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TYLER – The sale of the old Carlton Hotel by Smith County has been finalized. The 90,000-square-foot facility remained vacant for years. Tai Ly purchased the building for $537,500. Burns Commercial Properties LLC was the broker for Smith County on the sale. Closing documents for the sale were signed on Friday. Continue reading Smith County Finalizes Sale of Carlton Hotel

MARSHALL – The Marshall Police Department is investigating a woman posing as a nurse. The Texas Board of Nursing notified the District Attorney’s Office about Stephanie Garcia. She is also known as Stephanie Halcomb. The action stems from an investigation that was prompted by a patient’s complaint at Davita Dialysis. The state board said Garcia went to work at the Marshall clinic in 2016, using information of a nurse with the same name and submitting an application with false information. According to a report in the Longview News Journal, Garcia no longer works at the facility.

IRVING – Susan Bufford Maleskey, 58, of Jacksonville was found shot to death Thursday night. A family member returned home to find the woman dead. A news release from the police department said “the motive for the shooting is unconfirmed, however, detectives do not believe it to be a random act.” They say they are following up on leads and have identified a suspect.

PALESTINE – Friday morning, the Palestine Police Department raided three gaming rooms. Over the course of several months, undercover investigators visited the rooms, collecting evidence that led to Friday’s raid. Several agencies assisted in the investigation. Chief Andy Harvey said the raids, dubbed “operation Game Over,” resulted in the seizure of 125 gaming machines, computers and standalone games, and $96,224. The warrants were served at Blow Vapor Zone and Dee’s Business Center, both on West Palestine Avenue and; and J&R Lounge on McNeil Street. The investigation is continuing and officials say charges could be filed in the case. Continue reading Gambling Raids in Palestine

TYLER – A Tyler teen is going to prison for sexually assaulting a child. Justin Ray Dunford, 18, pleaded guilty Friday in 7th State District Court. Judge Kerry Russell sentenced Dunford to 25 years in prison. Last May, he is said to have assaulted a girl, under the age of 14, at a home south of the Chapel Hill area. Dunford had been living with the family but was not related to them. The girl had complained of soreness and went to the doctor where she told about the sexual assault. After an investigation, which included interviewing the girl at the Child Advocacy Center, Dunford was arrested.

SMITH COUNTY – A Smith County man claims a commercial scent spray to attract deer worked two well. The man tells a game warden he had to shoot two undersized bucks in self-defense. Their heads were found on top of a shed hidden in the woods. The man told a game warden he put the deer heads on the shed with the intention of turning himself in, but never got around to it. Multiple charges are pending. Continue reading Man Claims Deer Shooting was in Self Defense

TYLER – An East Texas man is facing sexual assault charges. Christopher Scott Sanders, 31, of Brownsboro was arrested in Tyler on Wednesday. He was booked into the Smith County Jail on charges of sexual assault of a child and possession of child pornography. His bonds total $200,000. His arrest stems from material in his car which a state trooper discovered during a traffic stop in Brownsboro late last month. Continue reading A Traffic Stop Leads to More Serious Charges

LAKE O’THE PINES — At least one agency is now out of the picture, but the investigation continues in last summer’s tragedy at Lake o’ the Pines. Three Boy Scouts were killed when the mast of their sailboat came in contact with a power line hanging over the lake. According KETK, a Texas Parks and WIldlife spokesperson says no criminal charges will be filed in the case on that agency’s behalf. He says TPW’s role in the investigation has closed. Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative says it’s too early to discuss what steps might be taken regarding power lines over waterways. That’s the utility in control of the power line involved in the accident. Utility staffers say engineers continue to investigate the tragedy.

NACOGDOCHES – A Nacogdoches County homicide victim has been identified. The man’s body was found early Monday evening at Gravel Ridge Cemetery on Farm Road 225. With the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety, using facial imaging technology, the victim has been identified as Thomas Vaiden Sluterbeck, 43, of Nacogdoches. Sheriff Jason Bridges says there is evidence that the man was murdered. But, since the investigation is ongoing, only limited information can be released at this time. Continue reading East Texas Murder Victim Identified

TYLER – It is a first for the Texas Rose Festival. A Tyler Junior College student has been named queen of the festival. The 85th Texas Rose Queen is Amanda Elaine Hiles of Tyler, a freshman at TJC. The announcement was made Thursday night at a gala event and a news conference. But, according to a news release from TJC, her identity as queen had actually been a closely guarded secret kept under wraps since early November. On the morning of Thursday, Nov. 2, Texas Rose Festival President Brad Curtis and a small entourage of rose festival officials, members of the Hiles family and a huge bouquet of roses, made a surprise visit to the TJC main campus to drop in on an Apache Belles rehearsal. It was then when Curtis asked Amanda, “Would you be my queen?” He got a quick, “yes.” Continue reading Tyler’s New Rose Queen Announced

