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LONGVIEW — A Gladewater man is in the Gregg County Jail, charged with hitting a young girl with a stick. Justin Scott Zuniga-Garcia, 23, is charged with child/elderly/disabled person with intentional bodily injury. His bond is $15,000. A mother called sheriff’s deputies to her Ann Street home to report the suspect had hit her 9 year old daughter, causing several small abrasions on her leg. The incident is said to have occured as the suspect became upset with some children who were playing outside. The youngster told deputies the suspect told her if she told anyone about the incident, he would “beat up her daddy.”

LUFKIN – The Texas Forestry Association is announcing that Ron Hufford, Executive Director, will retire by the end of the year. Hufford has been the association’s executive director since January, 1984. During that time Hufford established Project Learning Tree and the Teacher Conservation Institute, and developed several councils under TFA’s umbrella to bring together the diversity of the forest industry. Before joining TFA, Hufford worked with Southern Forest Products Association based in New Orleans, Louisiana as Mid-Western Field Representative before being elevated to director of Field Services, and later named the Vice President of SFPA’s Forest Resources and Environmental Division. Continue reading Texas Forestry Official Retiring

PALESTINE – A man accused of a shooting at Palestine High School last February has been sentenced in state district court. Bobby Burrell, 63, of Teague, pleaded guilty last November to six counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison for each charge, which will be served concurrently. Burrell was accused of firing several shots at another Teague man, hitting him at least once in the upper arm. He was then accused of assaulting a 59 year old woman who was accompanying the victim, hitting her in the head with the handgun after the gun malfunctioned. The woman was his ex-wife. Several more shots were also fired in the parking lot and additional rounds hit a passenger vehicle with adults and children as they were driving in the lot. No one was injured in the vehicle. The male victim was taken to a Palestine hospital and was later taken to a Tyler Hospital for additional treatment.

TYLER – Smith County authorities report the arrest of a man accused of bilking 9 different complainants, including a church in Troup. Gary Lynn Garrett, 53, is said to have posed as a contractor doing concrete work. Investigators say he was paid over $37,000 for the work, which was never performed. He fled the area last June after he was named in an arrest warrant. Garrett was tracked to Tennessee where he is accused of running similar scams. Garrett has been arrested by Kentucky State Police and is awaiting extradition back to Smith County.

MARSHALL – The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a forgery suspect, and they are asking for the public’s help in identifying him. The checks, which were stolen in Harrison County, are said to have been passed at a Longview pawn shop. The suspect is said to be about 6 feet tall with reddish hair and beard. If you have any information about the suspect, you are asked to contact the Harrison County Criminal Investigations Division at 903-923-4000.

TYLER – Tyler firemen have put out what become a two alarm fire at the Grove Restaurant on the Old Jacksonville Highway. It was reported shortly after 9:30 Tuesday morning. Arriving firefighters reported smoke and flames visible from the roof of the building. Six engines and one ladder company, along with a district chief and an investigator responded to the scene. Investigators say the fire started in a vent pipe coming from a barbecue smoker within the building. The majority of the fire was contained within the pipe. However, a rubber seal at the roof line ignited due to heat transfer. The attic area of the building was clear, with no reported structural damage. There were no injuries reported, and the restaurant and other buildings on the property remained open.

SMITH COUNTY — One driver has been arrested after a chase through Tyler early this morning. According to KETK, Tyler Police and Smith County Sheriff’s Deputies were involved after a Tyler officers attempted a traffic stop. Authorities eventually set out spikes which blew out a tire and stopped the chase around the area of Commerce Road and Loop 323 in Tyler. John Anson Williams, 34, Tyler, was booked into the Smith County Jail on charges of evading arrest, possession, fake license plate and registration and parole violation.

SMITH COUNTY – A third person has now been arrested in connection with an armed robbery that turned deadly early Saturday morning. It occurred at the Conoco gas station on North Northeast Loop 323. Sheriff Larry Smith announced Monday night that Kedarius Hayes Oliver, 23, has now been charged in the case. Previously arrested were Lamarcus Hannah, 32 and Demeon Mosley, 26. During the robbery store employee Billy Stacks, 62, was shot. He later died at a Tyler Hospital. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, early Saturday morning, a masked man came into the station. Security footage shows the man jumping over the counter and pointing a gun at Stacks. Deputies said Stacks was shot twice during a struggle between the two. Continue reading Three Suspects Arrested in Fatal Smith County Robbery

