KTBB News, Weather, Talk

EAST TEXAS — Governor Abbott is requesting a disaster declaration for parts of Northeast Texas. Storms that moved through the Dallas-Fort Worth area the afternoon of November 4th intensified when they got to Northeast Texas that evening, and several tornadoes developed. Abbott’s office says crews have been assessing damage, and they believe it meets the threshold set for a disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration, which would make people in that region eligible for low-interest disaster recovery loans. The request is for a disaster declaration covering Lamar and Morris Counties, plus Bowie, Camp, Cass, Delta, Fannin, Marion, Red River, Titus, and Upshur Counties.

GILMER — The body of an East Texas missing man was found on Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office says William Chad Martin, 38, of Ore City, was located in the Latch Community in Upshur County in a pasture creek bed close to North Live Oak Road. He was found about half a mile from where he was last spotted on Nov. 5. Martin was last seen running into a 500-acre wooded area. His body was located by property owners who were helping in the search. An autopsy has been ordered. Officials are still investigating the situation. Continue reading Missing man’s body found

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department said Wednesday they are working on creating means to help support an officer who was determined to have a rare form of cancer after undergoing open heart surgery. According to our news partner KETK, the police originally called on the public in mid-October to offer prayers for Officer Larry Solomon as he underwent the heart surgery. The department now says a mass was found near his heart during surgery and it turned out to be angiosarcoma. Officials said Solomon has already begun treatment. The department says the Longview Police Benefits Association will be fundraising for Solomon starting with t-shirt sales. You can learn more here.

TYLER — The Smith County Peace Officers Association Wednesday delivered almost 1,000 pounds of canned and non-perishable food items to PATH in Tyler. Officials say the donations were collected at the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Courthouse, Annex Building, Emergency Operations Center, and Juvenile Probation office, along with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Tyler Police Department. Also, the Peace Officers Association collected donations at their monthly luncheons. Law enforcement personnel say they encourage everyone to donate to PATH during what’s termed “this critical time of need.” You can drop off your donations at the PATH office at W. Front Street and Chilton Avenue in Tyler.

TYLER — The Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Transportation Policy Committee will be holding a regularly scheduled meeting Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Tyler Development Center Large Conference Room on W. Ferguson St. The committee will consider adopting an amendment to the Transportation Improvement Program to update the highway projects list to reflect the latest project information in the TxDOT Unified Transportation Program. Also up for consideration: adopting an amendment to the Unified Planning Work Program to redistribute funds related to Task 5 – Special Studies. You can learn more here, and you can contact the MPO by calling (903) 531-1175 option 5.

HENDERSON COUNTY – Texas game wardens in Henderson County are asking for assistance identifying the person responsible for leaving a white-tail buck to waste — a case of illegal dumping. According to our news partner KETK, the deer was dumped on County Road 1311 near Crossroads during the evening of Nov. 11 or the early morning of Nov. 12. Anyone with information is asked to call Operation Game Thief at 1-800-792-4263 or Texas Game Warden Mark Anderson at 903-907-2102.

TYLER – The road to the White House in 2024 began Tuesday night with former President Trump announcing he is running to be president again. The Smith County Democratic Party said they welcome the announcement. “We kind of look forward to seeing Trump galvanize around the country. It’s gonna help the Democrats quite a bit,” said Smith County Democratic Party Chair Hector Garza. Smith county Republicans said it is too early to predict a nominee. Smith County Republican Party Chair David Stein remarked, “If he wants to run and feels that he has the backing to run again for the presidency, it’s his right to do that and if he decides not to, that’s his right also.” Continue reading Local party leaders react to Trump announcement

TYLER – One of the people who has been confirmed to have died in the Dallas Air Show on Nov. 12, Dan Ragan, attended the 2021 Rose City Airfest in Tyler. Ragan flew the B-17 Flying Fortress Texas Raiders war craft that appeared at the Airfest’s inaugural 4th of July event. “I flew in that B-17, it was a navy plane back then and I was a crew member 67 years ago,” Ragan shared with our news partner KETK in a 2021 interview. An investigation is underway to find out why and how the crash took place at the Dallas Air Show over the weekend. It’s said that the investigation could take up to 18 months.

GILMER – The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office said on Tuesday they are looking for a 38-year-old missing man last seen after running into a wooded area with his girlfriend. According to our news partner KETK, officials said William Chad Martin of Ore City was last seen early Nov. 5 after his girlfriend said they had been smoking meth and were drunk the day before. According to his girlfriend, they thought they had been caught stealing tires and fled in Martin’s truck before running out of gas. She says the two ran into nearby woods near Live Oak Road in the southwest part of the county. She later emerged from the woods, but officials said Martin did not and has not been seen since. You’re asked to contact the Upshur County Sheriff’s office if you have any leads.

