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EAST TEXAS — It was a strong second quarter for home sales in East Texas’s two biggest markets. Compared to the second quarter last year, Tyler MSA single-family home sales increased 26.9 per cent to 990, while median price was up 16.9 per cent to $257,250. In the Longview MSA, closed sales were up 17.4 per cent to 694, with median price up 19.6 per cent to $200,000 for single-family residences. That’s according to the 2021-Q2 Texas Quarterly Housing Report released Monday by Texas Realtors. It’s all part of “a record-breaking summer selling season with unprecedented demand for housing,” according to Texas Realtors Chairman Marvin Jolly. “Click here for more information.

TYLER — Jury selection is underway and is scheduled to run through Wednesday in the trial of a former CHRISTUS nurse accused of murdering four patients and severely injuring others. According to our news partner KETK, William Davis, 36, has been charged with capital murder and aggravated assault. Davis allegedly injected air into patients’ arteries on purpose. Davis was a registered nurse at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Hospital. He was fired before his arrest 3 years ago. The Smith County District Attorney is seeking the death penalty. Testimony is scheduled to begin September 28.

TYLER – TxDOT is planning to conduct another round of construction and maintenance work in the Tyler District during the weeks of July 26 and Aug. 2. Tyler Maintenance crews plan to continue bridge work on FM 2661. A second crew will be performing a washout repair on SH 110N. Longview Maintenance plans to perform bridge channel work on both Loop 281 and FM 2204. Ditch maintenance is planned on US 259N along with patching operations on state roadways around Gregg County. Click here for the complete district-wide rundown.

TYLER – An ATM at Texas Bank and Trust was broken into Sunday morning at the corner of Old Jacksonville and Grande Boulevard in Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, officers located a vehicle a short distance away and found that the vehicle was stolen out of Henderson. Officer Andy Erbaugh with the Tyler Police Department said the vehicle was apparently used by the driver to break into the ATM. The investigation continues.

TYLER — Reed Road from Kent Drive to Meadors Cemetery Road in Tyler will be closed for reconstruction Monday, July 26, through Friday, Aug. 6. The project will rebuild and widen the road by about 4 feet, making it around 25 feet wide. All residents and businesses will have access to their driveways throughout the project. Motorists are encouraged to take alternate routes. Drivers are reminded to obey all traffic signs and slow down in and around the construction zone.

TYLER — The Tyler Municipal Court will hold in-person jury trials Monday, July 26, at the Tyler Rose Garden Center. City officials say those who receive a jury summons are required to report by 9 a.m. Due to construction at Harvey Convention Center, parking will be on Front Street directly in front of the complex. The usage of masks is recommended and encouraged but is not required. Additional information regarding COVID protocols is included with the jury summons. Continue reading Tyler Municipal Court jury duty

TYLER — A Tyler man who had been on the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list has been caught. According to Tyler police, 27-year-old Dakevian Beniot Scroggins was found and arrested Saturday night around 10:15 by officers with the Texas Against Gangs Task Force, U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Taskforce, Tyler Police Department Priority Response Team, and Tyler Police Department Patrol, all without incident. Scroggins was wanted for capital murder, evading arrest/detention, and a parole violation. He is accused of fatally shooting a man during a May 13 robbery in Tyler. Scroggins had been wanted since September 2019, when officials say he violated his parole and absconded from his last known address in Tyler. His criminal history also includes felony convictions for assault against a public servant and possession of a prohibited weapon. Continue reading Authorities capture murder suspect on 10 Most Wanted list

TYLER — The East Texas Symphony Orchestra will return to the stage, live and in person, on November 13. “It is a season to celebrate!” says ETSO Board Chair Dr. D.M. Edwards as quoted in a news release. “We look forward to being back on the stage with a stellar lineup of great performances.” Opening Night will feature a local favorite, soprano Sylvia D’Eramo. The celebratory program will feature the music of Beethoven and Dvorak, including Dvorak’s “New World Symphony.” On January 29, 2022, ETSO welcomes back another familiar face. Charles Yang, from the popular trio Time for Three, joins as a solo artist performing works ranging from Bach, Ravel, and Verdi, to the music of Queen and more. Click here to see the full schedule and more information about ETSO.

TYLER — Keep Tyler Beautiful invites Tyler residents to help beautify community parks through restoration projects during Park Service Day on Saturday, Sept. 18. According to a news release, volunteers are asked to arrive between 8:30 and 9 a.m. for registration at Woldert Park. The projects will include litter cleanups, painting park restrooms, replacing mulch at playgrounds, installing picnic tables, restoring flowerbeds, and other activities. During registration, volunteers will select their park location and project. Park locations include Woldert Park, Glass Recreation Center, Fun Forest Park, Pollard Park, and Gassaway Park. Once projects are completed, volunteers are asked to return to Woldert Park for a complimentary lunch. Continue reading Volunteers needed for Park Service Day

CANTON – The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office says thanks to a tip, authorities have caught a man they said was armed and dangerous. According to our news partner KETK, 30-year-old Garret Joslin was wanted for a first degree felony for the violent sexual assault and physical assault of a 19-year-old female. The sheriff’s office had sought the public’s help in finding Joslin, with a warning that people should not try to approach him themselves.

