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TYLER – It appears as if there is no let up in construction in Tyler. 2016 appears to be picking up where 2015 left off. The city issued building permits last year totaling around 157-million dollars. This came on the strength of 392 residential and commercial building permits. This easily surpassed the 2014 figures which saw around 100-million dollars in construction. This was generated by 279 building permits Director of Pplanning for the City of Tyler, Heather Nick says 2016 is off to a good start. Last year, 69 commercial building permits were issued. This year 35 commercial building permits are already on the books.

TYLER – Spring break is next week. The Better Business is warning about a grandparent scam, which is popular during spring break. It starts with a call from someone claiming to be the person’s grandson or granddaughter who is in trouble and needs money. Once that money is wired, it’s gone and can’t be recovered. Kaylen Burgess with the Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas says this has proven to be an extremely lucrative con for scammers because the scam preys on the love of a grandparent for their grandchildren. Continue reading A Spring Break Scam Aimed at Grandparents

PALESTINE – A mass murder suspect in Anderson County has pleaded not guilty to capital murder. At his arraignment, William Mitchell Hudson, 33, entered the plea to three counts of capital murder. He is accused of killing six persons last November. Four of the victims were discovered in a pond behind the suspect’s home on County Road 2217. The other two were found dead in a travel trailer near the site, located between Tennessee Colony and the Harmony Community. So far, a trial date has not been set. And there is no word from the district attorney’s office on if the death penalty will be sought. Continue reading Murder Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

LONGVIEW — A Longview convicted felon returned to jail for the second time this year on a new felony charge. KETK reports Longview police arrested 28-year-old Brandon Ray Williams Sunday on felony possession. He was taken to the Gregg County jail, where he posted bond. Williams was already out on bond for a January 15 arrest for evading arrest, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, marijuana possession, and assaulting a Longview police officer. Williams served a five-year prison sentence for a 2010 conviction for manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance.

TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for an armed robbery suspect after a shot was fired during a hold-up Thursday morning. Officers said they responded to the Fast Fuels gas station on Shiloh Road where they were told by the clerk that a black male, wearing dark colored clothing, entered the store and demanded money. He fired a shot into the ceiling and fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. No injuries were reported.

NACOGDOCHES — An East Texas man has been taken into custody for allegedly sexually assaulting a relative under the age of 10. The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office said they were notified of the assault Tuesday morning after a forensic interview and exam was conducted. According to KETK, authorities were able to determine the victim was sexually assaulted at his home in Nacogdoches County. Deputies stated the attacker gave the boy money to keep him quiet. Alfredo Torres Reyes, 40, Nacogdoches was arrested at his home. His bond was set at $500,000. Officials discovered that Reyes is in the country illegally and Homeland Security has placed a hold on him. Sheriff Jason Bridges stated another sexual assault has been discovered and more charges are pending against Reyes.

EAST TEXAS – Now that the primary election is in the books, most candidates are now focusing on the general election in November. But several candidates have a more immediate challenge, and that is a May 24th runoff election. Still to be decided is who will be the Republican nominee for Senate District One. That spot became open when Senator Kevin Eltife announced his retirement. State Representative Bryan Hughes led the race. But he did not end up with a majority. He will face David Simpson in May. Third in the race was James “Red” Brown. He’s only 13 votes behind Simpson. He’s still holding out hope that provisional ballots will propel him past Simpson and into the runoff. Continue reading Time to Look Ahead to Runoff Elections

Gregg County Crime Stoppers and the Longview Fire Department is seeking the public’s help solving some arson cases. The 12 fires occurred from January 10th to February 13th. The structure fires were on 12th Street, Dunbar Drive, Washington Street, White City Street, North Jean Drive, Birdsong Street and three on Butler Drive. Many of these locations were unoccupied and no injuries occurred. Plus there were vehicle fires on Oden Drive and Vesta Street. Gregg County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information that leads to the identity and arrest of the suspect or suspects responsible for these fires.

TYLER – Tyler’s 12th Court of Appeals has set aside an injunction that allowed East Texas Medical Center to be an in-network hospital in the Blue Cross Blue Shield preferred provider organization. Last year, ETMC Tyler filed suit against Blue Cross Blue Shield, saying the hospital’s exclusion from the organization’s preferred provider networks has created serious and negative impacts on a large group of consumers. A November 12 injunction granted in-network provider status to ETMC Tyler. The following month, Blue Cross Blue Shield filed an appeal. This week the Tyler appeals court dissolved the temporary injunction and remanded the case to the trial court for further proceedings. Hospital spokesperson Rebecca Berkley said, “We view this as a momentary interruption, and we look forward to the trial later this year.” She said they remain focused on their mission of care, and, as always, continue to welcome all Blue Cross and Blue Shield patients at ETMC Tyler.

