KTBB News, Weather, Talk

CHAPEL HILL – The Chapel Hill Independent School District will host three community meetings where Superintendent Lamond Dean will present on the upcoming school bond propositions and answer any questions that attendees may have. “We encourage all members of the community to attend these important meetings,” said Dean as quoted in a news release. “The school bond propositions could have a significant impact on the future of our schools, and it’s important that we provide an opportunity for residents to learn more and ask questions.” The meetings are open to all members of the community and provide an opportunity for residents to learn more about the school bond propositions and how they could impact CHISD schools, according to the release. Click this link to learn more.

LONGVIEW — Beginning Tuesday, March 7, Sabine Street east of Carter Street and Center Street south of Ware Street in Longview are scheduled to be closed to all traffic. Traffic will be detoured to Nelson Street as a result of this closure. Officials say the closure is necessary for the construction of the High Street bridge and is scheduled to last for the duration of the project. This project is being managed by the Texas Department of Transportation Longview Area Office and constructed by Ragle Inc. If you have any questions related to construction, call TxDOT at 903-234-0532.

LINDALE — An all clear has been given following the lock-down of all Lindale ISD campuses Monday morning. Lindale Police received a threatening call concerning the LISD Administration office. Police immediately responded to the administration office and EJ Moss East and West, and the buildings were searched by authorities before giving an all clear. Officials said to expect law enforcement to be present throughout the week as a precautionary.

TROUP — Troup Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying an alleged driver from an early Saturday morning chase. According to our news partner KETK, officials said that the pursuit began early on Saturday, March 4 in the City of Troup before going into Cherokee County. The driver of the white crew cab truck is described by authorities as a white male. Troup PD is contacting local businesses for video surveillance and asking anyone with any information to call them at 903-842-3211 or message them on the Troup Police Department Facebook page.

PALESTINE — Palestine Police Department announced they are searching for a man who allegedly killed his ex-girlfriend in the 200 block of Joe Louis Street on Thursday night. According to our news partner KETK, officers were responding to reports of a shooting when they found Brittany Johnson, 30, of Palestine, with a gunshot wound to the torso. Johnson was transported by EMS to Palestine Regional Medical Center emergency room, where she later died, according to officials. While investigating, police said they began to suspect the involvement of Johnson’s ex-boyfriend, Joseph Christopher Cole, 50, of Houston. Continue reading Palestine Police searching for man who allegedly killed ex-girlfriend

TYLER – A man has been captured after being in a standoff with authorities in Tyler Friday morning. According to our news partner KETK, constables were called to a residence regarding a man refusing to leave after being evicted from the home in the area of Alamo Drive and S. Vine Avenue. Sgt. Larry Christian with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the identity of the suspect is Curtis Clark, 44, and said that Clark made threats of bodily harm towards authorities, which led to them calling the SWAT team to the scene. Clark had been posting videos on his Facebook page during the standoff and a voice can be heard in the video saying, “I’m going to go out like a soldier, I guarantee that.” Clark had barricaded himself in the home and was in a standoff with the SWAT team as they were trying to talk him out of the residence. He was booked into the Smith County Jail on a charge of aggravated assault on a public servant. His bond was set at $500,000.

KILGORE – Brigitta’s Hungarian Restaurant in Kilgore is closed after losing its roof during Thursday’s severe weather. That’s according to our news partner KETK. In an update posted to its Facebook page, the restaurant said there was no internal damage except for some leaks. The post said the frame of the roof is mostly unharmed and the ceiling is intact, so they’re planning to re-roof the restaurant.

LONGVIEW — The city of Longview is putting the word out on a traffic adjustment. According to a news release, on Feb. 28, the contractor completed the necessary concrete and asphalt approaches to correct the bridge deck on the west side of McCann Road at the bridge. Next, they will begin the remaining work on the east side approaches to correct the bridge deck, according to the release. Starting the week of March 6, the plan is to swap traffic from the east side of McCann Road at the bridge to the west side. Officials say this consists of moving the concrete barriers to the west side of McCann Road in order to safely delineate the north and southbound lanes. Barriers will prohibit entering or exiting the intersection of Spur 63 and McCann Road, next to Electric Cowboy and Lone Star Ice House. Continue reading Traffic adjustment at bridge on McCann Road

TYLER – Gov. Greg Abbott is set to attend a Parent Empowerment Night at Grace Community School in Tyler on Thursday, March 9. That’s according to our news partner KETK. The event, hosted by the Parent Empowerment Coalition, starts at 5 p.m. and is free for all to attend. According to an Eventbrite page that can be viewed at this link, Abbott will be discussing “the growing need and desire for parent empowerment.” At a similar event in Corpus Christi, Abbott said, “We must reform curriculum, get kids back to the basics of learning and we must empower parents to be more involved in the education of their children.” Continue reading Gov. Abbott to attend Parent Empowerment Night in Tyler

TYLER — Animal shelters in East Texas are having a big influx of puppies. The executive director of Pets Fur People in Tyler, Gayle Helms, says her shelter is having its biggest surge of abandoned puppies in the 25 years she’s been there. The shelter has received at least 20 puppies in the past few weeks. Helms says the puppies are being dumped at nearby cemeteries and churches. She says it is putting a financial strain on the shelter because of medical requirements and overtime. The Smith County Animal Shelter says it’s also at near capacity. Shelter staff remind citizens that there are numerous low-cost spay and neuter clinics in East Texas.

MARSHALL – Harrison County deputies arrested two suspects on Wednesday an hour after one was released from jail. That’s according to our news partner KETK together with its partners KTAL and KSHV. A caller reportedly told the HCSO a white Chevrolet was parked off the road and people were walking through the woods shining flashlights around the property. According to officials, when deputies responded to the scene on FM 2199 they found Wade Heim and Brandy Wolf, both of Marshall, whom the HCSO says it has encountered many times before. Officials said the suspects had a rifle with the serial numbers removed. Continue reading Suspect arrested an hour after release from jail

TYLER — The 41st Ever Rose City Chili Cookoff is set for March 4-5 at Sharon Shrine Temple on Hwy. 31 East in Smith County. There’s a $25 entry fee for Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI) chili on Saturday, with turn in time at 1:00 p.m., and Sunday with a turn in time at 12 noon. It’s a CASI sanctioned event, so you must follow CASI rules. The winner of the Sunday cookoff automatically qualifies to be invited to cook at the Terlingua International Chili Championship in November. It costs $10 to enter beans, which will be turned in for judging on Saturday at noon. Continue reading 41st Ever Rose City Chili Cookoff this weekend

SMITH COUNTY — A custodial death report indicates an inmate who hanged himself in an East Texas Jail February 9 blocked the door to his cell, delaying deputies from rescuing him. Nathan Lee Johns, 28,  used an electrical cord from an inmate phone box to hang himself in the Smith County Jail in Tyler. A statement from the sheriff’s office says Johns tied the cell door to a bunk so that the door could not be opened. Also, the statement says Johns put some sort of debris into the lock, preventing the key from opening the door. Deputies finally were able to enter the cell, but emergency medical responders were unsuccessful in attempting to revive Johns.

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a runaway identified as Kiana Valdez, according to a news release. Kiana has been missing from the family residence on Shady Creek Rd. near Tyler since Wednesday. Kiana is described as a Hispanic female, 17 years of age, 5’2”, 102 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. Officials say the parents do not know what Kiana was last wearing. She does not have any medical or physical issues and is not on any medication. The parents could not provide information on acquaintances or known locations where she might go, and she has no history of running away. If you have any information as to the whereabouts of Kiana Valdez, call the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at (903) 566-6600.