KTBB News, Weather, Talk

EAST TEXAS — As East Texans try to stay warm in the freezing temperatures, fire departments are staying busy responding to structure fires from heating sources, our news partner KETK reports. Eric Greaser, the fire chief for Emergency Services District 2 shares some safety tips:

• Keep all heating sources at least three feet away from anything that can burn.
• Keep all children away from the heater.
• Do not use extension cords.

“Definitely recommend that you have a working smoke detector, a carbon monoxide alarm and utilize every bit of caution with space heaters and things of that nature,” said Greaser. Continue reading First responders battle fires caused by heat sources

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Road 2173, also known as Carl Dowdy Road, south of Whitehouse, is closed to thru traffic because of unsafe, icy conditions. County Engineer Frank Davis said part of the road is a 90-degree turn while going downhill. That section of road remained in the shade today, so it did not have the chance to melt like other roads did. Davis said it was reported to his department Tuesday afternoon, that the section of road had remained icy, and several people ended up in an accident when they tried to drive it. The Smith County Road and Bridge Department decided to barricade CR 2173, from Willingham Road to Paluxy Road (FM 756), until it can be driven safely.

TYLER — With road conditions improving, City of Tyler offices will open Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, Monday trash collections will resume, and Tuesday collections will resume on Thursday of this week. Monday and Tuesday recycling routes will resume on Wednesday, and crews will continue to collect until the backlog is complete. Residents are advised to leave both trash and recycling carts out until collected.

SHELBY COUNTY – The Texas Department of Public Safety said that a 54-year-old Shelbyville woman died on Monday after crashing into trees on FM 2694 acording to our news partners at KETK. DPS’s preliminary investigation showed that at around 8:10 a.m. a 2020 Jeep SUV was traveling west on FM 2694 at an “unsafe” speed when it slid across the eastbound side of the road and hit two trees. Officials said that Barbra Jackson, 54 of Shelbyville, was removed from the vehicle by someone who saw the crash and then the Jeep caught fire and burned. Jackson was pronounced dead at the scene by Shelby County Justice of the Peace Marla Denby. DPS is continuing to investigate the crash.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Our news colleagues at KETK report a Jacksonville man is dead after a wreck in Cherokee County on Sunday. According to a preliminary crash report from DPS, a 2017 Chevrolet pickup was going north on SH 135 on Sunday at 3 a.m. roughly six miles northeast of Troup. The pickup reportedly “failed to drive in a single lane,” veering into the southbound lane before hitting a ditch and catching fire. The driver, identified as 23-year-old Miguel Mendez from Jacksonville, was pronounced dead at the scene.

TYLER – Due to extreme cold and worsening road conditions, non-emergency City offices for the City of Tyler will be closed to the public on Tuesday, Jan. 16. In a press release, officials say this is to comply with ERCOT’s request to conserve energy. Also closed will be the front lobbies of the Ferguson Street and Faulkner Park Police Stations and property returns and the Property and Evidence Unit. Weather permitting, all departments including Transit and Paratransit, will return to regular operations on Wednesday. City officials also say that trash collection for Monday and Tuesday are backlogged and will resume Wednesday. They ask that residents leave both trash and recycling carts out until they are dumped. Emergency services continue at full strength as needed.
 

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler has announced that they will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 16 due to forecasted weather and road conditions. In a release, the university announced that this closing will effect the main campus, Longview University Center and the Palestine Campus. Residence Life and Student Engagement are teaming up to provide food service and snack boxes/bags for residential students.

TEXAS — Both the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas are encouraging Texans to conserve as much energy as possible, amid freezing temperatures statewide. The PUCT and ERCOT are calling for conservation efforts “due to continued freezing temperatures, very high demand and unseasonably low wind,” PUC leaders said in a Sunday release. The National Weather Service has a hard freeze warning in effect for our region until 11 a.m. Wednesday.

ERCOT is asking both businesses and residents to conserve electricity use, officials said on social media. Those experiencing and outage can report it to the PUCT by emailing [email protected] or by calling 1-888-782-8477. Continue reading ERCOT, PUCT urge energy conservation due to cold

TYLER – As East Texas is struck with cold weather, about 1,193 customers in East Texas are without power as of 3:00 p.m. on Monday. Our news partner KETK has compiled a list of counties with power outages from ONCOR and SWEPCO’s power outage maps, as well as several electric co-ops. You can find that list here.

