KTBB News, Weather, Talk

EAST TEXAS — East Texas Council Of Governments announces its Executive Committee approved the renewal of purchasing the Smart911 mass notification system as a part of its public safety program for the thirteenth consecutive year. This system allows ETCOG to partner with East Texas’ city and county emergency management coordinators to send messages quickly notifying citizens about emergencies such as: tornadoes and storm events, drinking water contamination, utility outages, evacuation notices and routes, missing persons, chemical spills or gas leaks and other emergency incidents where rapid and accurate notification is essential. Continue reading ETCOG funds Smart911 Emergency Mass Notification System

KILGORE — The City of Kilgore kicked off their the holiday season with their 92nd annual Christmas parade. According to our news partner KETK, the streets were filled with families in downtown Kilgore to see all of the floats go by in the themed ‘Rocking around the Christmas tree’ parade. Sheroa Hennigan, a resident, has watched the floats go by for more than 30 years. “This is one of the big highlights is the parade and we just absolutely love our small time feel, get to walk the city and get to do fun things and enjoy the lights and all the friends we get to see,” said Hennigan. For some it is a long time tradition to bring your loved ones and set out lawn chairs. For others it is a tradition to be apart of the parade. “We put it in a lot of parades. This is about the tenth time it’s been in this parade. We enjoy doing this its a lot of fun,” said Tulley Borders, a parade participant. Continue reading Kilgore kicks off holidays with 92nd Christmas parade

TYLER — UT Health East Texas confirmed that they are off divert status as of Tuesday morning and are treating patients in emergency rooms, hospitals and clinics.  The initial divert status was issued following a ransomware attack on the computer system of their parent company, Ardent Health Services. That’s according to our news partner KETK. Ransomware is designed to encrypt files and make them unusable before a hacker demands ransom in exchange for decryption. As of Monday, Ardent said it “cannot confirm the extent of any patient health or financial data that has been compromised,” but said they reported the event to law enforcement and hired third-party forensic and threat intelligence advisors. Ardent took its network offline after the attack, but that is no longer the case. Continue reading UT Health East Texas drops divert status

JEFFERSON– The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help in finding a 60-year-old cyclist last seen Friday in Jefferson. According to our news partner KETK, missing is Clyde Finely. Finley is a Black man . He’s 6-foot-tall, 180-pounds with black hair and blue eyes. Finely is known to be a long distance cyclist. The Marion County Sheriff’s ask if you have information to please call them at 903-665-3961.

TYLER – Even though the Christmas tree lighting in downtown Tyler was postponed due to weather, city employees put up Tyler’s new Christmas tree Monday night. According to our news partner KETK, the 30-foot artificial tree is topped off with an extra 5-foot star and has more than 1,800 ornaments. The Christmas tree lighting, which was originally set for Thursday, now is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. next Thursday. At that time, Tyler Mayor Don Warren and this year’s Miracle Child will be introduced and they will light up the tree.

TYLER – Our news colleagues at KETK report that former Bishop of the Diocese of Tyler Joseph E. Strickland released an open letter to the community on Monday after his forcible removal by the Pope earlier this month. In the letter, Strickland said he was asked to meet with the Apostolic Nuncio of the United States where he was read a list of reasons why he was being removed. He said he would like to make these reasons available but was not given a copy of the list. Strickland wrote that the reasons read to him “seemed to be related, for the most part, to my speaking the Truth of our Catholic faith, and to my warnings against anything that threatened that Truth” and mentioned him “not walking alongside my brother bishops as I defended the Church and her unchangeable teachings.” Continue reading Former Bishop pens open letter to community

TYLER — A local food pantry received a donation to feed and clothe people in need. According to our news partner KETK, on Monday, St. Vincent De Paul received a $30,000 check from the Tyler Friends of the Poor at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Center. According to the organization, the money will be used to help feed and clothe those in need. “We have to supply the food for our food pantry, this is a tremendous support in that aspect for our ministry,” said Grace Vierling, the executive director at St. Vincent De Paul.

TYLER — The Rose City Christmas Parade, scheduled for Thursday, November 30, has been canceled due to potential severe weather. The announcement was issued by the parade committee on Monday. Continue reading Rose City Christmas Parade canceled

HARRISON COUNTY — The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a 28-year-old Tyler man shot at the home of his ex-girlfriend. According to our news partner KETK, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office received a call on the morning of Nov. 23 from a women about shots fired  in Longview. The woman explained her ex-boyfriend had shown up at her residence and that another man had shot him. When investigators arrived they found Diante Hampton unconscious. Hampton was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The Sheriff’s Office said the case is still open and they will release further details when they are available

TYLER — In a press released received from UT Health Communications Director Allison Pollan, “In light of recent events, it will be necessary to reschedule the UT Health Tyler tree-lighting ceremony originally planned for Tuesday, Nov. 28. As work continues to fully restore access to our systems, we are committed to remaining focused on hospital operations and providing quality care for our patients and their families. Thank you for your understanding, and we will let you know as soon as we have a rescheduled date to announce.”
Continue reading UT Health Tyler tree lighting to be rescheduled.

ANGELINA COUNTY – A Diboll man was sentenced to 55 years in prison earlier this month after pleading guilty to the murder of his father according to our news colleagues at KETK. Cody Cosby, 47 of Diboll, was initially arrested in June 2020 after being accused of fatally shooting his 77-year-old father James Cosby. Officials at the time said James was shot while sitting in his recliner watching TV, and Cody fled the scene but was arrested hours later by Angelina County authorities. Cosby pleaded guilty to murder on Nov. 13, and was sentenced later that day.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – A 22-year-old man is dead after officials said his vehicle left the road and hit a tree on Saturday, according to our news partners at KETK. According to the Department of Public Safety, Kody Pounds, 22 of Emory, was driving his 2001 Chevrolet Suburban west on State Highway 64 when the Chevrolet left the road, went into a ditch, crossed a private driveway and struck a tree. Justice of the Peace Don Ashlock pronounced Pounds dead at the scene. DPS is continuing to investigate the crash.

MOUNT PLEASANT – A man was arrested on Friday in Mount Pleasant for possession of child pornography. According to Mount Pleasant PD, and out colleagues at KETK, an investigation found that Jerry Henderson, 53, used social media to obtain illegal material. The investigation began after police said they gained information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about Henderson regarding online child pornography. A search warrant was executed at Henderson’s home where officials said he was found to be in possession of child pornography, and booked into the Franklin County Jail that same day.