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GRAND SALINE — Grand Saline Police Chief Justin Collins has resigned from his post following his Tuesday afternoon arrest. According to KETK, Collins turned himself in and was charged with theft of property. He immediately bonded out of jail. The Grand Saline Police Department in July confirmed Collins had been placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation. Texas Municipal Police Association Executive Director Kevin Lawrance said a “litany” of complaints had been lodged against Chief Collins. Some of the complaints are policy issues and more serious matters are criminal in nature. This includes possible fraud, theft and abuse of capacity.

TYLER – A capital murder suspect was due in a Tyler courtroom Thursday. It’s now been moved to October 12 at 10:30 a.m. Gustavo Zavala-Garcia, 25, Bullard, is facing the death penalty for abducting and killing Kayla Gomez-Orozco, 10, last November. She disappeared from a Bullard church. Her body was found days later inside a well on the suspect’s property. Family members said he is a cousin who “acted like an uncle to Kayla.” The Suspect remains in the Smith County Jail under a $10 million bond.

TYLER — Tyler Junior College police are investigating a reported sexual assault. According to KETK, police received a report of a sexual assault in an on-campus dorm on September 28. An alert was sent out by the TJC Alert system following the report. Police say the investigation is ongoing and students should use caution with unknown persons. Additional information was not available.

TYLER – A Tyler Fire Department Captain and his wife killed in an Arkansas accident are being remembered today. Marty and Jean Lawrence died early Saturday morning when an 18-wheeler swerved and hit their car. Following an 11 a.m. funeral at Tyler’s Green Acres Baptist Church, several streets and intersections were to be closed as the funeral procession makes its way to the Flint Cemetery. Leaving the church around 12:15, the procession heads south on the Troup Highway to Grande Boulevard; turns right on Grande; and proceeds to the Old Jacksonville Highway, where it turns left and heads to the cemetery.

TYLER – Smith County donated surplus computer equipment this week to Mustard Seed Ministries to be given to local school children. Dr. Karen Jones, founder and president of Mustard Seed Ministries, along with three technicians, picked up surplus technology equipment that had been collected by the county’s information technology department. For years the county has donated outdated and broken computer equipment, including monitors, desktops and printers, to Mustard Seed Ministries. The nonprofit organization dismantles and reassembles the equipment and donates them to children who do not have computers. Mustard Seed Ministries has given away about 11,000 computers.

TYLER — The Tyler Fire Department Wednesday morning released information about the source of a Tuesday night fire at Golden Corral on South Broadway. Fire officials say the fire started near the southwest corner of the building in the exterior eve with the only ignition source in the area being can lights. The investigator on scene noted that the breaker controlling the lights had been tripped. It was also noted that an electrician had been out recently working on the lights. Most of the fire damage was to the outside of the building with smoke and light fire damage to the interior. There was also water damage to the inside caused by an activated fire sprinkler system and fire suppression activities. There were no injuries reported and no word on when the eatery might reopen.

TYLER — Former mayor and longtime civic leader Barbara Bass made it clear she didn’t do it alone as she was honored Tuesday with the T.B. Butler Award as Tyler’s most outstanding citizen — given each year at the annual meeting of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. While thanking the Chamber for the honor, Bass told attendees, “When we work together as a community, we not only change this community for the greater good — but we change the lives of people around us. Folks — it is about community.” Bass also stressed the importance of her religious faith in her community endeavors. Continue reading Winners Acknowledge Tyler Area Chamber Awards

GRAND SALINE – The Grand Saline police chief, who was put on administrative leave July 12th, has been arrested. Chief Justin Collins, 37, turned himself in to authorities Tuesday after being charged with theft of property over $100 but less than $750. Texas Municipal Police Association Executive Director Kevin Lawrance told KETK, a “litany” of complaints had been lodged against Chief Collins. Some of the complaints are policy issues and more serious matters are criminal in nature. This includes possible fraud, theft and abuse of capacity. After being booked in to the Van Zandt County Jail, he was released on a $1,000 bond.

TYLER- Susan Farrington has joined Tyler Junior College as director of alumni relations. She recently moved back to Texas from Pennsylvania, where she served as director of alumni, employer and student relations for Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. She previously held positions in both higher education and the business sector.

TYLER – A Tyler man has been sentenced to prison for a robbery last October. Martiness Jones-Bigham, 21, pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to eight years in prison with 349 days credit for time served. Police records show Bigman was arrested by Precinct 1 Deputy Constable Glen Stone, who caught him robbing the Super Food Mart gas station on Gentry Parkway. The constable found him, armed with a knife, in the act of robbing the clerk. He was ordered to the ground while they waited for Tyler police. Last month his accomplice, 19 year old Jordan Devers of Tyler, was sentenced to 8 years in prison for his part in the robbery.

MARSHALL – Due to the weather, Marshall has made the decision to reschedule their National Night Out event to Thursday, October 5, from 6:00 to 8:00pm. It will be held in downtown Marshall. There will be free food, games, bounce houses, K9 and SWAT demonstrations and entertainment for all. This year, Walmart, Caddo Packing, Super One Food, Brookshires and Save-A-Lot are sponsoring the event. National Night Out encourages neighbors and communities to come together and build relationships and police-community partnerships.

