City offices have reopened

City offices have reopenedTYLER – City of Tyler non-emergency offices resumed operations on Wednesday. As travel conditions continue to improve, the City urges drivers to exercise caution. Please be aware that shaded areas on roads, sidewalks, and parking lots may remain icy or slick, as these spots take longer to thaw than areas exposed to direct sunlight. Motorists and pedestrians are encouraged to allow extra time for travel and to remain alert for lingering hazards.

Use the MyTyler App to report non-emergency street damage and downed trees. The app is free to download. Residents can report blocked roads to the Street Department at (903) 531-1393 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. After hours, please contact the Tyler Police Department’s non-emergency line at (903) 531-1000. Continue reading City offices have reopened

No Classes for Kilgore College

Update: After continued monitoring of weather/travel conditions, and area school district closures, Kilgore College administration has decided to close all KC campuses on Wednesday. You can view all the closings and delays here.

No Classes for Kilgore CollegeKILGORE – Kilgore College will resume regular business hours Wednesday, following the weather-related closure this week. All campuses and classes will return to their normal schedules. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to allow extra travel time and use caution while driving as conditions continue to improve.

Second arrest in murder

Second arrest in murderJACKSONVILLE – On January 22, 20-year-old Randarriuz Dewberry, of Jacksonville, was found and arrested during a traffic stop conducted by the Texas Highway Patrol on FM 346 outside of Bullard. Dewberry was wanted by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office for his alleged role in a fatal shooting that occurred on February 14, 2024, in rural Jacksonville, which left Jayden Polk dead.

Dewberry is charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, as well as additional charges of evading arrest or detention and failure to identify. He also faces failure to appear charges related to the evading arrest or detention charge and the failure to identify charge. Dewberry’s bonds total $1,085,000, along with $10,000 cash bonds for the failure to appear charges. Dewberry is the second person arrested in connection with this homicide.

Woman dies in house fire

HENDERSON COUNTY –Woman dies in house fire Our news partners at KETK report that the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said a woman died after she went into a house that was on fire near the Moore Station area. According to Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse, dispatch got a report of a fire on County Road 4305 at around 4 p.m. on Monday. District 8 Fire Rescue responded to the scene to fight the fire. Hillhouse said that while the home was still burning, a woman went inside the structure but couldn’t get back out and died in the fire. The fire was eventually contained and extinguished. The Henderson County Fire Marshal’s Office is leading an investigation to the cause of the fire with assistance from the sheriff’s office.

Greg Abbott says ICE needs to ‘recalibrate’ mission after Minnesota shooting

HOUSTON (AP) – Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday said the White House needs to “recalibrate” Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s mission to rebuild public trust after immigration agents shot and killed a second protester in Minnesota over the weekend. Abbott said immigration officials should “get back to what they wanted to do to begin with — and that is to remove people from the country who are here illegally.” “In general, we need to have respect for law enforcement officers in the country. ICE, they are law enforcement officers,” the Texas Republican said on conservative radio host Mark Davis’ show Monday morning. “So they, being the White House, need to recalibrate on what needs to be done to make sure that that respect is going to be reinstilled. And that’s not an easy task, especially under the current circumstances.”

He said he believes the administration is working on a “game plan” for immigration agents to “go about their job in a more structured way to make sure that they are going to be able to remove these people, but without causing all the kinds of problems and fighting in communities that they are experiencing right now.” Abbott’s comments come as a growing number of Republicans are pressing for a deeper investigation into federal immigration tactics in Minnesota after a U.S. Border Patrol agent fatally shot Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse who was protesting in Minneapolis. But Abbott largely blamed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for the unrest in the state. He accused Walz, a Democrat, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of “literally inciting violence” in their condemnation of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown there. Abbott said the “fights on the streets” are “fomented by the governor up there, by the mayor up there.”

Boil water notice issued

Boil water notice issuedMOUNT ENTERPRISE – A boil water notice has been issued in Mount Enterprise following a water line break. A notice has been issued to all Mount Enterprise Water Supply Corporation customers, asking them to boil water for at least 2 minutes and to let it cool before consumption.

“To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking and making ice should be boiled and cooled to prior use,” Mount Enterprise Water Supply Corporation said. “The water should be brought to a vigorous, rolling boil and then boiled for two (2) minutes. In lieu of boiling, you may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source.”

Water system officials will provide a notice when water is safe for consumption. For questions or concerns about the boil water notice, residents may contact the water office at 903-822-364.

Tips to prevent outages

Tips to prevent outagesTYLER — The Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative is providing instructions on what residents should do when they regain power to prevent another outage. According to our news partner KETK, when power is restored after winter storms, it frequently goes off again because a large number of electric heaters come on at once, placing an unusually heavy load on the system.

To avoid another outage as power is being restored, the cooperative is asking residents to take the following steps, including: Turning off the breaker to your home’s electric heater or unplugging heaters, turning off the breaker to your hot water heater, unplugging appliances and electronics, and waiting 30 minutes to turn appliances back on after power is restored.

The cooperative also said that once power is restored, residents should turn off their furnaces and gradually bring their homes to a comfortable temperature.

City offices closed Tuesday

City offices closed TuesdayTYLER – Due to icy road conditions, City of Tyler offices and facilities will be closed Tuesday. Emergency functions will continue. 

Streets  
Street crews are still clearing roads and spreading deicing material. Residents are advised to keep their distance from the trucks. 

Use the MyTyler App to report non-emergency street damage and downed trees. The app is free to download. Residents can report blocked roads to the Street Department at (903) 531-1393 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. After hours, please contact the Tyler Police Department’s non-emergency line at (903) 531-1000.   Continue reading City offices closed Tuesday

Animal shelters need fosters

Animal shelters need fostersSMITH COUNTY — After several dogs, including multiple puppies, were found abandoned at a mobile home park in Chapel Hill, Nicholas Pet Haven and Smith County Animal Control are looking for volunteers to foster the dogs.

According to our news partner KETK, members of animal control arrived at Woodcrest Mobile Home Park on Monday morning after receiving a Facebook post asking for support for the dogs. Animal control found 11 dogs, including seven puppies and four adult dogs, and provided them with food, water and shelter from the freezing temperatures.

Animal control believes the dogs were likely abandoned by former tenants at the mobile home and stated that the manager of Woodcrest has warned residents not to feed the dogs, claiming they will receive citations if they do.

After confirming the dogs were abandoned, Nicholas Pet Haven and Smith County Animal Control have been in contact with rescue groups and local animal shelters as they are looking to find volunteers to foster the dogs. Continue reading Animal shelters need fosters

Former judge injured, husband killed

Former judge injured, husband killedLUBBOCK – Former 321st District Court Judge for Smith County Carole Clark was severely injured in a car crash while returning to Texas from a trip to New Mexico recently. According to our news partner KETK, current 321st District Court Judge Robert Wilson said that Clarke was traveling with her husband AD, when their vehicle crashed and he was killed. The crash left Clarke with broken ribs and a head injury. Wilson said Clark is currently being treated for her injuries at a hospital in Lubbock.

Clark was first elected as 321st District Court Judge for Smith County in 2010. She was re-elected in 2014 after winning that year’s Republican Primary and she left office when her second term ended in 2018.