KTBB News, Weather, Talk

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.

PALESTINE — The Palestine Police Department has arrested a fourth person in connection with torture and death of a puppy in June. According to KETK, Ronnie Morrison, 21, of Palestine, was taken into custody on Tuesday morning for his involvement in the death of Remi, a young puppy that suffered severe burns. Two people remain at large: Romello Smith, 21, (pictured) and Andreas Hicks, 20. Warrants have been issued for both suspects. Detectives have previously identified Perla Miranda Fernandez, 20, Jasmine Warren, 18, and a female minor, all of Athens, as additional suspects in the incident. All three were arrested. Continue reading Fourth Arrest Made in Torture Death of Puppy

SMITH COUNTY — An autopsy has been scheduled for an elderly man who drowned Tuesday in Lake Tyler. According to KETK, the family identified the victim as Tom Rudd, 80. Rudd’s daughter, Niki Rudd Hunt, said his body was found by his caretaker Tuesday morning, who then alerted Rudd’s neighbor. Hunt said she believes her dad was checking on the newly painted boat house when the accident happened. He wanted everything perfect for his granddaughter’s wedding events. Hunt said she was told her father had head trauma, so it’s possible he could have hit his head when the accident happened. First responders were first called to Rudd’s home around 9:00 Tuesday. Investigators said the autopsy could take at least 24 hours.

LONGVIEW – Two persons are dead in a Longview shooting. It was reported shortly after 9:15 Tuesday morning on Timpson Street near Martin Luther King Boulevard. They have been identified as Joseph Acles, 22, and Quincy Williams, 21. It appears as if they died from gunshot wounds. The deaths would be the 5th and 6th homicides of the year in Longview.

LONGVIEW – Longview police have closed all access to the U.S. Post Office at 4501 McCann Road. No word on what caused the response. KETK reports emergency responders have been at the scene since around 9:30 this morning. Drivers are being encouraged to avoid the area.

SMITH COUNTY — The family of a missing Tyler man has identified his body as the one found Monday by Smith County officials. On Saturday, Daniel Lampkin, 34, went missing around 9:30. Officials said he was mentally impaired and was last seen wearing all black clothes. On Monday, the family of Lampkin said his body was found on County Road 210 near Highway 64 East after Smith County sent out a search team on Sunday and Monday. Officials have not yet given a positive ID of the body. The body has been sent for autopsy.

SMITH COUNTY – A two vehicle wreck on Toll 49 near Highway 31, has killed one person and injured one. It happend around 4:15 Monday afternoon. Killed was Gerald Thomas Cagle, 64, of Hideway and injured was Amberly Poland, 21, of Grand Saline. The Department of Public Safety says Cagle was heading south when he hydroplaned on the wet road and crossed over to the north bound lane and hit Poland’s car head-on. Cagle, who was thrown from his vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene.

LONGVIEW – A hit and run accident in Longview has left a bicyclist dead and a suspect in custody. The accident happend just before 9:00 Monday night on West Loop 281. Paul Price, 19, of White Oak was hit while traveling with the flow of traffic on his bike. He later died at a Longview hospital. Police say the bicycle did not have lights or reflectors as required at nighttime. Police were later called by Bryan Arnold, 49, of Longview who said he was involved in the accident. He has been charged with driving while intoxicated, failure to stop and render aid and and driving while his license was invalid.

TYLER (AP) – A judge says a former Texas death row inmate shouldn’t be formally declared innocent of murder even though his conviction has been overturned after a witness admitted lying on the stand. Kerry Max Cook was twice convicted in the 1977 slaying of Linda Jo Edwards in Tyler, about 100 miles east of Dallas. He was freed in 1999 after taking a deal to plead no contest, but has maintained his innocence. State District Judge Jack Carter agreed in June that Cook’s conviction should be set aside. But in an order issued Monday, Carter said there wasn’t enough evidence to say “unquestionably” that Cook did not kill Edwards. He said Cook should not be declared “actually innocent,” a distinction that would entitle Cook to millions in compensation for the wrongfully convicted.

MARSHALL -The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department is asking the public’s help in locating a missing man. Kelly High, 37, was last seen at his residence on Farm Road 1793. Kelly has not been seen for about a week, ever since he resigned his job at Goodwill Industries in Marshall. If you know where he can be located, you are asked to contact the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department.

