KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – One of several events leading up to CityFest East Texas is the RE:NEW Gathering Thursday at Green Acres Baptist Church. Over 220 churches are preparing for CityFest, scheduled for October 5 and 6 in downtown Tyler and featuring evangelist Andrew Palau of the Luis Palau Association. According to a news release, the RE:NEW Gathering “is expected to host thousands of people for a special night of inspiration, prayer, worship, and unity.” The free event will start at 7 p.m. You can go to http://www.cityfest.org/renew to reserve tickets. Visit http://www.cityfest.org to learn more about CityFest East Texas, and click on http://www.palau.org to learn more about the Luis Palau Association.

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott has appointed 14 persons to the Texas Health Services Authority Board Of Directors. The two Tyler residents named to the panel are Paula Anthony-McMann and Dr. Jerome Lisk. McMann is the Chief Strategy Officer for UT Health East Texas. Dr. Lisk is is the director of Movement Disorders at the Neurological Institute at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Hospital. The Texas Health Services Authority is responsible for coordinating the implementation of health information exchange in Texas. These appointments are subject to senate confirmation.

MARSHALL – A member of the Marshall school board his died. Long time school trustee Barbara Carraway Alexander died at her home Tuesday afternoon following a lengthy illness. She would have celebrated her 69th birthday on Friday. She represented District 2 on the Marshall school board. She has served two terms on the board. The first was from 1990 to 2004. She was currently in her second term, which started in 2011. Funeral services are pending.

TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Department is looking for an accused sex offender. And they are asking for the public’s help in locating him. He is James Anderson, 55. He is described as 6 feet 4 inches tall, weighing about 314 pounds, and has brown eyes and brown hair. He has multiple tattoos on both arms. A warrant is out for his arrested for aggravated sexual assault of a child. He is said to have sexually assaulted the child numerous times. If you know where he can be found, you are asked to contact the sheriff’s department our your local law enforcement agency.

TYLER — A controversial project planned for South Tyler was approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission Tuesday. According to our news partner KETK, more than 300 acres owned by the Genecov Group was re-zoned. The development is near West Cumberland Road and Maple Street. It’s received a lot of push-back from those who live nearby. The plan now goes to the city Council for discussion.

TYLER – A Mexican national has pleaded guilty to making false statements to get a passport. Baltazar Arrieta-Lara, 52, a resident of Henderson, entered the guilty plea in federal court in Tyler on Tuesday. He has been living in the U.S. since 2002 without legal status. He is said to have obtained information about a U.S. citizen and fraudulently used it to obtain various documents, including a U.S. passport. Federal authorities discovered the problem when he tried to renew his passport. He could get up to ten years in federal prison at his sentencing. A sentencing hearing will be held at a later date.

MT. SELMAN – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department is looking for a man they describe as armed and dangerous. He is Bryan Heath Cannon, 33. He is wanted for aggravated kidnapping – family violence. It is said to have stemmed from an incident in the Mt. Selman area early Tuesday morning. He is thought to have fled from his residence in the Mt. Selman area shortly before law enforcement arrived. If you see Cannon, you are urged not to approach him. If you see him, or know where he can be found, you are asked to contact the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office or the nearest law enforcement agency.

KILGORE – Two persons have been arrested in connection with the Monday night shooting of an 18 year old woman on Miles Street. Isaiah Orange, 17, of Kilgore, is charged with aggravated robbery and possession of marijuana. His bonds total $153,500. Treylon Stephenson, 18, of Kilgore, is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His bond is set at $100,000. Kilgore police say they are anticipating more arrest soon. Continue reading Two Charged in Kilgore Shooting.

MARSHALL – A teen was taken to a Marshall hospital following a Monday night shooting. Lt. Len Ames said her injuries were non-life-threatening. The shooting occurred at the intersection of Winston and Dogan streets shortly after 10:15pm. The investigation is ongoing.

MARSHALL – Marshall police continue their investigation into a man’s death. The body of Johnathan Bennett, 30, was found by a relative in a home on Bledsoe Street on March 24th. As they do with any unattended death, it is being investigated as a homicide. A justice of the peace has ordered an autopsy. So far, an official autopsy report has not been released.

KILGORE – There is now a new incentive to go to Kilgore College. You could win a new car. Top fuel dragster Steve Torrence was on campus Tuesday to announce a new program. Called “Cruise for Success,” it allows qualifying KC students to earn points during the school year for a chance to win a brand new Chevy Cruze, sponsored by Patterson Chevrolet in Kilgore. The new program starts in August. You can go to http://www.kilgore.edu/cruiseforsuccess for more details on contest, eligibility requirements and how students can earn points toward the car and other prizes.

