KTBB News, Weather, Talk

KILGORE — Our news partner, KETK, reports that a former Kilgore ISD employee was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly having an improper relationship with a student.

According to Kilgore ISD, the district began an investigation in early January of possible educator misconduct for Instructional Aide, Kayla Nicole O’Dell, 34 of Gladewater. O’Dell was an aide from August 2023 until her resignation on Jan. 7.Following her resignation, the results of the investigation were turned over to law enforcement, the district said. O’Dell was arrested for an improper relationship between an educator and student and is being held without bond in the Gregg County Jail.

HAWKINS – The City of Hawkins is down to one police officer after the mayor fired three officers at the city council meeting on Tuesday, according to our news partners at KETK. Hawkins Mayor Debbie Rushing fired two patrol officers and one investigator because she said they were not properly hired and didn’t receive approval from the council. According to the city’s ordinance, “the police chief and mayor shall interview all applicants for the job of police officers and shall make their selection and present this selection to the city council for their approval.” These three officers were hired under former Police Chief, Paul Holland who resigned on Jan. 25, marking the third chief to step down in three years. Continue reading Hawkins relies on one police officer

TYLER – The highly contagious measles virus kills more than 200,000 each year, according to the Mayo Clinic.

UT Tyler Health Science Center Chief of Infectious Disease Dr. Richard Wallace explained what East Texans should know about measles and how to identify the “severe rash disease.”

Measles is a virus that spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. After a vaccine was introduced in 1963 the virus was considered eliminated in the United States by 2000, but now there has been an uptick in cases mostly affecting babies, children under five and adults older than 20. Wallace said that measles can appear seven to 14 days after contact and an infected person should start feeling better four days after breaking out with the diagnostic rash.

The biggest sign of measles is a rash, but Wallace said people can also experience other symptoms including a runny nose, drainage, sore throat and a cough. For most people, the virus will feel like an intense case of the flu, but it can be especially dangerous for babies and toddlers. “40% of people with measles are hospitalized either for complications of measles or for isolation,” Wallace said. Doctors claim there have been no confirmed cases of measles in East Texas, but health officials are staying alert.

TYLER – Habitat for Humanity of Smith County (HFHSC) has grant funds available to complete critical repairs within the homes of Smith County and Cherokee County neighbors who may not be able to afford home repairs otherwise. The affiliate is seeking veterans or surviving spouses who own their home and may be in need of repairs within and around their homes. Continue reading Smith County Habitat to provide critical repairs for veterans and spouses

TYLER – Our news partners at KETK report that more than 100 jobs are coming to the Rose City as the first Bass Pro Shop prepares to open its doors. The company will be recruiting future employees over the next two days at the Tyler Holiday Inn. Kendra Hobbs moved to Tyler a year ago and has been on the job hunt since. She is looking for new opportunities with Bass Pro Shops at the event. “I’d like to make enough money to be able to spend on myself a little bit,” Hobbs said. Hobbs wasn’t the only one job searching in the Rose City Bass Pro Shops. Tyler General Manager Shawn Geer said they’ve had people waiting since before the doors opened Wednesday. Continue reading Bass Pro Shops holds job fair

ATHENS — Athens ISD board of trustees voted on Feb. 13 to call a $121.5 million bond election to address aging facilities by making improvements and new additions to educational spaces, according to our news partners at KETK. According to Athens ISD Superintendent Dr. Janie Sims, in Spring of 2024 the board of trustees came up with four goals for the district: academic excellence, exemplary employees, safe schools and the resources for students to succeed. From there, the board invited community members including teachers, parents and high school students to participate in a committee to talk about the four goals for the district and the needs for each campus. Continue reading Athens ISD calls for $121.5M bond

CAMP COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK, an East Texas County judge is urging residence to sign a petition aiming to increase safety on U.S. Highway 271.

Camp County Judge A.J. Mason said this has been an ongoing effort to increase safety on the highway between Pittsburg and Gilmer. The petition aims to construct a designated center turning lane. Mason said he has been in contact with TxDOT for the past eight years. He urges residents to make their voices heard. ”Your voice matters and you deserve a safe driving environment,” Mason said.

The petition will be available in his office for residents to sign starting on Tuesday. Mason’s office is located at the Camp County Courthouse in room 303.

The City of Pittsburg said they will also have a petition for people to sign at the city hall on Rusk Street.

ATHENS — Athens ISD board of trustees voted on Feb. 13 to call a $121.5 million bond election to address aging facilities by making improvements and new additions to educational spaces. According to our news partner KETK, Athens ISD Superintendent Dr. Janie Sims, in Spring of 2024 the board of trustees came up with four goals for the district: academic excellence, exemplary employees, safe schools and the resources for students to succeed.

From there, the board invited community members including teachers, parents and high school students to participate in a committee to talk about the four goals for the district and the needs for each campus. The board used the committee’s list of proposed ideas to create the bill that would address the district goals and impact each student from early childhood to early college.
Continue reading Athens ISD calls for $121.5M bond for improvements

TYLER – Tyler Water Utilities is working to restore its ozone generator at the Lake Palestine Water Treatment Plant after a portion of the system froze during Tuesday night’s hard freeze. Staff are actively working to thaw and restart the ozone generator as soon as possible, with restoration efforts expected to continue through until finished. The Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) feed system is running at maximum capacity to mitigate any potential impacts.

With elevated seasonal geosmin levels detected in the water coming into the plant in recent weeks, the temporary outage of the ozone generator may lead to an increase in taste and odor concerns. Geosmin is a naturally occurring compound that can cause an earthy taste and odor in drinking water but does not pose a health risk.

Staff have deployed heaters and are taking all necessary precautions to maintain temperatures above freezing inside the facility to combat the freezing conditions that are forecast over the coming days. There are no other weather-related issues at Tyler Water Utilities facilities. Tyler Water Utilities will continue monitoring conditions and providing updates as needed.

JACKSONVILLE – Our news partners at KETK report that one person has died after a major crash involving at least two vehicles in Cherokee County Wednesday morning. According to Texas DPS Sergeant Chris Williamson, one person is confirmed dead after the accident occurring on Highway 69 in Jacksonville near Love’s Lookout.

JACKSONVILLE – Jeff Austin III, Chairman of the Board of Austin Bank, Texas National Association, announced Austin Bancorp, Inc., the parent company of Austin Bank, has completed the acquisition of The Chasewood Bank, Houston, Texas.

Lowell Little, Executive Vice President and Regional President of Austin Bank stated, “We are very pleased with how smoothly the transition has occurred and are delighted to be entering the North Houston market while strengthening our presence in the Southeast Texas region. Both consumer and commercial customers will now have advanced technology and an increased line of valuable products and services — plus even more convenient access to 40 Austin Bank locations.”
Continue reading Austin Bank completes acquisition of Chasewood Bank

SMITH COUNTY – A man has been sentenced to ten years of probation in connection to a 2022 fatal crash.

Guillermo Zuniga Jr., 25 of Longview, was facing a charge of criminally negligent homicide after he and Carlos Tello Parrà, 33 of Longview, got in a crash on County Road 384 north of Tyler, on Dec. 14, 2022.The 2015 GMC Sierra they were riding in was heading north when the vehicle left the road and hit a tree, authorities told KETK in 2022. Parrà was pronounced dead at the scene.

Zuninga had incapacitating injuries in the crash and had to be treated at a local hospital. He was given deferred adjudication by 241st Judicial District Court Judge Debby Gunter on Thursday meaning he’ll avoid a guilty verdict if he completes ten years of probation.