KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The Tyler Museum of Art has a new exhibition on display. According to a news release, TMA is presenting the first large-scale museum exhibition of an emerging East Texas and international talent with “Apertures of the Mind: Works by Abhidnya Ghuge.” The exhibition will remain up through Dec. 2 in the TMA’s North Gallery, and admission is free. Born in India, Dr. Ghuge is a multidisciplinary artist who lives and works in Tyler. She is currently an adjunct professor in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Texas at Tyler. Inspired by a blend of Indian henna designs and imagery from her previous medical profession, her work explores themes of community, time and value, according to the news release. You can visit http://www.tylermuseum.org to learn more about the museum and the new exhibition.

HENDERSON COUNTY — A six-month-old baby has died after she was left in a vehicle all day Thursday. The Henderson County Sheriff said the baby’s father, Jackson Tetrick, 24, of Brownsboro, has been charged with criminally negligent homicide. Tetrick was arrested in the parking lot of the Brownsboro Elementary School around at 6:40 Thursday night. Investigators said he took his wife to work, dropped off another child at school before he returned home. Tetrick went to work in Athens a short time later. When he picked up the older child from school at 3:30, he realized he didn’t drop off the infant at the sitter’s house that morning. Emergency CPR was administered by school staff. The child was pronounced dead at 4:40. The baby’s body was sent to Dallas for autopsy.

TYLER – Tyler police are asking for the public’s help in identifying this man. Investigators say he was involved in a hit and run accident. If you know who he is please contact Detective Shine at 903-595-7210 or call CrimeStoppers at 903-597-2833.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — An East Texas lawmaker wants a work requirement for SNAP recipients included in a new farm bill. As the conference committee works to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the farm bill, Tyler Republican Congressman Louie Gohmert says people receiving nutrition assistance should have to work for their benefits. Gohmert says, “One of the most important things in the farm bill is a requirement that people work if they’re capable in order to get the SNAP, or the food supplement program. And so we’re hoping to keep that in. There are senators that want to take it out.” The work requirement is not in the Senate version, and leaders say it won’t be. House Freedom Caucus members killed the first House bill.

TYLER — The 28th annual Pantry Raid competition between Robert E. Lee and John Tyler High School students has kicked off, benefiting the East Texas Food Bank. Students are asking the community to donate non-perishable food items or funds at the school of their choice. The school that collects the most food will earn bragging rights and proudly display the traveling trophy at their school for the year. Donations of non-perishable canned food items will be accepted at both high schools through Friday. You can also support either school by going to http://www.EastTexasFoodBank.org/pantryraid to make a monetary donation online. The results will be announced during halftime at the Robert E. Lee and John Tyler football game on Saturday.

KILGORE — The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has awarded Kilgore College the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. According to a news release from the college, the Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting. The annual GFOA recognition certifies that KC’s financial audit is prepared in accordance with guidelines recognized by nationally established standards.

LONGVIEW — The 69th Annual Gregg County Fair, sponsored by the Longview Jaycees, will be held at the Longview Fairgrounds and Exhibit Building September 7th through the 15. Fair staffers say there will be many outside vendors selling favorite fair food, t-shirts, and novelties. Inside vendors will be selling a wide variety of items, including jewelry, candles, Avon, Scentsy products, home-grown honey, and much more. There will also be entertainment and a carnival. Gate Admission is $6. Children 6 yrs. and under, Senior Citizens, Military members and their family are free with proper identification. You can go to http://www.greggcountyfair.com for more information.

TYLER – The latest active shooter class by the Smith County Sheriff’s Department will be Thursday night. It starts at 6:30 at the Shiloh Road Church of Christ in Tyler. The training teaches what happens during an active shooter incident. It covers the human response both physical and psychological, common actions of the suspect and the law enforcement response. The training also covers actions you can take to help you survive the attack. The 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.

TYLER – Smith County’s burn ban has been lifted. It took effect August 3rd. The original order prohibited all outdoor burning was for a 90-day period, unless lifted earlier. Fire Marshal Connie McCoy-Wasson said rainfall over the Labor Day weekend, combined with lower temperatures and the anticipation of more rain in the near future, persuaded her that conditions were acceptable to resume outdoor burning. After consulting with County Judge Nathaniel Moran, both agreed that the ban should be lifted. Around 11:30 Wednesday morning, the ban was officially lifted.

TYLER – An fatal auto/pedestrian accident in Smith County remains under investigation. It occurred around 11:45 Tuesday night on State Highway 155, two miles south of Tyler. Dead at the scene was Nancy Sue Jones, 41, of Tyler. She was walking in the southbound lane when first hit by a car driven by a Frankston woman and then hit by a car driven by a Flint woman.

