KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Smith County announced on Wednesday, all non-emergency Smith County offices will be closed for business on Friday, for the Fourth of July holiday. Offices will reopen for normal business hours on Monday, July 6. Smith County Commissioners Court will be held at its regular time, on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in the Smith County Courthouse Annex on East Ferguson.

PALESTINE — Anderson County Judge Robert Johnston announced 10 new confirmed case of COVID-19 on Tuesday. This brings the total number of cases to 135, and 94 reported cases of recovery. There are currently 41 active cases in the county. For more details by clicking the link. https://www.nethealthcovid19.org/blog/post/confirmed-cases-of-covid-19-in-east-texas.

TYLER — Smith County released the identities Tuesday afternoon of two men shot and killed early Monday morning. Authorities believe Ramiro Ortiz, 34 of Tyler is responsible. Ortiz is at large and should be considered armed and dangerous. Deputies arrived at 12:35 Sunday morning and found Justino Rosales-Betancourt, 32, and Jose Manuel Betancourt, 35, dead in the front yard of a residence on Hwy 110 North. Continue reading Smith County searching for Tyler suspect in double homicide

TYLER — Smith County released the identities Tuesday afternoon of two men shot and killed early Monday morning. Authorities believe Ramiro Ortiz, 34 of Tyler is responsible. Ortiz is at large and should be considered armed and dangerous. Deputies arrived at 12:35 Sunday morning and found Justino Rosales-Betancourt, 32, and Jose Manuel Betancourt, 35, dead in the front yard of a residence on Hwy 110 North. A third individual, Saul Morado – 20 suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken by private vehicle to U.T. Health in Tyler. If you have any information as to the whereabouts of Ramiro Ortiz contact the Sheriff’s Office at (903) 566-6600.

TYLER — Two employees were admonished in Commissioners Court Tuesday, for 20 years of service to Smith County. Charley Miller was celebrated for service to the Road and Bridge Department. Clint Benson was also recognized for his career with the Sheriff’s Office, before becoming the chief investigator for the District Attorney’s Office in January 2019.
Amanda Deck was unable to be in court for the recognition. Continue reading Smith County recognizes 3 employees for 20 years service

HENDERSON — More than 200 people will be laid off from a Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility in Rusk County. According to our news partner KETK, 229 people will be laid off Friday. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice does not plan to close the facility at this time. The director of communications for TDCJ says the organization presented a plan to state leaders on how they would be able to cut their total budget by five percent. Continue reading 200 people to be laid off at facility in Henderson

LONGVIEW — In March, visitor restrictions went into effect by Senior Living Residents operated by Buckner Retirement Services prompting B.R.S. to call on Texans to help bring love and joy to its residents. Since the initial outreach, more than 1,000 pieces of mail have been received from across Texas and the nation. In addition to encouraging notes for residents, Buckner is also requesting mail for employees to help brighten the days of its frontline heroes for all six of their Buckner communities, including Westminster Place in Longview. Continue reading Buckner residents receive more than one thousand letters

TYLER — UT’s Board of Regents disclosed plans to realign UT Tyler and UT Health Science Center at Tyler in February. On Monday, the board announced Dr. Kirk Calhoun will lead the merged institutions as the President. Following the special meeting, Chairman Kevin Eltife told KTBB, “We are at a point now where we need to name who will be the ultimate president when the two institutions are aligned. So what we did today was say, Dr. Calhoun, President Calhoun will be the president of the aligned institution in the Spring.” Continue reading Dr. Calhoun chosen to lead as UT Tyler and UTHSC realignment continues

TYLER –Tyler Police are warning residents of an increasing number of cases related to fictitious job claims. On Monday the department gave a scenario of how the scam works. Typically the fraud begins with a Craig’s List ad for a job. Once a person responds to the ad, they are contacted and a check is deposited into their checking account. They are then asked to purchase gift cards from various locations and report the numbers back to the “employer”. Once that is done, the deposited check turns out to be fraudulent. Residents should contact TPD at 903-531-1000 for information or to verify a potential scam.

TYLER — UT’s Board of Regents disclosed plans to realign UT Tyler and UT Health Science Center at Tyler in February. On Monday, they announced Dr. Kirk Calhoun will lead the merged institutions as the President. Calhoun, who has been in the top post for UT Health Science Center at Tyler for almost 18 years, is already leading efforts for his institution to receive licensing and accreditation approvals to establish a new medical school. Continue reading Dr. Calhoun chosen to lead as UT Tyler and UTHSC realignment continues

TYLER — Tyler Transit announced in a news brief Monday, plans to re-open service to all five routes with regular service hours starting July 6th. The lines will be in operation Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. Bus routes do not run on Sunday. Tyler Transit will also run the Paratransit service during the same hours. Tyler Transit will begin charging regular fares for both services beginning July 13. For more information click the link. https://www.cityoftyler.org/government/departments/tyler-transit.

LONGVIEW — The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission has suspended the liquor permit of a Longview bar owner who defied Governor Greg Abbott’s shut-down order. According to our news partner KETK, Melissa Lynn Kelly, owner of Outlaws bar in Longview, defied that order and kept her establishment open. “I have to pay my bills, so that means I have to open,” Kelly says her next step is to fight the suspension, “I’m not just going to lay down and take this. Governor Abbott has got everybody in Texas thinking that we have this dirty little bar where COVID is hiding and that’s not true at all. I have posted a Facebook post inviting the Governor Abbott to come to my bar, check it out. TABC has been there five times since I reopened and they have not found one thing that I’ve not complied with.”

EAST TEXAS — Early voting started on Monday and will run through July 10. The primaries were originally scheduled for May, but Governor Abbott delayed them until July because of the coronavirus. Abbott also doubled the length of the early voting period for the July primary runoff elections in a move to aimed at easing crowds at the polls during the pandemic. According to our news partner KETK, on July 14, Texas will hold its 2020 runoff elections to decide the final spots for Democrats and Republicans on the November general election ballot. There are 35 congressional, legislative and state board nominations up for grabs. Continue reading Early voting starts underway for the primary runoff in Texas

GILMER — The East Texas Yamboree Association has announced that this year’s Yamboree festival has been called off. According to their face book page:”It is with our greatest regret, that we inform you the Yamboree Firework Show and the 83rd East Texas Yamboree have been canceled for 2020. This decision comes after much deliberation from The City of Gilmer and Upshur County COVID-19 Committee. Public safety is everyone’s foremost concern. We wish each of you a safe and healthy 4th of July celebration, and look forward to planning the 84th East Texas Yamboree.”

EAST TEXAS — NET Health has issued information on several sites hosting testing for COVID-19. According to our news partner KETK, walk-up tests do not require registration or an appointment, and anyone can be tested, even if they are not symptomatic. Participants must have access to a telephone as results will be delivered by telephone call or message. Face masks also are required. Test locations include: Continue reading COVID-19 testing in East Texas

TYLER — Tyler police are searching for suspects involved in stolen ATM from Southside Bank on Three Lakes Parkway. According to a news release, officers were responding to a bank alarm when they discovered the ATM had been stolen. The money machine was found a short time later in the roadway at Three Lakes and Highlands Lane. The suspect’s vehicle, a white dump truck, was located off the roadway on Highlands Lane.