KTBB News, Weather, Talk

HENDERSON – Officials have identified the victim as Brandon Allen Conder, 37, of Dallas in a fatal two-vehicle accident in Rusk County shortly after 7:15 Monday morning. A westbound pickup veered into the eastbound lane and collided with a Freightliner truck-tractor towing a semi-trailer on U.S. Highway 79, three miles east of Henderson. Conder, the pickup’s driver, was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver, a man from Woodville, was not injured.

MARSHALL – New patches are appearing on the uniforms of Marshall police officers. This is the first redesign of the patch in over 35 years. The new patch symbolizes the history of the city. The patch, which will be worn on both sleeves of each police officer’s uniform, displays the Texas flag in the shape of the state of Texas, the American flag, a train and the year 1890. The train represents a portion of the city’s history of being the major railroad center of the T&P Railroad from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century. The year 1890 is the year the Marshall Police Department was formed. The transition of the new patches is underway and should be complete within a few months.

TYLER – The headliner for this year’s Tyler Cattle Barons’ Gala will be Trace Atkins. The gala’s committee made the announcement Monday. It will be held on Saturday, August 12th, at the Texas Rose Horse Park/Brunson Equestrian Center, 14078 State Highway 110 North, just northwest of Tyler. The theme for this year’s gala is “Legends of the Call.” It is to honor those legends in the community who have fought the fight against cancer, and the volunteers, businesses, sponsors and members of the medical community who are themselves legendary for working and giving tirelessly to find a cure for this dreaded disease. Continue reading Cattle Barons’ Headliner Announced

AUSTIN (AP) — A bill reducing fees for gun licenses statewide is heading to the full Texas Senate. Jacksonville Republican Senator Robert Nichols originally wanted to scrap the entire $140 fee for first-time licenses to carry concealed and holstered handguns, as well as the $70 charge to renew licenses after five years. But the nonpartisan Legislative Budget Board estimated that doing so would cost Texas $55-plus million during a two-year state budget cycle. Instead, Nichols on Monday introduced a modified version reducing the first-time and renewal fee to $40 each. The fiscal impact of that hasn’t yet been calculated. The Senate State Affairs Committee then unanimously approved Nichols’ amended proposal to the full chamber, where it should pass easily. Gun advocates are applauding the bill, saying Texas’ fees are among the nation’s highest.

MINEOLA — A Smith County woman, who was said to have been kidnapped, has been found unharmed and the man who was said to have taken her has been arrested. It was earlier reported that a man, identified as James Derrick Adams Jr., 26, kicked in the door of a home in the Enchanted Lakes area in the northwest part of the county. He was then said to have abducted Melissa Nicole Boaz, 37. They drove off in a green minivan with a broken rear window. But, after the woman was found, she told deputies she was not taken against her will and the situation was a misunderstanding. No word on where she was found, but Adams was arrested on County Road 456, south of County Road 455. He was arrested after leaving the mini van and running into a wooded area. Even though he is not facing a kidnapping charge, he could be facing burglary charges if the woman wants to press charges.

LONGVIEW – A shoplifter has been arrested in Longview. Clinton Paul McDowell, 42, of Longview is said to have tried to leave the Academy Store on Forest Square without paying for several boxes of ammunition. To compound his problems, he has 4 prior convictions for theft. McDowell has been charged with theft of property with two or more previous convictions. He remains in the Gregg County jail under a $5,000 bond.

GILMER – An appeals court is rejecting the appeal of a convicted sex offender in Upshur County. The 6th Court of Appeals in Texarkana has turned down the appeal of 48 year old Orlandos Lugene Johnson, of Gilmer. He had argued his lawyer had “rendered ineffective assistance” during his trial. Last May, Johnson pleaded guilty two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. He asked the court to set his punishment. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison on each count, to be served concurrently. Johnson was an employee of Gilmer school system and had worked for the district over 20 years.

LONGVIEW – Two Longview burglary suspects have been arrested. They were arrested after a police officer heard an audible alarm at a business on South High Street. He then saw two persons leaving through the damaged front door of the building. After a short foot chase, both were taken into custody. One was a juvenile. The other was Dewayne Lamont Black, Jr, 18, of Longview. They found had three previous convictions for evading arrest. So, besides being charged with burglary of a building, he is also charged with evading arrest with prior convictions.

