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KILGORE — Police were able to catch a man after he showed up at a local hotel following a manhunt in Kilgore involving multiple agencies. According to KETK, the Kilgore Police Department says an officer pulled over a vehicle at the intersection of Highways 31 and 259 Tuesday night but one of the passengers ran into a nearby wooded area during the stop. The officer stayed with the vehicle and waited for backup to arrive. A search of the vehicle revealed small amounts of marijuana and meth, according to officials. The man and woman still in the vehicle were arrested and booked into the Kilgore jail. Continue reading Kilgore Man Caught following Traffic Stop, Manhunt

WACO — A federal judge sentenced Richard Wayne Swicegood, 38, aka “Loan Ranger Bandit”, Waxahachie, to 40 years in federal prison for committing 13 armed bank robberies in Texas and Arkansas, including two Tyler banks. In addition to the prison term, Swicegood was ordered to pay $119,815.00 restitution to the financial institutions and be placed on supervised release for a period of five years after completing his prison term. Swicegood pleaded guilty in January to all 13 counts of bank robbery. Continue reading “Loan Ranger Bandit” Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison

NEW YORK (AP) — A-list acts including Lindale’s Miranda Lambert, Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean and George Strait are set to perform April 19 at the Academy of Country Music’s 50th awards show. The ACMs announced Wednesday that Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Reba McEntire, Keith Urban and Florida Georgia Line will also perform at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Lambert is the lead nominee with eight nominations, followed by Dierks Bentley, who has seven. Lambert is up for entertainer of the year, pitting her against Brooks, Bryan, Aldean and Florida Georgia Line, who earned five nominations. The show, to be hosted by Shelton and Bryan, will air live on CBS. Newcomers Sam Hunt, Thomas Rhett and Cole Swindell will also perform.

WHITE OAK — White Oak residents continue to weigh in over objections to high school principal Dan Noll’s reading of Bible verses during morning announcements. According to KETK, reaction has been mixed since the issue first came to light. Social media have been flooded with responses, most of them positive. But the Freedom from Religion Foundation continues to push forward with its cause. A former White Oak student commented that this is a First Amendment right and the FFRF and local atheists are taking rights away not just from students, teachers, and the staff, but from Christians in general. An FFRF spokesman says his group has heard the response of support from White Oak ISD Superintendent Michael Gilbert (pictured) and that it still leaves the district open to a lawsuit. We’ll continue to update this story as further developments arise.

LONGVIEW — After more than a year of public input and collaboration, the Longview Comprehensive Plan will be presented for adoption at Thursday’s City Council Meeting. That session gets underway at 5:30 p.m. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended adoption of the document at its February 17 meeting. Continue reading Council Considers Longview Comprehensive Plan

LONGVIEW — During the first 10 days of March, the Longview Police Department conducted tobacco stings to test the compliance of Longview-area tobacco retailers with Texas tobacco laws. According to KETK, police say the undercover stings utilized 14-16-year-olds, accompanied by Longview police officers, who entered stores and attempted to purchase tobacco products. The stings are funded through a grant issued by the Texas Comptroller’s Office. Citations were issued to the clerk at each location that allegedly sold tobacco to the undercover minor, and the clerk will have to appear at the Longview Municipal Court to resolve the citation. Continue reading Police: Five Longview Stores Cited for Selling Tobacco to Minors

TYLER — An arrest affidavit released to our news partner KETK gives new information on what reportedly happened during a baseball bat attack last week, leaving one man dead in southwestern Smith County. According to the affidavit, at around 4 a.m. on Friday, deputies responded to a disturbance in the 22000 block of Lakeway Harbor. When a deputy made it to the scene, James Preston Bales and his fiancee were standing outside. Upon entering the home, the deputy found a man lying face down on the kitchen floor with his head covered in blood. The man, identified as Bias Ben Lott, was not responsive. Continue reading Affidavit: Fatal Baseball Bat Attack Stemmed from Flirtation

