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TYLER (AP/Staff) – A conservative East Texas Republican Congressman has chosen to forgo town hall forums before constituents for fear of drawing demonstrations by protesters of President Donald Trump. In a statement issued Tuesday, Rep. Louie Gohmert said he was concerned that “groups from the more violent strains of the leftist ideology … who are preying on public town halls” would “wreak havoc and threaten public safety.” Instead, Gohmert said he is holding “telephone town halls.” He said that in the time it takes to appear live before 30 to 100 constituents, he can communicate with thousands by telephone conference with telephone company assurance that participants are residents of his East Texas district. Continue reading East Texas Congressman Opts for “Telephone” Town Halls

TYLER — Tyler Police responded to a reported pedestrian accident on West Bow Street and West Gentry Parkway Tuesday night. According to KETK, a woman made the call around 7:45 Tuesday night. She told responding officers that she was sideswiped by a car but was unable to describe the vehicle. The woman was taken by EMS to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

LONGVIEW – A forged prescription has led to the arrest of a Longview man. Desmond Lamarr Simmons, 27, of Longview, was arrested as he waited to pick up a prescription in the drive-thru on East Marshall Avenue. Officers were told that Simmons had altered a prescription he turned in earlier in the day by increasing the amount of medication from 6 to 60. But his trouble was only beginning. The officers were aware that Simmons had outstanding warrants for his arrest. Following his arrest on the warrants, they located a bag of marijuana in his right front pocket. They then found a pistol under his pants on his right ankle. He was arrested for fraudulent delivery of controlled substance/prescription, possession of marijuana, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and 2 outstanding class C misdemeanor warrants. He’s in the Gregg County Jail with bonds totaling $111,000.

TYLER – Smith County Commissioners have approved a federal grant to help eradicate marijuana. The $15,000 grant is from the U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration. No word on what kind of equipment will be bought to help in the effort. Continue reading Smith County’s Efforts to Eliminate Marijuana Fields

KILGORE – The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public’s help in identifying a criminal mischief suspect. The man is wanted in connection with a case where two vehicles were damaged and some gasoline stolen. The incident happened Sunday off Old Highway 135 northwest of Kilgore. If you can help identify the person in the photo, please contact Investigator Falco at 903-236-8438 or Gregg County Crime stoppers at greggcountycrimestoppers.org or call 903-236-7867.

TYLER – Smith County Commissioners have approved interlocal agreements between Smith County and city and school districts holding elections in May. The action came at Tuesday morning’s meeting. The Smith County Elections Office is responsible for conducting all elections for county offices as well as city, school, state and federal elections. Elections in Smith County on May 6 will include officials for the City of Tyler, as well as Tyler, Whitehouse and Chapel Hill Independent School Districts. The interlocal agreements, approved by the commissioners court, outline the authority and requirements of the Smith County Elections Office to provide services to conduct the school trustee and city council elections, as well as any special election being held. Continue reading Smith County to Conduct City, School Elections

TYLER – What started out as a class project has turned into an invention for a Robert E Lee Senior. At the start of the school year, Royland Black had an assignment in engineering senior class at the Tyler ISD Career and Technology Center. Students were to research, develop and test their own inventions. Black came up with TUFFTOE. It’s a product that would help reduce pain and injury caused by a player wearing cleats stepping on another player’s foot. After producing and refining his product, he conducted surveys and marketability studies. With the help of his teacher, DeAnna Molloy, he has now begun the patent process for TUFFTOE. Black plans to have a successful engineering career after college. He even turned down a football scholarship because the school did not have an engineering program. Black and his classmates will display all of their inventions during a Trades Fair scheduled in April at the Career and Technology Center.