TYLER — Tyler ISD will hold Community Forums to present information to the public on proposed Bond 2017 projects. Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford, Director of Facilities Tim Loper and other Tyler ISD administrators will present the information and answer questions. The bond package provides for remodeling & additions to John Tyler High School & Robert E. Lee High School. According to the Tyler ISD website, approximately 5,000 students will be in new or renovated spaces. The schedule looks like this:

Thursday, March 23
6 p.m.
First Christian Church
S. Broadway Avenue at Loop 323

Tuesday, March 28
6 p.m.
College Hill Baptist Church
W. Houston Street at Confederate Avenue Continue reading Community Forums Set on TISD Bond Proposal

MURCHISON – A Henderson County burglary suspect is in custody because of a caller’s tip. The caller told authorities 19 year old Travis Brax Davis of Murchison was a likely suspect in a burglary and was driving without a valid license. Sheriff’s deputies pulled him over on Highway 31 near a service station in the Murchison area around 8:30 Sunday night. When they saw several large, fixed-blade knives near his drivers’ seat, Davis and his two passengers were asked to get out of the car. They found inside a knife sheath a plastic baggie with a white crystal-like substance that appeared to be methamphetamine. Additional drug paraphernalia was discovered in the vehicle. They also found in the car property belonging to a local RV park that had reported a burglary on Saturday. Davis is in the Henderson County jail on charges of burglary of a building and possession of a controlled substance.

KILGORE — One person is in custody following what the Kilgore police called an emergency situation at the Lakewood Manor Apartments on Danville Drive. Taken into custody was Daniel Aaron Nutt, 32, of Kilgore. He has been charged with terroristic threat family violence and resisting arrest and booked into the Kilgore Municipal Jail. Around 5:15 Sunday afternoon, the police received a report of assault family violence with a possibly armed suspect. The caller and victim told officers he had been involved in an argument with his roommate, who he identified as Nutt. He said during the argument Nutt threatened to kill him and approached in a threatening manner. Fearing for his safety, he climbed out of his apartment window prior to the arrival of officers. The victim added that the apartment contained numerous handguns and long guns. Nutt initially refused to come out of the apartment, so officers partially evacuated the complex. A short time later Nutt left the apartment and was arrested.

LONGVIEW – Speed may have played a role in a fatal Longview accident. The accident, around 7:45 Sunday morning, happened on Cherokee Street near Pine Tree Pirate Stadium. Bartez Dunn, 27 of Longview, who appeared to have been driving too fast, left the road on a curve and hit a tree. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of March 20th. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.

Plans to move SH 294 traffic to a temporary detour at the intersection of US 79 has been postponed until Tuesday, March 21. Motorists should be prepared for this major change in the traffic pattern. Once traffic is moved over to the detour just south of the railroad crossing, the contractor will demolish the existing US 79 intersection. Traffic will remain on the detour for about two months as the new permanent intersection is constructed. Caution is advised as traffic acclimates to the changes. The new intersection will be built to create a more standard “T” intersection with US 79. Additional project information is available below in the Anderson County section of this release under the heading US 79 New Lane Construction Project.

In Tyler, work continues on SH 64/Fifth Street and motorists are encouraged to take alternate routes to reach their destinations. The contractor, Madden Contracting Company, is conducting the work from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Work continues between US 271 and SH 155. Daily lane closures and delays can be expected. The anticipated completion date is around March 21. Continue reading TxDOT Road Projects Update

LONGVIEW – A Longview man is in the Gregg County Jail on a charge of indecency with a child-sexual contact. Awaiting transfer to the Harrison County Jail is Thomas William Click, 62. He was arrested Friday afternoon after being accused of fondling a young girl.

TYLER – Tyler police are investigating an assault case involving a couple in which shots may have been fired. The police received three separate calls after that investigation where shots were fired, and investigators believe they are related to the assault. The Friday night and Saturday morning locations where shots were reported are on Bellwood Road at 11:10pm, at apartments on WNW Loop 323 at 12:06am and on Mimosa Street at 12:25am. No injuries were reported.

MARSHALL – An inmate has been found dead in the Harrison County Jail. The woman was found unresponsive in her jail cell shortly before 11:45 Friday night. She had been arrested around 4:00 Friday afternoon at Walmart for shoplifting and possession of drug paraphernalia. She called her husband around 7:45pm and was returned to her cell. She was found unresponsive in her cell about four hours later. Jail personnel and EMS were unable to revive her. Her name has not been released at this time. Harrison County Investigators and Texas Rangers are investigating the death.

TYLER – On Sunday from around 4:30 to 9:00am, the City of Tyler Traffic Department will be installing a school crosswalk at the intersection of Shiloh Road and New Copeland Road. Drivers should anticipate delays and take an alternative route if possible.

