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TYLER — More agencies are signing on as East Texans once again have a convenient and safe way to dispose of their leftover prescription drugs — and keep them from falling into the wrong hands. According to Next Step Community Solutions, the latest list includes the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Kilgore Police Department, Gladewater Police Department, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Marshall Police Department, Hallsville Police Department, Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, and Pittsburg Police Department. Continue reading Rx takeback event spreads across East Texas

TYLER — Tyler ISD launches a new District app to keep parents, students, and the community informed of district news, happenings, and special alerts. The app is available for download through the Apple and Google Play app stores. The new Tyler ISD app provides quick access to important information from both the District and campuses, such as push notifications for inclement weather or other alert information, weekly cafeteria menus, GPS directions, calendar events, and more. Go to https://www.tylerisd.org/article/322371 for additional information.

TYLER — A Tyler man was arrested Wednesday morning  following an hours long standoff with Smith County Sheriff’s Deputies and Tyler police. According to our news partner KETK, Vicente Manriquez, 35, allegedly assaulted his wife at their home around 12:30, then reportedly took his kids to the tire shop that he owns off Gentry and Bow Street in Tyler. Deputies found his car after the wife gave them a description. The sheriff’s office set up a perimeter and called in the SWAT team and negotiators. They were able to talk Manriquez out of the shop just after 3:00 Wednesday morning. Manriquez has been charged with aggravated assault and was booked into the Smith County Jail. He was released Wednesday after posting bond set at $150,000.

GREGG COUNTY — A $1 million lawsuit was filed against a former Longview doctor on behalf of a boy who says he was sexually abused by him. According to our news partner KETK, Matt E. Hipke was arrested in August on two counts of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and he was released on a $1 million bond. The current lawsuit was filed in the Gregg County Court by the mother of the victim. The guardian is seeking damages because her son was “sexually assaulted, molested and or sexually abused” by Hipke during his medical visits. Continue reading Lawsuit filed against Longview doctor

TYLER — A scam using Smith County officials’ names is continuing to circulate throughout the community. Officials say in recent weeks, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office reported a scam in which the caller identified himself as Sheriff’s Sgt. Larry Christian. In one particular instance, the caller informed the victim that she failed to show up for a court date and she needed to post a $2,500 surety bond. Had the victim stayed on the line, officials say it is likely that the caller would have instructed her to obtain a money order or similar payment method. Continue reading Smith County warns of scammers using officials’ names

TYLER — Smith County authorities say they’re looking for a runaway teen. On September 30, the Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a runaway in the Winona area. The father reported that his daughter, Hailie Black, 16, had left her residence between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. that morning and had not returned by later that day. Hailie has not been seen by her family since September 30 but has had recent communication with others. Continue reading Smith County Sheriff’s Office investigating runaway

WHITEHOUSE — Whitehouse ISD announced in a letter to parents on Wednesday morning that it will require all remote learners to return to campus by October 20. According to our news partner KETK, there will be an exception for “those students and families who have legitimate health concerns and are medically fragile.” Those students will remain on remote learning if the parents provide a doctor’s diagnosis or recommendation to the school nurse. Any students who are quarantined or isolated due to symptoms should follow the nurse’s orders and return on the date provided to them, according to the letter.

NACOGDOCHES — The six students accused by Stephen F. Austin State University of filing a false police report against a fellow student have filed a federal lawsuit against the school, claiming that their due process rights were violated. According to our news partner KETK, the lawsuit lists the university, the Board of Regents, and school President Dr. Scott Gordon and states that “This is a case about procedural due process and the truth.” The students are identified only by their initials in the lawsuit. Their lawyers claim that they are “being deprived of their constitutional due process rights based on falsehoods, misrepresentations, and a rush to convict…” Continue reading Lawsuit filed by students accused in SFA case

MARSHALL — A murder suspect is recovering at CHRISTUS Good Shepherd in Marshall after sustaining a gunshot wound to his foot. Marshall police say 21-year-old Chandler Givens admitted shooting 22-year-old Treyvon Woodkins at the Decker Place Apartments Monday afternoon. Woodkins died after being taken to CHRISTUS Good Shepherd in Marshall. Police say Givens will be jailed on release and the investigation is ongoing.

