KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – The Tyler city council is scheduled to discuss Wednesday a $1.58 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.The funding, over a three year period, would be for the hiring of 12 additional fire fighters. But a possible problem is, the city must provide matching funds, just under a million dollars over that period. With the exception of essential positions, the city has been under a hiring freeze. This was instituted because of falling sales tax allocations from the state. With a tight budget, the matter should generate a lot of discussion at Wednesday’s meeting. Continue reading City Council to Discuss Proposed Federal Grant

TROUP – Some counterfeit bills have turned up in Troup. There were three bills, one was a $20 bill and two were $100 bills. The $20 bill was passed before it was discovered to be counterfeit. The two $100 bills were found on some railroad tracks. The investigation of the bills is ongoing.

LINDALE – A Lindale man has been killed in a motorcycle accident near Lindale. Dead at the scene was Kenneth Wayne Calip, 55. The Department of Public Safety reports his motorcycle left the road on a curve and hit several trees. The accident occurred just after 5:00 Monday afternoon on County Road 431 one mile west of Lindale.

FAIRFIELD – Two Trinity Valley Community College football players have been killed in a two vehicle accident in Freestone County. Killed were freshmen Tyler Spillman and Bryce Cook. They were returning to Athens from the Houston area when their vehicle and an 18-wheeler hit head on. The Freestone County Times reports the crash occurred near Fairfield on Farm Road 488 around 4:00 Monday morning.

Tyler’s annual Texans Against Crime block parties will be held on Tuesday from 6:00 to 9:00pm. Over 70 are scheduled. The parties are designed to encourage neighborhoods and businesses to get to know one another and to promote crime prevention.The City of Tyler’s Municipal Court is hosting its annual Texas Night Out “Block Party” in the parking lot of the Municipal Court Tuesday night from 6:00 to 8:00. There will be face painting, a bounce house, games, music, food and so much more. The event is meant to strengthen the relationship between the community and law enforcement officers. To find a block party near you, go to http://www.tylerpolice.com and the go to the “Community” tab and go to “Police Community Events.”

MARSHALL – East Texas Baptist University President J. Blair Blackburn and University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Jeff Levin have signed an articulation agreement. The Tyler health center will now accept qualified ETBU students into select graduate degree programs. Students will also receive special consideration for available scholarship awards following acceptance to the program.

TENNESSEE COLONY – An inmate in a prison in Anderson County is in the hospital after he was speared by another prisoner. KETK reports an inmate threw a 24-inch paper spear from his cell at the Coffield Unit in Tennessee Colony. He was first was taken to the prison infirmary and then transferred to a Palestine hospital. He was then taken to a Tyler hospital. Doctors had to perform surgery to remove the tip of the spear. He is listed in stable condition following the Monday morning incident.

MARSHALL – Marshall police are working on the thefts of semi-trailers loaded with various types of building materials. The thefts occurred on July 29, September 16 and September 30. The semi-trailers were parked at different locations throughout Marshall and the tractor used to move them was captured on surveillance video. During the September 30 theft, the suspect was captured on the truck’s interior camera system before he stole both the tractor and trailer. The tractor was found abandoned in Marshall and the trailer was located in Dallas, were the other trailers were also found. You can go to https://www.dropbox.com/l/scl/AACo93iYCbnk332tWwW__gnvbe7RqJ64Kf4 to see the trailer surveillance video.

TYLER – If you are not registered to vote in the November 7th election, today is the deadline for you to register. The deadline pertains to new registrations and address changes only. Smith County residents can register at the elections office on East Ferguson. You can also register online at Votetexas.gov. If registering online, the application must be printed out, signed and postmarked by October 10. The election will include the Smith County bond proposal for road and bridge projects, elections for the cities of Arp and Whitehouse, and several statewide Constitutional Amendments. Early voting starts October 23rd.

LONGVIEW – Concern over racing on Loop 281 in Longview has resulted in two arrests. Arrested Friday night were Cody Glen Green, 20, of Hallsville (pictured) and Jesus Roldan, 19, of Longview. They were clocked at speeds of nearly 80 miles an hour in a 50 mile per hour zone. They were arrested for racing and their cars were impounded. The police department has assigned officers along Loop 281 and Eastman Road and other known racing locations. Racing is a Class B Misdemeanor, punishable by fine up to $2,000, and or confinement in jail up to 180 days.

TYLER — Smith County has released an informational video on the road bond election set for November 7. The 3-minute-and-48-second video discusses Smith County roads, the Road and Bridge Capital Improvement Project, information about the $39.5 million bond election, and the financial impact it could have on voters, if approved. The money received from the bonds would be used to pay for major county road and bridge projects over three years – Phase I of the six-year road plan. County Judge Nathaniel Moran says county officials want voters “to make an informed decision, whether for or against, when they vote.” You can go to http://www.smith-county.com/ for further information.

