KTBB News, Weather, Talk

HOUSTON (AP) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency has added 20 counties to a disaster declaration for Texas after severe flooding last month. The new counties are: Bastrop, Blanco, Caldwell, Denton, Eastland, Fort Bend, Gaines, Guadalupe, Henderson, Hidalgo, Johnson, Milam, Montague, Navarro, Rusk, Smith, Travis, Wichita, Williamson and Wise Counties. Seven counties were part of the original disaster declaration signed by President Barack Obama last month. The declaration offers federal aid to supplement other recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe weather since May 4. FEMA on Saturday said residents can register for aid by calling 1-800-621-3362 or signing up online at http://DisasterAssistance.gov FEMA says it has already approved more than $7.3 million in aid for individuals. The death toll from the Memorial Day weekend storms is 33, including 28 in Texas.

TYLER — An emergency contract to remove debris from tornado-ravaged Van in Van Zandt County has begun. The contract was awarded to Drewery Construction of Nacogdoches. The process includes five trucks making rounds through the city and surrounding impacted areas to remove the mounds of debris piled along city streets and on state right-of-way. The month-long contract is expected to haul away some 40,000 cubic yards of debris. According to TxDOT, the contract includes the removal of construction and demolition material from impacted properties such as roofing material, boards, concrete and tin, but also trees, tires, appliances, etc. Continue reading Emergency Contract Implemented to Clear Debris in Van

TYLER — The Scott Firefighter Challenge kicked off in Tyler Friday and will continue through Sunday. It’s the tenth year in row for the city of Tyler to compete. The competition is taking place in the Broadway Square Mall parking lot. It’s free to the public. The challenge itself seeks to encourage firefighter fitness and show the public what they go through on a daily basis. Continue reading Firefighter Combat Challenge Underway in Tyler

TYLER — Burns Commercial Properties in Tyler has confirmed a mouth-watering French bistro is making its way to the Rose City. According to KETK, la Madeleine Country French Café will land at Old Bullard Road and Loop 323 in Tyler where a group of townhouses currently sits. Demolition of the townhomes will be required to build the retail center that will house the bistro. Construction should be completed by early 2016.

VAN — A Mobile Registration Intake Center (MRIC) has opened in Van to serve homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained damage as a result of the ongoing severe storms and flooding. Specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are there to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors. Continue reading Mobile Assistance for East Texas Storm Victims

LONGVIEW — LONGVIEW — A former Longview police officer has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of aggravated child sexual assault. Leland Thomas Carver, 71, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated child sexual assault. According to KETK, Carver assaulted the child while she spent time visiting him at his home in the 300 block of Montclair Street in North Longview. The child was in the second grade when the abuse started. Continue reading Retired Longview Officer Sentenced to Life in Prison

MINEOLA — Two alleged burglars have been taken into custody for the theft of several thousands dollars from a Mineola Bank’s ATM. According to KETK, it turns out the pair was wanted for crimes across several states. Police said around 1:30 a.m. on May 31, an alarm was reported at BTH Bank on North Pacific, but responding officers did not find anyone at the scene. The following day, authorities discovered optic and phone lines had been intentionally cut and the ATM had been the target of a burglary. The vault was cut open with a torch and grinding tools. An undisclosed amount of cash was taken. Continue reading Couple Accused of Multi-state Crime Spree

GREGG COUNTY — Two people are dead and two are injured following a wreck on Highway 31 Thursday night. It happened around 8:45 at the intersection of Hwy 31 and Farm to Market Road 3053. According to KETK, a truck pulling a trailer, driven by Carl Linkinhoker, 42, of Kilgore, was stopped on 31, facing south. A car, driven by Brandon Aills Sr., 29, of Longview, was heading west on 31 and did not have the headlights on. The Department of Public Safety report stated that Linkinhoker pulled into the intersection and attempted to turn east on HWY 31 and hit Aills’ car on the front left side. Aills was taken to a local hospital where he is reported to be in stable condition. Continue reading Two People Killed, Two Injured after Hwy 31 Wreck

TYLER — The Smith County Road and Bridge Department has compiled an updated report of the status of county roads and bridges in the process of being repaired or replaced or waiting for parts to be repaired or replaced. Most of the roads were damaged due to the storms throughout the county last month. But two additional roads in Precinct 1 that will require culverts replacement were not affected by recent weather events, according to Smith County Engineer Frank Davis. Also included in the list are four county bridges being replaced by the Texas Department of Transportation. Continue reading June 4 Smith County Road and Bridge Report

