KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The City of Tyler has proposed the addition of two new firefighters, along with the purchase of improved personal protective equipment and a new tower truck for the fire department. To prepare for anticipated community growth, officials say the fire department offered and ran its first Fire Academy in 33 years. Recruits are expected to graduate and become firefighters in fiscal year 2022. Adding two new firefighters would bring the city’s total of Fire sworn positions to 160, according to a news release. The stated goal is to periodically add firefighters until the department has enough personnel to staff a new fire station when such is needed. Visit this link for more information. Continue reading City turns attention to fire department, solid waste

TYLER — The City of Tyler, with the help of community members, is working to gather supplies and bring relief to survivors of Hurricane Ida. Donations will be accepted until Sept. 15 at the Downtown Recycling Center, the Glass Recreation Center, and the Goodman Museum. Community members will be taking the relief items to the east side of New Orleans to assist with recovery. The city asks that donations be new/unopened; food items should be those that do not require refrigeration, as many do not yet have electricity; and if dropping off large quantities, already boxed items are most easily transported to the distribution site. Click here for more information.

TYLER — Amid staggering new COVID-19 numbers in East Texas, NET Health’s George Roberts repeats his months-long mantra: Get vaccinated. He says the vaccination numbers are improving but are still not where he’d like. Roberts repeats that vaccinations are readily available and that the vaccines do work. He also points to the availability of regeneron therapy at several area locations for people who are early in their COVID-19 diagnosis.

TYLER — The East Texas State Fair is back after a two-year hiatus. It’s set for September 24th – October 3rd 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.

SMITH COUNTY — All Smith County law enforcement has been approved for pay raises, which Sheriff Larry Smith and Judge Nathaniel Moran hope will help address a massive staffing shortage. According to our news partner KETK, the two held a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the commissioner’s courtroom. Moran said while other areas of the country are “looking to defund police,” Smith County would “refund our law enforcement.” For instance, the starting salary of a detention officer in the county jail would rise from $33,620 to $41,500. This equates to nearly a 25% pay raise. The sheriff said that it also means the raises will make the county more competitive not just with other law enforcement agencies, but with the private sector as well. Continue reading Smith County approves pay raise to address staff shortages

TYLER (AP/Staff) – Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed into law an overhaul of the state’s election rules following months of protests by Democrats. The sweeping bill signed Tuesday by the two-term Republican governor further tightens Texas’ strict voting laws. Texas joins more than a dozen states that have passed Republican-backed voting changes since the 2020 election. The new laws have been driven in part by former President Donald Trump’s claims that the 2020 election was stolen. Opponents of the changes in Texas have already begun filing lawsuits in federal court. The legislation was initiated by state Senator Bryan Hughes of Mineola, who was among those on hand for the signing ceremony. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was also on hand.

EAST TEXAS — More East Texas school districts have temporarily closed due to COVID-19 concerns. According to our news partner KETK, schools in Mount Enterprise and Ore City will be out of session through Friday. Rains ISD, which put activities on hold last week, reopened Wednesday.

TYLER — A portion of South Broadway Avenue (between Rowland Place and East Charnwood Street) will be closed to northbound traffic Wednesday, Sept. 8, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to remove a large dead tree from the right-of-way. Northbound drivers will be detoured onto East Dobbs Street where they can turn left onto South Donnybrook Avenue. There, motorists can continue north to East Charnwood Street where they will be able to turn left to go west, back to South Broadway Avenue. This will only affect the northbound traffic on South Broadway Avenue. Drivers are reminded to obey all traffic signs, flaggers, detours and slow down in and around the area.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The City Council in Portland, Oregon will vote Wednesday on an emergency resolution that would ban the purchase of goods and services from Texas in response to the new law prohibiting most abortions there. The resolution would also bar city employee travel to the state. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office said in a news release the Portland ban would be in effect until Texas either withdraws the abortion law or it gets overturned in court. The news release said the Portland City Council stands unified in its belief that all people should have the right to choose if and when they carry a pregnancy. The Heartbeat Act was authored by Senator Bryan Hughes, of Mineola.

TYLER — Tyler police say a portion of Front Street is now clear following a Monday morning wreck. Police had been asking drivers to avoid the street in the area near the PATH building after the wreck left power lines across the roadway, temporarily shutting down traffic in that vicinity.

TYLER – TxDOT is planning to conduct another round of construction and maintenance work in the Tyler District this week. Tyler Maintenance plans to have crews performing base and edge repairs on FM 838. Flashers will be used to direct traffic. A second crew will be performing draining maintenance on FM 16. Flashers will be used to direct traffic. Longview Maintenance will be cleaning ditches on FM 1844. The crews will continue work on bridge channel maintenance on FM 2275 and FM 2204. Herbicide operations were also due to begin on various roadways. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control. Click here for the complete rundown of work around the district.

