KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The City of Tyler will convert its disinfection process to free chlorine for a period of approximately four weeks beginning Oct. 4 and ending on Oct. 31. Generally, there are no noticeable changes in water quality as a result of this temporary conversion, according to a city news release. However, some individuals may notice taste and odor changes and a slight discoloration to the water. Some iron particles may still make it into customer service lines despite the City’s efforts. Customers who experience discoloration should temporarily flush faucets, tubs and toilets, until the water has cleared. Clothing should not be washed during times of discoloration to reduce the possibility of staining. Prior to washing clothing, customers may want to run a little water in a bathtub to check for discoloration. Periodic pressure drops may also be experienced. Continue reading City to change water disinfectant process for one month

LONGVIEW — Curbside recycling services will not be available in Longview from Oct. 4 to 8. The change to regular recycling service is due to scheduled repairs and maintenance at Rivers Recycling, the local materials recovery facility. During that time, contents from curbside recycling carts will be taken to the landfill with regular trash rather than being recycled. If customers prefer, they may choose to hold their recycling until the week of Oct. 11. Trash collection, yard waste collection, bulky item pickup, and the compost site will continue to operate as normal during this time. For more information about recycling in Longview, visit this link call 903-237-1250.

TYLER — The Smith County Elections Office is reminding residents that Monday, October 4, is the deadline to register to vote to be able to cast a ballot in the November 2 election. According to a news release, six sites around the county helped 61 people register on National Voter Registration Day this past Tuesday. There are 148,258 registered voters in Smith County. That’s up about 2,000 residents from 2020, and up about 10,000 people from 2019. Click here for more details.

HENDERSON — Rusk County officials are investigating a drive-by shooting that occurred just before 7:00 Thursday night on Highway 64 in Henderson. According to our news partner KETK, a man pulled into a driveway with what were assumed to be car issues. The driver of another vehicle reportedly drove by, saw him and turned around. Witnesses said they heard the man saying “no…no…no,” then they heard several gun shots. Nine millimeter shell casings were found at the scene. Two suspects were identified Friday. Sheriff Johnwayne Valdez says 25-year-old George Gadale Anthony Jr. and 48-year-old Frank Lewis were both injured but are expected to survive after being taken to a Tyler hospital. Valdez added this was not a random occurrence and the two men knew each other. The Sheriff’s Office was working on obtaining warrants for Anthony and Lewis.

TYLER – A Smith County school bus crash remains under investigation. At 7:51 Friday morning, DPS troopers responded to what was termed a two-vehicle minor crash involving a Chapel Hill ISD bus on CR 233 just north of CR 26. DPS Sgt. Jean Dark says the bus had 25 students on board, and no injuries were reported. The scene had been cleared by shortly after 8 a.m.

TYLER — The 2022 Tyler Cattle Barons’ Gala, benefiting the American Cancer Society, will be held on Saturday, June 11th, at the Texas Rose Horse Park. Organizers say awareness and fundraising are the key focuses. Sinice it began in 1988, the Gala has raised over $16.5 million to support both local and national cancer support services. There are a number of ways for you to get involved. Click here for more information.

TYLER — A bat tested positive for rabies Thursday in Tyler after being submitted for testing Monday. The bat was found near Fillbrook Lane. Officials say the known individuals and animals with possible exposure have been identified and addressed. According to authorities, it is critical for people not to handle bats, skunks, raccoons, or other wild animals. They say it is important for children to tell their parents of any contact with wild animals or any sick animals. If a person is bitten by an animal, the bite incident must be reported to the local rabies control authority, the Tyler animal services director, for proper investigation. Continue reading Bat tests positive for rabies in Tyler

MARSHALL — City Manager Mark Rohr announces Mrs. Garnett Johnson will join the City of Marshall as the new assistant director of community and economic development beginning October 4. Johnson currently resides in Marshall. She graduated from Fayetteville State University in May of 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies and a minor in sociology. She later decided to continue her education at Prairie View A&M University, where she is currently working on completing her Master’s of Community Development in the Department of Architecture by December of 2021. “My years of academia relating to interdisciplinary education and community development are tools that I look forward to offering as we work collectively to promote a bright future for the City of Marshall,” said Johnson as quoted in a news release.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been found in Texarkana after earlier being the subject of a statewide Silver Alert. According to our news partner KETK, 76-year-old Jerry Marlar had last been seen Wednesday evening on Turner Drive, one block east of the hospital district in Longview. His family confirmed that Marlar has been located, and DPS now lists him as found on their alerts page.

