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LONGVIEW — A Gregg County Jail inmate is back behind bars after being accidentally released. He is identified as Anthony Cager, 23, of Longview. KETK reports he was released on May 29th on a $500 bond. He had been sentenced to 120 days in jail for violating his probation for possession of marijuana. When the error was discovered, a warrant was issued for unauthorized absence from a correction facility. After Cager was contacted, he surrendered to authorities. He was booked back into the jail late last week.

LONGVIEW (AP/STAFF) – An electrical problem is said to have caused a fire that killed 38 animals at a Longview animal hospital. Officials say the pets died from the fire that engulfed the Kimbrough Animal Hospital. Forty animals were at the facility when the fire started late Tuesday. According to Longview Fire Marshal Johnny Zackary, the hospital’s owner took the two surviving animals to East Texas Animal Hospital for treatment. Officials say the fire department responded around 10:25 p.m. to the clinic, where flames could be seen shooting out of the roof. Authorities say the building collapsed during the fire, but crews worked through the night to rescue the animals. The deceased animals were taken to a building next door for their owners to come and identify them. The official cause of the fire is under investigation, however, investigators believe the blaze may have started from an electrical issue in the office.

RUSK — A Cherokee County man has been sentenced to life in prison for continuous sexual abuse of a young child. Edwin Rolando Megia-Garcia, who was sentenced yesterday, is not eligible for parole. He had been accused of sexually abusing two young girls.

HAWKINS — An anti-religion group has contacted an East Texas city council, objecting to a religious-themed sign at the edge of the city. According to our news partner KETK, the Freedom From Religion Foundation objected on grounds the sign welcoming visitors to Hawkins is an unconstitutional religious display on government property. The organization states in a letter sent to the Hawkins City Council by Staff Attorney Sam Grover, their purpose is to “protect the constitutional separation between state and church.” The sign in question reads, “Jesus Welcomes You to Hawkins” and is located on East Front Street. Continue reading Anti-Religion Group Objects to Hawkins Sign

KILGORE — Four new Kilgore College Board of Trustees members have been sworn in. The action came at a Monday night meeting. The new trustees include:
•Lon Ford (Central Zone, representing Kilgore Independent School District)
•J. Karol Pruett (Central Zone, representing Kilgore Independent School District)
•Cecelia Sanders (South Zone, representing Overton, Leverett’s Chapel and West Rusk County Consolidated independent school districts)
•James Walker (North Zone, representing Gladewater, White Oak and Sabine) Continue reading Four New Kilgore College Trustees Join the Board

QUITMAN — The pilot of a home-built airplane has been injured when the craft crashed in Wood County. The pilot, Benjamin Kunziker, 64, has been airlifted to Tyler’s East Texas medical Center, where he is said to be in stable condition. State trooper Jean dark says the plane crashed southeast of Quitman, near County Road 3230 around 10:30 Tuesday morning. Preliminary information is that Kunziker was attempting to land on a private landing strip. The plane lost altitude due to decreasing winds, causing the wheels to clip the top of a group of trees. The aircraft landed nose first on the ground. The FAA has been notified and will continue the investigation.

LONGVIEW — The Texas Rangers have turned over to The Gregg County district attorney’s office the information they have gathered concerning the shooting of a teen at the Longview Police Department. The information will now be presented to the Gregg County Grand Jury. It concerns the shooting death of Kristiana Coignard, 17. Just before 6:30pm on January 22nd, the teen entered the police station and picked up the after-hours phone, called public safety communications and asked for help. When asked what she needed, she refused to tell the operator what her problem was. Police officers were dispatched to the lobby a short time later. When Officer Glenn Derr arrived, Coignard indicated to him she had a gun. According to police, the words “I have a gun,” were written on her hand. This resulted in a physical confrontation when Officer Derr attempted to secure Coignard. Continue reading Information on Shooting of Longview Teen Turned Over to the D.A.

KILGORE — One person is in custody following an overnight car chase through Rusk County. The Kilgore Police Department assisted DPS Troopers in a pursuit late Monday night on U.S. Highway 259, south of Kilgore. The truck involved was said to be traveling at a high rate of speed in the wrong lane. According to KETK, Kilgore officers successfully deployed a spike strip to stop the truck, which came to a halt. The driver surrendered to officers after brief negotiations. The identity of the driver has not been released.

BULLARD — A Smith County man accused of using a bat to kill a man has been indicted for murder. The indictment was handed up against James Bales, 31. He is accused of the March 6th murder of Bias Lott, 61. The incident happened in the 22000 block of Lakeway Harbor Drive in Bullard. Deputies initially responded to a disturbance call and, upon arrival, found two men involved in an altercation. Officials said one of the men had been attacked and repeatedly hit in the head with a baseball bat. Lot was transported to a Tyler hospital where he underwent emergency surgery and died early the next morning.

