KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) arrested a woman following the investigation of a dog that was abandoned near Lake Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County Animal Control responded to a report on March 13 of an abandoned dog in the 17600 block of Southpoint Road near Lake Tyler. Upon their arrival they contacted the caller who said they found the puppy abandoned at Hill Creek Park on Lake Tyler.

Officials said the dog, a black and white Pit Bull mix, was taken to the Smith County Animal Shelter and listed for adoption. The sheriff’s office said that a Facebook comment had tagged an individual identified as Megan Baldree, 36 of Tyler, as being the owner of the puppy. Continue reading Woman arrested after abandoning dog near Lake Tyler

TYLER – On April 8, the sun and moon will align and parts of East Texas will experience totality during the 2024 solar eclipse. Following are events in Tyler. Check our news partner KETK’s site for more locations and events.

Texas African American Museum: The Empowerment Community Development Corporation will hold a Total Solar Eclipse Black Out Festival. They are expecting one minute and 49 seconds of totality.
Caldwell Zoo: The zoo will be holding A Wild Solar Eclipse event with commemorative treats and gifts available. Eclipse viewing glasses will be given out until the supply runs out.
Discovery Science Place: They will hold special activities and act as a viewing location.
Tyler Parks and Recreation: Lindsey Park and Faulkner Park will be viewing locations and the Goodman-LeGrand Museum will have a lunch on the lawn event.
Broadway Square Mall: From 12:30 – 2:30 p.m., families are invited to a solar eclipse watch party at the JCPenney parking lot.

TYLER – A once-in-a-lifetime Total Solar Eclipse will hit the skies Monday and our news partner KETK is reporting that the TJC Earth and Space Science Center has been working to educate East Texans on what to expect. With the chance of severe weather in the forecast, backup plans are being put in place, but if it does rain on the day of the eclipse TJC will be canceling events. Hartweg added that if it’s just cloudy, don’t worry, because you still have a chance to view the spectacular sight. East Texans will also get the chance for an extra surprise in the sky during totality. “There is a comet that may be potentially visible and for people to kind of be on the lookout for it will be near Jupiter,” said Hartweg.

“We’re doing our best to make sure people understand that to get the full experience, you need to be in what we call the path of totality, that’s a spot that’s 100% total eclipse,” said Beau Hartweg, the director of the Tyler Junior College Earth and Space Science Center. “We’ll have some solar telescopes out and different ways for people to view the eclipse,” said Hartweg. Continue reading Tyler Junior College gears up for Monday’s Eclipse

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY – The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office said that three people were arrested for numerous felonies on Tuesday in connection to a “suspected human trafficking incident.” According to our news partner KETK, the incident started as a traffic stop by Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office deputies who pulled over a black 2009 BMW X5 SUV on Tuesday night at the intersection Durst Street and Stallings Drive in Nacogdoches. Deputies reportedly noticed an 8-year-old asleep in the backseat of the car and an empty alcoholic beverage in the floor board. Deputies then asked to search the vehicle and found a black duffle bag in the backseat floor board, according to a press release.

Officials estimated that the drugs are worth over $150,000. Luis Emmanuel Quevedo-Vasquez, 29, Carmen Guadalupe Diaz, 24, both of Green Bay, Wisconsin, were all taken into custody when the drugs were discovered. Diaz and Quevedo-Vasquez were asked about the child and they reportedly couldn’t give deputies the child’s last name or it’s mother’s name. Officials said this is an ongoing investigation. Continue reading Suspected human trafficking leads to drug seizure

TYLER – Smith County Jury Duty has been cancelled for Monday. According to Smith County public information officer Casey Murphy, if you received a jury summons for April 8, 2024, you do not have to report to the Courthouse. This is due to total solar eclipse occurring Monday April 8.

LINDALE – The city of Lindale is giving you a chance to be part of history after the solar eclipse Monday. According to our news partner KETK, the city is creating a time capsule for future generations. Officials say the capsule will be buried in Darden Harvest Park and anyone can leave one object. That object can be no larger that four by six inches and not liquid.

The capsule will be opened for anyone who wants their item to be stored inside after a ceremony on Saturday at Picker’s Pavilion at Blackberry Square. After Monday’s eclipse, the capsule will be sealed and buried for future Lindale residents to find.

