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LONGVIEW — Two men are hospitalized after a Longview shooting. It happened just after 12:30 Saturday afternoon at the Family Dollar Store at the intersection of South High Street and Garfield Drive. Longview police were in the area of the store and heard the shots. The shooting occurred in the store’s parking lot. The men are said to have gotten out of their vehicles and opened fire on each other. What led to the confrontation is not known. Both were taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center. No word on their condition.

TYLER — Christmas tree recycling is beginning in Tyler. The city and Keep Tyler Beautiful are providing two locations for Christmas tree recycling. Residents can drop off their undecorated, non-flocked, natural Christmas trees in designated areas at Golden Road Park at the intersection of McDonald Road and Golden Road and at Fun Forest Park in the 900 block of North Glenwood Boulevard. All lights, ornaments, garland and tinsel should be removed from the Christmas tree before dropping it off near the sign that says “Christmas Tree Recycling.” Continue reading Tyler Christmas Tree Recycling

TYLER — One person has been killed in a vehicle-pedestrian accident in Smith County. It happened shortly after 1:15 Christmas morning on Loop 323 at Lavender Road. Killed was Hugo Garcia, 55, of Tyler. He was attempting to cross the loop when hit. No charges have been filed against the Tyler resident who was driving the vehicle.

MARSHALL — An arrest has been made in a Marshall homicide, and police say others might be involved. In the Harrison County jail under a $1 million bond is Norris Wayne Jackson of Marshall. The Longview News Journal reports he is charged in last Tuesday’s shooting death of Dominque Moody, 22. He was found shot to death Tuesday afternoon at the Ward Plaza Apartments, 1603 Martin Luther King Boulevard. No word on what led to the shooting.

TYLER — A man is in ICU at Mother Francis Hospital following a Christmas shooting and an arrest warrant has been issued in the case. It was reported just before 2:15 Christmas morning. The man, with a couple of gunshot wounds, was taken to the hospital by private vehicle. He has undergone surgery. The warrant was issued for Joshua Dewayne Berry, 29, of Tyler.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been arrested on a drunk driving charge following a head on collision that left several persons injured. Cain Santiago-Ferral, 26, is charged with accident involving serious bodily injury, two counts of intoxication assault with a vehicle causing severe bodily injury, and driving while intoxicated with a child younger than 15. A 13 year old girl and a 16 year old girl were in his car, which hit a van carrying eight people. The accident happened just before 6:00 Wednesday night in the 300 Block of Spur 63.

TYLER — For the second time in two days, a Smith County business has been robbed by a man with a hammer. The latest incident was around 5:30 Thursday morning when a man held up the Minute Stop convenience store at 11874 Highway 64 West. The same store was robbed by a man with a hammer nearly 48 hours earlier. The clerk told sheriff’s deputies the man walked behind the counter and started taking money from the cash register. He was then driven from the store by someone in a brown or gold extended cab pickup. There were no injuries. The suspect was described as a Hispanic male armed with a hammer and wearing a dirty tan jump suit and a bright orange ski mask. Continue reading Another Hammer Robbery in Smith County

LONGVIEW — One person was injured this morning following a shooting at a Longview nightclub. According to KETK, the shooting happened around 2:00. Police say the victim was shot at the nightclub, then drove home and called 9-1-1. They were taken to the hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries. Police have not said exactly where the shooting happened. They did say they are searching for a person of interest.

GREGG COUNTY — A Gregg County grand jury has handed felony indictments to three men on separate child sex assault charges. According to the Longview News-Journal, Deadrian McKinley(pictured), 20, of Gladewater, was indicted on two counts of aggravated assault of a child. Both included an Oct. 23 offense date. McKinley is accused of having intercourse with a 13-year-old girl. Continue reading Three Men Indicted on Child Sex Charges

LONGVIEW — A couple of Longview police officers handed out gift cards last night, instead of tickets. An anonymous donor gave the police department gift cards with the instructions to spread some Christmas cheer to those doing the right thing in Longview. So the two officers drove around town looking for pedestrians and drivers obeying the traffic laws and showing kindness to others. Continue reading Longview Police Hand Out Gift Cards

TYLER — Look for a toll rate hike on Loop 49 starting the first of the year. According to Everett Owen, Interim Executive Director of the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority, the increases are not new. It had previously been decided that the rate adjustments would be incremental to bring Tyler closer to the state average. The funds are used to maintain and expand the toll road. You can go to http://www.netrma.org and find the new rate schedule.

