KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – Tyler police detectives have obtained an arrest warrant on a suspect in a fatal weekend shooting at a Tyler daiquiri shop. Dycorrian Wayne Lofton, 22, of Jacksonville, has a warrant for murder with a $750,000 bond. Police say he is to be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with leads is asked to contact Tyler Police at 903-531-1000 or Tyler-Smith County Crime Stoppers at 903-597-2833. The case remains under investigation. Continue reading Warrant issued in daiquiri shop murder

TYLER — Smith County officials will host four citizen input meetings in July to discuss plans for the second phase of the six-year Road and Bridge Capital Improvement Project. Starting next week, a meeting will be held in each precinct to inform citizens of the projects that have been done so far in Phase 1 of the road bond, as well as projects planned for Phase 2. The first phase of the bond was approved by 73 percent of the voters in a November 2017 election. Now that year three of that first phase is coming to an end, the Commissioners Court is discussing calling the second phase of the two-part bond to improve the county’s nearly 1,200 miles of road. Click here to learn more.

TYLER – TxDOT is planning to conduct a range of construction and maintenance work in the Tyler District this week. Work schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure, or other unforeseen issues. As always, you’re asked to slow down and pay attention in work zones. To allow for more efficient travel during the July Fourth holiday, from Friday, July 2, through Monday, July 5, TxDOT will not allow lane closures that impact traffic flow on its construction and maintenance projects. Click here for the full rundown of projects around the district.

TYLER — NET Health recognizes four key players in pandemic response as it hands out its annual W. T. “Doc” Ballard Award for Excellence in Public Health. They’re Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran, Tyler Mayor Don Warren, former Tyler Mayor Martin Heines, and the Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy at UT Tyler. A news release cites their involvement in the city/county Joint Emergency Operations Center and the region’s first COVID-19 call center. Officials say the award is NET Health’s “highest accolade for outstanding service contributing significantly to the enhancement of public health.”

KILGORE – A manicurist was arrested and fired after he had allegedly touched a client inappropriately while giving her a manicure. That according to our news partner KETK. Kilgore Police say 49-year-old Qui Ngoc Nguyen, also known as Kevin, of Flint was arrested and terminated from Luxury Nail and Spa on North Kilgore Street. Investigators revealed that Nguyen was a registered sex offender in the State of Texas and had been employed by Luxury Nail and Spa for more than two years.

LONGVIEW — A 34-year-old Houston man has been sentenced to 60 years in prison for robbing a Regions Bank in Longview, Gregg County District Attorney Tom Watson said. According to our news partner KETK, Patrick Brandon also was found guilty of aggravated possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Brandon was charged with robbing the bank on Fredonia St. on May 1, 2018. Longview police stopped Brandon on a traffic violation later that day and found marijuana, other drugs, and a large amount of cash in his car, said a news release. Police say they then found evidence that connected Brandon to the bank robbery. Brandon will have to serve 30 years before being eligible for parole, Watson said.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man who admitted killing his wife has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. According to our news partner KETK, 48-year-old Billy Marsh was arrested in 2019 after telling police he had murdered his wife with a hammer. Harrison County deputies found Key-Ocea Marsh dead after Marsh turned himself in following the incident. Prosecutors asked the jury to give him life while the defense had asked for no more than 20 years, saying it was “a crime of passion.”

TYLER — The East Texas Food Bank is holding another mega drive-thru produce distribution Saturday in Tyler from 10 a.m. till noon at Green Acres Baptist Church. As with past distributions, the events are open to anyone and there are no eligibility or paperwork requirements. Officials note that 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. Even as the pandemic is ending, food bank staffers say they are still seeing an increased need for food assistance. Continue reading More drive-thru produce distributions

LONGVIEW — Longview’s Broughton Recreation Center will be closed until early fall 2022 as crews complete a $5.7 million renovation of the recreation center and the adjoining park. The renovation was funded by voters in 2018 as part of a $24.7 million parks package. According to a news release, it includes a renovation to the entry, construction of an additional gymnasium, additional parking, and renovating/relocating current facilities. Meanwhile, officials say the park will have an extended trail, improved basketball courts, and a plaza for hosting outdoor events. Construction on the project is scheduled to be completed over the next year. The center will remain closed throughout the renovation. Park features will be closed intermittently during the construction. The center was originally built in 1978.

