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TYLER — The man accused of murdering a 10-year-old girl in Bullard in 2016 has pleaded guilty to the crime and will spend the rest of his life in prison. According to our news partner KETK, Gustavo Zavala-Garcia, 27, of Bullard, was in the 241st District Court Thursday morning to enter the plea for the death of his niece, Kayla Gomez. Kayla went missing from Bullard First Assembly of God Church in November 2016 and was found a few days later just a few miles away, in a well on Zavala-Garcia’s property. Zavala-Garcia had had his trial delayed five times, mostly to allow for further DNA testing. Prior to the guilty plea, the trial had been set for March 16, 2020.

HUGHES SPRINGS — The Hughes Springs Police Department reports 16-year-old Joshua Shaw of Gilmer has been found safe after being missing since May 8. According to our news partner KETK, it’s unknown why he went missing, and there was no immediate word on the circumstances of his return. Word went out August 18 about the search for Joshua as reported by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

TYLER — School board members in Tyler have voted to move forward with selling the district’s Agricultural Learning Center. Leaders say John Tyler High school’s ag center has been underutilized. The school says the sale does not jeopardize the district’s dedication to its ag program. A timeline on when the ag facility will hit the market isn’t known. Money from the sale would go back into the district’s general fund.

SMITH COUNTY — A Smith County man was acquitted by a jury after being accused of making a school threat on social media in 2018. According to our news partner KETK, Tyler McGill, 23, was found not guilty of false alarm or report on Tuesday in the 241st Judicial District Court. McGill was arrested in March 2018 for posting a video on Snapchat of himself in a vehicle. The video showed several guns inside an auto with the caption “coming soon to a school near you.”

TYLER — New initiatives and programs were announced Wednesday at the U.T. Tyler Annual Convocation. President Dr. Michael Tidwell said starting in the fall of 2020, students ranked in the top 25% of their class will be automatically accepted upon application. This fall, the school projects to have the largest freshman and sophomore classes in its history. The school will also be immediately recruiting for a new drum line program. Continue reading U.T. Tyler Announces Vision at 2019 Convocation

TYLER — Most schools in the area have started the fall semester and the Texas Department of Public Safety is reminding motorists about the dangers, and punishment for passing a school bus illegally. According to our news partner KETK, drivers who unlawfully pass a school bus can expect a fine up to $1,250. Continue reading DPS: Drivers Could Be Fined Over $1200 for Passing School Bus

GREGG COUNTY — The cause of death is unknown for two bodies discovered in Gregg County on Monday afternoon following initial autopsy reports. According to our news partner KETK, while the cause of death is unknown, there is nothing that would alter the inquiry from a death investigation. The bodies were located on Coulter Road, off FM 1844. The complete report of the autopsy could take as long as 90 days. The two identities of the bodies have not been released by police pending notification of family members.

TYLER — Smith County officials have approved funding that will eventually widen Old Jacksonville Highway. The project would enlarge the road, also known as farm-to-market road 2493, south to the Smith county line and into Cherokee county. The Texas Department of Transportation is at the helm of the project. TxDOT will pay 90 percent of the cost with money from the federal highway administration. The local cost of the estimated four point six million dollar initiative will be more than 460-thousand dollars.

GREGG COUNTY — A crash from September 2017 brought judgment for 21 year-old Davin Davis. According to our news parther KETK, Davis and Chad Malone were racing down the loop in Longview nearly 2 years ago, traveling as fast as 110 mph. Malone’s car hit a truck exiting a parking lot. The wreck claimed the lives of Rylee Malone and Meshebia Johnson. The accident also badly injured Christa Wilson. On Tuesday afternoon Davis entered a guilty pleas and was sentenced to spend the next 12 years of his life behind bars. Malone was sentenced in February to 12 years as well.

SMITH COUNTY — Officials from the Smith County Sheriffs office responded the scene of a gas station at I-20 and Jim Hogg Road Tuesday afternoon where a body was found near a wooded area. According to our news partner KETK, the body was found to be a white male and partially decomposed.The scene was processed for evidence and the neighborhood was canvassed. The cause of death is unknown. An autopsy had been ordered by the Justice of the Peace.

