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HENDERSON COUNTY – A Henderson County chase has resulted in the arrest of a Florida woman. It started when a state trooper stopped a car for a traffic violation on State Highway 31. While the officer was talking to the driver, the passenger drove the car away and into Navarro County. The car didn’t stop until it ran over a spike strip and crashed into an unmarked Kerens Police Department squad car. Arrested was Karalyn Nicole Collins, 28, of West Park, Florida, where she has outstanding warrants for grand theft auto and possession of cannabis.

TYLER – A Tyler police officer has retired after serving the city over 19 years. A ceremony was held Wednesday afternoon for Damon H. Swan. After being an officer in California, he joined the Tyler Police Department in 1998. During that time he has served in many units, including patrol, bicycle and crime investigation. He also worked as a training officer, helping recruits adjust to their new job. Swan was also member of the honor guard, representing the police department at numerous events. Continue reading Tyler Police Officer Retires

BRYAN- A Tennessee Colony man has been sentenced to death for killing six family members in one night two years ago. On the second anniversary of the arrest of 35 year old William Mitchell Hudson, a jury in Bryan deliberated 45 minutes before delivering their verdict. Hudson was indicted on three counts of capital murder in the slaying of six persons, three generations of a family, at a campsite near Tennessee Colony. Last week, the jury in Bryan deliberated just over 15 minutes before coming back with a guilty verdict. Continue reading Hudson Gets Death in Anderson County Killings

LARUE — Students at LaPoynor High School have taken it upon themselves to respond to the Freedom from Religion Foundation, which has voiced concern over a Christian flag flying on campus. KETK reports they’ve moved the Christian flag that once flew from the campus’s main flagpole. Now flying in its place: a symbol of defiance flown during the Texas revolution. And instead of removing the Christian flag, LaPoynor senior Sarah Barnes says, “Actually we put two more flags on poles (nearby) that aren’t on school property…and now the kids are flying them on their trucks.” The Freedom from Religion Foundation says the students can do what they want, but claims its intimidation. Students say that’s not their intention.

AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that 17 parents were arrested in Smith County, accused of violating court orders requiring them to pay child support. This roundup was completed by Smith County in conjunction with the Texas Attorney General’s Child Support Division (CSD). A total of 24 parents have been arrested since roundups were initiated earlier this month. The parents face up to six months in jail. Paxton says cash bonds that parents pay to get out of jail go to the custodial parents and children who are owed back child support. He says parents who have fallen behind on their child support payments but are not yet subject to warrants for their arrest should immediately contact the Attorney General’s Child Support Division at (800) 252-8014 to make payment arrangements.

BULLARD — A Bullard man is behind bars on one count of sexual assault. According to KETK, Smith County online judicial records show Jeffrey Deane Hayden, 51, was arrested by the Bullard Police Department on Tuesday for sexual assault. Hayden has been booked into the Smith County Jail on $200,000 bond.

LONGVIEW — A Longview woman has been indicted on several felony family violence charges, including injury to a child. According to KETK, Brittney Nicole Fitts, 25, has been charged with injury to a child/elderly/disabled person with intentional bodily injury, assault of a family/household member impeding breath or circulation and continuous violence against the family. Longview police arrested Fitts on those charges, as well as a DWI charge, on Nov. 10. She remains in the Gregg County Jail, with bond set at $92,500. Fitts is accused of assaulting a person by “applying pressure to the throat or neck and blocking the nose or mouth” and “striking and pulling” in an incident on April 17, and incident on April 19 when Fitts struck the same person with her hand.

LINDALE — DPS troopers and Lindale police investigated after a tanker trailer separated from its cab and rolled into the bridge support on I-20 at Farm Road 849. The bridge is closed, and will be closed until structural evaluation and any necessary repairs are complete. According to Kathi White, TxDOT Public Information Officer, Bridge experts from Austin are coming to evaluate and assist the district in assessing the damage and developing plans for future repair or potential replacement of the bridge. All eastbound lanes on I-20 have been reopened. Preliminary reports indicate that a truck-tractor towing a flatbed trailer, with an oil tank on the trailer, was westbound on I-20 when the tank struck the underside of the overpass at FM 849. The impact caused the tank to roll off the trailer, through the concrete barriers, and into the eastbound lane.

GILMER – A Longview woman has been released from the Upshur County Jail in a case of mistaken identity. Jessica Erin Archer, 29, was arrested in August after being identified as a suspect in a 2015 criminal case. When the mix-up was discovered, she was released November 1st. The case occurred before the current sheriff, Sheriff Larry Webb, took office. In a statement released by the sheriff, he said it was a “regrettable occurrence” and that policies have been put in place to minimize the chances of people being wrongly arrested or accused. And, according to Webb, the sheriff’s office has been notified that a lawsuit may be filed in the future in connection with the case.

