KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying the person responsible for multiple thefts of RV and tractor batteries from local area businesses. That’s according to our news partner KETK. Any person or business that has observed someone with multiple RV or tractor batteries, or has had someone come into their business and sold them multiple RV and tractor batteries, is asked to contact detectives at the Smith County Sheriff’s Office.

TYLER — A Greenville woman was arrested twice in ten hours over the weekend in Tyler for public intoxication, according to Smith County judicial records. According to our news partner KETK, Tiani Warden, 51, was captured around 3 p.m. on Saturday. She was released on a $500 bond. She was re-arrested at 1 a.m. on Sunday morning for the same charge and released again on the same bond. According to court records, she was also arrested for public intoxication in September 2015. Warden paid a fine and was sentenced to time served.

TYLER — The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announces closures for FM 515 in Wood County for emergency repairs necessitated by recent rains that caused a washout. The roadway closed Monday and will remain closed Tuesday at the west end of the Lake Fork/Glade Creek Bridge to County Road 1260 east of the bridge. According to TxDOT, recent rains caused a washout last week that upon inspection revealed that the metal pipe under the roadway had collapsed. A lane closure was implemented and a temporary patch was put in place to restore the roadway and allow for continued traffic flow until plans for an emergency contract for permanent repairs could be executed. Continue reading FM 515 Closes for Emergency Repairs in Wood County

TYLER — TxDOT is planning to conduct a range of construction and maintenance work throughout the Tyler District during the Week of June 10. Tyler Maintenance crews plan to conduct ditch maintenance on roadways around Smith County. Longview Maintenance crews plan to conduct pavement repairs on FM 2204 from FM 2011 to FM 2276. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control at all locations. Go to https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/032-2019.html for more details on work throughout the district.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP/Staff) — Richland County, South Carolina has a new administrator in place — and he’s headed there from Tyler, according to the newspaper The State. Richland County in a news release Friday announced the hiring of Leonardo Brown. He is scheduled to start July 15. Brown has served as Smith County administrator for over five years. The Shreveport, Louisiana native is also Smith County’s director of human resources and was an area manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. He holds a Masters of Business Administration from LSU-Shreveport. The South Carolina position has been vacant since April 2018, when the council voted to fire former administrator Gerald Seals. Continue reading Smith County Administrator Headed to South Carolina

LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been charged with aggravated assault following a shooting. It happened around 4:30 Saturday afternoon at the intersection of Pine Tree Road and Tenneryville Road. Police said a gunshot victim was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The suspect was found in the area a short time later. Brendan Kyle Austin, 23, of Longview, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon family assault. He was booked into the Gregg County Jail. Bond has not been set. The victim’s identity has not been released.

LONGVIEW — A Gladewater man plead guilty on Friday to two counts of aggravated assault on a public servant, according to our news partner KETK. David Neill, 26, pointed a rifle at police officers after they responded to a domestic disturbance call January, 2018. He refused to comply with their demands to lower his weapon. Officers then shot at him three times. Neill was then transported to the hospital for treatment. He had an outstanding charge for drug possession. He has plead not guilty to that charge. A sentencing date has not been set.

TYLER — A Tyler man has been killed following a motorcycle wreck on Loop 323 Friday night. According to Tyler Police, the one vehicle wreck happened just after 9:00 on SSW Loop 323. Officers believe the motorcyclist, identified as Kenric Demond Hoil, 43, of Tyler, was attempting to avoid debris in the roadway when the wreck occurred. He was transported to a local hospital with severe injuries and died a short time later. The roadway was closed for several hours and has since reopened.

LONGVIEW — Two 18-year-old women are charged with aggravated robbery following an incident in Longview Thursday night. According to our news partner KETK, police responded to a location on McCann Rd. The women said they had been robbed by a man brandishing a handgun who was parked down the road. But after finding the man, police say they determined that the women had coordinated with two other men to rob the accused thief of his money and phone. Nehalia Lynn Ingram and Jasmin Ashley Bisor, both of Longview, were jailed on $100,000 bonds.

LONGVIEW — If you were called for Gregg County jury duty for Monday, June 10, you can stay home or head to work. According to our news partner KETK, jury duty for that day has been canceled. The information comes in a news release from the District Clerk’s Office.

