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KILGORE — Three persons have been arrested in connection with a Kilgore robbery. They are accused of robbing of the EZ Mart convenience store at 600 Houston Street just before 3:00 Sunday morning. While one suspect remained outside, two others entered the store, pointed a handgun at the clerk, and left with cash and tobacco products. With the help of the store’s video system, officers arrested Kabreun Brager, 18, of Kilgore. He was booked into the Kilgore Municipal Jail under bonds totaling $102,500 on charges of aggravated robbery and possession of marijuana. Also taken into custody were two juveniles, one from Kilgore and one from Ducanville. They were taken to the Gregg County Juvenile Detention Center.

EAST TEXAS — Tyler and Longview police are reminding residents that the discharge of firearms into the air in celebration is a violation of the law. The act of discharging a firearm in the air is seen by some as a harmless expression of their parent culture or of good cheer. The reckless use of any firearm is hazardous, and the act of indiscriminately discharging a firearm in celebration is not as harmless as some believe. Continue reading Caution About New Year’s Celebrations

LONGVIEW — Longview Transit, in partnership with R&K Distributors, is providing a “Safe-Ride-Home” on New Year’s Eve. For the sixth consecutive year, Longview Transit will give free rides to anyone within Longview city limits on New Year’s Eve between 8:00pm and 3:00am. Rides can be scheduled by calling Longview Transit at 903-753-2287 ext.10. To prepare for the Safe-Ride-Home project, Longview Transit’s regular route service ended early, at 3:00 Tuesday afternoon. Continue reading A Safe Ride Home on New Year’s Eve

TYLER — Funding road construction and maintenance is emerging as an issue in Texas the next couple of years. Both Democrats and Republicans are pledging to increase sources for the cash-strapped Texas Department of Transportation. Larry Krantz with TxDOT’s Tyler District office tells KETK, “Having a predictable and sustainable funding source of any kind is vital to being able to plan for a system long-term. If you know how much money you’re gonna have year over year, it makes prioritizing projects and planning projects that much easier.” But Krantz says maintenance costs often drive budgets through the roof.

QUITMAN — Wood County Crime Stoppers has increased the reward for information about the person(s) responsible for the theft of raw crude oil in the county. KETK reports three thefts have occurred so far over the past seven weeks and have resulted in the loss of over 300 barrels of oil from three locations in the Farm to Market 2966 and Farm to Market Road 69 area of Wood County. These thefts occurred November 7-8, December 14-15, and December 22-23. Anyone with any information is asked to call 903-763-2274. If your information leads to the identification and/or arrest of the person(s) responsible, you may be eligible for a reward of up to $3,000.

TYLER — Tyler fire officials reported Monday afternoon that the cause of a weekend house fire “is undetermined after conclusion of the investigation.” The blaze was reported at 3:45 Sunday afternoon at 6300 Sutherland Drive. Fire units saw heavy smoke before arriving on scene and called for a second alarm. Five engines and one Ladder Company, along with a District Chief and an Investigator, responded to the scene. No one was home when the fire started and there were no injuries reported. The fire appears to have started in a sunroom. There was heavy fire and smoke damage throughout the house, and the home is considered to be a total loss.

LONGVIEW — An East Texas man has been put behind bars after being arrested at a Longview hospital. According to Longview Police, there was a warrant out for the arrest of Darrell Dewayne Colbert, 44, of Longview, for aggravated sexual assault of a child. The incident is said to have occurred on December 22. KETK reports Colbert was arrested at Good Shepherd Medical Center. He was booked into Gregg County Jail under a $200,000 bond.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Narcotics investigators have seized medical records from the office of a former Oklahoma City-based doctor who has been arrested on nine murder complaints after eight patients died of prescription drug overdoses and another allegedly caused a fatal traffic accident. An affidavit for a search warrant filed Monday says the records were seized from the office of William Martin Valuck, 71. Federal agents arrested Valuck Friday at his home in Kilgore, Texas. The search warrant affidavit says state and federal agents seized the medical records on Thursday. The document says agents took patient charts for seven patients and Valuck’s office staff surrendered the charts of three other patients. An arrest warrant affidavit says Valuck surrendered his medical license on December 13. Valuck’s attorney didn’t immediately respond to a phone message Monday.

