KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The 45th anniversary banquet of Meals on Wheels Ministry will be held Tuesday at Green Acres CrossWalk Conference Center in Tyler from 10:30 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. The doors will open at 10:30 a.m. and kick off the silent auction, lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. and the program will start at noon. The event theme of “Farmers Market” will showcase the natural beauty and home-grown abundance of local farmers markets, according to a news release. The event will also highlight the nutritional foundation of MOWM, which serves nearly 3,000 homebound senior and disabled people living across six counties in East Texas. You an check the ktbb.com Calendar of Events for more information.

HARRISON COUNTY – A Louisiana man is in custody in Gregg County, accused of kidnapping and robbing a Tarrent County man. Richard James Darby Jr., 28, is accused of robbing the Uber driver who picked him up in Bedford. The Longview News Journal reports Darby is said to have put a knife to the driver’s throat and ordered him out of the vehicle. After a couple of law officers found the suspect, he abandoned the vehicle in a ditch off Interstate Highway 20 in Gregg County. After running between cars on the interstate, deputies arrested him. He remains in the Gregg County Jail on charges of aggravated robbery, unauthorized use of a vehicle and resisting arrest.

TYLER – Tyler’s bulky item collection week starts on Monday. The pickup of those large items is sponsored twice a year by Tyler’s Solid Waste Department and Keep Tyler Beautiful. It’s a great time for residential customers to get rid of those large items that would normally require a special fee to pick up. All you have to do is place the items on the curb Monday and a city crew will pick it up. There is no need to call the Solid Waste Office. But you need to note that items may be collected on a different day from your usual scheduled garbage collection. Items that will be picked up, at no charge, include furniture, appliances, carpet, fence material, up to four non-commercial vehicle tires, old toys and other such large items. No liquid waste, limbs or brush will be picked up. Paint must be dried out with oil dry or kitty litter. Continue reading Tyler’s Bulky Item Collection Week Is Starting

LONGVIEW — Longview police responded to a report of shots fired around 12:45 Saturday morning on Clover Lane. An individual called 911 and reported that a man had been shot on his front porch and was bleeding. Officers found the victim, Henry England Williams, 32, sitting in a chair on his front porch. Williams was transported to a local hospital where he died around 3:30 a.m. from injuries he sustained from being shot. Anyone with information is asked to contact Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP.

TYLER — Tyler Police continue to investigate a hit and run wreck involving a cyclist. It happened just before 10:00 pm September, 24 on Grande Blvd. Officers said a 38-year-old man, wearing a reflective vest and flashing lights on his bicycle, was struck as he was heading eastbound on Grande Blvd near Sutherland Street. The cyclist struck the windshield, then landed in the traffic lane. The driver failed to stop and render aid. A vehicle drove up on the injured person after it happened and called first responders. The bicyclist was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. The suspect vehicle should have front end damage and possibly a broken windshield. Tyler police are asking for anyone that may have information contact the department 903-531-1000 or Tyler Crime Stoppers 903-597-2833.

LONGVIEW (AP/STAFF) – The social media is spreading a story about Longview that the police department says is a fake. The online report says there is a serial killer on loose in Longview after the third pedophile has been found dead in a week. The story said law enforcement officials had held a press conference and were appealing to the community for any information about the murders. In a statement issued Friday, the police department says the report of three homicides in the city is false. It was carried on a site purporting to be CBS News 15. According to the police department statement, “There is no truth or validity that our sources can find that the author or the supposed news affiliate exists.” The site did not respond to a request from for a comment.

TYLER – A Tyler woman, who had been charged with murder, has not been indicted by the Smith County grand jury. The panel decided not to indict Alicia Guthrie, 25, of Tyler. She had been charged with the stabbing death of Jeremy Taylor, 34. He died after being stabbed at a home on Lennox Avenue back in June. Gutherie told investigators Taylor had hit her in the face, pulled her hair, choked her and threw her on the bed. She got a knife and told him to leave. She said, when he lunged at her son, she stabbed him.

MT. ENTERPRISE – Two persons have been killed in a two vehicle accident in Rusk County. The accident happened Friday morning on U.S. Highway 84, east of Mt. Enterprise. The accident was caused when a tractor-trailer rig, driven by Anthoney Bradley, 40, of Jacksonville, blew a tire. This caused the truck to to travel into oncoming traffic, hitting an SUV. Two women in the SUV were killed. Their names have not been released at this time.

ATOY- The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the death of a two year old boy who accidentally shot himself. The shooting occurred around 9:00 Thursday night east of Rusk near the Atoy community. The youngster, and a one year old brother, had gone with their mother to visit relatives. The young boy appears to have found a pistol in a bedroom and picked it up when it fired. He was hit once in the neck. They put the child in a private vehicle and headed to the hospital in Rusk. They were met by an ambulance and two attendants who worked on the boy, but he was dead. The body has been sent to a Tyler lab for autopsy. Investigators say no foul play is expected and no charges have been filed.

