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CARTHAGE (AP) – An East Texas company has recalled 59 pounds of smoked sausage items due to possible under-processing of the food. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the voluntary recall involves Panola County Processing of Carthage. Federal inspectors discovered the problem on Friday. A USDA statement released Tuesday says the pork smoked sausage links and venison and pork sausage links, in 1.3-pound packages, were produced Jan. 29 and packaged through Jan. 31. The sausage was labeled Panola County Processing and distributed to retail stores in Texas. The items have EST. 48219 inside the USDA mark of inspection. USDA officials have no reports of anyone getting sick. The sausage should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

EAST TEXAS — At least three East Texas elections administrators have been named in voting lawsuits against Texas. According to our news partner KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Smith County’s Karen Nelson was issued a summons last week. It comes after the Texas secretary of state released a list claiming to include 95,000 non-citizens registered to vote. Critics now claim many of those names came from outdated information from DPS driver’s license records. Nelson is named in two lawsuits. The Harrison County elections administrator is named in one, but that position is vacant after the administrator’s recent resignation. Wood County Elections Administrator Laura Wise is also named in one of the suits. A hearing is scheduled February 22nd at the federal courthouse in Galveston.

ATHENS — New details from Athens as the investigation continues into the deadly january 25th school bus and train collision. The police department has now released the crash report. According to our news partner KETK, it says the bus driver, 78-year-old John Stevens, did stop before the railroad crossing, just as state law says he’s supposed to do. The report says Stevens stopped right before the tracks, then pulled forward. That’s when the left side of the school bus was hit by the train, pushing it about a quarter mile down the tracks. Police say the train had just come around a curve, making it difficult to see. Police also say as the bus was being pushed down the tracks, it hit several signs and railroad gates, causing even more damage. Continue reading More Details Released in Athens Bus-Train Crash

LONGVIEW — Authorities say the burned body of a woman found in East Texas more than 12 years ago has been identified as Dana Lynn Dodd, 21, last known to be living in Jacksonville, Florida. Gregg County Sheriff Maxey Cerliano and Sheriff’s Lt. Eddie Hope said the woman’s body was found Oct. 29, 2006 near Kilgore. She was later named Lavender Doe. The suspect, Joseph Wayne Burnette, is currently in the Gregg County Jail awaiting trial. He’s been charged with the murders of Dana Dodd and Felishia Pearson. Burnette is also charged with sex offender duty to register with bonds totaling $2,500,000. The DNA Doe Project helped with the identification process.

MARSHALL — The City of Marshall will host a public meet-and-greet event for new Marshall City Manager Mark Rohr from 5:30 – 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 12, at the Marshall Convention Center. City officials say the come-and-go event will offer citizens the opportunity to meet Rohr and welcome him to the community in a casual and informal setting. Appetizers and refreshments will be served. In a news release, Rohr says he looks forward to meeting residents, discussing ways to put Marshall on a path of growth, and talking about how best to move the city forward. For more information, contact the city manager’s office at 903-935-4421.

TYLER — Tyler officials are explaining some taste and odor issues that have recently emerged in the city’s water. Officials say on Monday, Feb. 4, the Golden Road Water Treatment Plant was taken offline as part of ongoing construction to the plant, leaving the Lake Palestine Water Treatment plant the sole provider of treated water to the system this past week. During this same time period, the city experienced a spike in Geosmin, a taste and odor compound, coming from Lake Palestine to the Lake Palestine Water Treatment Plant. Geosmin is non-toxic and safe to consume. It typically produces an earthy odor and is naturally present in some foods such as beets, spinach and mushrooms. Typically, both water treatment plants operating at the same time automatically minimizes the amount of detectable Geosmin. Continue reading Recent Water Taste and Odor Explained

TYLER — A new effort kicks off in Tyler as part of a developing partnership. In September 2018, The City of Tyler, Smith County, and Heart of Tyler partnered with The Retail Coach, described in a news release as the nation’s leading economic development recruitment firm. That was part of an effort to help expand Downtown Tyler’s business, hospitality, entertainment, and living offerings. As part of that, The Retail Coach has developed a Downtown Tyler Dashboard with economic developer information on Downtown Tyler. City officials say the goal of this Dashboard is to provide easily accessible information and reports to developers, investors, business prospects and current downtown businesses. Continue reading County Seat Coalition and The Retail Coach Launch Downtown Tyler Dashboard

TYLER — The Women’s Fund of Smith County awarded four high-impact grants at its recent 2019 Grants Announcement Reception at Willow Brook Country Club. Grants totaling $229,073 were presented to nonprofit programs which benefit women and children in Smith County. $35,000 went to Discovery Science Place for its Mobile Planetarium Program. $46,750 was handed to the East Texas Crisis Center for its Counseling Intervention Program. Next Step Community Solutions was given $97,323 for Suicide Prevention and Counseling Expansion. And $50,000 was awarded to PATH for expansion of its Transitional Housing Program. You can go to http://www.womensfundsc.org to learn about The Women’s Fund.

