KTBB News, Weather, Talk

ATHENS — Athens ISD board of trustees voted on Feb. 13 to call a $121.5 million bond election to address aging facilities by making improvements and new additions to educational spaces. According to our news partner KETK, Athens ISD Superintendent Dr. Janie Sims, in Spring of 2024 the board of trustees came up with four goals for the district: academic excellence, exemplary employees, safe schools and the resources for students to succeed.

From there, the board invited community members including teachers, parents and high school students to participate in a committee to talk about the four goals for the district and the needs for each campus. The board used the committee’s list of proposed ideas to create the bill that would address the district goals and impact each student from early childhood to early college.
Continue reading Athens ISD calls for $121.5M bond for improvements

TYLER – Tyler Water Utilities is working to restore its ozone generator at the Lake Palestine Water Treatment Plant after a portion of the system froze during Tuesday night’s hard freeze. Staff are actively working to thaw and restart the ozone generator as soon as possible, with restoration efforts expected to continue through until finished. The Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) feed system is running at maximum capacity to mitigate any potential impacts.

With elevated seasonal geosmin levels detected in the water coming into the plant in recent weeks, the temporary outage of the ozone generator may lead to an increase in taste and odor concerns. Geosmin is a naturally occurring compound that can cause an earthy taste and odor in drinking water but does not pose a health risk.

Staff have deployed heaters and are taking all necessary precautions to maintain temperatures above freezing inside the facility to combat the freezing conditions that are forecast over the coming days. There are no other weather-related issues at Tyler Water Utilities facilities. Tyler Water Utilities will continue monitoring conditions and providing updates as needed.

JACKSONVILLE – Our news partners at KETK report that one person has died after a major crash involving at least two vehicles in Cherokee County Wednesday morning. According to Texas DPS Sergeant Chris Williamson, one person is confirmed dead after the accident occurring on Highway 69 in Jacksonville near Love’s Lookout.

JACKSONVILLE – Jeff Austin III, Chairman of the Board of Austin Bank, Texas National Association, announced Austin Bancorp, Inc., the parent company of Austin Bank, has completed the acquisition of The Chasewood Bank, Houston, Texas.

Lowell Little, Executive Vice President and Regional President of Austin Bank stated, “We are very pleased with how smoothly the transition has occurred and are delighted to be entering the North Houston market while strengthening our presence in the Southeast Texas region. Both consumer and commercial customers will now have advanced technology and an increased line of valuable products and services — plus even more convenient access to 40 Austin Bank locations.”
Continue reading Austin Bank completes acquisition of Chasewood Bank

SMITH COUNTY – A man has been sentenced to ten years of probation in connection to a 2022 fatal crash.

Guillermo Zuniga Jr., 25 of Longview, was facing a charge of criminally negligent homicide after he and Carlos Tello Parrà, 33 of Longview, got in a crash on County Road 384 north of Tyler, on Dec. 14, 2022.The 2015 GMC Sierra they were riding in was heading north when the vehicle left the road and hit a tree, authorities told KETK in 2022. Parrà was pronounced dead at the scene.

Zuninga had incapacitating injuries in the crash and had to be treated at a local hospital. He was given deferred adjudication by 241st Judicial District Court Judge Debby Gunter on Thursday meaning he’ll avoid a guilty verdict if he completes ten years of probation.

NACOGDOCHES — With 24 Dairy Queen locations set to close across Texas, people can now purchase a variety of restaurant items and equipment as part of an ongoing auction.

The “complete contents” of various Dairy Queen restaurants will be auctioned on Local Auctions until Thursday afternoon. Buyers will be responsible for disassembling all purchased items.
“Multiple Dairy Queen locations are closing their doors and must liquidate the assets. Bid on a large variety of restaurant assets and related items that need to be removed from the location,” the auction website said.

To see the full list of closing locations posted by our news partner, KETK, click here.

TYLER — Wednesday, some school districts in East Texas closed early due to the cold weather. With hard freeze conditions in play all across the region, some ISD’s may delay their Thursday opening.

Tonight’s forecast is Partly Cloudy, with a low around 17. Wind chill values are low at 6. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Our news partner KETK, has an updated list of delays. You can see it here.
Your complete East Texas weather is here.

GLADEWATER — A 24-year-old pilot is being treated at a local hospital after his plane missed the runway Monday night in the midst of an apparent mechanical failure. According to the Gladewater Mirror, first responders from multiple agencies were called to the scene about 10:15 p.m. Feb. 17. Personnel from Texas Department of Public Safety are spearheading the investigation alongside Gladewater firefighters and police officers.

