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ANGELINA COUNTY – UPDATE: Officials said the woman has been identified. The Angelina County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help identifying a young woman found walking down the side of a highway on Sunday. She was found on State Highway 94 eastbound heading towards Lufkin in the area of Della Russell Road. The sheriff’s office said that she seems to be unable to communicate with them. Anyone who knows her identity is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 936-639-3331.

MARSHALL – The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said that a man was arrested for possession of crack, cocaine and marijuana, after a pursuit in Marshall on Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, deputies reportedly saw a speeding vehicle and made a pull over attempt. The car didn’t stop and kept going across several city streets. The vehicle hit a dead end and the officers continued their chase on foot. At this point, deputies arrested 37-year-old Justin Jones of Marshall. Jones reportedly had 2.5 ounces of cocaine, 9 grams of crack, 35 grams of THC and 2.5 pounds of marijuana in his possession. Jones is charged with evading arrest/detention with a vehicle, three counts of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance between 4 and 200 grams, possession of marijuana between 4 ounces and 5 pounds. He is currently in the Harrison County Jail.

TYLER – On Friday, local and state emergency services had the opportunity to sharpen their skills in a realistic trauma simulation at Green Acres Baptist Church. According to our news partner KETK, the full-scale drill in Tyler brought together more 150 personnel from agencies from around East Texas for disaster exercises. Some of those participating in the drill were Christus Health, Tyler Police and Smith County Fire. The agencies used over 200 volunteer actors and students to act as the victims.

Charles Clanton, Smith Co. ESD 2 Division Chief Of Training In Emergency Medical Services described the drill concept, “A device was trigged of some variety. It was not real clear what the device released in the area of the band concert and so there were a number of injured people. They’ll go through the full process today of how one of these situations would be managed both from a response component and a recovery component. The ability to respond to something, get a command structure in place properly manage it, make sure what we’re dealing with, and then respond appropriately.
Continue reading East Texas ER services in drills Friday in Tyler

TROUP – The Smith County Emergency Services District 2 has reported that an oil tank exploded at a site on County Road 4703 near Troup on Saturday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County ESD2 responded along with with New Summerfield and North Cherokee County Volunteer Fire Departments. No injuries were reported from the explosion.

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department said that one person was shot and four others were injured in a shooting at the Belaire Manor Apartments late Friday night. According to our news partner KETK, officers responded to call at the apartments in which, “unknown actors” targeted one person specifically and shot them but four others were also injured during the aggravated assault. The five were taken to local hospitals and treat for injuries that were not life threatening. Longview PD will continue to investigate the case. And they asked anyone with information to call them at 903-237-1110 or Gregg County Crime Stoppers, who pays a reward for the first most accurate tip, at 903-236-7876.

TYLER – The Texas Department of Transportation announced on Saturday that the Loop 323 extension near US 271 in Tyler is closed until further notice. According to our news partner KETK, the closure is needed so contractors can safely make repairs in the area for however long they need to. TxDOT said the closure is open-ended and that they will notify the public when the road is reopened.

TYLER – A woman has been sentenced to two years in jail and five years of probation and community supervision in connection to a 2023 Tyler rent scam. According to our news partner KETK, police reports say Sedona Cheayann Francis stole $5,096 for rent payments from seven tenants at a Tyler apartment complex in summer of 2023. She was employed at NuRock property at the time of the theft. The report also states that Francis texted a tenant with a back-to-school half-off rent deal that the tenant then paid to Francis on CashApp. Six other cases with this similar method were reported involving tenants at the apartment complex on Frankston Highway near Earl Campbell Parkway. The tenants that fell for this scam faced eviction because they were not being able to pay rent. Francis was found guilty of theft of property between $2,500 and $30,000 and started her sentence on March 19, 2024.

TYLER – Thursday, Gov. Greg Abbott appointed a University of Texas at Tyler student to serve on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as a student representative. According to our news partner KETK, appointed by the governor is Luke Schwartz, a Tyler Junior College and Texas A&M University graduate. Luke is pursuing a doctor of medicine degree and an executive master of business administration in healthcare management degree from UT Tyler. He will serve on the board starting June 1.

QUITMAN– A Winnsboro man was sentenced to life in prison after a Wood County jury convicted him of sexual abuse of a young child over a long period of time. According to our news partner KETK, Justin Blaine Sicard was convicted and sentenced on Thursday and will serve a life sentence consecutively after a 15-year sentence he received in 2018 from Hopkins County authorities.
Continue reading Winnsboro man to serve life sentence for child abuse

TYLER — Chapel Hill Independent School District announced the that one of its students is being recognized at a national level. CCHS art student Everett Murrieta will have his art showcased at the Congressional Art Exhibition Reception breakfast in Washington, D.C. June 27. Congressman Nathaniel Moran will present Everett and his artwork to an audience that morning. Following the reception, Everett and his mother, Samantha Hembroughwill enjoy a private tour of the nation’s capital.
Continue reading Chapel Hill ISD student recognized in national art contest

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – TxDOT is warning drivers of puncturing spikes found on I-20 again. This time in Van Zandt County. According to our news partner KETK, 12 caltrops were found May 6 on I-20 westbound near mile marker 533 and eastbound at mile markers 518, 520, 528 and 529. Caltrops usually are four-pronged, heavy gauge steel puncturing spikes that can be thrown or linked together to cause immediate and irreparable failure of tires.

If you have with information on the incidents, your asked to call Lt. Bob Keltner with the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Department at 469-576-1274 or call Andrew Fagile with the Texas Department of Public Safety at 90-567-2011 ext. 10914.

TYLER – Smith County Clerk Karen Phillips has been found guilty of misdemeanor interfering with public duties after a March 2023 traffic stop that led to the arrest of her son, his friend and herself. According to our news partner KETK, her trial began on Wednesday, and her sentencing has been scheduled for June 14. Her son Derek was sentenced for the same offense and was sentenced to 30 days in the Smith County Jail. Body cam footage of the incident from KETK shows their confrontation with police which led to their November indictment.

CHANDLER — Gov. Greg Abbott announced that the City of Chandler has been designated by the Texas Music Office (TMO) as a Music Friendly Texas Certified Community. According to our news partner KETK, the Music Friendly Texas program was created in 2016 to foster music business-related economic development and job creation in cities and communities. The city will host a ceremony alongside TMO, Chandler Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and the Chandler of Commerce on Thursday during the Chandler Chamber/EDC luncheon.

“Being a Music Friendly Texas Certified Community will make Chandler an even more desirable location to be a part of. As a community that supports many local events, this partnership will help play a role in the continued growth in our musicians within our schools, community, and neighboring areas. Exciting times are here in the ‘City with a Heart,’” Chandler Chamber of Commerce President Mike Yates said. Continue reading Chandler named Music Friendly Community