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TYLER — Criminal Investigations Division (CID) agents with the Texas Department of Public Safety say they’ve seized approximately 700 marijuana plants from an outdoor location off FM 2016 near Smith County Road 427. According to a DPS news release, CID agents received an anonymous tip describing a possible grow site earlier this week. Investigators say they utilized DPS aircraft to pinpoint the exact location of the outdoor grow, and then conducted a joint eradication operation. Continue reading DPS: Authorities Raid Pot Field near Tyler

TYLER – Robert E. Lee High School is the recipient of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Safe Sports School, 1st Team Award. According to a Tyler ISD news release, the award champions safety and recognizes secondary schools that provide safe environments for student athletes. The award reinforces the importance of providing the best level of care, injury prevention and treatment, according to TISD officials. “Tyler Lee is honored to receive this 1st team recognition from NATA and we remain committed to keeping our student athletes safe during physical education classes, team practices and games so they can accomplish their own goals of great competition, winning records, fair sportsmanship and good health,” said Lee’s athletic trainer, Amy Langley. Continue reading Robert E. Lee High School Receives National Award

TYLER — More changes are on the way to downtown Tyler. KETK reports the old Forum building, empty for a good while, has now been sold to Austin Bank. The bank says it has no immediate plans for the structure at Front and Broadway, where it’s stood for 47 years. The building, opened as a furniture store, has been everything since then from a restaurant to a children’s theater.

TYLER — Tyler police say an alleged drunken driver led officers on a wild chase in which he crashed his car into several vehicles. Tyler Police Department Public Information Officer Don Martin told KETK the pursuit began at around 2:00 Tuesday afternoon. That’s when Martin says a motorcycle officer on Vine Avenue noticed that a vehicle missing a wheel in the turn lane almost hit another car. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, which was driving on a rim, and radioed for backup to other motorcycle units a few blocks ahead. Continue reading Tyler PD: Drunk Driver Leads Officers on Chase, Hits Multiple Vehicles

LONGVIEW — Longview police are investigating an accident in which two people were hurt when an SUV crashed into a building. Police were dispatched Wednesday at 9:31 p.m. to the 700 Block of South Green Street. Arriving officers learned a Chevrolet Tahoe, driven by 30-year-old Latoya Shenae Addison of Longview, was involved in an accident. Addison said she was traveling westbound on Young Street approaching the red light. Just after making a right turn onto Green Street from Young Street, Addison lost control of her vehicle. The vehicle left the roadway and struck a parked Cadillac in the parking lot of a business in the 700 Block of Green Street. Addison’s SUV also struck the building and two bystanders. Another parked vehicle was damaged when the Cadillac was pushed into it. Continue reading SUV Crashes Into Building Injuring Two Bystanders

HENDERSON — As expected, not everyone is on board with a newly-passed immigration resolution in Rusk County. County commissioners this week voted against housing, educating, or giving medical care to illegal immigrants. Augustine Pinedo with LULAC says the measure isn’t necessary. Pinedo says he thinks the move is “just a knee-jerk reaction” and “maybe…racist in nature.” He remarks, “People panic about the illegal immigrants.” The county judge says that is absolutely not the case. Joel Hale says they’re simply requesting an agreement that they’ll be reimbursed by the feds if they house any illegal immigrants in Rusk County.

MARSHALL -— After one day of trial, Andre McCall pleaded guilty Wednesday morning to manslaughter with a deadly weapon finding, the lesser-included offense of murder, for the April 2012 death of Ronnetta Patterson. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The victim, Patterson, was killed on April 14, 2012, when a stray bullet discharged by McCall from his firearm struck her, following an argument between McCall and another person while hanging out at a home. According to the Longview News-Journal, Patterson was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center-Marshall where she died of her injuries.

