KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LUFKIN — Lufkin Police arrested Robert Harris, 47, of Center, following a bank robbery and chase. Harris was taken into custody around 1:45 p.m. Wednesday on U.S. 69 south. According to Lufkin Police, the incident began at 1:10 p.m. when Harris entered Cadence Bank on Brentwood Drive and handed a teller a note demanding money. After receiving an undisclosed amount of cash, he fled on foot across Whitehouse Drive to the Belk Department Store parking lot, where he left in an older-model green Toyota Tacoma, according to a witness.

About 20 minutes later, officers spotted Harris’s vehicle on Casey Road and initiated a pursuit which continued through the Fuller Springs area and onto U.S. 69 South. The pursuit, reaching speeds up to 70 mph, ended near Garrison Drive after a Lufkin Police officer performed a PIT maneuver, stopping Harris’s vehicle. Continue reading Suspected bank robber arrested

UPSHUR COUNTY — The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing 64 year-old-woman. According to our news partner KETK, the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information regarding Donna Leah Johnson, 64, who is missing. Officials provided pictures of Donna and her vehicle, a red Kia SUV. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Johnson is asked to contact the investigator at 903-680-8255.

WILLS POINT — Wills Point ISD announced that summer will come one day early as their their last day of school is canceled due to power outages. According to our news partner KETK, the district is canceling classes for Thursday, their last school day of the year, because of issues caused by power outages.

“The safety and comfort of our students is important, and with only partial air conditioning functioning, it is not feasible to continue classes under these conditions.” – Wills Point ISD

WASKOM — A Waskom man has been charged with federal dogfighting violations. According to our news partner KETK and a release from the Department of Justice (DOJ), Jesus Allen Stephens, 34, made his initial appearance in court on Wednesday after being indicted. According to the DOJ release, Stephens allegedly hosted and organized a “large-scale dogfighting event on family owned property in Harrison County on Nov. 13, 2021.”

Court documents allege that Stephens and others arranged to fight dogs at the event for the purposes of gambling and entertainment, and that Stephens had announced a series of up to 14 matches and sent GPS coordinates of the property to multiple individuals. Continue reading Harrison County man charged with federal violations

SMITH COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK report that three people were arrested on Tuesday after a pursuit with Smith County authorities led to the seizure of more than 90 grams of methamphetamine. According to authorities, a Smith County Precinct 5 Deputy Constable attempted to make a traffic stop on southbound US 271 North and the car “fled at a high rate of speed.” The driver continued to evade law enforcement before officials said they pulled into the parking lot of the Texas Best Smokehouse on US 271 at I-20 and dropped off a female passenger before continuing to evade authorities. Continue reading 3 arrested after Smith County pursuit

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Road and Bridge crews continue to clear roadways following Tuesday’s storm. According to a release from the county, crews spent all day Tuesday, May 28, clearing more than 40 roads that had downed trees from an early morning storm. Calls were received Wednesday morning that newly downed trees were over two County Roads 446 and 1230. CR 113 has been barricaded and closed due to water over the road. Road and Bridge crews are waiting on Oncor to safely remove the power lines before they can clear the trees on County Road 382. CR 2326 is closed due to a power line across the road.

A group of about 30 volunteers from the International ALERT Academy will be working in Smith County Thursday to help clean up damage left by the storms. Smith County Emergency Management personnel will be giving the group a list of people who have requested help with cleaning up damage and debris on their property.

Smith County residents who live on county roads and have tree debris from Tuesday’s storm can place it in the right-of-way and Road and Bridge crews will pick it up. Continue reading Smith County roads update and debris removal

SMITH COUNTY — Republican J. Scott Herod won the 2024 Smith County Precinct 3 Commissioner Republican runoff with 1,773 votes on Tuesday. According to officials, Herod received 90% of the votes with 1,773 and incumbent Terry Phillips with 10% at 198 votes. In the March primaries, Herod won with 2,968 votes. Herod is an East Texas businessman and rancher. He said it is time for a new voice in the Smith County Commissioner’s Court as Phillips has held the position since 2009.

“I think new perspective, new point of view, is key. And the ability to bring those relationships that we can accomplish business in the county is very important,” Herod said. Herod said earlier in May that his plan is to focus on where county dollars are spent.

“Smith County for example is $160 million a year business so we need to have awareness of what’s going on with those dollars and it is those commissioners who have the responsibility of working together along with the county judge to set the budget,” Herod said.

TYLER — An East Texas man was sentenced to 75 years in prison on Tuesday after pleading guilty to intoxicated manslaughter in a 2022 wreck east of Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, Gary Lynn Nichols, 42 of Kilgore, reportedly crashed into four 20 year-olds from Overton after their vehicle broke down at around 11:45 p.m. in January 2022 on Highway 31. Officials said one 22 year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene and the three others were taken to the hospital.

