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SMITH COUNTY – The body of 26-year-old Jacob Dillon McDougal of Kilgore was found Friday afternoon, more than two days after he was in a one-vehicle accident in northeastern Smith County. McDougal was found in his submerged car, which was upside down in a pond off Farm Road 1252. Investigators determined that McDougal had been traveling eastbound early Wednesday morning en route to work when he lost control of the vehicle on the wet roadway. The crash remains under investigation.

LONGVIEW – Longview officials have decided to use homeless people to help keep the city clean. The Longview city council has voted to enter into a contract with House of Disciples, a nonprofit group. It will hire local homeless and low-income people to clean up litter around the city. Assistant Public Works Director Dwayne Archer tells the Longview News Journal the program stems from ideas from Mayor Andy Mack’s task force on homeless issues. Mayor Mack said he hopes the program can help decrease Longview’s homeless population by giving people a chance to become self-supportive.

LAKE PALESTINE – For once, circling buzzards at an area lake were not a dead giveaway to a body near by. Smith County game warden Chris Swift responded to a call about a suspicious-looking personal watercraft beached on an island at Lake Palestine with vultures in the trees around it. He came prepared for the worst. But, as it turned out, the craft had recently been stolen from a Wood County lake and parked near a vulture roost. The craft was recovered and the investigation into its theft how it ended up on Lake Palestine is ongoing.

TYLER – Today is Veterans Day. There are a host of activities around the area to honor our military veterans. This day was first called Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I that formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. In 1954 congress amended the bill and replaced the word Armistice with the word Veterans, and it has been know as Veterans day ever since. Many of the area schools held Veterans Day programs Friday. Saturday, Tyler’s Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home will have a variety of activities, including a parade and cookout. Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert will be the guest speaker.

WOOD COUNTY — A Harmony ISD school bus was involved in a wreck just before 7:30 this morning. According to the Department of Public Safety report, the school bus was stopped on Hwy 154 at Private Road 7573 when it was struck from behind by a woman in a Ford Mustang. There were 26 kids on the bus at the time and no injuries were reported. The driver of the Mustang was not injured. Troopers are investigating.

MARSHALL — An East Texas man was arrested on Wednesday by Marshall Police Department on allegations of aggravated sexual assault of a disabled or elderly person. According to KETK and the Marshall News Messenger, Larry Carlisle, 39, of Marshall, was jailed with bond set at $50,000.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man was arrested Wednesday after stealing more than $2,000 by pretending to be a private investigator. According to the Longview News-Journal, Ulysses Harris Jr., 46, was charged with habitual theft and booked into the Gregg County Jail with bond set at $102,000. Police said Harris posed as a private investigator and offered to help a woman with a lawsuit regarding her brother’s death. The woman said she gave Harris about $2,150 in cash. Online judicial records indicate Harris’ previous arrests include theft of property and contempt of court.

MARSHALL – East Texas Baptist University in Marshall has signed two more articulation agreements on Thursday. That brings to five the number of agreements signed recently with area schools. At a Thursday morning ceremony in Athens, the agreement was signed with Trinity Valley Community College. Thursday afternoon in Lindale, ETBU saigned an agreement with Youth with a Mission. The agreement with YWAM ensures the acceptance of course credit for six of YWAM’s programs, including the schools of Discipleship Training, Evangelism, Strategic Missions, the Bible, Worship, and Teacher of the Nations. The action creates a more seamless transition for Trinity Valley and YWAM students and graduates to attend ETBU. Previous agreements have been with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Kilgore College and Jacksonville College.

GILMER – An Upshur County drug suspect, who failed to attend his trial, is handed a lengthy sentence. In State District Court Thursday, Jarrod Craig McBride, 36, of Ore City, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for bail jumping. That was stacked on top of a 30 year prison sentence he received for possession of Methamphetamine with intent to deliver. He was not in the court room when his trial started in May and an arrest warrant was issued. Sheriff’s deputies forced their way into his home, made the arrest and brought him to court in handcuffs. McBride later pleaded guilty to the drug charge.

LONGVIEW – LeTourneau University STING Precision Flight Team made history at the 2017 Region IV SAFECON National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) competition in Waco. The school’s team recorded the highest score ever recorded by a single team when they won 1st place overall in the competition. The LETU students finished with a score of 797 points. Delta State was second with 435 points. The Region IV competition was with schools from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi. Continue reading LETU Students Make History in Flying Competition

TYLER – In Tyler federal court on Thursday, a Dallas woman was sentenced to prison for bank fraud. U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield sentenced Rachelle Dashner, 44, to 21 months in federal prison. Five others have already been sentenced in the case. Federal prosecutors say they were part of a scheme to set up surgical centers in the state through a loan with Community Trust Bank. But the doctors the documents said would guarantee the loan didn’t know about it and had not authorized it. In many instances, the medical facilities for which the financing was obtained were never built. The five fraudulent loans totaled over $7.5 million.

