KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – This year marks the 90th annual Texas Rose Festival. The kickoff celebration was held at the Willow Brook Country Club in Tyler on Friday, July 12th. It comes at the end of a long week of practices and walk-throughs. 2023’s Rose Princess, Conley Cavender, took the time to welcome out-of-town guests, the committee and sponsors. 2023’s Rose Queen, Laura Bryan, taking the moment to thank all of the volunteers after a long week of coronation practices. Tickets go on sale to the public starting September 1st at the UT Tyler Cowan Center.

TYLER – Smith County law enforcement are investigating a shooting that left two people injured early Saturday morning. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, and our new partner KETK, deputies responded to a deadly conduct call in the 13300 block of Highway 64 West and found two people with gunshot wounds around 5:15 a.m. They started first aid at the scene until paramedics arrived.

While investigating, deputies reportedly talked with witnesses at the scene who said both of the gunshot victims were in an argument with each other. They were taken to different Tyler-area hospitals. One was in surgery for life-threatening injuries and the other is in stable condition. The identity of both people is being withheld pending notification of family.

DALLAS – The Texas Department of Public Safety has issued an Amber Alert for a 11-year-old girl who may have been abducted Friday night. Tanya Jackson was last seen at 8 p.m. in the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, according to the Waxahachie Police Department. She is 5’7″ tall, weighs 170 lbs., and has brown eyes and black hair. She was last seen wearing a white t-shirt with red lettering.

If you know where she is or if you have seen her, please call the Waxahachie Police Department at (469) 309-4400.

TYLER – Our news partner KETK reports that a man was arrested after a standoff with law enforcement on Friday night. Deputies with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance call in the 9800 block of CR 4136 just northwest of Tyler around 10:45 p.m. When they arrived, they said 29-year-old Victor Morales ran into the residence and barricaded himself in a bedroom.

Several minutes after failed attempts at contact, Morales allegedly called his wife and told her that he was locked in the bathroom with a gun and the baby was on the bed. The SWAT Team entered the residence and retreived the baby from the bedroom. The baby was unharmed and was safely returned to the mother. Morales was taken to the Smith County Jail and booked for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, endangering a child, assault family violence and evading arrest/detention.

TYLER – Police are investigating a homicide after a man was found dead in Tyler Saturday morning. According to our news partner KETK, around 7:40 a.m., the Tyler Police Department and EMS responded to a shooting on McKenzie Drive. The victim,  identified as Jaraine Tyrone Johnson, 38, of Tyler, was taken to a local hospital by EMS but reportedly died. A first-degree murder warrant was obtained for Leeautrey Morgan, 31, of Tyler, who was identified as the victim’s brother. He was booked into the Smith County Jail with bond set at $1 million.

LONGVIEW – CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Hospital in Longview has been named one of 262 hospitals in the nation who have met high-level standards for cardiac patient care. According to our news partner KETK, the hospital was awarded the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR (National Cardiovascular Data Registry) Chest Pain – MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2023.

This is the hospital’s first time winning the award and the first time any hospital in Longview has won the Platinum Performance Award, according to CHRISTUS Health. Only 262 hospitals have won the award across the entire United States.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine and School of Health
Professions have partnered with the East Texas Human Needs Network to present survey results on the
health status of Smith County. The presentation will be at the Power of Partnership Symposium noon – 2
p.m., July 18, at the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center. Continue reading The UT Tyler: Smith County Health Status Results

MABANK – A juvenile is in custody after allegedly fatally shooting a Canton man in the head, officials said.

According to Mabank police, they were dispatched to the 1400 block of Pharm Hills Road in Mabank on Thursday where they found an adult man who had a gunshot wound to his head inside a residence. Officers started life-saving measures on the victim who was taken to UT Health in Gun Barrel City where he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.

The victim was identified as 24-year-old Peter Parker from Canton, officials said.

After reportedly speaking with three other men at the location, investigators took a juvenile male into custody. He was taken to the Van Zandt County Juvenile Detention Center after being booked in for manslaughter, a second degree felony.