TYLER — Tyler’s Gallery Main Street is celebrating 10 years of serving the community and supporting local artists, according to information from the city. To commemorate the milestone, they will take what’s termed a fun spin on the annual 6×6@110 fundraiser event. Instead of hundreds of 6x6s filling the Gallery, they will pay tribute to “10 Years” by showcasing 110 local artworks, from selected artists on 10×10 canvases. The exhibit will be open from Saturday, June 8, until Friday, July 5. The exhibit opening and reception will take place on June 8 from noon until 7:30 p.m. Check the ktbb.com Calendar of Events for more information.

TYLER — Due to unforeseen issues, Fun Forest Pool on N. Glenwood in Tyler (pictured at left) will be closed for the 2019 summer season — but residents still have other options. That’s the word in a pair of news releases from the city. During recent ADA construction and while prepping the pool for summer use, officials say they became aware of critical leakage issues. A third party was brought in to evaluate the pool structure, pump system, and needed repairs. It was determined the city could not open the pool at this time due to unsafe swimming conditions. The needed repairs to the 50-meter Olympic size pool, originally built in 1938, are expected take approximately three months or longer. Continue reading Fun Forest Pool Closed for Summer, but Other Options Remain

TYLER — For the first time, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and the Tyler Police Department will join together to present free active shooter training to the public. The training, “Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events,” teaches what happens during an event and actions you can take to help you survive the attack. The training will be Saturday June 8th, at 9:00 a.m. in the Crosswalk Conference Center at Green Acres Baptist Church. Officials point out that this subject is graphic and some portions of the training may not be suitable for children. Parents are strongly encouraged not to bring children younger than 13 to the training.

LUFKIN (AP) — Police who surrounded a house in eastern Texas because they thought they had a burglary in progress found a deer instead. The homeowner called Lufkin police early Thursday after she heard glass breaking. The woman hid in a closet and realized she had left her weapon in the kitchen. Officers were worried it could end up in the hands of the suspect. Video posted on Facebook shows officers entering the home, yelling, “Police! Let me see your hands!” Police say as the officers rounded a corner, they came “face to face with one very frightened doe.” An officer shouted “It’s a deer! It’s a deer! It’s a deer!” The officers used chairs to shoo the deer out the door.

TYLER — The UT Tyler Cowan Center unveils its schedule for 2019 and 2020. It all kicks off with rockers Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo September 10. A show biz legend visits Tyler January 30 as the center presents “An Evening with Rita Moreno.” Distinguished lecturer Carly Fiorina comes to town April 14. Go to http://www.cowancenter.org/schedule.html for a complete rundown.

LONGVIEW – Former Sabine ISD teacher’s aide Cassie Dowden, 27, was arrested for improper relationship between an educator and student. The offense allegedly happened March 1. The investigation is still underway by the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office. According to our news partner KETK, Dowden remained in the Gregg County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

TYLER — 31-year-old Jeffrey Hampton of Flint picks up a second charge in a fatal Lake Palestine accident. According to our news partner KETK, he’s now accused of failure to stop and render aid/bodily injury. He remains in Smith County Jail on an $850,000 bond. According to officials, Hampton was driving his boat on Lake Palestine recently when he struck 14-year-old Roberto Carlos Bermejo Hernandez and drove off. Hernandez was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities say they arrested Hampton on a tip and initially charged him with manslaughter.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department announced Thursday that due to ongoing safety concerns and complaints about the operation of golf carts on public roadways, officers will now begin issuing citations for anyone not meeting the legal requirements when operation a golf cart on a public roadway within city limits. The Texas Transportation Code (section 502.001) defines a golf cart as a motor vehicle. The legal requirements for motor vehicles apply to the use of a golf cart on a public roadway and requires the operator be a licensed driver and obey all traffic laws. The Texas Transportation Code (section 551.404) does allow for the operation of golf carts in certain municipalities or counties. However, the City of Tyler has not authorized the use of golf carts, with the required equipment, under this statue.

GREGG COUNTY — A former Carthage Junior High School teacher accused of an inappropriate relationship with a student used FaceTime to send a sexually explicit video of herself to that student, according to the Longview News-Journal. Lauren Nolan, 25, of Longview, has been indicted on a charge of improper relationship between educator/student. Nolan resigned from her job as a teacher and coach within Carthage ISD in 2018, with the district saying at the time she had engaged in “inappropriate behavior.” A Panola County grand jury indicted Nolan during their May session. Continue reading Former Teacher Indicted following Alleged Relationship with Student

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office says it’s been receiving a large number of criminal mischief reports in the southwest portion of the county, dating to May 14. Officials also say Tyler police are getting lots of similar reports. The sheriff’s office reports 12 incidents on May 17 alone. Whoever’s responsible appears to be using a BB gun to shoot at vehicle windows — mainly on parked vehicles, though one moving vehicle has been hit. Also, one parked patrol vehicle was struck and temporarily put out of commission. Lately, businesses along Highway 155 are being targeted too. In at least two instances, a dark-colored vehicle was implicated. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at (903) 566-6600.

