KTBB News, Weather, Talk

QUITMAN — According to our news partner KETK, a former Alba-Golden ISD employee, who pleaded guilty in August to stealing funds from the district, was sentenced on Thursday to five years’ probation and will be required to repay the money she stole.

A 2024 investigation revealed that Jade Bowden had been stealing from the school district. The investigation followed the district’s report of fraudulent transactions by Bowden. Bowden had access to payroll and began to pay herself amounts exceeding her standard paycheck, according to officials. Bowden had stolen nearly $30,000 in overpayment from herself.

“Bowden betrayed the trust of the school district, the school board, and the students,” Alba Golden, Superintendent, Dr. Shelby Davidson said.

After pleading guilty on Aug. 29 to theft of property, Bowden was sentenced on Thursday to five years probation and was ordered to pay $29,245.42 in restitution to the district along with $1,000 in fines.

SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of mobile home fire that killed one person. The Smith County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call from a person in a mobile home on FM14, in rural Smith County, near Briar Rose Venue. The caller reported a fire at her residence. Fire crews were sent at once to the scene. They discovered heavy fire in front of the mobile home. However, they could not engage in a rescue. After the fire was extinguished, 67-year-old Sherry Denise Jones found inside her home, deceased. The fire remains under investigation by the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office.

TYLER – If you’re traveling on Toll 49, there may be some road projects to be aware of.

NETRMA informed KTBB that construction began on Wednesday, August 13, 2025 in order to work on some major road enhancements. Roads are being reinforced with a new, long lasting, high-skid resistant surface called “SuperPave”. Toll 49 will be closed from I-20 South to CR 1150 from 9pm to 6:30am, Monday, September 8th through Saturday, September 13th.

If drivers would like to stay updated on road closures and conditions, they can visit NETRMA.org, or receive text alerts by texting “toll49” to 444222 for the latest updates.

Closures are expected to last throughout the end of September 2025.

LINDALE, Texas (KETK) — The Smith County Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of a house fire in Lindale after one person died early Thursday morning, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

Smith County Emergency Services District 2 fire crews responded around 4:22 a.m. to a house fire on 19984 FM 14, where they found heavy smoke emerging. Officials confirmed that the one person inside the home at the time of the fire was found dead.

An investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of the fire.

TYLER – The Texas Special Session has passed over 800 new laws. Many of them effecting the food industry- in particular, food truck and cottage food vendors.

KTBB spoke with Net Health’s Ginger Points to elaborate on a few of these laws.

House Bill 2844 the “Food Truck Freedom” Act

This law aims to create an even playing field for the food truck industry. Before this bill, Texas mobile food vendors may have been required to hold multiple permits for both the state and the local area they were operating in. Continue reading New laws passed for the food truck and cottage food industries

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County Road 177 will be closed starting Thursday September 4, as part of the Texas Department of Transportation’s Old Jacksonville Highway widening project. TxDOT has informed Smith County that the road will be closed where it intersects with Farm-to-Market Road 2493, for three to four weeks. Drivers can look for message boards with detour information in the area.

ATHENS — The Athens ISD band director was arrested Wednesday night after the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office found suspected methamphetamine inside his apartment. According to the sheriff’s office and our news partner KETK, around 10:20 p.m., investigators searched the Wood Street apartment of Nicholas Bartlett Durham, where they found him in possession of suspected methamphetamine. Durham was booked into the Henderson County Jail for possession of a controlled substance.

Athens ISD said that Durham had just begun his second year as a band director at Athens High School. The school released a statement regarding his arrest on Thursday morning: Continue reading East Texas band director on leave following drug arrest

LINDALE– According to our news partner KETK, a home off County Road 4122 caught on fire Wednesday morning, leaving the house a total loss and killing two of the family’s pets.

