KTBB News, Weather, Talk

CANTON – Van Zandt County is now on the growing list of East Texas counties that have issued burn bans. According to our news partner KETK, Van Zandt County officials say the order will remain in effect until further notice. The ban prohibits outdoor burning of any kind, including trash in burn barrels, or the use of aerial fireworks. Officials say they enacted the burn ban because of extreme wildfire danger due to hot, dry conditions.

TYLER (AP) – Police have arrested a man accused of opening fire at an East Texas house in gunfire that left his former girlfriend wounded and her new boyfriend and her teenage son dead. Gregg County jail records show Tony Waters, 55, of Kilgore was being held Wednesday on a capital murder charge, with bond set at $1 million. Tyler police say Waters was arrested Tuesday in Longview, a day after the deadly shootings. Officer Don Martin says the gunfire killed Charlie Verdell, 51, and Daquan Munson, 17. Martin says Munson’s mother remained hospitalized Wednesday. Her condition wasn’t immediately released. Martin says the mother and son recently moved into the house and that Verdell had been dating the woman.

LONGVIEW – A body found in Longview has been sent off for autopsy to determine the cause of death. It was in the woods off a dirt road off West Birdsong Street. We will have more information when it becomes available

TYLER – A person has been arrested in a Tyler shooting that left two persons dead and one wounded. He is Tony Waters, 55, of Kilgore. He was arrested Tuesday in Longview through the efforts of the Longview Police Department’s Special Investigation and Apprehension Unit along with the U.S. Marshals’ Violent Crime Task Force. His bond has been set at $1,000,000 on a charge of capital murder. Investigators are still looking into the motive behind the shooting. The shooting happened just before 10:00 Monday night on West Dobbs. Killed was Charlie Verdell, 51, and Daquan Munson, 17. The teen’s mother, Ladidre Patrice Blevins, 32, was wounded. Her condition has not been released.

TYLER – Smith County Commissioners have approved a five year tax abatement for a business moving to the county. Wyoming Machinery Company plans to move a new division, Dragline Service Specialties, to just west of Tyler On Highway 64 on a property that has been vacant for years. This will be the businesses’ second location. They plan to start with 34 employees, but eventually hire 88 people and invest $14.9 million. Their plans are to start operation on August 1st. Continue reading Proposed Smith County Business Gets Tax Abatements.

TYLER – Tyler police are investigating a body found Tuesday afternoon. A citizen found the body shortly before 1:45 in the woods behind the Valero Gas Station at East Front Street and SSE Loop 323. Investigators did not observe an evident signs of foul-play on the body, which was in a state of decomposition. Investigators have recovered he man’s identification. He is said to be 50. His name is being withheld pending notification of his family. The body will be sent to Dallas for an autopsy.

LONGVIEW – The Gregg County Sheriff’s Department is seeking the public’s help in locating a sex offender. He is Joseph Wayne Burnette, 41, who is wanted for failure to register as a sex offender and indecent exposure. He stands stands 6’1 and weighs 195 pounds. Sheriff’s department Public Information Officer John Tubbs says, if you see Burnette, do not attempt to stop, detain, or approach him, only observe and report his whereabouts to local law enforcement.

JACKSONVILLE – A man has been charged with capital murder in connection with a weekend slaying in Cherokee County. The shooting occurred around 6:00 Sunday evening on North Main Street in Jacksonville. Shot to death was Malcolm A. Hunter Jr. He was shot numerous times. while he was a sleep, by a man who had kicked in the front door of the residence. Witnesses identified the shooter as Jacolbe Kirby, 27, of Jacksonville. While the investigation was underway, Kirby showed up at the police department to “clear his name.” He was charged with capital murder since the shooting occurred during a burglary. Two other suspects are still being sought.

TYLER – Smith County sheriff’s deputies have arrested an man from Arp for continuous sexual assault of a child. Detectives arrested Jessie James Liggins, 38, and placed him in the Smith County Jail. His bond has been set at $400,000. The assault was reported late last week. Investigators learned the suspect has assaulted the girl, under the age of 14, on various occasions over an 18 month period. The last assault was witnessed by a family member. Investigators got a warrant for Liggins arrest.

TYLER – Tyler police report the traffic signal at West Front Street and Glenwood is back in operation. The intersection was turned into a four-way stop with stop signs on Monday when an accident knocked out the signal. The signs were taken down when the signal was repaired.

TYLER – Smith County has cancelled jury duty for Wednesday, July 25. Smith County residents who were planning to report for jury duty with their yellow cards don’t have to make the trip to the county courthouse. No new panels will be needed according to Smith County Jury Coordinator Lisa Bennett. However, if you have been asked to return for jury duty by a specific court, you must still report.

MARSHALL – A fatal Harrison County accident remains under investigation. It occurred shortly after 2:45 Monday morning on Interstate Highway 20, about a mile east of Marshall. Dead at the scene was Arthur Eugene Ford, 64, of North Richland Hills. The Department of Public Safety reports he was heading west when his tractor trailer rig ended up in the median and rolled over on it side. It then caught fire.

HENDERSON – Church burglaries are plaguing Rusk County. The sheriff’s department reports 7 churches have been broken into. The burglaries have occurred over the past several days. Several items have been reported stolen from each church. There is a person of interest in the cases. The person drives a Chevy S-10 pickup, which has been seen at some of the churches. If you have any information about the burglaries, you are asked to contact the Rusk County Sheriff’s Department.

