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VAN ZANDT COUNTY — The Texas Division of Emergency Management is offering free COVID-19 testing in Van Zandt County, Thursday through Saturday. Testing in Van will be Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., on West Main Street. Testing will be available in Wills Point Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., on North Fourth Street. Organizers say that symptoms are not required to be tested at either location. Appointments are not necessary, however, pre-registration is available by clicking the link. https://texas.curativeinc.com/welcome. The are 548 positive cases reported in Van Zandt County, with 446 recoveries, and 18 deaths.

AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Highway Patrol Troopers have rescued their 500th child during a traffic stop. On Wednesday, Sgt. Jean Dark told KTBB, “The IPC, Interdiction for the Protection of Children program trains officers to spot indicators that a child may be a victim or is at risk of becoming a victim, and that includes children who are missing, exploited, at-risk or are some way endangered.” IPC marked its 10th anniversary in 2019. Continue reading DPS records 500th child rescue

KILGORE — For the first time in 3 and a half decades, the only professional theatre in East Texas has a new artistic director. Kilgore College hired Texas Shakespeare Festival veteran Meaghan Simpson to lead the organization following the Aug. 31 retirement of its founding artistic director, Raymond Caldwell. Simpson has stepped into her new role after coming on board in 2013 as TSF’s associate artistic director and associate casting director. She was initially hired to join the acting company in 2009 and has since served as an actor in more than 20 productions. Continue reading Simpson selected to lead Texas Shakespeare Festival in theatre’s 35th year

MARSHALL — A new Starbucks is coming to Marshall. The new coffee house will be located on East End Blvd North in Marshall. City Manager Mark Rohr stated, “we are very pleased with the results of the city’s commercial, economic development focus. I said early on, the key element to improving Marshall is growing the tax base, and it’s happening.” The national company originated in 1971, at Seattle’s Pike Place Market, almost 50 years later, the chain has more than 30,000 retail stores in over 80 markets.

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Historical Museum announced the first Downtown Historic Longview Walking Tour. The date has been secured for the first Saturday in October, from 10:00 am-2:00 pm. The walking tours begin at the Gregg County Historical Museum on North Fredonia Street, and is 1.2 miles in length. For more information check out the museum website at http://www.gregghistorical.org.

TYLER – Tyler ISD announced the death of former educator and longtime trustee, Therelee Washington on Tuesday. In a press release from the district stated that Mr. Washington’s educational career in Tyler ISD spanned more than 23 years followed by 19 years of service on the Tyler ISD Board of Trustees. “Our community has lost a leader and friend in Therelee Washington,” Tyler ISD Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford said. “His heart for student success as an educator, board member, and community member impacted the lives of many, and he will be greatly missed.” Continue reading Longtime TISD leader Washington dies

TYLER — East Texas nurses will be honored by The University of Texas at Tyler with an around-the-clock appreciation event starting Wednesday. According to a press release from the school, University Representatives will be at Tyler hospitals for 24 hrs, during all shifts, to hand-out tokens of appreciation and commemorate the hard work of nurses. The event will run from 10 a.m. Wednesday to 10 a.m. Thursday. UT-Tyler will recognize 8 different campuses to show their appreciation for their continued diligence during the COVID-19 crisis. Continue reading UT Tyler to honor nurses with 24 hr celebration

KILGORE — The Director of Transportation for East Texas Council of Governments, Vince Huerta, was recently commemorated by the Texas Transit Association. On Tuesday Huerta told KTBB, “It’s a team accomplishment. The staff should be the ones receiving the award.” Huerta continued,”We are here to serve the community, we are public transit on the rural side of things. So certainly anyone can ride the bus.” More information can be found by clicking the link. https://www.gobustransit.com/. Notable accomplishments during his tenure include a 40% increase in ridership since 2018. Continue reading GoBus highlights expanded service in Smith County

HENDERSON — Henderson ISD announced that their game against Spring Hill ISD, scheduled for Friday, has been canceled. The district announced the move on a social media post. Henderson High School moved to online learning on Monday and will continue that trek for the next two weeks. All other campuses remain open for in-person learning. Kaufman canceled with Henderson last week. HISD did confirm the game was rescinded by Spring Hill due to COVID-19 concerns.

TYLER — The North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA) announced Glenn Green as their new Executive Director on Tuesday. Green is a Tyler native and has over 35 years with TxDOT, “I want people in the region to know and understand that we are not just a toll road operator, we’re not just a toll road authority, we have unique capabilities and many more tools, to finance and to bring needed transportation projects to fruition in the area.” Continue reading NET RMA announces Green as new Executive Director

TYLER — A Tyler man accused of having 3,500 images of child pornography on his phone has been indicted by a Smith County grand jury. According to our news partner KETK, James Edward Clement, 38, was indicted last month, according to court records. He remains in the Smith County Jail on a $300,000 bond. According to an arrest warrant obtained by KETK, detectives began investigating back in April after multiple tips were received with various images of child pornography. After issuing subpoenas to Suddenlink Communications, they were able to track down Clements due to his phone number and email address. Continue reading Tyler man indicted on child porn charges

TYLER – The Texas Department of Transportation pronounced Vernon Webb, P.E., as the new Tyler District Engineer on Monday. Webb, a native of Jacksonville, will now oversee the eight-county Tyler District and its 316 employees. Webb will supervise planning, design, construction, operations and maintenance of the state transportation system in Anderson, Cherokee, Gregg, Henderson, Rusk, Smith, Van Zandt, and Wood counties. WEbb has served as second in command since 2016 as Deputy District Engineer.

