KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — A nurse at Texas Oncology in Tyler has tested positive for COVID-19. According to our news partner KETK, on Thursday the facility issued a statement regarding the positive result: “Texas Oncology’s priority during the COVID-19 pandemic is to continue to provide needed cancer care to our patients, while protecting the safety our staff and patients. We are following CDC guidelines in every aspect of our response. A nurse at our Tyler cancer center has tested positive for COVID-19.” Continue reading Nurse Tests Positive to Coronavirus at Tyler Facility

MARSHALL — On Wednesday, in conformance with the City of Marshall Shelter in Place order the Marshall Public Library announced the suspension of curbside service until further notice. The library says their goal is to safeguard the health of library patrons and employees. Existing requests will be fulfilled. Library staff will notify the individual when the requested items are available for pickup at the back door. No new requests will be taken moving forward.

TYLER — Tyler found out on Thursday, that they will be one 10 winners to be celebrated by Keep Texas Beautiful as a winner at the 2020 Governor’s Community Achievement Awards. The honor is designated for outstanding community improvement. KTB, along with TxDOT, has honored Texas communities for more than 5 decades. This year, the ten winning communities will share $2 million in landscape funding from TxDOT; Tyler will receive $290,000 for a landscaping project. Keep Tyler Beautiful is scheduled to accept the award at the GCAA Gala in September, during Keep Texas Beautiful’s Annual Conference in Houston.

TYLER — Carter BloodCare is working with doctors and hospitals to facilitate the collection of convalescent plasma. The FDA say’s that it is possible that convalescent plasma that contains antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) might be effective against the infection.”
Carter BloodCare has specialized equipment and the staff with expertise to collect plasma from individuals identified by their doctors as having a suitable concentration of antibodies causing the coronavirus. Continue reading Blood Center Participating in Investigational Use per Physicians Request

PALESTINE — Anderson County has issued a stay-at-home order that went into effect immediately during the outbreak of the coronavirus. In a briefing released Wednesday night, Judge Robert Johnston said the order is a reaction to Gov. Abbott’s executive order, but that the order “DOES NOT REQUIRE travel permits at this time.” On Tuesday, Gov. Abbott decreed an executive order extending social distancing requirements through the month of April. All Texas schools will be closed until at least May 4. Continue reading Stay at Home Order for Anderson County

LONGVIEW — Gregg County is approaching double-digits of confirmed coronavirus cases. On Thursday, Longview Mayor Andy Mack announced that the county had reached its ninth case of COVID-19. According to our news partner KETK, Bowie County also has 9 cases, they both are behind only Smith County in East Texas with 47. Gregg County remains under a stay-at-home order after it was handed down last week.

SMITH COUNTY — A teenager is dead following a shooting in Smith County. Smith County deputies responded to a home on Holiday Hills Road, north of Tyler, around 3:15 Thursday morning. The victim was found in the driveway and was pronounced dead at a Tyler hospital. According to our news partner KETK, family members identified the victim as Zane Collier, 17. Collier was a senior at Chapel Hill High School. No word on any arrests. Smith County Deputies are still working the scene.

MARSHALL — On Wednesday, Harrison County and the City of Marshall released a brief in an attempt to bring clarity to the community’s response of Tuesday’s Shelter in Place Order. Harrison County Judge Chad Sims and City of Marshall Mayor Terri Brown have defined essential vs. nonessential businesses and/or services in Harrison County, including the City of Marshall. Continue reading Marshall & Harrison County Define Essential Services

TYLER — More than a week ago, the Smith County Tax Office closed their doors to the public due to the coronavirus. On Wednesday, Gary Barber told KTBB, “people continue to show up. We are still seeing between 100 to 200 people coming up to the doors to try to renew their auto registration or to pay their property taxes in person.” The Tax Assessor-Collector continued, “We are just trying to keep people and our employees safe, but we are still working, answering the phones and mail. People can pay their property taxes over the phone, online or through mail. People can renew their auto registration online or through the mail.” Continue reading Smith County Tax Office Remains Closed to Public

