KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The City of Tyler Solid Waste Department and Keep Tyler Beautiful are providing two locations for Christmas tree recycling in Tyler. Residents can drop off undecorated, non-flocked natural Christmas trees until Jan. 16, 2022, in designated areas at Golden Road Park and Fun Forest Park in Tyler. Golden Road Park is located at Golden and McDonald Rds., and Fun Forest Park is at Glenwood Blvd. and Garden Valley Rd. All lights, ornaments, garland and tinsel should be removed from the Christmas tree before taking it to one of the parks. Each park will have a designated area for the trees marked with a sign that reads “Christmas Tree Drop Off.” Continue reading Christmas tree recycling continues in Tyler

TYLER — Smith County Sheriff’s Office deputies found four children inside a residence that was “extremely dirty.” According to our news partner KETK, Katelynn Schengeli, 26, was arrested Wednesday and charged with four counts of child endangerment. Cory Evans, 27, the father of twin girls and an 11-month-old infant involved in this incident was charged with four counts of child endangerment. On Wednesday, around 10:10 p.m. deputies were called to a home on Rhones Quarter Road to help with an EMS call. An 8-year-old child had called because his mother was unresponsive. Schengeli appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, said law enforcement. Continue reading Couple arrested on child endangerment charges

GLADEWATER – Gladewater police seek your help in solving an ATM break-in. According to our news partner KETK, police got a call around 5:30 Thursday morning of suspicious activity at City National Bank on E. Broadway Ave. Arriving officers recovered a stolen vehicle and discovered the ATM at the bank had been broken into and an undisclosed amount of cash had been stolen. Video revealed four Black males running away from the scene before police arrived. If you have any information, contact detectives at the Gladewater Police Department at 903-845-5801.

TYLER — The East Texas Communities Foundation is on track to achieve its highest granting year on record by awarding more than $17 million to over 700 different nonprofit organizations. “ETCF is honored to connect generosity with need,” said ETCF President Kyle Penney as quoted in a news release. “Thanks to the support of our donors, and the work of dedicated and talented nonprofits, we are able to fund solutions that address community needs.” The top awards categories were Education (21%), Religion (19%), and Human Services (16%).

TYLER — East Texas health experts say omicron is twice as contagious as the delta variant and encourage people to keep their guard up against COVID-19, according to our news partner KETK. Omicron is possibly already in East Texas. “Given the spread across the country, given that over 70% of the cases are linked to it, I think it’s safe to say it has arrived,” said Dr. Thomas Cummins, Division Chief Medical Officer at UT Health East Texas. He added that COVID-19 cases have slightly risen in the area. “This one is probably twice as infectious, so it moves really rapidly through people and from host to host,” said Cummins. Early evidence shows that the vaccines are offering protection against the new variant. Continue reading East Texas doctor says Omicron is twice as contagious as Delta

ATHENS — The Texas Game Warden memorial will be moved from Athens to the grounds of the Texas Capitol. According to our news partner KETK, the Game Warden Peace Officer’s Association has made efforts since 2012 to move the statue from the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center. The memorial shows a life-size game warden made of bronze. It honors the officials that lost their lives in the line of duty. The Game Warden Peace Officer’s Association provided some of the funding and assisted with legislative efforts to relocate the statue. Continue reading Texas Game Warden Memorial to be moved from Athens to Texas Capitol

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – A 22-year-old woman pleaded guilty to kidnapping a 14-year-old Van Zandt County girl. She was sentenced to 6 years, according to our news partner KETK. Courtney Odum, was sentenced to 6 years in TDCJ. She already has 581 days of credit from the Van Zandt County Jail. In May, Odum and Austen Walker, 21, were arrested in May for the kidnapping of Willow Sirmans which resulted in an Amber Alert. Sirmans was located in Louisville, Kentucky, according to a Special Agent with the FBI Dallas field office. Walker and Odom were arrested on felony kidnapping charges in Kentucky before being extradited to Texas.

TYLER — DPS is investigating a fatal hit and run accident just before 10 Monday evening on Hwy. 110 N. at Lakeview, less than a mile north of Tyler. According to a news release, preliminary investigation indicates a vehicle was traveling northbound on 110 when it struck a pedestrian who was standing in the roadway. The vehicle then continued northbound on the highway. The victim was Patricia G. Radican, 69, of Gun Barrel City. No description of the vehicle or the driver was immediately available.

