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CANTON (AP/Staff) — Van Zandt County commissioners made it official Wednesday, unanimously voting to accept the resignation of Sheriff Steve Hendrix. That’s according to our news partner KETK. Hendrix earlier announced he will step down May 14. That follows his arrest and indictment on allegations he lied to investigators about witnessing one of his deputies punch a handcuffed inmate in the face. Prosecutors say Hendrix, Chief Deputy Jerry Wood, and Sgt. Blake Snell were indicted in March for giving a false statement to a peace officer about the actions of former Chief Deputy Craig Shelton. In January, Shelton admitted to the Texas Rangers that he hit Nicholas Crouch in September without justification. Hendrix faces up to six months in jail if convicted.

TYLER – A Larue man faces multiple charges following a chase in Smith County. DPS says around 11:04 Tuesday morning, a trooper tried to stop a Ford F-250 traveling south on US-271 in Tyler for a traffic violation. They say the driver, 39-year-old John A. Williams, refused to stop and tried to evade officers. Williams reportedly later abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. Troopers arrested Williams near CR-3187 just east of Timber Creek Rd. According to officials, a 14-year-old passenger, determined to be a runaway, was released to DFPS. The vehicle was reported stolen in Van Zandt County. Continue reading Man faces multiple charges following chase

DALLAS — The former dress designer for the Texas Rose Festival for almost 40 years has died. According to our news partner KETK, Winn Morton died at his home on April 22 at the age of 93. Born in Lancaster in December of 1928, Winn worked with every top costume workroom in New York, designing for Broadway and off-Broadway Productions. In 1975, Winn became the art director for Six Flags Show Productions. Continue reading Former Texas Rose Festival dress designer has died

SMITH COUNTY — An Arlington man who was charged with murdering his boyfriend near Tyler State Park after finding child porn on his phone died of natural causes before his trial. According to our news partner KETK, 52-year-old Robert Price died March 20, a few months after his case was halted due to his deteriorating health. In November, Price’s attorney filed the motion after he had been quarantined twice due to COVID-19, which led to further complications involving his kidneys and liver. Continue reading Man charged with killing boyfriend at Tyler State Park dies before trial

ASSATEAGUE ISLAND, Md. (AP/Staff) – National Park Service officials say a wild horse who has become “extremely aggressive” with staff and visitors at Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland has been relocated to an Texas wildlife sanctuary. The Daily Times reports that park service officials said the harem stallion Delegate’s Pride, also known as Chip, has become aggressive with people in pursuit of human food or with staff redirecting him or his band away from crowds. He is being moved to Cleveland Armory Black Beauty Ranch in Murchison. Since 2017, officials say the horse has been involved in more than half of the incidents that resulted in injuries for visitors and he resists efforts to move horses away from potentially dangerous situations.

KILGORE — Pentecost Rd. in Kilgore will be closed to through traffic from U.S. 259 Business to Stone Rd. beginning Wednesday, May 4, due to a bridge replacement project at Big Head Creek. The duration of the bridge structure replacement is expected to last approximately four months, according to a TxDOT news release. The road will be open to local traffic only. All other traffic will need to use an alternate route.

LONGVIEW — An arrest has been made in connection to a shooting at Electric Cowboy in Longview. According to our news partner KETK, 25-year-old DaQwaylon Rashad Nelson of Longview was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and booked into the Gregg County Jail. At approximately 1:42 a.m. this past Friday, officers were dispatched to the location in reference to multiple shots being fired. As they arrived, officers were directed toward a nearby convenience store. They found a vehicle that had been involved in a collision with the storefront sign and discovered a shooting victim outside the vehicle. Police say officers immediately began performing lifesaving aid on the victim, who was transported to a local hospital with what were termed life-threatening injuries.

