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TYLER – Tyler Junior College nursing students will be using high-tech equipment in a new skills lab. They will get the equipment thanks to a $167,394 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Nursing Innovation Grant Program. TJC associate degree nursing department chair Jodie Seal says the funds will be used to create a high-fidelity simulation lab in Jacksonville. Seal says the lab will be composed of one adult simulator and one birthing mom simulator, including a newborn baby. Continue reading TJC Receives Funds for Equipment for a Nursing Skills Lab

PALESTINE – The term interim is being removed from Palestine City Manager Mike Alexander’s title. Following an executive session Monday night, the Palestine City Council named Alexander as city manager. Alexander came to the city a couple of years ago as interim police chief. He remains as the city’s police chief, with his Assistant Chief, John Herod, running the day-to-day operations. When City Manager Wendy Ellis was fired in October of last year, Alexander became Interim City Manager. Last month, the Palestine City Council named Yoakum City Manager Kevin Coleman for the job. But, last week, he withdrew his name for the post. Continue reading New Palestine City Manager Selected

LONGVIEW – A man who robbed the LeTourneau Federal Credit Union in August, may be responsible for four bank robberies. The suspect was described as a white man, between 45 and 50 years old and about 5-feet, 8-inches tall and 230 lbs. He was wearing a baseball cap. The FBI has called him the “Barrel-Chested Bandit.” Sulphur Springs Chief James “Jay” Sanders tells the Longview News Journal man is also believed to have robbed a bank in Sulphur Springs in November, Albuquerque, New Mexico, in September and in Amarillo in October.

TYLER – The campus police department at Tyler Junior College is investigating two incidents of deadly conduct. Both cases involved a car driving by students and someone in the vehicle pointing a gun at them. The gun was not fired and there were no injuries. The first incident happened around 1:00 Sunday morning on a campus parking lot. The second incident occurred around 9:30 Monday evening near the George W. Pirtle Technology Center. The car in the first incident was said to be a dark colored Toyota Camry. The car in the second incident was described as a dark four door sedan.

TYLER — Police in Tyler are seeking suspects in an aggravated robbery. Around 1:46 Monday morning, officers responded to Lavanderia Express on S. Vine. Upon arrival, police spoke to the cashier, who said that 3 armed black males walked into the business and demanded money. The suspects threatened the clerk with their weapons and ordered him to hand over the money that was in the cash register. After the victim complied with the suspects’ demands, they fled the scene on foot northbound. Continue reading Police Probe Aggravated Robbery

TYLER – A 49-year-old Irving man has been sentenced in Tyler Federal Court to nearly 5 years in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition. Gary Wayne Blanton pleaded guilty in April. He was sentenced Monday by U.S. Circuit Judge Catharina Haynes to 57 months in prison. In November of last year, Blanton was stopped in Gun Barrel City, at 3:00am, for driving a vehicle with no tail lights. When Blanton, who had an outstanding warrant against him, was asked to get out of the car, he sped away. After a few minutes, following a chase that topped 100 miles an hour, Blanton pulled over and surrendered. Continue reading A Henderson County Traffic Stop Leads to a Federal Prison Sentence

GILMER – One person has been killed and one injured in a two vehicle accident in Upshur County. Killed in the Saturday night accident was Troy Cagle, 52, of Gilmer. A passenger on his motorcycle, Teresa Cagle, 56, is in stable condition in a Longview hospital. The accident happened when the couple’s motorcycle hit a vehicle with a homemade trailer that was backing from a driveway. The car’s driver was not injured.The Department of Public Safety reports the accident happened around11:00 Saturday night on U.S. Highway 271, about 8 miles south of Gilmer.

TYLER – An East Texas couple, who lost their teenage son last year, were joined in Tyler Monday by those who received their son’s organs. Gayla and Ronnie Matthews’ 16 year old son Cam’ron, died after collapsing on the sidelines of an Alto High School football game. His organs were donated to three persons. To honor their son, a floragraph has been built of him. They put finishing touches on it Monday afternoon. The floragraph will be displayed on the Donate Life Rose Parade Float. It will be seen in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena California on January 2nd. Continue reading East Texas Family Prepares to Honor Son at The Rose Parade

DOUGLASS – One person has died in a house fire in western Nacogdoches County. The fire was reported shortly after 5:00 Monday morning at a home on County Road 845. Killed was Bea Ellen Rich, 75. The house was fully engulfed in flames when firemen arrived. After the fire was put out, the victim’s body was found. Investigators believe that the fire started in the home’s bathroom, but the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Foul play is not expected at this time, but the investigation is ongoing.