WASHINGTON – The president signed an executive order Friday that suspends all immigration for citizens of seven countries for 90 days. They are Syria, Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Libya. Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert says he supports the president’s actions. Gohmert said the Obama Administration had failed to adequately protect us. But he said President Trump took a first step and utilized the tools that both the constitution and congress have long granted Presidents. Gohmert said, while many opponents of the president will claim that the order is illegal and even unconstitutional, those claims ignore longstanding constitutional precedents and statutory grants of authority used by other presidents, even Obama. He said the basis for the pause is the lack of credible information against which to check the identity of a person from those countries claiming refugee status. Continue reading Gohmert is Behind the President’s Immigration Order

NACOGDOCHES – Authorities have recovered the body of a man who drowned Saturday in Lake Scoggins, a private lake in Nacogdoches County. The body of Pernell Tutt, 52, of Nacogdoches, was recovered around 10:00 Sunday morning. Tutt and his 83 year old mother Cora were fishing when their flat bottom boat hit a stump, and the woman fell from the boat. The man jumped in the lake to rescue his mother and was able to swim with her to a stump. He tied her hands to the stump to keep her from drowning, but he drowned swimming back to the boat. An 18 year old, who heard the woman screaming, swam to the boat and used it to rescue her.

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the overnight robbery of a game room. According to KETK, the robbery occurred at the Lucky Road Game Room, 3407 North Northeast Loop 323. Details concerning the robbery are unknown.

LONGVIEW — A sitting state appeals court judge who mocked participants in the global women’s marches has gone silent as complaints to the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct roll in from around the state. According to the Longview News-Journal, the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct does not acknowledge when it receives complaints about judges. The only exception is when a rare public reprimand is issued. But complaints about 6th Court of Appeals Judge Bailey Moseley’s Facebook post describing the marches as “a million fat women” are drawing formal objections from Longview and beyond. The leader of Democratic Women of East Texas, whose members joined the Women’s March on Austin, said she and four or five other members filed formal complaints. Moseley, of Marshall, had deleted the Facebook comment by Monday afternoon. The judge’s entire Facebook profile was taken down shortly after that. Moseley has not responded to requests seeking comment, including one sent Friday. He has not issued a public statement, either.

SMITH COUNTY — Two people are in custody, a third is being questioned and one person is dead following an armed robbery that turned deadly early Saturday morning. Lamarcus Hannah, 32 and Demeon Mosley, 26, were arrested in connection with the death of Billy Stacks, 62. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, early Saturday morning, a masked man came into the Conoco gas station on Loop 323. Security footage shows the man jumping over the counter and pointing a gun at Stacks. Deputies said Stacks was shot twice during a struggle between the two. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and died early Sunday morning. Continue reading Two Suspects Arrested in Fatal Armed Robbery

TYLER — Tyler Police are investigating an aggravated assault. According to police, it happened around 3:40 at the intersection of Hwy 31 west and Greenbrier road. A sedan, in the area of Highway 31 west and Spur 364, was reportedly approached from behind in what cops say was an aggressive manner. The approaching vehicle passed and opened fire on the sedan, striking it multiple times. A passenger in the sedan was shot. The injured passenger was transported to the emergency room by EMS with non-life threatening injuries.

LONGVIEW — Two people were taken to the Longview Regional Medical Center after jumping from the second story of a rental house to escape a fire Friday evening. According to KETK, Longview Fire Marshal Johnny Zackary said the two received non-life threatening injuries from the fall. Firefighters were called to the 1000 block of Oden Street, where the fire had broken out at the house. Six people live in the house, which is divided into two rental units.

TYLER — Tyler police are searching for the suspect involved in a mugging Friday afternoon. It happend around 2:00 in the parking lot of Home Depot on Old Jacksonville Hwy. According to the victim, the suspect had come up to the driver side window of the victim’s vehicle asking for money. The victim said he pulled his wallet out to give the suspect some cash when the suspect began assaulting him. The victim and suspect struggled and the suspect struck the victim with a pink stun gun. The suspect then fled the area, with the victim’s property, toward Bank of Tyler. Continue reading Man Attacked in Parking Lot of Home Depot

TYLER — A 39-year-old Palestine man has been sentenced in Tyler to 8 1/2 years in federal prison for a tax fraud/identity theft scheme. Jefferson Kincade pleaded guilty last Aug. 23 to fraudulent or false statements in a tax return, theft or conversion of money, and aggravated identity theft. Kincade also agreed to a cash forfeiture of $110,919.54. Continue reading Palestine Man Sentenced for Tax Fraud/Identity Theft Scheme

LONGVIEW — Longview Police say a vehicle drove into the E-Z Mart gas station building at the intersection of Loop 281 and Bill Owens Parkway Friday morning. No injuries have been reported. Further details weren’t immediately available, but police remind you to always remember to place your vehicle in park before exiting.

