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TYLER — The 2019 Peace of Mind Conference will be Friday, October 4 at Green Acres Crosswalk Conference Center in Tyler. The convention is designed to educate and encourage individuals and families about mental health issues. “Let’s End the Stigma” is the theme for the 2019 forum, which is now in its 6th year. A generous donor has made the conference possible at NO COST for those attending. However, if you are intending to earn Continuing Education Units, you will be charged $10 at the door. Continue reading 2019 Peace of Mind Conference Free Thanks to Generous Donor

TYLER — The recently retired chancellor and CEO of Tyler Junior College, Dr. Mike Metke has received the Jesse Jones Leadership Award from the North Texas Community College Consortium. This is the 6th presentation of the award that was given during NTCCC’s annual fall leadership conference held at TJC. Recipients are nominated by board members in recognition of contributions made to their respective college in outstanding leadership; dedicated service; and excellence in communication. Metke retired from TJC in June, after serving 12 years at TJC.

TYLER — Tyler officials say Emogene Machey Shaw, age 80, of Tyler has been successfully located. According to Tyler police, Ms. Shaw suffers from Alzheimer’s and had last been seen at her residence on N. Moore Street Thursday at 4:00 p.m. Officials reported late Friday afternoon that she had been found.

TYLER — The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler celebrated the grand opening of their newest addition to campus, the School of Community and Rural Health. Thursday was a red letter day for the university as the school held a ribbon cutting for the 89,000-square-foot structure that will house the latest educational technology for students pursuing a master’s degree in public health or health administration. In addition to classrooms, there is a teaching kitchen, faculty, staff and administrative offices, event space and a mural that spans nearly an entire wall.

LONGVIEW — The tenth annual Rummage Sale sponsored by Mobberly Baptist Church is scheduled for Oct. 4th and 5th at the Exhibit Building of the Gregg County Fairgrounds. Over the last nine years, the annual event has raised almost $170,000 to help Gregg County residents in need. Funds raised go to the Family Services Benevolence Fund, providing residents of Gregg County emergency help with clothing, food, rent and utilities and a variety of other needs. Get complete details by clicking the link. https://mobberly.org/2019/09/19/10th-annual-rummage-sale-to-benefit-east-texas-families-in-need/

TYLER – 58-year-old James Joseph Veeser of Wills Point has pleaded guilty in Tyler federal court to receiving child pornography. According to information presented in court, between January 2016 and January 2019, Veeser received child pornography using the internet and a computer, including three videos containing child pornography. Veeser faces a minimum of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of pre-sentence investigations by the U.S. Probation Office.

HARRISON CO. — A five-year-old boy is fighting for his lifeand his mother and boyfriend have been arrested on abuse charges. According to our news partner KETK, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office received a call on Wednesday of a 5-year-old child having trouble breathing and having a seizure. When deputies arrived the mother and her boyfriend explained that the child fell off the porch earlier in the night while taking out the trash. Continue reading Mom and Boyfriend Jailed, 5 Year-Old Fights for Life

TYLER — The East Texas State Fair officially opens on Friday at 2pm. The Carnival starts rolling at 4pm. The estimated economic impact of the fair is $9.8 Million to the City of Tyler and Smith County. Annually over 250,000 visitors visit over the 10 day event, that ends this year on September 29. More info is available at https://www.etstatefair.com/. Tyler Police have provided tips to make your festival is safe and fun throughout. Continue reading East Texas State Fair Opens Friday

MARSHALL — The Keep Marshall Beautiful Fall Sweep cleanup will take place Saturday, Oct. 5. This event is in conjunction with Keep Texas Beautfiul’s statewide campaign running through the middle of November. Marshall’s Fall sweep will be a citywide cleanup effort to reduce litter and trash across the city. Volunteers will pick up supplies and receive location assignments at City Park. Following the cleanup, a celebration, will take place back at City Park with awards and recognition. Click the link for more details. https://www.facebook.com/events/343747469860490/

LONGVIEW — The City of Longview will be taking comments for the the design of a welcome monument to be installed along a southern Longview entryway. The public meeting is scheduled for October 7th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. The meeting will focus on two options for the monument at the intersection of High Street, Mobberly Avenue, and Estes Parkway. An earlier meeting presented various themes and gathered input for the monuments development. Continue reading Mobberly Entryway Public Meeting