TYLER — Four shots were fired at a man who allegedly broke into a Tyler apartment early Tuesday morning and attempted to sexually assault a man who lived there. Tyler police told our news partner KETK that the incident occurred in the Chelsea Creek Apartment Complex on Thistle Dr. The burglar escaped and police are still processing the scene for evidence. We’ll have updates as more information becomes available.

TYLER — Tyler ISD launches the “High Five Club.” “The High Five Club is just one way to show great appreciation to our Tyler ISD teachers, administrators, and employees who have gone above and beyond during this crazy, COVID-19 era we live in today,” Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford said. “We invite parents, coworkers, and community members to send a High Five by completing the online High Five Club submission form at tylerisd.org.” When you submit a High Five, the Tyler ISD employee will receive a certificate showing your appreciation for their efforts. Continue reading TISD announced employee appreciation initiative

HENDERSON COUNTY — A road rage incident near Chandler leads to a shooting Monday night. It started around 8:30 on FM 315 and ended at a Dollar General store. Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said the two ran into the store and one person fired a gun twice, hitting the victim once. The unnamed victim was transported to UT Health in Tyler for treatment. The suspect, later identified as 25-year-old Joshua Ardi, fled the scene and was arrested a short time later. He’s been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and unlawfully carrying a weapon.

PALESTINE — The City of Palestine took measures to bring in hog hunters to trap feral hogs that are destroying the land and turning over headstones at Memorial Cemetery. Memorial Cemetery is located on Moody Street off Loop 256, and has recently seen a spike in the number of feral hogs destroying the cemetery resulting in the need for a quick solution. The City of Palestine signed contracts with hog hunters who have previously worked for the City of Palestine to resolve this issue. As part of the contract, the hog hunters will have to use hog traps since guns are not allowed to be used withinthe city limits.“

WINNSBORO — An East Texas child went missing just before sunset on Sunday night. However, according to a social media post by Wood County Precinct 2 Constable Kelly Smith, the 12-year-old was found with-in an hour of calling in a A K-9 officer and other first responders. The appeal for help came in near Lake Winnsboro after the girl could not be located. A perimeter was set up by Wood County deputies and Perryville and Winnsboro Fire Departments. Law enforcement also requested that K-9 Mata be called in to assist. The missing child was returned to her mother, with no injuries reported.

EAST TEXAS — Authorities have located a baby who went missing last week from Smith County. According to our news partner KETK, 17-month-old Ellisia Pair was ordered into Child Protective Services back on September 18, but she went missing with her mother, 20-year-old Allie O’Neal. Although police initially believed that O’Neal and Ellisia would still be in the East Texas area, they were located in Colorado over the weekend. A CPS officer told KETK News that is unknown whether O’Neal has been taken into custody. They were located at a hotel they had previously stayed at.

LONGVIEW — An East Texas caregiver is behind bars after she allegedly stole thousands of dollars from an elderly woman in Shreveport. According to our news partner KETK, Conchetta Law, 44, of Longview, was arrested for stealing $8,900 from the 92-year-old woman she cared for. According to Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office between October 2019 and May 2020 Law stole and forged checks from the victim’s bank account to pay her own rent, utilities, insurance and car note. Law was taken into custody in Longview and taken to Caddo Parish where she was booked into the Caddo Correction Center for forgery and exploitation of the infirmed.

TYLER — TxDOT is planning more construction and maintenance work in the Tyler District during the week of Oct. 5. District seal coat operations have been completed with the contractor now conducting pavement marking operations at various locations in Van Zandt and Anderson counties. Motorists should expect slow moving traffic due to mobile operations. You can go to https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/038-2020.html for a complete rundown of work around the district.

TYLER — The Tyler ISD Foundation is celebrating 30 years of impacting teachers and students. Since its creation in 1990, the Foundation has given more than $3.17 million to the District, according to a news release. The Foundation is asking the community to help celebrate its 30 year milestone through its annual giving campaign. Anyone interested in making a financial gift or serving as a corporate sponsor can do so at http://www.tylerisd.org/foundation or by calling Betsy Jones at 903-262-3095. You can go to https://www.tylerisd.org/article/319543 for further information.