GILMER — Following a two-day trial and a guilty verdict, an Upshur County jury has returned a maximum punishment of eight life sentences against 37-year-old Thomas Alan Auld for eight counts of indecency with a child. Each sentence carries a $10,000 fine. The victim was a 10-year-old female relative. Officials say the charge is normally a second degree felony but Auld has already served time for burglary and stealing food stamps. The District Attorney’s Office filed a notice to enhance punishment because of the prior offenses.

TYLER — Meals on Wheels East Texas hosts a summer party this Saturday, July 24th, at its office on Robertson Road in Tyler. Organizers say they’ll have free hot dogs and hamburgers, free Pokey O’s ice cream, a Yeti cooler raffle, and other fun activities for the whole family. The event runs from 11 a.m. till around 3:00 p.m. The goal is to provide information to people who may want more information on signing up for meal services, or those interested in volunteering.

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is seeking a suspect as it investigates a Friday predawn shooting incident on CR 447 near Van. One victim, 29-year-old Jesse Lee Hasten of Mineola, is listed in stable condition. But Matthew Aric Jones is still sought after suffering a gunshot wound to the leg — then fleeing UT Health Quitman on foot after deputies arrived. Authorities suspect the men were involved in a dispute that resulted in a gun battle. Both were due to be charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Anyone with information on Jones’s whereabouts is asked to call the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at (903) 566-6600.

TYLER – A Tyler man charged in connection to a 2018 murder in Bullard won’t face a jury before the end of the year because the original medical examiner has died. According to our news partner KETK, Charles Lennon Jr., 59, is charged with tampering with evidence with intent to damage a human corpse. The victim was 31-year-old Rachel Jackson of Bullard. Lennon’s son, Charles Lennon III, was sentenced to life in prison for her murder in 2019. He hit her in the head with a tire knocker during an argument. It was unclear when the doctor died, but prosecutors are trying to find a new expert witness. Lennon Jr. will have another pre-trial hearing on January 21 and his trial is scheduled to begin January 31.

TYLER — The East Texas Food Bank is holding another mega drive-thru produce distribution Saturday in Tyler from 10 a.m. to noon at Green Acres Baptist Church. As with past distributions, the events are open to anyone and there are no eligibility or paperwork requirements. These are drive-thru distributions and walk-ups will not be accepted. Multiple households can carpool. To pick up items for another household not present, a note must be provided. Even as the pandemic fades, Food Bank staffers say they are still seeing an increased need for food assistance. Continue reading Produce distribution Saturday in Tyler

GILMER — A Make America Great Again rally is set for the Gilmer Civic Center starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, sponsored by the Republican Party of Upshur County. Featured speakers are Congressmen Louie Gohmert and Pat Fallon. State Representative Jay Dean and state Senator Bryan Hughes are also expected, pending the status of the special session in Austin. Speaking with KTBB, Gohmert reiterated the importance of coming home often. He said, “That is absolutely imperative. If you’re gonna keep your feet on the ground and keep yourself grounded, you gotta come home — and that’s why I don’t stick around here in Washington on the weekends.” Continue reading Gohmert prepares for MAGA rally in Gilmer

LONGVIEW — Industrial Drive in Longview will be closed at the railroad crossing from 10 p.m. on Friday, July 23, to 6 a.m. on Saturday, July 24. The work is for railroad track maintenance. If you have any questions related to construction call City Engineer Alton Bradley at 903-237-1067.

NEW SUMMERFIELD (AP) – Authorities say three men charged in the fatal shooting of four people at a home in East Texas had met up with one of the victims under the pretense of buying a gun from him but planned to steal it. Jesse Pawlowski, Billy Phillips and Dylan Welch have been charged with capital murder in the killings this week near New Summerfield. Authorities say 18-year-old John Clinton, who thought he was selling a gun, was shot and killed in the driveway. Three others were killed in a mobile home on the property. The defendants remain jailed on $1 million bond each.

TYLER — The annual Tyler Rose Festival Arts and Crafts Fair is returning to Bergfeld Park Saturday, Oct. 16, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The city’s parks and rec department is now taking vendor applications. Officials say the event will feature more than 70 booths offering handcrafted items for sale. Entertainment will include The Jazz Connection on Saturday and The Souled Out Jazz Orchestra on Sunday. Admission is free and food trucks will be available. For more information about this event or to become a vendor, contact Debbie Isham at (903) 531-1214.