TYLER – A third person has died as the result of a Tyler fire. A 60 year old woman is the latest victim. She died at a Dallas hospital. Previously a 40 year old man and a young girl died from injuries received in the fire. Two children are still in the hospital, being treated for their injuries. They are continuing to improve. The fire was reported around 6:15 Friday evening at a home on North Grand. The fire is said to have started in the living room. The cause remains under investigation.

TYLER – A one vehicle accident has killed a Tyler man. Killed when his car overturned in a creek around 4:15 Saturday afternoon on North Parkdale Drive was Terry Dewayne Cain, 38. Tyler police say his car appeared to have been traveling north when it veered left and went off of the road rolled over in the creek, and came to rest upside down. The investigation into the accident is continuing.

GLADEWATER – Gladewater has a new police chief. Former Gregg County Sheriff’s Office supervisor Gordon Freeman was chosen among a group of 30 candidates for the position. Gladewater City Manager Ricky Tow made the announced Saturday on Facebook. He begins his new duties February 25th. Freeman retired last year from the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office as a lieutenant. He succeeds Robert Vine who was hired several months ago at the police chief of Dayton, Texas. In making the announcement, Tow said Freeman was chosen from a very qualified group and “rose to the top due to his experience and knowledge of over thirty years in law enforcement along with his connections in and around the counties that Gladewater sets in.”

TYLER – In separate cases, Smith County juries have sentenced two men to prison for sexual acts with children. Christopher Matthew Luna, 28, of Troup, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for sexual assault of a child. He was arrested last June. The victim was a family friend to the defendant, and testified to multiple offenses that took place over a two-week period when she was 14 years old. Continue reading Two Sentenced in Child Indecency Cases

BROWNSBORO – Because of illness, schools in Brownsboro will be closed on Monday. Over 475 students and staff members were out of school Friday, recovering from the flu and other health related illnesses. Because of the high number, district officials decided to close school on Monday and return from the weekend on Tuesday. All school-related activities that are scheduled to take place on Brownsboro campuses on Monday, including evening activities, will also be canceled. Bad weather days will not be used for this time off and the day will not have to be made up.

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott has named a new district attorney for Wood County. The governor announced Friday he was appointing to the post, which is subject to senate confirmation, the county’s First Assistant DA, Angela Albers. The post became vacant late last year when Jim Wheeler stepped down during a Texas Rangers’ investigation of official oppression. Albers has been acting district attorney since Wheeler left. Her term will expire at the end of next year or until an election is held to name her successor.

LONGVIEW – A fugitive out of Virginia has been arrested in Longview. The arrest was made by a member of the United States Marshal’s East Texas Violent Crime Task Force. Arrested Thursday at a residence on Sabine Street was Antwain Maurice Jones, 34,of Reva, Virginia. He is being charged with assault and battery of a family member, obstruction of justice, contempt of court, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon involving a homicide. He remains in the Gregg County Jail awaiting extradition to Virginia.

PRICE – Because of a false threat that appeared in the social media, the Carlisle School District closed early Friday. The rumors were about an active shooter, which turned out to be false. Carlisle Superintendent Michael Payne told our news partner KETK the district beefed up security on campus and searched school facilities carefully for any weapons. None were found. Since mid week there have been many absences and the district has been contacted by numerous concerned parents. In the wake of all of this, they decided to close the schools early.

LOG CABIN – The Henderson County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing woman. She is Brenda Lizbeth Montanez, 25, who went missing Sunday, January 27. The case originated with the Addison Police Department. Their investigation led searchers to the Log Cabin area. Montanrez is about five feet tall and was last seen driving a maroon 2011, 4-door Mazda. It has a Texas license plate of CZW-4001. If you see this woman, you are asked to contact the nearest law enforcement agency.

TYLER – Union Pacific will be replacing rails and ties along the Tyler railroad system. The railroad will need to close intersecting roads to lay rail through the crossings and replace ties. The work started Friday and will run until next Friday. All closures will be from 11:00pm until 10:00am. There will be no through traffic. The following streets will be closed where they intersect with the Railroad: North Border Avenue, North Spring Avenue., North Palace Avenue., West Elm Street., West Houston Street and South Lyons Avenue. They will be focusing on North Spring Avenue and West Houston Street on Sunday to open the streets by 6:00am before church traffic begins. Continue reading Some Tyler Roads to Be Closed

TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is requesting assistance in finding Dustin Dwayne Radney, 28, of Mineola. In late December, he is said to have forced his way into his ex-girlfriend’s home north of Lindale. He is said to have stolen a handgun and then physically assaulted the ex-girlfriend. He left in a black Ram pickup with black wheels and a black front grill. Warrants for his arrest charge him with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, burglary with intent to commit assault and theft of a firearm. His last known addresses are in the Alba and Mineola areas. If you know where he can be found, you are asked to contact the Smith County Sheriff’s office or your local law enforcement agency.

