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SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Fire Marshal Jay Brooks identified the three children who died in a house fire with their mother earlier this week. On Friday, the children’s names were released. The kids are: 5 year-old boy Elyja Anthony Damé Newman; 2-year-old boy Travis Everrette Harris; and 1-year-old girl Saphira Khalessi Rose Harris. Earlier this week, Brooks identified the mother who died in the fire as Brittany Stewart, 24. A detailed scene investigation was held on January 14, Brooks said, “The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office is committed to getting answers for the family of Ms. Stewart and her children as to what happened in this tragic fire.” Brooks said.“At this time the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office is awaiting results from forensic lab testing before releasing its origin and cause of this fatal fire.” Brooks urges everyone to check their smoke detectors to make sure they are working.

TYLER — A missing person’s report was brought to resolve quickly Friday morning. Tyler police responded S. Fannin Ave and learned that Aurelino Ramirez, 81, had walked away from the address. According to TPD, Mr. Ramirez suffers from dementia, however he did have an Alzheimer’s Alliance of Smith County Project Lifesaver bracelet on. Officers were able to track Aurelino’s bracelet to a bakery at Line St. and Beckham Ave. TPD said the cooperation with Alzheimer’s Alliance of Smith County Project Lifesaver not only assisted in locating Aurelino, but also brought his disappearance to a quick conclusion.

TYLER — Tyler Police are looking for the identity of a man accused of exposing himself. According to our news partner KETK, there are two different occasions the man is suspected of. At the time of the alleged incident he was seen wearing a black hoodie both times on security cameras. Both happenings took place at the Speedy Pantry gas station on Troup HWY. If you know this man identity you are urged to contact Det. Gardner at 903-535-0192 or call Tyler-Smith County Crime Stoppers at 903-597-2833.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man that was shot and killed by deputies just before 7 p.m. Thursday night. According to our news partner KETK, Justin Pegues, 26, of Jacksonville was killed in a remote area northeast of Alto on CR 1111. Deputies said in a statement that they were checking on the area after a resident complained of being broken on multiple occasions recently. The statement does not say who fired first, but deputies were not injured. Continue reading Suspect killed in Cherokee County identified

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler announced Friday, the appointment of executive vice presidents to lead the combined UT Tyler and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. The institutions officially merged January 4, under the leadership of President Kirk A. Calhoun, MD, FACP. Amir Mirmiran, PhD, has been named provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. Joseph Woelkers has been named UT Tyler’s executive vice president and chief business officer. Previously, Woelkers was executive vice president at UT Health Science Center at Tyler. Julie V. Philley, MD, has been named executive vice president for health affairs. Previously, she was chair of the Department of Medicine and professor of medicine at UT Health Science Center at Tyler.

TYLER — There are 28 COVID vaccine hub locations across the state. According to our news partner KETK, the state wants to rapidly increase our vaccination rates. The Texas Department of State Health Services says, most COVID-19 vaccines will be given at the larger sites. Their goal is getting 100,000 shots distributed. NET Health and the UT Health Science Center at Tyler are each receiving 1500 doses from the state. They are both using appointment systems with NET Health using Harvey Hall in Tyler as its hub location. Vaccines are still only available for those in phase 1A and phase 1B. Those are front line health care workers, high-risk individuals, residents at long-term care facilities and high-risk patients that are sixty-five years and older.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Cherokee County Sheriff’s deputies were on the scene of a fatal shooting Thursday night. According to our news partner KETK, the incident happened near a residence close to County Road 1111 and Highway 343. This is located east of Rusk and is near the Atoy community. Brent Dickson, the Cherokee County Sheriff said, two deputies were involved in the shooting, which happened around 6:45 p.m. The law officers had been asked by the owner of the residence to observe his property, which has previously been the location of multiple burglaries. Dickson said a white man was apparently shot and killed by a deputy. Continue reading Fatal shooting involving Cherokee County Sheriff’s Deputy

TYLER — Texas College announced an initiative that has the school teaming up with a new global campus that supports learning and development for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The Propel Center, is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing education through technology. The nonprofit, that is headquartered in Atlanta. Texas College will collaborate with Propel Center and the entire HBCU community to bring leadership and career development programming to its students.

EAST TEXAS — A recent look at conducted state jail inspections, reveals three East Texas jails did not pass the minimum standards of state reviews. According to our news partner KETK, 21 jails currently do not meet minimum standards set by the state. Cass, Cherokee, Harrison, and Marion County are below acceptable status. The jail commission said, jails are placed on the non-compliant list once county officials receive notice of non-compliance, said information from the jail commission. Jails are removed from the list after the problems are corrected.
Continue reading Several East Texas jails do not pass minimum standards

TYLER — Carter BloodCare knows the challenge of collecting blood this time of year, especially during a pandemic. In an attempt to help, two local businesses are making room to host drives this weekend. Kendra Scott, at the Village at Cumberland Park, will welcome the Carter bus Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. They are located on South Broadway in Tyler. To set an appointment, contact Brittany Holder at (817) 729-1429. Exceptional Emergency Center is teaming up with Carter for the following day, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at their location on ESE Loop 323 in Tyler. To schedule an appointment for that day, call Rachel Keller at (409) 433-8273. Potential blood donors may volunteer beginning at age 16 with parental consent; 17-year-olds may give independently and there is no upper age limit for donating blood.