TYLER –On Wednesday the joint information committee announced Smith County now has a total of 47 confirmed cases of the coronavirus county-wide. Ten new cases were added to the total Wednesday.  Gregg County is now reporting 9 cases of COVID-19. Click the link to go to NET Health site. https://www.mynethealth.org/coronavirus/. Smith County remains under a “Stay at Home” order through April 10th. Continue reading UPDATE: 47 Coronavirus Cases in Smith County

TYLER — On Wednesday, CASA for Kids of East Texas announced they are receiving a $5,000 donation from the Texas Bar Foundation. That money will aid with the cost of purchasing, renovating and furnishing a training center as part of the BUILD CASA for KIDS campaign. Leaders say, the grant will help make in-person visits possible. Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $20 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably-funded bar foundation.

TYLER — On Wednesday, Sam Smith told KTBB The Hand Up Network is asking for help, “multiple East Texas Counties are entering into isolation or quarantine, we are asking for volunteers to help deliver food and essential supplies.” The leader of the Network went on to say, “we need to know your information ahead of time, so we can get you prepared, the challenge is we don’t know from day to day exactly when we are going to get the phone call from what location where we need to respond.” Continue reading Hand Up Network Looking for Volunteers

MARSHALL — On Wednesday, Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt announced a 4th East Texan has died from the coronavirus. According to our news partner KETK, a Harrison County resident has died, no prior medical history was made available other than they were staying at a Longview hospital. In the other 3 death cases, all the casualties had underlying medical conditions, with their ages ranging from 47 to 91.

QUITMAN — On Wednesday Wood County Judge Lucy Hebron issued a stay-at-home order. According to our news partner KETK, the order goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. and was issued a day after the county had their first confirmed case of the coronavirus. Judge Hebron ordered all residents to remain at home except for “certain essential activities and work.” Continue reading Wood County Issues “Stay at Home” Order

PALESTINE — Anderson County has reported their first confirmed case of the coronavirus. According to our news partner KETK, Judge Robert Johnston confirmed the first case of COVID-19 inside county lines. The patient is quarantined at home and the case is travel related.

TYLER –Smith County now has a total of 37 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, after 5 more cases were confirmed by NET Health on Tuesday. Click the link to go to NET Health site. https://www.mynethealth.org/coronavirus/. Smith County remains under a “Stay at Home” order through April 10th. Smith County remains open to the public with limited walk-in services. The County encourages people to conduct their businesses online. Many non-essential services are by appointment only.Visit https://www.smith-county.com/government/departments/corona-virus-information for more information. Continue reading 37 Confirmed Cases of Coronavirus in Smith County

MARSHALL — Harrison County and the city of Marshall are the latest to issue a Mandatory Shelter in Place. In a press release on Tuesday, Harrison County Judge Chad Sims and City of Marshall Mayor Terri Brown confirmed 2 more coronavirus cases, bringing the number to 3. Officials say all 3 cases were travel-related. County and City leadership believe it to be in the best interest to be proactive and take measures to further safeguard our citizens and prevent community spread. In response, Judge Sims and Mayor Brown are both issuing Mandatory Shelter in Place orders effective at 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2020. To see the complete order click the link. https://www.facebook.com/marshalltexas.net/.

EUSTACE — Several districts have extended school closures. According to our news partner KETK, on Tuesday, Eustace ISD Superintendent Dr. Coy Holcombe went even further, “Eustace ISD is closing indefintely.” In a letter to the district Holcombe said, “I do not believe that we are in a position to even think about opening schools up again. With that, Eustace ISD will remain closed until further notice. I believe that this is the only decision possible to ensure that our students, staff, and community remain healthy.” Tyler ISD has extended their campus closure through May 1st, to stay in line with Governor Abbotts extension of his executive order originally given on March 19th.

