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TYLER (AP) – An East Texas woman must serve nearly seven years in prison after pleading guilty to embezzling $1.8 million from some California companies and using the money to build a house. Federal prosecutors in Tyler say 49-year-old Lina Su, also known as Lina Perkins, was sentenced Thursday to 80 months and ordered to repay the money. The financial controller in June pleaded guilty to money laundering and wire fraud. Su split her time living in Hawkins and Los Angeles. The thefts began in 2015. Prosecutors say Su illegally transferred funds from VIG Furniture, Airport Van Rental and ACE Medical Transport into her personal account to pay credit cards, buy land and construct a house in Texas. Su must also forfeit vehicles and land.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County troopers were busy Friday morning, responding to three separate crashes within a small amount of time. According to our news partner and the Department of Public Safety, the first crash occurred at on Highway 64 at FM 279 involving a semi and passenger car. No word on any injuries. The second crash occurred about a quarter mile west of the first wreck involving Tyler ISD school bus #25. No students were reported injured. A second bus arrived shortly after and transferred the students to school. DPS said the driver of the truck involved in that crash was injured, the extent was not known. The third crash happened near near FM 2661. Additional information was pending.

TYLER — Three awards were handed out Thursday in Tyler at the local celebration of National Philanthropy Day 2018, hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals – East Texas chapter. Barbara Shtofman was named Outstanding Philanthropist based on her legacy of giving with an emphasis on the arts and women’s and children’s outreach programs. Jennifer Gaston was honored as Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser for her extensive work in support of area non-profits and the resulting monetary impact. Express Professional Services was named Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation based on what were termed its purposeful giving and active support of area charitable organizations.

TYLER — The trial for an East Texas nurse accused of murder has been pushed back to September 2019. According to our news partner KETK, all charges against 34-year-old William George Davis of Hallsville have been incorporated into his capital murder of multiple persons case. Those charges included several counts of aggravated assault. Davis was a registered nurse at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. He is accused of causing death or harm to patients by introducing air into their arteries.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma – A 27-year-old Oklahoma City man faces prosecution in connection with the murder of a former Longview woman in 2017 and 39 other crimes. According to our news partner KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Mario Nomore remained in the Oklahoma County Jail on 40 charges, including the murders of Ashley Easton, formerly of Longview, and her boyfriend, Bashar Burks; two other homicides; and 30 counts of robbery. Easton’s mother said she became suspicious when her daughter did not arrive in Longview as planned. The mother said Easton lived in Longview for much of her life but moved to Oklahoma several years ago.

TYLER – TxDOT will host a public hearing for proposed improvements to FM 2493 from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Bullard Elementary School on Panther Drive in Bullard. The purpose of the hearing is to present the planned improvements to upgrade and widen FM 2493 and to receive public comment. The project will convert the existing two-lane rural roadway to a four-lane divided roadway from FM 346 in Flint, south to U.S. 69 near Bullard, in Smith and Cherokee counties.

TYLER — Habitat for Humanity of Smith County has received a $150,000 Housing Preservation Grant from the USDA. The grant supports Smith County Habitat’s initiative to address housing needs in rural parts of the community. The grant will be used to repair approximately 30 homes in rural Smith, Anderson, and Cherokee counties. Funds will be leveraged with a $150,000 grant recently received from the Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans’ Assistance. Smith County Habitat applies for grants from multiple sources to support its critical repair program.

TYLER — TJC President for Branch Locations & District Provost Dr. Juan E. Mejia has been appointed to the Community College Baccalaureate Association Board of Directors. The CCBA was established in 2000 with the philosophy that every person should have an opportunity to pursue the baccalaureate degree at a place that is convenient, accessible, and affordable, according to a news release. The association’s board of directors is composed of community college administrators from across the country and has an international membership. “I am very honored by the opportunity to work with stellar colleagues from this visionary association,” Mejia said in the news release. Mejia has served on several national, state, and local boards, both in South Texas and East Texas.

TYLER — Tyler Junior College announced Tuesday that TJC’s gift from Virginia and Jim Gatewood exceeds $19 million now that all components of the gift are finalized. Earlier this year, TJC announced a “double-digit, multi-million dollar” gift from the Gatewood family, which has long history of giving to the college. Officials say the gift is the largest in the college’s history and is also believed to be the most significant monetary gift from an individual family to a Texas community college — as well as the largest gift to an institution or organization in the city of Tyler. According to a news release, the funds will ensure the long-term support of the TJC Presidential Honors Scholarship Program.

