KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — a Tyler man is charged with intoxication manslaughter following a fatal accident in Tyler. Police say officers responded to the intersection of Plantation Dr. and Spring Branch Dr. around 3:00 Friday morning, where Christopher Hardy Jr., 27, had reportedly struck a parked vehicle. According to a news release, 20-year-old Tamyra Campbell of Tyler, a passenger in Hardy’s vehicle, was killed. Hardy went to the hospital with minor injuries. Police arrested Hardy, citing evidence that he was intoxicated. He has since been released from the hospital and jailed on $300,000 bond.

TYLER — The African-American Cultural Events Committee presents a balloon release Saturday in recognition of National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Activities begin at 2:00 p.m. at Woldert Park on W. 32nd Street in Tyler. If you would like more information, contact Gregory Buckner at (903) 592-8973.

TYLER — The East Texas State Fair is back after a two-year hiatus. It begins Friday and runs through October 3 at the Rose Complex in Tyler. Despite challenges, fair organizers say they are planning for a successful event. According to a news release from the fair, “We encourage all fairgoers to first evaluate their own potential risk of exposure to COVID-19 before visiting, knowing that vaccines remain the best protection from COVID-19. In addition, we encourage fairgoers to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 when attending the East Texas State Fair by wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and washing hands regularly.” Beyond that, you can expect exhibits, livestock shows, carnival rides, fair food, and lots more. Click here for more information.

TYLER — The East Texas State Fair opens Friday, and the Tyler Police Department is issuing a traffic advisory. Police note that on W. Front St., in front of the old Harvey Convention Center location, traffic will be shut down to one lane in both east and west directions that day from 9:00 a.m. until midnight. On Saturdays and Sundays, the traffic lanes will be restricted to one lane both east and west from 11:00 a.m. until the fair closes. During the week, all lanes will be open until 3:30 p.m. each day. Then the traffic will revert back to one lane of traffic flow in each direction until closing time of the fair. Continue reading East Texas State Fair traffic advisory

LONGVIEW – Gregg County has canceled all inmate visitations at jail facilities for Saturday due to unspecified “security concerns.” According to our news partner KETK, Public Information Officer Josh Tubb sent a brief statement saying that would “be the only date affected and visitation will resume on its normal schedule going forward.” Despite the cancellation, video visitation through NCIC kiosks will continue as normal for Saturday.

TYLER — Services are Friday for Jeff Williams of Tyler, who died September 14 at 63. Williams had a number of community affiliations, most notably serving as president of the Tyler Together Race Relations Forum. The group takes on a number of diversity-related projects and is best known as the organizing agency for Tyler’s annual downtown Martin Luther King, Jr., observance.

LONGVIEW — The Oak Forest Country Club clubhouse in Longview will be closed for an extended period after suffering “heavy smoke and heat damage” on multiple floors Thursday morning. According to our news partner KETK, the Longview Fire Department was called to the scene around 7:30 Thursday morning. Fire Marshal Kevin May said crews upgraded the fire to a two-alarm case due to flames spreading to both the first and second floors. The cause was not immediately known, but the fire has been put out. No injuries were reported.

TYLER — The City of Tyler is offering a rebate for city employees who are fully vaccinated. According to our news partner KETK, Tyler officials discussed the COVID-19 Vaccination: Medical Insurance Premium Rebate Program during a meeting on Wednesday. The program is voluntary. Those who are eligible for the incentive are any full time or part time regular employees of the city of Tyler. They must have contributed premiums in 2021. Eligible employees can receive up to $730 dollars if they are on the City of Tyler medical insurance plan or $500 for employees enrolled outside or as a dependent of an outside medical insurance program. Continue reading Incentive for City of Tyler employees who are fully vaccinated

CHEROKEE COUNTY — An hours long standoff is over following the arrest of one suspect. According to our news partner KETK, Cherokee County Sheriff Brent Dickson said the standoff happened around 3 p.m. Wednesday on County Road 1207 in the Moon City community. Officials arrived with secure warrants for the arrest of Mark Duran on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a family member and felony possession of a firearm. When the authorities attempted to make the arrest, Duran barricaded himself inside. Duran suffered minor injuries from attempting to break windows to escape. The standoff ended around 7 p.m.

TYLER – Smith County commissioners have approved the purchase of property for a new courthouse that has been on the drawing board for some time. According to our news partner KETK, a unanimous vote entered the county into nearly a half-million-dollar contract with Brigadier Enterprises on N. Spring St. The $495,000 that was voted on had already been set aside for the courthouse project, which has been a top priority for County Judge Nathaniel Moran since the new decade began. While there seems to be a design that commissioners have signaled they would approve, the project has been hampered by the coronavirus pandemic. Moran said earlier this year that the court did not feel comfortable putting such a large bond on the public during a time of economic hardship.

