KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – Tyler police report a person has died after his leg was severed in a Monday accident involving a train. According to our news partner KETK, emergency crews responded to the intersection of Bonner Avenue and Locust Street, near the overpass, shortly after 9 a.m. Officials reported that the pedestrian was lying on the track when struck. One leg was severed but the pedestrian was still alive when emergency crews arrived. He died after being transported to a local hospital. According to Tyler police, the original call came in from railroad dispatch and a second call came from a train operator. Police say the case is still under investigation.

TYLER — TxDOT schedules another week’s worth of roadwork in the Tyler District. In Gregg County, Longview maintenance will be clearing trees from the right-of-way on FM 1845 and FM 3053. Crews will also be cutting high edges on FM 2207, from FM 1252 to SH 135 N. Expect flaggers controlling traffic. In Smith County, Tyler Maintenance will be performing ditch maintenance in various locations throughout the county. Expect lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic. A sweeper and herbicide unit will also be in various locations throughout the county. Click this link for a complete rundown of roadwork around the district.

TYLER – Over the last few years, the housing inventory hasn’t kept up with demand. According to our news partner KETK, a new house listing would receive multiple offers in just hours, most above asking price, but now the market has flipped. “The housing market definitely is slowing down,” said Luis Torres, Senior Business Economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Economy expert Luis Torres with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas says the housing market during the pandemic was on a roll. “The major driver of seeing such a hot housing market during the pandemic, was historical low mortgage rates that we show during that period,” said Torres. He spoke at UT Tyler recently about why he thinks interest and mortgage rates rising are now causing the market to cool off. Continue reading East Texas housing market cooling down

TYLER — Contractors have a five day project set up. Crews expect to be busy on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from North Broadway Avenue to West Gentry Parkway Monday, Aug. 29, through Friday, Sept. 2, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists are asked to use caution in the area, follow directions of the crews, and obey all traffic signs. Drivers can expect road closures and lane closures.

SABINE COUNTY – 26-year-old Matthew Hoy Edgar has found himself as a new addition to the Texas Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list. Edgar was convicted in the Halloween 2020 murder of 19-year-old Livye Lewis. He attended trial for that murder in early 2022, but evaded authorities. According to our news partner KETK, the DPS is offering up to a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of Edgar. Law officers say he has a history of violence and he should be considered armed and dangerous

TYLER – Justin Pierce, 29 of Tyler, has been indicted for intoxication manslaughter and accident involving death for the hit-and-run accident that claimed the life of 18-year-old Marissa July-McCuin of Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, DPS reports from the April 24 incident said Pierce was driving down Highway 64 roughly two miles west of Tyler just after 1:30 a.m. McCuin was trying to cross the road in the outside lane when she was allegedly hit by Pierce’s 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan. McCuin was taken to a Tyler hospital, where she died from her injuries. Pierce fled the scene but was later apprehended. Pierce had been arrested and released on April 19, 2021, charged with public intoxication and assaulting a public servant. He remains in the Smith County Jail on a $500,000 surety bond.

TYLER — Contractors will be doing seal coat work on Briarwood Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Tyler, weather permitting. Work is planned on Briarwood Road from Loop 323 to Cascades Boulevard Saturday from 7 a.m. till 5 p.m. Crews expect to get busy on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from North Broadway Avenue to West Gentry Parkway Monday, Aug. 29, through Friday, Sept. 2, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists are asked to use caution in the area, follow directions of the crews, and obey all traffic signs. Drivers can expect road closures and lane closures.

TYLER – Officials have identified a pedestrian who died following a Tyler crash Friday on South Broadway Avenue and South Town Drive. According to our news partner KETK, Cristian Vavich, 35, of Tyler, was walking across Broadway from the area of Whataburger when a Toyota truck swerved in an attempt to miss him “but was unable to,” according to police. The crash was initially called in around 5:45 a.m., and officials said Vavich was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said the case remains under investigation.