TYLER — A man accused in a fatal Smith County wreck has been indicted on two counts of intoxication manslaughter and one count of intoxication assault. The Smith County District Attorney’s Office announced the indictments against Carl Wayne Crabtree, 30, of Bullard. Crabtree’s vehicle crossed the center line on Old Jacksonville Highway March 4 and collided head-on with a northbound SUV. Killed were Dana Regester, 41, of Flint, and Pasha Zapolsky, 18, of Bullard. Ashley Regester was thrown from the vehicle and hospitalized, but she recovered from her injuries. Caleb Chadwell also suffered injuries, but he was also later released from a local hospital. The Department of Public Safety reported Crabtree’s blood alcohol content level (BAC) was twice the legal limit during the accident. Crabtree’s BAC was said to be at .16. The legal limit is .08. There was also a traceable amount of an unknown drug within his system.

GLADEWATER — Charges are pending against a former Gladewater kindergarten teacher. Police Chief Robert Vine Tells KETK, Amanda Hickman is facing one count of injury to a child, a state jail felony. Authorities are looking into allegations that she injured a young student. The boy’s mother claims her son had permission to be under the teacher’s desk to wind down when he becomes agitated or antsy. During this time the boy grabbed some candy from the teacher’s drawer. The mother said the teacher grabbed the boy by his feet and dragged him out of the classroom. Investigators are said to have delivered a summery of the case report to the Gregg County District Attorney’s office on June 1.

MARSHALL — A multi vehicle accident in Harrison County has left one person dead and one injured. It happened Monday morning on Interstate Highway 20, southeast of Marshall, near exit 620. KETK reports that the wreck killed Brian Buffalo, 39, of Orange Clark, Florida. His wife was injured. She is hospitalized in Marshall. Her condition is unknown. The accident occurred when their SUV clipped a vehicle that was being towed. Their SUV was then hit from behind by an 18-wheeler. The SUV then flipped and rolled down an embankment. The victim’s body has been sent to Tyler for autopsy.

SMITH COUNTY – One person has been injured in a Smith County drive-by shooting. It happened around 5:00 yesterday afternoon in the 500 block of Airway Ave, near the Tyler Pounds Regional Airport. A man was hit in the leg by a single shot fired from a passing car. The man’s name has not been released. Sheriff’s department Public Information Officer Gary Middleton says they have no suspects and the investigation is continuing.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of June 8. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.

SMITH COUNTY – Tyler Maintenance are placing an overlay on Farm Road 1805 between Farm Road 1253 and the Van Zandt County line. Tyler’s second crew will be assisting in Van Zandt County making repairs on Farm Road 2475. Both jobs will reduce the roadway to one lane with flaggers controlling traffic. Continue reading TxDOT Road Projects

MOUNT PLEASANT — A brother and sister have been killed in a fiery crash in Mount Pleasant. It happened just before 1:00 yesterday morning in the 2200 block of West 1st Street, Farm Road 899. The vehicle, driven by Manuel DeJesus Diaz, 19, was traveling eastbound when it left the roadway, striking several trees and becoming engulfed in flames. According to KETK, witnesses reported seeing Diaz, as well as Maria Gonzales, 33, trapped inside the vehicle during the fire. Continue reading Two Dead in Fiery Morning Wreck

UPSHUR COUNTY — A coach for Big Sandy ISD has been killed in a two vehicle wreck. Officials said the wreck happened on Highway 155 near Lemon Road Saturday morning. Jeff Blackstone, head baseball coach and assistant football coach at Big Sandy High School, died in the accident. The driver of the other vehicle was transported to a local hospital. The Department of Public Safety is investigating. Continue reading Big Sandy Coach Killed in Wreck

SMITH COUNTY — A major accident in Smith County Saturday sends six people to the hospital. It happened around 4:15 on Toll Road 49, near Frankston Highway. According to KETK, an 18-wheeler ran into the back of the car. The ages and conditions of the injured are unknown at this time but officials said none of the injuries are fatal. Noonday VFD, DPS, and EMS responded to the scene. Traffic was backed up in the area.

HOUSTON (AP) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency has added 20 counties to a disaster declaration for Texas after severe flooding last month. The new counties are: Bastrop, Blanco, Caldwell, Denton, Eastland, Fort Bend, Gaines, Guadalupe, Henderson, Hidalgo, Johnson, Milam, Montague, Navarro, Rusk, Smith, Travis, Wichita, Williamson and Wise Counties. Seven counties were part of the original disaster declaration signed by President Barack Obama last month. The declaration offers federal aid to supplement other recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe weather since May 4. FEMA on Saturday said residents can register for aid by calling 1-800-621-3362 or signing up online at http://DisasterAssistance.gov FEMA says it has already approved more than $7.3 million in aid for individuals. The death toll from the Memorial Day weekend storms is 33, including 28 in Texas.

