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MINEOLA – A Wood County man has been killed in a one vehicle accident. Dead at the scene was Jonathan Wade Burge, 45, of Mineola. The Department of Public Safety reports Burge was heading west on U.S. Highway 80, at a high speed, and veered into the center median where the vehicle struck a culvert and rolled several times. Burge, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the vehicle. The accident occurred shortly before 11:45 Monday night just under 4 miles east of Mineola.

SMITH – A Smith County murder suspect has committed suicide. State prison system K9s have found the body Robert Melvin Galbraith, 63, of Tyler. It was found in a wooded area behind his home on County Road 2122. He is said to have died from a gunshot wound to the head. He had been named in an arrest warrant for the murder of Justin Ray Alec Cross, 18, of Holly Lake Ranch. His body was found Monday night on County Road 2122, off Old Omen Road between Highway 110 and Highway 64. Sheriff’s deputies had gone there Monday night after getting reports of shots fired in the area.

MARSHALL – Marshall police have arrested a man wanted in connection with a chase that left an officer injured. It started early Monday evening with a report of a man with a rifle who was threatening a woman a 3 small children. When officers arrived the man, identified as Antonio Dejuan Trammel, 34, ran off. A pursuing officer, and Trammel, crashed into an apartment window. The officer was injured, requiring surgery to his arm. Trammel ran into a near by wooded area. Even with the use of a DPS helicopter and K9 units, he was not found. Tuesday afternoon the police, acting on a tip, arrested Trammel behind a house on West Rusk Street. He was arrested without incident and booked into the Harrison County Jail. He is being held on an outstanding parole warrant issued by the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole. He will also be charged with at least one additional offense stemming from the Monday night incident.

AUSTIN – Thanks to the Texas Lottery and the Dallas Cowboys, a fitness grant of $1,000 is going to Kilgore’s Chandler Elementary School. For the third year, the lottery and the Cowboys have partnered to provide the Funds for Fitness grant program to Texas public schools. The funds are for creating new or enhancing existing youth health and wellness projects. As part of a five-year, $300,000 program commitment, the 2019 Funds for Fitness effort is awarding 15 schools funds totaling $60,000. The Kilgore school is one of the 15 to receive the grant funds.

KILGORE – Kilgore College has received a large gift. The Kilgore College Foundation has received an anonymous gift of $1 million. It will be used to complete a permanent operating endowment fund for the Rangerettes organization. While the Rangerettes have about 90 endowed scholarships with nine additional scholarships seeking endowment, this fund will serve to support operations and travel expenses for the group. No word on who gave the money. The school would only say it comes from a Kilgore College graduate and his wife, who is a former Rangerette.

AUSTIN — Religious liberty legislation killed in the Texas House quickly resurfaces in the Senate, thanks to an East Texas lawmaker. Last week the newly formed State House LGBTQ Caucus killed House Bill 3172 on a point of order. On Monday, Mineola State Senator Bryan Hughes’s companion Senate Bill 1978 quickly passed out of committee. Hughes says, “It ensures that governmental entities can’t take adverse actions against anyone based wholly or partially on their membership or support provided to religious organizations.” LGBTQ advocacy groups oppose the bill. Reverend Erica Wilson of San Antonio’s Awakenings Spiritual COmmunity says, “Religious freedom isn’t and never will be a license to discriminate.”

WHITEHOUSE — A 29 year old man was arrested Monday at McDonald’s in Whitehouse for continuous sexual assault of a child. According to our news partner KETK, Jonathan Scott Evans, of Whitehouse, was booked into the Smith County Jail for continuous sexual abuse of a child, victim under 14. His bond was set at $500,000. “We had a warrant in hand and Jonathan Evans was arrested at 603 Hwy 110,” said Whitehouse Police Chief Ed Morris.

GILMER – Two persons entered guilty pleases in state District Court in Gilmer on Monday. Lasandra Ann Peoples, 40 of Gladewater, pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison. In December, 2017, she was armed with a knife when she entered the home of a 75 year old Gladewater woman. She left with an undisclosed amount of money. Continue reading Two Plead As Jurors Were Selected

LONGVIEW – The cleanup continues in Longview following last week’s storms. The Longview Parks and Recreation Department reported continued closures at several parks and trails. Akin Park is closed and Julieanna Trail is closed, both due to several downed trees. Meanwhile, while Cargill Long Trail and Boorman Trail have been reopened, walkers should take care around crews continuing to clean up debris from the area. Residents needing help removing debris from their private property or those willing to volunteer to help their neighbors can email CL@LongviewTexas.gov or call 903-237-1379 during open business hours. You can go to https://www.longviewtexas.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=1904 for more information.

