KTBB News, Weather, Talk

NACOGDOCHES — Our news partners at KETK report that a Nacogdoches father and grandmother were arrested Saturday after a 3-year-old was hospitalized in critical condition due to ingesting THC gummies. According to the Nacogdoches Police Department, around 10:20 a.m., police and EMS responded to a home on West Main Street, where a 3-year-old was in medical distress after eating THC gummies. Officials said the toddler was transported to a local hospital, but then life-flighted due to being in critical condition. Continue reading Nacogdoches father, grandmother arrested after toddler ingests THC gummies

PALESTINE — An East Texas lawmaker announced on Friday that he has secured nearly $50 million to fund NASA’s Balloon Facility in Palestine.

According to our news partner KETK, U.S. Rep. Jake Ellzey said the funding will come from the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, and though the bill has yet to be passed out of committee, it is expected to be considered in early September. Ellzey says this funding will support operations and scientific missions, which play a key role in NASA’s research efforts.

“The Balloon Facility in Palestine is a unique and critical part of NASA’s mission, and it’s right here in East Texas,” Ellzey said. “I’ve seen firsthand the incredible work being done there—not just for science, but for the community. This proposed funding will help ensure the facility remains strong, supports good jobs for Texas families, and continues advancing American innovation.”

Ellzey has served on the Appropriations Committee, which writes legislation that allocates federal funding to government agencies, departments and organizations.

SABINE COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, a wanted man was arrested by the Sabine County Sheriff’s Office Monday morning on 15 active warrants, including charges from over seven years ago. Around 2:06 a.m. Chad Henry McGown was located and arrested for the following active warrants: Sabine County – four felony warrants for failure to appear. eight misdemeanor warrants for failure to appear. Other county: $67,000 total bond for felony warrant for failure to appear, two counts of possession of a controlled substance and criminal mischief,

All of McGown’s local warrants in Sabine County have been set to no bond. “His original charges included a multitude of violations, ranging from burglary of a building to evading, some of which date back to cases in 2017,” officials said. “McGown will remain in custody of the Sabine County Sheriff’s Office until his next appearance in court.”

TEXARKANA – The Texarkana Police Department announced that they arrested a 17-year-old for the murder of 22-year-old Trewan Sanders of Texarkana, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

Shortly before 5 a.m., Texarkana police officers responded to the 1200 block of Nolthenius Street, where they found a 22-year-old who had been shot to death just inside the door of the house.“It’s very early in the investigation, so there are more questions than answers at this point,” officials said. “Detectives are still working to determine exactly what happened there and identify the suspect(s).”

The Texarkana Police Department announced that they arrested 17-year-old Kamarion Omar Fricks of Ashdown, Ark., for the murder of 22-year-old Trewan Sanders of Texarkana that happened Friday morning.

Fricks is currently being held at the Bowie County Jail on a $2 million bond for the murder.

TYLER – A Lupita’s Restaurant food truck caught fire near the corner of Center Avenue and East Ferguson Street in downtown Tyler on Monday afternoon, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

Tyler Fire Marshal Joey Hooten said the fire began around 11:45 a.m., and was likely caused by the truck’s generator. Flames could be seen coming from the left side of the truck, leaving a large hole in the truck’s exterior. According to Hooten, the food truck was set up near the construction site of the new Smith County courthouse to provide food for the construction workers. Some pallets at the construction site also caught fire before a unit from the Tyler Fire Department contained the flames.

Hooten said nobody was injured during the incident and it is unclear if the food truck is repairable.

SMITH COUNTY — A Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Correctional Officer was arrested on Thursday in Tyler after she attempted to traffic methamphetamine into the prison, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

A Smith County arrest affidavit says that Diamond Dunn, a TDCJ Correctional Officer for the Boyd Unit, agreed to meet with an undercover officer at a CEFCO gas station on 16158 State Hwy 31 W. This is where she took $2,500 and around 71 grams of methamphetamine from the undercover cop.