TYLER – The nominees for Tyler’s Teachers of the year have been announced. Teachers like Robert E Lee’s Josh Loeffler and John Tyler’s Kala Morrow are among the 30 teachers on the list. Those teachers will be honored and the Elementary and Secondary Teacher of the year will be announced at the annual banquet at the Harvey Convention Center on May 2nd. Continue reading TISD Campus Teachers of the Year Named

TYLER – Brookshire’s is teaming with the East Texas Food Bank to get into the Guinness Book of World Records. They hope to get into the book by building the world’s largest canned food pyramid. Wednesday through Friday they will attempt to build a 12-foot-tall pyramid, with a 17-by-17 foot base, by using 36,000 cans. While trying to break the world record, they also aim to help raise awareness about hunger in East Texas. 1 in 4 children and 1 in 5 adults in East Texas do not know where they will get their next meal. Afterward, the cans will be donated to the East Texas Food Bank to provide over 30,000 meals to persons in 26 counties. Continue reading An Attempt to Break a World’s Record

LONGVIEW- Two Longview Bank Robbery Suspects are in custody. Arrested Tuesday were 25 year-old Christopher Lee Hutsell, of Overton, and 39 year-old Michael Duntae Fagans, of Kilgore. Both are in the Gregg County Jail on bonds of $500,000 each. They have been charged with aggravated robbery in connection with the Austin Bank robbery that occurred on February 9. They are said to be the men who held up the Austin Bank on East Loop 281 shortly that afternoon. The two entered the bank and demanded money. They left with an undetermined amount of money. No injuries were reported. Longview police said they would like to thank the persons who came forward with information about what they saw or other information they provided that led to the two men’s arrest.

TYLER – A Smith County murder suspect has waived his court appearance previously scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. By his action, Gustavo Zavala-Garcia acknowledges the charges being brought against him and has entered a not guilty plea. He has been charged with the death of Kayla Gomez-Orozco, 10. She disappeared last November from a Bullard church during worship service. Her body was found days later inside a well on the suspect’s property. According to an arrest affidavit, a witness said they saw the man with Kayla shortly before her disappearance. Family members said he is a cousin who acted like an uncle to the girl. A capital murder warrant for his arrest was signed by District Judge Jack Skeen on November 6. Continue reading Gustavo Zavala-Garcia Waives Court Appearance

TATUM — A man accused of trying to run down two Panola County Sheriff’s deputies was briefly hospitalized after being shot by the deputies. Treated at a hospital in Longview, before being taken to the Gregg County jail, was Stephen Cody Mullican, 27, of Beckville. Deputies are said to have approached the stolen truck he was driving after he crashed into a fence near Tatum early Tuesday morning. He is said to have backed up, pinning a deputy under the vehicle. That’s when he was shot. He’s now facing a variety of charges, including aggravated assault on a law officer. His bond totals $75,000 and he has been turned over to Rusk County authorities. The Texas Rangers are investigating the officer involved shooting.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man remains in the Gregg County Jail on multiple child sexual abuse charges. Arrested over the weekend was Hollis Earl Tennison Jr., 38. He was indicted by the grand jury last week for four felony child sexual abuse counts. He is accused of assaulting a young girl on January 1st and July 1st of last year. Assistant District Attorney Madison Hood told the Longview News Journal, Tennison’s victim was 10 years old at the time. Jail records show Tennsion was booked into the jail on Sunday. His bond is currently $100,000.

LONGVIEW – A man who tried to run away from a traffic stop has been arrested in Longview. The traffic stop occured over the weekend near the intersection of South Green Street and West Edgefield Avenue. As the SUV stopped, the driver ran away. After a short foot case, Rangel Rodriguez, 24, of Gilmer was arrested. He was charged with evading arrest and possession of marijuana. He was also arrested on outstanding Gregg County warrants, which included violation of probation, unlawfully carrying a weapon, evading arrest, a grand jury indictment for a drug violation and 3 outstanding class C misdemeanor warrants. He’s now in the Gregg County Jail under bonds totaling $15,000.

EAST TEXAS – Strong thunderstorms moved through East Texas early Monday morning, causing a variety of problems. The thunderstorms were accompanied by high winds that knocked trees and limbs into power lines. Widespread power outages were reported. Two schools cancelled classes Monday because of power outages. Classes were cancelled for Leverettes Chapel’s students and at the Methodist Readiness School in Jacksonville. And because of heavy rain, a flood warning was issued for residents near Rabbit Creek in Kilgore. Minor flooding is expected until the river starts falling Tuesday morning.

