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TYLER — Tyler ISD played a role in passing legislation that allows students to be licensed as tradesman limited plumbers after meeting certain qualifications. That’s according to a news release from the school district. Gary Brown, executive director of college and career for TISD, is termed instrumental in the passage and implementation of the new law. It went through as an amendment added to HB 636 by state Representative Matt Schaefer of Tyler. Brown says he testified in support of the legislation in Austin, then worked with Schaefer and others to develop the implementation plan. Brown notes that licensed students will be stepping into what he calls a high-demand, high-wage career.

HAWKINS — Jarvis Christian College will offer its first master’s degrees in Spring 2023: a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice. According to a news release, that’s after Jarvis recently got approval of the degree offerings from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. That approval sets the stage for Jarvis to move from college to university status if approved by the Jarvis Board of Trustees. “The approval to offer master level degree programs is another milestone in the history of Jarvis Christian College,” said JCC President Dr. Lester C. Newman as quoted in the release. Newman points out that the action comes in the same year that JCC celebrates its 110th anniversary.

STARRVILLE — Retired appellate judge Sam Griffith has withdrawn from the race for Smith County judge, leaving Pct. 1 Commissioner Neal Franklin unopposed in the GOP Primary. According to county GOP Chairman David Stein, Griffith dropped out of the race the day after he announced his candidacy. He added that Griffith said he realized that it wasn’t the right situation for him. Griffith himself told our news partner KETK, “I simply decided I’d rather edit my third book of devotionals and finish my fourth book than campaigning.” Current County Judge Nathaniel Moran plans to run for Rep. Louie Gohmert’s open seat in Congress. Gohmert is challenging Attorney General Ken Paxton.

ATHENS – Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse says pending the official autopsy report, he is prepared to file additional charges against the parents whose 18-month-old son was found dead at home in the Murchison area Tuesday. According to a news release, Erin Michelle Dennis, 23, and Daniel David Dennis, 25, have been charged with abandoning and endangering a child because of injuries to two other children in the home who have now been placed in the care of Child Protective Services. Hillhouse says investigators described he residence as horrible with human feces on the wall and dirty diapers on the floor. The temperature in the children’s room was high and had reached 103 degrees, according to the release. Hillhouse reports one of the baby cribs had been rigged as a “cage” according to the parents, and bedroom doors were locked from the outside to prevent escape. Continue reading Child dead, parents arrested, more charges deemed likely

LUFKIN — A man holding a hostage at gunpoint was shot and wounded by Lufkin police Monday night. Chief David Thomas says the suspect , identified as Timothy Gorko, had led officers on a chase through two counties — Cherokee and Angelina — before stopping on Highway 69 in Angelina County. Thomas says officers saw the suspect still holding the handgun toward the hostage and gave him commands to put the gun down. Thomas continues that after the suspect refused to follow the commands, officers fired at the suspect in order to rescue the hostage. The suspect was treated and released from the hospital. The hostage was not injured. The Texas Rangers were called in to investigate.

TYLER — A Tyler man pleaded guilty on Tuesday after being involved in robbing a gas station in January. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. According to our news partner KETK, Francisco Vallejo, 21, was sentenced by Judge Jack Skeen Jr. for robbing a Valero gas station in Tyler on Jan. 26. Samuel Garcia, 42, and Gilbert Garcia, 53 of Smith County were both also charged in the incident. According to police, three men went inside the store. Later, one suspect pointed a gun at the store clerk who then gave him cash. All three left the scene in a Nissan Armada. On Tuesday, Vallejo pleaded guilty to other charges such as a revocation of probation for the offense of burglary of habitation. Continue reading Tyler man sentenced to 25 years in prison for robbing gas station

TYLER — Smith County’s Precinct 1 Chief Deputy has been fired following her Nov. arrest for theft while on duty. According to our news partner KETK, LaQuenda Banks, 42, of Tyler was terminated from her position as chief deputy on Dec. 3, according to Smith County Human Resources. Banks, Constable Curtis Harris and Sergeant Derrick Holman were arrested by the Texas Rangers in Nov. for allegedly stealing while executing a writ of possession on a rental property at Cascades Court in Tyler on Oct. 18. The three were arrested on charges of abuse of official capacity, official oppression and theft of property over $750 but no more than $2,500. Continue reading Smith County Precinct 1 Chief Deputy terminated after November arrest

