KTBB News, Weather, Talk

SMITH COUNTY — Officials have released additional information on a wreck Friday that left a teenager dead. According to the DPS report, the two-vehicle crash happened around 2:30 on Hwy 155, two miles south of Tyler. Investigators said a 1999 Chevrolet was attempting to turn into a private drive when it was struck by a 2004 Chevrolet. The driver of the 1999 Chevrolet has been identified as Melissa Baker, 35, Frankston. Baker was taken to ETMC-Tyler in serious condition. A passenger in the vehicle, identified as Th Gerbig, 16, Frankston, was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The driver of the 2004 Chevrolet, identified as Clara Kistler, 52, San Antonio, was not reported to have been injured.

SMITH COUNTY — Troopers respond to a wreck on Hwy 31 east of Loop 323 involving a motorcycle Sunday. According to the crash report, around 12:15, a 2005 Ford pick up was traveling westbound on 31, while a 2012 Suzuki Sportbike motorcycle was traveling eastbound on the same roadway. The driver of the Ford made a left turn and failed to yield the right of way to the Suzuki. The motorcycle struck the right side of the Ford. The driver of the Ford has been identified as Gary Gage, 70, Big Sandy, and was not injured in the crash. The driver of the Suzuki motorcycle has been identified as Brandon Turner, 32, Longview. Turner was pronounced dead at the scene.

PALESTINE – Various parks in Palestine will be closed this week. The city’s parks and recreation department will spray a herbicide treatment starting Monday. The parks will be closed that day due and reopen the morning after. Here’s the spraying schedule:
Monday, Aug. 1 – Reagan Park
Tuesday, Aug. 2 and Wednesday, Aug. 3 – Steven Bennett Park
Thursday, Aug. 4 and Friday, Aug. 5 – Greens Park
Saturday, Aug. 6 – Larry Street Park and Calhoun Park
Monday, Aug. 8 – Willie Myers Park

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of August 1. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.

In Tyler, a portion of US 271/Beckham Avenue is closed through 6:00am, Monday, August 1, for repairs and resurfacing. US 271/Beckham Avenue between Oakwood Street and Gentry Parkway/Spur 147 will remain closed for the duration of the work which began Thursday. The contractor is milling the existing pavement down to the concrete on the bridge and bridge approaches and making necessary concrete repairs before placing a new hot mix surface on the roadway. This work is part of an ongoing large project to resurface US 271 from Oakwood Street to just north of FM 2015. Continue reading TxDOT Roadwork Projects

LONGVIEW – Gregg County investigators say they continue to get tips concerning the death of Longview businessman Ron Horaney. But Gregg County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Josh Tubb tells the Longview News Journal “We have no new information that we’re going to release at this time.” The 54 year old Horrany was shot at his home just outside of Longview on May 30th. A sketch of a person of interest in the case was released in June. A reward of $20,000 is being offered for the arrest and indictment of the person responsible for Horaney’s death.

TYLER – Smith County has been notified that family farmers are eligible to apply for low-interest emergency disaster loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for April storm damage. On June 29, President Barack Obama declared nine Texas counties as primary natural disaster areas, including Smith, Anderson, Cherokee, Upshur, Van Zandt and Wood counties. Another 25 counties were named contiguous counties, including Gregg, Henderson, and Rusk counties. Continue reading Farmers Eligible for FSA Loans

TYLER – A ceremony Friday afternoon saw two persons promoted at the Tyler Police Department. One of those promoted today was Lieutenant Rusty Jacks. Chief Jimmy Toler promoted him to Assistant Chief. And Sergeant Mike Malone twas promoted to Lieutenant. Since 1993 when he joined the police department, Jacks has worked within the patrol, investigations, tactical and administrative divisions of the department. Prior to promoting, he worked as a patrol officer, bicycle patrol officer, and as a youth crimes investigator. He is also a member of the department’s special weapons and tactics team (SWAT). As a member of SWAT, he has served on the sniper team, as a team leader and has been the team commander for the past 6 years. Continue reading Two Tyler Policemen Promoted

NACOGDOCHES – The chief deputy for the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Department has been indicted. The panel indicted Stephen Godfrey, 44, on four counts of aggravated perjury. According to a news release from the sheriff;s department, the sheriff has limited information on the allegations in this case. But he said, It is standard practice for Sheriffs across the State of Texas to place officers on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of any type of criminal investigation or action. Consequently, I am placing Chief Deputy Godfrey on administrative leave with pay.” The sheriff’s department will conduct an internal investigation into this matter.

LONGVIEW – A Gregg County man has been indicted in the shooting of his father. Noel Garner Jr., 19, of Gladewater has been indicted on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury to a family member. Around 3:00am on May 25th, Noel Garner Sr.,42 was shot in his face at the family home on North Ferry Street. The wound was not life-threatening and he was able to give officers details of what happened. His son, who had fled the scene, was arrested a short time later.

