KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Historical Museum announced Thursday, that a limited supply of Longview Sesquicentennial and 2020 Gregg County Historical Museum Ornaments remain. The city of Longview has had limited celebrations, commemorating their 150 year birthday, due to COVID-19. The party started January 1 and most of the year long observances were canceled due to the pandemic. For more information click the link. http://gregghistorical.org/.

MOUNT PLEASANT — Two people were arrested following a traffic stop in Mount Pleasant. According to our news partner on KETK, Abisai Martinez-Coronel, 27, and Carlos Molina, 20, were stopped on Interstate Highway 30. During an investigation, officers found almost 250 pounds of marijuana. The Mount Pleasant police department said while working traffic enforcement, officers with the department Narcotics Division made the stop and discovered the nearly 244 lbs of marijuana.

SMITH COUNTY — A man has been charged with capital murder in connection with the deaths of a man and a woman killed Wednesday near Lindale. According to our news partner KETK, David Joshua Reed, 40, is in the Smith County Jail under a $1 million bond. The victims have been identified as Shelby Duarte, 23, of Edgewood, and Timothy Nelson, 43, of Lindale. Reed had been dating Duarte, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office said. Reed told investigators he rammed Duarte and Nelson with his pickup truck while both were in front of a trailer house at 19749 CR 431, near Lindale, according to a statement by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. Continue reading Man accused of killing girlfriend and man near Lindale

GREGG COUNTY — DPS Troopers conducted a traffic stop just before noon Tuesday at SH 42 north of Interstate 20 in Gregg County. According to our news partner KETK, Brodrick Ryder, 36, was pulled over and fled. Authorities say Ryder is wanted for multiple warrants including a felony parole violation. Ryder has been arrested and charged numerous times for crimes dating back to 2001. Continue reading DPS troopers looking for man wanted for multiple felony warrants

MARSAHLL — The Welch Foundation has awarded $90,000 in research grant funds to East Texas Baptist University’s Chemistry Department. The gift marks one of the largest in the department’s history. The school says, the purpose of the grant is to support chemical research, and to also provide an opportunity for students to study in a less structured way. The Welch Foundation is one of the nation’s largest private funding sources for fundamental chemical research in Texas.

PALESTINE — A former Grapevine distillery, Tahwahkaro Distilling Co. now calls Palestine home. The company has announced that they moved to Palestine taking over 37,000 square feet of the former Coors distribution center on nine acres. Jason Jackson, the co-founder, announced they will be creating a destination style distillery.

TYLER — NET Health’s George Roberts updated the Tyler City Council on Wednesday.”This is a team sport. We need everyone to make an extra effort to protect members of our family, friends and co-workers that are at risk for a tough struggle if they become infected with COVID-19. These people include our older population and people that have heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Also, our hospitals are filling up right now.” Roberts went on to say, Continue reading COVID-19 numbers back on the rise

TYLER — It was a busy Wednesday in the Tyler City Council chambers. The city government, as anticipated, covered an agenda full of topics, including a COVID-19 update from NET Health’s George Roberts. The city entered an agreement to finish Three Lakes Parkway between Old Jacksonville Highway and County Road 192. The council also received an update on the Consent Decree including the status of completed and ongoing projects and the planned work that will be happening to the City’s sanitary sewer system in the coming year. The city also announced a rebate of $50,000 from TXU Energy. Keep Tyler Beautiful presented their Gold Star Affiliate award and highlighted many of the programs and projects they have implemented in the last 12 months. The city also announced receiving the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the 14th straight year. You can read more by clicking the link, and scrolling down. https://www.cityoftyler.org/home.

TYLER — Local East Texas hospitals are preparing to receive, manage and distribute the COVID-19 vaccine internally for health care workers in the coming days. Our news partner KETK’s Frank Jefferson reports, “For the last several months UT Health, CHRISTUS Health, and other hospitals across the area have been registering their doctors, nurses and other medical staff so they can be the first people to get the vaccine. Now that the CDC and FDA have given the green light, East Texas hospitals are waiting to receive the medicine. They have specific plans to store it, control it and distribute it.” Many health care leaders say it will be spring before everyone who wants the vaccine will have access to it.

