KTBB News, Weather, Talk

OVERTON — Overton ISD hosted its third community meeting about changing to a four-day week. According to our news partner KETK, Superintendent Larry Calhoun said the change will benefit students and teachers. “The number one driver is recruiting and retention of teachers and rewarding the teachers you already have and keeping the best teachers we can on our staff,” said Calhoun. Overton resident and long-time educator Stanley Peters said the switch is not the solution to retention. “The more schools that do it, they lose that advantage because there will be more schools going to a four-day week so that advantage will go away, so where do you go next? A three-day week?” said Peters. Continue reading Overton ISD takes more input on four-day week

TYLER — More details emerged Tuesday at a press conference about a large-scale fentanyl bust this past Friday on I-20 in Smith County. According to our news partner KETK, Sheriff Larry Smith says the false compartment where 42,000 fentanyl pills were found was a hollowed-out battery. “That could’ve been 42,000 deaths right there in the United States,” Smith said. “We got a lot of kids, a lot of adults on drugs. We want to get the word out to them that they need to be careful about taking any tablet such as this.” Smith said a deputy noticed a van with Mexico license plates hauling several motorcycles and a car on a trailer, with another car being hauled behind that. When the driver failed to use a turn signal, the deputy performed a traffic stop, according to the sheriff. Continue reading Sheriff holds press conference following fentanyl bust

WASHINGTON, D.C. — During his weekly visit with KTBB, Congressman Nathaniel Moran weighed in on the topic of term limits. Moran says being in Congress “is not a right; it’s a responsibility, it’s a privilege to be able to serve the…citizens of East Texas. But it should not be a lifetime position, and people should…go and serve for a time, and then they should come home. You know, we’re gonna have to have some debate at some point about either a term limits bill on the floor or a Constitutional amendment…altogether. I would love to see…some term limits put in place. You don’t want it too short, and you don’t want it too long. But I betcha we can find something in the middle that works for everybody.” Continue reading Moran discusses term limits, border security bill

ELYSIAN FIELDS – More details involving an East Texas teen killed at a Mardi Gras Parade over the weekend in Shreveport. 17-year-old Kip Lewis of Elysian Fields and some friends were engaging in what Shreveport police describe as horseplay, chasing each other with plastic swords. For some reason, one of the teens pulled out a handgun and fired a single shot, hitting Lewis in the upper body. Multiple witnesses saw the shooting. Lewis was pronounced dead at a Shreveport hospital. Police say the boy who fired the gun was detained on the scene. The investigation continues. Continue reading New details following shooting involving Elysian Fields ISD student

TYLER – A Tyler man was arrested Sunday evening after allegedly pointing his phone at a child and recording them in a local Walmart. According to our news partner KETK, Tyler police say Kelvin Shankle, 31, had allegedly pointed his phone to record the child in a dress and put his phone on the ground at the Walmart on South Broadway Avenue. Shankle was arrested for invasive visual recording and criminal trespass, since he had previously been warned away from the Walmart.

KILGORE — The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) invites the public to submit nominations for its annual Regional Service Awards program. Officials say the program honors the achievements of individuals and organizations which make a positive contribution to the quality of life in the East Texas Region. The awards will be presented at the upcoming 103rd Semi-Annual Board of Directors Meeting to be held on Thursday, March 23, in Harrison County at Bear Creek Smokehouse. The five awards to be presented are the Regional First Responders Award, Regional Citizen of the Year, Regional Corporate Citizen of the Year, Regional Statesmanship, and Regional Committee Service. Click here for more information.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office says 24 people were arrested, two minors were released to guardians, and 88 birds were seized Sunday in a cockfighting investigation. According to our news partner KETK, officials said they responded after receiving information about rooster fighting on CR 2405. Authorities report 22 of the 26 people detained were arrested for being spectators, one was arrested for allowing the use of real estate for cockfighting, and one was arrested for felony evading with a car and unlawful carrying of a weapon. Officials say 30 cars were also towed.

