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TYLER – Sarah Cureton has been named the new principal of Tyler ISD’s Clarkston Elementary School. Cureton replaces Tara Hinton, who served as principal since 2020. Cureton has been the assistant principal at Dr. Bryan C. Jack Elementary School since 2019. She also served as a master teacher, summer school administrator, and teacher at Clarkston.

TYLER – A Tyler woman who was charged in the 2020 death of her three-year-old daughter pleaded guilty Thursday morning and received a 35-year prison sentence. According to our news partner KETK, Courtnie Williams was arrested along with the victim’s father, Manuel Williams, after officers were called to the family’s home and found injuries that were consistent with “a history of abuse.” Manuel Williams received a 50-year plea deal in February to a charge of injury to a child, the same charge to which his wife pleaded guilty.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has approved a change order in the amount of $1,520,586 to complete rehabilitation and restore the city’s historic Mayfair concert hall on the East Texas State Fairgrounds. The additional amount will be funded by the Hotel Occupancy Tax Fund, which officials say has seen a great recovery in recent months. They add there are also many grant and donor opportunities available. The project has been in the works for some time. Officials say initial cost allowances were based on 2014 estimates, and the city has now updated its plan based on a recent survey. According to a news release, the project would start after the East Texas State Fair ends in mid-October, with a completion date of summer 2023. Continue reading City approves historic Mayfair concert hall rehabilitation

LONGVIEW – Seven men were arrested earlier this week in a solicitation of prostitution bust in Gregg County. According to our news partner KETK, a DPS report stated the arrests were made on Tuesday and Wednesday. The bust was in coordination with multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Smith County Texas Anti-Gang Unit, Longview PD, the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office and the Gregg County DA. DPS has made multiple busts in East Texas in recent months. Continue reading Numerous East Texas men arrested in prostitution bust

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office seeks your help solving an aggravated robbery. Officials say around 1:15 a.m. Wednesday, deputies responded to a robbery that had just occurred at a convenience store in the 11400 block of Hwy. 64 West near Tyler. They were informed that a suspect entered the store, pointed a handgun at both the employee and a customer, and demanded the money from the cash register while informing both victims to lay on the floor. After receiving an undisclosed amount of money, witnesses say the suspect fled the area in an unknown direction. Authorities say the suspect was a black male, 5’09” to 5’10”, wearing a blue hoodie, dark colored pants, and a blue bandana over his face. The weapon was described as a black semi-automatic pistol. If you have any information concerning this case, call the Sheriff’s Office at (903) 566-6600.

TYLER — The name for the Rose Complex’s conference center was announced as the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center during a special called Tyler City Council meeting Wednesday. “Brookshire’s tradition of outstanding service was instilled 90 years ago when W.T. Brookshire made the decision to place the customer as his top priority,” said Mayor Don Warren. “The company has come a long way since 1928 – but is still focused on offering the same exceptional customer service it was founded on. Our mission is to create and deliver exceptional experiences and value to our customers through the W.T. Brookshire Way.” After the name was announced, attendees signed the complex girders to commemorate the occasion. Continue reading Rose Complex conference center’s name revealed

AUSTIN — Continuing to reflect a statewide trend, Tyler and Longview again see increases in monthly sales tax allocations from the state comptroller’s office. For June, Tyler pulls in $4,543,068.92, up from $4,539,538.10 in June 2021. For the year to date, Tyler is at $29,334,062.84, an increase from $25,523,679.20 last June. Longview gets $3,347,365.10 this month, compared to $3,147,148.23 in June of last year. For the year to date, Longview has collected $21,541,520.02; the comparable number a year ago was $18,381,764.80. Click here for more information.