VAN — The Van ISD Education Foundation received a donation of $1,000 Thursday from the Lindale ISD Education Foundation. According to a Van ISD news release, the donation is for disaster relief after multiple Van ISD buildings sustained significant damage from an EF3 tornado on May 10. “The support has been tremendous,” said Van ISD Superintendent Don Dunn. “We are incredibly appreciative for all the donations we have received.” Lindale ISD Superintendent Stan Surratt wore a red shirt designed by Lindale ISD teachers to show support for Van while presenting the check to the Van ISD Education Foundation. “Any day we can get Stan Surratt in a red shirt is a good day,” Dunn said. Continue reading Lindale ISD Aids Van ISD in Tornado Recovery

GILMER — A former Gilmer ISD student aide has been indicted on two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. KETK reports a grand jury indicted Orlandos Lugene Johnson, 47, who had been a 22-year employee of the school district. He was arrested on April 1 and booked into the Upshur County Jail. He is being held on $250,000 bond. Allegations were made by a former student. Johnson was placed on leave immediately once the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office alerted the school district. The suspect was an instructional aide at the time.

GILMER — The Upshur County Sheriff’s Department is continuing to investigate a body that was found burned near Highway 271 and Pacal Road Wednesday. According to KETK, investigators say the case began with a search for a missing person in Smith County. Their investigation led them to a house in Upshur County. A search warrant was executed, which ultimately led them to the gruesome discovery. Investigator Freddie Fitzgerald said officials have a person of interest who was taken into custody on unrelated charges Tuesday, before the body was located. Although the sheriff’s department said it’s investigating this as a homicide, that person has not been charged with anything related to this case. Investigators are not releasing the identity of the victim or the person of interest at this time. The body has been sent to Southwest Forensics in Dallas for an autopsy.

TYLER — A law officer’s missing cemetery marker has been returned to its gravesite, thanks to the efforts of a citizen. Tyler police say in May of this year a veteran’s cemetery marker was found at a residence that was being renovated by a new homeowner. Upon finding the marker the homeowner did some research and determined that the marker belonged to a Milus (Mike) Nichol, who died in the line of duty on October 12, 1962, while serving with the Tyler Police Department. Continue reading Citizen’s Effort Brings Closure to Fallen Officers Cemetery Marker

LIBERTY CITY — Family members of a Liberty City teenager missing since April say a person matching her description has been spotted near Leadville, Colorado — a small town about 100 miles west of Denver. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Vickie Raymond, Paiglynn Raymond’s grandmother, said over the weekend two East Texas men traveling through Colorado on business saw a young girl wandering around a gas station, and it struck both of them as strange. “They considered asking her if she needed transportation, but they didn’t want to scare her,” she said. Continue reading Gregg County Runaway May Have Been Spotted in Colorado

TYLER — Pets for People, formerly The Humane Society of East Texas, is in danger of closing its doors. Executive Director Gayle Helms told KETK,”We make our money strictly from private donations. We’re not government funded by any way, we’re not funded by any of the national organizations, so everything that we get actually comes from private donations.” Helms says Pets Fur People needs another $20,000 per month in order to continue operation, with each pet costing the agency about $13 per day. According to Helms, if the organization does not receive the funding, it will shut down by the end of July. “That would be a real tragedy for Smith County and East Texas, not having a brick and mortar no kill animal shelter here,” said Helms. Continue reading Pets Fur People Faces Possible Closure

AUSTIN — Governor Greg Abbott added 24 more counties to the states disaster declaration, including five from East Texas. According to KETK, Nacogdoches, Polk, San Augustine, Shelby and Trinity counties joined a long list of others. Continue reading More East Texas Counties Added to Disaster Declaration

TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for two suspects involved in a reported aggravated assault Thursday morning. It happened around 1:45 at Target, 7003 South Broadway. Officials said an employee was outside waiting to enter the business when he was approached by two black males with their faces partially covered. One of the suspects was armed with a pistol and demanded all of the victim’s property. About that time, another employee unlocked the door from the inside to let the victim in. The suspects fled in a white vehicle and have not been located. Please contact police with any information. At this time the case is still being investigated. Anyone with information concerning this case is encouraged to call the Tyler Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 903-597-CUFF.

GLADEWATER — Gladewater police reported a registered sex offender was arrested early Wednesday after he was allegedly caught peeking into several homes. KETK reports that around 1:30 a.m., authorities received a call about a person looking into the windows of homes in the 100 block of N. Cotton Street. When police made it to the scene, they found a suspect matching the description that was called in to dispatchers. The man had reportedly been spotted at two different houses. Continue reading Police: Sex Offender Caught Peeking into Gladewater Homes

LONGVIEW — Cargill Trail in Longview will be temporarily closed from the Hollybrook trailhead and south to the bridge for the removal of trees, according to a city news release. The temporary closure will take place Thursday morning, June 4, and the trail is scheduled to reopen when the job is complete on approximately Saturday afternoon, June 6. According to officials, the project is not a city of Longview project, but trail closure is necessary to accommodate tree removal on an adjacent property.

