KTBB News, Weather, Talk

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Judge Neal Franklin issued a Disaster Declaration on Thursday for the county due to damage caused by the winter storm, the county announced. Across the county, trees and limbs have fallen causing damage to houses and buildings along with power outages. Residents whose property was affected should report them. “Smith County Road and Bridge employees have been working around the clock since Tuesday to clear downed trees and limbs on county roads,” the county said. To report downed trees in the roadway in Smith County outside of city limits, call the non-emergency dispatch at 903-566-6600.

WINNSBORO – The Winnsboro Police Department is asking for public assistance in finding a truck involved in a hit and run in which a child sustained injuries. According to our news partner KETK, on Jan 30, at approximately 1:40 p.m., a white Chevrolet pickup truck turned right onto Taylor Drive and while turning, accelerated quickly and ended up hitting a wall at the Country Lane Apartments on Taylor Drive. The wall that the truck ran into had a child on the other side of it causing injury to the child. According to Winnsboro officials, the vehicle immediately reversed, left the scene, traveled north on Taylor Drive and then accelerated westbound down Coke Road.

EAST TEXAS — Power outages emerged front and center Wednesday afternoon as winter weather persisted in East Texas. Our news partner KETK reported counties throughout the area were affected. As of late afternoon, Smith County alone was reporting over 32,000 outages. Among other things, some traffic signals in Tyler were out of commission. Drivers were urged to exercise extreme caution in such situations — along with keeping continued hazardous road conditions in mind in some areas. Crews were working to restore power as soon as possible.

TYLER — Due to increased water production from the Lake Palestine Water Treatment Plant, geosmin levels may be more noticeable to Tyler Water Utilities consumers. Because of power outages in the area, the Golden Road Water Treatment Plant has lost power, and the restoration time was unknown as of late Wednesday afternoon. Officials say all water production while Golden Road is down will be from the Lake Palestine WTP. Lake Palestine water has inherently high levels of geosmin due to the age of the lake and the amount of natural organic matter, which contributes to the production of geosmin. The water is safe to drink and continues to meet or exceed all Federal and State water quality standards, according to officials. Click here for details and updates.

EAST TEXAS — With winter weather now expected to persist into Thursday morning, authorities continue to urge caution while driving. TxDOT has issued a set of safe driving tips, including these: avoid unnecessary travel if conditions warrant; be extra cautious on bridges, overpasses, ramps, turns and shaded areas that usually freeze first; reduce speed and allow extra time to reach destinations; and increase the following distance between you and other vehicles. Also, if you start to slide, ease off the gas pedal or brakes and steer into the direction of skid; and stay back at least 200 feet from vehicles treating roadways and move over for emergency vehicles. Continue reading Officials continue to urge caution on the road

EAST TEXAS — Because of wintry weather still predicted this week, a number of closings, cancellations and delays have been announced in East Texas. Keep checking this post for an updated list as more entities announce weather-related adjustments. Please use this email address: closings@ktbb.com to send us your closings or delays. Continue reading Closings, cancellations, delays announced due to weather/power issues

EAST TEXAS (KRLD) – A grim anniversary in the northeastern Texas skies. Wednesday marked 20 years since the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated over North and East Texas as it made its way toward a planned landing in Florida. The shuttle never made it, coming apart at 9 a.m. on February 1, 2003. Reports came in to East Texas law enforcement offices telling of an explosion and falling debris. Remains of the seven astronauts were recovered along a line from south of Hemphill to South Toledo Bend, near the Sabine River on the Texas-Louisiana line. Investigators determined the spacecraft’s heat shield was damaged by debris on launch 16 days earlier. Upon re-entry that day, heat from the atmosphere penetrated to the shuttle’s frame, causing a catastrophic failure.

LONGVIEW — The City of Longview is in the process of updating the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan, and is seeking public input to guide City Council and the Parks and Recreation Department over the next 5 to 10 years. Officials say a Parks Master Plan was last adopted in March 2015 as a chapter in the Longview Comprehensive Plan. This updated plan will involve a review of current conditions, a forecast for future needs, and a public engagement process, according to a news release. City officials say the plan serves as a long-range vision for the future development and programming of the park system and its resources by identifying the priorities. Click this link to learn more.

TYLER — The City of Tyler Development Services is easing electrical inspection requirements for residents and contractors who need power restored to their properties following the winter weather this week. Typically, contractors are required to have a permit prior to doing any residential electrical work. The City’s electrical inspector inspects the work after it is done and prior to Oncor restoring the power to the residence. To reduce the amount of time it would typically take to restore power, electrical contractors can do the work and call Oncor to restore the power when the work is completed. Electrical contractors will need to obtain a service repair permit from the City when the work is complete. Click here to read more.

TYLER — The Tyler Economic Development Council has completed the purchase of 412 acres adjacent to Interstate 20 to develop as a new business park to be named Tyler Interstate Commerce Park. Its strategic location at the Interstate 20 interchange with State Highway 155 will provide convenient access for companies to Interstate 20, according to TEDC President/CEO Scott Martinez. “This acquisition is important for us to win future economic development projects that will provide jobs for our residents and further diversify our tax base. We are thankful to the leadership of the Smith County Commissioners Court for their partnership in constructing the new CR 3344. This new roadway will provide access for job-creating companies locating in the new Tyler Interstate Commerce Park,” said Martinez Aas quoted in a news release. Continue reading TEDC completes purchase of 412 acres for new Tyler Interstate Commerce Park

TYLER — Due to forecasted inclement weather, City of Tyler offices and facilities will be closed Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. Essential and emergency functions will continue. Departments will be available by phone, email or through contact forms on the city’s website click here. The City of Tyler will monitor weather conditions Wednesday, Feb. 1, to determine the ability to reopen the offices on Thursday, Feb. 2.

SMITH COUNTY — Non-emergency Smith County Offices will close for the day today, Wednesday, February 1, because of the icy weather. Smith County jury duty is also cancelled. Any closings or delays, unless specifically stated, do not close essential, emergency, residential and detention operations. At this time, Smith County offices plan to open for normal business hours on Thursday, February 2. The County Judge and/or Commissioners Court has the authority to close general governmental operations due to emergency conditions, including inclement weather conditions that cause a serious hazard for employees such as road conditions due to flooding, ice or snow. Continue reading Non-Emergency Smith County offices closed today

CHEROKEE COUNTY – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to report any information on a missing elderly man. According to our news partner KETK, Pablo Torres Martinez, 77, is a Hispanic man with black eyes, gray hair, a full silver beard, weighing approximately 173 pounds and 5’3″ in height. According to a news release, Martinez was last seen wearing a blue jean shirt, blue jeans and black western boots. His vehicle is a 2015 maroon Honda CR-V, licence plate number GXB1353. If you have any information on his whereabouts, call the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office at (903)-683-2271.

AUSTIN (KRLD) — Two Texas rural electric co-ops, including one in East Texas, will receive big federal loans to expand and modernize the electric grid. The Rusk County Electric Cooperative in Henderson will receive a $24.6 million loan to build or improve 91 miles of line. The Rio Grande Electric Cooperative in Brackettville, west of San Antonio, will receive a loan of close to $42.9 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to build or improve 383 miles of line. Both loans include funding to implement smart-grid technologies, which monitor and manage electricity transmission to meet changes in demand.