CHAPEL HILL – Chapel Hill ISD has seen its number of positive COVID cases “drop significantly” and the district is crediting the mask mandate implemented nearly one month ago. According to our news partner KETK, the mandate took effect Aug. 31 and the district peaked with 117 positive cases on Sept. 2. The district currently has just 19 active cases, an 84% drop in less than three weeks. In a prepared statement, CHISD Superintendent Lamond Dean says, “Thank you to the School Board, parents, and students for helping us reduce the spread and exposure of the virus COVID-19 at our campuses. We also ask that everyone do their part by staying home if you are feeling sick.” Continue reading CHISD sees big COVID-19 drop under mask mandate

TYLER — The city of Tyler’s new budget, passed Wednesday, will expand forensic capabilities and the police department’s homeless outreach. The city will be adding a forensic specialist to help police resolve more investigations and present stronger cases for prosecution, according to city press materials. Officials also say adding a homeless coordinator allows the police department to work closely with homeless residents and guide them to the available resources. Tyler will also be adding two firefighters, along with buying improved personal protective equipment and a new tower truck for the fire department to address community growth, according to city officials. And the budget includes a residential rate increase of $2.50 for Tyler Solid Waste. The city is raising the tax rate to 26.99 cents per $100 valuation. Continue reading Budget approval headlines City Council session

LONGVIEW — A summit held Tuesday in Longview focused on how elected officials can better support students academically. According to our news partner KETK, many students fell behind with classes because of the pandemic, and officials say it’s going to take time and money to catch them up. “We’re trying to do all that we can for our students who did miss so much of their education last year,” Marshall ISD Superintendent Richelle Langley said. “Not only getting them caught up, but also getting them on the grade level or above the grade level where they need to be.” Continue reading School administrators gather in Longview

TYLER – Smith County commissioners have begun the process to permanently fill the vacancy for the Pct. 2 constable position that was created with last week’s conviction of Joshua Black. According to our news partner KETK, Black was found guilty of official oppression, which instantly triggered a judicial order to remove him from office. County Judge Nathaniel Moran explained during their weekly meeting on Tuesday that for the time being the chief deputy of the constable’s office has the authority to oversee operations until the position is filled. The court has the authority to fill the post unless Black files an appeal within 90 days, which had not happened at last report. If he does, Judge Reeve Jackson, who oversaw the trial, would assume that responsibility. Moran said the court would not be taking the appointment lightly and that nominating someone on Tuesday would be too quick.

TYLER — In spite of encouraging numbers, NET Health’s George Roberts is cautioning East Texans not to let their guard down as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Roberts told KTBB the area is still in a state of substantial spread. As he has been doing for months, he again urged all eligible East Texans to get vaccinated as soon as possible if they haven’t already. Roberts points out that case numbers remain high even though Smith and Gregg Counties’ new case figures are substantially down from last week. He also notes that a lot of patients remain in area hospitals with the virus despite a drop in that number. All in all, Roberts says there’s “no cause for letting up our response at this particular point in time.”

TYLER — The East Texas State Fair will open this Friday, and the Tyler Police Department is issuing an early traffic advisory. Police note that on W. Front St., in front of the old Harvey Convention Center location, traffic will be shut down to one lane in both east and west directions that day from 9:00 a.m. until midnight. On Saturdays and Sundays, the traffic lanes will be restricted to one lane both east and west from 11:00 a.m. until the fair closes. During the week, all lanes will be open until 3:30 p.m. each day. Then the traffic will revert back to one lane of traffic flow in each direction until closing time of the fair. Continue reading East Texas State Fair traffic advisory

ATHENS – A burn ban is in effect for Henderson County. According to our news partner KETK, the ban started Tuesday morning and will last for 14 days. No outdoor burning will be allowed during that time.

EAST TEXAS — Opportunities remain abundant to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Jarvis Christian College and the Texas Department of State Health Services will host a free clinic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday in the E. W. Rand Center Varsity Gymnasium on the Jarvis main campus in Hawkins. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be offered for those age 16 or older. Appointments can be made at this link or by calling (430) 247-1479. Walk-ins will be accepted. Continue reading COVID-19 vaccination clinics Wednesday

TYLER — 72-year-old David Donley of Tyler has been sentenced to life in prison for aggravated sexual assault of a child. The Smith County DA’s Office says Donley was arrested on February 6, 2020, for sexually assaulting his granddaughter. He was convicted August 19. At the sentencing hearing, the state argued for a maximum sentence of life in prison based on what it terms “the heinous nature of the crime.”