TYLER – Thursday’s temperatures in Tyler are evidence that autumn is here. The National Weather service reports the morning low was 60 degrees. This is the coolest morning low since May 7th. The afternoon high was 70. This is our coolest high since April 23rd.

KILGORE – Recently, some Kilgore residents had credit or debit card data compromised. Thursday, skimmers were recovered that had been placed on gas pumps at a store at South Henderson Boulevard and Leach. They were hidden deep inside the electronics of the machine, undetectable by customers or even gas station attendants. Only a trained pump technician might have located them. Kilgore police say, every store is vulnerable, and your card data can be compromised many different ways. If you are uneasy about paying with a card at the pumps then consider paying inside. Cash is always a good option as well. Also, be sure to stay on top of your bank account activity. The quicker you suspect fraud the quicker your bank and law enforcement can act.

LONGVIEW – Utility rates were one of the topics before the Longview city council Thursday. The Longview News Journal reports the council approved a rate decrease for AEP Southwestern Electric Power Co. For the typical customer, it amounts to about $3.66 a month. They also limited the proposed rate increase sought by Atmos Energy Corp. They had been asking for a rate hike of over 7%. At the advice of city attorneys, the council approved a 2% increase. If the company approves the lesser amount, the increase will take effect in a week. If they oppose it, they can appeal to the Texas Railroad Commission.

TYLER – The jury duty scam has resurfaced in Smith County. The sheriff’s department reports the scammer says you have missed jury duty and a warrant has been issued. The caller is using the names of current Smith County Sheriff’s Office employees to make the call seem official. They may even provide a warrant number. The caller then says you can pay a fine to avoid arrest. The call back number, if left in a message, is a 903 prefix, but you have to dial it as you would calling long distance. Sgt. Darrell Coslin says if an employee of the Smith County Sheriff’s Office contacts you, they will not demand payment by phone. They will also call you from a local number and will not require calling long distance, unless you live outside the Tyler calling area. The Sheriff’s office is investigating the scam.

TYLER – A Mineola man, who had been the object of a search, has been found in Dallas. Tyler police had looking for Jim Hirsch, 75. He was last seen in Tyler around 4:00 Thursday afternoon in the 600 block of South Broadway. He suffers from memory loss and is was feared he may have been unable to find his way home to Mineola.

TYLER – A state district court jury in Tyler has sentenced Jessica Lauren Vass, 36, of Lindale, to a probated sentence of ten years and fined her $10,000 for intoxicated manslaughter. Vass pleaded guilty to the charge on Monday. In April of last year, Vass was involved in a thee vehicle accident on Toll 49, just north of Highway 64. A car, driven by Annette Burkhart, 56, of Garland, was stopped southbound on the side of the roadway with a flat tire. A pickup truck, driven by Gary McCrary, 62, of Flint, was stopped behind the disabled car and McCrary was assisting Burkhart in changing the flat tire. The Vass venicle hit the back of the truck, which hit the other car. The vehicles then hit the victims.

TYLER – Tyler Junior College has received a $261,975 grant. The funds are part of 23 Texas Workforce Commission grants totaling almost $5 million recently awarded to colleges and school districts around the state. TJC will use the funds to to purchase and install equipment that will provide 487 students with high-tech training to enter the healthcare field.

CANTON – A Van Zandt county burglary suspect has been able to slip away from law officers. Eva Crutchfield, 36, of Edgewood, was arrested Wednesday night on Highway 19 in Canton. A sheriff’s deputy put her in handcuffs after determining she was a suspect in a home burglary. While the deputy was conducting an inventory of her vehicle, she was able to slip off the handcuffs and ran into nearby woods. Several law enforcement agencies searched for her, but she was not found. She now has two felony warrant out for her arrest, burglary of habitation and escape while arrested.

LONGVIEW – A police chase in Gregg County results in a Mississippi man going to prison. Jreymarcius Jreymaine Reason, 35, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for tampering with evidence and evading arrest. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was arrested by a state trooper last October after a chase of just over 10 miles. In his car officers found a .38 revolver that had been reported stolen out of his home town of Natchez, Mississippi.

TYLER – After 43 years in law enforcement, a Tyler police officer is retiring. Officer David Swain was hired by the department in April 1975. He is retiring on Sunday. He currently holds the most seniority as a patrol officer. He has served under the direction of six Tyler police chiefs. In 2007, he chose to be transferred to the Tyler Pounds Regional Airport as a Security Officer. This was a position created after 9/11 to assist the TSA officers with screening of passengers and securing the Airport terminal and grounds. Twice assisted the Secret Service with guarding former presidents Gerald Ford and George Herbert Walker Bush when they came to Tyler.

JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville police say a missing runaway teen has been found and safe. They had been looking for Kaden Bannister, 14. He was last seen around 9:00 Monday night at his home. He was not at school on Tuesday.

HENDERSON – Rusk County authorities are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing woman. She is Kimberly Flint, 51, of Reklaw. She was last seen around 3:00 Wednesday afternoon on Highway 84 east of Reklaw. She is described as a white female, who is five feet tall and weighs around 150 pounds. If you know where she can be found, you are asked to call the Rusk County Sheriff’s Department at 903-657-3581 SGT. Roy Cavazos lead Investigator.