KILGORE — Romeo Pinkerton, the man convicted of killing five people at a Kilgore KFC in 1983, has again been denied parole. Pinkerton was convicted of abducting the victims from the restaurant, driving them to a remote oilfield in Rusk County, and shooting them to death. According to our news partner KETK, a second person, Darnell Hartsfield, was also convicted and is serving a life sentence. For over 20 years the case went unsolved, until Pinkerton pleaded guilty in 2007. He was sentenced to five life terms. Pinkerton became eligible for parole in April 2014, but was denied back then as well.

LONGVIEW — MooneyMAX Aviation Maintenance and “Right Seat Ready!” will be conducting an educational conference on aviation maintenance and flying Thursday through Sunday at East Texas Regional Airport and Longview’s Hilton Garden Inn. For non-pilots who travel as passengers, there’ll be a two-day clinic. Topics include safety, what to do should the pilot become incapacitated, ways to help the pilot in emergency situations, and ways to prevent emergencies before they happen. The conference is open to the public, and you can get more information on the ktbb.com Calendar of Events.

TYLER — A Tyler man has been booked into the Smith County Jail following a stand-off with police. According to Tyler Police, officers responded to a home on Stagecoach around 7:30 Monday evening for a welfare check. Family members told officials the man, later identified as Jesse Glynn Adams, 53, was off his medication and intoxicated. Officers approached the backyard where Adams was located when he fired several rounds at them. The officers took cover and called for assistance. The brief stand-off ended when Adams placed his weapon on the ground and put his hands up. Adams has been charged with four counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon. No injuries were reported. Bond was set at $4,000,000.

MARSHALL — The Marshall Independent School District will be offering free breakfast and lunch to all students in the 2019-2020 school year. According to our news partner KETK, MISD will be able to provide the free meals due to the district’s participation in the National School Lunch Program Community Eligibility Provision. The CEP provides an alternative to household applications for free and reduced-price meals for economically disadvantaged students in local educational agencies and schools.

SMITH COUNTY — Authorities have identified a 14-year-old who was struck and killed by a boat while swimming at Lake Palestine Sunday evening, and a GoFundme page has been set up to help with funeral expenses. According to our news partner KETK, Roberto Carlos Bermejo Hernandez was pronounced dead at the scene. The boat left the scene before officials arrived. Jeffery Hampton, 31, of Flint, was arrested and charged with manslaughter. He was booked into the Smith County Jail with bond set at $750,000. Officials took blood to be sent off for a toxicology report. Hampton has previous convictions for DWI and drug possession. He was caught after deputies received a tip from a witness. Go to https://www.gofundme.com/carlos-bermejo-hernandez for more information.

TYLER — The IdentoGo TSA Pre✓ Mobile RV will be stationed at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport and will provide service Monday, June 17, through Wednesday, July 3. The Mobile Enrollment Center will be located in the airport’s long term parking lot. To get started, customers must pre-enroll online at the TSA Pre✓ website. TSA Pre✓ is an expedited screening program for identified low-risk air travelers. Visit the TSA Pre✓ website for questions about enrollment.

ATHENS — The driver in a deadly Athens ISD bus crash has been indicted in Henderson County. According to our news partner KETK, John Stevens, 78, is facing charges of criminal negligent homicide, and injury to a child. The school bus he was driving was hit by a Union Pacific train on January 25 at the railroad crossing at Cream Level Road. The train pushed the bus to the next crossing at Murchison Street. The crash killed Christopher Bonilla, 13, after he was thrown from the bus. The accident also injured Joselyne Torres, 9. The Athens Police Department released a report on February 11 stating Stevens did stop before driving onto the tracks, in accordance with state law. Continue reading Athens ISD Bus Driver Indicted after Deadly January Crash

WOOD COUNTY — An 8th tornado is confirmed to have touched down in East Texas from last week’s storms, according to the National Weather Service. According to our news partner KETK, the tornado touched down in Wood County and was rated as an EF-0. Wind speeds for that rating can reach from 65-85 miles per hour. It was the second tornado to touch down in Wood County Wednesday. Five alone touched down in Canton. No serious injuries were reported.