According to the Lindale Fire Department, they received a call regarding the fire at around 9:50 a.m.. After arriving at the home, firefighters initiated an aggressive interior attack and were forced to use 20,000 gallons of water to bring the fire under control, having previously evacuated the house due to the imminent collapse of the structure. Two cats were killed in the fire, but no other injuries were reported. It is currently unknown how the fire started, and the cause is being investigated by the Smith County Fire Marshal.

UPDATE: During Wednesday’s special session house meeting, State Rep. Cody Harris, of Palestine, said he refuses to concur with the Texas Senate and is requested an appointment of conference committee. Harris’ request was granted.

AUSTIN — The Texas Senate passed House Bill 27 on Tuesday, allowing an East Texas groundwater study, but eliminating 16-month pause on drilling permits. On Aug. 25, the Texas House of Representatives passed House Bill 27, written by State Rep. Cody Harris. HB 27 requires the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to conduct a study on the effects of drilling permits on the Neches and Trinity Valley Groundwater District.

HB 27 also pushed for lawmakers to allow a 16-month pause on approving drilling permits while the TWDB conducted its study. The bill made its way to the Texas Senate and received a 26-1 vote in favor of its cause, but with a twist. Continue reading Rep. Harris granted committee discussion over groundwater bill

MOUNT PLEASANT– The City of Mount Pleasant announced the hiring of its new city manager on Wednesday, who has served in several key leadership positions across East Texas.

According to our news partner KETK, Robert Vince is stepping into the role after most recently holding several leadership positions, including city manager for the City of Paris. While in Paris, Vince played a role in advancing operational efficiency and building relationships with community stakeholders, according to the City of Mount Pleasant.

After taking the position, Vince emphasized that his guiding principle will be to “do the right thing at the right time for the right reasons.” Vince also looks forward to collaborating with the Mount Pleasant leadership team to strengthen relationships and move the city forward. Continue reading Mount Pleasant welcomes new city manager

UPDATE: According to the Lufkin Police Department, 20-year-old Brayden Wood was found safe around 9 p.m. on Wednesday.

LUFKIN – The Lufkin Police Department is searching for a 20-year-old man who was last seen in July. According to our news partner KETK, Brayden Alexander Wood, 20, of Lufkin, was last in contact with his mother on July 28 and she has not seen or heard from him since.

Anyone with information on Wood’s whereabouts is asked to contact Lufkin PD at 936-633-0356 or 911 if it’s an emergency.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – According to a press release from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s office, a former Cherokee County correctional officer has been arrested.

Kayley Garcia, 34 of Alto, had previously worked in the Cherokee County Jail from June 2025 until August 2025. During this time, it was discovered that she was bringing items of contraband to inmates while on duty. The investigation found that Garcia was providing tobacco products to inmates, as well as providing her personal cell phone to an inmate for his personal use. Continue reading Correctional officer arrested for giving contraband to inmates

PALESTINE – The Texas Senate late Tuesday stripped a key provision from a bill meant to stop large-scale exports of water from East Texas.

Senators approved the legislation that also requires the state to study how much water is under East Texas. However, the original bill — House Bill 27 by Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine — sought to prevent approval of new export permits in the meantime. The bill that left the Senate Tuesday night allows water exports to continue while the study is ongoing. Harris said that he would not accept those changes. If Harris makes good and rejects the changes to the bill, the House can call for negotiations. However, time is running out on the special session, which must adjourn by Sept. 13. And lawmakers in both chambers have signaled a desired end before then. Continue reading Texas lawmakers dispute ending water exports from East Texas

MARSHALL – Our news partner KETK reports that the Marshall Police Department is asking people to avoid the intersection at MLK Boulevard and Ward Street on Wednesday afternoon while they work on an 18-wheeler accident.

According to the police department, an 18-wheeler overturned at the intersection, causing traffic delays in the area. Emergency crews are currently on the scene, working to clear the accident to ensure everyone is safe.

Officials encourage people to avoid the area, and seek alternate routes to prevent any further congestion.