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TYLER — A Longview man was sentenced to federal prison Friday for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas. According to the court, Allen Martez Anthony, 30, pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine last June. Anthony was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison. In a prepared statement, Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei said, “This case illustrates how effective we can be at disrupting narcotics trafficking when our state and local law enforcement officers coordinate with federal agencies like the DEA.” Testimony revealed a canine alerted officers to narcotics in Anthony’s vehicle. A follow up search found 1,958 grams of methamphetamines.

TYLER — Smith county announced the closure of a portion of Smith County Road 217 on Friday. County leaders say, the road northwest of Overton will be closed for six to eight weeks for a bridge replacement. County road and bridge crews are replacing the bridge on CR 217, also known as Old Providence Road. Detour signs have been posted to alert drivers to take alternate routes.

LINDALE — Several teachers got a big surprise at Lindale ISD Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, the LISD Education Foundation awarded over $22,000 to teachers on four of the six campuses throughout the district. The money will be used to buy innovative tools for the teachers classrooms. Recipients were unaware they had been selected until the grant patrol; made up of the band, cheerleaders, mascot, donors and various employees arrived. The Education Foundation began awarding grants in November 2009. Since then, over $370,000 has been distributed to LISD classrooms for more than 90 projects.

TYLER — A Tyler man faces up to 20 years in federal prison after admitting to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Cory Jsamard Ford, 33, confessed to the charges of distribution of both cocaine and methamphetamine in Smith County before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love. Ford was indicted last November. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled for a later date. Investigators in the case include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, and the Texas Department of Public Safety-CID and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson.

LONGVIEW — City officials in Longview announced a virtual town hall meeting for next week on Friday. Arts!Longview Executive Director Cynthia Hellen and Board President Jon Cromer will present a progress report and answer questions live beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday. You can register for the meeting by clicking here. The cultural district covers more than 320 acres including downtown Longview and stretches south to LeTourneau University. The area is home to museums, restaurants, parks, live music, theater, and historic buildings.

TYLER — A Tyler woman pleaded guilty last week to leaving an infant alone in a closet for three hours. According to our news partner KETK, Kelsey Frazier, 28, was sentenced Friday, to eight years in prison. Frazier’s counsel could not come to an agreement last week with Smith County prosecutors. AT the hearing, Judge Skeen pronounced the sentence describing Frazier’s choices as “extremely troubling.” It is not immediately clear if Frazier will file an appeal in the case.

TYLER — Everyone age 16 and older, regardless of occupation or health status, will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Texas starting Monday. The Northeast Texas Public Health District President George Roberts told KTBB News, “Since we have started giving vaccines here at NET Health, we have given almost 37,000 vaccines. In essence, if you think about the new Globe Life Field. What we have given in vaccinations will fill up the new Globe Life Field.” Read more and sign-up here.

HENDERSON — A man died late Thursday afternoon after a shooting in Henderson. Henderson police say officers responded to a call on Summer Street about a person being shot and injured. The victim was a 46-year-old black male whose identity has not been released at this time. Anyone with information regarding the case should contact the Henderson Police Department at (903) 657-3512.

TYLER — Everyone age 16 and older, regardless of occupation or health status, will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Texas starting Monday. The Northeast Texas Public Health District President George Roberts told KTBB News, “Supplies have increased quite a bit. We have an adequate supply right now. So, online, right now, you can go to our net health covid19.org website and then go under vaccines, where you can sign-up for your first dose.” The vaccinations continue to be administered by NET Health at the Harvey Convention Center in Tyler. Read more and sign-up here.

TYLER — Earlier this week, a Tyler man agreed to a plea deal for murdering his girlfriend and stuffing her body in a trunk at a motel last year. According to our news partner KETK, Johnny Osburn, 40, was officially sentenced Thursday to 50 years in prison for the murder of Leslie Gamino. Gamino was stabbed several times. Police began investigating Osburn after Gamino was reported missing by her daughter.

LONGVIEW — In a prepared statement, the City of Longview announced that Texas Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Longview Fire Department Chief J.P. Steelman as chairman of the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. If confirmed in the Texas Senate, Chief Steelman would serve his term through early February of 2027. The Commission elevates and enforces statewide fire service standards while providing education and assistance industry wide.

TYLER — The city of Tyler is offering a series of free health and wellness classes for adults. The classes are scheduled to begin in April. The Glass Recreation Center will host the series scheduled to include Master of Memory, Get the Fact, Walk N’ Talk and A Fresh Start to A Healthier You. These classes are free of cost thanks to Texas A&M Agrilife Extension of Smith County, with a $30 annual membership to the facility. Read more here.