MARSHALL — A 35-year-old cold case was resolved this week after a person of interest, who is serving time in Louisiana for another crime, confessed to two slayings in other jurisdictions as well as his role in the homicide of Chester Underwood in Marshall, according to the Longview News-Journal. He also confessed to another homicide in DeSoto Parish. Through an agreement for his confession, the Harrison County District Attorney and prosecutors in DeSoto Parish decided not to prosecute Larry Thompson, the self-confessed 71-year-old hitman, for the crimes in the respective jurisdictions. Continue reading Cold Case Solved by Jailhouse Confession

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY — An East Texas man was arrested Tuesday night on two counts of indecency with a child and was booked into the Nacogdoches County Jail late Tuesday night. Deputies reportedly received a complainant from child protective services that a child had made an outcry to a parent of being assaulted. According to KETK, a forensic interview was conducted on two children at the Harold’s House in Nacogdoches. Sheriff Jason Bridges said both children are under the age of 8 years old and had been victimized at their home by a family friend. The suspect was identified as Aaron Burch, 18, who was alone with the children at the time and babysitting them at the residence. Continue reading Man Accused of Indecency with Two Children

TYLER — Tyler Junior College continues to grow — so much so that it’s run out of dorm space. But KETK reports UT Tyler will be helping out with its Eagle’s Landing facility. A new residence hall will be ready for the new semester at TJC and will hold over 200 students — but that’s still not enough. UTT recently opened university apartments to TJC students, which is a win-win situation — especially for those students who transfer from the junior college to the four-year university. There are some requirements to live at Eagle’s Landing. You need to have at least a 2.5 GPA.

AUSTIN — The Texas Racing Commission postpones a decision on a controversial plan to allow people to bet on horse races that have already happened. State Representative Dan Flynn of Van has already weighed in on the idea, known as “historical racing.” Horse racing tracks would set up terminals that are similar to slot machines, and people could place wagers on old races on video playback, with some of the identifying information removed. Critics say they’re too much like slot machines. Flynn has asked for a ruling on whether the racing commission has the authority to approve the machines. The proposal was scheduled to go before the racing commission next week, but it’s not on the commission’s agenda after all. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports one member of the commission wants more time to review the information it’s received from the public, which includes more than 13,000 comments.

TYLER — If you’ve recently taken a trip down Tyler’s Old Jacksonville Highway, you may have noticed there’s nothing “old” about all the new developments popping up in that area. But with growth comes more traffic. According to KETK, that’s why the city of Tyler is conducting a study to address the issue. Officials say with all the new growth, the outcome of the study will help tremendously. The study will cost about $60,000 and take about one year to complete.

TYLER — The City of Tyler Traffic Department will re-stripe the streets in the downtown area beginning Saturday, August 16. Officials say work will begin at 7 a.m. and end in the early afternoon. The re-striping is expected to be complete by Saturday afternoon. Drivers can expect delays and are advised to use alternate routes. Traffic crews will be utilizing mobile road blocks to allow painting and curing of street markings.

TYLER — Gang violence is at the center of the murder trial of Dennis Bendy, which started Tuesday in Tyler and continued Wednesday with more testimony. The 20-year-old Bendy and two other men are charged with the murder of Briana Young last summer. KETK reports evidence in the case shows Young was caught in the middle of a shootout between rival gangs at P.T. Cole Park. The district attorney’s office says Bendy was the driver and fired 8 shots that night with a 9-millimeter pistol. Young was shot twice. The fatal shot came from a Ruger bullet. Authorities are still trying to find the origin of that second bullet. More than 20 witnesses are expected to take the stand during Bendy’s trial.

GLADEWATER — More information comes out on a suspected animal hoarder who’s under arrest — and is reportedly still trying to collect cats and dogs. Linda Luker of Gladewater had to turn over her 64 dogs, six cats, and horse to the SPCA in May. She said she was running a rescue operation, but the animals were sick. Even after that, Upshur County Constable Jean Dolly says Luker tried to restock — and had taken in three dogs and a cat and asked residents for more. Dolly says he considers the whole situation very sad and feels sorry for Luker. He says she faces an animal cruelty charge. She’s also been ordered to pay $20,000 in fines — money that will be used to pay the SPCA for veterinary care.

