KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority announced Wednesday, they started waving fees at noon on Toll 49 to help facilitate Texas coast evacuees ahead of Hurricane Laura. Interim CEO Everett Owen told KTBB there has been a definite increase in traffic and he expects that to continue. “We saw a 10 to 15% increase in the number of cars on the road, and I expect that to be significantly higher particularly given the magnitude of the storm and how it increased.” The decision to waive toll fees came by request from Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran. Continue reading NETRMA waives Toll 49 fees due to Hurricane

MARSHALL — Laura is predicted to be a hurricane all the way up towards Interstate 20 in East Texas. Reggie Cooper, the Marshall Fire Chief, who also heads up the Emergency Management Division says residents should be ready. “Stay prepared get the things you need, get things in your house that you need. Your food, and things so you don’t have to be out during bad weather.” He says they are also preparing for a large number of people to shelter in Marshall. He says it may be a rainy shelter, but it will be much better than in the Beaumont area.

LONGVIEW — High winds and heavy rains are expected from Hurricane Laura on Thursday. With that thought in mind, the City of Longview Sanitation Division has announced they will delay regular trash, recycling and bulky item collection until Friday. Residents are asked not to place carts curbside until Friday. The temporary change in collection affects Thursday customers only. However, all customers are encouraged to secure trash and recycling carts in advance of the possible storm.

TYLER — Testing for COVID-19 is being offered at several locations across East Texas. NET Health announced Wednesday free coronavirus testing opportunities being made available to residents from any city in East Texas who can receive a free test at either of these locations. Appointments may be required. Symptoms for COVID-19 include fever and/or chills, cough, fatigue, sore throat, headaches, body aches/muscle or joint pain, nasal congestion, shortness of breath, or loss of taste and/or smell. Continue reading NET Health announces free covid testing

EAST TEXAS — TxDOT crews are prepared to respond as needed as severe weather is forecast for East and Northeast Texas. According to forecasts, conditions could include heavy rainfall and gusty winds resulting in downed trees and debris, flooding, and other roadway issues. Maintenance crews in the Tyler District’s 8-counties have equipment readied and will respond as necessary should roadways be impacted. Continue reading TxDOT crews ready for severe weather response

EAST TEXAS — Governor Abbott has expanded the state disaster declaration adding 36 more counties ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Laura. The governor says Laura could increase to a category 4 hurricane. Governor Abbott, from the alternate state operations center in Austin saying they expect Hurricane Laura to be similar to Hurricanes Ike and Rita fast moving with heavy winds. The predicted ten foot high water surges have led to mandatory evacuations in the Beaumont, Port Arthur Texas city areas. Abbott says they’ve called for the full support of all relevant state agencies. Continue reading Governor Abbott adds 36 counties to disaster declaration

TYLER — The League of Women Voters of Tyler/Smith County will commemorate Nancy Crawford, Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Tyler, with an annual Making Democracy Award. The local leader will be honored virtually on Friday at 6 p.m. during the League of Women Voters Annual Women’s Equality Day event, on their Facebook live platform. According to Tuesday’s press release, the award is an attempt to celebrate a community member that has been a leader and actively engaged in hands-on work to keep Smith County a strong and vibrant place to live. Continue reading Crawford to be honored by LWV Smith County

TYLER –There may have been a few set backs along the way, but male juvenile offenders, in the Juvenile Services Vocational Program, have the building of a ‘tiny house.’ Ross Worley, Director of Juvenile Services for Smith County told KTBB on Tuesday, “It kind of took us a little time because we have kids coming and kids going, but, one our big parts of our classes is construction…It was an opportunity to teach the kids all of the mechanics and the process of building a home. So, you learn how to put windows in, doors in, how to do floors, how to do walls, how to do sheet rock and all of those things.” Continue reading HOPE Academy finishes ‘Tiny House’ project

MARSHALL– Citizens in at least four East Texas towns are angry about Lamar Advertising Billboards, purchased by the Lilith fund, a pro-choice advocacy group. In Marshall, the sign was torn down last week, but that didn’t stop a group of protesters from gathering under the vandalized sign to protest abortion. “The babies lives matter, they have no voice for themselves, so we have to speak for them.” About 50 people participated in the protest.

LINDALE — Lindale ISD announced Tuesday afternoon they will be closing Velma Penny Elementary School until September 8 due to an outbreak of COVID-19. According to our news partner KETK, all students will be given i-Pads and transition to at-home learning for the duration of the outbreak. The school made the decision “out of an abundance of caution and care for students and staff.” Parents with a child directly exposed, will receive further notification. It is not known how many students or staff have tested positive for the virus. Test positive students must quarantine at home for a minimum of 10 days and can only then return, with written clearance from a physician. All other LISD campuses are open and extracurricular activities will continue as planned.

TYLER — Smith County Fire Marshal, Jay Brooks urged residents to use extreme caution if they attempt to burn at this time. On Tuesday, Brooks addressed the Commissioner’s Court, “As typical of this time of year, we are starting to creep up [Keetch-Byram Drought Index]. I wanted to remind the public to use caution now when they are burning. We are starting to see a spark in grass fires when they are burning and getting away. We have had some vehicles that have been burned, couple of out houses, because of fires that have gotten away. No homes yet, thank goodness.” Continue reading Outdoor burning becoming treacherous in Smith County

TYLER — Keep Tyler Beautiful is inviting residents of Tyler to help spruce up community parks through restoration projects. The city announced Tuesday that ‘Park Service Day’ is Sept. 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There are 200 volunteer spots available for beautification projects such as replacing picnic tables, installing fence post, painting bridges, restoring flowerbeds and litter cleanup. The day will focus on seven parks and two medians. All tools, supplies, event t-shirts, water bottles and food will be individually delivered, and instructions will be given by a park crew leader. For more information contact Belen Casillas at (903)531-1335 or click the link https://www.cityoftyler.org/government/departments/parks-rec/community/keep-tyler-beautiful.

JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville police and the family of a missing teen and are asking for the public’s help in locating him. Tyress Gipson of Jacksonville was last seen Saturday night, around 9:30 p.m. According to Jacksonville PD an active investigation is underway into his disappearance. Family members say Gipson is not answering his phone. Gipson is a Black male of slender build and a graduate of Jacksonville High School, where he played football. Anyone with knowledge of Gipson’s whereabouts should contact Jacksonville Police at 903-586-2546.

EAST TEXAS — After colleges across the country responded to the COVID-19 pandemic last March by shutting down campuses and moving classes online, many are now adapting their policies to accommodate students return to class. Although the reaction to reopening is varied across the nation, many have adapted and moved forward. According to our news partner KETK, this is a list of colleges across East Texas and the adjustments they have made; including virtual learning, in-person, or a hybrid of both. Continue reading Fall semester begins across East Texas for most colleges and universities

TYLER — UT Health East Texas EMS deployed two ambulances to assist statewide efforts to respond to Tropical Storms Marco and Laura. UT Health announced Monday that 5 EMS members are part of a state strike team. The teams are staging in San Antonio before deploying to targeted locations once the storms’ paths are better known. Roy Langford, regional director for UT Health EMS, said the strike teams respond to all weather situations when activated by the state, and they go in and help evacuate residents from nursing homes and hospitals when needed.

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Historical Museum will present Dr. Meredith May on Thursday. Dr. May will be speaking on “Pine Resin In My Veins; East Texas Women’s History”. The lecture is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. at the Ann Lacy Crain Exhibit Center. This is the next to last speech in this years cycle that began earlier this summer.

HENDERSON — A cement truck rolled over Monday morning causing major delays. The accident resulted in a fuel leak and cement that was spilled at the Chase Creek Subdivision on FM 3310 in Rusk County. The Rusk County Office of Emergency Management tweeted that units were responding just after 9:45 a.m. The investigation into what caused the roll over continues.

TYLER — More details involving a woman killed in a Smith County wreck over the weekend. According to our news partner KETK, Jataria Lynn Smith was scheduled to give birth to her first child on Monday. Smith died in a two vehicle crash on HWY 64 West of Tyler. Her husband, Ronnie Dewayne Smith, 40 was listed in critical condition. Preliminary report from DPS reports show 60-year-old Robin Blake Longino pulled out of a driveway and failed to yield the right of way to Smith as he was traveling east down the highway. Longino was taken to UT Health in Tyler, also listed in critical condition.

TYLER — TxDOT is planning to conduct a range of construction and maintenance work in the Tyler District during the weeks of Aug. 24 and Aug. 31. In Smith County, the I-20 westbound frontage road between Jim Hogg Rd. and US 69 is scheduled for closure on Tuesday, August 25, for the removal of the concrete barrier. Motorists must use alternate routes during this work. Night work is ongoing on the south side of Tyler’s Loop 323 between SH 155 and US 69. Go to https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/031-2020.html for a complete rundown of roadwork around the district.

TYLER — After serving the Literacy Council of Tyler (LCOT) for 30 years, Nancy Crawford is retiring as executive director effective October 1. “Being at Literacy Council of Tyler has truly been my life’s work,” Crawford said in a news release. “Nonetheless, it is time for me to step down.” The LCOT board unanimously elected Whitney Patterson, who currently serves as the associate executive director for LCOT, as the next executive director, effective October 1. “In some ways, I feel like I’m coming home, as LCOT was one of my first professional jobs after college,” said Patterson in the news release — adding she’s honored by the selection.

TYLER — The Tyler Junior College TRIO program has been awarded a U.S. Department of Education grant for $1,371,310. College officials say it will provide critical funding for the next five years. The grant provides $274,262 annually to serve 200 students per year through August 2025. According to a TJC news release, the money’s purpose is to provide opportunities for academic development, assist students with basic college requirements, and motivate students toward the successful completion of their post-secondary education.TJC has received the TRIO grant since 1997. You can go to https://www.tjc.edu/TRIO for further information.

KILLEEN (AP) – An Army official says a soldier missing from Fort Hood in Texas had transferred units after reporting sexual abuse. Sgt. Elder Fernandes was reported missing on Wednesday. Killeen police say the 23-year-old hasn’t been seen since Monday when his staff sergeant dropped him off at home. A Fort Hood public affairs officer says in a statement that there is an “open investigation of abusive sexual contact” involving Fernandes. The statement notes Fernandes had been transferred to another unit to ensure that he was properly cared for and to prevent retaliation. Fernandes is the third solider from Fort Hood to go missing in the past year.

KILGORE — The East Texas Police Academy at Kilgore College will offer highly specialized training courses at no cost to local law enforcement officers to improve gas pump skimmer enforcement and prevention of stolen credit/debit card information caused by the compromised devices. That’s according to a news release from the college. Classes are free thanks to a Texas Department of Agriculture training grant secured by the East Texas Council of Governments. Continue reading Free classes offered to improve gas pump skimmer enforcement

MARSHALL — On-campus student life is in full swing as East Texas Baptist University begins the 2020-2021 academic school year, according to a university news release. The year kicked off with almost 400 students enrolled in the August Mini-Terms, which allow completion of the equivalent semester-long courses in one-week and two-week class offerings. Fall semester classes began on Monday, August 17. This fall on-campus student experience was eagerly anticipated, as students attended classes online since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the release. Continue reading Fall 2020 semester brings student life back to the Hill