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TYLER – A former Tyler nurse, charged with the murder of a patient, is now facing additional charges. According to Smith County judicial records, William George Davis, 34, of Hallsville, has now been indicted for capital Murder. He also faces three new counts of aggravated assault. The new indictments were filed on Tuesday. He had already been indicted for murder and two counts of aggravated assault back in June. Davis was a registered nurse at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. He is accused of causing death or harm to patients by introducing air into their arteries.

TYLER – Two more suspects have been sentenced in connection with a Smith County shooting. In state district court in Tyler Thursday, Tarrance Dashawn Reggie, 20, (pictured) and Carlos Alberto Ochoa, 18, both of Tyler, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault. Each man was sentenced to 20 years in prison. On Wednesday, a co-defendant in the case, Joel Camacho, 23, of Tyler, also received a 20 year sentence. The shooting, which wounded one person, occurred last September near the Eagle Creek Mobile Home Park off State Highway 271 North.

MARSHALL – An old scam with a new twist has surfaced in Harrison County. Someone calls and announces it is the “Harrison County Sheriff’s Office”. Then, you will be directed to the “patrol division or warrants division” and asked to leave a message if nobody answers. Sheriff’s department Lieutenant Jay Webb says, “The person who returns your call will instruct you to meet them at the front of the Harrison County Courthouse because a warrant has been issued for your arrest. The caller will ask for your name, Social Security number, and other identifying information.” They then tell you to bring cash for the warrant. The twist to this scam is that they ask you to come to the front of the courthouse with payment.” Sheriff Tom McCool reminds people to not fall for these scams and if you are contacted by them, contact the sheriff’s office. Continue reading Harrison County Scam Alert

The University of Texas at Tyler and Tyler Junior College have announced a partnership. The action announced Thursday afternoon will benefit East Texas nursing students. The partnership establishes a concurrent degree program, where eligible TJC nursing students will be able to enroll at UT Tyler and earn both associate and bachelor’s degrees in four years.

TYLER – Emergency crews are working to clear an area on North Northeast Loop-323 north of Duncan Street in Smith County where a vehicle struck a power pole. Traffic is being detoured around the area. Motorists are urged to use caution in the area.

CANTON – Following an investigation of several months, 11 persons from Van Zandt, Kaufman and Dallas counties have been named in federal indictments on a variety of charges. The investigation was conducted by local and federal authorities. The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s department has identified the suepects. They are Lisa Powers, Canton, Christopher Colgrove, Forney, Terrance Cullins, Canton, Shauna Thomas, Fruitvale, Christopher Herring, Wills Point, Stephanie Stevenson, Canton, Rexford Morris, Grand Saline, Robby Baker, Canton, Nash Fuller, Grand Saline and David Walker, Seagoville. One other person was also indicted, but that person is not yet in custody. The federal charges include, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and unlawful possession of a firearm by felon.

LONGVIEW – Funeral services are pending today for former Longview Police Chief Don Dingler. He passed away at his home on Wednesday. Dingler was Longview’s police chief from February 1, 2011 until July 31, 2015 when he retired. He had been with the police department since 1973, serving in patrol, traffic, training, jail services, and narcotics. Chief Dingler was a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas. According to a posting on the department’s Facebook page, ” Chief Dingler was a smiling face around the police department and the community for over a quarter of a century and his direction and kindness will be dearly missed.”

TYLER – Trustees at Tyler Junior College have adopted the school’s new budget. At Thursday meeting, trustees approved a budget of $92.895 million. That’s an increase of 2.41% over the current budget. The tax rate of 19.9926 cents per $100 of valuation will remain the same. With the new budget comes a 2% raise for all employees.

TYLER – Three Cubans, living in Austin, are facing additional charges in connection with gas skimmers found in Tyler last month. They were arrested at the Exxon station on the south southeast loop on July 27th. They have now been charged with engaging in organized criminal activity. The investigation has found that the three men were committing similar crimes all over the state. Investigators with the North Texas Financial Crimes Task Force, Tyler Police Department, Smith County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Secret Service are pulling the entire Texas statewide crime spree into Smith County for prosecution. The three remain in the Smith County Jail with each under an additional bond of $1,500,000.

KILGORE – A two vehicle accident in Rusk County has killed an Upshur County man. The accident happened shortly after 3:30 Wednesday afternoon on U. S Highway 259, six miles south of Kilgore. Dead at the scene was Gary Glenn Porter, 38, of Gilmer. The DPS says the accident started with a truck and its trailer in a turn lane, preparing to turn onto Farm Road 918. For some reason, Porter’s pickup drifted into the turn lane and hit the back of the trailer. A Henderson man, who was driving the Mack truck, was uninjured.

TYLER — Tyler Pounds Regional Airport this week hosted a walking tour of the nearly-complete Runway 4-22 Expansion. According to our news partner KETK, once the pavement is completed, it will carry heavier aircraft, for a longer distance of 8,330 feet. Airport Manager Davis Dickson says the total cost will be around $50 million — and with help from Federal Aviation Administration, 90 percent of the total amount will be paid for. The pavement project started in 2015 and plans call for it to wrap up by the end of this fall.

