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UPSHUR COUNTY — A Smith County woman was sentenced to 99 years in prison after pleading guilty to drug charges in Upshur County. According to our news partner KETK, Felisha Diane Williams, 39, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver. Williams was offered a 20 year sentence by the state, but elected for a jury to decide her punishment. Williams faced an enhanced punishment range of 15 years to life rather than the normal punishment range of 5-99 years or life in prison, due to previous felony convictions.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — The Cherokee County Sheriff’s office was notified late Thursday morning of a body found on the Neches River. The Parks and Wildlife removed the body, identified as Danny Carter, 49 of Wells. Carter had been missing since January 12. The body was transported to Southwest Forensic in Dallas for an autopsy. It appears to be a drowning, however the case remains under investigation.

WHITEHOUSE — In November, a former Whitehouse ISD employee and equipment manager was accused of molesting a football player in 2010 and 2011. On Thursday our news partner KETK, reported William Aldridge, 28 was indicted in a recent Smith County Grand Jury session. The original charge is by a former Whitehouse football player, who says “Aldridge touched his private parts on two separate occasions.” Aldridge turned himself in to the U.S. Marshals in November of last year. The victim claims there were 2 separate incidents with Aldridge. The district was contacted by police in late October and Aldridge was placed on immediate leave and has since been fired by the district.

TYLER — On Wednesday The Tyler City Council authorized the City Manager to execute a contract with Halff Associates to manage the third and final phase of the Comprehensive Storm Water Master Plan. On Thursday, Tyler’s Jenny Wells told KTBB, “Phase 3 is bascially going to look at what are the solutions to the issues we’ve had as far as drainage goes. I’m sure you remember in 2016, we had a lot of rain which really helped us identify some of the trouble issues for the city of Tyler for drainage.” Continue reading Phase 3 to Begin Following Tyler Council Approval

TYLER — Tyler Liberty Hall is preparing to host Robert Ellis Saturday Night. Adriana Rodriguez told KTBB on Thursday what people can expect this weekend, “Robert Ellis: The Texas Piano Man has been called the Elton John of country music. He plays piano sings, is very interesting very different. Tickets are $28 and $22.” Show time is set for 7 p.m.

TYLER — 46-year-old Miles Brosang of Whitehouse, owner of Brosang’s Landscaping, has pleaded guilty in Tyler federal court to failure to pay payroll taxes. According to information presented in court, during the third quarter of 2015, the company withheld payroll taxes from its employees’ paychecks, including federal income taxes and Medicare and social security taxes. Officials say Brosang knew that his company was required to make deposits of the payroll taxes to the IRS on a periodic basis. The amount of taxes that should have been, and was not, paid in the 3rd quarter, is $49,704.47. The total of payroll taxes that should have been, and was not, paid is $229,552. Under federal statutes, Brosang faces up to five years in federal prison at sentencing.

SHREVEPORT, La. — An East Texas man is jailed in Louisiana after a bomb threat reportedly made at a Walmart. According to our news partner KETK, Shreveport police were called to the Walmart on Shreveport-Barksdale Highway after receiving a call that there was a bomb in the building. Police searched the building and a bomb was not found. The suspected caller, 27-year old Dustin Spence of Hawkins, was arrested and booked on a charge of communicating false information of planned arson.

TYLER — Smith County deputies Tuesday afternoon captured two suspects in a Dallas robbery after a pursuit on I-20 East followed by a foot chase. 17-year-old Jamarion Garrett and a 16-year-old juvenile face multiple charges. Officials say the car occupied by the two suspects was stolen. The DPS and the Precinct 5 Constable’s office assisted in the case, along with three citizens who were in the area at the time, according to a news release.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday authorized the City Manager to execute a contract with Halff Associates to manage the third and final phase of the Comprehensive Storm Water Master Plan. In 2016, City Council approved the 2016 Drainage Capital Improvement Project Strategy in order to address some of the City’s prominent drainage issues and limit future losses. Part of that strategy was to develop a stormwater master plan. Its purpose is to update the City’s storm water infrastructure inventory, analyze condition and capacity, and develop a capital improvement programming tool by which storm water infrastructure can be managed. Continue reading City Council Approves Contract for Storm Water Master Plan

TYLER — On Wednesday, the Tyler City Council heard a presentation on recent work performed by the Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. The MPO is a local decision-making body responsible for overseeing the transportation planning process. In March 2019, the MPO adopted the Active Tyler plan to create a vision for a pedestrian and bicycle network connecting major destinations in the region. Continue reading State of the Metropolitan Planning Organization

