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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

TYLER — The founder and chief executive officer of the East Texas Human Needs Network has announced her intent to retire from her position at the end of 2021. According to a news release, Christina (Fulsom) Taliaferro began the network in 2012 to help connect typically isolated cross-sector entities to form working relationships. Since then, area citizens with an interest in identifying and addressing human needs have employed various strategies aimed at improving opportunities and striving for equity, according to the release. The Network has grown to over 100 organizations. Taliaferro (at right in photo) said she will remain active in the work of the network and will serve as an advisor after retirement.

TYLER — A portion of Tyler’s Rose Rudman trail underneath the bridge at Shiloh Road and Donnybrook Avenue is now closed and will remain so through Monday, Aug. 2, for repairs associated with the Shiloh Road Channel Reconstruction project. Officials say the project will repair the failing concrete-lined channel just south of the bridge on Shiloh, just east of Donnybrook, near the Rose Rudman Park jogging trail.

TYLER – Tyler ISD is releasing its Return to School 2021 plan, detailing the district’s health and safety protocols for in-school learning. According to a news release, Tyler ISD completed the 2020-2021 school year approximately 99% in-person. Last May, the TISD trustees approved making face coverings optional for students and staff. This protocol will remain in effect this school year as well. Protocols removed from the plan include Learn@Home procedures since all students are expected to attend in person. “It remains the District’s belief that face-to-face instruction is the best method for a child’s learning and social-emotional growth,” Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford said as quoted in the release. Click here to view the entire plan.

EAST TEXAS — Health officials say the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations has tripled locally as the Delta variant starts to affect families. Over the last week, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported a 76% increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations went up by 30%. Only 43% of Smith County residents are fully vaccinated, according to Texas Health and Human Services. “Three weeks ago, we were in the teens across the division, single digits in every hospital, nobody had a big run, very few ventilator patients. Three weeks later, the numbers have tripled,” Dr. Tom Cummins, Chief Medical Officer of UT Health East Texas, said. Continue reading COVID cases on the rise in East Texas as Delta variant spreads

TYLER — Smith County authorities seek your help finding 27-year-old Justin Ray Coslett. He’s described as white, 6 feet tall, 150 pounds, with hazel eyes, blond hair, and Texas driver’s license number 36882761. According to the sheriff’s office, Coslett was last reported to have been seen or heard from on the afternoon of July 8. Coslett has been known to stay on E. Houston Street in Tyler between the Palmer and Porter intersections, Spur 124 near the Teague Drive intersection in Tyler, the Pine Trail Shores subdivision in Flint, and the Troup/Mixon area. If you have any information on the whereabouts of Justin Coslett, contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at 903-566-6600.

TYLER – A 3-year-old was pronounced dead after being found unresponsive in a vehicle at the child’s Tyler home. That’s according to our news partner KETK. On Friday, fire and EMS crews responded to a call around 6 p.m. on North Church Avenue. First responders were unable to revive the child. Andy Erbaugh with Tyler PD said that no arrests have been made and that an autopsy will be conducted on the toddler.

HENDERSON – The roosters seized in the bust of a Rusk County cockfighting ring had to be euthanized after testing positive for a deadly disease. According to Animal Investigation & Response, which took the birds and tested for diseases, the birds tested positive for a highly contagious disease that has no viable treatment and a near 70% fatality rate. “It is a gruesome death,” AIR said in a Facebook post. According to our news partner KETK, the disease is known as infectious laryngotracheitis, or ILT. It is a herpesvirus infection of poultry characterized by labored breathing, coughing, a rattling sound in the lungs, coughing up blood, eye infection and more. Cause of death in these cases is normally suffocation. Continue reading Rescued roosters euthanized due to disease

TYLER – TxDOT is planning to conduct another round of construction and maintenance work in the Tyler District this week. Tyler Maintenance and Special Jobs crews plan to continue mill and inlay operations on FM 15 near Troup. Longview Maintenance plans to continue bridge repairs on structures around the county. Click here for the full rundown.

TYLER — Cambridge Road south of Jeff Davis Drive in Tyler will be closed Monday, July 19, through Friday, July 23 for utility work associated with the Cambridge Oaks Development. Detours will be put in place to navigate traffic around the closure. Southbound traffic on Cambridge Road and Robert E. Lee Drive will be detoured on Ronnette Drive to South Broadway. Traffic northbound on Cambridge Road will be detoured via Harvard Drive, Baylor Drive, Karen Drive, and Ronnette Drive to Robert E. Lee Drive. All residents will have access to their driveways. 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 – A Tyler man charged with manslaughter for the death of a teenager on Lake Palestine in June 2019 will face a jury next 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 – A man died from unknown causes at a Tyler ISD job site Saturday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, a police department spokesperson said the man died while working at the Tyler Legacy High School tennis courts. Other workers were reportedly present. Tyler PD said the body was sent for autopsy to determine the cause of death. His identity has not been released. Additional details were not available.

TYLER — The countdown to the 2021 Texas Rose Festival is underway following Friday night’s kickoff party. After a year off due to the pandemic, Rose Queen Anna Grace Hallmark is ready to get things going again. She tells KTBB, “I’m so excited to be able to start off again and meet all the new people from out of town and just start off the new year.” As for what makes the Rose Festival so special, Anna says, “I think it brings the community together and gives everyone a chance to come and see what the Rose Festival’s all about.” Continue reading 2021 Rose Festival countdown begins