“The airport is going to be shut down pending the investigation,” Gladewater Fire Chief Mike Simmons said. “Based on what the pilot stated, he took off and lost power on takeoff, circled back to land at the airport and landed in the grass just on the side of the runway.”

It’s unclear what time the crash occurred. Continue reading Pilot injured in plane crash near airport

LONGVIEW – According to our news partner KETK, a Longview home caught fire on Sunday leading to $100,000 in estimated damages. Longview Fire Department said firefighters arrived at an Aspen Street home at around 10:40 a.m. on Sunday after receiving calls regarding a house fire. Heavy smoke and fire was found inside the home once firefighters went inside. The fire was put out in around 20 minutes but not before an estimated $100,000.00 in damage was done to the house.

The fire was put out by a total of three engine trucks, two ladder trucks, one ambulance and a total of 21 first responders. Longview Fire Department believes the fire was started due to a pan of grease that was left unattended on the stove.

No residents of the home or firefighters were reported as injured, but one dog was taken to an animal hospital for treatment. The family is currently being helped by the Texas Red Cross.

KILGORE – After a massive fire destroyed a major recycling center serving many East Texas cities last summer, a new 50,000-square-foot facility is opening their doors in an effort to help fill in some of the gap. According to our news partner KETK, they’re currently putting the final touches on a new 50,000-square-foot recycling facility built to serve both homes and businesses.

They are also currently in the process of creating contracts to work with the city of Tyler and Longview. Both cities, along with many others in East Texas, had to find other ways to dispose of recyclables after the Rivers recycling plant burned down last June. When the new facility starts running at full capacity they’ll process paper, plastic and cardboard. That will hopefully help reduce the amount of waste currently heading to landfills and give these recycled products new life after they leave your curb.

The facility is expected to be up and running in March. Currently they are hiring employees to work at the warehouse.

TYLER – Our news partner, KETK, reports that a good Samaritan assisting with a minor crash was injured after a drunk driver struck them.

According to the Tyler Police Department, two cars were involved in a minor crash near the intersection of Paluxy Drive and East Southeast Loop 323 at around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday. One good Samaritan was near the crash and moved towards the vehicles to help out. That’s when a third vehicle hit the first two vehicles and pushed the bystander away, a Tyler PD official said. The bystander received minor injuries, was treated and has since been released.

The driver of the third vehicle has been arrested and booked into the Smith County Jail for driving while intoxicated. The police department has not released the driver’s identity.

WHITEHOUSE – Our news partner, KETK, reports that the grandfather of Whitehouse native and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes passed away on Wednesday.

Mahomes’ mother, Randi, shared on Instagram that her father, Randy Martin, has died. The announcement comes after Martin entered hospice care just days before the Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship.

“Hard to find the words of holding my fathers hand as he goes to Heaven. I know he’s in a better place. I love you daddy. Well done, good and faithful servant! Matthew 25:23,” Randi Mahomes wrote in her Instagram post on Friday.

Randi Mahomes said her father was “hanging on” to watch his grandson in the Super Bowl while in hospice in an interview with People Magazine. Martin’s death comes just three days after Super Bowl LIX. Martin’s obituary said he was born on Jan. 6, 1947, and died on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 78-years-old. A funeral service will be held for Martin at the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home at 800 Kilgore Drive in Henderson on Monday, Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. before his burial at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Overton.

TYLER – On Thursday, Feb. 20 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Tyler Water Utilities (TWU) will conduct a come-and-go community meeting in District 4 at the Tyler Chamber of Commerce, Genecov Room, 315 N. Broadway Ave. This come-and-go event will feature information stations staffed by Department Directors and the opportunity for individuals to speak directly with Councilmember James Wynne. Water Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) will also be available to assist with individual account questions. Customers are encouraged to attend the event in their district and speak one-on-one with subject matter experts to learn more about TWU, utility billing, improvement projects, to voice questions or concerns, and to provide feedback on these topics. Residents should bring a copy of their water bill for specific billing questions. Continue reading TWU hosts public meeting for District 4 on Thursday

LONGVIEW — Our news partner, KETK, reports that a woman was hospitalized with minor injuries following an overnight shooting, according to the Longview Police Department.

Officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Sidney Street on early Monday at around midnight in regards to a shooting. When they arrived, officers found a woman who had been shot. She was taken to a local hospital by fire personnel for non-life-threatening injuries. Officials said the suspect had fled before police arrived. During an investigation, officials identified the suspect as 59-year-old Richard Lynn Williams. He was later arrested and faces charges of unlawful carrying a weapon with felony convictions, possession of a controlled substance, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

He is being held at the Gregg County Jail on a $200,000 bond.