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TYLER — A Tyler man accused of drugging and raping a John Tyler student back in 2009 has been formally indicted by a Smith County grand jury. According to our news partner KETK, Robert Robinson, 63, is accused of sexually assaulting a then-John Tyler student and getting her pregnant. According to an arrest warrant, Robinson is now suing for custody of the child. Robinson is charged with sexual assault of a child. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. His first court appearance is set for December 16.

LONGVIEW — Curbside recycling services will not be available in Longview thru the 14th of November. The change to regular recycling service went into effect on Tuesday and is due to urgent repairs at Rivers Recycling. Rivers is the local material recovery facility.During that time, contents from curbside recycling carts will be taken to the landfill with regular trash rather than being recycled. Continue reading Curbside Recycling Temporarily Down in Longview

TYLER — A 26-year-old Tyler man has discovered his punishment for drug trafficking violations. On Tuesday in the Eastern District of Texas Eduardo Pineda was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison. According to information presented in court, Pineda supervised a large-scale marijuana cultivation enterprise throughout the Eastern District of Texas, including sites located on public lands such as Davy Crockett and Sabine National Forests. In total, Pineda and his co-conspirators were responsible for cultivating thousands of marijuana plants.

RUSK — On Tuesday, Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Dr. Courtney N. Phillips, along with state and local officials broke ground on a $200 million composition project at Rusk State Hospital. HHS will construct a new 225,000-square-foot patient complex that includes a 100-bed non-maximum security unit in addition to a 100-bed maximum security unit. Continue reading Ground Breaking at Rusk State Hospital

TYLER — Keep Tyler Beautiful prepares to host the 16th annual Tyler Recycles Day on Saturday. Keep Tyler Beautiful will provide a community collection event joining thousands of local organizers holding recycling events across the country in correlation with America Recycles Day. Ark-La-Tex Shredding Company and Interstate Batteries will be providing special services for the duration of the event. This is a national initiative of Keep America Beautiful, designed to help communities spotlight their recycling efforts with thousands of local events focused on how and what to recycle. Continue reading Recycle Day for Tyler

TYLER — The Healthy Me Healthy Babies Coalition is in the final countdown to their Purple For Preemies Kickoff Luncheon. The annual luncheon will be on Wednesday, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Rose Garden Center. Tickets are $30, and proceeds will benefit the March of Dimes. Each November, the March of Dimes celebrates Prematurity Awareness Month and World Prematurity Day, and the NET Health WIC Department supports these causes by working with the Healthy Me Healthy Babies Coalition. Continue reading Purple for Preemies Kick-Off Set For Wednesday

TYLER — TxDOT crews spent the day Monday pre-treating roadways in several of its northern counties. Bridges and other areas susceptible to wind and ice were pre-treated in Gregg, Smith, Van Zandt and Wood counties. Crews will remain on duty to monitor and treat roadways as necessary to help ensure safer roadways for travel. Keep a safe distance away from TxDOT vehicles as they work to treat and clear roadways.

TYLER — Prosecutors are nearing the end of their case against Dameon Mosley as the presented more information in court on Tuesday. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County District Attorney Jacob Putnam had said that before the court last Friday. Mosley is accused of fatally shooting 62-year-old Billy Stacks back in January 2017 while he was robbing the Conoco gas station on Loop 323 in Tyler. Putman is seeking the death penalty. Defense attorneys for Mosley have not denied their client was the shooter during the robbery, but argued during opening statements that the gun accidentally went off during a brief struggle with Stacks. They are arguing that would make him guilty of felony murder, not capital murder. Continue reading Capital Murder Trial Continues in Smith County

KILGORE — The family of a Kilgore woman missing for three weeks said she has been found safe. According to our news partner KETK, Kilgore Police had been searching for Chelsey Thompson, 30, after her family reported her missing after getting into a vehicle with an unidentified person. Details of her location or circumstances were not provided. Thompson’s sister said it was not uncommon for Chelsey to be gone for a week or so, but she always returned home until recently.

