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TYLER – More than 80 miles of Smith County roads were improved during the Fiscal Year 2017. That was the report presented to Smith County Commissioners Tuesday by County Engineer Frank Davis. Crews are nearly complete with major construction projects on over 9 miles of road. Two projects nearing completion within the next couple of weeks are Big Eddy Road, County Road 1261 and County Road 2328 at Deerwood Estates. Those projects total nearly five miles of road. Major construction projects completed this year included improvements to County Road 149, New England Road, and County Road 2221, East Shore Estates – West, for a total of 4.784 miles. Davis said they exceeded the mileage of roadwork done for the county last year. He said hiring contractors to do some of the Smith County road projects allows county road and bridge crews more resources and time to maintain all county roads.

MINEOLA – State Senator Bryan Hughes says he will remain in Austin and not seek a seat in Washington. Congressman Jeb Hensarling has announced when his term ends in 14 months, he would not be seeking re-election. Senator Hughes says he was being encouraged to run for Hensarling’s 5th congressional spot. But Hughes says, after much prayer and consultation with family and friends and supporters, he is confident that he can best serve in the Texas Senate. He says, now is not the time to leave. Senator Hughes’ senate district covers 16 northeast Texas counties

BRYAN (Staff/AP) – The punishment phase in the trial of William Mitchell Hudson gets underway, with Anderson County District Attorney Allyson Mitchell seeking the death penalty. Hudson was charged with killing six persons — three generations of a family — at a campsite near Tennessee Colony in November 2015. The jury in Bryan deliberated just over 15 minutes before coming back with a guilty verdict. The trial was moved to Bryan on a change of venue.

LONGVIEW — Gregg County Crime Stoppers has increased the reward for leads in the case of a dog shot with an arrow. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible. On October 12, Longview Animal Control officers found the dog near Rawley Court and Glover Drive. The animal soon underwent emergency surgery to remove the arrow. The dog had also been shot multiple times with a pellet gun. The dog, now known as Robin Hood, survived — and KETK reports he has since been adopted. If you have any information, you can contact the Longview Police Department or Animal Services — or Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-7867 if you wish to remain anonymous.

TYLER — A memorial service has been scheduled for a man killed in a Smith County shooting. According to KETK, the service for Andrew “Drew” Carpenter, 19, of Tyler, is slated for Thursday afternoon from 2:00-4:00 at Stewart Family Funeral Home on Old Jacksonville Highway. The memorial service will be public, however the burial will be private. On Sunday, around 1:15 a.m, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a shooting at a residence on Deerwood Drive. Officials responded to the location where a man, identified as Carpenter, was found inside the residence with a gunshot wound. When law enforcement arrived on scene, witnesses at the location were performing CPR on the victim. EMS arrived and took Carpenter to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Martin Reynolds, 21, of Whitehouse, was arrested for murder and is being held in the Smith County Jail on a $750,000 bond.

GREGG COUNTY — A Longview couple arrested after police found 260 grams of methamphetamine in their pickup after a traffic stop, police chase and wreck in June have been indicted. According to the Longview News Journal and KETK, Walter Earl Dixon, 59, and Venus Marie Kaisler, 47, have been charged with manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance and manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance. Dixon also has been charged with evading arrest or detention with a vehicle. Dixon remains in the Gregg County Jail on bonds totaling $325,000. Continue reading East Texas Couple Indicted on Drug Charges

LONGVIEW — Mark Edwin Sebren, 20, of Longview, was released from jail Monday on $25,000 bond after being arrested for shooting his girlfriend with a pellet gun. According to the Longview News-Journal, Sebren was arrested Sunday by Longview police and jailed on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. An officer made an investigative stop of Sebren’s vehicle on Loop 281 after receiving a call that shots were fired by someone fleeing the area in a vehicle of the same description. The officer found a carbon dioxide-powered pellet gun in the car. After investigating, the officer learned Sebren shot his girlfriend with the pellet gun inside of the vehicle.

KILGORE – The Kilgore Police Department has issued a scam alert. Someone is calling residents claiming they owe back taxes. They are told they would be jailed if they don’t pay them. In some cases, they are even spoofing the actual phone numbers at the police department. Remember, not paying your property tax is not a criminal issue, so the police would never be involved. Nor, would they ask you to pay the back taxes, or down payment, with iTunes gift cards or Walmart gift cards. In fact, no legitimate government organization is going to call you and ask for payment with gift cards from Walmart. Don’t be fooled by such calls.

TYLER – Today is election day in Smith County. Turnout appears as if it will be light. There are 129,458 registered voters in the county. The early voting total was 1,517. All residents in the county will vote on Smith County’s $39.5 million bond issue. The money goes toward road and bridge projects. And, all of the county’s residents will vote on 7 proposed amendments to the state constitution. Voters in Arp are being asked to approve alcohol sales and a half a cent increase to the sales tax. In Whitehouse, voters will select three members of the city council and vote on nine amendments to the city charter. Smith County residents will be able to vote at any of the 34 polling locations in the county instead of being restricted to their precinct.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – A missing Van Zandt County teen is safe. Authorities had been looking for LeeAnn Brown, 17. She had last been seen leaving her home on November 1st. The sheriff’s department reports she has returned home.