TYLER — Smith County honored the National Watermelon Queen, Paige Huntington on Tuesday. Since Huntington is from Tyler, Wiggin’s Farms donated 100 watermelons to the East Texas Food Bank. Commissioners adopted a resolution in honor of Ms. Huntington and Wiggins Farm’s donation. The 2020 National Watermelon Association Convention was held in Orlando, Florida. Huntington was crowned in February and regularly represents the association at events.

KILGORE — The East Texas Council of Governments announced Monday, the Director of Transportation, Vince Huerta, was celebrated for outstanding performance with the Texas Transit Association. Huerta received the TTA’s Outstanding Public Transportation General Manager Award for 2020. Notable accomplishments during his tenure include a 40% increase in ridership since 2018, drastically increased safety protocols, brought in a customized fleet, and further built procedural and monetary efficiencies. With the help of staff, Huerta was able to initiate fare reduction to $2 per trip and eliminate fares altogether for veterans and active military personnel.

TYLER — Workforce Solutions East Texas announced a new Access Point partner on Monday. According to the news release from WSET, the new location is with St. Louis Baptist Church on Frankston Highway in Tyler. These venues are places where job seekers receive on-site assistance. These sites have a WSET resource area where job seekers can register for WorkInTexas.com, participate in professional development workshops, and access resources during their staffed service hours. This becomes the 5th Access Point location added since 2019, with locations in Emory, Jacksonville, Kilgore, Seven Points and Tyler.

HENDERSON — Henderson ISD transitioned it’s high school campus to online-learning for the next two weeks starting on Monday, Sept. 14. All other campuses will remain in-person. Superintendent Dr. Lamb said the decision to move online was prompted by the daily review of COVID’s impact on the effectiveness of teaching at the campus. “Our top priority is educating students,” said Lamb. “We’ve always said if it gets to a point that we can teach more effectively through an online environment rather than face-to-face, that’s what we are going to do.” Lamb said the current number of active COVID cases among students is still low–right at 3% at the high school and 1% in the district overall. Continue reading Henderson ISD high school classes will be online only for 2 weeks

TYLER — TxDOT is planning more construction and maintenance work in the Tyler District during the week of Sept. 14. Among other things, seal coat operations continue with work in Henderson and Anderson counties. Motorists should expect lane closures and delays during this work to seal and protect roadways from water, and to provide a longer life cycle, according to officials. Go to https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/033-2020.html for a full rundown of projects around the district.

TYLER — PATH (People Attempting to Help) is moving its annual PATH Week Celebration to digital platforms this year. The virtual PATH Week Celebration will include appearances by PATH Executive Director Andrea Wilson in local media, live streaming videos, and social media interviews with volunteers, families and individuals who have received PATH services. The PATH Week Celebration is an annual fundraising and awareness event designed to highlight PATH’s many programs and services from September 14th through September 18th. Continue reading 35th Anniversary PATH Week

TYLER — East Texas pediatricians and primary care providers have a new ally to address behavioral and mental health issues for their child and adolescent patients. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler (UTHSCT) is the East Texas hub for the Child Psychiatry Access Network (CPAN), which begins Monday, September 14. According to a news release, CPAN will provide doctors throughout East Texas access to child and adolescent psychiatrists and licensed mental health therapists to assist them in identifying and treating mental health issues in their young patients. Continue reading UTHSCT Child Psychiatric Access Network begins Monday

TYLER — Tyler’s 10th annual Art of Peace celebration began Sunday and runs through September 21, combining in-person and virtual formats. According to its website, Art of Peace “celebrates the United Nations International Day of Peace (officially September 21) and Peace One Day. The aim of Art of Peace is to promote a spirit of creativity, compassion and community through partnerships, fellowship, dialogue, social action, music, poetry, and art.” Go to https://tylerpeace.com/ for a full rundown of activities and how you can be involved.

KILGORE — The Kilgore College Foundation recently received a $45,000 private gift to upgrade technology in the Deana Bolton-Covin Rangerette Gym and the Rangerette Museum. “This is a gracious gift in these challenging times and demonstrates the lifetime connections the Rangerette organization fosters,” said Michael Hageloh, KC’s chief development officer, in a news release. Continue reading KC receives gift to upgrade technology in Rangerette museum, practice gym

AUSTIN — Three Tyler physicians have begun terms of service in Texas Medical Association (TMA) leadership positions, while caring for patients and managing medicine’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The physicians are responsible for studying health care-related issues and making recommendations on important health care policy affecting Texas patients and their physicians, according to a news release. Continue reading Tyler physicians start serving in TMA leadership positions

TYLER — According to official counts, students showed up in record numbers to participate in UT Tyler’s fall hybrid-model classes. For undergraduates, 6,703 students are enrolled in fall classes, besting the previous record of 6,636 set in 2018. As previously announced, this undergraduate class includes 1,069 first-time-in-college students, also a record for the University and a 25 percent increase over last year. Students transferring into a UT Tyler undergraduate program from a community college or other university totaled 1,215. Continue reading UT Tyler enrolls record-sized undergraduate class

LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been arrested and charged in the shooting death of a 10-year-old child. David Russell Stice, 50, was booked into the Gregg County Jail Thursday on a charge of making a firearm accessible to a child causing death. According to our news partner KETK, he was released Friday on a bond of $20,000. Stice’s arrest stems from an incident on August 9. According to police, they were called to a residence in Longview for a shooting. When they arrived, they found a child with what they described as “life-threatening injuries.” The child died in a local hospital. The case remains under investigation.