LONGVIEW – Pigs tore through fields at Lear Park in Longview recently, and they caused plenty of damage. “We’re pretty sure they were in hog heaven,” Longview Parks & Recreation posted to Facebook. According to our news partner KETK, Parks & Rec will have to shut down Fields 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 and 9 for “a few weeks” until the start of Greater Longview Soccer Association games in order to get them ready for play. Meanwhile on Facebook, Longview Parks & Rec and the City of Longview are going back and forth on the post delivering pig puns. “This post will age like fine swine,” commented the City of Longview’s Facebook page. “We never sausage a good comment,” Longview Parks & Recreation page replied.

TYLER — Several Smith County road projects were recently completed using bond funding. About 2.6 miles of County Road 178 (Old Palestine Road), outside of Flint, was widened, cement treated and asphalt overlaid. Texana Land & Asphalt was the contractor. A photo of CR 178 after construction can be seen at left. Officials say several residential streets just west of the city of Tyler were also improved using bond funding. Work to County Roads 1162 (Indian Drive and Choctaw Drive), 1188, and 1241 (Larry Lane and Ronald Road) was recently completed and included about two miles of roads. The contractor was True Roads Construction, LLC. Both projects came in under budget, according to a news release.

TYLER – A new program at the City of Tyler allows families to save money on daycares and keep their baby with them at work until they reach six months of age according to our news partner KETK. Parents set aside office space for items such as a playpen, bassinet and a crib. Each employee is required to have two alternate coworkers as volunteer caregivers as extra help when needed. “So if you have a meeting and you can’t take the baby (while baby is encouraged to go everywhere at work with you) some meetings aren’t doable. Your alternate care provider provides that care. If it is a meeting or a restroom break, there’s someone designated officially who agreed to help with that care,” said Director of Organization Development, Regina Moss. The city said it is about supporting their employees and honoring them as parents. Continue reading City of Tyler allowing employees to bring babies to work

TYLER – The former mayor of Athens has pleaded guilty to federal child obscenity violations. James Monte Montgomery, 64, pleaded guilty Thursday in Tyler to sending obscene materials to a minor. According to public information, on June 3, 2021, Montgomery was arrested after arriving at an undisclosed location after soliciting sex online with investigators posing as minors. In June of 2020, Montgomery, then the mayor of Athens, began communicating by text messaging with a person he believed to be a 15-year-old female. Montgomery sent messages to the child describing sexually explicit acts that he wanted to perform on the child and offering to pay the child if she would meet him and have sex with him, according to authorities. Continue reading Former Athens mayor guilty of child obscenity violations

TYLER – Teresa Fletcher, 22, of Tyler, was sentenced to six years in prison Thursday for her part in the kidnapping and trafficking of two girls in February. According to our news partner KETK, a February 17 warrant said a Smith County sheriff’s deputy responded to a missing person report at the home on CR 420. The mother of one of the girls reportedly told deputies she had not seen her daughter since February 13. The mother told investigators she believed her daughter had been sex trafficked, according to the affidavit. Officials stated the victim’s boyfriend said she sent him her location via Facebook messenger on February 15 and he alerted the Tyler PD. The location was the home of Teresa Fletcher, documents show. Continue reading Tyler woman gets six years for promoting prostitution

TYLER – The North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA) has completed a series of enhancements to Toll 49 with drivers likely noticing a smoother, quieter ride along with the latest in highway surface technology for skid resistance. That’s according to a Thursday news release from NET RMA. A new surface was installed between U.S Highway 69 and State Highway 155. The project is the first major resurfacing on this section of Toll 49 since it was constructed, according to the release. “NET RMA is proud of these Toll 49 enhancements,” says Glenn Green, NET RMA Executive Director, as quoted in the release. “The material we utilized is the most advanced, performance graded asphalt that will not only add strength, but it also provides a smooth, quiet roadway for our customers. This is a new, highly skid resistant surface that will last for years.” Continue reading NET RMA completes major Toll 49 enhancements project