TYLER – The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is investigating a local bar due to an alleged drunk driving crash that injured a pedestrian. According to our news partner KETK, it’s the second probe of Where’s Rufus announced in recent days. DPS said a construction worker went to the hospital after they were allegedly hit by a pickup truck being driven by Matthew Ray Pallitto, 35, of Tyler on Thursday on Highway 155. Pallitto was charged with intoxication assault with a vehicle and disregarding an official traffic control device. His bond was set at $50,500, and he was released from jail on Nov. 10. The pedestrian suffered serious injuries. TABC said Pallitto was possibly at Where’s Rufus before the crash and that the commission is looking into whether any rules were broken by the bar. Continue reading Bar faces second investigation over alleged drunk driving

WINNSBORO — A report reveals more details of an officer-involved shooting November 4th in East Texas. The DPS had asked for help in a rollover accident in Winnsboro with a driver believed to be intoxicated trying to flee on foot. Wood County deputies responded, found the man, and took him to an ambulance. But KLTV relates that the in-custody death report says 32-year-old Timothy Wayne Hodges ran out of the ambulance, grabbed a gun from his vehicle, and held the gun to his head, demanding that deputies kill him or he’d kill himself. They could not de-escalate the situation and Hodges ultimately pointed the gun at a deputy, causing the officer to shoot him.

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY — Game Wardens want to know who shot and killed two bald eagles in East Texas. the eagles were shot on a County Road in Nacogdoches County on or around October 28th. A violation of the 1940 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act can result in a fine of $100,000 for an individual or $200,000 for an organization and/or one year imprisonment on a first offense. Nacogdoches Crime Stoppers will pay a cash reward of up to one-thousand dollars for the first and most accurate tip in the case, all information is confidential.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – An East Texas man held on charges connected to the January 6th incident has been released from pretrial detention. After 20 months, Ryan Nichols of Longview has been allowed a release. He’s been held in Virginia. U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan, who granted the pretrial release, says Nichols is still considered a danger to the public, but this release will let him access evidence he may need to prepare for trial. Prosecutors say Nichols expressed interest in joining the Proud Boys ahead of the Capitol event. After the incident, Nichols is quoted as saying he believes he did what God wanted him to do. Nichols is due in court on the 22nd to discuss the terms of his release from prison.

TYLER — TxDOT schedules another week’s worth of roadwork in the Tyler District. In Smith County, Tyler maintenance will have a base failure crew on FM 850, from SH 31 heading east towards Overton. Motorists should expect lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic. Also, there will be two patch crews at various locations throughout the county. In Gregg County, crews will continue work at US 80 and FM 2208 (Alpine Road). This project consists of installing new pedestrian signal poles, sidewalks, and handicap ramps. There will be alternating lane closures depending on which side of the intersection they will be working on. Motorists are encouraged to slow down, watch for workers, and expect delays. Click here for a complete rundown of roadwork around the district.

TYLER — Tyler’s Glass Recreation Center will be closed for renovations and maintenance from Monday, Nov. 21, through Saturday, Nov. 26. During this period, officials say crews will be resurfacing the gym floor and repainting interior walls. The facility will reopen on Monday, Nov. 28, at 7 a.m. Classes and programs will resume their normal schedules upon reopening. For further information, call the Glass Recreation Center at (903) 595-7271 or visit this link.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – East Texas Congressman-elect Nathaniel Moran is already in Washington for Congress’s new member orientation. In an interview with KTBB’S Geoff Roark, Moran says there’s a lot to do, including ethics briefings, setting up offices, and hiring staff. He says lawmakers will also be making a lot of important decisions, such as who will be leading the Republican conference and what kind of procedural rules will need to be followed. The former Smith County judge defeated Democrat Jrmar Jefferson last week to clear his way to Capitol Hill. The 118th Congress gets to work January 3.

WOOD COUNTY — The Executive Director of the Wood County Economic Development Commission (WCEDC), Christophe Trahan, has resigned. According to our news partner KETK, Wood County Judge Lucy Hebron said in a press release on Monday that her office received notice of the resignation after Trahan’s “21-month stint as the head of the WCEDC.” Hebron thanked him for his work and the County Judge-Elect Kevin White said he will work with the WCEDC in selecting a candidate to fill the position.

TROUP — Troup residents held a fish fry and auction in order to take some financial burden off of Cooper Reid and his family. Reid was severely injured during a Troup football game in September. At last count, Saturday’s benefit raised $72,000 for Reid and his family. According to our news partner KETK, after more than a month of being hospitalized in Tyler, Reid was transferred to TIRR Memorial Herman in Houston for the next phase of treatment. His family members are taking time off from work to stay by his side. “His medical bills are gonna be, we have no idea what they’re going to be and so we just want to do whatever we can to take some of the burden off of them so they can focus on Cooper and help Cooper get better and what he needs,” said Mandi Braswell, Troup resident. Continue reading Troup community hosts fish fry and auction to support Cooper Reid

BULLARD — The City of Bullard announced that Main Street will be closed starting on Monday Nov. 14 until the end of the week. According to our news partner KETK, Main Street will be closed so that contractors can begin road work that they should be able to finish by the end of the week if the weather is good enough, according to the City of Bullard. The city said that drivers should pay attention to detour signs and lane closure signs. They also asked drivers to watch out for construction workers while driving through the area.

