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TYLER — Blue Duck Scooters is not coming to Tyler, at least for now. The company had brought the idea of scooters to the Tyler City Council, but council members took a pass. According to our news partner KETK, the council has had input questioning safety in the past. Assistant police chief Billy Yates recommended the city not approve the scooters. Blue Duck had envisioned a 30-day trial run in the city before the no vote. The city is hoping to encourage local colleges to bring scooters on campus, then perhaps a successful trial would lead to scooters in the future.

TYLER — In a recent survey Tyler police officers expressed deep dissatisfaction with Chief Jimmy Toler and two assistant police chiefs . According to our new partner KETK, the survey was conducted in June by the Texas Municipal Police Association. The City of Tyler is aware of the issue and plans to investigate, according to Mayor Martin Heines. Chief Toler said the survey makes the problems on the force sound worse than they really are. Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith has offered his support of Chief Toler. Not all in the survey is bad news, though. A majority of respondents said they agreed or strongly agreed that they enjoy their current assignments.

EAST TEXAS — A Henderson woman accused of torching a Shreveport man’s mobile home following a domestic breakup in 2017 was convicted of simple arson Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, Bridget Nicole Ebarb, 37, intentionally set fire to the mobile home on August 27, 2017. Her ex-boyfriend called 911 to report the fire and told investigators that Ebarb had started it. She was arrested at the scene the same day. Since damages exceeded $500, the penalty Ebarb faces when sentenced could be up to 15 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

TYLER — CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances will be conducting an emergency management drill at the Tyler campus on Dawson today. It will involve an active shooter scenario. Officials said they are taking a number of steps to ensure any staff, patients or guests at the facility are aware of the drill.

DAINGERFIELD (AP) – One person was seriously injured and a truck was destroyed in an explosion at an East Texas petroleum plant. Morris County Sheriff Jack Martin says that the man was airlifted to a hospital Wednesday afternoon following an explosion at the WOI Petroleum plant outside of Daingerfield, a community of more than 2,300 people about 135 miles northeast of Dallas. The man’s condition is unknown. Martin says the 1 p.m. blast caused no deaths or other serious injuries. The ensuing fire destroyed a truck before being extinguished around 2 p.m. Calls to WOI were not answered Wednesday. The cause of the explosion is being investigated by state and county officials. The blast follows large fires at two Houston-area chemical facilities in March and April.

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler announced that the Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy has been granted the highest level of accreditation status by the Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education. The Fisch College of Pharmacy began in 2013 with the appointment of Dr. Lane Brunner as the founding dean. Since then, the program has advanced through the three status levels of ACPE accreditation in the minimum amount of time afforded to accomplish the new status. UT Tyler graduated its first class of pharmacists this past May.

LONGVIEW — Stephanie Hesley, the director of nursing at Buckner Westminster Place, was appointed to TMF’s inaugural Texas Directors of Nursing Advisory Board. Originally known as the Texas Medical Foundation, TMF Health Quality Institute shortened its name in 2005. Hesley is one of only seven directors of nursing on the board and will work with the other members to improve the quality of senior adult nursing care across Texas, according to a news release. Officials say Hesley’s distinction represents the high level of care and quality provided at the Longview senior living community.

JACKSONVILLE (AP/STAFF) — Authorities say an East Texas sheriff’s deputy has survived being shot in the protective vest during an attempted traffic stop in which a suspect fled but was captured several hours later. Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse says 39-year-old Jeremy Brian Cook of Grand Prairie was arrested Wednesday on a charge of attempted capital murder of a law enforcement officer. The shooting happened before dawn near Berryville, about 100 miles southeast of Dallas. The Texas Department of Public Safety says Cook, who fled on a motorcycle, was located in a wooded area near Jacksonville. The sheriff says deputy Jonathan Hutchison was hit in the side, taken to a Tyler hospital, treated and released. Cook was being held without bond.

TYLER — A free dental, medical and vision outreach is scheduled for July 29 – Aug. 2. This is the fourth annual Operation East Texas event, a collaboration between TJC Dental Studies and Vocational Nursing, Texas A&M College of Dentistry, UT Health Science Center at Tyler, UT Tyler Nursing and Pharmacy, TJC Wellness and Exercise Science and the Tyler Lions Club. The function happens at the Rogers Nursing & Health Sciences Center on Tyler Junior College campus. Services available include limited dental services as well as medical and vision screenings. The number of screenings per day is limited. Organizers urge participants to bring a current list of medications and daily supplement bottles. For additional recorded information, call 903-533-5560. Information is available at this number only.

