KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – Weeks after the early February winter storm, we’re still seeing the damage. Now it’s up to solid waste to do the final stages of clean-up. “We’ve been doing about 50 work orders a day. Now we’re going to be looking to ramp it up to about 150 to 200 a day now that we have all of the contractors and all of our staff working together,” City of Tyler Solid Waste Director Leroy Sparrow told our news partner KETK. Solid Waste staffers said they have about 2,400 work orders to get through since the storm, which is more than double from the February 2021 freeze. “So far since Feb. 8, we’ve been able to do 500 work orders,” said Sparrow. Continue reading City of Tyler keeps working on winter storm limb cleanup

WHITEHOUSE — Whitehouse ISD added extra security to the high school campus Thursday morning after a student was charged with ‘false alarm’ and placed in custody. According to the district and our news partner KETK, around 1:50 p.m. on Wednesday, the school received an anonymous tip through the “Say Something” reporting system and the district coordinated with the Whitehouse Police Department to investigate. “At no time were students or staff in immediate danger,” officials said. The district said the report was made within six minutes of the alleged threat, and Superintendent Dr. Chris Moran said they will not tolerate threatening comments. Continue reading Whitehouse ISD adds security after ‘false alarm’ at high school

RUSK – The Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office announced on Wednesday a man was sentenced to 50 years in prison for continuous sexual assault of a child and aggravated kidnapping. The district attorney’s office said the charges were from incidents July 1, 2021 through Aug. 30, 2021. Jesse Ray Schmidt, then 32, was arrested on Aug. 31, 2021 after an Amber Alert was issued for two children who were later found in Kilgore after the 10-year-old and 11-year-old girls went missing from the Rusk area. According to our news partner KETK, Schmidt was convicted of the charges on Feb. 8.

TYLER — Smith County Road 188, east of the Emerald Bay Lake subdivision, will be closed to through traffic for a bridge replacement starting Monday, February 27. Officials say a narrow bridge is being replaced with a concrete box culvert as part of the roadway improvements to CR 188. The portion of the road that will be closed is located between FM 344 and FM 346. The road closure is expected to be for two weeks for the placement of the box culvert.

TYLER – A former Smith County deputy pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal charge of unlawful transfer, possession or use of a means of identification. According to our news partner KETK, an arrest warrant says Luis Alberto Sandoval, 29, was arrested in August 2021 and accused of using a secure database to assist a drug trafficker from Mexico. The East Texas Anti-Gang Task Force also launched an investigation into the case that took several months. Sandoval was with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office from November 2017 to August 2021. His sentencing information was not immediately available.

EAST TEXAS – Two more East Texas school districts move to a four-day week starting this fall. According to our news partner KETK, trustees in Alto and Leverett’s Chapel have added their names to a growing list of area schools making or considering the action. According to the Alto ISD, the board carefully weighed the pros and cons of the transition and reviewed stakeholder input. Leverett’s Chapel trustees voted unanimously to make the switch. “LCISD would like to thank everyone that participated in the surveys and the community meeting,” the district said in a release. “Your input and perspective were greatly valued and appreciated.” The Leverett’s Chapel district said a school calendar will be finalized in March for the board’s approval.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday approved a contract for the 2023 Asphalt Enhancement Project. The city prioritizes asphalt repairs according to the pavement condition index scores and staff evaluations of the city’s streets, according to a news release. The project includes 25 lane miles of pavement improvements and repainting traffic lane markings on streets throughout the community, according to the release. Also in the package: installing a high-friction surface treatment on West Grande Boulevard between Gleneagles Drive and Shady Oaks Drive, where there have been several fatal and multiple non-fatal crashes over the past 10 years. Click here for all the details.

AUSTIN (KRLD) — Governor Abbott is taking his request for federal help for this month’s ice storm to the White House. The governor has sent a letter to President Biden requesting a presidential disaster declaration for Texas communities impacted by the severe winter storm. It covers 23 counties, including Denton, Smith, Travis, and Williamson. He says local jurisdictions have reported more than $63 million worth of damage to public infrastructure so far. If the White House approves the request, those communities would be eligible for FEMA’s public assistance program to help pay for debris removal and repairs to public buildings and facilities.

RUSK — Officials are investigating the death of a Cherokee County Jail inmate. According to a news release from Sheriff Brent Dickson, jail staff contacted EMS Tuesday after 21-year-old inmate Aiydasani Bryant of Jacksonville began complaining of medical issues. He says it appeared that Bryant went into cardiac arrest while she was being treated by EMS. Dickson reports that life-saving measures were performed but Bryant was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital. Bryant was being held on a charge of aggravated assault family violence with a deadly weapon. Dickson says at his request, as with all death in custody situations, the Texas Rangers and the Sheriff’s Office Internal Affairs Unit are conducting an independent investigation.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — A man was charged with abuse of a corpse on Monday after he allegedly kept his mother’s body in his house for several days after her death in Van Zandt County, the sheriff’s office said. According to our news partner KETK, Douglas Dean Kilburn, 49, was arrested in the Rolling Oaks Community near County Road 3828. Authorities said they received a call from a person who was worried about Kilburn’s mother, who was their friend. Deputies conducted a welfare check on Feb. 14. Law enforcement said Kilburn told them his mother was visiting family in Oklahoma. Continue reading East Texas man arrested after being found with his mother’s body

TYLER – The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office issued a wind advisory for Wednesday due to high fire danger. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County residents should not burn outside. Fire officials said it is not safe to burn when the weather is windy or dry.

