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CHEROKEE COUNTY — Six Jacksonville men have pleaded guilty following a drug trafficking investigation in the East Texas. Keyonta Monquan Johnson, 23, Carlton Deshan Johnson, 28, Lenard Donnell Atkins, 31, David Lee Williams, 32, Carlos Brejohn Battle, 33 (pictured) and Jimendrick Clenon Shedd, 37 each pleaded guilty to possession. The plea hearings were held on Mar. 21 and Mar. 22. The defendants were named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Oct. 18, 2017, charging conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and other controlled substances. Continue reading Six East Texans plead Guilty to Drug Charges

PALESTINE – A man wanted in connection with a Palestine shooting has been arrested. Frank Potts, 42, of Palestine, had been wanted for the shooting of Carlos Scott, 34, of Palestine on March 12th. Scott was shot multiple times at a home on San Jacinto Street. He was taken to a Tyler hospital for treatment. Potts was arrested after speeding away from a police officer shortly after midnight on Thursday morning. His pickup was found in a ditch behind a convenience store on East Palestine Avenue. Potts was found hiding in the ditch near the pickup. The pickup had been reported stolen on Monday. Potts was booked into the Anderson County Jail on a charge aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His bond on that warrant had previously been set at $500.000. He is also charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and a Palestine Municipal Court warrant. Bond has not yet been set on those two charges.

LONGVIEW – The Gregg County Sheriff’s Department is warning that scammers are calling claiming to be with your utility company. The claim your bill is past due by several months and without immediate payment, the service will be disconnected. The sheriff’s department says on their Facebook page, do not give these callers any of your information, after all, they called you about your account and they should know the pertinent information. Their advice to you is, if you have questions about having a past due bill based on a call you receive, you should contact your utility company using a customer service phone numbers on your monthly billing statement or look up the number yourself. They remind you to never use the phone number you are given by the person calling without checking it first.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man will spend a long time in prison for sexually assaulting a teenage boy. A jury on Thursday found Lester Levelle Reedy, 44, guilty of the assault. Then, state district Judge Alfonso Charles sentenced him to life in prison. Reedy had been accused of pulling a 16 year old boy into a dressing room in the Longview Mall and sexually assaulting him in July of 2015. The Longview News Journal reports Reedy is registered in Texas as a high-risk sex offender after a 2004 conviction in Dallas County for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy

TYLER – The former CEO of Pharmaceutical Technologies in Nebraska has been sentenced for making unlawful kickback payments in East Texas. He pleaded guilty to the charges in February of last year. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield, in Tyler, sentenced Douglas M. Pick, 58, of Omaha, Nebraska, to one year and one day in federal prison. He was also ordered to pay a $50,000 fine and restitution in the amount of $348,195.50.

TYLER – Six Jacksonville men have pleaded guilty following a drug trafficking investigation in East Texas. The plea hearings were held in Tyler before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love on Wednesday and Thursday. The men are Lenard Donnell Atkins, 31, Keyonta Monquan Johnson, 23, Carlos Brejohn Battle, 33, Carlton Deshan Johnson, 28, Jimendrick Clenon Shedd, 37, and David Lee Williams, 32. Under federal statutes, the defendants face sentences ranging from five to 80 years in federal prison. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the U.S. Probation Office.

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY – A young boy has died in an accidental shooting in the Martinsville area east of Nacogdoches. It happened around 1:45 Wednesday afternoon at a resident on Highway 7. Sheriff Jason Bridges said the 11 year old boy went into the parent’s closet for some unknown reason and found a pistol. The gun somehow went off, hitting the boy in the head. He later died at a Nacogdoches hospital. His name was not released. Sheriff Bridges said the boy who was an avid hunter and very familiar with guns. He had also taken a hunters education class. An autopsy has been ordered.

TYLER – As many as 400 employees have accepted voluntary severance, job re-assignments or have been laid off following the purchase of ETMC Regional Healthcare System by Ardent Health Services of Nashville and the concurrent combining of the ETMC clinical operations with those of UT Health Northeast. The reductions amount to about 5% of the combined workforces and affect employees at UT Health Northeast and employees at the former ETMC. Continue reading Layoffs and Staff Reductions at UT Health/ETMC

LONGVIEW – A Longview woman has been arrested after she was found sleeping in the wrong bed. Arrested shortly before 11:00 Tuesday night was Kelly Latain Chaney, 52, of Longview. She was arrested after police were called by a man who said he found a woman asleep in his bed. She told officers they could take her ID out of her wallet. That’s where they found a plastic bag of methamphetamine. They also found a Xanax bar and a pipe. Chaney is in the Gregg County jail on two charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bonds total $8,500.