TYLER — A reminder about a major road construction project on Tyler’s Hollytree Drive between Grande Boulevard and West Rieck Road, which began Sunday. According to a news release, area residents will be able to access their driveways and get to their residences. Contractors will be working from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The road will be closed to through traffic 24/7. Drivers can expect major delays, road closures, and detours. Residents are asked to avoid riding bicycles and scooters in the area. The road construction is scheduled to be completed July 30, depending on the weather.

TYLER — The Tyler Animal Services has partnered with The Salvation Army to offer no-cost adoptions for both dogs and cats with the donation of a dozen food items. The items will cover the adoption fee for dogs or cats and go to the Salvation Army food pantry. The standard adoption fee for dogs is $120 and $80 for cats. All animals adopted from Tyler Animal Services are spayed/neutered, micro-chipped and vaccinated.If you would like to adopt, see all pets available for adoption and submit an application on the Tyler Animal Services webpage. This donation campaign runs through Wednesday, June 30. The Tyler Animal Shelter is located at 4218 Chandler Hwy. For more information, call (903) 535-0045.

LONGVIEW — A woman was arrested in Longview for arson after entering another person’s house. Priscilla J. Calcote reportedly went into a house on Judson Road Wednesday for an unknown reason, according to our news partner KETK. Calcote reportedly grabbed items from inside the house, then took them to the yard and set them on fire. Calcote entered the home without permission and the owner did not know her, said Longview Fire Department officials. She was arrested by the Longview Fire Marshall and booked into the Gregg County Jail. Continue reading East Texas woman arrested for alleged arson

TYLER — A new express shuttle route for the City of Tyler Transit Department will offer free rides to local grocery stores for University of Texas at Tyler and Tyler Junior College students, faculty, and staff. City officials say Campus Express begins July 7 and will run twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The shuttle route begins at 10 a.m., departing Victory Village, and will run until 3 p.m. — making its final dropoff at the UT Tyler Police Department. A valid student and employee ID must be shown at the time of departure.

TYLER — The first ever Rose City Airfest, a project of the Cedar Creek Veterans Foundation, is set for July 2 at the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum (HAMM) at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport. Organizers say attendees can celebrate America while supporting East Texas veterans and CampV, a 20-acre campus on West Front Street in Tyler. Proceeds will primarily benefit CampV, which serves veterans, active service members, reserves, and family members. Airfest attractions include aerial performers, concessions, a concert, and more. Click here for all the details.

TYLER — Texas College names Dr. Jan E. Duncan its new vice president for academic affairs. A news release cites Duncan’s “broad experiences and expertise that covers all levels of secondary and postsecondary education.” Most recently, she served as an instructional designer for the use of Blackboard for grade levels K-12. Duncan also has extensive experience in grantsmanship, according to the release. Duncan is a four-time graduate of Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, earning a baccalaureate degree, two master’s degrees, and a doctor of philosophy degree.

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court Tuesday held its initial workshop to discuss the first working draft of the county budget for Fiscal Year 2022. The targeted tax rate for FY22 is 33.5 cents per $100 valuation, which is the same as FY21. This rate is about 7/10ths of a penny below Fiscal Year 2021’s no-new-revenue rate. The no-new-revenue rate for FY22 will not be known until late summer, according to a news release. The new budget takes effect October 1. County Judge Nathaniel Moran started the workshop with an overview of the budget, which he themed, “In the Blue” because the budget is focused on significant increases to law enforcement salaries across the board. Click here to learn more.

TYLER — Tyler police officers were called in to help Coffee City Police and the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office in a high speed chase that ended just outside of the Tyler city limits last night around 9:00. According to our news partner KETK, the chase began in Coffee City and ended along highway 155S in Noonday. One person was arrested. Officials are searching for a second suspect. Additional details were not available.

TYLER — Concerned citizens packed the Tyler City Council meeting Wednesday morning, with many urging the council to approve an independent commission to work with councilmembers on redistricting. That’s according to our news partner KETK. Councilwoman Shirley McKellar, one of two Democrats on the council, said she was in favor of such a commission. Smith County GOP Chair David Stein was the only speaker at the meeting to oppose the commission. He said that while he would volunteer to serve if it was created, he trusted all councilmembers to create fair maps. No action was taken since the item was for presentation only. Redistricting happens every ten years after the annual census is taken.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council approved a $97,682.60 contract with Vortex Companies to line and repair a storm sewer pipe along College Avenue between West 4th Street and West 5th Street. The 24-inch pipe is in disrepair allowing groundwater to enter the pipe, according to officials. They say repairing the pipe with an internal lining prevents sinkholes and possible damage to private properties in the area. The project is funded through the Half-Cent Sales Tax Fund.

