KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Uber officially launched in Tyler Thursday. To celebrate the launch, Uber will be offering free rides through Sunday, September 25. Uber is a smartphone app that connects riders and drivers at the touch of a button. Councilman John Nix welcomed Uber to town as Rider Zero. “Residents, students, and visitors in Tyler can now request a ride or make money – all at the tap of a button,” said Beth Huddleston, Uber General Manager. “Whether folks are headed to school, work or dinner with friends, Uber offers direct access to an affordable and convenient way to get around town.” The launch of Uber in Tyler comes after the City Council voted to adopt modern ridesharing regulations on August 24. Continue reading Uber Launches in Tyler

TYLER — The former owner of a popular East Texas haunted house has been jailed on child pornography charges. According to KETK, Derek Ryan Laepple, 36, of Tyler, was arrested for possession of child porn by the United States Marshal Service on August 18, 2016. He is the former owner of Terror Nights Haunted House. Laepple’s sister, Laney Laepple, the company was sold to Wild Card Entertainment about two weeks ago by the mother of Laepple. The negotiation process began about two months ago. Continue reading Former Haunted House Owner Jailed on Child Porn Charges

LONGVIEW – A Longview man is facing a couple of charges after being accused of burglarizing a home. Officers say as they answered a suspicious person call, they saw a man coming from the back of a Lane Wells Drive home. He was carrying what appeared to be a duffel bag and a back pack. He was said to have grabbed a bicycle and fled officers, but was arrested a short time later. Detric Deshawn Sheffield, 31, was booked into the Gregg County jail on charges of burglary of a habitation and evading arrest.

LUFKIN – A man claiming to be Jesus, has been arrested by Lufkin police. Officers were called to a North First Street home on a man who was trespassing. When they tried to arrest him, 22 year old Darion Anthony Amie told officers several times he was Jesus. On his way to jail, he also told officers he was rich, had a pretty girlfriend and they would have to release him, because he was Jesus. Amie has been charged with criminal trespass and resisting arrest. His bonds total $3,000 and he was booked into the Angelina County Jail.

TYLER – Smith County has received an award from the National Procurement Institute. The county’s purchasing department earned the 2016 Annual Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award. The award measures state-of-the-art best practices. Smith County also received the award in 2011, 2012 and 2015. The county was one of only eight counties in Texas and one of 48 counties in the United States and Canada, to be recognized by the organization. Smith County Purchasing Director Kim Gould will accept the award for the county at the association’s annual convention in November.

MARSHALL – In its opening tournament of the year, The East Texas Baptist University Debate Team has every reason to be proud. Among the 11 teams competing in the Lee College Mendoza Debate Tournament, the ETBU team placed third. The seven member team came in ahead of such schools as Stephen F. Austin State University, Southern Methodist University, and Northwestern State University. Continue reading ETBU Debate Team Fares Well in Competition

TYLER – The National Association of Biology Teachers has awarded a Tyler Junior College biology professor its highest honor. Dr. Margaret “Betsy” Ott has been named the 2016 NABT Honorary member. Honorary members become lifetime members of NABT.She will be formally recognized with the award during the NABT Honors Luncheon on Saturday, November 5, in Denver. Ott has been a professor at TJC since 1982, teaching anatomy and physiology, general biology for non-science majors, and biology for majors.

ALTO — Two former city of Alto clerks have been indicted for reportedly stealing thousands of dollars from the city. According KETKn court documents indicate former court clerk Jeanie Migon Curtis Selman and former city clerk Whitney Arriola stole between $30,000 and $150,000 from the city of Alto. The theft of the money allegedly took place on October 1, 2010, according to the indictment. The duo have been charged with theft by public servant. Both were released Monday from the Cherokee County Jail on a $5,000 bond each.

LONGVIEW — A reward of $5,000 has been offered for information on two recent robberies at the same credit union. According to KETK, the Letourneau Federal Credit Union at 2301 S. High Street was held up on August 31 and September 15. Police have not said if the crimes are related. In both instances, the business was held up at gunpoint. The robberies are cases 16-14867 that occurred on 8-31-16 and 16-15724 that occurred on 9-15-16. Anyone with any information about these cases please contact Det. Terry Davis at 903-237-1157 or Det. Richard Reeves at 903-237-1151.

LUFKIN — Two men were arrested after police say they smoked K2 and passed out at a traffic light in Lufkin. According to KETK, Angel Enrique, 32, (pictured) and Martin Guerrero, 24, both of Moscow in Polk County, were arrested, around 2:15 Monday afternoon after allegedly smoking K2 and passing out at a traffic light in the 4600 block of South Medford Drive. Police say when they arrested Enrique and Guerrero, the men admitted to smoking the substance and were also in possession of it. Both men have since posted $1,500 bail.