TYLER – An optimistic evaluation of the 2018 economy, from East Texas to across the nation, has been painted by noted economist Ray Perryman. The appraisal came in Tyler luncheon Thursday at his annual speech on the economic outlook. It was the largest crowd ever to attend the luncheon. They had to bring in extra tables and chairs. Perryman sees a 4.5% increase in gross domestic product in the Tyler area. That is compared to a 4% percent increase in Texas, and a 2.9% percent increase in the nation. Perryman said the Texas economy is generally doing better than the national economy. He said the Texas economy grew faster because of the rebound in the oil and gas industry. Perryman added, the state’s economy depends on undocumented immigrants, and that poverty in the Hispanic community is a major social issue Texas will need to address.

TYLER – A man, who was one of three men accused of firing at Smith County deputies during a chase last year, has been found guilty of aggravated assault of a public servant. A Tyler jury on Thursday convicted Ricardo Martinez Pineda, 37, of Tyler. The jurors in the 241st State District Court will now consider punishment. Continue reading Smith County Man Guilty of Shooting at Deputies

TYLER – The Tyler district office of the Texas Department of Transportation will begin emergency preparedness operations on Friday in advance of wintry conditions that could show up in the area Monday night. Pre-treatment of elevated structures will be conducted throughout the day and completed Saturday. Crews will treat the bridges on the heavily traveled Interstate Highway 20 and elevated structures on other major roadways around the Tyler District. A brine solution consisting of salt and water designed to prevent ice and snow from sticking to surfaces will be used. Continue reading Crews Preparing to Pre-Treat Elevated Structures

TYLER – Tyler Junior College opened its Spring 2018 semester with convocation ceremonies this week in Wise Auditorium. Activities were kicked off with a performance by the Chapel Hill High School Jazz Band. TJC President Dr. Mike Metke pointed out that 15 of the 18 members of the high school group were connected to TJC through dual credit classes, Early College High School or the TJC Promise scholarship program. Classes at TJC resume next Tuesday.

TYLER – Brookshire Grocery Co. officials have presented a check to the American Red Cross’s Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts. The donation is $125,000. The company, along with customers to their stores, donated $100,000. The Western Union Foundation gave an additional $25,000. Tammy Prater, Executive Director, American Red Cross East Texas Area, said the funds will be used to provide assistance for the long-term needs of persons and communities affected by Hurricane Harvey in August.

TYLER – A man accused of an Oklahoma Robbery has been arrested in Smith County. Smith County Sheriff’s deputies were first called Wednesday morning to check on Bruce Hicks Junior, 28, of Copperas Cove for emotional issues. They then learned the SUV he was driving was stolen out of Love County Oklahoma during a robbery of the vehicles owner. The owner, an 89 year old man was attacked and beaten as he walked across a parking. A search of the vehicle turned up 19 pounds of marijuana. He is currently being held in the Smith County Jail under bonds totaling $120,000.

TYLER – Robert E. Lee High School Principal Dr. Dan Crawford has written an open letter in regards to hazing incidents. During the last half of the previous school year, Dr. Crawford received numerous reports of hazing and bullying of freshmen. It’s a “tradition” that is known as “T’ing.” Dr. Crawford says hazing and bullying is prohibited on and off-campus and they will investigate any reported incidents. You can go to https://www.tylerisd.org/cms/lib/TX01918383/Centricity/Domain/35/Letter%20from%20Dr.%20C_Hazing%20and%20Bullying.pdf to read the principal’s letter on the subject.

SMITH COUNTY – Work on the new Farm Road 849 bridge over I-20, at Hideaway will necessitate nighttime closures of I-20 with traffic moved to the ramps. The Texas Department of Transportation says the work will be conducted in the eastbound lanes one evening, and the westbound the next to allow the contractor to set the new bridge beams. Work will begin next Tuesday night. Motorists are urged to take alternate routes to avoid delays during this work. Following the beam installations, the contractor will continue bridge deck work, earthwork and various other activities. Daily lane closures will be utilized on the inside lanes in each direction for bridge work in the median of the interstate. Continue reading Nighttime Closures For a Section of Interstate Highway 20

SMITH COUNTY – Two men’s car was stopped for a traffic violation on Interstate Highway 20 near Farm Road 14. After talking with the driver, the state trooper had a police dog brought to the car. The dog uncovered 51 pounds of suspected marijuana. Booked into the Smith County Jail on a charge of possession of marijuana was Brandon Rohrer, 30 and Duy Min Ho, 43, both from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Suspect Duy Min Ho

PALESTINE – Beginning the first of next month, all municipal court sessions in Palestine will move from Tuesdays to Wednesdays. Court Administrator Courtney Acklin said the move is for scheduling purposes. Currently, some court dates have to be rescheduled due to scheduling conflicts and Acklin says the move to Wednesdays will help alleviate future conflicts. Court will begin at the same time, 9:00am and 1:30pm. Those who have deadlines pending before the court will not see any changes in deadlines.

