KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — A Trump Train Parade is set for this weekend. Lauren Snyder told KTBB on Thursday this is expected to be their largest to date taking in 3 counties. “The event happens Sunday at 1 p.m. at The Aviation Memorial Museum parking lot, off HWY 64…We are going to have our escort take us out to Canton and group up with people from there, then move to Athens with the same thing, then take Hwy 31 back to Tyler. We will go out to eat at Rudy’s afterwards. We have a group on facebook Tyler for Trump 2020 if you wanna be part of our community.” Click the link for more information. https://www.facebook.com/groups/286553835999335.

TYLER — Senator John Cornyn stopped in Tyler Thursday to rally voters as the campaign enters the final days. “What we are trying to do is make the rest of the country look more like Texas. When Chuck Schummer and his Silicone Valley billionaires and Michael Bloomberg from New York, pour 10’s of millions of dollars into Texas, they want to make Texas more like the East Coast or West Coast. Are we gonna let them do that? We are not gonna let them do that, not on our watch!” Continue reading Senator Cornyn addresses supporters Thursday in Tyler

GRAND SALINE — Azizi, the youngest calf to the famous April the giraffe, passed away unexpectedly at the East Texas Zoo and Gator Park in Grand Saline on Tuesday. According to our news partner KETK, April garnered worldwide attention in 2017 when she gave birth to Tajiri. More than 1.2 million people tuned in live to witness his birth. The park said more than 300,000 people watched their video of new calf’s birth, which was live-streamed on YouTube. Continue reading April the giraffe’s calf Azizi dies unexpectedly at East Texas zoo

ATHENS — A Mabank woman was arrested with a substantial amount of meth in her possession while in a subdivision off Cedar Creek Lake. According to a media release Wednesday from Henderson County Sheriff’s Department, Jessica Flatt, 32, was pulled over for a traffic violation. During the stop, she admitted to having meth in her possession. After taking her into custody, the drugs weighed in at 105 grams, according to Sheriff Botie Hillhouse. Flatts was charged with delivery of a controlled substance and taken to the Henderson County Jail.

TYLER — Coronavirus cases continue to rise in East Texas. On Wednesday, George Roberts told KTBB why. “Much of the spread is happening in our day-to-day interaction in the community. Notice, the traffic is increasing, and people are getting back to more and more of their day-to-day routines and that is causing potentially some of the spread. The NET Health President/CEO went on to say, “We’ve also noticed people having COVID fatigue, which is the idea of being tired of wearing a mask, people are tired of social distancing… We really encourage people to do those things and practice those habits that we have talked about over the last few months.” Continue reading Coronavirus cases continue to rise in East Texas

TYLER — The Tyler City Council unanimously voted to adopt a resolution on Wednesday, that would authorize the city to apply for funding from the Texas Water Development Board, Flood Infrastructure Fund program grant. The FIF program provides financial assistance in the form of loans and grants for flood control, flood mitigation and drainage projects. The two projects identified for the grant were preliminary engineering studies to analyze drainage along Gentry Parkway and the area west of South Palace Avenue between Erwin Street and Old Noonday Road. Continue reading City of Tyler applies for flood infrastructure grant from TWDB

LONGVIEW — Restrictions placed on outdoor events by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Executive Order GA-29, have brought about a decision to cancel this year’s Longview AMBUCS Christmas Parade. The city of Longview, announced the decision Wednesday. In that release, they invited residents needing additional information, to contact Melida Heien, Main Street Coordinator, at 903-331-1469 or by clicking the link for email. https://longviewtexas.gov/FormCenter/Contact-Us-5/Main-Street-103.

LUBBOCK — A plane crash Monday afternoon killed an East Texas resident. According to our news partner KETK, the victim was identified as Donald Eakin, 69, of Hallsville. The single-engine Cessna Centurion came to Lubbock from Belen, New Mexico. It crashed at about 4:00 p.m. heading toward Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport. The plane impacted in the backyard, but the residents were not home at the time of the crash. The only damage was to a fence. According to FlightAware and audio from air traffic control, Eakin took a pass on his first attempt to land, but instead circled for a second. There was reduced visibility and conditions consistent with icing.

TYLER — A Tyler man is in Smith County Jail charged with murder for a shooting earlier this month. According to a news brief from the department, Tommy Pettigrew III, 21, was arrested Wednesday, in connection with the shooting death of Christopher Bolden, 39, of Tyler. On Oct. 11 Tyler police responded to reports of gunfire on Cecil Avenue and found Bolden in the driveway with a gunshot to the chest. Detectives identified Pettigrew as the suspect. Bolden died 8 days later. The U.S. Marshal’s Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force executed the arrest warrant Wednesday morning.