TYLER — The South Broadway Avenue and Rieck Road intersection in Tyler is open following repairs, and all traffic signals are fully operational. The intersection was closed for most of the day Tuesday while crews replaced the traffic signal pole damaged in a weekend wreck. In a news release, the City of Tyler Traffic Operations Department thanks all residents for their patience and understanding.

TYLER – Dr. Theresa Byrd has been selected as the inaugural dean of The University of Texas at Tyler School of Health Professions, beginning next month. “Dr. Byrd’s impressive depth of knowledge and 37 years of experience in health care education demonstrated that she was a perfect fit,” said UT Tyler President Dr. Kirk Calhoun as quoted in a news release. Formed in 2022, the UT Tyler School of Health Professions includes four academic departments: health care policy, economics and management; kinesiology; public health; and rehabilitation sciences. With a mission to train future health care professionals for East Texas, the new school ensures that native East Texans won’t have to leave the region to study health care and could help to meet projected health care needs in the future, according to the release. Continue reading Inaugural dean announced for new UT Tyler School of Health Professions

OVERTON — Overton ISD hosted its third community meeting about changing to a four-day week. According to our news partner KETK, Superintendent Larry Calhoun said the change will benefit students and teachers. “The number one driver is recruiting and retention of teachers and rewarding the teachers you already have and keeping the best teachers we can on our staff,” said Calhoun. Overton resident and long-time educator Stanley Peters said the switch is not the solution to retention. “The more schools that do it, they lose that advantage because there will be more schools going to a four-day week so that advantage will go away, so where do you go next? A three-day week?” said Peters. Continue reading Overton ISD takes more input on four-day week

TYLER — More details emerged Tuesday at a press conference about a large-scale fentanyl bust this past Friday on I-20 in Smith County. According to our news partner KETK, Sheriff Larry Smith says the false compartment where 42,000 fentanyl pills were found was a hollowed-out battery. “That could’ve been 42,000 deaths right there in the United States,” Smith said. “We got a lot of kids, a lot of adults on drugs. We want to get the word out to them that they need to be careful about taking any tablet such as this.” Smith said a deputy noticed a van with Mexico license plates hauling several motorcycles and a car on a trailer, with another car being hauled behind that. When the driver failed to use a turn signal, the deputy performed a traffic stop, according to the sheriff. Continue reading Sheriff holds press conference following fentanyl bust

WASHINGTON, D.C. — During his weekly visit with KTBB, Congressman Nathaniel Moran weighed in on the topic of term limits. Moran says being in Congress “is not a right; it’s a responsibility, it’s a privilege to be able to serve the…citizens of East Texas. But it should not be a lifetime position, and people should…go and serve for a time, and then they should come home. You know, we’re gonna have to have some debate at some point about either a term limits bill on the floor or a Constitutional amendment…altogether. I would love to see…some term limits put in place. You don’t want it too short, and you don’t want it too long. But I betcha we can find something in the middle that works for everybody.” Continue reading Moran discusses term limits, border security bill

ELYSIAN FIELDS – More details involving an East Texas teen killed at a Mardi Gras Parade over the weekend in Shreveport. 17-year-old Kip Lewis of Elysian Fields and some friends were engaging in what Shreveport police describe as horseplay, chasing each other with plastic swords. For some reason, one of the teens pulled out a handgun and fired a single shot, hitting Lewis in the upper body. Multiple witnesses saw the shooting. Lewis was pronounced dead at a Shreveport hospital. Police say the boy who fired the gun was detained on the scene. The investigation continues. Continue reading New details following shooting involving Elysian Fields ISD student

TYLER – A Tyler man was arrested Sunday evening after allegedly pointing his phone at a child and recording them in a local Walmart. According to our news partner KETK, Tyler police say Kelvin Shankle, 31, had allegedly pointed his phone to record the child in a dress and put his phone on the ground at the Walmart on South Broadway Avenue. Shankle was arrested for invasive visual recording and criminal trespass, since he had previously been warned away from the Walmart.

KILGORE — The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) invites the public to submit nominations for its annual Regional Service Awards program. Officials say the program honors the achievements of individuals and organizations which make a positive contribution to the quality of life in the East Texas Region. The awards will be presented at the upcoming 103rd Semi-Annual Board of Directors Meeting to be held on Thursday, March 23, in Harrison County at Bear Creek Smokehouse. The five awards to be presented are the Regional First Responders Award, Regional Citizen of the Year, Regional Corporate Citizen of the Year, Regional Statesmanship, and Regional Committee Service. Click here for more information.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office says 24 people were arrested, two minors were released to guardians, and 88 birds were seized Sunday in a cockfighting investigation. According to our news partner KETK, officials said they responded after receiving information about rooster fighting on CR 2405. Authorities report 22 of the 26 people detained were arrested for being spectators, one was arrested for allowing the use of real estate for cockfighting, and one was arrested for felony evading with a car and unlawful carrying of a weapon. Officials say 30 cars were also towed.

