KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW — A virtual meeting is scheduled for the city of Longview. On Thursday, the Public Works Department announced citizen input is being sought on median improvements to US 80/East Marshall Avenue, between Eastman Road and Nansemond Way. The online forum will be next Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Instructions and direct links to view the meeting or to speak during the meeting can be found by clicking the link. https://longviewtexas.gov/4005/Meetings-via-Teleconference. Organizers say, there will be an opportunity for public comments during the meeting and for 14 days after. Contact Longview’s engineering consultant for more information at [email protected] or 903-617-5368.

SMITH COUNTY — The City of Bullard has identified the woman who died after being pinned between two vehicles as a city employee. According to our news partner KETK, a City of Bullard Facebook post identified the woman as Jennifer MacWhirter, 58. She was the human resources director and had been with city administration since 2004. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office and DPS say the accident occurred just after midnight early Wednesday morning in the 13000 block of CR 192, just north of the Toll 49 and Highway 155 intersection. Investigators said MacWhirter was at the location to perform custodial services, and while outside preparing to load a pickup with trash, she was pinned between two vehicles and died from her injuries. Continue reading Smith County Sheriff’s Office investigating accidental death

TYLER — A local author has released the first offerings in a storybook series for children. On Wednesday, Renee Goodwin told KTBB how the idea came to life. “About a year ago, I was blessed with my puppy. She is a Cane Corso breed and her name is GG. As I watched her play and watched all of her little antics, I just started seeing all of these stories in my mind.” The life pointers are learned from the perspective of a very energetic puppy: GG. The first two in the series are GG Cleans House and GG Meets Her Match, tackling teamwork, and forever friendships. Continue reading Local author releases first books in children’s series

KILGORE — The Kilgore Police Department is asking for help, from the public, in identifying a vehicle wanted in connection with a home invasion. According to our news partner KETK, the department has reason to believe the pictured Jeep Grand Cherokee, could be involved. There may also be some type of damage on the driver’s side. The home burglary took place August 27, and numerous items were taken. If you have any information regarding the location of this vehicle, or the owner, please contact Det. Andre Phillips at (903) 218-6904 or email at [email protected]. More details are available by clicking the link. https://www.facebook.com/kilgorepolice/posts/3502368923132053.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council unanimously approved the adoption of the City of Tyler’s fiscal year 2021 budget proposal, on Wednesday. The proposed budget was introduced Aug. 12, with a public hearing two weeks later. The budget will decrease by 3% over last year, at a little more than $202 million. The city said, economic hardships due to COVID-19 have hit many residents in Tyler hard, and with that thought in mind, the budget adopted the “no new revenue” rate of 25.9 cent, which is a .09 cent decrease from the prior year. With this adoption, the City of Tyler will continue to keep the lowest tax rate for a city over 15,000 residents in the State of Texas.

WINNSBORO — Multiple unites responded to a fire Sunday night at the Administration building of Winnsboro ISD. On Wednesday, Public Relations Officer Adrianna Weems told KTBB, “It was confirmed that it was an electrical fire, but moving forward the district administration offices have been temporarily set-up and moved to the Winsborro Memorial Intermediate Campus, which last year was Winsborro Memorial Middle School. Once we built the new high school, we restructured our campuses and realigned, so now we have four campuses.” Continue reading Update: Winsborro ISD admin office confirmed as electrical

LONGVIEW — The East Texas Food Bank distributed over 10.2 million pounds of produce last year through their partner agencies and feeding programs. On Tuesday, ETFB announced they will be holding a produce distribution at the Gregg County Fairgrounds this Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Produce is available first-come, first-serve, while supplies last. Inclement weather may affect outdoor distributions. If you have questions contact the East Texas Food Bank.

CHANDLER — Customers were lined up at the newest McDonald’s in the world on Tuesday morning in Chandler. Owner-operators Kevin and Jeaneane Lilly celebrated their 24th grand opening at the location, right off HWY 31. Kevin Lilly told KTBB, “You know, never did I think when I started out becoming an owner operator in 1997, that we would ever have one, much less three or four, but never did I ever think we would have 24. One unique thing about this store, we did put the active pure technology in this restaurant. The air is sanitized through the air conditioning system with UV Light. So, essentially every 25 minutes or so, all of the air in the restaurant has been sanitized.” Continue reading Lilly McDonald’s celebrates new location

TYLER –The 2020 East Texas State Fair was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Tuesday, ETSF announced “Taste of the Fair” will offer fair food lovers their favorites in a socially distanced environment. Organizers say fair food classics including turkey legs, funnel cakes, candied apples, and jumbo corn dogs, as well as local favorites like the tamale slammer, the wonderstick, peach puppies, volcano fries and more will be readily available. Items will be packaged to take to-go. Continue reading Fair food pick-up coming to ETSF

TYLER — Smith County Commissioners Court took action steps Tuesday to lower the property tax rate. The new rate is down from 34.5 cents per $100 valuation to 33.5 cents for the 2021 fiscal year. However, in spite of the tax cut, the county will still take in more money from property taxes next year due to new property being developed that will bring in new revenue. The new budget will be $14.5 million dollars smaller than the current fiscal year. The county made several cuts, including delaying the previously planned bond election for a new Courthouse, originally planned for November of this year. Continue reading Smith County cuts property tax by penny, passes new fiscal budget

LONGVIEW — Jimmy Yancey celebrated his 90th birthday in style on Sunday. The legendary former band director was surprised by carloads of family and friends that honored him with a birthday parade at Longview High School. Chris Yancey told our news partner KETK original plans changed, “We had the idea that when he turned 90 we were going to have a banquet for him and have ex-students come in and tell stories about him. But, when the virus and current health care climate came along, we had to change all this.” Continue reading Former Longview band director celebrates birthday in style