TYLER – Tyler police are investigating the weekend burglaries of several cell phone businesses. The burglaries occurred in about a half an hour span from around 2:45 to 3:15 Sunday morning. They first tried to pry open the door of the AT&T store near the Broadway Square Mall. The next alarm came from the Verizon Store on the West Southwest Loop. The third burglary was at the AT&T store on the Loop near the Troup Highway. Nothing was taken in any of the burglaries. At the last burglary, the suspects left in a small silver sedan that had a driver waiting on the two suspects who entered the store. Police Public Information Officer Don Martin says it is believed that the suspects are from outside of Tyler because of multiple break-ins at other stores across East Texas, including Lindale, Mineola, and Canton.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man has been arrested in connection with a fatal Gregg County accident last Friday. Arrested Saturday and charged with intoxication manslaughter is Michael Dean Buenrostro, 61. He was involved in a two vehicle accident on State Highway 42, about two miles south of White Oak. The Department of Public Safety says his car crossed over into the opposite lane of traffic hit a pickup driven by Kim Yvonne Hayes, 61, of Wagoner, Oklahoma. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

WHITEHOUSE – County Road 2171, also known as Willingham Road, will be closed starting Thursday for a bridge replacement. Workers will be replacing the existing bridge with a new box culvert structure, located just south of the Whitehouse city limits. Work on this project is anticipated to last about four months, depending upon weather. The road will be closed to through traffic so drivers need to seek alternate routes while construction is underway.

LONGVIEW – The Longview Chamber of Commerce has been named a finalist for the 2019 Chamber of the Year award. It is presented annually by the Alexandria, Virginia based Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.The group is an association of more than 8,000 professionals from 1,300 chambers of commerce, including 93 of the top 100 U.S. metro areas. The Chamber of the Year winners will be announced July 15 at the group’s annual convention in Long Beach, California.

SMITH COUNTY – An arrest has been made in a weekend Smith County death. James Robert Smith III, 27, of Tyler, is in the Smith County Jail charged with murder. His bond was set at $750,000. He is charged with Sunday’s murder of Donnavon Reese, 27, of Tyler. His body was found in a car that was parked in front of a convenience store on Highway 64 West at Thompson Lane. He had been shot to death. The two men are said to have had altercations in the past.

ATHENS – Henderson County authorities arrested three people Saturday for drug possession and child endangerment. The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office received information Saturday about children being in danger at a residence on CR 3508 near Murchison. When deputies went to investigate, they found methamphetamine in the home where children were present. According to our news partner KETK, Child Protective Services assisted in the investigation. Deputies arrested Austen Hunold, Ashley Culmo and John Smith on charges of possession of a controlled substance and child endangerment. All three are in the Henderson County Jail awaiting an initial court appearance.

TYLER — A lane closure will be in place on North Loop 323 in Tyler starting Monday, May 13, as a City of Tyler contractor conducts work. TxDOT says the Loop 323 westbound outside lane will be shut down between N. Broadway Ave. and U.S. 69 North from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, May 13-17. Motorists should adjust their speed appropriately and be prepared for brief delays when traveling through this work area. You can go to http://www.DriveTexas.org for road conditions and traffic updates.

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a weekend homicide. Public Information Officer Larry Christian says deputies responded shortly after 2:00 Sunday morning to a deadly conduct call. He says law officers found a man dead inside a parked vehicle in front of a convenience store on Highway 64 West at Thompson Lane. The victim sustained an apparent gunshot wound. The suspect left the scene prior to the arrival of deputies. Christian said detectives have been interviewing witnesses and investigators have been processing evidence at the scene. There was no immediate word on suspect information, and the victim’s name was being withheld pending notification of family members. An autopsy has been ordered.

WHITE OAK – One person has been killed in a two vehicle accident in Gregg County. Dead at the scene was Kim Yvonne Hayes, 61, of Wagoner, Oklahoma. She was killed when a car crossed over into her lane and hit her pickup. The car’s driver, Michael Buenrostro, 61, of Longview, was injured. He’s in stable condition in a Longview hospital. The accident happened just before 7:15 Friday morning on State Highway 42, about two miles south of White Oak.

HENDERSON – A woman pretending to have a broken down car has been arrested for robbery in Rusk County. Authorities say Brittney Allgood, pretending to be a “damsel in distress” had the hood up on her car near the intersection of Farm Road 3053 and Farm Road 1639. She conned a motorist into helping her. When they returned from a nearby gas station, a man wearing a mask, came out of the woods and robbed the motorist. Investigators were able to identify the couple and arrested Allgood and Miguel Huerta. They have been charged with aggravated robbery. They are now in the Rusk County Jail, each under a $85,000 bond.

