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TYLER – Two persons with gas skimmers have been arrested by Tyler police. Officers spotted the two acting suspicious at the Exxon station on the Old Jacksonville Highway around 1:45 Tuesday morning. Because of their activity around the gas pumps, they contacted the Houston area men. Numerous gas skimming devices were found in their car. Both men have been charged with unlawful use of a criminal instrument. They remain in the Smith County Jail under bonds of one million dollars each. The men have been identified as Adriano Aldana-Rodriguez, 19, of Missouri City and Nelson Isac Fernandez-Lopez, 22, of Houston.

LAKE FORK – The presence of invasive giant salvinia has been found on a popular area lake. The plant has been confirmed at three locations on Lake Fork, the largest total infestation ever found on the lake. Twelve to 15 acres of the plant have been found. John Findeisen, leader of the Brookeland Aquatic Invasive Species team said, “There’s enough giant salvinia scattered throughout the lake that eradication would be almost impossible at this point.” About 90% of the infestation, about 10 acres, is confined to White Oak Creek behind a containment boom. But the other scattered plants confirmed along the highway 17 bridge at Fisherman’s Cove Boat Ramp, and directly across from White Oak Creek cannot be contained to their current locations. Continue reading Salvinia Problem On Lake Fork

TYLER- A Smith County business relocating to Tyler is receiving a tax abatement from Smith County. County Commissioners Tuesday approved a three-year tax abatement for Estes, McClure & Associates, Inc. The engineering firm that plans to renovate and relocate to the long-vacant The Forum Building in downtown Tyler. The company plans to invest $3.5 million in renovations and equipment. Tyler Economic Development CEO/President Tom Mullins told the Commissioners Court the firm will be bringing high-paying, technology jobs to downtown Tyler. The business plans to completely gut the building for a total renovation. They expect construction to begin in February and the work take about a year. Continue reading Tax Abatement for Business Moving to Downtown Tyler

MARSHALL – The Marshall Municipal Court is offering a warrant recall program this week. This will allow anyone with an active warrant, issued by the municipal court judge, to come in to meet with court staff and settle their case without being arrested. Those with an outstanding warrant can have the $50 warrant fee waived if they can pay the fine in full. If unable to pay the fine in full, a payment plan can be arranged. Payments can be made in person with cash, credit card, money order or cashier check. You can contact the Marshall Municipal Court for more information.

TYLER – Tyler police continue their probe of a Monday night shooting. It occurred at the Chelsea Creek Apartments on Thistle Drive. Dead at the scene was Darryl Dewayne Washington Jr., 25. In stable condition with multiple gunshot wound is Terry Demond Rogers, 23. In good condition is Nadarius Houston, 18. All three are from Tyler. Investigators say the shooting stems from narcotic activity. Continue reading One Dead, Two Injured in Tyler Shooting

LONGVIEW – Longview police are asking for the public’s help finding a missing 16-year-old who may be in the company of an older man. According to KETK, police say Sophia Torres is Hawaiian with black hair that is dyed red. She has dark brown eyes and is 5 feet 3 inches and weighs about 125 pounds. Officials do not know what she was wearing when she left. Sophia’s family believes she is with a white male in his mid-to-late 20s who goes by the name of “Robby.” She recently posted a photo on social media and it is possible the person in the photo is the man in question. Continue reading Police Seek Missing Child Believed to Be with Older Man

TYLER – Authorities have identified an inmate found hanging in his Smith County Jail cell as 44-year-old Quincy Butler, formerly of New Orleans, Louisiana. Sheriff Larry Smith says Butler remains on life support at a local hospital. Butler’s family was located in New Orleans and was notified last Thursday. Smith says additional information will be released as it becomes available. Butler was found hanging last Wednesday. He had been placed in a single inmate cell since he was considered to be a danger to other inmates and was also on a suicide watch. Smith says Butler was on a required ten minute observation and had been checked nine minutes prior to being found hanging in his cell.

TYLER — Smith County authorities are investigating the apparent discovery of human remains. Around 8 p.m. Saturday, the sheriff’s office got a 911 call reporting the discovery of a human skull near I-20. Sheriff Larry Smith said responding deputies recovered what are believed to be human remains, and the material discovered was being transported to Southwest Institute of Forensic Science in Dallas for identification. On Sunday, detectives and crime scene investigators returned to the area to continue processing the scene. In an effort to process a large wooded area, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office has contacted the ALERT Academy for assistance in conducting the coordinated search.

