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TYLER – A Tyler woman pleaded guilty Thursday to injury to a child and was given a six year prison sentence. According to our news partner KETK, authorities say that 27-year old Katelyn Schengeli endangered her four children by having them in living conditions they said were “extremely inadequate for children.”

At the time of her arrest in 2021, law officers said Schengeli was under the influence of alcohol. They were alerted to this by her 8-year-old son who found his mother unconscious and non responsive. Emergency personnel then found an 11-month-old infant in a crib covered in feces and 4 year-old twin girls locked inside of a large room with the door blocked.. The four children were removed from the home to a safe environment. The children’s father Corey Evans was also arrested in 2021 and indicted as well on of four of counts of child endangerment. His outcome is still to be determined.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council approved a $58,000 contract with ERI Consulting Inc. on Wednesday for the demolition of the former Tysen House. According to our news partner KETK, the city said the abandoned property has been an ongoing problem and poses public health and public safety risks for community members and first responders. Since December 2021, the property has caught fire three times with four firefighters being injured during one of them. The most recent fire happened on April 28. The former Tysen House was ruled by the Planning Director to have no significant historical value. ERI Consulting will begin asbestos removal in six weeks and demolition will begin in eight weeks after abatement. The project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

TYLER — Damien M. Diggs took office to become the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, which represents part of East Texas, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced. Diggs was nominated by President Joe Biden on February 2, confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 4 and took the oath of office on May 7. Diggs is from Frisco and is the chief federal law enforcement official in the Eastern District of Texas which includes 43 counties from the Texas-Oklahoma border to the Gulf of Mexico. The district has six fully staffed offices in Tyler, Lufkin, Texarkana, Beaumont, Plano and Sherman. Diggs is responsible for the prosecution of federal criminal offenses in the district, according to a release. Continue reading New U.S. Attorney sworn in for Eastern District of Texas

TYLER — A 75-year-old man died after a four-vehicle crash in Tyler at the intersection of Pointe North Drive and WNW Loop 323, near the intersection of Highway 69. According to our news partner KETK, the crash happened in the eastbound lanes of WNW Loop 323 around 3:08 p.m. on Wednesday. Jimmy Hayes, 75, of Tyler, died following the crash. The investigation determined that three vehicles were in the eastbound turn lane of Loop 323 waiting to turn north onto Pointe North Drive. Officials said that Hayes was heading eastbound in his Ford F-150 when he veered left and struck the rear vehicle stopped in the turn lane, causing it to hit the next two vehicles in front of it. Tyler Police said that one of the occupants of the other vehicles was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

NACOGDOCHES – The Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents accepted the retirement of President Steve Westbrook on Wednesday and named an interim president. Gina Oglesbee, vice president for finance and administration, will serve as interim president starting June 1. The university said she will not be a candidate for the permanent position. Oglesbee participated in the system affiliation evaluation process last fall, and the university said she has been closely involved with the transfer of management and control of the university into the UT system. She has been a part of the SFA community for over 20 years. “She is an ideal candidate to lead SFA in its transition to The University of Texas System,” SFA Board of Regents Chair Karen Gantt said. The search for the next president will be conducted by the UT Board of Regents after legislative approval for SFA’s affiliation with the system. The legislation currently awaits Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature.

TYLER – Three Tyler city councilmembers took their oaths of office on Wednesday morning. Newly-elected District 5 Councilmember Lloyd Nichols, re-elected District 1 Councilmember Stuart Hene and re-elected District 3 Councilmember Shirley McKellar were sworn into office and District 6 Councilmember Brad Curtis was elected Mayor Pro Tem. This will be Lloyd Nichols’ first term as a Tyler councilmember. He came to Tyler in 2000 while working as Area Vice President for Luby’s Cafeteria. In 2007, Lloyd left Luby’s and opened The Diner, which he operated for 15 years before selling it in 2022. Continue reading Tyler councilmembers sworn in, Mayor Pro-Tem selected

SMITH COUNTY — A man has been arrested after being indicted for the charge of assault to a pregnant person. According to our news partner KETK, Trevor Starnes, 27, caused bodily injury to a pregnant woman by striking her with his hand and “with a hard object and causing the complainant to strike a hard object.” Starnes was booked into the Smith County Jail on May 5 with a bond amount of $25,000. According to online records, Starnes was previously arrested May 20, 2022 for assault of a pregnant person. His record also lists numerous arrests for possession of a controlled substance.

