KTBB News, Weather, Talk

OVERTON – Our news partner KETK reports that Overton Fire Chief Mickey Hamilton announced his retirement on Thursday, effective immediately, citing drama and ongoing internal conflict, including alleged micromanagement from the city manager, as his main reasons for the sudden departure.

In a letter, Hamilton stated that the disrespect displayed by the city manager had rendered the role untenable. He said this was not how he expected to close the chapter, which had lasted 46 years, during which he had protected and served the community.

Hamilton said he wishes he had finished his career with ‘dignity and peace,’ helping mentor future leaders and building a stronger department. Continue reading Overton fire chief retires, citing internal conflict and drama

TEXARKANA — According to our news partner KETK a driver died in a crash on Jarvis Parkway in Texarkana on Thursday afternoon. The Texarkana Police Department said two vehicles were traveling southbound on Jarvis near Leapard Drive at around 3 p.m. on Thursday when they collided into each other. During the crash, one of the vehicles was flipped on its side, causing the driver to be ejected from the car.

The person ejected from the vehicle was transported to a hospital, where he later died, while the driver of the other vehicle was not injured.

“We’re not releasing the victim’s name until his family has been notified. In the meantime, please keep everyone involved in your thoughts during this very difficult period,” the Texarkana Police Department said.

Update: The City of Longview spoke with KTBB late Friday afternoon. Center, Fredonia, Horaney and the 500 block of Center Street are still blocked by the derailment.

LONGVIEW – A train derailment late Thursday afternoon in downtown Longview has cut access to multiple streets. According to our news partner KETK, Fredonia, Center, Horaney and the 500 block of East Cotton Street are closed to traffic. Longview PD reports that no injuries have been reported, and no hazardous materials were involved. Workers are at the derailment scene, working to remove the train. Authorities ask that drivers avoid downtown Longview while crews continue their work.

Update: Smith County officials said that one person has died in a motorcycle and two car crash, late Thursday afternoon.

SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Emergency Services District 2 confirmed that three people have been hospitalized after a crash on Highway 155 near Coffee City on Thursday, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

The district said the crash occurred after a motorcycle and two cars collided near Cherokee Trail and County Road 189 on Highway 155 South near Lake Palestine. One person who was injured had to be transported to a local hospital by a helicopter, while two others were transported by ambulance.

The Smith County Sheriff’s Office and local firefighters responded to the crash, which left traffic blocked on Highway 155 for more than half an hour.

TYLER — Tyler Water Utilities has launched new in-store payment options that allow customers to pay their utility bills while shopping at familiar neighborhood stores like Walmart, CVS, Walgreens and Dollar General. “This is about meeting people where they are,” said Water Business Office Manager Chris Cambra. “We’re committed to making it as simple and convenient as possible for every customer to manage their account.”

According to Paymentus, the City’s payment processor, nearly 60 percent of customers either prefer to pay in cash or continue to do so regularly, and 87 percent of the U.S. population lives within three miles of a participating retailer.

“These changes are rooted in respect for our customers’ time,” Cambra said. “We know how frustrating it can be to wait on hold or juggle errands. Now, you can pay your bill while shopping or get a call back instead of waiting in line. It’s about making the process smoother, faster and more convenient.” Continue reading City of Tyler introduces in person pay options

SMITH COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, a nurse in Tyler was arrested after being caught on video physically abusing a child with special needs while being responsible for watching her. The Tyler Police Department became aware of the alleged abuse when the victim’s grandparents reported that one of their live-in nurses, Gabrielle Toon, was seen on video smacking their 14-year-old granddaughter and aggressively pushing her. Toon was responsible for watching the child during the evenings from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m.

The victim’s grandparents provided a list of the child’s medical condition to officials, stating that she is immobile, non-verbal and is dependent on oxygen at night. It was also reported that the victim has a chronic lung disease and is a kidney transplant recipient.

On July 7, officials received a video that allegedly depicted Toon physically abusing the victim on July 1. During the video, Toon was seen in what appeared to be a hospital bed with the victim physically harming her and slapping her multiple times. Continue reading Video captures Tyler nurse repeatedly abusing child

SMITH COUNTY – A Lindale woman was arrested after her 4-year-old family member tested positive to having meth in her system, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

In May, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office became aware that the 4-year-old, who was under the custody of Brittany Hankins, had tested positive for methamphetamine while in Hankins’ care.

