KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – Smith County commissioners have approved a new budget for the fiscal year starting October 1st. At Tuesday morning’s meeting, the commissioners adopted an $89.9 million budget. This is around $450,000 below the county’s current budget. The tax rate will remain the same .33 per $100 valuation. They say, this would put Smith County’s tax rate lower than 90% of the state’s counties. In adopting the budget, the commissioners increased property taxes 3.47%. This would bring in around an additional $1.7 million for the county. Not all are pleased with the new budget. Grassroots America We the People continue to express their displeasure with it.

LONGVIEW — Police have made an arrest in connection with a Monday night shooting in Longview that injured a Henderson man. According to the police department’s Facebook page, Keeth Undray Johnson, 49, of Longview, was booked early this morning into the Gregg County Jail on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury and deadly conduct. Officers responded around 9:00 to the shooting at Huntington Hills apartments in the 2500 block of North Eastman Road. Upon arrival, officers found one victim, whose name has not been released, inside an apartment. He was taken to Longview Regional Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. On-site department spokesman Gene Duffie said the victim does not live at the apartments and that he was talking before he was transported to the hospital.

TYLER — Tyler Police say they’ve been contacted by two victims of a suspected scam targeting the Hispanic community. According to authorities, each victim contacted a phone number in an advertisement and was then advised by the suspect to go to 500 N. Barron Street to meet with the Healer. The Healer charged $500.00 and $200.00 for each victim to start the spiritual healing process because they were possessed with an evil spirit and their family was in danger. The Hispanic female suspect in her late 50’s to 60’s told the victims to return with very large sums of cash so that she could continue the healing process. Continue reading Tyler Police Warn Public of ‘Spiritual Scam’

MOUNT PLEASANT (AP) – Authorities are investigating what might have been a hoax call in which someone reported being held hostage inside an East Texas home, resulting in a nearly five-hour police standoff. The Mount Pleasant Daily Tribune reports police received a 911 call at 1:44 p.m. Monday from a person claiming they were being held at gunpoint inside a home. Police surrounded the home and for about five hours tried to establish contact with someone inside the house. Officers finally entered the home at 6:39 p.m. and found the structure was empty. Mount Pleasant Police Chief Wayne Isbell says the alleged victim had given a consistent story and had even provided a name of the suspect threatening him. Isbell says detectives are investigating the incident.

LONGVIEW – One person has been injured in a Longview shooting. It was reported around 9:45 Monday night at the Huntington Hill Apartments at 2500 North Eastman Road. Initial reports are a man has been taken to Longview Regional Medical Center for treatment.

PALESTINE – West Reagan Street in Palestine will be temporarily closed Tuesday. It will be closed between South Queen and Angle Streets from
8:30am to 2:00pm. Union Pacific is closing the street for track maintenance.

TYLER – Two residents of Tyler’s Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home have received the Medal of Knight in the French Legion of Honor. It was for their contribution to the liberation of France during WWII. Receiving the medal in a ceremony Monday afternoon was Austeen V. “Chuck” Bice and Homer C. Garrett. The Legion of Honor is the highest French decoration and shares the same characteristics with two U.S. decorations: the Medal of Honor, the highest decoration for military actions, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest decoration for civilian contributions.

GILMER – A hit and run accident in Upshur County remains under investigation. Ronnie Gonzales, 45, of Lubbock, was dead at the scene early Sunday morning on State Highway 300, about a 1 1/2 miles south of Gilmer. Found at the scene was lengthy skid marks and black metallic fragments. The Longview News Journal reports that Justice of the Peace Rhonda Welch says the vehicle that hit Gonzalez may have been a tractor-trailer rig or dual-wheeled truck

HENDERSON – The Rusk County Sheriff’s Department is asking the public’s help in locating a missing man. He is Oscar Armando Dono. According to the department’s Facebook page, he has been missing since August 17th. Dono has not been to work or contacted his family since that date. He was last seen at his home. If you have seen him, or know where he may be found, you are asked to contact the Rusk County Sheriff’s Department.

TYLER – A Henderson County man has died in a two vehicle accident in Smith County. Zachary Piper, 23, of Athens, was killed when his pickup and a garbage truck collided. The Department of Public Safety says his east bound pickup crossed over into the west bound lane and was hit by the truck. The accident happened shortly before 9:15 Monday morning on State Highway 31, two miles east of Tyler. The driver of the garbage truck, Michael Williams, 49, of Tyler, was taken to East Texas Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.

