KTBB News, Weather, Talk

SMITH COUNTY — On the first three days of early voting, just under 1,400 people voted at five polling locations in Smith County. That’s according Smith County Elections Administrator Michelle Allcon. She also added that in comparing running vote totals, “That is under the 2023 numbers. By the end of the third day in 2023, we were a little over 2,100.”

There are 17 Texas Constitutional Amendment Propositions on the ballot for the November 4 Election, as well as several city and school elections throughout Smith County.  For more information about the propositions, click here.

CITY/SCHOOL ELECTIONS

The City of Whitehouse and the East Texas Municipal Utility District, as well as the Arp, Troup and Whitehouse Independent School Districts will all be holding special elections on November 4.

Early voting is being held October 20-31, at five polling locations in Tyler, Lindale, Noonday and Whitehouse. Continue reading Nearly 1,400 ballots cast in Smith County early voting

WHITEHOUSE — With early voting underway, Whitehouse ISD is proposing a voter-approval tax rate that will “enhance teachers’ salaries,” and maintain small class sizes, allowing for more one-on-one attention between students and teachers.

According to our news partner KETK, if approved, tax rates will remain one of the lowest in Smith County, the school district said, and will focus on providing a better learning environment for teachers and students. It aims to “provide the teacher salaries needed to keep & attract experienced educators,” while also focusing on maintaining small class sizes.

Additionally, if passed, it will aim to help grow the district’s college preparation programs, as well as expand academic and fine arts programs, extracurricular activities, and the special education program. It will also allow the district to maintain its current safety programs and provide additional security measures. Continue reading Whitehouse ISD proposes voter-approval tax rate

KILGORE – The Kilgore College Board of Trustees voted on Monday to name Dr. Staci Pollan Martin as the school’s interim president, since their current president Dr. Brenda Kays is retiring in February of 2026. Martin currently serves as Kilgore College’s vice president of organizational effectiveness and excellence, and she’ll officially become the college’s interim president on Nov. 1 according to our news partner KETK.

As a Kilgore College staff member since 2001, Martin has worn many hats including serving as vice president of student life and college affairs, vice president of student services, vice president of institutional planning, registrar and director of admissions.

Martin has a doctor of education degree in higher education from Texas Tech University, a masters of science degree in interdisciplinary studies from Texas A&M University–Texarkana and her bachelor’s of science degree in interdisciplinary studies from Texas A&M University. Continue reading Kilgore College names interim president

TYLER – Our news partner KETK is reporting that a Tyler man has pleaded guilty to two drug-related charges on Monday and accepted a 40 year prison sentence in connection with a 2024 fentanyl death.

Calvin Thomas Spencer, 28, was intially charged with first-degree murder, after Michael Crone, a Tyler-native, died after taking fentanyl pills. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office said Spencer was a barber at a truck stop in the 400 block of East-Northeast Loop 323 in Tyler where he was known to give Crone haircuts.

An arrest affidavit also revealed that Spencer sold Crone M-30 fentanyl pills and later died on Oct. 5, 2024. Continue reading Tyler man receives 40-year sentence in fentanyl death

JACKSONVILLE – The Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District (NTVGCD) has voted to suspend 40 controversial permit applications for high-capacity water wells in Anderson County according to our news partner KETK.

A member of the district’s board confirmed to KETK News that the NTVGCD board met in Jacksonville on Thursday and unanimously voted to suspend their consideration of 40 permit applications that were filed with their board by Pine Bliss LLC and Red Town Ranch Holdings LLC. The applications sparked controversy earlier this year when numerous East Texas public officials began to speak out against the proposed wells and their potential impact on the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer, which supplies water for much of Anderson and Houston counties.

The applications are suspended until studies can be done to determine what impact these wells could have on the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer.

