KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — On Wednesday, April 26, the Tyler City Council approved a resolution of support accepting the results of the Downtown Tyler Traffic Study and supporting the use of Option 2: Hybrid Tapered Approach when making decisions for improvements in Downtown Tyler. The Downtown Traffic Study was developed by Kimley-Horn and approved by the City Council on August 24, 2022. The study used recommendations from Toole Design, which has been working with the City since the beginning of 2022, to create a concept to support revitalization efforts in the Downtown area. Continue reading Downtown Traffic Study gets resolution of support

BULLARD — A police officer and an alleged intoxicated driver were injured after a high-speed pursuit. According to a Bullard PD Facebook post, on Tuesday, around 1:20 a.m., a police sergeant attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation on Highway 69 in Bullard. Officials said the driver of the vehicle drove away and a pursuit ensued. The vehicle was clocked going at “very high rates of speed” from Highway 69 to several county roads in Cherokee and Smith County. After more than 30 minutes of a vehicle pursuit, police said the driver got out of the vehicle and ran into a heavily wooded area near FM 756. Continue reading Suspected drunk driver arrested following high speed chase

NACOGDOCHES – An out of state truck driver led authorities on a chase through East Texas on Monday. Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to intercept the driver, 61-year-old Ed Solomon of Illinois. According to our news partner KETK, The deputies encountered him in Nacogdoches and trailed him into Rusk county.

They were asked by the company that employed Solomon that he be pulled over, he refused. There Rusk County Sheriff’s officers threw out spike strips to stop the 18-wheel vehicle. At that time, EMS was called to access Solomon’s health. He was then taken to Rusk County jail and was booked for evading arrest.

NACOGDOCHES – The Texas House passed a bill on Wednesday bringing Stephen F. Austin State University into the University of Texas system. The bill now goes to Governor Greg Abbott for signature. The bill was filed at the end of February and passed the Texas Senate on April 17 ahead of its Texas House approval on Wednesday. Included in the bill, SFA will now be enrolled in the Permanent University Fund system, and the university’s new name will be “Stephen F. Austin State University, a member of The University of Texas System.” The school colors will remain unchanged. Continue reading Texas House passes bill to add SFA to UT system

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) — Country music star Miranda Lambert is dishing on the recipes from her family and friends in East Texas. Her new cookbook is called “Y’All Eat Yet?” and is equal parts Lambert’s family memoir, a guide to Texas-style entertaining and church potluck cookbook. Lambert says some of the first songs she wrote as a teenager were inspired by hearing stories and life lessons over the dinner table. The Grammy-winning singer has a lot to celebrate as she heads into the Academy of Country Music on May 11 as the reigning entertainer of the year.

MARSHALL — The Marshall Police Department disposed of 253 pounds of unneeded medications collected from the April 22nd Drug Take Back event and the ongoing collection of the past six months. The drugs were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration on April 24 for incineration. The Marshall Police Department encourages residents to properly dispose of unwanted or unused medications. The public can bring them to the green drop box in the lobby of the Marshall Police Department, 2101 N. East End Blvd., which is accessible all day, every day. Continue reading Marshall Police tout successful drug take-back event

SMITH COUNTY — K9 Joker officially retired on Tuesday after serving with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. He will retire with his handler Juan Cervantes. According to our news partner KETK, Joker is a seven and a half year old Belgian Malinois who has served Smith County for more than six years. Joker has aided officials with hundreds of operations from apprehension of criminals to finding missing persons.

TYLER – A woman charged in a November 2022 of kidnapping a 5-year-old boy pleaded guilty Monday in Smith County court.  Pamela Medlock, 59, of Overton, was sentenced to eight years deferred adjudication. According to our news partner KETK, Medlock made national news last year when she was identified as the prime suspect in the disappearance of an East Texas elementary school student. The child’s grandparents reported the child missing. He was found with with Medlock after a state trooper stopped her near Colorado City, Texas. After the boy was back with his family, it was revealed that She was a family friend and took the child out for his birthday and didn’t return. Thus the kidnapping charge. The adjudication means that if Medlock completes the eight-year probation, she be eligible to have the kidnapping taken off her record.

MARSHALL – A Smith County student will have their artwork hung in the United States Capitol for a year after winning a competition according to our news partner KETK. The 2023 Congressional Art Competition was created in 1982 to “encourage and showcase artistic talent from across the nation in each congressional district.” This year’s winner from Rep. Nathaniel Moran’s district is Phuong N. Nguyen, who won with a pencil piece that of artist’s mother, “Mom in the Midst of Happiness.” 22 high school students from 12 schools across the First Congressional District of Texas participated this year. For the last two weeks, each piece of artwork was on display at the Michelson Museum of Art in Marshall. Nguyen’s piece will now be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year, where members of Congress, staffers and visitors from around the world will see the winning artwork.

ANGELINA COUNTY — Two individuals have been arrested after forcefully tattooing their children and trying to remove the tattoos once CPS became involved, according to Lt. James Denby with the Zavalla Police Department. Denby said that on April 17, police were notified by CPS about parents tattooing their children and asked for Angelina County officials to be present when they went to the residence where the crime was taking place. According to our news partner KETK, during the visit the next day, April 18, two children ages 5 and 9-years-old were taken into the custody of CPS. Continue reading Parents arrested after ‘forcefully’ tattooing their children

TYLER — Tyler police are asking for the public’s help in searching for a Tyler woman last seen on April 7 around 4 p.m. According to our news partner KETK, Paula Belonga, 51, was last seen leaving her apartment complex on Paluxy Drive in her white Chevrolet Impala with license plate number SBV0432. “Paula was last seen wearing a red shirt and dark colored pants,” officials said. “She may have been heading toward the Chapel Hill area.” Anyone who has seen Paula is asked to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000. Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact Detective Chamberlain at 903-531-1058.

SMITH COUNTY — At least three Dallas-area people have been arrested for stealing many thousands of gallons of diesel fuel. Ramon Perez Torrez, of Mesquite, Duniesky Ondarza Gonzalez (pictured) and Camila Cruz Concepcion, of Dallas, are charged with organized criminal activity. They are being held in the Smith County Jail on $750, 000 bond each. Four other suspects are being sought. In a long series of thefts last summer, the suspects allegedly used a system in which the pump’s pulsar device charges for about 1/20th of the fuel that’s actually been pumped. For example, in a theft in the community of Heartland, east of Dallas, 2,100 gallons of diesel were stolen, valued at nearly $11,000.

TYLER — Real estate agents are gearing up for the summer buying and selling season with higher rates and the tightening of credit this year. “Our median home sale from March of 2023 was $327,500, which is up over 7% in comparison to last year,” said Kelly Raulston, board chairman of the Greater Tyler Association of Realtors. According to our news partner KETK, they’ve listed inflation and interest rates as the number one issue for real estate in the U.S. “With the increase of high interest rate, compared to last year is maybe shorter list of borrowers that are applying now because the tendency is I’m scared,” Hila Gama, Texas real estate agent. “If you’re looking into a home for the first time there’s a possibility you can be approved for a zero-dollar down payment,” said Gama. She suggests connecting with your bank to find out more about your personal credit. Raulston added, in this market it’s important to work with local banks and relators.

HENDERSON COUNTY — A Sunday morning fire at an apartment structure in Payne Springs has several living there being uprooted. According to our news partner KETK, Payne Spring Fire Rescue say the apartment units were constructed in what was formerly an old church. And this made it particularly hard to extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported and the Henderson County Fire Marshall is currently investigating the blaze.