KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Harvey Hall Convention Center re-opened on Monday morning after Legionella bacteria was found by the Centers for Disease Control last week. However, the CDC confirmed on Friday that Harvey Hall was not the source of the Leionnaires disease outbreak in October. There were eight confirmed cases and one death linked to Legionnaire’s disease. The city’s decision to close Harvey was precautionary. The plumbing system was disnfected, flushed, and tested again. Tyler’s Julie Goodgame told KTBB, “that the initial remedial process completed over the weekend and as of this morning, Monday, we have staff moving back into the building.” Harvey Hall will host “Mistletoe and Magic” that begins on December 4.

HIDEAWAY — The plane that crashed in a field near Hideaway Friday had lost power just before the pilot deployed the Cirrus aircraft safety parachute. That’s according to the Federal Aviation Administration, which says the plane had been traveling from Terrell, headed to Gladewater. It crashed off County Road 434, west of Hideaway. According to our news partner KETK, the pilot and passenger were both injured. The extent of injuries wasn’t immediately clear, but the two were transported to U.T. Health-Tyler. Further details are awaited as the investigation continues.

TYLER — Tyler Transit began operating a seasonal line (Orange-Route 6) that started on Monday and will continue through Dec. 28. The temporary trek will run from the Social Security office on S. Donnybrook Ave. to The Village at Cumberland Park on South Broadway. The Orange route is an additional route and will not affect permanent lines of operation. The seasonal circuit hours are from 11:20 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tyler Transit will be operating all routes during Black Friday, Nov. 29. Hours of operation will be from 8:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tyler Transit will not be operating on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s days. For more info contact the Transit Depot at (903) 533-8057.

AUSTIN — The Texas Water Development Board has approved $1,125,000 in financial assistance for the city of Athens. The city will use the money to finance design and construction costs as it works to replace about 5,000 linear feet of water line. The money consists of an $825,000 loan and $300,000 in loan forgiveness.

DALLAS — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division is offering a $500 reward, combined with an additional $500 offered by the National Sports Shooting Foundation (NSSF), in a case from last summer. The reward is for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the burglary and theft of firearms from Federal Firearms licensee (FFL) Wiley & Sons in Wills Point. According to a news release, around 3:00 a.m. on August 30, two people forced entry into FFL Wiley & Sons, on Van Zandt County Road 2120. Continue reading Reward Offered in Federal Firearms Licensee Burglary

TYLER — The city of Tyler plans to reopen Harvey Convention Center Monday if that’s approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health). The city temporarily closed the convention center this week in the wake of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak that killed one person and sickened seven others. The city has since been notified by the CDC that, though testing for Legionella is positive at Harvey, the bacteria strain found in samples from Harvey was not consistent with the strain that caused the outbreak. Continue reading Officials Hope to Reopen Harvey Convention Center Monday

TYLER — For the 23rd consecutive year, Tyler Junior College has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association for its comprehensive annual financial report. The certificate is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. Carol Hutson, the Executive Director of Business Services told KTBB it takes a comprhensive approach. Continue reading TJC Honored Again for Financial Reporting

HARRISON COUNTY — An East Texas couple has been indicted in the death of a 5-year-old Waskom child. According to our news partner KETK said, Danielle Faulkner, the boys mother, was indicted on Thursday. The Harrison County Grand Jury found evidence supported the charge of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury. Larry Prudhomme, Faulkner’s boyfriend, was indicted for murder. Both charges are first degree felonies punishable by 5-99 years or life in state prison if they are convicted. Bonds were set at $1 million each.

GLADEWATER — A section of Highway 80 has been cleaned up and is back to normal according to local authorities. The Gladewater Fire Department worked to clear the scene on Friday morning after an 18-wheeler spilled some sort of substance. Portions of the highway were blocked from Wood to Center Street as crews cleaned up the overflow. Drivers had to take secondary routes until the clean up was completed.

DALLAS — With the exception of a few places in Texas, gas prices stayed rather steady this past week — and some of he cheapest gas is in Tyler. That’s according to the Triple A. The group’s Daniel Armbruster says the state average is $2.26 a gallon. The highest average price continues to be in the Midland area at $2.41, with Tyler and Victoria being on the low side at $2.16 a gallon. But with Thanksgiving coming up, get ready. Armbruster says, “Price fluctuations are possible throughout the state with so many people traveling for Thanksgiving.” Still, while we can lament what we may consider to be high prices, Armbruster says Texas still has it good. The national average for gas is $2.59.

