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LONGVIEW — Two men have been indicted in Gregg County, accused of attacks on children. 30-year-old Christopher Allen Squires of Gladewater is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child in a September incident; a White Oak mother told investigators her daughter said Squires assaulted her. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report he was jailed on $75,000 bond. 20-year-old Sergio Ari Roldan of Henderson was arrested in October by Longview police, who pursued him out a window in a house where a 14-year-old boy had told his mother that Roldan assaulted him. Roldan’s bonds total $125,000, along with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer.

TYLER — After expressing concerns earlier this month, Tyler’s Salvation Army is rallying in the closing days of its 2017 Red Kettle Campaign. The agency reported Wednesday morning that it had reached 85% of its goal of $375,000. But the organization was still around $55,000 short, and continued donations — big or small — are strongly encouraged. Donors can give by visiting any of the 37 red kettle locations throughout Smith County or by texting JINGLE to 41444. The campaign ends December 23.

GLADEWATER — Gladewater Police arrest a man wanted in connection with two recent church burglaries.According to KETK, Gary Dwayne Green, 31, of Gladewater, was taken into custody after he was released from the hospital. Officials said he suffered a medical event when he was reportedly busted breaking into a church. Officers responded to an alarm call at the First United Methodist Church in Gladewater and found Green inside the building. The same church was burglarized on December 10 and December 12. Church members said a Mac computer, flat screen t-v, keyboard and a DVD player were stolen. Those items have not been recovered. Green has been charged with burglary of a building.

GRAND SALINE – One person has been killed in a two vehicle accident in Van Zandt County. Pronounced dead at the scene Wednesday afternoon was Martha Jane Maxfield, 51, of Grand Saline. The Department Safety says she failed to yield at an intersection and pulled into the path of a pickup truck. Maxfield, who was not wearing her seat belt, was tossed from the vehicle. The pickup’s driver, a Dallas man, is in stable condition in a Dallas County hospital. The accident happened around 4:30 Wednesday afternoon in Grand Saline, at the intersection of Highway 80 and Farm Road 17.

UPSHUR COUNTY — An East Texas teenager died Tuesday after she crashed her vehicle four miles south of Gilmer. According to the DPS report, Cherish Kelley, 17, Big Sandy, was headed north on Highway 155 toward Gilmer when she hydroplaned and hit a tow truck traveling in the opposite direction. Kelley was killed in the wreck. The tow truck driver survived the crash. She has has been identified as Jessica Reed, 31, of Lone Star. DPS stated Kelley’s vehicle was traveling at an unsafe speed.

GREGG COUNTY — A Gregg County jury found Roger Benefield guilty of harassment of a public servant and sentenced him to 45 years behind bars for spitting on a police officer. According to KETK, Benefield was harassing a female at Magrill Plaza when officer Larry Solomon of the Longview Police Department intervened. Benefield became belligerent with Officer Solomon, eventually spitting on him. Benefield was sentenced as a habitual offender due to having two prior felonies on his record.

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court Tuesday approved the completion and final payment of two large road projects in the county. The Commissioners Court voted to accept the completion of the construction contract for road improvements to County Road 1261 (Big Eddy Road), as well as CR 1253. The contract was completed with an underrun of $145,204, Smith County Engineer Frank Davis reported. From Farm-to-Market Road 2661 to Texas Highway 155, west of Noonday, Big Eddy Road was widened from 22 feet to 26 feet, repaired, overlaid, and striped. Continue reading Two Major Smith County Road Projects Completed

LONGVIEW – A portion of I-20 reopened to traffic several hours after an accident that caused major problems. Crews began rerouting westbound traffic Tuesday afternoon as they worked a crash involving two 18-wheelers and two passenger vehicles at Mile Marker 590 in Gregg County. Traffic was being cleared to allow lifting equipment to enter the scene to remove the oilfield cargo from one of the trucks off the roadway. According to TxDOT, crews set up I-20 at FM 2087 to Loop 281 to SH 31 and back to I-20W as the diversion route. Motorists were advised to use alternate routes to avoid delays.

TYLER — Smith County has cancelled jury duty for Wednesday, December 20. Smith County residents who were planning to report for jury duty with their yellow cards don’t have to make the trip to the county courthouse. No new panels will be needed Wednesday, Smith County Jury Coordinator Lisa Bennett said. However, if you have been asked to return for jury duty by a specific court, you must still report.

GLADEWATER — Gladewater police captured a man Tuesday morning in connection with two recent burglaries at a local church. According to KETK, police said the man was expected to be arrested once he is released from an area hospital. Police say the suspect had an unspecified medical event when he was caught in the act. Officers report that they responded to an alarm call at the First United Methodist Church and found the burglar inside. Authorities are not sure if the man was working with others in the crimes. The same church was burglarized December 10 and December 12. Continue reading Man Captured in Church Break-Ins

LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been indicted for intoxication manslaughter in connection with a fatal Gregg County wreck in July. According to KETK, a DPS crash report says 62-year-old Danny Lee was driving a pickup north in the inside southbound lane of U.S. 259 while Benjamin Murphy, 34, of Diana, was traveling south in his car in the same lane. The vehicles collided head-on at the top of a hill. The pickup spun to the left before rolling onto its right side in the inside lane facing west, while the car spun around and came to rest in the outside southbound lane facing north. Murphy was pronounced dead at the scene. Lee was initially hospitalized but was arrested and indicted Monday. He was released the same day on $25,000 bond.