LONGVIEW — Citywide cleanup continues in Longview after midweek storms brought widespread damage. The city continues to say no specific needs have been identified, so donations are not currently being accepted. If needs arise, the city says it will communicate those needs and how to assist. Continue reading Recap on Storm Damage in Longview

EAST TEXAS – East Texans are invited to take part the National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. It is held annually on the second Saturday in May. This marks the 27th year that letter carriers have held the drive, the largest one-day food drive in the nation. It is easy for East Texans to participate. Just leave non-perishable food donations in a bag near your mailbox on Saturday. While all non-perishable donations are welcome, foods that are high in protein are most needed. Food collected during Saturday’s drive will be delivered to local community churches, food banks and food pantries for distribution.

TYLER – It’s life for a Tyler man in the death of his 4 month old daughter. Andres Guadalupe Ibarra, 20, has pleaded guilty to capital murder. A Tyler jury on Friday sentenced him to Life in prison without parole. Last June he told sheriff’s department investigators that he hit Sofia in the ribs and abdomen with his fist four or five times and then threw her. He then went outside and smoked marijuana and then went to sleep. He discovered the next morning the child was pale and not breathing normally and took her to a Tyler hospital. She was later transferred to a Dallas hospital, where she died after being taken off life support.

EAST TEXAS – Several East Texas schools will have a longer weekend in the wake of this week’s storms. Among those that have cancelled classes for Friday is Longview ISD, but only for specific campuses. Bramlette and J.L. Everhart elementary schools have the day off, along with Forest Park Middle School. According to our news partner KETK, the rest of the district will be open and classes in normal session. The National Weather Service says straight-line winds caused damage in Longview. Big Sandy ISD has also called off classes for Friday.

TYLER – With more rain to usher in the weekend, there is some concern about flash flooding since the ground is saturated. Some Longview firefighters, who are trained in swift-water rescue, have been sent to Smith County. The men are from the Texas A&M Task Force 1. This is a statewide search and rescue team. It is under direction of the Texas Division of Emergency Management. Wednesday was the wettest May 8 on record in Tyler. The National Weather Service says 1.92 inches of rain was recorded Wednesday. The previous record was 1.54 in 1995. The rain fall has also increased lake levels. At last report, Lake Palestine was 25 inches above full pool and Lake Tyler was 10 inches above full pool.

SMITH COUNTY – The storms that came through East Texas Wednesday afternoon continue to leave challenges in their wake in Smith County. In the most recent development, County Roads 2186, 26, 247 and 1133 are closed because of wash outs and culvert damages. Crews have continued to deal with trees down, road hazards, and utility problems throughout the county. County Road 2273 has one lane closed because of a partial wash out. Portions of Smith County Roads 26 and 2186, which were already closed from recent rains, remain closed.

WHITE OAK — For hours, White Oak police say their 911 phones were down. They report that the service has been restored, and in case of an emergency, 911 is available.

EAST TEXAS – Some area roads remain closed because of the storms that passed through the area Wednesday afternoon. TxDOT crews continue to monitor road conditions and will open roadways to traffic once the water recedes and it is safe to do so. Current road closures include:

GREGG COUNTY- State Highway 135– north bound and south bound closed at Farm Road 2207 in Gladewater due to water over the road. Caution advised as this location typically floods and recedes several times before it’s totally clear of water. Continue reading Storm Road Closures Update

TYLER – A Tyler robber is heading to prison. A Tyler jury, after finding Brant Miller, 19, guilty of aggravated robbery, sentenced him to 50 years in prison. Miller was arrested a short time after the robbery which occurred in the parking lot of the Foundry Apartments on Varsity Drive last November. He had ordered pizza and then robbed the delivery driver of his money and the pizza. When arrested, officers recovered the pizza and the gun used in the robbery. The gun had been reported stolen during an auto burglary five days earlier.

MARSHALL – The National Weather Service confirms that an EF1 tornado touched down north of Marshall, in Harrison County, during Wednesday’s storms. It caused no damage. Thousands are still without power because of the storms. While many have had power restored, there are many still without it, and SWEPCO says it could be days before the power is completely restored. Our news partner KETK reports Longview alone had a peak of 32,000 residents without electricity during the storms. SWEPCO is estimating it will be Monday night before all of Longview’s power has been restored.