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TYLER – Hogg Middle School is going to be closed before the 2022-2023 school year. The school is being closed because the 2022 bond was passed. Therefore, Tyler ISD is going to have a four quadrant middle school concept, according to our news partner KETK. Tyler ISD said they want to preserve the 92-year-old building. Officials will still use the facility for administrative offices and for the community and extracurricular activities. “We’re appreciative of voters giving us the opportunity to move forward with a more efficient middle school concept for our students, teachers, and staff,” said Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford. “Making the move this summer will help the district accomplish budgetary goals of lowering its tax rates while still providing raises for teachers and staff. It will also allow us to prepare the Hogg facility for administrative and other uses. Most importantly, it will not prolong a disruption in school assignments for incoming 6th graders and current 7th graders once we can get into a new Hubbard facility.” Continue reading Hogg Middle School to be closed in Tyler

EAST TEXAS – Two East Texas lawmakers were recently appointed to the Senate Special Committee to Protect All Texans. Sen. Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) will serve as chair of the committee, while Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) will be a member of the committee. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick named them, along with several other members to be charged with studying five areas: school safety, mental health, social media, police training and firearm safety. The committee does not include Democratic Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who represents the Uvalde area. Patrick said he asked Nichols to hold his hearing on June 23 or a date shortly after in order to give the community of Uvalde time to complete all funeral services. He is also asked to coordinate with the House of Representatives Chair to hold their hearings on the same date, if possible, to accommodate both invited and public witnesses.

TYLER – The 321st District Court in Smith County, which handles family court cases has been moved out of the courthouse in downtown Tyler. This is to make room for the newly-created 475th District Court, according to our news partner KETK. Judge Robert Wilson, who presides over the 321st Court, said he is “beyond excited to make the move” to his new courtroom on the fifth floor of the Annex building. The move takes effect Monday, June 6. On Tuesday, county commissioners approved moving two bailiffs to the Annex Building due to the increased traffic flow. The court was created to assist with the backlog of felony cases and jail overpopulation. Currently, the county only has three district courts to handle hundreds of cases. Continue reading Smith County family court moved to make room for new district court

TYLER — A Tyler man was indicted on two charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after being accused of shooting two 13-year-old girls in March. According to our news partner KETK, Jaqualin Humphrey, 18, turned himself in to authorities in March after the Tyler police named him as a suspect. The shooting took place in the area of North Ross Street and West Bow Street in Tyler on Saturday, March 12. Police responded to reports of gunshots in the area and about two 13-year-old girls who were each shot one time. Police determined that the girls were passengers in a car with several other juveniles, which was being driven by an adult, when they were shot. They were listed in stable condition following the shooting.

GREGG COUNTY – A man is wanted on several outstanding felony warrants including aggravated assault family violence, abandon/endangering a child, and parole violations. According to our news partner KETK, officials say various law enforcement agencies are seeking 28-year-old Caimbrian Austin Walker. They say Walker is known to frequent the Kilgore and Longview areas and should be considered armed and dangerous. They said don’t approach or attempt to apprehend him, just contact authorities. According to the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office, Walker is active on such social media as Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram “where he seeks out females to chat with and meet.” You can contact the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office at 903-236-8400 or Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP with any leads.

TYLER — The Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce gets ready for a big membership event. For two and a half days, over 250 volunteers will work against the clock and against each other to sign up new Chamber members. According to a news release, they’ll also create a greater community awareness of the Chamber’s role. The event is organized by Jimmy Cusano and a group called Your Chamber Connection. Their specialty is high energy membership campaigns that allow volunteers to conduct “out of the box” membership fun while building the membership base. according to the release. The YOUR CHAMBER Membership Event will run June 7-9. For more information on how you can be involved, call the Chamber (903) 592-1661.

MARSHALL — Marshall police say a man has been arrested after an incident in which a patrol car was struck and an officer was hurt. According to a news release, on May 27, officers arrested Jessie Turlington, 42, of Marshall for an accident involving damage to a vehicle and accident involving injury. On the night of May 24, a Marshall Police patrol car was struck and pushed off the road by a dark sedan at Durrell St. and E. Grand Ave. The driver then left the scene. Authorities say the officer was taken to Marshall Christus Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Footage from the patrol car was shown on Marshall/Harrison County Crime Stoppers, and police received a call about the car’s location. Subsequent investigation led to Turlington’s arrest and jailing.

