KTBB News, Weather, Talk

WOODLAWN – Our colleagues at KETK report that Woodlawn Volunteer Fire Department ESD#6 members Justin Blassingame and Mitchell Guffey are driving a trailer full of boxed food to help those in need in the Texas Panhandle. As Texas’s largest wildfire ever continues to burn, help is pouring in from across the state including here in East Texas. The Harrison County Fire Marshal’s Office thanked Blassingame, Guffey and several others for their work to get these supplies to where they’re needed. Continue reading Firefighters take food to Panhandle

MARSHALL – The City of Marshall said that a fire that happened at a home in the 800 block of Alvin Street on Friday has displaced a family of five. According to our colleagues at KETK, a large plume of black smoke was seen from the fire station and when firefighters arrived they saw fire coming out of the windows of the home. No injuries were reported and all five family members had safely left the home. However, the home was severely damaged by the fire and the Red Cross has been notified to help the displaced family.

TEXARKANA – The Texarkana Police Department said that they arrested a man on Saturday after he was reportedly seen at a local McDonald’s with a machete and a whip according to our news partners at KETK.

Around 10 a.m. on Saturday, Texarkana PD said they received a call about a suspicious person with a machete and a whip at a McDonald’s near New Boston Road.
Continue reading Texarkana officer hit in head with machete

ATHENS – Cattle auction prices have risen to record numbers in part due to East Texas rancher’s reducing their herd sizes in response to the 2022 drought.

“We actually had record-high calf prices last week in parts of Texas,” David Anderson, extension economist with Texas A&M AgriLife, said.

Due to the extreme drought in 2022, East Texas ranchers resorted to selling their cattle resulting in increased cattle sales for the Athens Commission Company.
Continue reading Cattle prices boom due to drought

PARIS – Our news partners at KETK report that a recent development in a murder case from 1996 has led to a Hopkins County Jail inmate being under investigation. According to the Paris Police Department, a DNA analysis reportedly reveals that it was likely that David Davy, a current inmate of Hopkins County Jail on unrelated felony charges, was present during an aggravated assault that resulted in a death in 1996. Continue reading Hopkins County inmate investigated in cold case

GREGG COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK report that during this year’s early voting primary, Gregg County voters surpassed the early voting totals reached in the 2022 and 2020 primaries. According to data provided by Jennifer Briggs, the Gregg County Elections Administrator, 7,068 people voted early in the 2024 primaries, compared to 6,762 early votes in 2022 and 6,709 in the 2020 primaries. Continue reading Gregg County early voting outperforms past primaries

TYLER – The Tyler Police Department said they are searching for a woman suspected of pulling a gun at a man at Discount Tire on Friday according to our news partners at KETK. According to Tyler Police Department PIO Andy Erbaugh, at around 1 p.m. a woman was getting her vehicle serviced at the Discount Tire on Loop 323 when a man attempted to repossess her vehicle. The woman reportedly pulled out a gun on the man who then stopped trying to hook up the vehicle. The woman allegedly drove off and police are now working on an arrest warrant. Erbaugh said they know the identity of the woman but will not release the information as the investigation continues.

HENDERSON COUNTY – Five people accused in the 2022 kidnapping and torture of a woman found in Athens were each sentenced to 10 years deferred adjudication after either pleading guilty or nolo contendere to engaging in organized criminal activity, according to our news partners at KETK. Six people have been charged in the case, with the sixth person set to start pre-trial on March 19. All of them were initially arrested for aggravated kidnapping and later indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity. They were accused of holding a woman they had met online against her will in a home for a week as she was “severely tortured.” Continue reading Sentencing in Athens kidnapping, torturing case

LONGVIEW – It was a guilty verdict for a Longview man in the 2020 shooting death of Valerie Hackett. According to our news partner KETK, 41-year-old Brandon Harris shot and killed the 24-year-old Hackett Jan. 30, 2020 at the Ware Meadow Apartments in Longview. Harris was indicted for capital murder June 28, 2023. His trial began on Monday and concluded with the guilty verdict by a jury.

LONGVIEW – A man is in custody for attack by dog causing death after a man was found dead lying near a Longview roadway. According to our news partner KETK and the Longview PD an arrest warrant was issued for Martin Rodriguez. Rodriguez, 56 of Longview was arrested, based on an autopsy report from Forensic Medical Management Services and was booked into the Gregg County Jail on Feb. 1 on multiple animal at large charges where he is being held without bond on the attack by dog causing death warrant. On Feb. 1, Longview PD reported that animal control had confiscated multiple dogs from a home in the area after a 46-year-old man was found lying near a bicycle “with wounds consistent with that of a dog bite.”