TYLER — Louis B. Gohmert of Mt. Pleasant, father of Congressman Louie Gohmert, died Thursday morning. In a prepared statement, Congressman Gohmert said, “He will be sorely missed by his family and all who knew and loved him.” The senior Gohmert was 95 years-old. Congressman Gohmert is serving in his eighth term of office, being sworn in January of 2005. Prior to serving in Congress, Rep. Gohmert was elected to three terms as District Judge in Smith County. Former Texas Goveror Rick Perry later appointed Gohmert to complete a term as the Chief Justice of the 12th Court of Appeals.

LONGVIEW — A former Sabine Independent School District  teacher’s aide was sentenced to ten years probation Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, Cassie Headley, 29, also known as Cassie Dowden, was arrested in June 2019 after an investigation found that she had sex with a student at SISD. She pleaded guilty to an inappropriate relationship with a student in January and could have served a maximum of 20 years in prison. Testimony revealed that she and her now ex-husband Zachary Dowden mentored the victim before the inappropriate relationship started. Dowden is required to attend counseling and pay a fine of $10,000.

EAST TEXAS — A Shreveport woman has pleaded guilty for her role in an elder fraud scheme. Monica Ruiz, 45, pleaded guilty to wire fraud Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love. According to information presented in court, Ruiz enlisted a variety of bogus pretenses and promises in a scheme to defraud an elderly victim from Bullard, collecting more that $4.8 million. Some of those fake claims include: Ruiz had been in a coma, had brain surgery, had a kidney transplant, was in a car accident and was committed to a mental institution. Ruiz faces up to 20 years in federal prison. Continue reading Louisiana woman guilty in $4.8 million elder fraud scheme

TYLER — The city of Tyler approved a contract Wednesday that looks to improve multiple drainage projects. The council approved three design contracts and a construction contract for storm water and drainage improvements. A preliminary engineering study was conducted in March of 2018 of the drainage surrounding Bedshire Court in the Holly Park subdivision due to localized flooding in yards and homes in the area. The study indicated additional inlets and storm sewer pipes along Holly Creek Drive from Silvermaple Cove to Bedshire Court and a larger storm sewer inlet and pipe were needed. Read more here.

TYLER — More houses are coming to North Tyler. City Council members approved the new project during a council meeting Wednesday. According to the city, 13 craftsman style homes will be constructed in the “pocket community” near North Palace Avenue and West Queen Street. In a city council meeting Wednesday, the city talked about the goal of building modern, affordable dream homes for families near the new fire station. The builder anticipates completion of phase one in the next six months. Read more here.

HENDERSON COUNTY — An East Texas man pleaded guilty to one count of continuous sexual abuse of a young child and was sentenced Wednesday to 25 years in prison. Jerry Neal Finnell, 40, of Trinidad, will be required to serve his sentence day-for-day and is not eligible for parole. Finnell will also be required to register as a sex offender the rest of his life and will be subject to a lifetime protective order for his victim. Finnell was indicted last June for sexually assaulting a child for more than 30 days, from the time the child was 12 years old until they became 13 years old.

HENDERSON — UT Health Henderson announced plans Wednesday that will vaccinate qualifying members of the public from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Immunizations will be by appointment only. The vaccine sign-up is for healthcare workers, anyone 50 and over (or ages 18+ considered high risk) and school or child care employees who need to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals that met this criteria can make a first-dose appointment by clicking here. You must have an appointment, no walk-ins will be accepted.

TYLER — Tyler City Council voted to move forward on a contract Wednesday that will bring about asphalt overlay for 22 streets and 25 lane miles across the city. The 2021 sealcoat contract of $845,000, will be used on the streets based on their pavement condition index score. In a prepared statement, City Enginer Lisa Crossman said, “Sealcoating involves applying an asphalt binder and an aggregate to the roadway. It seals the road from water intrusion and prolongs the life of the streets and roadways.” The project will begin in June and should be completed in August 2021. Read more here.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council approved a nearly $2 million contract for the the Group 3 Manhole Rehabilitation Package, which is part of the Consent Decree work on the City’s wastewater collection system. The plan will rehabilitate over 1,000 sanitary sewer manholes and almost 400 sanitary sewer clean-outs across Tyler. According to city officials the project is expected to be completed by December of 2022. Read more here.

