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TROUP — Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced the city of Troup has achieved specific debt transparency and public pension goals through the Comptroller’s Transparency Stars program. The city received a Transparency Star in the area of debt obligations, which recognizes entities whose websites show visual and narrative detail on outstanding debt, tax-supported debt obligations, historical bond elections, and more. The city also received a Transparency Star in the area of public pensions, awarded to local governments whose websites provide visual and narrative explanations of actuarial valuations, contribution rates, and benchmark comparisons and meet other criteria. These stars are in addition to Troup’s previous financial transparency star for traditional finances awarded in June 2018.

JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville Police Department has installed a prescription “take back” container in the main lobby of the police department on West Larissa. It can be used by anyone who wishes to turn in unused or no longer needed prescription drugs to be disposed of properly. Acceptable items for disposal are prescription medications, prescription ointments and liquids, over the counter medications, vitamins, and medications for pets. Non-acceptable items are hydrogen peroxide; illegal drugs; inhalers, aerosol cans, ointments, lotions, or liquids that are not prescription; needles or sharps of any kind; and medication from businesses or clinics. The container is available during business hours Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

TYLER — Tyler Junior College has added anthropology classes to its history and geography program. The classes will be taught by Dr. Keith Eppich, who recently joined the full-time faculty at TJC. Eppich holds multiple degrees from Louisiana State University and San Diego State University, and a Ph.D. from Southern Methodist University. He specializes in the study of the Classic Maya ceramic arts, Native American urbanism, and the Mesoamerican economy — and has recently published on all three. Eppich joined his first archaeological project at age eight and has performed a variety of excavations since then.

TYLER — Shortly after being released from jail in a related incident, 19-year-old Dwight Shears, of Lufkin, has been arrested for a Saturday morning assault and robbery on Muller Garden in Tyler. Officers answering a 911 call about the Muller Garden attack were told Shears was threatening his ex-girlfriend with a knife and that the woman had a protective order against Shears. Shears left before officers arrived, but they caught up with him on South Broadway. Police say Shears forced his way into the victim’s apartment and assaulted her before two men tried to intervene. Shears then reportedly used a screwdriver and a knife to cut one of the men, causing minor injuries. Police say Shears took the other man’s cell phone. Shears had just been released from Smith County Jail for a previous assault incident involving his ex-girlfriend. Shears was charged with 3 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated robbery, and violation of protective order.

TYLER — Tyler investigators have obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect in an August 24 altercation at the Family Dollar on East Gentry. Bond is $250,000 for 21-year-old Quidaejan Reanne Crawford, charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. According to a news release, Crawford told investigators she would turn herself in but has failed to do so. If you have any leads, you’re asked to contact Tyler police at 903-531-1000 or Tyler Crime Stoppers at 903-597-2833. Police say Crawford first got into a verbal altercation with an employee, then began throwing items around the store and then left. Police tell us the employee walked outside to obtain Crawford’s license plate number as Crawford left the parking lot. According to the news release, Crawford abruptly circled around, accelerated, and struck the employee with her vehicle, throwing him into the front doors of the business. He was taken to the hospital and released.

TYLER — Justin Bryant Davis went from salesman to scammer. According to our news partner KETK, the Flint man pleaded guilty this week to stealing at least $100,000 from his employer — and may have stolen from another workplace as well. The owner of Tyler’s American Gold and Diamond Exchange and a private investigator discovered altered receipts that accounted for money stolen over seven months. After the receipts were shown to Davis, he confessed to forging them. After the discovery, the owner of American reached out to Jim’s Jewelers in Tyler, where Davis had earlier worked for six years. He was soon accused of stealing up to $30,000 in jewelry from Jim’s. That included a bracelet discovered in American’s inventory after Davis reportedly sold it to American. Davis is still facing trial in the Jim’s Jewelers cases.

TYLER – According to the National Weather Service, the weather in Tyler in August turned out to be warmer and drier than usual. The summer of 2018 tied with 1934 for the fourth warmest summer on record. The warmest summer on record in Tyler was in 2011. August 2018 was in sharp contrast with the previous August. August 2017 was 3.4 degrees cooler, and 10.02 inches wetter than normal. In fact, August 2017, with 11.65 inches, was the wettest August since record-keeping began in 1883. There were three daily rainfall records set during that month, and two days on which record low maximum temperatures were experienced. The summer of 2018 contrasted with that of 2017, as well. The 2018 summer saw temperatures 4.4 degrees warmer than normal, and rainfall 3.70 inches less than normal. The summer of 2018 was 3.8 degrees warmer than that of 2017, and 14.61 inches drier. Year-to-date rainfall was less than normal, and 16.42 inches less in 2018 than through August 31, 2017.

TYLER – One person has been killed and three injured in a one vehicle accident in Tyler. It happened just before 3:30 Friday afternoon on U.S. Highway 271 near the U.T. Health Science Center. The victim is identified as Manny Osorio, 4. Police spokesman Don Martin said a Jeep Wrangler was heading north when the driver lost control and drove off the shoulder and hit a pole with a cement base. It then flipped. The accident remains under investigation.