LONGVIEW – Nothing new has been released on a Longview shooting. It happened shortly after 4:45 Friday afternoon at a home on Jewel Drive. Arriving officers were told the one person had been taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. The person’s name has not been released. The investigation is continuing.

MARSHALL – The Marshall Police Department is asking for the public’s help with finding a woman who has been missing since Tuesday. Francine Robertson, 29, of Marshall, was last seen walking in the 2300 block of West Rusk Street. Francine is described as a black female who stands about 5’7” tall and weighs around 270 pounds. She was last seen wearing a gray t-shirt with black sleeves, blue jeans and no shoes. It is believed she may suffer from some sort of mental illness and family members are concerned about her welfare. Anyone who has seen Francine Robertson or knows where she can be found is urged to call the Marshall Police Department at 903-935-4575.

MARSHALL — A Marshall man is behind bars after police say he broke into an apartment and assaulted a female resident. On Friday at approximately 6:01 a.m. officers were called to the Belaire Manor Apartments on Julie Street in Marshall regarding a burglary in progress. When officers arrived, they discovered a window air conditioner unit had been removed from a front window of an apartment and the window was left open. After hearing a female inside the apartment screaming for help, officers say they entered through the window of the apartment and found a male suspect assaulting a female victim. Continue reading Man Held in Burglary, Assault

MARSHALL — The Marshall Police Department is investigating a stabbing that left one woman seriously wounded. On Friday at approximately 1:58 a.m., officers were called to the Days Inn Motel located on East End Boulevard regarding a fight. The brawl started at a bar inside the motel and escalated into the parking lot, where a female victim, identified as 48-year-old Betty Davis, was stabbed. Davis was transported to CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center in Marshall with serious injuries, but is expected to survive. A male victim, identified as 26-year-old David Gomez, was also treated at the hospital for injuries sustained in the fight after he was struck over the head with a pool cue. Continue reading Marshall Police Investigate Stabbing

COFFEE CITY – A one vehicle accident in Coffee City has left one person dead and one injured. The wreck was reported shortly before 10:45 Thursday night on State Highway 155. Dead at the scene was Elizabeth Kopycinsky, 23, of La Porte. Hospitalized is Allison Blanton, 18, of La Porte. Both were thrown from their car during the accident. Their car was traveling on a rim because of a blowout when it left the road and hit a tree and then rolled. The Department of Public Safety says the accident remains under investigation.

LONGVIEW – Keep Longview Beautiful has once again earned the Governor’s Community Achievement Award. The award is given each year to ten cities by the Texas Department of Transportation and Keep Texas Beautiful. It goes to cities they feel has the best grassroots environmental programs in the state. The competition distributes $2 million in funding from TxDOT based on population size. Keep Longview Beautiful last won the award in 2013. The $270,000 was used to plan, design and install the new entryway located at State Highway 31 and Spur 63. On the west side of this area is where Keep Longview Beautiful is preparing to build The Green, a nine acre outdoor event venue.

KILGORE- The public has helped the Kilgore police identify a theft suspect. The man in the picture is said to have stolen several adult items from an adult entertainment store on Industrial Boulevard. The man refused to pay and left the store with the clerk chasing him. He rode off on a motorcycle. The theft occurred on March 1st at 7:45pm. They said if the man doesn’t come forward, they would list on their Facebook page the items he is accused of taking. Friday afternoon they posted on their Facebook page, “Thanks to all the FB friends that helped identify this suspect. Great Job.”

PALESTINE – A traffic switch for State Highway 294 southwest of Palestine, originally scheduled for Friday, has been delayed until Tuesday, March 21. TxDOT says the contractor is having to make some additional updates to a temporary detour. The contractor is preparing to realign Highway 294’s intersection at U.S. Highway 79. TxDOT says once the detour updates are place, the contractor will demolish the existing intersection and reconfigure it. This will create a standard “T” intersection with Highway 79. TxDOT says once completed, the new intersection will improve safety and mobility through the area. Traffic will remain on the detour for about two months, weather permitting, as the permanent intersection alignment is completed.

(NEW YORK) — Last month, JCPenney announced it would be closing up to 140 of its stores in an effort to sustain profitability and compete against online retailers. And now, the company has revealed which of its locations will be affected. In East Texas, the Tyler and Longview stores will stay in business, but the outlets in Athens, Marshall, and Nacogdoches will be shutting down. In all, 138 stores will be closed, along with a supply chain facility in Lakeland, Florida. Another supply chain facility in Buena Park, California will be relocated. JCPenney said most stores will close in June but begin the liquidation process on April 17. Continue reading Three JCPenney Stores Due to Close in East Texas