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HENDERSON COUNTY — Former Payne Springs police officer Jonathan Hutchison pleaded guilty to charges on Monday. According to our news partner KETK, on Monday, Hutchison pleaded guilty to his charges of manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance as part of an open plea. The court said that a charge of money laundering is being considered.

In March of 2023, Hutchison, alongside former Payne Springs Chief of Police April Meadows, were arrested after search warrants revealed controlled substances in their homes. Continue reading Former officer pleads guilty to drug charges

SHELBY COUNTY — Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for seven East Texas counties that were impacted by severe storms and flooding from the past week. According to our news partner, KETK, a statement from the governor said that Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Newton, Panola, Shelby and Tyler counties continue to be affected by last weeks rain and flooding.

Throughout East Texas, authorities are continuing to access the damage as flood waters recede. Residents are asked to report damages to homes and using the he Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool, or iSTAT. Governor Abbott said the information in the iSTAT reports will help indentify disaster assistance and resources needed. To find iSTAT, click this link.

TYLER  — On Tuesday, Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith announced that through DNA testing, skeletal remains discovered in 1985 had been identified as Sindy Gina Crow, a 27-year-old from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. According to our news partner KETK, a mowing crew discovered the skeletal remains in a brush-covered gully 75 feet from I-20 east of Highway 69 in October 1985. The crew then contacted the Lindale Police Department who got in touch with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. During a search of the area, officials reportedly found a lady’s shirt, earrings and a watch.

The remains were then reportedly taken to the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas for an autopsy. There, officials believed the body belonged to a white or Hispanic female approximately 25 years of age with reddish-brown hair tied in a ponytail. Continue reading Smith County Sheriff identifies 1985 cold case victim

TYLER — Drivers can expect traffic delays on Loop 323 near Troup Highway after a mobile home fell over on Tuesday afternoon. According to the Tyler Police information officer Andy Erbaugh, westbound lanes are closed on Loop 323 near Troup Highway after a mobile home overturned across from Texas Roadhouse.

TYLER — The Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is hosting an open house for community members to update the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) on Tuesday, April 23, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The meeting will be in the Tyler Development Center’s large conference room at 423 W. Ferguson St. During the open house, community members will learn about revised construction dates, updated project cost estimates, and clarification edits to project descriptions for proposed highway and transit projects, including: widening FM 756 from Jeff Davis Drive to FM 346, Constructing an overpass at the intersection of FM 756 and FM 346 and widening FM 2493 from Loop 323 to FM 2813. Continue reading Transportation Improvement Program open house today

WHITEHOUSE — The Whitehouse Independent School District named Dr. Casey Whittle as their lone finalist for superintendent on Monday. According to our news partner KETK, the Board of Trustees sorted through nearly 40 candidates, and decided Whittle would be the best fit.

“Our goal was to find the person we thought could inspire our students more than anybody else and could equip them with those type of opportunities,” Todd Raabe, Whitehouse Board of Trustees president, said. “We really believe Casey Whittle’s our man.”

According to a release, Whittle has dedicated nearly 25 years to public education and served as assistant superintendent for human resources at Wylie ISD and as high school principal in Comal ISD. Whittle said he plans to help develop teachers, so they can take their students across the finish line. Continue reading Whitehouse ISD names superintendent finalist

GREGG COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, a former East Texas elementary school teacher pleaded guilty on Monday to four counts of injury to a child causing bodily injury. Cecilia Gregg, who reportedly had been working with the district since 2009, was charged with four counts for allegedly striking students with her hand.

In July 2022, six former J.L. Everhart employees were indicted for charges related to the mistreatment of elementary students: Paula Hawkins Dixon, 58, Cassandra Renee James, 48, Linda Kaye Brown Lister, 61, Priscilla Johnson, 56, Cecilia Gregg, 57, Cynthia Telley, 56.

Longview ISD released a statement in 2022 addressing the allegations. Continue reading Former Longview ISD employee pleads guilty to injuring students

TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office announced that they will be sharing new information regarding a cold homicide case from 1985. According to our news partner KETK, Sheriff Larry Smith announced that there will be a press conference on Tuesday at 2:45 p.m. concerning “positive identification of skeletal remains” that were found in 1985 on I-20. The sheriff’s office said that the remains were initially identified as a female homicide victim, but she remained a Jane Doe until recently.