KILGORE – The executive committee of the East Texas Council Of Governments has approved a ninth year of funding CodeRED for 2018. The system, funded by a Homeland Security grant, is a telephone communication service that allows the county/city Emergency Management Coordinator to quickly notify citizens about emergency situations. The CodeRED system has been contracted through the Emergency Communications Network since 2009 for all of the counties served by ETCOG, with the exception of Henderson County. Their 9-1-1 district already provides them a reverse notification system. The new service agreement is for the period of beginning January 1 and was approved for $85,123. Continue reading CodeRED Funding for Another Year

TYLER – Starting at noon today, a Tyler business man will start living on a platform on scaffolding in front of his business. He will stay there off the West Southwest Loop until he raises enough money to meet his goal. Clint Benefield is raising money to feed the hungry in East Texans. Last year he raised $2,900 for the Salvation Army. This year he is attempting to raise $3,000 for the United Way of Smith County. The money he raises will be allocated to United Way partner agencies that deal directly with hunger. He says he will remain on that platform for up to a week if necessary. You can mail or drop off a donation to the United Way office in Tyler. You can also go to http://www.uwsmithcounty.org/FightHunger and make your donation online.

LONGVIEW – LeTourneau University welcomed two new members to its Board of Trustees, two returning members and a new alumni representative. New members are Julie Livesay of Tyler and Rogers Pope, Jr. of Longview. They are elected for four-year terms. The two returning members who are beginning new four-year terms are Ken Moore of Longview and Wayne Steege of Corcoran, Minnesota. Named the alumni representative is Jim Hooker of Woodbury, Minnesota. Continue reading LeTourneau University Welcomes New and Returning Trustees

TYLER – Two persons with gas skimmers have been arrested by Tyler police. Officers spotted the two acting suspicious at the Exxon station on the Old Jacksonville Highway around 1:45 Tuesday morning. Because of their activity around the gas pumps, they contacted the Houston area men. Numerous gas skimming devices were found in their car. Both men have been charged with unlawful use of a criminal instrument. They remain in the Smith County Jail under bonds of one million dollars each. The men have been identified as Adriano Aldana-Rodriguez, 19, of Missouri City and Nelson Isac Fernandez-Lopez, 22, of Houston.

LAKE FORK – The presence of invasive giant salvinia has been found on a popular area lake. The plant has been confirmed at three locations on Lake Fork, the largest total infestation ever found on the lake. Twelve to 15 acres of the plant have been found. John Findeisen, leader of the Brookeland Aquatic Invasive Species team said, “There’s enough giant salvinia scattered throughout the lake that eradication would be almost impossible at this point.” About 90% of the infestation, about 10 acres, is confined to White Oak Creek behind a containment boom. But the other scattered plants confirmed along the highway 17 bridge at Fisherman’s Cove Boat Ramp, and directly across from White Oak Creek cannot be contained to their current locations. Continue reading Salvinia Problem On Lake Fork

TYLER- A Smith County business relocating to Tyler is receiving a tax abatement from Smith County. County Commissioners Tuesday approved a three-year tax abatement for Estes, McClure & Associates, Inc. The engineering firm that plans to renovate and relocate to the long-vacant The Forum Building in downtown Tyler. The company plans to invest $3.5 million in renovations and equipment. Tyler Economic Development CEO/President Tom Mullins told the Commissioners Court the firm will be bringing high-paying, technology jobs to downtown Tyler. The business plans to completely gut the building for a total renovation. They expect construction to begin in February and the work take about a year. Continue reading Tax Abatement for Business Moving to Downtown Tyler

MARSHALL – The Marshall Municipal Court is offering a warrant recall program this week. This will allow anyone with an active warrant, issued by the municipal court judge, to come in to meet with court staff and settle their case without being arrested. Those with an outstanding warrant can have the $50 warrant fee waived if they can pay the fine in full. If unable to pay the fine in full, a payment plan can be arranged. Payments can be made in person with cash, credit card, money order or cashier check. You can contact the Marshall Municipal Court for more information.

TYLER – Tyler police continue their probe of a Monday night shooting. It occurred at the Chelsea Creek Apartments on Thistle Drive. Dead at the scene was Darryl Dewayne Washington Jr., 25. In stable condition with multiple gunshot wound is Terry Demond Rogers, 23. In good condition is Nadarius Houston, 18. All three are from Tyler. Investigators say the shooting stems from narcotic activity. Continue reading One Dead, Two Injured in Tyler Shooting

LONGVIEW – Longview police are asking for the public’s help finding a missing 16-year-old who may be in the company of an older man. According to KETK, police say Sophia Torres is Hawaiian with black hair that is dyed red. She has dark brown eyes and is 5 feet 3 inches and weighs about 125 pounds. Officials do not know what she was wearing when she left. Sophia’s family believes she is with a white male in his mid-to-late 20s who goes by the name of “Robby.” She recently posted a photo on social media and it is possible the person in the photo is the man in question. Continue reading Police Seek Missing Child Believed to Be with Older Man

TYLER – Authorities have identified an inmate found hanging in his Smith County Jail cell as 44-year-old Quincy Butler, formerly of New Orleans, Louisiana. Sheriff Larry Smith says Butler remains on life support at a local hospital. Butler’s family was located in New Orleans and was notified last Thursday. Smith says additional information will be released as it becomes available. Butler was found hanging last Wednesday. He had been placed in a single inmate cell since he was considered to be a danger to other inmates and was also on a suicide watch. Smith says Butler was on a required ten minute observation and had been checked nine minutes prior to being found hanging in his cell.