LONGVIEW — Longview police Tuesday arrested 59-year-old Dr. Matt Hipke of Longview on two indictment warrants for continuous sexual abuse of a child with the victim being under 14 years old. According to a news release, Hipke was transported and booked into the Gregg County Jail without incident. At the time of his arrest, Hipke was out on bond from his arrest on August 14, 2020. Hipke was originally arrested for two counts of the aforementioned allegation. According to the Texas Medical Board website, Hipke’s license to practice medicine was suspended in relation to this investigation in August 2020.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday moved forward with a pair of infrastructure projects. According to city press materials, the Council authorized the city manager to execute two construction contracts for sanitary sewer line rehabilitations under a Consent Decree with the Environmental Protection Agency. The Council also authorized the city manager to execute a contract for maintenance and repair of stormwater infrastructure on N. Border Ave. between Mims and Barrett Streets. Officials cite factors that they say are causing sinkholes and undermining the stormwater structures in the area. The project will also repair the interior of the upstream inlet box.

TYLER — We’ll soon know the name of Tyler’s new Rose Complex Conference Center, along with other information. The Tyler City Council will meet Wednesday at 2 p.m. for a special called meeting followed by a check presentation for the center. During the meeting, the official name for the Rose Complex will be announced. It all happens at the conference center site on West Front Street. The facility will replace Harvey Convention Center, with officials hoping for completion by late October or early November.

CHAPEL HILL — Chapel Hill ISD trustees Monday unanimously approved the 2022-2023 Compensation Plan offering significant pay raises for teachers and staff, according to a news release. The teacher starting pay will be set to $50,000 with continuing teachers receiving an increase of $1,600. All other employees will see an increase of three percent based on the midpoint of their pay grade. The plan will take effect in the 2022-2023 academic year and covers a variety of employee incentive opportunities, according to the release.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — One person is dead following a late Monday night pursuit in Van Zandt County that ended in a fiery crash. According to DPS, preliminary investigation indicates the driver was evading law enforcement traveling east on I-20 near Mile Marker 536 at a high rate of speed. Officials say she exited onto the south service road approaching CR 4414, failed to negotiate the curve, and traveled north into a grassy area south of I-20. They say the vehicle continued in the grassy area, struck a tree, and caught on fire. The victim’s identity wasn’t immediately available.

MARSHALL — Marshall police are seeking a man following a shooting at a clothing store Monday afternoon on East End Boulevard. 39-year-old Montrell Antwon Hatton of Marshall is accused of wounding two female victims who were taken to the hospital. Police say he had left the scene when they arrived and is now sought on two aggravated assault warrants. Hatton is believed to be driving a late model white four-door Chevrolet pickup truck. Authorities say he should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Marshall Police Department at 903-935-4575. If you have information but wish to remain anonymous, you may call the Marshall/Harrison County Crimestoppers at 903-935-9969 or use the P3 mobile app.

TYLER – A second person linked to allegations involving the Smith County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office has been rearrested for an alleged bond violation. According to our news partner KETK, online judicial records show former Pct. 1 Sgt. Derrick Holman was arrested June 3 and released the same day after posting a $60,000 bond. Last year, Holman was charged with theft, abuse of official capacity, and official oppression along with Constable Curtis Traylor-Harris and Chief Deputy LaQuenda Banks. They are accused of stealing cash, electronics, jewelry, and more from a property room while working. Traylor-Harris was recently rearrested for an alleged bond violation as well after he appeared in a graduation video in full uniform in possession of his weapon, which officials say violated terms of his bond.

TYLER — Authorities have arrested 32-year-old Robert Harrison Johnson IV in DeSoto for allegedly causing the fire that killed his half-brother last month in Smith County. At 8 p.m. on May 18, officials were dispatched to a home on Smith County Road 1113 for a structure fire with a man trapped inside the residence. Jack McKenzie Ross, 35, who was both mentally and physically disabled, died after resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. At the time, the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office reported that Ross’s brother was able to escape the fire before responders arrived. After a lengthy investigation, the Fire Marshal’s Office now believes Johnson, who lived in the home with Ross, intentionally set the fire in a bedroom of the house and left the property while the fire consumed the home and resulted in the death of Ross, Smith County Fire Marshal Jay Brooks said. Continue reading Suspect arrested for murder for allegedly starting fatal fire