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TYLER – Three aggravated robberies are under investigation by Tyler police. One occurred at the Sonic Drive-In on West Gentry Parkway and another occurred at the Fast Laundromat on West Martin Luther King Boulevard. The latest occurred at the Family Dollar Store on Troup Highway.

It happened just before 8:00 Sunday night. The suspect with a handgun ordered the employee behind the counter. He then ordered the employee to open the safe and cash register. After getting an undisclosed amount of money, and ordering the employee to lie down on the floor, he fled the store. No injuries were reported. Continue reading Three Tyler Robberies Probed

TYLER — Tyler Police Officers are searching for an armed robbery suspect. Officials said just before 8:00 Sunday night, a black man entered the Family Dollar Store, 4305 Troup Highway, and pointed a silver hand gun at an employee. The suspect reportedly ordered the employee to open the safe and register and took an undisclosed amount of cash. The gunman then ordered store customers and the employee to get down on the floor, then fled the scene. The suspect is described as a thin built black male, about 5’7” tall, wearing a black hoodie style shirt with the hood pulled over his head, black pants, a black face mask, and wearing white gloves. No injuries were reported. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

TYLER – A man escaped serious injury after his SUV was hit by a train in Tyler. He was then arrested. Charged with public intoxication and disorderly conduct was Braylen Pullum, 28, of Tyler. The accident occurred around 2:15 Saturday morning on the tracks just north of the intersection of North Palace and West Ferguson. The SUV driven by Pullum had been driven through a barricade and became high centered on the tracks. He fell asleep and remained inside the vehicle, which was hit by a west bound train. It pushed the vehicle down the tracks until it was able to come to a complete stop. Pullum was treated by EMS and Tyler firemen on scene. Pullum’s bond was set at $1,000. Online records indicate Pullum has a lengthy criminal history, including: evading arrest with a vehicle, possession of marijuana and several counts of driving while intoxicated.

TYLER – The Salvation Army in Tyler kicks off its Red Kettle Campaign today. It begins with activities from noon till 1:00 in Salvation Army Building 1, at 633 North Broadway. It had been scheduled to take place on the downtown square, but was moved because of the rain. You’ll see the red kettles at over 40 locations around Tyler and Smith County. And the money they bring in has many uses. The money is used to clothe, feed and house people in the county. The money helps fund a 200 bed shelter that is open 365 days a year. They also have a soup kitchen that feeds three meals a day. So this fund drive is very important. Lindsey Galabeas with the Salvation Army in Tyler says this year’s goal is $400,000. This has been the goal the previous two years. Galabeas says they have not met the goal those two years, with last year worse than the year before. But she says, third times a charm. They are optimistic that the goal will be met this year.

MARSHALL — If you’re looking for something to brighten up your holiday season this weekend — or almost any night in the next few weeks — you’ll be glad to know a longtime East Texas tradition is up and going once again. The City of Marshall invites you to celebrate 30 Years of Wonderland of Lights In Historic Downtown Marshall. It all got going this past Wednesday and continues through December 31st from 6:00 to 9:00 nightly. The display will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. You can stay the night and explore the history and wonder of Marshall, according to information from the city. Continue reading A Tradition Continues: Marshall’s Wonderland of Lights

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court invites you to tour the new Smith County Animal Control facility in downtown Tyler Monday, December 5. Following a media tour, a ribbon cutting and open house will be held from 10-11 a.m. According to a news release, the facility was selected for the county’s new animal shelter because downtown Tyler is centrally located within Smith County. The new facility will quadruple the capability of Smith County Animal Control Services, making room for up to 169 dogs. Continue reading Smith County Plans Open House for Animal Control Facility

LONGVIEW (AP) – The Everett Building’s north wall has endured more than a century of wind and rain erosion, but repairing the Gregg County Historical Museum’s home isn’t a simple fix. The Texas Historical Commission recently awarded museum directors a $30,000 matching grant to repair deterioration on the north wall and replace it with new concrete and mortar. Museum Executive Director Lindsay Loy tells the Longview News-Journal that 106 years of rain and “really heavy north” winds have started eating away at the mortar and face of the brick. Continue reading Crumbling 106-Year-Old Longview Museum Wall to Get Fix