LONGVIEW — A new lawsuit accuses a Longview doctor of fondling a boy during multiple medical exams in a new lawsuit. According to our news partner KETK, Matt Elza Hipke, 58, was charged with two counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child younger than 14, back in August. He was released on bonds totaling $1 million. The Texas Medical Board has suspended the license of Hipke “after determining his continuation in the practice of medicine poses a continuing threat to public welfare.” The lawsuit filed in November, is now the third against Hipke. The plaintiff, on behalf of the minor under age 14, is seeking $1 million in damages. Continue reading More accusations for former Longview Dr

TYLER — Carter BloodCare is asking for help and in need of blood donors. On Tuesday, Linda Goelzer told KTBB, “When things opened back up [elective surgeries, etc…] things got really dismal. We have basically been in a position where the blood supply is so unstable… it is just almost insurmountable for us to be able to catch up with what hospitals are needing and the numbers of donors that are coming in to meet those needs. So, we definitely need all blood types.” Continue reading Carter says blood levels are critical

TYLER — The UT Health North Campus Tyler has been highlighted and recognized for national achievements in patient safety and quality. The hospital announced Tuesday they have been celebrated by The Leapgrog Group as a Top Teaching Hospital. With over 2,200 hospitals considered for the award, it is widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive awards that an American hospital can receive. The Leapfrog Group is a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers considered “industry wide” to have the toughest standard-setters for health care safety and quality.

EAST TEXAS — The Texas Department of State Health Services released a list of hospitals in East Texas, Monday, that could receive the COVID-19 vaccinnes as early as next week. The time line is dependent on authorization for use in the United States. UT Health Science Center in Tyler is announced to be targeted for just under 4,000 doses. CHRISTUS Mother Frances Tyler, is reported to be receiving 975 doses. Additionally, 2 hospitals in Gregg County will also receive 975 doses each. Longview Medical, L.P. and CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical in Longview, will both receive 975 doses as well.

KILGORE — Kilgore Police have given the “all clear” to residents following an incident early Monday, where thieves attempted to steal an ATM from the Regions Bank in Kilgore. According to Kilgore Police, one suspect has been arrested, and is believed to be part of an organized crime group out of Houston. A second person wanted in connection, was seen running North on the Trail System towards Stone. While he has not yet been caught, authorities believe he has fled the area, and the walking trails are believed to be safe.

GLADEWATER — Fire crews battled a fire Monday morning that hospitalized one person with unknown injuries. Upon arriving at the scene, officials saw flames and smoke from one corner of the property. According to a post on The Gladewater Fire Department’s facebook page, responders were able to control and extinguish the fire and saved the structure from being a complete loss.

TYLER — Workforce Solutions East Texas has teamed up with The University of Texas at Tyler to provide up-to-date COVID-related information for businesses and individuals interested in working in the environmental safety industry. The UT Tyler Longview University Center (LUC) will host the virtual training 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Dec. 14 – 18. The class fee is $225. Participants should register by Friday. For more information, contact the UT Tyler LUC at 903.663.8100 or [email protected].

KILGORE — The fall graduation ceremony for Kilgore College will be held on Dec. 11. The school will limit attendance to graduates only in the auditorium due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However the school said Monday, family and friends can watch a livestream of the festivities in real time. The commencement ceremony will be livestreamed live at 5 p.m. on the KC YouTube page and will be archived for anyone to view the event who couldn’t view it live. A link will be posted on http://www.kilgore.edu and on KC social media pages before the event to easily access the ceremony, celebrating the 254 graduation candidates.