LINDALE — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office seeks your assistance locating a missing person. On December 15, the Sheriff’s Office received a report of a missing person from Hope Haven near Lindale. It was reported that 17-year-old Leila Outlaw-Williams walked away from that facility at approximately 2:45 p.m. that day. She is described as white, with brown hair, green eyes, 5’5”, 140 lbs. She was last seen wearing a pink spaghetti strap shirt and blue jeans. It is unknown where Lelia went, but she does have ties to the immediate Lindale area. Continue reading Missing person sought

LONGVIEW — The City of Longview is encouraging the community to assist with Longview’s Homeless Resource Day, a collaborative effort of the city and various nonprofit organizations to provide homeless individuals access to available services. The Homeless Resource Day will take place from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Thursday, January 27, 2022, in the Longview Exhibit Center on Jaycee Drive. According to a news release, in 2017, Mayor Andy Mack’s Task Force on Homelessness identified what’s termed the critical need to have a “One Stop Shop” opportunity for Longview’s homeless population to access actual services. On March 24, 2018, the first event took place with 44 different service providers and an estimated 350 attendees attending to access those services. Continue reading Donations sought for Homeless Resource Day on Jan. 27

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a stabbing and seeking a suspect in a Saturday incident on CR 489. Officials allege 36-year-old Quentin Gardner of Tyler stabbed his brother, 38-year-old Jerry Gardner of Mesquite, during an apparent argument over loud music. The victim is listed in serious but stable condition. Quentin Gardner is described as Black, 5’08”, 210 lbs., last seen wearing a red shirt and blue shorts. If you know the suspect’s whereabouts, contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at (903) 566-6600. Authorities urge you not to try to apprehend the suspect, saying he has made statements to harm himself and is considered dangerous. Quentin Gardner faces a charge of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, with bond set at $400,000.

TYLER — Last week, NET Health’s George Roberts said the COVID omicron variant may be in the East Texas area. Now he strongly suspects it has arrived, though there are still no confirmed cases. Meantime, with Christmas approaching, you have through Wednesday at 4:30 to get your COVID shot at Tyler’s Majesty Event Center — and Roberts says a number of other facilities continue to offer the vaccine. Roberts continues to urge vaccinations and extra care during the holiday season, with seasonal gatherings planned by many. He again advises you to stay home if you’re sick. For more information on COVID-19 in East Texas, click here.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Municipal Court is once again offering its warrant amnesty program from Jan. 1 through April 30. Anyone that goes to the clerk’s office to take care of their outstanding warrants will be given safe harbor. The warrant amnesty program began in January 2017 and has grown from a one-month to a four-month program. In 2021, 555 warrants were cleared during the program. From January to April, the Municipal Court will remove all warrant fees when a citizen voluntarily contacts the court to pay a minimum of one half the total amount due and start a payment plan for the balance owed. As an added incentive, anyone that pays in full will also save an additional 20% off the fine amount. Continue reading Longview court offering warrant amnesty program beginning in January

KILGORE – A pharmacist from Kilgore was recently appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to serve on the Texas State Board of Pharmacy. According to our news partner KETK, Jennifer “Jenny” Downing Yoakum is the co-owner and pharmacist-in-charge at Med Shop Total Care, Inc. in Longview. She specializes in the art of compounding pharmacy with an emphasis in veterinary medicine. She is a member of Texas Pharmacy Association, National Community Pharmacist Association, Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. She got her Bachelor of Science in pharmacy from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy.

ATHENS — UPDATE: The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office has reported that Raylee has been located and is safe. Additional details were not available.  PREVIOUS REPORT: According to Sheriff Botie Hillhouse, at around 3:40 Saturday morning, Deputy Sherry Powers responded to a call saying the 9-year-old was missing from a home in the Brownsboro area. Dispatch advised that the father woke up at about 2 a.m. and noticed his daughter was missing. RayLee Rae Williams is a white female with blond hair and blue eyes, less than 4 feet tall, weighing 75 pounds or less. She was last seen wearing blue jeans and a red Christmas T-shirt. She normally wears glasses but she left them at home. The child is believed to be with the mother, April Williams (the two are pictured at left). According to CPS paperwork, April is not to be alone with the child. Officials believe that sometime after 10 p.m. and before 2 a.m., April entered the child’s residence and took Raylee.