TYLER — Community members demonstrated Tuesday night at Grand Slam in Tyler, following an incident last weekend. Christian Tyler, 15, was asked to leave the facility. He was eventually detained, put into hand cuffs and pushed to the pavement. Tyler’s mom, Tonya Petite told our news partner KETK, “When you hear it happen to your child because I was on the phone when it happened I lost it completely.” Others that saw the video on social media were upset prompting the gathering at the business. Continue reading Protest over handling of ‘cuffed teen’

EAST TEXAS — A 40-year-old Ore City man has been sentenced to 70 years in federal prison for child exploitation. According to our news partner KETK, Jeremy OKieth Kyle, who also goes by several aliases, pleaded guilty on Feb. 19, to three counts of coercion and enticement. According to information presented in court, between 2013 and 2018, Kyle, a convicted sex offender, committed numerous offenses against 18 minor female victims and four adult women. He used a variety of false personas and promises of love and money to convince the victims to meet him and engage in sexual encounters. Continue reading Ore City man sentenced to 70 years for child exploitation

EAST TEXAS — Two East Texas Ministries will be distributing food to help people in need. The All Tribes Worship Center in Kilgore will be giving out food boxes Friday and St. James CME Church in Tyler will give out food boxes on Saturday. The Rev. Brian Lightner, the pastor of St. James CME, said both efforts are part of a Food and Drug Administration program to get food to families who are facing financial hardship because of the pandemic. According to our news partner KETK, right at 15,000 boxes containing meat, dairy items and fresh fruit and vegetables will be given out at each location. Continue reading Food distribution events this week in Kilgore and Tyler

KILGORE — A 14-year-old driver struck a tree on Tuesday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, the youth was driving a 2003 Ford F-150 when he lost control before crashing. The teen had to be extricated from the vehicle by the Kilgore Rescue Unit. The teenager was transported to a local hospital by Champion EMS with non-life threatening injuries. Investigators say speed and weather were contributing factors in the wreck.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Nominations Committee of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) has elected Scott Martinez, CEcD, President and CEO of the Tyler Economic Development Council & CEO of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. According to a media brief, Martinez will serve a one-year term as Chair of the Performance Oversight and Monitoring Committee of the IEDC Board of Directors. The nomination took place during IEDC’s 2020 Annual Conference. Martinez’s term will start fthe first day of 2021. Continue reading Martinez begins tenure as chair of oversight committee

TYLER — Fire officials were on the scene of a house fire in Tyler Tuesday, in which they called “suspicious.” According to our news partner KETK, one person lives at the home, but it appears they were not present when the fire started around 6:30 a.m. No one was injured in the structure fire. It is not clear if the house was insured or if smoke detectors were installed. In spite of the fire, light damage happened inside. The investigation into the fire is still on-going.

ATHENS — The TVCC Cardinal Club Golf Tournament is scheduled for Nov. 16, at Athens Country Club. Proceeds will benefit the Cardinal Club, according to a press brief on Tuesday. Tee time is 11 a.m. A meal will be served afterwards. The four-person scramble is $300 per team. For more information or to enter a team, contact Eddie Kite at 903-675-6359 or [email protected].

HENDERSON COUNTY — An East Texas couple that were expecting their first child together were killed in an alleged drunk driving crash Sunday, according to our news partner KETK. DPS said LeAnna Hester, 23, of Chandler, was traveling south on FM 315, near Coffee City, when she was struck head-on by Brandon Collins, 20, also of Chandler. Collins’ Dodge pickup crossed over the center line and hit Hester’s Dodge Neon head-on. Hester was pronounced dead at the scene. Blake Stanford, 24, of Chandler, who was in Hester’s car, was taken to University of Texas Health Hospital in Tyler, where he later died. Continue reading Alleged drunk driver kills East Texas couple

WHITEHOUSE — The early voting location at the Tyler Area Senior Citizens Association (TASCA) Center, located on County Road 2167 in Whitehouse, was temporarily shut down around 5 p.m. on Monday after a polling worker fell ill and tested positive for COVID-19. Smith County officials say the facility will be deep cleaned Monday evening. They say the polling location is expected to reopen for voters at its regularly scheduled time of 7 a.m. on Tuesday, October 27, and continue without interruption for the remainder of early voting. Smith County will continue to take all necessary safety precautions at all polling locations throughout the General Election, according to a news release. All other polling locations in Smith County were due to remain open until 7 p.m. Monday and can be found at http://www.smith-county.com.

