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TYLER — Smith County Precinct 2 Constable Josh Black has been indicted on charges of official oppression and prostitution. Court records indicate that Black, 38, of Flint, was arrested on Friday regarding both charges. He was later released from jail on bonds totaling $2,000. Records show both offenses occurred on July 31. Black was indicted Thursday on the two charges, just days after being re-elected. Both charges are classified as Class A misdemeanors, but official oppression can be upgraded to a third-class felony in special circumstances. It appears in judicial records that a felony indictment was handed down for the oppression charge. It is unclear what alleged incident led to the charges being filed.

TYLER — In honor of Veterans Day next Wednesday, fees at all Texas state parks will be waived this Sunday. Daily entrance fees will be waived for all day use on Sunday leading up to the actual mid-week holiday. Some parks are expected to reach their capacity limit. Reservations can be done online by clicking the link. https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/park-reservation-information.

TYLER — A Tyler woman who pleaded guilty to embezzling more than a half million dollars last July, now knows her fate. According to our news partner KETK, Jessica Rottab, 33, will serve seven years in federal prison, as well as paying restitution in the amount of $672,000. Rottab, is the former head of the East Texas Council for Independent Living. Rottab admitted stealing $526,000 in federal funds that were meant for clients. Prosecutors at the hearing recommended that Rottab be sentenced to seven years in prison as part of the plea deal.

TYLER — Tyler Police are investigating a shooting that took place Wednesday afternoon. One person, was shot multiple times and was transported by private vehicle to Christus Trinity Mother Frances ER. According to the news brief, the victim is identified as Brandon Dixon, a 33 year old male from Tyler. Dixon is listed as in critical condition. Another person was also shot multiple times in the incident. Steven Forman, a 32 year old male from Gladewater, was transported by EMS to UT Health on Beckham. He is also in critical condition. Lanard Askew, 3, Mt. Pleasant, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and taken to Smith County Jail.

TYLER — Matt Schaefer was on-hand Thursday for the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Luncheon. The Texas House District 6 Representative told KTBB what his recent win means. “It shows that you can vote like a Republican and still get support from many, many, Texans.” Schaeffer continued, “You can not only vote like a Republican, but you can vote like a conservative and still get elected in East Texas and that is very encouraging.” Schaefer knows there will be lots of work to accomplish in Austin, “The budget is gonna be tight. But, I think that Republicans have a mandate to pass conservative policies.” Continue reading Schaefer: ‘We need to protect 2nd Amendment and even expand freedoms’

TYLER — The Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual meeting on Thursday. Part of the festivities included Co-Recipients Dr. Jeanette and Dr. Kirk Calhoun who were announced winners of 2020 T.B. Butler Award. Dr. Kirk Calhoun, “I have spent a significant portion of my career in Tyler. It is a blessing. My focus is to advance education, research and health in East Texas. You are very, very lucky when you can get an award for doing something you love.” Continue reading TACC holds annual meeting

EAST TEXAS — Compared to 2016, Election Day seemed to go by without any major technical problems. Former attorney in the Elections Division with the state of Texas told our news partner KETK, because of an expected high turnout, they were prepared for the most part. “I think people knew this year was going to be a close contested election, and you have to give credit to all the county election officials and election officials across the country,” Roberts, an attorney in Tyler, continued. “They probably knew that they needed to have everything tight, ready to go and many back-up plans in place.” Roberts said small technology glitches are to be expected. Continue reading Tech issues cause delays, but should not cause concern

UPSHUR COUNTY – Two people who were in an Upshur County church when it caught on fire Wednesday afternoon are being treated for burns in Shreveport. According to our news partner KETK, the men were working near the pulpit area of the Church of Power when the fire broke out around 12:30 p.m. They both suffered burns and were flown by a medical helicopter to LSU Health in Shreveport. The fire heavily damaged the one-story church building. Firefighters from Gilmer, Big Sandy and Pritchett fought the blaze. Gilmer Fire Chief Jerry Taylor said the cause of the fire appears to be related to work the two men were doing in the church but remains under investigation.

KILGORE — Kilgore College is launching its “Spring Six” registration campaign, which will give students who register for classes a chance to win one-of-six $500 scholarships. Over the next three weeks the college will have random drawings to award two $500 scholarships each week. Students who enroll in classes at KC through Nov. 20 for the spring semester are eligible to be entered into the drawings to win the scholarships. Current students can register for KC classes in-person or online through AccessKC. Beginning Nov. 9, students new to KC can make an appointment with an advisor on the Kilgore campus by calling (903) 983-8206. For classes in Longview, visit http://www.kilgore.edu/kc-longview-appointment to set up an appointment online with a KC-Longview advisor.

ATHENS — An Athens police officer arrested and charged a felon with illegally carrying a gun and possession of methamphetamine. According to our news partner KETK, 74-year-old Acie Frederick Haley, Jr. was driving through Athens just after 3 a.m. Wednesday, when he was stopped for a traffic violation. After Haley left his vehicle, authorities say they spotted a glass pipe with a plastic bottle filled with meth. During a records search they found Haley to be a convicted felon. Haley told officers he had a firearm in his vehicle. The weapon had been reported stolen in Cherokee County. Haley was taken to the Henderson County jail.

LONGVIEW — The results for the District 3 General Election are in. Unofficial results are as follows:
Darrin Rudy Rudolph: 823 votes with 32%
Hank Guichelaar: 346 votes with 13%
Wray Wade: 1,402 votes with 55%
Additional mail-in ballots may affect the final tally. The outcome of this General Election will become official after City Council canvasses the results. Gregg County Election Results are available by clicking the link. https://www.greggcountyvotes.com/.