TYLER — The Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health) announces that nominations are now being accepted for the 2015 W.T. “Doc” Ballard Award for Excellence in Public Health. Officials say this 16th annual award will honor an individual or organization exemplifying the concept of public health distinguished by dedication to the goal of protecting and promoting the health of the community. The nominee does not need to be a Public Health professional. Such service may be in the area of civic, cultural, health, welfare, religious or philanthropic endeavors. Continue reading Nominations Being Taken for Doc Ballard Award

TYLER — New information about the arrest of Carl Crabtree. The 30-year-old was arrested by Smith County deputies Monday for intoxication manslaughter. According to KETK, state troopers now say they found an open container of alcohol in the front passenger seat of Crabtree’s truck at the scene of the accident. Troopers also report they found a glass container with marijuana inside the vehicle. On March 4, Crabtree was driving south on Old Jacksonville Highway when he crossed the center line. His truck collided head-on with an SUV driving north. The driver, and a teenager in the front passenger seat of that SUV died. Two more teenagers were hurt. This isn’t Crabtree’s first encounter with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. He was arrested twice in 2009 for driving while intoxicated.

GILMER — A Gladewater man has been sentenced in Upshur County to 10 years in prison for shooting at a business and later ramming his vehicle into the owner’s home. According to KETK, a probable cause arrest warrant shows that on August 1, 2014, John Black, Jr., 54, drove his vehicle into a home on the 1400 block of East Lake in Gladewater. While officers were en route, they learned the suspect had left the home on foot and was walking back to his house on the 1800 block of Cannon. Officials had also learned on a previous date, Black had talked about committing suicide and mentioned he would take as many officers with him as possible. Continue reading Man Gets 10 Years for Shooting at Business, Ramming Home

KILGORE — An East Texas women’s shelter is devastated by fire. KETK reports that a blaze started Monday afternoon in the kitchen of the Haven House, which is home to eight, including three children under the age of five. This is a women’s shelter that is affiliated with the Living Word Church in Kilgore. From furniture to toys, everything was destroyed. Haven House director Sandi Heiermann said the fire came quickly and the family members, who have already experienced hardships, now have another obstacle to face. “They couldn’t take their purse or the cell phone or their own personal belongings; they were more concerned with human life and so they’ve lost everything.” Continue reading Fire Destroys Women’s Shelter, Displaces 8

TYLER — Over the past month, the Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health) has received an increased number of cases involving pet animal exposure to animals at high risk for rabies, according to a NET Health news release. The Texas Department of State Health Services advised NET Health that three skunks submitted for analysis tested positive for rabies. Each of these three cases involved a family dog fighting with a skunk that entered the yard, according to officials. Continue reading NET Health Issues Rabies Advisory

MARSHALL — A man has been arrested in a dog attack in Marshall last month that led to the hospitalization of an elderly resident. KETK reports that around 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, officers from the Marshall Police Department Criminal Investigation Bureau and the MPD Patrol Bureau located and arrested Theodore George Jones at Motel 6 in Marshall. Jones had an outstanding felony arrest warrant for attack by dog stemming from an incident that occurred February 9. Officials say Jones was identified and placed under arrest without incident. Continue reading One Arrested in February Dog Attack

AUSTIN (AP/Staff) – House leaders facing a $7.2 billion shortfall for state worker retirement pensions have unveiled a plan to increase what Texas pays but also upping employee contributions. The announcement came at a news conference that included Republican Dan Flynn of Van (at left in photo), chair of the House Pensions Committee. Continue reading Bipartisan House Plan Moves to Bolster State Pension Fund

