KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Tyler Police have obtained an arrest warrant on Jason Rhodes Jr., 20, of Tyler for capital murder in a June 30 incident. His bond is set at $1,000,000, and he remains at large. Two other suspects, also from Tyler, have already been arrested in the Galveston County city of Dickinson. The case involves the shooting death of 17-year-old Jesse McNeely of Tyler. Police say there was an altercation outside a home on Omega Drive when McNeely was shot. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000 or CrimeStoppers at 903-597-CUFF (2833).

LONGVIEW – A Spring Hill ISD band director died Thursday night after a reported battle with COVID-19. According to our news partner KETK, a post was made on a Facebook page announcing the death of 25-year-old Ryan Burns. Students were told about it Thursday night at band camp. Spring Hill High School Fine Arts Director Michael Moody, who created the post, said Burns was “very intelligent, dedicated and loved teaching at Spring Hill!” Counselors, parents, and other band directors have been made available for students to help them grieve. Moody says and camp will continue “as normal as possible.”

LONGVIEW — Beginning at 8:00 a.m. Monday, August 9, Longview’s Fairmont Street will be reduced to one lane of traffic, westbound only. Officials say the closure is needed to facilitate the reconstruction of Fairmont Street. One-way westbound traffic is anticipated to continue for one year. The work is part of the Fairmont Street Reconstruction project, Toler Road to H.G. Mosley Parkway. Additional detours will be needed when full-lane road closures are required. Full lane closure will be limited to daytime hours, typically 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The contractor will maintain access for local traffic throughout construction, according to a news release. If you have any questions related to construction please call the city Project Manager Bob Watson at 903-239-5504.

TYLER — Major road construction on Hollytree Drive from Rice Road to Wimbledon Drive in Tyler began Monday, Aug. 9, and runs through Saturday, Sept. 11, weather permitting. Officials say southbound traffic on Hollytree will be closed first, while the northbound lane remains open. At the beginning of the project, there will be no access to Hollytree Drive from Rice Road. Residents in the apartments will have access to their driveways and the complex. Motorists will need to use Plantation Drive to access Spring Branch Drive, West Rieck Road, River Bend Drive, Parkview Drive, and Wimbledon Drive. Major delays, lane closures, road closures, one-way traffic, and delays in getting to driveways and other streets in the area can be expected. Drivers are reminded to obey all traffic signs, flaggers, and detours — and slow down in and around the construction zone.

NACOGDOCHES — Two teenagers were shot while sitting in their car at a Nacogdoches apartment complex early Friday morning. According to our news partner KETK, Nacogdoches Police media relations officer Brett Ayres released a statement saying officers responded to the Orton Hill Apartments around 1:45 a.m. The shooters fled the scene before officers arrived. The two teens were taken to a Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Identities have not been released. Police are still combing through the scene for evidence and will release more information as it becomes available.

TYLER — 114th District Judge Reeve Jackson has filed a motion to dismiss a federal lawsuit against him over the “heartbeat bill” that Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law earlier this year. According to our news partner KETK, Jackson was named at the top of a lawsuit by abortion groups that seeks to strike down a law that restricts nearly all abortions in Texas after six weeks. The law was authored by State Sen. Bryan Hughes of Mineola. Hughes continues his strong defense of the law, also voicing support for Jackson — who, for his part, has deemed the lawsuit “frivolous.”

TYLER — The East Texas Food Bank is holding another mega drive-thru produce distribution Friday in Tyler from 10 a.m. to noon at Lindsey Park. As with past distributions, the events are open to anyone and there are no eligibility or paperwork requirements. These are drive-thru distributions and walk-ups will not be accepted. Multiple households can carpool. To pick up items for another household not present, a note must be provided. As the pandemic resurgence continues, food bank staffers say they are still seeing an increased need for food assistance. Continue reading Drive-thru food distribution Friday in Tyler

TYLER — The Tyler Animal Shelter is undergoing a beautification project to add murals inside the facility and is searching for sponsors and donors. According to a news release, five local artists were selected to paint different areas throughout, including inside the animal meeting rooms in hopes of supporting adoptions. There will be a come-and-go event on Aug. 19 from 3 to 5 p.m. to look at the new murals as many of the artists wrap up their projects, as well as meet the available cats, dogs, and other pets. Money collected from donors and sponsors will go to expenses for the artists and the event. Sponsors will have their name or logo displayed in the Shelter with or nearby the murals. Those interested in becoming a sponsor or donor can reach out to Payton Weidman at (903) 343-3662 or [email protected].

TYLER — Chase Bank is hosting two blood drives Friday in Tyler. The first is from 9 a.m. to noon at the bank office on Independence Place. The second runs from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the bank branch on South Broadway near the Walmart Supercenter. Carter BloodCare officials continue to stress the ongoing effects of the pandemic and the slow summer months as they repeat their call for donations. To receive more information or to schedule an appointment time for either Chase Bank blood drive location, contact Shelly Ensminger at (903) 561-0894.

