KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – The Tyler Public Library’s Paranormal Adult Summer Reading Program is underway. A special activity in conjunction with the program will be held Wednesday afternoon at 5:00. This activity will give you a chance to meet Panola County wildlife expert and cryptozoologist Jeff Stewart. He’s also known as The Cryptohulk. He will be sharing information on finding Bigfoot and other outdoor creatures. If you enjoy stories about things that go bump in the night, this session is right up your alley. And we may find out if evidence of bigfoot has been found in East Texas.

LUFKIN – A man has died at a Tyler hospital following a hit and run accident. Manuel Escobedo, 80, of Lufkin, was walking home Monday night when hit by a car on Martin Luther King Drive. He was taken to CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial Lufkin and then flown to East Texas Medical Center in Tyler. Police say the car was driven by Shanna Ellison, 20, of Lufkin. Charges against Ellison are pending and the accident remains under investigation. Continue reading Fatal Lufkin Hit and Run Probed

JACKSONVILLE – One of two persons who hopped aboard a train in San Marcos, has been killed in Cherokee County. A Hispanic male was killed when he either jumped or fell from a Union Pacific freight train. The man’s body was found Tuesday morning on the railroad tracks just under a mile west of Jacksonville. A woman suffered a broken leg when she jumped from the train in the Troup area. The train, which had originated in Laredo, was carrying autos to Chicago. The Texas Rangers are assisting in the investigation of the death.

TYLER – A Fishers, Indiana man has drawn prison time after pleading guilty to committing perjury. David Hernon, 56, formerly of Richardson, pleaded guilty in December 2015, to making false declarations before the court. He was sentenced Tuesday to 15 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield. Prosecutors say Hernon and his business partner had filed a suit against a Korean company. They alleged breach of contract, trade secret misappropriation, and unfair competition. During the 2014 trial of the case, the two men lied under oath and offered false exhibits to support their claim for damages. Continue reading Indiana Man Sentenced in Tyler Federal Court

CRYSTAL BEACH (AP) – Coast Guard officials say a body has been found near Crystal Beach on Galveston’s Bolivar Peninsula that matches the description of a Palestine woman. She went missing after trying to help her 4-year-old child struggling in the rough Gulf of Mexico surf. The Galveston County Sheriff’s office says witnesses told them Brandy Mosley, 33, went into the water Monday afternoon with a relative after a wave swept away her son. He had been playing in the sand at the edge of the water. The child, who was wearing water wings, and the relative made it back to shore but Mosley didn’t. Residents say visitors often are unaware of dangerous riptides along the beach.

LONGVIEW- There will be another test of Longview’s siren warning system on Wednesday. This will be the third week in a row the system has been tested because of faulty equipment. A technician from Oklahoma joined local technicians last Friday to make the necessary repairs. Last week, 12 of the city’s 20 sirens not not work properly. The week before, three of the sirens did not work correctly. And, besides the sirens, storm-damaged electronic equipment at the Public Safety Communications Center was either repaired or replaced. The equipment was damaged by an EF1 tornado that hit Longview on May 28th.

TYLER — A suspected intruder is in custody after a Smith County homeowner held him at gunpoint near FM 2767. KETK reports that according to the sheriff’s office, Robert Fitch managed to keep the suspect at bay until officials could arrive on scene. Fitch was not injured. The suspect was booked into the Smith County Jail on a charge of burglary of a habitation. He has been identified as Paul Brent Hopkins, 38, of Tyler. His bond was set at $20,000.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man is indicted for allegedly assaulting a police officer. In April, officers were called to a party on Tryon Road. According to KETK, they say a man pulled a knife on several people before leaving the scene. He was later identified as 18-year-old Dayton Mize. Officers say he ran from police and then cut his own wrist. He then reportedly punched an officer in the face and was later arrested. After receiving medical treatment, he was booked into the Gregg County Jail.

GREGG COUNTY — The suspect in a Longview home invasion has been indicted by a Gregg County grand jury. According to the Longview News-Journal, Malique Makail Shakur Henderson, 20, of Longview, was indicted on two counts of aggravated robbery. Henderson was being held Monday under $1.5 million bond in the Gregg County Jail. He was arrested April 6 after police said he knocked on the door of a home on South Green Street, used a rock or piece of concrete to force his way into the home and attacked Lynella Wiley, 67 and Birne Wiley, 79, and stole several items. The Longview Police Department credited several neighbors and witnesses with helping to maintain visual contact with Henderson until officers could arrest him.