TYLER – After gas prices seemingly plateaued for a couple of weeks, and actually dropped a few cents, Wednesday morning saw them jump back up in East Texas to new record highs. According to our news partner KETK, AAA reports the average price for a gallon of unleaded gasoline in the Tyler metro area reached $4.28. For the Longview region, the price spiked to $4.35. The cost of gas has been rising rapidly over the past several weeks not just in East Texas, but nationally as well. The average price across the Lone Star State is $4.29. That’s still better than most people are doing across the United States. The national average for a gallon of gas is currently $4.67.

TYLER — A Tyler woman has been indicted by a grand jury in connection with the death of a 3-year-old that was found in a vehicle last summer. According to our news partner KETK, Daniell Michelle Ervin, 37, has been charged with injury to a child and was formally indicted on April 21. She was booked into the Smith County Jail on Friday, May 27 with a $10,000 bond. Tyler Fire and EMS responded to a call on July 16, 2021 at around 6 p.m. on Church Avenue. Upon arrival, they found the child unresponsive in a vehicle outside of their home and were unable to revive the toddler. Ervin is scheduled to appear in court on June 22 in front of Judge Jack Skeen, Jr.

TYLER — One person is dead in a Tyler traffic mishap. Police say around 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, they responded to a major crash involving a van and a motorcycle at West Gentry and M.L. King. The investigation showed that the van turned in front of the motorcycle, causing the collision. The rider of the motorcycle was identified as Jeremy Jasper, 30, from Tyler. He was transported to UT Health on Beckham and pronounced dead. Next of kin has been notified. Following traffic tie-ups resulting from the crash, police say the area was cleared and all lanes of traffic reopened.

TYLER — Tyler police are seeking leads in a Memorial Day homicide. On Monday around 6:15 a.m., dispatch received a 911 call about a disturbance and shots fired on Pinedale Place near the New Copeland Road intersection. When officers and EMS arrived, it was discovered that a man now identified as 33-year-old Austin Lee Deweerdt had been shot. He was taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead. No suspect was immediately named as authorities continue to investigate. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000 or Smith County Crime Stoppers at 903-597-CUFF.

TYLER – A Tyler man accused of shooting and killing two dentists in Smith County was indicted for capital murder of multiple persons. According to our news partner KETK, Steven Alexander Smith, 40, was indicted for the charges on May 5. His jury trial is scheduled for Aug. 15. 59-year-old Dr. Blake G. Sinclair and 75-year-old Dr. Jack E. Burroughs were killed in March after they were shot at Affordable Dentures & Implants on Highway 31. Sheriff Larry Smith said Steven Smith was a patient at the clinic and there was an altercation regarding dentures. Once deputies got to the scene, they saw that two men had been shot. According to officials, Smith became angry with clinic employees, went to his vehicle, came back to the lobby of the business, pulled out a gun, and shot the two doctors. Authorities say Smith then fled but was later caught and arrested.

TYLER – A Tyler man was sentenced to 40 years in prison for a murder that was committed in 2020. According to our news partner KETK, that sentence was assessed after 19-year-old Kobe Warthsaw was found guilty by a Smith County jury last week following a three-day trial in 241st District Court. Warthsaw was arrested in 2020 after a shooting that killed 21-year-old Draveon McCullough. According to officers at the time, McCullough knocked on Warthsasw’s door on Vance Street and a fight started. During the fight, McCullough was shot and killed. Officers at the scene found a large amount of drugs.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – SH 135 in Cherokee County will be closed to through traffic from 2.44 miles south of SH 110 in Troup to 5.12 miles north of US 69 in Jacksonville beginning Wednesday, June 1. Crews will be performing bridge replacements on the Mud Creek and the Mud Creek Relief bridges. According to a TxDOT news release, the closure is expected to last until spring 2023. The project consists of the removal of the existing bridges, construction of new bridges, road widening, and roadway resurfacing. Through traffic on SH 135 will be detoured onto FM 2064 for the duration of the closure.

JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville Police Department announced Tuesday that they will be sending personnel at the request of the Uvalde Police Department. That’s according to our news partner KETK. Late last week, Uvalde PD put out a statewide request for law enforcement assistance to help with patrol operations, dignitary protection, roadblocks, and other security needs, according to a Facebook post by Jacksonville PD. Six officers volunteered, including Officer Kenny Barker, and departed Monday afternoon for Uvalde. Jacksonville PD said the deployment will likely last three to five days depending upon operational needs. “Our hope is to help provide a safe environment so this community can grieve during this difficult week ahead,” the post said. “JPD administration will continue to be in contact with the Uvalde Emergency Operations Center and will keep you updated in the upcoming days.”