TYLER — A late Monday night convenience store robbery is under investigation by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. Officials say they got word at 11:30 p.m. about the incident on Hwy. 64 West near the Thompson Lane intersection. Responding deputies say the clerk reported she had just been  robbed at gunpoint. The male suspect took an undetermined amount of cash from the register, fled on foot, was seen running toward Thompson Lane, and then entered what was described as an SUV, possibly red in color. No further details were given about the suspect’s departure from the area. He is described as a young black male, 5’09” to 6’0”, slender build, wearing a hoodie pulled over his head. The investigation continues. Anyone with information is asked to call the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at (903) 566-6600.

TYLER — Tyler state Representative Matt Schaefer weighs in on a leaked Supreme court opinion suggesting the court will overturn Roe v. Wade. Schaefer says we must wait for an official ruling from the court — and that until then, as he puts it, “we should mourn the millions of innocent babies that have been lost.” Meantime, Schaefer says he prays that the Supreme Court does, in his words, “allow Texas to become a sanctuary state for unborn babies made in God’s image.”

SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler man charged with capital murder from a shooting that killed a teenager last year will await the results of DNA testing before his case can continue. According to our news partner KETK, 20-year-old Andres Urrutia is one of two men charged with killing 17-year-old Jesse McNeely. He was shot at a home on Omega Drive, a neighborhood near downtown Tyler last June. Urrutia was arrested days later along with 21-year-old Lorenzo Martinez in Galveston. They are being held on bonds of more than $1 million. Continue reading Prosecutors await DNA testing in Tyler capital murder case

RUSK — Two East Texans charged in the 2020 disappearance of 18-year-old Tyress Gipson appeared in a Rusk courtroom Monday afternoon for brief pre-trial hearings, with a trial currently set for July. According to our news partner KETK, Breonna M. Jimenez and Cameron D. Shead, both Palestine natives, were arrested two years ago, roughly two weeks after Gipson was last seen. They were charged with aggravated kidnapping. Nearly 21 months since his disappearance, Gipson has still not been found. The defendants will both be due back in court on June 6. Also charged in the case was Derrick D. Hicks, a Palestine native as well. He was not scheduled for court Monday afternoon. A fourth person, who was 16 years old at the time, was also arrested. That person’s name was not released. Continue reading Trial set for summer in case of missing Jacksonville teen

CANTON – A man was arrested outside the Van Zandt County Courthouse Sunday evening after allegedly making a threat to the courthouse on social media. According to our news partner KETK, authorities say David Anthony Damate-Graves was making threats of violence with a firearm on a Facebook post. Canton police and the county sheriff’s office worked together to get warrants and attempted to locate Damate-Graves. When they didn’t initially find him, the sheriff’s office, Canton PD, and the Precinct 2 Constable’s Office took positions in the Canton Square. Authorities say at approximately 7:50 p.m., Damate-Graves was seen in front of the courthouse and immediately arrested without incident. He was charged with terroristic threat. “He did have a plastic toy firearm in his possession modified to resemble a real firearm,” said a sheriff’s office post.

TYLER — TxDOT will be busy with another round of construction and maintenance work in the Tyler District this week. In Gregg County, the Spur 63/McCann Road Bridge Project continues. The traffic will be reduced to two lanes to allow the contractor to build half of the bridge. In Smith County, work has been scheduled on SH 135 in Arp at the four-way stop, on SH 64 east of Chapel Hill, and on US 271 near FM 2908. Click here for a complete rundown of roadwork around the district.

TYLER — The City of Tyler Solid Waste Department and Keep Tyler Beautiful are sponsoring a free bulky item collection for residential customers (excluding multi-family home communities and businesses) from Monday, May 2, through Friday, May 6. Participants should place bulky items on the curb by 7 a.m. May 2 and no sooner than 5 p.m. April 29. After crews have collected on your street, officials ask that you not place more bulky items on the curb. These items will be charged a special pickup fee. Click here to learn more.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department is investigating a shooting in the parking lot of the Electric Cowboy on McCann Rd. At approximately 1:42 a.m. on Friday, officers were dispatched to the location in reference to multiple shots being fired. As they arrived, officers were directed toward a nearby convenience store. They found a vehicle that had been involved in a collision with the storefront sign and discovered a shooting victim outside the vehicle. Police say officers immediately began performing lifesaving aid on the victim, who was transported to a local hospital with what were termed life-threatening injuries. If you have any information on this matter, you are encouraged to contact Longview Police at 903-237-1110 or Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP(7867) or online at this link.