TYLER — The son of the Smith County clerk who was accused of interfering with deputies during an arrest, and Precinct 3 Commissioner Terry Phillips, returned to commissioners court Tuesday morning and was arrested for disruption of a meeting. According to our news partner KETK, this is the second week in a row, Lance Phillips has attended the Commissioners Court meeting. The previous week, he was speaking in court defending his family against slander but was removed from the podium because he wasn’t commenting on the agenda item. Before court Tuesday morning, The Smith County Sheriff said Judge Neal Franklin spoke to Lance Phillips about the court’s rules. Continue reading Son of Smith County commissioner removed from court

LINDALE — East Texas native and Grammy Award-winning country singer Miranda Lambert held a signing for her cookbook “Y’all Eat Yet?” on Tuesday in Lindale. According to our news partner KETK, the book signing was held at Lambert’s boutique called The Pink Pistol which is located on 55 Miranda Lambert Way. Her hometown, Lindale, was the final stop for Lambert’s first book tour after she went to New York City and Los Angeles. “Y’all Eat Yet?” features recipes for everyone with the stories highlighting memories to go along with them.

TYLER – Six people from Bullard, including four teenagers, were awarded during the Smith County Commissioners Court meeting on Tuesday with Community Hero Awards for their efforts in saving a woman after her car crashed into a pond in March. “This court rarely gives out a Community Hero Award and we feel like it is very fitting for these six people that went beyond their character and went beyond what is expected of them and saved the life of another human,” Commissioner Pam Frederick said. According to our news partner KETK, Derek and Drue Bowers, their father Troy Bowers, teenagers Sheane Congo and Kyle Schneider and neighbor David Isabell jumped into the water after seeing the woman’s car upside down in the pond. Continue reading Community Hero Awards given to Bullard teens

TYLER – A 20-year-old was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to terroristic threat in a Smith County court. According to our news partner KETK, Tyler Auston Tate was indicted in February 2022 and entered a guilty plea on April 6. Tate was arrested in December 2021 after the FBI National Threat Operations Center received a tip about a possible shooting threat at Winona High School, where he was a student at the time. According to the sheriff’s office, evidence was gathered including documentation of credible threats of death and/or serious bodily injury to individual students at the high school. Tate was found incompetent to stand trial on June 15 of last year. A status hearing was held on Jan. 18, then Tate appeared in court again in April to plea and be sentenced.

WELLS — The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said one person has died after a shooting on Mitchell Street Monday. Wells Police Department were the first responders and Chief Harold Rapsilver detained the suspect, Noel Price Jr, 56, of Wells. Officials said EMS and the Wells Fire Department attempted to save the victim, Samuel Murrell, 42, of Wells, but attempts were unsuccessful and the victim died at the scene. Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division is investigating. Price was booked into the Cherokee County Jail on a murder charge.

RUSK — A Rusk man was arrested for invasive visual recording after allegedly stealing his his coworker’s intimate photos from her phone, according to an arrest warrant. According to our news partner KETK, Michael Andrew Dorsey, 26 of Rusk, allegedly sent himself a female coworker’s intimate photos without her consent while he had her phone to order pizza at work, arrest documents show. An arrest warrant describes his coworker’s report to Crockett Police Department. Continue reading Rusk man arrested for allegedly stealing coworker’s intimate photos

EAST TEXAS — This round of elections is bringing change to two local school districts. According to our news partner KETK, arguably the biggest result of the election comes from Chapel Hill ISD, as all three bond propositions passed totaling over $113 million. This bond means the construction of a new middle school, a new multipurpose center for athletics and fine arts, a new career and tech facility, classroom additions and a new operations facility. Cody Levrets was also elected as the District 4 seat of the Tyler ISD Board of Trustees. The City of Chandler also elected against the sale of alcohol for off-premise consumption.