MARSHALL – A Marshall city commissioner is free on bond following his Wednesday night arrest. Commissioner Michael Mitchell was arrested after being accused of disrupting a meeting. The meeting had been set to answer questions and to interact with police officers in an effort to build a stronger community bond. Justice of the Peace Nancy George set his bond at $1,500. A condition of his bond is that he is banned from future town hall meetings. He can, however, attend city commission meetings.

LONGVIEW – Funeral services were held in Longview Saturday for Joseph Acles, 26, and Quincy Williams, 21. They are the city’s latest homicide victims. The two men were found dead in a home on Timpson Street near Martin Luther King Boulevard Tuesday morning. Investigators say the two Longview High School graduates were shot to death. They are the 5th and 6th homicides in Longview this year and t here are no suspects in the case. Friends and relatives of the victims held a candlelight vigil for the two Friday night.

HENDERSON – Rusk County authorities, along with the SPCA, have seized dogs and puppies and a snake from a home near Henderson. KETK reports 115 dogs and a python was found in the 1,000 square foot home. The dogs, mostly small- and medium-sized breeds, were said to be suffering from hair loss, fleas, lethargy and other medical issues. Following the SPCA’s investigation, an arrest and animal cruelty charges will likely follow.

PALESTINE – The Palestine Police Department has a new assistant police chief today. Police Chief Mike Alexander named Lt. J.M. Herod to the post on Thursday. Herod, an 11-year veteran of the department, is currently the Lieutenant in charge of the department’s Criminal Investigation Division. Herod joined the Palestine Police Department in January, 2005 where he served as a patrol officer until he was promoted to sergeant in 2008. He has has also served as the department’s firearms instructor, one of the SWAT team commanders and as a field training officer. In 2006, Herod received the Palestine Police Department Officer of the Year Award.

KILGORE – Kilgore College held a public ceremony Thursday to officially re-open the Randolph C. Watson Library and dedicate the new Mike Miller Plaza. Built in in 1967, the library underwent a $2 million redesign and renovation over the last year. The bottom floor of the library now has computer pods, lounge areas with new furniture and a coffee shop. Upstairs now contains the traditional book area with large glassed-in rooms for group study and two large computer labs. Continue reading Library Re-Opening and Dedication at Kilgore College

MARSHALL – East Texas Baptist University in Marshall will now be offering a masters degree in Kinesiology. The approval comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. The Master of Science in Kinesiology graduate degree program will be available for this fall. This becomes the first graduate degree for the Frank S. Groner School of Professional Studies and the Department of Kinesiology at ETBU. This also marks the second new degree program approved for the school this year. ETBU’s online Master of Science in Business Administration was approved in mid-June for a fall start.

MARSHALL – A Tyler man is in custody on a charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Benjamin Thomas Grisham, 27, was arrested by U.S. Marshals. He was taken into custody around 3:45 Wednesday afternoon and booked into the Smith County Jail. The arrest stemmed from a warrant issued by the Marshall Police Department. They would not release details about the case, and would only say it dates back to 2013.

TYLER — A man accused of drug possession at a Tyler gym has pleaded guilty. The guilty plea was entered Thursday morning by 29 year old Christopher James Thompson of Tyler. After the plea in 241st State District Court, Thompson was sentenced to 15 years in state prison. Arrested late last December with Thompson was 33 year old Ryan Younger. He is out of jail on bond awaiting trial. When arrested, the men were said to be in possession of marijuana and methamphetamine.

TYLER – Funeral services are pending today for Tyler businessman and philanthropist Louis Owen. Owen, who was 81, died early Thursday morning at Hospice of East Texas. In 2010, to celebrate their 55 wedding anniversary, Owen and his wife, Peaches, donated $18 million dollars to CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler to help build a “state of the art” heart hospital. The heart hospital bears their names. In 2008, the Owen Family Foundation pledged $110,000 to establish the first chemistry scholarship at The University of Texas at Tyler.

LONGVIEW – LeTourneau University signed a partnership agreement with PSA Airlines. The agreement was signed Wednesday at an air show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The cadet program helps future pilots make a smooth transition from classrooms to cockpit. The new program offers various levels of support as the cadet’s certifications, training and experience evolves, including up to $16,000 in tuition reimbursement. LeTourneau has been previously selected to partner with other airlines, including Envoy, formerly known as American Eagle, SkyWest and ExpressJet.

TYLER – Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas. The appointment was announced at the organization’s 138th Annual Training Conference held in Grapevine. Smith has been serving as Smith County Sheriff since January, 2013. The Sheriffs’ Association of Texas is one of the oldest law enforcement associations in the country. The group’s first meeting was in 1874.

