KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district for the week of November 27. Weather conditions or other unforeseen issues could change these work schedules.

In Smith County, daily lane closures remain in effect on I-20 eastbound and westbound at Toll 49 as the contractor for the Lindale Relief Route conducts work to install deck panels and overhangs of the Toll 49 Mainlane Bridge. Closures on I-20 will begin with the westbound right lane, then the left lane, eastbound right lane, and then the left lane. Lane closures are planned for 9:00am to 4:00pm, Nov. 27 – 30, and from 9:00am to noon on December 1. Local law enforcement will be on site to assist with traffic control. Continue reading TxDOT Area Roadwork Update

LONGVIEW – Two Longview residents have been arrested after leading law officers on a two county chase. In the Gregg County Jail is Ethan Brett McKinney, 46 and Whitney Rene Hubbard, 24. White Oak police knew McKinney was a fugitive, and tried to stop his pickup Friday night on Highway 80 near Moody Boulevard. He didn’t stop and headed toward Gilmer on State Highway 300. After numerous turns and U-turns, the truck crashed into a ditch at the intersection of McCann Road and Farm Road 1844. Besides multiple warrants in Gregg County, McKinney is also charged with evading arrest. Hubbard is charged with possession of a controlled substance. Continue reading Two Arrested Following Lengthy Chase

AUSTIN – The state has started its winter stocking of pounds and lakes of rainbow trout. They are stocking 150 bodies of water with 300,000 rainbow trout through March. A total of 18 Neighborhood Fishing lakes and ponds located in Texas’ 11 most populated urban centers were the first of the season to offer rainbow trout fishing. Stockings start November 21 in most locations and continue every two weeks. Tyler State Park has received its first stocking of 3,430 rainbow trout. Tyler’s Faulkner Park Lake has been stocked with 1,900 fish and Woldert Park Pond has been stocked with 1,344 fish with other stockings scheduled. You can go to http://www.tpwd.texas.gov/troutstocking for the full list of public water bodies receiving rainbow trout this year, along with scheduled stocking dates and numbers of fish. You will need a license to fish if you are 17 or older. Kids fish for free and no license is needed at Texas State Parks.

MARSHALL – Former Harrison County District Clerk Mellinda Gayle Craig, 47, of Hallsville has been charged with driving while intoxicated. She was released on a $2,000 bond on Thanksgiving Day. She was arrested by a state trooper after she is said to have failed to stop for a Harrison County’s Sheriff’s deputy. She was said to have been driving at a high rate of speed on Farm Road 154 in Harrison County. According to the Marshall News Messenger, she was arrested in 2014 on charges of public intoxication. She was also arrested in 2014 by Texas Rangers and later indicted on three charges including misdemeanor assault causing bodily injury, misdemeanor deadly conduct and misdemeanor criminal trespass. According to the newspaper, Craig has not yet received a sentencing for those 2014 arrests.

TYLER – Tyler police are looking for the suspects who stole a banks ATM machine. It happened at the BTH Bank on the Old Jacksonville Highway around 2:00 Thursday morning. Someone had stolen a piece of heavy equipment, a skylift, from a nearby construction site. They drove it to the bank and forced the ATM from its concrete foundation and loaded into the back of a U-Haul box truck. After receiving the call, it took officers only six minutes to get to the bank, but the suspects had already left.

TYLER – An Art and Maker Gift Market has opened in downtown Tyler. The market features one-of-a-kind gift items, for purchase, made by area artists and artisans. The market opened Saturday at Gallery Main Street, 110 West Erwin Street. Artists, artisans and makers were encouraged to submit their work for a jury process to select pieces for the “micro” gift boutique. The opening coincided with downtown Tyler’s participation in Small Business Saturday. The market is a partnership between two City of Tyler programs: the Innovation Pipeline and Gallery Main Street.

For shoppers, Friday was black Friday and Monday is Cyber Monday. Sandwiched in between is Small Business Saturday. It was founded by American Express in 2010. According to the Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey, around 112 million consumers spent $15.4 billion on that day last year. Small businesses in the area have geared up for the event with specials for the shoppers. There are 2,600,000 small business operations in Texas. They employee about 45% of all employees in the state. They say, shopping with them provides a variety of benefits, among them, It helps create jobs in the community and the tax dollars stay local.