CHAPEL HILL — An autopsy was conducted on 3-year-old Madison Williams and the preliminary report shows that she drowned. According to our news partner KETK, no criminal charges have been filed in the case, but the investigation is still ongoing. Williams disappeared from her home early Sunday morning. Deputies and volunteers searched for nine hours. She was discovered in a pond not far from her home.

TYLER — Although Smith County Fire Marshal Jay Brooks did not encourage a burn ban be issued by the Commissioners Court on Tuesday, he did urge residents to use extreme caution when burning and to abstain from it, if possible. Brooks told the court his office has been monitoring the Keetch-Byram Drought Index for Smith County, as well as weather conditions and the number of grass fires in the county. Continue reading Smith County Fire Marshal Urges Caution

BULLARD — A Ballon release was held on Monday night in honor of the late Bullard softball coach. Megan Dobrinksi died last week following her battle with cancer. According to our news partner KETK, she was celebrated on Monday night as the community of Bullard continues to heal. A petition is circulating online to rename Bullard ISD Softball field to Dobrinksi Field. At last check it had gained over 5,000 signatures. If you would like to sign the petition to change the name of the field, click the link https://www.change.org/p/school-board-name-the-bullard-softball-field-dobrinski-field?signed=true

WOOD COUNTY — Seven people are behind bars, after an extensive poaching investigation in Wood county. According to our news partner KETK, officials launched their investigation in February. They uncovered a large amount of poaching, going on in both Wood and Smith counties. Game Wardens say around 28 white-tailed deer and more than 50 pigs were shot and killed from public roads with the aid of a spotlight. Several deer were left in the field to waste. One man, Chance Briggs of Van, is still wanted in connection to this case. Authorities say he is in Oregon, but faces felony and misdemeanor warrants.

TYLER — Good news for students and teachers in Tyler, as they kick off a new school year. According to our news partner KETK, recent legislative session funding means an increase for Tyler ISD schools, while property tax rates will be reduced. The session poured millions of dollars into the finance system. Tyler ISD got around 10 million dollars. Around 6 million of that will be used for raises for every employee in the district. For property taxes,owners will see a seven cent compression per 100 dollars. The new budget takes effect September 1st.

JACKSONVILLE — A press release from the Jacksonville Police Department has confirmed that an online threat on Tuesday to JPD that stated, “I’m going to shoot up every school and day care within a 30-mile radius then I’m coming for your officers” originated in the United Kingdom. It is being investigated further, however it is believed that there is no local threat. That threat was sent to the JPD Facebook page. Continue reading Online “Shoot Up Every School” Threat from UK

EAST TEXAS — Rusk County has become the second county to issue a burn ban on Tuesday, less than an hour after Henderson County. In both instances Commissioner’s took action to prohibit outside burning of any kind during the ban. This comes after the hottest stretch of the summer, which included multiple days over 100 degrees.

TYLER — The United Way of Smith County kicks off its 2019 campaign with two goals: a ten per cent increase in participation and a total of $1.5 million. United Way President Nan Moore says everyone can get involved, regardless of the size of your gift. Moore notes that some new companies have joined the effort, which has already raised $9,000. She also reminds you that anyone donating five dollars or more per week can enter a drawing for a Jeep Renegade to be given away by Patterson Auto Group. Moore says each year, the local United Way helps one in four people living in the county thanks to corporate gifts, workplace campaigns, and individual donors. Go to https://uwsmithcounty.org/ for additional information.

GREGG COUNTY — The Gregg County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the deaths of two people who were found after a welfare check. According to our news partner KETK, the bodies were found in the 300 block of Coulter Road, just off FM 1844, in the East Mountain area of Gregg County. The cause of death is unknown. Autopsies have been ordered.