TITUS COUNTY — Environmental groups are celebrating the announced closing of a massive coal-burning power plant in Northeast Texas. The Sierra Club calls it “one of America’s dirtiest coal plants.” The energy company Luminant announced late last week that it will retire its Monticello facility near Mount Pleasant. The Monticello Steam Electric Station is a 3-unit plant that uses lignite from coal mines in Texas and Wyoming. Luminant blames the closing on an abundance of cheap natural gas. The Sierra Club says Monticello by itself causes or contributes to more than 5,800 asthma attacks, 156 premature deaths, and more than 23,000 lost or restricted work days every year. Luminant says the plant will shutter in January, with about 200 employees losing their jobs.

TYLER — The Tyler Professional Fire Fighters Association has announced that the City of Tyler Fire Department was awarded a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA.) Subject to Tyler City Council approval on Oct. 11, the SAFER Grant will provide the city with $1.58 million in funding over a three-year period for the hiring of an additional 12 fire fighters. Acceptance of the grant would be another step towards maintaining the city’s current favorable ISO Rating (Insurance Services Office), which saves residents and businesses millions of dollars on insurance premiums. Continue reading Tyler Fire Department Wins $1.58 Million Staffing Grant

LONGVIEW — A Longview woman has been charged after police said she ran over an officer’s leg while he was working security at the Longview Mall. According to KETK, Whitney Chevonne George, 30, was booked into the Gregg County Jail on $250,000 bond, charged with aggravated assault against a public servant in the Sept. 27 case. George told police she was parked in the fire lane at Dillard’s at the mall waiting for her cousin. Eventually, she said, she walked inside the store. When she and her cousin came out, they were confronted by a police officer in uniform. George said the officer asked her for identification and reached in and grabbed her car’s gear shift. Continue reading Longview Woman Arrested after Running Over Officer’s Leg

WINONA — Crash investigators have determined what led to a fatal crash in Winona. Two people died in the September 21 accident. According to KETK, the Department of Public Safety report stated the car involved was headed north on Highway 155 at an unsafe speed and the driver lost control of the vehicle while navigating a left curve. The car went into a side skid across both lanes, overturned and hit Uncle Mike’s Pizza Parlor. The car came to a stop upside down inside the building, where the vehicle caught on fire, along with the business. Both the driver and passenger died in the crash. They were later identified as Subhrajit Paul, 28, and Dhaval Bhatt, 34, of Frisco. The pizza parlor, which had only been open for six days, burned to the ground. he owners and their son living in an upstairs apartment were able to get out safely, however, five dogs died in the blaze.

LONGVIEW — A Longview woman has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after shooting her father in the face twice and failing to follow probationary terms. According to KETK, in June 2013, Tabetha Evans, 28, shot her father, Carlos Warren, three times with a .38 revolver. He was struck by bullets twice in the face and once in the abdomen, but he survived the shooting. Evans was caught by law enforcement walking away from the crime scene carrying a tote bag. The gun was located inside the bag. She was using drugs at the time of the offense. In December 2013, Evans pleaded guilty to aggravated assault against a family member and was placed on ten years deferred probation with intensive in-patient drug treatment as a condition, stated the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office. Continue reading Woman Sentenced for Shooting Her Dad

LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been arrested following a warrant for animal cruelty. Curtis William Taylor, 31, was arrested on October 6 around 3:30. On September 27, the Longview Police Department was contacted about a cat that had been intentionally injured. Police said Taylor had become upset with the cat because she had scratched his puppy across the nose and a short time later attacked the puppy again. Taylor then struck the cat with a baseball bat. The veterinarian said the cat, Anastasia, had a fracture on the left side of her skull and her left eye had to be removed. Anastasia is recovering with her owner John Mills. Taylor remains in Gregg County jail without bond.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been charged with intoxication manslaughter after a deadly wreck Friday night. The crash happened around 10:15 on Eastman Road. Police said Corie Michael Murray, 27, was heading north when he drifted into oncoming traffic, hitting a vehicle head-on. That driver, Lanette Andrews, 47, and the passenger, her mother, Billie Griffin Andrews, 64, both from Woodville, were taken to a local hospital. Billie Andrews died as a result of her injuries. Lanette Andrews was treated for non-life threatening injuries. Murray refused medical treatment at the scene and was arrested for intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle, intoxication assault with serious bodily injury and possession of marijuana. He was booked into the Gregg County Jail on $51,000.00 bond. He was previously arrested July, 9 for possession of marijuana.

