TYLER — Here’s a quick look at work planned in East Texas by the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.
TYLER — Construction crews are scheduled to begin several weeks of repair and resurfacing work on U.S. Highway 69 (Broadway Avenue) in Tyler between Fourth Street (SH 64) and South Loop 323. The work will largely be done during off-peak hours between 7:00pm to 5:00am Sundays-Thursdays until the project is complete. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates
ATHENS — Athens police are searching for the men they believe shot and killed another Sunday afternoon. The shooting happened around 1:00 in the 700 block of Robbins Road. According to KETK, when police arrived at the scene they found Cedrick Alvin Collins, 23, on the ground next to his car with a gunshot wound. Collins was transported to a nearby hospital where he later died. Police say witnesses reported seeing two men running from the scene. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Athens police right away.
TYLER — Tyler Police responded to a report of shots fired and arrest one man. It happened in the 1400 Block of North Whitten Avenue around 1:25 Sunday afternoon. According to responding officers, two men had gotten into a verbal altercation when one of the men, Gregory Perry, 28, retrieved a gun from inside the residence. Witnesses said Perry threatened to kill the other man and fired one round from the pistol. Officers were able to secure the pistol as evidence and Perry was taken into custody. He was booked into the Smith County Jail, charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
LONGVIEW — Communities around the region are wrestling with how to handle the devices known as “e-cigs.” Longview City Manager David Willard has asked city employees not to use electronic cigarettes at work until a policy committee fleshes out how to address the devices. According to the Longview News-Journal, in his memo, Willard noted the devices, like their more-common tobacco-infused cousins, could be smoked outside of city buildings. Continue reading E-Cigarette Restrictions in East Texas Continue
LONGVIEW — A LeTourneau University student was killed Friday night after his motorcycle collided with another vehicle in Longview. According to the Longview News-Journal, Logan Anthony Houshmand, 26, was pronounced dead Friday night at Longview Regional Medical Center. Thomas Daniel White, 38, of Jefferson was driving a 1977 Chevrolet Nova and veered into Houshmand’s lane on Delwood Drive, hitting his motorcycle, police said. White was uninjured. Houshmand, a military veteran who was enrolled in a summer class to finish his degree in aircraft systems, participated in graduation exercises this past month.
TYLER — A Tyler man reported missing has been found in Mexico, according to authorities. Tyler Police Department verified that Chavez Pedro Martinez was located in
Mexico. Martinez was last seen Thursday afternoon, where he walked away from a business. According to police, Martinez is forgetful due to a stroke, on dialysis, and also a diabetic.
TYLER — A suspect wanted for aggravated assault following a shooting in Tyler is now in custody. Tyler Police said around 5:00 Friday evening, Guillermo Flores Jr. turned himself in to the Tyler Police Department. He was arrested on an outstanding aggravated assault with a deadly weapon warrant and was transported to the Smith County Jail. Bond was set at $250,000. The incident was reported at 11:30 Wednesday night at the Taco Bell, 7425 South Broadway. Officers said when they got to the location, the suspect had fled. Witnesses said Flores Jr., 24, Tyler, fired several rounds from a pistol at Joseph Gilliam, 24, Tyler, following a verbal altercation. No one was injured during the shooting.
TYLER — The Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas is warning consumers about a scam which is targeting East Texas consumers. Consumers have reported receiving calls which appear to be from local area businesses, but BBB believes the calls are coming from overseas. Callers have likely purchased lists of cell and home phone numbers, or use robocall capabilities to randomly dial. Using a technique called “spoofing”, scam artists attempt to trick customers into thinking a legitimate East Texas business is calling. BBB officials say the East Texas area has been flooded with these calls in the last few days. BBB is advising consumers to use caution when providing information over the phone. Continue reading Spoofing Scam Hits East Texas Residents
SMITH COUNTY — Officials say a burglary was thwarted — and a suspect wounded — when homeowners intervened. At approximately 5:00 Friday morning, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call of a man who had been shot near the 14000 block of Highway 271 North. Upon arrival of the responding patrol deputies, the man was no longer at the location. Upon further investigation by the responding deputies, it was determined that he had been shot by a homeowner in the immediate area. It was further determined that the man and two others allegedly went to the residence to burglarize it. The burglary attempt occurred at approximately 4:00 a.m. Continue reading Authorities: Attempted Burglary Foiled by Homeowners
RUSK — Two burglary suspects are jailed in Cherokee County after reportedly being caught in the act. On Wednesday around 2:15 p.m., the sheriff’s office was notified of a property owner who was following two suspects that he allegedly caught on his property stealing engine parts from his garage. The complainant said he was following the suspects on Hwy. 21 between Alto and Nacogdoches. According to accounts, the suspects pulled over at the intersection of Hwy. 21 and County Road 2610 (about 1.5 miles east of Alto), where they exited their truck and approached the complainant’s vehicle. They reportedly told him they would take the parts back if he didn’t call law enforcement. Officials say when the complainant told the suspects he had already called, the suspects ran down the road and into the woods, leaving their vehicle and stolen property behind. Continue reading Authorities: Burglars Caught in the Act