TYLER — TxDOT schedules another week’s worth of roadwork in the Tyler District for the week of February 20. In Smith County, 
Tyler maintenance will have a crew performing ditch work on Loop 323 near FM 14. Expect one lane closure. A second crew will be on FM 850 completing fog seal operations. Both locations will be off SH 31 towards Overton. Expect lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic. In Gregg County, Longview maintenance will be patching on various roadways throughout the county. Also, crews will be preparing for edging operations on FM 2207, from SH 135 N to SH 135 S. Click here for a complete rundown of roadwork around the district.

TYLER — Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith is spreading the word about a recent large-scale arrest involving fentanyl — and making note of a cooperative effort to fight the drug’s growing presence in Texas. According to a news release from Smith, on February 17, a traffic stop by Smith County deputies on Interstate 20 yielded approximately 42,000 fentanyl pills, weighing a total of nine pounds. Smith says the pills were discovered in a false compartment after the driver, Erik Marin Islas Angeles of Mexico, gave voluntary consent for a search of his vehicle. Angeles is being held at the Smith County Sheriff’s Office on a $2,000,000 bond. Continue reading Sheriff announces large-scale fentanyl arrest, notes cooperative effort

TYLER — Visit Tyler has announced the students who have been chosen to serve as this year’s Rose City Ambassadors. According to a news release, the Rose City Ambassador program is a volunteer program aimed at giving high school students the opportunity to earn community volunteer hours. Students were required to submit an application and go through an interview process. The Ambassadors will act as greeters at large community events throughout the year, starting with the Azalea & Spring Flower Trail March 24-April 9. Continue reading Visit Tyler names the 2023 Rose City Ambassadors

LONGVIEW — Former Longview City Manager Rickey Childers will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award this spring from the Texas City Management Association. According to a news release, Childers served as Longview ‘s city manager from 1999 to 2006. He also served as assistant city manager in Abilene and Carrollton, deputy city manager in Arlington, and city manager in Lancaster. The TCMA Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes the city management professionals who have made significant contributions to the field of local government management for more than 20 years, according to the release. A presentation of awards will be held at the TCMA Annual Conference Awards Luncheon on Friday, June 9, in Allen.

TYLER — A number of Black History Month events are being held around East Texas. The Texas African American museum will be hosting its Second Annual Gala Saturday at 6:00 p.m. at Willow Brook County Club in Tyler with keynote speaker Billy O’Quinn, director of the Supply Chain-Chemical Division for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Museum officials term O’Quinn a highly respected executive in the manufacturing industry and corporate world, as well as a servant leader mentoring young diverse leaders and youth. The say O’Quinn has spent over 30 years with Goodyear. Click here for more information on the event and on the museum.

RUSK – A former Rusk Chamber of Commerce manager was given a five year probated sentence after she entered a plea bargain on Feb. 8, according to Cherokee County District Attorney Elmer Beckworth. Officials said that in March of 2022, Tara Tatarski was indicted by a grand jury for theft of property greater than $30,000 from a nonprofit organization. According to our news partner KETK and Beckworth, as a part of her plea bargain Tatarski will have to pay restitution and serve five years probation. Current Rusk Chamber of Commerce Board President Cord Stover issued the following statement, “We are aware of the guilty plea and that the case was brought to a conclusion. Our focus as a Chamber remains on our members, our wonderful community and bright future ahead,” Stover said. After the Chamber found irregularities in their annual review, Tatarski was arrested in December of 2020 at her home in Rusk.

LONGVIEW – On Feb. 15, the Longview Police Department said they responded to a shooting. According to a release, the shooting took place on the 1400 block of Bois D’Arc Street and when police arrived they found a man on the side of the road with gunshot wounds. The victim was taken to the hospital by the emergency medical service immediately. After an investigation, detectives issued an arrest warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for 26-year-old Trenton Craig. Officials said they located Craig on Feb. 16 and arrested and transported him to the Gregg County Jail.