TYLER — A second suspect has been arrested in a recent murder on Deerwood Drive in Smith County. Sheriff Larry Smith reports 20-year-old Nathan Ryan Garcia of Whitehouse has surrendered in the November 5 shooting death of 19-year-old Andrew Carpenter of Tyler. Garcia has since been released on $500,000 bond. The other suspect, 21-year-old Martin Wesley Reynolds of Whitehouse, was treated for a leg wound and arrested shortly after the shooting. Smith says the investigation of the incident is active and ongoing.

TYLER — The Better Business Bureau of Central East Texas is accepting nominations for its 2018 Awards for Excellence, to be handed out in March. All BBB Accredited Businesses and Accredited Charities that have a physical location within the nineteen counties served by BBB Central East Texas are eligible to be nominated and to receive an award. Nominations will be accepted through January 31; the East Texas community will select winners via online vote. Individuals and business owners can nominate businesses by downloading and completing the Nomination Form found on https://www.bbb.org/east-texas/ or by requesting one by calling 903-581-5704.

TYLER — Tyler Police continue to ask for the public’s help in finding a Tyler man reported missing. Brandon Harward was reported missing by his family October 23. Police said he left his Shiloh Road apartment without any belongings. A search party scoured the area of Shiloh Road with no luck. Harward is said to suffer mental illness and might not be able to find his way home. He’s 32 years old, 5’8” tall, 130 pounds and has blonde hair with blue eyes. Anyone with information related to his disappearance is urged to contact Detective Andy Erbaugh at 903-531-1099 or Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000.

ANGELINA COUNTY — An East Texas police officer has been arrested for sexual assault of a child. According to KETK, Angelina County judicial records show Billy Joe Murphy was arrested by Texas Rangers Friday on one count of child sexual assault. He was booked into the Angelina County Jail on $75,000 bond. Murphy is an officer with the Jasper Police Department. He previously worked as deputy for the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office.

BRYAN – The punishment phase continues today in the trial of a man accused of killing 6 persons in Anderson County. Authorities say William Mitchell Hudson killed three generations of a family at a campsite near Tennessee Colony in November 2015. Last week, a jury in Bryan deliberated just over 15 minutes before coming back with a guilty verdict. The punishment phase went into recess on Friday before resuming today. The trial was moved to Bryan on a change of venue. Anderson County District Attorney Allyson Mitchell seeking the death penalty in the case.

LONGVIEW — Longview police arrested two men over the weekend on charges of racing on a highway. Blake Thomas Warren, 20, no address given, and 25-year-old Aaron Joseph Dangel of Longview were booked into the Gregg County Jail at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Warren also faces a charge of possessing a dangerous drug. Both men were released from jail on surety bonds Sunday morning, according to the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office. No other information about the arrests was immediately released. Police said about a month ago that they’re cracking down on racing on a highway, which is a class B misdemeanor.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in TxDOT’s Tyler District during the Week of Nov. 13. Motorists should prepare for a major change tentatively set for this week to move traffic on US 79 in Palestine to its permanent configuration, weather permitting. All northbound traffic will be moved to the newly completed northbound travel lanes with all southbound traffic utilizing the southbound lanes. Go to http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/058-2017.html for a complete rundown of work around the district.

TYLER — The Christmas season is underway for the Tyler Salvation Army. Friday’s Christmas Kick-Off at Broadway Square Mall launched the 2017 Kettle and Angel Tree campaign. Volunteers will have the chance to ring bells with the iconic red kettle at over 37 locations around Smith County this year. The goal is to raise $375,000 to help fund the many programs that The Salvation Army offers. Captain Robert Parker points out that the agency “relies heavily on the dollars raised during this campaign, and those monies stay here in Smith County and help us to run essential programs year round.” Parker voiced his confidence that local residents will help the Salvation Army achieve its goal. The agency also registered over 2,500 children for the Angel Tree program. You have the opportunity to adopt an “angel” and fulfill that child’s Christmas wishes.

SMITH COUNTY – The body of 26-year-old Jacob Dillon McDougal of Kilgore was found Friday afternoon, more than two days after he was in a one-vehicle accident in northeastern Smith County. McDougal was found in his submerged car, which was upside down in a pond off Farm Road 1252. Investigators determined that McDougal had been traveling eastbound early Wednesday morning en route to work when he lost control of the vehicle on the wet roadway. The crash remains under investigation.

LONGVIEW – Longview officials have decided to use homeless people to help keep the city clean. The Longview city council has voted to enter into a contract with House of Disciples, a nonprofit group. It will hire local homeless and low-income people to clean up litter around the city. Assistant Public Works Director Dwayne Archer tells the Longview News Journal the program stems from ideas from Mayor Andy Mack’s task force on homeless issues. Mayor Mack said he hopes the program can help decrease Longview’s homeless population by giving people a chance to become self-supportive.