TYLER – Roads all across East Texas are starting to get icy leading to crashes and road closures throughout the area. According to our news partner KETK TxDOT Tyler is reporting that ice is accumulating on the bridges at State Highway 135 over I-20 and State Highway 31 over I-20. In Brownsboro, at FM 314 and the New Hope Church curve, a vehicle flipped because of ice in the roadway, according to Brownsboro Fire Rescue. They said that at least 10 other crashes were prevented because Brownsboro Fire Rescue members were standing in the road to slow people down. The Lindale Police Department said that Perryman Road at Main Street and Wood Springs Road is closed due ice conditions. They added that all Lindale public bathrooms are closed until Wednesday. The Mount Pleasant Police Department said that their officers are working crashes throughout Mount Pleasant as ice starts to build up on their roadways. Continue reading East Texas roads getting icy, causing crashes, closures

SMITH COUNTY – Even though the current winter weather cycle is diminishing, the Smith County Office of Emergency Management is offering tips and information to keep residents safe and informed. Our news partner KETK spoke with Emergency Management Coordinator Brandon Moore. He outlined resources and tips available to residents. For example, Tyler and Smith County have a Cold Weather Response Plan, which serves as a guide to provide useful information to the public. It includes tips on avoiding exposures, recognizing the signs of cold-weather related emergencies and highlights resources available to residents. “If your power goes out, we do have options,” Moore said. “So Tyler and Smith County created a winter preparation plan, and you can just Google Tyler winter weather plan and it identifies warming centers and also warming shelters. If the need arises, the cities and/or county will open centers or shelters depending on the need.” Continue reading Office of Emergency Management has winter weather tips

TYLER – According to our news partner KETK TxDOT started winterizing East Texas highways on Friday. “Most traveled roads, and so I20 is one of those, so we hit that in Gregg County, Smith County, Van Zandt County,” Jeff Williford, TxDOT Tyler District Public Information officer. TxDOT officials also assisted with Toll 49, despite it not being their roadway. Officials were treating streets with a saltwater solution.

Their number one advice is to slow down. “Roads can still get slick when it’s on there, it does help slow the process down of freezing when that precipitation hits,” said Williford. Officials also suggest checking car battery life and tires. Continue reading TxDOT monitors roadways for winter weather

TYLER – According to our news partner KETK an Arctic front arrived Saturday night, bringing a light wintry mix late Sunday into Monday and around 50+ hours of consecutive hours of below freezing temperatures. Lows are predicted to fall into the teens both Tuesday & Wednesday morning. At this time, this will be the coldest air that we’ve witnessed in East Texas since the morning of December 23rd, 2022 when we fell to 10 degrees at Tyler Pounds Airport. The lowest we’ll get temperature wise will be Tuesday morning (13 degrees). Wind chills Tuesday morning may drop below zero, mainly north of I-20. Continually updated details on coming winter weather can be found here.

TEXARKANA — According to our news partner KETK two drivers have been arrested in connection to a fatal crash from Dec. 18, 2023. According to a release, the Texarkana Police Department arrested Christopher Daniel, 25, and Robert Culpepper, 23, and were both charged with racing on the highway involving death. They were booked into the Bi-State Jail and their bonds were set at $1 million each. Linda Reed, 66, died after her car was hit when she attempted to cross North Stateline Ave. from East 9th St. to Hazel St. around 7:20 p.m. Officials said evidence showed that Culpepper and Daniel were driving southbound on Stateline “at an extremely high rate of speed.”

TYLER — It was successful search for a missing Tyler boy. According to our news partner KETK, 9-year-old Jordan Pickett went missing around 3:45 p.m. Thursday. Initial police reports say Jordan jumped out of family member’s car at an apartment complex on S. Fleishel Ave. However, he was found safe and unharmed shortly before 11:00 p.m.