TYLER – Tyler’s Municipal Court now lets you pay your fines on a monthly installment plan. The Citation Solution Program will run from through July 12. Anyone with unresolved municipal court cases and no current payment arrangement with the Court, regardless of year of the outstanding case, total amount owed or warrant status, may voluntarily appear and pay $50 as a down payment and enter into a written payment plan of $100 per month. Those who are unable to pay the authorized monthly installment will have the opportunity to schedule an appointment to see a judge and explain their circumstances. Continue reading A Citation Solution Program at Tyler’s Municipal Court

TYLER- Southside Bancshares, the parent company of Tyler’s Southside Bank, has announced a merger with First Bank & Trust, East Texas’ parent company Diboll State Bancshares. The combined assets of the company comes to nearly $7 billion. A company news release says the merger has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2017, after receipt of regulatory approvals, the approval of the shareholders of Diboll State Bancshares, Inc. and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. The combined entity will operate under the names Southside Bancshares, Inc. and Southside Bank. Continue reading A Merger of East Texas Banks

AUSTIN — An East Texas city will benefit from over $7 million the Texas Water Development Board is handing out for rural water and wastewater systems. The board is giving the city of Gladewater $5.5 million. This consists of a $1.6 million loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and a $3.9 million loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. With the loans, Gladewater will be able to finance water and wastewater system improvements. According to a news release from the board, the financial assistance could save the city around $690,000 over the life of the loans. Continue reading State Funds For Improvements in Gladewater

LONGVIEW – Longview police continue their search for an 18-month old toddler. He is Marcos Macedo, who was last seen by his guardian on May 31st in the presence of his non-custodial mother, Maria Becerril-Leon. The police report says she is a known drug user and was last seen in Upshur County, but Marcos was not seen. There have been unconfirmed reports Marcos is in Mexico with his mother. However, the police department had not been able to confirm that information. As they continue to look for the boy around Gregg County, they have contacted the FBI and the U.S. Department of State with information about the unconfirmed reports.

LONGVIEW – Despite large warning signs, Longview’s Green Street underpass has claimed another victim. A Penske Rental Truck became stuck at the underpass between Cotton and Green Streets. It was reported stuck just after 11:00 Monday morning. Northbound traffic was stopped at what has become known as the “Green Street Monster.” The truck was freed and traffic returned to normal shortly after 1:15. This marks the third truck claimed by the bridge and underpass this year.

SAN FRANCISCO – Children’s clothing chain Gymboree has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company is aiming to slash its debts and close hundreds of stores amid crushing pressure on retailers. The company says it will remain in business, but will close between 375 to 450 stores according to the court filing. Of the company’s 1,281 stores, 20 are in Texas. One is in Tyler’s Broadway Square Mall. There is no word at this time which of the company’s stores will be shuttered.

GREGG COUNTY — A Longview woman has been indicted following a March 2017 shooting at a local motel. According to KETK, Jessica Courtney Perry, 29, was indicted on June 7 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Perry was arrested April 13 in connection with the March 29 shooting at the Palace Inn on East Marshall Avenue. The victim told police she and her boyfriend had been in a vehicle with Perry and another witness. The victim said Perry pulled a gun on her after the two got in an argument on the way to the motel and shot her once she got out of the vehicle. The victim was taken to a Longview medical center with non-life threatening injuries. Perry was released from jail on May 2 after posting her $30,000 bond.

SMITH COUNTY — An inmate at the Smith County Jail has been found dead early Monday morning. Carlos Jose Hernandez, Jr, 21, Troup, was found around 12:20 a.m. According to Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith, a detention officer noticed Hernandez hanging from the shower in a side cell. Emergency crews were unable to resuscitate the inmate. The Texas Rangers were called to the scene, along with the Justice of the Peace. An autopsy has been ordered. Hernandez was booked into the Smith County Jail at 4:15 Sunday morning on charges including possession of marijuana, possession or delivery of drug paraphernalia, possession of controlled substance and also had an Immigration Customs Enforcement detainer. Total bonds were $8,500, however, he couldn’t bond out due to the ICE detainer. Continue reading Smith County Jail Inmate Found Dead

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of June 12th. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.