CANTON — An employee with the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s office has pleaded guilty in connection with a fatal wreck in February 2016. According to KETK, the Van Zandt County District Attorney’s Office says Emily Ann Grubbs entered a guilty plea Tuesday for causing a collision that led to the death of Lena’ Pettiet, 33. The accident report said on the day of the crash, Grubbs was en route to an emergency call near the intersection of Highways 64 and 243 in Canton when she t-boned Pettiet’s vehicle. The terms of the plea bargain resulted in Grubbs being convicted of deadly conduct, serving a day in the county jail, paying a $1,000 fine, permanently surrendering her Texas Peace Officer’s license, and issuing a public apology to the Pettiet family.

FLINT — Two homes on Spruce Hill Road in Flint have been destroyed by a fire Monday night. According to KETK, Flint-Gresham VFD initially responded and was assisted by units from Noonday, Bullard, Whitehouse, and the Smith County fire marshal. The flames were contained as of 11:00 p.m. Monday. Officials say there were no people in either home at the time of the fire. No word yet on the cause of the flames. We’ll update this story as more information comes in.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man previously charged with murder has pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated robbery. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report 21-year-old Kentrell Jorail Smith received a 10-year sentence with deferred adjudication — a 10-year probationary period. The case involves a May 2016 robbery that left one person dead at a convenience store on South Eastman Road. One person is now in prison in the case, with another awaiting trial.

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County District Attorney’s Office reports 21-year-old Cody Dewayne Fortman of Longview has been indicted for the October murder of 27-year-old Nicholas Trevion Johnson, also of Longview. According to KETK, police say Johnson’s body was found with multiple gunshot wounds October 15 inside a house on Annette Drive. Fortman was arrested the next day after police identified him as the suspect through the cooperation of a witness. He was booked into the Gregg County Jail on $175,000 bond.

LONGVIEW — Police said four people were arrested Sunday morning after trying to burglarize Cash America Pawn in Longview. According to the Longview News-Journal, Bazaree Quintes Brown Jr., 17, and Cleivlend Zeunta Williams, 19, both of Jefferson, and Corterian Jamarion Garrett, 18, and Courtney Glenn Bradley, 19, both of Longview, were charged with burglary of a building after police responded to an alarm at the pawn shop on High Street. Garrett, Bradley (pictured) and Williams, who also were charged with evading arrest. Bradley was released Sunday on $7,000 bond. Continue reading Four Longview Burglary Suspects Arrested

TYLER — A Smith County Grand Jury has indicted a local business owner who is accused of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 14. According to KETK, Grant Edward Cook, 56, of Flint, was indicted December 7 on one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child. He was arrested on July 17, 2017. The suspect is the owner of Grant Cook Music. The incident reportedly took place on July 4 in the 22100 block of Highway 155 S in the Flint area. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Cook’s girlfriend and two grandchildren were there for the 4th of July and spent the night at the location of the reported assault. The female victim, who is under the age of 14, made an outcry to her sister, who in turn told the grandmother. Continue reading Local Business Owner Indicted on Child Sex Crime

DALLAS — Former Mavs Maniac and Tyler Lee football standout Erbie Bowser will never set foot out of jail. The convicted killer has dropped his appeal. Bowser went from floor entertainer to mass murderer, killing four women in two cities on one night in 2013. A jury convicted Bowser in one of the four cases but hung on the death sentence. it meant Bowser got an automatic life sentence without parole. The decision to drop the appeal means Bowser will stay locked up for life but the state will not seek another death penalty trial for the three other victims.

TYLER — The SPCA of East Texas is kicking off its first-ever Christmas Road Trip. According to a news release, the SPCA has been working with rescue groups in other states to place homeless dogs and puppies into forever homes. Last week, the agency was able to purchase its very own transport vehicle and will be pulling out for its first official run Tuesday around noon. With at least 16 puppies and 4 adult dogs in tow, the team will head to Connecticut to deliver the animals for Christmas. Three volunteers will take turns driving. All pets will be routinely walked, fed, and watered throughout the 26-hour trip. Continue reading SPCA Christmas Road Trip to Kick Off

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler has announced a tuition increase proposal that officials say would help fund new student success initiatives. According to a news release, it would also remediate the impact of cuts to the state-funded portion of UTT’s budget. The proposal, which must be approved by the UT Board of Regents, would increase tuition for the fall 2018 and fall 2019 terms. As proposed, the total academic cost for resident undergraduate students taking 15 semester credit hours will increase 4.99 percent each term or a total of $400 over the two years. Continue reading UT Tyler Announces Tuition Increase Proposal