TYLER — Since 3,000 mailers were sent out to warn people with arrest warrants about the upcoming Smith County Warrant Round Up, more than 100 cases have been resolved, according to officials. The county’s fourth annual round up is set for Saturday, March 5. The Smith County Judicial Compliance Department mailed out 3,000 yellow flyers February 19 to people with outstanding arrest warrants for delinquent, court-ordered fines and fees. Those people have until Saturday to take care of the outstanding warrants in person before Smith County law enforcement officers begin searching for them at their homes, businesses and/or schools. Continue reading Officials Release Smith County Warrant Round Up Tally

TEXARKANA – Eleven East Texas suspects have been indicted on federal charges in what’s termed a conspiracy involving the needy and elderly. The announcement comes from U.S. Attorney John Bales in a news release. Officials say the case involved conspiracy to commit an offense and to defraud the U.S. government and theft of government property or money. The defendants were named in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury Feb. 17. The violations are alleged to have caused over $1.2 million in losses to a distributor of federal grant funds to the needy and elderly. Continue reading East Texans Charged in Northeast Texas Opportunities, Inc. Conspiracy

TYLER — The Tyler Economic Development Council and the City of Tyler Wednesday hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for construction of a new facility for Fresenius Medical Care, a major area employer, at Earl Campbell Parkway and South Bennett Avenue. Mayor Martin Heines and TEDC President/CEO Tom Mullins cite 300-350 additional jobs to be created with Fresenius’s expansion in Tyler. In a news release, Heines says that’s directly in line with the goal of the city’s Industry Growth Initiative. According to the news release, Fresenius is the world’s largest integrated provider of products and services for individuals undergoing dialysis due to kidney failure. To date, the company has three clinics and a business support center in Tyler with a combined workforce of approximately 120 employees. Continue reading Groundbreaking for New Fresenius Medical Care Location

LONGVIEW – Two Longview residents have been busted for drug violations. They were arrested Tuesday as the Gregg County Organized Drug Enforcement Unit, with assistance from Longview Police, executed a narcotics search warrant at 605 Martin Luther King Boulevard. Officers found a large quantity of crack cocaine individually packaged for sale. It was found in a toilet where one of the suspects is believed to have tried to flush it. Arrested was Teresa Ann-Margaret Bean, 43 and Gerald Dwayne Templeton, 55. Besides the drug charges, the two were also charged with weapons violations.

AREA RESULTS
GOP PRIMARY
UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 1
225 OF 252 PRECINCTS
ANTHONY CULLER 4,584
LOUIE GOHMERT 92,327
SIMON WINSTON 15,822

STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 1
298 OF 298 PRECINCTS
BRYAN HUGHES 63,844
DAVID SIMPSON 28,288
JAMES K. RED BROWN 28,275
MIKE LEE 12,360
HUGHES AND SIMPSON IN RUNOFF

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 5 85 OF 85 PRECINCTS
COLE HEFNER 12,759
HOLLY COGGIN HAYES 1680
JAY MISENHEIMER 7524
PHILLIP HAYES 2074
RANDY DAVIS 3725
HEFNER AND MISENHEIMER IN RUNOFF Continue reading Local Election Returns

MT PLEASANT — An East Texas homeowner held a burglary suspect at gunpoint until law enforcement could arrive. According to KETK, Mount Pleasant Police responded to a burglary in progress on West 5th Street. The homeowner reported a man was in his garage and was removing the tires from his car. When officers arrived they found the homeowner holding the suspect at gun point in his garage. Officers found the vehicle up on blocks and the tires removed from the car. Jose Luis Martinez, Jr., 24, Mount Pleasant, has been charged with residential burglary and booked into the Titus County Jail.

GREGG COUNTY — A Longview gang member was held Tuesday after police said they found marijuana, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and guns in his vehicle. According to the Longview News-Journal, Robert Michael Wood, 28, and Torchelle Reel, 21, also of Longview, were held Tuesday on bonds totaling $37,500 each, charged with possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of marijuana. police said Wood is a documented member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas. DPS troopers said they stopped Wood because his car had a malfunctioning brake lamp. Continue reading Traffic Stop Leads to Arrest of Gang Member

MARSHALL – A Panola County woman has drawn a prison term for for the theft of cattle and ranching equipment. District Court Judge Brad Morin sentenced 44 year old Stacie Laine Soape of Carthage to 12 years in prison. The woman had pleaded guilty to stealing the equipment and 12 head of cattle from a Harrison County rancher. Judge Morin sentenced her after after reviewing a joint investigation by a Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association special ranger and an investigator from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department. KETK reports one other suspect in the theft ring has already been sentenced to prison. Two other suspects are awaiting trial.

LONGVIEW – Gregg County Sheriff’s deputies are trying to solve a copper caper. The copper wiring was stolen from a home on Judson Road. Someone forced entry through a rear door sometimes between last Thursday and 5:00 last Saturday afternoon.The estimated amount of copper wire that was stolen:
1,200 feet of size 14 wire
500 feet of size 12 wire
250 feet of size 10 wire.
An electrician told the home’s owner, who does not live at the residence, the cost to replace and install the copper wire was from $10,000 to $15,000. Any person with information is asked to contact Investigator Robinson with the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office at 903-237-2526 or call Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP.

