KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – An inmate who escaped while being transported to a different location was arrested Tuesday after breaking into two houses, according to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. A detention officer was transporting inmate Timothy Chappelle, 41, from the north jail to the central jail around 1 p.m. According to our news partner KETK, he was inside a law enforcement vehicle, and authorities said he escaped when the car stopped on Gentry Parkway and Parkdale Drive in Tyler. The inmate reportedly kicked out a back window and barricade. The sheriff’s office says Chappelle then ran north and broke into two houses near Wisteria Drive. The detention officer called for other law enforcement, and the inmate was captured quickly again on Wisteria Drive, according to authorities. Continue reading Officials: Inmate arrested after escaping, breaking into two houses

LONGVIEW – The body found in Longview on Monday has now been identified as a 34-year-old man by the name of Paul Stebbins II. According to our news partner KETK, the body was found in a vacant lot across from the former Johnny Cace’s restaurant on East Marshall Avenue. Longview Police Public Information Officer Brandon Thornton said police are continuing to investigate and no further information was immediately available.

TYLER — TxDOT schedules another week’s worth of roadwork in the Tyler District for the week of January 2. In Smith County, 
Tyler maintenance will have a crew on US 271 performing fog seal, from Gentry Parkway to FM 2015. Expect lane closures. A second crew will be performing base repairs on FM 206. Expect lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic. In Gregg County, sidewalk installation continues on South Loop 281 from Fairmont St. to SH 300 (Gilmer Road). There will be shoulder closures as well as some lane closures as needed. Slow down and watch for workers. Expect delays. Check this link for the complete rundown of roadwork around the district.

UPSHUR COUNTY – Officials have identified the man killed in a December 27 Upshur County fire as David Anthony Johnson, 54, of Diana. The sheriff’s office says he lived in the house that caught fire. According to our news partner KETK, officials said they received a call of a house fire on Hawk Road around 7 a.m. after a neighbor observed the fire and called 911. “The home was destroyed,” authorities reported. “Responders located a deceased person in the debris of the home.” An autopsy was ordered. “The cause of the fire is undetermined, but there is currently no evidence of foul play,” authorities added.

TYLER — The Children’s Park of Tyler has some unfortunate news to share — and sadly, it’s not without precedent. According to its Facebook page, “It is with a sad and heavy heart to share this as we start out 2023, but we will have to take down our Christmas lights a month earlier than originally planned. You have the rest of this week to visit them before St Nic’s takes them down next weekend. Unfortunately, the thieves came back last week and stole even more than the first time [a few days before Christmas]…Now our board will be looking into possibly adding preventative security measures in the park so we can keep a better eye on things. Click here for more details, including how you can support the Children’s Park.

TYLER — The U.S. Congress began its new term Tuesday, but Nathaniel Moran will have to wait to become Texas District 1’s first new congressman in 18 years. Such action cannot be taken until a new speaker of the House is chosen, and that didn’t happen Tuesday. Moran, a former Smith County judge, won the seat in November by a wide margin. Once he takes office, what will be his top priorities? “The recession of the economy and border security by far are the top two issues people want us to address in Congress,” said Moran, on election night of 2022. Local party leaders said the Republican congressman has to be ready to hit the ground running. “It has to be determined which committee he gets on and that’s really gonna dictate a lot of what he’s going to be able to push forward as a freshman legislature,” said Smith County Republican Party Chair David Stein. Continue reading Moran awaits swearing-in

RUSK – Rusk Rural Water Supply Corporation remains under a boil water notice issued during the weekend. According to the company website, the notice affects some customers on FM 752 (if included and the company has the correct phone number on file, you will receive a phone call), along with customers on County Roads 2310, 2323, 2324, and 2325. The notice is attributed to a main line break. Click here for details and updates.