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler has announced it’s preparing an application for NCAA Division II status. According to KETK, UT Tyler currently competes in the Division III American Southwest Conference of NCAA athletics. UT Tyler is one of the newest members of the NCAA, having achieved full membership in the summer of 2007 after a four-year provisional period required of all new members.

QUITMAN — A Yantis man has received six 99-year prison sentences for sexually assaulting children. KETK reports Randall Todd Greenough, 55, was found guilty by a Wood County jury in eight minutes on Wednesday. In 18 minutes, the jury sentenced Greenough to 99 years each on four charges of sexual assault of a child (enhanced) and two charges of indecency with a child sexual contact (enhanced). The sentences will be served consecutively.

HOUSTON (AP/STAFF) — A chain of dental clinics, which has clinics in East Texas, has agreed to pay about $24 million in civil penalties to settle allegations that it submitted Medicaid claims for unnecessary dental procedures on children. A Justice Department statement Wednesday said the federal government would receive more than $14 million of the settlement reached by Marietta, Georgia-based Benevix LLC and its Kool Smiles clinics. Texas and 16 other states will share almost $10 million, and three whistleblowers will share more than $2.4 million. The business has two clinics in Longview and one each in Tyler and Lufkin. A Benevis statement denies wrongdoing, blaming “professional disagreements between qualified dentists” in determining the necessity and cost of care.

MARSHALL – Work is starting in Marshall to find a new City Manager. Marshall City Manager Lisa Agnor has announced her intention to retire, effective April 15. The Marshall City Commission will begin discussions on a transition plan and finding Agnor’s replacement. She has been with the city for 15 and-a-half years, and was appointed as City Manager in April 2015. Prior to that, she served as City Secretary/Director of Finance. Agnor said she feels like now is the right time for me to make this move. her daughter is expecting her second child soon and she says she wants to be able to spend more time with her family and grandchildren.

AUSTIN – The state comptroller’s office is sending out the monthly sales tax allocation checks. Tyler and Longview are running ahead of last year’s numbers. The state is sending out $709.2 million in local sales tax allocations for January. That’s 9.5% more than last January. These allocations are based on sales made in November. Tyler’s check is $3,422,968.87. This is over 5% above the check for January of 2017. Longview’s January check is $2,590,117.50. This is an increase from last January of nearly 5 1/2%

TYLER – The Tyler city council on Wednesday approved $300,000 for four capital improvement designs to various parts of Tyler’s drainage system. Construction on all four is estimated at $1.5 million. According to Mayor Martin Heines, the improvements are part of the City’s 10 year, $100 million dollar plan to improve Tyler’s infrastructure. Continue reading Funds Approved for Improvement Designs to the Tyler Drainage System

LONGVIEW — A White Oak woman has been jailed on $43,500 bond on charges ranging from aggravated robbery to possession of marijuana. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Lacee Loretta Robbins, 31, was indicted Oct. 19 on charges of aggravated robbery and credit or debit card abuse. She also is being held on an Upshur County robbery warrant. The two Gregg County indictments stem from October 2016, when police say Robbins struck a man with a gun during a robbery. The indictment also accuses Robbins of “intentionally or knowingly” causing the man to fear injury or death.” The indictment claims she used the man’s debit card the next day. Longview police arrested Robbins Monday on additional charges of possession of less than 1 gram of a controlled substance, unlawful carrying of a weapon, possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana, and failure to identify.

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court received its first monthly update Tuesday on the $39.5 million bond package to improve county roads. Steven Adams, managing director of Specialized Public Finance Inc., said the bonds are planned to be issued in three parts over the next three years. The county plans to sell $12 million in bonds in May, followed by the sale of another $12 million in 2019, and $15.5 million in 2020, or as needed to complete the bond projects. Adams said he believed the county would see a number of bids, which may result in their sale at lower interest rates because of the solid financial condition and rating of the county. Continue reading Commissioners Receive Update on Road Bond