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BULLARD A Bullard Middle School mother is opening up about her 14-year-old son Dalton’s suicide this month after the bullying he experienced at school. Monica Jo Bigham says she contacted the school about it on several occasions. She said she was told it was under investigation — that school officials would check into it and make sure it didn’t happen again — and then it would happen again. After being contacted by our news partner KETK, Superintendent Todd Schneider said in the face of the suicide, now is the time for a conversation on the topic. He said parents, schools, and public agencies should come together to identify students who are at risk and get them the help they need.

GILMER — A Gilmer woman faces criminal charges in two counties after police said she took a merchandise-filled shopping cart out of a Longview Walmart without paying, that’s according to the Longview News-Journal. Gabrielle Nichole Gillaspy, 19, was arrested Tuesday at the Walmart on Gilmer Road, where Longview police said she stole items valued at $632. Officers said they also found two small green pills later identified as Clonazepam while searching Gillaspy, who gave a fake name and date of birth. Continue reading Stolen Shopping Cart Leads to Multiple Charges

LONGVIEW – Longview police say a woman was robbed by a man who had just lost a dice game. Arrested last weekend was Daqwaylon Nelson, 21, of Longview, who is in the Gregg County Jail under bonds totaling $154,500. He is charged with failing to identify as a fugitive by giving false information and assault/family violence causing bodily injury. He was also named in a robbery warrant signed by 188th District Judge David Brabham. According to the Longview News Journal, after losing in a dice game June 9, police say Nelson pointed a gun at a woman and took about $600. He then fled in a car. Officers say the woman later identified Nelson as the suspect in a photo lineup.

TYLER – Smith County has started work on updating and redesigning its website. They are looking for public input to help them develop a new website that will address the needs of the county’s residents. You can go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KCSX39W to take the survey.

RUSK – A stolen pickup in Cherokee County results in a chase that ended in Tyler. The pickup was reported stolen early Wednesday morning near Rusk. Around 1:30, it was found at the Whataburger in Bullard. The chase that followed came through Tyler where police used spike strips on Grande Boulevard. When the truck didn’t stop, they laid down another spike strip. That’s when the two suspects bailed out of the vehicle and ran into the woods. They were not found and the search was called off late Wednesday morning.

TYLER – An engaged couple from Tyler wants something different as a wedding gift. They want your blood. Caitlin Campbell and Lathan Pilcher met in 2013 at Carter BloodCare’s 50-gallon Challenge blood drive at TJC. Now they plan to get married. And, instead of wedding gifts, they want to receive blood donations from family, friends and anyone who would like to donate. They issued a 50-gallon Wedding Challenge, a first in the history for Carter BloodCare. All you have to do is go Carter BloodCare through October 30th, and say you want your donation to go to the wedding challenge. As the couple start a new life together, they also hope to save a life.

LONGVIEW – A man involved in a Longview police standoff last year has pleaded guilty. Sonny Dee Edwards Jr., 32, pleaded guilty to criminal mischief. He was sentenced Tuesday to 5 years in prison by state district judge Alfonso Charles. In June of last year, Edwards entered a Longview home, despite a protective order against him. Two women in the home were able to escape through a bedroom window. Edwards was said to have fired several rounds at a police robot, extensively damaging it. He surrendered after the over 7 1/2 hour standoff.

TYLER – Robert E. Lee High School senior Cody Olson has been named a 2018 National Merit Semifinalist by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. A Drum Major for the Lee band, Cody also plays trombone for the Jazz Ensemble. He holds leadership roles in the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta, a mathematics honors organization. After graduation, he plans to attend Harvard University to begin his pursuit of a career in medicine. Continue reading Tyler Student Named National Merit Semifinalist

LONGVIEW – A Longview woman’s run on the TV game show Jeopardy has come to an end. On Tuesday’s show, Angela Ward had a total of $15,000. That was good for a third place finish. She will take home $1,000 for her efforts. She won on Monday with a total of $11,800, which she also gets to keep. The Longview News Journal reports Ward is a former reporter for the paper. They report that about 18 months ago, she performed an online audition, which is a timed test. Based on that score, she was invited to a live audition in Oklahoma City. Her appearances on the show were filmed in Burbank, California in April.

