KTBB News, Weather, Talk

BULLARD — The Texas Department of Transportation is developing plans for improvements to Farm Road 2493, and a public meeting on the item will be held this evening from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Bullard High School Gym. The plans pertain to the stretch of the highway from Farm Road 346 in Flint to U.S. Highway 69 in Bullard. Proposed improvements will help ease congestion and improve safety through the area, according to TxDOT officials. At the meeting, project information will be presented in a come and go format with no formal presentation planned. Rather, citizens will have an opportunity to review the preferred alternative, provide additional input, voice concerns and get answers to their questions. The preferred alternative was selected based on feedback received during a public meeting held last spring.

WELLS – A groundbreaking ceremony Monday morning signaled the start of the widening of U.S. Highway 69 in southern Cherokee County. The $18.1 million project will widen the highway in the Wells area. The schedule shows the permanent west side construction, and traffic switch to be done by the end of of the year. East side construction of the road is projected to be done by next spring. Till then, you can expect single lane closures and delays during the detour construction. Expanding the road from two to four lanes will help reduce congestion since Highway 69 in Cherokee County serves as a hurricane evacuation route. Continue reading A Wider Highway 69 in Cherokee County

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler has awarded notable faculty members the inaugural Crystal Talon Award, sponsored by the Robert R. Muntz Library. The library’s Crystal Talon Award recognizes outstanding scholarship and creativity of faculty from each college as determined by their dean.

Award recipients include:
Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy – Dr. Jonathan Cho, clinical assistant professor of clinical sciences and Dr. Simi Gunaseelan, assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences. Continue reading 1st Crystal Talon Awards Handed out at UT Tyler

KILGORE – Two teens are in custody following a Monday morning burglary in Kilgore. Arrested were Markell Jerome London, 17, of Kilgore and a 15 year old girl from Kilgore. Officers responded to a report of suspicious activity in a residential area between Highway 42 and highway 31. They then started getting residential alarms. Arriving officers chased the two persons they saw running from the area and were able to catch them. The investigation into their activities is continuing.

UPSHUR COUNTY — Randell Jay Phillips, 42, of Big Sandy, was indicted following a 2016 DWI crash in which his 2-year-old grandson died. According to the Upshur County District Attorney’s Office, on October 29, 2016, Phillips, while intoxicated, was speeding on FM 49 with his grandson unrestrained in the front seat of the vehicle. Authorities say Phillips went off the roadway and hit a tree causing his grandson to be crushed underneath the dash. Before the fatal accident, Phillips had been convicted of two DWIs. Continue reading East Texas Man Indicted for Murder

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in TxxDOT’s Tyler District during the Week of March 6. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure, or other unforeseen issues. Slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones.

Mill and inlay operations continue on US 69 in Jacksonville at the start of the week before moving to SH 64/Fifth Street in Tyler around mid-week. This type of work requires lane closures that cause traffic delays. The contractor, Madden Contracting Company, will conduct work between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Continue reading TxDOT’s Weekly Roadwork Update

TYLER — City of Tyler Manager of Water Quality Mike Norris has received The Daniel C. Allen Memorial Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Water Utilities Association (TWUA). This is the Association’s second highest award. Winners of this award are those who have fifteen or more years of service within the water utilities industry and active participation at the state level of the industry. In addition, the recipient must indicate a sincere interest in the protection of the public health and environment, as well as support others within the organization to devote themselves to these goals, according to a city news release.

LONGVIEW – LeTourneau University Friday received a CFM56 turbine engine from Southwest Airlines for use in the university’s applied aviation sciences department. The turbine engine, which is about the size of a pickup truck, was from one of Southwest Airlines’ Boeing 737-300 aircraft — known as the workhorse of their fleet, according to an LETU news release. This particular engine was in service flying passengers as recently as about two weeks ago. Representatives of Southwest Airlines were on hand for the acceptance of the engine. “This donated turbine engine will greatly enhance our student education experience in the area of larger turbine engines,” said Sean Fortier, chair of LETU’s applied aviation department in the news release.

TYLER — Dr. Michael Tidwell says things are off to a great start in his first two months as president of the University of Texas at Tyler. Tidwell notes that a broad goal of the university is to become the primary educational and economic driver for East Texas. On this week’s edition of “In Focus” on KTBB, Tidwell said while he was considering the job, he was impressed with the search committee. According to Tidwell, “They wanted to focus on community engagement, partnerships. They wanted to focus on what it would take to become a very well-known quantity throughout the region.” Tidwell added, “The faculty have been tremendous. the community has been extraordinarily responsive as I’ve gone out and had those conversations about what UT Tyler should be going forward.” You can listen to the entire “In Focus” show online at http://www.ktbb.com/infocus beginning early Monday morning.