AUSTIN — The latest poll from UT Tyler and the Dallas Morning News shows a continued tight presidential race in Texas. According to our news partner KETK, the poll was taken Aug. 28 – September 2. The most recent numbers shows Biden with 44% of the vote, and Trump at 43% (Independent candidate Jo Jorgenson had 2%, Green Party Candidate Howie Hawkins had 1% and 11% were undecided). However, when the poll accounted for those most likely to cast a ballot, Trump had 48% of that vote to 46% for Biden and 1% each for Jorgenson and Hawkins with 5% undecided. The margin of error for this poll is +/- 2.85 percentage. This poll is from a random sample of 1,182 voters surveyed over the phone and online. Continue reading Trump/Biden remains close in Texas, Cornyn leads Hegar

PALESTINE — A Trump boat parade was held Sunday at the Bella Vistas event center at Lake Palestine. Signs, banners and flags could be seen for miles. With the coronavirus making tradition political rallies hard to organize,Terry Kenny told our news partner KETK, these events were created to allow people to gather while maintaining social distance. “Well we can’t go to an indoor rally, so this is the next best thing. We need this, we need to show our support for President Trump.” This is the second Trump Rally held on the water in East Texas. Lake Tyler was the site of hundreds of boaters and more than a thousand participants on August 23.

TYLER — Senator John Cornyn wants voters to know how much “CARES Act” money their locality has received. Senator Cornyn has been on a tour of Texas cities discussing the “CARES Act” funding each city has received and how it’s been used to fight the coronavirus pandemic. He posted 18 videos from his tour on YouTube. In Tyler, Cornyn said, “If you told me 6 months ago I would’ve voted for a 3 trillion dollar spending bill, I would’ve told you you were crazy. But I truly felt like it was absolutely necessary for us to do it.” Texas has received 11.2 billion dollars in “CARES Act” funding, second only to California with 15.3 billion dollars. Cornyn is running for re-election in November against Democrat M.J. Hegar.

RUSK COUNTY — A small plane crash Saturday afternoon near the airport in  Rusk County remains under investigation. According to our news partner KETK, the DPS report indicates that the single engine aircraft lost power just after take-off from the airport and crashed into the tree line. The pilot and the passenger were taken to UT Health with minor injuries. The FAA was notified and responded to the scene.

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles have signed Jacksonville native Josh McCown to their practice squad. McCown, 41, will be the edest players to ever be on an NFL practice squad. For McCown and the Eagles, the move would center around the veteran signal-caller playing the role of the team’s “quarantined” quarterback perse, with McCown training at home, taking part in zoom meetings, and getting paid $12,000 a week to be on the Eagles practice squad as an emergency quarterback in case Carson Wentz, Nate Sudfeld or Jalen Hurts have a positive coronavirus test or worse. McCown still plans on living in Texas but will stay in shape, and if Philadelphia needs him for an emergency situation, he’ll be ready.

AUSTIN — The Department of Public Safety continues to be out in greater numbers through Monday night. In an effort to keep motorist safe, Texas DPS is urging motorists to practice safe driving habits and exercise caution. Troopers will be looking for drivers who violate the law, including not wearing seat belts, speeding, driving while intoxicated and failing to comply with the state’s Move Over, Slow Down law, as well as other traffic violations. During the 2019 Labor Day holiday, DPS Troopers issued 102,274 citations and warnings, including 10,506 citations for speeding, 1,461 seat belt and child safety restraint citations; and 938 warnings and citations for Move Over, Slow Down violations.

TYLER — If you haven’t registered for the upcoming General Election, you have less than a month left to do so. The Presidential Election will be on November 3rd. If you are voting in person, you have 30 days before election day to register. If voting by mail, you must have it postmarked 30 days before the election day. The deadline is extended to the next business day it this falls on a Sunday. To register to vote click the link. https://www.vote.org/.

RUSK — A single engine aircraft crashed just after leaving the Rusk County Airport. According to a press brief from DPS, Troopers responded to a report of the crash. Preliminary reports indicate the airplane lost power just after take-off from the airport and wednt down into the tree line. The pilot and his passenger were transported to UT Health – Tyler with minor injuries. Airport officials and FAA have been notified. More information will be released as it becomes available.

LONGVIEW — Close friends and family celebrated 13 cadets Friday, who became the first ever graduates of the Longview Police Academy. The academy provided basic peace officer training for eight cadets of the Longview Police Department and five cadets of the Jacksonville Police Department. To host an academy was a new venture for L.P.D. In April, the department was informed of the postponement of local academy opportunities due to restrictions from the pandemic. Continue reading First class graduates from Longview Police Academy

TYLER — While many believe writing checks are a safe and secure way of conducting transactions, often they are easily stolen, faked or forged. According to the United States Postal Inspection Service, check-washing continues to be a fairly common way for thieves to get your money. “When you write a check, you are essentially giving someone a piece of paper with a lot of personally identifiable information,” Mechele Agbayani Mills, President and CEO of BBB serving Central East Texas said. “Many people are under the impression that this is safer, but that’s not necessarily so.” Continue reading Stop check-washing scam from cleaning out your account

JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville police have made four arrests in the case of a missing teenager. Tyress Gipson, 18, was last seen late in the evening of August 22. Family members said Gipson could not be reached on his phone. According to our news partner KETK, Police Chief Joe Williams said detectives investigating Gipson’s disappearance obtained arrest warrants for the offense of Aggravated Kidnapping, a second-degree felony. Continue reading 4 arrested in disappearance of Jacksonville teen