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court has approved an agreement with Phirst Technologies of Tyler to allow a drone and port in a secure enclosure at the Emergency Operations Center on Spur 248. The purpose is early testing of the drone and port for first responder use. The city of Tyler recently approved a similar agreement. According to a news release, testing approved by the county will last six to ten months, as will be the case with the city. Phirst Technologies says it will bear all costs for the installation and testing under both the city and county arrangements. According to our news partner KETK, depending on the situation, the drone will provide information such as how many fire trucks are needed, whether natural gas is escaping, and how many ambulances are required.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — A shooting the morning of November 7 led to capital murder charges for two men from Rusk. According to our news partner KETK, Sheriff James Campbell said Trevor Lawson, 18, was found shot to death at County Road 2117, in the Maydelle Community. Campbell said the specifics as to what led to the murder are under investigation and have not been determined. Cody Ray Roberts, 17, and Jontae Jamaile Johnson, 20, both from Rusk, have been charged with capital murder. They are being held in the Cherokee County Jail on $1 million bond each.

TYLER – Tyler’s growing season has come to an end. The National Weather Service reports Tyler recorded 32 degrees at 7:46 Tuesday morning. That put the growing season at 272 days. It began a little earlier and ended a little earlier than normal. With a trace of snow on Tuesday, Tyler’s high temperature was 36 degrees. That is not a record low maximum for the date. The record is 35 degree degrees, which was recorded in 1907.

JACKSONVILLE — The Texas Department of Agriculture has identified card skimmers at a Jacksonville gas station. According to our news partner KETK, ag department officials say they found two skimmers at the Pac N Sac Valero gas station on South Bolton Street at Woodlawn Avenue. Skimmers are unauthorized electronic devices installed by criminals to gather credit card data from customers. East Texas has been hit by a rash of them in the past year. The criminals can download the information using blue tooth technology. Officials say you should always monitor your credit and debit cards for unauthorized activity — and report any suspicious activity to your bank or credit card company and the police. Continue reading Gas Skimmers Found in Jacksonville

WILLS POINT — Part of Highway 80 in Wills Point has been shut down following the collapse of a sewer line. According to our news partner KETK, the City of Wills Point says lanes have already been blocked off near East Oneal Street. Crews have begun work to repair the collapsed sewer line. Officials urge drivers to use caution as various lanes will be closed over the next few days.

TYLER — Local business owner Clint Benefield is making a special effort to address hunger. Beginning Tuesday at noon, he’ll be camping out in front of his business, Vapor Galleria, at Kinsey and the Loop in Tyler, until he raises $3,500 for the cause. According to a news release from the United Way of Smith County, if Clint reaches his goal, it will result in feeding 1,100 hungry and homeless people in the county. 100% of funds raised will go to support United Way partner agency programs that are providing meals in East Texas. Benefield himself has become homeless, living atop scaffolding outside his business until the goal is met. Donations can be made online through https://www.facebook.com/donate/2195781387101290/ — a Facebook campaign Clint set up. Donations may also be mailed to or dropped off at the United Way office on South Broadway.

TYLER – TxDOT is planning a variety of construction and maintenance work throughout the Tyler District this week. Additionally, TxDOT will host a public hearing for proposed improvements to FM 2493 from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, November 15, at Bullard Elementary School on Panther Drive in Bullard. The purpose of the hearing is to present the planned improvements to upgrade and widen FM 2493 and to receive public comment. The project will convert the existing two-lane rural roadway to a four-lane divided roadway from FM 346 in Flint, south to U.S. 69 near Bullard, in Smith and Cherokee counties. Go to https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/047-2018.html for a complete rundown of this week’s planned roadwork the district.

TYLER – Tyler has recorded a new rainfall record for November 12th. The National Weather Service reports Tyler’s rainfall total for Monday was 2.96 inches. That beat the 2.17 inches recorded in 1914. Tyler’s 5 day storm total came to 5.52 inches.

SMITH COUNTY — 77-year-old Nolan Edward Manziel, Johnny Manziel’s great-uncle, was hit and killed by his own vehicle early Sunday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, authorities were called around 2:30 p.m. to the scene on Smith County Road 1102. They said Manziel had gotten out of his vehicle to open a gate at the property. However, he did not put the car in park and it rolled into him. Manziel was found unresponsive by those who called 9-1-1. According to family members, he had left to go to the family’s property on CR 1102 to check on the pipes due to the cold weather. However, he did not return. An autopsy has been ordered.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Fire Department Monday deployed 3 members to assist with the wildfires in California. Those who went were Driver/Operator Carlee Cilk, Driver/Operator Dusty Burks, and Firefighter Chris McGinnis. They will possibly be serving a 14-day tour not counting travel days. If needed, a second three-person crew will be activated to relieve those already deployed, according to a news release.

AUSTIN — The Texas Water Development Board Monday approved $1,550,000 from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for the city of Chandler. According to a news release from the development board, the city could save approximately $370,000 by using the revolving fund. Officials say the money will allow the city to make improvements at its wastewater treatment plant and develop an asset management plan.