ATHENS — Henderson County District Attorney Scott McKee says a victim is finally getting the justice she deserves after she was sexually abused 17 years ago. According to KETK, on May 29, Judge Carter Tarrance of the 392nd District Court sentenced Thomas Lane Boyd to 20 years in prison on two charges. Boyd pleaded guilty to both accusations, indecency with a child and prohibited sexual contact, according to the Henderson County District Attorney. The sentences were the maximum allowed under law. Continue reading Man Sentenced in Sex Abuse Cases Dating to 1997
TYLER — The Tyler Fire Department welcomed the newest additions to its fleet of emergency vehicles with a celebration in front of Fire Station 5, 1532 S. Bennett Ave., on Friday. The presentation began at 10:30 a.m. with remarks by Tyler Mayor Martin Heines, along with Tyler Fire Chief Tim Johnson. The new equipment will replace some of the fleet’s older vehicles and includes a new fire engine and two aerial ladder trucks. Officials say these units will enhance the service capabilities to the citizens while also outfitting firefighters with state-of-the-art equipment and technologies designed with safety in mind. Continue reading Tyler Fire Department Presents New Fire Trucks
LONGVIEW — Longview police arrest a scam suspect. 37-year-old Sam Stanley of Texarkana was taken into custody Friday on a 3rd degree felony theft charge and transported to the Gregg County Jail. Earlier, police had advised that warmer weather brings out the scam artists, saying they’d received reports of a driveway scam in the area. Police say a citizen called to report being scammed out of a significant amount of money by two men who said they could resurface the citizen’s driveway. However, after the citizen paid the men (more than originally agreed upon because the citizen reportedly felt intimidated), the men left. However, the next day the mixture used for the patch work had already washed out of the cracks of the victim’s driveway. Continue reading Scam Suspect Arrested
AUSTIN (AP) – The Texas Department of Transportation will host 25 public meetings, including a few in East Texas, to gather input on the state’s long-term transportation needs. TxDOT on Friday announced plans for the public sessions about the Texas Transportation Plan through 2040. State officials hope to define goals for all transportation modes – road, transit, rail, ports, aviation, pedestrian, bicycle and freight. The plan also will address the state’s aging infrastructure. Continue reading TxDOT to Host 25 Meetings on Transportation Needs
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Veterans Affairs Department would lease two Texas facilities, including one in Tyler, under a Senate deal to expand veterans’ access to government-paid medical care. The VA now has 150 hospitals and 820 clinics nationwide. The bill authorizes the VA to lease 26 new health facilities in 18 states, including community-based outpatient clinics in Tyler and Lubbock. The plan also would consolidate leases of facilities in San Antonio and create a research center in Houston. The framework agreement was announced Thursday on the Senate floor by Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
TYLER — The 18th season of The University of Texas at Tyler R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center will feature world-renowned performances and speakers, Susan Thomae-Morphew, Cowan Center executive director, announced. Among the top draws: Larry the Cable Guy, Nicholas Sparks, and U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas. The season, titled “Let’s Have Some Fun,” features a wide variety of entertainment. Season tickets are on sale now at the UT Tyler Cowan Center box office. Box office hours are 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can also buy tickets and obtain additional information about the season at http://www.cowancenter.org or by calling 903.566.7424. Continue reading UT Tyler Cowan Center Announces 2014 – 15 Season
LAKE TYLER — Repairs have started to fix leaks in Lake Tyler’s dam. This comes after a 2010 inspection revealed small holes in the structure. The holes were allowing water to seep out at a rate of 30 gallons per minute. The city’s building a barrier to stop the flow. Greg Morgan is the city of Tyler’s Director of Utilities and Public Works. He tells KETK, “While those were not a structural issue at that time or at this time particularly, they have the potential to become a structural issue if left unattended.” Morgan says crews hope to be finished with repairs by this winter.
SMITH COUNTY — A portion of Smith County Road 411, also known as Mack Thompson Road, will close for repair starting June 16. The temporary closure for bridge repair will last approximately three weeks. County Road 411 is in the western part of Smith County, south of Lindale. The bridge scheduled for repair is located between County Road 46 and Highway 110. Alternate routes are recommended starting June 16 until completion of the bridge repair project.
TYLER — The annual 4th of July fireworks show at Lindsey park could be a thing of the past, because the Tyler Jaycees organization has disbanded. According to KETK, the President of the Jaycees, Bobby Jones, said, “We’re devastated about it, but you know it takes active people from the town we live in to make this thing go off.” The Jaycees have been actively involved in the community for the last 50 years, hosting events like the Halloween Haunted House and Easter Bash. Continue reading Tyler Jaycees Club Disbanded
TYLER — A Tyler man was sentenced to life in prison Thursday for stabbing another man in a 2013 fight. According to Smith District Attorney Prosecutor Jacob Putman, Demetrius Kellum, 41, was found guilty by a jury of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on May 21. Judge Christi Kennedy of the 114th District Court sentenced the convict to life in prison. The stabbing of Windell Williams, 32, of Tyler, stemmed from a dispute while the two men were leaving the Banana Tree Club in Tyler on November 15, 2013. At the time of the assault, Kellum was on parole for a 1991 murder.