TYLER — Multiple studies have been conducted by Smith county in the last 2 decades and all of the assessments concluded that a new courthouse was needed. On Wednesday, Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran told KTBB the feedback for a new courthouse has been very positive, “One of the things that is very important to us is that we keep the public apprised throughout this process because this is the people’s house.” Moran continued, “We have had great input in the last 3 months and we are going to continue with lots of workshops in the spring and summer moving forward.” Continue reading Smith County Holds Courthouse Workshop

TYLER — The Smith County Clerk’s Office Vital Statistics Department is located on the third floor of the Annex Building on E. Ferguson. For years that was the easiest part of finding Family Census Documents, finding their location. However, the real challenge was just beginning. On Wednesday, the county said the file have been augmented. These files span from 1934 to 1969 and are in 117 boxes. Employees say it was not uncommon to have people who came to the office in search of a document and leave empty handed. Continue reading Reorganization of Files in Smith County

TYLER — Voters in Smith County will now have a new location to cast ballots starting in March. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County has added a voting center at the Juvenile Attention Center. However, the new location was met with concern on Tuesday in Commissioners Court. “I don’t want to have to tell my children, grandchildren and great-grandchild, when they are old enough to vote, which some of them are, that they have to go to jail to vote.” Continue reading New Polling Places Being Added in Smith County

KILGORE — A GoFundMe account has been established to help the mother of a Kilgore teen killed last week in a two-vehicle crash. According to our news partner KETK, the WIC Team of Longview set up the fund to benefit Jessica Guevara. Guevara is the mother of Gabriel Coronado, 17, who was one of two teenagers who died in the crash. D.P.S. officials told KTBB at the time of the wreck that for an “undetermined reason, Coronado did not pull over in the initial attempted traffic stop.” Continue reading Go Fund Me Account Set Up for Grieving Mother

KILGORE — The 3rd Annual “Continuing the Dream through Education” Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Breakfast was held in an effort to honor the late Dr. King, while raising money’s for dual credit scholarships. The Kilgore College Foundation raised more than $24,000 for dual credit scholarships. The breakfast, was started in 2018 to raise funds for students without adequate resources to enroll in dual credit classes and provides financial assistance to continue their education at KC.

TYLER — The family of a Tyler man who died from complications of Legionnaire’s disease last November has retained an attorney. According to our news partner KETK, the widow of Ruben Gutierrez, Susan Gutierrez, has retained the services of Elliot Olsen of Minneapolis. Olsen will represent her family. Gutierrez, 69, was a precinct chair for the Smith County Democratic Party, died November 8 after having been hospitalized much of October. Continue reading Legionnaires Victim’s Family Hires Minneapolis Lawyer

TYLER — Tickets are on sale now for the annual Mother-Son and Daddy-Daughter Valentine’s dances in Tyler. Organizers describe the night as an an unforgettable evening that the Tyler Parks and Recreation Department will host. Both nights will feature a DJ, refreshments and dancing. The annual Mother-Son and Daddy-Daughter Valentine’s Dances are scheduled for Feb. 7 and 8. Continue reading Daddy Daughter and Mother Son Dances Scheduled

MARSHALL — The new Chick-fil-a on East Texas Baptist University’s campus is officially “a hit.” On Tuesday, ETBU President Dr. J. Blair Blackburn told KTBB, “the fact that we can offer our students, and staff America’s favorite restaurant is a win. However, this is also for the Marshall community. East Texas Baptist is Marshall’s University, and our doors are open for Marshall to come and enjoy this new addition to campus.” Construction of the new restaurant was completed in just seven weeks, in order to be up and running in time for the start of the Spring 2020 semester. Continue reading Chick-fil-a Opens on ETBU Campus

TYLER — The Smith County Food Security Council is inviting the community to their first produce drop of 2020. The event takes place at New Days Community Church on Jan. 28th. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. In addition to loaded up with bags of free produce, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about resources offered in the community. Continue reading Community Resource Announces Free Produce Drive

CHEROKEE COUNTY — The National Transportation Safety Board will be in East Texas Tuesday following a fatal plane crash. According to the Department of Public Safety, around 3:00 Monday afternoon, Troopers responded to a report of an airplane crash in a field off of CR 4303, approximately seven miles north of New Summerfield, in Cherokee County. The preliminary investigation report indicates that the pilot of the Cessna 150, Keith Michael McElvain, 76, of Jacksonville, took off from the Cherokee County Airport just after noon. The plane apparently struck the guy wires of a television tower and crashed. The pilot was the only occupant and was pronounced dead at the scene. The NTSB will continue the investigation.