LONGVIEW — Beginning Tue., Oct. 6, the Marshall Avenue (also known as Hwy. 80) trailhead of the Paul Boorman Trail in Longview will be closed for an extended period to allow for construction of a connection to the expanded Guthrie Trail. Most of the Paul Boorman Trail will remain open during the construction period, but visitors will need to access the trail from other available trailheads. The date for reopening the Marshall Avenue trailhead has not been determined yet. You can go to https://longviewtexas.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=2856 for more information.

TYLER — The Tyler Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!” According to a news release, the campaign works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe. According to NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. Almost half (44%) of reported homes fires started in the kitchen. Two-thirds (66%) of home cooking fires start with the ignition of food or other cooking materials. Continue reading 2020 Fire Prevention Week: “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!”

TYLER – After Ye Olde City Antique Mall went up in flames in early June, the downtown Tyler institution finally reopened to the public Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, the mall has been a downtown Tyler staple for more than 100 years, with over 70 vendors inside the store. Although the owners are happy to welcome customers again, damages and pieces from that devastating day can still be found.

NACOGDOCHES — Stephen F. Austin State University encouraged the victim of a false police report to grant the university permission to release the police body cam footage, during a press conference on October 3. That’s according to our news partner KETK. University police entered 17-year-old Christin Evans’s dorm room at 3 a.m. on September 14 after she was falsely accused by her roommates of trying to stab someone with a pair of scissors. Erika Harris, the communications liaison for the university, said the investigation of the false report was handed over to the Nacogdoches County District Attorney’s office on October 2. She also mentioned the case includes possible multiple criminal charges against several students. Continue reading Officials seek release of body cam footage in SFA raid

TYLER — It’s the final day for Taste of the Fair. The event resumed Saturday at the East Texas State Fairgrounds and will continue through Sunday with hours of 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. It’s a chance to sample East Texas State Fair food even though the fair has been canceled for this year due to COVID-19. You can go to https://www.etstatefair.com/p/about/taste-of-the-fair for more information.

TYLER — Services for former Whitehouse Mayor Dale Moran are set for Monday at 2:00 p.m. at Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler. Moran died Wednesday at the age of 76. He served as mayor from 1996-2002, along with two terms on the city council, one before and one after his time as mayor. Moran was also a successful businessman and very active in Christian ministry. He was the father of Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran. You can go here for additional information.

TYLER — The East Texas Crisis Center’s biannual Hope Awards ceremony was held this week on Tyler’s downtown square. According to a news release, a proclamation was read by City Councilmember Bob Westbrook, and awards were presented to “outstanding citizens and businesses that have gone above and beyond as volunteers and professionals to help victims of domestic violence.” The honorees are Brad Martin, Kinsey Pharmacy; Ms. Jane Neal, Tyler Public Library; and Chick-fil-A in Broadway Square Mall. Continue reading Citizens recognized for helping domestic violence victims

TYLER — The 30th Annual Pantry Raid looked different this year, but still had a huge impact and raised 203,760 meals for Tyler Independent School District students facing hunger. According to a news release, the annual event is hosted by the East Texas Food Bank and Tyler ISD. Pantry Raid has historically been a fierce competition between Tyler High and Tyler Legacy to see which campus can raise the most food and funds. For the first time ever, the two schools came together to celebrate the 30th anniversary and held one Tyler ISD-wide Pantry Raid. Continue reading 30th Annual Pantry Raid raises 203,760 meals

TYLER — The President and First Lady have become the face of the cornavirus after testing positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. NET Health CEO, George Roberts told KTBB Friday, “It shows that the virus knows everyone here. Basically, we are all susceptible to catching this virus. We all need to continue taking steps that helps to keep us from catching it; stay home when we are sick, we are a mask when we are out in public, observe social distancing, wash your hands often. But again, it’s a challenge for people who are in the public spot light. We sure wish the President and First Lady well as they go through this recovery process. I’m confident they will be fine.”