SMITH COUNTY – A Smith County man is in the Wood County Jail after being chased by the Department of Public Safety. Derrick Markeith Francis, 27, of Lindale. Reports say he would stop for officers in Wood County and headed south into Smith County on Farm Road 14. He stopped just south of Farm Road 2015 and ran away. State troopers were able to find him and arrest him.

NEW SUMMERFIELD – A Cherokee County accident has killed one person. The one vehicle crash occurred around 6:30 Friday morning on County Road 4228, about 4 miles northwest of New Summerfield. Dead at the scene was Gavin Taylor, 19, of Troup, who was not wearing his seatbelt. A passanger, Garrett Zane Massey, 17, of Jacksonville, was taken to a Jacksonville hospital for treatment. The initial report from the Department of Public Safety says Taylor’s pickup left the road on a curve, ran into a ditch, hit a fence and overturned, landing upside down.

BULLARD – Bullard police have arrested two burglary suspects and recovered guns taken in the burglary. Arrested were Malik Jamal Barb, 17, of Bullard, and Ty Jalon Taymont Crayton, 18, of Tyler. Both were booked into the Smith County Jail on charges of burglary of a habitation. The guns were in a safe that was taken from a home on Redbud Lane last weekend. The safe was found on the side of the road in eastern Smith County. Nine guns were found at various locations in the area. The investigation into the burglary is continuing and more arrests are anticipated.

WASHINGTON – Senator John Cornyn has announced Tyler Pounds Regional Airport has been awarded an $11.5 million federal grant. The funding comes through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program. Airport manager Davis Dickson says the funds will be used in conjunction with the Runway 4-22 Rehabilitation Project. The money will go toward construction of a taxiway parallel to the runway and for a new instrument landing system for the runway. Dixon says they hope to award contracts for the two projects in the next couple of months.

LONGVIEW – The Longview city council has adopted a new budget. The $169 million budget will take effect the first of October. Thursday’s vote for the new budget was unanimous. And it proposed that the tax rate remain the same, which is 50.99 center per $100 valuation. That vote on the tax rate is scheduled for September 13th. If it remains the same, that will make six straight years the tax rate has remained steady.

TYLER – Officials at Tyler Junior College have named two associate vice provosts for the college. Dr. Bryan Renfro, formerly dean of the TJC School of Professional and Technical Programs, has been named associate vice provost for academic and workforce affairs. And, Dr. Tim Drain, formerly assistant vice president for athletics and student life, has been named associate vice provost for student affairs. Renfro joined TJC in August of 2016 from Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Iowa. Drain is a 20-year TJC athletics administrator. He has also been the College’s athletic director since 2002.

TYLER – A former Tyler nurse, charged with the murder of a patient, is now facing additional charges. According to Smith County judicial records, William George Davis, 34, of Hallsville, has now been indicted for capital Murder. He also faces three new counts of aggravated assault. The new indictments were filed on Tuesday. He had already been indicted for murder and two counts of aggravated assault back in June. Davis was a registered nurse at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. He is accused of causing death or harm to patients by introducing air into their arteries.

TYLER – Two more suspects have been sentenced in connection with a Smith County shooting. In state district court in Tyler Thursday, Tarrance Dashawn Reggie, 20, (pictured) and Carlos Alberto Ochoa, 18, both of Tyler, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault. Each man was sentenced to 20 years in prison. On Wednesday, a co-defendant in the case, Joel Camacho, 23, of Tyler, also received a 20 year sentence. The shooting, which wounded one person, occurred last September near the Eagle Creek Mobile Home Park off State Highway 271 North.

MARSHALL – An old scam with a new twist has surfaced in Harrison County. Someone calls and announces it is the “Harrison County Sheriff’s Office”. Then, you will be directed to the “patrol division or warrants division” and asked to leave a message if nobody answers. Sheriff’s department Lieutenant Jay Webb says, “The person who returns your call will instruct you to meet them at the front of the Harrison County Courthouse because a warrant has been issued for your arrest. The caller will ask for your name, Social Security number, and other identifying information.” They then tell you to bring cash for the warrant. The twist to this scam is that they ask you to come to the front of the courthouse with payment.” Sheriff Tom McCool reminds people to not fall for these scams and if you are contacted by them, contact the sheriff’s office. Continue reading Harrison County Scam Alert

The University of Texas at Tyler and Tyler Junior College have announced a partnership. The action announced Thursday afternoon will benefit East Texas nursing students. The partnership establishes a concurrent degree program, where eligible TJC nursing students will be able to enroll at UT Tyler and earn both associate and bachelor’s degrees in four years.

TYLER – Emergency crews are working to clear an area on North Northeast Loop-323 north of Duncan Street in Smith County where a vehicle struck a power pole. Traffic is being detoured around the area. Motorists are urged to use caution in the area.