EAST TEXAS – The Christmas season is officially here. Shoppers are flocking to area stores. And several special Christmas tree exhibits are open. At Tyler’s Prestige Estates Assisted Living and Memory Care Center, it’s the annual Winter Wonderland of Christmas Trees. Along with the beautiful and unique Christmas trees is a big 12 foot tree where you can leave an unwrapped toy for the Tyler Firefighters Toy Drive. The toys will be picked up by the firefighters on December 10th. In Palestine, the Palestine Veterans Administration Clinic is hosting an Angel Tree to benefit area veterans in need. It’s inside the Palestine Mall. And In Lufkin, The Museum of East Texas is holding its annual Festival of Trees.

DALLAS (AP/STAFF) — The suspect in the shooting death of a state trooper during a Thanksgiving Day traffic stop in East Texas was charged Friday with capital murder of a law enforcement officer. Dabrett Black, 32, of Lindale, is being held in the Brazos County jail in Bryan. He is accused of fatally shooting Trooper Damon Allen on Thursday. The Texas Department of Public Safety said in social media posts late Thursday that Allen initiated a traffic stop shortly before 4:00pm on Interstate 45 near Fairfield. DPS said Black shot Allen with a rifle after the trooper walked back to his vehicle. Allen died at the scene, DPS officials said, adding that he had been with the department since 2002. An obituary posted Friday by the funeral home said Allen is survived by his wife Kasey, three daughters and a son. Continue reading Lindale Man Charged after State Trooper Fatally Shot

TYLER — A man has been arrested in a Thanksgiving Day assault that injured two people, one seriously. Tyler police responded around noon to a Kennedy Avenue location where the incident had just occurred. The first arriving officer saw the suspect about a block north, walking away from the scene. 51-year-old Leo Patrick Collins of Tyler was jailed after being charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Police say Collins had assaulted his 54-year-old neighbor Jacqueline Ewell and 45-year-old Bufford McGee by striking them both with a table leg. Both victims were transported to a local hospital by EMS for treatment. Ewell sustained a serious head injury, and McGee suffered a broken arm.

TYLER – Black Friday is the largest shopping day of the year. Tyler police caution you it is also a busy time for auto burglars. They’ll shop the easy way, by stealing your gifts, purses, wallets, packages, or other valuables you leave in plain sight inside your vehicle. There are some basic safety tips so motorists and shoppers can prevent these crimes. Tyler police say to hide your belongings and gifts from eyesight and lock them in your trunk or cover them. Continue reading Police: Watch Your Belongings This Holiday Shopping Season

FLINT — The Flint-Gresham Volunteer Fire Department is mourning a loved one. “Flynt the Fire Dog” became a member of the team in 2004. According to KETK, the department says he died Wednesday morning. Department members say when calls came in, he would often beat the firefighters to the engine. Describing him as a friend to everyone, the firefighters say they will miss Flynt very much. Flynt will be laid to rest at the fire station, and a memorial will be placed in the near future.

PALESTINE — Acting on a tip, law officers have found a missing Palestine woman safe and unharmed. According to KETK, Palestine police say 24-year-old Haley Dawn Grant was located Wednesday evening at a location in Anderson County. Police took a missing person report on Monday. Her friend said she had been missing since November 18. She was last seen at a gas station in Palestine. Friends and family had been searching for her, not knowing why she would disappear. They said it was not of her character to just go missing. “I want to thank all of the family and friends of Haley Grant for the prayers and concern about her. I want to thank the Palestine Police Department and Anderson County Sheriff’s Office for all their work in finding her,” said Haley’s friend, David Lusk.