TYLER – Tyler police are asking for the public’s help in identifying an auto burglary suspect. The man is said to have stolen some keys from a locker at the Woodcreek Athletic Club. He then used the keys to enter a man’s truck and stole his wallet. Some of the credit cards stolen from the wallet have been used at different businesses around Tyler. The suspect was captured on video and described as a black male in his late 40’s to early 50’s and was approximately 300lbs with a beard. If you can identify him, you are asked to contact the Tyler Police Department.

TYLER – One person has been killed in a Tyler vehicle/pedestrian accident. The wreck happened shortly before 11:15 Tuesday morning near the intersection of West Gentry Parkway and North Albertson Street. Killed was Jessica Palma. She died after being hit by a pickup driven by Frank Brinkney Cobb Jr, 59. Police report Cobb was heading east on West Gentry when he veered to the right and hit Palma who was walking on the improved shoulder. Cobb’s truck then hit a tree. He was not injured. The investigation into the wreck is continuing.

HAWKINS – One person is dead following an officer involved shooting in Wood County. It happened late Monday night when deputies were sent to the Gary Don Lafon residence on County Road 3955. The caller said the man was suicidal. Using a phone and a loud speaker, they tried to contact him. When he didn’t respond deputies entered the house and the man is said to have pointed a gun at them. That’s when he was shot. The body has been sent to Dallas for autopsy. The deputies, who were not injured, were placed on administrative leave during the investigation.

TYLER – One unit of a south Tyler duplex has been extensively damaged by fire. The two alarm fire was reported around 8:00 Tuesday morning at 400 Thigpen Drive. The two residents were not injured but two pet dogs died. Fire Marshal Brandon Davis says it appears as if the fire started when a burner on the kitchen range was left of and nearby material caught fire.

KILGORE – Authorities have identified a body found Monday in Kilgore. The body of 37 year old Adam Dean Mugan of Kilgore was found off South Commerce Street. Investigators were called out around 2:15 Monday afternoon to a lease road serving a utility right-of-way. It’s believed the body may have been there since Saturday. Family members, who found the body, say he had not been seen since last Friday. The body was sent to a Tyler lab for an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Meanwhile the investigation into what has been called a suspicious death is continuing.

LONGVIEW – Longview Police had been seeking the public’s help in locating a missing teenager, Jhy’Mhyriyon Montreal Desean Gay, 14. They now report that he has been found and is fine.

TYLER – A Tyler man has now been charged with a third robbery in a string of robberies that started last Month. On Monday, officers arrested 33 year old Jaime Valle. He was charged with two Tyler robberies. On Tuesday, a third robbery charge was added. Investigators say Valle was responsible for the robbery of two Exxon stations over the weekend. One is located on the Northwest Loop and the other at 1811 South Broadway. He is also accused of the August 18th robbery of a convenience store on Gentry Parkway. He remains in the Smith County Jail on bonds totaling $600,000.

TYLER — Three Downtown Tyler projects were named category finalists in the 2016 Texas Downtown Association (TDA) President’s Awards Program. The three entries in competition for statewide honors are Butler Architectural Group for Best Commercial Interior, the People’s Petroleum Building for Best Restoration Project, and the Downtown Tyler Film Festival for Best Promotional Event. Beverly Abell of the City of Tyler Main Street Department her department is proud of the nominees. She notes that the nominations are in competition with all participating communities with a population of 50,000 or more. “The fact that we have reached finalist status with these projects is a confirmation of their quality and impact,” said Abell in a city news release. Continue reading Downtown Tyler Boasts Three Finalists in Downtown Awards Program

TYLER — Authorities are asking for the public’s help locating a person who may have information on a recent double homicide near a Tyler club. According to KETK, the man pictured is wanted by police who are investigating the case. Officers believe he may have information that could help detectives. Around 2:45 Sunday morning, Tyler police received reports of gunshots in the 3100 block of Pointe North Drive, across from Club Ice in Tyler. Two people were found dead from multiple gunshot wounds. The victims were identified as Aisha Nicole McGee, 25 and Steven Ray Smith, 30, both of Tyler. Continue reading Witness Sought in Tyler Double Homicide

GREGG COUNTY — Longview artist and author Jan Statman was killed in a two-vehicle wreck Monday afternoon north of the city. The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed the fatality late Monday. Statman, 81, was driving west on Tryon Road near Judson when she attempted to cross U.S. 259 North. She reportedly drove her sedan into the path of an SUV that was going north on U.S. 259. Statman was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred about 3:00. The SUV’s driver, Jennifer Garcia, 42, and her passenger, Noe Garcia, 43, both of Longview, were transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center in stable condition with unknown injuries. Continue reading Local Artist Killed in Longview Wreck

KILGORE – Kilgore police are investigating a body found off South Commerce Street. Investigators were called out around 2:30 Monday afternoon to a lease road serving a utility right-of-way. It’s believed the body may have been there since Saturday. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death.