LAIRD HILL– The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office said that they seized what they suspect to be heroin and methamphetamines during an investigation Wednesday in Laird Hill. According to our news partner KETK, arrested was Roy Westley Lick of Overton. Charges against Lick are manufacture and delivery of a substance, possession of a controlled substance, both penalty group 1. He was also charged with resisting arrest, search or transport. Lick is being held in the Rusk County Jail on a $102,500 bond. Officials said that they expect more arrests in this ongoing investigation.

TYLER – With extreme cold weather settling into our area, several locations are already to open as shelters and warming centers. Our news partner KETK will be continuously updating the list of available locations here.

TYLER – After Thursday night storms, several thousand people in East Texas are without power. Our news partner KETK has compiled a list of counties with power outages from ONCOR, SWEPCO, and several electric co-ops. You can find the list here.

LONGVIEW – In a report from the City of Longview, their annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day March will be held despite winter weather predictions. In the release, the march is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 15. Due to expected weather conditions participants have the option to march or drive a vehicle from Broughton Park to Mt. Olive Baptist Church. The march will be immediately followed by an Interfaith Service.

SMITH COUNTY– All non-emergency Smith County offices will be closed Monday January 15. observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. According to a press from the county, offices will be back to normal business hours on Tuesday January 16.

CASS COUNTY — Our news partners at KETK report two people on a motorcycle are dead after striking a wild animal Tuesday night on the roadway. According to DPS, a 2004 Honda VTX motorcycle was heading west on U.S. Highway 67 when it struck a wild animal in the roadway “knocking the driver and a passenger onto the road.” The driver, identified as Benny Dan Snyder, 53 of Redwater, and the passenger as Darlene Green-Hurst, 40 of Maud, were pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said the two were not wearing helmets.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County’s Emergency Management Office launched a tool for residents to notify the county of potential hazards. “I am excited to share a groundbreaking initiative that places the power of community safety directly into your hands,” Smith County Judge Neal Franklin said. “Whether you’ve noticed flood-prone areas, wildfire risks, or other potential threats, your insights are crucial in building a more resilient and prepared community.” The public input form for hazard mitigation can be found here.

The county emphasized that this is not a form for emergency action or to request routine services. Continue reading Smith County launches hazard mitigation form

TYLER – After closing arguments and deliberations Tuesday, Daniel Nyabuto was found guilty of intoxication manslaughter in the death of Smith County Sherriff’s Deputy Lorenzo Bustos. On Wednesday, Nyabuto was sentenced to 32 years in prison. According to our news partner KETK, prosecutors said in July of 2022, Nyabuto was driving drunk when he rear-ended a patrol car causing the death Deputy Bustos. Bustos was completing the final night of his training when he died.

TEXAS – The Electric Reliability Council of Texas has issued a weather watch on Wednesday for two days next week. According to our news partner KETK, ERCOT said the weather watch was issued for Jan. 15 through Jan. 17 due to a forecast of extreme cold weather across their region, higher electrical demand and the “potential for lower reserves.” To monitor the power grid, you can go to the ERCOT website.

TYLER – Tuesday marked Texas College’s 130th year providing higher education. According to our news partner KETK, Texas College was founded in 1894 by a group of ministers from the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, now the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, in order to provide post-secondary education for the city. According to Texas College, they are the oldest higher education institution in the city of Tyler. The school started in a four-room frame house on the same grounds that the school currently stands, starting with a class of only six students. By the end of the first year, enrollment had increased to over 100 students.

SMITH COUNTY – One person is dead after an early morning fire in Winona. According to Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue, the call came in at 3:10 a.m. that a residence in the 11000 block of CR 3168 was on fire. At least 15 Smith County Emergency Services District 2 firefighters and UT Health EMS responded. The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office and ATF are investigating the cause of the fire. The identity of the victim has not been released pending family notification according to our colleagues at KETK.

TYLER — One person is dead and four injured after a wreck on SH 31 near Surrey Trail on Tuesday according to our news partners at KETK. A DPS report said a 2006 Chrysler 300 was heading north on Surrey Trail at around 5:50 p.m. and attempted to turn west onto SH 31 but collided with a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado. The driver of the Chrysler, identified as Mary L. Crockett, 55, was pronounced dead on the scene. DPS said the driver and passengers in the Chevrolet had non-incapacitating injuries and taken to a local hospital.