KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — On Tuesday morning, the 2024 Miracle Child, representing Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances was introduced at the Goodman-LeGrand Museum with a small ceremony. This year, 4-year-old River Hardy was chosen, according to our news partner KETK. “He’s been our miracle child from the beginning,” said Kyla Hardy, River’s mom. Every year, the Miracle Child gets to do the honors and light the City of Tyler’s Christmas tree following the parade November 30th. “River was selected because he has accessed so many of our programs and services, and equipment that is fully funded by Children’s Miracle Network,” said Christina Mosier, manager of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at CHRISTUS TMF. Continue reading Miracle Child to light Tyler Christmas tree

TYLER — Fleishel Avenue and Lake Street intersection in Tyler’s medical district reopened Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, the closure was to accommodate the UT Tyler Medical School construction. Officials at UT Tyler add that Lake Street will be closed through the early part of next year. The intersections of Lake Street and Beckham Avenue as well as Lake Street and Fleishel Avenue will remain open.

NACOGDOCHES – Last week, Lion Star Nacogdoches Hospital, LLC filed a Chapter 11 petition for bankruptcy. According to our news partner KETK, Sean Fowler, CEO of Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital said in a statement, “This restructuring will allow time for Lion Star to renegotiate contracts with its landlord, insurance companies, and numerous other vendors. Lion Star is taking this action to protect more than 600 jobs in Nacogdoches, ensure continuance of the high quality care Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital provides every day to the citizens of Nacogdoches county and surrounding areas, preserve our expansion of services, and retain the key physicians with whom we have partnered and established within the community.”
Fowler said the hospital is continuing with normal operations. The bankruptcy petition was filed on Nov. 17.

TYLER – A Tyler man was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Monday for sexual assault of a child according to our news colleagues at KETK. Adyson Fuentes, 37 of Tyler, was arrested in July 2022 after a 12-year-old told her mother he had raped her, according to his arrest warrant. The warrant said the child had waited a few weeks to report what happened because “she was afraid of Fuentes because he had been to jail.” Tyler PD investigated the report against Fuentes, who was described at the time as the boyfriend of a family friend, and the warrant said they found evidence that supported the victim’s statements. Fuentes was soon after booked into Smith County Jail for the charges, and on Monday, pleaded guilty to first-degree felony sexual assault of a child.

JASPER – Our news partners at KETK report the Jasper Police Department said that a woman was found dead in Jasper on Saturday and that a Livingston man has been arrested for her murder. Jasper PD responded to the Myrtis Village apartments at 200 Myrtis Street around 4 a.m. and found Rosalin Lewis, 24, dead from blunt force trauma. Lewis was a mother of three and her boyfriend William Christian Thomas, 23, was arrested for her murder, according to Jasper PD.Thomas was booked into Jasper County Jail and is being held on $1 million bo

WHITE OAK — The City of White Oak has issued a boil water notice for certain areas of White Oak. According to our news partner KETK, White Oak city officials say that the notice is confined to Brookhollow. Brookhollow will be blocked between Tuttle and Ridgecrest street as the water department is out fixing a leak. Officials feel the boil water notice should be lifted before Thanksgiving. Residents are urged to the check White Oak Facebook page for the notice status.

TYLER — Non-emergency Smith County offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 23 and 24 for the Thanksgiving holiday. According to a press release, county offices will reopen on Monday, November 27, with normal business hours. If you need more information go here.

CROCKETT – One person was injured after a home break-in led to a shootout Sunday night in Crockett. According to our news partner KETK, Crockett PD received several call of shots fired near a residence on East Runnells Avenue. When local officers and Houston County Sheriff’s showed up, they learned one shooting victim was already at a hospital. That person received treatment for a gunshot on the right arm and was later released. Officers feel the incident was not a random attack. The intruders in questions were driving a silver Honda Accord with a license plate number of RSX5687. Crockett PD asks if anyone has information on the home invasion and shooting to please call them or call Deep East Texas Crime Stoppers at 936-639-TIPS.

LINDALE — The Lindale Police Department said that one person is dead on Sunday night after a pick-up truck reportedly hit a pole on the I-20 West on-ramp near Highway 69. According to our news partner KETK, the fatal crash happened on the I-20 West on-ramp, and another crash reportedly happened nearby, but outside the jurisdiction of, Lindale PD. Officials said that the ramp has been cleared and is now back open to traffic. Additional details were not available.

TYLER — The City of Tyler said to expect traffic delays, lane closures and road closures on several roads that will be under construction from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Dec. 7. According to the City of Tyler and our news partner KETK, Tyler Park Drive, Becky Drive, Kingswood Drive, Top Hill Drive, Foxglove Circle, Foxglove Lane, Larkspur Lane, Whippoorwill Drive, Woodbridge Drive, Woodbridge Place and Ivy Trail will all be closed for asphalt overlay work. Officials said that crews will also be reconstructing and overlaying East Earle Street between East Front Street and Old Henderson Highway until Dec. 7.

GILMER — The community of Gilmer was in mourning on Saturday as funeral services were held for sisters Mandy Ray and Shakerrie Waters, our news partner KETK reports. The two were killed at a home off Highway 271 South near Bluebird Road on Saturday Nov. 4. A suspect in their murder 41-year-old Alvin McKnight Jr. was arrested in California on Wednesday night, according to the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office. “Big loss, big loss to our church, big loss for our community, you can see the crowd that was here, they touched the lives of so many people,” said Pastor Forrest Curry with Moses Chapel CME Church Gilmer. Many community members and many of the sisters’ family members and friends came out the service to pay their respects. Continue reading Funeral services held for sisters killed in double homicide case

TYLER — A march through downtown Tyler was held in support of the former Bishop of Tyler, Bishop Joseph Strickland on Saturday morning. Bishop Strickland was removed as the Bishop of Tyler by the Vatican last Saturday on Nov. 11. According to our news partner KETK, Bishop Strickland had become a “fierce critic of the pontiff and has come to symbolize the polarization within the U.S. Catholic hierarchy.” Earlier in the year, the Vatican sent two other Bishops to investigate the governance of the Tyler Diocese. Saturday’s march was organized by the Knights of The Republic and it started at 10 a.m. in downtown Tyler. Continue reading March in support of Bishop Strickland