“Dunn was to take the money in exchange of introducing the methamphetamine to the TDCJ Boyd Unit,” the affidavit said. At the time of the exchange, she was also wearing part of her TDCJ uniform. Continue reading TDCJ officer reportedly caught trying to traffic meth into prison

TYLER — The Texas Radio Hall of Fame announced their inductees today for the class of 2025. Among the inductees is our very own sports director, Bill Coates.

KTBB owner and general manager, Paul Gleiser, talks about the professionalism that Bill brings to the airwaves: “When I bought KTBB, one of the things I got in the bargain was Bill Coates, and thank God because he’s been a real pillar in KTBB’s success.” Gleiser adds, “Bill is all pro… he’s an all pro sportscaster… he’s an all pro talk show host… he’s an all pro advertising executive. He’s just an all around consummate broadcaster and it is entirely appropriate that he’s a member of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame. I couldn’t be more proud.”

The Texas Radio Hall of Fame annual reunion and and induction is the weekend of October 31, at the Texas Museum of Broadcasting and Communications in Kilgore. For more information, click here.

ANGELINA COUNTY – Eight people were hospitalized Sunday evening after a six-vehicle accident near Hudson, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

Around 5:47 p.m., firefighters from the Hudson Volunteer Fire Department responded to a six-vehicle crash with possible entrapment on the 7000 block of State Highway 103 West. First responders found three out of the six vehicles to have major damage. Officials said there were a total of eight people injured, with seven taken to a local hospital and one life-flighted due to being in critical condition.

This accident is currently being investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

LUFKIN – The Lufkin Police Department said first responders were deployed to the scene of an 18-wheeler that rolled over on U.S. Highway 59 on Saturday, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

The Lufkin Fire Department members and Lufkin police officers responded to the scene of an 18-wheeler rollover crash that happened on Saturday afternoon at the U.S. 59 off ramp and North Medford Drive.

Luckily, Lufkin PD said the driver of the 18-wheeler and his dog were not injured by the crash.

ANDERSON COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, a man was arrested on Thursday afternoon after a fatal shooting was reported in Tennessee Colony. Following the shooting, the Palestine Police Department spoke with a witness who identified the suspect as 23-year-old Cyrus Johnson, who allegedly told her he had killed a woman and left her there.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office later received information from a caller who found the victim’s body in a parking lot near the intersection of State Highway 321 and FM 645. The victim was identified as 20-year-old Kia-Patrick Roushelle Walker, who had previously dated Johnson, law enforcement confirmed.

Investigators found Johnson on Thursday around 12:30 p.m. at a rest stop on U.S. Highway 69 near Jacksonville, and he was taken into custody after being charged with murder. Officials then took a vehicle into custody and recovered a firearm during his arrest.

Johnson was booked into the Anderson County Jail for the charge of murder on Friday. He’s currently being held on a $1,000,000 bond.

KERR COUNTY – Three East Texans were among the 119 people who died during the July 4 Kerr County floods, according to a list released by the Texas Rangers on Friday. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. shared the Texas Rangers’ official list of victims from the floods, which devastated Kerrville, Kerr County and much of Central Texas on July 4. Many people were reported as missing in the days after the floods and according to the list, two people, Jeffery Ramsey, 63 of Lewisville, and Cecilia Steward, 8 of Austin, are still missing.

Three East Texans have been confirmed to have died in the floods, Carol Andrews, 65 of Athens, along with James and Cynthia Rushing of Sulphur Springs.

The full list can be seen on our news partner KETK’s website.

ARP – Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown was back in his hometown of Arp on Saturday to host his third annual school supply giveaway. Overshown, a former Arp Tiger, spent his time in Arp on Saturday signing autographs and giving out nearly 300 backpacks full of school supplies to local children. According to our news partner KETK, many parents and Cowboys fans also attended the event to see Overshown while enjoying Arp City Park.

Overshown’s currently recovering from a season-ending knee injury but said he expects to be back on the field for the Cowboys soon.

The Cowboys’ first regular season game is on Thursday, Sept. 4 at 7:20 p.m. on KETK, against their longtime rival and defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.