KILGORE — As many as 70 people could be laid off within a month from a Kilgore manufacturing plant as its parent consolidates operations in Troy. According to the Longview News-Journal and KETK, Dallas-based PermianLide is closing its Permian Tank & Manufacturing Inc. plant in Kilgore, economic development officials said Thursday. PermianLide President Howard Seely was not available for comment. The plant at 3405 S. Henderson Blvd., began in 1976 as Chevelier Tank. PermianLide had not notified the Texas Workforce Commission as of Thursday about the layoffs and pending plant closings, spokeswoman Lisa Givens said. The commission requires notifications if a Texas company plans to cut 50 or more jobs. Continue reading Kilgore Plant Plans Layoffs

MARSHALL — A Harrison County jury has found a 64-year-old Marshall man guilty of drunken driving and sentenced him to the maximum of 20 years in prison. According to the Longview News-Journal and KETK, it was his sixth DWI conviction. Michael Lynn was arrested on a DWI charge May 29 when he crashed into a mailbox. Jurors deliberating in the case sent a note to the judge, asking if they could recommend that Thompson receive help with his alcohol addiction either while incarcerated or upon his release. Thompson’s prior DWI convictions in Harrison County were April 23, 1979; July 11, 1994; Sept. 29, 1997, Feb. 22, 2000 and March 4, 2005.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team and Investigators executed a narcotic search warrant at a house on Lincoln Street February 17. Suspected contraband was seized from the residence, including methamphetamine, marijuana, ecstasy and crack. The narcotics will be forwarded to the Department of Public Safety Crime Laboratory for analysis. An undisclosed amount of cash was also seized. Lenard Atkins, 30, and Shonquea Thirkill, 32, both of Jacksonville, have been charged with manufacture or delivery. Atkins bond has been set at $100,000. Thirkill’s bond was set at $100,000. Additional narcotic charges are pending. They were both arrested in November following a drug raid. Continue reading Suspects Arrested following Narcotics Sweep

AUSTIN — On March 12, Texans set their clocks ahead one hour, but one state lawmaker wants it to be the last time. State Representative Dan Flynn from East Texas has filed a bill to abolish the practice of springing forward and falling back, so that Texans don’t have to mess with their clocks twice a year. He says tens of thousands of Texans have contacted his office in support of the measure and other lawmakers are backing the bill. One problem seems to be that Texans are split on whether they should be on Standard Time or Daylight Saving Time year-round. Flynn filed a similar bill in 2015, to no avail.

TATUM — One person is dead following an accident at the Martin Lake Power Plant in Tatum. According to KETK, a Luminant electric company contractor died from an accident at the plant on Friday. The cause of death, as well as the name of the person killed is unknown. Luminant employees were not involved. The contracted company, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating.

GREGG COUNTY — Agents with the County Organized Drug Enforcement Unit arrested four Longview men Friday afternoon on numerous drug manufacturing or delivery charges after executing a warrant at a house in the 800 block of Noel Drive in South Longview. According to KETK, Terrence Domond Walton, 31, and Christopher Dejuan Slaughter, 36, were held on $650,000 bond. Jerry L. Boyd (pictured), 44, and Malcolm Abduol Madden, 40, were held on $725,000 bond. Longview police on Saturday said CODE agents found cash, five guns, two of which had been stolen, along with a cache of drugs valued at $115,000: marijuana, Xanax, Ecstasy, meth, crack, PCP and morphine.

