KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Tuesday began a two-and-a-half -day membership drive featuring over 100 volunteers. Organizers call it a high-energy event that features fun while building the membership base. They say when others hear about everything the Chamber does, it generates a great deal of enthusiasm and support. The event will conclude at noon Thursday, with a Celebration Party at Rick’s on The Square beginning at 5:21 p.m. For more information on how you can be involved, call the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce at 903-592-1661.

LONGVIEW — Spring Hill ISD trustees talked about safety in their schools Monday. Due to the recent school incidents across the country, they discussed different approaches to ensure the security and the government’s plan to institute more safety in schools. They also voted to add a K-9 unit for a drug free zone. Superintendent Steven Snell told our news partner KETK, “We’re looking for ways to improve our campus safety, limit access to our building, and just give our parents and students some peace of mind that we are doing everything it takes to keep the students safe.” Trustees said price will not be a factor and they will do everything they can to keep their students safe.

TYLER — Tyler ISD officials confirm a teacher who was involved in a confrontation with a high school student is still employed and has been disciplined. According to our news partner KETK, a spokesperson said teacher Jermaine Montgomery received disciplinary action. The specifics were not released. TISD investigated the teacher after a video surfaced on social media showing an altercation between a student and Montgomery at John Tyler High School. In the video, Montgomery can be seen shoving a student. The video has since been pulled from social media. The school district previously released a statement claiming the teacher was assaulted first.

UPSHUR COUNTY — An East Texas man has pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and one count of indecency with a child. Testimony in the sentencing phase for Mark Randall Beasley, 59, of Diana, is expected to begin June 21 in the 115th District Court. According to our news partner KETK, Beasley is facing up to life in prison on each offense of aggravated sexual assault of a child and 2-20 years for the indecency with a child offense. He can also be assessed a fine of up to $10,000.00 for each offense.

UPSHUR COUNTY — A Gilmer man has been sentenced to prison for selling drugs near an East Texas high school. According to our news partner KETK, Austin Keith Wolfe, 32, of Gilmer, was scheduled to go to trial for selling meth across from Gilmer High School as part of a three-person crime ring. Prior to jury selection in Upshur County Monday morning, he entered into a plea agreement with the state. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison and waived his right to appeal. Ashley Nicole Grubbs, 20, of Gilmer, pleaded guilty to the same charge in February and was sentenced to 40 years.

TYLER — Smith County will hold the first of its four Citizens and Veterans Outreach Meetings at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the R.B. Hubbard, or “Hub,” Building on East Ferguson Street in Tyler. Officials say they want to invite vets and their families to learn about the services the county provides to them and better learn how the county can serve them. Participants who have received help from the County Veteran Services Office will be asked to fill out a feedback form. The forms can also be filled out online. Two more meetings are scheduled this summer in Tyler, along with one in Lindale. You can check the ktbb.com Calendar of Events or http://www.smith-county.com/ for more information.

TYLER — Tyler inspection crews Monday began conducting a physical survey on the city’s wastewater collection system. According to our news partner KETK, they’ll do this on North Northwest Loop 323 between Highways 110 and 64. The crews will open manholes in the streets and send smoke through the sewer lines to detect breaks and defects, so don’t be alarmed when you see that smoke. They’re trying to repair and improve the wastewater collection system, and this will go on the whole week.

SAND FLAT — Family members have identified the man who drowned Friday night at Tyler State Park. According to our news partner KETK, 44-year old Michael O’Neal was swimming with his family in the middle of the lake when he went under. It’s unknown how long he was underwater. Once he was found, O’Neal was pulled from the lake and given CPR, but it did not work. He died at the scene.

TYLER — Authorities have arrested the second suspect in connection to a shooting at Fun Forest Park. On Friday afternoon, June 8, officers received a tip on the location of Davonta Hill, 25, of Tyler. Officers located Hill in a house on W. Claude Street in Tyler. He was booked into the Smith County Jail on two charges of aggravated assault causing bodily injury and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His bond was set at $1.5 million. Continue reading Second Suspect Wanted in Park Shooting Arrested

TYLER — Here’s a look at work planned in TxDOT’s Tyler District during the week of June 11. Districtwide seal coat operations are ongoing. Motorists should expect lane closures and delays during this work to seal and protect roadways from water, and provide a longer life cycle. Because the time to complete work on each roadway is estimated, these schedules are subject to change. You can go to https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/023-2018.html for a complete rundown of work around the district.

