KTBB News, Weather, Talk

GUN BARREL CITY – More details are emerging after the Gun Barrel City Police Department and Gun Barrel City Fire Department responded to a possible carbon monoxide poisoning on Garret Lane that left one dead on Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, after arriving at the scene, officers and firefighters said they found a three-year-old girl, two boys ages four and six, and the children’s 28-year-old mother. They say they immediately began trying to save the victims’ lives and they were all then transported to UT Health Texas Cedar Creek Lake. The six-year-old was unresponsive when they arrived and later died, according to officials. Continue reading More details on apparent carbon monoxide death in Gun Barrel City

TYLER – The United Way of Smith County is hosting their third annual “Tyler Gives” online fundraiser on November 29th, which falls on International Giving Tuesday. According to a news release, the event is aimed at meeting local needs by providing United Way’s partnering local nonprofit agencies with a generous gift at the end of the year. More than 400 individuals came together last year and raised over $230,000 on TylerGives.org in a matter of hours. Thanks to Tyler Gives sponsor Express Employment Professionals and its subsidiary Specialized Recruiting Group, all fees associated with the event are covered, allowing 100% of the donations to go directly to meeting needs. United Way and the event sponsors are providing a $75,000 match for Tyler Gives this year. Continue reading United Way hosting third annual Tyler Gives event with $75,000 match

CRAFT – It may be awhile before we know more about a hostage situation in Cherokee County that led to an officer-involved shooting. In a prepared statement, DPS Sgt. Adam Albritton says, “For the safety of the medical staff, no information about the suspect or his condition will be released at this time.” Authorities said the suspect was shot south of Jacksonville Saturday in a confrontation with law enforcement after he allegedly held his wife and daughter hostage. According to our news partner KETK, Albritton says around 11:52 a.m., the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office got a 911 call from a man who claimed to be holding his wife and daughter hostage. Continue reading Further details pending on officer-involved shooting in Cherokee County

LONGVIEW (KRLD/Staff) — An East Texas man recently released following his alleged role in the Jan. 6 Capitol incident is ordered to house arrest. Ryan Nichols was released from a Virginia jail pending his trial. He is not allowed out of his home in Longview except for medical, court, and church service exceptions. A U.S. judge decided to release Nichols because he claimed it wasn’t possible for Nichols to access digital evidence he may need for his trial next year. The Longview News-Journal reports Nichols was also ordered to stay away from Washington, D.C., except for business related to his case — and ordered to avoid all contact with anyone involved in the Capitol incident, including co-defendants.

EAST TEXAS — Plans continue for East Texas Christmas parades, with the Rotary Clubs of Tyler putting on the Rose City event and the local AMBUCS heading up arrangements for the Longview attraction. Both are set for December 1 in the cities’ downtowns, with the Tyler parade kicking off at 6 p.m. and the Longview activity beginning at 6:30 in the evening. The Tyler event will be capped by the lighting of the downtown Christmas tree by this year’s Children’s Miracle Network Miracle Child. Longview’s parade includes marching bands, floats, and an appearance by Santa. Click here for more on what’s happening in Tyler. Check this link for more information on the Longview parade and other holiday activities around Longview.

GUN BARREL CITY – A six-year-old has died from possible carbon monoxide poisoning following an incident in Gun Barrel City. According to our new partner KETK, police and firefighters responded Saturday to a location on Garret Lane. They said they found a three-year-old girl, two boys aged four and six, and a 28-year-old woman. They say they immediately began trying to save their lives, and all four were then taken to UT Health Texas Cedar Creek Lake. The six-year-old was unresponsive when they arrived and later died, according to officials. The three-year-old and four-year-old were last listed in critical condition and have been transferred to a children’s hospital in Dallas. The woman is reportedly expected to recover. Authorities say the Henderson County Crimes Against Children Taskforce is investigating the incident along with the Gun Barrel City Police Department.

