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TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler President Dr. Kirk Calhoun has been elected to the board of directors for the holding company of Southside Bank. According to our news partner KETK, Calhoun, who will step down as UT Tyler president at the end of May,was elected Wednesday to serve on the Southside Bancshares Inc. board of directors . He will still serves as chair of the UT Health East Texas board of directors.

Lee R. Gibson, president and CEO of Southside said, “We are proud to welcome Dr. Calhoun to Southside’s boards. He has led UT Tyler and UT Health Science Center through extraordinary change and growth and is well-respected across the state. Dr. Calhoun is a true visionary and I have no doubt he will bring great contributions and depth to Southside’s boards. We look forward to the impact his contributions will have on the Bank, our communities, clients, customers, and shareholders.”

Southside Bancshares Inc. is the holding company for the East Texas headquartered Southside Bank.

NACOGDOCHES – Authorities in Nacogdoches said they are searching for a suspect after a child was struck Thursday morning in a hit-and-run crash according to our news partners at KETK.

Officers were still at the scene in the 2100 block of Looneyville Street, as of 8 a.m., and said preliminary information shows a white SUV struck the child and fled the scene.

“The child is believed to be in stable condition and is being treated,” officials with Nacogdoches PD said. “Our officers are still looking for the suspect and vehicle.”

TYLER — It’s a spinoff from last summer’s Dr Pepper Float Ice Cream, Blue Bell Ice Cream will begin selling a highly requested flavor this summer. According to our news partner KETK, the new flavor is A&W Root Beer Float. The A&W Root Beat Float is a creamy vanilla ice cream swirled together with a root beer flavored sherbet.

John Neal Robinson, Blue Bell general sales manager said in a release, “We received many requests for an A&W Root Beer Float Ice Cream. After the huge success of Dr Pepper Float Ice Cream last year, we were ready to work together on another delicious flavor. We recommend enjoying a few scoops in a chilled mug just like your favorite root beer.”

Blue Bell said the new flavor is now available and will be sold in the half gallon and pint sizes through 2025.

HENDERSON COUNTY– A former business manager for an East Texas school district pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing funds from the school in federal court. According to our news partner KETK, 38-year-old Brandon Delane Looney pleaded guilty to theft from a program receiving federal funds while serving as Trinidad ISD’s business manager. Prosecutors said that Looney embezzled more than $300,000 between 2017 and 2023 during his time at Trinidad ISD. Looney could face up to a decade in prison, a fine and mandatory restitution to Trinidad ISD for the funds he stole.

TYLER — The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) is seeking applicants for GoBus operator positions in East Texas. According to our news partner KETK, ETCOG previously said they were accepting applications for positions in Anderson, Camp, Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Marion, Panola, Rains, Rusk, Smith, Upshur, Van Zandt and Wood counties. They held a job fair on Tuesday in hopes of filling the positions.

ETCOG said they are seeking applicants with a high school diploma or equivalent, at least two years of professional driving and customer service experience.

“GoBus is integral to the region and its communities, providing connectivity, fostering economic activity, and ensuring safe, reliable, and friendly transportation services. GoBus staff are dedicated and caring individuals representing the core of East Texans, and in seeking new team members, we hope to present a culture that prioritizes the community and those that work to aid its citizens,” Vince Huerta, ETCOG’s Director of Transportation, said.

Click here for an application.

JACKSONVILLE – According to our news partner KETK, the four fallen Jacksonville police officers were honored on Wednesday for their sacrifice and service as a part of National Police Week. The Jacksonville Police Department and other law enforcement agencies came together to remember the local fallen officers. The names of the officers will be added on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington. National Police Week was first established by President John F. Kennedy in 1962 to pay respect and offer recognition to officers who died protecting others.

“It’s important that we take time every year to stop and remember them and their sacrifice and their service to our community,” Jacksonville Police Chief Joe Williams said.

UPSHUR COUNTY – A 50-year-old Upshur County man was found guilty of 12 counts of sexual assault of two children. According to our news partner KETK, Walter Bartram was tried for seven counts of aggravated sexual assault of child under 14 and five counts of sex assault to another child.

The Upshur County district attorney’s office reported that in January 2020 one of the victims came to them to report the abuse that occurred between 2006-2011. Both victims testified in the trial, and the jury later returned a verdict of guilty. The defense asked for the judge to sentence Bartram, and the State said they will be asking for the maximum sentences for the charges.

Criminal District Attorney Billy Byrd said, “Both victims were brave and while moving forward in life they too still deal with the pain and hurt these horrific crimes caused both of them and have impacted their lives forever.”

A sentencing hearing will take place after a presentence investigation report. Bartram currently remains at the Upshur County Jail.

TYLER – The Tyler Police Department was notified by the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences of Dallas that remains found by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office belonged to Jose “Alex” Perez who had been missing since April 26. According to our news partner KETK, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office discovered the remains on May 5, and they were later identified as Jose Alejandro “Alex” Perez, 44 of Tyler. Perez went missing from the Towne Oak Apartments in Tyler at 9 p.m. on April 26. The Tyler Police Department said that they are working closely with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office to proceed with the investigation of his disappearance and death. Anyone with information regarding Perez’s last days is encouraged to contact the Tyler Police Department.

LINDEN – Our news colleagues at KETK report an arrest warrant has been issued for a man after a shooting Monday night at a ballpark in Linden and authorities said he is considered armed and dangerous. According to Linden PD, no one was struck in the shooting but damage was done to a car. An arrest warrant for felony deadly conduct was issued for 37-year-old Caradarow Hill, of Hughes Springs. He is believed to drive a blue Chevy Tahoe. Anyone with information on his location is asked to contact law enforcement. The investigation was conducted by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Hughes Springs Police Department and the Linden Police Department.

HOPKINS COUNTY — The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office arrested two Sulphur Springs ISD employees accused of unlawful restraint of a student on Friday according to our news partners at KETK. According to a release, Marcie Nordin Stewart, 55, and Kristy Denee Williams, 47, were arrested for unlawful restraint, a state jail felony offense after police and school administration were alerted to the incident. The sheriff’s office said the investigation’s ongoing and other arrests are likely. Continue reading Sulphur Springs ISD employees arrested

TYLER – Smith County announced on Wednesday they have launched an interactive map to show Smith County roads and offices that may be closed. According to our news partner KETK, the Smith County Road and Office Closures Map is a specialized map site that gives a visual aid to compliment other forms of communications sent out by Smith County.

The map shows county roads that are closed due to hazards like flooding, road maintenance or construction, and then displays detours along with how long the road is expected to be closed.

The map was created by Smith County GIS Analyst Ethan Robinson who said it is intended to be a “single pane of glass” for the public to be able to view road closures.
Continue reading Smith County officials unveil interactive road, office closures map

TYLER – Wednesday, TxDOT posted on X, formerly Twitter, announcing the closure of an exit on I-20. According to our news partner KETK, the closure is the eastbound I-20 SH 155 exit at mile marker 567. In the meantime, TxDOT has no reopening time as “crews assess the issue.”

TxDOT said that drivers can check DriveTexas for updates on the closure.