TYLER — With small businesses being some of the hardest hit by the pandemic, The Barstool Fund aims to relieve some of the financial burden on companies across the country. On Wednesday, Lone Star Parade Floats, a float builder for the Texas Rose Festival every year, announced their thanks for the gift. Owner, Clyde Watts said they have been constructing the floats for over 3 decades, he thanked everyone who donated and has helped keep their business going in a post on the Barstool Fund website: “I hope everything gets better soon and we get back to making celebrations. I know that we have become apart of all the celebrations that we service. We enjoy working with all the people that we work with.” Continue reading Company that builds floats for Texas Rose Festival benefits from Barstool Fund

TYLER — The average price of gas in Texas has risen above $2 a gallon. Prior to last weekend, motorists had gone over 10 months paying less than $2 a gallon. The average price for regular unleaded is $2.10 a gallon. According to our news partner KETK, the price jumped 11 cents in one week but is still 17 cents less than on this date last year. Despite the increase, drivers in Texas are still paying some of the cheapest prices at the pump. The national average price is $2.36. In Tyler the average is $2.08, in Longview that number is $2.10 a gallon.

GLADEWATER — A near capacity Gladewater ISD bus crashed into a tree early Thursday morning. According to our news partner KETK, the wreck happened around 7:15 a.m. near the Middle School campus. Three students were taken to the hospital for further evaluation, but injuries appear to be minor. Other students were picked up by their parents. Superintendent Sedrick Clark commended employees for the role they played in consoling both parents and students upset by the incident.

TYLER — Organizers are reminding residents two memorial tree plantings will happen Saturday, in conjunction with the City of Tyler Arbor Day event. The trees will be planted at Woldert Park, in memory of former Smith County Constable Henry Jackson and former City Councilman Ed Moore. Henry Jackson served as Smith County Precinct 1 Constable from 1999 to 2017. While Ed Moore served as District 4 Councilman for the City of Tyler from 2013 to 2019. Both men served many other roles in the Tyler community and will be remembered for their commitment to residents. Continue reading Memorial tree plantings during City of Tyler Arbor Day

TYLER – William Hardin, 68, was reported missing Wednesday after walking away from his residence on David Drive in Tyler. Hardin was found safe at a relative’s house. According to our news partner KETK, Hardin has dementia and was last seen around 4 p.m. at the Wal-Mart on South Broadway “looking confused” as he walked in and back out.

WASHINGTON D.C. — East Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert, spoke from the House Floor Wednesday against impeaching President Donald J. Trump. Gohmert, argued that Democrats were not going through traditional impeachment procedures; like calling witnesses and obtaining evidence. Gohmert said, “If you have a whim… just go straight to the (House) floor (for an impeachment vote).” Gohmert went on to say, “This is so dangerous,” he said. “You are destroying this experiment in self-government. This needs to stop.” President Trump was impeached for the second time. The Senate say they do not anticipate taking up proceedings until after the President is out of office.

TYLER — A drive-thru food distribution scheduled for Friday at the East Texas State Fairgrounds has been cancelled. The East Texas Food Bank said the next drive thru allotments in Tyler will take place the first Friday in February. The City of Tyler is working with NET Health to hold emergency vaccine distributions in the Harvey Hall parking lot through Saturday. Anyone needing food assistance can click the link and find help from one of their 26 county areas. https://www.easttexasfoodbank.org/.

TYLER — Southside Bank has been named one of the Top 10 Banking Powerhouses in America by Bank Director. On Wednesday President and CEO Lee Gibson told KTBB, “It is a team effort. I am the one who gets to speak about it and talk about it, and I am privileged to do that, but they are the ones that made it happen over all of these years. I could not be more proud of them and I tell them all of the time. I tell them you are our most important asset, because with out you we don’t have customers and without customers we don’t have a bank.” The 2021 RankingBanking study of performance powerhouse banks also ranked Southside as one of the top three banks in America for creating long-term value, named the board of directors the best in Texas, and identified Southside as the best bank to work for in Texas.