AUSTIN – A Palestine resident claimed a top prize winning ticket worth $3 million in the Texas Lottery scratch ticket game Maximum Millions. The ticket was purchased at JJ’s Fastop, located on East Palestine Avenue. The lucky winner has decided to remain anonymous.

TYLER – The Tyler Junior College Apache Cheer squad won their second national championship on Friday after their first ever championship last year. According to our news partner KETK, the team competed in the National Cheer Association championships in Daytona, Florida. The TJC cheer team won first place in the intermediate large coed junior college category.

TYLER — A former employee of a Tyler nursing home pleaded guilty Friday in the death of a resident who was tied to a wheelchair. Bobby Posey, 23, was arrested after Larry Coffey, a resident of the Tyler nursing home where Posey worked, died after falling while tied to a wheelchair. Posey was charged with injury to an elderly or disabled person causing reckless body injury. On Friday, Posey pleaded guilty to the crime in Judge Austin Jackson’s court and received five years deferred probation.

Posey’s indictment said that he had a legal duty to act, and had assumed care, custody, or control of the elderly individual by virtue of his employment at the facility. For ignoring the man’s restraints, Posey was found partially at fault for his fatal injury. Continue reading Brownsboro man gets probation in death of a nursing home patient

RUSK COUNTY — The Gaston Museum announced on Sunday that the museum board has decided to close permanently. According to a release, the chairman of the museum said current and previous board members have devoted their time and sacrifice to remain open as long as they could and they did not make the decision to close lightly. “I personally have spent 15 years now assisting or serving and feel as a piece of my life is going away. I know you feel the same. My family just like yours, were centered in this community and the Gaston Museum has carried a legacy of our families through 30 years of honor and memories of an era like no other. I leave here in tears every time I come, mourning what has to be,” the chairman said. Continue reading Rusk County museum to close doors

MARSHALL – Our news partners at KETK report that Wiley University received a grant from Interfaith America, to further interfaith learning on the campus. According to a statement, the $30,000 grant will be used to “embed interfaith education and attention to religious diversity into the general education course.” Wiley University said that the grant will help to fund guest speakers with faith traditions outside of the Christian perspective, to widen the understanding of the students. Continue reading Wiley University receives $30k ‘religious pluralism’ grant

TYLER – The City of Tyler announced that street repairs downtown may cause traffic delays. City officials say that brick street repairs on South Bonner Avenue between West Front Street and West Houston Street will close the street to through traffic until May 1 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

TYLER – The Junior League of Tyler hosted their annual Touch a Truck event to raise money for local nonprofits and provide a fun, educational experience for the whole family. According to a statement, the Junior League of Tyler’s event hosted a variety of public service vehicles, heavy equipment pieces and representatives of several industries for children to see and touch. Continue reading Junior League of Tyler gives back

PALESTINE – The Palestine Police Department said that a pedestrian was killed in a crash in the 800 block of Crockett Road at around 12:20 a.m. on Friday.

When Palestine PD officers arrived at the crash scene they found a 2021 blue Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck that hit the pedestrian and a telephone pole, according to a press release.

Marcos Sanchez, 51 of Palestine, died at the scene because of his injuries from the crash.

Palestine PD said that the driver of the Ram was travelling north on Crockett Road when he reportedly crossed the road into oncoming traffic and hit Sanchez while witnesses saw him taking his trash out to the curb.

Dillon Wayne Fogle, 39 of Elkhart, was arrested for intoxication manslaughter after officers reportedly smelled alcohol on his breath and found a open alcohol container in his truck.

Fogle was taken to the Anderson County jail and bonded out after being charged with intoxication manslaughter and unlawfully carrying a weapon.

CHANDLER – Our news partners at KETK report that a Facebook post by the Chandler Chamber of Commerce has caused a rift in the tight-knit community over the announcement that a Starbucks was coming to town. A lot of people would prefer anything but a Starbucks. It’s set to open right next to Brookshire’s alongside Highway 31, in the building previously used by Texas Famous Fried Chicken. Dozens of comments, detailing the community’s opposition to the business and reasons why.