TYLER — The yearly Smith County-Wide Clean Up got underway on Monday and organizers say this year the normal month long clean-up was extended through May. The County-Wide Clean Up program allows residents to take bulky items to the landfill for free. Available vouchers will be good to use from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6:30 a.m. to noon Saturday –through Saturday, May 30. Continue reading County-Wide Clean-Up Extended Extra Month

KILGORE — The Texas Shakespeare Festival, the TSF Foundation and Kilgore College regret to announce that the 2020 summer festival has been canceled for precautionary reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release from the college. Established in 1986, the TSF began as KC’s contribution to the Texas Sesquicentennial celebration. It continued as a popular annual attraction for the Kilgore area with patrons traveling to the festival from around the globe. This summer would have marked the professional theatre’s 35th season and the final season for Raymond Caldwell, artistic director since the festival’s inception.

LONGVIEW — Longview’s Spring 2020 Downtown Live concert series was scheduled to begin on Friday, April 3. But due to the current restrictions mandated by city, state, and federal officials to lessen the spread of the coronavirus, all April dates for Downtown Live (April 3, April 10, April 17 and April 24) have been canceled. The May 1 concert has also been canceled. Continue reading Changes to Spring 2020 Downtown Live Schedule

HENDERSON — A 29 year old Henderson man accused of murder has turned himself in. According to our news partner KETK, Gary Jordan Jr. surrendered to authorities at the Henderson Police Department early Tuesday morning. Jordan was being sought in connection with the murder of 45-year-old Sabrien Walton. Police have not released a motive for the killing. Jordan has not had his bond set currently awaits arraignment in the Rusk County Jail.

TYLER — On Tuesday, Captain Nicole Parker told KTBB that the Salvation Army has established a phone number where people impacted by the coronavirus can call for emotional and spiritual support, “It’s for people who are lonely, or need someone to talk with.” Parker continued, “locally we have been hearing a lot people wondering where their meals are going to come from, or how they will pay their rent, and fear of the unknown and we are able to answer those calls and be a listening ear on the other side, we share that we have a greater hope in Jesus to be the anchor of our soul and to trust in Him and to lean into that.” Continue reading Salvation Army Offers Emotional Support Phone Line

TYLER — Two staff members at The Heights of Tyler senior living facility have tested positive for COVID-19. According to our news partner KETK, both staff members have been away from the facility for more than one week and are doing well at home. “At this time there is no indication the virus is spreading in our center, and our residents and staff are doing well,” a center spokesperson commented. Continue reading Two Workers at Tyler Senior Living Facility Test Positive for COVID-19

TYLER — On Monday the City of Tyler’s Mayor Martin Heines issued the “Mayor’s Marquee Challenge.” Heines asked all area businesses, in an afternoon press release, if they have marquee signs or billboards to display safe hygiene practices. Participating businesses are encouraged to share photos of their billboards on social media and tagging #spreadfactsnotfear and #marqueechallenge. Continue reading Mayor Heines Issues Challenge

MARSHALL — City of Marshall Police Department Chief Cliff Carruth said on Monday, “The City of Marshall Police Department is honored to announce final installation of Mobile Data Computers consisting of cradle point mobile routers and wireless in all remaining patrol vehicles, as well as extensive officer training has been completed in the Marshall Police Department.” Continue reading Tech Upgrades Installed for Marshall Police

TYLER — The Smith County District Attorney’s office announced Monday via a press brief, that a majority of its investigators will be dedicated to aid local health officials in contact tracing efforts for the coronavirus. “As of today, I am dedicating five of my seven investigators to assist the Emergency Operations Center in combating the COVID-19 outbreak,” Smith County District Attorney Jacob Putman said. “These five investigators will aid in contact tracing to help our public health system determine who may be at risk for infection.” Continue reading Smith County DA’s Investigators to Aid Health Officials