LONGVIEW — COVID-19 screenings will be conducted in the NorthPark Drive-Through ER service. The hospital announced Monday the cost is $60 or can be filed on a patient’s insurance. In a press release from Christus, Patients are urged to bring their driver’s license or state-issued ID, and their insurance information. Screenings are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. next door to CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Institute for Healthy Living on E Hawkins Pkwy. “Please consider participating in the screening only if you are experiencing any two of the following symptoms: fever, shortness of breath, cough, fatigue, loss of sense of smell or taste, chills, shaking with chills, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, nasal congestion, nausea or diarrhea or if you have been exposed to a person with suspected or confirmed COVID symptoms,” said Faber White, M.D., Interim Chief Medical Officer, CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System.

TYLER — The defense team for one of the men accused of assaulting a nonverbal autistic teenager has filed a motion to suppress the video footage. According to our news partner KETK, Bubacarr Ceesay, 25, and Auston Reed, 24, are charged in connection with beating a 19-year-old while they were employees at a group home earlier this year. Ceesay was present via Zoom, Monday, for the hearing in front of Judge Jack Skeen in the 241st District Court. Reed’s hearing, also scheduled for Monday, was postponed until November for unknown reasons. A hearing will be held December 8, regarding the suppression of video footage collected by the victims Father.

CANTON — After multiple warnings and a lack of response, a controversial Festival scheduled to happen in Canton has been canceled. The contentious festival was the subject of several city council meetings, with droves of residents voicing their concerns about the event. Last week, the event was given the go-ahead to continue, contingent upon certain factors being addressed by event organizers. According to our news partner KETK, the name of the Festival SLVTZ was said to be an acronym for Spreading, Loving, Vibes, Through Zen. Organizers, said the goal of the festival is to instill that mantra into as many people as possible. The event was moved to November 6 and 7. The city did not receive notification of that, or a response to their inquiry and was canceled.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County is seeing incredible turnout so far in the 2020 election and it reached a new milestone Monday morning, according to our news partner KETK. More people have voted in the past two weeks than the entire early voting period for the 2016 election. According to the Smith County Elections Office, 58,973 people have voted so far this year. That is slightly higher than the 58,406 that cast early ballots four years ago. There are still five days remaining in early voting with Election Day set for next Tuesday, November 3.

LONGVIEW — Two people who wrecked a car after shots were fired and then ran from police on Sunday are in Gregg County Jail. According to our news partner KETK, just after 12:30 p.m. Sunday, an officer on Tammy Lane Drive heard gun shots and then saw a car speed from the scene. The driver lost control of the car and crashed into an unoccupied car parked on Alta Street. The three people in the car jumped out and ran. Officers caught two of them while a third got away. Longview Police arrested 21-year-old Dayson Adaway and 17-year-old Raven Reyes. Continue reading Two arrested, one sought following shooting, chase

TYLER — TxDOT is planning to conduct more construction and maintenance work in the Tyler District during the week of Oct. 26. Tyler crews plan to continue edging operations on SH 110 N. between Loop 323 and FM 3271. A second crew will perform level up work on FM 15. Longview crews on Monday plan to begin replacing a drainage pipe on FM 2207. The work is expected to take a few days to complete and will require closing the road to through traffic at North Cole Bottom Rd. FM 1252 to SH 135 on the north end (Gladewater) will also be closed to traffic. Go to https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/041-2020.html for a full rundown of the coming week’s work around the district.

LONGVIEW — Gregg County has canceled jury duty for Monday, October 26. That’s according to our news partner KETK. Residents who were summoned may disregard their jury duty notice.

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University engineering students won third place in the annual Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) Student Design Challenge in biomedical engineering. The student team and faculty sponsor presented their design at the annual RESNA convention that was held virtually in September due to COVID-19 restrictions. Continue reading LETU student team places third in national competition

MARSHALL — John Sargent, Dean of East Texas Baptist University’s School of Education, received the Texas Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (TACTE) Leadership Award during a virtual annual conference October 20. The award is given annually to someone who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the organization and who is deserving of TACTE recognition for significant contributions to the educator preparation process in Texas, according to an ETBU news release. Dr. Sargent has been teaching since 2003 at ETBU, where he has served as the Dean of the School of Education since 2016.