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. Tuesday, Sept. 7 through Friday, Sept. 10 in two areas. Continue reading Smoke testing locations for week of Sept. 7

TYLER — 20-year-old Javier Valenzuela-Avila of Tyler has been arrested for murder and jailed on a $1,000,000 bond following the death of a 25-year-old woman. Police say Valenzuela-Avila was initially admitted to a local hospital for self inflicted wounds but later released and jailed. According to a news release, officers responded to an E. Dawson St. residence shortly before 8 a.m. Saturday on a welfare concern and found the body of Laura Garcia. Police say the case remains under investigation.

TYLER — Friday, September 3, through Monday, September 6, the Tyler Police Department will be putting additional officers on the streets utilizing the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP). Police say the program is based on crash data in the city allowing officers to pinpoint target areas that are a problem. With increased traffic conditions in Tyler for the Labor Day holiday, officers will be specifically watching for hazardous violations such as speeding, intersection enforcement, seat belt violations, and most importantly, impaired drivers. Police especially remind you not to drink and drive.

MARSHALL – The Wonderland of Lights Committee has unanimously agreed to expand the dates for this year’s event. Committee Chair Veronique Ramirez says thanks to donor contributions, the showcase attraction in Marshall will continue having the lighting ceremony the day before Thanksgiving. She adds that volunteers are needed November 24 and 26. The committee had earlier announced it was making changes to the longtime event. This year, it runs November 24-December 23 but will be closed November 25 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Continue reading 2021 Wonderland of Lights updates

MARSHALL – Harrison County sheriff’s deputies have recovered a body from a pond, and it’s believed to be that of 46-year-old Jessica Adair, who had gone missing days earlier. The body was found near her home on Harris Road, where she had last been seen when her son reported her missing Monday night. According to our news partner KETK, the body will be sent for autopsy. A $3,000 reward had been offered for information leading to the location of Adair, who had a medical condition. During the search, authorities said Adair needed to take medication every day. She also did not have her purse, medication, or cell phone with her.

TYLER – A Pensacola, Florida, man has pleaded guilty in Tyler federal court in a sweeping fraud scheme that stretched into East Texas. According to a news release, Perry Lewis Crenshaw, Jr., 27, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and is the fifth indicted defendant to enter a guilty plea in the case. As quoted in the release, Special Agent in Charge Brian Payne said, “Mr. Crenshaw preyed on vulnerable elderly Americans by impersonating the IRS.” As part of his plea agreement, Crenshaw has agreed to pay restitution of $1,284,649 and forfeiture of $32,112.50. He also faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation.

TYLER — The Eastern District of Texas has reached an agreement with Smith County to ensure deaf, hearing impaired, or vision impaired people can communicate as effectively as others. According to a news release, the matter began with a complaint to the U.S. Department of Justice. Under the agreement, the county is updating its website to contain sufficient information on how the aforementioned population can access aids or services. The county will also provide Title II training to staff under the Americans with Disabilities Act — and will ensure sufficient auxiliary aids or services are available at the county courthouse as required by the 2010 ADA standards. Continue reading EDTX reaches ADA resolution with Smith County

TYLER — The NET Health Board of Directors has considered the substantial increase of COVID-19 cases that has occurred locally since July 1, 2021, which is due in large part to the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant and has contributed to the stress being experienced by area hospitals treating the sick in our community, COVID-related and otherwise. The percentage of East Texans aged 12 years and higher who are fully vaccinated are generally 40% or less, with some counties only around 33%. Continue reading NET Health Board of Directors approves resolution

EAST TEXAS — Several East Texas school districts remain closed due to COVID-19 concerns, with the upcoming holiday also playing a role. According to our news partner KETK, schools in Rains ISD will be out of session through next Tuesday. Eustace, Alto, Cross Roads, Yantis, Fruitvale, Frankston, Gladewater, Leverett’s Chapel, Murchison, and Wells ISDs will remain closed through Labor Day.

CARTHAGE – A former Spring Hill ISD employee was arrested and charged with online solicitation of a minor. According to our news partner KETK, 27-year-old Joseph Schaetz was booked into the Smith County Jail Wednesday on $75,000 bond and bonded out later that day. The victim was a 14-year-old Panola County girl who was not enrolled in Spring Hill, according to Panola County District Attorney Danny Buck Davidson. Davidson said Schaetz resigned from Spring Hill earlier this week and was arrested Wednesday. The Panola County Grand Jury will be looking at the case next time it meets, which Davidson says is usually about once a month.