TYLER — Renovation and construction at the Tyler Public Library will commence Aug. 11. Construction is expected to be completed by mid-October, according to a city news release. The Library will remain open during the renovation and will observe normal hours. The Library is open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For further questions regarding the construction, call the Library at (903) 593-7323. Continue reading Tyler Public Library Renovation Begins Next Week

PALESTINE (AP) – Police responding to reports of gunfire have arrested a suspect after finding two wounded men on an East Texas street. Palestine police are trying to determine what prompted the shootings early Wednesday. The victims told officers that they were shot while at a nearby residence. Lt. James Muniz says police went to the home and all of the residents emerged without incident. A man was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His name wasn’t immediately released. Police say the two victims were transported to Palestine Regional Hospital and then moved to a hospital in Tyler. Their names and details on their conditions weren’t immediately available.

KILGORE — The former husband of a Kilgore woman is named a person of interest in her disappearance, police said Tuesday. Craig Davison is being investigated in the case of his ex-wife, Christina Rea Davison, who disappeared in May from her home in the 500 block of Elder Road in Kilgore, according to the Longview News-Journal. The 43-year-old woman was last seen by friends May 16th. Marshall police found a purse they said belongs to Davison near Loop 390 in Marshall May 17 and searched Craig Davison’s property on Roy Green Road that day. During the search, the man told deputies he didn’t know his ex-wife was missing. Deputies arrested Davison on July 29 on a warrant for a previous charge of assault/family violence involving his ex-wife.

TYLER — The Salvation Army in Tyler recently accepted $150,000 in grant monies through the Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans Assistance Series XIV-B to provide emergency financial assistance to prevent and end homelessness for veterans and their families. The effort is known as the Emergency Veterans’ Assistance Program (EVAP). The Salvation Army also says there’s been an adjustment in the previously announced qualifying criteria, listed towards the end of this story. Continue reading Salvation Army Offers Emergency Veterans’ Assistance Program

HENDERSON — In a special meeting, Rusk County commissioners have voted to pass a resolution against housing illegal immigrants. County Judge Joel Hale says the resolution is not a law, but shows the county’s stance on the illegal immigrant situation. According to Hale, commissioners are simply requesting that if any illegal immigrants are housed in the county, officials have an agreement with the county ahead of time and the county gets reimbursed for the housing. Judge Hale says county officials have not been contacted about housing illegal immigrants. Tuesday’s decision made Rusk County the first county in East Texas to pass an immigration resolution.

TYLER — Tuesday morning the Tyler Fire Department unveiled a brand new mobile communications command center. KETK reports the command center is filled with state-of-the-art equipment, all so the fire department can handle disaster response situations and coordinate large local events. Homeland Security granted the funds for the center, which cost $301,925. Inside it comes equipped with a full conference command center, six computer work stations, more than 5 security cameras, and even a mobile weather station. Fire crews will be given special training to operate the platforms. Continue reading Tyler Fire Department Displays New Mobile Command Center

LONGVIEW — A Longview man accused of killing his girlfriend’s daughter in a domestic dispute has been indicted for murder and aggravated assault. KETK reports a grand jury indicted him last week. Jaime Lopez Composano, 36, was charged with murdering his girlfriend’s daughter on the night of May 3, 2014. The alleged crime took place on the 100 block of Gamel Road in Gregg County. The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office stated the suspect shot Jacklyn Flores, 17, in the head and her 33-year-old mother in the back multiple times. Both were taken to a local hospital, where Flores died. The mother was treated and released. Continue reading Longview Man Indicted for Murder of 17-Year-Old

TYLER — An Overton man has been arrested following accusations of sexual indecency with a 15-year-old relative. Smith County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies and detectives responded Monday evening to a call regarding the alleged incident. The 15-year-old stated she had been with a 25-year-old male relative near a boat ramp on Lake Tyler when he began making sexual advances towards her. That same evening, State District Judge Christi Kennedy signed the warrant for Brandon Stahl for indecency with a child, sexual contact, and set a $75,000 bond. Continue reading Man Accused of Indecency with Teen Relative