CRAFT – Authorities say a man was shot south of Jacksonville Saturday in a confrontation with law enforcement after he allegedly held his wife and daughter hostage. According to our news partner KETK, DPS Sgt. Adam Albritton says around 11:52 a.m., the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office got a 911 call from a man who claimed to be holding his wife and daughter hostage. When sheriff’s personnel and DPS troopers arrived at the scene, in the area of the Craft community off Highway 69, the suspect allegedly confronted them with a gun in a threatening manner. “Unfortunately, officers had to defend themselves, and the incident ended with the suspect shot,” said Albritton. The alleged hostage-taker was transported to a local hospital, while officials say his wife and daughter are uninjured. There was no immediate word on the suspect’s condition. The Texas Rangers are investigating.

TYLER — TxDOT schedules another week’s worth of roadwork in the Tyler District for the week of November 28. In Smith County, Tyler maintenance will have a base failure crew on FM 850, west of FM 3226. A second crew will be performing bridge maintenance, first on SH 110 S at the Mud Creek bridge between Whitehouse and Troup, then on FM 346 south of FM 344. Motorists should expect lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic in all locations. In Gregg County, Longview maintenance crews will continue bridge channel maintenance on SH 31. Expect right lane closures north and southbound with flaggers controlling traffic. Click here for a complete rundown of roadwork around the district.

TYLER — The Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas continues its holiday season advisories as holiday shopping kicks into high gear. The Monday following Black Friday, known as Cyber Monday, has become the second major holiday shopping event of the year. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), approximately 97 million shoppers took advantage of CyberMonday deals in 2021. And even with inflation and price hikes on the minds of consumers, an estimated 166.3 million shoppers were planning to shop during the Thanksgiving holiday, including on CyberMonday. The BBB reminds consumers to be on the lookout for misleading advertisements, lookalike websites, and untrustworthy sellers. Continue reading BBB tip: Cybercriminals will be on the prowl this Cyber Monday

TYLER — Tyler Junior College has scheduled a series of Registration Rally events — including a special Saturday session — for its upcoming winter and spring terms. “We’re excited to offer registration and testing hours on Saturday, for the convenience of those who might be unable to attend on a weekday,” said Claire Mizell, TJC director of admissions, as quoted in a news release. “For those who are not already TJC students, we will also have staff on hand to assist them with starting the admissions process.” Walk-in advising and registration will be held on the second floor of Rogers Student Center, on E. Lake St. on the TJC central campus. On Saturday, Dec. 3, advising and registration will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with TSI testing available from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Continue reading TJC offers Registration Rally for winter, spring semesters

TYLER – Visit Tyler is joining the nationwide movement to celebrate local businesses as it takes part in Small Business Saturday. According to a news release, Shop Small Saturday was founded in 2010 and happens annually on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. That makes it the perfect time to start your holiday shopping at local small businesses, according to organizers, who say those businesses are the heartbeat of the Rose City. The Visit Tyler Visitor Center and Boutique Shop is hosting a special Small Business Saturday Pop-Up Shop from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. inside Plaza Tower in Downtown Tyler. Continue reading Tyler celebrates Small Business Saturday

TYLER — Eight-year-old Romio Hernandez and 11-spentyear-old Aiden Moreno spent their Thanksgiving giving back, according to our news partner KETK. “To help the homeless people, maybe they don’t have a house, so we are giving them food to help out, and invite them here, and give them food, serve them, give them drinks so they can feel welcomed,” said Aiden. They volunteered at the Tyler Salvation Army serving hot meals to those in need, putting a smile on everyone’s face. Continue reading Children spend their Thanksgiving feeding those in need

SMITH COUNTY – Drivers continued to face big challenges on part of I-20 in Smith County Thursday following a late morning accident. DPS reported late Thursday afternoon that the westbound lanes remained shut down after a tractor-trailer overturned in the left lane near the Highway 110 interchange. Traffic was being diverted onto other highways at the Highway 110 exit, and drivers were advised to avoid the area. You can use this link to stay up to date on this accident and others around East Texas.