MARSHALL — The Marshall Police Department was dispatched on Wednesday to the area of East End Blvd. South and Johnson St. Witnesses reported that a white male in all black clothing had set fire to a residence on Five Notch Rd. A white male matching the description was identified as Edward Winch, 25, of Marshall. Upon questioning, Winch was arrested and charged with one count of arson and taken to the Harrison County Jail. The Marshall Fire Department continues to investigate.

TYLER — The City of Tyler is encouraging residents to get rid of Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) to prevent sewer problems. This will help not only in homes but sewer mains as well. While these are great practices during the holidays, the city says it’s also an important practice year round. FOG such as cooking oils, dairy products, fat and grease residues and other food scraps should never be put down the drain or garbage disposal. Continue reading Tyler Water Dept offers Tips to De-FOG Plumbing

TYLER — East Texas Food Bank will be celebrating the season of Thanksgiving on Friday with the Charlie Brown gang! Multiple community members will be coming Bergfeld Park for the 10th annual “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.” The initiative will benefit the East Texas Food Bank. The free event is open to the public and begins at 5:30 p.m. The public is asked to bring plastic jars of peanut butter to donate to East Texas Food Bank.

TYLER — Tyler Junior College officials honored the recently retired Chancellor and CEO Dr. Mike Metke on Thursday. They paid tribute to Metke by naming a street on the TJC campus after him. He retired in June, after 12 years with the college. Metke and his wife, Donna, were joined by TJC board members, administrators, faculty, staff and students for the unveiling of Metke Drive, on the east side of the TJC main campus. Claude Henry, president of Texas Bank and Trust in Tyler, was recently named the winner in a drawing for Metke’s 1926 Ford Model T, which Metke donated to the College to benefit TJC scholarships. Henry received the car at Thursday’s event.

TYLER – A wreck on Wednesday afternoon left 3 people dead, D.P.S. Troopers responded to a two vehicle fatal crash on SH-204, about a mile and half southeast of Jacksonville in Cherokee County. Preliminary reports indicates that Robert Earl Sanders, 64, of Cushing was traveling northwest while Bryon Andrew Luna, 54, of Reklaw was traveling in the opposite direction. Sanders crossed over and hit Luna. Luna, Sanders and his passenger Johnny T. Sanders, 84 also of Cushing all died in the accident. The crash remains under investigation.

TYLER — Meals on Wheels East Texas will be looking for a new C.E.O. for the organization following the resignation of John Moore who stepped down effective Wednesday. Moore told KTBB the reason for his decision. “There comes a point in everyone’s career where you see things aren’t going exactly as expected and you can make a couple of choices, you can stay or leave and I simply chose to leave.” Continue reading Moore Resigns from Meals on Wheels East Texas

UPSHUR COUNTY — An East Texas man will spend the next 10 years behind bars after a jury sentenced him for assaulting a Big Sandy Police Officer earlier this year. In January, Thomas Paul Carroll, 28, was seen by Officer Taylor Fast stumbling across HWY 80 and believed he was drunk. According to our news partner KETK, the deputy attempted to arrest him when Carroll hit him in the face. During the ensuing fight, Carroll grabbed Fast’s taser and charged him. Fast was able to subdue him and place him into custody. Carrol has a lengthy record that includes assaulting family members and drug possession.

MARSHALL — East Texas Baptist University’s Department of Theatre Arts will continue its 2019-2020 production season with Girls’ Night Out, an evening of one-act plays including Beth Henley’s Crimes of the Heart and Robert Harling’s Steel Magnolias. The show will open Thursday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre of the Jenna Guest Music Building on the ETBU campus. General admission to Girls’ Night Out is $10, or free with ETBU ID. Find the ETBU 2019-2020 Production Season poster at http://www.ETBU.edu/Theatre.

MARSHALL — An invasive weed threatens pastures across Texas — and experts say now is the time to start looking for it. Texans will begin to see thistle pop up along roadways and in pastures during the spring, and it will be in full bloom by June. Once you see it, it’s too late to control. Matt Garrett, Texas A&M Agrilife extension agent in Harrison County, says, “A single thistle plant can produce at least 4,000 seeds, which increases the chance for higher thistle populations in the pasture for the following year. Consequently, management practices need (to be) conducted prior to flower formation for effective thistle control.” Garrett says even if you have not had past thistle infestations, now is the perfect time to inspect your pasture.