TYLER — Tyler Police are investigating a Monday night shooting that left two people dead and one injured. It was reported just before 10:00 on W. Dobbs. 51-year-old Charlie Verdell and 17-year-old Daquan Munson were killed. Arriving officers found Verdell on the front porch; he died later at a hospital. Munson and his mother, 32-year-old Ladidre Patrice Blevins, were found inside. Munson was dead at the scene. Blevins remained in a hospital at last report; her condition was not immediately released. A witness told officers they saw a black male with a gun running from the scene. Authorities announced Tuesday afternoon a suspect is in custody in the case. Arrested in Longview was Tony Waters, 55, of Kilgore.

TYLER – We may find out next month about a possible name change for Tyler’s Robert E. Lee High School. At Monday’s night meeting school trustees said they may vote on the issue at their next meeting, which will be in August. Plans call for a vote to take place when all board members can be present. The action came after both sides of the issue addressed school trustees.

TYLER – The traffic signal at West Front Street and Glenwood is not working because of an accident. The intersection has been turned into a four-way stop with stop signs until the traffic signals are operational again. The traffic signal is expected to be out until sometime on Tuesday. Expect delays Tuesday morning if you take that route to work.

GILMER – The Texas Rangers have been asked to investigate an injury to an Upshur County Jail inmate whose injury appears to be self-inflicted. William Meadows, 27, of Longview, was found late last week unconscious in a shower. The jail staff administered first aid and he was then taken to Longview’s Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center. According to a written statement from Sheriff Larry Webb, Meadows “appeared to be a victim of self-inflicted harm.” He had been booked into the jail July 11 on charges of violation of a protective order and violation of probation.

LONGVIEW – The Gregg County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing Longview woman. She is Felishia Pearson, 28. She was last see on July 14th. It is believed she is in the Longview area and they feel she may be in danger. She is 5’2″, weighs 140 pounds, and has “Autum” tattooed on her chest. If you know where she can be found, you are asked to contact the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office.

TYLER – Tyler police are investigating the robbery of two persons by two suspects. It happened just before 12:30 Monday afternoon in the waiting area at Ed’s Car Wash and Detail on South Broadway. An officer stopped a possible suspect’s vehicle near South Broadway and 6th Street. The driver got out of the vehicle and went into Pizza Hut, where ran through the business and out the back door. He was stopped by another officer about a block away. Kendall Thomas, 18, of Tyler was charged with evading arrest and possession of controlled substance. Investigators are looking into whether or not Thomas was one of the persons involved in the robbery. Continue reading Two Persons Robbed in Tyler

TYLER – UT Health East Texas Air 1 revealed their new helicopter design and uniforms Monday. It came during a celebration at UT Health Tyler. They also showed new state-of-the-art technology that enables flight paramedics to transmit patient data to the hospital and a safety tracking system. In addition, the system allows paramedics to use Wi-Fi to transmit vital data such as EKGs and photographs back to the hospital. John Smith, CEO of UT Health East Texas EMS/Air 1, said, “The system is HIPAA compliant, ensuring patient privacy is protected.”

KILGORE – A public meting has been scheduled on plans to expand State Highway 31 between Tyler and Kilgore. The plans call for the expansion of Highway 31 from Loop 323 in Tyler, east to Farm Road 1639 in Kilgore. The expansion of the road will address safety concerns along the highway. It calls for, among other things, widening the highway from two lanes to four lanes. The project will require the acquisition of new right-of-way. The meeting is will be Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00pm at the Highland Park Baptist Church in Kilgore.

TYLER – A Tyler man is heading to prison for engaging in organized crime. Court records show Devonte Antoinne Black, 24, pleaded guilty last Friday in exchange for a 25 year prison sentence. He had been arrested last November for an aggravated robbery at the Fox Run Apartments on Tyler’s East Southeast Loop. Police say a pound of marijuana along with a firearm were taken. Also arrested in the case was Dikembi Spencer, 20, of Tyler. His trial is scheduled for next week.

TYLER – Tyler has set a new high temperature record for July 22. The National Weather service reports Tyler’s high was 106 degrees. That beat the previous record of 105 which was set in 1925 and 1963. This is also the hottest Tyler has recorded since the city hit 106 on August 20, 2011.

TYLER — The Tyler ISD Board of Trustees will address how it will move forward with the Robert E. Lee High School name change discussion during its Monday meeting. A statement from board president Rev. Fritz Hager Jr. released Thursday evening says the item is for discussion only. No decisions have been made and no action will be taken. There are several options the board could choose from after the consultation. Hager says most of the discussion has focused on making a change, but not how to go about the process or what the new name might be.

LONGVIEW — Mobberly Avenue is now reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction between Methvin Street and Oden Street. Westbound turns will be prohibited at the intersection of Cotton Street and Mobberly Avenue. Local traffic is encouraged to take Oden Street to Electra Street to access destinations west of Mobberly Avenue. This portion of the lane closure is expected to continue for approximately one month. This street work is part of the 2011 Street Bond Fund. This project consists of reconstructing Cotton Street from Green Street to M. L. King Jr., Blvd with curb and gutter, drainage inlets and pipes, sidewalks, signs, and water and sewer improvements. The total project is anticipated to be complete in November 2018.

LONGVIEW – If you have been summoned for jury duty in Gregg County on Monday, you do not have to report. According to the county’s web site, jury duty for Monday, July 23rd, has been cancelled.

MARSHALL – The city of Marshall is opening a cooling center for the extreme heat. According to our news partner KETK, the center will be located in the community room of the Central Fire Station on S. Grove. It will be open for people to come and beat the heat from noon until 6 p.m. The city encourages anyone unable to escape the dangerously hot conditions to visit the cooling center.

SMITH COUNTY – Quick action from Smith County sheriff’s deputies got a child out of a hot car. According to our news partner KETK, the call came in shortly after 8 p.m. Friday from CR 27 near Chapel Hill. A spokesman says deputies responded within 4 minutes. No other information was immediately available. The SCSO reminds everyone not to leave children or pets in cars even for a few moments in this heat.