KTBB News, Weather, Talk

MARSHALL – Marshall police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect in a drive-by shooting. It happened late at night on February 15th in the 100 block of Johnson Street. The shooting was recorded on a neighbor’s home video surveillance. The video shows a dark-colored, 2-door sedan driving down the street and a person in the vehicle firing multiple rounds at a house. No injuries were reported, but the home sustained moderate damage. If you have any information about the shooting you are asked to contact Marshall police.

RUSK COUNTY — State Highway 42 in Rusk County has been reopened. Motorists had been urged to avoid the area of State Highway 42 at County Road 146 due to downed power lines. A truck tractor towing a semi trailer struck the lines, causing them to fall into the roadway. The roadway, which had been closed for hours, has now been reopened.

TYLER — An East Texas newborn continues to improve after an extremely delicate surgery in Dallas. When Alexandrea Campos of Tyler was 15 weeks into her pregnancy, she started having serious stomach pain. Subsequent testing found her unborn child had both spina bifida and excess fluid in the brain. They were referred to Medical City Dallas, where Dr. Timothy Cromblehome and his team did what’s called a fetal intervention — surgery performed while the unborn child is still in the womb. The operation — only the second open fetal procedure performed at the Dallas hospital — was a success. Baby Amari is now nearly a month old and thriving.

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office has released the names of a mother and daughter who died in a house fire last week. Alejandra Mayorga Chavez, 66 and Herlinda Beltran, 35, died the Tuesday, February 12. Smith County Assistant Fire Marshal Chad Hogue said there was no foul play suspected and the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Chapel Hill, Jackson Heights, Winona and Red Springs Fire Departments all responded to the scene.

LONGVIEW – Karl Rove, former top advisor to President George W. Bush, and Andrew Roberts, British historian and best selling author, are in Longview on Tuesday. They will be speaking to LeTourneau University students, Longview ISD students and the public.

The lectures start at 9:30am at LeTourneau University where Roberts will be lecturing on leadership. Rove will be lecturing on President Trump and the realignment of GOP politics. The lectures will be live-streamed on the KTBB Facebook page. Continue reading Karl Rove and Andrew Roberts Appearing in Longview

TYLER – Filings have closed for candidates running in the May 4th elections. The Tyler school district has two contested races. District 3 board member Jean Washington decided not to run again. Filing for her post is Tyler ISD Foundation director and local banker Marc Loredo and retired Tyler school principal Freeman Sterling. In District 6, school board president Reverend Fritz Hager Jr. is being challenged by Lisa McClure. The district 1 school board member, Wade Washmon, did not draw a challenger. The last day to register to vote in the election is April 4th. The first day for early voting is April 22nd.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man is heading to prison for a fatal Longview accident. Chad Palmer Malone, 20, received three 12 year sentences which will be served concurrently. The Longview News Journal reports Malone entered into a deal and received the sentences for two charges of racing causing death and one charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. It stems from his part in a fatal wreck in 2017 that killed his sister and his fiancee. A Hallsville man, who was racing Malone at the time of the accident, is scheduled for trial next month.

LOG CABIN – A body found in a car at Cedar Creek Lake has been identified as that of Brenda Montanez, 25, of Addison. She was reported missing by Addison police on January 27th. Her body was found Friday afternoon. The body was sent to a Dallas lab for autopsy. Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse told our news partner KETK the preliminary autopsy report showed there was no trauma to Montanez’s body and that water was found in her lungs. This would indicate that she had drowned. They are now awaiting a toxicology report, which could take up to 12 weeks.

HENDERSON – A suspect has been arrested in a fatal shooting in Henderson. The Longview News Journal reports Randy Buford Wynn, 63, was arrested in Louisiana. The arrest followed a Sunday night shooting at the Oak Manor Apartments on South Van Buren Street. Killed were Justin Smith, 31 and Holly Jones, 37. The ijured, who are said to be in stable condition, are Billie Pyers, 65, and Cassandra Shaffer, 26. Wynn is facing two capital murder charges in Henderson. What led to the shooting has not been released.