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK report that one person is dead and four are injured after a tanker truck hauling diesel crashed Thursday afternoon near the Motor Vehicle Weigh Station on US 59 between Lufkin and Nacogdoches. According to DPS, a preliminary investigation found that around 12:30 p.m. the truck was traveling south on the road when a 2014 Hyundai Sonata traveling north reportedly made a U-turn in front of the truck and was struck on its passenger side. The truck then overturned. Continue reading 1 dead, 4 injured after tanker truck crash on US 59

LUFKIN – Our News partner KETK reports that a Lufkin man was arrested around 5:45 p.m. on Thursday after allegedly fleeing the scene of a crash at the intersection of Frank Avenue and Hill Street. Chester Ray Jones, 38 of San Augustine, who was driving a Ford Expedition, rear-ended a Chevrolet Cruze after disregarding a traffic light and veering into the turn lane to avoid a stopped vehicle, according to a press release. Officials said the Ford continued through the intersection and left the road. Once stopped in the tree line, Jones reportedly ran from the vehicle before he was arrested moments later on Ellis Avenue, the press release stated.

The driver of the Chevrolet was taken to a local hospital by ambulance because she was complaining of a laceration to her leg, officials said. According to the city of Lufkin, Jones was arrested and taken to have his blood drawn.

ANDERSON COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK a man was found to be in possession of a “white crystalline substance” while being arrested for three previous warrants out of Anderson County, according to authorities. On July 11, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office served a warrant on CR 3704 and arrested Cedric Dupree on three warrants that involved two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of evading arrest with previous conviction. During the arrest, authorities said Dupree was found to be in possession of a “white crystalline substance.” Dupree received an additional possession of a controlled substance charge and was booked into the Anderson County Jail with a total bond of $60,000.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK a man was arrested on Tuesday after a multi-agency narcotics search warrant operation in Cherokee County. According to the sheriff’s office, 25,000 pills, five pill presses, five ounces of meth, about 40 pounds of powder prepared to be turned into pills and multiple firearms were located in rural Cherokee County on CR 2510 during the search. Robert Martin, 44 of Alto, was arrested at the scene and officials said he is facing anticipated charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. “He’s passing these pills out or selling them. They can get into the hands of children, they can get into the hands of an adult who thinks they are taking something else. It can be detrimental to our community and the communities around us,” said Cherokee County Sheriff Brent Dickson. Continue reading 25,000 pills seized in narcotics operation in Cherokee County

LUFKIN – Angelina College officials Thursday accepted a nearly $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education on behalf of the college. According to our news partner KETK, the Title V grant has two main parts. Establishing new tech programs for in-demand occupations and making better support services. Marcy Anthony, Title V project director said. “We’re now going to offer a networking administration degree, which is actually starting this fall in year two of the grant. Then, in year three, we’ll be able to offer a software development program as a new degree.” In addition to the new degree programs, the college will also provide more services designed to ensure student retention and success. In 2022, Angelina College was one of 78 higher education institutions selected to receive the Title V grant.

TYLER – Jaime W. Burke-Hicks, a teacher and student council adviser at The University of Texas at Tyler University Academy Longview campus, has been named the National Student Council Middle-Level Adviser of the Year at the 2023 Vision National Leadership Conference. She was named the Texas Association of Student Councils’ Middle-Level Adviser of the Year in May.
“This national recognition speaks volumes about Mrs. Hicks and her contributions to the district. I congratulate her, and we are extremely proud,” said Dr. Jo Ann Simmons, UA superintendent. Continue reading UT Tyler teacher named national adviser of the year

HENDERSON COUNTY – Three people were arrested on Monday in Henderson County after officials said a large amount of suspected meth was found during a traffic stop. According to our news partner KETK the Henderson County sheriff’s office stopped the car on FM 315, south of Chandler, where suspected meth was found during a search of the car. Timothy Haley, 54 of Chandler, Alec Graham, 27 of North Richland and Lauren Carpenter, 34 of Chandler, were all arrested for first-degree felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver over 4 grams. They were all booked into the Henderson County Jail.