MARSHALL — The investigation continues into a fatal vehicle/pedestrian accident in Marshall. Jill Johnson, 48, of Marshall was killed in the accident around 7:00 Thanksgiving night on Farm Road 31 near Elysian Fields Avenue. Authorities say a southbound vehicle hit her as she was crossing the road. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene. Speed is not believed to be a factor in the crash and charges are not expected to be filed against the driver. Officials are calling it a “tragic accident.”

TYLER — You can make the holiday season special this year for a senior in need by donating gifts to the Meals on Wheels “Santas for Seniors” gift drive through Friday, December 16. Donated items will be delivered by Meals on Wheels volunteers directly to homebound seniors. To participate, simply donate a new gift at any of the participating drop off locations across East Texas. Gifts such as personal comfort items (blankets, robes, house shoes, socks), small space heaters, and other mementos will be collected by Meals on Wheels staff, wrapped in holiday style, and then personally delivered to homebound seniors and disabled individuals who are known to be living alone or in need the week of Christmas.

TYLER — Mary “Emma” Williams of Tyler and Lindsay Niebel of Van are 2016–17 history scholarship recipients at The University of Texas at Tyler. According to a UTT news release, Williams received the Edwin Morgan Smyrl and Frank H. Smyrl Endowed History Scholarship in the amount of $1,000. Niebel received the Phil Stacy Jackson History Scholarship in the amount of $750. Both will be recognized during the Spring 2017 History Banquet. Continue reading UT Tyler Announces 2016 History Scholars

LONGVIEW — The Longview Chamber of Commerce has issued a statement supporting the preliminary injunction blocking the U.S. Department of Labor’s new overtime regulation nationwide. The injunction was granted this week by the U.S. district court in Sherman. The statement reads as follows:

“In a significant victory for job creators and employee flexibility and opportunity, U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant issued a preliminary injunction on November 22 to block the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) from enforcing costly and overreaching changes to the FLSA Overtime Rule. Continue reading Longview Chamber Issues Statement on Injunction Blocking Overtime Rule

LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been arrested by Longview police on one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Gregg County judicial records show James O. Gilmore, 58, was booked into the Gregg County Jail on Wednesday. KETK reports the alleged assault occurred November 19. Details concerning the case are limited. Gilmore’s bond has been set at $50,000.

MARSHALL – The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing man. He is Cody James West, 26. He was last seen in the RV Park called Wanda’s RV Park. His trailer home is now vacant. His father tells authorities West is bi-polar and needs medication on a daily basis. He is described as a white male, six feet tall and190 pounds and could have a beard. If you know where he can be found, call Crimestoppers at 903-935-9969 or the Harrison Sheriff’s Office at 903-923-4000.

LONGVIEW – A hospital scheduled to be built in Longview will be bringing rehabilitation and jobs to Gregg County. Everest Rehabilitation Hospitals has announced plans to build a $10 million rehabilitation facility east of Berry Family Pools on Loop 281. Mark Coleman, the broker and owner of Park Village Properties in Longview, handled the transaction. He tells the Longview News Journal the company is buying 6 acres of land, with plans to build a $10 million, 36-bed facility. This is phase 1, which will initially bring 70 jobs to the area. The number of beds would double with the planned second phase, and bring employment up to 120 persons.

LUFKIN – A Lufkin man, who wanted to be arrested, got his wish. Shawn Daggett, 36, was arrested on a charge of criminal tresspass at a Lufkin grocery. He approached an off duty officer working security and told him he had a a criminal tresspass warning for the store. He told the officer he had just been released from jail minutes earlier. He said he wanted to go back so he would have a place to sleep, get free food and a shower. He said he was afraid he would die on the streets in the cold weather. When the officer confirmed Daggett had a criminal tresspass warning, he was taken into custody and will spend Thanksgiving in Jail.

