KTBB News, Weather, Talk

PALESTINE – An East Texas man who was arrested after an hours-long standoff in Frankston last December has been indicted on murder and kidnapping charges. According to our news partner KETK, on December 9, Anderson County deputies were called to a home on CR 309 at 1:30 a.m. after hearing several gunshots. When they arrived, a man’s body was found on the front porch with multiple gunshot wounds. He was identified as 38-year-old Marco Matthew Gonzales. 38-year-old Robert Mason Eckert was still inside and allegedly holding other people against their will. Officers were able to negotiate with Eckert until everyone was released from the home. He is being held in the Anderson County Jail on one murder charge, two kidnapping allegations, and one count of deadly conduct by discharging a firearm.

TYLER — With continued low COVID numbers in the area, NET Health’s George Roberts doesn’t see any serious issues on the horizon — but he reminds you of the continued prevalence of one particular variant. He points out that BA.2 currently makes up roughly 72 per cent of coronavirus cases nationwide and says the variant is apparently what’s “causing any type of COVID right now.” Roberts tells us local health officials continue keeping their eye on BA.2. According to Roberts, “There may be pockets of outbreaks that happen periodically…but as of this moment…we’re cautiously optimistic that we have…a low trend going right now.” Roberts continues to say vaccinations are the most effective way to fend off the virus. For more information on COVID-19 in East Texas, click here.

TYLER – A Winona high school student who allegedly threatened a school shooting has been indicted by a Smith County grand jury. 17-year-old Tyler Tate was arrested in December on a charge of a terroristic threat after the FBI National Threat Operations Center received a tip about a possible shooting threat in Smith County. According to our news partner KETK, Tate was arrested after a joint operation by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI’s Tyler division. He is still being held in the Smith County Jail on a $1 million bond. Continue reading Winona student indicted for alleged school shooting threat

MARSHALL – An East Texas toddler died on Thursday after an apparent accidental drowning, according to Harrison County Sheriff Brandon Fletcher. At 4:45 p.m., deputies were called to a home on Underwood Road in Marshall after a 17-month-old girl was found unresponsive. According to our news partner KETK, the sheriff says the child was found “floating in a pond on an adjacent property and had exited the residence without the guardian’s knowledge.” The child was rushed to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Fletcher says the initial investigation has shown it appears to be an accident. The identity of the victim was being withheld pending notification of extended family members.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Parks and Recreation Department office at 130 E. Timpson St. is closed until further notice due to a power outage. Recreation Centers will be open on regular schedule and Parks and Recreation programming will continue as previously scheduled.

QUITMAN – A Wood County firefighter charged with eight counts of arson has been indicted by a grand jury. According to our news partner KETK, Mineola native Courtney Keel worked for the Hainesville Volunteer Fire Department. Chief Robert Holland with the sheriff’s office began investigating fires that the department had worked. Holland alleged Keel possibly started fires that happened over a 15-month period from the summer of 2020 to the fall of 2021. The eight fires were within two miles of Keel’s house. According to an arrest warrant, he was the only firefighter to respond to all of them. The warrant also states there was video of him driving away from a fire in July 2020 and that no other car was in the immediate area. Continue reading Firefighter indicted, accused of setting eight fires

TYLER — A Central Texas man has received a new sentence for a 2016 crash on Tyler’s Grande Boulevard that killed 21-year-old Haile Beasley. According to our news partner KETK, State District Judge Jack Skeen handed 46-year-old James Fulton a six-month term in the Smith County Jail along with ten years’ probation. The jury initially gave Fulton a seven-year probated sentence, but Texas law, allows the judge to set the terms of the sentence. If Fulton were to violate any of his probation terms, he would then spend seven years in prison, with the 20 months he served in his original sentence counting toward it. Fulton was earlier convicted of criminally negligent homicide and sentenced to 10 years in prison. But an appeals court ruled that he received ineffective counsel and ordered a new sentencing trial.

