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LONGVIEW — U.S. Magistrate John D. Love (pictured) of Tyler has granted a motion from Shanna Peek Tidwell to open the Longview Vapor Store on Fredonia Street provided that she sells only legal products. Tidwell is under federal indictment on federal drug and money laundering charges. Tidwell and her husband and brother were indicted by a federal grand jury last month. The indictment was sealed until earlier this month, following raids on Glass Dragon Stores and Vapor Store. Both Shanna and her husband Jeremy had filed motion to be allowed to operate the vapor store to sell legal products.

TYLER — Child Protective Services says the children they have been located and are safe. They had been seeking the public’s help in locating four children who were last known to be in Tyler with their parents, Bertha Mineros and Jessie Zuniga. The kids are:
*Aidan, 5
*Evelynn, 4
*Nathan, 2
*Nicholas, 1 month

The children have been placed in the home of another family member.

TYLER — An execution date as been set for an East Texas man who was convicted of raping and killing a woman in Tyler nearly 20 years ago. According to KETK, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice reports Robert Charles Ladd, 57, is set to be put to death by lethal injection on Thursday, January 29, 2015, for the rape and strangulation murder of Vicki Ann Garner on September 25, 1996. According to court documents, Ladd also robbed her home before setting it on fire. Continue reading Execution Date Set in 1996 Tyler Murder

TYLER — After executive session Tuesday, the Tyler City Council approved a contract for Edward Broussard to be Tyler’s next city manager effective Feb. 9, 2015. Broussard most recently served as the city manager of Missouri City. “The entire City Council has been extremely involved in the decision,” said Mayor Martin Heines. “We feel confident that we have hired the candidate to meet the unique demands of managing the City of Tyler.” The contract approved by Council provides for an annual base salary of $190,000, as well as authorization for additional health benefits. Continue reading Tyler Names New City Manager

TYLER — East Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert came calling on our troops in the Middle East last week, on a mission to help brighten Christmas for soldiers so far from home. “It seemed to mean a lot to them; it meant a lot to me,” Gohmert told KETK. “Everybody who’s American has some special feelings, if you grew up in America, around Christmas time.” The lawmaker met with some of our allies, leaders, and visiting armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq to make the season a little brighter. He added, “They’re saying members of Congress just don’t normally come to Afghanistan anymore — it’s too dangerous — but I figure if the troops are there, their congressmen can come too.” Gohmert says he ate lunch with some of the Texas troops and toured the special ops headquarters. “It was great to be with Texans!” he said. “One of them was an Aggie, and it was just great being with them.” Continue reading Holiday Greetings as Gohmert Visits Troops in Mideast

SMITH COUNTY – Two persons have been arrested following a standoff with Smith County authorities. Taken into custody is Charles Nathaniel Harder, 24. It started about 10:45 Monday morning with a report of a man holding a gun on a woman in a pickup on Ridgetop Road, south of Tyler. When officers arrived, the pair had moved inside a home. Officials say the suspect left the house a couple of time, fired a gun into the ground, and went back inside. Officers talked to him by phone, and convinced him to leave the house. After being taken into custody, Harder is said to have stopped cooperating with officers, who had to use a stun gun on him. He was booked into the Smith County jail on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His bond was set at $250,000. The landlord of the home was also arrested for interfering with law enforcement officers.

LINDALE – A Harrison County man has been arrested following a manhunt in Northwestern Smith County. Tracked down last night by Texas Department of Criminal Justice dogs was Jacob Andrew Brewer, 37, of Hallsville. He was found hiding under a vacant house on County Road 443. KETK reports deputies were patrolling an area because of burglaries when a suspect vehicle from a Sunday night burglary was spotted. Authorities attempted to pull over the vehicle on Farm Road 2710, but the suspect fled. The chase traveled through Lindale, ending on County Road 444, where Brewer fled on foot. He was booked into the Smith County Jail on a charge of evading arrest with a vehicle and theft of property.

