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CHEROKEE COUNTY – Members of Stryker Lake Water Supply Corporation continue searching for answers after spending many months under a boil water notice. According to our news partner KETK, a board meeting was held Friday to answer some of their questions. There was an extensive agenda to cover, and dozens of members were in attendance. However, most of the agenda went unaddressed after the board members left the meeting after 15 minutes. “They told us first of all that we could only speak about things on the agenda and that’s when I said, ‘Nuh uh,’” said Nicki Greenwood, the former business manager and a current customer with the Stryker Lake WSC. Greenwood said the board is to be elected into their positions, but she says an election hasn’t happened in several years. “I left in 2016 and there has not been an election since. These board members just came in, and they just took a seat and said, ‘We’re board members,’” Greenwood added. Continue reading Stryker Lake Water Supply Corp. board walks out of meeting, customers looking for answers

TYLER – A Smith County pastor accused of stealing from an elderly couple in 2021 was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty to theft charges. According to our news partner KETK, Jerome Milton, 66, pleaded guilty to two theft of property charges greater or equal to $30,000 or less than $150,000. One of the charges specified the theft was against an elderly individual. Milton was sentenced to 180 days in the Smith County Jail and 10 years of probation, with 500 hours of community service. In the case involving the elderly couple, Milton used their money, pension plan checks, and economic impact payments to make his car payment and purchase hotel rooms in Brownwood, according to an affidavit. Milton is also facing a money laundering charge. His jury trial for that charge was scheduled for Aug. 15, but it was canceled.

PALESTINE — Officials have rescinded the boil water notice for Swantz St., between Grove St. and S. Jackson St., including McClellan, in Palestine. The notice had been issued August 9. Officials now say the water has been cleared for consumption without boiling.

TYLER — City of Tyler officials are staying busy with a number of items. Not the least of those is the proposed budget. Improvements to public safety, services, and employee retention are listed as top priorities. Included is a new water rate plan that officials say will upgrade infrastructure and promote conservation. Opportunities for public input on the budget are available by attending one of two city council meetings set for 9 a.m. August 24 and September 14. Final adoption of the budget is scheduled for the September 14 meeting. Along with that, officials report that Shiloh Road water storage tank upgrades have been approved, as well as upgrades for more than two miles of sewer lines in the north end of the city. Click here for further details on all those items.

SHREVEPORT, La. – A Shreveport man wanted for a string of jewelry store heists in Texas and Louisiana is being held in Natchitoches Parish. According to our news partner KETK, the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office says 39-year-old Lester Ray Moody was arrested during a traffic stop on Interstate 49 near Cypress on Wednesday morning after an NPSO detective spotted him at a nearby business and called for backup. The sheriff’s office says investigators in Longview, Texas, had identified Moody from surveillance video at the Longview Mall on July 1, where a man later identified as Moody and an unidentified woman robbed a Kay Jewelers by posing as customers who asked to look at jewelry before spraying an employee with pepper spray and making off with the goods.

TYLER – The Tyler Fire Department has new headquarters at West Front Street and Hill Avenue. According to our news partner KETK, on Thursday afternoon, the grand opening of the new facility was celebrated just blocks away from the previous headquarters. Fire Chief David Coble says it’s been a years-long process. “Our building is right in the center of about 30,000 cars passing us every day. We also have a marquee sign out front where we can put fire messages on fire preventions so people can be well informed of what’s going on. We will also use it as a recruitment tool when we get ready to hire at the first of next year,” said Chief Coble. Officials also say the new facility will allow for a better and more secure space to not only work but also hold classes and store important fire equipment. To save a dollar during construction, the fire department was able to take and reuse some materials from the old Harvey Convention Center.

TYLER – 44-year-old Reynaldo Campos, Jr., of Grapeland, has pleaded guilty in Tyler federal court to murder for hire. According to the indictment, on Feb. 9, Campos contacted an individual who he believed was a hitman, but who was in fact an undercover federal agent, and solicited the “hitman” to murder a former associate of Campos — claiming the intended victim had either stolen drugs from him or owed him money. Campos discussed the intended murder with the agent on multiple occasions over the next several weeks. On April 8, Campos and his girlfriend, Robin Pittman, traveled together from Houston County to Tyler to discuss the murder, to provide the “hitman” with a handgun to be used for the murder, and to provide the “hitman” with information about the intended victim. Continue reading Houston County man guilty in solicitation of murder plot

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department says a man was arrested Thursday in connection to the shooting death of a Longview teen. According to our news partner KETK, the Longview SWAT team was called to the scene and detained Lederrion Devonte Johnson, 29, around 3:00 p.m. without incident after a standoff on North Spur 63. Johnson was charged with murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and felon in possession of a firearm. Rahsaan Jefferson was killed after a shooting on Monday at the Preserve Apartments. He was an incoming student at Longview High School.