TYLER — Tyler Animal Services will waive adoption fees for dogs and cats with the donation of at least six bags of dog or cat food 15 lbs or less during the month of March. It’s an effort to help restock the Community Pet Food Bank. The Pet Food Bank was established in 2015 so families in need or those who could not afford to feed their pets would have a safety net to keep them in their homes. Many times, people who want to surrender a pet to the Tyler Animal Control and Shelter only need time to get over a short-term financial hurdle. The Pet Food Bank provides assistance through donated food and cat litter, and so far, 32,000 pounds of food and litter have been distributed over the years. All donated items go back into the community and are not used by the animals kept at the shelter. The standard dog adoption fee is $120 and $80 for cats. All animals adopted from Tyler Animal Services are spayed/neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. If you would like to adopt, see all pets available for adoption or submit an application, click here. The Tyler Animal Shelter is located at 4218 Chandler Hwy. For more information, call (903) 535-0045.

LUFKIN – The Lufkin Police Department said they are searching the area near Green Meadows Apartments for juveniles who were allegedly involved in a shooting that injured a woman on Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, the authorities responded to shots fired at the apartment complex around 2:45 p.m. where a woman was bleeding from her leg after being hit by bullet. Witnesses told police four Black juveniles fled the scene and there was a dispute between the people involved, Lufkin PD said. The police department said two of the four suspects were detained and the investigation is ongoing.

LONGVIEW — According to our news partner KETK, the Longview Police Department said they are seeking the public’s help in locating a man suspected of robbing a bank at gunpoint on Thursday afternoon. Longview PD responded to a call at 2001 Judson Road for a bank robbery. Police said the suspect entered the bank, waved a firearm and demanded money. The suspect then reportedly fled the scene in a stolen vehicle. The police department said the vehicle was found a short time later. Now, officers are searching for the suspect, described as a white man wearing a dark colored hooded jacket, dark colored jeans and black shoes. There were reportedly no injuries and the suspect left with an undisclosed amount of money.

If anyone recognizes the suspect or know any information, they are asked to contact Longview PD at 903-237-1110, Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP (7867) or provide information online at greggcountycrimestoppers.org.

MARSHALL – A Marshall man has been given a 25 year prison sentence for first-degree murder. According to our news partner KETK, 23-year-old Jakeous Jamal Johnson received that sentence in the death of 50-year-old Cedric Eugene King. King was shot to death early morning Thursday June 17, 2021. Johnson was arrested at the scene and booked for first-degree murder. Johnson pleaded guilty to that charge Wednesday and sentenced the same day.

TYLER – The Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary in Tyler has come to a settlement in an Endangered Species Act lawsuit brought against them by the Animal Legal Defense Fund in March of 2022. The settlement forces Tiger Creek, to make “significant changes to the facility and level of care being provided to the animals” in order for them to come in full compliance with the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s (AZA) standards with in two years. According to the ALDF, an agreed upon neutral third party auditor will make visits to the sanctuary in the lead up to their two year deadline to become AZA compliant. Tiger Creek, who continues to claim the allegations against them are baseless, has also reportedly agreed to become AZA accredited within five years of the settlement’s execution. If Tiger Creek fails to make the necessary changes required to become AZA compliant, all of their endangered and threatened animals will be transferred to the facilities of ALDF’s choosing, per their agreement. Continue reading Tiger Creek agrees to comply with standards

TYLER – Caldwell Zoo announced on Wednesday that they had been made aware of a scam involving fraudulent tickets. According to our news partner, zoo officials said in release the best way to be sure your tickets are real is to get them from Caldwell Zoo. You can do this in person at the zoo or online here.

KILGORE – The Kilgore Police Department asked for the your help and found a woman with dementia, who her family thought was missing . According to our news partner KETK, 77-year-old Dortha Jackson Wilson was seen turning onto I-20 near Kilgore near noon. Officers were notified they say, “She is fine, and her family has been contacted.”

TYLER – A report from the City of Tyler on Thursday announced that Bergfeld Park has been recognized by the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association as a Great Public Space and joins the Rose Garden as the second Tyler location to earn the honor. The land for the park was initially purchased by the city in 1913 and has seen many additions and renovations since.

EAST TEXAS — Early voting for the March primary ends Friday. Our news partner KETK took a look at voter turnout in East Texas counties ahead of election day. Early voting started last week and Gregg County Elections Administrator shared that the turnout is lower than they’d like to see. “So far during early voting we had 4,372 check-ins, and in 2022 for the governor primary we had 6,762 for the entire early voting period,” Jennifer Briggs, Gregg County elections administrator, said. Briggs explained how they’re not the only Texas county experiencing lower turnout. “I have been conversing with other elections administrators for the state of Texas and they’re kind of saying the same thing. So the turnout is a little bit slower than it was in 2022 for the governor primary,” said Briggs. Continue reading Early voting numbers low

TYLER – The Texas Baptist Men are getting together to aid those who are affected by the ongoing fire in the Texas Panhandle. According to our news partner KETK, the Texas A&M Forest Service latest count as of Wednesday has over 600,000 acres of active wildfires in Texas with the majority being in the Panhandle.