East Texas State Senator Robert Nichols and State Representative Cody Harris attended the meeting on Thursday. According to Harris, the board also voted to accept a settlement offer from Sanderson Farms, a poultry company, who’s suing the district to invalidate their April vote for the permit applications. Continue reading Controversial high-capacity well applications suspended

TYLER — Our news partner KETK has compiled a list of East Texas school bonds for the 2025 election cycle. Texas school districts do not receive state funding for renovations or buildings, which leads them to seek their funding through school bond elections. Early voting on the proposition begins Oct. 20 and ends on Oct. 31, while Election Day is set for Nov. 4. Click here to view the list.

PALESTINE — According to our news partner KETK, a registered sex offender in Palestine was arrested on Saturday after being made to believe he was meeting a 13-year-old girl.

Palestine Police Department officers were dispatched to a residence on Sugar Lane on Saturday, after a representative from a civilian group that investigated suspected online child predators advised them that they were at the location with a male individual who believed he was meeting with a 13-year-old child. The male suspect West Holmes, 52, of Palestine was identified by officers and placed under arrest after admitting during on-scene investigation to communicating online with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl and that he came to meet her in person. Holmes further admitted he sent sexually explicit messages in these communications. He was also found to be a registered sex offender, with a history of sex crimes against children.

Holmes was transported to Anderson County Jail, where he was booked for online solicitation with a minor, with his bond set at $150,000.

 
TYLER – The Tyler Transit app is currently unavailable due to a nationwide outage affecting Amazon Web Services (AWS). Officials say while app functions such as scheduling and ride tracking are temporarily down, all MicroTransit services are continuing to operate as normal. The City said in release, at this time riders should call (903) 533-8057 to schedule their rides, check pickup times or get route information. Tyler Transit staff is monitoring the situation and will notify customers when the app is back online.  

TYLER – Starting on Monday, East Texans will have the opportunity to vote early for the upcoming Nov. 4 Texas constitutional amendment election. Our news partner KETK News has put together the following list of early voting locations and hours when East Texans can vote early this year.

TYLER – The City of Tyler has announced that East Elm Street will be closed between Spring Avenue and Broadway Avenue which started on Monday, Oct. 20. According to our news partner KETK, the part of East Elm Street that’s closing this week will be shut down until Friday so Tyler Water Utilities can improve sewer capacity in the area as a part of Consent Decree Group 2 Segment 13a2, which is expanding 18,141 linear feet of sanitary sewer lines in Tyler.

The city added that after Friday the road will be open until their work resumes in late November or in early December. Tyler officials are asking drivers to plan ahead for this closure and any future closures they announce.

Broadway Avenue, Spring Avenue, Ferguson Street and Locust Street will also be closed from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Nov. 8 while a business uses a helicopter in the area.

LONGVIEW – Our news partner KETK is reporting that at least one person was killed in a crash involving a pedestrian on Saturday. According to Longview PD, the crash happened on Saturday night on U.S. Highway 80 near McCann Road around 8 p.m. The initial investigation revealed the vehicle was going westbound when it hit a man who was attempting to cross the road.

“Currently, the investigation indicates the pedestrian failed to yield the right of way to the vehicle while crossing the roadway,” the Longview Police Department said. “The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.”

HENDERSON COUNTY — Three people have died, and the suspect in the East Texas murders has been hospitalized after shooting himself in the head following a vehicle crash at a Buc-ee’s according to our news partner KETK.

The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said the homicides occurred at 2:30 a.m. at the Cedar Creek Cove Subdivision in Mabank. Earlier this morning, the sheriff’s office was looking for the suspect, now identified as Christopher Kyle Reid Jr, in connection with the ongoing investigation, who was believed to be driving a 2003 maroon Dodge Caravan or a 2019 grey Subaru. When deputies arrived at the shooting scene on Taos Drive in Creek Cove Subdivision, they found an adult woman and an adult man dead from gunshot wounds. Another woman shot at the scene was transported to a hospital in Gun Barrel City where she died.

The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office identified the three deceased victims as Kimberly Simpson, 51, Connie Patrick, 72, and Ronny Hammonds, 57. The sheriff’s office said that Simpson and Connie were both shot multiple times along with Hammonds who also had injuries from blunt force trauma and multiple stab wounds. Continue reading Triple homicide remains under investigation