KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – The City of Tyler Friday, released a summary of clean-up and recovery operations ongoing due to the severe weather that pummeled East Texas earlier this week. Officials are asking residents to report personal property damages to the Texas Division of Emergency Management through the iSTAT Damage Surveys. iSTAT reports could release funding from FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management System directly to those affected. To find the survey, click here. Tyler/Smith County’s Heat Response Plan is now available with this link. Authorities also provided information for those needing phone charging, garbage service operations, solid waste disposal and city park conditions.
Continue reading Recovery and storm clean-up continuing across Tyler

CHEROKEE COUNTY – A former ER physician has been sentenced to 33 years in state prison for 58 counts of continuous sexual assault of a child. Karl Kauffman was arrested in March 2022 after two warrants for continuous sexual abuse of a child were issued following a search of his home. Kauffman served as an emergency room physician at several Cherokee County hospitals before his medical license was suspended by the Texas Medical Board. In 2023, the Drug Enforcement Agency revoked Kauffman’s DEA Certificate of Registration.

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County has only a handful of roads closed from storm damages, as flooded roads have receded as of Friday morning. The Smith County Road and Bridge Department has been working around the clock for the past two weeks, clearing more than a hundred county roads that had trees down from the recent severe weather. CR 452 had been closed this week because of flooding but is now open to drivers. County Roads 429, 1303 and 2133 still have trees down with powerlines in them so they will remain closed until Oncor can safely remove the power lines. Continue reading Smith County roads update

LONGVIEW – Our news partners at KETK report the City of Longview has tabled a vote on a nearly $20 million investment for a proposed biomining facility. If passed, the facility would be built at 2120 E. Loop 281 and used to recover precious metals from broken computers and outdated tech devices. Residents who oppose the proposed location of the facility held a rally on Thursday ahead of next weeks vote by city council. More than 50 people showed up to the rally held just feet away from the property in question, to take a stand against the proposed location. Some residents said they don’t like the idea that chemicals involved would be used so closely to their neighborhoods. Continue reading Rally in Longview against proposed biomining

MINEOLA – The City of Mineola announced that they are beginning budget planning for the upcoming year and want the community’s input, according to our news partners at KETK. The mayor of Mineola, city council and city staff will be holding a meeting on June 20 at 5:30 p.m. to hear from Mineola residents regarding what they would like to see included in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The City of Mineola also has a budget input survey on their website for residents to fill out.

VAN – The SPCA of Texas is offering a cash reward for information that will lead to the arrest of the person or people who abandoned 10 newborn puppies at a Van car wash. According to our news colleagues at KETK, the Van Police Department responded to a call on Wednesday at around 7 p.m. to a car wash on Cedar Street and found the puppies in a wire crate without food or water access. Van PD cared for the puppies overnight and then contacted the SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigations (ACI) Unit the next day. The puppies are currently at the Russell E. Dealey Animal Rescue Center receiving veterinary care, SPCA of Texas said. Continue reading SPCA offers $5,000 reward after puppies dumped

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue released the cause of a Lindale house fire that resulted in the deaths of a mother and daughter. On Sunday, March 18, 2024, the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office was called in by the Lindale Fire Department to investigate a structure fire in Lindale, involving the death of two individuals. They were later identified as mother, Ruby Martinez, 83, and daughter, Gloria Clark, 67.

“After thoroughly investigating the fire scene, autopsy and toxicology results, and lab results of submitted forensic evidence, it was determined that Ms. Clark died from a natural event, causing an accidental fire, which resulted in the death of Ms. Martinez,” Hogue said. “The cause of the fire was accidental in nature. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.”

TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, in January, Krystle Medeiros, 38 of Tyler, was driving on the wrong side of the roadway causing a head-on crash. Both Medeiros and her 9-year-old daughter were taken to the hospital where her daughter later died from her injuries. A subpoena for Medeiros’ medical records showed her blood alcohol content (BAC) was 0.35. The legal limit in Texas is 0.08. Medeiros was originally charged with intoxication manslaughter but a grand jury indicted her with murder on March 28. She’s being held at the Smith County Jail on a bond totaling $250,000.

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County Judge Neal Franklin issued an Amended Disaster Declaration on Thursday, June 6, to encompass damages from all severe weather during the last two weeks throughout all of Smith County. Beginning May 23, 2024, the entire county has been hit hard by several storms, including severe thunderstorms, straight-line winds, excessive rainfall and/or tornadic activity. These storms resulted in widespread and severe damages, injuries and/or loss of life or property. Declaring a disaster allows officials and emergency management personnel to access additional resources to support operational needs, as well as allowing for additional resources to be made available to citizens. Officials asking anyone who suffered property damages from any of these storms to report them here.