RUSK – More charges are being added in a recent kidnapping that prompted an Amber Alert. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office says 32-year-old Jesse Schmidt now faces charges of aggravated kidnapping and continuous sexual abuse of a child. Schmidt was already charged with kidnapping. The alert was activated early Tuesday for two children who were later found with Schmidt at a Kilgore motel. Schmidt remains jailed in Cherokee County on $500,000 bond. The sheriff’s office says the case remains active pending further investigation. According to our news partner KETK, 11-year-old Desmond Wells and 10-year-old Ashlynn Wells had last been seen in the Rusk area Monday afternoon when the alert was activated. Officials say they have now been released to CPS custody.

WASHINGTON (AP/Staff) – President Joe Biden is lambasting the Supreme Court’s decision not to block a new Texas law banning most abortions in the state. The law was spearheaded by state Senator Bryan Hughes of Mineola (pictured). Biden said Thursday he is directing federal agencies to do what they can to “insulate women and providers” from the impact. Hours earlier, in the middle of the night, a deeply divided high court allowed the law to remain in force in the nation’s biggest abortion curb since the court legalized the operation nationwide a half-century ago. The court voted 5-4 to deny an emergency appeal from abortion providers and others. The Texas law prohibits abortions once medical professionals can detect cardiac activity, usually around six weeks and before most women know they’re pregnant.

MARSHALL — East Texas Baptist University is accepting donations for Texas Baptist Men’s Disaster Relief efforts to help individuals affected by Hurricane Ida in Louisiana. The items listed below may be dropped off at ETBU’s Ornelas Student Center at the marked donation drop-off point through Tuesday, September 7. This is the same building where community members visit Chick-fil-A. Among the items being sought: gift cards from Home Depot or Walmart for families, bottled water and bottled Gatorade, infant and/or adult diapers, baby wipes, and work gloves (sizes L and XL). Continue reading ETBU collecting donations for those affected by Hurricane Ida

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) – Authorities at Grand Canyon National Park say they are scaling back the search for a Texas man who has been missing for nearly three months. Park officials say 49-year-old Charles Lyon of Tyler was last seen at a hotel in Tusayan on June 10. They say Lyon abandoned his vehicle on the canyon’s South Rim along Desert View Drive near Lipan Point on or around June 11 and was believed to be traveling alone. Beginning on June 11, crews searched extensively by ground and helicopter in the vicinity of Lipan Point and along Desert View Drive but there was no sign of Lyon. Park officials say the search will continue in a limited and continuous mode.

WASHINGTON. D.C. – A Washington, D.C., federal judge has granted an emergency motion by a Carthage native charged in the Capitol riot to allow him to travel to Louisiana with the Cajun Navy to help with the Hurricane Ida cleanup. According to our news partner KETK, 34-year-old Alex Harkrider is out on bond awaiting trial. There was no opposition to the motion from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Kira West, Harkrider’s head defense lawyer, wrote that he “can effectively be monitored by Pretrial Services for this volunteer effort. There is no threat to the community posed by Mr. Harkrider.” The motion also said Harkrider has “volunteered by selling tickets, making t-shirts, and working at a fundraiser in his community for a fellow marine who has cancer.”

KILGORE – Kilgore Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing 18-year-old woman. According to our news partner KETK, Dakota Conert went missing between 12:30 and 1:30 Monday morning. The department said in a Facebook post that she left her apartment in a pickup truck and her family has not heard from her since. She was last seen wearing a gray quarter-zip jacket and shorts. If you have any information regarding her whereabouts, contact Detective Joshua Sims at 903-218-6907 or [email protected]. To submit an anonymous tip via text message to the Kilgore Police Department, text KILGORE and your tip to 847411 (tip411).

UPSHUR COUNTY – A small community in Upshur County was rendered almost completely without power after vandals caused a massive outage Wednesday morning, according to a release from a power company. Upshur County Electric Cooperative Corporation released a statement after 9:30 a.m. Wednesday saying that much of Glennwood was in the dark after “vandals broke into the sub and caused significant damage to equipment.” According to our news partner KETK, a company spokesman said the vandals broke into the substation and cut over 500 feet of ground wire, which eventually caused a fire. He described how dangerous the situation was and that he was surprised no one was hurt during the break-in. The UCECC says power has now been restored and the company is working with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Department as part of its investigation.

TYLER — Wednesday, lots of new laws went into effect in the state. One law that had lots of people on both sides of the issue was permit less carry. Representative Matt Schaefer, of Tyler, authored the bill. He said, “Second Amendment rights have been restored for millions of of law abiding Texans.” The law will allow Texans ages 21 and older to carry handguns without training or a license as long as they are not legally prevented from doing so. SMU Political Science Professor Matt Wilson says it remains to be seen if this law will have an effect on violence and gun sales. Continue reading Rep Schaefer’s permitless carry law now in effect