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LONGVIEW — State prosecutors say four co-defendants in a Dec. 13 Longview robbery were each sentenced to 15 years in prison. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, the defendants were Longview residents La’Darion Lynn Canada, 19; Xavier Rashaad Lockridge, 17; Daqwon Lensley Hollins, 19; and Joseph Pierre Brice Jr., 18. All entered guilty pleas last week for their involvement in an armed robbery at a Dollar General store on South High Street. Police said the teens took money that had an attached GPS tracker that helped police track the stolen money and suspects.

BRYAN — Jury selection has started for the trial of William Mitchell Hudson, indicted on three counts of capital murder. KETK reports that in November 2015, he’s said to have killed six people at a campsite in Anderson County, off County Road 2217. Four victims were found in a pond behind his home; two victims were found near the campsite in a trailer. The mother and the wife of the two found dead in the trailer was able to get away and call for help. She was the lone survivor. The trial’s been moved to Bryan on a change of venue.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man has been sentenced to prison for a murder in late August of last year. GeKainnon Ikemoin-Kenyon Harris, 20, pleaded guilty Monday. In connection with a plea agreement, Harris was sentenced to 13 years in prison and fined $5,000. He was charged with manslaughter in the shooting death of Alexis Bell, 26, in an apartment on Lake Lamond Drive. Originally, Harris was arrested at the scene on two unrelated assault family violence warrants. He was later charged with Bell’s death.

TYLER – Motorists are experiencing some delays on Toll 49 From State Highway 31 North to Interstate Highway 20. This is because of improvements that are being made on the toll road. The work includes building a four foot flush medium between lanes, adding rumble strips and reflectors between lanes and additional signs stressing passing and no passing zones. According to the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority, the work will continue into 2018. You can keep up with the current work locations by signing up for text alerts, text Toll49 to 444222.

MURCHISON – Two person have been arrested after Henderson County authorities shut down Murchison horse track. According to a news release from the Henderson County Fire Marshal, state law requires the horse races to get a permit if over 100 persons will be there. Over 1,000 persons were counted Sunday when County Fire Marshall Shane Renberg and Sheriff Botie Hillhouse and deputies arrived. The track was shut down and arrested were Moises Antonio Hernandez of Murchison and Rebecca Rodriquez Chaffee of Dallas. They were charged with promoting a mass gathering without a permit, a class B misdemeanor. It carries a maximum fine of $1,000 and 90 days in jail.

WASKOM – A weekend accident in Harrison County left one person dead and one injured. The accident occurred around midnight on Friday. It was not discovered until shortly after 5:45 Saturday morning. Killed was Angel Pace of Karnack. Listed in fair condition in a Shreveport hospital is Carl Johnson of Karnack. The accident occurred on Mt. Zion Church Road north of Waskom. According to the Department of Public Safety report, Johnson fell asleep at the wheel and his car hit a piped fence and came to rest against an oil storage tank. Both Johnson and Pace were not wearing seat belts.

TYLER – Tyler school trustees have a called meeting this morning. At that time they will see the future look of the city’s two high schools. At the 11:00am meeting, architects will show school board members the proposed renovations for John Tyler and Robert E Lee High Schools. In May, voters approved a $198 million bond issue to fund the renovations. Initial work has already started on the two campuses. When finished, Lee will stretch to Shiloh Road and the only current buildings to remain will be the field house, auditorium and varsity gym. At John Tyler, the basic structure will remain as a state of the art facility will be built along with a full size auditorium and better practice facilities.

TYLER – A professor at the University of Texas at Tyler has been recognized by the Hudgens Center for Art & Learning for outstanding artistry. Merrie Wright entered in the center’s 2017 National Juried and Invitational Cup Exhibition. She earned first place for her ceramic work. Her work will also be become a part of the center’s permanent collection. A ceramic sculptor, Wright serves as associate professor and chair of The University of Texas at Tyler Department of Art and Art History. She holds a master of fine arts degree.

SMITH COUNTY — A bicyclist killed in a wreck just after noon Saturday has been identified. Thomas Albert Marty, 73, of Lindale was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the Department of Public Safety report, Marty was riding the bike on the shoulder of Hwy 69 north, 2 miles south of Mineola. The bicyclist attempted to turn left, entering the outside lane of traffic in front of a 2009 Ford Focus, driven by Vanessa Cervantes, 20, of Tyler. DPS said she was unable to avoid the collision.

SMITH COUNTY — A 28-year-old man has been arrested following a Sunday afternoon shooting. It happened around 4:30 at a home on Southern Trace Circle in Flint. One person was shot in the leg following a domestic dispute. Paul Jordan, Flint, was booked into the Smith County Jail on two counts of aggravated assault and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Bond has not been set.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of September 25h. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.