LONGVIEW – It’s not often you see Batman, Spiderman and Superman rappelling down a Longview hospital wall. But it happened Monday as the super heroes repelled down the wall of the pediatric wing of Good Shepherd Medical Center. The men in costume were actually members of the Longview Police Department’s SWAT Team. They rappelled from the hospital’s roof to spread some cheer to patients along the way. “The SWAT Team members are excited to utilize their rappelling abilities to make patients’ holiday a little brighter,” said Kristie Brian, Longview Police Department public information officer. The officers waved to patients from outside their room windows, and once on the ground, delivered toys to children who may be spending their Christmas in the hospital.

HENDERSON – Funeral services have been scheduled for former Rusk County Judge Sandra Hodges. She died at her home early Monday morning from natural causes at the age of 75. Hodges did not seek re-election and retired from office December 31st, 2010. She was a seven term county judge, serving 24 years. Services for Hodges will be held Wednesday morning at 10:00 at First United Methodist Church of Henderson. Visitation is from 6:00 to 8:00pm on Tuesday at the Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home in Henderson.

ANGELINA COUNTY – A preliminary autopsy report indicates an Angelina County couple died in a shootout with each other. Robin Turney, 58, and his wife, Sharon Turney, 59, were found dead Friday in the backyard of their home in the 1500 block of Willie Nerren Road. The two suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Sheriff’s department Captain Alton Lenderman told KETK , at this time, there are no indications any other person was involved. It appears as if a struggle started inside the home before moving outdoors. Two guns involved in the shooting, along with a third weapon, were found at the scene. The couple had reportedly been having marital trouble.

TYLER — Tyler’s All Saints Episcopal School has become the beneficiary of the Estate of Jo Clark Ferguson, whose $5 million gift is intended to support the college preparatory school’s mission of academic excellence centered upon the basic tenets of the Christian faith. That’s according to a news release from All Saints. “The Ferguson bequest extends an extraordinary period of gifts to the school,” noted head of school Randal Brown. Within the past 24 months, says Brown, capital gifts totaling $15 million have allowed All Saints to double its endowment to $10 million, fund the school chapel project, and pay off all remaining school debt. “All Saints continues to benefit greatly from the support of generous donors who recognize the importance of providing the Tyler community with a superior college preparatory school,” added Brown. Continue reading All Saints Receives $5M Gift

OVERTON — People in Overton may soon be charged for ambulance services. This, after an announcement made during Thursday night’s city council meeting. KETK reports Champion EMS will no longer be providing its free service to the city. This means the yearly $50,000 cost will be passed on to taxpayers. City Manager Charles Cunningham says it’s a critical service the community cannot do without. He says, “We could look at other providers, but they’re in the same boat as Champion EMS. I mean it’s not a question of a money grab by the ambulance services; it’s simply they ran out of the subsidy of funding they used to get from the hospital.” Cunningham added that the city has budget reserves to deal with the immediate needs of the service. However, that money will eventually run out and the costs will be passed on to the people in Overton. The next public hearing is set for January 15th.

TYLER — Police are looking for the lone gunman who robbed a Tyler business. It happened shortly after 7:15 last night at Vapor Corner, a tobacco store, at 712 West Houston. The store was robbed by a black male wearing all black clothing. He took an undisclosed amount of cash and merchandise while holding the clerk at gun point. No injuries were reported.

TYLER – Minor damage was reported from a church fire that was spotted during Sunday morning services yesterday. A late arriving church member spotted the smoke coming from the roof of the Voices of Victory Missionary Baptist Church at 201 South Baxter Avenue. Tony Gumber with Tyler Fire Department told KETK “firefighters found some smoldering wood and damage appears to be due to electrical wiring that shorted out.” No injuries were reported.

TYLER (AP) — The editor of the Tyler Morning Telegraph is retiring after 46 years in the newspaper business. The Tyler Morning Telegraph reports Dave Berry, 66, will retire at the end of the year. He’s worked at there for more than 20 years, starting as the managing editor before being promoted to editor five years ago. After graduating from Kansas State University in 1970 he served in the U.S. Army’s information office in Vietnam, reporting stories for military papers for eight months. He then worked on the copy desk for the Tulsa Tribune in Oklahoma. He’s also served as city editor and then managing editor of the Brazosport Facts, editor of the Arlington Daily News, executive editor of Dallas-Fort Worth Suburban Newspapers and editor of the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer in Kentucky.

