KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – Two people are dead after a wreck on Loop 323 Wednesday afternoon. According to our news partners at KETK, authorities are on the scene of a wreck involving an 18-wheeler and a passenger vehicle on Loop 323 at the intersection near the American Legion. Traffic is being rerouted to Highway 271 and officials expect the area to be closed for a few hours while the investigation continues. Drivers are asked to avoid the area. No identities have been released, but DPS said both fatalities were in the passenger vehicle.

WHITEHOUSE, Texas – In an updated provided by our news partner KETK, Whitehouse Police have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to charge anyone involved in the throwing of alcohol during the city’s Christmas parade. In a statement, Chief Paul Robeson said they were unable to find evidence that the driver of the vehicle was under the notion that the 3 and 4 year old children in the back seat has thrown out a small-sized bottle of alcohol during the festivities. To find Robeson’s full statement, KETK has provided it here.

GLADEWATER – Authorities in Gladewater are warning those living in the 300 block of S. Roden Lane after a gas leak was reported. According to our news partner KETK, the leak is a possible hazard to homes and businesses in that area. CenterPoint Energy estimates it will take two to three hours to fix the leak. In the meantime, Gladewater Fire asks that those in this area to close their windows, shut down air and heating, have no open flames and stay indoors until an all-clear is given.

UPSHUR COUNTY — The man accused of murdering two East Texas sisters has been extradited from California. Alvin McKnight Jr. was captured in San Bernardino, California on November 15. He’s accused of fleeing to the Golden State after the capital murders of Dermetrica Dashaunda Waters, 37, and Mandy Ray, 35, at a home near Gilmer on November 4. McKnight, Upshur County Sheriff Larry Webb, deputies and DPS Officers landed at East Texas Regional Airport Tuesday afternoon. They flew in a DPS plane. McKnight was in handcuffs during the entire flight. McKnight was arraigned Wednesday in Gilmer. The 41-year-old is being held in the Upshur County Jail with bond set at $5 million. Continue reading $5 million bond set for double homicide suspect

LAKE PALESTINE – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office answered a call Sunday at Lake Palestine in which a person had been shot. A Sheriff’s Office press release explained a 911 caller said they and the victim were in Noonday on Highway 155 South. When deputies arrived, the caller and the victim told them they were sitting in a vehicle on a boat ramp on Lake Palestine. They explained the gun went off as they handled it. A single shot went through the victim’s left hand and upper thigh. After undergoing surgery, he is now in stable condition. Since all parties involved cooperated with law enforcement. The shooting is being considered accidental and no charges are being filed.

JACKSONVILLE – The association that that hosts the National Night Out, has recognized the City of Jacksonville with an award. According to our news partner, KETK, the National Association of Town Watch, has given Jacksonville a first place award for cities with population between 5,000 and 15,000 for their National Night Out community involvement. National Night Out is an annual program designed to further positive relations between the police department and the community.
Continue reading Jacksonville gets National Night Out national award

TYLER– The Smith County Republican Party Chairman David Stein announced Monday he is seeking re-election . According to our news partner KETK, if elected, this will be Stein’s third term holding the office. Stein said in a press release, “The progress made in our County Party is significant. When we began, the party was limited financially and had a significant number of open precincts. Today, the party is on sound financial footing and the number of precinct chairs has almost doubled. We continue to dominate local elections and contribute heavily to statewide victories as Smith County always outpaces the statewide voter turnout.”
Continue reading Republican Party Chair to run for third term

WHITEHOUSE, Texas – Patient care is now being affected because of the recent ransomware attack on UT Health East Texas. According to our news partner KETK, Patricia Cowan and her sister have been forced to wait on daily phone calls in order to find out if she can receive urgent treatment for her case of cancer. The ransomware attack, that was almost two weeks ago, means that now Patricia must travel 45 minutes to get care. Director of Communications Allison Pollan spoke with KETK and said that, “safely caring for patients remains our highest priority.”

SMITH COUNTY — On Monday morning, Smith County’s 7th District Court conducted jury selection for the trial of Daniel Nyabuto vs the State of Texas. According to our news partner KETK, Nyabuto, 22, of Grand Prairie is charged in connection with killing Smith County Sheriff’s Deputy Lorenzo Bustos. In July of 2022, while Bustos was conducting a traffic stop on Highway 155 he was reportedly killed by Nyabuto’s vehicle rear-ending his patrol car. In October of 2022, Nyabuto was indicted on two charges in connection to Busto’s death: Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and intoxicated manslaughter causing the death of a peace officer. Opening statements were to be delivered Tuesday morning. Nyabuto’s defense preciously filed a motion to transfer venue to Cherokee County, but the trial will go on in a Smith County court. 7th District Judge Kerry Russell will oversee the trial.

HENDERSON – Our news colleagues at KETK report a 74-year-old is dead and another man is injured after a two-vehicle crash involving a truck tractor towing a trailer on Friday afternoon four miles southwest of Henderson. According to a preliminary DPS report, the truck tractor was traveling southwest on US 79 and had made a U-turn with part of its load still in the southwest lanes when it was struck by a 2002 Toyota Echo. Officials said the Echo struck the load, traveled off the roadway and struck a culvert. The driver of the Echo, identified as James Pinkerton, 74 of Henderson, was pronounced dead at the scene and his passenger, a 79-year-old man, was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The driver of the truck tractor was not reported to have been injured.

POLK COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK report a man was arrested for murder after Polk County deputies responded to a 911 call on Sunday morning and found a body in a private driveway. The call came in around 8:56 a.m. and after arriving at the scene in the 2800 block of Duff Road, it was “quickly determined to be a murder.” Officials identified the victim as 29-year-old Timothy Jacob Neal, of Livingston. “Through the course of the investigation, suspects were located and transported to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office,” officials said in a release. “Toby Wayne Ford, 24 of Livingston, was booked into the Polk County Jail on a charge of murder.” Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Lieutenant Finegan at 936-327-6810.

WHITEHOUSE — The Whitehouse Area Chamber of Commerce said that they’ve filed a police report with the Whitehouse Police Department after alcohol was allegedly thrown out at their Christmas parade on Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, the incident was discussed at length in the Whitehouse Texas, Rants, Raves, & Recommendations Facebook group. Several members of the group reported that the truck was tossing bottles of alcohol and other items out to parade watchers. Ashley Westerfield with the Whitehouse Chamber of Commerce chimed into the Facebook thread to apologize for what allegedly happened: “I am the Admin for the Whitehouse Area Chamber of Commerce. The truck that did this was NOT a registered entry in the parade. He went behind Holloway and snuck into the parade line between floats. A complaint was filed with the Police department as soon as we were told about it. They have a picture of his truck, License plate and the name of his company. This was NOT an approved float. We apologize for anything that was handed out by this individual and his passengers.” Continue reading Whitehouse apologizes after Christmas parade incident