KTBB News, Weather, Talk

KILGORE — The East Texas Police Academy at Kilgore College, announced Friday, two new Day Basic Peace Officer courses and one new Night Basic Peace Officer course. The courses are 775-hour training courses leading to licensing as a peace officer in Texas. The Day Basic Peace Officer courses begin, Nov. 2, at ETPA in Kilgore, and Nov. 9, at the Texarkana Police Department’s Special Operations and Training Center. The courses meet Monday through Friday, and last approximately 19 weeks. The Night Basic Peace Officer courses will begin Nov. 2, at the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office in Sulphur Springs. Continue reading Basic peace officer classes beginning in November

TYLER — Agriculture, Forestry, and commercial Fisherman workers are not only subject to physical injury, but also the risk of behavioral and mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, substance use, and death by suicide. For this reason, the Southwest Center for Agriculture Health Injury Protection announced Friday, the newly created social media promotion, that targets AFF. Messages will be aimed at various stressors in AFF work and break down the stigma of mental health. The promotion runs August 2020 to Spring of 2021. If your organization or business would like to participate, visit http://www.swagcenter.org.

WINNSBORO — A 55-year-old correctional officer has died after testing positive for COVID-19. According to our news partner KETK, James Weston Jr., tested positive for the coronavirus on August 20th. Weston had been self-quarantining before his body was found six days later. Correctional Officer Weston served 13 years with the TDCJ and worked at the Johnston Unit in Winnsboro. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has had twenty-one employees that have died in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic.

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating a Thursday night shooting. According to officials, it happened around 9:20 at a basketball court on W. 29th St and Carter Blvd in north Tyler. The victim, who had been shot multiple times, was transported by private vehicle but flagged down a Tyler officer at the intersection of N. Palace Ave and W. Ferguson St. The officer transported the victim to UT Health – Beckham. The victim’s status is unknown at this time. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000.

TYLER — The Texas Department of Emergency Management and the Texas Department of State Health Services are providing free walk-up COVID-19 testing opportunities for anyone with or without COVID-19 symptoms. Ongoing testing began at the Tyler Senior Center, on Garden Valley Rd. on Wednesday and will run through the end of September. Testing happens Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Advance registration is not required and the tests are free to the public. Face masks are required to enter the facility. Persons being tested must have access to a cell phone as results will be returned by text message through TDEM. To find a free testing location in the East Texas area, visit https://www.nethealthcovid19.org/testing.

LONGVIEW — The East Texas Food Bank announced Wednesday night the Longview produce distribution originally planned for Friday, Aug. 28, has been rescheduled to Sept. 11 from 8 to 10 a.m. For anyone needing immediate food assistance, the East Texas Food Bank has 10 feeding partners in Gregg County. To find the full list with operating hours, address and contact information, click the link. https://www.easttexasfoodbank.org/coronavirus-covid-19-update/.

TYLER — The cardiology team at UT Health Tyler has successfully completed its first implantation of the Watchmanâ„¢ left atrial appendage closure device. The minimally-invasive procedure helps reduce the risk of stroke in patients who suffer from non-valvular atrial fibrillation, commonly known as Afib. Afib is a common type of cardiac arrhythmia that affects more than 5 million Americans. Of the 795,000 Americans who experience a stroke annually, 20% occur in patients with Afib. Often, Afib-related strokes are more fatal and disabling. For more information about the stroke care and procedures offered, click the link. https://uthealtheasttexas.com/services.

TYLER — While, heavy wind and rain did not impact the Tyler area as a result of Hurricane Laura, Smith County and the City of Tyler are reminding residents during and after a storm, to only contact 9-1-1 for in-progress emergencies requiring police, fire or medical assistance. Leaders say that It is critical to keep emergency call centers from being overloaded with non-emergency calls during a storm. Non-emergency calls can delay residents with real life-threatening emergencies to get proper needed responses.

KILGORE — Kilgore College will be closed Thursday, Aug. 27, with the threat of Hurricane Laura looming in the Northeast Texas area. Officials said night classes would still be held Wednesday, but no in-person, remote, or online classes will be held Thursday. KC plans to resume normal operations Friday depending on the effects of the storm. Check the KC website at http://www.kilgore.edu for the most up-to-date information.

TYLER — On Wednesday, the City of Tyler and Smith County issued disaster declarations in preparation for Hurricane Laura and announced plans to activate a partial Emergency Operation Center early Thursday to handle the local emergency response. This area will not be an evacuation route for people fleeing the path of the hurricane because there is potential for severe weather here. The Texas Division of Emergency Management has asked the City of Tyler and Smith County to not open any shelters here. This area will not be an evacuation route for people fleeing the path of the hurricane because there is potential for severe weather here. Continue reading Smith County & City of Tyler issue disaster declarations in preparation for Laura

The Gregg County Historical Museum will be closed on Thursday. In a press release, the group is admonishing patrons to stay safe and dry during the first alert weather day. Hurricane Laura is expected to impact East Texas with high winds and heavy rain. Maximum wind gusts of 80 mph or more are possible and could be felt as far North as Longview. Rain will likely increase as well. Rainfall totals of 4″-6″ will be possible, if not more in East Texas.