“A lot of people don’t want it here as well as myself,” said Cody Richardson, Chandler resident. “The traffic is already bad, and they’ve had a lot of wrecks there,” said Wood. “Unless they do something about putting a traffic signal in, I think it’s going to create more havoc.” “Something else would have been better,” said Susie Wood, Chandler resident. Continue reading Chandler residents voice concerns over new Starbucks

TYLER – The Tyler Police Department said that a woman driving a motorcycle was hospitalized after crashing with a vehicle on Troup Highway and Dulse Street on Friday according to our news partners at KETK. The crash reportedly happened at around 8:19 p.m. near Green Acres Baptist Church. Details of the crash are limited but the driver of the motorcycle has been sent to a local hospital and her condition is unknown. Tyler PD said that traffic heading south on Troup Highway was diverted while law enforcement responded to the crash.

TYLER – Jack Benson, a former Douglas Elementary School student visited the campus Friday to celebrate his recent donation of $100,000 to the school. The staff and students made it special for for Mr. Benson, welcoming him with a special “Thank You” parade. According to a release from Douglas Elemetary, school personnel took Mr. Benson on a tour of school grounds and showed him the areas in which his generous donation will be used. The plan is to install new playground equipment and create a covered outdoor learning area for students.

As the tour progressed Mr. Benson said that, “Douglas holds a special place in my heart,” Benson said. “It shaped my childhood, and I always knew I wanted to give back.”
Continue reading Douglas Elementary celebrates 100K donor

TYLER – Chapel Hill ISD announced on Friday the current high school principal will be assuming the role of assistant superintendent. According to our news partner KETK, Matthew Strode will start those new duties July 1.

Strode said in a release from CHISD, “I am immensely grateful for the trust and support extended to me by Chapel Hill ISD as I transition into the role of Assistant Superintendent. I am deeply appreciative of the opportunity to contribute to our district’s continued success and am eager to collaborate with our dedicated team in serving our students, staff, and community.”

Strode has been with the Chapel Hill school district for five years.

TYLER – All public boat ramps on Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East are open. But, Tyler Water Utilities advises all lake users to remain cautious on the water. There may still be floating debris from the recent rain, which can pose safety risks to boaters and watercraft. There is also a chance for high wakes, which can impact not only boaters but can also affect properties along the shoreline. TWU asks that boaters to be mindful of their speed and the wakes they create as a courtesy to others and to prevent erosion or damage to shoreline properties.

JACKSONVILLE – According to our news partner KETK, an investigation is open into allegations of a teacher injuring a student by the Jacksonville Independent School District. Concerned parent Ashelle Whitaker said her 7-year-old son was hurt by his second grade teacher. Whitaker said physical marks and his reaction were telling that something happened.

“I see him coming down the hallway with a bloody tissue up to his mouth and his eyes swollen, him crying his eyes out, snot rolling down,” said Whitaker. “He said [the teacher] took me into the room alone, and she repeatedly pushed me up against the wall and I could not breathe,” said Whitaker. Whitaker was heartbroken and she immediately called 911, filed a report with CPS, the school’s resource officer spoke with the Smith County Advocacy Center. Continue reading Jacksonville ISD teacher accused of abusing 7-year-old

TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, Tyler ISD said a bus carrying students hit a parked car on Appletree Lane on Thursday after the bus driver had a “unusual medical situation.” According to a Tyler ISD representative, the bus driver and students were uninjured after the bus hit the car but the driver is being checked out by first responders at the scene.

SMITH COUNTY – A part of Smith County Road 294 is closed for repairs because of a washout due to heavy rainfall. Smith County officials received a report that part of the road had been washed away. County Engineer Frank Davis said he expects repairs to be completed by Friday April 19. In the meantime, closure and barricade signs have been placed at the affected part of CR 294. This section is about 1.25 miles east of State Highway 135 in Arp. Those driving in this area are asked to seek a different route.

SMITH COUNTY – Thursday was an auspicious day in Smith County. It is technically the day the county was born. Texas was annexed by the United States and became a state in 1845. The next year, the new state legislature created Smith County by an act passed on April 11, 1846. Most, but not all, historians say the county was named for General James Smith, a hero of the Texas Revolution, though the act itself makes no mention. That makes Smith County Texas 178 years old today.