EAST TEXAS — Plans continue for East Texas Christmas parades, with the Rotary Clubs of Tyler putting on the Rose City event and the local AMBUCS heading up arrangements for the Longview attraction. Both are set for December 1 in the cities’ downtowns, with the Tyler parade kicking off at 6 p.m. and the Longview activity beginning at 6:30 in the evening. The Tyler event will be capped by the lighting of the downtown Christmas tree by this year’s Children’s Miracle Network Miracle Child. Longview’s parade includes marching bands, floats, and an appearance by Santa. Click here for more on what’s happening in Tyler. Check this link for more information on the Longview parade and other holiday activities around Longview.

TYLER — Black Friday means the usual crush of shoppers, along with countless special deals, and the Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas has some advice for anyone hitting the stores. Topping the list: Start early. Many retailers have posted their Black Friday deals. This makes it easier to plan ahead and have a strategy. Check Black Friday store hours and sales ahead of time. Certain stores may also offer discounts or deals during different times. Another tip: Plan ahead. This includes making a shopping list and creating a budget to help avoid impulse purchases. It also means doing your research. Read product reviews, and check out this link for Business Profiles and customer reviews to make sure you are purchasing from a reputable company. Continue reading Black Friday shopping tips

ELKHART – A man at the center of a Silver Alert was found on Wednesday, according to Texas DPS. The alert was issued for 72-year-old Charles Milford on Wednesday after he was last seen on Nov. 22. According to our news partner KETK, DPS says 72-year-old Charles Milford is roughly 5’2″ and weighs 150 pounds, and was last seen on the 7200 block of Highway 294 in Elkhart. He was wearing a gray button-down shirt with blue jeans. He wears a black toupee and has gray hair underneath. His vehicle is a white 2015 Chevrolet Colorado with Texas license plate number PRT6582. Silver Alerts are designed to notify the public of missing older adults with a documented mental condition, according to DPS.

TYLER – As holiday travel season kicks off, Steve Thompson, the manager at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, says the location is full of energy. According to our news partner KETK, the aviation industry is overcoming the impacts of the pandemic. The number of people flying is now the same as pre-pandemic numbers. “An interesting fact is when we looked (at) the numbers we had significant higher numbers of people traveling to Tyler for this holiday week than people traveling from Tyler,” said Thompson. He says with heavier foot traffic, this is the perfect time for city officials to show off their facilities and convenience. “We have ample curb space that enables quick loading and unloading of folks. We have TSA precheck to facilitate people getting through the airport quickly here,” said Thompson. Continue reading Tyler Pounds Airport seeing pre-pandemic traveling numbers during holidays

KILGORE — The Kilgore College Rangerettes will perform alongside pop superstar Mariah Carey Thursday in the finale of the 96th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Rangerettes are marching in the parade this year in their traditional red, white, and blue uniforms, and will be in special costumes for their performance with Carey. Also, a group of the Rangerettes Forever helped to open the parade in maroon cheer uniforms.

TYLER – Tyler Salvation Army volunteers and staff present their annual community Thanksgiving meal. The Salvation Army was planning on feeding up to 1,000 guests Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Celebrating “family,” the current residents of The Salvation Army are having their meal served by volunteers, according to a news release. The volunteers are serving the community at the Salvation Army’s corps buildings in the breezeway between the dormitory and fellowship hall. Over 110 volunteers signed up this year to help with the Thanksgiving meal. Continue reading Tyler Salvation Army holds annual community Thanksgiving meal

LONGVIEW — A man who was accused of using a stolen check at an East Texas Lowe’s was arrested with the help of social media.According to our news partner KETK, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said a generator was bought with the check in Longview on Oct. 31. Then, 30 minutes after officials shared photos on social media of the man involved in the incident several people started sending tips. Jason Walker was arrested on Monday in Grayson County and released after he paid his bond. Deputies said the other man in the photo was not connected to the case. “Great job, Facebook you never disappoint,” said the sheriff’s office.

