KTBB News, Weather, Talk

BULLARD — More than 400 middle school students start the new semester on Wednesday at the brand-new Bullard ISD campus, sparking traffic concerns on Highway 69. According to our news partner KETK, t he new middle school will house grades seventh and eighth and will be located on Highway 69 and FM 2493.

Out of caution, there will be increased police patrols in the area during the morning hours. TxDOT has reduced the speed limit to 45 in that section of Highway 69 and set up a temporary stoplight at the intersection in front of the campus.

“Just exercising caution, having patience and following all of the local traffic laws and safety precautions will help for a smooth transition,” Bullard ISD employee Amy Pawlak said. “We have systems in place and so now we are just excited to  get going and to start the spring semester.” Continue reading Traffic plan unveiled for new middle school

ANGELINA COUNTY — A Lufkin man received an 8-year prison sentence on Tuesday after pleading guilty to two counts of wire fraud, in which he was accused of acquiring over $9 million. According to our news partner KETK, Matthew Jess Thrash reportedly had more than 100 victims, from whom he defrauded millions through various fraudulent activities, including schemes related to sports investments.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, Thrash used these funds for gambling, personal expenses and to repay other victims in an effort to evade detection.

On Tuesday, Thrash was sentenced to 97 months in prison and is ordered to pay in restitution $8,100,024. Continue reading Man sentenced in million dollar fraud scheme

Update: Boil water notice for the city of Gilmer has been rescinded.

GILMER — The City of Gilmer has issued a boil water notice for communities along US Highway 271 North until further notice. According to our news partner KETK, Monday, Gilmer officials issued a boil water notice due to a loss in water pressure requiring the city to make water system repairs. The notice affects residences and businesses off of US Highway 271 N on Crawford and Harvey streets.

The city encourages all residents to boil their water for two minutes prior to consumption or to purchase bottled water until further notice. Questions regarding the boil water notice may be directed to Gilmer’s public works director at 903-843-8206.

WINNSBORO — Winnsboro Independent School District named Aaron Nation as its new superintendent during a school board meeting Monday night. District officials said Nation had served as interim superintendent since September and was named the lone finalist for the position in December.

In a statement, the district congratulated Nation and expressed support for his continued leadership, “WISD congratulates Mr. Nation and looks forward to continuing the great work and positive momentum already underway across our district,” officials said.

TYLER – The National Weather Service in Shreveport has announced that its meteorologists will be holding several SKYWARN spotter trainings in East Texas soon.

“The SKYWARN presentation covers severe thunderstorm characteristics, cloud formations, identifying the different threats associated with severe storms, how to report and basic weather safety,” NWS said.

This year NWS meteorologist will be going to the following East Texas locations to conduct these SKYWARN training classes.
Continue reading NWS to hold storm spotter classes

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the arrest of a suspect in connection with a December shooting at the Valley Blues nightclub that left one person dead, according to our news partners at KETK. The shooting occurred around 2:45 a.m. on Dec. 28 at the Valley Blues Club on County Road 486. When authorities arrived, they found two men with gunshot wounds: Aaron Gordon Johnson Jr., 23, and Aaron Lamar Jackson, 23. Both were taken to local hospitals with critical injuries, and Jackson later died. Authorities believe that the shooting was gang-related, claiming that rival gangs were both at the club, leading to the incident.

According to Smith County PIO Sgt. Larry Christian, Johnson has been arrested for his involvement in the shooting. He was booked into Smith County Jail on Jan. 2 on charges of deadly conduct by discharging a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair.

Johnson remains in custody, and additional charges may be filed, Christian said.

TYLER – Around 10,000 Optimum internet service customers are eligible for compensation after losing service over the weekend when two aerial fiber cables were shot, according to our news partner KETK. According to Optimum, two aerial fiber lines were hit by bullets, which severed the fiber strands within. A company representative said that repairing these lines is a delicate, time-consuming task, requiring technicians to line up hundreds of tiny hair-sized fibers to join them so light and data can flow through.