HENDERSON — Kids celebrated the Christmas season this weekend at Metro Church in Henderson building and creating life-size wooden mangers. Children’s Pastor, Tasha Humphrey told our news partner KETK, “The Manger Project is just an opportunity for families in the community to come and build a manger together, to spend some time and make some wonderful memories as we celebrate Christmas. The whole purpose of this is to be Christ centered and to remember our focus on why we celebrate Christmas.” The church also held a cookie contest where people were able to taste test and vote on their favorites.

SMITH COUNTY — A woman is dead after being involved in a head-on collision with an 18-wheeler Sunday near Arp. According to DPS, the accident occurred near the intersection of Highway 135 and County Road 251. Vicki Smith, 69, of Overton was transported to UT Health and later pronounced dead, after her SUV collided with the Semi. The driver of the 18-wheeler did not suffer significant injuries.The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

TYLER — Terri Smith, Chief Executive Officer of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County, has received the statewide Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas “Most Valuable Director Award.” Smith’s commemoration, for 2020, is a peer-nominated achievement that’s issued annually to the executive director encompassing 71 local agencies in the network. The winning director is announced at the Directors Summit, the annual meeting hosted by CACTX for all of the local children’s advocacy center directors from across the state of Texas.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Officials say that a motorcyclist is alive because he was wearing proper gear. According to our news partner KETK, the man was flown to UT Health Sunday, after hitting a deer on his motorcycle near Cherokee County on FM-343. The driver was thrown head first down on the road, suffering possible broken ribs as well as cuts and contusions to both hand after gloves were ripped off by the pavement.

ATHENS –Two East Texans were arrested in Athens Sunday for dealing and possession of methamphetamine. Thomas James Conklin, 29, was arrested at a game room for dealing, manufacturing and delivery of meth. According to Sheriff Botie Hillhouse, Deputies found meth in a plastic container, a syringe and digital scales in Conklin’s possession. Another man, 43-year-old Alfredo Cortez was pulled over for a traffic violation at the intersection of Lake Shadows drive and West Main Street in Gun Barrel City. Cortez was arrested when deputies found a glass pipe and a plastic baggie containing the drugs.

MESQUITE (AP) – Authorities say an off-duty police officer shot and killed a 30-year-old driver who refused to stop after striking a highway construction worker in Dallas. Police in Mesquite say officers from the East Texas cities of Jefferson and Seven Points were providing construction security in Dallas early Saturday when the construction worker was hit. The suspect refused to stop at the scene and officers requested assistance as they pursued him. Mesquite police say the suspect eventually stopped in the Dallas suburb and one of the off-duty officers shot him. The suspect died at a hospital. Police didn’t explain what prompted the shooting.

TYLER — The City of Tyler Engineering Department is hosting a virtual public meeting for the Cambridge Road Improvement Project Monday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. According to a news release, the meeting will give residents affected by the upcoming construction information about the project — along with an opportunity to ask questions and get feedback. Residents can join the meeting in several ways. The meeting will also be available for viewing at a later date on the Engineering Services Website. Go to https://www.cityoftyler.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/6885/18 for further information.

TYLER — TxDOT is planning to conduct more construction and maintenance work in the Tyler District during the week of Dec. 7. Tyler maintenance crews plan to continue mill and inlay operations on FM 15 in Troup. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control. Longview maintenance crews plan to perform mobile sweeping operations on SH 31 from SH 135 to FM 349 in Kilgore. Expect lane closures during this slow-moving operation. You can go to https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/046-2020.html for a complete rundown of roadwork planned throughout the district.

TYLER – The Texas Department of Transportation reminds drivers of a speed limit change on U.S. 69 in the Bullard area. According to a news release, the Texas Transportation Commission recently approved the reduction request from TxDOT’s Tyler District. The speed limit will decrease from 65 to 60 mph through the city of Bullard — and from 70 to 60 south of the city to FM 2493 at KE Bushman’s. Portable message boards are being installed along the route to alert drivers of the pending reduction. Officials say the change will take effect this coming week after the signs are installed. Continue reading Reminder: speed limit reduction on U.S. 69 in Bullard area