KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW – Authorities say an East Texas teenager has been found safe and is back at home after being reported missing over the weekend. According to our news partner KETK, the call for help went out from Longview police after 15-year-old Makayla Sanchez was reported missing Sept. 11. Police are thanking everyone who shared their Facebook post about Makayla’s disappearance.

TYLER — NET Health’s George Roberts says there are some positive signs, but lots of work to do as COVID-19 continues to hit East Texas hard. Regarding vaccinations in Smith County, Roberts says, “53.21 per cent of individuals 12 and older have had at least one dose, and almost 45 per cent are fully vaccinated. So…that number is getting better…but we still need to grow that.” Roberts says among the elderly, vaccination numbers are significantly higher than the overall figures. He adds that some people who “maybe have been on the fence about it” are now starting to get their shots. He also notes that Tyler hospital patient numbers are down but still substantial — and he says the number of unvaccinated COVID patients in Tyler hospitals remains at over 95 per cent. All in all, Roberts repeats his call for unvaccinated people to get their shots as soon as possible.

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court Tuesday approved a 10-year tax abatement to Trane Technologies for the reconstruction and expansion of a manufacturing facility destroyed by Winter Storm Uri. Felecia Herndon, Executive Vice President/Finance of the Tyler Economic Development Council, said Trane plans to invest $76.7 million to construct a new 190,000-square-foot building to replace the collapsed building, which was 115,000 square feet. In addition to rebuilding four assembly lines, the investment will create three additional assembly lines, Ms. Herndon said. Trane is the single largest manufacturing employer in Tyler/Smith County, Ms. Herndon said. Trane officials say they are committed to retaining the 400 existing jobs that were housed in the building. Click here for more details.

LONGVIEW — The Longview ISD board approved on Monday to give a one-time incentive of $1,000 to fully vaccinated district employees. According to our news partner KETK, Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox said employees must complete the COVID-19 vaccination incentive form, and submit proof of vaccination by the Nov. 1st deadline. He also mentioned getting a shot against the virus is not mandatory. The forms will be given to Longview I-S-D employees this week, and they will also be added to the district website. Wilcox says the motive behind creating the incentive is to do everything and anything the school can do, as a district, to ensure the safety of the community and the continuity of in-class instruction. Continue reading Longview ISD to give $1,000 to district employees who are fully vaccinated

MARSHALL — In conjunction with Walmart, East Texas Baptist University is offering an additional free COVID vaccine clinic on campus in Rogers Spiritual Life Center on Tuesday, September 14, and Wednesday, September 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both the first and second doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination will be administered, as well as booster shots for those who are immunocompromised. To receive your second dose, you must present your vaccination card to confirm it has been at least 21 days since your first dose. Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines will be distributed while daily supplies last. Find more information and register for a designated time slot at this link.

TYLER — Pipeline Analysis will continue smoke testing sewer lines in sewer meter basins 13 and 17 as part of the City of Tyler’s ongoing sanitary sewer inspection program. Officials say smoke testing helps locate breaks and defects in the city’s sanitary sewer system. The information is used to repair and improve the sewer system, according to a news release. The testing will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13, through Friday, Sept. 17, in two areas. Continue reading Smoke testing locations for week of Sept. 13

HOUSTON – Gov. Greg Abbott has signed into law a bail reform bill with an East Texas connection. The Damon Allen Act, named after the state trooper murdered near Fairfield on Thanksgiving 2017, is meant to “reform our broken bail system in Texas and keep our communities safe,” according to Abbott’s office. According to our news partner KETK, Dabrett Black, a Lindale native, is the suspect and is still awaiting trial for capital murder. The bill took aim at Black being out on a $15,000 bond in 2017 despite previously being arrested for assaulting a Smith County deputy in 2015.

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department is seeking any information on the whereabouts of a 15-year-old girl. According to our news partner KETK, Makayla Sanchez is around 4’11”. She was reported missing Sept. 11 and was last seen wearing gray sweats, but may have changed into a black sweater and black athletic shorts. Anyone with any information on her whereabouts is asked to call (903) 237-1170.

TYLER — The Glass Recreation Center, on W. 32nd St. in Tyler, is temporarily closed for floor repairs. Contractors were due to replace the tile in the hallways, lobby, and bathrooms damaged during Winter Storm Uri. The center will reopen for business at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 14.

TYLER — A misdemeanor prostitution trial for a Smith County constable is being pushed back to allow a separate felony oppression trial to proceed first. According to our news partner KETK, Precinct 2 Constable Josh Black was arrested for misdemeanor prostitution and felony official oppression just days after being elected last November. 114th District Court Judge Reeve Jackson announced that the trial for felony oppression would be scheduled first while a two-week continuance was granted on the misdemeanor prostitution charge. Jury selection in the oppression trial was scheduled for Monday afternoon. Another twist was added in the case when Black was arrested again Friday for a separate indictment of prostitution.

