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ATHENS — A clerk for Justice of the Peace Precinct Four in Henderson County has been arrested. According to our news partner KETK, Dana Work is charged with abuse of official capacity. She was arrested on March 4. She is facing felony charges. No other details were immediately available on what her charges are connected to.

LONGVIEW — The Cuney police chief has been released from the Gregg County Jail without bond. According to our news partner KETK, jail records say Gregory Sinkfield was booked into jail Monday on two felony warrants for tampering with government records. He was released with the disposition going to the criminal justice information services. No details were immediately available on the nature of the charges.

TYLER — Tyler Junior College. It’s a name that has stood for over 90 years. and for some it’s a legacy. But others claim the name is a burden. According to our news partner KETK, a meeting was held on campus Thursday night to hear both sides of the argument. Former and current students and staff weighed in. According to one individual, “I think that changing the name and dropping the “Junior” is an important leap in this institutions’ future.” Another added, “If you care at all about this institution and its students I urge you to please be for the name change.” Continue reading Debate Continues over Possible TJC Name Change

SMITH COUNTY — A Chandler man gets a lengthy sentence for possession and trafficking drugs. Anton Stewart Jr., 26, was sentenced by a Smith County jury Thursday to 45 years in prison. The evidence at trial showed that after a traffic stop and search of Stewart’s vehicle, he was found to be in possession of around 7 grams of meth, over 1 gram of cocaine, 79 Xanax pills and two digital scales. The jury also heard about his lengthy criminal history, as well as the fact the defendant absconded from his original trial date and had to been tracked down and re-arrested. Based on his criminal history, the range of punishment was 15 years to life in prison.

EAST TEXAS — Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, March 16, at First United Methodist Church in Rockwall for longtime Congressman Ralph Hall. Visitation will take place from 6:00 to 8:00pm on Friday, March 15, at Rest Haven Funeral Home, also in Rockwall. Hall’s longtime strategist, Ed Valentine, says the Texas Republican died of natural causes at his home in Rockwall Thursday morning. The oldest-ever member of the U.S. House was 95. Hall became the oldest member of the U.S. House in 2012, breaking North Carolina Rep. Charles Manly Stedman’s record. Hall was 91 when he left office in 2014. Hall was elected to Congress as a Democrat in 1980. He became a Republican in 2004, backed by his friend, George W. Bush. Hall won the 2012 Republican primary despite a tea party challenge. But he lost in a primary upset in 2014.

TYLER – Repairs have been completed on a water main break in Tyler. It was reported around 2:00 Thursday afternoon at 1260 Rice Road. Those affected by the outage are encouraged to “flush” the water in their house by running the water in bath tubs and sinks for 5-10 minutes. Because of air in the lines from the repairs, customers may experience cloudy looking water. Flushing lines should remedy this issue. If the problems persist, the water service center may be reached at 903-531-1285.

MARSHALL – An East Texas fire department is accepting donations to help a fireman who is the victim of a fire. The donations are for Hallsville fireman Terry Richardson. Fire broke out in his home on Walkers Mill Road, north of Hallsville, shortly before 3:15 Tuesday afternoon. The roof of the home is completely gone and two rooms have been gutted. The fire, which started in the home attic, was fanned by strong winds. What caused the fire has not been announced. The Marshall News Messenger reports donations may be taken to the Hallsville Fire Department on North Central Street, which is open 24 hours a day.

LONGVIEW – On Friday, Industrial Drive will be closed to through traffic between Marshall Avenue, U.S. Highway 80, and Cotton Street to allow for railroad track maintenance. The railroad crossing on Industrial Drive will be closed to all traffic. Drivers are encouraged to use Eastman Road as an alternate route.

TYLER – Keep Tyler Beautiful has handed out two Beauty and Business awards. The third quarter award for 2018 has gone to The Genesis Group on Eagles Nest Boulevard. For the fourth quarter Holiday Edition, Keep Tyler Beautiful presented the award to Hospitality Health ER on the Old Jacksonville Highway. Both of the winners were nominated by the public for these awards and were selected by the Keep Tyler Beautiful board as the winners. The award recognizes businesses in the community for their improvement, upkeep, cleanliness and beautification efforts. Continue reading Two Beauty and Business Awards Presented

TYLER – Many Texans want a border wall. That’s the results of a survey conducted by the Center for Opinion Research at UT Tyler. The poll was conducted over a two week period beginning on February 11. They asked whether they agree or disagree that a wall along the Texas-Mexico border is “necessary for a safe border.” The results showed 48% of respondents either “agreed” or “strongly agreed,” while 41% either “disagreed” or “strongly disagreed.” The results showed that 11% took a neutral position. The question produced responses along party lines, where Democrats strongly disagreed, 56% nearly as much as Republicans who strongly agreed, by 64%, with the statement.

