KTBB News, Weather, Talk

JACKSONVILLE — A woman is dead after being hit by a train in Jacksonville. According to our news partner KETK, on Wednesday around 1 p.m., Jacksonville police and fire departments responded to an accident in reference to a train hitting a pedestrian west of US 69 on the Union Pacific rail Line. The pedestrian was identified as 65-year-old Guillmerina Vera Perez of Jacksonville. Continue reading Police identify Jacksonville woman killed after being hit by train

LUFKIN – Lufkin ISD named a longtime police officer as their new chief of police for the school district. According to our news partner KETK, David Garza formerly with Lufkin PD and Diboll ISD, replaces Jay Jost who retires after 37 years with the school district. Garza received his criminal justice degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and Kilgore College Police Academy. Has been a Master Peace Office for 26 years working with the Lufkin Police Department and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. During his time with the TABC, Garza was a member of their special investigations unit and was also part of an FBI Human Trafficking Task Force. Continue reading Lufkin school district names new police chief

GREGG COUNTY – A man is dead after reportedly getting hit by a car half a mile south of Longview, according to our news partner KETK. According to a preliminary crash report from DPS, a 2016 Nissan Altima was going northbound on FM 2087 on Monday around 9:53 p.m. DPS said that 46-year-old Shon C. Bell of Longview was walking south on the fog line when he was hit by the front right side of the Altima. Bell died at the scene and no injuries were reported by either person in the vehicle.

LUFKIN – The Texas Tribune reports that members of an East Texas church have been safely relocated to Rome on Wednesday after being stuck in Niger during a coup, according to U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions’ office. The rescue mission was orchestrated by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Niamey, Niger. This week, Harmony Hill Baptist Church in Lufkin raised concerns about 12 members of its congregation who were in Niamey on a mission trip. As the group found shelter, the church held nightly prayer services in hopes of their safe return. Continue reading Lufkin church group rescued from war-torn Niger

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Authorities in Cherokee County are investigating an apparent homicide after finding a body early Wednesday morning.  The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office located a person of interest, Brandon Dale Fagan, 22, in the homicide investigation. According to our news partner KETK, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a dead person at around 2:20 a.m. When deputies arrived at the scene on CR 3429 near Mount Selman, they determined a homicide had occurred. The sheriff’s office requested assistance from the Texas Rangers. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 903-683-2271.

TYLER — A man was awarded $4.3 million by a jury in a lawsuit against Walmart after he was struck by a car in a 2020 incident. According to our news partner KETK, Arkansas native Scott Lacy was working as a subcontractor at a Walmart in Tyler in the lawn and garden center when in July 2020 multiple employees yelled for help in catching a shoplifter. “The employees and Mr. Lacy chased the shoplifter into the parking lot to retrieve the stolen merchandise, and then one employee instructed Mr. Lacy to release the suspect,” his lawyers said in a release. “Mr. Lacy was walking back toward the Walmart store when the shoplifter struck him with his vehicle and catapulted him into a pole, shattering his ankle, which later required multiple surgeries to repair. Mr. Lacy also suffered a traumatic brain injury.” Continue reading Man awarded $4.3 million in lawsuit against Walmart after Tyler incident

EAST TEXAS — Even with recent rainfall several East Texas counties and cities still have burn bans in effect due to dry conditions and fire risk. According to our news partner KETK, when a county issues a burn ban, all outdoor burning is prohibited in that county. Burn bans are generally in effect for 90 days after they are issued. To see if your county is under a burn ban, click here.

TYLER – Tyler ISD was announced as one of the winners of the 2023 TAEA District of Distinction Award by the Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) as a 2023 District of Distinction Award recipient. This is the 5th consecutive year that Tyler ISD has won this award. According to Tyler ISD, the District of Distinction Award recognizes districts for “providing a well-rounded education that advocates and integrates visual arts curriculum to inspire creativity and build social emotional learning that connect learners to their community and beyond.” Continue reading Tyler ISD wins award from the Texas Art Education Association

SHELBY COUNTY — A Shelby County man was booked into jail after a man was found dead. James Richards, 58, was arrested Monday night after Shelby County authorities allegedly found his brother dead inside a home. Richards was booked into Shelby County Jail after the incident.

LUFKIN — Twelve members of Harmony Hill Baptist Church in Lufkin are currently stuck in Niger after a coup happened there last week, according to our news partner KETK. The church members arrived in Niger on July 21 and were scheduled to leave on July 30 but are still there as of Monday July 31, church officials confirmed. Todd Core, Lead Pastor Harmony Hill Baptist Church, said “We ask the public to join us in praying for the people of Niger, the safe and speedy return of our team, and for the families awaiting their return.” The church is holding a time of gathered prayer every night at 6 p.m. until their members return.

An East Texas man was found guilty Friday in federal court on multiple charge relating to the Jan. 6 riot in Washington. According to our news partner KETK. 45 year-old Daniel Adams of Goodrich was found guilty of civil disorder, assaulting, impeding and resisting officers, obstruction of an official proceeding and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Federal officials identified Adams, who was arrested a couple of week after the riot, from photos video posted on Facebook. Sentencing for Adams has been set for late November.

TYLER – A 19-year-old Tyler man was sentenced to four years in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon according to our news partners at KETK. Jakobe Lacy, 19 of Tyler, was arrested in December 2022 after Tyler police issued a warrant for his arrest in connection to a shooting that hospitalized a minor with multiple gunshot wounds. The shooting took place in the 2400 block of W Sherwood Street, and Lacy turned himself in to police a few days later. He was indicted on March 2, and Lacy pleaded guilty to the charge on Monday where he was later sentenced to four years in prison.

SMITH COUNTY — Fire officials continue to discourage outdoor burning, stressing caution as conditions worsen. Smith County Fire Marshal Paul Findley will give a report on current drought and fire conditions during Smith County Commissioners Court on Tuesday, August 1, at 9:30 a.m. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) moved into the low-600 range over the weekend for Smith County, and it will likely rise daily if the current weather pattern holds.

While incident responses to grass fires is currently lower when compared to last year’s totals for the end of July, calls for service over this past weekend have increased. In addition to discouraging outdoor burning, the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office encourages citizens to use extreme caution when conducting any operation outdoors that could result in the ignition of a fire. Continue reading Smith County fire officials discourage outdoor burning

HENDERSON COUNTY — The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a man reported missing. Officials said Kevin Thompson, 34, was living in the Murchison area. He was last known to be driving a green 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee. If you have any information in reference to his location please call the Sheriff’s Office at 903-675-5128.