TYLER — Smith County homeowners could soon be paying higher property taxes. According to our news partner KETK, the Commissioners Court is set to talk about the 2020 budget during the next few weeks. The judge and commissioners want to give all county employees a 1 1/2 percent raise and hire more deputies and jailers. The tax rate would be raised from 33.7 cents to 34.5 cents. We’re told road construction needs to be done as well, including Old Jacksonville Highway and Paluxy Drive. Officials say Smith County needs to match a portion of the cost for those TxDOT projects. Public hearings will continue through August, with the final vote on the budget and new tax rate August 27.

KILGORE – D.P.S. Troopers responded to a report of a single engine airplane emergency landing on Tuesday afternoon. The plane landed on Hwy 31 and Hwy 259 in Gregg County. During a preliminary investigation into the incident, the pilot advised that he began experiencing engine issues over Interstate 20 and had to land on Highway 259 in Kilgore. He was able to taxi into the parking lot of the Executive Inn of Highway 259. The FAA has been notified of the incident and the plane will be towed to the East Texas Regional Airport in Gregg County. No injuries have been reported.

TYLER –Tyler police Tuesday arrested a suspect in a robbery at the Dollar Tree on Highway 64 West. Store management told police a former employee, identified as Michael Jacob Pierce, came into the store to talk about employment. After discussing employment the manager told Pierce that she would give him a ride if he wanted to wait around. While the manager was in the safe, Pierce reportedly pushed her to the ground, took cash and fled on foot. Officers located Pierce a short time later. He was booked into the Smith County Jail on a theft of property charge. Bond has not been set.

AUSTIN — The state is now expanding mental health services to help people in rural areas, including East Texas. Texas Health and Human Services is adding 13 new sites to help people experiencing early onset psychosis. This includes symptoms like hallucinations, delusions and confused thinking. Some of the locations are in North, East, and South Texas. The East Texas sites are Tyler’s Andrews Center and Community Healthcore in Longview.You can learn more about the services by calling 2-1-1.

TYLER — The creation of the Bergfeld Park Improvement Project began in March 2013. On Tuesday evening the splash pad takes center stage. The Bergfeld Park “Splasher” has its grand opening at 6:30 p.m. The original fountain opened in 1970. One of the upgrades is sensors that detect motion and activate water to shoot into the air. The dolphin in the pad has been restored, and signage and landscaping along South Broadway Avenue have all been improved in this phase. Tyler Parks and Recreation officials say they wanted to continue to provide an area where families can stay cool and enjoy time outdoors over summer. Tonight’s festivities are open to the public.

TYLER — Tyler Water Utilities will begin a water meter audit and rehabilitation program in conjunction with Aqua-Metric. The work is scheduled to begin on Monday and continues throughout the summer months. The technicians will have the City of Tyler or the Aqua-Metric logo clearly displayed on their vehicles and will not need access inside the home or business. Technicians will notify residents when they arrive and the entire process should be completed in 15 to 20 minutes. The initial focus of the program will be in the southeast quadrant of the City.

GREGG COUNTY — A traffic stop Thursday, July 18, lands three Longview residents in the Gregg County Jail. According to the Department of Public Safety report, a State Trooper stopped a vehicle on FM 1845 for a traffic violation. A probable cause search was conducted after the driver was found to be in possession of narcotics paraphernalia. During the search, the Trooper found a bag containing methamphetamine, along with three glass pipes and a digital scale. Cory Peele, 39, and Melody Hawthorne, 44, were charged with manufacture/delivery of a substance. David Jowers, 33, was arrested on a felony evading warrant out of Gregg County.

WINNSBORO — Authorities say inmate Alvin Elliot has been recaptured after escaping Monday morning. According to our news partner KETK, the 25-year-old went missing at 8:15 a.m. and was caught after 4:00 Monday afternoon, two miles from where he was last seen. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice says he is likely to face additional charges. Elliott apparently walked off a work site. Before his recapture, he had last been seen near CR 4400 in the Winnsboro area. He is a probationer assigned to the TDCJ Johnston Unit as a condition of his probation.

TYLER — An early morning robbery on Monday has Tyler police looking for 2 men. The clerk at the Murphy U.S.A. on South Town describes the suspects as 2 black males who had their faces covered. She says they entered the store with a hammer and crow bar. While one suspect went to the ATM the other got her away from the counter and put her on the ground. The two are described as forcing entry into the ATM. The suspects obtained the cash and fled the store on foot. Investigators were told by Murphy USA officials this is similar to what had occurred in Lufkin and Houston on other dates. If you have any information you are urged to contact Tyler police.

