KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The Texas Department of Public Safety will be reopening dozens of offices on Wednesday as the next phase of attempting to resume a normal life after months of shutdown from the coronavirus. According to our news partner KETK, the department is moving to appointments only. Services will be limited to persons seeking a first time drivers license, commercial drivers license, a learning license or I.D. card. As well as those who need to take a driving test. Customers must pay with a credit card, check or a money order.

TYLER — The East Texas Food Bank’s Summer Food Program launched this week. On Tuesday, East Texas Food Bank’s Lauren Barnes told KTBB, “Normaly we have a big kick-off event that is a community event that rallies everyone together. Normally our summer feeding sites are in conjunction with other programs targeted towards children…so a lot of those programs are canceled for the summer but we know even with these canceled programs there is a huge meal gap for these children.” Continue reading ETFB begins Summer Food Program with modifications

MARSHALL — The Chick-fil-A on the campus of East Texas Baptist University will reopen to the public on Wednesday. The eatery has been closed during the coronavirus pandemic. The food chain is located inside the Ornelas Student Center, and will be open to the public and campus community under specific precautions. Everyone will be required to wear masks and maintain a minimum of six feet of physical distance. The restaurant will serve a limited lunch menu Monday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. throughout the summer.

MARSHALL — After two years of not having a customer service representative, Amtrak will be restaffing those positions at 15 locations. According to our news partner KETK, Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari says two of the locations include Texarkana, Arkansas, and Marshall, Texas. The Amtrak Chicago office released a statement saying, “Amtrak is fulfilling a Congressional mandate to provide customer service with station agents at 15 locations across our network, including Texarkana and Marshall.” The statement continues, “Applications for these Customer Service Representative positions will be available online at jobs.Amtrak.com. We will work to fill these jobs as quickly as possible, first by posting them internally.”

TYLER — A nurse at Texas Oncology in Tyler has tested positive for COVID-19. According to our news partner KETK, on Thursday the facility issued a statement regarding the positive result: “Texas Oncology’s priority during the COVID-19 pandemic is to continue to provide needed cancer care to our patients, while protecting the safety our staff and patients. We are following CDC guidelines in every aspect of our response. A nurse at our Tyler cancer center has tested positive for COVID-19.” Continue reading Nurse Tests Positive to Coronavirus at Tyler Facility

MARSHALL — On Wednesday, in conformance with the City of Marshall Shelter in Place order the Marshall Public Library announced the suspension of curbside service until further notice. The library says their goal is to safeguard the health of library patrons and employees. Existing requests will be fulfilled. Library staff will notify the individual when the requested items are available for pickup at the back door. No new requests will be taken moving forward.

TYLER — Tyler found out on Thursday, that they will be one 10 winners to be celebrated by Keep Texas Beautiful as a winner at the 2020 Governor’s Community Achievement Awards. The honor is designated for outstanding community improvement. KTB, along with TxDOT, has honored Texas communities for more than 5 decades. This year, the ten winning communities will share $2 million in landscape funding from TxDOT; Tyler will receive $290,000 for a landscaping project. Keep Tyler Beautiful is scheduled to accept the award at the GCAA Gala in September, during Keep Texas Beautiful’s Annual Conference in Houston.

TYLER — Carter BloodCare is working with doctors and hospitals to facilitate the collection of convalescent plasma. The FDA say’s that it is possible that convalescent plasma that contains antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) might be effective against the infection.”
Carter BloodCare has specialized equipment and the staff with expertise to collect plasma from individuals identified by their doctors as having a suitable concentration of antibodies causing the coronavirus. Continue reading Blood Center Participating in Investigational Use per Physicians Request

PALESTINE — Anderson County has issued a stay-at-home order that went into effect immediately during the outbreak of the coronavirus. In a briefing released Wednesday night, Judge Robert Johnston said the order is a reaction to Gov. Abbott’s executive order, but that the order “DOES NOT REQUIRE travel permits at this time.” On Tuesday, Gov. Abbott decreed an executive order extending social distancing requirements through the month of April. All Texas schools will be closed until at least May 4. Continue reading Stay at Home Order for Anderson County

LONGVIEW — Gregg County is approaching double-digits of confirmed coronavirus cases. On Thursday, Longview Mayor Andy Mack announced that the county had reached its ninth case of COVID-19. According to our news partner KETK, Bowie County also has 9 cases, they both are behind only Smith County in East Texas with 47. Gregg County remains under a stay-at-home order after it was handed down last week.

SMITH COUNTY — A teenager is dead following a shooting in Smith County. Smith County deputies responded to a home on Holiday Hills Road, north of Tyler, around 3:15 Thursday morning. The victim was found in the driveway and was pronounced dead at a Tyler hospital. According to our news partner KETK, family members identified the victim as Zane Collier, 17. Collier was a senior at Chapel Hill High School. No word on any arrests. Smith County Deputies are still working the scene.

MARSHALL — On Wednesday, Harrison County and the City of Marshall released a brief in an attempt to bring clarity to the community’s response of Tuesday’s Shelter in Place Order. Harrison County Judge Chad Sims and City of Marshall Mayor Terri Brown have defined essential vs. nonessential businesses and/or services in Harrison County, including the City of Marshall. Continue reading Marshall & Harrison County Define Essential Services

TYLER — More than a week ago, the Smith County Tax Office closed their doors to the public due to the coronavirus. On Wednesday, Gary Barber told KTBB, “people continue to show up. We are still seeing between 100 to 200 people coming up to the doors to try to renew their auto registration or to pay their property taxes in person.” The Tax Assessor-Collector continued, “We are just trying to keep people and our employees safe, but we are still working, answering the phones and mail. People can pay their property taxes over the phone, online or through mail. People can renew their auto registration online or through the mail.” Continue reading Smith County Tax Office Remains Closed to Public

TYLER –On Wednesday the joint information committee announced Smith County now has a total of 47 confirmed cases of the coronavirus county-wide. Ten new cases were added to the total Wednesday.  Gregg County is now reporting 9 cases of COVID-19. Click the link to go to NET Health site. https://www.mynethealth.org/coronavirus/. Smith County remains under a “Stay at Home” order through April 10th. Continue reading UPDATE: 47 Coronavirus Cases in Smith County

TYLER — On Wednesday, CASA for Kids of East Texas announced they are receiving a $5,000 donation from the Texas Bar Foundation. That money will aid with the cost of purchasing, renovating and furnishing a training center as part of the BUILD CASA for KIDS campaign. Leaders say, the grant will help make in-person visits possible. Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $20 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably-funded bar foundation.

TYLER — On Wednesday, Sam Smith told KTBB The Hand Up Network is asking for help, “multiple East Texas Counties are entering into isolation or quarantine, we are asking for volunteers to help deliver food and essential supplies.” The leader of the Network went on to say, “we need to know your information ahead of time, so we can get you prepared, the challenge is we don’t know from day to day exactly when we are going to get the phone call from what location where we need to respond.” Continue reading Hand Up Network Looking for Volunteers