BIG SANDY, Texas – Our news partners at KETK report that Big Sandy City Hall has moved to a new location. First announced on Friday, the new location is on 119 E. Gilmer St., across from the Big Sandy Fire Department. Even though phone and internet services are down, the city is working to get everything re-connected. Citizens can either visit in-person or call 903-714-0917.

TYLER – The City of Tyler held the grand reopening of the historic Mayfair Building Thursday. The renovation is part of the city’s Master Plan to restore the Rose Complex. Mayor Don Warren, who hosted the event, announced that the Mayfair Building has earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places alongside the Tyler Rose Garden. The City of Tyler renovation plan was to update the building physically, while staying true to its almost century old roots.

Mayor Warren said about the look of the Mayfair Building before renovations, “I wish you could have seen this building a year ago. The floor was sunk in, there were termites everywhere. You could see daylight from inside. You can see the sun with the holes in the roof, so we have brought this back to life.”
Continue reading Tyler Celebrates reopening of the Mayfair Building

TYLER – Monday April 8 is the eagerly anticipated total solar eclipse. Our news partner KETK shared some tips from state officials to keep you safe this weekend and Monday.

TxDOT issued a statement warning residents of some East Texas areas that they anticipate will see heavy traffic on Monday. TxDOT listed the following roads for potential heavy traffic: I-20, State Highway 64, State Highway 31, US 175, State Highway 198, US 69, State Highway 19, State Highway 155, Loop 323, US 79, US 271, US 80 and State Highway 243
Continue reading East Texas eclipse day traffic and safety tips

HARRISON COUNTY – A Harrison County Court sentences a man to a 30 year prison term for fentanyl possession. According to our news partner, KETK, 41-year-old Brian Okeith Tucker was arrested by Marshall Police in January 2022 after a traffic stop revealed that Tucker’s vehicle smelled of marijuana. The Harrison County District Attorney’s Office said in a release, the subsequent vehicle search yielded ecstasy pills, a small safe with six jars of marijuana, and two other bottles with 157 pills labeled as hydrocodone, A lab test of the pills shown them to be actually fentanyl.

Patrol officers at Tucker’s trial said they were familiar with him, And, that on two other times, Tucker had failed to have a valid drivers license. Jurors were also informed that Tucker had two previous drug convictions in 2016.

Assistant Harrison County District Attorney Brendan Roth stated that, ” it is hoped that this verdict does send a strong message to the drug dealers of Harrison County that those who choose to deal narcotics in here, will be vigilantly investigated and prosecuted.”

TYLER – A Tyler man, who was formerly on the DPS 10 Most Wanted Fugitive List, has been sentenced to 50 years in jail for a 2021 murder. According to our news partner KETK, Dakevian Scroggins, 29, was sentenced to 50 years in prison after being found guilty of murdering Christopher Frank Eiglebiger. Scroggins was apprehended in June after being on the run for two months. One of his associates, 26-year-old Zaccheus Dunn, was arrested two days after the shooting. Dunn was then found guilty and we sentenced to 44 years in prison in connection to Eiglebiger’s murder.

TYLER – On Thursday, April 4, Tyler Animal Services was notified by the Texas Department of State Health Services that one skunk submitted for analysis tested positive for rabies.  The skunk was found near the 3000 block of Salado Creek Drive. Those people and animals found to have been exposed to the skunk was been identified.

Tyler Animal Services say its very important for people not to handle bats, skunks, raccoons or other wild animals. And, If a person is bitten by an animal, the incident must be reported to them. Tyler Animal Services advises all pet owners to make sure their dogs and cats are currently vaccinated for rabies. Preventative immunization for rabies is the only effective defense against this fatal disease.

City of Tyler and Smith County Ordinance requires regular rabies shots for all dogs and cats. Failing to do so, is a Class C misdemeanor. If you have questions about rabies control, click on Tyler Animal Services website.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — The SPCA of Texas has removed 17 dogs from a Van Zandt County home, all were neglected and a man has been charged in the case. According to our news partner KETK, arrested was Kory Wayne Kimble who was charged with cruelty of non-livestock animals. The SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit removed 16 Cocker Spaniel dogs and a Boxer dog from a house, all that were “allegedly cruelly confined to deplorable living conditions.” The unit reportedly found the house to be covered in feces and urine.
Continue reading Van Zandt County authorities rescue 17 dogs from home