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LONGVIEW — The City of Longview says it’s asking residents to dream big for the future of their community as part of the Longview Comprehensive Plan. Longview-area residents are encouraged to give their input through an online survey and a special Comprehensive Plan community event from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. February 10 at the LeTourneau University Belcher Center, 2100 Mobberly Ave. The event will include several future-planning activities and interactive discussions on a variety of community topics. Hors d’oeuvres will be served. Meeting participants will receive a free ticket to the East Texas Symphonic Band’s Grand Winter Celebration Concert that evening at 7:30 p.m. Continue reading Longview Comprehensive Plan Community Event February 10

JACKSONVILLE — A house near Jacksonville was destroyed after a fire broke out early Wednesday morning. According to the Jacksonville Fire Department, the blaze broke out around 6:30 a.m., in the 1100 block of County Road 3104, south of the city. KETK reports multiple fire departments responded. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

TYLER — The GOP hopefuls for Texas House of Representatives, District 6, continue their battle for endorsements. The Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) PAC Tuesday announced it’s backing challenger Skip Ogle. Bob Westbrook of Tyler, a TRA PAC Trustee, said the association met in Austin on January 8 and voted to endorse Ogle. Westbrook said Ogle “understands the challenges we all face. He has a history of community involvement and service. Most importantly, he has pledged to listen to all members of the community who deserve a true representative in Austin.” Others endorsing Ogle include the Greater Tyler Association of Realtors and former Sheriff J.B. Smith. Among the backers of incumbent Matt Schaefer are Texas Right to Life, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, and the National Rifle Association.

LINDALE — A Lindale firefighter who suffered serious burns battling a house fire remains on the road to recovery. KETK reports Joe Yeakley has already undergone two skin graft surgeries at Dallas’s Parkland Hospital but still has several more to go. There’s no timeline on how long Yeakley will remain hospitalized, but the Lindale community and others are rallying around his recovery. Several benefits are already lined up in Lindale in the coming months. And this Saturday, Smith County volunteer firefighters will again be asking you to help “fill the helmet” with donations for Yeakley’s recovery.

TYLER — Some fifteen people trespassing on railroad land were evicted from a makeshift campsite near Tyler’s downtown Monday evening. Last month, Union Pacific Railroad, the owner of the land, told campers they had four weeks to leave. Tyler’s Salvation Army tells KETK five former “tent city” residents came to its shelter Tuesday night. We’re told Union Pacific will remove any remaining items on the property by month’s end. Continue reading Homeless Residents Evicted, but Some Find Alternate Shelter

VAN — A memorial service will be held this Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Hilliard Funeral Home in Van for Brooks Gremmels, credited with working to revive the town of Ben Wheeler. According to his obituary on the funeral home’s website, Gremmels died Sunday in Tyler at age 70 from complications of pancreatic cancer. Gremmels grew up in Tyler and later became a Dallas businessman, relocating to the Ben Wheeler area with his wife, Rese, about ten years ago. Continue reading Service Set for Brooks Gremmels, Who Worked to Revive Ben Wheeler

DALLAS (AP) — Recently deceased Texas billionaire Harold Simmons’ wife wants his will sealed by a Dallas court. Attorneys for Annette Simmons are expected to argue Wednesday before a Dallas County probate judge to have the will’s contents blocked from public view. Simmons, who was born in Golden, in Wood County, rose from poverty to head a sprawling corporate empire with interests ranging from energy to nuclear waste dumps. He donated hundreds of millions of dollars to charitable causes. He was also well-known in the political world for his funding of Republican and conservative campaigns. He bankrolled the 2004 ads questioning Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry’s Vietnam War service. Four years later, he funded ads attacking Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

