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TYLER – TxDOT will be busy with another round of construction and maintenance work in the Tyler District this week. Maintenance crews in Smith County will be performing bobcat profile operations on FM 2493 just south of Grande in the southbound lanes. There will be lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic. These crews will then move to the Grande and Toll 49 area to perform the same work. There will be multiple lane closures daily. In Gregg County, maintenance crews plan to perform erosion control on SH 31 from Longview city limits to I-20 north and southbound. There will be lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic. Crews will also continue mobile operations to patch potholes and low edges throughout the county. Click here for the full rundown of roadwork around the district.

CANTON – The Van Zandt County 294th District Court has canceled jury duty due to a material witness’s exposure to COVID. According to our news partner KETK, those who received a jury summons from the court for Jan. 10 were not required to report and will not be required to do anything further. Officials say the trial will be rescheduled.

STARRVILLE – Just one year after the tragic shooting, Starrville Methodist Church congregation members gathered to recall the day that their late pastor was killed. “It was like slow motion. You know, you couldn’t really believe what was happening,” said congregation member Mike Sellers, who was shot six times but recovered. According to our news partner KETK, a memorial was held Sunday in remembrance of Pastor Mark McWilliams. Starrville Methodist honored McWilliams by planting an October Glory Maple tree on the church property with the help of Breedlove Nursery. The January 2, 2021, incident began as authorities pursued fugitive Myrtez Woolen. Woolen reportedly tried to hide in the church and was discovered by McWilliams — who was shot dead with his own weapon after Woolen was reportedly able to take the gun from the pastor. Woolen currently awaits further legal proceedings in the case. Continue reading One year later, remembering a tragic shooting

  TYLER – On Sunday, to celebrate the 3rd anniversary of their Free Day, Tyler Thrift allowed East Texans to come and get free items. According to our news partner KETK, in addition to the free items, customers also received free snacks, drinks, and pizza. The store allowed groups to have 10 minutes to grab whatever they want. New items were brought out between each group, so Tyler Thrift said there were plenty of items for everyone. People could get back in line as many times as they’d like and Tyler Thrift said there was no limit on how many items guests could take. The store also provided bags and boxes until they ran out.

  TYLER  – On Saturday Sharon Shriners appointed their new Divan, a term they use for their leading officers according to our news partner KETK. Sharon Shriners is a group most famously known for driving the tiny cars at the Texas Rose Parade complete with their signature hats, also known as a “fez”. The group is also very active in the community, such as holding toy drives during the holiday season. The former head of Sharon Shrine said that as their group evolves, it’s important to signify their changes in leadership. “It happens every year, and for most of us, we have been here for a long time,” said Carl Auvil, the past potentate. Beyond East Texas, this group of men has helped raise money for Shriners International which builds hospitals across the country for families with children who are burn victims or have orthopedic impairments. One of their hospitals is located in Galveston.

GREGG COUNTY, Texas – A 68-year-old woman died after a two-vehicle fiery crash in Gregg County on Friday night around 10:32 p.m. on I-20 a mile and a half west of Kilgore. According to our news partner KETK, Linda Blaney, 68, of Shreveport, LA was driving a 2004 Mazda Tribute east and was in the inside lane disabled when she appeared to have had a single-vehicle crash. An 18-wheeler also driving east in the inside lane hit her, according to DPS. Blaney’s car caught on fire and was engulfed in flames. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the 18-wheeler identified as Jeremy Ragle, 40, of Emory did not have any injuries, according to DPS.

There has been a rise in vehicle burglaries in East Texas. Criminals are looking for anything they can get their hands on. According to our news partner KETK , the one valuable item they all want are firearms. “There’s nothing worse than you going home or outside to your vehicle in the morning and leave for work and find your car door open,” said Sheriff John Wayne Valdez, Rusk County Sheriff’s Office. According to the Sheriff Valdez, Rusk county had 65 vehicle related thefts in 2021. Continue reading Vehicle burglaries on the rise in East Texas, thieves searching for firearms

RUSK — The Cherokee County Jail adds its name to the list of jails suspending in-person visitation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On issuance of the notice Friday, officials announced it will be in effect for 30 days and may be extended if that’s deemed necessary. In a news release, officials said the last several days have seen a sharp increase in inmate COVID cases elsewhere and that number is expected to rise. They noted that no known COVID cases have turned up in Cherokee County, with the new policy being adopted as a safety measure, in cooperation with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. Video and phone calls may still be made at cost, with equipment provided by the jail.