TYLER — COVID-19 hospitalization rates in East Texas have continued to spike. NET Health CEO George Roberts addressed the Tyler City Council Wednesday,”We may be tired of this virus, but it’s not tired of us.” Our news partner KETK, noted Tyler is close to setting a new record for coroanvirus hospitalizations. Currently, there are 316 patients in Tyler hospitals with the record being 317. Texas is now in its fifth week of distributing vaccines. Dr. Paul McGaha with UT Health told the council that no doses are being left on the shelf like has happened elsewhere across the country. Continue reading COVID-19 numbers remain elevated

LONGVIEW — A Longview firefighter suffered minor burns at a home fire Tuesday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, the residence on E. Melton St. was already immersed in flames when the Longview Fire Department arrived at 12:45 p.m. The city said crews were able to bring the fire under control in about 20 minutes. However, three of the families pets died from the fire. No one was at the residence at the time of the fire. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The injured firefighter’s name was not released.

TYLER — The Small Business Administration reopened the Paycheck Protection Program loan portal earlier this week. The Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce reminded members Wednesday, that Congress has passed several changes to the PPP, and also produced a “Second Draw” PPP for small businesses that may exhausted initial loans. Other changes impact eligibility for initial PPP loans, the loan forgiveness process, and the tax treatment of PPP loans. To learn more click the link to the Small Business Administration site. https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program#section-header-0.

ATHENS — The City of Athens has moved forward with the hiring of a new police chief. According to our news partner KETK, John Densmore will join the force in February. Densmore served previously as Lieutenant with the Cedar Hill Police Department. Densmore told the city council he is excited to start his new position. There were 42 applicants seeking the role, finalists were interviewed by city staff, a panel of law enforcement, a citizen committee and the city council. Chief Buddy Hill retired from the department in August of 2020.

TYLER — The body of Corbin Stiefer, 21, of Tyler, was discovered by Tyler police Wednesday. Andy Erbaugh told KTBB, “We restarted what we would call a perimeter search where his vehicle was found in all the wooded areas around all the open areas…We were all beginning to come up the East side of 49 which is a very open area when he was found.” Stiefer was found just before 11 a.m. Continue reading Body of 21 year old Tyler man found near Toll 49

TYLER — A man charged with murder for the stabbing death of his girlfriend has been found competent to stand trial. On Tuesday our news partner KETK reported Dr. Mitchell Dunn has found no evidence that Johnny Osburn, 40, Tyler, has a mental illness. Osburn is charged with murder for the death of 42-year-old Leslie Gamino of Tyler. In January of 2020, Tyler police were alerted that Gamino was possibly being held hostage by Osburn and traced the location to Townhouse Motel in Tyler where police discovered her body wrapped in bedding in the trunk of her car. She had been stabbed multiple times. Osburn was later taken into custody and charged with her death.

LONGVIEW — The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, Stephen J. Cox announced that Spinal Decompression Clinic of Texas has agreed to pay $330,898.00 to resolve liability under the False Claims Act for the alleged improper billing of electro-acupuncture device neurostimulators. According to the press brief SDCT billed Medicare for the implantation of 41 neurostimulators, a surgical procedure, which usually requires an operating room and is reimbursed by federal health care programs. SDCT, however, did not perform those surgeries, instead applied P-Stim devices in an office setting.

HENDERSON COUNTY — A high-speed chase through multiple counties, involving a DPS helicopter and 8 other agencies, resulted in the arrest of 2 Dallas teenagers Monday. According to Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse, the chase started in Athens and ran through Kaufman and Van Zandt County. Javier Delarosa, 18, and Arnulfo Baesa, 17, are both facing charges of delivering a “substantial amount of meth.” Authorities say the chase reached speeds of 115 miles per hour and the suspects were seen throwing drugs out the window. Continue reading High-speed chase results in arrest of 2

MARSHALL — Redevelopment of Marshall’s downtown continues. On Tuesday, the city announced the recent removal of four trees that were causing extensive damage. According to the city, the extraction of the four live oak trees was necessary because of wide-ranging detriment being caused. The city said they will plant four live Oak trees on Arbor day at a city park this Spring. Marshall officials welcome your input on how to best repurpose the trunks by calling 903-935-4421 or online by clicking the link. https://www.facebook.com/marshalltexas.net.

ATHENS — An Athens woman was killed Monday night after being struck by an SUV. According to Athens police, a pedestrian, Teresa Fawcette, 60, of Athens, was attempting to cross South Palestine Street when she was struck. The driver was not physically injured in the tragedy. The accident took place at 7:20 Monday night. The investigation into this crash is ongoing.

TYLER — A woman and three children died Monday in a house fire in Winona. The cause of that fire remains under investigation. Smith County Fire Marshal Jay Brooks is urging residents to make sure smoke detectors are installed in homes and working. “The one key element that we believe, now we don’t know it to be fact yet, we are still under investigation, but we have no evidence of working smoke detectors in either of the fires. But again, it’s pure speculation at this point. That is the reason that it really weighs on my heart, that we get that message out there. We have got to have working smoke detectors in these homes.” Continue reading Details released on fire that kills 4