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MARSHALL – Two Longview teenagers are in custody in Marshall after shots were fired. No injuries were reported in the incident, which occurred shortly before 10:45 Saturday morning at the Decker Place Apartments on East End Boulevard South. One of the rounds went through an apartment just above a couch where a young child was lying. Witnesses gave officers a description of the two suspects, who fled the area on foot. A short time later, a patrol officer spotted two young men matching the description. Arrested were Robert Rayson and Dallas Moore, both 17. Each teen was charged with possession of drugs and unlawful carrying of a weapon. More charges may be filed.

TYLER – One person has been killed in a two vehicle accident in Tyler. It occurred on Paluxy Drive near its intersection with Brandon Drive around 1:15 Friday afternoon. Killed was Kali Faye Randolph, 21, of Rusk. A Passenger in her car is hospitalized. Two persons in the other vehicle, an SUV, were treated at the scene and released. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

LONGVIEW – The death of a woman whose body was found in a car, is now being investigated by Longview police as a homicide. The death is that of 28 year old Victorria Jasmine Sam of Longview. A report of a shooting resulted in officers going to Duncan Street shortly after 5:30 Monday afternoon. According to a police department statement, “Based on evidence investigators gathered at the scene and autopsy results, police are investigating this case as a homicide.” They have not released the cause of death. The victim’s mother told the Longview News Journal that her daughter had been shot. Continue reading Longview’s Latest Homicide

MARSHALL – A man found dead in Marshall has been identified, and officials are now referring to the case as a homicide. On Thursday at approximately 8:30 a.m., the Marshall Police Department received a call regarding a welfare concern. When officers arrived on the scene on North Hazelwood Street, they located a deceased male, lying in the yard of a residence, with what are believed to be gunshot wounds. The victim has been identified as 42-year-old Carlos Flores of Marshall. Chief Jesus “Eddie” Campa says officers are “working tirelessly to determine the circumstances leading up to the death.” Anyone with information is urged to call the Marshall Police Department at 903-935-4575 or the Marshall-Harrison County Crime Stoppers at 903-935-9969.

TYLER – The cheer and drill teams from John Tyler High School and Robert E Lee High School faced off for the Salvation Army earlier this week. Friday, it was announced which of the two teams was the winner of the 1st Annual Christmas Kettle Spirit Award. Each team manned two separate doors at their respective locations. After the first day, only $17.07 separated the two schools. In the end, Robert E Lee won by only $87.60. The two schools raised a total of $3,249 for the Salvation Army. The goal for the local Red Kettle Drive is $400,000. This has been the goal the past two years, a goal that has not been met. And it appears it will fall short again this year. Continue reading First Christmas Kettle Spirit Award Handed Out

TYLER – Tyler police are looking for three or four persons responsible for shooting out a window on the city’s southeast side. It happened around 2:00 Thursday afternoon on Varsity Drive, near the University of Texas at Tyler. One round was said to have been fired from a moving vehicle, described as a 2014 blue Nissan Sentra. It was last seen heading south on Highway 110 toward Whitehouse. The suspects are said to be black males. There were no reports of any injuries.

MT. SELMAN – There has been another arrest in the area concerning an illegal game room. Cherokee County Sheriff’s deputies served a warrant this week at the Hot Spot convenience store in Mt. Selman. The action came after the sheriff’s department received reports of people placing bets on gambling devices and winning cash prizes. At the business, they seized gaming equipment, a large game table, money and documents. Arrested was the store’s owner, Feroz Abdul Aibani. He is currently free after posting a $1,500 bond.

LONGVIEW – The Texas Supreme Court will be in session in East Texas next year. The justices will be hearing oral arguments on two cases in the Belcher Center on the campus of Longview’s LeTourneau University. The public is invited to attend the oral arguments on February 16th, from 9:00 to 11:30 that morning. The two cases the court will hear will be set in the next few weeks. Following the oral arguments there will be time for a question and answer session with the justices. That afternoon the justices will hold breakout sessions on campus for students and at the Gregg County Courthouse for attorneys and other legal professionals. The Texas Supreme Court’s visit is designed to educate students and the public about Texas government and how the highest court in the state, for civil appeals, operates.

TYLER — Planning for the future, Tyler ISD has selected architects for a possible bond for local high schools. KETK reports that the school district selected architectural firms to renovate John Tyler and Robert E. Lee. According to one of the firms, completely renovating John Tyler will cost $87 million and Robert E. Lee $122 million if a bond is passed. The firms will be now contracted into what is called the building phase.