TYLER — State Senator Bryan Hughes clinched a second term Tuesday night. According to our news partner KETK, Hughes defeated fellow Mineola native Audrey Spanko. It was the first time a Democrat was on the ballot since 2012. Hughes ran unopposed in 2016 after winning in a four-way race for the Republican nomination in 2016. The seat was available following the retirement of Kevin Eltife. Gov. Abbott released the following statement following his win:

“Senator Hughes is a conservative leader in the Senate, and I congratulate him on his re-election victory. During his time in the legislature, Senator Hughes has been a tremendous leader and a voice for the people of Northeast Texas, and I know he will continue to work tirelessly on their behalf.”

Gov. Abbott Continue reading Hughes wins second term in Austin

EAST TEXAS — Republican Lance Gooden has won reelection to U.S. House in Texas’ 5th Congressional District. According to our news partner KETK, Gooden defeated Democrat Carolyn Salter. The AP made the call just after 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday night. First elected in 2018, Gooden represents Texas’ 5th District in the U.S. House of Representatives that stretches from Dallas County and includes Cherokee, Henderson, Kaufman, Anderson, Van Zandt, and Wood counties. Prior to joining the U.S. House of Representatives, he served three terms in the Texas House of Representatives and spent 10 years working as an insurance broker and risk management consultant.

GILMER — Voting hours in Upshur County were extended until 8 p.m. Tuesday night due to technological issues with voting equipment at the start of the day. A motion filed for the extension, states the polls were delayed for nearly 90 minutes due to technical issues…”They were in no way created by the Upshur County Elections Administrator, her staff, any election judge, worker or any other Upshur County official.” As a result polling locations closed at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday night.

SABINE COUNTY — Bond has been denied for A 24-year-old charged with murder in the death of a 19-year-old nurses aide, Sabine County Sheriff Tom Maddox said Tuesday. According to our news partner KETK, first responders were called to the scene, Saturday morning, of what was initially believed to be a two-car accident on Highway 83 and found both Matthew Hoy Edgar and Livye Lewis had suffered injuries. The sheriff said Edgar was a former boyfriend of Lewis and that the two got into a fight that escalated into violence. Continue reading Bond denied for man accused of murder in Sabine County

LONGVIEW — Longview ISD started offering free COVID-19 testing on Monday. According to our news partner KETK, the swab testing is based on availability and consent. Parents will have to fill out a form for their students, every time they’re tested. Parents must also be present while filling out the form. Longview ISD staff and faculty have already been receiving free COVID-19 testing for the last two weeks. Grace Community School in Tyler was also selected as part of the pilot program from Governor Abbott’s office, the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Department of Emergency Management. Seven other schools from across the state were also chosen to participate.

TYLER — Habitat Tyler ReStore is inviting residents and organizations to remember them as you prepare your homes and businesses for the upcoming holidays. In a press brief on Tuesday, the non-profit home improvement store asked for unwanted decorations including, Christmas trees, ornaments and lights. The store is located on W. Front St. in Tyler and open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. If you have questions you can call 903-531-0072.

TYLER — East Texas Food Bank was the beneficiary of a canned food drive that took place at Whataburgers across the area on Monday night. Patrons that brought 3 cans of food for the drive, received a free burger. E.T.F.B. says statistics show that 256,000 plus East Texans are hungry every day, and that the organization fed more that 1.7 million people in October. For more information, click the link. https://www.easttexasfoodbank.org/.

TYLER — On Monday, Judge Christi Kennedy ordered Smith County prosecutors to turn over evidence to the defense team of a man accused of posing as a teenager to underage girls. Luis Ortiz, 23, could face up to life in prison, after several charges last April. Ortiz is accused of sending graphic messages to minors on social media and inviting them into sexual acts, while lying about his age. According to our news partner KETK, Defense attorney Matt Bingham is concerned that a pre-trial hearing is scheduled in a month and he still has no indication of what the evidence against Ortiz entails. He also told the judge he has received no evidence from prosecutors since July. The DA’s office had said at a hearing in August that there was a substantial amount of evidence they were going through, including two cell phones. Bingham said that the defense is especially interested in the cell phones with Bingham saying he intends to hand them over to a forensic expert.

ATHENS — Henderson County deputies are actively looking for two missing children believed to be with their parents. 12-year-old Robert Tickle Jr. and 7-year-old Briya Tickle have been ordered into the custody of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. They were last seen in Chandler, with the parents Christina Gibbons, 45 and Robert Tickle, 55. Authorities believe they could be in the Duncanville or Grand Prairie area. They are driving a 2002 brown Ford F150 pickup truck with the Texas license plate: HKY 8662. No Amber Alert has been issued for Briya or Robert at this time; the alert is only used for when investigators believe the children are in immediate danger. Online judicial records indicate both parents were arrested earlier this year for drug possession, but the charges were later dismissed due to insufficient evidence.

GRAND PRAIRIE — Eddie Hassell, famous for hit show NBC’s Surface playing Phil Nance, has died. According to our news partner KETK, the 30-year-old from Corsicana, was shot in a carjacking incident in Texas on Sunday. Hassell was also in Bomb City, Devious Maids, Family Weekend and House of Dust to name a few. In addition to being an actor, Hassell also published a book called, ‘Someone Should Tell You: Startling Revolutions and Truths to Help You Understand and Improve Your Life’.