TYLER – Thanks to a Crimestoppers tip, a Tyler robbery suspect is in jail. Arrested was Jerry Lewis Cox Jr., 19, of Tyler. Officers found him Saturday and, after questioning, he was arrested for last Thursday night’s robbery of the Metro Food Mart on West Gentry Parkway. He is said to the the man who pointed a handgun at the clerk, demanded money and ran off with an undisclosed amount of money. He has been charged with aggravated robbery and is in the Smith County Jail under a $75,000 bond.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP/Staff) – Lindale’s own Miranda Lambert celebrated Valentine’s Day weekend with the announcement that she secretly got married. A representative for the star country singer confirmed the marriage after Lambert posted photos on social media Saturday showing her in a white lace gown with her new husband, Brendan Mcloughlin. She wrote that in honor of Valentine’s Day, she wanted to share that she “met the love of my life. And we got hitched!” It’s unclear when the marriage occurred. The two-time Grammy winner was previously married to country star Blake Shelton, but she hadn’t spoken publicly about her relationship with Mcloughlin before Saturday. Lambert, who is also a member of the group Pistol Annies, has had hits with songs like “The House That Built Me,” “White Liar,” “Mama’s Broken Heart,” and “Gunpowder and Lead.”

TYLER — Friday was the last day to file for the May municipal elections in Texas, and the city of Tyler has issued a final list of the candidates for city council. The District 3 race is the only one contested. Shirley McKellar, Pamela Phoenix, and Dalila Reynoso will vie to succeed Ed Moore, who is retiring due to term limits. District 5 incumbent Bob Westbrook and current District 1 Councilmember Linda Sellers are unopposed.

TYLER — The Golden Road Water Treatment Plant remains offline as the city of Tyler works to finish construction. According to a news release, officials are currently estimating four weeks before the plant can be brought back online, provided all work proceeds without complication. To further minimize the impact of the geosmin compound on water taste and odor during this time, the news release says staff continues to feed the maximum amount of ozone and powdered activated carbon at the Lake Palestine Water Treatment facility. Officials add that crews are flushing hydrants across the city to move the treated water through the system quickly. Continue reading Golden Road Water Treatment Plant Remains Offline

TYLER — The name change debate continues for Tyler Junior College. The college is up for re-accreditation in 2021. And according to our news partner KETK, the accrediting body wants to know beforehand if TJC is going to change its name. So a survey was sent out to students, staff, and alumni, asking them about the Tyler Junior College name. More than 1,200 people responded to the survey. Because TJC offers four-year degrees and workforce programs, school leaders want to know if “junior” is sending the wrong message to future students. teachers. even job recruiters. Mike Metke, Chancellor for the College District of TJC and Chief Executive Officer, says, “Junior college carries a different meaning, and so, when students leave our bubble here, the college doesn’t have the same amount of prestige that it does in our area of influence.” Continue reading TJC Considers Name Change

TYLER – A Tyler insurance agent has been exonerated of child abuse charges. William Ronald Crist, 47, of Flint, has been found not guilty of a variety child sexual assault charges. He was arrested last March for the continuous sexual assault of a child under the age of 14. He also faced two sexual assault of a child charges. His lawyer told our news partner KETK that Crist was “very grateful for the jury seeing the truth in this case.” Following his arrest last year, his lawyer told KETK that Crist “was going through a bitter divorce from his wife and we believe these allegations are being made by his wife for financial reasons and by his accuser for personal reasons.” He said Crist passed a polygraph exam regarding the allegations.

TYLER – The campus teachers of the year have been announced in the Tyler school district. Their school administrators and staff selected the winners at each campus. They were selected because they exemplify extraordinary models of leadership and excellence in teaching. This ultimately helps create successful student achievement. Tyler ISD will honor all Campus Teachers of the Year and announce its 2019 District Teachers of the Year at the annual Teacher of the Year Banquet to be held May 7th. The high school campus winners are Nancy Caraway at John Tyler and Melinda Tefteller at Robert E Lee. Continue reading TISD’s Campus Teachers of the Year

TYLER – The new president of CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System has now been commissioned for his new duties. The ceremony for Jason Proctor was held Thursday morning in the CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler Chapel. Proctor was selected as the new president last December 7th. Proctor has over a decade of leadership experience in both for-profit and not-for-profit health care. He was previously the chief operating officer for Christus Mother Frances Hospitals – Tyler, South Tyler and Christus Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital – Tyler since 2014.