JACKSONVILLE – A Tyler man has been arrested for numerous Jacksonville business burglaries. And he may be a suspect in some Smith County burglaries. Timothy Wayne Glover, 48, was arrested while officers say he was trying to break into a Dairy Queen on East Rusk Street. Glover is said to have admitted to several other business burglaries. With the help of video evidence Glover has been charged with seven Jacksonville business burglaries. And investigators says he may also be responsible for business burglaries in Bullard, Chandler and the Tyler area.

PALESTINE – A woman died in a weekend vehicle/pedestrian accident in Palestine. The woman had left a business and was attempting to cross West Oak Street when the accident occurred. It was reported shortly after 6:45 Saturday evening. The woman, who was first hit by a SUV, was then hit by a car. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident remains under investigation.

TYLER – Tyler Water Utilities has extended some work that will affect traffic flow on Old Jacksonville Highway between Rice Road and Loop 323. One northbound lane of traffic will remain closed from 6:00am until around 5:30pm through Tuesday while TWU replacles 800 feet of 12-inch water main adjacent to the Brookshire’s warehouse complex. Crews had initially hoped to get the job done by this past Saturday.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in TxDOT’s Tyler District during the Weeks of Nov. 21 and 28. The schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure, or other unforeseen issues. You’re asked to slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones.

Smith County – Tyler Maintenance plans to address routine maintenance issues such as patching potholes and debris cleanup around the county. The following week, edge work is scheduled for FM 2710 between FM 14 and FM 16 as is base repairs on SH 135 between Troup and Arp. Expect lane closures at both locations with flaggers providing traffic control. Continue reading TxDOT’s Weekly Roadwork Update

TYLER — Starting today, Baker and Reid Company will be repairing the damaged bridge on Creekside Trail on Tyler’s Rose Rudman Trails. City officials say repairs will take place during business hours, barricading this section of the trail. At the end of each day, the barricades will be removed so the trail can be used. Repairs are estimated to last four weeks, continuing through the end of December.

TYLER – Thanksgiving travelers using Tyler’s Pounds Regional Airport this week will be greeted by two Therapet human-animal teams. They will be at the airport today and Wednesday to greet arriving and departing travelers to help them beat holiday stress. Therapet Executive Director Carianne Fisher said research has found that people’s blood pressure and heart rate go down, their positive hormones increase and it helps people relax when they love on a dog for a little while. Fisher said they hope they can extend their holiday visits past Thanksgiving into the Christmas season.

TYLER – A contractor has closed Old Pleasant Retreat Road, also known as County Road 1184. The closure is between Parker Road (CR 1185) and Negem Road (CR1141). The closure and construction of this area should last around 5 to 6 weeks. The closure is for the realignment of Old Pleasant Retreat Road as it directly affects Project 3 of the Runway 4/22 Rehabilitation Project at Pounds Regional Airport. The realignment will allow for over an additional 530 feet of runway to be constructed this winter. So, if you have to travel in this area, you are advised to use caution.

KILGORE – Kilgore College wants your input. They want to know what you think about carrying concealed handguns on the college’s campuses. This legislation took effect on university campuses August 1. The law does not go into effect for Texas public community colleges until August 1, 2017. School President Dr. Brenda Kays, has formed a campus carry taskforce made up of faculty, staff and students. This taskforce will develop policy recommendations for consideration by the college president and the Board of Trustees. But they also what your feedback. You can go to the Kilgore College website to get more information on Senate Bill 11. There is also a link there leading you to a campus carry survey.

LONGVIEW — Three weeks after being badly burned in an explosion in his catering trailer, Dudley’s Cajun Café owner Dudley Lang returned to work Friday — his spirits lifted by what he says has been an “outpouring” of support from his patrons. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Doctor’s orders, however, are keeping Lang from getting back in the kitchen as he recovers from his injuries. “I missed it,” Lang said of working at his restaurant. “It’s great to be back. We’ve got great employees. My wife and our front-end manager have both done a good job while I’ve been gone. But it’s great to be back.” Continue reading Restaurant Owner Returns to Work Weeks after Suffering Burns

TYLER — Tyler police are seeking leads on a motor vehicle accident apparently caused by a gunshot. Officials say police responded to East Erwin and Loop 323 around 7:16 Friday evening. Upon arrival, officers determined a Mitsubishi was northbound on Loop 323 stopped for the light and preparing to turn west onto East Erwin. Authorities say a back seat passenger in the Mitsubishi shot the driver through the seat, causing the driver to drive into oncoming southbound traffic, where a Toyota hit the Mitsubishi head-on. At least two people fled on foot from the Mitsubishi. The driver and two passengers in each car were transported to the hospital by ambulance. Police say the investigation into the incident is ongoing, no one had been arrested at last report, and no one appears to have life-threatening injuries.