TYLER — The Tyler Neighborhood Services Department has added more sidewalks to the north end of the city connecting residents to schools, parks, bus stops, and major roadways, according to a news release. The recently installed sidewalks on North Palace Avenue run from West Gentry Parkway to West Queen Street, then from West Queen Street to the entrance of Hidden Palace subdivision. Officials say the sidewalks provide continued connectivity in the area near T.J. Austin Elementary School and the new Hidden Palace subdivision, a low to moderate-income housing development funded by the HOME Investment Partnership Program through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Continue reading North end sidewalk projects complete as first phase of Hidden Palace nears completion

MARSHALL — Detectives with the Marshall Police Department Wednesday arrested a 16-year-old juvenile male who is now charged with one count of murder in a March 30 shooting. Officials say Akeivyon Diez McMillan, 20, of Jefferson was shot to death in Powder Mill Cemetery. They say no information about the suspect’s identity can be released since he is a juvenile. According to authorities, police got a call March 30 about a man lying on the ground in the cemetery. Responding officers determined McMillan was dead and had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

LONGVIEW – Six East Texas men were booked into the Gregg County Jail late Wednesday night on charges of soliciting minors online. According to our news partner KETK, the men were from multiple East Texas cities that stretched across several counties. All six suspects were arrested by DPS troopers, according to the booking report. The suspects are 62-year-old Ken Schneider of Carthage, 41-year-old Rodolfo Lopez-Santos of Longview, 40-year-old Jason Fertitta of Overton, 40-year-old Gary Lowery of Gilmer, 34-year-old David Batalla of Longview, and 20-year-old Jose Ramirez-Torres of Marshall. DPS Sgt. Jean Dark said further information was pending.

TYLER — The United Way of Smith County surpasses the $2 million figure for the first time since 2007 in its recently-completed annual campaign. The effort brought in in $2,040,834, also surpassing its goal of $1.9 million. Campaign Chair James Sheridan says, “I think it was a testament to the generosity of our community” and also credits the United Way team. More than 200 local companies and nearly 7,000 individuals participated in the effort. The campaign, just part of the United Way’s work, funds nonprofits that address a variety of local issues.

SMITH COUNTY — Two firefighters and a resident were injured during an early morning house fire Thursday. At about 3:30 a.m., firefighters from Noonday, Flint-Gresham, and Dixie Fire Departments were dispatched to County Road 1237 in Noonday for a house fire. They discovered a resident who had suffered burns in the fire, but had already made it out of the house. While attempting to extinguish the blaze, two firefighters suffered burns. All three people were transported to a local hospital. One of the injured firefighters was later flown to Parkland Hospital’s Burn Unit in Dallas for advanced treatment. According to our news partner KETK, officials say that firefighter has been treated and released. Continue reading Firefighters, resident injured in early morning fire in Noonday

TYLER — Four people are under arrest in connection with a kidnapping and robbery in Fort Worth. Fort Worth Police Detective Brian Raynsford says 21-year-old Briyana Brooks (pictured) met the man on social media and on March 29th and invited him to her apartment. While there, four men ambushed him, beat and bound him, and robbed him at gunpoint. They also reportedly forced him to give them his ATM pin number and his home address.Two of those men, 22-year-old Corey McKnight and 18-year-old Tkyren James were arrested that night. Brooks and 21-year-old Colby Sanders were later arrested in Tyler are awaiting extradition back to Tarrant County. A fifth man is still on the loose.

GREGG COUNTY — Farm-to-Market 2751 in Gregg County, north of Longview between FM 449 and US 259, will be closed to through traffic Thursday for bridge and culvert maintenance. According to a TxDOT news release, the repair should take just one day, and the road is scheduled to be reopened to traffic on Friday.