LONGVIEW — Longview Police Chief Mike Bishop announced Tuesday that he plans to retire from the police department at the end of January 2022 after thirty-two years of service, including six years as chief. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, Bishop originally joined the department in July 1989 as a patrol officer. Since that time, he has worked in almost every facet of the department. He was promoted to police chief in August 2015. Following his retirement, Chief Bishop will begin working at Tyler Junior College as a professor and coordinator of the Public Administration Program in the Department of Legal and Public Service Careers in the School of Professional and Technical Programs. A timeline has not yet been established for filling the Police Chief position. You can find lots more information by clicking this link.

TYLER — NET Health’s George Roberts says there’s still no confirmation, but he and his colleagues have reason to believe the COVID-19 omicron variant may already be transmitting around East Texas. Roberts says thus far, omicron appears to be more contagious than previous variants but the symptoms seem less severe. Roberts continues to urge vaccinations, staying home when you’re sick, and observing the hand hygiene that’s been recommended all along. For more information on COVID-19 in East Texas, click here.

QUITMAN – A Yantis man is jailed after allegedly holding a woman against her will at his apartment. According to our news partner KETK, Wood County deputies responded to a home on CR 1858 north of Quitman. Police say they learned the woman was being held by her boyfriend. A police statement does not list a date when this incident occurred. Authorities say they tried several times to speak to the suspect to try and defuse the situation. Eventually, 26-year-old Colton Rinks surrendered without incident, according to officials. He was charged with unlawful restraint, but the Wood County Sheriff’s Office said that more charges were pending.

LONGVIEW – UT Tyler’s assistant vice president for academic success, Sarah Bowdin, is serving as the interim director of the Longview University Center. According to a news release, Sherry Howard, the previous director, has taken a position as the senior executive director for non-credit training at Texas State Technical College. The university is conducting a search for the replacement. With more than 20 years of experience at UT Tyler, Bowdin previously served as the director of admissions and assistant vice president of enrollment management. “Sarah’s extensive experience recruiting and working with students in and around the Longview area will be beneficial in this position,” said UT Tyler President Dr. Kirk A. Calhoun, as quoted in the news release.

TYLER — Investigative genetic genealogists from the DNA Doe Project along with Tyler Police Detective James Holt have confirmed the identification of the remains of a man found in 2004 in a local barn as Kim Ryan Casey. That’s according to a Tyler PD news release. Police say On December 23, 2004, juveniles found a decomposed human skeleton in a barn in a wooded area near the intersection of Hwy 69 S and FM 2813 in Tyler. It was estimated the man died months earlier. Holt, of the Tyler PD’s Major Crimes Unit, brought the case to the DNA Doe Project in 2019 after officials say he had exhausted all available leads. Continue reading DNA Doe Project helps identify remains of man found in 2004

TYLER – The federal government intends to prosecute a Tyler man accused of driving halfway across the country and kidnapping an Alabama girl he met online. According to our news partner KETK, 19-year-old Daniel Skipworth is facing several charges in state court, including human trafficking and child sexual assault. Skipworth is being held in the Smith County Jail on a $550,000 bond. He was indicted in June. At the request of defense attorney Brett Harrison, 7th District Court Judge Kerry Russell agreed to delay the state case until January 10. Lead prosecutor Richard Vance said if the federal government does prosecute, the case would be dismissed in state court, but Russell agreed to the delay pending further word from the feds.

AUSTIN — An East Texan is among three of the state’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives recently captured, according to DPS. Christopher Wayne Davis II, 29, of Mt. Pleasant, was arrested in Longview following a traffic stop. Davis was added to the most wanted list Nov. 29. Officials say he had been wanted since May 2021, when the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles issued a warrant for a parole violation. Later that month the Cass County Sheriff’s Office issued warrants for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance. Continue reading Most wanted fugitive captured in Longview

TYLER – TxDOT will be busy with another round of construction and maintenance work in the Tyler District this week. In Smith County, after a Tyler maintenance crew finishes up base failures on FM 848 Monday, the crew moves to Troup to perform base failures on FM 346 and SH 110. In Gregg County, maintenance crews will be reshaping ditches on SH 149 northbound near FM 2906. Daytime lane closures should be expected. Click here for the full rundown of roadwork around the district.

