KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – A suspect is in custody in Tyler in a double homicide. Dead at the scene was Caleb McGrady, 26, of Tyler and Krista Newman, 25, of Frankston. Charged with capital murder is Harvey Louis Martin, 52, of Whitehouse. He is in the Smith County Jail under a $1 million bond. The couple were found shot to death at a home on Ridgewood Drive. The shooting was reported around 2:00 Thursday morning. Tyler police say the investigation is continuing and additional information will be released at a later time.

TYLER — Downtown Tyler recently received 10 30-gallon streetscape trees through a donation from TXU Energy. Officials say the donation helps beautify downtown and boost the city’s longterm downtown revitalization efforts. They tell us the tree donation is part of a larger project to revitalize downtown and create a destination within the heart of the city. The donated trees – including five lacebark and five October Glory red maple species – were planted in both the downtown area and at the city of Tyler’s greenhouse to serve as part of the Keep Tyler Beautiful Arbor Day in January. Mayor Martin Heines says city officials are thankful for the partnerships that make such efforts possible. The tree donation is part of TXU Energy’s “Trees Across Texas” program, which has provided over 285,000 trees to communities since 2002.

TYLER – Here is a summary of the city projects now underway in Tyler. Schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.

2018 Asphalt Enhancement (Overlay) Project
– Location: Various Streets throughout the City of Tyler
– Contractor: Reynolds and Kay, Ltd.
– Cost: $4,292,993.10
– Funding Source: Half Cent, TWU Capital Fund, General Fund
– Impact to Traffic: Traffic will usually be directed around work areas by flagging operations
– Anticipated Construction Completion: April 2019
– Status: Construction is on-going. Continue reading Tyler’s Projects Update

TYLER — One of Tyler’s time-honored fundraising traditions is back for another go-round. For the last 16 years, Tyler Ford has donated a raffle car to the East Texas Crisis Center to raise money that supports the center’s services. This year’s car is a 1962 Thunderbird Sports Roadster. For only $10 you can purchase a chance to win the car, and 100% of the proceeds directly benefit the Crisis Center. Tickets can be bought in Tyler at Tyler Ford, Quick Lane Tire & Auto, or Traditions, or at the ABC Auto Parts stores in Tyler and Whitehouse. You can also go to http://www.autoandcycleshow.com to get tickets.

CARTHAGE — An unwelcome visitor rattles a bunch of nerves inside an East Texas courthouse. Panola County Elections Adminstrator Cheyenne Lampley says as she was getting ready to leave her office, she “heard a blood-curdling scream.” Lampley then saw a huge raccoon running toward her. She closed her office door and watched through the glass. Lampley says the animal headed back to the front door and began jumping up, trying to open the door to get out. That’s when another worker “reached over and opened it just a little bit so it could run out.” Lampley reports the raccoon came back and made a destructive path throughout the building, creating holes in the ceiling — and she says those won’t be fixed until after the new year.

TYLER – The City of Tyler Solid Waste Department and Keep Tyler Beautiful are providing two locations for Christmas tree recycling in Tyler this year. Residents can drop off their undecorated, non-flocked natural Christmas trees through Sunday, January 20, in designated areas at Golden Road Park and Fun Forest Park in Tyler. Golden Road Park is located at the intersection of McDonald Road and Golden Road. Fun Forest Park is located in the 900 block of North Glenwood Boulevard. Continue reading Recycle Your Christmas Tree

HENDERSON – A Paris, Texas woman has died in a Tyler hospital from injuries received in a Rusk County accident. Lecia Beshirs Allen, 48, died Saturday following the Friday morning accident on U.S. Highway 259, 5 lies south of Henderson. Allen, who was not wearing a seat belt, was tossed from the vehicle. Her vehicle left the road, flipped and struck a group of trees.

LINDALE – An early morning accident on Interstate Highway 20 in Smith County has killed a hunt county man. The one vehicle wreck killed Michael Allen Hokerk, 30, of Quinlan. The accident happened around 12:30 Monday morning 3 miles west of Lindale. The Department of Public Safety reports his pickup was west bound when it left the road and hit a tree. Hokerk was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident remains under investigation.

LONGVIEW – One of two men indicted on manslaughter and racing charges in a double-fatal September 2017 wreck is back in jail. That’s after Longview police say they clocked him traveling at 110 mph on West Loop 281 Saturday with a host of narcotics. According to our news partner KETK and the Longview News Journal, Davin Blain Davis, 21, of Hallsville, faces fresh charges of racing on a highway along with three counts of drug possession. The 2017 wreck, on U.S. 259 near Target in Longview, killed the other suspect’s sister and fiancee. Both men are set for trial January 22 in the 2017 incident. Davis remains in jail on the latest charges. His bonds total $120,000.

