KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – Southside Bank has announced the opening of a new loan production office in Dallas at 5949 Sherry Lane, Suite 1055. the office officially opened on January 16 and will primarily serve clients in the Dallas area. This new office adds to the bank’s 15 locations throughout North Texas, and Lee Gibson, Southside’s President and CEO says it further demonstrates Southside’s commitment to growing their North Texas presence.

Southside Bank is headquartered in Tyler, with approximately $7.97 billion in assets. They currently operate 55 branches and a network of 73 ATMs throughout East Texas, Southeast Texas, and the greater Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, and Houston areas.

TYLER — On Wednesday, Jan. 10, the Tyler City Council approved continuing the professional services contract, in the amount of $2,379,480, with Fitzpatrick Architects and Halff for the Downtown Improvement Project. The companies will handle the architectural and engineering services for the project’s design/plan production, bidding, and construction. For the past nine months, collaborative efforts between the City, Smith County, Fitzpatrick Architects, and Halff resulted in finalized design plans for Downtown Tyler. The design was reviewed at a joint meeting with the Smith County Commissioners and City Council. It was also discussed with the Main Street Board and businesses located Downtown. The next steps include developing plans for bidding on the project and construction management during the duration of the project. Continue reading Downtown Improvement Project moves forward

TYLER– The Tyler Parks and Rec announced on Wednesday that the Glass Recreation Center is closed until further notice due to a water leak. According to our news partner KETK, officials say the water at the center has been shut off and the center will be closed until the situation can be accessed. The Glass Recreation Center say they will provide updates when they get more information.

KILGORE – Kilgore city officials report that five water breaks that were discovered Wednesday morning have been fixed. According to our news partner KETK, the breaks were found around 10:15 a.m. on Longview Street and Kay Street were repaired by 5:15 p.m. The city wants to remind homeowners to call city crews to turn off their water and to not get into their meter box. They wrote in a release, “If you have a personal shutoff installed as part of your repair from this freeze, the city will waive the fee for turning off the water.”

The city of Kilgore website also has a trash pickup update. You can find that here.

RUSK – Because of a water main leak, the Rusk Rural Water Supply has issued a boil water notice. According to our news partner KETK, the notice is for users off of FM 1248 and the following country roads: 2102, 2102, 2103, 2107, 2109, 2110, 2111, 2115, 2117, 2118, 2119, 2120, 2121, 2201, 2202 and 2217. Officials ask that water usage be limited to necessary use, and to bring any water to a rolling boil for two minutes before use or consumption. Rusk Rural Water Supply said they will notify customers when the boil water notice is lifted. Any questions regarding the water notice, call Rusk Rural Water Supply at 903-683-6178.

SHELBY COUNTY – Our colleagues at KETK report a 60-year-old man died in custody in Shelby County, the sheriff’s office said. James Jackson of Center died at approximately 5:35 a.m. on Wednesday morning. The Texas Rangers were called in and are investigating the death.

TATUM – Our news partners at KETK report that the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decided last week to uphold the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s designation that Panola and Rusk counties do not meet national air quality standards for harmful dioxide due to a local coal plant. According to the Sierra Club, the EPA made its original nonattainment designation for the two counties in the 2010 sulfur dioxide National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Locals also raised health concerns in 2019 over possible exposure from the Martin Lake coal plant pollution. Continue reading Court upholds EPA air quality standards

TYLER – With severe winter conditions subsiding, TxDOT is asking drivers to be aware of their workers as they go about their day. With TxDOT working hard to treat roads, bridges and overpasses, they are also responsible with whats left after the freeze has gone. Jeff Williford, Public Information Officer for Tyler’s TxDOT District said, “Clean up, just from the granular material and things we put out. Branches, like I said before. We’ll work on clean-up of those, moving them from the roadway. Keep that in mind when you see us out, even after these events, to give us room ”
Continue reading TxDOT is cleaning up after the big freeze

KILGORE – With the icy winter weather letting up, Kilgore city officials report three water main breaks. According to our news partner KETK, two of the breaks are on Longview Street with the third on Kay Street. Repairs are expected to take most of the day. Highway 42 at Longview Street is currently running at one lane. Kilgore police said on Wednesday that there are still some scattered patches of ice, along with some black ice on the roads.

TYLER – With cold weather lingering Wednesday morning, about 5,177customers in East Texas are without power as of 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Our news partner KETK has compiled a list of counties with power outages from ONCOR and SWEPCO’s power outage maps, as well as several electric co-ops. You can find that list here.

EAST TEXAS — As East Texans try to stay warm in the freezing temperatures, fire departments are staying busy responding to structure fires from heating sources, our news partner KETK reports. Eric Greaser, the fire chief for Emergency Services District 2 shares some safety tips:

• Keep all heating sources at least three feet away from anything that can burn.
• Keep all children away from the heater.
• Do not use extension cords.

“Definitely recommend that you have a working smoke detector, a carbon monoxide alarm and utilize every bit of caution with space heaters and things of that nature,” said Greaser. Continue reading First responders battle fires caused by heat sources

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Road 2173, also known as Carl Dowdy Road, south of Whitehouse, is closed to thru traffic because of unsafe, icy conditions. County Engineer Frank Davis said part of the road is a 90-degree turn while going downhill. That section of road remained in the shade today, so it did not have the chance to melt like other roads did. Davis said it was reported to his department Tuesday afternoon, that the section of road had remained icy, and several people ended up in an accident when they tried to drive it. The Smith County Road and Bridge Department decided to barricade CR 2173, from Willingham Road to Paluxy Road (FM 756), until it can be driven safely.

TYLER — With road conditions improving, City of Tyler offices will open Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, Monday trash collections will resume, and Tuesday collections will resume on Thursday of this week. Monday and Tuesday recycling routes will resume on Wednesday, and crews will continue to collect until the backlog is complete. Residents are advised to leave both trash and recycling carts out until collected.