TYLER — A Salvation Army kettle was stolen Saturday night while volunteers were ringing bells at the Wal-Mart on Hwy 64. According to volunteers, a man picked up the entire stand before running away with it. No injuries were reported. This is the last week for the 2017 Kettle Campaign, and The Salvation Army said they have raised only 62% of the $375,000 needed to fund the programs they provide. Donations can be given at any Red Kettle, online at http://www.salvationarmytyler.org or by texting JINGLE to 41444. Continue reading Salvation Army Red Kettle Stolen

KILGORE — A Kilgore man was arrested after police said he attempted to pass forged checks at an auto store in November. Aaron Slagle, 37, was charged with forgery and released from jail Dec. 8 on $20,000 bond. According to KETK, Slagle is accused of attempting to pass a $210.49 check with a woman’s name Nov. 24 at ABC Auto Parts in Gladewater. He tried to return the battery he purchased to a Kilgore auto parts store the same day. Three days later, a woman acting on Slagle’s behalf also attempted to return the battery but was denied and questioned by employees. Gregg County sheriff’s deputies recovered five laptops, a printer, blank checks, counterfeit money, drug paraphernalia and an “off-white crystal-like substance” from Slagle’s home in Kilgore, according to a warrant. Several checks “were in the process of being ‘washed’ in order to alter the original” when deputies arrested Slagle.

TYLER — East Texas Communities Foundation is currently accepting applications from East Texas students for 51 scholarships. Deadline for submission is February 1, 2018, at 5:00 p.m., unless noted otherwise. All applications and supporting documents must be submitted online. A student may apply for every scholarship for which he or she meets the eligibility requirements. Applicants should complete a unique application for each scholarship. Detailed eligibility criteria and links to the applications are available on the ETCF website at http://etcf.org/scholarships/available-scholarships/. Continue reading ETCF Announces Scholarships Available for East Texas Students

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in TxDOT’s Tyler District during the week of Dec. 18. Among other things, TxDOT announces the opening of the newly completed U.S. 79 mainlanes from Palestine to the Trinity River Bridge in Anderson County. The roadway opened to traffic on Thursday. Motorists should continue to use caution when traveling through the area as the contractor continues work on the project. Go to http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/065-2017.html for the full rundown of this week’s highway work around the district.

KILGORE – The Kilgore Police Department is warning on its Facebook page about a phone scam making the rounds. According to KETK, KPD says it has received inquiries from “several citizens” about phone calls they were receiving regarding delinquent taxes. According to police, a computer-generated female voice threatens to “send the local cops” if the person called doesn’t contact the caller to make payment arrangements. “This is not how governmental agencies contact you about delinquent taxes,” says the KPD Facebook post. “A municipal police department is not involved in the enforcement of such.” The post urges everyone who reads it to “spread the word. It’s a scam.”

LONGVIEW – A Longview man will be locked up at least 15 years before parole eligibility for a 2015 five-hour standoff with Longview police officers. KETK reports Shayne Afzal was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison for aggravated assault against a public servant and 20 years for aggravated assault. On February 18, 2015, Afzal began to fire a shotgun inside his apartment. He fired so many shells into his neighbor’s apartment that she was able to see Afzal through the wall. She hid in her upstairs bathroom for roughly five hours. SWAT tried to subdue Afzal multiple times in a non-lethal manner. Afzal fired at officers multiple times before he was finally subdued. A review of Afzal’s Facebook messages and text messages showed him to be actively selling marijuana and Xanax for the year leading up to the incident.

TYLER – The Texas Transportation Commission has approved the update of the Unified Transportation Program authorizing partial funding for the expansion of FM 2493 from Loop 323 in Tyler to FM 2813 in Gresham. The Commission has allocated $26.15 million for construction funding. According to TxDOT, FM 2493 will be widened from 4 lanes to a 6-lane divided highway with flush median, from Loop 323 to FM 2813. Tyler District Engineer Glenn Green says the action allows TxDOT “to move forward with schematic development and environmental coordination for the project.” Continue reading Commission Approves Funding for FM 2493 Project

TYLER – A senior at Robert E Lee High School is preparing for life after high school. Brandon Vittitow wants to become a firefighter. For the past four months, he spent four nights each week in an Emergency Medical Technician course through the Emergency Medical Services Program offered by Tyler Junior College. He recently completed the course and will take his National Registry EMT exam January 6 to earn EMT certification. With his EMT course completed, Brandon can continue to receive his Emergency Medical Services certification if he chooses. As of now, he is focused on volunteering with the Flint-Gresham Fire Department and applying to fire academies in College Station and at TJC.

CANTON – The Canton office of Workforce Solutions East Texas is closing. The office is closing on December 22nd. The organization’s board approved the action, which was confirmed by the Chief Elected Officials board. The action was taken because of funding reductions and low visitor traffic. They will continue to serve the area. They encourage new and existing customers to access services and assistance through its call center and website. You can also use the visiting mobile unit that will make regular visits to the county. Continue reading Workforce Solutions Closing an East Texas Office