TYLER — The East Texas Food Bank partnered with Feeding Texas for an Advocacy Day of Action Wednesday urging state legislators to address a policy that prohibits Texans from accessing food assistance if they own more than one reliable vehicle. Texas’ “vehicle asset test” refuses SNAP benefits to otherwise eligible families if the value of their cars exceeds a minimum that opponents say, has not been updated in decades. In a prepared statement, CEO Dennis Cullinane said, “The East Texas Food Bank serves 26 counties, the majority of which are rural. Many of our neighbors are working poor and have to cross county lines to find work. Having reliable transportation is key to accessing work.” There is no federal requirement to have the test, with 35 states totally abolishing it.

TYLER — The Northeast Texas Public Health District is immunizing second rounds of the Pfizer vaccine at Harvey Convention Center in Tyler. On Wednesday, NET Health’s George Roberts told KTBB, “We want people to set up an appointment. We want to try and minimize the amount of time that people have to wait in line to get their shot. So, if people can schedule we have a certain amount of appointment times per hour. If people can schedule a time, that would be preferable. If they can’t then if they have their card (CDC COVID Vaccination Record Card) that they received after their first dose, if they bring that with them, we will take care of them.” Read more here.

GILMER — Two people from Gilmer will face time in prison for a scheme to take other people’s money distributed as part of COVID-19 financial assistance, a federal attorney said Tuesday. According to our news partner KETK, Emilee Fenton and Dalton Brewer, both 24, have both pleaded guilty to charges relating to fraudulently taking government money intended to help people struggling financially during the pandemic. According to the indictment, from at least November 2019 through June 2020, Brewer and Fenton conspired to steal other people’s identities as part of scheme to get government payments. Continue reading Upshur County Couple indicted for identity theft in connection with CARES Act payments

TYLER – The Texas Wounded Warrior Foundation has donated $20,000 to the University of Texas at Tyler to support student veterans. According to our news partner KETK, the foundation and Eagles Bluff Country Club Dew Boys golf group presented the award to the Richard and Madeline Lewis Scholarship. Both groups have repeatedly backed the scholarship during the past seven years. The organizations have given a total of $137,000 to the scholarship and $165,000 to support veteran students at the local university overall.

TYLER — An overnight fire devastated a Tyler home early Tuesday morning. According to our news partner KETK, Fire crews and teams responded shortly after 2 a.m. to the fire on the west side of town on Chandler HWY, just off Loop 323. The roof was heavily damaged and most of the interior was lost. No injuries were reported from the fire.

TYLER — A Tyler man accused of killing his girlfriend and leaving her body in her vehicle last year says he is willing to take a plea deal of 50 years in prison. According to our news partner KETK, Johnny Bradley Osburn, 40, was in a Zoom hearing Tuesday for the charge of the murder of Leslie Michelle Gamino, 42, of Tyler. Gamino’s body was found by Tyler police in a motel parking lot on Gentry Parkway in January of 2020. Osburn has remained in the Smith County Jail on a $1 million bond. The prosecution said they would not bring a tampering with a corpse charge to a grand jury if Osburn accepted a plea deal of 50 years. Osburn shouted “signed.” Once documents are prepared, a plea hearing will be held.

LINDALE — A cheerleading competition has a group of Lindale Independent School District students cheering their way to the top in a virtual cheerleading contest. According to our news partner KETK, The Pathfinders Club at LISD is participating as part of the Special Olympics Texas’ Winter Games. Team members have spent the last several weeks perfecting a cheer sent to them by the Special Olympics. Videos, both as a group and as individuals, have been sent in to be critiqued by judges. The evaluation includes hitting cheer poses, how loud they yelled and how well they have memorized the chant. Results will be announced April 17.

TYLER — The sixth annual East Texas Giving Day is quickly approaching. On Tuesday, East Texas Communities Foundation President Kyle Penney told our news partner KETK, the registration deadline for non-profits is one week from Wednesday. “If you’re working at a non-profit organization or you’ve got a favorite charity, March 31 is the deadline for those organizations to get signed up.” Penney went on to say, “You can go to our website and search for your favorite non-profit and if their name is not there, pick up the phone and give them a call.” Last year’s event had over 196 charities involved, with over $2.2 million dollars raised in 18 hours. Get more information here.

TYLER — Tyler ISD says a plan to put more administrative resources on the campus level is on track following the appointment of Cassandra Chapa as the new chief innovation officer. Chapa was placed into the role by the board Monday night. She is the current principal of Pete elementary. According to the district, Chapa will complete the school year in her current role before helping implement initiatives the district believes will improve student performance on campuses where many at-risk students attend school.