CANTON – Following an investigation of several months, 11 persons from Van Zandt, Kaufman and Dallas counties have been named in federal indictments on a variety of charges. The investigation was conducted by local and federal authorities. The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s department has identified the suepects. They are Lisa Powers, Canton, Christopher Colgrove, Forney, Terrance Cullins, Canton, Shauna Thomas, Fruitvale, Christopher Herring, Wills Point, Stephanie Stevenson, Canton, Rexford Morris, Grand Saline, Robby Baker, Canton, Nash Fuller, Grand Saline and David Walker, Seagoville. One other person was also indicted, but that person is not yet in custody. The federal charges include, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and unlawful possession of a firearm by felon.

LONGVIEW – Funeral services are pending today for former Longview Police Chief Don Dingler. He passed away at his home on Wednesday. Dingler was Longview’s police chief from February 1, 2011 until July 31, 2015 when he retired. He had been with the police department since 1973, serving in patrol, traffic, training, jail services, and narcotics. Chief Dingler was a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas. According to a posting on the department’s Facebook page, ” Chief Dingler was a smiling face around the police department and the community for over a quarter of a century and his direction and kindness will be dearly missed.”

TYLER – Trustees at Tyler Junior College have adopted the school’s new budget. At Thursday meeting, trustees approved a budget of $92.895 million. That’s an increase of 2.41% over the current budget. The tax rate of 19.9926 cents per $100 of valuation will remain the same. With the new budget comes a 2% raise for all employees.

TYLER – Three Cubans, living in Austin, are facing additional charges in connection with gas skimmers found in Tyler last month. They were arrested at the Exxon station on the south southeast loop on July 27th. They have now been charged with engaging in organized criminal activity. The investigation has found that the three men were committing similar crimes all over the state. Investigators with the North Texas Financial Crimes Task Force, Tyler Police Department, Smith County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Secret Service are pulling the entire Texas statewide crime spree into Smith County for prosecution. The three remain in the Smith County Jail with each under an additional bond of $1,500,000.

KILGORE – A two vehicle accident in Rusk County has killed an Upshur County man. The accident happened shortly after 3:30 Wednesday afternoon on U. S Highway 259, six miles south of Kilgore. Dead at the scene was Gary Glenn Porter, 38, of Gilmer. The DPS says the accident started with a truck and its trailer in a turn lane, preparing to turn onto Farm Road 918. For some reason, Porter’s pickup drifted into the turn lane and hit the back of the trailer. A Henderson man, who was driving the Mack truck, was uninjured.

TYLER — Tyler Pounds Regional Airport this week hosted a walking tour of the nearly-complete Runway 4-22 Expansion. According to our news partner KETK, once the pavement is completed, it will carry heavier aircraft, for a longer distance of 8,330 feet. Airport Manager Davis Dickson says the total cost will be around $50 million — and with help from Federal Aviation Administration, 90 percent of the total amount will be paid for. The pavement project started in 2015 and plans call for it to wrap up by the end of this fall.

TYLER – A two vehicle accident on Tyler’s northeast loop has killed a Gladewater man. The accident occurred shortly after 5:15 Wednesday morning, just north of the Tyler city limits. Killed was Kevin Christopher Turner, 27. The Department of Public Safety says a tractor-trailer rig was attempting turn north on the loop. The driver was unable to complete the turn, because of the traffic, and stopped in the center crossover median. This left the trailer in the south bound lane of traffic. Turner’s van hit the trailer. He later died at a Tyler hospital.

TYLER – An employee of a Tyler car wash is being accused of setting up the robbery of 2 customers. Charged with two counts of aggravated robbery is Hauns Demond Thompson, 33, of Tyler. His bonds total $300,000. The robbery occurred back in July in the waiting room at Ed’s Car Wash on South Broadway. The arrest affidavit, which was opened on Wednesday,says the suspect, who was dressed in all black, took the two victims’ property, including a Gucci fanny pack, six I-phones, two watches, and two rings. The other suspect in the case is identified as Jamarcus Durham, who goes by the name “Bull.” He remains at large.

MARSHALL – East Texas Baptist University in Marshall has more students attending this year than ever before. The enrollment of 1,613 total students is a 5.2% percent increase over Fall 2017. The fall enrollment also represents 23.3% growth over the last three years. And the University’s 83% retention rate continues to rise. Graduate students also reached an all-time high with a 14 percent increase. The University now offers 11 graduate and 43 undergraduate programs.

MARSHALL – Komatsu is partnering with Texas State Technical College to provide job training. The $131,404 Skills Development Fund grant is from the Texas Workforce Commission. It will benefit workers in the 14 county Workforce Solutions East Texas area, including Smith and Gregg County. The grant will be used to provide custom training to 60 new and incumbent workers in the manufacturing field. Trainees will include data terminal operators, fabrication machine operators and quality control inspectors. A big two foot by four foot check, symbolizing the grant, was presented in a ceremony Wednesday morning at the school in in Marshall.