KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Inflation and a turkey shortage this year could ruin dinner for many families across the country. According to the CDC, the bird flu has infected almost 48 million birds in the U.S. According to our news partner KETK, Greenberg Smoked Turkeys said they’ll have turkeys available to order up until Thanksgiving. “We sell one product and one product only. We have to make sure we have it. Last year, we placed our order in November and had everything here as early as March,” said Jake Greenberg, Assistant Manager at Greenberg Smoked Turkeys. An employee that has worked there for many seasons says it doesn’t hurt to order early. Continue reading Despite turkey shortage, Greenberg Smoked Turkeys says they will have plenty

TYLER — T.J. Austin Elementary has seen significant results through its “Amplify Program” for reading and writing, according to our news partner KETK. “We have implemented this Amplify curriculum and other things to ensure number one that teachers have a curriculum they can trust and implement with integrity, but also get the results to ensure that all students are growing throughout our campus,” said T.J. Austin Principal Josh Currie. The new program helps put students at their appropriate grade reading level which helps them prepare for their future careers. Continue reading Texas Education Commissioner visits Tyler elementary school

TYLER – On Wednesday, Oct. 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the right lane of I-20 westbound from mile marker 560 to mile marker 558 (east of Lindale) will be closed. Crews will be conducting cleanup in response to an accident that occurred on Tuesday morning. The Texas Department of Public Safety will also be on site to conduct the accident investigation.

PALESTINE – A boil water notice has been issued for a part of Palestine. According to our news partner KETK, residents in the 100 block of West Spring are being asked to boil their water. “To ensure the destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking and making ice should be boiled and cooled prior to use. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes,” said the city of Palestine in a prepared statement.

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying remains found in northeast Smith County in July. They say the deceased person is a black male believed to be between the ages of 40 and 55. He had two yellow/gold metal crowns, one of which is on his upper front left tooth. He was found wearing a red “Drip Too Hard” t-shirt and black pants. The sheriff’s office currently has no leads on the identity of this person or where he is from. The depiction at left is a DPS Forensic Artists rendition based on skeletal remains. If you have any information, contact Detective Joshua Decur at (903) 566-6600 or jdecur@smith-county.com.

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office seeks your help finding 27-year-old Kendrick Bernard Bell, accused of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Officials say Bell is 5’7″ in height and weighs 170 pounds. Bond is set at $750,000. Authorities say Bell is wanted for questioning and is suspected of shooting a victim October 8 by firing several rounds into the victim’s car where he was seated. Bell’s vehicle has been recovered and it is unknown what he is driving now. He is to be considered armed and very dangerous. You’re asked to contact Detective Aaron Hinton with any information with at (903) 566-6600 or ahinton@smith-county.com.

TYLER – A Tyler man was sentenced to 33 years in prison after pleading guilty on Tuesday to the murder of a 21-year-old mother of two who was killed in a 2020 shooting. Our news partner KETK reports Catalino Castillo Marin Jr., 23, was arrested in August 2020 after a Tyler shooting left 21-year-old Diamond Samantha Cruz dead and led to a manhunt for his arrest. According to court documents, a .40 caliber handgun was found lying near her body at the time of the incident “as well as spent casings and unfired rounds.” One person interviewed by investigators told them Marin came to her residence “with blood on his hands stating he and the victim…were fighting over the gun when she shot herself and stated ‘he did not mean to do it,’” according to an affidavit. Continue reading Man gets 33 years in young mother’s murder

TYLER — The East Texas Food Bank will offer a new mobile pantry monthly with fresh produce and meat from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. beginning October 27 at the Mineola High School Football Stadium. “Wood County has a great need for food assistance as 15.6% of the residents are food insecure…according to the latest data from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap,” said Food Bank CEO Dennis Cullinane, as quoted in a news release. The Food Bank currently has nine partner agencies that operate food pantries in Alba, Hawkins, Mineola, Quitman, and Winnsboro. There are also special programs to help seniors with a monthly box of food while children receive backpacks of food through their school. To find out more, click here and click on Find Food. Continue reading East Texas Food Bank to offer new mobile pantry in Mineola