TYLER – The Arlington man accused of murdering the pastor at the Starrville Methodist Church in January has been found incompetent to stand trial and the case will be put on hold while he receives restorative care. According to our news partner KETK, 22-year-old Mytrez Woolen is charged with capital murder along with a slew of other crimes. On January 3, Woolen was allegedly leading police on a chase due to an unrelated incident. Officials say he hid out for the night in the Starrville church. Shortly before Sunday morning services started, he was found by Pastor Mark McWilliams. Sheriff Larry Smith said at the time that McWilliams drew a pistol on Woolen but Woolen was allegedly able to get control of the gun and shoot the pastor. Continue reading Man charged in church shooting found incompetent, case on hold

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Three men accused of the quadruple murder in New Summerfield pleaded not guilty to capital murder charges on Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, during an arraignment hearing in Cherokee County, the attorneys for Dylan Welch, Billy Phillips and Jesse Pawlowski submitted not guilty pleas. The three were indicted by a grand jury on Oct. 6. They were detained on July 21 in connection to the deadly shooting of four people in a trailer home in New Summerfield. The three men each received a bond of $1 million. John Clinton, 18, Amanda Bain 39, Ami Hickey, 39, and Jeff Gerla, 47 were killed in the incident. Cherokee County Sheriff Brent Dickson said the shooting happened due to a robbery over clothes and guns.

SMITH COUNTY — An unresponsive inmate found by jail staff in the clinic of the Smith County Jail around 12:30 Saturday morning has died. The inmate, identified as Kevin Wayne Freeman, 52, of Tyler, died Saturday night. Detention staff noticed a shirt around the inmate’s neck, tied to a metal curtain. Detention staff immediately cut the shirt off of the inmate and began CPR. The inmate was transported to a local ER. Freeman’s family has been notified. Per Smith County Sheriff’s Office protocol, Sheriff Larry Smith contacted the Texas Rangers to conduct an investigation into this incident. The body has been transported to Southwest Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas for the autopsy.

WHITEHOUSE — Whitehouse ISD said students’ personal information may have been accessed after the district experienced a ransomware attack on June 14. According to our news partner KETK, the Federal Bureau of Investigation contacted the school district in June about how they were a potential target of a cyber attack. “Your minor child’s name, social security number, health information and date of birth may have been impacted,” wrote Whitehouse ISD Superintendent Christopher Moran in a letter to parents. Whitehouse ISD was not able to access some of their computers due to the incident, so they started an investigation with the help of third-party forensic specialists. Continue reading Whitehouse ISD information may have been accessed after ransomware attack

TYLER – A 17-year-old is behind bars after an investigation into threats of a school shooting at Winona High School. According to our news partner KETK, the investigation started when the FBI National Threat Operations Center got an anonymous tip about the threat of a school shooting at an unknown date and time in the Smith County area. The case was assigned to the FBI Tyler Division as well as investigators with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday. The investigation began that same morning when a Smith County investigator and two FBI agents went to Winona High School where they met with school administrators. Through their initial investigation, they identified the suspect as 17-year-old Tyler Auston Tate, a 10th grade student at WHS. Continue reading 10th grader arrested, charged with terroristic threat towards Winona High School

TYLER – A bicyclist is dead after reportedly getting struck by a vehicle about a mile northwest of Tyler, DPS officials said. According to our news partner KETK, 30-year-old Kevin Mann Jr. of Evart, MI, was driving a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado north on SH-110 when a bicycle rider turned in front of his vehicle around 5:50 p.m. Thursday. 47-year-old Tony Ellisor of Tyler was on the bicycle. He was struck by the vehicle and taken to UT Health East Texas – Tyler where he later died from his injuries. Mann was not injured in the crash.