LONGVIEW — Police in Longview are seeking your help in solving an armed robbery that happened earlier this month. On December 20 at 10:39 p.m., officers were dispatched to an aggravated robbery that had just occurred in the 400 Block of West Loop 281. When officers arrived the victim told police a white male approximately 5’9″ to 6’0″ tall with an unshaven face approached her while she was at the register. She said the man had several white patches in his beard on the right side of his face. Continue reading Longview Police Seek Leads in Armed Robbery

TYLER — One person is injured after an industrial accident in Tyler. It happened around 10:30 Monday morning at the Delek Refinery. Details are limited, but the Tyler Fire Department tells KETK that there was a minor industrial accident at the facility. According to Tyler police, an employee was working with a machine when an issue occurred causing the employee to receive a head injury. Police say the man was able to talk but his condition is unknown at this time. He was taken to a Tyler hospital for treatment for his injuries.

LONGVIEW — The City of Longview is urging residents to be safe during the upcoming New Year’s Holiday. The Longview Fire and Police Departments want to remind citizens it is against City ordinance to use or have fireworks, including firecrackers, bottle rockets, skyrockets or sparklers. Anyone caught with fireworks inside the City limits will be issued a citation with fines over $300 Anyone using fireworks that result in a fire will be subject to criminal charges as well. Continue reading New Year’s Safety Reminders

HOUSTON — Two Texas Baptist Universities win a battle in court that allows them to opt out of part of Obamacare. A Houston federal court has ruled that East Texas and Houston Baptist universities do not have to offer employees coverage that would allow them to buy drugs or devices that Eric Rassbach with the Beckett Fund for Religious Liberty says cause abortion. He says it’s important for both sides to be respected. The pills and devices in question include the morning after, or “plan B,” pill and a certain type of IUD. Continue reading ETBU, HBU Get Pass on Part of Obamacare

LONGVIEW — A Longview man accused in a fatal stabbing at Good Shepherd Medical Center in November could be looking at the death penalty. KETK reports that this past Friday, charges against Kyron Templeton were upgraded to capital murder. He’s facing three charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon along with two counts of capital murder.

RICHARDSON (AP) – Country music legend Ray Price has been memorialized in North Texas following his death. Hundreds of his fans and friends gathered Saturday in the Dallas suburb of Richardson for a public memorial service. Price died Dec. 16 at his home in Mt. Pleasant after battling pancreatic cancer. He was 87. The Country Music Hall of Famer inspired and worked with the genre’s biggest stars and had more than 100 hits himself. One fan, Janie Fricke, tells WFAA-TV that she considered Price’s voice to be “magical,” and that no singer was as unique as he was. Fort Worth DJ Bill Mack told attendees that Price had finished a record just before his death – and that he had never sounded better.

DALLAS (AP/STAFF) — Dallas billionaire and heavyweight GOP political donor Harold Simmons, who has given millions of dollars to Republican candidates, including Texas Governor Rick Perry, has died. He was 82. Simmons, born to two school teachers in Golden, in Wood County, became one of the richest men in the country with interests ranging from energy to chemicals. A spokesman for Simmons, Chuck McDonald, says Simmons died Saturday in Dallas. He says he does not know the cause of death. Continue reading Dallas Billionaire Harold Simmons Dies

NACOGDOCHES — A 911 call has sent Nacogdoches police looking for a man accused of choking a woman. The incident occurred around 2:00 Saturday afternoon in the 3000 block of Pearl Street. The woman told officers she was restrained and choked by her live in boyfriend. He had fled the scene by the time officers arrived. He’s facing a variety of charges, including assault and obstruction or retaliation.

TYLER — Tyler Pounds Regional Airport has announced the launch of Fly TYR Club, the new parking reward program. Passengers will earn free parking rewards by accumulating points for every trip leaving TYR. Tyler Pounds Regional Airport has the only daily jet service in the area provided by United Airline and American Eagle. Continue reading Earn Free Parking by Flying TYR!

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at other work planned in Smith County by the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

Projects Under Construction
• Loop 323 – Resurfacing between US 69 North and American Legion Drive. The $3.8 million project let to contract in March 2013, began in July 2013 and is scheduled to be completed in spring 2014. Reynolds & Kay, Ltd., of Tyler, is the contractor. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates

GLADEWATER — Officials are investigating an East Texas plane crash. It was reported around 1:45 Saturday afternoon just west of Gladewater on Culver Street. Witness told the Longview News-Journal that the two men aboard the craft walked away from it. Both suffered minor injuries. Their names have not been released. According to authorities, because the engine was out, the pilot was gliding to land in an open area but crashed into a wooded area. The FAA Registery says the plane is a single-engine Cessna registered to a Kilgore man. The FAA will be investigating the crash.