CHAPEL HILL – One person was killed and three injured in a two vehicle accident in front of Wise Elementary just before 3:15 Tuesday afternoon. The accident happened when Kristen Darius Lilly, 19, of Carthage, lost control of her east bound car. The vehicle went into the west bound lane and collided with a SUV driven by Maria Torres, 31, of Arp. Lilly was critically injured. A passenger in her car, Tia Shay Roland, 19, later died at a Tyler hospital. Torres and a three year old boy in her vehicle were taken to a Tyler hospital in stable condition. The boy was treated and released. The accident remains under investigation.

MARSHALL – Some Marshall area motorists have learned, the hard way, school safety zone violations can be costly. During the first week of the new school year, the Marshall Police Department issued nearly three dozen citations for various school zone traffic offenses. School district Police Chief Joe Arledge said the most significant safety concern was making u-turns near the Marshall Junior High School. It’s a violation of a city ordinance. Another safety concern was dropping children off across the street from the junior high school, forcing students to cross a busy roadway where there is no crosswalk. The majority of citations issued in schools zones were for speed violations.

PALESTINE – A Silver Alert for a missing Palestine man has been discontinued. The Department of Public Safety says Harry Albert Jenkins, 79, has been found. He was reported missing after having last been seen on Farm Road 860 in Palestine around 8:00 Monday night.

TYLER — Tyler investigators have arrested the suspect in an August 24 altercation at the Family Dollar on East Gentry. Bond is $250,000 for 21-year-old Quidaejan Reanne Crawford, charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Police say Crawford first got into a verbal altercation with an employee, then began throwing items around the store and then left. Police tell us the employee walked outside to obtain Crawford’s license plate number as Crawford left the parking lot. According to the news release, Crawford abruptly circled around, accelerated, and struck the employee with her vehicle, throwing him into the front doors of the business. He was taken to the hospital and released.

LONGVIEW – One person has been killed and one injured in a one vehicle accident in Gregg County. It was reported just before 3:00 Tuesday afternoon on U.S. Highway 259, five miles north of Longview. Dead at the scene was Taneithia Roshekia Scott, 35, of Idabel, Oklahoma. Her passenger, John Alfred Smith, 49, also of Idabel, is in critical condition at Longview Regional Hospital. The Department of Public Safety says their car was south bound when it drove off the road and into a ditch on the west side of the road. The car continued through the ditch and hit a concrete culvert and vaulted into the air. When the vehicle came down it began to roll, ejecting both persons from the vehicle. Both were not wearing their seat belts.

EAST TEXAS – Fatal accidents were reported in Smith and Gregg counties Tuesday afternoon. The Department of Public Safety says the Smith County accident occurred in front of Wise Elementary on Highway 64 East. The Gregg County accident occurred on U.S. Highway 259 north of Farm Road 1650. We will have more details when they become available.

PEORIA, Ill. — A Whitehouse man pleads guilty in Illinois to sextorting young girls online. Mark Barnwell, a registered sex offender, pleaded guilty to an elaborate scheme in which he used false personas on Facebook to attract young girls to a modeling opportunity. He claimed it would pay thousands of dollars. The girls were told to take compromising pictures of themselves. Prosecutors say Barnwell then threatened the girls if they didn’t send more images. This involved more than 40 girls across eight states. Barnwell also filmed women in public bathrooms. He’s scheduled for sentencing in January.

TYLER – There are 7 new Tyler police officers today. They were sworn in Monday afternoon by police chief Jimmy Toler. The seven then received their badge. The new officers are Amber Thomas , April Peddy , George Edwards III, Kelly Womack, Rusty Adair, Spencer McGregor and Thomas Jenkins.

LUFKIN – A man wanted on theft charges in Tyler, has been arrested in Lufkin where bomb making equipment was found. Daniel Scott Standley, 36, of Lufkin, was wanted in Tyler. He was arrested Monday afternoon at apartments on South First Street in Lufkin. Police were called when running water damaged a downstairs apartment unit. What was first thought to be a meth lab turned out to be bomb making material. That brought out a Garland, Texas Bomb squad and federal ATF agents. Evacuated residents have since returned to their apartments. A second Lufkin man was arrested on drug charges. Additional charges are pending against both men

MARSHALL – Harrison County authorities are looking for a suspect that is responsible for multiple vehicle burglaries. The burglaries have occurred at night in the Liberty Church Road and Underwood Road areas of southwestern Harrison County. He has been seen on other security videos over the past couple of weeks. In one case he was seen taking a pistol from a vehicle. He appears to be a black male in his early 20’s with short dreadlocks. If you can identify him, you are asked to contact the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department.