LONGVIEW — Alleged arsonists reportedly connected to several fires in Longview this year have been identified — some even arrested. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report there have been nearly 20 arson cases ranging from house to vehicle fires. The city’s fire marshal says with the help of tips, authorities have identified several people. some are even behind bars on other charges.

LONGVIEW — Longview police are crediting a nuisance abatement lawsuit with shutting down what they term a known drug house on 12th Street where a man was found shot to death — the first time in years that police have used such a tool. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. The lawsuit, which targeted the house near the Aurel Avenue intersection, was filed with assistance from the Texas Attorney General’s Office after Tony Bernard Nelson, 20, was found shot to death in the home in January. “Since the case was filed, there’s been zero activity other than cops stopping and checking” on things, said Kendric Montgomery (pictured), the Longview police area representative for the neighborhood. Montgomery was responsible for working to bring the lawsuit forward. Continue reading Longview Police Shutter Alleged Drug House with Lawsuit

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the TxDOT Tyler District during the week of August 29. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Motorists are reminded to slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones.

SMITH COUNTY – Tyler Maintenance plans to perform base repair work on SH 135 between Troup and Arp. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control. A second crew plans to conduct ditch maintenance on various roads around the county. Continue reading TxDOT’s Weekly Roadwork Update

TYLER – The drive-through at the City of Tyler Water Business Office will be reopened late this afternoon. The drive-through was closed August 18th so it could be replaced by a new electronic kiosk. Previously, customers could pay bills Monday through Friday from 7:00am till 6:00pm. With the new kiosk, customers will have 24/7 access to the water business office. With the kiosk, customers will able to pay with check, money order, credit/debit cards and cash. Those paying with cash need to know that no change will be given.

TYLER — For a second time, Tyler Junior College has been designated as an Achieving the Dream Leader College, a national honor awarded to institutions in the ATD National Network that have shown three years of steady improvement in student success. According to a news release from the college, TJC first achieved Leader College status in 2013. Achieving the Dream grants Leader College designation for three-year cycles, and institutions must undergo a re-certification process to maintain their status. Continue reading TJC Re-Designated a Leader College by Achieving the Dream

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating the Saturday night robbery of the Corner Market at Old Jacksonville Highway and Lake Placid Rd. Police called to the scene around 10:00 p.m. were told the thief entered the business and demanded money from the clerk as he displayed a knife. He is described as African-American, 5’4” to 5’5”, 160-170 lbs., wearing black pants, a black hoodie, and a mask. Police say the clerk sustained minor injuries during the course of the robbery. The robber left in an unknown direction with an undetermined amount of money, according to authorities. Continue reading Tyler Convenience Store Robbed, Suspect Sought

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is searching for two people who allegedly burglarized the I-20 Ranch Storage, near the intersection of Highway 259 and the interstate. KETK reports at this time it’s unknown when the burglaries happened or how many storage units were hit. Deputies are searching for a man and woman driving a white and blue van with its front grill missing, and a grey truck. Anyone with information on the people in the photographs is asked to contact Investigator Gary Robinson at (903) 236-8400 or call Crime Stoppers at (903) 236-STOP.

LONGVIEW – Two persons have died as the result of a Longview shooting. Both were taken To Good Shepherd Medical Center by private vehicle. One died after arriving at the hospital. The other died several hours later. Longview police have identified them as Melekia Rae Russ Montgomery, 25, and Alexis Johnson, 23, both of Longview. The shooting was reported just before 1:00 Friday afternoon on Johnson Street in South Longview. The investigation is continuing.

LONGVIEW — An East Texas woman has been indicted for intoxication manslaughter. On Tuesday, January 26, White Oak police say Erin Fannin, 33, of Hawkins, was driving a pickup truck westbound in the eastbound lanes of traffic on Highway 80 when she struck a vehicle driven by Curtis Foulke, 48, of White Oak. KETK reports Foulke died as a result of the crash. Fannin was released from jail on January 27, on a $25,000 bond.

TYLER – A Tyler man has been arrested for a Smith County burglary. Ronald Dewayne Mayweather, 19, was arrested late Thursday night running away from a sheriff’s deputy. He had been sent to a home on Highway 64 East, which had been burglarized the night before. The homeowner reported seeing a flashlight in the back yard and a truck parked nearby. The suspect is said to have run from the first deputy on the scene. He was taken into custody when a second deputy pulled her patrol car into his path. Mayweather has been charged with burglary of a habitation and evading arrest. He was booked into the Smith County jail with bonds totaling $26,000.