Reports said, Nichols was driving a 2008 Cadillac CTS about 13 miles east of Tyler when two victims were attempting to push a broken down 1997 GMC Jimmy when Nichols struck them. Two were taken to the hospital in critical condition and one in stable condition.

According to records, Nichols was arrested at the scene and charged with intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle, two charges of intoxication assault with a vehicle and failing to re-register as a sex offender in Rusk County.

GILMER — The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office said a 2-year-old child was pronounced dead on Tuesday after being found unconscious in a residential swimming pool. According to our news partner KETK, deputies responded to Bear Road around 5:25 p.m. and attempted life-saving measures on the child. The sheriff’s office said the child was found by a parent when they realized the child was missing from inside the home. Officials said the child was pronounced dead at a local hospital and an autopsy has been ordered by a Camp County Justice of the Peace. “This case will be under further investigation,” the sheriff’s office said. “Child Protective Services is also notified on the occasion of the untimely death of a child.”

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine will become a member of the states Alzheimer research wing. According to our news partner KETK, by a unanimous vote , the school will become a member of the Texas Alzheimer’s Research and Care Consortium. The goal of the TARCC, is to expand health care initiatives in East Texas.

Dr. Julie V. Philley, executive vice president and vice provost for UT Tyler health affairs and incoming UT Tyler president, said, “We aim to enhance early detection, treatment and support services for individuals and families affected by these neurodegenerative disorders.”

The release from from the TARCC further explained that Texas ranks second in the nation in the number of Alzheimer’s deaths by population.

TYLER — Smith County officials and first responders have responded to nearly 300 calls for service since 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 28. During and after the storms rolled through Smith County early Tuesday, calls have been responded to by Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Fire Marshal’s Office, Road and Bridge, the Constables offices and Animal Control, as well as Emergency Services Districts 1 and 2. The Smith County Emergency Operations Center has been activated.

The EOC is in constant communication with multiple emergency support function personnel as well as local jurisdictions within the county, Smith County Emergency Management Coordinator Brandon Moore said.

“We are inundated with calls about downed power lines and felled trees,” he said. “We are working through this process as quickly as possible.” Continue reading Smith County storm update

HENDERSON COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK report that a 61-year-old woman was arrested for murder in Henderson County after she allegedly shot her boyfriend. According to the sheriff’s office, Patricia Childs, 61 of Eustace, called them around 8:15 p.m. on Monday and said she had shot her boyfriend and he was not breathing. Deputies responded to the scene in the 15,000 block of Morning Star Circle were officials said they found Troy Aldredge dead with gunshot wounds outside the home. Officials said Childs was found sitting inside the home with a handgun on the floor of the living area. Continue reading Woman arrested for murder in East Texas

EAST TEXAS — With severe weather moving through the area and into East Texas, about 166,239 customers are without power as of 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday. Click here for a full list.

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Emergency Operations Center is currently experiencing a high volume of 911 calls concerning weather related activity. Numerous calls of power lines down and associated electrical fires, structure fire (lightning strike) in Lindale 16200 Ridgeview Lane, Major Traffic Accident CR 246 at CR 223 near Arp (Car hit tree in roadway), Major Traffic Accident FM 2767 at CR 211 (Car hit tree in roadway), numerous trees down in roadway across the county, multiple trees down on CR 448 between CR 452 and Hwy 110 (Van Hwy), numerous fire and burglar alarms across county (mostly weather related). Citizens are advised to stay home and avoid driving if at all possible.

TYLER — Multiple traffic signals throughout the City are without power. Drivers are urged to exercise extreme caution when traveling and treat a “dark” traffic signal like a four-way stop – each vehicle comes to a complete stop and takes its turn going through the intersection. The City is asking residents to avoid all non-essential driving. If you must drive, slow down. If you see water over the roadways, turn around.

The following intersection are currently without power: Continue reading Multiple traffic signals without power; treat intersections like four-way stops

TYLER — Lindale native Miranda Lambert’s pet focused nonprofit, MuttNation, awarded over $130,000 toward spay and neuter programs throughout Texas, including several in East Texas. According to our news partner KETK, the grants were awarded as a part of their “It Takes Balls” program to prevent pet overpopulation.

According to their website, MuttNation is a nonprofit started by the Lindale native country singer and her mother Bev, the nonprofit has “raised over $9 million since inception with a mission to promote the adoption of shelter pets, advance spay & neuter; and educate the public about the benefits of these actions.” Continue reading Miranda Lambert’s nonprofit awards grants for animal services in East Texas

LAKE PALESTINE — Many in East Texans were out on the water at Lake Palestine for Memorial Day, but one side of the lake is still facing difficult challenges. According to our news partner KETK, they’re continuing the cleanup from the EF1 tornado that touched down on Thursday right before the holiday weekend.

On any typical Memorial Day there would have been hundreds of people on the lake taking off from the Lake Palestine Resort but this year it is quite different.