PALESTINE – The Palestine Police Department is searching for a man who has been missing for more than a week. According to our news partner KETK, police are searching for 43-year-old Patrick Delomon Turner. According to officials, Turner last spoke with his family on April 20. His vehicle was found abandoned in a rural area in Anderson County. If anyone has any information about Turner and his whereabouts, they should call the Palestine Police Department at 903-731-2254.

TYLER — New Orleans-based NORF Companies has closed on three additional redevelopment projects in downtown Tyler. The firm is now getting to work on the Fair, Lindsey, and Wilcox buildings, all on Broadway a short distance south of the downtown square. That follows last September’s closure on the former Carlton Hotel, which the company says is currently in design and undergoing interior demolition and abatement. NORF’s current plan is to fully renovate The Lindsey and Wilcox buildings into mixed-use/multi-family, adding some 80 new rental units to the downtown Tyler market. In addition, NORF says it intends to remodel areas of the Fair and continue to operate it as office space, while seeking a tenant for the ground floor retail space. Continue reading NORF continues downtown Tyler revitalization efforts

CANTON (AP) — An East Texas sheriff says he will resign following his arrest and indictment on allegations he lied to investigators about witnessing one of his deputies punch a handcuffed inmate in the face. Van Zandt County Sheriff Steve Hendrix said in a resignation letter that he will step down May 14. Prosecutors say Hendrix, Chief Deputy Jerry Wood and Sgt. Blake Snell were indicted last month for giving a false statement to a peace officer about the actions of former Chief Deputy Craig Shelton. In January, Shelton admitted to the Texas Rangers that he hit Nicholas Crouch in September without justification. Hendrix faces up to six months in jail if convicted.

EAST TEXAS — Law enforcement agencies throughout East Texas plan to collect hundreds of pounds of unwanted and expired prescription drugs at the semi-annual DEA Take Back event April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To see a location near you, visit this link. According to Tyler-based Next Step Community Solutions, residents are encouraged to bring their unneeded prescription drugs (no sharps or aerosols will be accepted) to one of these events so they can safely and anonymously dispose of prescriptions and keep them out of the wrong hands. According to the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, two-thirds of teens who misused pain relievers in the past year say that they got them from family and friends.

TYLER – A Tyler man is booked into the Smith County Jail on several arson charges. According to our news partner KETK, online judicial records show 37-year-old Stanley Wilson Jr. is charged with one count of arson intending damage at a habitation and two counts of arson that “recklessly causes another person to suffer bodily injury or death.” According to an arrest warrant, the fire was allegedly set April 15 after an argument with a woman. The warrant says the woman made it out of a Mockingbird Lane house, removing her fire-struck jacket — but the house was destroyed, along with a car next door. Wilson has numerous misdemeanor convictions for criminal trespassing. His bonds on the arson charges total $1.8 million.

TYLER — Working with other agencies, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office has performed a sex offender residence compliance check of all sex offenders who are registered with the Sheriff’s Office. Of the 459 individuals who were checked April 27 and 28, 454 were found to be in compliance, and five were found to be out of compliance with warrants to be issued. Officials said verification checks of this type are unannounced and comprehensive. “Verification checks send a message to all sex offenders that they will be arrested if they are out of compliance with their sex offender registration requirements,” said Sheriff Larry Smith as quoted in a news release. To report information on a sex offender, call 903-590-2680.

TYLER — To help restock its Pet Food Bank, Tyler Animal Services will waive adoption fees for dogs and cats with the donation of two 35-pound or larger bags of dog food for the month of May. According to a news release, the Pet Food Bank was established in 2015 so that families in need or those who could not afford to feed their pets would have a safety net in order to keep pets in their homes. If you would like to adopt, see all pets available for adoption and submit an application on this web page. For more information, click here or call (903) 535-0045.