TYLER – Tyler police didn’t get two robbery suspects, but they did nab a couple for drug possession. Police were checking on the two in P.T. Cole Park on Vine Street Tuesday afternoon as possible suspects in a Tyler robbery Monday night. During the investigation, the two were found to be in possession of 127 Ecstasy pills, 56 Xanax bars, and a large plastic bag of Marijuana. Donovan Deshon Jackson, 22, (pictured) was charged with possession of a controlled substance in a drug free zone and possession of marijuana in a drug free zone. Terrance Sims, 24, was charged with manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance in a drug free zone and possession of marijuana in a drug free zone. The two Tyler men were booked into the Smith County Jail.

TYLER – The Salvation Army’s annual community Thanksgiving dinner will take place from 10:30am to 1:00pm. It will be at The Salvation Army’s Center of Hope Dining Room, 633 North Broadway Avenue. They expect to serve around 1,500 dinner guests. It will be a traditional thanksgiving meal with turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes, yams and rolls. Lindsey Galabeas, the Community & Public Relations Coordinator with the Salvation Army in Tyler, says over 100 volunteers prepare and serve the meal. And some of them volunteer each year. And she says it is a community meal, anyone may come. There will also be special entertainment. The Hubbard Family, a 5-piece East Texas musical group, will be performing as the guests enjoy their meal.

ANDERSON COUNTY — A teenager has died in an Anderson County wreck. The DPS says around 5 p.m. Tuesday, troopers responded to FM 321 near Montalba. A preliminary investigation revealed that a car was traveling west approaching a curve in the roadway. The driver was unable to negotiate the curve and traveled off the roadway to the north side of the road and then veered back across both lanes into the south ditch. The vehicle rolled over and struck a tree. The driver, who was killed, has been identified as Connor Patrick Walsh, 18, of Tennessee Colony.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man charged with shooting his estranged wife in the face this past year pleaded guilty Tuesday to a lesser charge in exchange for a three-year probated sentence with no immediate finding of guilt. According to KETK, Sigmund Turner, 46, faced up to life in prison on his first-degree felony charge of aggravated assault for the Jan. 18, 2015, assault. Turner pleaded guilty to deadly conduct, a third-degree felony. His estranged wife, Zelma Turner, was not in the courtroom Tuesday.

TYLER – The Smith County Commissioners Court Tuesday canvassed the November 8 election results. The official results will now be sent to the state. The 85, 230 votes represent nearly 63% of the registered voters in Smith County. This is the highest election turnout ever recorded in the county. There were some interesting write in votes for president. Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffett and Bob Dylan each got a vote. The Smith County Elections Office also reports write in votes for Bill Cosby, Mickey Mouse and Donald and Daffy Duck. And 11 voters wrote in a variation of the name of Jesus for president.

TYLER – Tyler Junior College nursing students will be using high-tech equipment in a new skills lab. They will get the equipment thanks to a $167,394 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Nursing Innovation Grant Program. TJC associate degree nursing department chair Jodie Seal says the funds will be used to create a high-fidelity simulation lab in Jacksonville. Seal says the lab will be composed of one adult simulator and one birthing mom simulator, including a newborn baby. Continue reading TJC Receives Funds for Equipment for a Nursing Skills Lab

PALESTINE – The term interim is being removed from Palestine City Manager Mike Alexander’s title. Following an executive session Monday night, the Palestine City Council named Alexander as city manager. Alexander came to the city a couple of years ago as interim police chief. He remains as the city’s police chief, with his Assistant Chief, John Herod, running the day-to-day operations. When City Manager Wendy Ellis was fired in October of last year, Alexander became Interim City Manager. Last month, the Palestine City Council named Yoakum City Manager Kevin Coleman for the job. But, last week, he withdrew his name for the post. Continue reading New Palestine City Manager Selected

LONGVIEW – A man who robbed the LeTourneau Federal Credit Union in August, may be responsible for four bank robberies. The suspect was described as a white man, between 45 and 50 years old and about 5-feet, 8-inches tall and 230 lbs. He was wearing a baseball cap. The FBI has called him the “Barrel-Chested Bandit.” Sulphur Springs Chief James “Jay” Sanders tells the Longview News Journal man is also believed to have robbed a bank in Sulphur Springs in November, Albuquerque, New Mexico, in September and in Amarillo in October.

