KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — A suspect is sought following the armed robbery of a Tyler gas station. It happened around 9:30 Monday night at the Food Fast on Front Street. The clerk told officers that a white man with blonde hair entered the store, covered his face and pulled a knife on the clerk. He left the store on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. No injuries were reported. The suspect was said to be around 6′ tall and close to 30-years-old, wearing a red jacket and blue jeans.

TYLER — Tyler announces a new safe driving effort: “Drive Like Your Family Lives Here.” According to a news release, in 2015, the largest increase in traffic accident fatalities in more than 50 years occurred in the United States. Now the City of Tyler and the Tyler Police Department are joining together in the public education campaign to address unsafe driving behaviors. Continue reading Motorists Asked to “Drive Like Your Family Lives Here”

JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville police are seeking leads in an armed robbery around 7:30 Sunday morning at Food Fast on East Larissa Street. The suspect is said to be a white male, about 5’8″, with a medium stocky build. He was wearing an unknown color long sleeve shirt, blue jeans, a red ball cap, and a red bandana over his face. Armed with a knife about a foot long, he demanded money from the register and made off with some $80 to $90. The clerk followed the thief as he ran away. He apparently entered what’s believed to be a white Nissan Maxima and was last seen traveling south on Bolton Street. Police say there is no reliable video of the incident. You’re asked to call JPD at (903) 586-2546 with any information.

HARRISON COUNTY — New details are released after a 61-year-old Army veteran was shot and killed during an altercation with a Harrison County deputy. It happened when a sister of the man, described as mentally ill, called authorities for a welfare check. The man began swinging on the officer, who both Tasered and dry-Tasered him with no result. Sheriff’s Lieutenant Jay Webb says the “officer was then knocked down, and as the fight ensued, the…officer fired the weapon.” The officer was attacked as soon as he entered the home and suffered minor injuries. The Texas Rangers are investigating. Arthur McAfee was pronounced dead at a Longview-area hospital.

HIDEAWAY — Drivers should take note of a closure on I-20, with traffic moving to the ramps during night work on the FM 849 Bridge Replacement Project at Hideaway. Eastbound I-20 will be shut down from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. tonight for the installation of bridge deck panels. The bridge was heavily damaged during a recent accident. TxDOT urges you to exercise caution in the area or seek an alternate route.

TYLER — After nearly 10 years of serving the children of Smith County as the AgriLife Extension Agent of 4-H and Youth Development, Sarah Brod is transferring to another county. Officials say Mrs. Brod recently married and now lives in Franklin County with her husband and daughter. Opting for a shorter commute, she is taking a job there as the Franklin County Extension Agent of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “I have truly enjoyed working in Smith County,” Mrs. Brod said in a news release. Her last day in Smith County was January 19.

HARRISON COUNTY — 23-year-old Ronnie Joe Martin of Deberry has died in a Harrison County accident. Troopers responded around 1 p.m. Saturday to FM 9, 4.6 miles south of Waskom. Preliminary investigation revealed that Martin was traveling north at an unsafe speed for the curve in the roadway. The vehicle traveled onto the east right of way, overcorrected to the left, and slid sideways across the roadway, where it struck numerous trees and became engulfed in flames. The vehicle came to rest wedged between the trees facing northwest. Martin was pronounced dead at the scene.

SMITH COUNTY — The Department of Public Safety is continuing to investigate an accident that took the life of a pedestrian Friday night — and officials have now identified the driver. Troopers responded around 7:15 to SH 31, about half a mile west Tyler. Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver, identified as Amanda Elaine Williams, 26, of Tyler, was traveling east in the inside lane when she struckShanita Lashanda Johnson, 36, of Tyler. Johnson (pictured) was trying to cross the roadway from the south side to the north. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene. Williams was not injured.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — A Wills Point teacher and coach has been killed in an accident. KETK names the victim as 38-year-old William Robert-Dwain Brown of Forney, who was an assistant baseball and football coach along with his teaching duties. The DPS reports that troopers responded to the one-vehicle fatal crash around 9:10 Saturday night on Van Zandt CR 3501, two miles west of Wills Point. Continue reading Teacher/Coach Killed in Accident

SMITH COUNTY — Two more men are on trial for allegedly shooting at deputies during a high-speed chase in March of 2016. Jeremy Robinson (pictured), 33, of Hutchins, and Juan Quiroga, 19, of Tyler, are standing trial after officials said they were two of three people who shot at deputies on March 21, 2016. Smith County deputies tried to stop a black car with three men inside after it was spotted in an area known for illegal activity off State Highway 64 West in western Smith County. When a deputy activated his emergency lights, the driver refused to pull over and a chase began. Deputies followed the car at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour. Continue reading Trial Begins for Suspects Accused of Shooting at Deputies

EAST TEXAS — SWEPCO customers can expect to see an increase in their electric bills. According to KETK, the company has made an 8.9% rate increase, or about $8.50, for customers that use 1,000 kilowatt hours. SWEPCO has been working toward an increase since 2016 to pay for it’s investment into four coal fire plants. Because of that, customers will also see a surcharge of another $7.70 to allow SWEPCO to retroactively recover from that investment.