TYLER — On Wednesday afternoon a jury came to a decision in the sentencing phase of a Tyler man found guilty of capital murder. According to our news partner KETK, Dameon Mosley, 28 will be put to death for the killing of 62 year-old Billy Stacks in a gas station robbery in 2017. It took the jury of seven men and five women under an hour to come to that decision. Mosley will be the first from Tyler to receive the death penalty since 2015.

TYLER — After October tornadoes damaged Walnut Hill Elementary School in Dallas, students and staff at Owens Elementary School wanted to help. Over the last several weeks the Eagles have been holding a book drive to help restock the collection of books in the Walnut Hill Elementary School library. Students brought in donations as well as purchased books online. On Wednesday, 4th grade students wrote messages of hope and encouragement inside the books during center times though out the day. The School will deliver over 300 books to Walnut Hill Elementary as a result of their efforts.

ALTO — The Chaparral Center reported a theft that took place overnight into Tuesday morning. That did not stop the 501(c)3 non-profit center, also known as The Alto Food Pantry from helping 86 people with food by the end of the day. On Wednesday morning authorities were able to return the generator. Food Bank Distributor Tony Chopa told KTBB he was beyond grateful when the generator was returned to the food bank. Continue reading Stolen Generator Returned to Pantry in Alto

ATHENS — A high speed chase Tuesday morning in Henderson County eventually hit speeds of 115 miles per hour through Gun Barrel City. Jonathan Ray White was driving a car reported stolen out of Mesquite. As White approached the Kaufman city limits, the vehicle failed. Henderson County Deputies also found plastic baggies containing a crystal-like substance, which they believe to be Methamphetamine. White was arrested and transported to Henderson County Jail.

CHAPEL HILL — East Texas homeowners fighting the expansion of toll 49 in Smith County, are ramping up their opposition. That’s according to our news partner KETK. At a meeting Tuesday night their focus shifted to the safety of children living near the proposed extension. NETRMA recently narrowed the plan down to three potential routes, yellow, teal.and purple. Chapel Hill residents looked at their options, concerned after NETRMA announced the final three routes for the expansion of toll 49. They focus on the proposed “teal” route, claiming it will run through the heart of the community. Continue reading Safety Concerns for NETRMA Expansion

TYLER — A jury has begun deliberations to decide the fate of a Tyler man convicted of capital murder. According to our news partner KETK, Judge Christi Kennedy concluded proceedings for the day after both prosecutors and the defense team finished closing arguments after the lunch break on Tuesday. Dameon Mosley, 28, was convicted last week for the murder of Billy Stacks, 62, while he was robbing a Conoco gas station in Tyler in January of 2017. He will either be executed or spend life in prison.

TYLER — The Salvation Army in Tyler kicked off a new program on Monday with the goal of increasing donations and awareness for their Angel Tree program. According to our news partner KETK, the Angel Tree has been an annual Tradition for 40 years, dating back to 1979. 2019 will mark the inaugural year of “online adoption.” This will enable the community to find an angel online. If you would like to adopt an Angel you can visit Broadway Square Mall or click the link for the online system. https://www.tsamm.org/angeltree/adopt.dpi?c=2134834173800A88BE598393763C66C179D793A1. Continue reading Tyler Salvation Army Increases Ways to Adopt Angels

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department introduced the “Friendly Neighborhood Thief” last summer with a goal of educating residents about protecting their vehicles from break-ins and theft. Since then, the City of Tyler Communications Department and Tyler Police Department have created additional installments to the series. Tyler announced on Monday that they were recently recognized with a MarCom Gold Award for the PSA campaign. Continue reading Tyler’s “Friendly Neighborhood Thief” Series Wins Award

TYLER — The City of Tyler announced on Monday, that they have completed the free chlorine disinfection process after a month long conversion that started last month. The Lake Palestine Water Treatment Plant and the Golden Road Water Treatment Plant put ammonia back into the system taking disinfection process back to chloramines, a mixture of ammonia and free chlorine. The City reformed the disinfection process to free chlorine for one month to improve and maintain the water quality standards in the potable water distribution system. The process of chloramines making their way through the enitre system will take about a week. Continue reading Tyler Ends Annual Free Chlorine Conversion Process