TYLER — The Polls closed at 7 p.m. for the March Primary across Texas. Here are the latest unofficial results of ballots counted in Smith County.
Republican for the 114th District Court in Tyler.
Austin Reeve Jackson 7,081
Jarad Kent 5,787
Mitch Adams 1,935
Republican County Chair
David Stein 7,386
Ron Shaffer 6,819. Continue reading Super Tuesday Results Continue in Smith County
TYLER — Republican Texas Sen. John Cornyn made an Election Day campaign stop at a local restaurant in Tyler Tuesday afternoon. He spoke to a gathering of about 50 people on the subject of Texas’s long-standing status as a Republican state and the expectation that more than 11 million votes will be cast this year in Texas, an increase of more than three million. Sen. Cornyn also cited success in working with President Trump to confirm 190 federal judges, pass a tax cut package and pass the USMCA trade agreement with Canada and Mexico.
ATHENS — A Tyler man now knows his sentence for his part in a 2017 Henderson County shooting. According to our news partner KETK, Dennis Metcalf, 42, of Tyler, was found guilty of manslaughter by a Henderson County jury. Metcalf received 20 years for the crime, he had faced a charge of of murder. Metcalf was arrested in October 2017, after admitting to a late night shooting, that killed 24-year-old James Arthur Featherston, of Murchison. Continue reading 20 Years for Tyler Man found Guilty of Manslaughter
LONGVIEW — A cemetery in Longview has released a statement after memorabillia, flowers, and personal items, were thrown away at the property. According to our news partner KETK, signs were posted at all entryways of Lakeview Memorial Garden to inform family members that they would be cleaning up the property. The clean-up took place last Wednesday. The cemetery said the signs were posted several weeks ahead of the expected clean up day. Continue reading Cemetery Releases Statement following Clean Up
TYLER — A Tyler woman has exercised her right to vote, from the hospital. According to our news partner KETK, Lauren Perry, discovered she had a brain tumor, and is recovering from surgery to remove it. Perry’s social media account lists her as a former Sabine high school teacher, and Adjunct Faculty member at UT Tyler, says she was able to have her voice heard thanks to an emergency ballot. On her social media account some of the feedback included a former student who said, “I’ve graduated but you are still teaching me.†Another person replied, “You are still being you, getting out the vote from your hospital gown, not just thinking about you. YOU ARE THE WOMAN.”
MARSHALL — The Harrison County Census 2020 Complete Count Committee is embracing forces with Marshall Independent School District, Harrison County schools and the United States Census to help assure the 2020 Census tallies all children living in the county. According to the Census Bureau, an estimated 1 million children under the age of 5 were not counted in the 2010 census. Starting on March 12,homes in the United States will receive invitations to respond to the 2020 Census. For the first time, everyone will be invited to respond online, mail or by phone. For more information, visit 2020census.gov. The Census is safe and has no questions regarding citizenship.
TYLER — Gallery Main Street will be revealing the works by Caldwell Arts Academy students with an exhibit opening and reception on Thursday. On Tuesday Amber Varona told KTBB, “the showcasing event happens from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Gallery’s new location inside Plaza Tower on N. College Ave.” The Gallery Main Street Director said, “this an opportunity to meet the young artists and check out our new space!” The free event is open to the public. Continue reading New Home for Gallery Main Street to Open with Caldwell Arts Academy Exhibit
TYLER — The Evolve Women’s Conference is this Thursday, at the UT Tyler Ornelas Activity Center. This year marks the 3rd annual women’s empowerment conference and is held in conjunction with Women’s History Month and the upcoming International Women’s Day. Evolve is presented by a Smith County nonprofit organization, the 1 in 3 Foundation,providing resources for healing and recovery for adult women survivors of sexual trauma. On-site registration will be available the morning of the conference, however seating is limited. For additional information visit evolvewomensconference.com.
LONGVIEW — Longview Police are investigating a shooting that caused non-life-threatening injuries to a 4-year-old around 6 p.m. on Sunday night. According to our news partner KETK, officers were called to a location on Zeola St. regarding a shooting. Upon arrival, they located a 4-year-old child with a gunshot wound. The child was transported to a local hospital for treatment. No Charges have been filed against the residents but the incident remains under investigation at this time. Continue reading 4 Year Old Shot in Longview
KILGORE — On Monday Kilgore College unveiled their training facility of the Esports training room. Professional video gaming – or Esports – has become a multi-billion dollar industry, and Kilgore College held a ribbon ceremony in the Devall Student Center, and tours of the facility that features what officials describe as the best-available gaming computer stations, powered by Dell, with 27-inch monitors and RTX 2080 TI graphics cards.