TYLER – A two vehicle accident on Tyler’s northeast loop has killed a Gladewater man. The accident occurred shortly after 5:15 Wednesday morning, just north of the Tyler city limits. Killed was Kevin Christopher Turner, 27. The Department of Public Safety says a tractor-trailer rig was attempting turn north on the loop. The driver was unable to complete the turn, because of the traffic, and stopped in the center crossover median. This left the trailer in the south bound lane of traffic. Turner’s van hit the trailer. He later died at a Tyler hospital.

TYLER – An employee of a Tyler car wash is being accused of setting up the robbery of 2 customers. Charged with two counts of aggravated robbery is Hauns Demond Thompson, 33, of Tyler. His bonds total $300,000. The robbery occurred back in July in the waiting room at Ed’s Car Wash on South Broadway. The arrest affidavit, which was opened on Wednesday,says the suspect, who was dressed in all black, took the two victims’ property, including a Gucci fanny pack, six I-phones, two watches, and two rings. The other suspect in the case is identified as Jamarcus Durham, who goes by the name “Bull.” He remains at large.

MARSHALL – East Texas Baptist University in Marshall has more students attending this year than ever before. The enrollment of 1,613 total students is a 5.2% percent increase over Fall 2017. The fall enrollment also represents 23.3% growth over the last three years. And the University’s 83% retention rate continues to rise. Graduate students also reached an all-time high with a 14 percent increase. The University now offers 11 graduate and 43 undergraduate programs.

MARSHALL – Komatsu is partnering with Texas State Technical College to provide job training. The $131,404 Skills Development Fund grant is from the Texas Workforce Commission. It will benefit workers in the 14 county Workforce Solutions East Texas area, including Smith and Gregg County. The grant will be used to provide custom training to 60 new and incumbent workers in the manufacturing field. Trainees will include data terminal operators, fabrication machine operators and quality control inspectors. A big two foot by four foot check, symbolizing the grant, was presented in a ceremony Wednesday morning at the school in in Marshall.

TYLER – A suspect in a Smith County shooting last year has drawn a prison term. In state district court in Tyler Wednesday, Joel Camacho, 23, of Tyler, entered a guilty plea. Judge Jack Skeen then sentenced him to 20 years in prison. Camacho waived his right to appeal. He was one of three men charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the case. The shooting, which wounded one person, occurred last September near the Eagle Creek Mobile Home Park off State Highway 271 North.

LONGVIEW – A Gregg County woman has been indicted on a charge of solicitation to commit murder. According to the Longview News Journal, Deeanna Ann Aldredge, 23, of Gladewater, is accused of offering to pay $500 to have the father of her child killed. The action came after she lost custody of the youngster. She has been in the Gregg County Jail since June 19th. Her bond is $250,000.

LONGVIEW — A Louisiana man accused of killing a Longview man in May and then setting fire to his duplex has been indicted by a Gregg County grand jury. That’s according to our news partner KETK and the Longview News-Journal. 46-year-old Johnny Len Kellogg is jailed under the name George Purland on $503,500 in bonds on a charge of murder and an unrelated assault charge. Kellogg’s wife told police after his arrest in June that the victim, 44-year-old Johnny Quentin Miller, had made advances toward her and then tried to rape her after inviting the couple to his home for dinner. She also told police that she and Kellogg got Miller off her and that Kellogg took him to a back room of Miller’s Loring Lane duplex, where he reportedly hit Miller in the head with a tire iron. Police said an autopsy showed Miller’s cause of death as strangulation, and investigators believe Kellogg then took items from the duplex and set it on fire.

JACKSONVILLE — TxDOT Tuesday held its final meeting on the Highway 69 Relief Route study for Jacksonville. In the room at Norman Activity Center were maps, with TxDOT workers explaining the different possible routes — along with a video in another room explaining the plan from start to finish. Visitors also had the chance to write their own comments for TxDOT to read. Some were pleased with the proposals presented. One man told our news partner KETK he thinks the new route could reduce truck traffic. But a woman concerned about the route voiced fears of losing her home, which has been in her family for three generations. If a new highway is approved, Jacksonville will join many other East Texas cities with relief routes, or loops. If not, it’s back to the drawing board.

TYLER – Smith County commissioners have adopted a new budget and approved an ever so little tax increase. The action came at Tuesday’s meeting. While approving a balanced budget, the commissioners approved a tax rate of .337311 cents. This is an increase of .007311 over the current tax rate. That means, before exemptions, the average home owners tax bill would increase around $26.00. And on a 4 to 1 vote, the commissioners voted to increase salaries for elected officials. The lone no vote came from commissioner Terry Phillips.

LANEVILLE – One person was killed and 4 injured in a two vehicle accident in Rusk County. The accident happened around 7:15 Tuesday morning on Farm Road 225, nearly 5 miles north of Laneville. Dead at the scene was Payton Lynn Crustner, 9. She was wearing the bottom portion of her seatbelt but was thrown from a car during the crash. She was in a car driven by Miranda Michell Clark, 32, of Laneville. She was hit by a pickup driven by old Marcus Wayne Dukes, 18, of Laneville. The DPS says his pickup was in the wrong lane on a curve when it hit Clark’s car.