Milling operations get underway on Interstate Highway 20. Work is tentatively set to start Tuesday in Van Zandt County and will be conducted in the eastbound and westbound outside lanes as well as at the Safety Rest Area. Work is slated for the eastbound, outside lane from Mile Marker 529-536; and the westbound, outside lane Mile Markers 528, 529 and 533-539. Once work is completed in Van Zandt County, the operation moves to various locations through Smith and Gregg counties. Continue reading TxDOT Road Projects Update

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — South Korea’s Yekwon Sunwoo has won the 15th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, which is one of the top showcases for the world’s best pianists. The 28-year-old Sunwoo emerged from 30 competitors to claim the $50,000 award and a gold medal Saturday in the competition held every four years in Fort Worth. It was founded in 1962 by the Cliburn, whose family moved to Kilgore when he was 6. When he was 12, he won a statewide piano competition. He entered the Juilliard School in New York City at the age of seventeen. the famed pianist died in 2013.

SMITH COUNTY — A Henderson County man has been killed in a two vehicle accident in southwestern Smith County. Killed in the crash Saturday afternoon was Nathan Sherman, 19 of Chandler. The accident happened on Farm Road 2661, near County Road 1160. The Department of Public Safety reports Sherman’s pickup was traveling north when it struck the rear of another vehicle. The pickup left the road and overturned in a ditch and Sherman was thrown from the vehicle. A passenger in the pickup and the driver of the other vehicle were not injured.

LONGVIEW – A large plume of dark smoke brought Longview firemen Saturday afternoon to Longview Scrap and Metal on Loop 281. A stack of up to two dozen cars were on fire. It took around 20 minutes to contain the blaze. The Longview News Journal reports the fire did no spread to the main building of the business and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

LONGVIEW – Longview police are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing boy. He is Marcos Macedo, who will be 18 months old on Saturday. He is 2 feet 8 inches tall has brown eyes and black hair. Marcos was last seen by his guardian on May 31st in the presence of his non-custodial mother. Maria Becerril-Leon is 5 feet 5 inches tall has brown eyes and black hair. Maria is a known drug user and was last seen in Upshur County on Thursday, but Marcos was not seen. Continue reading Boy Missing in Longview

TYLER – A renovation project is now underway at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler. The $9.5 million will expand and enhance near the front of the hospital. This will include an exterior facelift, cafeteria expansion and addition of a new surgery waiting room. Starting June 19th, visitors to ETMC will be directed to a temporary entrance at the front of the hospital as construction begins on a new entryway. Windows on the front of the hospital will be replaced, and the fountain will be updated. A multi-lane driveway will allow visitors to enter and exit from two different locations on Hospital Drive to improve traffic flow. Continue reading An Upgrade at ETMC

KILGORE – At a Friday morning ceremony, Kilgore College was presented a $233,262 Skills Development Fund grant from the Texas Workforce Commission. Kilgore College has partnered with RedZone Coil Tubing to provide customized training to workers, with focused instruction on oil and gas standards for on-shore exploration. Trainees include coil tube operators, engineering mechanics, fluid pump operators, ground hands and information technology coordinators. Upon successful completion of training, trainees may be eligible for SafeLand, Aerial Lift and ForkLift certifications. The grant is benefiting workers in East Texas as well as the Permian Basin.

TYLER – A Longview man has been arrested for stealing nearly $50,000 in jewelry and cash. Terry Arnell Walker, 20, has been arrested for the robbery that occurred May 18th at Ana’s Hats on South Eastman Road. A woman had purchased the jewelry at a pawn shop shortly before the robbery. The Longview News Journal reports the police saw a picture posted on Facebook of the jewelry that had been stolen. Surveillance video from the pawn shop showed Walker observing the woman as she bought the jewelry. Walker remains in the Gregg County Jail under a $500,000 bond.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Louie Gohmert of Tyler weighs in after former FBI Director James Comey testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee Thursday. Comey revealed that he’d orchestrated the public release of information about his private conversations with the President in an effort to further the Russia investigation. Gohmert responded, “For the head of the FBI to be leaking information I thought was just astounding. We finally got once and for all, I would hope, that Trump was not under investigation, is not under investigation.” Gohmert spoke with KTBB and said he was amazed Comey admitted as much as he did.

TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for several armed suspects following a gas station robbery Thursday night. It happened at the Food Fast convenience store, 1516 South Vine, just after 10:00. The clerk told officers a black male wearing a mask entered the store, pointed a gun at the clerk and demanded money. The clerk handed over the register drawer with an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect fled the scene with the drawer. Witnesses told police a second suspect, armed with a shotgun, waited outside the store during the robbery. Both suspects were dressed in black hoodies, blue jeans and black masks. A second witness believed the suspects got into a small to midsize tan sedan that was parked on Talley. Continue reading Armed Robbery Suspects Sought