District seal coat operations is continuing. Work on Monday is on Farm Road 2868 going westward to State Highway 155. Motorists should expect lane closures and delays during these operations. Additional information on this work is available in the Wood County section of this release. You can go to http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/048-2017.html for a complete rundown of Tyler District work for the next several days.

LONGVIEW – A second person has died from a Longview accident. Family members tell KETK that Rylee Malone 17, of Longview died early Sunday morning. Also killed in the crash was Meshebia Renee Johnson, 17, of Longview. Still hospitalized with life threatening injuries is Christa Tamara Wilson 32, of Harleton. They also told KETK that Chad Palmer Malone, 19, of Longview, was treated and released. The accident was reported around 8:30 Friday night on North Eastman Road near Hawkins Parkway. According to police reports, the accident occurred as a pickup driven by Wilson pulled out of the parking lot of Target to go south bound on Eastman Road, and she was hit by the car driven by Chad Malone. The investigation into the cause of this accident is continuing.

TYLER – Ms. Hopkins County 2017, Patsy Roan Crist of Cumby, has been crowned the 2017 Ms. Texas Senior Classic Queen in a pageant in Tyler. It was held Saturday night at the Holiday Inn on South Broadway in Tyler. Other winners include 1st runner up, Charlotte Adam Graves of Bullard, and second runner up, Judith Ward of Longview. Over 20 ladies from East and North Texas participated in the pageant. This marks the second straight year the pageant was held in Tyler after being held in the Metroplex for around 20 years. Continue reading A Queen is Crowned in Tyler

TYLER – A runaway Smith County teen has been located. The Smith County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a Teenage Runaway. She is Valerie Coughlin, 16, who left her home on Stonebridge in Flint in the middle of the night on September 9th and has not been seen since then. On the department’s Facebook page it is noted that she has been found. No other information was available.

TYLER – The Tyler YMCA is closing. In a news release, it was announced the facility on South Vine will close, and cease its child care programs, on Saturday. It has been in operation for nearly 59 years. The President and CEO of the Y, Jeremy Bumgardner, said in the news release, “The YMCA of Tyler Texas serves approximately 1,154 members. Six full-time staff and 60 part-time staff will end their employment as a result of the YMCA’s closing. The Y is working with other community groups to help identify alternative child care options for families in the current Y programs. Both the Palestine YMCA and Corsicana YMCA will honor the memberships of current Tyler Y members through their paid date.”

HENDERSON – An arrest has been made in a Rusk County murder dating back to 2006. Through the work of investigators with the Rusk County Sheriff’s office, Texas Rangers and Baytown police, Jarrett Murray was arrested on Thursday. He is charged in the May, 2006 murder of Joseph Michael Douglas. His body was found in a rural area off County Road 106, East of New London. Based on requests from the sheriff’s department, the case was added into the Texas Rangers Unsolved Crimes Investigation Program. After interviewing new and former witnesses, and suspects, they were able to come up with new leads and evidence. The findings were presented to the district attorney’s office earlier this month. That led to the issuing of a murder warrant and the arrest of Murray. According to the information they discovered, Murray spoke often of the murder of Douglas.

MARSHALL – A former Harrison County jailer has pleaded guilty to official oppression for punching an inmate. Under a plea agreement, Billy Joe Hopkins was sentenced to 18 months probation and ordered to perform 144 hours of community service. He also has to pay a $250 fine. The other jailer, Sansom Sanni, had already pleaded guilty to making a false report to a police officer. He was granted deferred adjudication on the charge and has paid a fine. The charges surround their actions in the booking of a combative suspect who was said to have spit on the jailers and even bit one.

TYLER – Visit Tyler has come home with three awards from the 2017 conference of the Texas Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus. According to a news release, the People’s Choice Awards are:
-Best Cooperative Marketing Campaign

-Best Advertising (in cooperation with Route2 Advertising)

-Best Convention Promotion
The awards are chosen by a group of people in the tourism industry.

GLADEWATER – Gladewater police have issued an arrest warrant in an August robbery. Named in the warrant is Taron Christopher Venter, 19. It is thought he is not from this area and may have ties to Waxahachie and Desoto. The robbery occurred on August 5th on East Broadway in Gladewater. Venter is said to have blindsided a man by hitting in in the face. The man was severely injured and has not returned to work. After taking his wallet, cellphone, handgun and a small quantity of cash, Venter then fled. Continue reading Gladewater Robbery Suspect Sought

TYLER – The East Texas State Fair is underway, and there’s a change of traffic flow in the area. A news release from the Tyler Police Department advises drivers that West Front Street, in front of Harvey Hall, will be shut down to one lane of traffic in both east and west directions all day Friday until midnight. Then, starting Saturday, all lanes will be open until 4:00pm each day. Then the traffic will revert back to one lane of traffic flow in each direction until closing time of the Fair that night. Officers will be on hand at the cross walk in front of the main gate, providing traffic control.

