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KILGORE — The Kilgore College Foundation has awarded the sixth “Summer $ix” scholarship to Cullen Ray. The graduate of Kilgore High School, Ray, is majoring in cosmetology/barbering. For the last six weeks, the “Summer $ix” registration campaign has given students who register for KC classes during the week a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship for the fall semester. The fall semester at KC begins Aug. 24. For more information on academic advising and registration, visit http://www.kilgore.edu/advising.

TYLER — Belly rubs, head scratches and smiles were in abundance during a recent shift change at UT Health Tyler. Caregivers coming on or off duty stopped to interact with Therapet dogs, who lined the hallway of the hospital’s skywalk. “Nowadays it’s really stressful, so it’s great to see dogs,” said Ashley Meador, occupational therapy assistant, as she stopped to pet one of the therapy dogs after her shift ended. “I really want a dog, so it made all the difference.” Therapet partners with UT Health East Texas to serve patients on a regular basis. Continue reading UT Health caregivers get a lift from Therapet visit

LONGVIEW — CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Emergency Center on Hawkins Parkway in Longview will be the site for a hot car demonstration on Wednesday at 1 p.m. Organizers say it on takes a matter of minutes for a car left in the summer heat to become dangerously hot inside. The heat index is expected to be more than 100 degrees. A doll and a thermometer are part of the presentation. ‘Look before You Leave’ is geared towards not only educating the public about the dangers of leaving children in a hot car, but also how to prevent tragedy. Texas often leads the nation in hot car deaths among children. Continue reading Hot car demonstration to be held at CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Historical Museum’s free summer lecture series will feature Clent Holmes this Thursday. Holmes will present the “1919 Longview Remembrance Project”at 2:30 p.m. at the Ann Lacy Crain Exhibit Center. This project is an effort to reshape the narrative around how a significant historic event is remembered in Longview, which is often referred to as the 1919 Race Riots. Holmes is hoping to bring honor and peace to the forgotten by installing a historical marker to remember a troubling aspect of Longview’s past and creating a documentary that chronicles these efforts and highlights oral histories from Longview’s citizens.

KILGORE — Kilgore police now know the identify a man wanted in a theft over the weekend. Police were asking the community for help in learning who the individual is, and they have come through. According to the departments facebook page, the man has been identified. The man, who’s identity has not been released at this point, is suspected of stealing a car from Zippy J’s gas station this past Saturday. Police are reminding residents not to leave your vehicle running, and unlocked when entering a store.

TYLER — The Tyler Economic Development Council, Inc., will receive a grant from the EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance fund. Felicia Herndon tells KTBB, “This is a new Revolving Loan Fund, $682,000 has been allocated to TEDC. This is going to target those small businesses that have been directly impacted by COVID-19. In doing so, this is going to allow us to branch out and do a little more than what we we’re able to do with the original Smith County Revolving Loan Fund.” For more information click the link. https://www.tedc.org/news. Continue reading TEDC gets grant to help small businesses impacted by COVID-19

TYLER — A free drive-thru distribution, originally scheduled for Friday, has been rescheduled to Wednesday, from 1-3 pm. Organizers said the give-a-way will take place at the East Texas State Fairgrounds, in front of Harvey Hall. Attendees will receive free produce and fresh items, pending availability, on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are no eligibility requirements or paperwork needed to receive the items. Attendees will need to enter off Front St., follow traffic control guidance and stay in their car. Multiple households can ride together. To pick up produce for someone else, a hand-written note is required from that person with their name, address, permission for you to pick up for them and their signature. Continue reading Produce distribution rescheduled for this Wednesday

SMITH COUNTY — A newborn reported missing last week by Child Protective Services has been found safe. According to our news partner KETK, the one-month-old is reported in good health and doing fine. Shari Pulliam, a CPS spokeswoman, said that the baby boy was found late Saturday night. Details about him being found are still coming in. When DPS attempted to remove the child, Chelsea Baker, the child’s mother, ran with him. It is unclear at this time if Chelsea or Kenny Baker will face criminal charges.

TYLER — A group of residents who successfully fought to change the name of Robert E Lee and John Tyler High School, are now trying to change the name of Confederate Avenue. According to our news partner KETK, the group spent the weekend going door to door getting signatures from residents. The city says the group must obtain a signature from each household and business on the street. If that occurs, then the matter will go before the city council for a vote.

JACKSONVILLE — The Texas Emergency Medical Services for Children State Partnership has awarded the emergency center at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville. The department received the Pediatric Ready Facility. The Texas EMSC’s Voluntary Pediatric Readiness Program awarded the achievement recognizing the department’s dedication offering optimal care for ill and injured pediatric patients. This facility is the very first to obtain this recognition in the state of Texas. Similar to trauma center designation, a pediatric readiness program aids facilities in self-identifying areas which can elevate care.