TYLER — Three charitable organizations will share a multimillion-dollar bequest from the estate of community philanthropist June S. Flock, who died July 2. The Marvin Methodist Church Foundation, the Tyler Junior College Foundation, and the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Foundation each received $1.75 million. Spokespeople for all three organizations are expressing their appreciation. A CHRISTUS Health news release termed Flock “a gracious woman with a generous spirit, whose desire was ‘to be remembered.’”

TYLER — The Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Transportation Policy Committee will be holding a regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m. in the Tyler Development Center Large Conference Room on W. Ferguson St. The committee will consider adopting an amendment to the Transportation Improvement Program to update the highway projects list to reflect the latest project information in the TxDOT Unified Transportation Program. Also up for consideration: adopting an amendment to the Unified Planning Work Program to redistribute funds related to Task 5 – Special Studies. You can learn more here, and you can contact the MPO by calling (903) 531-1175 option 5.

LONGVIEW — Fairmont Street between Toler Road and H.G. Mosley Parkway in Longview has re-opened to two-way traffic. Officials say major roadway construction items along Fairmont Street have been completed. Minor work remains ongoing along Fairmont Street, which may require temporary lane closure, according to a news release. However, two-way traffic is expected to be provided for the remainder of the project. Click here for further details.

TYLER — The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is pursuing charges against a Tyler bar in connection to a fatal crash on Jan. 14 that claimed the life of a Tyler Legacy High School senior. According to our news partner KETK, the TABC said the commission is pursuing administrative charges against Rose City Draft House for the “sale of alcoholic beverage to an intoxicated person,” as well as violations of the alcoholic beverage code’s requirement that the business not operate in a place or manner which endangers public safety. 24-year-old Jason Charles is accused of driving drunk and charged with intoxicated manslaughter in the crash that killed Lilly Thornburgh, who was senior at Tyler Legacy High School. Continue reading TABC to charge Tyler bar in connection to death of Tyler Legacy senior

WOOD COUNTY — A Wood County Precinct 2 Constable was indicted by a federal grand jury on Thursday for “use of excessive force,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas. According to our news partner KETK, Kelly Jason Smith, 46, was indicted in Sherman, Texas for the deprivation of rights under color of law. The indictment stated that on July 25, Smith told his police dog to bite a suspect “who did not pose a threat that warranted use of the police dog.” The suspect suffered unnecessary bodily injury, said the U.S. Attorney’s office. Smith could be sentenced to 10 years in federal prison if convicted of this offense. Continue reading Wood County Precinct 2 Constable indicted by federal grand jury

SMITH COUNTY — A construction worker has been hospitalized in Tyler after being struck by an alleged drunk driver on Highway 155, according to DPS and our news partner KETK. The construction worker was struck by a pickup truck Thursday morning, and is reported to have sustained serious injuries. Officials with DPS said the driver of the truck was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Additional details were not available.

WOOD COUNTY — Four people are dead in a Wednesday evening crash nine miles north of Quitman. According to a DPS news release, preliminary investigation indicates that one vehicle was traveling eastbound on FM 515 when the other vehicle disregarded a stop sign while southbound on FM 2966. The victims, aged 16 to 64, were from Winnsboro and Yantis. A passenger from Garland went to a Tyler hospital with what were termed incapacitating injuries.

TYLER – The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is investigating a Tyler sports bar, Where’s Rufus, regarding the crash that resulted in the death of Smith County Deputy Lorenzo Bustos in July. According to our news partner KETK, TABC claims the business violated a rule and “was operating in a place or manner that would endanger public health.” TABC also said they are still trying to determine the penalty for the alleged violation, which could include a settlement or a hearing. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office says the 29-year-old Bustos died after he was hit by a drunk driver. Daniel Nyenze Nyabuto, 21, of Grand Prairie, was arrested and charged with intoxicated manslaughter.

EAST TEXAS — A number of events are scheduled around East Texas for Veterans Day. Among them: a program from noon till 2 p.m. at the American Freedom Museum on the campus of Brook Hill School in Bullard. It’s co-sponsored by the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Veterans Committee and the Veterans Service Committee of the Tyler Economic Development Council. The event will include singing of patriotic songs, the honoring of fallen soldiers, poetry, and remarks from local leaders. Attendees are invited to tour the museum as part of the celebration. There is no charge to attend the celebration, but attendees are asked to register using this link. You can also contact Jackie Clay at (423) 505-6238. Veterans will receive a gift bag which includes a gift card to Chili’s Restaurant or Dairy Queen. Just one of the other community celebrations will happen at Kilgore College. Check here for more information on that event.

LONGVIEW — Longview police say they have found a woman who had gone missing. According to our news partner KETK, Nhan Le-Do, 57, had last been seen on Wednesday. Her car was found near Bill Owens Parkway. Officials say she was found on Clendenen Lane and taken to the hospital.