LONGVIEW — One person has been injured in a Longview shooting. It happened just before 3:20 Saturday morning in the 1200 block of East Marshall Avenue. Police spokeswoman Kristi Brian tells the Longview News-Journal the shooting was between two groups of people, one was in the parking lot of Super 1 Foods and the other in the parking lot of Pleasure Palace. One person was wounded in the hand and taken to the hospital for treatment. The investigation into the incident is continuing.

LUFKIN — Two men have been killed in a two vehicle accident in Angelina County. Dead at the scene was Colten Lawrence, 20, of Lufkin, and Richard Luce, 50, of Pollok. The wreck happened shortly after 5:30 Friday night On State Highway 103 at Old Bonner Road, west of Lufkin. Two pickups collided head-on at the intersection, both bursting into flames. A passanger in one of the trucks Edward Basham, 37, of Hemphill. was injured and hospitalized.

SMITH CONTY — A two vehicle accident in Smith County has left one person dead. The wreck occurred Friday afternoon on County Road 21 at the intersection of County Road 26, in the Jamestown area east of Tyler. Dead at the scene was Archie Lee Moore, 59, of Kennard. The Department of Public Safety reports the accident happened when a tractor trailer truck and a loaded logging truck that Moore was driving, collided.

KILGORE– A former East Texas doctor has been arrested for homicide and drug distribution. Arrested by DEA agents from Tyler and Kilgore police just before 4:00 yesterday afternoon was William Martin Valuck. KETK reports the warrants served on Valuck were provided at the request of Oklahoma law enforcement officials. The warrants issued for Valuck included nine counts of homicide and 43 counts of drug distribution in Oklahoma. He was taken to the Rusk County Jail where he will be held pending extradition to Oklahoma City. Continue reading Former East Texas Doctor Arrested

QUITMAN — Wood County Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help after the equivalent of more than 300 barrels of raw crude oil were stolen. the oil was taken in thefts from three locations during the past seven weeks in the area of Farm Road 2966 and Farm Road 69 in Wood County. If you can supply any information after the thefts, you’re asked to contact Wood County Crime Stoppers at 903-763-CASH (2274). Information leading to an arrest could lead to up to a $1,000 reward.

KILGORE — A Rusk County man has been arrested on two charges of assault of a child. Arrested late Thursday night at his home between Liberty City and Kilgore was Dimitri Deshun Taylor, 21. His arrest followed his indictment by the Rusk County Grand Jury on the complaints. Taylor remains in the Rusk County jail under bonds totaling $80,000.

FORT WORTH (AP/STAFF) — Ninety-year-old Texas Congressman Ralph Hall, the oldest person ever to serve in the U.S. House, says his 2014 campaign will be his last. The Rockwall Republican filed once again for his House seat, along with five Republican primary challengers, but said last week that it will be his last campaign. At one time, Hall’s district included Smith County. Continue reading Congressman Hall Says 2014 Campaign Will be His Last

LONGVIEW-— One man has been arrested in connection with the murder of Andres Chavez, whose body was found in the woods near Sabine Street in Lognview. On December 27, at 6:00 a.m., the Longview SWAT team executed a search and arrest warrant in rural Smith County in reference to the homicide in the 1100 Block of Sabine Street that occurred on or about December 23. Alejandro Garcia Gallegos was arrested on a charge of murder. With the assistance of the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Gallegos was interviewed in reference to his part in this ongoing investigation. Gallegos was transported to the Gregg County Jail and booked into jail on a $500,000. bond. Anyone with more information is urged to contact Longview Police. Continue reading One Arrested In Connection With Longview Murder

LONGVIEW — A Gregg County Jail inmate remains in serious condition today at Longview’s Good Shepherd Medical Center. He is identified as William Brown, 58, of Longview. According to the Longview News-Journal, Brown was arrested by Longview police December 14 and charged with theft. Prior convictions on that charge elevated the misdemeanor charge to a felony. Continue reading Gregg County Inmate Hospitalized

LONGVIEW — A pair of alleged East Texas burglars are behind bars after a Gregg County Deputy spotted the two in the process of breaking into a local business after reportedly stealing a truck. According to KETK, Tommy Wobbington Jr.(pictured) and Mysti Stell were arrested for burglary of a building Tuesday night. Officials said the deputy was on patrol December 24th when he noticed a suspicious vehicle next to East Texas Sonar, 3200 Highway 259 North. The business, as well as other businesses in the area, had recently been burglarized. Continue reading East Texas Duo Charged with Theft

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department responded to a report of a car that had crashed into an apartment complex. It happened Thursday afternoon at the Brides on Kinsey, 4411 Kinsey Drive. According to KETK, the driver said he was pulling into a parking place when his brakes failed. He ran into the side of the building, barely avoiding the window. No injuries were reported.