police say the investigation into the incident is ongoing, no one had been arrested at last report, and no one appears to have life-threatening injuries.

LIBERTY CITY – Earlier this month we told you about the firing of the Sabine Schools Superintendent. You can forget that, because Stacey Bryce is back on the job. After two new school trustees were sworn in last night, the school board voted to reverse the action of November 1st that fired Bryce. The Longview News Journal reports Bryce was greeted by a standing ovation from the audience in the Sabine High School Auditorium. Bryce was named the school district’s superintendent in 2004. His tenure became strained following a 2009 DWI conviction.

ATHENS – An Athens mother will spend the rest of her life in prison for the death of her daughter. A state court jury Thursday, after deliberating under an hour, found Stacie Parsons, 27, guilty of killing 4 year old Victoria Wyatt. She was then sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. According to court testimony, she tried to kill the little girl several ways, before drowning her in July, 2014. She then carried the body home in the trunk of her car. Parsons then went to the Athens Police Department and confessed to killing the girl. Officers found her body in the yard of her home.

TYLER — Tyler’s new fire chief, David Coble, was treated to a Rose Garden Center reception Thursday evening by the Tyler-based Empowerment Community Development Corporation. Coble, rounding out his second week on the job, says he likes the way things have gone so far. He says, “The people here are so nice…Everyone that I run into on the street…whether I’m in uniform or not…always a bright smile, and people always welcome me. It feels like home to me.” As for the fire department, Coble adds, “I have a great command staff, a bunch of great firefighters that have servant hearts — and they are…ready to take care of any of the city’s problems every day.” Continue reading New Fire Chief Welcomed with Reception

TYLER – Today is Tyler Recycles Day. The city’s recycling center on North Bois D’Arc will have special activities from 8:00 till noon. You will be able to bring by everything from household appliances to newspapers and phonebooks. They will even be taking vehicle batteries old motor oil and anti-freeze. You can go to http:www.keeptylerbeautiful.com to see the full list of items that will be accepted. Continue reading Recycling Push in Tyler

TYLER — A Tyler man is behind bars on multiple charges out of Tarrant County. According to KETK, Montre Rashad Henry, 20, was arrested by the United States Marshal Service for sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by sexual contact. Judicial records show Henry is a Tyler resident. He’s being held in the Smith County Jail on $50,000 bond.

SMITH COUNTY — A Grapeland man has been arrested for online solicitation. Charles Eric Tutt, 48, was arrested Thursday for online solicitation of a minor under 14-years-old. According to KETK, details surrounding the reported crime were not immediately available. Tutt is being held in the Smith County Jail on $250,000 bond.

PALESTINE – Bat houses are going up in Palestine. They will serve as a replacement habitat for bats currently residing in vacant downtown buildings. The first houses went up on the corner of Queen and Oak Streets, behind the Palestine Chamber of Commerce. The city’s Public Works department built the metal pole for the bat houses and the East Texas Chapter of Master Naturalists supplied the bat houses. Jacob Morris, Historic Preservation Officer, said the bats should start populating the houses in the spring, when they migrate north. Continue reading New Types of Houses for Palestine

TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Department is warning grandparents about an ongoing scam. It starts with a call from someone claiming to be the person’s grandson or granddaughter who is has been arrested and needs money. They need the funds immediately to post bail or pay for damages from a car wreck. They will also ask you not to tell anyone about this incident. They will hand the phone to an alleged police officer or attorney who will guide you on how to send the money. It could be by cash in the mail, or they will request that you purchase gift cards and call them back with the number on the cards. Once that money is wired, it’s gone and can’t be recovered. This has proven to be an extremely lucrative con for scammers because the scam preys on the love of a grandparent for their grandchildren. Continue reading Grandparents Alerted to a Scam

GILMER – An Upshur County man has been handed a lengthy prison term for sexually assaulting children. Wednesday afternoon, a jury convicted Obie Earl Tutt, II, 38, of Ore City, of two separate cases of aggravated sexual assault of a child and 4 separate cases of Indecency with a Child. The charges arose from two separate young girls from the Ore City area. Then on Thursday, the jury sentenced Tutt to 165 years in state prison and fined him $40,000.

TYLER – UT Tyler faculty member Susan Doty has been elected to lead the National Association of Economic Educators in a three-year appointment. She will serve in its executive leadership for the next three years, first as president-elect, then president, then past-president. NAEE is a professional association with the mission to advance economic education and financial literacy. Serving UT Tyler since 2009, Doty is a senior lecturer in economics within the Department of Social Sciences.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man is being held on a $2 million bond on a charge of capital murder. Christopher Marvin Bell II, 21, was booked into the Gregg County Jail shortly before midnight on Wednesday. Bell is charged in the deaths of Freddie Allison, 41 and Deandra Allison, 38, both of Longview. Their bodies were found shortly before 6:45 Wednesday evening at the Huntington Hills Apartments on North Eastman Road. The deaths bring the homicide death count in Longview this year to 13. Continue reading Longview Man Charged in Double Homicide

SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler man has been sentenced after being convicted of aggravated kidnapping and sexual abuse. According to KETK, Lennel Jones Choice, 43, was sentenced Wednesday to 50 years in prison. On February 29th, officers were called to Hillside Park, on East Erwin Street, in reference to a female being assaulted. The victim , Maria Sanchez, 32 , Tyler, told officers she was followed on foot to Hillside Park by unknown black male. The suspect later identified as Choice, grabbed Sanchez and forced her against her will toward the creek that runs through the park. Police were notified by witnesses who were in the park that a female was in trouble. Choice was arrested as he attempted to run from officers. He was also charged with possession of marijuana and evading arrest.

LONGVIEW – Two persons are dead in a Longview shooting. It was reported shortly before 6:45 Wednesday night at the Huntington Hills Apartments on North Eastman Road. There is a report that man and a woman were killed. Longview police say they are talking with a person of interest in the case. We’ll have more information when it becomes available.

EAST TEXAS – Police departments in Kilgore and Gladewater are warning residents about an electricity scam. According to their Facebook pages, scammers claiming to be from the electric company are calling demanding payment or their electric bill or be disconnected. SWEPCO says it does not call customers to demand immediate payment. And they will not ask customers to purchase a debit/cash card to pay a bill. The company says it notifies customers with delinquent accounts by way of their monthly bills. Concerned customers can call SWEPCO’s Customer Solutions Center at 1-888-216-3523 anytime 24 hours a day.

TYLER – A 4th person has been arrested in connection with an August home invasion in Tyler. Police have charged Raymundo Maedano Flores, 35, of Tyler, with engaging in organized criminal activity. Previously arrested in the case were Mario Villegas, 19, and Alexia Juarez, 19, both of Tyler, and a juvenile. They were found by police in a truck at the house. The incident occurred on West Bow Street near Bois D’Arc. Continue reading Another Arrest in a Tyler Home Invasion

PALESTINE – First responders from Anderson County participated in an active shooter exercise Wednesday morning in Palestine. The exercise simulated an active shooter inside the Palestine Civic Center. During the exercise, Palestine Police, Fire along with Anderson County Sheriff’s Office deputies, responded to a simulated radio call. Following the engagement, EMTs with Palestine Regional Medical Center, along with th Palestine Fire Department, treated simulated victims. The victims were students from Trinity Valley Community College. The victims were then taken to Palestine Regional Medical Center where the hospital conducted a mass casualty exercise. Palestine Emergency Management Coordinator Scott Parkhurst said that these types of exercises are critical to improving the skills of all first responders and the coordination between them.

GEORGETOWN – A Cedar Park man has been sentenced to prison in the shotgun death of a former Longview woman. In a plea deal, Adam Richard Solis, 32, was sentenced Wednesday to 40 years in prison. He recently pleaded guilty to the February 2015 death of Katie Eager, 24. She had been shot around half a dozen times at their apartment in Cedar Park. Solis called 911 the following day, saying he had just returned home and found her dead. The two had been arguing prior to the shooting. It’s not know what the argument was about, but Eager had been trying to break up with Solis. Police arrested Solis at his parents home a couple of days after the shooting. Investigators say they found physical evidence linking him to the shooting. Cedar Park Police Chief Sean Mannix had earlier said, “I’d call it a rage killing, there was passion involved in this murder.”

HENDERSON COUNTY – A Smith County man is in custody after authorities say he led them on a chase in Henderson County. Taken into custody Wednesday morning was was 34 year old Robert Chapman of Bullard. The chase started after authorities say he ran a stop sign in the Sunrise Shores Subdivision. He later jumped from the SUV and took off on foot. He was later caught. A sheriff’s deputy said a “substantial” amount of meth was found on Chapman. He is being charged with manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance, evading arrest with a vehicle and resisting arrest and resisting search or transport. He is currently in the Henderson County Jail under bonds totaling $211,000. Besides charges in Henderson County, Chapman also has three outstanding felony warrants from Smith County.

LONGVIEW – The chairman of Gregg County’s Republican Party has turned in his resignation. Tim Vaughn announced Tuesday he was resigning to accept a lobbying job with the Dallas based National Federation of Independent Businesses. According to the Longview News Journal, he recommended to his executive committee that it name party headquarters manager Marty Rhymes as his temporary stand-in and wait until their January 10 meeting to name a successor. She is currently the party’s vice-chair. She has served the party for over 20 years.

PALESTINE – The search for a Palestine city manager may be back to square one. Kevin Coleman, who was named last month as the lone finalist for the position, has withdrawn his application for the job. He said he took the action because of the city council’s decision to table action on a previously agreed upon employment contract. The city council will decide its next course of action at an upcoming meeting. No date for the meeting has been set. Continue reading Palestine City Manager Finalist Withdraws Application