CANTON — Three people, including a mother and son duo, have now been arrested after a body was found in a shallow grave in Van Zandt County. According to our news partner KETK, Sheriff Steve Hendrix confirmed 44-year-old Roger Deloss McCasland and 65-year-old Debbie Runnae Spriggs were arrested this week and charged with murder. Previously, Spriggs’s son, 45-year-old Casey Lynn Spriggs, was arrested for murder as well. Officials identified the body as Ladarron Perkins. They say the murder likely happened in Dallas. The investigation continues.

TYLER — The Junior League of Tyler is now seeking grant applications from community nonprofits. According to a news release, the Junior League supports Tyler area nonprofits on an annual basis through grant requests voted on by Junior League of Tyler membership. Eligible non-profits have until September 1 to submit an application. The Junior League has given more than $7.5 million back to the community since its founding in 1960 and will give $290,000 to fund selected community projects and endeavors this year alone. Click here for more information.

KILGORE — The East Texas Council of Governments’ Rural Transit System, GoBus, announces its new app is live and free to download in the Google Play Store or Apple App store. Searchable under the name GoBus Transit, the app helps existing GoBus customers with trip planning, real-time bus tracking, and fare payments, according to a news release. Officials say one of the central focuses of the GoBus app for both the agency and riders is flexibility. By using the app, customers will benefit from more accurate wait times and save time planning trips at their convenience, according to the release Click here for more information.

ATHENS — The Athens bus driver charged for a student’s death after a crash with a train in 2019 had his case delayed further on Thursday in a bizarre twist of events. According to our news partner KETK, a prosecutor from the Texas Attorney General’s Office did not show up to the hearing at the 392nd District Court in Athens. The hearing was set for 9 a.m. in front of Judge Scott McKee and when the case was called, no prosecutor was present. 81-year-old John Stevens is charged with criminally negligent homicide and injury to a child after the January 2019 crash that killed 13-year-old Christopher Bonilla and injured 9-year-old Joselyne Torres. Continue reading Athens bus driver crash case delayed again

LONGVIEW — Beginning at 7:00 a.m. Thursday, August 5, Longview’s Fairmont Street will be closed to all traffic between Cove Place and H.G. Mosley Parkway. Drivers are encouraged to use an alternate route. Detour signs will redirect traffic between H.G. Mosley Pkwy., Hwy. 80, and Rockwall Dr. during the closure, according to a news release. Utility work on Fairmont Street is expected to be completed by 5:00 p.m. the same day. The work is part of the Fairmont Street (Toler Rd. to H.G. Mosley Pkwy.) Utility Improvement project. If you have any questions related to construction, call the city’s Project Manager, Bob Watson, at 903-239-5504.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — An East Texas man who is charged in the January 6 Capitol riot has rejected a plea deal offer from government prosecutors. According to our news partner KETK, 34-year-old Alex Harkrider of Carthage was released on bond in April until his trial. He is charged along with 30-year-old Ryan Nichols, a Longview resident, of several crimes stemming from the riot ranging from civil disorder to assaulting federal officers. Harkrider’s D.C.-based attorney Kira West announced in a hearing Wednesday that Harkrider would not be taking a plea offer. There was no mention of what kind of deal the U.S. attorney’s office had brought to him.

TYLER — Newly-elected 114th District Court Judge Austin Reeve Jackson and an East Texas pro-life activist have been sued by pro-choice groups in an effort to block the Texas “heartbeat bill” that was created by State Sen. Bryan Hughes and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this year. Hughes, meanwhile, is continuing to defend the bill — and Jackson is striking back against the lawsuit. According to our news partner KETK, the bill is one of the most restrictive abortion bills since Roe v. Wade legalized abortion back in 1972. Continue reading Judge Austin Reeve Jackson, East Texas pro-life activist sued

TYLER — The demolition of Tyler’s Harvey Convention Center got underway Wednesday afternoon. Officials kicked off the process in a brief ceremony. Mayor Don Warren was joined by other officials, some past mayors, and the public; he called the experience “just awesome.” Were there a lot of cheers and maybe some tears? Warren responded, “A little of both. We had one girl that was in tears…just because of so many fond memories…but for the most part, everybody’s so excited about the future, the new Rose Complex.” Warren says demolition should take about a week, with the first stages of construction for the replacement facility likely in October — and completion hoped for about a year after that.

TYLER — The back-to-school event #SchoolisCool is scheduled for Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Fun Forest Park on N. Glenwood Blvd., for children and their parents to prepare for the new school year. This is a free admission drive-thru event, according to a news release. #SchoolisCool is presented by the City of Tyler Parks and Recreation Department, the Business Education Council, Tyler Independent School District, and many other partners and sponsors. The event will feature free backpacks filled with school supplies for students 18 or younger. Attendees are asked to note that the child must be present to receive the supplies. For more information, please call (903) 531-1100 or go to this link.

LONGVIEW — Jury trials scheduled for the Longview Municipal Court on August 9, 10, and 11 have been canceled. If you were called as a juror for one of these dates, your appearance is no longer required. Officials note that you may be called upon to serve at some time in the future. The court is expressing gratitude “to those that were prepared and willing to serve in this important civic duty.”