JACKSONVILLE – A suspected drug dealer, who lives close to a day care facility, has been arrested in Jacksonville. Arrested was Kevin Durell Cox. His arrest came as narcotics investigators and officers with the Special Weapons and Tactics Unit, executed a search warrant on North Ragsdale. They seized 15.1 grams of suspected crack cocaine, and about 13 ounces of marijuana. Both drugs were packaged for resale. The officers also seized a digital scale, plastic baggies commonly used to weigh and package narcotics, and $951.00 in cash. Cox, who lives within 1,000 feet of a day care facility, has been charged with delivery of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana in a drug free zone.

EAST TEXAS – Plans are underway to close six Workforce Solutions East Texas offices in the area. They will shut down December 30th. This reduction in centers was passed unanimously over a week ago by the group’s board. It was also approved by the Chief Elected Officials board which is comprised of 14 county judges in East Texas and the mayors of Tyler and Longview. The closings come because the $31 Million budget fell almost $730,000 this year. The centers that are closing had the lowest foot traffic, in the region. They averaged 68 visits last year. The centers that are closing are located in Carthage, Emory, Gilmer, Jefferson, Pittsburg and Quitman. The other centers, including those in Tyler and Longview, will remain open.

BULLARD – When you hear reviews of high schools, they normally deal with the quality of education that’s inside. There’s one list of top schools that’s all about the exteriors. One of the schools on the list is in Smith County. These schools are honored in Architectural Digest, and they are called the “most beautiful schools in Texas. The website Aceable took a look at the designs of the schools around the state, and selected the top 25 in Texas. Number 4 on the list is Brook Hill School, which sits on 280 acres in Bullard. It is an independent, Christian day and boarding school for students in grades PreK-12. It opened in 1997 with 31 students. Today, there are over 600 students.The most prominent structure on its campus is the dome-shaped Founder’s Hall, which houses The American Freedom Museum and upper school classrooms.

TYLER – Investigators have not been able to determine what caused a weekend Tyler fire. It happened around 10:15 Sunday morning in a two story structure near the intersection of Border Avenue and Selman Street. The house suffered heavy fire damage. Due to the instability of the structure, investigators were unable to conduct a full investigation. The cause of the fire is undetermined pending further information. The investigation is closed at this time. But they say they have no reason to believe the fire was intentionally set. A Tyler firefighter was transported to to a hospital following a medical issue that occurred outside of the structure. He has been released from the hospital and should make a full recovery.

LONGVIEW – One person is in custody following a hit and run accident in Longview. It occurred shortly before 9:30 Tuesday night. on West Loop 281. Police public information officer Kristie Brian said a witness followed the suspect’s vehicle and told officers where it went. Arrested was 39 year old Angela Delois Bridges of Longview. Jail records show she has been in custody over a dozen time since 1999. Besides being charged with an accident involving damage over $200, she also has five outstanding warrants against her. The other driver was hospitalized. No word on the extent of her injuries.

UPSHUR COUNTY — The trial of a man accused of killing two young Harmony women in a head-on crash on graduation night this year has been moved to Longview. Robert William Frazier was indicted in September on two counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault. His trial in Longview will be scheduled next year. Frazier remained Tuesday in the Upshur County Jail on a $500,000 bond set by 115th District Judge Lauren Parish. According to the Longview News-Journal and KETK, both sides agreed in an order signed Tuesday by Parish that “great prejudice” in the community against defendant Frazier prevents a fair trial in Gilmer. Continue reading Trial Moved for Driver Accused of Two Upshur County Deaths

LONGVIEW – The death of a woman in a car on Duncan Street remains under investigation by Longview police. She has been identified as Victorria Jasmine Sam, 28, of Longview. A report of a shooting resulted in officers going to the scene shortly after 5:30 Monday afternoon. They have not ruled out foul play as the cause of death and they have not released the cause of death. The body was sent to a Tyler lab for autopsy.

TYLER – Several chimney fires have been reported in the area recently. Keeping chimneys clean is important to prevent house fires. Robert Graham with Tyler’s Top Hat Chimney Sweeps says its is important to have your chimney inspected every year. It should be cleaned every year or for every two cords of wood that you burn. The problem is creosote. Graham says the black dust, builds up in a chimney over time, and that can cause a fire that can damage the mortar and masonry in the chimney. This damage can leave pathways for fire travel into the wood frame structure of the home.

LONGVIEW – Because of a public private partnership between the City of Longview and the nonprofit, Veterans Recognition Foundation, Longview’s Teague Park is now home to a Veterans Plaza. It honors the service and sacrifice of veterans and their families. Located on about 2 acres surrounding the Teague Park pond, the plaza features unique individual monuments honoring all veterans. It also has a scale replica of the Vietnam Wall. Other monuments include memorials for 9/11, MIA/POWs, and conflicts in places such as Iwo Jima, Korea, Grenada, Iraq, Panama, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Bosnia. Continue reading Veteran’s Plaza Now Has a Home at Longview’s Teague Park

CHAPEL HILL – Authorities are investigating the robbery of a driver on a Smith County Road. It happened shortly before 6:45 Tuesday morning on County Road 289. The driver tells authorities he had to stop when a man stepped in front of his car. The man then walked to the driver’s door and put a gun to the side of the driver’s head. After taking an undisclosed amount of cash from the driver, the suspect, described as a black male, disappeared into some nearby woods. No injuries were reported.