SMITH COUNTY — Nathan Ryan Garcia, 20, Whitehouse, has been charged with murder. According to online judicial records, Garcia was booked into the Smith County Jail Wednesday and posted a $500,000 bond Thursday. Additional details were not available.

TYLER – A road west of Tyler is closed for repairs. As of this morning at 7:00, Reynolds & Kay, LTD has closed Pleasant Retreat Road (County Road 1145) between Pleasant Hollow Road (County Road 1179) and Negem Road (County Road1141). Closure and construction of this area should last until Friday, November 17th, at 5:00pm. Local residents will have access during this period. The road is being closed for repairs due to heavy equipment using it during the Runway 4/22 rehabilitation project.

TYLER – A Smith County Jail inmate is in very critical condition after he was found hanging in his cell Wednesday afternoon. He had been placed in a single inmate cell since he was considered to be a danger to other inmates. He was also on a suicide watch since answers to questions at his initial booking indicated he was a suicide risk. He was on a required ten minute observation and had been checked nine minutes prior to being found hanging in his cell. CPR was performed on the inmate at the jail prior to being taken to the hospital. His name has not been released.

MARSHALL – East Texas Baptist University in Marshall has signed its third articulation agreement with schools. On Wednesday, the agreement was signed by ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn and Jacksonville College President Mike Smith. The agreement will maximize the resources available at the two institutions to provide an accessible and affordable avenue to earn both an associate’s and bachelor’s degree. ETBU has previously signed articulation agreements with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler and Kilgore College.

NEW LONDON – A former West Rusk school teacher is being accused of of recording three people in a changing room without their consent. Arrested September 12th on three counts of invasive visual recording in a bath or dressing room was 35 year old Joshua David Pero. He is currently free on bonds totaling $45,000. The incident is said to have occurred on May 18th, the same day he resigned from West Rusk High School, where he most recently taught English and world geography. He also sponsored the high school student council. Documents don’t indicate if the incidents took place on campus or if the victims were students.

TYLER – Automated parking is coming to Tyler’s Pounds Regional Airport. Automated payment kiosks are installed and their use will be phased in at the parking exits. You will be able to pay for parking using a credit card or cash at the main exit and credit card at the newly opened exit by the end of the month. You can also expect to see is an increase in lost parking ticket fees. At Wednesday’s meeting, the city council approved a change in the lost ticket fee from $10 to $50. Airport manager Davis Dickson says the higher rate for a lost parking ticket encourages travelers to pay their parking fee rather than ‘claim’ a “lost ticket.” Customers with lost ticket fees will be able to receive a partial refund by contacting the airport administration office and provide a travel itinerary, rental car receipt or other valid form of evidence showing their approximate length of stay at the airport.

AUSTIN – Sales tax allocations from the state will soon be received by area cities. The state comptroller’s office is sending out $774.9 million in local sales tax allocations for November. This is 5% more than last November. These allocations are based on sales made in September. Tyler’s allocation is $3,621,262.89, which is nearly the same as the same period last year. For the year, Tyler has received $37,448,529.36, nearly 4% more last year. Longview’s allocation for November is $2,911,277.92, an increase of 2.74%. For the year, Longview’s total is $27,461,322.72, which is down slightly from last year.

LONGVIEW — A Longview ISD teacher is being investigated for reportedly discussing pornographic materials in class. High School biology teacher Christopher Good has been accused of discussing porn in front of his students. Good was placed on leave Tuesday. School officials sent KETK this statement: “School is supposed to be a safe place and we are actively investigating this matter.”

GREGG COUNTY — An East Texas man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted of three counts of aggravated robbery. According to KETK, Juan Solis, 19, of Longview, accepted Tuesday’s sentence as part of a plea agreement. Solis, who was identified as an illegal immigrant, was also being held on an Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) detainer. He will have to serve at least half of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. When released from prison he will be deported. Continue reading Illegal Immigrant Sentenced for Aggravated Robbery

EAST TEXAS — Officials are searching for the suspects wanted in a multi-state high-speed chase overnight. It started around 9:40 on I-20 east in Smith County when a trooper attempted to make a traffic stop. During that stop, the officer discovered that the maroon Volvo SUV was stolen from the Cedar Park area. The driver sped off continuing on through Gregg and Harrison Counties before crossing into Louisiana. The driver and passenger dumped the stolen SUV in Shreveport and bailed out.