KILGORE — Kilgore police are searching for a woman who has been missing for about three weeks after getting into a vehicle with an unidentified person. According to our news partner KETK, Chelsey Ann Thompson, 30, is described as white, standing five feet four inches tall, weighing about 120 pounds. She has red hair and hazel eyes. Thompson has a tattoo on the top of her hand that reads “Top Notch” and another on her left forearm that reads “Texas Made.” Anyone with information is asked to notify Detective Andre Phillips at (903) 218-6904 or by email at andre.phillips@cityofkilgore.com.

TYLER — The Northeast Texas Regional Mobility Authority took time on Veterans Day to remind disabled veterans of a Toll 49 program that helps them travel around the area more quickly without paying tolls. All veterans with special “Disabled Veteran” license plates are eligible to register for the NET RMA Disabled Veterans Discount Program. They can take advantage of it by contacting NET RMA at 833-762-8655 when they receive a toll bill in the mail. If they have a disabled veteran license plate, the vehicle will be registered and exempt from all future tolls.

TYLER — The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler Monday announced two new projects in collaboration with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. Officials say they’re aimed at training future healthcare leaders and improving health in East Texas and beyond. The first project entails exploring the development of a collaborative doctoral program in Health Administration. Officials say it will focus on increasing the knowledge of healthcare professionals to better address issues related to population health. The second project is a program to examine the social and economic impact of undertreated mental health conditions in East Texas. Officials point out that access to care for mental health and reducing undertreatment of the conditions has become a public health issue.

TYLER — Tyler’s Glass Recreation Center will be closed Nov. 18 through Dec. 15 for maintenance, repairs, and renovations. During this period, crews will be resurfacing facility floors, replacing all weight room fitness equipment, and repainting the interior walls of the facility. City officials say the facility will reopen on Monday, Dec. 16, at 7 a.m. Classes and programs will resume their regular schedules.

GREGG COUNTY — Gregg County officials are investigating a Sunday afternoon shooting. According to our news partner KETK, the shooting happened around 5:45 p.m. at Barracudas Gas and Grill on Highway 149 in Easton, just north of the Gregg County line. One person was injured and taken to the hospital. Authorities say the shooter left the scene. The sheriff’s office is asking for anybody with information to contact them right away.

TYLER — The CEO of NET Health has sent KETK a statement confirming the death of a man who contracted Legionnaire’s disease. According to our news partner KETK, the statement reads, “NET Health has learned of the death of one of the confirmed Legionnaires Disease cases. We are sorry to hear of the loss and send our heartfelt condolences. NET Health is devoted to the ongoing investigations of the situation.” Family and friends on Facebook have identified the deceased as Ruben Gutierrez, a longtime Tyler community leader, an advocate for immigrant rights, and precinct chair for the Smith County Democratic Party. Continue reading NET Health Confirms Tyler Resident Dies from Legionnaires’ Disease

TYLER — November 7, 2000 was the last deathless day on Texas roadways. TxDOT held a press conference on Thursday to bring awareness about the Anniversary. The “Texas Tag 10 Challenge” issued by Texas Transportation Commissioner Laura Ryan is similar to the “ice bucket challenge.” Commissioner Ryan is asking every Texan to share via social media what they are doing to end the daily death streak. Statewide almost 67,000 people have died since it started. Continue reading End The Streak of Daily Death on TX Roadways

TYLER — Tyler city officials confirm that an airplane flipped during take off on Friday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, no injuries resulted in the crash. Officials have not determined what caused the plane to flip during the take off. The runway was shut down for a short time while they awaited equipment to remove the single engine plane. Tyler Pounds Regional Airport remained open during cleanup efforts, as the airport funneled additional flights to the other runway, that was still in operation.

TYLER — The Healthy Me Healthy Babies Coalition invites the community to attend the Purple For Preemies Kickoff Luncheon on Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Rose Garden Center. Tickets are $30, and proceeds benefit the March of Dimes. The community can also become involved with the Healthy Me Healthy Babies Coalition by attending their next monthly meeting, scheduled for November 18th, at 11:00 a.m. Room 104 on the Tyler Junior College West Campus.

TYLER — Non-emergency Smith County offices will be closed Monday, in observance of Veteran’s Day. County offices will reopen on Tuesday, for regularly scheduled business hours. Commissioners Court will be held at its regular time, 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, in the Annex Building, on E. Ferguson. No new jury panels will be called because of the holiday.