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a habitual offender. An arrest warrant for theft, habitual, has been issued for Ulysses Harris Jr., 46, of Longview. A Longview resident said that Harris said he was a licensed private investigator. Over a three month period he was paid $1,000 to investigate a matter, which he never did. DPS records do not show where Harris had ever been licensed as a private investigator. If you know where Harris can be locate, you are asked to contact Longview police.

TYLER – Tyler policemen can grow beards this month to benefit the United Way. Now the Smith County Sheriff’s Department is honoring “No Shave November.” Sheriff Larry Smith has authorized all sheriff’s office employees who wish to support the American Cancer Society with a minimum donation of $25.00, to wear a groomed beard with restrictions for the month of November only.

SMITH COUNTY — A Sunday night fire destroyed a storage facility and a nearby business. It started around 10:30 at CubeSmart Self Storage, 12324 Highway 155 South. Smith County Fire Marshal Connie McCoy-Wasson said it appeared the fire started in a portion of the business that houses RV’s and motor homes. Residents that live on the property called to report the blaze. No injuries were reported. Wasson said the roof collapsed so they are not sure how many RVs were damaged or destroyed by the fire. High winds spread the fire to a nearby business, Racer’s Choice Inc., 12001 County Road 1114. The business, which manufactures products for car racing, is a complete loss. Noonday, Flint/Gresham, Bullard, Tyler, Whitehouse, Dixie, Chapel Hill and Winona Fire Departments responded to the blaze.

MABANK – Two girls, ages 7 and 5, are remembered at a funeral service today after Henderson County authorities say they were killed by their mother. Friends and neighbors gathered Friday night to comfort each other and celebrate the sisters’ lives. Sarah Nicole Henderson, 29, of Mabank, is charged with one count of capital murder. A second capital murder charge is pending. She remains in Henderson County Jail under suicide watch. Her bond is $2 million. Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said, during an interview with investigators, she confessed to shooting the girls. Investigators say the mother had planned the girls’ deaths weeks in advance. Continue reading Service Today for 2 Little East Texas Girls

TYLER – The SPCA of East Texas has opened a new adoption center and business office in Tyler. Dozens of local vendors, contractors and businesses came together to remodel a home on old Bullard Road that is used for the facility. The SPCA of East Texas is a 100% foster-based rescue group with over 120 rescued dogs and cats in foster homes. These animals come from ther local community and find forever homes after being socialized and rehabilitated. The newly remodeled SPCA administrative offices are now open Monday – Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm and every Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm. On Saturdays, 30-40 foster dogs and cats are available to meet potential adopters.

KILGORE – The presidents of Kilgore College and East Texas Baptist University have signed an articulation agreement that will create a more seamless transition for Kilgore College students and graduates to attend ETBU It also establishes ETBU scholarships. The partnership between the two schools will encourage the completion of the associate’s and bachelor’s degrees available at the institutions. It will also provide students with academic and administrative advisement. According to a news release from the schools, the agreement will promote continuous advancement in learning and ensure that all students receive the resources necessary to be successful in their respective callings.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of November 6th. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.

In Smith County, motorists can expect daily lane closures on I-20 eastbound and westbound at Toll 49 for the next couple of weeks as the contractor for the Lindale Relief Route conducts work to install deck panels and overhangs of the Toll 49 Mainlane Bridge. Work will progress from south to north through about November 17th. The contractor will be closing lanes starting with the eastbound outside lane. Another closure is planned for November 9 from 2:00 to 5:00am to place concrete for the bridge deck at FM 16. Traffic will be stopped in both directions. Local law enforcement will be on site to assist with traffic control. No lane closures are allowed after noon on Friday’s. Continue reading TxDOT’s Weekly Roadwork Update

RUSK COUNTY – One person has been killed and two injured in a one vehicle accident in Rusk County. The crash occurred Friday morning on Farm Road 2011, near County Road 2116, south east of Lake Cherokee. Killed was a passenger in the vehicle, Jamie Marie Ramirez, 31, of Tatum. Injured were the driver, Johnathan Tanner, 26, of Tatum and a two year old boy. Both were taken to a Longview hospital for treatment. The Department of Public Safety reports Tanner was passing another vehicle when he lost control of the car on the wet road. The car left the road and hit a tree.