TYLER – A Tyler man charged with manslaughter for the death of a teenager on Lake Palestine in June 2019 now has a trial date of April 18. It was decided last July that he would face a jury in April. According to our news partner KETK, 32-year-old Jeffrey Hampton is accused of running over Roberto Hernandez with his boat while Hernandez was standing on a dock. The case was delayed one month before the COVID-19 pandemic due to Hampton’s lawyer going on maternity leave. One month later, the coronavirus brought the judicial system to a halt for months on end.

TYLER — The elevated water storage tank rehabilitation project at the intersection of North Glenwood Boulevard and North Gaston Avenue in Tyler will continue on Monday with sandblasting and painting on the outside of the structure. Crews will be constructing a containment system around the water tower to conceal the sandblasting and painting. According to a news release, residents may hear some higher than normal noise occurring at the site during the sandblasting operations. Crews will be onsite Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Water service will not be disrupted for this project. Continue reading Glenwood elevated water storage tank sandblasting, painting to begin Monday

MARSHALL – As COVID-19 cases spike throughout the country, Wiley College is implementing several safety measures including a campus-wide quarantine and mandatory mask policy. That’s according to our news partner KETK. According to a release from the college, students who choose not to wear a mask will be subject to suspension from the campus. Masks are required in all buildings, offices, shared spaces and where other people are present (including outside). Faculty and staff will be required to test for COVID-19 prior to the start of their workday. Click this link for all the details.

TYLER — As COVID-19 numbers continue on the rise again, NET Health’s George Roberts says an already-familiar way to deal with it has moved to the front of the pack: staying home when you’re sick. He tells us if you feel you have COVID-like symptoms such as a scratchy throat, sniffles, or fever, you may in fact have the disease. Roberts notes, “We’re hearing reports from the hospitals now that 40 to 50 per cent of the people that they are testing for COVID right now are testing positive.” Continue reading Roberts reiterates: Stay home when you’re sick as COVID numbers surge

ATHENS — An Athens man was arrested after an affidavit showed evidence that he possibly fathered a child of an underage Athens teenager. According to our news partner KETK, Martin Brandstorm, 47, was arrested Wednesday night for felony sexual assault of a child. According to an affidavit, the arrest warrant was issued based on DNA evidence that indicated a 99.9% positive result that Brandstorm fathered a child with a 16-year-old girl. Brandstorm’s bond was set at $1 million with conditions preventing him from having contact with any child under the age of 17.

TYLER – The Smith County District Attorney’s Office is recusing itself from prosecuting “killer nurse” defense attorney Phillip Hayes, who was allegedly caught trying to solicit a prostitute. According to our news partner KETK, DA Jacob Putman says his office didn’t want to create a conflict of interest. Upshur County District Attorney Billy Byrd was appointed to the case instead. Hayes worked as the lead defense attorney for William Davis’ capital murder trial in Tyler. Davis was found guilty and sentenced to death for killing patients at the hospital where he worked as a nurse. Hayes was allegedly caught trying to solicit a prostitute during the month-long trial.

TYLER – Three churches in Tyler received phone calls Thursday morning threatening violence, according to Tyler police and church employees — but police say the threats are not being found credible at this time. According to our news partner KETK, a man called the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Trinity Lutheran, and First Presbyterian Church just after 11 a.m. The man threatened to shoot people at the offices and claimed he was watching them from nearby. Police searched each church and found no evidence of anyone being on any of their respective properties. The St. Gregory Cathedral School, an elementary school next door to the Cathedral, was warned about the threatening call. In a letter to parents, the school said the police asked them to stay inside for the remainder of the day.