TYLER — Tyler ISD announces that Ashley Phelps, Tyler ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year, has been selected as the Regional Elementary Teacher of the Year by the Region 7 Education Service Center. Coach Phelps is the physical education teacher at Andy Woods Elementary School. She will now move on to compete against the other 38 Regional Teachers of the Year for the Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year title. A panel of judges determined by the Texas Association of School Administrators will make the selection this Fall.

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court honored several people, churches, and organizations with Community Hero Awards Tuesday for holding COVID-19 vaccination clinics and testing sites. Commissioner JoAnn Hampton and NET Health CEO George Roberts passed out the recognitions to several pastors and community leaders. “I am very grateful for what you and your churches did for our county and for your communities in their time of need,” Commissioner Hampton said. “Thank you individually and collectively for all that you do for this community.” Hampton emphasized the importance of community members to get vaccinated in order to fight against COVID-19. You can find a list of all the honorees by clicking here.

CANTON – A man has been arrested after a body was found in a shallow grave on a private Van Zandt County property last Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, officials identified the body as Ladarron Perkins, saying that 45-year-old Casey Lynn Spriggs from Dallas shot and killed him. The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office says it was determined that the murder likely happened in Dallas. Spriggs was taken to the Van Zandt County Jail and charged with murder. His bond was set at $1,000,000. The sheriff’s office said that the investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are forthcoming.

TYLER – A Louisiana FBI agent is accused of exposing himself several times to two Tyler teens in multiple states over the course of two years. David Harris, 50, is charged in Smith County and is also facing criminal investigations in Louisiana and Florida for separate incidents. He was assigned to the FBI Field Office in New Orleans. According to a warrant obtained by our news partner KETK, an investigation started when a letter from the father of one of the victims was sent to the Inspector General’s Office for the FBI on February 9. Continue reading Warrant: FBI agent exposed himself to multiple Tyler teens

TYLER — Sealcoat work on 17 Tyler streets is underway and is scheduled to be completed Sept. 15. According to city officials, sealcoat is a preventive maintenance surface treatment designed to preserve and extend the life of a roadway by sealing out moisture. According to a news release, the city engineering department selected the streets based on pavement condition index scores, an overall rating of road conditions of Tyler city streets on a scale from 0-100, with zero being a pothole-riddled crumbling street and 100 being a newly surfaced roadway. Drivers can expect to see major delays, lane and road closures, and delays at some intersections. Signs and flaggers will be present. Motorists are asked to use caution in work areas, follow directions of the crews, and obey all detours and traffic signs. Click here for a full rundown of the work.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — East Texas state Senator Bryan Hughes continues to stand up for his bill and others aimed at election reform. He sat down for a chat with Congressman Dan Crenshaw on the online “Coffee with Crenshaw” video series. Among his concerns, Hughes said, “In Texas today, we have ballot harvesters — paid political operatives who are stealing votes, who are coercing votes, misleading voters — claiming to assist them, and in fact misleading them, overcoming their will. We also have folks voting illegally — and of course, that cancels out a legitimate vote.” Democrats — including Texas lawmakers who remain in Washington — continue their strong opposition to such legislation.

TYLER — The demolition event for Tyler’s Harvey Convention Center is set for Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in anticipation of an all-new Rose Complex. The event was scheduled for August 2 but was delayed due to rain. The public is invited to the proceeding, which will include a ceremony followed by the first stage of demolition. After the ceremony, attendees are invited to watch the demolition kickoff from a safe distance on bleachers set up in advance. Warren encourages you to come “with some excitement in anticipation of the new Rose Complex.” Target date for the new facility is October 2022.

TYLER — As COVID-19 numbers continue on the rise in East Texas, NET Health’s George Roberts continues to sound a familiar call — get vaccinated. He points out that his agency and a number of other locations have the vaccine readily available. Roberts says there’s been a slight uptick in vaccinations in the area, but the numbers remain low. He says a high spike in new cases last week was largely due to delayed reporting — but stresses that the problem remains serious. Roberts also strongly recommends staying home when sick, masking up, hand washing, and social distancing, even if those practices are not required. Continue reading Roberts: vaccination still the key to fighting COVID-19

TYLER — The United Way of Smith County sets an ambitious goal of $1.9 million for this year’s campaign. Board Chair David Stein says last year’s highly successful effort was a key factor. He points to what he terms “the giving nature of the community.” Stein told KTBB, “United Way is one of the organizations that brings the entire community together. Everybody agrees that helping our neighbors is a really, really good thing, and Tyler is a very philanthropic community, and they see the value in United Way. They see our agency partners and those that we work with — and they know that the results get done between our campaign and with the quality of our agencies.” Click here for more information.

RUSK COUNTY – The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a 19-year-old man who is wanted for sexual assault. The suspect, according to our news partner KETK, was identified as 19 year old Eligah Johnson. He’s described as 5’7″ and weighs around 145 lbs. Johnson also has a birthmark above his left eye. Johnson has a warrant for the criminal offense of sexual assault, a second degree felony. The RCSO said Johnson is known to frequent the Kilgore area. Anyone with information is urged to contact the RCSO at 903-657-3581 or the Rusk County Crime Stoppers at 903-655-8477. Individuals who provide information can remain anonymous.