TYLER — An emergency contract to remove debris from tornado-ravaged Van in Van Zandt County has begun. The contract was awarded to Drewery Construction of Nacogdoches. The process includes five trucks making rounds through the city and surrounding impacted areas to remove the mounds of debris piled along city streets and on state right-of-way. The month-long contract is expected to haul away some 40,000 cubic yards of debris. According to TxDOT, the contract includes the removal of construction and demolition material from impacted properties such as roofing material, boards, concrete and tin, but also trees, tires, appliances, etc. Continue reading Emergency Contract Implemented to Clear Debris in Van

TYLER — The Scott Firefighter Challenge kicked off in Tyler Friday and will continue through Sunday. It’s the tenth year in row for the city of Tyler to compete. The competition is taking place in the Broadway Square Mall parking lot. It’s free to the public. The challenge itself seeks to encourage firefighter fitness and show the public what they go through on a daily basis. Continue reading Firefighter Combat Challenge Underway in Tyler

TYLER — Burns Commercial Properties in Tyler has confirmed a mouth-watering French bistro is making its way to the Rose City. According to KETK, la Madeleine Country French Café will land at Old Bullard Road and Loop 323 in Tyler where a group of townhouses currently sits. Demolition of the townhomes will be required to build the retail center that will house the bistro. Construction should be completed by early 2016.

VAN — A Mobile Registration Intake Center (MRIC) has opened in Van to serve homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained damage as a result of the ongoing severe storms and flooding. Specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are there to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors. Continue reading Mobile Assistance for East Texas Storm Victims

LONGVIEW — LONGVIEW — A former Longview police officer has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of aggravated child sexual assault. Leland Thomas Carver, 71, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated child sexual assault. According to KETK, Carver assaulted the child while she spent time visiting him at his home in the 300 block of Montclair Street in North Longview. The child was in the second grade when the abuse started. Continue reading Retired Longview Officer Sentenced to Life in Prison

MINEOLA — Two alleged burglars have been taken into custody for the theft of several thousands dollars from a Mineola Bank’s ATM. According to KETK, it turns out the pair was wanted for crimes across several states. Police said around 1:30 a.m. on May 31, an alarm was reported at BTH Bank on North Pacific, but responding officers did not find anyone at the scene. The following day, authorities discovered optic and phone lines had been intentionally cut and the ATM had been the target of a burglary. The vault was cut open with a torch and grinding tools. An undisclosed amount of cash was taken. Continue reading Couple Accused of Multi-state Crime Spree

GREGG COUNTY — Two people are dead and two are injured following a wreck on Highway 31 Thursday night. It happened around 8:45 at the intersection of Hwy 31 and Farm to Market Road 3053. According to KETK, a truck pulling a trailer, driven by Carl Linkinhoker, 42, of Kilgore, was stopped on 31, facing south. A car, driven by Brandon Aills Sr., 29, of Longview, was heading west on 31 and did not have the headlights on. The Department of Public Safety report stated that Linkinhoker pulled into the intersection and attempted to turn east on HWY 31 and hit Aills’ car on the front left side. Aills was taken to a local hospital where he is reported to be in stable condition. Continue reading Two People Killed, Two Injured after Hwy 31 Wreck

TYLER — The Smith County Road and Bridge Department has compiled an updated report of the status of county roads and bridges in the process of being repaired or replaced or waiting for parts to be repaired or replaced. Most of the roads were damaged due to the storms throughout the county last month. But two additional roads in Precinct 1 that will require culverts replacement were not affected by recent weather events, according to Smith County Engineer Frank Davis. Also included in the list are four county bridges being replaced by the Texas Department of Transportation. Continue reading June 4 Smith County Road and Bridge Report

VAN — The Van ISD Education Foundation received a donation of $1,000 Thursday from the Lindale ISD Education Foundation. According to a Van ISD news release, the donation is for disaster relief after multiple Van ISD buildings sustained significant damage from an EF3 tornado on May 10. “The support has been tremendous,” said Van ISD Superintendent Don Dunn. “We are incredibly appreciative for all the donations we have received.” Lindale ISD Superintendent Stan Surratt wore a red shirt designed by Lindale ISD teachers to show support for Van while presenting the check to the Van ISD Education Foundation. “Any day we can get Stan Surratt in a red shirt is a good day,” Dunn said. Continue reading Lindale ISD Aids Van ISD in Tornado Recovery

GILMER — A former Gilmer ISD student aide has been indicted on two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. KETK reports a grand jury indicted Orlandos Lugene Johnson, 47, who had been a 22-year employee of the school district. He was arrested on April 1 and booked into the Upshur County Jail. He is being held on $250,000 bond. Allegations were made by a former student. Johnson was placed on leave immediately once the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office alerted the school district. The suspect was an instructional aide at the time.