WHITE OAK — The superintendent of White Oak ISD issued a statement regarding the use of biblical scripture in high school principal Dan Noll’s “Thought for the Day.” According to KETK, A student recorded Noll quoting Bible verses over the intercom during the morning announcements. The student, who would not reveal his or her identity, turned the recordings of Noll over to Hemant Mehta, a blogger and self-proclaimed atheist activist. Former White Oak students say this has gone on for years, even back in the 70s, and they have no problem with it. They say it creates a positive energy and mood to kick off the school day. According to Mehta, he has reached out to Noll and the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Continue reading Superintendent Responds to Bible Objections

TYLER — A Tyler man arrested in connection with the murder of a young mother at Tyler’s P.T. Cole Park has been sentenced to 45 years in prison in exchange for a guilty plea. According to KETK, judicial records show Elisha “E.J.” Williams, 20, pleaded guilty to murder in the July 30, 2013, shooting death of Tyler resident Briana Raquel Young. Investigators determined Young brought her three-year-old son to the park and was caught in crossfire when gunshots erupted. Young’s child was not harmed from gunfire. It is believed that the shooting was a result of gang activity. Others who were arrested in connection with the crime were Ke’Avier Jarrod Wilson-Hurd, Dennis Bendy, and Rakheem Goldstein. Bendy received a sentence of life in prison, Wilson-Hurd was “no billed,” and Goldstein’s trial is expected to begin March 16.

SMITH COUNTY — Due to recent rain, Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East are currently 1.33 feet above the spillway discharge elevation. As a result of high elevations and the potential for floating debris that could create a hazard to boating, the boat ramps at Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East are temporarily closed to the public. Officials said once runoff conditions and lake elevations start to return to normal, the ramps will be reopened.

TYLER — The City of Tyler Solid Waste Department and Keep Tyler Beautiful are sponsoring a FREE bulky item collection for City of Tyler residential customers as a part of Spring Cleanup Week. According to a press release, Solid Waste will be picking up items for one week only, Monday, April 6 through 10. They ask that residents place their bulky items on the curb by Monday, April 6. Continue reading Free Bulky Item Collection Week Set for April

GLADEWATER — A Gladewater man has been arrested following a complaint of possible drug activity. It happened around 8:00 Monday morning in the 300 block of Oliver Street. Willie Skinner, Jr, 38, was apprehended during the investigation. According to KETK, approximately 25 grams of crack cocaine was seized. He’s charged with manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance and evading arrest with previous conviction. Skinner has previous convictions for felony controlled substance violations.

TYLER – A Tyler man has been charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter in connection with a fatal Smith County accident last week. Bond on Carl Wayne Crabtree, who turns 31 on Friday, has been set at $750,000 on each charge. Last Wednesday, Crabtree’s vehicle crossed the center line on the Old Jacksonville Highway and collided head-on with an SUV driven by Dana Regester, 41, of Flint. She was killed in the crash along with her front seat passenger, Pasha Zapolsky, 18, of Bullard. Two others in her SUV, along with Crabtree, were injured.

LONGVIEW — Longview crews weren’t able to save a home that caught fire near the intersection of Level and Twelfth Street. According to KETK, the Longview Fire Department was notified of the blaze by neighbors shortly before 2:45 Monday afternoon. When firefighters arrived at the scene, flames were seen coming from the back and front door. The wood-framed home was destroyed before the fire was extinguished within an hour. The cause was not immediately known. No one was home when the fire was reported, and no injuries occurred.

BULLARD — An assault charge has been upgraded to murder following a vicious attack that turned fatal hours after it happened. The suspect, James Bales, 31, Bullard, was initially booked into the Smith County Jail on a charge of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury with bond set at $200,000. KETK reports that bond has now increased to $500,000. The incident happened around 4:00 Friday morning in the 22000 block of Lakeway Harbor Drive in Bullard. Deputies initially responded to a disturbance call and, upon arrival, found two men involved in an altercation. Officials said one of the men had been attacked and repeatedly hit in the head with a baseball bat. The victim, identified as Bias Lot, was transported to a Tyler hospital where he underwent emergency surgery and died just after midnight Saturday morning.