TYLER — NETRMA released results on the Toll 49 Segment 6 feasibility study on Friday. The segment would run between State Highway 110 and U.S. 271. The survey began in September of last year with nearly 900 citizens participating with input. To see the complete report click the link. https://www.netrma.org/assets/Toll49_Seg6_FeasibilityStudy_FINAL.pdf

TYLER — Astronomer and visual artist, Dr. José Francisco Salgado, spoke to students at Moore MST Magnet School Thursday about his Science & Symphony films and the creative process involved in making them. Students learned how Salgado collaborates with orchestras, composers, and musicians to present films that provoke curiosity and a sense of wonder about the Earth and the Universe. On Saturday, Dr. Salgado is taking part in the ETSO concert at the UT Tyler Cowan Center. Continue reading Astronomer, Visual Artist Speaks at Moore MST Magnet

MARSHALL — Union Pacific’s historic Big Boy steam locomotive No. 4014, will be stopping in Marshall for several hours on Monday. The world’s only operating Big Boy locomotive, will be there from 9:00-3:00. The Big Boy’s return to the rails is the product of more than two years of restoration work. Marshall is one of four Texas cities selected to have a daylong display which will include access to a multimedia exhibition that provides a glimpse at the past while telling the story of modern day railroading.  Admission to the exhibition is free. Continue reading Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 in Marshall

ALTO — Oncor let clients in Alto know that some households will temporarily lose electric power next Tuesday. According to our news partner KETK, this is part of an ongoing reliability improvement project. The electricity provider will be updating equipment in east Alto next week. Part of this work will require temporary power outages for 30 to 50 customers in east Alto, near Old Spanish Trail. Outages will be begin at approximately 7:30 a.m. and conclude by approximately 5 p.m.

TYLER — A Smith County Jury found Michael Orr guilty of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child in the 241st Judicial District Court on Wednesday. After hearing punishment evidence on Thursday, the jury returned a sentence of Life Without Parole. The jury heard evidence that the defendant was sexually abusing a seven year old girl for more than 30 days in 2014. After three days of testimony, the jury deliberated for an hour before coming back with a guilty verdict.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The remains of a soldier from Alba killed during the Korean War have been identified after almost 70 years. According to our news partner KETK, the Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced Thursday that Army 1st Lieutenant George S. Crisp, 24, of Alba, killed in 1950, was accounted for Sept. 3, 2019. Crisp was an officer in Company L, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. His unit was engaged in intense fighting with the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces at Sinhung-ri, near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. He was reported to have last been seen near Hagaru-ri, but his remains could not be located. The U.S. Army declared Crisp dead December 12, 1950. Continue reading Remains of Missing Korean War Soldier Identified

SMITH COUNTY — Prosecutors will continue to present their case against Damian Mosley in the second day of his capital murder trial for killing Billy Stacks back in January 2017 during a gas station robbery. According to our news partner KETK, opening statements were given and then over 10 state witnesses testified to help establish the basic facts of the case. Smith County DA Jacob Putman gave a near 30-minute opening statement, talking about how Stacks, 62, worked at the gas station for over 13 years. Continue reading Capital Murder Trial Continues in Tyler

TYLER – Friday is the last day to register for the 2019 Rotary Clubs of Tyler Christmas Parade at a reduced rate. Beginning Saturday the fees are doubled. Organizers are also reminding would be particpants to keep in mind once the parade reaches 110 entrants registration will close. The parade will be held in downtown Tyler and begin at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 5. This year’s parade theme is “Rotary Connects the World” and winners will be selected in six categories: Best Holiday Theme, Best Band, Brightest Entry, Spirit Award, Most Creative, and Best Decorated Vehicle. Continue reading Early Registration Closes Friday for 2019 Rotary Christmas Parade

TYLER — All Texas Roadhouse locations nationwide will be celebrating Veterans and active duty military on Monday by offering free lunches November 11. According to our news partner KETK, the Veterans Day event will run from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. All former, retired and, current US military members will be able to choose one of 10 entrees from a special Veterans Day menu. Organizer’s say you will just need to provide proof of service, such as a military card, VA card, or discharge papers. Texas Roadhouse in Tyler is located on E. South East Loop 323. The restaurant’s Longview location is on E. Loop 281.