KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – Tyler’s Assistant Police Chief, Billy Yates graduated Wednesday from the FBI National Academy Session # 268 in Quantico, Virginia. Law Enforcement Professionals from around the world are nominated and then selected to attend the NA at Quantico after a rigorous vetting process. The Tyler Police Department has had a total of ten former or current command staff who have graduated from the national academy.

TYLER -The Tyler firefighters Fill the Boot Drive proved to be a huge success. On May 12th, Tyler firemen asked you to fill boots with money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. This year’s drive was a record, $54,087.04. Tyler Fire Chief David Coble expressed his deep gratitude to the Tyler firefighters and the citizens of Tyler for their tremendous support. In thanking those you donated to the campaign, Chief Coble said, “Your generous donations are helping our community get closer to finding cures for Muscular Dystrophy.”

AUSTIN – Area sales tax allocations are looking better than at this time last year. The state comptroller’s office has announced sales tax allocations for June of over $640 million. That is nearly 4% more than June of last year. The allocations are based on sales made in April. In East Texas, Tyler’s sales tax allocation comes to $3,068,681.18. This is 3.66% higher that the same period last year. For the year, Tyler’s sales tax allocations have come to $20,210,437.80, which is up 2.99%. Longview’s sales tax allocation for this period is $2.221,570.29. This is 1.44% more than June of last year. Longview’s year to date total is $14,794,297,86, or 0.51% below the year to date total last year.

LINDALE – 31-year-old Justin Landreau of Tyler has been identified as the man killed in an industrial accident at the Target Distribution Center in Smith County. The distribution center is located south of Interstate Highway 20 near mile marker 554 on Harvey Road, near Lindale. A statement from Target identifies the victim as a contractor. According to KETK, Target says it’s partnering closely with local officials and will fully assist in the investigation. There was no immediate word on how Landreau died.

TYLER — Another large crowd was on hand as Tyler’s East Texas Islamic Society opened the doors of its mosque to the community for an annual open house — part of the holy month of Ramadan. Visitors learned about Islam as they listened to a panel of speakers and got to ask questions, along with enjoying food and fellowship. Society spokesman Anwar Khalifa told KTBB, “We want to open up. We want the community comfortable with their Muslim neighbors…We want to be a part of the community, not apart from the community.” As for the response, Khalifa said, “It’s amazing — I think this is the biggest turnout we’ve had,” adding that the society members were “just so grateful for everybody that’s here.

GILMER — A Gilmer man has been indicted in the April shooting death of his stepfather, Upshur County District Attorney Billy Byrd said Tuesday. According to the Longview News-Journal and KETK, Clinton Ray Allen, 45, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of James Earl Robertson, who was found shot to death in his home April 6 in the 400 block of Holly Road, the sheriff’s office reported. Allen remained in the Upshur County Jail on Tuesday on $950,000 bond. Officials said a family dispute led to the shooting.

TYLER – A Wood County man is being accused of sexual assault of a child. Arrested was Scott Michael Young, 57, of Quitman. The incident is said to have occurred just before 2:00 Tuesday morning on County Road 32. A witness detained the suspect, at gunpoint, until sheriff’s deputies arrived. According to the witness, the suspect had exposed his genitals to a 6 year old child. During the investigation deputies discovered that there were a total of three minor children present in the residence. They were taken to the Smith County Children’s Advocacy Center where they underwent forensic interviews. During the interviews two of the children told interviewers about sexual assault, including the initial victim. Young remains in the Smith County Jail under bonds totaling $450,000. The investigation is continuing.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man has been arrested after an officer saw him drop a bag containing methamphetamine. Derrick Larry Colbert Sr., 39, has been charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana. He was arrested around 1:30 Tuesday morning after officers saw him riding a bicycle on the sidewalk, which is against a city ordinance. The Longview News Journal reports, when officers tried to stop him, he reached into his sock and pulled out a plastic bag and dropped it on the sidewalk. The officers found the drugs in the bag.

TYLER – Tyler police are looking for a suspect in several credit card abuse cases. She is said to have gone to Dillard’s and Chico’s and stole sales clerks’ billfolds while they were occupied with assisting customers. She then went to Target to use the stolen credit cards. If you recognize this suspect in the picture, please contact Detective Royce Jordan at 903-531-1032 or call Tyler Crimestoppers at 903-597-2833.