MARSHALL – Former Marshall ISD teacher’s aide Sara Elizabeth Davis was arrested after being indicted for allegedly abusing a nonverbal autistic student at Price T. Young Fine Arts Academy. According to our news partner KETK, attorneys representing the victim and his family say video evidence showed Davis slapping the victim in the face, grabbing his sleeve and slinging him into a desk. An indictment from a Harrison County grand jury said that Davis caused bodily injury to a child under 14 by striking him in the face. Davis was arrested on Aug. 30, about three years after the alleged incident. A spokesperson for Marshall ISD said Davis’ employment was terminated days after the incident. According to a statement, school district officials say, “Marshall ISD is committed to providing a safe and secure educational environment for all of its students.”

OVERTON — Some Overton citizens are concerned after several members in their volunteer fire department resigned. Several described what’s happening as small-town politics. According to our news partner KETK, they said they just don’t want to see it get in the way of the town’s growth and potential. TJ Lewis has dedicated nearly 11 years of his life to the Overton volunteer fire department. “It’s a giving community. Of course, I got my start here at 16,” said Lewis. Sunday, he announced his resignation as former assistant chief, but he wasn’t the only one. “The chief, me as the former assistant chief, the secretary, and another fireman, they all resigned the same night which was completely unexpected. Continue reading Overton Volunteer Fire Department members resign

TYLER – A Whitehouse man was sentenced to 10 years of deferred adjudication and 700 hours of community service on Monday after pleading guilty to aggravated assault of a public servant. That’s according to our news partner KETK. Jackson Lee Davis, 26, was arrested in February after Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said in a press conference at the time that Davis had drawn a semi-automatic pistol from his waistband and pointed it at two deputies. According to law enforcement, deputies responded to the scene after a call was made about shots being fired on Highway 69 where a man who was later identified as Davis was seen exiting a car holding a book in one hand with the other hidden behind his back. Continue reading Man gets probation, community service for pulling gun on deputies

TYLER — Smith County departments will be on hand at a Job Fair on Thursday, October 20. Representatives from eight departments will be onsite to meet applicants, provide more information, and take applications. The event will be held from 1-3 p.m. at The Hub on E. Ferguson in downtown Tyler. Representatives from the Human Resources Department will also be assisting interested job applicants for departments that will not be at the job fair. Click this link for all the details.

TYLER — TxDOT schedules another week’s worth of roadwork in the Tyler District. In Smith County, Tyler maintenance will have a base failure crew on FM 2493 just south of Loop 323 in Tyler. Expect lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic. A second crew will be performing ditch maintenance at various locations throughout Smith County. Longview maintenance will perform mill and inlay operations on FM 3053. Expect lane closures with flaggers and a pilot car controlling traffic. Click here for a complete rundown of roadwork around the district.

LONGVIEW — Court documents show a former Longview police lieutenant who was arrested by the FBI and accused of attempting to engage minors in sexual activity online was released from jail on a conditional order. According to our news partner KETK, Seth Vanover was released from the Smith County Jail on Thursday. The specific conditions of his release were sealed by the court, but he will have a third-party custodian, according to documents. Vanover was ordered to appear in court in the middle district of Florida, where the charges are pending, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia Barksdale on Oct. 24 at 2 p.m., to answer those charges. Continue reading Judge orders former Longview police lieutenant’s conditional release

HARRISON COUNTY — Harrison County Sheriff’s Office announced Sunday they arrested a suspect in an aggravated assault case that involved vehicular assault, stabbing and arson near Lansing Switch and Interstate 20. According to our news partner KETK, Jeffery Wade Berry was arrested after fleeing the scene where two people were allegedly hit with a car, one person was cut with a knife and a camper was lit on fire. Officials said that after arresting Berry, EMS was able to provide medical assistance to the three victims and West Harrison Volunteer Fire Department was able to put out the flaming camper. Berry was charged with two counts of aggravated assault family violence with a deadly weapon, assault family violence causing bodily injury and arson. Two of the victims were released and one is in stable condition, according to authorities.