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SMITH COUNTY- A water main break under County Road 431, also known as Jim Hogg Road, has been repaired and the road is back open to drivers. Lindale Rural Water Supply repaired the water main Friday and Smith County Road and Bridge crews have backfilled the hole with a clay and gravel mix and put a temporary patch on the section of road, just north of Interstate 20.

Because of the rain forecasted for the area this weekend, Smith County Engineer Frank Davis said his crews will go back out and start the permanent patching and repaving next week.
 

TYLER – The defense team of a former nurse convicted of murder, appeared in court on Thursday to discuss the reported harassment of jurors. According to our news partner KETK, the 114th district court convened on Thursday to address Judge Austin Reeve Jackson’s motion against the legal team of a convicted former CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Francis nurse. Reeve Jackson said the court had received numerous complaints of investigators and lawyers attempting to contact jurors and “refusing to accept the answer of ‘no, I do not want to speak with you.’”

The judge said jurors informed the court that spouses had opened the door and informed members of the defense that the juror did not wish to speak to the legal team. Jurors were also reportedly “contacted multiple times in the morning, late at night, interrupting family hours, dinner hours from kids and other family members.” Continue reading Judge issues rules in appeal case of convicted nurse

MARSHALL – An East Texas man has been arrested after a coordinated effort between multiple law enforcement agencies. According to our news partner KETK, 21-year-old Cameron Payton was arrested Tuesday for sexual assault of a child and evading arrest. The Marshall PD was aided in the arrest effort by the Joint Harrison County Violent Crime and Narcotics Task Force, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Daingerfield PD, Morris County Sheriff’s Office and Texas DPS.

In a news release from the Marshall Police Department, Marshall Police Chief Cliff Carruth said, “This is a great example of the Marshall Police Department and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office working together and coordinating with regional law enforcement to stop dangerous individuals who are accused of violent crimes in our community.”

After his arrest, Payton was booked into the Morris County Jail where he awaits transfer to the Harrison County Jail.

TYLER – Smith County law enforcement Tuesday arrested a Eustace man for organizing what authorities identify as a plot for gang members to murder a man in 2020. According to our news partner KETK, Brandon Edwards, who was known to be the Sergeant at Arms of a local 1%er Cossacks “outlaw motorcycle gang chapter” was found shot to death off FM 850 in Chapel Hill in May 2020.

Authorities said that 38-year-old Chad Crowell, identified as the National Sergeant at Arms of the Ugly Man Cossacks called a Sergeant at Arms meeting in Fall 2019 where he told those attending, if they see a member of the 1%er Cossacks “you are to put him down.” The club rivalry is due in part to each “club” claiming to be the “real Cossacks” and operating in the same area.

Investigators said that “smash on site” order came from national leadership. Crowell’s bail has been set at $2.5 million.

KILGORE – Two individuals are currently in custody after Kilgore PD responded to an armed home invasion that was reportedly ‘centered around a vape.’ According to the Kilgore Police Department, officers responded to a disturbance in the 600 block of Harris Street on Wednesday night to investigates a report that two men broke into a residence with a machete and assaulted the residents. It was reported that the incident was centered around a stolen vape. The police department said that both of the residents had received injuries from the assault and the suspects had fled before officers arrived. Kilgore PD said that with the help of the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office and the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office they were able to place an 18-year-old and 17-year-old in custody at their residence and seized a weapon as evidence. Both suspects are currently being held in the Kilgore Municipal Jail for burglary of a habitation.

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY – A Memphis man was arrested in Nacogdoches after deputies seized about 319 pounds of promethazine on Saturday during a traffic stop. According to our news partner KETK, deputies pulled over Rodarius Criss, 24, at around 1 a.m. for a traffic violation. A K9 officer was called after Criss reportedly denied deputies permission to search the vehicle. After the K9 alerted officials, a probable cause search was conducted, a release said. Criss was charged with possession of a dangerous drug.

Promethazine is a prescription medication used to treat allergies and nausea, the National Library of Medicine said. The sheriff’s office said the drug is misused for its sedative effects. Continue reading 319 pounds of promethazine seized

CROCKETT – The Crockett Police Department had a simple traffic stop on Tuesday net them eight pounds of cocaine. According to our news partner KETK, the CPD stopped 30-year-old Eric Galvan of Jacksonville and 31-year-old Emilio Osorio of Tyler for a traffic violation. During the vehicle inspection, officers found an aftermarket speaker box in the truck. Inside the box, they found three “bricks of suspected cocaine” wrapped in electrical tape that weighed over eight pounds. At this time, Galvan tried to run. But, he was quickly caught and arrested. Galvan was charged with possession of a controlled substance, evading arrest or detention, and resisting arrest, search or transport. Osorio was charged with possession of a controlled substance. Both were booked into the Houston County jail.