LONGVIEW – Longview’s Forest Park Middle School is getting a new principal. School Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox has named Dr. Cynthia Wise to the post. She has been principal at the district’s Ned E. Williams Elementary, and his been in the district for 10 years. She is succeeding Shay Thompson, who is retiring from the district. Dr Wilcox says on the district’s web site, “The accomplishments Dr. Wise has achieved at Ned E. Williams speak for themselves. We expect her to bring the same high standards and commitment to excellence to the students and staff at Forest Park.” Continue reading Longview Principal Changing Schools

LONGVIEW – Longview police are looking for a woman who passed some counterfeit money. The woman is said to have used the money to purchase gift cards at the Family Dollar store on South High Street on April 24th. If you have any information in regards to the person in the photo please contact Det. Gina Villarreal at 903-237-1164, Gregg County Crime stoppers at 903-236-7867, or http://www.greggcountycrimestoppers.org in reference to case 17-6708.

TYLER – A Lindale woman involved in a fatal accident on Loop 49 in April, turned herself into authorities today. Jessica Lauren Vass, 35, faces two charges of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle. Her bonds total $100,000. She was involved in a wreck that killed Gary McCrary, 62, of Flint and Annette Burkhart, 56, of Garland. McCrary was assisting Burkhart in changing a flat tire on her car when the Vass vehicle hit the back of his pickup which then hit the Burkhart car. The crash occurred April 12th on Loop 49 just north of Highway 64.

EAST TEXAS – State troopers in Northeast Texas are joining with law enforcement agencies around the state and around the nation to conduct intensified commercial vehicle inspections. Through Thursday, Roadcheck 2017 is the annual drive to increase motor carrier, vehicle, driver and cargo safety and security. State troopers will be on the lookout for commercial vehicles, including 18-wheelers and buses, with serious equipment violations and drivers out of compliance with state and federal requirements. Continue reading Intensified Commercial Vehicle Inspections

TYLER – Texas College Road/34th Street in Tyler is currently open to local traffic only from WNW Loop 323 to Carter Boulevard. A contractor is onsite to repair a 42-inch sewer main damaged by a falling culvert on May 26. Work started Tuesday morning and is expected to be complete by approximately 8:00 Thursday evening.

GREGG COUNTY — A Longview man has been arrested after he’s accused of indecency with a child by sexual contact. According to KETK, Bradley Dewayne Smith, 38, was taken into custody around 5:15 Monday evening. The alleged crime occurred on October 23, 2016. Smith is being held in the Gregg County Jail without bond.

TYLER – Smith County authorities have officially identified a couple killed in a murder/suicide, and identified the shooter. They are Charles Moore, 55, who Sheriff Larry Smith identified as the shooter, and his girlfriend, Gwendolyn Dorsey, 25. They were found dead just after 1:00 Saturday afternoon at a home on County Road 272, in the Chapel Hill area. Their bodies were in advanced stages of decomposition. Smith said two handguns were located near the bodies and it appeared both had been fired inside the residence. An autopsy was ordered, but that report has yet to come back.

TYLER – A Dallas man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Tyler to drug violations. Sharjeel Jeff Ali, 29, pleaded guilty Monday in an appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nicole Mitchell. He had been charged with two counts of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and engaging in monetary transactions in a criminal activity. It is said to have occurred at a Tyler business. A co defendant, Saleem Jeffer Jiwani, pleaded guilty in the case last week. Their sentencing hearings have not yet been set. Continue reading Another Guilty Plea in a Tyler Drug Case

TYLER – Tyler school trustees, Monday afternoon, named Gilmer coach Kurt Traylor at the new head football coach at Robert E Lee High School. Traylor has been Gilmer’s offensive line and running game coordinator for 17 years. In that time, the Buckeyes have been to the state championship 5 times, winning three state titles. And the team has won 15 district championships. Traylor becomes the fourth head coach at Tyler Lee since 2010. He succeeds Clayton George, who resigned from the Tyler Lee job May 25 after one season. He made the announcement following the team’s spring game. He told the district athletics director Greg Priest his resignation was family related. Continue reading Robert E. Lee’s New Football Coach

TYLER – Cumberland Road from Old Jacksonville to Blue Mountain Road in Tyler will be closed till 5:00 this afternoon so Longview Road and Bridge can do base repairs. Both eastbound and westbound lanes will be closed, with one lane remaining open for traffic. Travelers may use Blue Mountain Road as a detour.

TYLER – A Van Zandt County man will have to spend time in jail for a gambling violation. John Borgstedt, 38, of Ben Wheeler, was sentenced Monday to six months in the Smith County Jail. He was indicted back in April for engaging in organized criminal activity. He had been accused of running an illegal gambling operation on Lindsey Lane in Tyler. He was arrested in late November after officers executed a search warrant at the location. Borgstedt is known for the book he wrote, “I Love you Mom, please don’t break my heart.” It is the true story of his journey through a childhood of physical, mental, and emotional abuse.