TENNESSEE COLONY – According to our news partner KETK an officer at an East Texas prison was arrested after a random vehicle search produced a suspicious substance. The staff at the H. H. Coffield Unit found three vacuum-sealed bags of a “green leafy substance” while doing random searches of employee vehicles entering the unit on June 30. Officer Diana Ngyangau was arrested by investigators from the Office of the Inspector General for introduction of K2 and was drug tested.

TDCJ officials said she worked at that unit for 29 months prior to the incident. The Coffield Unit has 518 employees and can house around 4,000 inmates. It is located five miles southwest of Tennessee Colony on FM 2054.

HALLSVILLE – Harrison County Sheriff’s are investigating the shooting of a Hallsville man. According to our news partner KETK, authorities were called to Walker’s Mill Road in Hallsville where they found 44-year-old Kevin Rogers shot. Rogers died at the scene. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office is running an inquiry on the case.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler was awarded $211,000 by the National Institutes of Health to help improve blood-clotting medications for treatments in lung disorders and diseases. The project is designed to identify dosing of fibrinolytic, or clot-busting, agents that can be safely and effectively administered to the compartment surrounding the lung to dissolve clots large enough to impair lung function. Dr. Steven Idell, UT Tyler professor of medicine and senior vice president for research, serves as principal investigator for the one-year NIH project. Continue reading UT Tyler Awarded $211,000 NIH Grant to Help Improve Pulmonary Medications

TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, the city council announced on Wednesday that they approved a new ordinance that will reduce the school zone speed limit to 20 mph at 12 schools throughout the city. To see a full list of changes click here.
In addition to those changes, a stretch of Old Bullard Road will have a decreased speed limit. The portion of the road between Amherst Street and Old Jacksonville Highway will now have a speed limit of 30 mph, down from its previous speed limit of 45 mph.

CAMP COUNTY – A man was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday for the 2021 murder of a 21-year-old Camp County woman.

According to the sheriff’s office, Tyrek Neal, 25 of Daingerfield, pleaded guilty to fatally shooting Makayla Goodson, 21, numerous times in her home in the Thunderbird Point community on Nov. 5, 2021.

Camp County Sheriff John Cortelyou said he wanted to congratulate the team who worked tirelessly on the case.

“This shows that it is not any one person, but a whole team that works together to have a successful outcome, and I want to say thanks team,” Cortelyou said.

TYLER — The City of Tyler is looking for school crossing guards for the upcoming academic year. With 17 schools and 28 school crossings, the City needs 35 guards to ensure the safety of students during their daily commute, according to a news release from the city. Currently, there are nine crossing guard positions available, offering an hourly wage of $11.55. Those hired for this role will have the opportunity to return for the following school year, earning a stable and reliable source of income. The crossing guard position follows the Tyler Independent School District (TISD) schedule, making it a seasonal opportunity. Continue reading Crossing guards needed for upcoming school year

TYLER — A new Texas law will give church security teams more protections. Senate Bill 694 is authored by Senator Bryan Hughes, of Mineola. According to our news partner KETK, the bill aims at protecting safety teams at houses of worship who remove or use force on anyone who is disrupting service. The bill will grant civil immunity to church security and safety teams. In order to be protected under the new law, the team must be hired employees or volunteer with paperwork to prove it. Senate Bill 694 covers the possession or use of a firearm leading to death, damage or injury. The Texas Security Coalition promotes every church to have adequate training, so no one is wrongly accused. The bill and training will benefit any church no matter how big the congregation is. This new law will become effective on September 1.