TYLER/LONGVIEW — CHRISTUS welcomes its first two babies of 2023 at CHRISTUS Good Shepherd in Longview and CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. Tripp Moore was born in Longview at 4:32 a.m. New Year’s Day. Tripp’s parents are Colton Moore & Shauna Nicol. Ellison Elizabeth came into the world in Tyler at 10:38 a.m. January 1, welcomed by parents Gunner Land & Avery Humphrey.

TYLER — The National Weather Service Office in Shreveport has predicted severe thunderstorms for Tyler and the surrounding area beginning Monday, Jan. 2. Damaging winds, isolated tornadoes, large hail, and locally heavy rainfall were deemed possible. The City of Tyler streets and stormwater crews will respond and intervene during a severe weather event where roads have washed out and other public facilities may be compromised. If you have an emergency, call 9-1-1, stay on the line and DO NOT HANG UP until your call is answered. Answer all questions and follow instructions. The Tyler Police Department’s non-emergency line (903) 531-1000 should be used for all other calls and notifications, including traffic signal issues. Continue reading National Weather Service anticipates severe weather

TYLER — The City of Tyler announced that there would be no trash collection on Monday, Jan. 2. According to officials and our news partner KETK, trash collection will start up again on Tuesday, Jan. 3. The routes that are normally collected on Mondays will be collected on Tuesday and the routes that are collected on Tuesday will be collected on Wednesday. Thursday’s routes will be collected on Thursday, Jan. 5 as usual as well as Friday’s on Jan. 6. The Downtown Recycle Center, closed on Monday, Jan. 2, reopens on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

TYLER — UT Health Tyler celebrated a very special birthday on New Years Day. Edgar Espinoza Jr. was born at 5:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day, making him the hospital’s first baby of the year. According to our news partner KETK, after ringing in the New Year with their family, the Espinoza’s did not know the hospital was going to be the first stop. “When we got home it was just instant back to back, just non-stop, pretty consistent contractions,” said the father, Edgar Espinoza Sr. When they arrived at the emergency room, the UT Health staff cheered mom on. “It actually did help and I remember as soon as he was born, I was like, so is he the first baby? And she said for sure here,” said the mother, Jessenia Espinoza. Junior came three weeks early and there were no complications during the birth. Continue reading UT Health Tyler welcomes their first baby born in 2023

ATHENS – It’s the latest wrinkle in a recurring scam around the area. The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about scammers who are pretending to be with the sheriff’s office. According to our news partner KETK, officials said people got phone calls on Thursday that told them they have missed court, and they are being asked to send money so a warrant won’t be issued for them. The sheriff’s office said they will not call people if they owe the county money and said these scammers are not with the sheriff’s office. “If you receive these calls please hang up the phone and do not send any money to them,” the sheriff’s office said in a prepared statement.

GLADEWATER — In celebration of its 150th anniversary, the City of Gladewater will kick off its sesquicentennial celebration in January of 2023 with a series of monthly events that will run through December 2023. According to a news release, the celebration will commence with Night at the Museum on Saturday, January 21st, at The Gladewater Museum, on Pacific Ave. Organizers say this event will feature unique displays, including Caddo artifacts, railroad memorabilia, and the TEXANA Book Collection, and special guest speakers. “We wanted to do something special to honor Gladewater’s 150th anniversary,” said Kevin Clark, President of the Gladewater 150th Committee, as quoted in the release. “We want the entire community to get involved in this year-long celebration and have included events for everyone in the family.” Click here for more information.

WASHINGTON – The University of Texas at Tyler was awarded a federal grant totaling $262,537 to support partnerships between local schools and institutions of higher education that are training counselors, social workers, psychologists, and other mental health professionals to provide school-based services. That announcement came Friday from U.S. Senator John Cornyn. According to a news release, the funding comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s Mental Health Service Professionals Demonstration program. The program was recently authorized by Sen. Cornyn’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, signed into law on June 25. This targeted legislation addresses specific concerns that have led to recent mass shootings, including the need for additional mental health services and school safety resources, according to the release. Continue reading Cornyn: UT Tyler to receive $262K for additional mental health resources