GRAND SALINE – A missing Van Zandt county girl has been found. The sheriff’s department reported Thursday that Emily Marie Rosamond, 15, has been found and is safe. She had last been seen last Sunday between the hours of 10:00pm and 1:00am at her home. When she left home, she did not take any extra clothing, food, personal items or her medication. No word on how she was found or where she had been.

EAST TEXAS – A deadly hazard at Lake O’ the Pines has been removed. Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative has confirmed that low-slung power lines over Alley Creek have been buried. In 2017, three scouts from a Hallsville Boys Scout troop were killed when the mast of their sail boat came in contact with a power line. The lines were about 13 feet below clearance for the mast of most sailboats. The get rid of the problem, workers burrowed beneath the water and then laid some 1,600 feet of electric line through the tunnel.

TYLER – TransCanada is conducting a field emergency response exercise at Lake Tyler at Lake Tyler Marina. It started on Wednesday from noon till 5:00pm. It will resume on Thursday and run from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Residents can expect to see TransCanada staff with trucks and other emergency response equipment conducting mock response activities such as deploying boom on the lake.

SMITH COUNTY – Motorists can expect slow-moving traffic and delays on Interstate highway 20 Thursday night. The NET RMA contractor will be working to realign the Toll 49 Bridge that was hit during a crash in July. The inside lanes of the interstate, both eastbound and westbound, will be closed to traffic from 7:00pm to 5:00am. Drivers are reminded to slow-down and pay attention when traveling through this work zone.

MCKINNEY – A Longview man has been convicted of a Collin County murder. The jury in McKinney deliberated around 3 hours before convicting Ronald Rosser, 55, of capital murder. He was automatically sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Rosser is accused of taking more than $5,000 to kill McKinney businessman Richard Moore. He was shot five times in the head with a handgun in February four years ago. Investigators believe Rosser was hired by Moore’s estranged wife and her lover to kill more. They are still awaiting trial on charges of capital murder.

AUSTIN – Tyler’s sales tax allocations from the state continues to look very healthy. The state comptroller’s office is sending out the March tax allocations. The figures are based on sales made in January. Tyler’s March check is for $3,408,604.53. This is an increase of 9.23% over the same period last year. The year to date tax allocations come to $11,695,166.33. This is an increase of 6.47%. Longview’s March check is for $2,368,663.09 for a 1.41% decrease. But for the year, Longview’s sales tax allocations are up 2.64% at $8,555,617.00.

TYLER – The Tyler Police Department will be conducting an Enhanced Community Outreach Program on Thursday. Officers will be going door to door introducing themselves and reaching out to citizens to ask what they can do for them. The police say the program is one of many community police programs aimed at becoming closer to the community and addressing problems that residents may have in their specific neighborhoods. Continue reading Police Outreach Program

SMITH COUNTY – A woman has been arrested in Smith County following a multi-county car chase. It started with Mineola police chasing a car with New York State license plates. They halted the chase when they lost sight of the vehicle. It resumed when a caller reported a reckless driver heading east on Interstate 20 from Highway 110. A state trooper picked up the chase around Jim Hogg Road. Stop sticks deflated three of the cars tires around Highway 155. The car finally stopped in Gregg County. Diane Marie Bartoszak, 31, Of New Windsor, New York, is charged with evading arrest with a vehicle. Her bond was set at $50,000.

TYLER – A Tyler teen is sentenced for impersonating an officer. Khristian Thomas Welch, 19, of Tyler, was given three years deferred adjudication. The sentence was part of a plea agreement. On February 23 of last year, police say Welch pulled over a driver on highway 64 West at Loop 323. The victim said the man had a handgun. They were able to get the license plate number and police found the vehicle a short time later at South Broadway and the Loop. Welch admitted to trying to pull the victim’s vehicle over after observing it run a red light. A red and blue strobe light was found on the front seat of his vehicle.

CANTON – The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information on a missing teenager. She is Emily Marie Rosamond, 15, of Grand Saline. She was last seen on March 3 between the hours of 10:00pm and 1:00am at her residence on Van Zandt County Road 1216. She is described as approximately 5’ 05” tall, approximately 120 pounds, brown eyes and brown hair. She was last seen wearing dark colored pants with white designs, turquoise shirt, and Adidas tennis shoes. Emily is pictured wearing glasses but she no longer wears them. Emily has a scar on her right arm near her elbow. According to the department’s Facebook posting, when Emily left her home she did not take any extra clothing, food, personal items or her medication. If you have any information about her, You are asked to contact local law enforcement or the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office 903-567-4133.