TYLER — TxDOT schedules another week’s worth of roadwork in the Tyler District for the week of February 20. In Smith County, 
Tyler maintenance will have a crew performing ditch work on Loop 323 near FM 14. Expect one lane closure. A second crew will be on FM 850 completing fog seal operations. Both locations will be off SH 31 towards Overton. Expect lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic. In Gregg County, Longview maintenance will be patching on various roadways throughout the county. Also, crews will be preparing for edging operations on FM 2207, from SH 135 N to SH 135 S. Click here for a complete rundown of roadwork around the district.

TYLER — Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith is spreading the word about a recent large-scale arrest involving fentanyl — and making note of a cooperative effort to fight the drug’s growing presence in Texas. According to a news release from Smith, on February 17, a traffic stop by Smith County deputies on Interstate 20 yielded approximately 42,000 fentanyl pills, weighing a total of nine pounds. Smith says the pills were discovered in a false compartment after the driver, Erik Marin Islas Angeles of Mexico, gave voluntary consent for a search of his vehicle. Angeles is being held at the Smith County Sheriff’s Office on a $2,000,000 bond. Continue reading Sheriff announces large-scale fentanyl arrest, notes cooperative effort

TYLER — Visit Tyler has announced the students who have been chosen to serve as this year’s Rose City Ambassadors. According to a news release, the Rose City Ambassador program is a volunteer program aimed at giving high school students the opportunity to earn community volunteer hours. Students were required to submit an application and go through an interview process. The Ambassadors will act as greeters at large community events throughout the year, starting with the Azalea & Spring Flower Trail March 24-April 9. Continue reading Visit Tyler names the 2023 Rose City Ambassadors

LONGVIEW — Former Longview City Manager Rickey Childers will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award this spring from the Texas City Management Association. According to a news release, Childers served as Longview ‘s city manager from 1999 to 2006. He also served as assistant city manager in Abilene and Carrollton, deputy city manager in Arlington, and city manager in Lancaster. The TCMA Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes the city management professionals who have made significant contributions to the field of local government management for more than 20 years, according to the release. A presentation of awards will be held at the TCMA Annual Conference Awards Luncheon on Friday, June 9, in Allen.

TYLER — A number of Black History Month events are being held around East Texas. The Texas African American museum will be hosting its Second Annual Gala Saturday at 6:00 p.m. at Willow Brook County Club in Tyler with keynote speaker Billy O’Quinn, director of the Supply Chain-Chemical Division for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Museum officials term O’Quinn a highly respected executive in the manufacturing industry and corporate world, as well as a servant leader mentoring young diverse leaders and youth. The say O’Quinn has spent over 30 years with Goodyear. Click here for more information on the event and on the museum.

RUSK – A former Rusk Chamber of Commerce manager was given a five year probated sentence after she entered a plea bargain on Feb. 8, according to Cherokee County District Attorney Elmer Beckworth. Officials said that in March of 2022, Tara Tatarski was indicted by a grand jury for theft of property greater than $30,000 from a nonprofit organization. According to our news partner KETK and Beckworth, as a part of her plea bargain Tatarski will have to pay restitution and serve five years probation. Current Rusk Chamber of Commerce Board President Cord Stover issued the following statement, “We are aware of the guilty plea and that the case was brought to a conclusion. Our focus as a Chamber remains on our members, our wonderful community and bright future ahead,” Stover said. After the Chamber found irregularities in their annual review, Tatarski was arrested in December of 2020 at her home in Rusk.

LONGVIEW – On Feb. 15, the Longview Police Department said they responded to a shooting. According to a release, the shooting took place on the 1400 block of Bois D’Arc Street and when police arrived they found a man on the side of the road with gunshot wounds. The victim was taken to the hospital by the emergency medical service immediately. After an investigation, detectives issued an arrest warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for 26-year-old Trenton Craig. Officials said they located Craig on Feb. 16 and arrested and transported him to the Gregg County Jail.

WASHINGTON – A Gun Barrel City man was arrested by the FBI on Tuesday on charges of obstruction, engaging in physical violence and others related to the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot. According to our news partner KETK, William Sarsfield, 46 of Gun Barrel City, is identified by the FBI through surveillance footage and Metro Police bodycam footage, and can be seen “repeatedly engaging in the assault against law enforcement officers guarding the United States Capitol inside the ‘tunnel.’” After arriving in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, court documents state, Sarsfield attended the “Stop the Steal” rally and marched to the U.S. Capitol with hundreds of rioters before making his way through police lines and to the Lower West Terrace. Sarsfield is also seen on surveillance footage grabbing two police shields and passing them forward in the tunnel, and according to court documents, joined rioters in yelling “heave ho” and “push.” Continue reading Gun Barrel City man arrested on obstruction, violence charges related to Capitol riot