PALESTINE – A Cherokee County resident has been arrested in Palestine and charged with forgery. The arrest followed a tip concerning an online ad for gold coins. A Palestine coin collector felt the price for the coins was too low and thought they might be counterfeit. Palestine police contacted the Secret Service and a meeting was arranged with the suspect. When it was obvious the coins were not real, the suspect was arrested. In the suspect’s vehicle officers found more fake coins along with counterfeit paper currency and fake identification cards. The suspects name will be released following his arraignment.

MARSHALL – A Shooting in Marshall has left one person dead. It was reported around 4:45 Tuesday afternoon at the Ward Plaza Apartments, 1603 Martin Luther King Boulevard. Killed was Dominique Moody, 22, seen here in a Facebook picture. Marshall police report a person of interest is in custody, but have released no other information.

MARSHALL – Harrison County authorities have cancelled an alert for a man with medical issues who did not return home after work Tuesday. He is Horace Taylor, 65, of Marshall. It appears he left with another family member. A sister of Taylor’s contacted authorities to say the man was with her and they were traveling to Florida.

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County authorities are looking for the man who robbed the Minute Stop convenience store at 11874 Highway 64 West around 5:15 Tuesday morning. The man, armed with a claw hammer, confronted store employees and then went to the register and opened it, removing the cash. He also took several packs of Marlboro cigarettes. When the suspect left, a car could be heard driving away they were unable to see the vehicle and which way it was headed. The man, wearing an orange ski mask, dark jacket and dark pants, may also have a speech impediment. He stuttered when talking to a store employee. No injuries were reported.

TYLER — Despite what some telephone caller might tell you, the Tyler fire department is not calling and asking for donations. Some residents have received phone calls from someone saying they are collecting money for the Tyler Fire Department and EMS. If you agree to donate, the scammer will show up at your home to collect the money. Concerned citizens have told Tyler police that the person that shows up at the door is a suspicious looking individual. The city stress that the fire department is not asking for any donations at this time and does not know who these callers are. The phone calls that come across the caller id show a Dallas location.

KILGORE — One person has been killed and one injured in a two vehicle wreck in Kilgore. It occurred around 6:15 Tuesday morning in the 3400 block of U.S. highway 259. Dead at the scene was Jerriell Lewis, 33, of Longview. Taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center for treatment was David McFearin, 27, of Tyler. Investigators say the southbound car driven by Lewis crossed over into the northbound lane and collided with McFearin’s van.

TYLER — A Tyler Junior College professor, and former chief of staff for state representative Matt Schaefer, has been indicted by the Smith County grand jury. Judd Harrison Quarles, 31, who was arrested earlier this month, has been indicted on a charge of online solicitation of a minor under 14 years of age. He remains in the Smith County jail on a $350,000 bond. He is accused of conversing with a 12-year-old girl online and trying to meet her for sex. An affidavit says Quarles had sexual conversations with the girl, who pretended to be 18, but told police that he was never going to meet her. Quarles, who taught economics and government at TJC, was suspended following his arrest. He was also relieved of his duties as treasurer for the state House campaign of Republican David Watts.

HALLSVILLE — A former Hallsville coach has been taken into custody after being indicted by a Harrison County grand jury. Dean Michael McDaniel, 37, has been indicted on three counts of indecency with a child by exposure. He was booked into the Harrison County Jail around 6:15 Tuesday morning and released on a $51,000 bond a couple of hours later. Continue reading Former East Texas Coach Arrested

GLADEWATER — One person has been killed in a two vehicle accident in Gladewater. The victim is identified as Charles Wayne Puckett,55, of Gladewater. He later died at Good Shepherd Medical Center. The other driver was uninjured. The crash, which remains under investigation, occurred around 7:30 last night in the 1400 block of Broadway Avenue.