On the west side of the lake, some visitors had to adjust plans and take off from the Lake Palestine Marina because of the extensive damage seen on the other side. Continue reading Lake Palestine tornado cleanup continues

ZAVALLA — According to our news partner KETK, the Huntington Volunteer Fire Department responded to a church fire in Zavalla suspected to have started from an explosion. The Huntington Police Department announced on Monday that the fire department responded to a call at Solid Rock Baptist Church on FM 2109 in Zavalla. Officials said the church was under construction when calls came in of a fire. Huntington PD said it appeared “to have been an explosion,” causing a door and debris to be thrown up to 100 feet from the building.

The Huntington Volunteer Fire Department was assisted by other volunteer fire departments from Angelina County. The incident is being investigated by the Zavalla Fire Department and the Zavalla Police Department.

LONGVIEW — According to our news partner KETK, the Longview Economic Development Corporation will hold a public meeting on Tuesday to discuss a proposed bio mining process facility on 2120 E. Loop 281. The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall to approve of a “bio mining process facility to extract precious metals and other elements from recycled materials in heavy commercial zoning district.”

According to the city, a vessel fabrication shop previously occupied the space but now the newly proposed facility would “recover precious metals and other elements from recycled materials in a low-carbon biotech process.”

LOG CABIN – The City of Log Cabin in Henderson County has declared a local state of disaster because of recent severe weather according to our news partners at KETK. The city said in a post that they’ve had a loss of power, downed power lines and blocked roads after being hit by weather on Saturday. Currently, the city park is closed and city personnel are responding around town with law enforcement and local fire departments.

TROUP – The Troup Police Department said they’ve arrested a 17-year-old in connection to reports of shots fired in the city on Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, the Troup PD, after the reports of shots fired came in on Saturday, they were able to find several people involved at a residence on Railroad Street with the help of Smith County Sheriff’s Office and other near-by agencies. They took several people in the home into custody and learned about other alleged criminal activities. They also found several firearms in the area. Latravion Dewberry, 17 of New Chapel Hill, was arrested on Sunday for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection to Saturday’s “shooting incident”, according to Troup PD.

Troup PD said that their investigation into the incident is ongoing and more charges are pending.

TYLER – UT Tyler’s College of Arts and Sciences ceased operations of the KVUT 99.7 FM radio station at 5 p.m. Friday. UT Tyler started broadcasting on KVUT back in 2021.

Dean of UT Tyler College of Arts and Sciences Neil Gray said in a release, “This move aligns with our core mission and allows us to reinvest in our academic programming, offering more educational opportunities to students, particularly in our Department of Communication. “I want to thank the KVUT team, donors and listeners for their support. Reinvesting in our students is crucial for fostering the next generation of communicators, journalists and media professionals.”

KVUT’s broadcast ended with ‘Take Five’ by the Dave Brubeck Quartet and the station’s hourly announcement at 5 p.m.

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County issued a disaster declaration on Friday following Thursday night’s storms. According to our news partner KETK, declaring a disaster allows officials to access additional resources and support that will also be made available to residents. The Bullard and Emerald Bary areas were affected by a severe storm at around 8 p.m. on Thursday. There were reports of downed power lines and uprooted trees. County officials said in a release, that road and bridge crews worked overnight Thursday to clear about 20 trees that had fallen on roads. They added that Monday, a recovery center located at Bullard City Hall will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bullard city officials say they will have resources offered to those affected by the weather.

County Judge Neal Franklin said residents on county roads can place storm debris in the right-of-way of their road and it will be picked up by crews. The state of disaster will continue for no more than seven days unless the Smith County Commissioners Court decides to continue or renew it. To report damage, people are urged to complete the Texas Division of Emergency Management damage assessment form. You can find your copy here.

TYLER — Because of severe weather Friday, many school districts in East Texas have rescheduled or delayed their graduations. Our news partner KETK hass a list of graduations that have been rescheduled here.

UPSHUR COUNTY – The Union Hill ISD, located 9 miles northwest of Gilmer, has recently announced that the district will be making $700,000 in cuts in an attempt to recover from financial hardships. According to our news partner KETK, interim superintendent John Booth in a video, that can be found here, said the district faced “close to a $1 million in deficits back in February.” Multiple employees have been cut including multiple fine arts and athletic programs at the high school, junior high and elementary levels. Booth also stated that there were no signs of money stolen or any other signs of financial malpractice.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Road and Bridge crews have been working throughout the night and morning to clear roads with downed trees in the Bullard and Emerald Bay area.

Smith County Engineer Frank Davis said there were about 20 county roads that had trees down after Thursday night’s storms. There have been crews working throughout the night to clear the roads. Many roads still have trees on them but at least one lane has been cleared for drivers to pass through, he said.

For Smith County residents living on county roads – you can place your storm debris in the right-of-way of your county road (not on the road) and Road and Bridge crews will pick it up. It may take several days to be picked up. Smith County Road and Bridge crews will only pick up storm debris left in the right-of-way of county roads. They cannot go on private property or pick up debris on city or state roads.

If you received property damage due to last night’s storm, please report it here.