TYLER — A new center is in the works that will offer resources to thousands of Veterans throughout East Texas. CampV, a space covering 20 acres in Tyler, has a grand opening set for Veterans Day 2019. According to our news partner KETK, over 300,000 active military members, veterans and their families call East Texas home. CampV will integrate military and civilian resources into a centralized location. CampV is asking for help from the community. You can find out more info about how you can volunteer or donate click the link http://campvtyler.com/.

TYLER — Jeff Hassett recently joined Tyler Junior College as chief information officer, overseeing TJC’s Office of Technology Services. Hassett has more than 25 years of experience in the information technology field, including private sector experience in finance, manufacturing, insurance and healthcare industries as well as higher education for both private and public institutions. He previously served at Brigham Young University – Idaho, where he held roles of deputy CIO, chief information security officer and managing director of IT operations.

EAST TEXAS — A multi-county raid happened over the weekend. The investigation involved 13 different law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and U.S. Marshal’s Service. According to our news partner KETK, charges included engaging in organized criminal activity, money laundering, possession of gambling devices, and operating a gambling establishment. Units from Gregg and Smith County were among those involved in the operation. Over $70,000, four guns, and a stolen vehicle were seized in the bust.

TYLER — The Legacy Trails opening will be made official Monday at 6 p.m. You’re invited to join the City of Tyler, TxDOT, and others to celebrate the addition of more than four miles of newly paved hike, bike, and walking trails. According to a news release, the festivities include an inaugural walk, bike, or run on the new trail with the Tyler Police Department’s bike team. You can also cool off with a snow cone from Tropical Sno East TX. A short ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. and will be followed by a walk, bike, or run of your choice. It all happens at the Legacy Trails Trailhead at Old Jacksonville Highway and Three Lakes Parkway. Officials encourage you to “Bring your family, friends and sneakers!”

TYLER — TxDOT is planning another week’s worth of construction and maintenance work throughout the Tyler District. The district’s summer seal coat operations are in full swing. Monday, crews will be hitting FM 2204 from FM 2276 east to SH 322 in Gregg County. Tuesday and Wednesday it’s SH 42 from the Gregg County line south to FM 918 in New London. Motorists are reminded to slow down and pay attention when traveling through these and all work zones. Check https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/041-2019.html for a complete rundown of work throughout the district.

TYLER — A well-known Dallas real estate firm has bought a 543-acre tract at Loop 323 and Earl Campbell Parkway in Tyler, and Tyler Economic Development Council CEO Tom Mullins is praising the move. Provident Realty Advisors already has an interest in the Village at Cumberland Park. The newly-bought land is where development was recently proposed by a Chinese businessman who later abandoned his project. Mullins says Provident is discussing a mixed-use development including office and residential space. He also says the land has potential for a resort-style conference center/hotel — and that he would eventually like to see a large events center in the area, along with recreational investment. Continue reading Dallas Firm Buys 543-Acre West Tyler Property

TYLER — There’s still work to do as Tyler ISD prepares its Head Start program for another school year. In the face of widespread community concern, the district recently reversed an earlier decision to drop the program in favor of full-day pre-kindergarten. Monday, the school board is due to accept the resignation of Head Start director Stacy Miles, whose last day is July 31. There was no immediate word on who might take her place. Head Start is also listed as a discussion item on the board agenda. This past Thursday, the Tyler Loop, an Internet-based community information source, hosted a discussion of the issue at which residents were invited to share their concerns.

STEPHENVILLE — 16-year-old Marshall High School student/athlete Ketrevion Carter drowned Friday in Stephenville. According to our news partner KETK, Stephenville police say they got a call Friday night about a youth found unresponsive in the pool of an apartment complex. Bystanders and first responders attempted lifesaving efforts, but the teen was pronounced dead around 9:30 p.m. Police say the investigation is ongoing, but all evidence at this time indicates an accidental drowning with no foul play suspected. In a Facebook post, Marshall ISD wrote in part, “Thoughts and prayers from MISD to the family of incoming sophomore Ketrevion Carter…The Maverick Family stands with you during this difficult time.” Marshall Athletic Director and football coach Jake Griedl verified Carter was an offensive lineman on the football team.

LONGVIEW — According to our news partner KETK, Gregg County jury duty has been canceled for Monday, July 22.

TYLER — Tyler Junior College’s Center for Earth & Space Science Education played a prominent role in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. On Saturday, the center hosted a full day of activities for all ages. Programs in the Hudnall Planetarium included moon-related dome shows and guest speakers. A special Moon Academy offered activities such as model rocket building. Lunar University, geared toward advanced students and adults, offered such items as a study of lunar rocks and a video presentation on the Apollo trajectory. A week earlier, TJC alumnus Charles R. Price discussed his 50 years of service as a NASA engineer, including his work on the Apollo 11 mission.