GREGG COUNTY — A Gladewater man accused of scalding a 3-year-old child has been indicted by a Gregg County grand jury. According to our news partner KETK, Deion Marquis Sanders, 22, was arrested July 3 after Gladewater police were contacted by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Officials said the child had been seriously injured while in the custody of a caregiver. The 3-year-old was taken to a Longview hospital with severe burns, then later transferred to a medical center in Dallas. Sanders told officers he held the child under hot water to clean him up after he soiled his pants. Sanders also admitted to smoking marijuana.He was indicted for causing serious bodily injury to a child and remains in the Gregg County Jail on $100,000 bond.

MARSHALL – A Longview woman has pleaded guilty in the death of one of her twin sons. April Lynn Gibbons, 35, was sentenced to 17 years in prison in a Marshall courtroom Tuesday. She had been charged with murder. In a plea agreement, she pleaded guilty to manslaughter. She also pleaded guilty to endangering a child, in connection with boy’s twin brother. Her sentence on that charge was 24 months. As previously reported, in February of last year, she gave both boys adult doses of Melatonin, Dimetapp and Ibuprofen so they would go to sleep. When she awoke, 18 month old Aaron was found dead. Her parents, who were at home at the time, have also been indicted in the case. They have a pre-trial hearing early next month on charges of child endangerment.

HUNTSVILLE (Staff/AP) – A Tyler man has been executed at a state prison in Huntsville. Troy James Clark, 51, was put to death Wednesday evening for the May, 1998 slaying of Christina Muse, 20, of Tyler. Evidence showed Clark hit Muse with a stun gun, beat her, bound her and kept her in a closet before she was drowned at Clark’s home. He then stuffed her body into a barrel with cement and lime before dumping it in a ravine. Records indicate Clark, who was a 6th grade dropout, and a friend were using and selling methamphetamine and were worried she would snitch on them. The U.S. Supreme Court, last October, rejected his appeal. Clark had contended he had deficient legal help at his Smith County trial in 2000.

LONGVIEW – A Smith County man has been indicted in Gregg County on a charge of attempted capital murder of a police officer. Jason Alan Dillard, 42, of Winona, was arrested in Kilgore back in June. The arrest followed a chase by law officers in which Dillard is said to have shot at them. Other charges include charges of aggravated assault on a peace officer; deadly conduct; unlawful possession of a firearm by felon; and evading arrest. In May of 2015, Dillard was charged in connection with that deadly biker shootout at a restaurant in Waco. Those charges were later dropped. He remains in the Gregg County Jail under bonds totaling $1.145 million.

LINDALE – It looks like the portion of Toll Road 49 around Lindale will open soon than had been anticipated. Now, instead of a completion date in 2019, it looks like it could open near the end of next month. Our news partner KETK reports that what Chris Miller, executive director of the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority, told the Longview Rotary Club this week. The nearly 7 mile, $126.2 million project extends the northern end of Toll 49 from Interstate Highway 20 to U.S. Highway 69 north of Lindale. Miler also said they are pushing forward to extend the road into Gregg, Upshur and Harrison counties.

TYLER – The city and county will have a meeting in Tyler on having the two governments work together on city issues. The meeting is Thursday afternoon at 3:30 in the county commissioners courtroom at the Smith County Courthouse Annex Building. It is something they have been working on since the first of the year. There are two focal points. First, discussing downtown Tyler revitalization. The second is discussing how to improve services provided by both the city and county. The coalition will be co-chaired by County Judge Nathaniel Moran and City Manager, Ed Broussard.

DALLAS – Federal authorities have completed a 10 day action. It has resulted in the arrest of 98 criminal aliens and immigration violators in North Texas and Oklahoma. Twelve of the arrests were made in northeast Texas. The local arrests occurred in 7 area cities. They were Tyler, Longview, White Oak, Athens, Canton, Gilmer and Palestine. Most of the aliens targeted by deportation officers during the two state operation had prior criminal histories. This included homicide, alien smuggling, assault, burglary, dangerous drugs and various sex offenses. Twenty nine of those arrested had illegally re-entered the United States after having been previously deported. Also arrested were five confirmed and documented gang members.

ATHENS – An Athens landlord foiled a burglary in progress Tuesday, holding the suspect at gunpoint and calling deputies to take him to jail, according to Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse. Tommy Kirk, 55, of Malakoff was charged with burglary of a habitation and altering the vehicle registration windshield tag on the truck he drove to commit the crime on County Road 1408 just outside Athens. Tuesday morning, the homeowner at that address said he saw the suspect loading an air compressor and hose from the house into the bed of the pickup. Using his vehicle, he blocked Kirk’s escape route, held him at gunpoint, and called 911, according to Hillhouse. During the arrest, deputies said they noticed Kirk had illegally altered the windshield vehicle registration sticker using a black, permanent marker.