TYLER — Internationally known economic expert Dr. Ray Perryman has some good news for Tylerites as he visits the city for his annual economic forecast. Perryman says Tyler was one of the fastest areas of the country to recover from the pandemic’s economic challenges. According to materials presented by Perryman, his latest outlook for the Tyler area calls for notable expansion over the next five years. Perryman says core industries such as health care and higher education continue to expand and form the basis for stable growth. In addition, he says recovery in the regional energy sector will contribute to gains in business activity. Other area industries including logistics are also expected to see gains over time. Overall, Perryman sees the outlook for the Tyler area as positive through the forecast horizon and beyond. Continue reading Perryman issues upbeat economic report

TYLER — A ribbon cutting is held for the state’s new Tyler-based Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, on East Elm Street downtown. Officials say it’s located in Tyler because authorities in the Tyler/Smith County area pioneered efforts to address the targeted crimes. According to press materials, the center coordinates law enforcement investigations into such crimes with specialized knowledge and experience in organized crime and credit card skimmers; those skimmers are in fact the focus of the new effort. Officials say the center will develop and provide training to law enforcement and industry partners on identifying and combating credit card fraud. It’s a partnership between the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) and the Smith County District Attorney’s Office. Continue reading Financial Crimes Intelligence Center opens in Tyler

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is investigating “several burglaries” in a south Tyler neighborhood Thursday morning. According to our news partner KETK, Deputy Larry Christian said that investigators were called out after 5 a.m. in the Vanderbilt Estates neighborhood, a gated community on Holcomb Circle. It appears a car was stolen along with “several other property items.” Christian said that they are searching for three to four suspects. He also stated that deputies were getting ready to deploy a drone as well as a K9 unit.

KILGORE – The Kilgore Police Department’s newest member is a 1-1/2 year old Belgian Malinois named Drogon, who joined after receiving his final training in Louisiana. According to our news partner KETK, Drogon is a dual purpose K-9, which means we will be able to perform a variety of patrol functions. Among them: building searches, tracking suspects or lost people, sniffing out drugs, handler protection, and finding things that may have been lost or dropped by a suspect. Police say Officer Taylor will be partnered with Drogon and will soon begin his four weeks of handler training. KPD says that Drogon will be a great asset for patrol. He was purchased with forfeiture funds that came from a DEA case conducted on a doctor who was peddling prescription drugs illegally.

TYLER — Traffic is severely backed up in Tyler after a wreck at Loop 323 and Broadway. According to our news partner KETK, crews responded to the scene just before 9 a.m. It is unknown if anyone was seriously injured in the accident. The city has been enveloped in dense fog for the last couple of hours. Drivers are asked to avoid the area at this time.

SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler man was sentenced to 35 years in prison after his daughter’s feet had to be amputated following the winter storm when he did not take her to receive medical care. According to our news partner KETK, Glenn Caldwell, 45, was arrested last year after he kept his mentally disabled daughter from the doctor despite the fact her feet had been bleeding and were swollen and discolored. Caldwell admitted to police that his daughter had complained about her feet hurting throughout the week and that she even woke him up several times in the middle of the night telling him she was in pain. He also admitted to being aware of his daughter leaving a trail of blood that led from her bedroom to the living room and the bathroom. Continue reading Tyler man sentenced to 35 years after disabled daughter’s feet amputated

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — A Van Zandt County man was sentenced to prison for kidnapping. According to our news partner KETK, Austen Lyn Walker, 23, pleaded guilty to kidnapping and accepted a four year sentence. In May of 2020, Walker and Courtney Odum, 22, were arrested for the kidnapping of Willow Sirmans, who was 14 at the time. Sirmans was found safely in Louisville, Kentucky, according to a Special Agent with the FBI Dallas field office. Walker and Odum were arrested on felony kidnapping charges in May 2020, before being extradited to Texas. Odum also pleaded guilty in December of 2021 and was sentenced to six years in prison.