TYLER — If a recent poll is any indication, Texas has a long way to go before it reaches herd immunity. More than 60,000 Texans have died from COVID since the pandemic began, yet many Texans are still unwilling to get a vaccine. A new poll by the Dallas Morning News and the University of Texas at Tyler indicates about 1 in 4 Texans say their either won’t get vaccinated or are unlikely to. 18% say they will definitely not take the shot. Another 6% say it’s unlikely. 9% of those surveyed say they probably will get around to getting vaccinated. 7% say they definitely will. Over 1,100 people were surveyed for the poll. Close to 60% of eligible Texans are already fully vaccinated. Johns Hopkins says 70 percent of the population must be vaccinated to reach herd immunity.

TYLER — On Monday, parents banded together to speak up at a Tyler ISD board meeting about COVID-19 related topics like mask and vaccine mandates. According to our news partner KETK, vaccines and masks in schools have been hot topics since the start of classes. These subjects have divided parents and staff in school districts across the state and here in Tyler. Continue reading Tyler ISD votes against mask mandate

TYLER – A now-former Smith County deputy is accused of using his unique log-in information to access a secure database to assist a drug trafficking operation from Mexico, according to an arrest warrant obtained by our news partner KETK. 28-year-old Luis A. Sandoval was arrested in August and charged with misuse of official information. It came after a months-long investigation by the East Texas Anti-Gang Task Force. Sandoval was terminated from the sheriff’s office before he was arrested. He had been employed with the department since November 2017. Sandoval was booked on a $250,000 bond, which he posted one day later. He is facing up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

TYLER — Smith County commissioners will discuss the future of the Pct. 2 constable’s position at the end of their Tuesday meeting in the wake of Joshua Black’s conviction for official oppression last week. According to our news partner KETK, prosecutors showed that he offered sexual favors in exchange for monetary payment as part of his business that provided supervised visitations for parents. He was sentenced to six months in jail and ordered to pay a $4,000 fine. Judge Reeve Jackson also issued a court order removing Black from office.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office has released details about the events leading up to an officer-involved shooting Monday morning. According to our news partner KETK, the sheriff’s office, Grand Prairie PD and Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office entered Van Zandt County where deputies, Canton PD, and Edgewood PD units responded. The vehicle was driving at speeds up to 95 mph, the sheriff’s office said, and turned its lights off many times during the pre-dawn Monday pursuit. Canton PD used spike strips as the vehicle approached Highway 19 and successfully spiked the tires. The vehicle came to a stop in a drainage ditch between the Colfax exit ramp and the service road. Continue reading Details released on officer-involved shooting

DALLAS — A majority of Texans think the state’s headed in the wrong direction. That’s according to a poll conducted by the Dallas Morning News and the University of Texas at Tyler. Just 41% approve of the governor’s job performance; 54% don’t. That poll shows that Matthew McConaughey is now 9 points ahead of the governor in a hypothetical matchup. The poll also shows Beto O’Rourke now just 5 points behind the governor. The poll goes on to show that only 34% of Texans agree with the new law which allows guns to be carried with no permit.

TYLER — Pipeline Analysis will continue smoke testing sewer lines in sewer meter basins 13 and 17 as part of the City of Tyler’s ongoing sanitary sewer inspection program. Officials say smoke testing helps locate breaks and defects in the city’s sanitary sewer system. The information is used to repair and improve the sewer system, according to a news release. The testing will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, through Friday, Sept. 24. Continue reading Smoke testing locations for week of Sept. 20

TYLER — Tyler Junior College and two other Texas community colleges have been awarded a $3.1 million Greater Texas Foundation grant to pioneer a Rural College Promise program. This grant is the largest award given by the Greater Texas Foundation during their current funding year, according to a news release. The Rural College Promise program aims to increase access to affordable college pathways and opportunities for living-wage jobs in rural counties across East Texas, according to the release. In addition to supporting local students and communities, TJC will work in partnership with Grayson College and North Central Texas College to develop what’s termed a repeatable, affordable, and scalable model for rural communities across Texas, and potentially, across America.

SMITH COUNTY — At approximately 7:25 Monday morning, DPS Troopers responded to a two vehicle crash involving a Tyler ISD school bus (32) on FM-2493 at CR-149 in Smith County. The investigators preliminary report indicates that the school bus was stopped south bound on FM-2493, waiting to make a left turn onto CR-149 when it was struck in the back end by a southbound Mazda passenger car. No injuries were reported on the bus or for the driver of the Mazda. The children were transported by another Tyler ISD bus to school. No other information is available at this time.

TYLER – Governor Greg Abbott has re-appointed two Tyler residents to the Texas Health Services Authority Board of Directors. According to our new partner KETK they are, Paula Anthony-McMann Ph.D. of Tyler. She is the Chief Strategy officer for UT Health East Texas. Jerome Lisk M.D., of Tyler is a Board Certified Movement Disorder Neurologist at MD Neurology–Denton. The Texas Health Services Authority Board was formed for the purpose of promoting, implementing and facilitating the secure electronic exchange of health information in the State of Texas.