ATHENS – The City of Athens announced that some residents may have interruption in their water service on Thursday because of utility repairs. According to our news partner KETK, the temporary outage will affect residents starting around 9 p.m. from South Pinkerton Street to Hawn Street, the south and north sides of West Corsicana Street and South Pinkerton from Larue to West Corsicana Street.

TYLER — Insomnia Cookies, a popular late-open bakery, is planning to open a location in Tyler soon. According to our news partner KETK, on the website for Insomnia Cookies, they list a location in Tyler as “coming soon.” The address is 3979 University Boulevard Unit 400, near the University of Texas at Tyler campus. Insomnia Cookies’ describes themselves as a bakery that is open late to cater to late night cravings, offering a number of cookies, brownies ice cream and more. According to their website their locations offer delivery of the sweet treats as well.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Former Payne Springs police officer Jonathan Hutchison pleaded guilty to charges on Monday. According to our news partner KETK, on Monday, Hutchison pleaded guilty to his charges of manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance as part of an open plea. The court said that a charge of money laundering is being considered.

In March of 2023, Hutchison, alongside former Payne Springs Chief of Police April Meadows, were arrested after search warrants revealed controlled substances in their homes. Continue reading Former officer pleads guilty to drug charges

SHELBY COUNTY — Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for seven East Texas counties that were impacted by severe storms and flooding from the past week. According to our news partner, KETK, a statement from the governor said that Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Newton, Panola, Shelby and Tyler counties continue to be affected by last weeks rain and flooding.

Throughout East Texas, authorities are continuing to access the damage as flood waters recede. Residents are asked to report damages to homes and using the he Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool, or iSTAT. Governor Abbott said the information in the iSTAT reports will help indentify disaster assistance and resources needed. To find iSTAT, click this link.

TYLER  — On Tuesday, Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith announced that through DNA testing, skeletal remains discovered in 1985 had been identified as Sindy Gina Crow, a 27-year-old from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. According to our news partner KETK, a mowing crew discovered the skeletal remains in a brush-covered gully 75 feet from I-20 east of Highway 69 in October 1985. The crew then contacted the Lindale Police Department who got in touch with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. During a search of the area, officials reportedly found a lady’s shirt, earrings and a watch.

The remains were then reportedly taken to the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas for an autopsy. There, officials believed the body belonged to a white or Hispanic female approximately 25 years of age with reddish-brown hair tied in a ponytail. Continue reading Smith County Sheriff identifies 1985 cold case victim

TYLER — Drivers can expect traffic delays on Loop 323 near Troup Highway after a mobile home fell over on Tuesday afternoon. According to the Tyler Police information officer Andy Erbaugh, westbound lanes are closed on Loop 323 near Troup Highway after a mobile home overturned across from Texas Roadhouse.

TYLER — The Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is hosting an open house for community members to update the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) on Tuesday, April 23, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The meeting will be in the Tyler Development Center’s large conference room at 423 W. Ferguson St. During the open house, community members will learn about revised construction dates, updated project cost estimates, and clarification edits to project descriptions for proposed highway and transit projects, including: widening FM 756 from Jeff Davis Drive to FM 346, Constructing an overpass at the intersection of FM 756 and FM 346 and widening FM 2493 from Loop 323 to FM 2813. Continue reading Transportation Improvement Program open house today

WHITEHOUSE — The Whitehouse Independent School District named Dr. Casey Whittle as their lone finalist for superintendent on Monday. According to our news partner KETK, the Board of Trustees sorted through nearly 40 candidates, and decided Whittle would be the best fit.

“Our goal was to find the person we thought could inspire our students more than anybody else and could equip them with those type of opportunities,” Todd Raabe, Whitehouse Board of Trustees president, said. “We really believe Casey Whittle’s our man.”

According to a release, Whittle has dedicated nearly 25 years to public education and served as assistant superintendent for human resources at Wylie ISD and as high school principal in Comal ISD. Whittle said he plans to help develop teachers, so they can take their students across the finish line. Continue reading Whitehouse ISD names superintendent finalist

GREGG COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, a former East Texas elementary school teacher pleaded guilty on Monday to four counts of injury to a child causing bodily injury. Cecilia Gregg, who reportedly had been working with the district since 2009, was charged with four counts for allegedly striking students with her hand.