AUSTIN – The University of Texas Board of Regents Thursday approved an allocation of $100 million in Permanent University Fund bond proceeds over the next 10 years that will help fund capital expenses associated with the start-up of the Tyler School of Medicine at the University of Texas at Tyler. Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife told KTBB, “It’s an ongoing commitment made by the Board of Regents to this community and to our new medical school, and I really appreciate my fellow regents joining me in supporting this.” Eltife added that he’s really looking forward to welcoming the school’s first class next year — and to a full-fledged medical school building, which he hopes to see completed by 2025. Continue reading Regents approve $100 million for UT Tyler School of Medicine

TYLER — 51-year-old Buford Dixon has been sentenced in Tyler to life without parole for continuous sexual abuse of a child. According to a news release from the Smith County District Attorney’s office, a jury convicted Dixon in July after prosecutors proved that he sexually assaulted his own biological daughter over the course of two years and another child who had resided with Dixon. At sentencing, the court heard testimony from the lead detective on the case, testimony about Dixon’s prior criminal history, and an additional abuse victim who had not previously testified, according to officials.

WHITEHOUSE – Additional law enforcement was assigned to the Whitehouse High School campus Thursday after an alleged verbal threat was made, according to the school. The school proceeded with its regular Thursday schedule, and officials with the district said “parents should rest easy knowing students are safe.” The district said it was notified by an anonymous source of an alleged verbal threat against the high school, and they immediately contacted law enforcement and worked with them to investigate. “A student was detained by Whitehouse PD and an investigation is ongoing,” the district said. “The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority.”

CANTON – After praying for rain for so long, some East Texans received more than they bargained for with this week’s heavy rains and flooding, and the city of Canton was hit hard by the storm. As a result of this week’s heavy rainfall, parts of Van Zandt County flooded, including the county courthouse. According to our news partner KETK, the water damage caused ceiling tiles to fall in a courtroom, almost hitting a court reporter in the middle of a trial. Trash cans and buckets were placed throughout the courthouse because of several leaks. The staff has also put fans to help dry out the building. Across the county, a few homes flooded, trees and power lines were downed, and streets were impacted even narrowing bridges down to a single lane. The First Monday Trade Days parking lot also flooded. On First Monday, the Canton Mayor Lou Ann Everett says they expect the grounds to be open next weekend just in time for trade days.

TYLER – The Tyler City Council approved a $195,900 engineering contract on Wednesday to work on a downtown Tyler traffic study. According to our news partner KETK, the city is working with Kimley-Horn engineers. The city will pay for the study, but they will be reimbursed through a Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) grant. Toole Design will give recommendations on how officials can improve the downtown area. This has been Toole Design’s focus since the start of 2022. Engineers will survey the area then make recommendations for changes based on their findings, which they will show to the council. Between 2010 and 2020, the City of Tyler grew at an average rate of 1% per year. Some recent developments in downtown include the Fair Plaza Parking Garage, Smith County Jail, People’s Petroleum Building and Plaza Tower. Officials have also proposed building a new Smith County courthouse. The traffic study will last nine months and should be done by late spring 2023.

The Tyler City Council voted on Wednesday to authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with Lone Star Land Enhancement in the amount of $3,678,365.44 for the Sanitary Sewer Right of Way Clearing. The Right of Way clearing project is prioritized by the current condition of the easements and by determining how urgent the need to access the sanitary sewer assets associated with the easement. In all, the project identifies 394,486 linear feet of easements needing to be cleared. This project is funded with water utility bond. The City Council also voted on Wednesday to authorize the City Manager to execute a design contract with KSA Engineers, Inc. in the amount of $467,000 for the design, bidding, construction administration and inspection of a new administration building at the Westside Wastewater Treatment Plant. Continue reading Tyler City Council approves contract to clear sanitary sewer right of way

