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WINONA — The mayor of Winona, Dede Stroud, has resigned from her position after less than three months in office. Officials tell KETK Stroud met with a city council member on Monday and handed the council member a short letter of resignation along with her city hall keys and iPad issued to her by the city. Mayor Pro Tem Earl Brown will fill Stroud’s spot until further notice. Stroud was elected May 10, 2014, defeating incumbent Rusty Smith by 81 votes. Since September 2013, Winona has racked up a debt of over $350,000, according to the city’s financial audit. Officials have also confirmed there will be a special council meeting held Thursday evening at 6:30 concerning the abrupt resignation and the future of the city.

TYLER — Tyler ISD is inviting parents, business leaders, and community members to join the inaugural class of the District’s new Inside Tyler ISD leadership program. Beginning in the fall, Inside Tyler ISD participants will gain an in-depth, firsthand understanding of the goals and operations of the school district, according to a TISD news release. “We are very excited to launch Inside Tyler ISD in the fall,” Interim Superintendent Kim Tunnell said. “Many districts across the state have initiated and had great success with similar programs. Community feedback from these programs shows that participants take away a greater sense of the magnitude of what it takes for a school system to be successful.” Continue reading Parents, Community Invited to Go “Inside Tyler ISD”

TYLER An East Texas man who had been charged with assaulting his wife has now been indicted for her murder. The indictment was returned Monday against Kelly Gage, 52, of Gun Barrel City. He remains in the Smith County Jail, where he has been held on an assault of a family member complaint. The incident occurred in November, 2011. His wife, Patti McHugh Gage, later died from her injuries, which her son Nicholas claimed were caused by his dad. Later, Patti Gages son, Nicholas McHugh, and his younger brother, Caden, both took out protective orders against Gage. At the time, Nicholas told KETK, Im really scared of any type of retaliation. Hes really nuts and hes threatened my life and my grandmothers life particularly in the past.

HENDERSON – A man wanted on fraud charges in Las Vegas has been arrested in Rusk County. William Joseph Chrissikopoulos, 43, of Las Vegas was arrested Sunday at the Sexton City Trade Days. In April, a grand jury indicted Chrissikopoulos on 15 counts. He has been accused of mortgage lending fraud, “multiple transactions involving fraud and deceit in the course of enterprise or occupation and two counts of preventing or dissuading victim, person acting on behalf of victim, or witness from reporting crime, commencing prosecution or causing arrest. He will remain in the Rusk County jail until turned over to Nevada authorities.

HENDERSON — A Louisiana woman was arrested last week after she allegedly kicked a Rusk County deputy in the throat. According to Chief Deputy Charles Helton, at 4:30 a.m. on Thursday, a woman was taken into custody for DWI in the Walmart parking lot off Highway 79. While the suspect, Amanda Kluth, 27, of Youngsville, Louisiana, was being placed into the patrol car, she allegedly kicked a deputy in the throat. At this time, she was pepper sprayed, according to KETK. Authorities took Kluth to a local hospital where she was checked and released. Deputies then transferred her to the county jail. She was charged with DWI, resisting arrest, and assault on a peace officer. She has since been released on bond.

LONGVIEW — The Great Texas Balloon Race got underway Monday, with activities continuing in Longview and the surrounding area through Sunday. Meanwhile, local police want to make sure that everyone enjoys the activities safely, and they’ve issued a set of safety tips, which you can read below. A practice flight was held Monday morning, and competitive flights began today. The Great Texas Balloon Race Festival, with a variety of family-friendly activities, gets underway Friday. According to the event website, the Balloon Race is “a world class event attracting the very best competitive pilots from across the United States and the world.” The website also highlights Friday and Saturday night’s popular Balloon Glows, which “entertain crowds with an awesome display of color and excitement.” Continue reading Great Texas Balloon Race Gets Underway; Safety Tips Issued

LONGVIEW — An East Texas woman is behind bars after troopers say she was driving while intoxicated with children in the car. According to KETK, the Texas Department of Public Safety says Sarah Veronica Bruns, 36, was arrested around 10:00 Sunday night on U.S. Highway 259. She reportedly had four children in the car with her at the time of her arrest. Bruns was charged with DWI and four counts of child endangerment. She remains in the Gregg County Jail on $25,000 bond.

MARSHALL — Deputies have arrested two people accused of stealing more than $200,000 in equipment in Louisiana and East Texas. According to KETK, Harrison County Lt. Jay Webb says the sheriff announced the arrests Monday morning. James Robert Arnold, 47, and Michael Stephanie Arnold, 35, were booked into the Harrison County Jail on separate charges. Sheriff Tom McCool said his department recovered a $90,000 backhoe, $10,000 goose neck trailer, $5,000 flatbed trailer, $75,000 mini track hoe and three golf carts worth $24,000 from a Longview business off Highway 259. Property was taken from Harrison County, Van Zandt County, Longview, and Lincoln Parish. Authorities are also looking into two missing tractors from DeSoto Parish. Continue reading Pair Arrested for $200K Equipment Theft

LINDEN — According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy has been placed on administrative leave after he was involved in a fatal shooting Sunday morning. KETK reports that Deputy Johnny Bailey was involved in the incident around 11 a.m. Sunday off Cass County Road 4915 south of Bloomburg. Officials say Bailey was attempting to serve felony warrants stemming from Ward County on Charles Alver Jones, Jr., 33, for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and assault on a family member and impeding breath. Bailey was placed on administrative leave per departmental policy. An investigation is being conducted by the Texas Rangers, and no further information was immediately released.