TYLER — The Tyler Small Business Development Center, has been named the North Texas SBDC of the Year. The clients’ loans and investments of $35,873,276 set a new regional record previously held by the Dallas SBDC. The standards that comprised the criteria for consideration is to meet all of your annual goals for your center. “The main criteria for consideration was to meet all of your annual goals for your center. In a statement from the SBDC Director of Tyler, Don Proudfoot said “Out of 12 centers, we were the only one that met all of our goals.”
TYLER — The Northeast Texas Public Health District says multiple people are being “self monitored” for the Coronavirus. Russell Hopkins told KTBB on Monday, “some of the challenges we are facing is that we are still not sure of some of the presentations before us.” The Director of NET Health’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness went on to say, “how long are you infectious? What causes you to have the severe form of the disease? First is the mild form, and then we don’t know if people will be re-infected later on. It does become a seasonal event.” Continue reading NET Health Continues to Monitor for Corona Virus
WASHINGTON D.C. — Super Tuesday features 14 states holding primary elections or caucuses. You could hear the sarcasm in Congressman Louie Gohmert’s voice as he told KTBB, “I’m going out on a limb, I’m going to say it. President Trump will get the nod on the Republican side.” The Texas Congressman from District 1 got serious as he continued, “But it’s anybody’s guess on the Democratic side. I mean it looks like Bernie is in the driver’s seat, but there’s a lot of Democrats that we are hearing from that are saying wait a minute, the guy is not even a Democrat. He has always proclaimed himself as an independent; really what he is, is a Marxist.” Polls will open across the state on Tuesday at 7:00 a.m. and close Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
ATHENS — The Henderson County Republican Party and the Henderson County Democrat Party are coming together to host an Old Fashioned Elections Night Returns Watching Party. The watch party will start at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday night at the Henderson County Courthouse Annex on Prairieville Street in Athens. The gathering had been a long running tradition for citizens to gather at the courthouse on Election Night to watch poll returns. This will be the first time of the gathering since 2014. Continue reading Election Results Watch Party Planned in Henderson County
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Reaction is coming in after President Trump again announced his intention to nominate North and Northeast Texas Congressman John Ratcliffe to be the director of national intelligence. The president first tried to nominate the two-term Republican from Heath last summer. But Ratcliffe withdrew his name after some former intelligence officials questioned his experience and said the appointment was too political. Daniel Goure is a former defense department official and senior vice president at the Lexington Institute. He says, “We either have to go with true professionals…the long-serving…intelligence professionals like…Mr. (James) Clapper; or you have to go with somebody who has perhaps some background — which Ratcliffe does have — but doesn’t have the decades of experience. This is becoming a very political position.” Continue reading Reaction to Ratcliffe as Possible Intel Chief
TYLER — With temperatures starting to get warmer and Spring officially begins later this month, the Better Business Bureau is urging caution when it comes to door to door solicitation. Mechelle Mills says, many door-to-door solicitors have begun hitting the pavement. Typically working through March to September, door to door salespeople market everything from alarm systems, magazine subscriptions, cleaning supplies, handyman work and charitable organizations.” Continue reading Tis the Season for Door-to-Door Solicitors
TYLER – TxDOT in Smith County is planning to address edge and ditch maintenance on roadways around the county this week. Crews will start coring operations Friday on FM 2015 at US 271, then move to SH 64E to address the passing lanes in Arp. In Gregg County, Longview Maintenance crews plan to conduct pothole repairs on roadways around the county. Bridge joint repairs are scheduled to begin Thursday on the SH 322 bridge over I-20. Continue reading TxDOT Updates for Tyler District this Week
KILGORE — The Kilgore College Foundation has received an anonymous $150,000 gift that is earmarked to upgrade the technology infrastructure at the Gussie Nell Davis Rangerette’s residence. The two-story structure opened in 2006 on the Kilgore campus to house the Rangerette’s, and accommodates up to 80 freshman and sophomore members. The Rangerette’s residence was funded, for the most part, by a former Rangerette from Longview, Kathryn Heller Zwick. The Zwick Foundation donated a $3.5 million gift in 2005.
LONGVIEW — One person is dead after a shooting on Saturday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, Longview police are investigating a shooting that took place just after 3 p.m. on Mobberly mid-Saturday afternoon. Upon arriving at the scene, officers found one person dead. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information is urged to contact LPD at 903-237-1170 or Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP(7867) or online at greggcountycrimestoppers.org.