TYLER – Some Smith County road projects have been completed. Smith County Engineer Frank Davis told Smith County commissioners on Tuesday County Road 149 (New England Road), which connects U.S. Highway 69 South and Old Jacksonville Highway, has been improved. County Road 46 has been widened, from 22 feet to 26 feet, and base repairs were made before it was overlaid. And, County Road 4227 had more base failures than they estimated so it cost more and took more time to repair before it before it was overlaid. Continue reading County Road Projects Finished

TYLER – A Tyler native has announced he is running for the city council next year. The announcement comes from Broderick McGee, who is running for the city council district 2 seat. That spot is currently held by Darryl Bowdre, who can’t run again due to term limits. McGee, who is currently on the city Planning and Zoning Commission, is a graduate of John Tyler High School, Tyler Junior College and LeTourneau University. He got his master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Columbia Southern University. He is currently the Human Resource Manager at Kluber Lubrication.

TYLER – Personal protective safety equipment has been given to Smith County to help keep county employee’s safe. The equipment is provided by the Texas Association of Counties Risk Management Pool. And, it’s free. The county has received 72 safety kits, each valued at $56. Each kit includes a reflective safety vest, gloves, hard hat, two pair of safety glasses and two sets of ear plugs. And the first kits are going to Smith County road and bridge crews. The equipment is intended to make employees more visible and to provide the employees with eye, head, hand and ear protection.

KILGORE – A Kilgore man, accused of several area bank robberies, has reached a plea agreement with federal authorities. Hector Camargo, 48, of Kilgore, was scheduled to go on trial next month. But, in a notice filed Monday, acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston announced the agreement. Once it is approved, a sentencing hearing will be set. He is accused of robbing banks in Longview, Kilgore and Liberty City. Camargo remains in the Gregg County Jail on three counts of bank robbery and two counts of possessing a firearm during a violent crime. His bonds total $205,000. Continue reading A Plea Agreement in Several Bank Robbery Cases

TYLER – The city of Bullard will be getting assistance in housing stray dogs. Smith County Commissioners Tuesday approved an interlocal agreement with the city of Bullard to take its stray dogs into the Smith County Animal Shelter. According to the agreement, Bullard will be responsible for responding to animal control matters within its city, then transporting the dogs to the shelter. The city will pay any fees associated with impoundment, testing, medical treatment or other services. Whitehouse will pay Smith County $50 per dog that is brought to the shelter, as well as an additional $35 for each dog requiring euthanasia. The agreement between Smith County and Bullard is effective through Fiscal Year of 2018. Continue reading Help for Stray Dogs in Bullard

WHITE OAK — The White Oak Police Department said an East Texas woman who they say was kidnapped overnight by her ex-boyfriend has been found safe. According to KETK, Melissa Maythe Zapata, 19, was taken from her home by her ex-boyfriend, Dylon Benefield, 21, around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. Benefield is said to be a member of the Southside Bloods gang. The investigation is ongoing.

TYLER — The Tyler Independent School District School Board met last night to discuss the possible name change of Robert E. Lee High School. According to KETK, no “official” decision has been made. Residents on both sides of the issue got a chance to voice their concerns. At the meeting, one school board member commented that if a vote to change the name of Robert E. Lee is made, other schools like John Tyler High School should also be changed. Because of their connection to slavery, some say anything named after Lee or Tyler should be renamed. This follows a recent school board meeting where community members argued for and against the Robert E. Lee High School name. 43 people spoke on the subject at the August 21 meeting. Continue reading TISD School Board Discusses Robert E. Lee Name Change

LONGVIEW — A Longview man is being held in the Gregg County Jail after police say he pulled out a gun and aimed it at a car on Jaycee Drive. According to the Longview News-Journal, Bobby Ray Manns, 34, is held on bonds totaling $26,000. He’s been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a Rusk County charge of possession of marijuana. Longview police said two people were driving Saturday on Jaycee Drive when Manns pulled out in front of them. When they attempted to pass Manns’ vehicle, he pointed a gun at them. He was stopped a short time later. Inside the front seat of the vehicle, police found a loaded black .45-caliber handgun.

LONGVIEW – A Longview woman has won on the TV game show Jeopardy and she appears on Tuesday’s show as the returning champion. Angela Ward won $11,800 on Monday’s show. According to the Longview News Journal, Ward is a former reporter for the paper. They report that about 18 months ago, she performed an online audition, which is a timed test. Based on that score, she was invited to a live audition in Oklahoma City. Her appearance on the show was filmed in Burbank, California in April. On Tuesday’s show she will be going up against Betsy Knudson of Salt Lake City, Utah and Farhad Mahmoudi of Encinitas, California.

TYLER — If you have a Smith County jury summons asking you to report for duty on Tuesday, it’s your lucky day. Smith County residents who were planning to report for jury duty Tuesday with their yellow cards don’t have to make the trip to the county courthouse. No new panels will be needed on Tuesday, Jury Coordinator Lisa Bennett said. However, if you have been asked to return for jury duty by a specific court, you must still report.