LONGVIEW – Gregg County authorities have charged two Kilgore men with a robbery that occurred last month. Arrested Wednesday were Jonathan Zuniga, 22, and Clarence Bedford III, 22. They were arrested at a home in the Kilgore-Liberty City area. They are charged with robbing the E-Z Mart on Highway 135 in Kilgore. The robbery occurred October 22nd around 4:15am. The arrests stem from leads developed by investigators as well as as a Crimestoppers tip. Both are in the Gregg County Jail with bonds of $75,000 each. Continue reading Two Robbery Suspects Arrested

LONGVIEW – Dollar General building a warehouse in Longview is a step closer to reality today. Longview’s Zoning Board of Adjustments has approved zoning variance requests for a 110-acre site at the Longview North Business Park. DG Distribution of Texas wants to build a nearly 1 million-square-foot distribution center at the location. DG Distribution of Texas is a division of Dollar General Corp. in Tennessee. The Longview News Journal reports Longview is lone finalist for Dollar General’s 17th warehouse. A finalized agreement between the company and the city of Longview remains tentative pending legal matters, according to the Longview Economic Development Corporation. A city official told the paper he believes the deal can be “wrapped up” before the end of the year.

TYLER – Tyler’s Salvation Army is a beehive of activity. Preparations are underway for the annual community Thanksgiving meal. They expect to feed up to 1,500 persons Thursday between 11:30 and 1:00. The staff and volunteers started the preparations Wednesday afternoon. Over 200 volunteers have signed up this year to help with the Thanksgiving festivities. The Hubbard Family, a 5-piece East Texas musical group will be performing as the guests enjoy their meal. It consists of Greenberg Smoked Turkeys, dressing, fruit salad, green bean casseroles, candied yams, and pie. The cost of the meal is underwritten by many in the community.

PALESTINE — An East Texas woman has been arrested, accused of stabbing another woman in Anderson County. According to KETK, investigators say Brandi Davis and her boyfriend were driving down a county road when they saw 25-year-old Ashley Whiteside walking along the road. They stopped to confront her, and it then became physical. Davis was stabbed three times. She was taken to the hospital, where we’re told she’s recovering from severe internal injuries.

TYLER – What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? Tyler’s Goodman Museum wants to know. The museum plans to build a Trail of Gratitude. Through December 1, the museum invites you to share your thanksgivings. They will even supply colorful paper and writing utensils for you. These papers will be collected and laminated and hung from posts to create a trail on the property for the community to walk through and enjoy. The trail will be on display through the second weekend in January.

ATHENS – A traffic stop southeast of Athens has resulted in a drug arrest. The sheriff’s deputy stopped motorcyclist Durrell Lee Hopkins, 57, of Larue, for a traffic violation at the intersection of Farm Road 804 and County Road 4712. A search turned up illegal drugs and a .45 caliber handgun. Hopkins was booked into the Henderson County Jail on charges of unlawfully carrying a weapon and possession of a controlled substance.

PALESTINE – A Palestine woman has been reported missing. She is Haley Dawn Grant, 24. Grant’s family and friends told officers Monday that they had been unable to make contact with her. She was last seen at a convenience store last Saturday. Grant is described as having dark hair, 5’8″ tall and weighing 120 pounds. Anyone with any information regarding this case is urged to contact the Palestine Police Department at 903-729-2254 or Sgt. David Kassaw at 903-731-8482.

NACOGDOCHES – The secretary of state’s office has accepted the filing of another candidate seeking to unseat Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert. The application is that of Brent Beal of Nacogdoches. He went on a tour of the 1st congressional district to get petition signatures in lieu of paying a filing fee. He submitted over 800 signatures. 500 signatures had been required. Beal who is a business professor at The University of Texas at Tyler, will be running in the Democratic Primary against Shirley McKeller, who is running for the 4th time. Beal is critical district’s current congressman. He said, “Gohmert has failed to represent East Texans beyond those in his far-right GOP base.”

LONGVIEW – Longview’s National Night Out activities was once again one of the top ones in the country. According to the National Town Watch Association, the Longview/Gregg County activities ranked 11th for a community with a population size from 100,000 to 300,000. National Night Out Block Party were held in neighborhoods and businesses around the city and county. A total of 134 parties registered for National Night Out, which was held on October 3. The activities, which are coordinated by the Longview Police Department, Partners in Prevention and the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office ranked 14th in the competition last year.

SULPHUR SPRINGS — A nightmare for some staffers at a Sulphur Springs veterinary clinic. A sick unvaccinated dog bit a technician at the Bright Star Veterinary Clinic in September. The owner agreed to put the animal down, and the head was removed to test the dog for rabies. It was shipped to the state — but the package never made it. And that meant technician Heather Brinkman and two others had to get a series of rabies vaccinations. THe total cost for all three: $80,000. Brinkman says, “I have a little boy. I’m all he has. I wasn’t gonna take my life and say, ‘Okay, no, I’m not gonna get these’ — I needed to have them.” They had to make several trips to Dallas’s Parkland Hospital for the shots. Brinkman’s hoping workmen’s comp will pay.