In July 2022, six former J.L. Everhart employees were indicted for charges related to the mistreatment of elementary students: Paula Hawkins Dixon, 58, Cassandra Renee James, 48, Linda Kaye Brown Lister, 61, Priscilla Johnson, 56, Cecilia Gregg, 57, Cynthia Telley, 56.

Longview ISD released a statement in 2022 addressing the allegations. Continue reading Former Longview ISD employee pleads guilty to injuring students

TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office announced that they will be sharing new information regarding a cold homicide case from 1985. According to our news partner KETK, Sheriff Larry Smith announced that there will be a press conference on Tuesday at 2:45 p.m. concerning “positive identification of skeletal remains” that were found in 1985 on I-20. The sheriff’s office said that the remains were initially identified as a female homicide victim, but she remained a Jane Doe until recently.

AUSTIN – A Palestine resident claimed a top prize winning ticket worth $3 million in the Texas Lottery scratch ticket game Maximum Millions. The ticket was purchased at JJ’s Fastop, located on East Palestine Avenue. The lucky winner has decided to remain anonymous.

TYLER – The Tyler Junior College Apache Cheer squad won their second national championship on Friday after their first ever championship last year. According to our news partner KETK, the team competed in the National Cheer Association championships in Daytona, Florida. The TJC cheer team won first place in the intermediate large coed junior college category.

TYLER — A former employee of a Tyler nursing home pleaded guilty Friday in the death of a resident who was tied to a wheelchair. Bobby Posey, 23, was arrested after Larry Coffey, a resident of the Tyler nursing home where Posey worked, died after falling while tied to a wheelchair. Posey was charged with injury to an elderly or disabled person causing reckless body injury. On Friday, Posey pleaded guilty to the crime in Judge Austin Jackson’s court and received five years deferred probation.

Posey’s indictment said that he had a legal duty to act, and had assumed care, custody, or control of the elderly individual by virtue of his employment at the facility. For ignoring the man’s restraints, Posey was found partially at fault for his fatal injury. Continue reading Brownsboro man gets probation in death of a nursing home patient

RUSK COUNTY — The Gaston Museum announced on Sunday that the museum board has decided to close permanently. According to a release, the chairman of the museum said current and previous board members have devoted their time and sacrifice to remain open as long as they could and they did not make the decision to close lightly. “I personally have spent 15 years now assisting or serving and feel as a piece of my life is going away. I know you feel the same. My family just like yours, were centered in this community and the Gaston Museum has carried a legacy of our families through 30 years of honor and memories of an era like no other. I leave here in tears every time I come, mourning what has to be,” the chairman said. Continue reading Rusk County museum to close doors

MARSHALL – Our news partners at KETK report that Wiley University received a grant from Interfaith America, to further interfaith learning on the campus. According to a statement, the $30,000 grant will be used to “embed interfaith education and attention to religious diversity into the general education course.” Wiley University said that the grant will help to fund guest speakers with faith traditions outside of the Christian perspective, to widen the understanding of the students. Continue reading Wiley University receives $30k ‘religious pluralism’ grant

TYLER – The City of Tyler announced that street repairs downtown may cause traffic delays. City officials say that brick street repairs on South Bonner Avenue between West Front Street and West Houston Street will close the street to through traffic until May 1 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

TYLER – The Junior League of Tyler hosted their annual Touch a Truck event to raise money for local nonprofits and provide a fun, educational experience for the whole family. According to a statement, the Junior League of Tyler’s event hosted a variety of public service vehicles, heavy equipment pieces and representatives of several industries for children to see and touch. Continue reading Junior League of Tyler gives back

PALESTINE – The Palestine Police Department said that a pedestrian was killed in a crash in the 800 block of Crockett Road at around 12:20 a.m. on Friday.

When Palestine PD officers arrived at the crash scene they found a 2021 blue Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck that hit the pedestrian and a telephone pole, according to a press release.

Marcos Sanchez, 51 of Palestine, died at the scene because of his injuries from the crash.

Palestine PD said that the driver of the Ram was travelling north on Crockett Road when he reportedly crossed the road into oncoming traffic and hit Sanchez while witnesses saw him taking his trash out to the curb.

Dillon Wayne Fogle, 39 of Elkhart, was arrested for intoxication manslaughter after officers reportedly smelled alcohol on his breath and found a open alcohol container in his truck.

Fogle was taken to the Anderson County jail and bonded out after being charged with intoxication manslaughter and unlawfully carrying a weapon.