WINNSBORO — An East Texas mayor has declared a “State of Emergency” for his city after a possible tornado touched down Sunday night. Winnsboro Mayor Richard R. Parrish says the western part of the city has sustained major damage. According to KETK, early Monday morning, Parrish updated residents on the latest developments following a possible tornado in the small East Texas town. According to Parrish, four families were displaced due to damage sustained after the storm. “We had an apartment building that had the roof removed and displaced three families, but those families have been put in vacant apartments by the property owner, so they have a place to stay for the night,” Parrish says. “We also have a private residence that was damaged by a tree that fell through the house, so that family has taken up with family members for the evening, so that they can start assessing the damage.” Continue reading Winnsboro Mayor Declares State of Emergency following Possible Tornado

WOOD COUNTY — One of Texas’ Ten Most Wanted criminals has been arrested in California for a crime he’s accused of committing in Wood County. According to KETK, Blake Everett Reed was found in San Luis Obispo County, California, north of Los Angeles. He is being extradited back to Wood County. Reed was wanted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, harassment of a public servant, assault of a public servant, assault and evading arrest/detention with a vehicle. According to DPS, in September 2016, Reed allegedly assaulted a woman in Wood County. He was arrested and charged with multiple felonies by the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Reed was released on bond several days later. Since May 2017, the WCSO has issued multiple warrants for Reed’s arrest. Reed also has ties to San Luis Obispo County in California, including the cities of Cambria and Cayucos.

TYLER — Numerous flat tires in Tyler are being blamed on a substance the city put on the roads. When the roads began to ice over this past week, city crews started treating them with a mixture meant to provide traction — but instead it left many drivers with flattened tires. Public works director Scott Taylor says the city is now looking at went wrong. Taylor says over the next week or so, the city will re-evaluate the material and what was done procedurally before determining whether to make any changes in the material. Brine is usually the go-to for roads in icy conditions, but this time the city used a mix that included a metal substance called slag. Taylor says that’s what caused the flattened tires, although the city has used the mix without problems since 1974.

GLADEWATER — Texas Rangers are investigating an officer involved shooting in Gladewater which sent one person to the hospital. It happened overnight Friday at an unknown location in the city. According to KETK, Gladewater Police said an officer shot one person after they reportedly pointed a gun at them. That person was taken to a local hospital where their condition is unknown. No law enforcement official was injured in the shooting. The investigation has been turned over to the Texas Rangers.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man has received a life prison sentence for the shooting deaths of his child’s grandparents. Christopher Marvin Bell II pleaded guilty to the murders. He was sentenced Friday in 124th State District Court. Investigators say Bell went to the couple’s apartment in November, 2016, to see his daughter. He said he was not allowed inside, so he went to the back of the apartment. He jumped over the balcony, broke the glass patio door and began to fight with the victim’s. He then took out a handgun and shot the couple. After fleeing, he called police to turn himself in. He was arrested in a parking lot of a store on Estes Parkway.

MARSHALL – Marshall police continue their efforts to track down the suspects involved in a shooting this week at Wiley College. It happened around 12:15 Monday morning. A black sedan, believed to be a Chevrolet Impala, possibly a year model between 2006 – 2013, drove onto the Strickland Hall parking lot and possibly exchanged gunfire with someone in the parking lot. One bullet went through a dorm window. No injuries were reported. The car, with possibly two persons inside, crashed into a retaining wall, damaging the wall and the vehicle. The vehicle then left the campus. The car should have extensive front-end damage.

HALLSVILLE – Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of Wednesday’s fire at Trinity Industries at Hallsville. The fire was reported late that afternoon in the paint shop building at the plant. The fire, just east of Longview, was reported contained about an hour and a half later. The building was a total loss. The Harrison County Fire Marshal’s office told the Longview News Journal they still are investigating the cause, but they haven’t found anything suspicious. Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Temple said the blaze is likely linked to faulty equipment. No injuries were reported.

HENDERSON – A traffic problem in Rusk county has been cleared up. It was created when a log truck had an accident, spilling longs along the highway. The accident was on U.S. Highway 79 East, just west of County Road 304, and just east of Henderson. There were no report of injuries.

SMITH COUNTY – A lone gunman has robbed a Smith County convenience store. It was reported shortly after 9:00 Thursday night on Highway 110 North near Interstate Highway 20. The man is said to have robbed the employee of an undetermined amount of money and then left in a dark colored pickup. No injuries were reported. The suspect is described as a white male between 40 and 50 years of age.