LONGVIEW – The Texas Rangers are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Longview that injured one man. That’s according to our news partner KETK and the Longview News-Journal. A Longview police officer responded around 8 p.m. Sunday to East Marshall Avenue near American Legion Blvd. to investigate a suspicious person, according to police. Authorities say there was soon a confrontation with Randy Carl Jeffrey, 33, of Mount Pleasant. We’re told that Jeffrey began shooting at the officer and that the officer returned fire, striking Jeffrey. The officer’s name wasn’t immediately released. Police said Jeffrey suffered a non-life-threatening injury and was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated and later booked into the Gregg County Jail. Jeffrey is being held on a charge of attempted capital murder of a police officer. His bond total $365,000.

TYLER — TxDOT has issued its latest roadwork update, which covers construction and maintenance work throughout the district through Jan. 4, 2019. To accommodate travel during the Christmas holidays, TxDOT Tyler is not allowing lane closures through this Wednesday, December 26. TxDOT offices will be closed for Christmas, December 24-26, and on New Year’s Day. Crews will be ready to respond should emergency situations arise. You can go to https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/054-2018.html to get the full rundown.

TYLER — Monday was a big day for the Tyler Salvation Army. One highlight: a Christmas Eve brunch. It was open to the community from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Organizers laid out a traditional brunch menu of eggs, ham, biscuits and gravy, fruit, green bean casserole, and mac and cheese — as well as some entertainment. Along with that, it was the last day to donate to the Tyler Salvation Army’s Red Kettle drive. This year’s fundraising goal is $430,150.

TYLER — A memorial service was held Saturday at Tyler’s Green Acres Baptist Church for Louise Ornelas, a leading philanthropist in the community — but known for her down-to-earth personality. According to our news partner KETK, Ornelas’s daughter Becky Wangner said her mom “just felt as comfortable on the farm as she did with presidents and princes.” Recalling a meeting with President George H.W. Bush, Wangner recounted, “After dinner she told me she held hands with the president under the table, and…I said, ‘Mom, you can’t do that — there’s Secret Service standing all around.’ And she said, ‘Oh, yes, I can… When I pray, I hold hands.'” A son, Randy Rogers, said his last words to Ornelas were, “You’ve been a great mom.” He continued, “And she looked up at me, and she said, ‘I sure have.'” Ornelas died December 18 at 93. She was buried in her hometown of Arp.

ATHENS – Seniors at Athens High School left a present in the office. According to the district’s Facebook page, they wrapped individual pencils and desk drawers. Chairs and cup holders were also wrapped. They even removed a light bulb from the tree, which turned the whole thing off. They then created a treasure hunt of clues to find it. Merry Christmas from the senior class of 2019. Continue reading A Special Present at Athens High School

TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in finding a man accused of sexually abusing a child. Accused of the continuous sexual abuse of a young child is Juan Rios, 35. He is described as a white male, about 6’5″ and weighing around 190 pounds. He has black hair, brown eyes and multiple tattoos. If you know where he can be found, you are asked to contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Department.

WELLS – The Texas Department of Transportation is urging motorists to use caution as drivers get use to the new traffic pattern on U.S. Highway 69 in Wells. It has the southbound lanes carrying two-way traffic. So it won’t cause holiday traffic problems, no work will be conducted on the project next week. The week after Christmas, the contractor is scheduled to begin pavement removal operations on the east side of the roadway. Motorists can expect lane closures and brief delays for the duration of the project. Continue reading Roadwork in Wells and Holiday Traffic

LONGVIEW – Children hospitalized at Longview’s CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center got some special visitors Friday morning. The Longview Police Department’s SWAT Team members, rappelled down a wall of the hospital. Following that: a visit with the children in their unit and delivery of gifts. The department says this lets them demonstrate their abilities to the community and bring joy to children spending the holidays in the hospital. And, to change things up a little, this year they did not wear their super hero costumes, as they have done in years past. The is the 5th straight year for Operation Christmas Cheer.

GILMER – in Upshur County, you do the crime you pay the time. And at Christmas, that even means the Grinch. According to the Facebook page of the sheriff’s department, Deputy L.P. Nolen has a zero tolerance for the offense of “Unlawful Grinchiness.” The Grinch was arrested at Gilmer Elementary.

KILGORE – It is now official, Dr. Andy Baker is the Superintendent of the Kilgore School District. He was named as the lone finalist for the post at a meeting late last month. By state law, the district had to wait 21 days before he could officially be hired. At a called board meeting Friday morning, his hiring was made official. Baker was formerly superintendent of Edgewood school system, in Van Zandt County, where he served since 2011. He can now move to Kilgore over the winter holiday and be ready for the first day of school when it resumes in January. He succeeds Cara Cooke, who resigned in July after five years as school superintendent to take a job in Aransas Pass.