LONGVIEW – For many years, Longview’s Teague Park has been open from 6:00am till 11:00pm. But, that is about to change. Longview’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board has approved closing Teague Park daily at sunset. Opening hours will remain unchanged. The change in times will take effect once signs are posted at the park’s entrances on American Legion Boulevard. That could be as early as next week. The Longview News Journal reports A local Veterans Recognition Foundation requested closing Teague Park after dark to limit crime and vagrancy. The group had also suggested adding a fence and a gate around the park. That suggestion was rejected.

TYLER — A Tyler man has been arrested following a reported assault and attempted kidnapping. Lennel Choice Jr., 42, was booked into the Smith County Jail with bond set at $250,000. According to Tyler Police, the 32-year-old victim said she was at Hillside Park on Erwin when she noticed she was being followed. The woman said Choice grabbed her and forced her towards a creek and began assaulting her. Witnesses notified police, who were also in the park. The suspect fled when he saw the officers, but was caught a short distance away. Choice was charged with possession of marijuana and evading police. Investigators secured an arrest warrant for Kidnapping 3rd degree felony.

EAST TEXAS — The Super Tuesday election is at hand with the presidential race expected to draw a good number of persons to the polls. March 1st will be the biggest voting day of the 2016 presidential race. But, it’s not all about the president. In Texas numerous local races are on the ballot. In Smith County, the only contested races are in the Republican primary, where voters will select a state senator and representative as well as sheriff, a county commissioner and a couple of constables. Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert also has drawn opposition in the GOP primary. In Gregg County, Republicans will select a couple of commissioners as well as a couple of constables. All of this to see who will be running in November. You can go to the Smith County and Gregg county websites for more on the election as well as local polling locations. Then join us Tuesday night to see how your votes counted.

LONGVIEW — A former Gregg County district attorney has been indicted on a drug charge about a year after his arrest. KETK and the Longview News-Journal Robert Riter “Rob” Foster, 70, was indicted on a charge of possession of a controlled substance by a grand jury that was convened Feb. 24 and 25. The indictment comes a year almost to the day after Foster was arrested Feb. 24, 2015, by Longview police on charges of possession of a controlled substance, driving while intoxicated and unlawful carrying of a weapon. Continue reading Former Gregg County DA Indicted on Drug Charge

KILGORE — One person is in critical but stable condition following a shooting in Kilgore. KETK reports on Sunday around 9:10 p.m., Kilgore Police Officer Craig Mrosko was dispatched to Stone Creek Apartments in the 4000 block of Pine Burr Lane in reference to a shooting. The initial investigation revealed two parties began exchanging gunfire after a brief argument. After the exchange, the injured party left the area and the other was taken to a local hospital by way of private vehicle prior to police arrival. The injured party suffered multiple gunshot wounds and underwent emergency surgery. He is currently listed in critical, but stable condition. Continue reading Kilgore Shooting Remains Under Investigation

LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been indicted on charges of injury to child stemming from a December incident. KETK reports Aaron Castile Bowling, 26, was indicted by a Gregg County Grand Jury last week after a 2-year-old child died in January. Police said on December 30 at 1:09 a.m., officers were dispatched to a welfare check at the Contessa Inn on Highway 31. Authorities were told a child had been injured in one of the rooms at the location. Continue reading Longview Man Indicted for Injury to a Child

WASHINGTON – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has awarded six low-interest loans to local governments and community organizations that will spur rural economic development in Texas and four other states. One of those grants is headed to East Texas. The East Texas Regional Development Corporation in Kilgore will be receiving a $500,000 grant. It will be used to provide low-interest loans for business and community development. The loan is expected to create 10 jobs. According to Vilsack, “These loans will improve rural economies by providing capital to small and emerging business.” And he added that the funding, “will help ensure that emerging rural businesses will have the resources they need to grow and prosper.”

KILGORE – The Kilgore Emergency Department on South Henderson Boulevard has reopened following a bat infestation. The Good Shepherd Medical Center emergency room in Kilgore was closed in mid February following discovery of Mexican Free Tail bats in the building. A small number of bats were found in the walls and ceiling of the building. Some were even seen in the emergency room. A specialty firm has removed the bats and cleansed the affected area.

WHITEHOUSE – At a called meeting, Whitehouse school trustees have named Dr. Christopher Moran as the lone finalist for Superintendent of Schools. The must now wait now wait 21 days as required by law before making a final appointment. Dr. Moran is currently superintendent of school in Brownsboro, a position he has held since 2011. He will be succeeding Danial DuPree who has served in a variety of positions in the Whitehouse school system since 1994. He announced last November he would retire at the end of August, 2016. Continue reading New School Superintendent Named in Whitehouse