WASHINGTON – A Gun Barrel City man was arrested by the FBI on Tuesday on charges of obstruction, engaging in physical violence and others related to the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot. According to our news partner KETK, William Sarsfield, 46 of Gun Barrel City, is identified by the FBI through surveillance footage and Metro Police bodycam footage, and can be seen “repeatedly engaging in the assault against law enforcement officers guarding the United States Capitol inside the ‘tunnel.’” After arriving in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, court documents state, Sarsfield attended the “Stop the Steal” rally and marched to the U.S. Capitol with hundreds of rioters before making his way through police lines and to the Lower West Terrace. Sarsfield is also seen on surveillance footage grabbing two police shields and passing them forward in the tunnel, and according to court documents, joined rioters in yelling “heave ho” and “push.” Continue reading Gun Barrel City man arrested on obstruction, violence charges related to Capitol riot

CHEROKEE COUNTY — The Cherokee County courthouse square had to be cleared by law enforcement Thursday during a capital murder trial after a person with a gun was reported near the premises. According to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and our news partner KETK, they were notified of an individual on the north side of the courthouse carrying a handgun. Sheriff’s office personnel responded and cleared the courthouse square, officials said. “While securing the area, an individual was arrested after he fled from law enforcement,” according to a release from Sheriff Brent Dickson. The person has been charged with evading arrest and unlawful carrying of a weapon. There is no threat to the area at this time, Dickson said. Continue reading Armed man arrested at courthouse during Cherokee County capital murder trial

TYLER – U.S Attorney Brit Featherston announced that a Tyler man was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for child exploitation violations on Thursday. On March 28, 2022, Daniel Dylan Skipworth, 20, pleaded guilty to transporting a 13-year-old girl from Alabama to engage in sexual activity at his home in Tyler. U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker sentenced Skipworth to 216 months in federal prison for the charge. Officials said that Skipworth’s conviction was the result of cooperation between the FBI, Tyler Police Department and Smith County Sheriff’s Office. According to Featherston, GPS data from the child’s phone was analyzed as a part of official’s investigation. The case is a part of Project Safe Childhood, a program launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse, according to officials.

HENDERSON COUNTY – The Coffee City Police Department said they responded Thursday morning to a report of a woman walking on the center median of the bridge on SH 155. According to our news partner KETK, Lesa Phillips was identified as the woman. When officials arrived, Phillips was allegedly uncooperative and attempted to walk onto the southbound lanes during rush hour traffic. According to a release, officers were able to get a hold of Phillips right before she was struck by a vehicle clocked going 70 mph. Phillips continued to resist and allegedly kicked one of the officers trying to detain her. Once detained, Phillips allegedly attempted to kick out the windows of the unit transporting her to the Henderson County Jail. Phillips was booked and charged with felony assault of a peace officer, resisting arrest, search or transport, public intoxication, failure to identify and walking on a highway with traffic.

SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a large commercial building on fire Thursday morning. According to our news partner KETK there were no injuries, and officials said crews were continuing to work Thursday morning to extinguish the fire that has been enhanced by high winds. “When firefighters arrived, the building was 90-100% involved with fire,” officials said. According to officials, Lindale, Red Springs and Winona Fire Departments responded around 6:30 a.m. to a 30,000 square foot building on fire in the 11700 block of County Road 497 north of I-20. According to Smith County Fire Marshal Chief Deputy Chad Hogue, the building belongs to Keyla’s Furniture, and was used for cutting lumber and building furniture.

TYLER — A pedestrian has died after being struck by a vehicle in Tyler Wednesday night. It happened around 9:15 at the intersection of Loop 323 and Erwin Street. Investigators said a pickup was traveling north on Loop 323 approaching the intersection with E. Erwin St in the inside lane. The female pedestrian, identified as Denise Kay Brown, 60, from Tyler, reportedly walked in front of the truck and the driver was unable to avoid her. There was no indication of impairment on the driver. The case remains under investigation awaiting autopsy results.

SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler man is wanted for criminal mischief by the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office after he allegedly set a woman’s property on fire. According to the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office and  our news partner KETK, officials have been searching for Christopher Feemster, 35, for several months. He’s described as 5’6″ and about 160 pounds with green eyes and brown hair. Feemster lives at 9881 County Road 274 and is possibly living in the woods behind his home. Feemster is currently out on bond for an evading charge and is known to flee from police. He  has previous arrests for assault. According to his warrant, on Aug. 13, fire officials were called to a home where a woman, who identified Feemster as her “ex-lover”, reported he had set her personal items on fire. Continue reading Tyler man wanted by Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office

TYLER — Tyler Police have released the identity of a woman whose body was found over the weekend. Officers responded to a report of a deceased female in her vehicle around 12:30 Saturday morning in the parking lot of Clear Springs on Broadway. She’s now been identified as Samantha Atkinson, 34, of Tyler. Her body was sent for autopsy. Police said foul play was not suspected.

TYLER — Smith County donated surplus computer equipment Wednesday to Mustard Seed Ministries that will be refurbished and given to local school children. Items included 153 desktops, 44 laptops, 82 monitors, 22 printers, four servers, three scanners, two switches, and three DVRs. The donation was approved Tuesday in Commissioners Court. For years, Smith County has donated outdated and broken computer equipment to Mustard Seed Ministries. The nonprofit organization dismantles and reassembles the equipment and donates them to school children who do not have computers. Click here to read more.

TYLER – A Grapeland man and his girlfriend have been sentenced in Tyler to federal prison in a murder-for-hire plot. Reynaldo Campos, Jr., 45, pleaded guilty on August 12, 2022, to murder for hire and was sentenced Wednesday to ten years. According to the indictment, on Feb. 9, 2022, Campos contacted an individual who he believed was a hitman, but who was in fact an undercover federal agent, and solicited the supposed hitman to murder a former associate of Campos, claiming the intended victim had either stolen drugs from him or owed him money. Campos discussed the intended murder with the agent on multiple occasions over the next several weeks. Continue reading Houston County man sentenced to 10 years in solicitation of murder plot

O.H. IVIE LAKE – An East Texas man recently caught the eighth biggest largemouth bass in Texas history with the Toyota ShareLunker Program. According to our news partner KETK, Jason Conn, a professional bass fisherman and a Lake Fork guide, caught a 17.03-pound largemouth bass from O.H. Ivie Lake, east of San Angelo. Conn’s bass is considered a Legacy Class Lunker with the Toyota ShareLunker Program through Texas Parks and Wildlife, which is the highest class they offer.

LONGVIEW — Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 15, Mobberly Avenue in Longview is scheduled to be closed to southbound traffic at Bostic Avenue. Southbound truck traffic will be detoured to High Street at Cotton Street. All other traffic will be detoured at Bostic Avenue. According to a news release, lane closures continue along High Street between Mobberly Avenue and Edwin Street. High Street remains reduced to one lane in each direction, and Mobberly Avenue access will be limited to northbound traffic only. Stop signs will be used to control traffic Edwin Street during the lane closure to improve safety for all involved, according to the release. Continue reading Mobberly Avenue southbound traffic closed at Bostic Avenue

EAST TEXAS – The Feeding Texas network, made up of 21 food banks across the state, is calling on state lawmakers to increase funding for the Surplus Agricultural Products Grant today in a virtual day of advocacy. With the cost of groceries rising, many Texans are turning to food banks for support. The loss of the increased pandemic SNAP benefits (known as “emergency allotments”) in March will lead to even greater need, with all SNAP households experiencing a minimum reduction of $95 a month in SNAP benefits. “Texans everywhere are struggling with the rising cost of food, and as a result, more Texans are seeking emergency food from food banks,” said Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas. Continue reading Texas Food Banks urge legislators to increase funding

SMITH COUNTY — A jail reform advocate demands improved care for inmates at an East Texas jail. At their meeting Tuesday in Tyler, the Smith County Commissioners Court heard from a member of the Texas Jail Project, Dalila Reynoso, who called for greater mental-health resources at the Smith County Jail. She was responding to the recent hanging death of an inmate, Nathan Lee Johns. A sheriff’s office statement said that Johns hanged himself with an electrical cord he concealed from guards after he took it from an inmate phone box.  Reynoso says the death should have been prevented. The Texas Rangers are investigating the hanging.