LONGVIEW – A man, who has pleaded guilty to kidnappings that resulted in murder, has drawn a long prison sentence. A Longview jury deliberated around two hours Monday before finding Craig Davison, 53, of Hallsville, guilty of two counts of aggravated kidnapping. He was later sentenced to 54 years in prison. He is said to have assisted in the kidnapping of Kevin Lorenzo Stephenson, 28, of Henderson, and Dekeilen Joe Nelson, 20, of Gilmer, in March of 2016. They were both shot execution-style and bodies were dumped near the railroad tracks off Estes Parkway. Two other persons were also arrested in the case. One is serving a life prison sentence and one has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott has appointed three persons to the Stephen F. Austin State University Board Of Regents. The governor reappointed David Alders to the post. He also appointed to the board Judy Olson of Conroe and Jennifer Winston of Lufkin. Their terms are set to expire on January 31, 2025. The appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

AUSTIN –The 2016 election brought us “fake news,” but what we will see in 2020 will be a lot worse — and the Texas Legislature is trying to get ahead of it, with an East Texan leading the charge. It’s called a “deep fake.” It is a video produced using artificial intelligence that makes it very convincingly appear that a person is saying something outrageous — like Donald Trump endorsing the Green New Deal. East Texas state Senator Bryan Hughes says his bill would punish any candidates or activists who post “deep fake” videos within 30 days of the election. Hughes says the bill would “allow us to hold that person accountable criminally and hopefully deter someone from doing this in the future.” But since deep fakes are so hard to spot, some senators asked whether the law would be used by candidates to make allegations against an opponent right before Election Day.

HARRISON COUNTY — A fiery wreck on I-20 in Harrison County leaves three people dead, one injured. The two vehicle crash happened just after 11:00 Monday night on I-20 east, about 8 miles east of Marshall. According to the Department of Public Safety, a semi-trailer was traveling east when it was struck by an eastbound car. The impact caused the car to flip, landing upside down, and catching on fire. The front passenger and the two rear passengers were killed in the wreck. The driver was transported to LSU Health in Shreveport in serious condition. Names have not been released. An investigation is underway.

EAST TEXAS – A juvenile has been arrested in connection with social media threats against area high schools. Through the work of numerous agencies, the juvenile was identified. Working with the Rusk County DA’s Office, a pick up order was signed by the Judge Chad Dean. The suspect was arrested by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and transported to the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office and released to Rusk County juvenile authorities. Despite the threat being deemed not credible, there were extra security precautions taken Monday at all five school districts involved — Henderson, Overton, West Rusk, Chapel Hill, and Kilgore. Classes were in session as normal on Monday in all five districts. Continue reading Social Media Threat Suspect Arrested

TYLER – A Van Zandt County Jail captain is free on bond today after her arrest. Captain Winnifred Boles, 54, of Ben Wheeler, is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with an inmate. She was booked into the Smith County Jail on Friday, then released on a $50,000 bond. According to a statement from the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Department, “The matter was turned over to the Texas Rangers for independent investigation.”

ABILENE – And East Texas fisherman has landed the last ‘Legacy Class’ ShareLunker of 2019. Brad Scott of Gun Barrel City caught the lunker bass on Lake Leon near Abilene during the final weekend of the 2019 donation season. The lunker entered in the Toyota ShareLunker program is the first ever caught in Lake Leon. The fish weighed in at exactly 13 pounds, the absolute minimum requirement for a “Legacy Class” ShareLunker entry. Although the “Legacy Class” donation season has ended, anglers can still enter their 8 pound or larger largemouth bass catches into the Toyota ShareLunker Program through December 31.

LONGVIEW – It is time for the annual Taste of Longview. You will get to sample a wide variety of food and drinks from various Longview restaurants. Plus, there will be live entertainment along with raffle tickets and prizes. Tickets for adults are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Tickets for children 4 to 10 years old are $6. The event serves as a fundraiser benefiting the culinary and hospitality students of East Texas presented by the East Texas Restaurant Association and the Longview Pilot Club. Doors open Tuesday night at 7:00 at the Maude Cobb Convention Center.