TYLER – A McKinney man is arrested in Smith County for gambling violations. Currently free on bonds totaling $150,000 is Amerier Siddique, 33. He is charged with keeping a gambling place, gambling promotion and possession of gambling equipment. His arrest is said to have stemmed from gambling activities on Highway 64 east. The investigation had resulted, back in April, in the arrest of Monica Prado, 40, of Tyler. The sheriff’s department says the incident remains under investigation and further information can not be released at this time.

TYLER – The 12th Court of Appeals in Tyler has upheld the conviction in a Henderson County murder case. The court upheld the conviction of Jeremy Robert Lane, 27, of Athens. He pleaded guilty to the August, 2016 murder of Mark Groendyk, 27, of New Jersey. The victim was stabbed multiple times at a party early that morning in Athens. Lane was arrested, in Smith County, around 17 hours later at a friends home on County Road 1100 near Flint. He was taken into custody without incident. In March of last year, Lane pleaded guilty. Four months later, State District Judge Dan Moore sentenced him to 35 years in prison.

TYLER COUNTY – Four people have been killed in a traffic accident in Tyler County, including one man from Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, the crash happened around 1:45 Monday afternoon between Ivanhoe and Woodville. DPS Troopers said a Ford F250 pickup driven by Travis Layne Jordan, 18, of Devers, was traveling south when it crossed over into the north lanes and hit a Dodge pickup towing an RV driven by Robert Alan Beard, 48, of Tyler. Beard (pictured), Jordan, and his grandparents, Harvey Lamar DuBose and Ann Jones DuBose, both of Hull, died at the scene. A passenger in Beard’s truck, Leslie McCaa, 41, of Tyler, was transported to a Beaumont hospital with serious injuries. Troopers continue to investigate the cause of the crash.

TYLER – Here’s a look at roadwork planned in TxDOT’s Tyler District during the week of September 3. Among the projects:
The Spur 248 Widening Project in Smith County from 1.75 miles west of FM 848/Old Omen Road going east to SH 64 southeast of Tyler. Daytime lane closures are anticipated as the contractor places striping and seeding. The speed limit is 55 mph during construction to widen Spur 248 from two lanes to a four-lane divided roadway with a flush median. You can go to https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/037-2018.html for a complete rundown of projects around the district.

TYLER — For the 22nd consecutive year, Tyler Junior College has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association for its comprehensive annual financial report. According to a news release, the certificate is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. The report is judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, according to the release.

KILGORE — The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Fire Protection at Kilgore College recently ranked No. 4 on a list of the top ten online fire protection associate degree programs in the nation for 2018. KC was notified of the national recognition August 29 by Online Associate Degrees. According to a news release, that’s a web-based guide for two-year online degrees that ranks the best online degree programs in the United States. It bases its rankings on accreditation, program affordability, and degree customization options. Ranking officials at Online Associate Degrees also highlighted the KC Fire Academy’s comprehensive curriculum, according to the release.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP/Staff) – A second funeral has been held for the second wife of the imprisoned leader of a polygamous sect whose members ran two communities on opposite sides of the Arizona-Utah border. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that 130 people attended the service for Barbara Jeffs held Thursday near Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah. Those included many who couldn’t attend the first funeral in 2004 in Texas. Barbara Jeffs was a wife of Warren Jeffs, leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He’s serving a life sentence at the Lewis C. Powledge Unit near Palestine for sexually assaulting underage girls he considered brides. Barbara Jeffs died of cancer at age 39 and was buried at a sect-owned ranch near Eldorado, Texas, but Texas subsequently seized the property. Her body was recently exhumed and transported to Arizona, with daughter Rachel Jeffs saying family members pitched in to pay the costs.

LONGVIEW – A memorial service has been set for former Longview Police Chief Don Dingler. Dingler will be remembered starting at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 15, at Rader Funeral Home in Longview. He died at his home on Wednesday. Dingler was Longview’s police chief from February 1, 2011 until July 31, 2015 when he retired. He had been with the police department since 1973, serving in patrol, traffic, training, jail services, and narcotics. Chief Dingler was a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas. According to a posting on the department’s Facebook page, “Chief Dingler was a smiling face around the police department and the community for over a quarter of a century and his direction and kindness will be dearly missed.”

TYLER — A crash has closed a Tyler street for repairs to a utility pole. Tyler police said the accident happened at the intersection of Front and Palace early Monday morning. Starting at Front and Borden Street, crews closed all westbound lanes of traffic. East Front Street was closed at the Palace intersection. Oncor crews have been on the scene working to repair the damaged pole and lines. Drivers have been instructed to use alternate routes until further notice. Keep checking this web page for updates.