EAST TEXAS — To ensure U.S. citizens are prepared to travel abroad this summer, the U.S. Postal Service will be hosting several passport fairs in East Texas. Appointments are not required, so customers are encouraged to show up early, as applicants will be served on a first-come, first-served basis until the applicant maximum capacity has been reached. The fairs are scheduled for June 16 at the Canton Post Office, June 23 at the Kilgore Post Office, and June 30 at Tyler Public Library. You can check the ktbb.com Calendar of Events for further information.

TYLER — Smith County SHeriff Larry Smith says the investigation continues after 40-year-old Larry Cowart of Tyler was jailed in a weekend shooting death. Smith says deputies were initially sent to a location on CR 1145 around 2:20 Saturday morning but initiated a traffic stop in Tyler after learning the victim was being transported in a private vehicle. EMS was called after 43-year-old Heath Bearden was seen unresponsive in the passenger seat, and Smith says Bearden was dead on arrival of EMS. Witnesses said several people were at Cowart’s home when Cowart shot Bearden once in the chest. An autopsy has been ordered, and a bond of $750,000 was recommended for Cowart.

TYLER – The Tyler Fire Department Friday rolled out the details of this year’s heat response plan. According to our news partner KETK, the department hopes to put a dent in the numerous heat-related deaths per year. Officials advise the community to drink plenty of water, stay in air conditioning when possible, and never leave children or animals in the car. But this year’s plan also focuses heavily on neighbors watching out for neighbors. One key focus: people who don’t have air conditioning. Some community members have found creative ways to help, such as the coolers full of cold water bottles you might see around Tyler at local bus stops. That started a couple of years ago when a resident approached local health officials with the idea.

SAND FLAT – A man has drowned at Tyler State Park. It happened around 7:00 Friday night in the swim area of the lake. Initial reports are the victim is a Lindale man. We will have more information when it becomes available.

AUSTIN (AP) – In an East Texas-linked case, a former state liquor control sergeant is suing his former employer, alleging that he was fired improperly after accusing a prominent state lawmaker of corruption. Marcus Stokke filed the lawsuit this week in a state district court in Austin. The Austin American-Statesman reports h alleges he was fired after making public corruption and obstruction of justice allegations to the FBI against state Sen. Joan Huffman of Houston. That was after the liquor control board ordered him to stop investigating alleged violations by Graham Central Station in Longview, which he alleges Huffman and her husband partly owned. He alleges Huffman used her influence to get the commission to order a stop to the investigation. Huffman, who chairs the Senate State Affairs Committee, denies the allegations. The TABC declined comment.

TYLER – Tyler police are mourning the death of a former police dog. According to the department’s Face Book page, Vaio died on Friday. The dog retired from the Tyler Police Department K-9 Division in 2014. The dog was living with Smith County Deputy Josh Hill and family who was the police department’s K-9 handler for Vaio.

LONGVIEW – The Longview Symphony Orchestra needs a new conductor. Gene Moon has taken the advice of author and newspaper editor Horace Greeley, who once said, “Go west young man.” Moon is leaving the conductor’s position, which he has held the past two years, and his job at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, to become orchestra director at California Baptist University. He will also be closer to his family.

MARSHALL — A Marshall man has been indicted, accused of killing two dogs, then shooting at a relative. According to KETK, court records name him as 33-year-old Decrick Stephens. The indictment says he shot both dogs in April. A woman contacted deputies saying Stephens also shot at her while inside her house and car.

TYLER — There’s no indication the Tyler ISD board intends to move forward with a possible name change for Robert E. Lee High School. But according to our news partner KETK, that hasn’t stopped a new group called the Tyler ISD Parent Coalition. Members gathered Thursday outside the TISD offices to write over 70 “positive post cards” and deliver them to board members, encouraging a new name for the school. The group joined hands as the school board met for a workshop at which trustees had initially planned to vote on a name change — before pulling the item from the agenda last month. Though no action is on the horizon, some trustees were seen Thursday listening to coalition members.

An autopsy has been ordered on the body of a Marshall man found in Lake O’ The Pines. The body of Sammy Lynn Lento, 70, was found Thursday morning. It was in the lake near the Highway 155 bridge. Residents had earlier found his empty boat in the area. It is believed he was having motor trouble and had gotten into the lake in an attempt to fix it when he drowned.