ATHENS – A Henderson County man has been found competent for execution. The ruling in the case of Randall Mays was issued by state district judge Judge Joe Clayton. Mays was sentenced to death in 2007 for the deaths of sheriff’s deputies Paul Habelt and Tony Ogburn. A third deputy was injured. The shootings occurred after Mays barricaded himself in his house in Payne Springs. In March, 2015, a stay of execution was issued so Mays’ competency could be reviewed. Monday’s ruling paves the way for the execution of the former welder and oilfield worker. No execution date has been set.

LONGVIEW – A man has died as the result of a Longview accident last month. Longview police were notified shortly after 11:00 Tuesday morning that that Allen Wisenbaker Jr., 51, had died from his injuries. On September 16th, his motorcycle and a car were involved in a wreck at the intersection of East Loop 281 and Airline Road. Longview police say Wisenbaker was shown at fault for failure to yield right of way turning left and suspicion of DWI. The Longview News Journal reports he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.20, more than twice the legal limit.

LONGVIEW – A Longview woman with a long arrest record, who was named in a felony warrant, is now facing additional charges. An officer attempted to arrest Erica Monique Stoker, 33, around 3:00 Tuesday morning. A police report said she started resisting arrest, even attempting to take the officer’s Taser, which was holstered on his belt. The officer took her to the ground and was able to place her in handcuffs. Besides the felony theft of property warrant, Stoker is also charged with resisting arrest and attempting to take a weapon from a peace officer. This is not the first time Stoker has been in the Gregg County Jail. Jail records show 33 arrests since first arrested by the Gregg County Sheriff’s office in 2002.

LEAGUEVILLE – Henderson County authorities have released a sketch of a man accused of assaulting a deputy sheriff. It occurred last Thursday night when the deputy stopped to check on a suspicious man walking on Farm Road 607 south of Leagueville. The suspect reportedly hit the deputy in the face with a pistol and ran. The deputy was treated and released from the hospital. The suspect is described as a white man wearing dark clothing and should be considered armed and dangerous. Henderson County Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information to the suspects arrest.

TYLER – Tyler Junior College art professor Philana Oliphant Pace has been chosen as an exhibitor for the sixth edition of the Texas Biennial. This is a geographically focused exhibition of contemporary art. Oliphant is one of 33 artists selected from among 1,217 applicants from a statewide open call. The Texas Biennial, which runs through November 11in Austin, celebrates the many cultures and identities that influence and impact our daily. There are 78 Texas Biennial Participating Organizations throughout Texas, including TJC, who will have scheduled events throughout 2018.

TYLER – County Road 1261, also known as Big Eddy Road, is scheduled to be closed to through traffic beginning Wednesday. The action is needed to replace a concrete culvert pipe that crosses the road. The work is expected to take 6 to 8 hours. It’s part of the project to widen and overlay Big Eddy Road, from Farm-to-Market Road 2661 to Texas Highway 155, west of Noonday. Work on the roadway improvements will begin this month. If the work scheduled for Wednesday is delayed due to weather, a revised closure date will be issued.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. (AP) – U.S. Army officials say a soldier from Texas serving with the 10th Mountain Division’s Louisiana-based brigade combat team has been killed by an improvised explosive device in Iraq. Officials at Fort Drum in northern New York say Spc. Alexander Missildine, 20, Tyler, was killed Sunday when an IED detonated near his convoy. Missildine served with the division’s 710th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team based at Fort Polk, Louisiana. The division’s other two brigade combat teams are based at Fort Drum. Continue reading Tyler Soldier Killed by IED in Iraq

KILGORE – One person has been killed and one injured in a one vehicle accident in Kilgore. Dead on arrival at a Tyler hospital was Catherine Michelle McCarty, 19, of Kilgore. Injured was the car’s driver, Zachary Paul Vick, 20, of Kilgore. The accident happened just before 4:00 Sunday morning on Farm Road 349. The vehicle is said to have left the road and rolled and hit a concrete culvert. The vehicle then flipped and rolled again. Evidence gathered at the scene indicated alcohol may have been involved in the crash. The wreck remains under investigation.

TYLER – Funeral services have been set for a Tyler Fire Department captain and his wife who died after an Arkansas accident. According to Stewart Family Funeral Home, funeral services for Marty and Jean Lawrence will be Thursday morning at 11:00 in the worship center of Tyler’s Green Acres Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Flint Cemetery. The preliminary crash report says the two were heading east on Interstate 30 around 12:15 Saturday morning in Clark County when an 18-wheeler also heading east, swerved and hit their car. Both vehicles left the road and came to rest in the tree line. The driver of the 18-wheeler, Raad E. Hamdeh Abu of Illinois, was injured.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man was driving over 100 miles an hour just before a Longview accident that killed two persons and injured two on September 21st. The wreck killed Rylee Malone and Meshebia Renee Johnson, both 17 and both from Longview. The two drivers, Palmer Malone, 19, of Longview and Christa Tamara Wilson 32, of Harleton, were injured. Wilson remains hospitalized. The Longview News Journal, quoting a search warrant, says data from the airbag control module in Malone’s car showed he was going 109 mph two seconds before the air bags were deployed. Continue reading Excessive Speed Involved in Fatal Longview Wreck

TYLER – The Tyler Street Department has announced some lane closures.