LONGVIEW — Two Longview men learn their punishment after pleading guilty to separate sexual acts on children. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report 34-year-old Robert Gribble and 24-year-old Jacob Myers learned their fate last week. Gribble was originally arrested in 2013 after a child reported continuous sexual abuse. Police say Gribble described several incidents with elementary-school-age children between 2009 and 2013. He was sentenced to 25 years. Myers pleaded guilty last week to three counts of sexual assault of a child. He will spend eight years in prison.

TYLER – One person is injured following a head-on collision in Tyler. It happened around 7:00 Sunday night in the 1700 block of East Gentry. Police say a truck veered into on coming traffic, hitting another vehicle. KETK reports the truck driver is hospitalized, his condition not known at this time. The other driver was not injured.

MARSHALL – One person has been killed in a one vehicle accident in Marshall. The accident happened just before 5:00 Friday afternoon on Interstate Highway 20 just east of U.S. Highway 59. The name of the victim has not been released. For some reason, the 18-wheeler left the road, hit a tree and overturned and caught fire.

LONGVIEW — A Kilgore psychiatrist, wanted on human trafficking and prostitution charges, is in custody in Gregg County. Riyaz Mazcuri, 62, is accused of trafficking women from India for forced labor, including prostitution. KETK reports that Mazcuri is known as “The Doctor” in what’s being called a “criminal group” that operates in southern New York. According to court documents, Mazcuri and others, tricked woman by telling they would be part of a cultural program. But once they go to the U.S., the men are accused of forcing them into dancing at night clubs, and having sex with clients. The U.S. Marshals service is still looking for the other suspects in the case.

TYLER – Tyler ContinueCARE Hospital was recently recognized with an Excellence Through Insight award for “Overall Physician Satisfaction” by HealthStream, Inc. According to a news release from Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics, Tyler ContinueCARE was awarded the honor for commitment to excellence in medical staff satisfaction. To qualify for an award, a hospital must have been a medical staff satisfaction client of HealthStream in 2013, scored in the 75th percentile or higher, and conducted a minimum of 50 physician surveys. Tyler ContinueCARE was chosen for receiving the highest ratings in medical staff satisfaction from among HealthStream’s clients, as well as for exceeding industry standards. Continue reading Tyler ContinueCARE Hospital Receives National Award

GREGG COUNTY — The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information regarding a stolen mower. KETK reports that on July 18 at around 4:00 a.m., unknown thieves took a red and silver 2007 Brush Hog zero turn riding mower from a home on the 5700 block of Highway 300. The mower was valued at $5000. Video surveillance from a nearby business shows the mower in a white four door truck, believed to be a Ford F-250, traveling north on Highway 300 a short distance from Upshur County. If you have information about this theft, contact Investigator David Falco at (903) 236-8438 or Crime Stoppers at (903) 236-STOP.

MIXON — Authorities in Cherokee County raided an illegal lab Thursday and seized chemicals used to make steroids, according to Sheriff James Campbell. Campbell says investigators executed a search warrant at a home on Farm Road 3052 in the Mixon community at 6:30pm. According to KETK, the sheriff says the Texas Department of Public Safety and DEA agents assisted in the operation. Officials say during the search, they collected chemicals, including anadrol, D-bol and cialis; lab equipment speakers, flasks, burettes, tubing, and vacuum chambers; notebooks containing “recipes”; and outlines for the manufacture of steroids. No arrests have been made at this time. A value of the items has not yet been determined.

ATHENS — The autopsy on the death of a 4-year-old in Henderson County was released Friday. According to KETK, the Medical Examiner’s Office in Dallas County ruled the manner of death homicide. The document stated the girl was killed by “blunt force injuries of the head, stab wound of the chest and drowning.” Stacie Marie Parsons, 25, of Athens, is currently being held on a $2 million bond. She is charged with murdering her daughter on July 22. The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said she admitted to the gruesome crime. A motive has not been released.

QUITMAN (Staff/AP)— A Quitman man was arrested by local law enforcement for allegedly tampering with a Wood County case. KETK reports that according to Police Chief Kelly Cole, Thomas Wayne Liles, 19, was taken into custody by one of his officers on Thursday for tampering with evidence. At 1:51 a.m. Thursday, Quitman PD responded to reports of two young sisters who were not breathing and would not wake up. When authorities arrived, they found two girls, approximately ages two and three, dead. Continue reading Evidence Tampering Charges Following Girls’ Deaths

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office requests assistance in identifying a burglary suspect. Detectives say this man may be connected with multiple pharmacy burglaries across East Texas including Gregg, Smith, Henderson, Angelina, Cherokee, and Anderson counties. Crimestoppers pays up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest and charges filed in specific cases. If you have information, call Crimestoppers at 903-597-CUFF (2833). The Smith County Sheriff’s Office can also be contacted at 903-566-6600.