TYLER — Tyler Animal Services was alerted Wednesday by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) that a stray bat found at Caldwell Zoo tested positive for rabies. Officials point out that the animal was not part of any zoo exhibit, but they say an unknown individual who alerted zoo staff to the bat may have been exposed. Any individuals who may have had contact with this bat or are concerned should contact Tyler Animal Services at (903) 535-0045 or DSHS at (903) 533-5243. Officials say it is critical for people to not handle bats, skunks, raccoons, or other wild animals. They say it is important for children to tell their parents of any contact with wild animals or any sick animals. If a person is bitten by an animal, the bite incident must be reported to the Local Rabies Control Authority, the Tyler Animal Services Director, for proper investigation. Continue reading Rabies advisory: Stray bat tests positive at Caldwell Zoo

TYLER — Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar was joined by University of Texas at Tyler President Kirk Calhoun Wednesday on the East Texas stop of his Texas Broadband Listening Tour. The visit was to get insights about internet access and collect input to develop the state’s first broadband plan, according to a news release. As quoted in the release, Hegar pointed out that “Tyler is in a 23-county region where 54 percent of households do not have access to high-speed wireline broadband, and 25 percent of households do not have internet of any kind.” He says Wednesday’s event “will help my office identify changes, chart goals and encourage investment to expand high-speed internet access to areas in need.” The tour is taking Hegar to a dozen locations across the state. Continue reading Hegar visits UT Tyler on Broadband Listening Tour

AUSTIN — Sales tax allocations from the state comptroller’s office continue to look good for Tyler and Longview, both of which follow an ongoing statewide trend. For April, Tyler hauls in $4,111,504.49, compared to $3,141,646.81 for April 2021. Tyler’s year-to-date figure is $19,357,242.02, a jump from $15,651,576.73 a year ago. Longview’s April figure is $2,820,813.96, a significant increase from the $2,233,131.08 reported at this time last year. For the year to date, Longview has tallied $13,940,564.22, up from $11,295,935.52 in April 2021.

SMITH COUNTY — Residents and authorities continue to respond in the wake of severe storms in Smith county overnight Monday and Tuesday. Whitehouse officials Tuesday named W.M. Solaman as the person who died there when a storm pushed a tree down across his home. Downed trees, blocked roadways, traffic signal outages, and delays are among the issues that have confronted officials around the county. Local governments are reporting progress while passing along detailed information on damage and how to get help if you were affected by the rough weather. For the latest information from the city of Tyler, go here and scroll down to “Tyler News.” Smith County’s updates and summaries can be found by going to this link and scrolling down to “News.” As for the city of Whitehouse, go here or here for further information.

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith Countywide Cleanup vouchers are now available at Whitehouse City Hall for people who suffered property damages from Monday night’s storm. The Smith Countywide Cleanup is running throughout April and allows for all Smith County residents to take one truckload of bulky trash to the landfill for free. The program began April 1, and vouchers are available at several County Offices, including the Annex Building, at 200 E. Ferguson Street in Tyler, as well as the Constable/Justice of the Peace Offices throughout the County. The vouchers are now available at Whitehouse City Hall, to be more conveniently distributed from its Utility Department, located at 101 A Bascom Road. Continue reading Smith County cleanup vouchers available in Whitehouse

TYLER — Tyler city officials say crews are working to restore misaligned traffic detection cameras, remove downed trees, and repair fence damage to city-owned facilities after severe thunderstorms went through the area early Tuesday morning. The city offered a mid-afternoon update Tuesday, with more updates planned as the situation evolves. The Tuesday afternoon update includes a detailed rundown of issues and how to report any problems you may have. Continue reading Storm damage assessment reveals downed trees, blocked roadways, more

TYLER — Smith County Officials assisted the City of Whitehouse and Troup after Monday night and Tuesday morning’s storms caused downed trees throughout the county. According to a news release, Smith County Road and Bridge crews, along with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and Fire Marshal’s Office, came to the aid of the City of Whitehouse in the middle of the night. County Engineer Frank Davis said Road and Bridge crews were called out around 3 a.m. The county later reported that as of 3:30 Tuesday afternoon, all reported downed trees had been cleared from county roads. We will update this item as additional information comes in. Meantime, click this link for additional details.