HENDERSON — Rusk County officials are warning the public about potential issues with city debris piles. According to KETK, Public Information Officer David Chenault with the Rusk County Office of Emergency Management says debris placed around hydrants and gas meters is creating potential deadly hazards for cleanup crews. Citizens are asked to avoid these areas for dumping. Chenault’s advisory is the latest in a series in the aftermath of a tornado that caused heavy damage in the county last month. He says city debris piles could hide potentially deadly hazards. Continue reading Rusk County OEM Warns of Hazardous Debris Piles

DALLAS — Not everyone is happy with the bill Governor Abbott signed allowing epilepsy patients to use THC cannabis oil, co-sponsored by Tyler State Sen. Kevin Eltife. For its part, the Marijuana Policy Project calls it a good start. But spokeswoman Heather Fazio says there are a lot of other sick people who are being left out. Fazio mentions “cancer patients, veterans suffering from PTSD, multiple sclerosis patients, who require a higher level of THC to see relief.” She’s also not excited about Governor Abbott’s declaration that it’s the only marijuana bill he’ll sign as governor. Fazio points out the public supports decriminalization by a wide margin.

MARSHALL — Harrison County officials are asking for the public’s help finding a missing teenager. According to KETK, the Sheriff’s Office says Natalie Kelley, 14, of Hallsville, disappeared May 31. Officials say she may be in the company of her mother, Donna Craver, in the Longview area. Kelley is described as a white female with blond hair and hazel eyes, 5 feet 3 inches, and approximately 120 pounds. She is listed as a runaway in the Texas Crime Information Center (TCIC) computer system. If you have information on the Natalie’s location, contact law enforcement.

GREGG COUNTY — One person has died following a late Tuesday night shooting at a club near Kilgore. According to KETK, Gregg County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Kirk Haddix says the shooting happened around 9:15 p.m. at The Platinum Club on Highway 31 near the Smith County line. When they arrived, deputies found Reginald Ward, 39, of Kilgore, in the parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds. Ward was taken to a Tyler hospital where he later died. An autopsy has been ordered. Deputies have identified someone in connection with the shooting but have not made an arrest. The suspect’s name has not been publicly released. If you have any information concerning the shooting, call Investigator David Falco at 903-236-8438 or Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-7867.

LONGVIEW — Two people were injured early Wednesday morning in the second shooting in Longview in 24 hours. Shortly after midnight, someone knocked on the door of a residence on Aurel Street near 12th Street and shot a man who answered. According to the Longview News-Journal, the man’s son was also shot. Both victims, whose names have not been released by police, were taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center. The elder victim’s injuries are described as life-threatening. The younger victim was treated and released. Police have no suspects. Continue reading Two Men Injured in Another Shooting in Longview

LUFKIN — Nearly 200 local, state and federal emergency responders are in Lufkin for the 18th annual Wildfire and Incident Management Academy. Jan Amen with Texas A&M Forest Service said one focus is training multiple agencies to use the same acronyms, codes and signals so they can be on the same page when responding to a large scale disasters. Participants learn everything from wildfire suppression to operating large equipment to clear debris following tornadoes and floods.

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott Tuesday hosted a ceremonial bill signing on the heliport at the Dallas Convention Center, where he discussed the investments in transportation infrastructure made this legislative session. The Governor previously declared transportation an emergency initiative in his State of the State address. One of the bills was co-sponsored by Sen. Robert Nichols of Jacksonville, who serves as chairman for the Senate Transportation Committee. Another was co-sponsored by State Sen. Bob Hall of Edgewood. Continue reading Abbott Signs Transportation Bills

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Officials have released additional information on a major crash that happened Monday in Van Zandt County. DPS Trooper Jean Dark says at approximately 2:30 p.m., troopers responded to the multi-vehicle fatal crash on I-20, two miles east of Canton. The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2006 Freightliner truck towing a trailer was traveling east in the right lane. Dark says the driver of the Freightliner failed to control his speed and ran into the back of a 2007 Ford Escape traveling in the same lane. The Ford Escape was then pushed forward into a 2013 Ford SEL. The Ford SEL was then pushed into a 2015 KIA Soul, which was then pushed into a 1998 Peterbilt truck towing a flatbed trailer. Continue reading Details Released on Multi-Vehicle Fatal in Van Zandt County

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department says a missing senior citizen has been found. Police had been searching for Joan Brown, an 82-year-old diagnosed with dementia. Prior to being found, she had last been seen ay 1:45 p.m. Tuesday at University and Loop 323.