LONGVIEW – A woman is dead after being hit by a vehicle while riding her motor scooter in Longview. According to our news partner KETK, on Sunday, around 10:47 p.m., Longview Police responded to reports of a hit-and-run involving a vehicle and a pedestrian on a motorized scooter on the 1500 block of E. Marshall Avenue. When officials arrived, they learned that the vehicle was traveling eastbound when the collision occurred and left the scene in the direction of Eastman Road. Officials said the pedestrian hit by the vehicle was identified as Carrie Evette Pickron, 39. Pickron was taken to a local hospital where police said she succumbed to her injuries. The vehicle police are looking for is described as a two-tone black/grey Dodge Challenger car with black wheels and possible front-end damage.

HENDERSON COUNTY – On Sunday, a woman was arrested after Henderson County officials went to her house regarding a theft investigation and allegedly found drugs while they were there. According to our news partner KETK the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said that they sent two officials to Amy Fann’s residence in Golden Oaks just outside of Payne Springs while investigating a theft. While at the residence, officials discovered suspected methamphetamines inside the home. They proceeded to arrested Fann for manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance and a harassment warrant out of Grayson County. Fann was booked into the Henderson County Jail where she is awaiting arraignment.

LONGVIEW — Longview Police were dispatched to an armed subject call just before 11:00 Sunday night on Morrison Street. Arriving officers encountered the suspect, who reportedly reached for and produced a handgun. The officer then shot, striking the suspect. The suspect was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Following the Longview Police Department’s procedures, the Texas Rangers were requested to conduct the investigation. Additional information was not available.

TYLER — Keep Tyler Beautiful and the Tyler Solid Waste Department are hosting a Paint Recycling/Collection Event on Saturday, May 20 for Tyler residents who have old and partially used buckets of paint that they would like to dispose.  Residents may bring up to 25 gallons of latex or non-latex paint to the Solid Waste employee parking lot in the 300 block of N. Bois D’Arc Ave. on May 20 between 8 a.m. and noon. The Solid Waste employee parking lot is located just north of the intersection of W. Locust Street and N. Bois D’Arc Avenue, near the bus station, just south of the Recycling Center. Continue reading Keep Tyler Beautiful to host Paint Recycle Day in May

RAINS COUNTY — Remains that were found in Rains County in November 2022 were identified as a retired Dallas firefighter who was missing since 2017. According to the Rains County Justice of the Peace, DNA confirmed that the remains were identified as Michael Glenn Chambers who was reported missing on March 10, 2017. Our news partner KETK reports that Chambers’ remains were found in a wooded area near Highway 276 east of the City of East Tawakoni. The Texas Rangers and Hunt County Sheriff’s Office assisted RCSO with the recovery and investigation. The remains were then sent to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification in Fort Worth.

“I ask for the continued prayers for the Chambers family. Mr. Chambers’ family has waited for answers for a long time, and I hope this brings some closure to the Chambers family. This remains an open investigation and my office will continue to diligently investigate this case,” Hunt County Sheriff Terry Jones said in a statement.

Officials said the investigation remains open and no further information will be released as of this writing.

RUSK COUNTY — Two people were arrested on Thursday for being in possession of a reported stolen truck out of Rusk County. Our news partner KETK reports that on May 4, patrol officers received a call regarding a suspicious vehicle on Highway 323. The caller reportedly saw the truck pull in behind a house and when deputies got to the location, they ran the plates and discovered it was a vehicle that had recently been reported as stolen out of Rusk County.

Officials said deputies arrested Brandon Matthews and Alyssa Williams for being in possession of the stolen vehicle and charged them with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle adding that the vehicle is to be returned to the owner.

FRANKSTON – Two people are dead after a tree fell on a house during Thursday night storms in Frankston. According to Anderson County Sheriff Rudy Flores, a 29-year-old woman and 33-year-old man were killed during the storms. “He was pinned down in the house by a big oak tree this morning, it’s devastating on his family and his kids and stuff,” said Derrick Fields owner of Fields and Sons Logging and Tree Service. The tree was removed from the home on CR 3000 Friday morning and their bodies have been taken to a funeral home.

According to our news partner KETK Frankston was hit hard in the overnight storms. Roma’s Italian Restaurant lost their roof during the storm, and managers say it may take a month before they can reopen their doors. They added that they are grateful for everyone that has stopped by and offered to help clean up.