LONGVIEW — On Wednesday TxDOT crews will be conducting seal coat operations at the I-20 Service Road at FM 2207 in Liberty City and SH 135 from Watson St., just south of the Traffic Circle in Kilgore, to the Rusk County. Alternate routes are encouraged. Motorists can expect lane closures and delays with flaggers and a pilot car providing traffic control at all work locations.

TYLER — Another banner year for the Tyler Cattle Barons’ Gala, held June 29: $540,596.82 raised for the American Cancer Society. The announcement came during a Monday celebration reception, during which co-chair Jayme Fitzpatrick thanked the Tyler/Smith community for its year-in, year-out support. Fitzpatrick added that the 32nd annual event sought to honor those who have died from cancer — “but also celebrate the ones…who have fought the battle and won.” It was additionally announced that the 33rd Gala will be held June 13, 2020, again at Texas Rose Horse Park. The theme will be “Pistols and Pearls.”

GILMER — Donnie Hill, 55, of White Oak, Texas appeared in front of 115th District Court Judge Dean Fowler on Monday to begin his trial for the charge of Aggravated Sexual Assault of an Elderly Person. The jury of 7-men, 5-women were selected last week. However, before testimony began on Monday, Hill changed his plea to guilty. After hearing the plea and the evidence in the case, Judge Dean Fowler sentenced Hill to forty years. Mr. Hill must serve at least one half of that time before he is eligible for parole—making him 75 years old. If he is ever released, Mr. Hill must register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.

LUFKIN (AP) — Prosecutors say a Texas man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole in the drowning death of his girlfriend’s 3-year-old nephew. Authorities say Bobby Woods Jr. told police that his girlfriend, Billie Jean Cuttler, was pregnant and that he wanted 3-year-old Mason Cuttler dead because they needed space at the home where several families lived. An attorney later said Cuttler wasn’t pregnant. Woods was convicted Friday of capital murder for the 2015 death. Investigators say Woods pushed Mason into a pond near Lufkin, 110 miles northeast of Houston. Cuttler, who faced competency issues, pleaded guilty to conspiracy commit murder in exchange for a 20-year prison term.

LONGVIEW — Texas State House Representative Jay Dean will seek re-election in 2020. According to a release from his campaign on Monday, Dean will be seeking his third term to represent House District 7, which encompasses most of Longview, Kilgore, Gladewater, Gilmer, and Big Sandy. Dean was first elected in the 2016 election. He ran unopposed in 2018. Continue reading Texas Rep Jay Dean Announces Re-Election Plans

TYLER — Tyler ISD continues to raise its number of academic merits earned through the Texas Education Agency accountability system. Tyler ISD campuses have earned 45 distinctions across all possible indexes, continuing the district’s achievements, climbing from 33 in 2017, 28 in 2016 and 23 in 2015. According to the District, accomplishments are awarded based on high levels of achievement in four index areas; Student Achievement, Student Progress, Closing Performance Gaps and Post Secondary Readiness.

TYLER — The City of Tyler’s Beauty and the Box program has added the 42nd vinyl-wrapped box to the beautification program that began in 2016 that transforms traffic boxes into works of art by local artists. The latest work of art can be found on the corner of Front Street and Glenwood Boulevard.

UNION HILL — Union Hill ISD students got a reprieve from the first day of class, but not a break from the heat. The district north of Gilmer was impacted by the power outages causing them to to cancel classes for Monday. According to our news partner KETK, Students who took the bus were fed breakfast and then sent back home. Continue reading Union Hill Classes Cancelled

SMITH COUNTY — The body of a 3-year-old girl reported missing early Sunday morning has been found. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County officials have reported that the missing child was located at 3:30 p.m. Sunday by a dive team in a nearby pond. The child was identified as Madison Williams. According to Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith, foul play is not suspected. Madison was known to walk across the pasture to her grandparent’s house and follow the family dog around. The investigation is still open.

GILMER — Joshua Shaw has been missing since May 8, 2019, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. According to our news partner KETK, he is 16 years old and described as 5’8″, 100 Ibs, with brown hair and brown eyes. Any information of his whereabouts can be directed toward the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office at 903-843-2541. Additional information can be found at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children website.