ORE CITY – Ore City police had been looking for Jesus Dominguez, 18. He had a protective order in place against him on behalf of his ex-girlfriend, which authorities say he has reportedly violated. He is said to have told family members he is not going back to jail and will force law officers to shoot and kill him before this happens. Acting on a tip, he was arrested Thursday afternoon. They say he was unarmed. With the help of the Upshur County Sheriff’s Department, Dominguez was arrested without incident.

MARSHALL – Overall crime in Marshall dropped last year. A report released Thursday showed 2,256 crimes reported in 2018. That is a drop of 15% from 2017. There was a major drop in building burglaries. That went from 92 in 2017 to 35 last year. Auto burglaries dropped by 35%. One area that saw an increase was homicides. Only two were recorded last year. There was only 1 in 2017. Continue reading A Drop in Crime Reported in Marshall

LONGVIEW – Charges against a former White Oak high school band director have been dropped. Jacovia Cartwright had been facing charges of indecency with a child/sexual contact. In 2016, White Oak officers found what they said were inappropriate pictures of children on his phone. One of the students in the pictures says Cartwright touched her inappropriately during a band trip. Messages retrieved from his Facebook messenger show messages from the student saying she “kind of lied” to the police. In her motion to dismiss the case, prosecutor Stacey Brownlee said they were unable to approve the case beyond a reasonable doubt. The Longview News Journal reports, as part of the dismissal, Cartwright permanently and voluntarily surrendered his state educator’s certification.

EAST TEXAS – Illness among students and faculty is causing some East Texas school districts to call off classes The flu and other illnesses are causing some school districts to close the doors and to thoroughly clean buildings. Closed Thursday, as well as Friday: Karnack, Mount Vernon, LaPoyner, Eustace, DeKalb, Linden-Kildare and Jefferson school districts. Gladewater schools, which were dismissed Thursday morning because of a power failure at two schools, will also be closed on Friday. East Texas currently ranks first in the country for the highest population percentage with the flu, with the Dallas-Fort Worth area in second place.

TYLER – Some Tyler Junior College students have received scholarships thanks to the school’s faculty and staff. Thirty-three TJC students have received $1,000 scholarships for the spring semester. The funds come from the annual TJC Employee Campaign. The scholarships were presented during a luncheon this week. In all, 501 TJC employees gave a total of $87,831. After the scholarship money was handed out, the remainder went to various sources. Some went to directly to Promises to Keep Scholarships for TJC students, while other funds went to the TJC Annual Fund, TJC programs and activities and the United Way of Smith County.

SMITH COUNTY — A Smith County Jury Wednesday sentenced Yoerlan Suarez-Corrales, 39, to life in prison for engaging in organized criminal activity involving gas pump skimmers. Suarez-Corrales, along with two other suspects, were arrested in June after they were caught on video attempting to steal information from skimmers they had installed. The three suspects were also caught on video at the Sam’s Club in Tyler using victim’s identifying information on re-encoded credit cards that had been stolen from gas pumps by skimming devices across Texas. Suarez-Corrales had been on probation for credit card skimming in Louisiana for three months when he committed the offense. He will be eligible for parole in 30 years.

TYLER – For the third day in a row a new temperature record has been recorded in Tyler. Wednesday morning’s 68 degrees was a record high minimum temperature for February 6th. The previous record high minimum temperature was 67, which was set in 1911. The 68 degree low temperature Wednesday morning is also the 2nd highest low minimum temperature ever recorded in Tyler in February. The current record is 69 degrees, which was set in 2017. Tyler’s weather records go all the way back to 1883.

AUSTIN – Tyler and Longview’s sales tax allocations continue to run ahead of the previous numbers. The State Comptroller’s office is sending Tyler a February check of $4,648,037.66. This is 4.66% above the same figure from last year. The year to date figure comes to $8,286,561.80, an increase of 5.37%. Longview’s February check is for $3,562,214.14. This is an increase of 6.58% from last year. Longview’s year to date figure of $6,186,953.91 is an increase of 4.29%. The state is sending out checks totaling $953.9 million. This is up 4.6% from February of last year. These allocations are based on sales made last December

MARSHALL – A Marshall arsonist is heading to prison. A state district judge has sentenced Willie Earl Elder, 59, of Marshall, to 15 years in prison. The Marshall News Messenger also reported that Elder was ordered to pay the management company of the Navajo Trail Apartments nearly $14,000 in restitution. The fire was reported early in the morning of May 5th, 2017. Fire officials say it was fortunate that no one was home when the fire started.