MINEOLA – Mineola voters have rejected a $38,500,000 school bond proposal. The complete and unofficial total shows 43% in favor and 57% against. The money was for the construction of a new high school, career and technology center, and auditorium along with the renovations to the existing primary/middle school and high school campuses. According to Superintendent Kim Tunnell, “While this is not the message we had hoped for, the community has spoken and Mineola ISD will continue to provide a high quality education for our students. Our facility challenges will not disappear, and the Board of Trustees and I will reconvene and evaluate our options to address these issues.”

TYLER – Smith County voters have approved a $39.5 million bond issue. The money goes toward county road and bridge projects. The county’s residents also approved 7 proposed amendments to the state constitution. Voters in Arp approved alcohol sales and a half a cent increase to the sales tax. In Whitehouse, voters selected city council members and approved seven of nine amendments to the city charter. Now a look at the returns. Continue reading Election Day Results

LONGVIEW – A massage parlor in northwest Longview has been closed and two persons arrested. The two California women are accused of giving massages without a license. They worked a the Total Relax Massage Parlor on Wain Drive near Gilmer Road. They were said to be operating the business without a municipal license. Officers also also removed the massage parlor’s certificate of occupancy for fire and safety violations that had not been repaired. The two women, Helen Nguyen, 47, (pictured) and Van Thi Thanh Phung, 38, were freed from the Gregg County Jail after each posted a $500 bond. The business will remain closed until they apply for another license.

TYLER – More than 80 miles of Smith County roads were improved during the Fiscal Year 2017. That was the report presented to Smith County Commissioners Tuesday by County Engineer Frank Davis. Crews are nearly complete with major construction projects on over 9 miles of road. Two projects nearing completion within the next couple of weeks are Big Eddy Road, County Road 1261 and County Road 2328 at Deerwood Estates. Those projects total nearly five miles of road. Major construction projects completed this year included improvements to County Road 149, New England Road, and County Road 2221, East Shore Estates – West, for a total of 4.784 miles. Davis said they exceeded the mileage of roadwork done for the county last year. He said hiring contractors to do some of the Smith County road projects allows county road and bridge crews more resources and time to maintain all county roads.

MINEOLA – State Senator Bryan Hughes says he will remain in Austin and not seek a seat in Washington. Congressman Jeb Hensarling has announced when his term ends in 14 months, he would not be seeking re-election. Senator Hughes says he was being encouraged to run for Hensarling’s 5th congressional spot. But Hughes says, after much prayer and consultation with family and friends and supporters, he is confident that he can best serve in the Texas Senate. He says, now is not the time to leave. Senator Hughes’ senate district covers 16 northeast Texas counties

BRYAN (Staff/AP) – The punishment phase in the trial of William Mitchell Hudson gets underway, with Anderson County District Attorney Allyson Mitchell seeking the death penalty. Hudson was charged with killing six persons — three generations of a family — at a campsite near Tennessee Colony in November 2015. The jury in Bryan deliberated just over 15 minutes before coming back with a guilty verdict. The trial was moved to Bryan on a change of venue.

LONGVIEW — Gregg County Crime Stoppers has increased the reward for leads in the case of a dog shot with an arrow. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible. On October 12, Longview Animal Control officers found the dog near Rawley Court and Glover Drive. The animal soon underwent emergency surgery to remove the arrow. The dog had also been shot multiple times with a pellet gun. The dog, now known as Robin Hood, survived — and KETK reports he has since been adopted. If you have any information, you can contact the Longview Police Department or Animal Services — or Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-7867 if you wish to remain anonymous.

TYLER — A memorial service has been scheduled for a man killed in a Smith County shooting. According to KETK, the service for Andrew “Drew” Carpenter, 19, of Tyler, is slated for Thursday afternoon from 2:00-4:00 at Stewart Family Funeral Home on Old Jacksonville Highway. The memorial service will be public, however the burial will be private. On Sunday, around 1:15 a.m, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a shooting at a residence on Deerwood Drive. Officials responded to the location where a man, identified as Carpenter, was found inside the residence with a gunshot wound. When law enforcement arrived on scene, witnesses at the location were performing CPR on the victim. EMS arrived and took Carpenter to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Martin Reynolds, 21, of Whitehouse, was arrested for murder and is being held in the Smith County Jail on a $750,000 bond.

GREGG COUNTY — A Longview couple arrested after police found 260 grams of methamphetamine in their pickup after a traffic stop, police chase and wreck in June have been indicted. According to the Longview News Journal and KETK, Walter Earl Dixon, 59, and Venus Marie Kaisler, 47, have been charged with manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance and manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance. Dixon also has been charged with evading arrest or detention with a vehicle. Dixon remains in the Gregg County Jail on bonds totaling $325,000. Continue reading East Texas Couple Indicted on Drug Charges