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ANGELINA COUNTY – The Angelina County Sheriff’s is mourning the loss of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department assistant commander Chad Gartman, who died of cancer on Sunday. Gartman, who was 52-years-old, had a lengthy 31-year career in law enforcement and became a Texas Peace Officer after he graduated from the Angelina College Police Academy in 1994. He served as a deputy constable in Nacogdoches County for almost six years before he joined the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and started patrolling in East Texas.

According to our news partner KETK and the sheriff’s office, Gartman became assistant commander of the TPWD in 2016. He managed vehicle acquisitions and fleet maintenance for the over 650 Texas Game Wardens vehicles across the state.

Gartman’s and his wife Ashley had two sons together. Ashley’s father is retired Angelina County Sheriff Kent Henson.

TYLER – The Republican Party of Texas met on Saturday to discuss potential penalties for several lawmakers, including two East Texas State Representatives.

According to our news partner KETK, a special meeting of the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) was held on Saturday, where Texas GOP officials discussed whether or not they would concur with censure resolutions brought by county Republican Party officials. Resolutions were brought against ten State Representatives who are accused of making votes and taking actions against State Republican Party platform policies like having no Democratic Committee Chairs in the State House.

East Texas State Representatives Cody Harris of Palestine and Gary VanDeaver of New Boston were two of those ten State Representatives who faced potential penalties on Saturday.

Harris avoided a concurring vote and any penalties that the SREC could have levied against him but the SREC did concur with the resolution against VanDeaver. Continue reading State Rep VanDeaver responds to censure penalties

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — The SPCA of Texas rescued 16 neglected dogs from a Van Zandt County property last week after finding them living in extreme inhumane conditions. According to our news partner KETK, SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigations (ACI) Unit responded to an anonymous request for a welfare check. They arrived at the property Oct. 6. Investigators found the dogs in severe neglect and worked to obtain a seizure warrant for the animals, which they executed the next day.

A press release from SPCA of Tyler said, “A thorough inspection found filthy raised kennels, many without adequate shelter; rough, uneven flooring beneath them; padlocks on every kennel; dirty water contaminated with feces; and live maggots swarming the area beneath the kennels.” Continue reading SPCA seizes abused dogs from Van Zandt County property

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Texas – Syntedrick Latroy Fuller was arrested by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office for reportedly evading arrest and having multiple drugs in his possession. Fuller tried to escape on foot after the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Jacksonville and Bullard Police officers came to his home in Jacksonville to carry out a warrant. After a short chase on foot, 141 grams of ecstasy, 2.8 grams of meth and a firearm were found in his home.

Update: The pedestrian in this incident has died from injuries sustained in the crash. His identity is being withheld until family can be notified. The case remains under investigation.

TYLER — A Monday morning wreck shut down the westbound lanes of 110 Van Highway, just outside of Loop 323 for almost five hours. According to our news partner KETK, Tyler Police responded to the crash involving a pedestrian. Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh confirmed with KTBB that all roads are clear.

GREGG COUNTY — A man from New Orleans has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for the 2020 murder of Joseph Pierre Brice, 44, on Mobberly Avenue in Longview. Brice was fatally shot around 3 p.m. on Feb. 29, 2020. Several months later, Aaron Williams, 41, of New Orleans, was arrested for Brice’s murder.

His case was set to go to trial on October 13, but on Friday, October 10, Williams pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Williams has been in the Gregg County Jail since his 2020 arrest.

LINDALE – The Smith County Sheriff’s office said that two people were injured at a club on Highway 69 near Lindale early Sunday morning. According to our news partner KETK, deputies were sent to the Bourbon West Club on Highway 69 around 1:30 a.m. When deputies arrived they found two assault victims. One shot, another stabbed multiple times. Both were sent to local hospitals for treatment and are in stable condition. The sheriff’s office has an open investigation.

AUSTIN – The Republican Party of Texas met on Saturday to discuss potential penalties for several lawmakers, including two East Texas State Representatives. According to our news partner KETK, East Texas State Representatives Cody Harris of Palestine and Gary VanDeaver of New Boston were two of those ten State Representatives who faced potential penalties from the Senate Republican Executive Committee (SREC).

Resolutions were brought against ten State Representatives who are accused of making votes and taking actions against State Republican Party platform policies like having no Democratic Committee Chairs in the State House.

Harris avoided a concurring vote and any penalties that the SREC could have levied against him but the SREC did concur with the resolution against VanDeaver. Continue reading State Rep VanDeaver penalized by Texas Republicans

UPDATE: The City of Chandler announced on Tuesday afternoon that the boil water notice was lifted due to the water line break getting repaired.

CHANDLER — The City of Chandler has issued a boil water notice for certain areas after a broken water line was discovered. Officials ask residents to boil water used for drinking and cooking. Affected areas include: Charmwood Drive, Copeland Circle, Ridgeway Drive, Ridgewood Lane, Sunnyside Drive, Kidd Drive, Brookshire’s, AutoZone, Starbucks and McDonalds. City officials in a release said the notice will stay in effect until repairs are made and testing confirms that the water is safe to drink. Residents will be notified when the advisory is lifted. If you have any questions you can call Justin Bolton at 903-849-6853 or 903-360-3081.

MOUNT PLEASANT – An East Texas man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Wednesday for the 2023 murder of a 23-month-old girl. According to our news partner KETK, the Mount Pleasant Police Department said they received information about the death of the girl at a local hospital in July of 2023. In October, Jermaine Tyrelle Hooks was then arrested for capital murder in connection with the girl’s death and booked into the Titus County Jail. The mother of the child, Chelsea Lashaun Davis, was arrested that same month. She later entered a plea deal for a fine, court costs and a deferred sentence.

WINONA – Interstate 20 East is shutdown near the Highway 271 exit after an 18-wheeler was involved in a rollover crash on Friday. According to our news partner KETK,. Smith County Emergency Services District 2 said that the rollover crash happened at around 8:00 p.m. on Friday night. No major injuries were reported from the crash but the eastbound side of I-20 will be shut down for the next several hours. Drivers heading east are advised to to seek alternative routes through the area.

MARSHALL — The Marshall Police Department has arrested a juvenile in connection with threatening statements made toward a local school. According to a news release, upon receiving the report on October 9, investigators with the Marshall Police Department began working with the Marshall Independent School District Police Department and the Harrison County District Attorney’s Office to identify and apprehend the juvenile responsible for the statements.

Due to the subject’s age and the ongoing nature of the investigation, additional information was not released.

“The safety of our students, faculty, and community remains our top priority. The Marshall Police Department and our law enforcement partners take all reports of potential threats seriously and will continue to respond swiftly to ensure the safety and security of our schools.” – Marshall ISD Continue reading Threat made towards Marshall ISD leads to arrest

WOOD COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, Brandon Shane Albrightson will spend two years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-State Jail Division for injury to a child. Albrightson was found guilty by a jury on Tuesday, and previously had two misdemeanor assault cases in Wood County from 2022 that were still pending at the time of trial.

On Sept. 14, 2023, a father and two children went to the Winnsboro Police Department to file a police report. The father told officers that Albrightson, the mother’s boyfriend, had “put hands on” the oldest child. Both children, ages seven and 11, described to police a household of violence, depicting multiple altercations involving Albrightson and their mother.