AUSTIN – The Texas unemployment rate rose slightly in December to reach 3.9%. It is up slightly from the 3.8% figure in November. The Nation’s unemployment was 4.1% last month. The Tyler Numbers are even better. Tyler’s unemployment rate fell from 3.7% in November to 3.4% last month. It was 4.3% a year ago. Longview’s number went down slightly. It was 4.2% in November, and fell to 4.1% in December. That is far better that the 5.9% unemployment rate in December 2016. The Texas workforce Commission reports the state’s economy added 306,900 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs last year. The state’s annual employment growth was 2.5% in December, marking 92 consecutive months of annual growth.

SMITH COUNTY — An East Texas man has been arrested for murder. According to KETK, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office arrested Colton Wade Tate, 21, of Tyler. He was booked into the Smith County Jail around 1:30 a.m., on Friday and later released on $50,000 bond. Tate was arrested in connection with the 2017 shooting death of Andrew Carpenter. Around 1:15 a.m. November 5, the SCSO received a 911 call reporting a shooting at a residence on Deerwood Drive. Carpenter, 19, of Tyler, was found inside the residence with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at a Tyler hospital. Continue reading Third Arrest in Smith County Murder

GREGG COUNTY — A Longview woman is arrested on charges related to sex trafficking a runaway 14-year-old girl. According to the Longview News-Journal, Chelsey Rae Penney, 32, is charged with compelling prostitution under age 18, trafficking of a person and engaging in organized criminal activity. Her bond was set at $150,000. Police said Penney drove the girl to different cities, including Tyler, paid for hotel rooms and placed online ads for the girl to be prostituted. Continue reading Longview Woman Charged with Trafficking Runaway Teen

KILGORE – The Kilgore College student newspaper, The Flare, has been named a Crown Finalist from Columbia Scholastic Press Association in New York. Crown Awards honor top student publications chosen from organization’s members. Crowns are selected for overall excellence in a head-to-head comparison. Also, Kilgore College students received 11 Gold Circle Awards from the institution, highlighting publications produced during the 2016-17 academic year. A total of 1,100 publications were eligible for judging. Continue reading The Flare Named a Crown Finalist

TYLER – The Salvation Army in Tyler has been kept busy this week because of the cold and the snow. The decrease of temperature brought an increase in those looking for shelter. The Center of Hope housed nearly 300 people the last few days. The soup kitchen’s community dinner served around 115 people a night. Anyone interested in helping The Salvation Army continue to provide a safe place for families during difficult times can go to http://www.salvationarmytyler.org and donate online. The shelter is also in need of bath towels, wash clothes, chapstick, scarfs and winter gloves and hats for children and adults.

WASHINGTON – The Association of the United States Navy has awarded Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert the “National Legislative Advocacy Award.” Each year the group presents the award to a member of the U.S. house and senate. According to a news release from the congressman’s office, the decision to give him the award was a unanimous decision among the group’s 20,000 members, an exceedingly rare occurrence. Besides an award for the congressman, his staff members who assist him in legislative issues over our military, Caralee Conklin and Sean Griffin, were awarded the “National Legislative Proponent Award” for the work they do daily with Veterans and the Armed Forces.

TYLER – Police officers are trained to to safeguard lives and property and to protect individuals in the communities they serve. Now, Tyler officers will get additional training in emergency medical care. The Tyler police Department is partnering with East Texas Medical Center and the Emergency Medical Responder certification program. This prepares officers to provide the initial lifesaving care for patients experiencing cardiac arrest, overdose and traumatic injury. These certified EMR officers can initiate such action as, using Automatic External Defibrillators, administering oxygen, utilizing blood glucometers, applying tourniquets and administering Narcan, which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. The training kicks off next Tuesday.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler’s online graduate nursing program is one of the best country. In rankings released by U.S. News and World Report, the U-T Tyler program is tied for 5th place, out of 159 programs nationally. They tied with John Hopkins University, George Washington University and University of South Carolina. It was also the number 1 ranked Texas university as well, out of 13 appearing on the list. And, according to U.S. News data, UT Tyler is the No. 1 lowest cost program among the top 10 online nursing graduate programs. The magazine’s ranking methodology considers quality of student engagement, faculty credentials and training, student services and technology, peer reputation and admissions selectivity.

RUSK — No one in Texas is immune from the flu. That includes Texas prisons, with one East Texas unit feeling the effects. The prison system’s Jason Clark says officials are seeing outbreaks at the Hodge Unit in Rusk, which houses intellectually challenged inmates — as well as the Jester Four Prison in RIchmond. clark says those sickened are from different housing areas, “so that makes trying to restrict their movement more difficult. Officers are utilizing surgical masks and gloves whenever they’re going into those affected areas.” As of Wednesday 64 inmates in Hodge were ill and 18 in the Jester Four unit. Visitation was closed last weekend at both prisons. It’s not known yet if visitors will be welcomed this coming weekend.