TYLER –The Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Transportation Policy Committee will be holding a regularly scheduled meeting this Thursday afternoon. The meeting is set for 2:00 p.m. in the Tyler Development Center Large Conference Room, located on W. Ferguson St. The Transportation Policy Committee will consider adopting annual performance targets for safety and transit asset management and amending the Transportation Improvement Program as discussed during the open house held earlier this month. Continue reading Tyler’s MPO Set for Thursday

HAWKINS — Hayley Jasper is a junior at Hawkins High School. Last week she made strides on continuing her education as she took top honors at the Ft. Worth Stock Show and Rodeo Art Contest. Jasper earned a blue ribbon and a $2,000 scholarship for 1st place in her division. Jasper also had her work auctioned off at the Junior Gala Silent Auction for an additional $1,400 dollar scholarship. According to our news partner KETK, Jasper will use the $3,400 dollars towards her college degree as she plans to follow in her mothers foot steps, with a career in the medical field.

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University Director of Fine Arts Dr. Jim Taylor will be in Florida on Saturday to conduct the Honors Choir Festival for the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus. Taylor founded the children’s community chorus in Jacksonville, Florida in 1995, with 16 students. Today the chorus makes up over 350 children in five choirs that have performed all over the world. Taylor began the choir, after discovering the city of over 1 million people did not have a single community children’s chorus.

TYLER — Plans are underway for the 61st Annual Azalea & Spring Flower Trail. Applications to be an Azalea Belle must be completed by Wednesday. ON Monday Susan Travis, with Visit Tyler, told KTBB what makes an ideal candidate, “Girls who are outgoing, and passionate about their city, that know things to do in Tyler, because visitors will be asking questions, and they need to like having their picture made a lot.” Azalea Belles wear antebellum dresses throughout this three-weekend event and are needed to promote Tyler, greet tourists, and pose for photographs. The 2020 season will run in the Downtown Azalea District March 20 – April 5. Continue reading Deadline for Azalea Belle Apps Wednesday

TYLER — Again this year, hundreds turned out in downtown Tyler to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Keynote speaker was Sha’Rell Webb of Humble, founder of “Coding with a Twist,” which introduces underestimated students to the world of computer science, coding, and robotics. Her key message: “What I want the city of Tyler to know is that no matter where you are right now, as long as you believe in yourself, there’s no one that can stop you.” Continue reading Tyler Honors Dr. Martin Luther King

LONGVIEW — Longview Police continue to investigate a hit and run accident involving a pedestrian. It happened just after 6:30 Friday evening on N. 4th Street. Officers said a man in a wheelchair was attempting to cross the street when he was struck by a vehicle. The driver fled the scene. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he died as a result of his injuries. Police are still working to identify the next of kin of the victim. Police are also still working on identifying the vehicle that struck and killed him. Continue reading Longview Police Investigate Fatal Hit and Run

TYLER – TxDOT is planning to conduct a range of construction and maintenance work around the Tyler District the week of January 20. Longview Maintenance crews plan to conduct milling and level up on Loop 281 at the railroad crossing near Estes Parkway starting Tuesday. Crews will also perform shoulder work on FM 2087 from Sabine St. to the railroad tracks at Loop 281. Tyler Maintenance crews plan to Apply pavement texturing on SH 64W at FM 2661, and then, implementing ditch maintenance operations on Loop 323 at Kinsey Drive, and FM 16 at US 271. Continue reading TxDOT’s Weekly Roadwork Update

TYLER — W-2 forms will soon be showing up at your work desk or in your mail, and the IRS will begin accepting tax returns on Monday, January 27. The BBB president Mechele Mills reminds consumers to be on the lookout for tax scammers and to confirm a tax preparer’s qualifications before trusting them with personal information. “Ready or not, it’s tax season, remember that scammers and identity thieves are also busy during tax season as well, so it’s important to make wise decisions when having your tax returns prepared.” Continue reading Check Credentials Before Hiring Tax Pros

TYLER — The Tyler Public Library has partnered with the American Association of University Women and League of Women Voters to host the annual Great Decisions lecture series on Wednesdays, the weekly event will run at noon every week through March 4 at noon in the Library auditorium. There will be political lectures on a range of topics with speakers from the community. The Foreign Policy Association chooses these topics every year. Patrons can purchase a book on the issues at the Library’s information desk for $25.