TYLER – The annual East Texas State Fair is underway in Tyler. It started yesterday morning with senior day activities. Fair goers will have some new attractions this year. There will be a countryfest on each Saturday at the fair with live country music. There will also be Matt’s Family Jam, an interactive musical attraction for everyone. There will be pony rides, a live tiger show, a street artist painting murals using only spray paint and a slingshot to shoot you 150 feet into the air. Then there’s the usual carnival, exhibits and fair food waiting for you September 22nd through October 1st at Tyler’s East Texas State Fair. You can go to http://www.etstatefair.com to keep tabs on the daily activities.

KILGORE — A missing Kilgore man has been found safe, according to KETK. He is Chris Terry, 54. Rusk County Sheriff Jeff Price said “Bubba T” was found very close to his home in the Overton area. Kilgore residents say, the man they have come to know as “Bubba T” went missing around 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, after leaving his house. He was reported missing at approximately midnight. The 54-year-old can be seen carrying the flag for the football team on Friday nights. Numerous agencies and even a hospital helicopter took part in the search.

LONGVIEW – A suspect has been arrested in a Longview homicide. Booked into the Gregg County Jail on the murder charge is Dominique Shaquille Harvey, 22, of Longview. He is charged in the shooting death of Cameron Taye Brooks, 19, of Tyler. He was a student at Tyler Junior College. It happened around 1:00 Thursday morning at the Highland Village Apartments on West Loop 281. Police say Brooks was found dead in the roadway. The death is Longview’s 5th of the year.

LONGVIEW – A man has been arrested after holding up a Longview bank. Charged with robbery is Justin James Johnson, 23, of Longview. He is said to have entered the East Texas Professional Credit Union on West Loop 281 around 11:00 Thursday morning. A police report say his face and body were concealed. They say he pulled an Airsoft gun and demanded money and threatened the clerk. He then left with no money. He was found shortly after leaving and arrested following a short foot chase.

TYLER – The 12th Court of Appeals in Tyler has upheld the murder conviction of a Tyler man. John Douglas Smith, 73, was sentenced to 50 years in prison. He had been convicted of the December, 2015 shooting death of Francisco Douglas, 47. The shooting occurred at the Sunset Valley Mobile Home Park off Highway 64 west. Smith was the caretaker of the park where Douglas lived. The two were arguing over rent when Smith shot him. Smith is the father of former Smith County Constable John Smith.

WINONA — Two people have died following a crash into a building, which then sparked a fire. It happened around 4:30 Thursday morning at Uncle Mike’s Pizza and Pasta on Main Street in Winona. According to the Department of Public Safety, the vehicle was traveling north on Hwy 155 when it veered off and crashed into the building. According to KETK, the driver and passenger in the vehicle were killed. Positive identity has not been made due to the extent of the blaze. Multiple fire crews were at the scene. Four dogs inside the building, which was destroyed, also died in the fire — but five puppies, each a day old, were saved. The restaurant owners and their son, who had been living upstairs, also escaped. The incident remains under investigation.

BERRYVILLE – A woman named in a Smith County warrant has been arrested on drug charges in Henderson County. Ashley Weisinger, 33, of Frankston, was stopped for a traffic violation on County Road 4117 near Berryville. After being arrested on the warrant, the sheriff’s deputy found, in a clear plastic baggie, methamphetamine and a glass pipe commonly used to smoke the drug. She was booked into the Henderson County Jail for possession of a controlled substance. Her bonds total $83,500.

JACKSONVILLE – A two vehicle accident a mile east of Jacksonville has killed a man from Troup. Dustin Michael Jones, 26, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which was reported shortly before 7:45 Thursday morning. He was tossed from his motorcycle when it collided with car driven by Shantell Lee Jernigan, 44, of Jacksonville. The Department of Public Safety reports that Jernigan was making a left turn into the path of the oncoming motorcycle when the accident occurred. The wreck remains under investigation.

DIANA — Dozens of firefighters in Upshur County spent all night Tuesday and into Wednesday fighting a fire at a distribution center for a well-known Diana company. KETK reports the flames raced through the 22,000-square-foot warehouse for Smallwood Company. It wasn’t until 5:00 Wednesday morning that the fire was stamped out. Smallwood Company ran various businesses from the building. Now the home décor items, expensive machinery, computers, and lumber are all gone. The fire remains under investigation. Smallwood Company employees say they will rebuild.