LAKE PALESTINE – For once, circling buzzards at an area lake were not a dead giveaway to a body near by. Smith County game warden Chris Swift responded to a call about a suspicious-looking personal watercraft beached on an island at Lake Palestine with vultures in the trees around it. He came prepared for the worst. But, as it turned out, the craft had recently been stolen from a Wood County lake and parked near a vulture roost. The craft was recovered and the investigation into its theft how it ended up on Lake Palestine is ongoing.

TYLER – Today is Veterans Day. There are a host of activities around the area to honor our military veterans. This day was first called Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I that formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. In 1954 congress amended the bill and replaced the word Armistice with the word Veterans, and it has been know as Veterans day ever since. Many of the area schools held Veterans Day programs Friday. Saturday, Tyler’s Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home will have a variety of activities, including a parade and cookout. Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert will be the guest speaker.

WOOD COUNTY — A Harmony ISD school bus was involved in a wreck just before 7:30 this morning. According to the Department of Public Safety report, the school bus was stopped on Hwy 154 at Private Road 7573 when it was struck from behind by a woman in a Ford Mustang. There were 26 kids on the bus at the time and no injuries were reported. The driver of the Mustang was not injured. Troopers are investigating.

MARSHALL — An East Texas man was arrested on Wednesday by Marshall Police Department on allegations of aggravated sexual assault of a disabled or elderly person. According to KETK and the Marshall News Messenger, Larry Carlisle, 39, of Marshall, was jailed with bond set at $50,000.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man was arrested Wednesday after stealing more than $2,000 by pretending to be a private investigator. According to the Longview News-Journal, Ulysses Harris Jr., 46, was charged with habitual theft and booked into the Gregg County Jail with bond set at $102,000. Police said Harris posed as a private investigator and offered to help a woman with a lawsuit regarding her brother’s death. The woman said she gave Harris about $2,150 in cash. Online judicial records indicate Harris’ previous arrests include theft of property and contempt of court.

MARSHALL – East Texas Baptist University in Marshall has signed two more articulation agreements on Thursday. That brings to five the number of agreements signed recently with area schools. At a Thursday morning ceremony in Athens, the agreement was signed with Trinity Valley Community College. Thursday afternoon in Lindale, ETBU saigned an agreement with Youth with a Mission. The agreement with YWAM ensures the acceptance of course credit for six of YWAM’s programs, including the schools of Discipleship Training, Evangelism, Strategic Missions, the Bible, Worship, and Teacher of the Nations. The action creates a more seamless transition for Trinity Valley and YWAM students and graduates to attend ETBU. Previous agreements have been with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Kilgore College and Jacksonville College.

GILMER – An Upshur County drug suspect, who failed to attend his trial, is handed a lengthy sentence. In State District Court Thursday, Jarrod Craig McBride, 36, of Ore City, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for bail jumping. That was stacked on top of a 30 year prison sentence he received for possession of Methamphetamine with intent to deliver. He was not in the court room when his trial started in May and an arrest warrant was issued. Sheriff’s deputies forced their way into his home, made the arrest and brought him to court in handcuffs. McBride later pleaded guilty to the drug charge.

LONGVIEW – LeTourneau University STING Precision Flight Team made history at the 2017 Region IV SAFECON National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) competition in Waco. The school’s team recorded the highest score ever recorded by a single team when they won 1st place overall in the competition. The LETU students finished with a score of 797 points. Delta State was second with 435 points. The Region IV competition was with schools from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi. Continue reading LETU Students Make History in Flying Competition

TYLER – In Tyler federal court on Thursday, a Dallas woman was sentenced to prison for bank fraud. U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield sentenced Rachelle Dashner, 44, to 21 months in federal prison. Five others have already been sentenced in the case. Federal prosecutors say they were part of a scheme to set up surgical centers in the state through a loan with Community Trust Bank. But the doctors the documents said would guarantee the loan didn’t know about it and had not authorized it. In many instances, the medical facilities for which the financing was obtained were never built. The five fraudulent loans totaled over $7.5 million.

SMITH COUNTY — Nathan Ryan Garcia, 20, Whitehouse, has been charged with murder. According to online judicial records, Garcia was booked into the Smith County Jail Wednesday and posted a $500,000 bond Thursday. Additional details were not available.

TYLER – A road west of Tyler is closed for repairs. As of this morning at 7:00, Reynolds & Kay, LTD has closed Pleasant Retreat Road (County Road 1145) between Pleasant Hollow Road (County Road 1179) and Negem Road (County Road1141). Closure and construction of this area should last until Friday, November 17th, at 5:00pm. Local residents will have access during this period. The road is being closed for repairs due to heavy equipment using it during the Runway 4/22 rehabilitation project.