TYLER — Longtime university friend Mary John Spence has given The University of Texas at Tyler a generous gift in honor of her late husband, Ralph Spence, Jerre Iversen, vice president for university advancement, announced. The gift will name a boardroom in the university’s future alumni center. UT Tyler is currently finalizing plans for the alumni center and raising funds toward the building’s construction. A dedication of the Ralph Spence Board Room and Gallery was held Tuesday morning in the UT Tyler James H. Stewart Jr. Administration Building. Continue reading Late UT Tyler Benefactor Ralph Spence Honored

TYLER – Smith County authorities say they’ve identified a body found in a burning car over eight months ago as that of a woman from Dumas who had committed suicide. On May 23, 2013, shortly after 6 a.m., firefighters responded to a call of a burning vehicle on County Road 3101 near the Jackson Heights area in Smith County. At the scene, they found a four-door car that was burning, but the majority of the blaze had self-extinguished. Smith County Sheriff’s deputies also responded to the scene and after a close inspection found the remains of a person inside the vehicle. At the time, it could not be determined whether the person was male or female. The body was sent to Dallas for an autopsy and identification. Continue reading Body Identified from 2013 Car Fire

MARSHALL — A former Harrison County employee was arrested for credit and debit card abuse. According to KETK, deputies with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office arrested Teresa Webb, 43, and booked her into the Harrison County Jail January 23 on three charges of credit and debit card abuse. Authorities say she admitted to the offenses during an interview with criminal investigators. According to officials, Webb was immediately arrested and relieved of her employment. Bond was sent and posted at $22,500. Webb was released on January 24.

KILGORE — A Kilgore man is behind bars after a routine traffic stop revealed a large amount of methamphetamine in his underwear, according to officials. KETK reports Julius Randolph, 50, was arrested after being stopped Friday night for a traffic violation. K9 Officer Brady Middlebrooks investigated the situation, then searched the truck driven by Randolph and reportedly found drug paraphernalia and narcotic-type packaging material. Randolph was arrested for possession of the paraphernalia. Officials say upon being booked into the Kilgore Municipal Jail, it was discovered he had approximately 30 grams of methamphetamine hidden in his underwear. He was additionally charged with delivery/sale/manufacture of a controlled substance.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man is behind bars after allegedly forcing a teenage girl to perform oral sex on him while he photographed the incident. According to KETK, Gregg County Jail records show Desmond Ramon “Snoop” Jones, 35, was arrested January 18 for child sexual assault and for furnishing alcohol to a minor. Jones had previously been booked on various charges. He’s being held in the Gregg County Jail on $101,000 bond.

EAST TEXAS — Only a few school districts in East Texas will have late starts today as a result of the latest winter storm to plague Texas. The following schools are having classes start at 10:00 or are being delayed by two hours:

Crockett

Lufkin

Nacogdoches

Texas State Technical College in Marshall

NACOGDOCHES — Police are investigating a double homicide after two people were found dead early Monday morning at a Nacogdoches apartment complex. KETK reports it happened just after 4:00 at the Eastwood Terrace Apartments on the 3000 block of Sante Fe. When police arrived, they found two men lying on the ground outside an apartment building with gunshot wounds. Deveston Denard Flemon, 32, of Nacogdoches, was pronounced dead at the scene. William Richard Cole, 33, was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he died shortly after his arrival. After an investigation, authorities issued a warrant for Decobie Dywain Durden, 36, of Nacogdoches. He was arrested around 8:30 a.m. in the 1300 block of Raguet in Nacogdoches and has been charged with capital murder.

MARSHALL — Six East Texans are arrested after being charged with providing alcohol to minors. According to KETK, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office received information regarding a large party and loud music on Saturday, January 18, at an address on Rupe Huffman Road in western Harrison County. Deputies responded around 3:00 a.m. and found close to 30 cars parked on roadways and in the yard area of the residence. Deputies located the person who leases the property and detained approximately 43 individuals at the home. It was determined that 37 of the 43 people at the party were not of the legal drinking age, according to authorities. Continue reading Six Arrested for Allegedly Providing Alcohol to Minors

JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville Police investigate a reported drive-by shooting. Authorities tell KETK that numerous shots were fired at a residence on Churchill St. around 1:30 Monday morning. The shooter hit the building as well as a vehicle out front. Nobody was injured in the incident and, so far, no arrests have been made for the shooting. However, while investigating the drive-by, police found narcotics on scene. Authorities believe the drugs are connected to the shooting, and one person has been taken into custody for the narcotics. That person’s name has not yet been released.

JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville police continue to investigate a stabbing that occurred Saturday night, just before 6:00 p.m., on North Bolton Street. Police tell KETK it was the result of a domestic dispute. The suspect, L.T. Whitaker Jr, 39, was taken into custody after allegedly stabbing a woman in the side. The woman was hospitalized for her injuries and her condition is not known at this time. Authorities have not yet released her identity.

PALESTINE — An East Texas woman is behind bars after a traffic stop led officials to thousands in counterfeit money and equipment. KETK reports it all began last Thursday at approximately 11:00 a.m. Officers January and Nicholson with the Palestine Police Department were conducting surveillance on a house in the area of East Lacy and North Fowler Street when a traffic violation was seen by Officer Nicholson on a red car leaving the residence. January conducted a stop on the vehicle, contacting the male driver, identified as Robbie Dudley, 33, and a female passenger, later identified as Jennifer Bailey, 30. After police reportedly determined Dudley was a habitual violator of driving without a license/driving with a suspended driver’s license, he was placed under arrest.
Continue reading Thousands in Counterfeit Money, Equipment Found; Woman Held

TYLER — East Texas Medical Center-Tyler has reported its second flu death of the season. KETK reports that brings the Tyler total to three this season, including one at Mother Frances. The most recent death came this past week, according to numbers released by ETMC Monday. Another patient died there the week of December 30. ETMC Tyler lists a total of over 220 flu patients this season. Health officials continue to tell residents that the best preventive measure against the disease is a flu shot. Continue reading ETMC Tyler Reports Second Flu Death

SULPHUR SPRINGS (AP) – Fire has destroyed an East Texas school bus that was parked for the weekend, and investigators questioned two men who could face arson charges. Sulphur Springs Fire Department Chief Eric Hill says a neighbor noticed the fire Sunday night outside in the school district bus yard and summoned help. Hill says the bus was destroyed and investigators blame arson. Nobody was hurt. Hill says two suspects were caught after authorities also responded to several small trash and brush fires Sunday night. Police did not immediately provide information on possible charges against the men. An official with the Sulphur Springs Independent School District says the 60-passenger bus was a standby vehicle not used on a daily basis. No damage estimate was provided.

LINDALE — The Lindale/Smith County community is continuing to pull together on behalf of Lindale firefighter Joe Yeakley, seriously injured while battling a recent house blaze. Yeakley’s colleagues say he still has a long way to go. There are a number of opportunities in coming days to do your part for Yeakley and his family, including some that were added to the list over the weekend. Continue reading Community Continues to Help Injured Firefighter

AUSTIN (AP) – State health officials have advised against eating certain fish caught in East Texas. The Texas Department of State Health Services on Monday issued a fish consumption advisory for parts of the Neches River Basin. The advisory includes Sam Rayburn Reservoir and the B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir. Lab testing of fish samples found elevated levels of mercury and dioxins. Agency officials say the advisory covers six species of fish caught between the State Highway 7 bridge west of Lufkin downstream to the U.S. Highway 96 bridge near Evadale and both reservoirs. Women of childbearing age and children are advised not to eat blue catfish larger than 30 inches, flathead catfish, gar, largemouth bass larger than 16 inches, smallmouth buffalo and spotted bass larger than 16 inches.