LONGVIEW – LeTourneau University recently placed one of its computer programing teams in the Top 10 national rankings in the IEEEXtreme 11.0 programming competition. In the competition, students compete against each other from across the globe to solve a set of programming challenges. The competition is organized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. LeTourneau won 1st place in the Southwestern region, 8th place nationally, and 161st out of 3,350 teams worldwide. Team members are computer science engineering major Azrael Brown of Duncanville, Texas; computer science engineering major Chandler Griscom, of Coatesville, Pennsylvania; and computer science network security major Brian Scott of Anniston, Alabama.

AUSTIN – Two Tyler residents have been recognized in the state in the area of nursing. Vania Padilla is the Texas Health Care Association’s Nurse of the Year for Region 4. Lucretia Howard is the Texas Health Care Association’s Certified Nurse Aide of the Year for Region 4. Region 4 is one of 10 statewide, and includes Central Texas. Both employed by the Heights of Tyler Nursing Home. Both were nominated by their co-workers and selected by a panel of long term care clinicians from across the state. They were honored during the Texas Health Care Association’s Annual Convention and Trade Show in Houston.

LONGVIEW – A woman wanted in Tennessee has been arrested in Longview. Arrested was Valrie Ann Hart,36, of Longview. She was taken into custody at a home on Alpine road by U.S. Marshall’s Service Violent Crime Task Force Agents. They were assisted by the Gregg County Organized Drug Enforcement Unit. Hart was named in warrants for robbery, aggravated robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, theft, and two outstanding felony warrants for homicide. The warrants are out of Polk County, Tennessee. Continue reading Longview Woman Wanted in Tennessee

TYLER – Because of two businesses, some area residents will have a ham to go with a holiday meal. Hormel Foods and the Brookshire Grocery Company have donated over a 1,000 Hormel Cure 81 half hams to the East Texas Food Bank. In total, the two companies are donating over $100,000 in hams to dozens of food banks and food kitchens in communities where Brookshire’s, Super 1 Foods and Spring Market stores operate. The truck with the hams arrived Tuesday morning.

TYLER – Preparations are being made to usher the Christmas season into Tyler. The city’s Christmas tree was brought in on Monday. It is sitting on the downtown square. It’s a Leyland Cypress that is 28 feet tall and 14 feet wide. For the third straight year, the city’s Christmas tree has come from the Bright Star Farm in Alba. It will be decorated in preparation for the lighting ceremony. That will take place following Tyler’s Christmas parade on November 30th. Throwing the switch to light the tree again this year will be a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital’s Miracle Child. The child’s name will be announced next week.

TYLER – An inmate found hanging in his Smith County Jail cell earlier this month has died. Just before 11:00 Tuesday morning, Quincey Butler, 44, was removed from life support at a Tyler hospital. His body has been sent to a Dallas lab for autopsy. The former New Orleans resident had been placed in a single inmate cell since he was considered to be a danger to other inmates and was also on a suicide watch. Sheriff Larry Smith says Butler was on a required ten minute observation and had been checked nine minutes prior to being found hanging in his cell. Per department protocol, the Texas Rangers are investigating the death.

GREGG COUNTY — AEP Southwestern Electric Power Co. and other utility companies are warning residents of scams from fake sweepstakes to people claiming to be police, according to the Longview News-Journal. “Scammers are targeting local businesses, senior citizens and customers whose native language is not English,” said Brett Mason, SWEPCO’s director of customer service and marketing. SWEPCO teamed with other electric, water and natural gas utilities and trade associations this past week in support of Utilities United Against Scams, a weeklong advocacy and awareness campaign. Scammers pose as electric, water, or natural gas company employees, and they threaten a customer’s services will be disconnected or shut off if immediate payment isn’t made — typically using a prepaid card or other non-traceable form of payment, according to SWEPCO. Continue reading Officials Warn of Utilities Scam