David Wells, director of disaster relief for Texas Baptist Men, said, “These wildfires, a lot of them covered a lot of ground. It did hit the city of Fritch. And then for some of these homeowners, it’ll take a while for their insurance to figure out everything. So for a lot of these homeowners, you’re like six months to a year, if not more, out. You know, that they have full recovery.”

The Texas Baptist Men said that they are planning to set up a temporary help center for residents in Fritch that have been hit by the fire.

TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office needs your help in finding a missing teen. Missing is 15-year-old Armani Gatewood. Currently he is listed as a runaway. His parents report that Armani ran away from home Feb. 5. Gatewood is a black male, 5’05’, 120 lbs. He has been seen several times with other juveniles in the area of The Ranch apartments in Tyler on Paluxy Drive. On those occasions he ran away when approached. If you have information on the location of Armani Gatewood, call the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at 903-566-6600 or go to their website here.

TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, the SPCA of East Texas announced on Wednesday that they are closing their animal intake for the time being, due to full shelters and intensive cases. SPCA of East Texas said that they already have over 200 animals in their care, with many of them being medical cases. They also recently had a case of critical rescue from neglect where it was later discovered that some of the animals were pregnant, increasing the strain on their resources. Due to these factors, SPCA of East Texas is asking for the help of the community. They encourage the public to consider adoption, donation, or fostering as ways to contribute to their mission. Continue reading SPCA of East Texas exceeds capacity

AUSTIN – The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has received an increasing number of complaints about a phone scam targeting those who use Lone Star Cards and receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

The HHS Office of Inspector General is reporting their Fraud Hotline is getting 10-15 complaints per day about the new telephone scam that involves a technique called spoofing. The scam mimics the Lone Star Card Help Desk, lulling victims into a false sense of security. Victims of this scam report getting a call that lists the Lone Star Card Help Desk caller ID (800-777-7328). The caller, sometimes a prerecorded voice, asks for the client’s PIN, Social Security number and date of birth in exchange for new or increased benefits.
Continue reading State warns about Lone Star Card scam

DIANA – On Monday, the New Diana ISD Board of Trustees announced that they have officially named Marshall Moore as the superintendent of the district.

In a release from the school district, Moore said this about his new job. “I have been in education for 16 years, out of which eight years have been in administration. As an administrator, I have served alongside fantastic staff and communities. I am delighted to bring my family back to East Texas. Growing up in this area and always hearing about New Diana’s long-standing record of tradition and excellence made this an opportunity that was too good to pass up. As I assume this new role, establishing relationships and trust with all stakeholders will be my top priority. I look forward to building upon New Diana’s already distinguished reputation.”

The board of trustees made the announcement of Moore’s hiring official after waiting the required 21 days to do so.

LONGVIEW – According to our news partner KETK, East Texas Congressman Nathaniel Moran stopped at Pine Tree ISD on Monday in hopes to inspire the younger generation to follow their calling. “We’re going to try to be at as many schools as possible,” Moran said. Moran spoke to middle and high school students at Pine Tree ISD in Longview about several topics including possible career paths and what it takes to be successful. Pine Tree ISD Superintendent Steve Clugston said Monday was the first time Moran got to sit down with students. Students had the opportunity to ask Moran questions on subjects like term limits for Congress and school choice. Recently, Moran has made similar visits to several East Texas schools.

“As we’re growing these young people up, what I want to remind them is they have a special and unique call in this life and so, I challenged them by giving them challenge coins to find and follow their call,” Moran said. “Today I got some of the hardest questions I’ve had in any form there is,” Moran said. “That’s because these kids were prepared, they were excited, they were engaged. I love to see that.” Moran said he hopes to inspire students during these visits in any way he can. Continue reading Representative Moran talks to future voters

TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, the Smith County Fire Marshal is urging residents to avoid burning. Over the last few days, several wildfires fueled by current windy and dry conditions started across East Texas. The Texas A&M Forest Service reported dozens of East Texas fires since Friday. Between Saturday and Sunday, the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office had to respond to nearly 30 grass fires. Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is also raising awareness of the danger of burning, after battling a 10-acre contained fire that got out of control this past weekend.

“We Responded to 60 wildfires for a total of 5,136 acres with 58 of them in East Texas alone,” said Laura Stevens, Texas A&M Forest Service wildland urban interface coordinator. Continue reading Officials ask residents to avoid burning