LONGVIEW — The Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed Wednesday, that a bat found in Northwest Longview has tested positive for rabies. There was no contact with any people at the location and only the dog is currently being vaccinated. The dog will be given a booster shot and observed for the next 45 days as required under Texas law. Animal Services is reminding citizens that they should always refrain from touching or handling any wild animals, especially those that appear sick or injured.

TYLER — The North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority announced Wednesday, they started waving fees at noon on Toll 49 to help facilitate Texas coast evacuees ahead of Hurricane Laura. Interim CEO Everett Owen told KTBB there has been a definite increase in traffic and he expects that to continue. “We saw a 10 to 15% increase in the number of cars on the road, and I expect that to be significantly higher particularly given the magnitude of the storm and how it increased.” The decision to waive toll fees came by request from Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran. Continue reading NETRMA waives Toll 49 fees due to Hurricane

MARSHALL — Laura is predicted to be a hurricane all the way up towards Interstate 20 in East Texas. Reggie Cooper, the Marshall Fire Chief, who also heads up the Emergency Management Division says residents should be ready. “Stay prepared get the things you need, get things in your house that you need. Your food, and things so you don’t have to be out during bad weather.” He says they are also preparing for a large number of people to shelter in Marshall. He says it may be a rainy shelter, but it will be much better than in the Beaumont area.

LONGVIEW — High winds and heavy rains are expected from Hurricane Laura on Thursday. With that thought in mind, the City of Longview Sanitation Division has announced they will delay regular trash, recycling and bulky item collection until Friday. Residents are asked not to place carts curbside until Friday. The temporary change in collection affects Thursday customers only. However, all customers are encouraged to secure trash and recycling carts in advance of the possible storm.

TYLER — Testing for COVID-19 is being offered at several locations across East Texas. NET Health announced Wednesday free coronavirus testing opportunities being made available to residents from any city in East Texas who can receive a free test at either of these locations. Appointments may be required. Symptoms for COVID-19 include fever and/or chills, cough, fatigue, sore throat, headaches, body aches/muscle or joint pain, nasal congestion, shortness of breath, or loss of taste and/or smell. Continue reading NET Health announces free covid testing

EAST TEXAS — TxDOT crews are prepared to respond as needed as severe weather is forecast for East and Northeast Texas. According to forecasts, conditions could include heavy rainfall and gusty winds resulting in downed trees and debris, flooding, and other roadway issues. Maintenance crews in the Tyler District’s 8-counties have equipment readied and will respond as necessary should roadways be impacted. Continue reading TxDOT crews ready for severe weather response

EAST TEXAS — Governor Abbott has expanded the state disaster declaration adding 36 more counties ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Laura. The governor says Laura could increase to a category 4 hurricane. Governor Abbott, from the alternate state operations center in Austin saying they expect Hurricane Laura to be similar to Hurricanes Ike and Rita fast moving with heavy winds. The predicted ten foot high water surges have led to mandatory evacuations in the Beaumont, Port Arthur Texas city areas. Abbott says they’ve called for the full support of all relevant state agencies. Continue reading Governor Abbott adds 36 counties to disaster declaration

TYLER — The League of Women Voters of Tyler/Smith County will commemorate Nancy Crawford, Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Tyler, with an annual Making Democracy Award. The local leader will be honored virtually on Friday at 6 p.m. during the League of Women Voters Annual Women’s Equality Day event, on their Facebook live platform. According to Tuesday’s press release, the award is an attempt to celebrate a community member that has been a leader and actively engaged in hands-on work to keep Smith County a strong and vibrant place to live. Continue reading Crawford to be honored by LWV Smith County

TYLER –There may have been a few set backs along the way, but male juvenile offenders, in the Juvenile Services Vocational Program, have the building of a ‘tiny house.’ Ross Worley, Director of Juvenile Services for Smith County told KTBB on Tuesday, “It kind of took us a little time because we have kids coming and kids going, but, one our big parts of our classes is construction…It was an opportunity to teach the kids all of the mechanics and the process of building a home. So, you learn how to put windows in, doors in, how to do floors, how to do walls, how to do sheet rock and all of those things.” Continue reading HOPE Academy finishes ‘Tiny House’ project

MARSHALL– Citizens in at least four East Texas towns are angry about Lamar Advertising Billboards, purchased by the Lilith fund, a pro-choice advocacy group. In Marshall, the sign was torn down last week, but that didn’t stop a group of protesters from gathering under the vandalized sign to protest abortion. “The babies lives matter, they have no voice for themselves, so we have to speak for them.” About 50 people participated in the protest.

LINDALE — Lindale ISD announced Tuesday afternoon they will be closing Velma Penny Elementary School until September 8 due to an outbreak of COVID-19. According to our news partner KETK, all students will be given i-Pads and transition to at-home learning for the duration of the outbreak. The school made the decision “out of an abundance of caution and care for students and staff.” Parents with a child directly exposed, will receive further notification. It is not known how many students or staff have tested positive for the virus. Test positive students must quarantine at home for a minimum of 10 days and can only then return, with written clearance from a physician. All other LISD campuses are open and extracurricular activities will continue as planned.