LONGVIEW — Longview police say 25 year-old Idmar Rubio of Longview is in custody following a lengthy standoff Saturday. According to KETK, police received a call shortly after 6:30 Saturday morning about a domestic problem at a home on Diane Drive. Officers say when they arrived they saw Rubio point a weapon at a female from the front porch. They say he then ran into the house and refused to come out. Continue reading One in Custody Following Longview Standoff

EAST MOUNTAIN — East Mountain residents will receive law enforcement protection from the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office for the time being after the city lost its entire four-person police force as of Friday. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. “I want the citizens of East Mountain to feel safe, so I will do what I need to do to keep them protected until this thing in the city is resolved,” Upshur County Sheriff Larry Webb said Friday. “The citizens of East Mountain will have law enforcement service regardless of what is going on with their police department.” Continue reading East Mountain without Police Force; Upshur County to Provide Service

TYLER – The IRS has issued an urgent warning about an old scam which has come back with a new twist — and the Better Business Bureau of Central East Texas says people in its coverage area are being affected. The W-2 phishing scam started out targeting large corporations, but has now evolved beyond the corporate world and is targeting school districts, tribal organizations, and nonprofits. The most recent high-profile victim was the Tyler ISD, as reported this past Friday. Continue reading W-2 Scam Back with a Vengeance

GILMER — A joint narcotics investigation in Upshur County led police to discover a large cache of drugs, including more than 110 grams of methamphetamine, at a house north of Gilmer on Wednesday, the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office said. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Officers with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, the Gilmer Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety also found three pounds of marijuana, 36 grams of cocaine, 10.5 grams of Xanax, and 7.4 grams of Ecstasy at the house. Continue reading Gilmer Police: Investigation Leads to 110 Grams of Meth, More

TYLER – Grassroots America – We The People met Friday, discussing everything from the Trump agenda to fixing illegal immigration. KETK reports Grassroots America’s Executive Director, JoAnn Fleming and Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith were the speakers. They say the country now only follows laws it wants to. Fleming said, “The problem that we are seeing with chaos and unrest has to do with how our government, how our culture how our society believe its okay to pick and choose the laws that you’re going to…obey.” Continue reading Immigration a Hot Topic for Grassroots America

JUDSONIA, Ark. (AP) – A missing 10-month-old Palestine boy has been found safe in Arkansas and his non-custodial parents arrested for interfering with child custody. The White County Sheriff’s Office says Jax Laymance was found in the back of a vehicle Thursday night at a home in Judsonia. Authorities say the child is now in state custody in Arkansas. Chief Deputy Philip Miller told reporters the FBI traced a phone belonging to one suspect to White County and the vehicle they were believed to be in was traced to the home in Judsonia where the child was eventually found with the parents. Police say the mother and father were visiting the boy Thursday afternoon in Palestine when the mother grabbed him and got into a vehicle with the father and they drove away.

LONGVIEW — 22-year-old Torry Jamal Reed was sentenced Friday afternoon to 75 years in prison and a $10,000 fine after pleading guilty in the 2012 murder of DeAundrey Lamanze Rossum. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Reed faced up to life in prison for the fatal shooting, which ended a confused night of drug-hunting that wound up outside the Signal Hill Apartments. There, prosecutors said during the four-day trial, the defendant and his younger brother walked up from behind an apartment unit and opened fire on Rossum, 23. Continue reading Man Sentenced to 75 Years after Plea in 2012 Longview Murder

MARSHALL – The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information on the location of Sophia Torres, 16. KETK reports Torres was last seen when she was dropped off at Hallsville High School on February 23 by her grandmother. The teen lives at a residence on Highway 80 in Longview with her grandparents. She is described as 5’4”, 125 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink, long-sleeve shirt, blue jeans and boots. If you have any information regarding her whereabouts, contact the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office at 903-923-4000.

MARSHALL — A Marshall man was indicted on Thursday for sexual assault of a child younger than age 17. According to KETK and the Marshall News-Messenger, the indictment says 40-year-old David Reshaun Porter is accused of having sex with an underage girl around Oct. 1, 2016. According to an arrest affidavit for the incident, filed by Harrison County Sheriff’s Investigator Cindy Black, the investigator was contacted by an HCSO narcotics deputy to assist with a juvenile female, who was at a motel. “The (alleged victim) was in a room with a known drug dealer, the defendant and another adult male,” the affidavit states. Continue reading Man Indicted for Sexual Assault of Young Girl

GILMER — The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of an 11-month-old child. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, police were called about 11:30 a.m. Thursday to a location on FM 2088 after receiving a 911 call in reference to an injured child. The child was transported to ETMC-Pittsburg but later was pronounced dead, police said. Upshur County Sheriff Larry Webb said the investigation is ongoing, and no details of the child’s injury or the child’s name were released.