BULLARD – According to the district, a man arrived at the Bullard Primary School at about 11:15 a.m. with a gun holstered on his hip. To that point, all Bullard ISD schools were placed on lockdown.

Superintendent Dr. Jack Lee said that the person insisted that he had the right to take the pistol anywhere they pleased according to our news partner KETK. Officials stated the person refused to identify himself and an officer could smell alcohol. According to the district, the lockdown was put in place as a precaution while the officer detained the individual and secured the scene. It was lifted and the individual is in custody, law enforcement said.

The district is pursuing the maximum criminal charges in this case.

EAST TEXAS — Election Day for the City/School Election is Saturday, May 6, 2023. Elections are on the ballot for the Independent School Districts of Bullard, Chapel Hill, Lindale, and Tyler District 4; as well as for the City of Winona and Emergency Services District No. 1. There will be nine polling locations open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. Continue reading Election Day is Saturday

TYLER — Tyler Junior College has earned Military Friendly Silver status. This means offering vets and their families opportunities to succeed, our news partner KETK reports. More than 1,800 schools across America participated in the 2023-24 survey performed by VIQTORY. Schools that earned the Military Friendly School Designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. Continue reading TJC earns Military Friendly silver status

TYLER — Tyler Police responded to multiple reports of a male walking around waving a firearm in the air and yelling outside of Super 1 Foods and Academy on South Broadway Avenue around 7:20 p.m. Thursday. According to our news partner KETK and Tyler Police Department Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh, when officers arrived and approached the man, he turned the gun on himself. Tyler Fire and UT EMS were then dispatched to the scene. The unidentified man was pronounced dead at the scene.

TYLER — Select Tyler Transit downtown stops closed on Friday, May 5 and Saturday, May 6, 2023. Normal operations will resume on Monday, May 8. Due to the Red Dirt BBQ & Music Festival this Saturday, May 6, Tyler Transit will deviate Route 10 and Route 14 starting Friday, May 5. Affected bus stops will remain closed until the start of service on Monday, May 8. Continue reading Tyler Transit downtown bus stops rerouted for music festival

TYLER – Around East Texas, numerous communities celebrated the National Day of Prayer. It gave places like Tyler, Longview, Lufkin and Gladewater a chance to show how passionate they are about their faith. According to our news partner KETK, Tyler held its 32nd annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast early Thursday morning. The mayor of Tyler Don Warren said they prayed for everyone. “We prayed for first responders, we prayed for young people, we prayed for hope and love,” said Warren. He added the whole point of these events is to bring people with different backgrounds together. In Gladewater, an outside prayer service was held at the Veterans War Memorial. The mayor of Gladewater Scott E. Owens said there’s no better time than now to get together and pray. The National Day of Prayer is held the first Thursday in May and has been observed across the country since 1952.

TYLER – A Tyler man was sentenced to five years in prison on Wednesday after pleading guilty to manslaughter in a 2021 fatal wreck on Loop 323. Jose Esparza, 25, was initially arrested in November 2021 after a high-speed, three-car crash in front of Mercado’s. According to our news partner KETK, Esparza was driving in a black Corvette westbound on the road when he struck the back of a truck “at a high rate of speed.” The Corvette’s computer showed he was driving at 113 mph when the brakes were slammed. Esparza had minor injuries, but his passenger was taken to hospital in critical condition and died two days later. The warrant said Esparza was not intoxicated at the time of the wreck, and the Corvette “was almost unrecognizable due to the severity of the damage.” Esparza was indicted for manslaughter in April 2022, and pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charge on Wednesday.

EDGEWOOD – Authorities arrested an Edgewood woman Monday for allegedly pointing a knife at clerk in a grocery store. According to our news partner KETK, Edgewood police say the woman, identified as Brandy Ackerman told the cashier at Brookshire Brothers grocery store in Edgewood to open the cash register and give her all the money. She did this while pointing a knife at the cashier. When the cashier would not hand over the cash. It was said Ackerman put the knife away and said “I was just kidding”. Continue reading Supermarket aggravated robbery arrest