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County murder trial for a Whitehouse man, which had been scheduled for Monday, has been reset for February 4. According to our news partner KETK, Martin Wesley Reynolds, 21, was charged with murder last November in the shooting death of Andrew Carpenter, 19, of Tyler. Carpenter was found shot inside a home on Deerwood Drive and was later pronounced dead. Nathan Garcia, 20, of Whitehouse, was arrested on one count of murder. Colton Wade Tate, 21, was charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence. James Hunter Ansley, 26, was charged with tampering with physical evidence. Daniel Cole Perry, 23, was charged with tampering with physical evidence. Ansley and Perry had their charges dismissed. Tate’s trial is slated for December 17.

SMITH COUNTY — A pedestrian is dead in a Sunday Smith County accident. DPS reports troopers responded around 8 p.m. to Hwy. 155 S. near FM 2661 in Smith County. Preliminary information indicated the driver, Aaron-Nicole Rodriquez, 32, of Frankston was traveling on Hwy. 155 when she struck a pedestrian who may have been attempting to remove debris in the roadway. The pedestrian has been identified as Michael Timothy McClure, 65, of Palestine. McClure was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash remains under investigation.

TYLER — A two vehicle wreck on Toll 49 left a 9-year-old Arp girl dead, 5 others injured. It happened around 1:00 Sunday afternoon at Toll 49 and FM 2493. According to the DPS report, the driver of a 2017 GM Denali, Valerie Miller, 34, Arp, was traveling west on the toll road when she crossed the center line and hit a Ford Escape head-on. The driver of the Escape, William Pritchard, 29, Tyler, was transported to a Tyler hospital in serious condition. Miller was also transported to a Tyler hospital in serious condition. 9-year-old Leah Miller, who was in Valerie Miller’s vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. Three other girls, ages 10, 8, and 4, were taken to the hospital in serious condition. All occupants were restrained.

JACKSONVILLE — A fire appears to have done extensive damage to the La Quinta Inn on Highway 69 South in Jacksonville. Our news partner KETK reports the fire sparked Monday morning at around 3:00. Crews said they went floor by floor to help evacuate hotel guests. It wasn’t immediately clear how many people had to be evacuated or the damage the fire caused. It was also not immediately clear if the fire was sparked by lightning. But according to a hotel employee, shortly after the hotel lost power, guests came down to say there was a fire at the top of the building. We’ll continue to update this story as more details emerge.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — A teen that was passing vehicles in a no-passing zone that killed three people in a crash has now been charged with three counts of manslaughter. According to our news partner, KETK, on October 30, troopers were called Highway 19, just south of Highway 80, in response to a two vehicle wreck. The driver of a truck, Jessie Michael Brown, 19, of Fruitvale, was said to be passing vehicles in a non-passing zone and hit another truck head-on. The driver of the other truck, Connie Wells, 61, of Wills Point, and two young male passengers were pronounced dead at the scene. The juveniles were identified as 14-year-old Adam Thomas Tuma and 11-year-old Elijah William Gabriel Tuma, both of Wills Point. Continue reading Teen Driver Involved in Fatal Crash Charged with Manslaughter

TYLER – A Tyler robbery attempt is under investigation. It occurred around 5:15 Friday afternoon at City Fuel at 7205 South Broadway. A man, armed with a knife, came into the business and demanded money. When he was unable to get any money, he left the store on foot. He is described as a white or Hispanic male, 5’8″ with a thin build. He was wearing white pants, gloves and a long sleeve black shirt.

LONGVIEW – A trial date has been set in Longview for a man accused of killing two people five years ago. During a hearing Friday afternoon, a March 18th trial date has been set for 27 year old Kyron Rayshawn Templeton of Longview. A psychologist has determined that he was competent to stand trial. Since the killing,Templeton received psychiatric treatment and underwent another mental evaluation last month. The attacks occurred in November 2013 at then-Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview. While at the hospital for his mother’s surgery, he stabbed and killed a nurse and a hospital visitor. Three persons were injured. He is charged with capital murder and three counts of aggravated assault.

WINONA – Thanks to a $200,000 Rural Volunteer Fire Department cost-share grant through Texas A&M Forest Service, the Winona Volunteer Fire Department has a brush truck and tender. The primary use for this new tanker will be carrying water so they can maintain a constant supply when fighting a variety of fires. It also has drafting capability for refilling from a pool or creek. The tanker will help to fill the need in the far north end of the county. The water tank is mounted to a rugged chassis to provide improved access to ranching and farm areas that may have plowed fields or narrow driveways. They got the truck just in time to respond to several emergency calls.

LONGVIEW – Two more Texas Sears stores will be shut down. One is in Longview. It was previously announced the Sears store in Tyler would be closing. Now, with the latest announcement of the closing of 29 Sears and 11 Kmart stores, the Sears store in the Longview Mall is on the list. According to a statement on the company’s web site, the latest locations will close in February with liquidation sales to begin late next week. The latest shutdowns are in addition to the previously announced closure of 142 unprofitable stores, a process that’s expected to be complete near the end of the year.