TYLER – Tyler school trustees have unanimously named Dr. Marty Lane Crawford as the lone finalist for the District’s superintendent position. The announcement was made at last night’s monthly board meeting. The District is required to wait 21 days before officially hiring Dr. Crawford. “I am honored to be named the lone finalist for the superintendent position at Tyler ISD,” Dr. Crawford said. “I am excited to work with the District’s students, faculty and staff to meet and exceed our goals. Together we will be able to continue moving forward in achieving academic excellence.” Continue reading New School Superintendent for TISD

KILGORE – The new Vice President of Institutional Planning at Kilgore College will be Staci Martin. Starting August first, she will take over for Dr. Mike Turpin who was named Vice President of Instruction June 1. “I look forward to taking on this new challenge and working together with KC’s administration, faculty and staff as we strive together to provide high quality educational opportunities and services that promote student success,” Martin said. Continue reading Promotions at Kilgore College

TYLER – Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics became the first health system between Tyler and the Metroplex to perform a single-site (incision) laparoscopic gynecological surgery in East Texas when Dr. Daren Yeager successfully completed the procedure July 22 at Mother Frances Hospital Tyler. That’s according to a Trinity Mother Frances news release. Continue reading Groundbreaking Surgery at Mother Frances

TYLER — A Dallas County physician has been convicted of 15 counts of health care fraud violations in East Texas. Tariq Mahmood, 63, of Cedar Hill, Texas, was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, seven counts of health care fraud, and seven counts of aggravated identity theft following a four day trial before U.S. District Judge Michael Schneider. Mahmood faces up to 10 years in federal prison for the conspiracy conviction and two years for each aggravated identity theft conviction. A sentencing date has not been set. Continue reading Texas Doctor Convicted of Health Care Fraud Violations

AUSTIN (AP/Staff) – Two University of Texas football players, including an East Texan, have been arrested and charged with felony sexual assault after a female student said she was raped in a campus dorm room last month. Wide receivers Kendall Sanders, who is from Athens, and Montrel Meander have been released from the university police station. According to an arrest affidavit, Sanders (pictured) and Meander texted each other during earlier interviews with police to “get their story straight.” Sanders also faces a charge of improper photography tied to the alleged assault on June 21. First-year Longhorns coach Charlie Strong, who will welcome his team to preseason training camp in two weeks, said he had suspended both players.

HENDERSON — A man convicted of sexually abusing his three stepdaughters has been sentenced to 60 years in prison with no parole. According to the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, Barney Samuel Bradshaw, 35, was arrested in September 2013 for aggravated sexual assault after it was learned he was abusing his three children under the age of 14. KETK reports the sentencing was handed down after four hours of deliberation. Family members said they plan to appeal the conviction.

SMITH COUNTY — Due to this week’s power outages in the Tyler area, the Texas Commission on Environment Quality has ordered Jackson Water Supply to issue a boil water notice. KETK reports the notice affects the area north of FM 850, but not inclusive of FM 850. The road is located in the Jackson and Chapel Hill area. The public will be updated when it is no longer necessary to boil. If you have questions concerning this matter, please call Jackson Water Supply at 903-566-1320 or 903-343-9713.

AUSTIN (AP/Staff) – An East Texas lawmaker is asking the attorney general to weigh in on whether a state commission has the authority to allow a new form of betting called historical racing. Republican State Rep. Dan Flynn of Van is requesting a review of devices that are like slot machines and allow people to bet on horse and dog races that have already happened. Race track owners have asked the Texas Racing Commission to allow the machines as a way to help their struggling industry. They say it’s another form of legal betting. The public still has several days to comment and the commission could vote as early as next month. But Flynn says it amounts to an expansion of gambling and would require a two-thirds vote from lawmakers and approval from voters.

LONGVIEW — A Longview church has fired a daycare worker, after church officials say she hit a child with a shoe. The Longview News-Journal report a state investigation is now in place at Oakland Heights Baptist Church. The church’s childcare center fired the employee in June. Afterwards the church notified state officials about the incident. The Worker reportedly hit the child with a shoe as punishment for taking his shoes off.

EAST TEXAS — Thousands of East Texans have been affected by power outages in the wake of Wednesday night’s storm system. The Smith County Justice of the Peace and Constable Pct. 3 Offices shut down for the day Thursday due to a prolonged outage. The Precinct 3 offices are located at 313 E. Duval Street in Troup. Electricity was expected to be restored late Thursday night and normal office hours should resume on Friday, July 25, according to a county news release. KETK reports at least ten area counties have reported significant outages. According to Oncor, some places may be in the dark until early Friday morning.