MARSHALL – A Marshall man has been indicted in connection with an accident in which a pedestrian was seriously injured. Indicted by the Harrison County grand jury was Aaron Hollie Callaway, 49. He is charged with intoxication assault with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury. The accident occurred last October 25 at the intersection of West Pinecrest Drive and Washington Avenue. The pedestrian, who had serious injuries, and Callaway, who was also injured, were taken to the hospital. Callaway is also facing a separate charge which is not connected to the DWI accident. On November 21st, Callaway was stopped shortly before 8:00 that night for driving without having his headlights on. When he failed the field sobriety tests, he was arrested for driving while intoxicated.

TYLER – Smith County authorities have arrested a Lindale man for sexually assaulting children. Arrested Tuesday was Joseph Henry Bolden, 31. Sheriff’s department detectives say that Bolden had sexually assaulted two children on multiple occasions. Detectives say one child was four years old and the other was five years old. Bolden was arrested by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshals Service Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force. He was booked into the Smith County Jail on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by sexual contact. His bonds total $500,000.

TYLER – Tyler recorded a record low temperature Tuesday morning. The National Weather Service reports Tuesday’s low was 22 degrees. The previous record low for March 5th was 23 degrees, which was recorded in 1989. For the coldest temperature ever recorded during the month March, you have to go back to 1943 when it was 13 degrees in Tyler.

TYLER – Tyler Junior College has received two awards at the Texas Junior College Student Government Association Region 3 Conference. The school received the Student Center Chapter of the Year Award. Also, TJC sophomore elementary education major Hannah Lair was named Student of the Year. A native of Carlinville, Illinois, Lair serves as Student Senate executive secretary and co-chair of the health and safety committee. She also serves as secretary at the state level for Texas Junior College Student Government Association. This is the second year in a row that TJC has won Student of the Year, as former Student Senate President Patrick Smallwood earned the title in 2018. Lair and the TJC chapter will now advance to the state level in April, when they will compete against all of the community colleges in Texas.

WASHINGTON – Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert has been honored by The United Negro College Fund for his work in congress to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities and their students. Each member of Congress is scored based on their voting record and participation in activities that support HBCU’s core principles. The organization said that “Rep. Gohmert has been an advocate for HBCUs throughout his time in Congress, consistently voting on legislation that would not just support these institutions but would allow them to thrive. He has worked extensively with Wiley College, Texas College, and Jarvis Christian College, all of which are HBCU institutions within his district.”

TYLER – The city of Tyler is encouraging businesses and residents to turn off automatic sprinklers when the temperature is freezing. Sprinkler systems left on when temperatures drop below freezing may cause sheets of ice to form in streets and on sidewalks. This can create hazardous driving conditions, as well as hazardous walking conditions on both sidewalks and at crosswalks. We will have one more freezing night before a warmup begins.

TYLER – Work is underway to improve Tyler’s Transportation Improvement Program. The purpose of the program is to list the transportation improvements that are scheduled to be implemented within the next four years. The proposed amendments include adding funding to acquire property and move utilities to facilitate two upcoming street widening projects: the Old Jacksonville Highway from Flint to Bullard and Paluxy Drive from Jeff Davis Drive to Farm Road 346. An open house will be held at 5:30 Wednesday afternoon to get public input on the projects. it will be held in the large conference room of the Tyler Development Center on West Ferguson.

ALTO – An arrest has been made in the attack on an elderly Alto couple last month. Charged Monday in the case was Joshua OBryan Gasaway, 32, of Alto. He is said to be the man who attacked the couple after they heard an alarm on their property on Farm Road 1911. He first attacked the woman, hitting her in the head. He then attacked her husband when he came out to help his wife. Gasaway is facing two charges of injury to the elderly. His bonds total $500,000. Cherokee County Jail records show Gasaway has been booked in jail on numerous occasions for various offenses beginning in 2005.

TYLER – A part time assistant boys basketball coach at Tyler’s T. K. Gorman High School has been arrested. Ja’Keal Latrenton Lockett, 24, was arrested Monday by the University of Texas at Tyler police. He has been charged with burglary of a habitation with intent to commit a sex offense. He is in the Smith County Jail under a $250,000 bond. According to a statement released by the school, he has been placed on leave pending the outcome of the case. School officials say there is no indication that his actions occurred on campus or with students.

KILGORE (AP) – Four murals from the 1940s created in a Public Works Administration cultural effort have been returned to an East Texas post office-turned-art center. The Longview News-Journal reports workers spent Monday rehanging the Xavier Gonzalez murals inside the structure in Kilgore. Volunteers supporting the Old Post Office History & Art Center relied on photos to pinpoint original locations for the murals at the Kilgore post office, which opened in the late 1930s. Gonzalez created the murals in 1941. The collection includes “Pioneer Saga,” “Drilling for Oil,” “Contemporary Youth” and “Music of the Plains.” The artwork, since that post office closed, was on loan the past 20 years to the East Texas Oil Museum at Kilgore College.