TYLER – The 2022 BBB Awards for Excellence will be televised February 20, with the Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas presenting them to six area organizations. 32 organizations were nominated, and the community is encouraged to vote for their favorites. Polls will remain open until midnight on Monday, January 9. Sponsorships are still available. Click here for more information and to cast your vote.

LONGVIEW — Longview police are now investigating two weekend shooting deaths. According to our news partner KETK, officers responded to a shooting call on Fourteenth Street on Sunday around 5:45 p.m. 38-year-old Jeremy Willis of Longview was found outside with a gunshot wound. He was transported to a hospital where he died from his injuries. Police say that the motive and circumstances are still under investigation. In the other case, first responders found one victim unconscious on South Twelfth Street early Saturday morning. 27-year-old Deraymond Horton of Longview was taken to a hospital, where he later died. If you have any information, on either case, you are encouraged to contact the Longview Police Department at 903-237-1170 or Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP(7867) or online here.

EAST TEXAS — DPS reports four deaths in three separate weekend highway accidents in East Texas. On FM 1651 in Van Zandt County Saturday morning, a preliminary report indicates one driver recognized another driver as an acquaintance and swerved over the center stripe towards the second vehicle in an attempt to scare her. The vehicles collided, killing the second driver, 18-year-old Taylor L. Raper of Canton. According to our news partner KETK, the first driver, 17-year-old Alfonso Medina of Canton, has been charged with manslaughter and providing a false statement to a law enforcement officer. His bonds total $525,000. Continue reading Three fatal weekend accidents in East Texas, four dead

TYLER – TxDOT will be busy with another round of construction and maintenance work in the Tyler District this week. In Smith County, Tyler maintenance will have a crew on SH 31 at FM 2661 performing bobcat mill profile on Monday and Tuesday only. In Gregg County, maintenance crews will be hauling material from a stockpile location near IH-20 to a stockpile on FM 349 in Kilgore. Click here for a complete rundown of roadwork around the district.

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department is on the lookout for a suspect in an aggravated robbery. According to our news partner KETK, It occurred late Saturday morning at The Money Center inside Walmart on Gilmer Road. LPD officers interviewed a cashier who said they were approached by a black man who said wanted money and indicated he had a gun. Officers also obtained photos of the man and the vehicle he drove away in. He’s described as medium height and build, wearing a grey hood, white beanie, white mask, blue jumpsuit and boots. While driving an older model white Toyota or Camry with all-black wheels. If you can assist Longview Police in this matter, your help would be appreciated. Click here for more details.

TYLER — NET Health’s George Roberts says he and his troops are continuing to monitor the omicron variant of the coronavirus. He says it’s not affecting East Texas right now but that can change very quickly. There were no remarkable changes in East Texas COVID figures this week, but Roberts says current trends indicate increases in those numbers in coming days and weeks. Continuing to urge vaccinations, Roberts notes the times the Majesty Event Center clinic in Tyler will be open next week: 8:30 till 4:30 Monday through Wednesday as Christmas approaches. And speaking of the holidays, as you plan seasonal gatherings, Roberts cautions that you should try to stay away from friends and family members if you’re sick — with COVID-19 or anything else. For more information on COVID-19 in East Texas, click here.

TYLER – Three people are arrested following a report of an endangered infant. According to authorities, around 4:30 Wednesday afternoon, DPS CID Special Agents alongside investigators with the East Texas Anti-Gang Center, Tyler Police Department and Smith County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in reference to locating Garrett Rey Garcia, 28, and Brittany Ann Clegg, 28, along with a 4 month old infant, believed to be in danger. Garcia and Clegg (pictured) both had outstanding warrants. Officials responded to their last known address on Pebblecreek Drive and were given access to the residence by the homeowner. Garcia barricaded himself and the infant in a bedroom. Officers negotiated with Garcia to release the child. Continue reading Numerous agencies rescue endangered infant

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating a shooting Thursday night that sent a teenager to the hospital. It happened around 8:45 on Sutherland Drive. Officers were responding to numerous 911 calls reporting shots fired when they found the victim. Authorities said the 18 year-old male was alert and awake. He was transported by EMS to UT Health on Beckham. Witnesses saw what they described as a white Mercedes that is a possible suspect in the case. It was seen leaving the area after the shooting. No other people were injured in the shooting. The case is still under investigation. If anybody has any information on this case, please call Tyler PD Dispatch at 903-531-1000.