TROUP — The City of Troup issued a boil water notice on Thursday, due to a line break. All customers of the City of Troup public water supply should boil their water before consumption, washing hands or face or brushing teeth. The city said that children, seniors and people with weakened immune systems are “particularly vulnerable” to harmful bacteria. “To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. Continue reading City of Troup issues boil water notice

UPSHUR COUNTY – An Upshur County man was sentenced to 125 years for eight counts of indecency with a child under the age of 14. According to our news partner KETK, 48-year-old Matthew Callie McCoy was found guilty of all eight counts in Upshur County court. The child victim told a family member on Sept. 12, 2018 about ongoing abuse at the hands of McCoy. According to District Attorney Billy Byrd, the child had just turned 10 years old and said they were afraid of McCoy because he was abusing them by touching them inappropriately. The child’s mother went to the Gilmer Police Department who investigated the case. At trial, the child testified and said they had been “physically abused and threatened to be killed if they told,” Byrd said. The child took the witness stand as did the child’s mother, a counselor and other witnesses that backed up the child’s statement. Continue reading Upshur County man sentenced for indecency with a child

LONGVIEW — The East Texas Food Bank partnered with Door Dash for a new project called, “Project Dash.” Our news partner KETK reports, the first pilot delivery is a partnership with Longview Dream Center to give out the boxes. Project dash gives perishable items to seniors, age 60 or older and under a certain income. This helps seniors who don’t have a means of transportation or those with health issues. Linda Henry, a resident of Longview said, “That’s fabulous. I can’t even really explain it to you how much that helps, because now I can’t drive anymore. And it’s a God send.. it really is.” Once the address is confirmed, the door dasher will present the box to the recipient. Continue reading Food Bank partners with Door Dash to help senior citizens

SMITH COUNTY — The body of a missing Henderson woman was found in her vehicle on Tuesday in Smith County. Betty Rowland (Pemberton) was last seen on Aug. 1. Police said she may have been suffering from dementia. According to our news partner KETK, a landowner saw a vehicle and called law enforcement to investigate. Rowland’s vehicle was in a “slightly wooded area,” several hundred yards off of CR 290 in Smith County. Authorities say that foul play is not suspected, but the case is under investigation. Continue reading Body of missing Henderson woman found in her vehicle

TYLER – The Tyler Independent School District Board of Trustees gave the go-ahead for the Guardian Plan on Monday during a workshop, according to our news partner KETK. This will allow some employees to carry certain firearms. They will be selected by the board of trustees and the superintendent to have firearms at schools, board meetings and other school events on district property. “The district sees this as an extra line of defense to ensure the safety of our students and staff and will always first rely on our Tyler ISD police force and partnerships with local law enforcement agencies,” said Tyler ISD Superintendent Dr. Marty L. Crawford. Apart from the Guardian Plan, Tyler ISD is going to hire more Tyler ISD police officers. There will now be 34 officers in total, so there will be an armed officer at every elementary school campus and more than one armed officer at the secondary schools. Continue reading Some Tyler ISD employees to be able to carry guns through the Guardian Plan

TYLER – The city announced Tyler Water Utilities (TWU) plans to change how customers are charged, no longer subsidizing the first 2,000 gallons in favor of charging for total water use. If approved, TWU customers will see an increase of about $20 to their monthly bill. City Manager Edward Broussard said. “These rates are needed to maintain the quality of these services and sustain the system in the long term.” The new billing structure is set to be phased in over the next five years as a part of the fiscal year 2023 budget process. Customers will be charged the same rate regardless of utilization. The city said it plans to spend $24.4 million in cash and bond funds on water and sewer improvement projects in the coming year. Residential solid waste fees will also increase by $1.28 for twice-weekly collection. The budget’s final adoption is scheduled for 9 a.m. at the Sept. 14 meeting at Tyler City Hall, and the public is available to give their input on the budget at the Aug. 24 and Sept. 14 meetings.

TYLER — With a new school year comes a renewed effort to crack down on the issue of vaping in Tyler ISD. “Vaping is a serious issue with our youth,” Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford said. “You can’t buy bourbon in Tyler, Texas, but our youth can get their hands on vapes on almost every corner around town. We are educators, not health monitors. Any help you can give us, city, county, and legislators, we would really appreciate it!” The district has installed more than seventy vape detectors at all four high schools and the Career & Technology Center with the message to students, “you will get caught.” Continue reading Tyler ISD cracks down on vaping