CROCKETT – Crockett Police have arrested a 17-year-old boy in a trio of robberies of businesses in Crockett. According to our news partner KETK, authorities arrested Jose Berrios Jr. Sunday for driving with a suspended license. During the stop, officers identified Berrios’ vehicle from video footage from a robbery at a local gas station. Police were able to collect blood and fibers from a robbery July 5 at a lumber store in Crockett. Because Berrios used a gun in one of the robberies he has been charged with aggravated assault and burglary. He remains in jail with a bond set at $60,000. Police also believe that Berrios was responsible for an unsolved aggravated robbery that took place back in April at a Crockett food store.

HENDERSON COUNTY – Law enforcement Monday arrested persons with what they say was a large quantity of suspected meth found during a traffic stop. According to our news partner KETK, arrested was 54-year-old Timothy Haley and Lauren Carpenter, 34 both of Chandler. Also arrested was 27-year-old Alec Graham of North Richland. The trio were stopped near Chandler on FM 315 by Henderson County Sheriff’s. The suspected meth was discovered during the search of their vehicle. All three were arrested and booked into Henderson County jail on first-degree possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

WHITE OAK – Police in White Oak are investigating a homicide after officials said Kimberly Jayne Alexander, 61, of White Oak, was found inside a home with a gunshot wound, according to our news partner KETK. Officials said they were notified on Monday of a deceased person inside a home in the 100 block of Larkspur where Alexander was found. The case is being investigated as a homicide. In a statement posted on the White Oak Police Department Facebook page, the investigation led to a warrant for murder on the suspect, James Michael Alexander, 63 of White Oak, who was Mrs. Alexander’s husband. Information had been gained that he recently leased a room at a Longview hotel. White Oak officers located him there and took him into custody without further incident. The Gregg County Sheriff’s Department lent their assistance with the arrest.

TYLER — Brookshire Grocery Co. announced on Tuesday they have reached an agreement with Walgreens where they will acquire the company’s 120 pharmacies in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. According to our news partner KETK, Brookshire Grocery said the vast majority of these locations are being converted to Walgreens pharmacies that will operate inside of their stores. “The pharmacy industry has become increasingly complex over the past few years, and it was important to us to find a business leader that has the capabilities to focus on providing exceptional pharmacy services and value to our customers,” Chairman and CEO of Brookshire Grocery Co. Brad Brookshire said. Continue reading Brookshire’s to sell pharmacy business to Walgreens

ANDERSON COUNTY — An officer at an East Texas prison was arrested after a random vehicle search produced a suspicious substance. According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, staff at the H. H. Coffield Unit in Tennessee Colony, found three vacuum-sealed bags of a “green leafy substance” in the car of officer Diana Ngyangau June 30. Officer Ngyangau was arrested by investigators from the Office of the Inspector General for introduction of K2 and was drug tested. TDCJ officials said she worked at that unit for 29 months prior to the incident. The arrest was part of a series of random searches of employee vehicles entering the prison. The Coffield Unit houses up to 4,000 prisoners and has more than 500 employees.

LUFKIN — A Crockett man was arrested on Monday night and another man remains at large after a multi-agency task force in relation to the April shooting death of a man from Lufkin. According to our news partner KETK, just before 9:00 Monday night, Trederrick Dewayne Sherman, 17, was arrested on a murder warrant at a house on Briar Lane in Crockett. Jardon Lamontre Castle, 18, of Jasper, remains at large. Lufkin police said Richard Coutee was shot to death on his front doorstep April 3. Continue reading Lufkin homicide suspect arrested, another remains at large

LONGVIEW — Longview ISD announced that Longview High School Principal James Brewer died on Monday evening following a “sudden cardiac event.” According to our news partner KETK, Brewer was preparing to start his 17th year at Longview High School and the district said he dedicated his life to education. LISD called Brewer an “exceptional leader, mentor, and friend to all who knew him.” The high school will provide counseling services and support to students and staff to help them cope with the tragic event. “The legacy of Mr. James Brewer will forever remain a guiding light at Longview Independent School District,” said Dr. James WIlcox, LISD Superintendent. Continue reading Longview ISD announces death of beloved high school principal