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department is asking the public’s help in identifying two suspected shoplifters. The two were shoplifting at Sears in the Longview Mall at 3500 McCann Road. They left in a maroon Chevrolet truck. If you can provided any information about them, contact Detective Doug Pickering at 903-237-1156 or Gregg County Crime stoppers at 903-236-7867. You can also submit tips online at greggcountycrimestoppers.org and reference case #16-12157.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man is going to prison after pleading guilty on Monday to murder. After pleading guilty, Christian Sibley, 22, of Longview, was sentenced to 33 years in prison by state District Judge David Brabham. He had been accused of the shooting death of 22 year old Jerrad Hunt. The shooting occurred in February of 2015. Police say Sibley shot Hunt during a struggle at a Longview gas station on Estes Parkway. Sibley claims he was defending himself during the fight and Hunt dropped the gun in his lap during the scuffle. He said, during a struggle over the firearm, it went off while in his lap. The victim died a few weeks later at Good Shepherd Medical Center.

PALESTINE – Anderson County Commissioners have issued a burn ban for the county. The action was taken at the Monday morning meeting. And,to coincide with the burn ban enacted in the county, the City of Palestine enacted a temporary burn ban. Both burn bans are effective immediately.

HOUSTON (AP/STAFF) – We now know it’s a Gregg County woman involved in a controversial Houston rape case and lawsuit. The rape victim, with a history of mental illness, is suing Harris County saying she was wrongly jailed after testifying against her attacker. The Longview News Journal reports she is from Longview. Attorney Sean Buckley says his client has bipolar disorder and had a breakdown in December while testifying. She was committed to a hospital, discharged and then arrested as a material witness because of concern she would not return to the courtroom. A judge had her locked up until the trial resumed, even though she was not charged with a crime. Continue reading Longview Rape Victim Arrested in Houston

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in TxDOT’s Tyler District during the Week of July 25. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure, or other unforeseen issues.

In Tyler, the US 271 closure has been rescheduled for July 28 – 31. US 271 will be closed from Oakwood Street to Spur 147 for pavement repairs. Motorists will have to use temporary detours to get around the closure. Message boards are in place to alert traffic to this upcoming change along the project limits. Additional project information is available in the Smith County section of this news release. Continue reading TxDOT’s Weekly Roadwork Update

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a man reported missing. Officials are searching for Daniel Lampkin, 34, of Tyler, reportedly missing since 9:30 Saturday night from 11100 Hwy 64 East. He’s said to be mentally handicapped, last seen wearing all black clothes with red and black shoes. If located, please contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at (903) 566-6600.

MARSHALL – Marshall police are asking for the public’s assistance in solving one of their cold cases. They are looking for any information related to the March 2010 murder of Dan Tatum. He was found lying on the shoulder of the road in the 1900 block of Tolivar Road. He died from gunshot wounds. A justice of the peace pronounced him dead about an hour and a half after Tatum was found. Continue reading Help Sought in Six Year Old Marshall Murder

TYLER – Residents of Anderson, Cherokee, Smith and Wood counties who had damage from the April storms, are eligible for disaster assistance. The deadline to register is this Friday. Disaster assistance for homeowners and renters may include grants to help pay for temporary housing and essential home repairs, as well as other serious disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses. Continue reading Federal Disaster Assistance Deadline is Approaching

TYLER — Tyler Police continue to ask for the public’s help in locating a possibly unresponsive infant. Officials said they received a 911 call Friday night from a business on south Vine stating that a black male holding an infant had run up to the tire shop and asked for help. The man then ran away with the infant knowing that police had been called. The caller stated that the man was acting strangely and that the infant’s eyes were rolled back. Officers were unable to locate the man or the baby. Just after midnight Saturday, Tyler Police were contacted by a female who stated that she had just made contact with a man in the area of Second and Lyons Street. Her description of the man matched who authorities were searching for. Continue reading Search Continues for Man with Baby

RUSK COUNTY – Two people have been killed in a two vehicle accident. The Department of Public Safety reports the crash occurred just before 9:00 Friday morning on U.S. Highway 259, one mile north of Garrison. A preliminary crash investigation stated that a 2003 Mack truck towing a trailer loaded with logs was traveling southbound on US-59 in the outside lane behind a 2004 Ford F-150. The driver of the Ford was slowing to make a right turn on CR-3286. The driver of the Mack truck failed to control its speed, striking the rear of the Ford causing it to spin and leave the west side of the roadway. The Ford then came to rest in the ditch on the west side of US-59 facing northwest. Continue reading Identities Released in East Texas Crash