TYLER – A five-year-old boy who was at the center of an Amber Alert on Monday after being abducted from Overton has been returned home, and his alleged abductor has been charged with kidnapping. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith says Pamela Medlock, 59, was arrested Monday after being stopped by a Texas State Trooper on I-20 near Colorado City, Texas. “She was supposedly headed to Arizona,” Smith said. Officials said she was arrested after detectives interviewed her, and a recommended bond has been set at $250,000. She remained in Mitchell County as of midday Tuesday. Continue reading Woman charged in kidnapping that spurred Amber Alert

EAST TEXAS — As usual, city offices in Tyler and Longview will be closed for Thanksgiving Day. But the city of Tyler also wants you to know all non-emergency city offices will be closed as of noon on Wednesday. Solid waste collection is just one of a number of services that will be affected. Click here for more information on the Tyler schedule, and visit this link for additional information from Longview.

TYLER – The United Way of Smith County will host their third annual “Tyler Gives” online fundraiser on November 29th, which falls on International Giving Tuesday. According to a news release, the event is aimed at meeting local needs by providing United Way’s partnering local nonprofit agencies with a generous gift at the end of the year. More than 400 individuals came together last year and raised over $230,000 on TylerGives.org in a matter of hours. Thanks to Tyler Gives sponsor Express Employment Professionals and its subsidiary Specialized Recruiting Group, all fees associated with the event are covered, allowing 100% of the donations to go directly to meeting needs. United Way and the event sponsors are providing a $75,000 match for Tyler Gives this year. Continue reading United Way to host third annual Tyler Gives event with $75,000 match

EAST TEXAS — Several East Texas hospitals have been given “A” safety grades for fall 2022. Our news partner KETK reports the ratings come from The Leapfrog Group. That’s described as a national nonprofit that aims to save lives by evaluating hospitals based on the performance of harm prevention systems and the hospital’s amount of errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. Each hospital is given a numerical score that is then converted into an letter grade of A, B, C, or D, with “A” being the safest. UT Health North Campus Tyler, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Tyler, UT Health Athens, and UT Health Henderson are among those receiving “A” grades. Click here for more details.

TYLER — On Tuesday around noon, employees of the Tyler Urban Forestry Division, Parks and Recreation Department, and Streets Department will be delivering and installing an Eastern red cedar tree in the Downtown Tyler square. The new Christmas tree is estimated to be 30 feet and has been donated anonymously in honor of all loved ones lost to cancer, according to a news release. The tree will be decorated in anticipation of the Christmas Parade and the 37th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony to be held on Thursday, Dec. 1.

TYLER — TxDOT schedules another week’s worth of roadwork in the Tyler District. This week, officials are drawing special attention to a Smith County project. TxDOT and contractor crews are scheduled to continue work on SH 155, with sweeping operations planned through the week after getting underway Monday. Weather permitting, crews are due to begin fog seal and hot mix resurfacing Tuesday and continue that through the week as well. The project stretches from Loop 323 in Tyler to the Anderson County line and consists of resurfacing, upgrading drainage structures, and repairing bridge joints. The expected completion date is spring of 2023. Click here for a complete rundown of this week’s roadwork around the district.

SMITH COUNTY — Authorities report five-year-old Zechariah Sutton of Overton has been found safe and appears to be unharmed after an Amber Alert was issued for him early Monday. Officials say Zechariah and Pamela Medlock, 59, were both found in Mitchell County by the sheriff’s office there. They were headed west on I-20 near Colorado City, Texas. Smith County investigators have headed to Mitchell County to follow up on the case. Zechariah had last been seen around 3 a.m. Monday. Authorities say he was abducted by Medlock, described as a “family friend” who does not have a permanent address but frequents the Overton and Kilgore areas. We’ll update this story as new information comes in.

SMITH COUNTY — Tyler police are searching for Edward Forrest Roddy, 51, from Tyler. He was reported missing by his mother who has not heard from him since the end of September. He is a black male approximately 5’11 and 150 lbs, bald, greying goatee and a tattoo on his neck that says “Shaneka”. He goes by the nickname “Punkin”. If you know his location or see him please contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000.

MABANK – The Mabank Police Department is asking for your help in the search for 14 year old Sophia Flores of Mabank. Sophia was last seen November 17th. According to our news partner KETK, she is 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs between 110 to 120 pounds. At the time of her disappearance, Sophia was wearing a grey hoodie and white sweat pants. Authorities believe that Flores may be in Henderson or that immediate area. If you have information contact local law enforcement