TYLER — The City of Tyler is presenting the extension of the Legacy Trail Project to be paid for by the proposed Half-Cent Sales Tax Fund for fiscal year 2023. Phase II of the project will add a total of 2.2 miles of trail, which includes 1.7 miles of shared-use path and half a mile of sidewalks from Peete Elementary connecting with Stewart Park along the roadway rights-of-way and through W.E. Winters Park. Currently, the city is working with a consultant to survey the area and create design plans. This part of the project is estimated to cost $354,000 and be completed by February 2023. Construction is expected to begin in fall 2023. Continue reading Proposed Half-Cent work plan includes extension to Legacy Trails

JACKSONVILLE – A Jacksonville woman was arrested on Monday for failing to register as a sex offender for the second time. According to our news partner KETK, officials said Jennifer Gail Stevens, 38, was arrested at a residence on Jacksonville Square Drive. Failure to comply with sex offender duty to register is a third degree felony. Stevens was previously arrested in February for non-compliance with The Texas Sex Offender Registry Duty to Register.

TYLER – A Tyler man pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution after being accused of kidnapping two girls to sex-traffic them in Louisiana, according to Smith County judicial records. According to our news partner KETK, Aaron Devonte Wallace, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Teresa Swan Fletcher, 23, was also indicted for aggravated promotion of prostitution in connection to the case. Her plea docket agreement is scheduled for Sept. 20.

BULLARD – A Bullard ISD bus was involved in a wreck on Tuesday, the district announced on Facebook. According to our news partner KETK, officials said Bus E1 was involved in an accident near CR 181 and FM 344. Six students and two student aides were on board but were not injured. Another bus came to pick up students.

TYLER – The Smith County Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to rescind its burn ban following recent rains, highlighted by Monday’s downpour. “I 100 percent recommend rescinding the burn ban after the rain we’ve had,” Smith County Fire Marshal Jay Brooks said. “We received a good saturating, soaking rain, which was exactly what we needed.” The burn ban was issued by the Commissioners Court on July 5. Numerous other area counties are also lifting their burn bans. Continue reading Smith County, others lift burn bans

TYLER — The city of Tyler will be retiming 19 traffic signals this week for the year two signal timing improvements project. The identified intersections will build upon the corridors which were retimed in 2019 and 2021 and focus on areas that have seen less reliable travel times. according to a news release. This year the initial implementation of the new signal timings will be done remotely by the traffic engineer with the Advanced Transportation Management System (ATMS). Previously, signal retiming had to be accomplished in the field. Officials say the new system is allowing for a quicker implementation and less staff time in the field. Continue reading Traffic signal retiming to begin this week

WINONA – The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down in Winona on Monday. According to our news partner KETK, the tornado had wind speeds of roughly 95 mph and was 200 yards wide, uprooting roughly 50 trees and damaging a few structures. No injuries or fatalities were reported in the four minutes it was on the ground. Most of the damage was right when the tornado was crossing FM 16 at Hussey Circle. It narrowly missed Winona ISD, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at NWS Shreveport Charlie Woodrum said.

TYLER — Starting Sept. 1, Tyler Solid Waste crews will continue collecting residential garbage and recycling at 6 a.m. In August, Solid Waste implemented a heat prevention program that allowed crews to start collecting an hour earlier than the usual start time of 7 a.m. The earlier start time allowed crews to work during the cooler hours and finish routes earlier. “After receiving great feedback from the community and our team, we decided to continue with the earlier start time,” said Solid Waste Director Leroy Sparrow as quoted in a news release. “Fulfilling the needs of our community while maintaining our crews’ safety is our top priority.” Continue reading Tyler Solid Waste implementing earlier start time year-round

DALLAS – Gov. Greg Abbott has signed a disaster declaration for 23 Texas counties after damaging winds and heavy rainfall across Texas — nine of them in East Texas. According to our news partner KETK, Camp, Henderson, Hopkins, Marion, Rains, Smith, Upshur, Van Zandt, and Wood counties are included in the declaration. Abbott said additional counties could be added as storms continue to move through the state.