LONGVIEW – At student at LeTourneau University has been accepted to participate in the Texas Joint Admission Medical Program. This guarantees sophomore biology major Benjamin Tebbe-Trujillo’s acceptance into one of the nine medical schools in Texas once he completes his undergraduate degree. The award enables him to begin his medical school education this summer with his first medical school internship. Once he completes his remaining requirements of the JAMP program, he will have interviews at all nine of the medical schools in Texas, with guaranteed acceptance into at least one.

LONGVIEW – Crews with Union Pacific are working to clean up after nine cars derailed in Longview Sunday afternoon. According to the Longview News Journal, the derailment occurred between Second and Third streets on the railroad tracks between Methvin and Cotton streets. No streets were blocked and no injuries were reported. The cause of the derailment is under investigation.

TYLER – The 12th Court of Appeals in Tyler has up held the conviction of a Tyler woman for Injury to a child. The court affirmed the conviction of Taylor Nicole Skinner, 25. She was sentenced to 25 years in prison last June for the injuries sustained by her 15 month old child. The youngster was admitted to a Tyler hospital with severe injuries in September of 2017, and later transferred to a Dallas hospital for surgery, and has since recovered. Skinner was the second person convicted in the case. Terral Deshon Carter, 27, of Tyler, the woman’s boyfriend, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his part in the youngster’s injuries.

HENDERSON — The Henderson Police department has joined Kilgore PD in saying that the school shooting threat that spread throughout East Texas on Sunday is “not credible.” According to our news partner KETK, they concluded through multiple interviews that the threat came from a fictitious social media account. Multiple agencies were brought into the investigation, including the FBI. Despite the threat being deemed not credible, there are extra security precautions being taken at all five school districts involved — Henderson, Overton, West Rusk, Chapel Hill, and Kilgore. Classes were in session as normal Monday in all five districts.

HENDERSON – The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office reports 19-year-old Dylan Rachel of Laird Hill is jailed after a dead body was discovered Friday on County Road 156. According to our news partner KETK, search warrants executed in Rusk County and Gregg County led to the arrest of Rachel, who has been charged with murder. No bond has been set. Further details on the case are pending.

TYLER – It is time for annual Smith County-Wide Clean Up. The program, which will run throughout April, allows residents to take bulky items to the landfill for free. Smith County residents can use vouchers, available at the Smith County Courthouse Annex and all justice of the peace/constable offices, to redeem at the Greenwood Farms Landfill, at 12920 Farm-to-Market Road 2767, or Old Kilgore Highway, in Tyler. Smith County citizens will be able to take 3 cubic yards of solid waste, which fills the bed of a regular sized pickup, and/or bulk items to be disposed of at the landfill. Items NOT accepted include: hazardous waste, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, gasoline, oils, paint, acid, batteries, Asbestos, wet paint, Freon, whole tires, televisions, computers, refrigerators and freezers.

TYLER – Monday through Friday is Rose City Restaurant Week. The annual event, which helps raise funds for non-profits, also celebrates eating out in Tyler. The goal of Restaurant Week is to encourage the community to support some of the best local restaurants while raising money for he Junior League of Tyler. Nearly two dozen restaurants are participating in this year’s drive. Continue reading Eat Local and Help the Junior League of Tyler

TYLER — TxDOT has another full schedule of construction and maintenance work planned for the Week of April 1 in the Tyler District. Tyler maintenance crews plan to continue base repair operations on SH 110N near FM 3271. Crews will also conduct ditch maintenance on roadways around the county. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control. Longview crews plan to conduct pothole patching operations on various roadways throughout the county. Lane closures are possible with flaggers conducting traffic control. Go to txdot for a full rundown of work planned throughout the district.

LONGVIEW — The schedule has been revised for the Green Street closure between Nelson Street and Mopac Road in Longview. That stretch will be closed to all traffic Monday, April 1, and Tuesday, April 2, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Drivers are encouraged to use Fredonia Street by way of Mopac Road and Nelson Street as an alternate. The closure is due to railroad track maintenance work previously scheduled for March. If you have any questions related to construction, call City Engineer Alton Bradley at 903-237-1067.

TYLER – An unprecedented number of aspiring artists from local schools are getting their first opportunity for a full museum exhibition with the Tyler Museum of Art’s 15th Annual High School Art Exhibition. It opened Sunday and continues through May 5 at the museum, on the Tyler Junior College main campus. Admission is free. According to information from the museum, this year’s juried competition tops the previous record of 2018, featuring 109 students from a best-ever 20 high-school campuses in Tyler and nearby cities. You can check the April 2 entry on the ktbb.com Calendar of Events for additional information.