WASHINGTON – Two men are closer to becoming federal judges in Tyler. The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved the nominations of Cam Barker and Jeremy Kernodle to fill judicial vacancies on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Tyler. Barker was nominated by the president to fill the position previously held by Judge Leonard Davis. His spot became open when Davis took senior status in May, 2015. Kernodle was named to fill the post previously held by Judge Michael Schneider. He moved to senior Status in January, 2016. Continue reading Two Potential Federal Judges for Tyler Pass a Hurdle

TYLER – A Hawkins woman has pleaded guilty in Tyler federal court to embezzling $1.8 million from California companies. Lina Su, also known as Lina Perkins, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering Thursday in an appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell. Prosecutors say she used the money to make personal credit card payments, purchase land for herself, and pay contractors constructing her home in Wood County. Under federal statutes, she faces up to life in federal prison. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler has announced its partnership with Jarvis Christian College. With the partnership, undergraduate students from the Hawkins school will be able to transfer into selected undergraduate programs at UT Tyler. The selected programs will not duplicate those offered at JCC. Also, the Tyler students will have the opportunity to pursue majors at Jarvis that are not offered at UT Tyler. The agreement also will allow well-qualified Jarvis students to begin limited study in selected master’s degree programs at UT Tyler as they complete their bachelor’s degree in Hawkins. The agreement was signed in Tyler Thursday afternoon.

Rick Springfield will kickoff the 2018-2019 lineup for performances at the Cowan Center at the University of Texas at Tyler. The announcement was made Thursday. Included in the lineup are the productions of The Sound of Music and the King and I. There will also be performances by The Texas Tenors, Kool and the Gang and the New York Philharmonic String Quartet. Appearing in the Distinguished Lecture Series will be comedian Dennis Miller and former CBS TV news anchor Dan Rather. You can go to http://www.cowancenter.org/schedule.html for the complete lineup.

LONGVIEW – New evidence has led to the arrest of Nicole Bruton, 32, of Longview, in connection with a fatal fire that killed two persons. Killed in the March 9th fire on Cherie Lane were Randall Russell and Lisa Tesmer, a father and daughter. Bruton was originally arrested in connection with the fire, but later released for lack of evidence. While under arrest for arson in Denton, she gave officers information that brought Longview officers there. She told them how she took a burning piece of board out of the fireplace and put it on a chair. The fire on the chair spread, catching the house on fire, killing the couple. She has been charged with arson and placed under a $500,000 bond.

LONGVIEW – A pickup stolen in Longview caused a police chase that ended in Dallas. A Longview officer first spotted the truck around 4:30 Thursday morning. The officer believed the driver was drunk because he was driving erratically with no headlights on. The following chase, at times reaching speeds over 100 miles an hour, led officers into Dallas. The truck blew its two front tires but kept going with a line of sparks flying from the back of the truck. The driver pulled off in downtown Dallas and stopped when the truck drove onto a curb. The juvenile driver was arrested and charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and evading arrest in a vehicle.

LONGVIEW – A Longview woman has been arrested and identified after being accused of trying to take a woman’s child. Police were called to the Longview Train Depot Wednesday morning over two women fighting. They had said to have been arguing over a two year old boy. A mother had taken her son to watch the trains when a woman tried to abduct him. Bystanders helped hold the suspect until the police arrived. The mother received some minor injuries and the boy was not hurt. Angela Alldredge, 40, was booked into the Gregg County jail on a kidnapping charge.

AUSTIN – Texas cities and counties are receiving their June tax allocations from the state. It is based on sales made in April. The sales tax allocations in Tyler and Longview are still looking strong. Tyler’s allocation tops $3.3 million. That is up nearly 10% from last June. Longview’s June figure exceeds $2.2 million, also an increase of nearly 10%. Through June, Tyler’s sales tax allocations for the year are over $20.2 million while Longview’s total tops $14.7 million. Both number top the first six months of last year.

KILGORE – Gregg County Crime Stoppers has voted to increase the reward to $2,000 for Dwight Patrick Scott. Tracy Lynn Reedy, 50, was found dead on December 31, 2017. The Kilgore woman was found shot to death at the Meadow Green Apartment Complex. Investigators believe Scott was the killer and District Court Judge David Brabham issued a murder warrant for him and set a $1-million bond. From tips they received, they know he fled Kilgore right after the shooting and went to the Chicago, illinois area. Scott also has family in the Dallas/For Worth Metroplex. If you have information on where Scott can be found, and want to collect a reward and remain anonymous, you are asked to contact Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP [903-236-7867].