TYLER — Longtime judge and lawmaker Charles Galloway Calhoun Jr. of Tyler died Sunday at age 83. According to his obituary on the Stewart Family Funeral Home website, Calhoun, who was known by his middle name, “fought ill health with great determination for several years.” Calhoun graduated from Tyler High School at age fifteen. He later served as district attorney for Smith and Wood counties, was an assistant attorney general for the state of Texas, and was elected to three terms as a state senator. He also served as legal counsel to the governor before returning to Tyler, where he was a district judge for almost 20 years. He then served another 20 years as state senior judge. Calhoun is survived by his four children and their families. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Marvin United Methodist Church. Donations may be made to PATH.

TYLER — Tyler Police responded to a commercial burglary alarm early Tuesday morning and arrested two juveniles. It happened around 1:50 at the Boost Mobile store, 115 North Beckham. Officers said upon arrival, they noticed two suspects running from the store into a wooded area. One of the suspects was apprehended immediately and property believed to be stolen was recovered. Additional officers arrived and began searching the woods for the second suspect. During the search, they located two security cameras from the store and were able to identify the wanted subject. He was contacted at his residence a short time later and taken into custody. The suspects, ages 14 and 15, are both Hispanic. They were charged with burglary of a building.

HENDERSON — The Rusk County Jail may face staffing issues before too long. A ratio of one correctional officer for every fifty inmates is required by Texas law. In order to comply, the jail will only be able to hold a maximum of 140 inmates at all times — about half the jail’s full capacity. Finding new employees is proving difficult. Officials tell KETK too few qualified applicants are applying for these positions — and they may have to start housing inmates outside the county.

BROWNSBORO — The Brownsboro Police Department is investigating an incident in which a woman jumped from a car Monday. According to Chief Thomas Robertson, the 38-year-old was released from the Behavioral Health Center in Tyler earlier in the day. While she was riding home with a family member, the woman jumped from the moving car on Highway 31 West for unknown reasons, a relative told police. Brownsboro police say they’ll release more information when it becomes available.

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office says a deputy arrested a Longview man after he was found to be in possession of 12 grams of methamphetamine and a stolen motorcycle. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Stephen Dwayne Cannada, 40, was arrested on multiple charges of evading arrest/detention with a previous conviction, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance, and theft of property. The Longview News-Journal reports it all happened following a traffic stop on Texas 31 shortly after 3:30 Sunday morning. Cannada reportedly attempted to flee from law enforcement before he was Tasered and arrested by Patrol Sergeant Scott Morrison. Continue reading Longview Man Tasered, Arrested Following Weekend Foot Chase

TYLER — The trial for one of three people accused of killing a mother at a public park in Tyler is set to begin today. KETK reports more than 20 witnesses are expected to take the stand during the trial of Dennis Bendy, 20. Jury selection is scheduled to begin at 1:30 this afternoon. The defense has also requested that the sentencing be delivered by Judge Jack Skeen. The suspect is facing no less than five years in jail and no more than 99 years to life. Bendy allegedly shot dead Briana Young, 20, at P.T. Cole Park on July 20, 2013. According to police, Young had brought her 3-year-old son to the park when she was later caught in cross-fire and shot. Rakheem Goldstein and Elisha Williams are also charged with murder in the case. A fourth suspect, Ke’Avier Jarrod Wilson-Hurd, was no-billed.

CANTON — In an effort to make sure people all over the county are aware of Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers and the rewards it gives out for anonymous tips, the group has started putting up large signs along various local roads, according to a news release from the group. So far, Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers has put up three four-by-eight-foot signs that highlight the rewards it gives out for tips that lead to the arrests of wanted criminals and give the organization’s anonymous phone number. “We want to raise awareness among people who might have information about crimes but are reluctant to call the authorities,” explained Kathy Smith, president of Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers. “We are putting these signs in areas either where there is high visibility and they will be seen by a lot of people, or in areas where there is high crime and we want to let criminals know they should be worried.” Continue reading Crime Stoppers Putting Signs along Van Zandt County Roads