Optimum’s payment, billing and service policy allows customers to call within 30 days of a 4+ hour long outage to receive a credit for their lost service.

The Smith County Sheriff’s Office has been contacted to investigate the shooting that left the two aerial fiber lines damaged, according to Optimum.

EAST TEXAS – A dry week marked by high winds has placed several East Texas counties under burn bans or facing elevated fire danger, prompting officials to urge residents to avoid any outdoor burning, according to our news partner KETK. See below for list of these areas.

OFFICIAL BURN BAN: – Anderson County, Panola County, Harrison County, Shelby County, Rusk County, Bowie County, city of Sulphur Springs, city of New Boston and Marion County.
ELEVATED FIRE RISK: – Angelina County, Houston County, Polk County, Smith County, Titus County and Upshur County.

Even in counties without an active burn ban or advisory, residents are urged to stop all burning until dry conditions subside.

WASKOM – A week after a fatal house fire killed Waskom ISD students, Isaac and Hector Pedraza, the district announced it will be holding a prayer walk in honor of both students and their family.

The prayer walk will be held on Tuesday morning, starting at 7:30 a.m. outside of Waskom High School. All parents, community members and students are invited to join the walk as it will be a time for reflection, unity and comfort.

The district announced earlier this month that the tragic loss will delay the start of the second semester by a day, allowing students and teachers to attend the funeral services for Hector and Isaac, scheduled for Wednesday. Once school resumes on Thursday, counseling and support services will continue to be available for students and staff. Families are encouraged to reach out to the school district for additional support if needed.

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County property taxes are not due until later this month, but Tax Assessor-Collector Gary Barber is urging taxpayers to plan ahead because recent changes by the U.S. Postal Service could affect whether mailed payments are considered on time. The deadline to pay property taxes without penalty is Jan. 31.

Barber said the easiest and fastest way to pay is online by scanning the QR code on the tax statement or visiting the county’s public tax website. Payments can be made using a debit or credit card or by electronic check. “If you want to skip the long lines at the Tax Office, I highly recommend you pay online,” Barber said.

Taxpayers may also pay in person, use the Tax Office drop box outside the Cotton Belt Building, or mail their payments. However, Barber warned that changes to how postmarks are determined could result in late payments. In the past, postmarks reflected the date mail was dropped off at a mailbox or post office. Continue reading Property tax deadline approaching

RUSK – East Texans gathered together on Saturday to continue the search for James David Blount, a Rusk man who went missing over a month ago on Dec. 2. Blount is a 57-year-old white man who’s around 5’09”, weighs about 200 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes. His vehicle was found abandoned on Highway 84 West at the Neches River near the Cherokee and Anderson County line.

According to our news partner KETK, more than 40 community members gathered together to search for the second weekend in a row on Saturday morning. Searchers combed the woods on horseback and with ATVs in hopes that they’d find any evidence related to Blount’s disappearance. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said that a $25,000 reward is being offered for anyone who provides information that leads to the location of Blount. Anyone with information about Blount is asked to call 911 or the Rusk Police Department at 903-683-2677.

BULLARD – A Bullard man arrested for child grooming in 2024 has been sentenced to serve six years on probation. According to our news partner KETK, Randy Lloyd Smith, 48 of Bullard, was arrested by the Bullard Police Department on Aug. 28, 2024 after officers helped the Smith County Sheriff’s Office find a runaway at his home in Bullard on July 25 of that year, according to Smith’s arrest affidavit.

The arrest document described how officers found four minors at the home, including the runaway. The runaway minor was interviewed by law enforcement and said that, after they left their parent’s home, an unnamed person had picked them up to go to Smith’s house. An investigator interviewed another one of the minors found at Smith’s home. That minor said Smith was touching one of the other minors inappropriately and that he had bought them all alcohol, vapes and a sex toy. Continue reading Six years probation for child grooming