WHITE OAK — The White Oak Police Department advises people to keep their cars locked at all times. According to KETK, police have seen a string of car burglaries in the past week. They say usually it’s stolen sunglasses and money, but recently, it’s been handguns. Just this week, police said there have been 4 guns taken from vehicles during burglaries. Police Chief Terry Roach said, “They’re just walking car to car. And if it’s unlocked they will get anything with value. These guns are taken, then you don’t have a thief, now you’ve got an armed thief.” Continue reading White Oak Police Warn of Car Burglaries

SMITH COUNTY — Officials have released additional information regarding an accident Wednesday afternoon that left two people dead. According to the Department of Public Safety report, troopers responded just before 4:00 to a two vehicle crash on I-20, three miles east of Lindale. Investigators said a 2013 Subaru was traveling East on the Interstate when the driver failed to slow for construction. The driver ran into the back of the towed trailer. Continue reading Fatal I-20 Wreck Claims Two Lives

TYLER – The Texas Department of Transportation announces night work and closures for US 271/Beckham Avenue in Tyler starting at 7:00 Thursday night. Detours will be in place to assist motorists through the area. It will be closed through 6:00am on Monday. US 271/Beckham Avenue between Oakwood Street and Gentry Parkway/Spur 147 will be closed for repairs and resurfacing of the roadway. The contractor will be milling the existing pavement down to the concrete on the bridge and bridge approaches making any necessary concrete repairs before placing a new hot mix surface on the roadway. This work is part of an ongoing large project to resurface US 271 from Oakwood Street to just north of Farm Road 2015. While a detour will be in place directing traffic around the work zone, motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes to avoid delays. The contractor has installed multiple message boards on US 271/Beckham Avenue notifying motorists of the upcoming four-day road closure.

MARSHALL – Marshall City Commissioner Michael Mitchell has been arrested after being accused of disrupting a meeting. The arrest occurred Wednesday night during a meeting hosted by the Marshall Police Department and No Colors No Labels Initiative and Marshall Against Violence. The meeting had been set to answer questions and to interact with police officers in an effort to build a stronger community bond. During a question an answer portion of the meeting, District 2 Commissioner Mitchell arrived and is accused of disrupting the meeting. When he refused to leave, Mitchell was physically removed and arrested. He was charged with disrupting a meeting and booked into the Harrison County Jail.

TYLER – A UT Health Northeast psychologist and associate professor of medicine has been selected to serve on the Texas Brain Injury Advisory Council. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission named Charles Walker, Ph.D. to the council. Dr. Walker based on his specialized training and interest in the prevention of brain injuries and the care, treatment, and rehabilitation of persons who have survived a brain injury. For more than 20 years, he has specialized in neuropsychology, the study of the structure and function of the brain and how they affect behavior. He helps with the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with neurological, medical, developmental, or psychiatric conditions.

TYLER — The Texas Department of State Health Services advised Tyler Animal Services Wednesday that a skunk submitted for analysis tested positive for rabies. The skunk was found near the intersection of Glen Eagles and Royal Oak. Officials say the known individuals and animals with possible exposure have been identified and addressed. To aid in the prevention of rabies, it is critical for people not to handle bats, skunks, raccoons or other wild animals. It is also important for children to tell their parents of any contact with any wild or sick animals. If you or anyone you know has been bitten by an animal, the bite incident must be reported to the Local Rabies Control Authority for proper investigation. Continue reading Rabies Advisory in Tyler

TYLER – The new dean of the Tyler Junior College School of Professional and Technical Programs is Bryan Renfro. He assumes his new duties August 1st. As dean, Renfro will report to the provost and vice president for academic and student affairs. He will serve on the TJC Academic and Student Affairs Council and represent TJC at key meetings and events throughout the community. Dr. Juan Mejia, TJC provost and vice president for academic and student affairs, says Renfro was selected following a national search, a thorough committee-review process, and extensive meetings with the college community. Continue reading New Dean at Tyler Junior College

TYLER — Tyler City Manager Ed Broussard presented his proposed 2015-16 budget to the City Council Wednesday morning, including a recommendation to increase the current tax rate of 22 cents to 23 cents per $100 valuation in order to fund street repair and maintenance projects. According to city news release, City Manager Ed Broussard says the hike “will create a new, sustainable source of revenue to repair cracks in our roadways.” He says that will ensure they don’t continue to erode and become more expensive reconstruction projects. The need for reinvestment in the City of Tyler’s aging infrastructure was the focus of this year’s State of the City event, where Mayor Martin Heines outlined the need for proactive street maintenance and spoke of upcoming challenges associated with water, wastewater, streets and drainage, according to the release. Continue reading Tyler Proposes One Cent Increase to Tax Rate

TYLER — A Tyler bound flight flew back to D-F-W after the pilot couldn’t reach ground control Sunday night. KETK reports the American Eagle flight was scheduled to land at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport around 9:30 but left 45 minutes after it was scheduled to. The flight crew was unable to contact the air traffic control tower. The flight eventually did land in Tyler after midnight. According to Envoy Air, they did investigate a report of a lightning strike on the building, and they confirmed Tuesday that lightning did strike the station’s radio antenna.