TYLER — One person is dead and another is injured following an accident that occurred while working on a damaged power line in Tyler. Friday, around 1:00 am, Tyler police responded to a one-vehicle accident at the intersection of New Copeland Road and ESE Loop 323. Police say a pickup traveling eastbound on the Loop struck an electrical pole causing it to fall. The vehicle left the scene after the crash. Contracted employees with Oncor were on scene repairing the damaged power line shortly before 5:30, when two employees came in contact with a live wire. One of the workers, Wesley Ray Cain (pictured), 34, of Whitehouse, was electrocuted. Injured was Billy Titsworth, 42, of Wills Point. He was transported to Christus Trinity Mother Frances Hospital and then transferred to Dallas. Continue reading Oncor Worker Electrocuted While Repairing Line

TYLER – A sit down on top of the Smith County Jail is over. The inmate who is a murder suspect, has come down from his perch Friday afternoon. Gustavo Zavala-Garcia, and inmate on a suicide watch, began his sit-down around 2:00 Friday afternoon when he climbed to the top of a basketball goal. A Smith County sheriff’s spokesman says Gustavo Zavala-Garcia was finally removed after he spent 30 minutes looking for an exit through the top of the jail’s outdoor exercise yard and punching anyone trying to take hold of him. A fire truck was brought to the scene and what is called a suicide blanket was placed under the goal in case he decided to jump. KETK reports the blanket turned out to be a bounce house provided by Cindy’s Balloons Party Store. The man is currently under a murder indictment, which was returned January 23rd. He is charged with the November kidnapping and murder of Kayla Gomez-Orozco, 10. She disappeared from a Bullard church during worship service. Her body was found days later inside a well on the suspect’s property.

TYLER – Expect major delays Sunday night on the Loop 323 project at State Highway 31 West in Tyler. There will be demolition work as part of an ongoing construction project. Motorists should avoid the work zone beginning Sunday night at 7:00. District TxDOT spokesperson Kathi White says the contractor will be removing 10 concrete beams from the shoofly bridge at the railroad overpass on Loop 323. The northbound lanes will be reduced to one lane and shifted to the southbound side to set up a crane on the northbound side near the bridge. The southbound lanes will carry two-way traffic. The contractor will stop traffic on Loop 323 for about 15 minutes per beam during the removal process. The remaining substructure of the bridge will also be removed overnight Sunday. Traffic flow should return to normal by 6:00 Monday morning.

AUSTIN – An Anderson County man is one of nine persons appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the Trinity River Authority Board of Directors. He is Dr. Robert McFarlane of Palestine. He is a cardiologist with East Texas Physician’s Alliance, and was also the owner and sole proprietor of The BigWoods on the Trinity from 1995-2015. Most of their terms will expire on March 15th, 2021. Continue reading Appointments To the Trinity River Authority Board Of Directors

ATHENS – The recent term of the Henderson County grand jury saw nearly 45 indictments returned. One of those was against a man accused of the murder of his wife. Daniel Joseph Scott, 29, is accused of the shooting death of his wife Alicia, 29. The shooting occurred at the couple’s home in the Long Cabin area of Henderson County. The shooting happened shortly after midnight on December 28th. He was arrested at East Texas Medical Center in Athens where his wife died. Scott remains in the Henderson County Jail under a $3,500,000 bond.

SMITH COUNTY – The man injured in a Smith County shooting Wednesday afternoon has been identified. Hospitalized in stable condition is Willie Bennett, 61, of Tyler. The shooting occurred near the intersection of County road 1250 and Indian Creek Road. The suspect is said to have gotten out of a black passenger car and shot Bennett while he was on the side of the road. The shooter was previously said to be an Hispanic male. Investigators say they know who he is, but have not released his name.

TYLER – Smith County Commissioner JoAnn Hampton has been appointed to serve on the Education Committee of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas. Commissioner Hampton will represent the North and East Texas Region on the seven-member board. The committee approves the continuing education hours required each year by County Judges and Commissioners serving in the state. Commissioner Hampton took office as County Commissioner for Precinct 4 on January 1, 2003, and serves the county’s northwest district.

LONGVIEW – A Gladewater man has been arrested after breaking into a man’s motel room. Longview police say 47 year old Myron Gould Price broke into the man’s room at the Budget Motel on West Marshall. According to the Longview News Journal, Price was looking for his wife. After breaking into the man’s room, Price is said to have started repeatedly punching him. He is currently in the Gregg County Jail on a charge of burglary of a habitation. His bond is $10,000.