SMITH COUNTY – An East Texas woman has been killed in a Smith County accident. Pronounced dead at the scene was Nicola Haley, 65, of Larue. The crash occurred around 8:00 Friday morning on State Highway 155, about six miles south of Tyler. The Department of Public safety reports her car was headed south when the vehicle went off the road. The driver overcorrected and lost control of the vehicle. The car then slid through a ditch, hit a power pole and over turned.

AUSTIN – An East Texas man is one of three persons named by the governor to the Product Development and Small Business Incubator Board. Governor Greg Abbott named Jimmy Mize of Nacogdoches to the board. Mize is the market president and lending manager of the Nacogdoches Branch of First Bank & Trust East Texas. Also named to the panel were Clement Marcus of El Paso and Kelli Frias of Lubbock. Their terms will expire February 1st, 2021. The fund is a revolving loan program administered by the Office of the Governor, Texas Economic Development Bank within the Office of Economic Development Finance at the direction of the PDSBI Board. The purpose of the fund is aid in the development, production and commercialization of new or improved products and to foster and stimulate small business in the state.

TYLER – The annual United Way Campaign is off and running in Tyler and Smith County. Around 300 persons were on hand for the kickoff luncheon. And again this year, instead of a financial goal, the campaign’s goal is to get more donors. Director of Marketing Reece Anderson said, like last year, this year’s goal is 10% more participation in the campaign. Last year, 8,300 persons contributed $1.6 million. He said they would like to see around 9,500 contributing this year. The money raised each year goes to fund programs at nearly two dozen local agencies.

FLINT — A Flint neighborhood, just south of Tyler, was the target of car burglars Wednesday night. According to KETK, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office says 11 break-ins were reported from two streets in the same neighborhood. Four cars were burglarized on Nashville Drive and seven more on Southern Trace Circle. No items were taken but all of the vehicles had been rummaged through. Investigators say all of the vehicles were unlocked.

HENDERSON – A joint investigation between the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office and the Henderson Police Department resulted in the seizure of nearly two dozen marijuana plants. The plants, that appear to have been cultivated and maintained, were found west of Henderson off County Road 424. KETK reports the plants, some as tall as 12 feet, were estimated to have a street value of around $20,000. The investigation into the discovery is continuing.

TURNERTOWN – A search warrant served at a Rusk County home has turned up drugs and stolen property. In the house on County Road 4135, Northeast of Turnertown, officers found suspected methamphetamine and marijuana and numerous firearms. They also found what is believed to be stolen property, including ATV’s. The estimated value of the stolen items was $50,000. They are now trying to find the man who lived there, Kennon Murphy, 42. He has been named in an arrest warrant for manufacturing or delivery of a controlled substance.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department has started using a new software mapping program. This will make available where police reports have been filed and the nature of those calls. Police spokesman Kristy Brains says they have been working on getting such a program for over a year. This new interactive crime mapping software will give citizens the ability to gain access to the data they are looking for on their desktop or mobile device. She said you will also have the option to to sign up for email notifications for activity that is occurring in a specific area. To access the mapping program go to LongviewTexas.gov/CrimeMap or go to the police department home page and click on the interactive crime map button at the bottom of the page.

LONGVIEW – The latest scam to surface occurred in Longview where someone sent a woman postal envelope containing a check. She was told to cash the check and go to a local merchant and fill out a survey. When the survey was completed, they were told to send them back a check for a large amount of the money and to keep the smaller amount as their payment. The lady was smart and didn’t fall for the scam. Longview police remind you, to be watchful for any offer that seems “too good to be true”. If someone asks you for your identifying information do not give it out, whether it’s over the phone or by mail service.

MARSHALL – The Marshall Police Department’s “Cool Cops” truck will soon we seen around the city. Instead of putting persons in the cooler, the cops will be handing out free ice cream. Police Chief Eddie Campa says its a program designed to bring the police and community closer. And besides handing out free ice cream around the city, they will also be teaming up with the Marshall School District. The will be sponsoring competitions within the schools, where winners will be rewarded for excelling in academics. And the program was started at no cost to Marshall residents. The truck was already in the department inventory. Everything else, including the ice cream and the graphics on the truck were all donated.