TYLER – It is now easier for Texas College students to transfer to the University of Texas at Tyler. The two schools have signed a memorandum of understanding. It took place Thursday morning as the officials from the schools signed the document in the Ratliff Library on the U-T Tyler campus. With this partnership, undergraduate students from Texas College will be able to transfer into selected undergraduate programs at UT Tyler. Also, well-qualified students from Texas College will begin limited study in selected master’s programs at UT Tyler as they complete their baccalaureate degree from Texas College.

GILMER – An Upshur County man has been identified as the victim of a two vehicle accident near Gilmer. Pronounced dead at the scene was 29 year old Dexture Domona Carr of Gilmer. His car hit the rear of a tractor trailer rig that had stopped to turn from State Highway 300 on to Flamingo Road, about 4 1/2 miles southeast of Gilmer. The truck’s driver, 39 year old Dewan Tyrel Mosley, of Henderson, was not injured.

TYLER — Tyler ISD board members will vote Monday on a complete revision of elementary school attendance zones. It’s a followup to recent approval of new middle and high school attendance zones for 2018-19. Several elementary schools have split zones dating to TISD’s days under a federal desegregation order that has since been lifted. Two notable examples are Bell and Clarkston elementary schools. Their zones reach to areas between Loop 323 and I-20, nowhere near the schools, making for some excessively long bus trips. Officials point out that demographics have changed significantly since the 1970 desegregation order, with the district now about 72 per cent minority.

TYLER — Another delay is requested in a high-profile Smith County murder trial. Gustavo Zavala-Garcia is facing the death penalty for reportedly killing 10-year-old Kayla Gomez-Orozco in 2016. The trial was set to proceed in October, but KETK reports current District Attorney Matt Bingham requested the court move that date to 2019. That’s when newly-elected DA Jacob Putman will be taking over that office. Jury selection is currently set for August. Police say Kayla went missing from a Bullard church and that her body was found inside a well on Garcia’s property a couple of days later. There’s still no official word on when that trial will be moved, if moved at all.

TYLER — The City of Tyler says it is not responsible for damage to vehicles due to the slag/sand mixture it used to de-ice roads in January. According to KETK, Tyler drivers had complained of ruined tires after driving on slag-covered roadways and blamed the city. Jenny Wells, public relations specialist for the City of Tyler, said the city had received a total 34 claims notices related to the use of the slag/sand mixture. The claims were forwarded to the City’s Third Party Claim Administrator, Innovative Risk Management, for review. INR “performed an independent evaluation and found that the City is not liable for property damage caused to tires by the use of this material on the streets during this ice event,” Wells said. Continue reading City of Tyler Not Responsible for Slag Damage

TYLER– Following approval by UT regents, resident student tuition at UT Tyler will go up 4.99 percent a year over the next two years. The regents recently approved such hikes for the Tyler school and other colleges around the state. UT Tyler had requested the tuition increase in December. At that time, UT Tyler President Dr. Michael Tidwell pointed to the importance of student success and the need for the resources necessary to make that happen. University officials note that some won’t be happy with any increase. But they say many students still see UT Tyler as the
best higher education value in East Texas.

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott has named Mark Dunn of Lufkin as chairman of the Texas Workforce Investment Council. Dunn is president of Dunn’s Construction. A state news release says the council assists the Governor and the legislature with strategic planning for and evaluation of the Texas workforce system to promote the development of a well-educated, highly skilled workforce for Texas.

LUFKIN – A three year old girl who was pulled from a Lufkin motel swimming pool has died. She has been identified as Arianna Smith of Lufkin. She died Wednesday afternoon at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. Police say the girl got out of her family’s downstairs room which faced the pool while her father was asleep and her mother was running errands. She was able to enter the fenced pool because the gate latch was broken. After the girl was pulled from the Motel 6 pool on South Timberland Drive, a bystander administered CPR. She was first taken to a Lufkin hospital and then flown to the Houston. The incident remains under investigation, but based on preliminary information, police do not anticipate charges being filed.

MARSHALL – Marshall police are asking the public’s help in finding Jerry Lee Pope, 72. He was last seen leaving his Marshall home last Sunday. Family members say he missed his doctor appointments on Tuesday and they are concerned for his welfare. Pope was last seen wearing blue overalls, a camouflage jacket and Platinum Collision ball cap. He was driving a white 2016 Nissan Frontier pickup truck with Texas plates DV90020. If you know where he can be found, you are asked to call the Marshall Police Department.

TYLER – Earlier this month we told you about a phony delivery driver who stole over $60,000 worth of jewelry from a Tyler store last December. A suspect is now in custody. Investigators obtained a warrant for 49 year old James Albert Oliver of Longview. This week, Oliver was arrested at a Longview motel. Oliver, who was also wanted on outstanding warrants out of Florida and Gregg County, was booked into the Gregg County Jail. He is being held on bonds totaling over $1 million. Investigators say it was Oliver, wearing what appeared to be a UPS uniform, who took the package of jewelry from the Zales store on South Broadway, and then fled.

JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville’s new city manager didn’t waste any time getting to work. Monday, Greg Smith was unanimously approved for the post. He was at work the following day. He comes to Jacksonville from Shenandoah, just south of Conroe. He has been city administrator there for eight years. He has also served as city manager in Henderson, Overton and Angleton. Smith was one of 43 applicants for the position. That was trimmed to four from which the two finalists, Smith and Chuck Ewings of Ennis, were picked.

LAIRD HILL — The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office says a mail-stealing device was discovered after officials responded to the Laird Hill Post Office on initial reports of a suspicious package. The RSCO tells KETK a post office employee witnessed a young man tampering with the blue mailbox outside of the post office. When the man saw the employee, he ran to his vehicle, described as cream-colored pickup truck, and left the scene. The employee told law enforcement she then saw a string hanging out of the mailbox. When officials arrived on scene, they found the string was attached to a package inside the mailbox. Law enforcement has determined the package did not contain an explosive device, but that the device was one used to steal mail. The RCSO says it’s still important to remain vigilant, especially after a recent string of deadly package explosions rocked the city of Austin.

GILMER — Good news if you use the Yamboree Park. According to KETK, Gilmer police say a man wanted for taking inappropriate pictures was a false alarm. Witnesses said he started talking to some of the young girls at the park and asked them to go down the slide. Police say the girls were wearing dresses and it looked like he was trying to take pictures up their dresses. The police chief says he was actually just taking pictures of his son with the girls at the park.

CANTON — After much debate, vendors at Canton Trade Days will not be allowed to sell alcohol. KETK reports the city council voted against the proposition Tuesday night. Councilmember Connie Odic said, “They’re literally pulling their cooler and drinking it in their coozies. They’re not even putting it in their Yeti cups; some of them are most of them aren’t. So, I think there’s other more serious topics like theft.” But others feared if it did get out of hand, once alcohol sales were allowed, it would be difficult to control. The council did pass one item regarding alcohol. Vendors who are sponsored by the city will be allowed to sell it at specific events and festivals.

LINDALE – A controlled burn just west of Lindale got out of control Tuesday afternoon. It has now been contained to seven acres. Smith County Fire Marshal Connie McCoy-Wasson said the fire spread to high stacks of plastic tree tubs, causing the black smoke seen throughout the county. The fire crossed the property line into a pine thicket, which slowed the wind and the fire. A plow line is around the fire, but it will continue to smolder for hours. Some firefighters will be monitoring it throughout the night. Continue reading Wildfire Near Lindale Now Contained

TYLER – Abel Keith Fulton, 19, has pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of ricin. The plea was entered on Tuesday in an appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love. Prosecutors say from August to September 2016, Fulton possessed ricin at his home. Ricin is a biological toxin that can be fatal if ingested, inhaled, or injected. There is no known antidote or cure for ricin poisoning. Fulton made the ricin using supplies that he purchased online. He now faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

MARSHALL – Three Marshall residents have been arrested for auto theft. Booked into the Harrison County jail for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle were Richard Parrott Jr., 29, (pictured) Renae Pack, 24 and Vernon Williams, 29. They are said to be responsible for the theft of three vehicles from Garrett’s Automotive Center on East East End Boulevard last Sunday. Two of the vehicles were recovered in Marshall and the third was found in Harrison County. The case remains under investigation.

TYLER (AP/STAFF) — A Tyler man on death row for the slaying of a 93-year-old woman during a robbery at her home has received an execution date. State District Judge Christi Kennedy signed an order Monday setting Clifton Williams, 34, for lethal injection June 21 in Huntsville. The execution is for the fatal beating and stabbing of Cecilia Schneider at her home in Tyler in July 2005. Evidence showed Williams entered through a back door, attacked her and then set her body and bed on fire. He fled with her car and her purse containing $40. Authorities said he wanted money for drugs. Defense attorneys argued he was mentally impaired and ineligible for the death penalty. Williams came within hours of execution in July of 2015 when the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals halted his scheduled punishment.

TYLER – Robert E. Lee High School senior, Fritz Hager III, has been named one of six finalists in the National Endowment for the Arts 2018 Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge. This is a national songwriting competition where the winner receives $25,000. The finalists, five individual composers and one pair, will each have their songs published by Samuel French. They will find out late next month who gets the top prize. The winner will be announced in New York during a weekend of workshops with well-known musicians, singers, songwriters and producers. Continue reading Lee Student Finalist in National Songwriting Competition

CHANDLER – A Henderson County couple is accused of exposing a baby to drugs. Arrested over the weekend were Christian Alexander David Hart, 25, and Katie Lynn Sheppard, 22. During a CPS investigation, the Chandler couple and a 10 month old child each tested positive for methamphetamine. Both have been charged with endangering a child. Hart is also charged with violation of bond or a protective order. Both remain in the Henderson County Jail. Continue reading Infant Tests Positive for Drugs, Couple Arrested