SMITH COUNTY — The Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) released expected times for cities to have their power restored after severe weather caused thousands of East Texans to lose electricity.SWEPCO said Wednesday morning’s storms that caused more flooding and ground to be oversaturated that hampered their restorative efforts. Continue reading SWEPCO power restoration times

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler will offer a new Bachelor of Science in construction engineering for students at the Houston Engineering Center beginning this fall. Housed within the College of Engineering, the four-year program will be available in person at the HEC, located on the Houston Community College Alief-Hayes campus at 2811 Hayes Road in Houston. Continue reading UT Tyler Adds New Construction Engineering Degree

VAN ZANDT – Recent storms across East Texas flooded roads making some impassable, but now as water recedes there could be new problems for drivers. Most roads have dried up but left behind a bumpy ride. Heavy down pours across Van Zandt County caused the creek on FM 875 to rise to high level, endangering drivers. “A vehicle decided to go around the TxDOT barricades and floated into the dry creek area, there were luckily no injuries,” Caden Mosher, with the Grand Saline Fire Department, said. When there is standing water with no where to go, it seeps into the cracks, creating pot holes. Continue reading First the floods, now the potholes

LUFKIN – One person is dead after authorities in Lufkin said he attempted to steal a truck shortly after being released from jail according to our news partners at KETK. According to police, 25-year-old Marco Levya told officers that around 9 p.m. on Wednesday night he stopped at his business in the 1800 block of East Lufkin Avenue when “an unknown Black male” entered his running truck with his wife and baby inside.

Officials said that “despite Leyva’s warnings and offers of an alternative vehicle, a physical altercation ensued, resulting in the suspect being shot.” Continue reading Attempted truck theft leaves one dead

TYLER — During the first three days of early voting in the Tyler City Council District 2 Runoff Election, only 325 ballots were cast. If you live in the City of Tyler District 2 area, you can early vote 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Friday, June 6-7, or 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, June 10-11. Early voting polling locations include The Hub, 304 E. Ferguson St.; the Heritage Building, 1900 Bellwood St.; and Lanes Chapel Methodist Church, Family Center, 8720 Old Jacksonville Highway, all in Tyler.

To find out if you live in District 2, or where the nearest polling place is, visit Smith County’s interactive map here.

Election Day is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 15. Polling places on Election Day will be The Hub, the Heritage Building, St. Louis Baptist Church, 4000 Frankston Highway; and Three Lakes Middle School, 2445 Three Lakes Parkway.

For more information, click here.

MARSHALL — A Marshall man has been listed on the newly released Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Criminal Illegal Immigrants List. Oscar Oswaldo Madrid-Cartagena, 36 of Marshall, is wanted for sexual assault. He is described as being 5 foot 8 inches, 150 pounds and should be considered armed and dangerous. According to our news partner KETK, Madrid-Cartagena is a criminal illegal immigrant from Honduras with ties to North and Northeast Texas, including the cities of Dallas and Marshall. Officials said he was arrested in 2013 for alien inadmissibility and subsequently was removed from the U.S.

On Oct. 2023, Madrid-Cartagena was reportedly arrested by the Richardson Police Department and bonded out of jail. On March 5 a warrant was issued for his arrest. Continue reading East Texas man on state’s new 10 Most Wanted

LAKE PALESTINE – The first thing you may notice when visiting Lake Palestine is the awful smell from the dead decaying carp. The fish skeletons can even be found on the grass near the shoreline, but Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) assures residents there is nothing to concerned about. “Nasty and smelly,” BJ Schalck, a local fisherman, said. People who live off the lake have seen many dead carp floating in the water in recent weeks, and they are wondering what is going on. Continue reading TPWD explains the dead carp at Lake Palestine

TYLER- The Emergency Operation Center is fully activated, and nine City crews and nine Forestry Service crews are working to assess damage, clear roadways, and repair traffic signals affected by the recent severe thunderstorms that moved through the area. The city expects two more crews from the Forestry Service on Thursday. Residents should be cautious and aware of downed trees and power lines.

City officials are asking residents to report personal property damages to the Texas Division of Emergency Management through the iSTAT Damage Surveys. iSTAT reports could release funding from the Federal Emergency Management System (FEMA) directly to residents. The find the survey, click here.
Continue reading City of Tyler severe weather follow-up

SMITH COUNTY- The Smith County Emergency Operations Center has opened two Point of Distribution Centers Wednesday. Smith County residents who are suffering from power outages and property damage can go to Chapel Hill High School and the second distribution center is in Lindale, at the First Baptist Church. Both centers are open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Currently, they are distributing water, ice and tarps at both locations. The Texas A&M Forest Service and the Texas Military Department are running the sites.