TYLER – Following recent reports of sexual assaults on campus, Tyler Junior College is banning non-resident visitation beyond the ground floor lobby at campus dorms. They are also increasing police patrols. Because of the ongoing investigation, the school will not discuss the incidents, but, In a letter to employees,TJC President Dr. L. Michael Metke says the incidents do not fit the bill of a stranger upon stranger attack and there is no immediate threat to safety. He added, “Students should take reasonable precautions about allowing admittance to dorms and private rooms. Anyone with concerns about their safety should call campus police. They can provide escort services on campus and address any safety issues.” Continue reading Non-Resident Students Banned from TJC Dorms

TYLER – The five suspects identified in a recent Tyler burglary are now in jail. The five are accused of stealing five rifles, ammunition and a variety of other items, from Atwood’s on the WNW Loop Sunday morning. The store manager discovered when he arrived at work that the front glass doors had been broken out. One of the suspects, the only one from Tyler, was in custody on a probation violation. The other suspects, three from Hawkins and one from Big Sandy, were booked into the Smith County Jail on Thursday and Friday. Continue reading Suspects Arrested in Tyler’s Atwood’s Burglary

TYLER – A candlelight vigil to honor Spc Alex Missildine will be held Saturday at 6:45pm on the Tyler square. The Ultimate Sacrifice program is to honor the Robert E. Lee High School graduate killed by an improvised explosive device in Iraq. He was killed last Sunday when an IED detonated near his convoy. Missildine, 20, served with the division’s 710th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team based at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Continue reading Fallen East Texas Soldier Remembered

HENDERSON – In Rusk County, it’s a long prison term for a man found guilty for sexual abuse of a child. The district attorney’s Facebook page says Norman Oneal Copeland, 50, appeared before the judge in the 4th Judicial District Court on Wednesday. He had been arrested last October on a charge was continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14. After listening to the evidence, he was found guilty. Then, following testimony in the punishment phase, Copeland was sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole.

DIANA – Investigators say a fatal Upshur County fire may have started in the home’s kitchen. It was reported around 5:00 Thursday morning on State Highway 154, west of Diana. Killed was Sherri Hogue, 62. Her husband, James, was flown to a hospital in Sherveport where he is in critical condition. A grandson who lived with them was treated for smoke inhalation. Their home was destroyed by the fire. The state fire marshal’s office is heading up the investigation.

TYLER – The East Texas State Fair came to an end last Sunday. Fair officials say it was a tremendous success. Attendance saw a slight drop from previous years. But a cool front brought cooler temperatures and the crowds back for the final weekend. Final attendance was 230,471, 5% less than the previous year. But, The fair saw the largest livestock show in its 100-year history, bringing in entries from as far away as Mississippi. And several competitive events, like the horticulture contest and youth creative arts saw a larger than normal number of entries. The fair provided an estimated $9.8 million in economic impact on the City of Tyler and Smith County. Proceeds from the East Texas State Fair will benefit the Fair’s youth education programs. This includes Academic Rodeo which begins in November, and the over $40,000 in scholarships the Fair plans to provide for local youth in the coming months.

TYLER – The UT Health Northeast Psychology Internship Program has been awarded a $1 million dollar grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Officials with UT Health said in a news release that the funding would be used to increase the size and breadth of its program, which provides behavioral health services for patients.

TYLER – A man said to be responsible for several Thursday night accidents has been arrested by Tyler police. A witness followed the suspect believed responsible for three separate accidents. No injuries were reported. Officers tried to stop him on East Erwin outside the Loop. He drove into the county where he fled on food into a wooded area. He was arrested after officers chased him on foot. Eugene Johnson, 31, of Tyler is charged with 3 counts of leaving the scene of an accident, DWI with open container, evading in a vehicle, and evading on foot. He remains in the Smith County Jail under bonds totaling $13,500. Johnson has an extensive criminal history, dating back to 1998.

WOOD COUNTY — A federal lawsuit has been filed on behalf of eight people against former Wood County Sheriff James Brown, former Wood County Sheriff’s Office Captain Miles Tucker, several current and former Wood County deputies and Jerry Wayne Boone for unconstitutional use of excessive force, illegal arrest and state claims. According to KETK, the suit is based on the shootings of Winston Forrester and his father John Forrester on November 2, 2015. The two were reportedly accessing their oil well that was situated on the former sheriff’s property. Continue reading Lawsuit Filed against Former East Texas Sheriff

TYLER – The Smith County grand jury has indicted 7 men who are accused of taking part in an operation that mailed large quantities of marijuana to Tyler. Their suspected involvement in a drug and money laundering operation has caused them to be charged with engaging in organized criminal activities. The men are from Tyler, Oklahoma and California. They are all in custody with bonds ranging up to $3 million. Continue reading 7 Indicted for Organized Criminal Activities

LONGVIEW – For the time being, Gregg County is suspending Yahoo emails. The action is being taken because of the recent increase in viruses and other suspicious activity. County Judge Bill Stoudt said the action was the recommendation of the county’s IT director. The judge said the department is reviewing the matter, which should take a couple of weeks. Once the county is assured that the treat level is minimal, the judge said the Yahoo emails will be allowed back into the network. Until the, Yahoo users are asked to call a county department instead of using email.