SMITH COUNTY — The father of a Smith County constable, who was found last week guilty of murder, was sentenced today to prison. John Douglas Smith, 72, was was sentenced to 50 years in prison. He had been charged with the shooting death of 47 year old Francisco Douglas. It occurred at the Sunset Valley Mobile Home Park off of Highway 64 west. Smith was the caretaker of the park where Douglas lived. The two had began arguing over rent when Smith shot and killed Douglas. Smith’s son, John G. Smith, is the Smith County precinct 4 constable.

RUSK COUNTY – A Longview man has died in a weekend shooting in Rusk County. Rusk County authorities confirm the death of 20 year old Samuel Andrew Brown. Brown’s family tells the Longview News Journal he walked into the wrong house and was shot by the homeowner. He had been drinking and was returning to a friends home when he walked into the wrong home. They say that drinking most likely clouded his judgment, but they don’t believe Brown had any criminal intent. In a news release Tuesday afternoon, the Rusk County Sheriff’s office says the case remains under investigation at this time and will be presented to the Rusk County Grand Jury.

LONGVIEW – Just days before Christmas a Longview family of four is homeless because of a fire. It was reported shortly before 8:00 Monday night on East Melton Street. The fire started in the wall of the laundry room traveling into the attic and the adjacent rooms on both sides of the wall. Earlier, there was a leak in the water line in the laundry room wall. One of the residents tried to dry out the electrical panel “old style” fuse box and the wiring in that area. The home did not have working smoke alarms because the batteries were dead. Fortunately the occupants were able to get out of the home without injuries. The Red Cross is assisting the family. Continue reading Fire Displaces Longview Family

LONGVIEW – The death of a woman found in a car on Duncan Street is being investigated by Longview police. A report of a shooting resulted in officers going to the scene shortly after 5:30 Monday afternoon. They have not ruled out foul play as the cause of death. The body has been sent to Tyler for autopsy. The identity has not been released.

PALESTINE – Two persons are in custody and four being sought in connection with an aggravated assault in Anderson County. It happened over the weekend on South Highway 287. A man tells sheriff’s deputies the suspects forced their way into his apartment, demanding a pistol. When he said he did not have one, he was assaulted and so was a man from a neighboring apartment. Investigators were able to identify four suspects. Two has been arrested. Two others who have been identified are still at large. They are still trying to identify a 5th man and a blonde haired woman who drove the getaway vehicle. Continue reading Four Sought in Anderson County Aggravated Assault

TYLER – Next February, the Better Business Bureau will be holding its annual luncheon and award banquet in Tyler. They will present Awards for Excellence to three companies and one nonprofit. The awards go to those who exemplify ethical behavior and display integrity in all aspects of their operations. Twenty-one businesses and organizations have been nominated for the awards. Nominated in the large business category are 2C Processor USA, East Texas Copy Systems, Jennings Scrap and Salvage Company and Progress Cleaners. Continue reading BBB Award Nominees Announced

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a reported shooting outside a local game room Sunday night. According to KETK, deputies responded to a robbery call at an Exxon gas station on Highway 155 South just before 10:00. A woman told authorities she was inside the store playing games when she noticed three other people inside were no longer there. The woman said she returned to her her vehicle and realized her cellphone had been stolen. The victim claims three people left the scene with her phone in a black Honda civic. They also allegedly fired four shots at her as they left. The woman’s cellphone cover was thrown from the robber’s vehicle. The victim described the driver as a white male in his 50s or 60s. A younger white male and female were in the back seat. The woman said they were both wearing glasses. No injuries were reported.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of December 19th. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.

Smith County construction projects updates:
Loop 323 West Widening at UPRR Underpass
*Limits: Tyler’s West Loop and SH 31
*Contractor: Longview Bridge and Road, Ltd., of Longview
*Cost: $12 million
*Anticipated Completion Date: Winter 2016
General cleanup activities continue as this job nears completion. No additional work can be conducted until the railroad moves to the new permanent track and the temporary railroad bridge is removed. Meanwhile, the contractor continues to monitor the roadway throughout the project limits until the remaining work can be completed. The project includes widening Loop 323 from SH 31 to Shaw Street. The speed limit on Loop 323 in the work zone remains 45 mph from SH 64 to Shaw Street. Continue reading TxDOT Road Projects