LONGVIEW — People gathered at New Beginnings Faith Ministry in Longview for their 20th annual yearly ministry giveaway on Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, those in need, were able to receive supplies of food, furniture, and haircuts all free of charge. “2O years ago God spoke to me saying, make sure no kid goes without, not only the kids but their parents. And I’m saying, okay how do I do that? He said with the school supplies,” says Pastor Gloria Lewis. Continue reading Longview church marks 20 years of helping with back to school outreach

LONGVIEW — A Longview physician who had his license suspended earlier this week was arrested on Friday on allegations of sexual abuse with three of his male patients. According to our news partner KETK, all three of the clients were under the age of 17. Dr. Matt E. Hipke, 58, was charged with two counts of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14. Jail records indicate each count carries a bond of $500,000. Hipke’s license was invalidated on Monday, after the Texas Medical Board ordered a temporary suspension of medical license, “after determining his continuation in the practice of medicine poses a continuing threat to public welfare.” Continue reading Longview Dr. arrested on charges of sexual abuse of a child

TYLER — The City of Tyler Beauty and the Box program is a beautification program that began in 2016 taking traffic boxes and turning them into works of art by local artists. What started as a pilot program of ten boxes Downtown has grown to 60 vinyl-wrapped traffic cabinets across the City of Tyler. The following traffic signal boxes have recently been sponsored and wrapped: Grande Boulevard and Paluxy Drive: Sponsored by Ogle Constructions. Artwork by Dace Kidd. West Cumberland Road and Blue Mountain Boulevard: Sponsored by Create with Christie. Artwork by Christie Daugherty. You can also view more information on the website at http://www.KeepTylerBeautiful.com.

TYLER — The Champions for Children board of directors has announced the upcoming retirement of the organization’s executive director, Jackie Cannon. Cannon, after 7 years at the helm, will retire later this fall. “I’d like to thank the board for the honor of serving as executive director of this well-respected and important agency,” Mrs. Cannon said. “Because of wonderful colleagues, brilliant board members, dedicated clients, and substantial success, my time with Champions is among the greatest endeavors of my entire life.” Champions for Children is a Tyler-based organization that works to train daycare teachers, caregivers and parents, and provides specialized services for children with challenging behaviors. Under her leadership, the past few years have seen the organization add several programs and services including counseling for children, play therapy, social skills, autism education, additional resources and fundraising events throughout the year. Continue reading Champions for Children Executive Director Jackie Cannon to Retire this Fall

TYLER —

North East Texas Health shared information regarding COVID-19 testing on Friday evening. Positive antigen tests are categorized as a “Probable Case” of COVID-19 until the individual has been administered a Polymerase Chain Reaction Test (PCR Test). If a person’s PCR laboratory result is positive, the person is then categorized as a “Confirmed Case” of COVID-19. All COVID-19 statistics, whether “Confirmed” or “Probable”, within our 7-county region are the total number of unduplicated persons with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 test result. Continue reading NET Health notes distinctions in testing

TYLER — Keep Tyler Beautiful’s Bee City Committee has announced the construction of a Bee Observatory is underway at the Tyler Rose Garden. Belen Casillas told KTBB on Friday, “The City of Tyler is one of the four Texas Bee City USA, under the Keep Tyler Beautiful program with a mission to raise awareness in our community on the importance of all pollinator species, including bees. One of the ways we are going to do that is is by developing and implementing a program to create pollinator friendly habitats on public property. This includes our Bee Observatory that’s currently under construction in phase 1.” Continue reading Bee Observatory in the works for Tyler Rose Garden

JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville Police Department announced Friday, they will not hold their National Night Out, due to the coronavirus. The annual event was scheduled for October 6. Organizers say they had planned to have more than a thousand people on-site, they are planning to make the 2021 event “the best National Night Out event ever held in Jacksonville.” According to our news partner KETK, Jacksonville has the most cases in Cherokee County. As of Friday morning, the county has had 1,217 cases since the pandemic started with 556 being in Jacksonville. However, more than 1,000 people have recovered from the virus in Cherokee County. Of the 202 current active cases, 80 are currently hospitalized.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying a man suspected of assault. The altercation took place Scott’s Grocery in Myrtle Springs. If you have information regarding the identity or whereabouts of the pictured individual you are asked to contact the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office at 903-567-4133. Sheriff Corbett would like to thank the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigation Division for their continued assistance regarding this investigation.

LONGVIEW — Today restaurants, retailers, salons, and gyms are opened, but bars remain closed. Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered their clousure, for a second time, in May. Melissa Lynn Kelly who owns Outlaws Longview Bar, told our news partner KETK, bar owners feel singled out. “I don’t think Covid-19 just attracts itself to places that sell more than 51% alcohol, I have to pay my bills so that means I have to open.” Bar owners first need a food and beverage certificate from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to start selling food. The TABC already has more than 600 applications from Texas bar owners including one from Kelly. Continue reading Outlaws Longview Bar denied certification to reopen

TYLER — CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler was named to Newsweek’s 2020 list of Best Maternity Care Hospitals on Friday. The mark recognizes facilities that have excelled in providing care to mothers, newborns and their families, as verified by the 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Survey. Best Maternity Care Hospitals is part of Newsweek’s Best Health Care series, from data collected by The Leapfrog Group. Hospitals named as a Best Maternity Care Hospital have fully met standards for maternity care on evidence-based, nationally standardized metrics. Continue reading CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler Nationally Recognized as a Best Maternity Care Hospital by Newsweek

TYLER — The UT Health Science Center at Tyler will receive a grant for more than $2 million for plasma research to fight COVID-19. According to our news partner KETK, the money comes from the National Institutes of Health and will help answer questions on the effectiveness of convalescent plasma, or blood from people who have recovered from the virus. As of now, the experimental treatment is proving as a promising option for patients with COVID-19. Continue reading UT Health Science Center at Tyler gets COVID-19 research grant