TYLER — The new Bergfeld Park tennis courts are getting cleaned, and temporary stripping and nets will be installed so that the courts can be used while contractors wait to do final touches. The fence will be taken down and the courts will be open for use this weekend, according to a City of Tyler news release. Officials say after delays caused by supply chain shortages and weather, the completion of the Bergfeld Park tennis court project has been postponed. The final step is resurfacing the courts, which includes painting and stripping. This cannot be completed until there are five consecutive days of no rain and temperatures above 55 degrees, according to the release. Continue reading Bergfeld Park tennis court project update

TYLER — A couple of announcements are made by candidates in Smith County’s 2022 Republican Primary. Former Tyler ISD board member Fritz Hager announced Thursday that he hopes to succeed Neal Franklin as county commissioner Precinct 1. Franklin is currently unopposed in his GOP run for county judge. Hager is opposed by Bullard Mayor Pam Frederick, who ran against Franklin for the commissioner’s seat last year. Also, longtime peace officer Curtis Wulf held a press conference announcing his campaign for justice of the peace Precinct 4. Mitch Shamburger, who has held that spot for many years, will not be seeking re-election. Wulf’s Primary opponents are Ronnie Hester and Laney Pilcher.

TYLER – Two people have been indicted in Smith County on capital murder charges in the 2016 case of a missing woman from Kilgore. According to our news partner KETK, Allen Lamont Sutton Jr., 33, of Kilgore and Laneshia Lashae Young, 29, are accused in the death of 20-year-old Sheriya Grant. Grant was reported missing on Aug. 20, 2016. She was eight months pregnant, and her body was never found. Sutton and Young were previously arrested and jailed after being charged with tampering with evidence. Continue reading Two indicted for capital murder in 2016 case

TYLER — UT Health East Texas Wednesday commemorated the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 vaccination being given in East Texas by hosting a plaque dedication and ceremony at UT Health North Campus Tyler. The location was the first in East Texas to receive vaccines a year ago and later became one of the state’s vaccine hub locations. While the state ceased having mass-vaccination locations when vaccines became more widely accessible, the site continues to offer COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters and pediatric doses. “To date, we have given almost 60,000 vaccinations and hope to continue the effort and stress the importance of managing this virus,” said Cody Boyd, UT Health North Campus Tyler CEO, as quoted in a news release. “COVID-19 has negatively affected so many fellow Texans, and we hope that our continued efforts will result in favorable health outcomes for East Texans.”

TYLER — Seven people were rescued from a building that caught on fire in downtown Tyler on Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, crews were called to the incident shortly after 10 a.m. An abandoned hotel building was on fire on the corner of East Erwin Street and Thompson Avenue, said Tyler Fire Marshal Paul Findley. The fire was not very active, and it was contained quickly. The building had multiple floors and the fire started in the second floor. People were taken out of the building using ladders. One person was taken to a local hospital for smoke inhalation. The building was supposed to be unoccupied but those inside were possibly homeless and living at the location. While responding to the incident, four fire fighters fell approximately 10 feet through a large opening into the basement but they were not injured.

PALESTINE — On Tuesday around 1:30 a.m. a Palestine police officer attempted to make a traffic stop but the driver did not stop which ultimately resulted in a drug bust. According to our news partner KETK, the driver of a Mazda sedan eventually stopped at a residence on Louisiana Street. Officers identified the driver as Jasmine Thompson, 33, of Palestine. While making contact with Thomson, the officer observed narcotics paraphernalia inside of the vehicle. Continue reading Police: Almost 700 grams of various drugs seized after traffic stop in Palestine