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office in collaboration with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards has made the decision to temporarily suspend jail visitation. According to a news release, this order will be in effect immediately as of Tuesday and will be in place for the ensuing 30 days due to the recent uptick in COVID cases. Officials say if the situation has not improved after 30 days, an extension may be necessary to help reduce COVID exposure. The past several days have seen a sharp increase in inmate COVID cases and that rate is expected to rise. The Smith County Jail has also seen a sharp increase in COVID cases within its jail personnel. This decision was made in an effort to safeguard the inmate population, jail personnel, and the citizens of Smith County, according to the release. Video calls and telephone calls will still be available by inmates, at cost, using equipment provided by the Smith County Jail.

TYLER — With COVID numbers on the rise once again — in East Texas and elsewhere — NET Health’s George ROberts weighs in on omicron and what you can do to stem spread of the virus. He tells KTBB, “With this new variant, we expect this trend to continue over the next few weeks.” Roberts also reiterates that people who are sick should stay home — noting that if you don’t, and you’re symptomatic, “that’s the fastest way to spread the virus.” Roberts continues to urge people to get vaccinated as possible. He sounds another familiar note, saying that even if getting a shot doesn’t prevent you from getting the virus, it’s likely to ease the severity of the illness and your course of care. Continue reading Roberts: Omicron spreading, familiar measures advised

LONGVIEW – The Great Texas Balloon Race is making some changes ahead of its 2022 event. According to our news partner KETK, due to the pandemic, a modified event last year provided three mornings of races over Longview along with mass ascensions on two nights inside the city limits. Event organizers say the response from the community was “overwhelmingly positive.” Residents, pilots, and sponsors agree that bringing it back to Longview was “clearly the best path.” This year’s event will be held at the Longview Convention Complex from Friday, June 17, to Sunday, June 19. Click here for more details.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Judge Robert Wilson has issued a notice: MASKS REQUIRED! In a Facebook post, Judge Wilson writes, “Due to substantial transmission of the Omnicron variant, face coverings/masks are now required to enter the courtroom of the 321st district court regardless of vaccination status.If you do not have a mask, one can be provided to you. If you have ANY symptoms of COVID or you know you were exposed to someone who is positive/symptomatic, please do NOT come to court and email my coordinator about your situation at [email protected] and we will reset your hearing. Thank you for your cooperation as we continue efforts to protect public health.”

LINDALE — The Lindale Police Department has issued a scam warning to residents in the area after they heard reports of calls coming from the number 903-882-3313 in which the caller claims to be with the police department. According to our news partner KETK, it has been reported that the caller claims to be with the Lindale Police Department, asking for money and threatening the person called with arrest if they don’t pay. Lindale police say they want residents to be assured that they will never ask for money over the phone and that it is best practice not to pay someone over the phone.

CARTHAGE – A Shreveport man charged with capital murder for allegedly killing a Panola County deputy on New Year’s Eve 2019 has requested that his trial be moved elsewhere. According to our news partner KETK, 49-year-old Gregory Newson is accused of shooting 28-year-old Christopher Dickerson after he was pulled over. Dickerson was able to return fire before Newson drove away. Newson was found one hour later across the Louisiana border in Shreveport with gunshot wounds, a punctured lung, and broken ribs after he crashed. The case has received wide media attention. Newson’s lawyers argue in their motion that “There exists… so great a prejudice against [Newson] that a fair and impartial trial is rendered either impossible or highly unlikely.” Newson is still being held in the Gregg County Jail on a $6 million bond.

TYLER – TxDOT will be busy with another round of construction and maintenance work in the Tyler District this week. In Smith County, crews will be working on US 271 rehab, turn lanes, and pavement overlay from FM 16 going southwest to I-20. They’ll be installing driveway culverts on the northbound and southbound sides. In Gregg County, maintenance crews plan to perform erosion control on South Loop 281 eastbound between 4th street and US 259 N. There will be lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic. Click here for a complete rundown of roadwork around the district.