TYLER — Here’s a look at work planned in the Tyler District during the next two weeks: December 22, 2014 and December 29, 2014.

SMITH COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) maintenance crews in Tyler will be patching on mostly low volume roadways throughout the county during the next two weeks. On Monday, December 22, weather permitting; crews will have a moving operation while patching potholes on Interstate Highway 20. Motorists should watch for safety equipment and personnel in this traveling work zone.

Crews will start patching low volume roads on Tuesday with little impact on traffic. Pavement repair work on Loop 323 between the loop extension and Commerce Street will resume on January 5th. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates

TYLER – Friday afternoon President Obama signed into law a tax extenders package which includes time-sensitive charitable opportunities for the end of the year, and the Tyler-based East Texas Communities Foundation (ETCF) is responding to the news. The bill, HR 5771, known as the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014, reinstates for 2014 dozens of expired tax provisions, including the IRA charitable rollover and enhanced deductions for donating land conservation easements and food inventory. Continue reading ETCF Responds to Signing of Charitable Provisions Bill

TYLER – CFRE International has announced the most recent class of Certified Fund Raising Executives (CFREs), which includes Robin Rowan, Director, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Trinity Mother Frances Foundation. According to a Trinity Mother Frances news release, these individuals join over 5,000 professionals around the world who hold the CFRE designation. Continue reading Trinity Mother Frances CMN Director Earns CFRE Designation

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County emergency crews responded Saturday morning to an accident with critical injuries, and a toddler was one of the victims. KETK reports the crash happened around 11:30 a.m. on Toll 49, one mile north of Highway 64. State troopers say a small Lexus crossed the center lane for unknown reasons and sideswiped a van before colliding head-on with a Mustang. Troopers say three people, including a 2-year-old, were taken to the hospital. They were last reported in critical condition. No other details were immediately available.

SMITH COUNTY — A Palestine man was killed late Friday night in a head-on collision on Highway 155 in southwestern Smith County. KETK reports the collision happened around 11:30 p.m. near Farm Road 2661. State troopers say the victim was Billy Joe Armstrong, 30. Troopers were still investigating the incident at last report.

LONGVIEW — The Glass Dragon reopening its doors may just happen. KETK reports it was the case that sent shock waves across Gregg and Upshur counties earlier this month. That’s when three people were arrested after a federal, state, and local investigation into the Glass Dragon’s alleged distribution of synthetic marijuana. According to the Longview News-Journal, Jeremy Tidwell has filed a motion in federal court to let him reopen one of his smoke shops to sell electronic cigarettes and other legal items. Some businesses surrounding the Glass Dragon are not happy about the news, though Tidwell’s effort has at least one supporter. Continue reading Longview Reacts to Possibility Glass Dragon Could Reopen

AUSTIN — Following last week’s announcement of its executive leadership team, the 2015 Texas Inaugural Committee Friday announced the remainder of its committee appointments. Three of those chosen are from East Texas. The people on the list were selected by Governor-elect Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor-elect Dan Patrick to oversee January’s celebration honoring the state’s newly-elected leaders. The governor’s appointments include Andrea and Brandon Steele of Tyler, and JoAnn Fleming of Flint is listed among the lieutenant governor’s appointments.

“Each of these men and women has and will continue to play an exceptional role in the planning of the 2015 Texas Inauguration,” said Abbott. “I am grateful to each of these individuals for their proven dedication to this time-honored tradition and look forward to their partnership as we plan this historic occasion.”