The Forest Service also sent saw crews from its Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System to help the City of Tyler and Smith County clear trees from roadways.

The saw crews arrived early Tuesday morning and have been helping the Smith County Road and Bridge Department crews, and Smith County Emergency Services Districts 1 and 2 in clearing roads for emergency vehicles and residents. Both Smith County and the City of Tyler requested, and received, saw crews. These crews were instrumental Tuesday in expediting emergency response and are continuing to work in Smith County on Wednesday, he said.

Monday night’s storms caused damages throughout Smith County, causing more than 300 trees to fall on at least 100 county roads. That does not include roads belonging to cities in Smith County, or highways or farm-to-market roads owned by the Texas Department of Transportation.

On Wednesday, June 5, Smith County Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace and Constables Offices in Lindale reopened to the public after their power was restored. Precinct 4 JP/Constables Office in Winona remains closed because of no power but the constable and deputy constables are still out working. Precinct 3 JP/ Constables Office in Troup do not have internet or phone service. They are in the office but cannot take payments at this time.

Updates will be made as they become available

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County emergency personnel responded to 27 weather-related calls over night after the latest storms blew in in to the area during the early morning hours of June 5. About 29,076 people are without power this morning in Smith County and several roads are closed due to high water, Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue reported from the Smith County Emergency Operations Center. Flooded roads include County Roads 448, 336 at Wiggins Creek, 381, 471 at Prairie Creek and 498, as well as Farm-to-Market Road 1253 at CR 455. To see Smith County’s interactive map of current road closures, click here.

A shelter remains open in Bullard for people who have suffered property damage and/or power outages. Bullard Intermediate School, located at 218 School House Road, is open for those who need a place to go.

For anyone in the community seeking shelter or needing assistance please refer them to call 1-800-REDCROSS and choose Option 4 for assistance. Continue reading Smith County storm update

TYLER — Multiple traffic signals throughout Tyler are without power. According to a City of Tyler news release, some intersections are coming online and then going offline due to the unstable power grid. 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.

SMITH COUNTY — Flint man was arrested on May 21 after documents said he threatened to kill multiple county officials on his podcast. According to our news partner KETK, Gary Treadwell, 64 of Flint, was arrested and booked into the Smith County Jail on May 21 and charged with “obstruction or retaliation” with a bond set at a combined $750,000.

According to an arrest affidavit, Treadwell made threatening statements on his podcast that aired on May 19. The court document reports that Treadwell threatened to kill Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith, Smith County District Attorney Jacob Putman and Henderson District Attorney Jenny Palmer. Continue reading Flint man arrested for allegedly threatening to kill county officials

TYLER – Volunteers with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Disaster Relief have set up a mobile kitchen in response to Monday’s severe storm activity in East Texas.

“With so many residents still without power we want to help by providing meals for the community and first responders,” said SBTC DR Director Scottie Stice. “We also have assessors in the community to see how else we can help.”

The mobile kitchen has set up at Sylvania Church, 2801 S SE Loop 323 in Tyler.

SMITH COUNTY — With East Texans feeling the effects of the recent severe weather, some shelters have opened up to those who have lost power. Our news partner KETK has a list available, and you can find it here.

SMITH COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK report that one person is dead after a crash Tuesday morning in Smith County involving a motorcycle and 18-wheeler.The crash happened on Highway 155 South near Toll 49, south of Tyler, and traffic was significantly impacted due to the crash.

WHITEHOUSE – City of Whitehouse Mayor James Wansley announced that a disaster declaration has been issued after June 3rd storms ravaged the area. According to a release, the declaration allows “[…] staff to access additional resources as needed to address the challenges associated with the storms and allows staff to take necessary measures to protect public safety while coordinating emergency response efforts.” The city urges citizens to follow their social media platforms for any updates and to contact electric service providers to report any power outages. The city also announced that residents can also utilize the Greenwood Farms Landfill for free once a month by showing a copy of their most recent City of Whitehouse water bill to dispose of limbs and other brush.

TYLER – The City of Tyler urges all residents to report personal property damages to the Texas Division of Emergency Management through the iSTAT Damage Surveys (texas.gov). Listen to the iSTAT How-To Video Guide on the page for instructions on correctly reporting damages. 
 
The Emergency Operation Center is fully activated, and nine City crews and two Forestry Service crews are working to assess damage, clear roadways, and repair traffic signals affected by the recent severe thunderstorms that moved through the area. Residents are advised to be cautious and aware of downed trees and power lines. 
 
About 1,000 911 calls have been recorded since 7:30 p.m. on June 3. No storm-related fatalities have been reported, and emergency services are running at full strength. 
  Continue reading Smith County storm damage report