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to approve the sale of the fourth segment of voter-approved road bonds at a lower-than-expected interest rate after receiving five competitive bids. That’s according to a news release from the county. In November 2017, Smith County voters approved a $39.5 million bond package to improve county roads. That bond package was the first of two phases to significantly upgrade the county road system over a six-year period, according to the release. The second phase of the bond program is expected to be approximately $45 million and will likely be presented to the voters for approval in November, according to the release. Click here to learn more.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council accepts an FAA grant to purchase an aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicle for Tyler Pounds Regional Airport. Officials say the new vehicle will replace a truck that’s reached its life expectancy. The grant, totaling $891,675, will fund the vehicle 100% with no local match required, according to a news release. The old truck will be sold after the replacement vehicle is put into service.

AUSTIN — For the second time in recent days, a Longview resident has won big in the Texas Lottery. This time, the winner claimed a $5 million estimated annuitized jackpot prize for the Lotto Texas drawing held June 5. The cash value option was selected at the time of purchase, and the claimant will receive $3,755,592.41 before taxes. The ticket was purchased at EZ Bee49 on S. Eastman Road in Longview. On June 15, officials announced that a Longview resident had claimed a top prizewinning ticket worth $3 million in the Texas Lottery scratch ticket game $750 Million Winner’s Circle. The claimant elected to remain anonymous in both cases.

WINNSBORO — The Winnsboro Police Department is seeking your help with an animal cruelty/animal abandonment case. According to the WPD Facebook page, in the late night hours of June 16, two unknown persons abandoned two very sick pups without food or water. One of the pups has since died, and the other is said not to be doing well. This is a class A misdemeanor, punishable by jail time as well as fines. You’re asked to contact WPD if you have any leads. Go here for more information and any updates.

TYLER — Smith County received the 2020 Safety Achievement Award from the Texas Association of Counties Risk Management Pool during Commissioners Court Tuesday. According to a news release, the award was earned for the county’s record of commitment to safety in the workplace, as well as for controlling workers’ compensation claims. The County is one of 12 members statewide to have earned the award. Go here to learn more.

TYLER — Tyler Mayor Don Warren delivers his first State of the City address in an annual Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce event. Traffic leads Warren’s list of challenges. He told KTBB traffic is always an issue as Tyler continues to grow. He also addressed losing local control over annexation and pointed to broadband access, specifically for people in rural areas. On the upside, Warren says Tyler has a great overall quality of life. He mentioned parks, trails, and the downtown area. Warren says people move to Tyler “because when they drive around, they think, ‘This is where I want to live, this is where I want to raise my family, this is where I want to retire.'”

TYLER — The Tyler City Council will receive a presentation during Wednesday’s 9 a.m. meeting on the redistricting process in preparation for the 2020 Census results. The City Attorney’s office and Manual O. Mendez of the Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta Law Firm will provide the presentation. According to a news release, members of the public who wish to participate by making a public comment on any agenda item may only do so in person. Public Participation Forms will be located outside the main entrance to the Council Chambers. Tyler Council meetings are now open to the public at full capacity in City Hall on S. Bonner Ave.

GREGG COUNTY — A 16-year-old pedestrian has died after he was struck by a vehicle early Sunday morning. It happened on SH-149, approximately two miles southeast of the city of Lakeport, in Gregg County. According to the DPS report, just before 1:30, Johnathan Walker, of Gilmer, was said to be crossing an unlit portion of the roadway when he was struck by a southbound car. Walker was transported to Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview were he later died. The driver of the car was identified as Ruby Martinez, 25, of Carthage. Martinez and the 17-year old female passenger were not injured in the crash.

TYLER — The Tyler Independent School District says it is in desperate need of bus drivers for the upcoming school year. According to KETK, the director of transportation mentioned they are experiencing the biggest shortage he’s seen in his whole career. These shortages aren’t only a problem in East Texas. It’s a nationwide issue that usually impacts schools during the summertime. One reason for this is the overall labor shortage. Now, to recruit more drivers Tyler ISD is getting creative. They are placing advertisements for job openings on their school buses. Continue reading Tyler ISD uses creativity to recruit more bus drivers

TYLER — The Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is inviting the public to attend an open house in an effort to gather input on the proposed extension of Legacy Trails. The open house will be held on Tuesday, June 22 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Tyler Development Center Large Conference Room on W. Ferguson St. The City was recently awarded a $2,853,456 grant through the Texas Department of Transportation Set-Aside Program to construct the extension to Legacy Trails. Continue reading MPO to host open house for proposed extension of Legacy Trails