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SMITH COUNTY — Smith County residents will get to take one free trip to the landfill during the annual Smith Countywide Cleanup, which runs for the entire month of April. According to a news release from Smith County, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office Environmental Crimes Unit and Commissioners Court are once again offering the yearly program, which allows residents to take one truck-load of bulky items (3 cubic yards of solid waste) to the Greenwood Farms Landfill for free. During County Government Month, one voucher per resident are available in-person only at the Courthouse Annex, 200 E. Ferguson in Tyler, or any of the Justice of the Peace/Constable Offices throughout the County. The vouchers are available this week and can be used beginning Monday, April 1, through Saturday, May 4. Continue reading Countywide cleanup set for April

SMITH COUNTY — Pam Frederick has officially withdrawn her recount petition for Precinct 1 Commissioner race, after 30% of the ballots were counted, our news partner KETK reports. According to David Stein, the county chair for the Smith County Republican Party, Frederick conceded, stopping the recount after officials recounted 30% of the votes finding zero discrepancies.

Frederick said in a statement, “Fifteen counters spent up to ten hours today recounting the paper ballots for the race. More than 3,000 votes were recounted which comprises approximately one-third of the total vote for the race. There were no discrepancies in the vote count, proving that the electronic voting system used in Smith County is accurate.”

RUSK — An accident Monday afternoon involving an 18-wheeler and a van killed that vehicles lone occupant near Rusk. According to our news partner KETK, the driver was 44-year-old Nicholas Schintgen of Lino Lakes, Minn.

A DPS report said that Schintgen was driving south on US 69 “at an unsafe speed for the road conditions.” The 18-wheeler, also on US 69 south lost control, causing the van to veer off the edge of road and striking a tree. Nicholas Schintgen was pronounced dead at the accident site.

GREGG COUNTY – A man is dead after officials said a pursuit that started in Gregg County ended in a crash on an Upshur County road. According to our news partner KETK, Gregg County Chief Deputy Craig Harrington said a warrant was issued last week for Mario Tywan Marton, 47, for burglary of a habitation. Deputies attempted to serve the warrant around 7 a.m. when the man fled his Gladewater home. This started a pursuit into Upshur County, according to Harrington, and Upshur County authorities attempted to spike the Marton’s car but he was able to evade. On FM 726, officials said the car struck a pickup truck resulting in the death of the man fleeing authorities. A third car slid into the pickup truck as a result of the crash, but Harrington said no one was taken to the hospital for treatment.

TYLER — The TJC Earth and Space Science Center featuring Hudnall Planetarium will offer a full slate of special events during the week leading up to the historic total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8.

Eclipse watch parties in Tyler on April 8
TJC has partnered with Visit Tyler to promote numerous eclipse-viewing sites across the city on April 8. Locations including Caldwell Zoo, Discovery Science Place, True Vine Brewing Company, Tyler State Park, and many more, will host their own special viewing events. For details click here.

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler received a $447,195 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support breast cancer research. According to our news partner KETK and a UTT news release, Dr. May Abdelaziz, an assistant pharmacy professor at the Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy, is conducting research into HER2, a protein that promotes the growth of breast cancer. UTT reportedly received a grant from the NIH to support Abdelaziz’s research.

“The receipt of this NIH grant underscores the impactful research being conducted at the Fisch College of Pharmacy,” Dr. Amy Schwartz, Fisch College of Pharmacy dean, said. “Dr. Abdelaziz’s innovative work in developing targeted therapy for breast cancer highlights our college’s contribution to cutting-edge solutions in health care and pharmaceutical sciences.” Continue reading Professor receives grant for breast cancer research

TYLER — A Tyler man was sentenced Monday to 44 years in prison in connection to a 2021 shooting. According to our news partner KETK, 26-year-old Zaccheus Keion Dunn was found guilty for the murder of Christopher Frank Eiglebiger. Police records say Eiglebiger was fatally shot May 13, 2021 at a residence in Tyler. A second suspect, 29-year-old Dakevian Beniot Scroggins was identified in connection to the murder. On July 25, Tyler Police arrested Scroggins and he was charged with capital murder, evading arrest/detention and a parole violation. His trial was scheduled to start Monday.