RUSK – The Rusk Police Department is looking for assistance in identifying two persons involved in area thefts. They are believed to have been involved in an auto theft. The vehicle has been recovered. They are also possibly involved in thefts involving ATM’s or other coin type machines in Jacksonville, Tyler, Palestine, and Bullard. CrimeStoppers will pay a reward for information leading to the arrest/conviction of any suspects up to $1,000. If you have any information regarding the suspects or vehicle please contact the Rusk Police Department at 903-683-2677 or CrimeStoppers at 903-586-7867. Continue reading Rusk Theft Suspects Sought

LINDALE – Lindale police are asking for the public’s help in identifying two theft suspects. In a posting on Facebook, they say the theft occurred at Walmart. They are said to have arrived at the store in a Silver full size van, unknown make or model. If you know the subjects please contact the department and ask for Detective Curtis Philpot or by e-mail at curtisp@lindaletx.gov. Continue reading Lindale Theft Suspects Sought

TYLER — Tyler police are searching for an aggravated robbery suspect that held-up a gas station Thursday night. It happened around 10:35 at the Metro Food Mart on W. Gentry Parkway. Officers said the suspect pointed the handgun at the clerk, demanded money and ran off with an undisclosed amount of cash. He’s described as a black male, early 30s, 180 lbs, wearing a black hoodie and blue jeans. He also had a bandana covering his face. No injuries were reported.

TYLER – Tyler police say an office thief is at work in Tyler. They say the woman, seen in this picture, enters offices in Tyler while employees are working. She wants to steal purses for the financial contents while the employees are not present at their desk. She has been approached by employees and she convinces them that she was late for an appointment. She then uses the stolen credit cards that she took from the purses and purchases high dollar gift cards until the cards are declined. If you can identify this suspect please contact Detective Royce Jordan at the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1032.

TYLER – The names of the victims of a Tyler fire have been released. Fire Marshall Paul Findley identified them as a 1 year old girl, Cambryn Anderson-McAllister and Christopher Anderson, 40, who both died last Saturday. The third victim, Sharon Brown, 60, died last Sunday. Two children remain in a Fort Worth hospital after being transferred from Tyler on Saturday morning. Camden Anderson, 6, and Collin Anderson, 2, are both recovering from their injuries. The fire was reported around 6:15 last Friday evening at a home on North Grand. The fire is said to have started in the living room. The cause remains under investigation.

KILGORE – The Kilgore Public Library will be opening a Seed Library on Saturday. Library patrons will be able to check out seeds as well as books and other materials. The goal of the seed library is to cultivate a community of sharing and promote home gardening. Library patrons are encouraged to learn how to save seeds from the plants they grow and return the seeds to the library for other persons to plant in the following years. Saturday’s event will include a series of brief gardening talks as well as activities for children, a story time and planting activity.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler has received a $12,000 gift as a part of a collaboration between its School of Education and the Cooperative Teachers Credit Union. The gift will support the East Texas Center for School Based Research and Instruction. It provides professional development for teachers and administrators in the region. According to a news release from the school, the money will fund upcoming center projects designed to provide resources to help meet educational needs in area schools and communities. Projects include a school leadership conference, a literacy academy, an annual school law conference, a conference focused on women in leadership and seminar-style events called “ED Talks.”

TYLER – A Tyler woman has signed the official closing documents for her new home with Habitat for Humanity of Smith County. Diana Bautista and her two teenaged daughters plan to move into their new home on North Tenneha this weekend. She says, as a single mom, all they could afford was a one-bedroom garage apartment , and now, they have a home of their own. She and her daughters completed over 350 “sweat equity” hours by helping build her home and others. She is purchasing the house from Habitat with no interest on the 30 year mortgage. Continue reading A Proud New Home Owner in Tyler

CARTHAGE – An Overton man has been killed in a two vehicle accident in Panola County. Pronounced dead at the scene was Jesus Ramon Reyes, 41. He was killed when his pickup ran into the back of a trailer that was being pulled by a Mack truck. The Department of Public Safety report says the truck was legally stopped to make a left turn onto a private drive when the accident occurred. The Carthage man who was driving the truck was not injured. The accident occurred Wednesday afternoon shortly before 5:15 on U.S. Highway 79, just over two miles west of Carthage.

LONGVIEW – A jury in state district court in Longview has sentenced Johnifer Ray Mumphrey, 54, of Kilgore, to 55 years in prison. His punishment was enhanced because of his criminal record, which includes two felony convictions for burglary and sexual assault. Last May, he is said to have stormed into a home and choked a woman and hit her in the face with his fist. A couple of days after the incident, he was arrested by Kilgore police. He was charged with burglary of a habitation, with intent to commit assault.

AUSTIN – The state’s Million Dollar Loteria game has created a millionaire in Smith County. A Tyler resident claimed a top prize winning ticket worth $1 million in the Texas Lottery scratch ticket game. The winning ticket was purchased at Tiger Express #7, located on East Main Street in Whitehouse. The winner elected to remain anonymous. This was the third of five top prizes worth $1 million to be claimed in this game, which offers more than $90 million in total prizes.