Lane closures have been announced at Rieck Road and New Copeland Road. it will be on the northwest corner of New Copeland and Rieck Road intersection. It will be Tuesday through Friday, or until work is complete, from 8:00am till 3:00pm each day. It is because of excavation of a major drainage channel. The lane closures will allow safe staging of large equipment needed to complete the work. Continue reading Some Tyler Lane Closures

TYLER – Tyler police continue their investigation of the Sunday morning burglary at Atwood’s on WNW Loop 323. The suspects, driving the pickup pictured here, stole five rifles, ammunition and a variety of other items. The store manager discovered when he arrived at work that the front glass doors had been broken out. Five suspects were observed in the store video. If you know who drives this pickup, or can supply other information about the burglary, you are asked to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000 or Tyler-Smith County Crime stoppers at 903-597-2833.

EAST TEXAS – Tuesday night, police departments in East Texas are taking part in National Night Out activities, which helps promote police-community partnerships. It is celebrated in Texas the first Tuesday night in October, when its cooler. The rest of the country does it in August. Neighborhoods host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and various other community events. Some include safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, exhibits and much more. Among the area cities where activities are planned are Longview, Marshall, Kilgore, Gladewater, White Oak, Palestine and Gregg County. Tyler’s annual Texans Against Crime block parties will be held on Tuesday, October 10th.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man is facing drug charges after a large quantity of narcotics was found in a South Green Street home. Carteris Loyd-Robbinson, 24, was arrested after a warrant was served at the south Longview home. The warrant was served by the Gregg County Organized Drug Enforcement Unit with assistance of the Longview SWAT team and the Special Investigation and Apprehension Unit. Along with the drugs, officers also seized two handguns during the search. Besides the drug charges, Robbinson is also charged with evading arrest or detention. He is in the Gregg County Jail with bonds totaling $112,500.

TYLER – Two burglary suspects have been arrested by Tyler police. The officers responded to an alarm at Honda of Tyler on the Chandler Highway, Sunday morning at 4:00. They saw two persons running into the woods at the rear of the business. They left behind three motorcycles that they were in the process of stealing. Two teens were later found hiding in a car on the Old Chandler Highway. Arrested were James Earl Warren, 18, of Tyler and a 15 year old Tyler juvenile. They believe one more person may have been involved in the burglary.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in TxDOT’s Tyler District during the week of Oct. 2. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure, or other unforeseen issues. Slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones. District seal coat operations move to Henderson County on Monday morning, where work will be conducted on FM 3079 from FM 324 eastward to FM 315. On Tuesday, work moves to Business 31 in Athens from East Loop 7 to Business 19 at The Square. Motorists should expect lane closures and delays during this work, which wraps up Thursday, completing summer seal coat operations. Go to http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/049-2017.html for a more detailed look at roadwork in the Tyler District.

TYLER — A Tyler Fire Department captain and his wife have died after an Arkansas accident. According to KETK, fire department spokesman Paul Findley names the victims as Marty and Jean Lawrence. The preliminary crash report says the two were heading east on Interstate 30 around 12:15 Saturday morning in Clark County when an 18-wheeler also heading east, swerved and hit their car. Both vehicles left the road and came to rest in the tree line. The driver of the 18-wheeler, Raad E. Hamdeh Abu of Illinois, was injured. According to Stewart Family Funeral Home, funeral services for the couple will be Thursday morning at 11:00 in the worship center of Tyler’s Green Acres Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Flint Cemetery.

TYLER – Tyler’s bulky item collection week starts on Monday. The pickup of those large items is sponsored twice a year by Tyler’s Solid Waste Department and Keep Tyler Beautiful. It’s a great time for residential customers to get rid of those large items that would normally require a special fee to pick up. All you have to do is place the items on the curb Monday and a city crew will pick it up. There is no need to call the Solid Waste Office. But you need to note that items may be collected on a different day from your usual scheduled garbage collection. Items that will be picked up, at no charge, include furniture, appliances, carpet, fence material, up to four non-commercial vehicle tires, old toys and other such large items. No liquid waste, limbs or brush will be picked up. Paint must be dried out with oil dry or kitty litter. Continue reading Bulky Item Collections in Tyler

TYLER — One of the most highly anticipated exhibitions in recent years comes to the Tyler Museum of Art with “Andy Warhol: Screen Prints & Snapshots,” according to information from the museum. It’s open to the public now through January 7. The exhibition features close to 40 works by the late Pop Art icon, including a series of Warhol’s signature silkscreen prints and a collection of his celebrity-centric Polaroid photographs. General exhibition admission is $6 for adults and $4 for seniors. Admission is free for TMA members, students, children under 12, Tyler Junior College faculty/staff, and City of Tyler employees. For information, visit http://www.tylermuseum.org or call 903-595-1001.