TYLER — The City of Tyler and the Tyler Police Department have identified action items following continued discussions between city and community leaders. “Tyler Police Department has enjoyed a close and cooperative relationship with citizens in Tyler,” said Police Chief Jimmy Toler (pictured) in a city news release. “These relationships are built on transparency, mutual respect and trust.” Discussions began on Jan. 20, following contact with ex-football star Ricky Williams by the Tyler Police Department in response to a citizen request for police service. Community leaders, including the NAACP, Tyler Together Race Relations Forum and Smith County elected officials came together to voice their concerns and discuss ways to move forward. “I was very proud of the show of unity at last week’s meeting,” said Mayor Martin Heines in the release. “Our goal as a community is to work together.” Continue reading Tyler Officials: City and Police Reaffirm Commitment to Community

LONGVIEW — A 50-year-old Longview man has been arrested after police said he tried to hide about 7 grams of methamphetamine. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Timothy Wayne Yow was placed in the Gregg County Jail on $20,000 bond, charged with possession of a controlled substance measuring between 4 and 200 grams. Longview police were patrolling the Texas Lodge on East Marshall Avenue about 10:40 a.m. Wednesday when they saw Yow and a known wanted suspect sitting in a truck at the motel, according to police. When officers went to arrest the suspect, they saw Yow get out of the truck and attempt to conceal two tobacco cans before throwing them in the back of the truck, police said. Officers found 7.1 grams of meth in the tobacco cans.

LONGVIEW — Longview police have arrested a fourth suspect in a September 8 home invasion and shooting on Clearwood Drive. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Markerrion D’Shon Allison, 20, of Carthage was placed in the Gregg County Jail on $250,000 bond, charged with aggravated robbery. He also was held on a parole violation for theft of a firearm. Allison was arrested at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Longview Police Department. Continue reading Fourth Suspect Arrested in Robbery, Shooting

GREGG COUNTY — A 33-year-old Gilmer woman has been indicted on charges stemming from an October crash that sent her two young boys and two others to the hospital. According to KETK, Tenia Michelle Rose has been indicted on two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of intoxication assault and one count of injury to a child. Rose remained in the Gregg County Jail with bond set at $254,000. Rose had been driving Oct. 28 on George Richey Road in Warren City when her car collided with another vehicle. Rose’s sons, ages 7 and 8, were taken to a Dallas hospital. Continue reading Woman Indicted for Intoxicated Assault following Wreck

MARSHALL – The Texas Department of Public Safety has temporarily closed the Marshall Driver License Office for renovations. The office is expected to reopen to the public in mid-February. During the renovation period, DPS is encouraging customers in the area to visit the driver license offices in Longview (located at 416 Lake Lamond Road, Longview, TX 75604-5838) or Gilmer (located at 713 State Highway 155 North, Gilmer, TX 75644). Continue reading Marshall Driver License Office Set for Renovation

LONGVIEW – A Kilgore woman has been indicted for the murder of her mother. According to KETK, the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office reports Kayla Ann Wheeler, 28, was indicted Thursday after she admitted to stabbing her mother to death in October 2016. Police found the body of Elizabeth Jane Wheeler, 52, November 3, 2016, at the Hidden Hills Apartments on Gilmer Road in Longview. The autopsy report stated Wheeler had stab wounds to the neck with a perforation of the jugular vein and carotid artery, muscles and larynx. Continue reading Woman Indicted in Mother’s Murder

TYLER – The accused murderer of Kayla Gomez-Orozco, 10, has been indicted on one count of capital murder. According to KETK, judicial records indicate Gustavo Zavala-Garcia, 24, of Bullard, was indicted by a Smith County Grand Jury January 23. Last November, Kayla disappeared from a Bullard church during worship. Her body was found days later inside a well on the suspect’s property. Continue reading Suspect Indicted in Death of Kayla Gomez-Orozco

STROUD, Okla. (AP/Staff) – After discussing a pending lawsuit with their attorneys, the Oklahoma Emergency Medical Services Authority’s Board of Trustees has chosen two board members to oversee the East Texas-linked case. The Tulsa World reports the EMSA’s board voted Wednesday to appoint Chairwoman Allison Petersen and Vice Chairwoman Jan Slater to “coordinate EMSA’s defense with counsel and to negotiate any resolutions, subject to board approval.” Continue reading EMSA Board Chooses Members to Oversee Pending Lawsuit