WHITEHOUSE — The Whitehouse Police Department has identified W. M. Soloman as the individual who died during the storms that passed through the city early Tuesday morning. “Our prayers are with the friends and family of Mr. Soloman, who we lost early this morning when the storm pushed a tree down across his home,” said Mayor James Wansley as quoted in a Tuesday afternoon news release. “Last night’s storm also brought down power lines, obstructed traffic and caused property damage in the heart of the City of Whitehouse. I was proud to see the City staff, Police and Fire jump into action at the first signs of the menacing storm.” Wansley also sayd he “was humbled by the support we received” from various local responders. The city has lots more to share. Click here or here for more information.

MARSHALL — Police in Marshall are seeking clues in a fatal shooting. Authorities say officers were dispatched Monday evening to a location on Holland St. near Wilson Street in reference to a “trouble unknown” call of a person knocking on a door at a residence there. The officers were notified by Marshall Police Emergency Communications that someone had been shot, and that they were being transported to a hospital by private vehicle. The officers arrived at the hospital and located a car with multiple bullet strikes in the passenger side. The driver said her passenger had been shot multiple times by an unknown assailant wearing a mask and dark-colored clothing. Continue reading Marshall police investigate fatal shooting

GILMER – Authorities say an Upshur County Jail inmate has died after being found unresponsive in his cell. According to our news partner KETK, Sheriff Larry Webb said in a press release that 53-year-old Mark Wayne Stovall of Winnsboro was on medical watch at the time. Jail staff reportedly found him unresponsive and “immediately entered the cell and began to perform CPR on Mr. Stovall.” EMS was called as jail staff continued CPR, the release said, and EMS was not able to revive Stovall. The Texas Rangers are investigating, and the body has been sent for autopsy. Authorities said Stovall was jailed March 31 on a bond forfeiture warrant for possession of a controlled substance.

TYLER — With low COVID numbers holding relatively steady in the area, NET Health’s George Roberts remains upbeat but urges continued caution. He’s also shedding light on the recently-approved second booster. Roberts tells KTBB it’s recommended for people aged 50 and over — and for those aged 12 to 50 who are immunocompromised. He says you can get that second booster four months after your first booster. Roberts also reminds you that the BA.2 omicron variant is becoming more prevalent, and officials are continuing to keep an eye on that situation. Overall, Roberts continues to urge vaccinations for everyone who is eligible — reiterating that no one knows when another COVID spike may occur. And he says the vaccine supply remains abundant in East Texas. For more information on COVID-19 in East Texas, click here.

ARP — Arp ISD has delayed school start time for Tuesday. Classes will begin at 10:00 and buses will run 2 hours later than usual. Numerous reports of downed trees in the area, drivers are urged to use caution.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler announced the second four million-dollar gift to its School of Medicine. The anonymous gift will support the School of Medicine scholarships and faculty research, according to a news release. As quoted in the release, UT Tyler President Dr. Kirk Calhoun terms university officials “tremendously appreciative” of the gift and “amazed by the support” for the new facility. The School of Medicine’s founding dean, Dr. Brigham Willis, points to “the overwhelming philanthropic support that we have received since the medical school was announced.” He also expressed good feelings about the “warm welcome” he says he has received since coming on board in February. Continue reading Anonymous gift continues momentum for UT Tyler School of Medicine

TYLER — TxDOT will be busy with another round of construction and maintenance work in the Tyler District this week. In Smith County, Tyler Maintenance will have an overlay crew on FM 2089 with traffic controlled by flaggers and a pilot vehicle. A herbicide crew will also be in various locations throughout the county. In Gregg County, Longview Maintenance will be on FM 449 performing base repairs ahead of the edge/widening project. There will be a one-way setup with flaggers controlling traffic. Click here for a complete rundown of roadwork around the district.

TYLER — The Oakwood Cemetery Restoration Committee is holding their annual Walking History Tour through the historic Oakwood Cemetery, located at the intersection of Palace and Oakwood, Saturday, April 9, with tours starting at 1:00. Guests will follow a guide to visit gravesites of historical figures on tours that begin every 10 minutes. The cost is $10 per person. No charge for kids under 12, accompanied by an adult. For more information, call (903) 316-2201.