TYLER — Smith County authorities are investigating the apparent discovery of human remains. Around 8 p.m. Saturday, the sheriff’s office got a 911 call reporting the discovery of a human skull near I-20. Sheriff Larry Smith said responding deputies recovered what are believed to be human remains, and the material discovered was being transported to Southwest Institute of Forensic Science in Dallas for identification. On Sunday, detectives and crime scene investigators returned to the area to continue processing the scene. In an effort to process a large wooded area, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office has contacted the ALERT Academy for assistance in conducting the coordinated search.

TYLER — A second suspect has been arrested in a recent murder on Deerwood Drive in Smith County. Sheriff Larry Smith reports 20-year-old Nathan Ryan Garcia of Whitehouse has surrendered in the November 5 shooting death of 19-year-old Andrew Carpenter of Tyler. Garcia has since been released on $500,000 bond. The other suspect, 21-year-old Martin Wesley Reynolds of Whitehouse, was treated for a leg wound and arrested shortly after the shooting. Smith says the investigation of the incident is active and ongoing.

TYLER — The Better Business Bureau of Central East Texas is accepting nominations for its 2018 Awards for Excellence, to be handed out in March. All BBB Accredited Businesses and Accredited Charities that have a physical location within the nineteen counties served by BBB Central East Texas are eligible to be nominated and to receive an award. Nominations will be accepted through January 31; the East Texas community will select winners via online vote. Individuals and business owners can nominate businesses by downloading and completing the Nomination Form found on https://www.bbb.org/east-texas/ or by requesting one by calling 903-581-5704.

TYLER — Tyler Police continue to ask for the public’s help in finding a Tyler man reported missing. Brandon Harward was reported missing by his family October 23. Police said he left his Shiloh Road apartment without any belongings. A search party scoured the area of Shiloh Road with no luck. Harward is said to suffer mental illness and might not be able to find his way home. He’s 32 years old, 5’8” tall, 130 pounds and has blonde hair with blue eyes. Anyone with information related to his disappearance is urged to contact Detective Andy Erbaugh at 903-531-1099 or Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000.

ANGELINA COUNTY — An East Texas police officer has been arrested for sexual assault of a child. According to KETK, Angelina County judicial records show Billy Joe Murphy was arrested by Texas Rangers Friday on one count of child sexual assault. He was booked into the Angelina County Jail on $75,000 bond. Murphy is an officer with the Jasper Police Department. He previously worked as deputy for the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office.

BRYAN – The punishment phase continues today in the trial of a man accused of killing 6 persons in Anderson County. Authorities say William Mitchell Hudson killed three generations of a family at a campsite near Tennessee Colony in November 2015. Last week, a jury in Bryan deliberated just over 15 minutes before coming back with a guilty verdict. The punishment phase went into recess on Friday before resuming today. The trial was moved to Bryan on a change of venue. Anderson County District Attorney Allyson Mitchell seeking the death penalty in the case.

LONGVIEW — Longview police arrested two men over the weekend on charges of racing on a highway. Blake Thomas Warren, 20, no address given, and 25-year-old Aaron Joseph Dangel of Longview were booked into the Gregg County Jail at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Warren also faces a charge of possessing a dangerous drug. Both men were released from jail on surety bonds Sunday morning, according to the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office. No other information about the arrests was immediately released. Police said about a month ago that they’re cracking down on racing on a highway, which is a class B misdemeanor.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in TxDOT’s Tyler District during the Week of Nov. 13. Motorists should prepare for a major change tentatively set for this week to move traffic on US 79 in Palestine to its permanent configuration, weather permitting. All northbound traffic will be moved to the newly completed northbound travel lanes with all southbound traffic utilizing the southbound lanes. Go to http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/058-2017.html for a complete rundown of work around the district.

TYLER — The Christmas season is underway for the Tyler Salvation Army. Friday’s Christmas Kick-Off at Broadway Square Mall launched the 2017 Kettle and Angel Tree campaign. Volunteers will have the chance to ring bells with the iconic red kettle at over 37 locations around Smith County this year. The goal is to raise $375,000 to help fund the many programs that The Salvation Army offers. Captain Robert Parker points out that the agency “relies heavily on the dollars raised during this campaign, and those monies stay here in Smith County and help us to run essential programs year round.” Parker voiced his confidence that local residents will help the Salvation Army achieve its goal. The agency also registered over 2,500 children for the Angel Tree program. You have the opportunity to adopt an “angel” and fulfill that child’s Christmas wishes.