JACKSONILLE — A massive blaze has destroyed a storage building belonging to East Texas Medical Center in Jacksonville. It was reported around 9:00 Saturday night off of U.S. Highway 69 near Bolton street. That building is said to be located right behind the Trinity Assisted Living Home. The Chief with the Jacksonville Fire Department told KETK crews on scene the fire had it under control. No injuries have been reported. They did however put the Trinity Assisted Living Home on standby in case of an emergency evacuation, but everything is said to be back to normal. Trinity Assisted Living told KETK that the fire was at their backdoor and they had to bring all their residents to the front of the building. There was no damage to the home and no injuries to report. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

LOS ANGELES — Mineola’s Kacey Musgraves was a double winner at the Grammy Awards Sunday night. Musgraves won for Best County Song for “Merry Go ‘Round” and Best Country Album for “Same Trailer, Different Park.” Musgraves was a 2006 graduate of Mineola high School.

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at other work planned in Smith County by the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

SMITH COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue edge work on Farm Road 838 between State Highway 135 northeast of Arp and the Rusk County Line, followed by the same work on Farm Road 15 between Troup and the Rusk County Line. Elsewhere, TxDOT maintenance crews are scheduled to continue edge work on Farm Road 2710 between Farm Road 16 in Lindale and Farm Road 14 in Red Springs. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates

LONGVIEW — Three people were forced from their home by a fire which began in the attic of a house in southern Longview. According to the Longview News-Journal, no one was injured in the blaze, which brought two Longview Fire Department engines and a ladder truck out around 10:30 Saturday morning to 1108 Latham Lane. “They had a fire up in the attic,” Assistant Fire Marshal Joey Cowan said after firefighters had extinguished flames and white smoke no longer wafted from the roof, front door and a front window. “No one was home at the time of the incident,” he said. “A neighbor saw smoke and called us.” Cowan estimated about $1,000 damage, but added two children and an adult would have to find temporary lodging as a precaution. “They will be displaced due this being probably an electrical wire as the origin,” he said at the scene.

KILGORE — A man has been fatally shot in his home just outside Kilgore. According to the Longview News-Journal, Kilgore police and sheriff’s deputies responded to a call shortly after 4:45 Saturday afternoon at a secluded home off the 1100 block of State Highway 31 and barely outside the Kilgore city limits. Upon arrival, officials found James Carson Smith, 45, (pictured) shot to death. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene by Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace Talyna Carlson, and his body was sent to Southeast Texas Forensic Center in Tyler for an autopsy. Continue reading Kilgore Homicide Under Investigation

JACKSONVILLE — Police continue to search for a 28-year-old man who has been missing since Tuesday, according to Jacksonville Police Department officials. Randal Rahushun Roberson reportedly left about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 21, en route to New Summerfield, and never arrived at his location. He also never returned to his residence. According to KETK, he was traveling in a white 1995 Mercury Cougar, which was found abandoned Thursday on a county road just north of New Summerfield, police said. Continue reading Jacksonville Police Still Searching for Missing Man

CARTHAGE — According to Texas Monthly, an East Texas man whose murder case inspired a 2011 film could be set free as early as next week. According to KETK, Austin criminal defense lawyer, Jodi Cole, claims that she has come across new evidence which, if it had been divulged at the Bernie Tiede trial, would have explained his vicious act of violence towards Mrs. Nugent and perhaps would have led the jury to be more lenient in its sentencing. This coming week, Cole will be filing a writ of habeas corpus in the state district court where Bernie was originally tried. Continue reading New Evidence Claims that Bernie Tiede Could Be Set Free

TENAHA — An Amber Alert has been issued for a Shelby County child that was allegedly abducted in Tenaha. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office says Ivan Alvarado, 3, was reported missing at 9:00 Sunday morning from the 1100 block of County Road 4249 in Tenaha. Ivan is 3 feet tall with black hair and weighs 20 pounds. Deputies say Ivan, his 16-year-old sister, Viviana Alvarado, and her 1-year-old daughter, Paola Alvarado, are believed to have disappeared from the home together. The suspect and missing child were last seen in a newer model black Cadillac Escalade. Anyone with information is asked to contact local law enforcement or the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at 936-598-5600 or 936-598-5601.