LONGVIEW — Longview police have identified a dead man found in the area of Grace Creek Friday afternoon and have released the cause of death. According to KETK, Longview Police Public Information Officer Kristie Brian says the victim was Kendrick Hill, 32. She says Hill died of hypothermia and drowning. Hill’s body was found behind Heritage Mitsubishi, located off West Loop 281. Brian said Hill was not homeless and foul play was not suspected.

KILGORE — After months of allegations and assessments, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s final report is out on Kilgore College. According to KETK, the report makes no mention of asbestos violations but outlines five other issues to be resolved. Violations include failure to label used oil containers with the words “Used Oil”, failure to close the lid on waste paint thinner in the auto body workshop classroom, failure to label containers holding hazardous waste with their contents or as hazardous waste, failure to perform a hazardous waste determination, and failure to dispose of solid waste at an authorized facility. Continue reading Kilgore College Receives Final Report from TCEQ

TATUM — Parents of Tatum High School students are calling for action after a photo of a school resource officer asleep in his car became a hit on social media amid an escalation of fights on campus. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. “I got a text from my daughter today from school. She told me that there was a huge fight and that she was almost caught in the crossfire,” mother Heather Grindle said during a Tatum ISD school board meeting Wednesday – the day four fights broke out on campus. Continue reading Tatum Parents Seek Action after Fights Escalate at High School

AUSTIN — Are you still feeling the effect of springing forward? A state lawmaker from Van wants to get rid of Daylight Saving Time. A public hearing will be held this week in Austin on Representative Dan Flynn’s bill calling for the Lone Star State to take advantage of an exemption the federal government offers to states that want to opt out of the time change. Flynn says, “The more I started asking, the more I found out that everyone was just like me — it was a very frustrating time.” Continue reading Flynn Wants to End Daylight Saving Time in Texas

ATHENS — Henderson County Crime Stoppers is looking for new information in a 1987 cold case murder. KETK reports that on March 8, 1987, the body of Ricky Herriage, 29, was found near Athens on Old Malakoff Highway near “Thunder Bridge.” He had been shot several times and thrown off the bridge. Officials are not sure where the shooting took place. If you have any information on this case, contact authorities at 800-545-8477. All tipsters remain anonymous.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Two East Texans were injured when their plane went down near the Cherokee County Airport in Rusk about 1 p.m. Saturday. The passengers, Robert Gatewood and Jake Wise, were piloting a new Rans S-12 aircraft that Gatewood had recently purchased. The S-12 is an ultralight aircraft that requires two pilots to fly. According to the Longview News-Journal, the plane went down off of County Road 1614 and County Road 1621 in Cherokee County. The wreckage was found about a quarter of a mile in the woods, and both passengers were removed from the craft before being life-flighted to ETMC, according to officials on the scene. The Federal Aviation Administration was on the scene late Saturday afternoon investigating.

NACOGDOCHES – One person has been killed and three injured in a two vehicle accident in Nacogdoches. It happened shortly before 2:00 Sunday afternoon on West Loop 224 near the intersection of Sandia Street. Pronounced dead at the scene was Shannon Brown, 31 of Nacogdoches. The injured were said to have suffered non life threatening injuries. According to KETK, Brown’s vehicle, which has pulled to the side of the road, tried to re-enter the traffic. She pulled into the path of a car driven by Thomas Lee, 35, of Shreveport, Louisiana.

SMITH COUNTY – The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) maintenance crews in Tyler were due today to conduct mill and inlay work on Interstate Highway 20 eastbound at Mile Markers 570-571. The outside lane will be closed so look for message boards and other traffic control to help you through the work zone. On Tuesday, crews will be milling the east end of Farm Road 2813 under one way traffic with flaggers. Wednesday’s work consists of placing an overlay on FM 2813 from U.S. Highway 69 to a mile west of U.S. 69. Expect a lane closure with flaggers providing traffic control. Continue reading TxDOT Road Projects