TYLER – The City of Tyler will host a town hall meeting next week on a proposed rate increase from Liberty Utilities. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 28th, at 5:00pm at the Faulkner Park Police Substation. Liberty Utilities provides wastewater services to nearly 3,800 Smith County residents under the names of Tall Timbers Sewer and Woodmark Sewer. Under the proposed increase, some Tyler customers will see their rates go from $27.75 a month, to just over $96 by next March. Smith County home owners could see an increase ranging from 44% to 75%. Liberty Utilities customers, both inside and outside the Tyler city limits are invited to the meeting.

LUFKIN – A Lufkin teenager has learned the hard way, when a police officer asks your name, give him your real name. Police were called out to a Lufkin hospital because a couple refused a security officer’s request to leave. When an police officer asked his name, the man is said to have gestured toward a woman and said “that’s thing one, I’m thing two.” When the officer asked, “that’s your name?” The man repeated what he had said. It was then that Gregory Alex Mosby, 18, was arrested on a charge of failure to identify. His bail was set at $1,500 on the Class B misdemeanor.

KILGORE – The cause of a fire at a sexually oriented business near Kilgore remains undetermined. The June 27th fire occurred at the Fantasy Ranch Saloon on State Highway 31 West. Gregg County Fire Marshal Mark Moore told the Longview News Journal that investigators with the county and with insurance companies both concluded last week that they couldn’t determine what caused the fire. The investigation is closed. When the fire broke out, the club had been closed so that employees could celebrate the bachelor party of one of its owners. There were no injuries.

KILGORE — The Kilgore Police Department has confirmed a Martin Luther King Street home destroyed in an overnight fire was the residence of a missing pregnant woman. KETK reports Sheryia Grant, 20, has been missing since August 20. She was eight months pregnant when she disappeared. Police previously said they believe the woman is in danger and suspect foul play. Authorities said Grant’s sister was living at the location and was moving out when the fire happened. An ongoing eviction was in the process at the home, police said. Continue reading Home of Missing Pregnant Kilgore Woman Burns to Ground

GREGG COUNTY — A teenager has been pronounced dead following a two vehicle wreck in Gregg County. According to the Department of Public Safety, the wreck happened around 7:10 Monday morning on Hwy-135 at Spokane Road. The report indicates that a trailblazer, driven by Jordan Thompson, 16, Liberty City, attempted to turn south on 135 when he was struck by a northbound truck towing a tanker trailer. Thompson was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in his vehicle was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview. The driver of the truck was identified as Harold Pilgreen, 29. Thompson was a junior at Sabine High School.

BROWNSBORO — One person has been air lifted to a hospital following a wreck in Brownsboro. According to KETK, around 6:50 this morning, a vehicle with two passengers struck the back left side of an 18 wheeler on Highway 31. The passenger vehicle rolled several times and one person was ejected. The passenger was life-flighted to a local hospital. The driver was transported by ambulance to a local hospital with unknown injuries. The driver of the 18-wheeler sustained no injuries.

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating another gas station robbery over the weekend. According to authorities, the Exxon gas Station, 1811 South Broadway, was reportedly robbed just before 5:00 Sunday evening. An employee of the store told officials that a heavy set Hispanic male had come into the store asking about the restroom. A few minutes later the suspect exited the restroom, approached the clerk, and displayed a knife demanding the money from the register. When the victim opened the register the suspect removed the cash then exited the store and left the scene with an undisclosed amount of money. The victim stated the suspect left the scene driving south on Broadway in a white GMC Acadia with no license plates on the vehicle. The suspect from the video is wearing a blue shirt with white or Khaki shorts, appears bald and is wearing glasses. Contact authorities with any information.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the Tyler TxDOT district during the week of Sept. 19. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure, or other unforeseen issues. Slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones.

Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes to avoid delays during night time work on the US 259 North Project in Henderson that’s underway as of 7 p.m. Sunday, September 18. The contractor will be conducting paving work through the night. The contractor will be conducting paving work through the night on Monday and Tuesday nights as well. Lane closures should be expected. Additional information about the project is available in the Rusk County section of this release. Continue reading TxDOT’s Weekly Roadwork Update

TYLER — Texas Mutual Insurance company holds a “Work Safe Texas Summit” Wednesday from 8 till 11:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn on South Broadway in Tyler. Texas Mutual’s Jeremiah Bentley tells KTBB’s Paul Gleiser that his company is the largest provider of workers’ comp insurance in the state — adding that keeping workers safe is Texas Mutual’s highest priority. The event features a panel on safety in construction, oil and gas, and services. Also, Texas Mutual Vice President of Safety and Information Woody Hill will deliver OSHA updates and provide information on preparing your business for an OSHA inspection. Continue reading Work Safe Texas Summit Hosted by Texas Mutual