TYLER — A Smith County jury sentenced 35-year-old Christopher Earl on Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, officials said that Earl’s mother testified that she heard the victim, her husband, tell Earl that he needed to “get a job.” She said she heard something that sounded like someone getting punched, followed by the victim saying “you hit me.” When she walked in, Earl’s mother testified that she saw Earl hit his stepfather in the face. She said that though she attempted to stop him, Earl punched his step father two more times in the face then pushed him and his mother to the ground. Earl then grabbed a wooden cane nearby, which his stepfather used to help him walk, and hit his stepfather over the head and began kicking him, the DA’s office said. In the process, he reportedly also broke his mother’s arm as she tried to lie across her husband to protect him. Continue reading Flint man sentenced to life in prison for murder of his 73-year-old stepfather

LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department said on Thursday they have a person in custody after an incident regarding a “kill list” was reported at Spring Hill ISD. According to our news partner KETK, Brandon Thornton, the Public Information Officer with the Longview Police Department said that a person of interest is in custody, but no further details were provided. Spring Hill ISD shared the following statement on Facebook: “Safety is the number one priority for Spring Hill ISD. The high school encountered an incident today that required coordinated action by district administration, the school resource officer, and the Longview police department. The situation has been addressed, and students and staff are safe. SHISD will continue to follow policy and student code of conduct requirements in all situations. The administration and staff will remain proactive in matters regarding school safety. School will continue tomorrow as scheduled. Thank you for your support.”

TYLER — A jury has sentenced Martin Reynolds to 16 years in prison for the murder of Andrew Carpenter after more than 4 hours of deliberations. The prosecution had requested 40 years while the defense asked for 10. He’ll get 4 years time served for the time he was waiting for his trial and be eligible for parole in 2025. The latest he will be out is 2033. He was charged after shooting Carpenter in November 2017. According to our news partner KETK, the jury deliberated for five hours before reaching the guilty verdict. Continue reading Jury sentences Tyler man to 16 years in prison for murder

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its search for a missing woman, 72-year-old Dian (Bragg) Godwin, and is still seeking the public’s help. A Thursday update says over 1300 acres have been cleared by sheriff’s investigators with assistance from emergency personnel from Smith County Emergency Services District 2. Officials say the ESD 2 Dive Team searched and cleared a two-acre pond Thursday near Godwin’s residence. According to a Tuesday news release, on December 1, the sheriff’s office received a report of a missing person from CR 1118, north of Lake Placid Road, in the southwest portion of the county. The caller, who is Godwin’s daughter, said that on November 29, Godwin walked away from her residence in an unknown direction. Continue reading Search continues for missing woman

ANDERSON COUNTY — One person has been arrested following a murder and hostage situation Thursday morning in the Frankston area. According to our news partner KETK, Anderson County Sheriff Rudy Flores says a call came in to deputies around 1:30 a.m. from a neighbor on FM 309 reporting multiple gunshots. Deputies responded and found a dead male on the front porch of the residence who appeared to have died from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was identified as 38-year-old Marco Matthew Gonzales. An autopsy has been ordered. Continue reading One arrested after hostage situation

STARRVILLE – Former Texas Twelfth Court of Appeals justice Sam Griffith has announced that he will be running to replace congressional hopeful Nathaniel Moran as Smith County judge. Thus far, Griffith is opposed in the upcoming GOP primary by current County Commissioner Neal Franklin. According to our news partner KETK, Griffith still owns and operates the family farm that he grew up on in Starrville. Since his retirement in 2015, he has been traveling to help impoverished communities around the world. Griffith also co-founded the Texas Minority Coalition, a multiracial group of Christian conservatives. Along with that, he has published two novels.

LUFKIN — A Lufkin man turned himself in on Wednesday in connection with the hit-and-run fatal crash that happened on Sunday morning. 53-year-old Gabriel Garcia, of Lufkin, was killed in the wreck. According to our news partner KETK, the driver is identified as Roberto Carlos Guerrero, 32. The Lufkin Police Department was contacted by Guerrero’s attorney earlier this week, notifying them that Guerrero would turn himself in to the Angelina County Jail once the department had a warrant for his arrest. Guerrero is charged with accident involving injury or death. Continue reading Man turns himself in after fatal hit-and-run crash

AUSTIN — It was another strong month for Tyler and Longview on sales tax allocations from the state comptroller’s office. For December, Tyler gets $4,426,909.70, compared to $3,836,417.06 a year ago. For the year to date, Tyler has tallied $53,216,955.30, well above the $45,976,112.90 shown at this time in 2020. As for Longview, the December total is $3,167,408.90, a substantial jump from the $2,549,198.73 posted at this time last year. In the year-to-date category, Longview shows $38,762,679.54, compared to the $33,602,228.20 it brought during the same period in 2020.