TYLER — A substance that was causing concerns has been removed and cleared from a Tyler roadway, and police say there are no more issues with it being slippery. According to police, it was determined that no cars actually hit each other, only slipped and hit the curb, and there were no injuries reported. The cause of why the substance was in the road is still under investigation. Around 7:25 Monday morning, officers responded to W. Erwin St. and found an unknown substance in the roadway that had caused a couple of cars to slip and slide into the curb. Drivers were asked to avoid the area before the substance was cleared up.

TYLER – Sept. 11, is a day that brings people of the United States together. All the things that usually divide don’t matter. “Still great sadness comes back from 20 years ago, but the day after the day, there was such a unified spirit,” Louie Gohmert, U.S. Representative said. That spirit strengthened in downtown Tyler as East Texas first responders and community members united for the people who died and for those who went above and beyond the call of duty, as reported by our news partner KETK. “When I got there the thing that I remember most getting there where the rubble was and everything was feeling helpless,” Larry Smith with the Smith County Sheriff’s office said. Continue reading East Texans unite in downtown Tyler to remember 9/11

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is putting out the word on a service to mark the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. It’s set for Saturday morning at 7:45 on Tyler’s downtown square, and the public is encouraged to attend. Comments will be offered by Congressman Louie Gohmert, state Representatives Matt Schaefer and Cole Hefner, Sheriff Larry Smith, County Judge Nathaniel Moran, Fire Marshal Jay Brooks, Tyler Police Chief Jimmy Toler, and Tyler Fire Chief David Coble. The event is set to end at 9 a.m., with a Chick-fil-A breakfast to be served afterwards, courtesy Green Acres Baptist Church.

CHAPEL HILL — A portion of Smith County Road 220, just east of New Chapel Hill, is back open to drivers after being closed for months while a bridge could be constructed. Road and bridge crews began working in April to repair a box culvert and the roadway. Once work began, it was determined that the damage was too great and that the entire structure had been undermined, so the culvert would need to be replaced with a bridge, County Engineer Frank Davis said. The road closure affected through traffic on CR 220 between CR 289 and CR 2298.

ATHENS – A trial date has been set for an 81-year-old Athens ISD bus driver charged for a student’s death. According to our news partner KETK, John Stevens is set for trial January 22, 2022. He is charged with criminally negligent homicide and injury to a child after a bus he was driving in January 2019 was hit by a train, killing 13-year-old Christopher Bonilla and injuring 9-year-old Joselyne Torres. The process of setting a trial date has been not an easy one. A prosecutor from the Texas Attorney General’s office failed to appear at a status hearing in August, delaying the case further. The case had been handed to the AG’s office after the Henderson District Attorney Office recused itself for a “conflict of interest.”

TYLER — The Smith County Collections Department is holding its annual warrant round up the week of September 13. Judicial Compliance/Collections Director Sheryl Keel says the county’s courts have hundreds of active warrants they are seeking to clear. Keel says defendants are encouraged to take advantage of the options available to settle outstanding warrants immediately. Once the arrest period begins Monday, Smith County will aggressively target persons on the delinquent and or warrant list and arrests can take place at any location, including the defendant’s home, school or workplace, Keel said. Notices were being mailed to all defendants who fit the criteria. For more information about warrants or citations, visit this link or contact the Smith County Collections Department at 903-590-4624.

TYLER — CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic is partnering with the Tyler Independent School District to provide free COVID-19 vaccinations this Saturday for everyone over age 12, with a focus on TISD teachers, staff, students, and students’ families. The vaccine clinic will be open from 8:00 a.m. till noon at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic – Douglas on E. Douglas Blvd. in Tyler. It is open to all members of the public in the aforementioned age category, including teachers, staff, and employees of Tyler ISD, as well as students and their families. To sign up, visit this link and click “Connect with CHRISTY.”

TYLER — A Tyler woman was sentenced to eight years of deferred adjudication Thursday morning and ordered to pay back more than $40,000 in restitution for an embezzling scheme. According to our news partner KETK, Vicki Melhart, 40, pleaded guilty to writing herself checks while working for Deerbrook Storage Unit. Between Oct. 2, 2019, and April 4, 2020, she wrote 107 checks for more than $40,000 out of the company’s account. The owner of the company told police that Melhart’s job had been “renting units, paying various bills, and taking payments.” She was fired when the owner found out that she had been writing the checks and forging his or his son’s signature. Continue reading Tyler woman sentenced to 8 years probation for embezzlement

RUSK — The father of a missing 5-week-old baby pleaded guilty to charges in the disappearance and was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, 36-year-old DeAndre Argumon pleaded guilty to abandoning a child nearly one year after his son Armaidre went missing in September 2020. He had already been convicted back in April for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in connection to Armaidre’s disappearance. An Amber Alert was issued when he went missing and a massive search was conducted by multiple law enforcement agencies. Armaidre has not been seen since Friday, September 18 in Wells, a small community in southern Cherokee County. To this day, he still has not been found.

AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill partially authored by Sen. Bryan Hughes made to protect Texans from wrongful censorship on social media. According to our news partner KETK, the legislation requires large social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to make regular reports of removed content, create a complaint system and disclose their content regulation procedures. Abbott was joined at the signing by Hughes and Rep. Briscoe Cain, who are the authors of the bill. Sen. Charles Perry, Sen. Dawn Buckingham and Sen. Angela Paxton were also present. Specifically, the bill prevents social media companies with more than 50 million monthly users from banning users based on their political viewpoints. Continue reading Abbott signs Hughes’ social media censorship protection bill into law

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department is proposing the addition of a digital forensic specialist and a homeless coordinator to its ranks with the passing of the city’s 2021-2022 annual budget. According to a news release, the forensic specialist will give officers the opportunity to resolve more investigations and present stronger cases for prosecution. Police say adding a homeless coordinator allows the department to work closely with homeless residents and guide them to available resources. City residents will have another opportunity for public input on the budget on Wednesday, Sept. 22, at City Hall. Following the public hearing, the budget will be voted on for adoption by the City Council.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has approved a resolution supporting execution of a funding agreement with TxDOT for five Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) projects in Tyler. The HSIP is federally funded with some costs paid for by TxDOT or the city, depending on what roadways the projects will affect. Federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation will pay for 90 percent of the construction costs. According to a news release, the city will pay the remaining 10 percent and 100 percent of the engineering, design, and any construction cost overruns for three traffic system improvement projects. Continue reading City moving forward with traffic signal, intersection improvements

LONGVIEW — Pointing out that this is Hunger Action Month, the East Texas Food Bank is holding another mega drive-thru produce distribution Friday from 8-10 a.m. at the Gregg County Fairgrounds in Longview. The events are open to anyone and there are no eligibility or paperwork requirements. These are drive-thru distributions and walk-ups will not be accepted. Multiple households can carpool. To pick up items for another household not present, a note must be provided. As the pandemic continues, food bank officials say they are still seeing an increased need for food assistance. The next distribution is Friday, September 17, at Lindsey Park in Tyler from 10 a.m. till noon.

TYLER – Texas College will host a public COVID-19 vaccination clinic Friday, September 10, from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. The College will be collaborating with the Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health), The National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW), GOOD HEALTH WINs initiative, and Tyler City Councilmember/Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shirley McKellar. The clinic will be open to the public, and no appointment will be necessary. Vaccinations will be available for everyone age 12 or older. Individuals under the age of 18 must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians. Through the partnership with NCNW GOOD HEALTH WINs initiative, the college will be able to offer free Uber rides to and from the campus for residents to receive the vaccine. Call Wanda Williams or Cecile Brewster at (903) 593-8311, ext. 2709, for more details.

TYLER — More than $1 million in grants was given to six East Texas veteran organizations on Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, the Texas Veterans Commission’s Fund for Veteran’s Assistance presented the money at Habitat For Humanity of Smith County in Tyler. The funds were approved back in May through a program that provides approximately 140 grants to organizations across the Lone Star State. The CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Smith County, Jack Wilson, was there to receive the group’s big check. He mentioned, he felt grateful for the money because it’s going to help change lives. Continue reading Grants presented to East Texas veteran organizations

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has approved an $18,632,408.84 contract with Insituform Technologies, LLC for sanitary sewer system rehabilitation work. According to a news release, the project includes cleaning and installing significant amounts of pipe liner in the north and west ends of the city. Officials say crews will be able to repair existing sewer lines with little or no digging. Click here for further details.

TYLER — The City of Tyler has proposed the addition of two new firefighters, along with the purchase of improved personal protective equipment and a new tower truck for the fire department. To prepare for anticipated community growth, officials say the fire department offered and ran its first Fire Academy in 33 years. Recruits are expected to graduate and become firefighters in fiscal year 2022. Adding two new firefighters would bring the city’s total of Fire sworn positions to 160, according to a news release. The stated goal is to periodically add firefighters until the department has enough personnel to staff a new fire station when such is needed. Visit this link for more information. Continue reading City turns attention to fire department, solid waste

TYLER — The City of Tyler, with the help of community members, is working to gather supplies and bring relief to survivors of Hurricane Ida. Donations will be accepted until Sept. 15 at the Downtown Recycling Center, the Glass Recreation Center, and the Goodman Museum. Community members will be taking the relief items to the east side of New Orleans to assist with recovery. The city asks that donations be new/unopened; food items should be those that do not require refrigeration, as many do not yet have electricity; and if dropping off large quantities, already boxed items are most easily transported to the distribution site. Click here for more information.

TYLER — Amid staggering new COVID-19 numbers in East Texas, NET Health’s George Roberts repeats his months-long mantra: Get vaccinated. He says the vaccination numbers are improving but are still not where he’d like. Roberts repeats that vaccinations are readily available and that the vaccines do work. He also points to the availability of regeneron therapy at several area locations for people who are early in their COVID-19 diagnosis.