TYLER – Tyler police have stepped up traffic enforcement for the holidays. The police department is participating in a state grant that is providing funding to the department to enforce traffic laws. This is being done in order to reduce the number of traffic accidents especially in high crash areas throughout the city. The program has proven to be an effective tool to help reduce the number of crashes by having the high visibility of patrol units in areas where crashes are reported to have occurred. The the intent of the enforcement program is to act as a deterrent, persuading people to avoid speeding, running red lights, texting, driving while intoxicated because they know that officers are on the look-out. This special enforcement project is running till January 2nd.

AUSTIN – Area unemployment was unchanged in November. The Texas workforce commission reports Tyler’s unemployment was 3.4% last month. That is unchanged from the October figure. But it is still below where it was a year ago at 3.6%. Longview’s unemployment rate from October to November is also unchanged, at 3.8%. It was 4.3% a year ago. The state’s unemployment remains at the same historic 42-year low it was in October, 3.7%.

TYLER — The Republican-led House has approved funding for President Trump’s border wall in legislation that pushes the government closer to a partial government shutdown. The House voted 217-185, largely along party lines. The bill now goes to the Senate, where it has almost no chance of passing. Trump had given mixed signals on how hard he would push for $5 billion in border wall funds. Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert continues to stand firm on the need for a border wall. Gohmert told KTBB, “The huge majority of our constituents in East Texas have said, ‘Stand firm, we’ve gotta protect our country, we need a wall where we need it, and we need…a secure border all the way around our border.” Senators already passed their bill to avert a shutdown by extending funds to Feb. 8. It did not include the wall funding. Without resolution, government funding for various departments expires at midnight Friday.

KILGORE – A cyclist has been seriously injured in a Kilgore accident. Melissa Riley, 28, of Kilgore, was first taken to Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview. She was later transferred to Parkland Hospital in Dallas. Investigators say she was riding next to a tractor-trailer rig when she fell under the vehicle. She was then run over by a vehicle that had been following the truck. The accident, which occurred just before 5:15 Wednesday afternoon, remains under investigation.

LONGVIEW – Longview police are investigating the death of a homeless man. The body of Donald Woodlief, 61, was found Thursday morning behind a former gas station on South Mobberly Avenue. Investigators say there were signs of trauma to his body. An autopsy was ordered to help in identifying the injuries and the cause of death.

AUSTIN – Former state senator and former Tyler mayor Kevin Eltife is the new chairman of The University of Texas System Board of Regents. He was unanimously elected chairman at a special called meeting on Thursday. Eltife was appointed to the board last year by Governor Greg Abbott. His appointment was for six years. Chancellor James B. Milliken said he is looking forward to working with Eltife. The University of Texas System is one of the nation’s largest systems of higher education, with 14 institutions, which includes the University of Texas at Tyler.

TYLER – The latest victim in a string of area shootings, Bradley Brockman, 45, has died. He was shot Sunday afternoon in the Westwood Shooping Center. Later, Kristian Perdomo, 25, of Tyler, was arrested in the case. The original charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon has been upgraded to murder and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon has also been added to the charges. Perdomo is also a suspect in four other recent shootings. Tyler police have received forensic confirmation from the Department of Public Safety Crime Lab that links the gun used in the Sunday shooting to four recent shooting deaths in the area. Additional charges are pending in those cases. Continue reading Westwood Shopping Center Shooting Victim Dies

TYLER – Funeral services will be held Saturday morning at 10:00 at Green Acres Baptist Church for East Texas philanthropist Louise Herrington Ornelas. She died Tuesday evening at her home, surrounded by family. She was 93. Over the years she, and her husband Joseph, donated to many schools, hospitals and charities. During that time she received many honors. In 2001, the couple received the T.B. Butler Award as Tyler’s most outstanding citizens. In 1996, she received the National Horatio Alger award. The organization says the award is given to outstanding Americans who exemplify dedication, purpose, and perseverance in their personal and professional lives.

LONGVIEW – A Longview theater is closer to a zoning change. The city’s Planning and Zoning Board has approved, and sent to the city council, a zone change for Carmike Cinema. The change would allow for the sale of alcohol at the theater. This would come along with with an over $4 million remodeling project. The remodeling would reduce seating in the theater by half. The measure now goes to the city council, with a vote scheduled next month.

TYLER – A problem with an over 200 foot crane caused it to fall at the Robert E Lee High School construction site. It happened around 10:45 Wednesday morning. No injuries were reported. It is not known at this time if the accident will affect the construction schedule. The work is being done in connection with the nearly total rebuild of the high school, which was approved of by voters in a 2017 bond package.