TYLER – The campus police department at Tyler Junior College is investigating two incidents of deadly conduct. Both cases involved a car driving by students and someone in the vehicle pointing a gun at them. The gun was not fired and there were no injuries. The first incident happened around 1:00 Sunday morning on a campus parking lot. The second incident occurred around 9:30 Monday evening near the George W. Pirtle Technology Center. The car in the first incident was said to be a dark colored Toyota Camry. The car in the second incident was described as a dark four door sedan.

TYLER — Police in Tyler are seeking suspects in an aggravated robbery. Around 1:46 Monday morning, officers responded to Lavanderia Express on S. Vine. Upon arrival, police spoke to the cashier, who said that 3 armed black males walked into the business and demanded money. The suspects threatened the clerk with their weapons and ordered him to hand over the money that was in the cash register. After the victim complied with the suspects’ demands, they fled the scene on foot northbound. Continue reading Police Probe Aggravated Robbery

TYLER – A 49-year-old Irving man has been sentenced in Tyler Federal Court to nearly 5 years in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition. Gary Wayne Blanton pleaded guilty in April. He was sentenced Monday by U.S. Circuit Judge Catharina Haynes to 57 months in prison. In November of last year, Blanton was stopped in Gun Barrel City, at 3:00am, for driving a vehicle with no tail lights. When Blanton, who had an outstanding warrant against him, was asked to get out of the car, he sped away. After a few minutes, following a chase that topped 100 miles an hour, Blanton pulled over and surrendered. Continue reading A Henderson County Traffic Stop Leads to a Federal Prison Sentence

GILMER – One person has been killed and one injured in a two vehicle accident in Upshur County. Killed in the Saturday night accident was Troy Cagle, 52, of Gilmer. A passenger on his motorcycle, Teresa Cagle, 56, is in stable condition in a Longview hospital. The accident happened when the couple’s motorcycle hit a vehicle with a homemade trailer that was backing from a driveway. The car’s driver was not injured.The Department of Public Safety reports the accident happened around11:00 Saturday night on U.S. Highway 271, about 8 miles south of Gilmer.

TYLER – An East Texas couple, who lost their teenage son last year, were joined in Tyler Monday by those who received their son’s organs. Gayla and Ronnie Matthews’ 16 year old son Cam’ron, died after collapsing on the sidelines of an Alto High School football game. His organs were donated to three persons. To honor their son, a floragraph has been built of him. They put finishing touches on it Monday afternoon. The floragraph will be displayed on the Donate Life Rose Parade Float. It will be seen in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena California on January 2nd. Continue reading East Texas Family Prepares to Honor Son at The Rose Parade

DOUGLASS – One person has died in a house fire in western Nacogdoches County. The fire was reported shortly after 5:00 Monday morning at a home on County Road 845. Killed was Bea Ellen Rich, 75. The house was fully engulfed in flames when firemen arrived. After the fire was put out, the victim’s body was found. Investigators believe that the fire started in the home’s bathroom, but the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Foul play is not expected at this time, but the investigation is ongoing.

JACKSONVILLE – A Tyler man has been arrested for numerous Jacksonville business burglaries. And he may be a suspect in some Smith County burglaries. Timothy Wayne Glover, 48, was arrested while officers say he was trying to break into a Dairy Queen on East Rusk Street. Glover is said to have admitted to several other business burglaries. With the help of video evidence Glover has been charged with seven Jacksonville business burglaries. And investigators says he may also be responsible for business burglaries in Bullard, Chandler and the Tyler area.