TYLER – Tyler’s municipal court now has a location in the south part of the city. Tyler residents will now find the court also housed in the Faulkner Park police sub station on Cumberland Road. It is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00am till noon and from 1:00 to 5:00pm. Should demand dictate, the number of days the court will be open could be expanded. There are no court cases heard at the south Tyler location, but you can pay fines, get your documents, and set a court date. If you have to see a judge, that will have to be done at the North Broadway site.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of June 5th. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.

Smith County – Tyler Maintenance plans to perform base repairs on Farm Road 14 near the Sabine River. Spot seal operations could begin on State Highway 110North, weather permitting. Expect lane closures at both work locations with flaggers providing traffic control. Continue reading TxDOT Road Projects Update

TYLER – The Salvation Army in Tyler is teaming up with some area businesses again this year for their annual Beat the Heat Fan Drive. The drive runs through the end of the month. Last year over 600 fans were handed out to those seeking relief from this East Texas heat. It may be hard to believe that there are residents who don’t have air conditioning. But agencies tell us there are many who don’t. And the fans that are handed out could literally be a life saver. Continue reading Salvation Army Fan Drive Has Started

MARSHALL — A Harrison County mother and her parents have been indicted by a Harrison County grand jury in connection with the death of her 18-month-old son and negligence of his twin. According to the Longview News-Journal and KETK, the mother, April Lynn Gibbons, 34, was indicted on a murder charge. She also was indicted on charges of abandoning or endangering a child with criminal negligence. Her parents, Carla Darlene Evans, 57, and Gary Mitchell Evans, 60, were indicted on two counts of abandoning or endangering a child with criminal negligence. Continue reading Family Indicted in Death of Toddler

SMITH COUNTY — Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to a residence on CR 272, in the Chapel Hill area of Smith County, where two bodies were found. Sheriff Larry Smith said the bodies were in advanced stages of decomposition. He identified the two as Charles Moore, 55, and his girlfriend, Gwen Dorsey, 25. They were found dead inside the house just after 1:00 Saturday afternoon. Smith said two handguns were located near the bodies and it appeared both had been fired inside the residence. At this point in the investigation, Sheriff Smith said it looks like a murder/suicide. The bodies have been sent for autopsy.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man was arrested Thursday after police said he hit his boyfriend with a baseball bat and punched him in the eye. According to the Longview News-Journal and KETK, Christopher Alan York Jr., 29, was held Friday in the Gregg County Jail on $10,000 bond, charged with aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. Officers responded about 3 p.m. Thursday to the 1000 block of Webster Street in reference to an assault. Police said York and his boyfriend got into an argument, and York began assaulting him. Police said as the victim walked outside into the driveway, York approached him holding a knife and a baseball bat. Continue reading Longview Man Accused of Beating Boyfriend with Bat

TYLER — The City of Tyler Water Utilities recently experienced a wastewater collection discharge at West Northwest Loop 323 and Texas College Road that meets the notification requirements of the TCEQ. Subsequent to the significant rain event which occurred on June 2 and 3, the City of Tyler West Side wastewater collection facility discharged more than 100,000 gallons of domestic wastewater mixed with storm water (rain water) into Black Fork Creek. The location of the manhole where the discharge occurred is at West Northwest Loop 323 and Texas College Road, flowing north into Black Fork Creek. The discharge predominantly consisted of storm water which entered the wastewater collection system at a partially collapsed 42 inch sewer main. Continue reading City of Tyler Wastewater Facility Spillover

GREGG COUNTY — A Gregg County woman has died after being run over by two cars Saturday evening. According to KETK, the accident happened just after 9:30 on Highway 149, southeast of Longview. The preliminary report shows Tekita Marshall, 46, was crossing the street when she was hit by a truck. DPS Troopers said she was wearing dark clothes, making it hard for her to be seen. After being hit by the first vehicle she was then run over by a second vehicle. Marshall died at the scene. It’s unknown if alcohol was a contributing factor.

TYLER — Tyler Police responded to an attempted armed robbery at the Star Mart, 2030 West Gentry Parkway, Sunday night. According to the store’s clerk, around 9:20, a masked Hispanic male, armed with a handgun, entered the store. The clerk ran back into the storage room and locked the door, then called 911. The suspect was unable to obtain any cash from the store due to the quick thinking of the clerk. The store’s video indicated that the suspect was driving a Black, Dodge Journey, 4 door vehicle. Anyone with information is asked to contact Tyler Police.