Tyler – The local Rotary International clubs are accepting entries from public organizations, bands and other groups to participate in the 2019 Rotary Clubs of Tyler Christmas Parade. The parade will be held in downtown Tyler December 5 at 6:00 p.m. The 34th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the T.B. Butler Fountain Plaza will serve as the finale. This year parade organizers are asking each entry to pay a small entry fee to offset expenses. Complete details available by clicking the link. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-rotary-clubs-of-tyler-christmas-parade-tickets-68524850673?aff=ebdshpsearchautocomplete

TYLER — The annual scholarship golf tournament for the Tyler Junior College Foundation broke previous fundraising records. The 32 annual tournament, held earlier this week brought in $100,000 in scholarship funds for TJC students. The 79 TJC students who were awarded $1,000 scholarships from last year’s tournament served as tournament volunteers this year; as did the TJC men’s and women’s golf teams. TJC President Dr. Juan E. Mejia, on behalf of the College, surprised seven TJC students with a Corporate Scholars award, which is a $5,000 two-year scholarship.

TYLER — A Smith county jury convicted William Glasscock of Bullard on Wednesday. The jury returned a verdict of Life Without Parole. The Smith County Children’s Advocacy Center led to Glasscock’s arrest in January of 2018. The Defendant eventually bonded out of jail and fled to Louisiana where he was later apprehended by the U.S Marshal’s task force. Smith County Assistant District Attorneys presented the evidence over two days in the 241st District Court. The Defendant faced punishment from 25 years to Life without parole.

TYLER — Smith County Sheriff Larry R. Smith & Friends held the Smiles FORE Kids 5th Annual Golf Tournament at Hideaway Golf Sheriff Smith and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the Tyler Police Department, Tyler Fire Department, UT Health East Texas EMS and the Smith County Precinct 5 Constable’s Office. This tournament benefitted the Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County. Money was raised in a variety of ways including dropping golf balls onto the golf course from the UT Health East Texas Air 1 helicopter. Over $50,000 was raised that will directly benefiting the Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County. Approximately $170,000 has been raised since the inaugural tournament.

TYLER — A 62-year-old Longview man has pleaded guilty to federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas. Joseph Valdie Kimble pleaded guilty to health care fraud. Kimble’s plea was announced Wednesday during a press conference held in Dallas. Kimble operated Tiger EMS, according to information presented in court, Kimble disregarded medical necessity requirements and billed Medicare and Medicaid for ambulance services that were not medically necessary. The plea agreement provides for an agreed sentence of 30 months in federal prison and $751,986.80 in restitution. Continue reading Longview Ambulance Operator Guilty of Health Care Fraud

TYLER — Growth strategies are an increasing part of the plan for U.T. Tyler following record highs in graduation and retention numbers. U.T. Tyler has released official census numbers for fall 2019. The data reveals record high freshman retention, which creates the largest sophmore class in the schools history; a 10% increase. However, overall enrollment was down 524 students compared to the numbers last fall. Some graduate programs had record enrollments, including Fisch College of Pharmacy, which had 329 students.

WHITEHOUSE — The children of a Whitehouse home have been taken into Child Protective Services following an investigation into physical abuse. Cheryl and Mark Layne were arrested on Tuesday and each was charged with Injury to a Child. Smith County Sheriff’s Office Investigators responded to Whitehouse ISD after the the teens shared the allegations with the Whitehouse Police Department School Resource Officer. Continue reading Whitehouse Couple Arrested on Child Abuse Charges

KILGORE — The Risk Management Institute at Kilgore College is making available several free safety classes through December to train and educate local employers, employees and the general public about appropriate workplace safety. While all classes are free, advance registration is required. Classes will be held in Kilgore in the Whitten Applied Technology Center on S. Henderson Blvd. or in the Woodfin Center on Ross Ave. Class locations and room numbers will be emailed to students upon completion of registration. Continue reading Free CEU’s Offered by KC Risk Management Institute

LONGVIEW — Brent Road was opened to all traffic on Tuesday. Major construction activities have been completed at the creek crossing between Autumn Lane and Snoddy Road. Minor items do remain, which will require limited interruption to traffic. The street work is provided through a collaboration between Gregg County Precinct 1 and the City of Longview which reconstructed the creek crossing with concrete box culvert, headwalls, updated guardrails, asphalt pavement, and water main modifications.