TYLER — Tyler Police are working an accident on Troup Hwy, in front of Walmart. According to officials, the accident has knocked out power to the intersection of Shiloh Road and Troup Hwy. All traffic lights are out. Police are in the roadway directing traffic. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes and drive with care in that area. Additional details were not available.

TYLER — Tyler’s Downtown Revitalization Grant is now accepting applications. Interested applicants can visit this page to find the application and further details. All applications must be submitted digitally to [email protected] by Friday, Nov. 19, at 5 p.m. The Downtown Revitalization Grant is available for any business inside the Downtown area, which is bounded by Gentry Parkway to the north, Front Street to the south, Palace Avenue to the west and Beckham Street to the east.

TYLER — An Alabama man wanted for more than ten child sex crimes was arrested in Smith County late Monday night by the US Marshals. According to our news partner KETK, 34-year-old Johnny Ray Johnson was booked into the Smith County Jail just after 8:00 p.m. It’s unclear if Johnson will be extradited back to Alabama or what led authorities to tracking him down in East Texas. He was wanted on a wide range of charges, including: 6 charges of possession of child pornography, 2 counts of producing child porn, 1 count of child rape, 1 count of sexual torture and 1 count of sexual abuse.

TYLER (AP) – A defense attorney for a former nurse accused of killing four patients at an East Texas hospital in 2017 has told jurors that his client was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. A prosecutor called him “a serial killer” who found the perfect place to hide. Thirty-seven-year-old William George Davis, of Hallsville, is accused of injecting air into the arteries of four patients recovering from heart surgery at the Christus Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. His capital murder trial in Tyler began Tuesday with a not-guilty plea.

GRAND SALINE – Van Zandt County authorities seek a missing man. They say Todd Moses, 50, disappeared from the Grand Saline area around Sept. 16. According to our news partner KETK, he is 5’6″, 150 lbs., with a medium build. Moses has a tattoo that reads “Rebel” on the left side of his neck and a lightning bolt in a cloud tattooed on his left hand. His vehicle has been recovered, but his whereabouts are still unknown. If you have any information, contact the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office at 903-567-4133.

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court Tuesday received an initial assessment report relating to the Constitutionally-mandated redistricting process it will undertake in the next several weeks. Claudia Russell, an attorney with Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta, LLP, of Austin, gave the assessment report. The 2020 U.S. Census data shows that Smith County grew from 209,714 people in 2010, to 233,479 people in 2020 – an 11.33 percent increase. Some portions of the county have grown more than others, which requires the Commissioners Court to adjust existing Commissioners Court precinct lines to allow for a more equal representation of residents in each precinct, according to a news release. Click here for a more complete rundown.

TYLER — The latest dashboard shows a big drop in new COVID-19 cases in Smith and Gregg Counties. NET Health’s George Roberts says that’s encouraging, but he still has a word of caution. Roberts says area numbers are still in the “substantial” category, with very high volumes of positive cases. He continues urging everyone to be careful — and to get vaccinated as soon as possible if you haven’t already done so.

TYLER — The Tyler Junior College Foundation’s 34th annual scholarship golf tournament raised $140,000 in support of scholarships for TJC students. Mitch Andrews is TJC vice president for institutional advancement and executive director of the TJC Foundation. He says thanks to last year’s event, scholarships were awarded to 100 students for the current school year. Andrews says the foundation wasn’t able to host the tournament last year due to the pandemic but almost all sponsors and players continued their support. According to Andrews, measures were taken this year to address ongoing COVID-19 concerns. Continue reading TJC Foundation golf tournament raises $140,000 for scholarships

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court Tuesday approved allocating $4.52 million – 10 percent — of its American Rescue Plan Act funding to local hospitals and emergency rooms to be used to retain local medical personnel directly working with COVID-19 patients at medical facilities located in Smith County. The Smith County ARPA funds will not be used to pay for traveling or contract nurses, according to a news release. $2 million each is designated to UT Health East Texas and Christus Trinity Mother Frances Health System to continue their efforts to retain staff and fight COVID-19 at the point of care, Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran said. The court also approved $100,000 in funding for each of the three freestanding emergency rooms in Smith County. Click here for lots more on this story.

HENDERSON — Rusk County has become the third county to issue an outdoor burning ban in East Texas as dry conditions persist. According to our news partner KETK, Houston and Henderson counties also issued burn bans. Rusk County’s ban will last until Monday, Oct. 4.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ardent Health Services has announced the appointment of Donald Baker as president of the UT Health East Texas market effective September 20, 2021. He has been serving as interim in this role since March 2021. Baker joined UT Health East Texas in 2019 as chief operating officer and chief financial officer. Previously chief financial officer of Ardent’s Hillcrest HealthCare System in Oklahoma, Baker began his career at Hillcrest nearly 30 years ago.