LIBERTY CITY – Earlier this month we told you about the firing of the Sabine Schools Superintendent. You can forget that, because Stacey Bryce is back on the job. After two new school trustees were sworn in last night, the school board voted to reverse the action of November 1st that fired Bryce. The Longview News Journal reports Bryce was greeted by a standing ovation from the audience in the Sabine High School Auditorium. Bryce was named the school district’s superintendent in 2004. His tenure became strained following a 2009 DWI conviction.

ATHENS – An Athens mother will spend the rest of her life in prison for the death of her daughter. A state court jury Thursday, after deliberating under an hour, found Stacie Parsons, 27, guilty of killing 4 year old Victoria Wyatt. She was then sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. According to court testimony, she tried to kill the little girl several ways, before drowning her in July, 2014. She then carried the body home in the trunk of her car. Parsons then went to the Athens Police Department and confessed to killing the girl. Officers found her body in the yard of her home.

TYLER — Tyler’s new fire chief, David Coble, was treated to a Rose Garden Center reception Thursday evening by the Tyler-based Empowerment Community Development Corporation. Coble, rounding out his second week on the job, says he likes the way things have gone so far. He says, “The people here are so nice…Everyone that I run into on the street…whether I’m in uniform or not…always a bright smile, and people always welcome me. It feels like home to me.” As for the fire department, Coble adds, “I have a great command staff, a bunch of great firefighters that have servant hearts — and they are…ready to take care of any of the city’s problems every day.” Continue reading New Fire Chief Welcomed with Reception

TYLER – Today is Tyler Recycles Day. The city’s recycling center on North Bois D’Arc will have special activities from 8:00 till noon. You will be able to bring by everything from household appliances to newspapers and phonebooks. They will even be taking vehicle batteries old motor oil and anti-freeze. You can go to http:www.keeptylerbeautiful.com to see the full list of items that will be accepted. Continue reading Recycling Push in Tyler

TYLER — A Tyler man is behind bars on multiple charges out of Tarrant County. According to KETK, Montre Rashad Henry, 20, was arrested by the United States Marshal Service for sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by sexual contact. Judicial records show Henry is a Tyler resident. He’s being held in the Smith County Jail on $50,000 bond.

SMITH COUNTY — A Grapeland man has been arrested for online solicitation. Charles Eric Tutt, 48, was arrested Thursday for online solicitation of a minor under 14-years-old. According to KETK, details surrounding the reported crime were not immediately available. Tutt is being held in the Smith County Jail on $250,000 bond.

PALESTINE – Bat houses are going up in Palestine. They will serve as a replacement habitat for bats currently residing in vacant downtown buildings. The first houses went up on the corner of Queen and Oak Streets, behind the Palestine Chamber of Commerce. The city’s Public Works department built the metal pole for the bat houses and the East Texas Chapter of Master Naturalists supplied the bat houses. Jacob Morris, Historic Preservation Officer, said the bats should start populating the houses in the spring, when they migrate north. Continue reading New Types of Houses for Palestine

TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Department is warning grandparents about an ongoing scam. It starts with a call from someone claiming to be the person’s grandson or granddaughter who is has been arrested and needs money. They need the funds immediately to post bail or pay for damages from a car wreck. They will also ask you not to tell anyone about this incident. They will hand the phone to an alleged police officer or attorney who will guide you on how to send the money. It could be by cash in the mail, or they will request that you purchase gift cards and call them back with the number on the cards. Once that money is wired, it’s gone and can’t be recovered. This has proven to be an extremely lucrative con for scammers because the scam preys on the love of a grandparent for their grandchildren. Continue reading Grandparents Alerted to a Scam

GILMER – An Upshur County man has been handed a lengthy prison term for sexually assaulting children. Wednesday afternoon, a jury convicted Obie Earl Tutt, II, 38, of Ore City, of two separate cases of aggravated sexual assault of a child and 4 separate cases of Indecency with a Child. The charges arose from two separate young girls from the Ore City area. Then on Thursday, the jury sentenced Tutt to 165 years in state prison and fined him $40,000.