TYLER — The UT Tyler Cowan Center is ready to resume activities after last season’s pandemic-related shutdown. The Center Thursday announced its schedule for the 2021-22 season, marking the facility’s silver anniversary. The Fox News Channel’s Bret Baier kicks it all off October 5 with a Distinguished Lecture event. ZZ Top hits the stage December 1. Other events include “Beautiful – the Carole King Musical,” “The Simon and Garfunkel Story,” a performance of “Fiddler on the Roof,” and much more. Click here for all the details.

TYLER – The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary holds its summer sale Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Salvation Army Market Place and Old Spence Buildings on N. Spring Street in Tyler. Featured items include furniture, household goods, sporting goods, collectibles, linens, books, and more. The sale is in addition to the SAWA annual spring and fall sales and is a fundraiser for Salvation Army of Tyler services and programs. Due to COVID-19 restrictions since last year, multiple annual fundraising events have been cancelled resulting in much lower financial contributions from the Auxiliary to the local office, according to a news release.

NOONDAY — Road construction crews have been making major improvements to two busy county roads in the Noonday area, according to Smith County officials. The second phase of reconstructing Lake Placid Road (CR 1113) has been completed. Work included widening over 1.6 miles of the road, from 22 feet to 26 feet, completely reconstructing the roadway, and overlaying it. The first phase of Greenbriar Road work was recently completed and included 1.7 miles from Highway 155 to CR 1113. Some bridge work is also underway. About 200 miles of county roads will have been improved by the end of the first three-year road and bridge work bond, while more than 250 miles of roads are planned to be improved in the second, three-year bond, if approved by voters in November, according to officials.

CANTON — An inmate has died in the Van Zandt County Jail. During a routine check of jail cells Tuesday morning, jailers found a male inmate who was unresponsive, Sheriff Steve Hendrix said. According to our news partner KETK, Hendrix said jail medical staff members began lifesaving measures. The inmate, whose identity was not released, later died at a Canton area hospital. The Texas Rangers are investigating the death.

TYLER — The McDonald County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office has apprehended three suspects in a Smith County child custody case that emerged last month. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office names them as Cynthia Hodges, Jimmy Hodges, and Francis Hodges. Officials say both of the children in question were present at the time of arrest and were removed from the location. Both children are now back in Texas under the care of Child Protective Services in Texas. Continue reading Suspects caught, children returned in child custody case

TYLER — About 20 residents attended the fourth Smith County Citizen Input Meeting Tuesday evening in Tyler to learn about what projects are planned for Precinct 4 in the six-year Road and Bridge Capital Improvement Project. “I think it was a good turnout,” Precinct 4 Commissioner JoAnn Hampton said as quoted in a news release. “People showed an interest in not only their roads, but in the future of all county roads.” County Judge Nathaniel Moran and County Engineer Frank Davis explained the road bond program and answered questions about specific roads. One more such meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 29, at the Chapel Hill High School Auditorium. Since Chapel Hill borders Precincts 2 and 3, county officials will be discussing road projects in both areas at that meeting. Continue reading Smith County hosts citizen input meeting in Tyler

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is seeking your help tracking down a forgery suspect. On June 18 around 1:00 p.m., authorities say the man bought a black flatbed valued at over $4,500, using what officials term a fake Texas driver’s license and a forged check, at AW Trailers Sales on Hwy. 69 North near Tyler. Once the flatbed was loaded onto the suspect’s trailer, he left the location headed toward Tyler, driving a grayish colored late model GMC crew cab short bed pickup towing a black tandem axle flatbed trailer. If you have any information about this case or the identity of the suspect, call Investigator John Partlow at (903) 747-1224 or the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at (903) 566-6600.

TYLER — The center for biomedical research at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler has been awarded a nearly $2.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue research on treating damaged lungs. The research will be conducted at the center for biomedical research and at the UT Health Science Center at Houston. According to a news release, the two institutions are exploring ways to degrade infected clots surrounding the lungs using sound waves in a process called sonofibrinolysis. The UTHSCT research team is pictured at left. Click here to read more.

NEW SUMMERFIELD – Three people have been arrested in connection to Tuesday’s quadruple murder near New Summerfield. According to our news partner KETK, The suspects are 20-year-old Jesse Pawlowski, 21-year-old Dylan Welch, and 37-year-old Billy Phillips. They are all charged with capital murder. During a Wednesday news conference, Cherokee County Sheriff Brent Dickson said the motive appears to be a robbery “as of this time.” Dickson says Pawlowski and Phillips have a criminal history. One has allegedly confessed to being involved. Dickson said a 9-millimeter gun was used in the shooting. Continue reading Three arrested in quadruple killing

LONGVIEW — A Longview man was arrested after he barricaded himself inside a residence following a stabbing incident. According to our news partner KETK, 22-year-old Dequallian Thomas of Longview was charged with aggravated assault deadly weapon family violence. He was booked into the Gregg County Jail, according to the Longview Police Department. On Tuesday, officers received a “cutting just occurred,” call around 6:00 p.m. on E. Edgefield Avenue. Arriving officers found a man who had wounds to the head. Continue reading Suspect arrested following standoff