CANTON – Police say a homeowner in Canton shot and killed a burglar who broke into his home last week. According to our news partner KETK, the address of the home was not released, but officers were dispatched around 12:30 a.m. April 23 after reports of a shooting. When they arrived, they found 51-year-old Erik Hicks, a Grand Saline native, inside with multiple gunshot wounds. Hicks later died at a local hospital. Police said their investigation found that Hicks “had unlawfully forced entry into the residence.” They said Hicks was armed and confronted the homeowner. According to police, the homeowner had retrieved his own handgun and shot Hicks multiple times after the confrontation. The homeowner’s name was not immediately released, and the homeowner faced no immediate charges. An autopsy has been ordered, and the investigation will be given to a grand jury for review.

TYLER — East Texas Giving Day was Tuesday April 26 and supported almost 300 local nonprofit organizations by raising $2.8 million, according to our news partner KETK. It is an annual 18-hour online event hosted by the East Texas Communities Foundation that provides critical funding for East Texas area nonprofits. $2,896,721 was raised by Tuesday, April 26. 2022 marked the seventh annual East Texas Giving Day hosted by ETCF. Continue reading $2.8 million raised on East Texas Giving Day 2022

TYLER — Another bat has tested positive for rabies in Tyler. A city news release reports that Tyler Animal Services submitted the animal for testing Monday to the Texas Department of State Health Services. DSHS reported the positive test Wednesday. The bat was found near the intersection of Dinah Lane and De Charles Street. Officials say the known individuals and animals with possible exposure have been identified and addressed. According to the release, it is critical for people to not handle bats, skunks, raccoons, or other wild animals. Officials say it is also important for children to tell their parents of any contact with wild animals or any sick animals. If a person is bitten by an animal, the bite incident must be reported to the Local Rabies Control Authority, the Tyler Animal Services Director, for proper investigation. Continue reading Rabies advisory: bat tests positive near Dinah Lane

TYLER — Visit Tyler and the City of Tyler are encouraging everyone this summer to be a tourist in their own backyard. Mayor Don Warren Wednesday addressed City Council on the item as part of National Travel and Tourism Week, set for May 1-7. Officials say more than 2,900 local jobs are directly supported by travel and tourism in Tyler. They ask that you do your part by visiting an attraction, restaurant, or other related business in the area. A full list of area activities and events can be found at this link.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday authorized the city manager to execute a contract to rehabilitate 978 deteriorated sanitary sewer manholes. According to a news release, the scope of work includes cleaning, repairing, sealing, and coating manholes to stop inflow and infiltration of the sewer system. The project will require repairing pipe seals, seal coating manholes, installing chimney seals, and incidental tasks such as bypass pumping, traffic control, pavement and sidewalk repair, and restoration work. As quoted in the release, TWU Project Engineer Tiffany Currie says the project “will protect and reinforce the manholes from corrosion and extend their service life.” Click here to learn more.

TYLER — Derrick Choice was sworn in Tuesday as interim Smith County Precinct 1 justice of the peace. Choice won the Democratic primary election for the post in March and does not have a Republican opponent in November. The commissioners court voted to appoint Choice to the position Tuesday after longtime Judge Quincy Beavers Jr. resigned from the post last week. Beavers submitted a letter citing health reasons and listing his last day with the county as Friday, April 22. Beavers worked for the county for 40 years, with 28 of those as justice of the peace. Choice is a former Tyler city councilman and has served on numerous boards and organizations.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler recently announced a $100,000 gift from EMA Engineering and Consulting to establish the EMA Engineering and Consulting Dean’s Legacy Projects Endowment to support special projects of the College of Engineering. The Tyler-based company currently employs 27 UT Tyler graduates and approximately eight student interns, according to a news release. Officials say the endowment will fund College of Engineering infrastructure and facility needs. The college works with students to design useful projects such as a remotely-accessible, table-top wind tunnel system for the thermal-fluids lab and a golf cart bay, according to the release.