LONGVIEW — Longview Police Officer Johnny Lyons has been cleared of any wrongdoing by a Gregg County grand jury in the August 7 shooting of Regan Wagner. Police say Lyons shot and killed Wagner near Akin Park during a daytime traffic stop after Wagner displayed a firearm and refused repeated requests to put it down. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Wagner, 23, of Longview, had been pulled over for an expired inspection sticker. Longview police initially said Wagner was killed during an exchange of gunfire but later said Wagner did not fire any shots. Longview police spokeswoman Kristie Brian said Wagner showed a gun but could not confirm whether it was loaded. Continue reading Officer Cleared in Fatal Shooting

ATHENS — A former Seven Points resident heads to prison on a methamphetamine-related charge. On Wednesday morning, Ray Glenn Followwell, 50, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. According to KETK, Followwell was indicted by a Henderson County Grand Jury following an investigation by Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Wick Gabbard. On November 18th of last year, Gabbard obtained and executed a narcotics search warrant on Followwell’s residence off CR 2428. Other law officers assisted in the execution of the warrant. Continue reading Man Gets Ten Years in Henderson County Meth Case

LONGVIEW — The owner of the Glass Dragon and Longview Vapor Store, awaiting trial on federal drug distribution and money laundering charges, filed a motion Thursday asking that he be allowed to operate the store on Fredonia Street to sell e-cigarettes and the liquids they use. According to KETK and the Longview news-Journal, Jeremy Chad Tidwell was named in a sealed indictment in November by a federal grand jury on five charges along with his wife, Shanna Peek Tidwell. His brother, Brian Tidwell, was indicted on three related charges. All three were arrested in a Dec. 3 raid on the stores by the Drug Enforcement Administration and representatives from area law enforcement agencies. The charges involve the selling of K-2, or so-called synthetic marijuana. The federal agency began investigating the case in March. Continue reading Glass Dragon Owner Seeks to Reopen Store

TYLER — The Tyler Museum of Art joins the nationwide commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Civil War in its newest major exhibition, “Between the States: Photographs of the American Civil War from the George Eastman House Collection.” The exhibition runs through Sunday, February 15, in the TMA’s North Gallery. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. Hours on Sunday are from 1:00 till 5:00 p.m. Continue reading New Civil War Exhibit at TMA

TYLER — This year, as you are preparing your home for the holiday season, make sure that you implement a few simple fire prevention practices. That’s the message from the Tyler Fire Department.

* Space Heaters:
o Maintain a clear space of 3 feet around the device.
o Ensure that portable heaters have a safety switch that will turn off the device if it gets tipped over. Continue reading Tyler Fire Department Wishes Everyone a Happy and Safe Holiday Season

TYLER — The organizer of a downtown Tyler rally Thursday afternoon says she’s pleased with the event. Working with a new group called Tyler United, Ambra Phillips sought to bring attention to recent police-related deaths in Missouri, New York, and elsewhere. Phillips pointed out that she wished to do so in a peaceful manner and says that’s the way it worked out, except for a brief disruption that was quickly quelled. Phillips said we need to “stop seeing each other’s differences as threats — learn to look at each other and appreciate that we are all different.” Continue reading Organizer Pleased with Rally Spurred by Police-Related Deaths

TYLER — Governor-elect Greg Abbott was in Tyler Thursday. KETK reports he met with East Texas legislators on what the new session would hold. He says border security, education, and transportation are his top priorities. Abbott says President Obama’s executive order on immigration is extremely troubling. According to Abbott, “The president himself said more than 20 times that he didn’t have the authority, as the chief executive, to create a law like this. And then by executive order he did it! And he said, ‘I have just created a new law.’ That is unconstitutional.” In turn, Abbott plans to add $300 million in funding, as well as deploy additional state troopers, for tighter border security. He said, “As governor I will step up and take charge, and ensure that we have a secure border.” Continue reading Abbott Meets Local Lawmakers for Roundtable

GILMER — A trial date could soon be set for capital murder suspect Andrew Conrad Norwine. Norwine (pictured) is accused of collaborating with two other people in the December 2012 killing of Ronnie Joe Gammage. Gammage’s body was found beaten and burned in rural Upshur County. One of the other suspects was sentenced to life without parole in October 2013. According to KETK, Norwine’s lawyer also represented former Kaufman County Justice of the Peace Eric Williams. Williams was sentenced to death this week for the slaying of the Kaufman County district attorney’s wife.