Officials obtained a lab report from a hair follicle test administered by The Alcohol & Drug Testing Service on May 28 that confirmed Hankins’ family member had meth in her system. Further lab reports also confirmed that Hankins had tested positive for meth on May 2 and May 14, indicating that she was using drugs during the time that the child was exposed.

Following the investigation, Hankins was arrested and charged with endangerment to a child, and criminal negligence. She is currently being held in the Smith County Jail.

MARSHALL — According to a press release from the Marshall Police department, a man was arrested for stealing equipment while firefighters were actively battling a fire.

On July 11, at the Bel Aire Apartments on Paula street, while Marshall firefighters were working to bring a fire under control, Marshall Police officers were alerted that a bag of equipment was missing. The investigation led to a suspect in a nearby apartment, identified as Marcus Donte Moore, 28, of Marshall, and the Fire Department equipment was located.

While being handcuffed, Moore broke away from officers and was apprehended after a brief chase. One Marshall Police officer sustained a hand injury during the pursuit. Continue reading Marshall Police Arrest Man for Theft During Active Fire Response

ANDERSON COUNTY – A hearing in Palestine for death row inmate Robert Roberson, took place Wednesday morning after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton requested a new execution date in his case involving the death of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis.

According to a report from our news partner KETK, the hearing was scheduled by Smith County District Court Judge Austin Reeve Jackson, who has been assigned to handle the case in Anderson County.

On January 31, 2002, Roberson took his two-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis, to Palestine Regional Medical Center with severe trauma to her head, and the following day, she died from her injuries. In 2003, an East Texas jury decided, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Roberson caused the death of his daughter by violently shaking her. Medical staff and the lead detective on the case were suspicious of Roberson’s seemingly cold demeanor at the time of his daughter’s death, viewing it as an indication of guilt. Continue reading Court sets execution date for East Texas man

TYLER — Tyler Police are out with a warning about scam phone calls targeting elderly victims. According to a news release from the department, the scammers will claim to be local, state, or federal law enforcement. They are asking victims to withdraw money to purchase gift cards, Green Dot cards, or deposit money into crypto currency (Bitcoin) ATMs.

In a recent case that was reported to Tyler PD, the victim was contacted by a person claiming to be with the sheriff’s office telling her she had a federal warrant for her arrest for missing jury duty. They even provided the victim with a copy of a fake warrant of arrest from a US District Court with her name on it. The victim received the call from a “spoofed” phone number indicating it was from Smith County 911. A person identified themselves as a Sergeant and gave a badge number to further the scam. They told her they would arrest her if she didn’t pay the money. They even connected the caller to their supervisor, adding another person to help try and legitimize the scam. Continue reading Tyler Police warn residents of potential scam calls

LONGVIEW — A man has been arrested after allegedly committing arson at an apartment complex in Longview, according to the Longview Fire Department. According to our news partner KETK, after receiving reports of a structure fire inside a unit in the Lake Lamond Apartments on July 3, firefighters arrived on the scene and reported smoke coming from the apartment, identifying it as a working fire.

The fire was quickly brought under control, and the damage was limited to one apartment unit. It was later determined that the fire had been intentionally set, and damage was assessed at $50,000. No injuries were reported at the time of the fire.

Following an investigation, Dominique Terry was identified as a suspect. On Tuesday, Terry was arrested and transported to the Gregg County Jail, with his bond set at $ 100,000.

PALESTINE — Many lawmakers are raising urgent questions about how the state will sustain this growth, particularly regarding critical resources like water.

According to our news partner KETK, the Texas House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing in Austin on Tuesday to examine the impact of high-capacity groundwater extraction in the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation Districts. This discussion comes as Redtown Ranch Holdings LLC, based in Anderson County, seeks a permit for 21 high-capacity wells that Crockett City Administrator John Angerstein warns could extract up to 10 billion gallons annually from the Carrizo and Wilcox aquifers. An additional 11 wells proposed in Houston County could drain another 5 billion gallons each year.

To put that in perspective, Angerstein notes that the 21 wells alone would withdraw 52 times the volume of water used annually by the entire City of Crockett, enough to supply a population of 338,000. “Yet none of this water is designated for our communities,” Angerstein said. “It is likely intended to support unchecked development and sprawl in other parts of Texas, presumably in the DFW metroplex or Hill Country, areas that have failed to plan responsibly for their own water needs.” Continue reading Lawmakers hear debate over massive groundwater extraction