TYLER – Three persons have been implicated in a human trafficking case in Smith County. A woman told the Department of Public Safety that she was their victim. Our news partner, KETK, says the activities took place at Tyler motels. Arrested in the case are Brenton Lee Coe, 29, of Tyler, (pictured) and Brittiany Mendoza, 27, of Henderson. Each are charged with engaging in organized criminal activity. They are being held on bonds of $500,000 each. The third suspect, Deantawn Dremal Hopkins, 24, of Tyler, is in prison on a drug charge.

TYLER – Tyler police are looking for the woman involved in an aggravated assault at the Family Dollar Store on East Gentry. She got into an argument with an employee and started throwing items around the store. When the employee went outside to get her license number, the woman, who was leaving, hit him with her car, throwing him into the store’s front doors. He was treated and released at a Tyler hospital. She is described as a black female with a black shirt, multi-colored pants and a bow in her hair. She is driving a black 2010 to 2012 Ford Taurus.

LONGVIEW – Rehabilitation could begin next month on a 65-year-old building in downtown Longview that came close to being torn down. The city council has approved $600,000 in loans over the next two years toward the $9.962 million total cost to rehab the Petroleum Building on East Whaley Street. It was built in 1953 as a five-story parking garage. Offices and light retail were added several years later. The Longview News Journal reports Saigebrook Development of Austin plans to construct nearly 50 apartment homes in what will be called Alton Plaza. The company is hoping to have their conditional approval from the National Park Service for the historic rehabilitation so they can start construction in mid-to-late September.

TYLER – Smith County sheriff’s deputies have arrested a Lindale man for sexual assault of a child. Arrested Tuesday morning was James Albert George, 67. He was arrested after his 21 year old niece, last week, reported the sexual assaults. He is said to have assaulted the victim as a young child multiple times over several years. Investigators say George admitted the assaults to them. He has been charged with continuous sexual assault of a child and booked into the Smith County Jail under a $500,000 bond.

WHITEHOUSE – A Henderson County man is arrested following a shooting near Whitehouse. The suspect, Douglas Mack Peters, 52, of Brownsboro, was at the home on Forest Lane when law officers arrived. Wounded was his brother John Peters and John’s wife Carla, who live at the residence. They were taken to Tyler hospitals for treatment. Detectives say the suspect gave them a statement detailing the events of the shooting. He was named in two arrest warrants for aggravated assault, family violence, serious bodily injury. His bonds total $500,000 and he remains in the Smith County Jail.

ARP — The Arp firefighter and Longview police officer injured after an Arp fire is now reported in stable condition — but still in need of help. 24-year-old Chris Vannoy was severely burned during a shed fire. He suffered burns to more than 50 percent of his body. We are told a Go-Fund-Me started to raise money for Vannoy’s recovery costs has already raised around $18,000. According to our news partner KETK, he still has some time left in the ICU at the hospital. And after he is released, he will start rehab. Another way you can help is by attending a cookout fundraiser September 22. Whataburger in Henderson is also holding a fundraiser.

MALAKOFF (AP) – An East Texas man and woman have been arrested after a 70-year-old woman said they kept her in a dog kennel, beat and kicked her, withheld food and water, and forced her to walk on broken glass. Tyler television station KLTV reports 47-year-old Leonnia Darlene Anderson Castillo of Log Cabin is charged with first-degree felony injury to the elderly and being held at the Henderson County Jail in Athens on a $50,000 bond. A jail booking officer declined to say if she had an attorney. Tommy Lee Anderson, a 49-year-old Malakoff resident, is charged with felony unlawful restraint and free on $15,000 bond. A police affidavit says the victim approached a Malakoff police officer and said she had been staying with the woman, to whom she was related, and her boyfriend when the ordeal began in January. Other relatives rescued her on Aug. 22.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – One man is arrested following a high-speed pursuit Tuesday night. According to our news partner KETK, authorities say a man attempted to flee from officers in Wills Point, leading them on a chase with speeds of 100 mph, heading east towards Grand Saline. Officials say the man tried to hit the officers’ vehicles as they were following him, and officers attempted to shoot out the man’s tires. DPS officials say about 10 to 15 of their vehicles were involved in the chase, with a helicopter in pursuit as well. They eventually stopped the man’s vehicle with the use of a spike strip on the road. The man then attempted to run north through a pasture near Hwy. 80, but was stopped at gunpoint and captured. The case remains under investigation.

PLANO – Seven ambulance industry defendants have agreed to pay the government over $21 million to settle a false claims act lawsuit. It was alleged that they knowingly submitted claims to the Medicare and Medicaid programs that violated the anti‑kickback statute. Among the defendants in the suit were East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System, East Texas Medical Center Regional Health Services and their affiliated ambulance company, Paramedics Plus. They were said to have offered kickbacks to several municipal entities to secure their lucrative ambulance business. The court action stems from a whistleblower lawsuit that was filed in January of last year. The U.S. Department of Justice later became a party in the suit. The man who filed the whistleblower lawsuit, Dr. Stephen Dean, will receive over $4.9 million as his share of the settlements.