TYLER – The Tyler Independent School District has confirmed a report stating the district had fallen victim to a scammer. A source employed by the school district reached out to our news partner KETK on Friday stating someone in their administration office sent 2016 Tyler ISD employee W-2 information to a scammer who was posing as Superintendent Marty Crawford. Tyler ISD confirmed the report. Copies of all 2016 TISD employees were given to the “spoof account” before the district discovered it was a fraudulent. The mistake was discovered on Wednesday. The school district says the incident only affects those who were employed by TISD in 2016. Continue reading Tyler ISD Admits Providing Financial Info, W-2 Forms to Scammer

TYLER — Tyler police are assisting with traffic control for the Fresh 15 K race this morning. Officers will be at numerous intersections stopping traffic for runners on Old Jacksonville Hwy., Rice Rd., Grande Blvd, S. Broadway, Old Bullard Rd., and Blue Mountain. Click on fresh15-2017map-REV01202017 for the race route. Drivers are urged to avoid the race course if you do not wish to wait on runners clearing intersections. Officers will be in the roadway from 7:00 am to 11:00 a.m.

PALESTINE – The Palestine Police Department has made an arrest in connection with a Thursday night stabbing. KETK reports that police responded around 8:00 p.m. to a location on McClellan Street on reports of an aggravated assault. They found a male victim suffering from several stab wounds to his abdomen. Police say the alleged stabber left the scene prior to their arrival. The victim was later taken to a Tyler hospital. Around 9:00 p.m., officers were able to locate the reported stabber on Giraud Street. They say the suspect ran away but was arrested after a short chase. The person was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and evading arrest with a previous conviction. The identity of the alleged stabber was being withheld pending arraignment, and the case remains under investigation.

MARSHALL — The Marshall Police Department is investigating a shooting that left one man dead. At approximately 1 a.m. Friday, officers were dispatched to the Belaire Manor Apartment complex on Paula Street regarding a possible shooting. Arriving officers found 22-year-old Michael Phelps, Jr. deceased, from what appeared to be a gunshot wound, inside one of the apartments. After interviewing witnesses, detectives concluded that 30-year-old Leon Bowman (pictured) caused the death. Bowman was booked into the Harrison County Jail where he is charged with manslaughter. An autopsy will be performed. This is the first homicide in Marshall for 2017.

LUFKIN — Lufkin Police release the names of those involved in an early Wednesday morning officer-involved shooting. 40-year-old Epthen Lamont Johnson, of Lufkin, was pronounced dead at a Lufkin hospital following the altercation. Police said Johnson was on top of his victim, Jose Isabel Rodriguez Jr., 32, attempting to cut his throat when Officer Robert Blake Witherspoon shot him. Authorities said the officer’s verbal commands were ignored when the officer took lethal action. Rodriguez was hospitalized with multiple injuries. Per Department policy, the Texas Rangers are handling the investigation and have taken custody of all related evidence including the 911 audio, dash and body cam videos, scene photos and witness statements.

LONGVIEW — An East Texas woman has been arrested and charged with aggravated robbery. According to KETK, Angel Leticia Southard, 27, was arrested around 3:30 Friday morning. Southard had recently been released from jail on Monday, February 20, after having been arrested the day before with charges that include open container, speeding 10-14, running a red light and expired drivers license. Southard, who has a lengthy criminal record, was booked into the Gregg County Jail. Bond has not been set.

AUSTIN – In a continuation of policies enacted as mayor of Longview to criminalize designer drugs such as K2, state Representative Jay Dean has filed H.B. 2671, which would place certain scheduled chemical compounds with their corresponding penalty groups. Specifically, the bill would add U-47700 (AKA Pink, Pinky or U4) and AH-7921 to penalty group 1; and add Etizolam, Phenazepam, and Tramadol to penalty group 3. According to KETK, Dean remarked, “This junk is quite literally killing our young people, and the criminals who make and distribute it are not suffering the consequences.”

BULLARD — The Bullard school district says rumors concerning a shooting threat toward its high school have been deemed false. According to KETK, on Wednesday, the Bullard High School administrative team was made aware of a rumor circulating regarding an incident that supposedly may occur this week. School officials say through diligent investigation, the source of the rumor was ascertained and the validity of the threat was determined to be false. Bullard ISD says disciplinary action has been taken as a result of the rumor.

LUFKIN (AP) – A Texas prison inmate has been sentenced to die for a corrections officer’s death during an escape attempt a decade ago. The Huntsville Item reports jurors in Lufkin deliberated less than a half-hour Wednesday before deciding John Ray Falk Jr. should receive lethal injection for the September 2007 death of Susan Canfield. She was killed trying to block the escape of Falk and another inmate, Jerry Duane Martin, from a work detail at the Wynne Unit prison in Huntsville. A truck stolen by Martin hit her horse. Falk already was serving life for another murder. His trial was moved to Angelina County. He pleaded guilty last week. Falk initially went to trial in Bryan in 2013, but a judge declared a mistrial. Martin was executed that same year.

KILGORE — Two Daingerfield men who looked like they were trying to steal a motorcycle from a Kilgore home were later arrested after a K-9 officer found six grams of the methamphetamine in their car, police said. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Hubert Dale Mercer, 50, and Randy William Sharp, 53, have been charged with possession of a controlled substance. Mercer was released on $50,000 bond Tuesday from the Gregg County Jail. Sharp was being held at last report on $50,000 bond. Continue reading Kilgore Police Arrest 2 Daingerfield Men after Meth Found in Car