TYLER — A celebration of the life of Freeman Dewayne Sterling was held on Saturday morning in Tyler. The Tyler ISD Board of Trustees Place 3 member and beloved former principal of Peete Elementary School. Dr. Marty Crawford, recently told KTBB, “Mr. Sterling was such a gentleman. I mean that in every aspect of the word.” The Tyler ISD Superintendent continued, “He was a calm, quiet man, but a very stoic, intelligent, man that really thought things through. Mr. Sterling was man who was impactful with a very steady hand.” Sterling retired as principal from Pete in 2012. He was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2019. Freeman Sterling was 64.
TYLER — Longtime Tyler trauma counselor Bobbie Burks and the co-founder of Step Up, Jeremy Flowers will be honored as recipients of the 1 in 3 Foundation’s 2020 Monarch Awards. The 1 in 3 Foundation created the Monarch Award to celebrate individuals from Smith County that demonstrate outstanding work to end sexual violence, raise awareness on behalf of sexual trauma survivors or have shown excellence in providing healing and care for survivors. Annually, the award is presented to a man and woman in Smith County working to end sexual violence. Continue reading Burks, Flowers Named Recipients of 2020 Monarch Awards
MARSHALL — A concern was made by a citizen at a recent City Commission meeting in Marshall. On Friday, in reply to the stop signs in question, the city of Marshall said the signs at Houston Street and Lafayette Street are compliant. The city went on to say the signs are properly placed and enforceable under the law to protect the safety of the citizens of Marshall. Authorities say, Officers have been monitoring traffic since the signs were placed as the community grew accustomed to the stop signs. Officers continue to observe the intersection and will issue tickets for violations.
TYLER — A 4-year-old girl reported missing earlier Friday evening, has been found. According to our new partner KETK, the child was reported missing on North Grand Avenue. Detective Andy Erbaugh, Tyler Police Department Public Information Officer, said the child had wandered into another apartment. The child was found not long after reports went out to media.
WASHINGTON D.C. — On Friday U.S. Representative Louie Gohmert told KTBB, “the reason why I voted against the bill was because it was just to weak.” The maximum sentence in the anti-lynching bill was only 10 years in prison. Gohmert said, ” my office is working on a bill with a more appropriate punishment, I’m going to see if Bobby Rush will co-sponsor it, or maybe even name the bill after him. But those people who are throwing out the racists word, they simply are playing politics, they’re dishonest, or they are just ignorant of the facts. They did’nt read the bill like I did and they ought to do that before they start calling people names.” A link to Congressmen Gohmert’s statement on the House Floor is available a courtesy of our news partner KETK.
https://www.easttexasmatters.com/news/top-stories/rep-gohmert-explains-why-he-voted-against-lynching-hate-crime-bill/.
TYLER — The Tyler Public Library has made changes recently to their wireless internet access. The move increases service inside and outside the building. The Library was able to double the strength of their wireless connectivity because of a program called E-Rate, that specializes in schools and libraries. The expansion also included the addition of nine wireless access points throughout all three Library floors, including two external units on the front and back patios.
TYLER — Habitat for Humanity of Smith County has an opportunity for veterans who need critical repairs on their home. This fiscal year Habitat received a $200,000 grant from the Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans’ Assistance. Renovations will assist veterans in making their homes accessible, healthy and safe. Projects typically involve installing wheelchair ramps, making kitchen cabinets usable, installing new level floors and making doorways and bathrooms more accessible. Continue reading Habitat Looking for Veterans for Home Repairs
TYLER — With the upcoming March Primaries on Tuesday, Smith County has moved up their normral Commissioners Court meeting to Monday. Smith County Commissioners will meet day earlier at 9:30 a.m., this week only, in the Annex Building on E. Ferguson in Tyler. Smith County voters can cast their ballots at any one of the 35 polling locations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday no matter which precinct they live in.
TYLER — There are no local cases of Coronavirus in northeast Texas. That was the latest word from NET Health on Friday. The only cases of Coronavirus in Texas are in people under federal quarantine at JBSA- in San Antonio. These cases do not change the risk of infection for people in San Antonio or other parts of Texas because the patients have been under federal quarantine. Continue reading NETHealth Says No Local Coronavirus in Update
TYLER — The University of Texas System Board of Regents has made it official, and granted approval to establish a medical school at UT Health Science Center at Tyler. On Thursday Board Chairman Kevin P. Eltife told KTBB, “It’s an incredible step towards a medical school in North East Texas, which will be incredible for students, for patients, for all three of our hospital systems, and for the economy. A new medical school over the next 10 years, will create thousands of jobs and bring a lot of money into the economy.” UT leaders hope it will open in the fall of 2023. Continue reading Med School Given Green Light by UT Regents
