KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Crews responded to a house fire west of Tyler near State Highway 31 on Tuesday night, forcing a family of 10 to evacuate. According to Smith County Emergency Services District 2 spokesperson Nikki Simmons and our news partner KETK, the fire started on the back porch of a home in the 9700 block of Hill N. Dale Road. The flames quickly spread from the porch into the attic and firefighters were forced to take a defensive approach upon arrival.

Simmons said homeowners alerted first responders that a gun safe containing ammunition was inside the home, which is an important safety concern for firefighters on scene.

The family was able to move their vehicles away from the house before the fire spread further. No injuries were reported and crews were able to contain the flames.

The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office will investigate the cause of the fire.

ANDERSON COUNTY – The state has been granted a 60-day extension to determine the future of Robert Roberson’s case. According to court documents and our news partner KETK, the state requested a 60-day extension before returning to court, citing the trial’s unprecedented nature and that Roberson’s prior conviction was based on flawed science.

The state also requested the extension, claiming that the lead counsel has been unable to give the case their full attention because they are working on other capital cases with death sentences.

Roberson’s attorney, Gretchen Sween, is pleading with the Anderson County District Court to deny the state’s request, stating that it exposes the weakness of the plaintiffs’ position after they had months to file an answer.

“The state’s request for yet more delay does not make sense,” court documents said. “It relies on a mischaracterization of the history and posture of this case,” Sween stated. “The state has long been on notice of the basis of Mr. Roberson’s remanded claim and further delay is wholly unjustified.” Continue reading State granted 60-day extension

OVERTON — An Overton ISD coach has been taken into custody and is facing allegations of causing harm to a student during a basketball practice. According to a probable cause warrant from Rusk County, the victim allegedly performed a basketball play incorrectly, resulting in an injury inflicted by Head Girls Basketball Coach Zachariary Griffin.

Surveillance footage captured Griffin approaching the student, where he grabbed and twisted her ear, forcing her head to the left. While still holding her ear, he reportedly moved several feet around the basketball court and aggressively twisted both of her ears, causing the victim to stand on her tiptoes. A teacher, who witnessed the incident, approached the victim to see if she was okay, but the victim kept crying in pain. The document states that the girl then informed her parents that her ears were burning, appeared bloodshot and had experienced pain throughout the day. Continue reading Coach charged after allegedly injuring student

SMITH COUNTY – At approximately 12:20 a.m. on Sunday, Smith County dispatchers received a call reporting a residence on fire Valleyview Ridge near Dean Road in rural Smith County.
Fire crews responded to the location to extinguish the fire and the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office responded to investigate the origin and cause of the fire.

The home was occupied by four residents and the fire started in the attic space near the chimney, Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue reported. The fire was contained to the immediate area around the chimney, but significant damage was done to the home. The cause of the fire was accidental due to fire escaping from the chimney into the attic of the residence while the fireplace was being used, Hogue said.

At about 6 a.m. another emergency call was received, reporting the same residence fully engulfed with fire. The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office investigated and determined this fire was a rekindle of the previous fire. The structure was a total loss and no injuries were reported, Hogue said.

The Red Cross was contacted and is assisting the displaced residents.

TYLER – Tyler Animal Control and Shelter is offering no-cost adoptions for dogs and cats throughout February with a donation of 12 new white towels. The standard adoption fee is $120 for dogs and $80 for cats. All animals adopted from Tyler Animal Services are spayed/neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. If you would like to adopt, see all available pets for adoption, or submit an application, visit the Tyler Animal Services webpage.
 

ATHENS – An Athens ISD (AISD) teacher and basketball coach was arrested after marijuana and a firearm were found in his vehicle. According to a report from the district, the unidentified staff member was taken into custody on Monday morning and was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation. Our news partners at KETK had this excerpt from an AISD statement: “Athens ISD is committed to upholding the highest level of integrity as a matter of public trust,” the district said. “We appreciate the response of our staff and school resource officers and will continue to cooperate fully as the matter moves forward.”

TYLER – After violating his probation, Patrick Mahomes Sr., the father of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, was taken into custody and is currently being held at the Smith County Jail. Our news partner KETK reports that Mahomes Sr. was arrested after breaking his probation, according to the Smith County District Attorney’s Office. On February 3, 2024, he was arrested in Tyler for driving under the influence.

MOUNT PLEASANT – CHRISTUS Health held the grand opening of their new Mount Pleasant facility Monday, February 2. The 33,500-square-foot facility will feature a 15-bed emergency department with state-of-the-art imaging and onsite laboratory, along with full-service imaging and lab. It will also have a dedicated dedicated clinic space that will house providers in primary care, outpatient physical therapy, and cardiology with space designated for visiting specialists

OVERTON – The City of Overton is asking residents to contact the Overton Police Department if they see any packs of dogs after a woman was attacked on Sunday. According to our news partner KETK and the City of Overton, a young woman was attacked by a pack of dogs on Sunday evening near the Dairy Queen but luckily she was able to defend herself with pepper spray.

“Unfortunately these stray dogs have crossed a line and must go,” the city said in a social media post on Monday. City officials asked residents to report any sightings of dog packs to the Overton Police Department at 903-834-3145. The city reminded residents to not feed any stray dogs and to use caution when they pass nearby.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office apprehended a man on Monday who is suspected of being involved in multiple burglaries. According to our news partner KETK, the sheriff’s office attempted to contact Skylar Maynard in Reklaw on Monday but he fled from law enforcement. According to the sheriff’s office, Maynard was eventually caught by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Beto pack dog unit.

Maynard was then arrested for evading arrest or detention. The sheriff’s office identified Maynard as a suspect in several burglaries that have happened across Cherokee County from Jacksonville to Alto and that more charges are pending against him. The sheriff’s office added that Maynard allegedly fled from law enforcement two times within the last week.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – It’s already been a big week. Congress has ended the partial government shutdown and approved 1.2 trillion dollars in spending.

But, with Minneapolis still engaged in demonstrations daily, the one thing some want is the identifies of ICE agent. Meaning, they want them maskless and with badges displayed. KTBB spoke with District 1 Representative Nathaniel Moran and asked him about ICE agents going mask less. He replied, “I fully support ICE agents wearing masks because we’ve seen ICE agents and other law enforcement agencies be targeted for doing their duty, and that is to arrest folks for breaking the law. And, in this case arrest and deport folks that are breaking the law. And, we do not want to see law enforcement men and women targeted. We don’t want to see them come under fire by anybody else, that would seek to do them harm. We know there are paid and organized agitators that are intending to interfere with the lawful performance of those duties. And so, I fully support continue to support them to hide their faces, so there is not an additional security measure that comes into play.”
Continue reading Congressman Moran on ICE

KILGORE – Chad Adamson, 43 of Tatum, involved in a fatal December wreck, was arrested this weekend. Adamson turned himself in to the Gregg County Jail on an intoxication manslaughter charge. His bond was set at $25,000 and he was released from the jail Monday.

A probable cause affidavit states that on December 9, while intoxicated, Adamson caused Christine Donley’s death in a two-vehicle collision on US 259 in Kilgore. According to the arrest report, Adamson struck Donley’s car after crossing the median and traveling south in the northbound lane. Continue reading Man charged with intoxication manslaughter

KILGORE — UPDATE: All lanes are now open after authorities cleared the scene

Westbound I-20 near mile marker 587, just east of State Highway 42, is completely closed until further notice due to an 18-wheeler that caught fire monday. According to our news partner KETK and the Kilgore Fire Department, significant delays on Interstate 20 westbound are expected while the department responds. Texas Department of Transportation cameras show that traffic on the westbound lane is backed up past State Highway 31.