TYLER – Two men are being sought by detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division of the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. According to authorities, on April 24, Devonte Darion Hawkins, 19, Brandon Kentrell Ervin, 21, and LaSabien Karone Ford, 17, committed two burglary of a habitation offenses in northwestern Smith County. All three are from Tyler. Sheriff’s detectives reported that the first burglary was committed while the homeowner slept. Ford turned himself in to the Sheriff’s Office on May 23; however, Hawkins (top picture) and Ervin are still being sought. Continue reading Sheriff’s Office Seeks Two Men
TYLER — During the Memorial Day Click It or Ticket enforcement program, officers with the Tyler Police Department working specifically on this initiative wrote a total of 98 citations for seatbelt violations and 4 citations for child safety seat violations. That’s according to information released by the department Thursday. The department conducted a recent traffic survey in the City of Tyler to determine what percentage of occupants of a vehicle were wearing seatbelts. The survey results indicated that 98% of vehicle occupants were buckled up; that was an increase of 2% over last year. According to a police department news release, “We are pleased with the results of this survey and continue to encourage everyone to buckle up for safety.”
LINDALE — The Lindale Police Department needs your help. KETK reports the woman in the picture is being sought for allegedly forging a check at the Lindale Walmart. The vehicle she was seen leaving in was a silver two-door Pontiac Sunfire, according to police. If you know the identity of this woman and where the police can find her, call Detective Mike Lazarine with the Lindale Police Department at 903-882-3313.
TYLER – The Tyler Jaycees are disbanding. The problem, lack of funds. A former Jaycee told KETK they were disbanding because of a lack of a cash flow. The former member also said, unless a private donor steps forward, the group will fold. The group is known for its annual Fourth of July celebration and fireworks show at Lindsey Park, its annual Christmas Parade and it’s Halloween Extravaganza.
NASHVILLE – Lindale’s Miranda Lambert has taken home another belt buckle at the 2014 CMT Music Awards in Nashville. With a star-packed audience on hand, Lambert won Female Video of the Year for the song “Automatic.” It’s the 5th straight year she has taken home that award.
TYLER — With vacations and relaxation on the menu, summer is a time when we often let our guard down against criminals. But law enforcement officials remind you burglars don’t have an off-season, and they’re offering some tips. According to KETK, Tyler police say you should keep your keys with you at all times, especially when you go to sleep at night. They say just keep them close to your bedside so if you’re afraid someone’s breaking into your home, all you have to is press the panic button — and it will alert your neighbor or let someone know you’re in trouble. Good relationships with neighbors are seen as a key crime prevention tool. Tyler Officer Don Martin says it’s surprising how many burglars are caught because a neighbor recognizes a car in the driveway that shouldn’t be there.
LONGVIEW – Gregg County authorities have arrested a substitute teacher in the Sabine school district for improper relationship between an educator and student. Sheriff Maxey Cerliano announced the suspect as Spencer Brewer, 23, of Gladewater. He was taken into custody yesterday. He was later released on a $25,000 bond. Brewer was arrested on a warrant for a second degree felony offense stemming from text messages between him and a girl student late last month.
HALLSVILLE — Two people were injured, including a state trooper, in a Tuesday night crash. According to the Department of Public Safety, Trooper Tyson Chow, 26, of Longview, underwent surgery at a Longview hospital following a wreck on Highway 80 near Hallsville. KETK reports he suffered a broken pelvis, bruised kidney, and internal bleeding, but is expected to recover. The crash, which is still under investigation, took place around 11 p.m. Vehicle driver Kamrey Gee, of Tatum, suffered only minor injuries. DPS stated Chow is based out of the Marshall office.
WHITEHOUSE – Detectives with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office are seeking information that leads to the arrest of the individual or individuals responsible for vandalism and criminal mischief involving homes on Lost Creek, located south of Whitehouse. Earlier this week, the roadway, several mailboxes, and a house were spray painted with profanity and symbols, including swastikas and at least one KKK reference. Officials say those involved face arrest and possible state jail felony charges. Anyone with information regarding these crimes should contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at 903-566-6600, or Detective Archer at 903-590-2846. To remain anonymous, contact the Sheriff’s Office at http://www.smith-county.com/so using the tip411 link.
MARSHALL — Law enforcement officials are asking for the public’s help in identifying two people who tried to steal from an ATM in the Marshall Mall. Police said on May 25 at around 2:47 a.m., officers were dispatched to the mall after an alarm triggered in the 1300 block of East Pinecrest. According to KETK, responding officers spotted two men, described as black males, running in the mall hallway. Authorities set up a perimeter around the building and entered the mall, but the burglars escaped into a nearby wooded area. Continue reading Burglars Try to Break into ATM inside Marshall Mall