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court approved an interlocal agreement with the city of Overton on Tuesday to take stary dogs into the Smith County Animal Shelter. Since the Smith County Animal Shelter opened in December 2016, the Commissioners Court has approved similar agreements with the cities of Bullard, Troup, Arp, Winona and Whitehouse. The City of Overton will pay $50 per dog brought to the shelter,and an additional $35 for each dog requiring euthanasia. Dogs are typically only euthanized at the county animal shelter when they are dangerous to others or severely injured.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Fire Department Tuesday activated six members of the water rescue team to be deployed with the Texas Task Force. The deployment is in response to the tropical storms expected to make landfall in Texas this week. The six member team will travel to College Station for staging and from there they will respond where needed.

TYLER — A 45-year-old Tyler man asserted guilty to federal violations on Tuesday. Eleazar Juarez Juarez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce, transfer, and forge false identification documents. According to information presented in court, Juarez was involved in a conspiracy to produce and sell fictitious U.S. identification documents beginning in April 2009. The false documents included U.S. Social Security cards and Permanent Residence cards. Juarez Juarez is responsible for the transfer of at least 25 false identification documents as part of this conspiracy. Juarez Juarez was indicted by a federal grand jury in April. He faces up to 5 years in federal prison at sentencing.

MARSHALL — Authorities say there have been 146 hit and run crashes reported in Marshall through the first 9 and a half months of this year. With a goal of reducing that number, officials are reminding motorists of necessary steps to take if you are involved in an accident. Under the Texas Transportation Code, a driver must stop and take certain actions after a crash that results in property damage or injury to another driver. In order to avoid the criminal charge of leaving the scene of an accident, a driver must do the following… Continue reading 146 Hit and Run Accidents in Marshall so far in 2019

ATHENS — The Henderson County Commissioner’s Court has extended a burn ban for another 28 days, according to our news partner KETK. Commissioner’s meet earlier Tuesday in Athens and moved forward with item 2 on the agenda to take another 4 weeks to prohibit outdoor burning. Many East Texas counties have been under bans for weeks after a long period of near-100 degree temperatures and very little rain.

TYLER — A boating accident earlier this summer claimed the life of a 14 year-old. On Tuesday, Jeffery Joe Hampton, 31 of Tyler, was formally indicted for manslaughter and accidental boating death. Hampton is accused of running his boat into Roberto Carlos Bermejo Hernandez on Lake Palestine. Officials took blood to be sent off for a toxicology report. Hampton has previous convictions for DWI and drug possession. Hampton’s trial date is scheduled for December 2. He is being held on bond of $850,000 for the two charges. He is due in court for arraignment October 4.

MARSHALL — A Marshall ISD school bus was involved in an accident Tuesday morning, according to the school district’s Facebook page. The wreck at the corner of Pinecrest and Rosborough Springs involved bus 32, after what appears to be a vehicle ran a red light. Students were evacuated by first responders and evaluated. Officials said on the schools facebook page, that none of the injuries were life threatening.

TYLER — A viral video has sparked an internal investigation by the city of Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, the video of a 12 year old crossing Pauluxy in a busy cross walk has been viewed over 30,000 times. The video has caught the attention of city officials who are now conducting an internal investigation. The City of Tyler employs all school crossing guards including the one on Paluxy. The crossing guard says she is there from 7:00 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. until 4:45 p.m., but the viral video was taken at 4:22 p.m. on Friday. Tyler PD reminds motorist that the law is to stop for pedestrians crossing the street at a crosswalk.

TYLER — A Tyler man has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a child. According to our news partner KETK, Robert Robinson, 63, was booked into the Smith County Jail at 11:30 p.m. Monday night after an arrest warrant was signed by 114th District Judge Christi Kennedy. Robinson is being held on a $500,000 cash bond.

MARSHALL — One person has been arrested for stabbing her boyfriend. According to a press release from Marhsall Police, Latoya Leadetta James was arrested after a disagreement with her boyfriend. Earnest Cooks, said James tried to hit him, then picked up a knife and stabbed him in the chest when he tried to leave the apartment. Cooks was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. James was arrested and charged with aggravated assault family violence with a deadly weapon and was being held in the Harrison County Jail.

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler announced Monday that it is seeking participants for the third year of the “Born to Read” literacy program, which promotes early childhood literacy in East Texas. The Born to Read program is designed for expectant mothers, parents and legal guardians of children up to 3 years old. The program is free to the first 25 participants who register by Monday, Sept. 30. Participants will be involved in the program through June 30, 2020. Continue reading UT Tyler Seeking Participants for ‘Born to Read’ Program