LONGVIEW – It was announced on Monday that Eastman Chemical Company plans to invest $1.3 billion in expanding their Longview facility. According to our news partner KETK, the City of Longview has been named as the location for Eastman’s second U.S. molecular recycling facility, which is expected to add more than 200 full-time jobs. City of Longview Mayor Andy Mack said the additional positions will have an average annual salary of $92,000. In a release, it was said the Longview site was selected due to synergies with existing infrastructure, operations and the location also has enough space for on-site renewable energy.

“We are excited to announce this next step in our commitment to our circular strategy with the decision to locate our second U.S. molecular recycling facility at our existing site in Texas,” Eastman Board Chair and CEO Mark Costa said. “We have decades of history successfully operating in Longview, and this will be a great investment for the local community.”

“This facility will mark the single largest capital investment in the Longview area in LEDCO history,” the city said in a release.

SMITH COUNTY – A man is dead after an overnight shooting in Smith County. According to our news partner KETK, sheriff’s office said they received a call around 12:30 a.m. on Monday and responded to the scene in the 14600 block of Park Hill where the caller allegedly told them her father had been shot by her brother. Life-saving measures were started on the victim, who was identified as 79-year-old Dell Howard Tilley, of Tyler, and authorities said a man was immediately detained. Tilley was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later, according to officials, and an autopsy has been ordered.

Investigators completed an arrest affidavit and received a warrant for murder for the suspect identified as Christopher Tilley. According to Sergeant Larry Christian, Tilley was taken to the Smith County Jail and booked for the warrant with a bond set at $750,000.

LONGVIEW – It was announced on Monday that Eastman Chemical Company plans to invest $1.3 billion in expanding their Longview facility. According to the City of Longview, they have been named as the location for Eastman’s second U.S. molecular recycling facility, which is expected to add more than 200 full-time jobs. City of Longview Mayor Andy Mack said the additional positions will have an average annual salary of $92,000. “We are excited to announce this next step in our commitment to our circular strategy with the decision to locate our second U.S. molecular recycling facility at our existing site in Texas,” Eastman Board Chair and CEO Mark Costa said. “We have decades of history successfully operating in Longview, and this will be a great investment for the local community.” The Longview site was selected due to synergies with existing infrastructure, operations and the location also has enough space for on-site renewable energy.

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an early Monday morning shooting that left a 79-year-old man dead. According to a press release, deputies responded to a home on Park Hill following a 911 call around 12:30 from a woman saying her father had been shot by her brother. Arriving officials attempted life saving measures, to no avail. The victim, identified as Dell Howard Tille, of Tyler, was pronounced dead at the scene. An an autopsy has been ordered. The suspect was arrested and the reported weapon was secured. Officials said charges are expected later this morning and the suspect will be identified at that time. The investigation is ongoing. More details will be released as they become available.

TYLER – The annual Azalea and Spring Flower Trail opened Friday to Tyler residents and visitors until April 8. According to our news partner KETK, the trails are about 10 miles along residential gardens that include azaleas, tulips, wisteria and dogwood. There will be activities on the trails such as art shows, festivals, historic home tours, markets and the famous horse drawn carriages.
Susan Travis, Visit Tyler Vice President of Sales said, “This is the time of year where Tyler comes alive with colors,” “Everyone loves getting out in the spring in Tyler.” A bonus this year will be the solar eclipse on April 8.

Travis added, “We love that the Trails attract out-of-town visitors to Tyler because while they’re here, they not only visit the Azalea Trails, but they spend money in our hotels, restaurants, shops, and more. Visitors have a large economic impact on the community during this time.”

More information is available on the Azalea and Spring Flower Trail and events at Totality Tyler and Visit Tyler.