TYLER — Pipeline Analysis will continue smoke testing sewer lines in sewer meter basins 13 and 17 as part of the City of Tyler’s ongoing sanitary sewer inspection program. Officials say smoke testing helps locate breaks and defects in the city’s sanitary sewer system. The information is used to repair and improve the sewer system, according to a news release. The testing will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, through Friday, Oct. 1. Continue reading Smoke testing locations for this week

TYLER – A Bullard man has been sentenced in Tyler to life in prison for murder plus 40 years for aggravated robbery. According to our news partner KETK, 25-year-old Brentavian Henderson pleaded guilty Monday in connection to a November 2018 incident. The case involves the murder of 77-year-old Roy Bowins while Henderson and two others were stealing a car and two TVs. The two others are serving ten years’ probation for burglary and tampering with evidence.

TYLER — The Smith County Elections Office is observing National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday. Officials plan to have six locations throughout the county to make it easy and convenient for people to register to vote, according to a news release. You must be registered by Monday, October 4, to be eligible to vote on November 2. Officials say to make it easier for those who still need to register, the Elections Office will have registration sites, manned by volunteer trained deputy registrars, at each location. Click here for more details.

TYLER — Testimony begins Tuesday in the trial of a former CHRISTUS nurse accused of murdering four patients and severely injuring others. According to our news partner KETK, William Davis, 37, has been charged with capital murder and aggravated assault. Davis allegedly injected air into patients’ arteries on purpose. Davis was a registered nurse at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Hospital. He was fired before his arrest some 3 years ago. The Smith County District Attorney is seeking the death penalty.

TYLER — Former Tyler Legacy principal Daniel Crawford pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance Monday morning and was sentenced to three years deferred adjudication and 120 hours of community service. According to our news partner KETK, if Crawford follows all the conditions of the plea deal, the charge will be dismissed from his record. Crawford was arrested after police went to his home on June 2 because a caller said that a man was bleeding from his head. According to an arrest affidavit, Jennifer Crawford, Daniel’s wife, opened the door for officers. Continue reading Former Tyler Legacy principal pleads guilty to cocaine possession

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Department of Public Safety Troopers responded to a reported plane crash in Cherokee County around 4:30 Sunday afternoon. According to the preliminary report, the Cessna 182 single engine plane was traveling from the Cherokee County Airport to a private landing strip on CR-4716. Due to a strong tailwind, the aircraft landed too fast and ran through a barbwire fence before striking several trees. The pilot, Waun R. Harrison, 73, of Troup, was transported to UT-Health East Texas – Jacksonville in stable condition.

MARSHALL — Marshall police are seeking information pertaining to a hit and run incident earlier this month. On Wednesday, September 15, around 9:40 p.m., dispatch received multiple calls regarding two people who were seriously injured near the intersection of Sun Place and Five Notch Road. According to police, the initial investigation revealed that the two victims and their dog had been hit from behind by a pickup truck traveling southbound on Five Notch. The vehicle was described as light-colored, and has since been determined to be an early 2000s – mid-2010s Dodge truck. Police say the pickup will likely have damage to the front passenger side of the bumper on the vehicle. If you have any leads, call the Marshall Police Department at (903) 935-4575.

TYLER – TxDOT is planning to conduct another round of construction and maintenance work in the Tyler District during the week of Sep. 27. In Smith County, Tyler maintenance plans to begin mill and inlay operations on SH 64, just south of Chapel Hill east to FM 3226. Flaggers will control traffic with a pilot vehicle. A second crew will be performing ditch work on FM 16, just west of FM 14, on Monday only. Longview Maintenance will be finishing ditching operations on SH 42. Crews will be finishing culvert and storm drain maintenance on FM 1845, from Birch St. to Silver Falls Rd. Crews then plan to begin ditch work on SH 42, just south of IH 20 to Go Forth Rd. Click here for the complete rundown of roadwork around the district.

MARSHALL – Officials say escaped Harrison County inmate worker Roy Vaughn has been captured. According to a news release, Vaughn walked off from a work detail at 6:15 Friday morning. He was caught at 1:30 Saturday afternoon by Harrison County K-9 units and deputies who had been searching locations throughout the day and night​ in Marshall and throughout Harrison County. He was arrested on an escape warrant at an address on East End Blvd. He will now be charged with escape from custody and placed in general population of the jail, according to the release.