KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW — Two people reached out to our news partner KETK News to get help after they said they got bad gasoline at the Brake Time gas station on Judson Road in Longview across from Skinner’s. One said said it happened to him on May 18 and that it really messed up his car. Another person said it started after her May 3 trip to Brake Time, eventually having to pay more than $1,000 to get it fixed.

A complaint has been filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Agreement over the situation. So far there has been no response to the complaint. KETK News also tried reaching someone at the gas station’s headquarters in Houston several times and our requests were not returned. They told us the case is currently under investigation.

TYLER – A Tyler man pleaded guilty in the 2022 murder of his roommate and is sentenced to 40 years in prison. According to our news partner KETK, 27 year-old Timothy Jones was arrested a short time after the body of 53 year-old Anthony Wilson was found in a North Tyler woods. Police say Jones girlfriend told them that Jones and another person moved the body from a house to a car. Edna Jones and Christian Whitney-Polk have been indicted with evidence tampering and intent to impair a human corpse. Timothy Jones pleaded guilty to murder and received his sentence the same day.

PAYNE SPRINGS – Payne Springs Fire Rescue are trying to find an SUV that hit a house late Friday night. According to our news partner KETK, officials say after the SUV collided with a house, the driver fled the location. An occupant at the residence had a minor injury and with no treatment needed. The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating this as a hit and run.

TYLER – State officials say that replacement SNAP benefits are available to those who lost food due to the recent power outage. According to our news partner KETK, to get replacement benefits you need to fill out and submit form H1855 to the local Texas Health and Human Services Commission office within ten calendar days of discovering food lost or destroyed. To get more information from the Texas Health And Human Services Commission, click here.

TYLER – A Smith County grand jury has indicted 19-year-old Nicholas Hudson in a double homicide at a Tyler apartment complex March 23. Hudson is charged in the shootings of 19-year-old Donovan Dodd and 17-year-old Ladarius Jackson. They were at the Royal Crest apartments , inside their vehicle, when police found them dead from several gunshot wounds. According to our news partner KETK,the initial investigation had two other defendants involved, but the grand jury declined to go forward. Hudson is currently in the Smith County Jail with bonds totally $2 million.

TYLER – An additional round of severe thunderstorm activity hit East Texas Friday evening. According to our news partner KETK, over 1,597 power outages have been reported. To find the report listed by electric companies and cooperatives click here.

TYLER – The City of Tyler said at least ten different intersections were without power as of 8 p.m. on Friday. This according to our news partner KETK.
Continue reading Several Tyler intersections without power because of severe weather

LONGVIEW – Recycling will not be collected the week of Monday, June 26, to allow residents to use their recycling carts for trash due to large amounts of food waste caused by the recent power outages. Recycling services are now expected to resume the week of Monday, July 3. Also, sanitation crews will continue to collect storm debris. During this time, collections will not count against residents’ four free annual bulky item pickups. Residents with yard waste to be collected should contact the Public Works department or submit a ticket through CitySend. In order to be collected, debris must be between 3 feet and 10 feet in length. Branches less than 3 feet in length should be bundled. If you need more information go here.

KILGORE – Kilgore College has named Amber Williams as head softball coach for the 2023-24 season.

She’s the third softball coach in the program’s 11-year history, having served most recently as head softball coach at Marshall High School.

An official press conference welcoming Williams as KC’s new coach will be held at Noon on Tuesday, June 27, in the Devall Room (Kilgore campus) in the Devall Student Center.

Williams was a standout softball player at Kilgore High School and KC, and was an assistant softball coach at the college. Continue reading Williams takes over as head softball coach, press conference set for June 27

TYLER – The City of Tyler will host the annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration at Lindsey Park, located at 12557 Spur 364 West, on Tuesday, July 4. The fun kicks off as the gates open at 3 p.m. and the fireworks show will begin after dark (around 9 p.m.). The park gate, located off Spur 364, is the only entrance, and admission is free.

Live entertainment will include music from Complete Weddings & Events. Vendors and Food Trucks can still register to be a part of the event until June 29. Continue reading All you need to know about Fourth of July Celebration at Lindsey Park

LONGVIEW – The Longview City Council unanimously approved John Ross Albertson as Director of Parks and Recreation during its meeting on Thursday, June 22.

Albertson, who currently serves as the Director of Putnam County Parks and Recreation in Cookeville, Tennessee, was selected by City Manager Rolin McPhee after a months-long, nationwide search. Director-level positions in the City of Longview are recommended by the City Manager and approved by the City Council.

EAST TEXAS — A Longview man facing charges in the January 6th Capitol incident says his alleged actions were caused by brainwashing. Attorneys for Ryan Nichols say in a court filing this week that an individual on social media called “1% watchdog” presented himself as a military veteran with PTSD, who was also a government official with important contacts. The attorneys say 1% watchdog radicalized Nichols and other veterans who had never been to a protest to go to Washington, D.C. The filing questions why the federal government has allowed 1% watchdog to remain “unidentified and at large.” The attorneys allege, in fact, that 1% watchdog is a “federal asset.”

HALLSVILLE – According to our news partner KETK the Hallsville City Council unanimously voted on Tuesday to create “child safety zones” which limit where certain registered sex offenders may live, enter or loiter. “City Ordinance 2023-03 – Sex Offender Restrictions” creates the “child safety zones” and also makes it illegal to rent to an applicable registered sex offender, according to the city.

Hallsville said the new ordinance applies specifically to “adult convicted offenders involving a child victim sex crime.”

“This ordinance serves to further protect our children and maintain these restrictions once the limitations end at the completion of the offender’s parole or probation. A big ‘Thank you’ to our City Council for taking up this measure of protection.”
The City of Hallsville

For more information visit the City of Hallsville online.

LONGVIEW — Some East Texans have been without electricity for almost a week now. Power companies are still working through the extensive recovery process throughout several counties in East Texas. Adding that this recovery process, which started one week ago, has been extensive and widespread. “Most of the time you know you can go to one location and find 10-20 poles here we’ve been taken to 10-20 locations and find one pole. It’s been very widespread,” said Skeen. SWEPCO’s sister companies came out from Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. Skeen estimated that there are still about 1,000 personnel on the ground.

Our news partner KETK spoke with Jimmy Skeen, a SWEPCO Base Camp Manager: “I tell people it took years to build the system, it’s destroyed in a matter of minutes.” He added that the linemen are grateful for the support and hospitality they’ve received from East Texans. “Everyone we’ve encountered has really been just super, I mean we have had the communities reach out wanting to know what they can do for us, which is amazing,” said Skeen.