GLADEWATER — One person has been killed in a two vehicle accident in Gladewater. The victim is identified as Charles Wayne Puckett,55, of Gladewater. He later died at Good Shepherd Medical Center. The other driver was uninjured. The crash, which remains under investigation, occurred around 7:30 Monday night in the 1400 block of Broadway Avenue.

TYLER — Tyler Police have arrested three suspects wanted for burglary. Officers responded to an alarm report at African Caribbean Meat on Vine Street around 3:30 this morning. Officials said they noticed a vehicle nearby that matched the description of the suspect’s. The driver was eventually arrested along with two other suspects near the burglary scene. They’ve been identified as Kima Green, 19, (pictured) Robert Taylor, 18 and a 16 year old juvenile. They’ve been charged with burglary. A fourth suspect is still at large.

PONTA — Cherokee County authorities are reporting the arrest of three Michigan residents on drug charges. KETK reports it began with a welfare check on Highway 110 near the Ponta Community. They found two men and nearby was a woman lying on the ground beside a truck. Inside the truck they found close to a pond of marijuana, hashish and a gun. Arrested were Jimmy Ray Gafford, 41;(pictured) Nicole Velleneuve, 41; and Alexander Maclellan, 59. They have been charged with possession of a substance, possession of marijuana and unlawful carrying of a weapon. Gafford also had an assault warrant in his name in Harris County. All three were booked into the Cherokee County Jail.

TYLER — Tyler police are looking for two suspects in a home invasion. It happened around 12:15 Monday afternoon near the intersection of Old Omen Road and Tracer Lane. Police say two men kicked in the back door of a house and robbed the residents at gunpoint. They are said to have taken some items from the home and fled. There were no injuries. Detective Andy Erbaugh described the suspects as a black male and possibly light skinned black male or Hispanic male. They were last seen on foot heading south on Old Omen Road.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Two men have been arrested and there could still be more arrests in connection with thefts in Cherokee County. According to a news release, Ricky Schakosky, 29, of Reklaw, has been charged with three counts of theft from Cherokee, Angelina and Nacogdoches counties. He has also been charged with failure to appear on theft of property charge from Cherokee County and failure to identify a fugitive from justice from Eastland County. His bonds total $31,000. Also charged was Jeremy Ranniger 30, of Alto. He has been jailed on a Cherokee County warrant for theft of property. Bond was set at $10,000. The investigation into the thefts continues.

KILGORE — Kilgore police are looking for two suspects in connection with an armed robbery. It happened Monday morning around 5:30 at the Fillin’ Station Donut and Deli Cafe, 310 South Higginbotham Road. A man, armed with a handgun and wearing all black, robbed the business of an undisclosed amount of cash. Kilgore police say he fled in what they described as a maroon “boxy” passenger car with a chrome grill. It was driven by the second suspect. The gunman was described as a black male from 5’ 08” to 5’10” and weighing over 220 lbs. He was also wearing a hooded sweatshirt with some type of homemade black cloth mask. No injuries were reported in the robbery.

AUSTIN — Lt. Governor Patrick has made six appointments to the Texas Sunset Commission. One of those is State Senator Robert Nichols of Jacksonville.(pictured) He will be fulfilling the unexpired term of Senator Jane Nelson. Nichols previously served on the commission from 2009 to 2013. He also served as vice chairman of the panel. Patrick feels the commission has a challenging assignment ahead of it in the next legislative session. He said in a news release, “These appointees will first decide if the functions of state agencies under review are needed, and secondly, whether they are operating in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.” The Lt. Governor also announced that Senator Brian Birdwell will replace Senator Kevin Eltife of Tyler as a member of the Senate Finance Committee. Senator Eltife has announced he will not be seeking re-election.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district through the rest of 2015. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.

In Longview/Gregg County, a three-mile section of Farm Road 2087 has been closed to through traffic due to water over the roadway from the Sabine River which continues to rise.
Flooding of the roadway is anticipated through the weekend. While residents and businesses do have access, the decision was made to close the roadway for the safety of the traveling public. Crews will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation. The closure is from west of Loop 281 to just east of Interstate Highway 20. Continue reading TxDOT Road Projects