LUFKIN – A customer at a Lufkin store has been shot and killed during a robbery. The holdup at the Dollar General on Kurth Drive occurred shortly after 9:45 Friday night. Lufkin police say the suspect entered the store, demanded money and then shot a customer who was standing at the register. He has been identified as Darrence Kindle, 31, of Lufkin. Kindle had just gotten off work at Georgia Pacific and went the store to buy cigarettes before going home. When officers arrived, Kindle had a weak pulse. He was taken to a Lufkin hospital for treatment, where he later died. Continue reading Customer Killed During Lufkin Robbery

KILGORE – A Kilgore man is being accused of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Arrested Friday was Daniel Martin Rios Sanchez, 28. The incident is said to have occurred at the suspect’s home in late August. According to the Longview News Journal, the girl reported the incident to police September 28 during an unrelated forensic interview at Martin House Children’s Advocacy Center in Longview. According to an affidavit, Sanchez said he asked the victim how old she was, and she said she was 13 years old. He told Kilgore police he had sex with the girl several times, but he believed it was consensual.

JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville police say several burglaries have been solved with the arrest of two persons. They were arrested after they were seen dragging a toy capsule vending machine across a street. A juvenile was arrested hiding under a house on Nacogdoches Street. Later, when a search warrant was served at the house, Andre Dylan Helm, 18, was arrested. Officers were able to track items that had fallen out of the machine back to a restaurant on East Rusk Street that had been burglarized. Additional arrests are expected in the case. Continue reading Jacksonville Burglary Suspects Arrested

TYLER – Two gas skimmers have turned up at a Tyler service station. Investigators with the North Texas Financial Crimes Task Force found the skimmers at the Exxon station on Lake Placid Road. They were removed from the pumps and were processed for evidence. Skimmer devices will capture your credit card information allowing the suspect to clone a new credit card and charge on your account

TYLER – Tyler’s CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital is named as one of the top hospitals in the nation. CareChex, an information service of Quantros, Inc., has named the Tyler hospital number 1 in the state for Overall Hospital Care, Overall Surgical Care, Coronary Bypass Surgery, Gastrointestinal Care and General Surgery in the 2018 Award Rankings. The hospital was also named in the Top 100 hospitals in the nation and among the Top 10% nationally in Medical Excellence and Patient Safety for more than 20 clinical categories. Continue reading Tyler Hospital Recognized for Quality Care

LONGVIEW – Longview police are continuing the investigation into the city’s 9th homicide of the year. The shooting death was reported shortly before midnight Wednesday on Thirteenth Street. Dead at the scene was 26 year old Sandy Leon Brown of Longview. He was found dead in a carport at the residence. A second man was also shot. He received a non-life threatening injury. His name has not been released. According to police Sergeant Shane McCarter, they are still looking for witnesses.

TYLER – After over 35 years of service, Tyler police officer Larry Christian is retiring. He started as a patrol officer at the Tyler Police Department in 1982. Over the past three decades, he has served as a detective, internal affairs officer, accident investigator, field training officer and field training coordinator. Over the years he has received numerous awards and certifications, including Plain Clothes Officer of the Year award in 1994 and the Tyler Patrolman’s Association Excellence in Policing award in 2005. According to police chief Jimmy Toler, who is seen on the right in the picture, “his experience and professionalism will be greatly missed.”

PALESTINE – Palestine’s burn ban has been lifted. The temporary burn ban was instituted October 25th to coincide with the burn ban in effect in Anderson County. Now that Anderson County’s burn ban has been lifted, Palestine has followed suit. Palestine residents will be allowed to burn if they obtain a permit at one of the three Palestine Fire Stations.

AUSTIN – Tyler is running ahead of the state when it comes to home sales. When compared to the same quarter last year, Tyler home sales increased 3.3% to 847 single-family home sales. The median price increased 8.5% to $189,900. The figures are contained in the 2017-Q3 Texas Quarterly Housing Report. Statewide, it is a different story. Texas home sales volume decreased 0.3% to 91,401 home sales. Vicki Fullerton, chairman of the Texas Association of Realtors, says the slight drop in Texas home sales is because of the impact of Hurricane Harvey. The Texas home sales decline on quarterly basis is for the first time since 2012. The median price of a home in the state, however, increased 5.6% from the prior year to $225,000.

RUSK COUNTY – One person has been killed and two injured in a one vehicle accident in Rusk County. The crash occurred Friday morning on Farm Road 2011, near County Road 2116, south east of Lake Cherokee. The Department of Public Safety reports a driver was passing another vehicle when he lost control of the car on the wet road. The car left the road and hit a tree. A passenger in the car was killed and the driver, and another passenger, were taken to a Longview hospital for treatment. Their names have not been released.

ATHENS – Henderson County authorities are continuing their probe into the deaths of two young girls. The mother of the seven and five year old girls, 29 year old Sarah Nicole Henderson, of Mabank, is charged with one count of capital murder. A second capital murder charge is pending. She remains in Henderson County Jail under suicide watch. Her bond is $2 million. Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said, during an interview with investigators, she confessed to shooting the girls. Investigators say the mother had planned the girls’ deaths weeks in advance. Continue reading Investigation Continues in Murders of Henderson County Children