LONGVIEW – Two east Texas programs are in the running for a state-wide award. The Texas Downtown Association has announced Tyler and Longview are finalist for the TDA President’s Awards program. It’s for the Best Promotional Event in the over 50,000 population category. In the running is Tyler’s Toast to Downtown Tyler, a monthly happy hour showcasing local bars, restaurants, and coffee shops in the Downtown area. For Longview, it’s Downtown Live, a free concert series at Heritage Plaza. Winners will be announced on November 8 at the President’s Awards Gala held in conjunction with the 2017 Texas Downtown Conference in McKinney. Continue reading Tyler and Longview in Line for a State Wide Award

TYLER – Smith County Commissioner JoAnn Hampton has been indicted by the Smith County grand jury. The indictment, which charges Hampton with one count of injury to an elderly person, was returned on September 7th. The incident is said to have occurred on Sunday, April 2, at the Spring Creek Baptist Church on County Road 46. A woman told sheriff’s deputies Hampton entered her closed door meeting with the pastor and started shouting at her. She said Hampton pushed her, causing her to fall and to injure her wrist. The woman was treated and released at a Tyler hospital. Hampton surrendered to Authorities on April 24, and released on a $10,000 bond.

TYLER — The Art of Peace continues in Tyler through September 24. The annual event, now in its seventh year, kicked off Friday night and features a variety of events and activities. According to the its website, “The aim of Art of Peace is to promote a spirit of creativity, compassion and community through partnerships, fellowship, dialogue, social action, music, poetry, and art.” You can go to https://www.tylerpeace.com/ to learn more.

TYLER — A proposed name change for Robert E. Lee High School is on the Tyler ISD board’s agenda for tonight as a discussion item. The proposal drew a large crowd to a school board meeting last month, with strong feelings expressed on both sides of the issue. There’s been plenty of attention nationwide this summer to things that bear the names of Confederate figures. Tonight’s meeting begins at 7:00 at the Plyler Complex on Glenwood Boulevard.

SMITH COUNTY — One person is dead following an early morning crash in Smith County. The one vehicle wreck happened around 1:00 Sunday morning on FM 346, 2 miles east of Whitehouse. According to the Department of Public Safety report, the driver of a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis, identified as Paul Lee Hawthorne, 31, of Dallas, was traveling west on FM 346 when he lost control and struck a tree. Hawthorne was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger, identified Zytrinka Doyle, 23, of Mabelvale, Arkansas was transported to East Texas Medical Center in serious condition.

SMITH COUNTY — One man has been taken to the hospital in critical condition following a shooting Sunday at Eagle Creek Ranch, off Highway 271. Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said the victim, a black male, suffered a life threatening gunshot wound. Deputies responded to the location around 1:00 following a 911 call. The victim was found in a wooded area, along with his vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an undisclosed location to be processed. The investigation is ongoing.

EAST TEXAS — Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of September 18, 2017. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates for the Week of September 18

LONGVIEW — A Foster Middle School student who officials said brought a loaded handgun to school has been taken into custody on a directive to apprehend, according to the Longview News-Journal. The student is facing a charge of places weapons prohibited, a felony. The student’s identity is not being released because of his or her age. A Foster staff member found a loaded .380 pistol Tuesday hidden in a bathroom. The district said Tuesday that no other students or staff were in the bathroom, and there were no direct threats made. Parents were notified of the incident through a mass recorded call. Parents are now planning a meeting with the school’s principal to discuss security. This incident is the second known gun-related incident at the campus this calendar year.

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is attempting to locate a missing person. Paul L. Prince was last seen on foot on South High Street in Longview near the Mobberly intersection around 11:00 a.m. on Thursday. Prince may be suffering from a medical condition. He may have ties to Fort Worth and Tarrant County. Prince is white, 55 years of age, approximately 6 feet tall, and weighs about 160 lbs. He is balding on top with shoulder length blond hair on the sides and has hazel eyes. There is no photo or clothing description of Prince at this time. Anyone with information Prince is asked to contact local law enforcement immediately.

TYLER — A suspect has been arrested in a knifepoint robbery in Tyler. After being called by a witness, police responded shortly after noon Friday to City Park on West Queen Street. They were told a man had walked up to a woman, placed a box cutter to her throat, and stolen her cell phone and bicycle. Police soon found 25-year-old Graylin Scott Slocum of Louisiana nearby; he was jailed on a charge of aggravated robbery. The woman was not harmed.