Today is
Sunday November 24, 2024
FLINT- A Flint man has been charged with kidnapping and burglary. Arrested early Tuesday morning was Kody Rasmussen, 19. A woman called the sheriff’s department to say that he had broke into her home, assaulted her and kidnapped her young daughter. A state trooper chased his vehicle, which crashed at the intersection of County Road 1170 and Lakeway Harbor Drive. The driver fled on foot but was quickly arrested by the state trooper. The girl was uninjured. Besides the kidnapping and burglary charges, Rasmussen is also charged with evading arrest with a vehicle, no drivers license and no insurance. He is in the Smith County jail under bonds totaling $120,561.
ALTO – The boil water notice for Alto has been expanded. On Sunday, a boil water notice was issued for some residents. On Tuesday, the notice was expanded to cover all residents. The city said it was placing a boil water notice until further notice, for drinking consumption only. The action was taken after a well was compromised Saturday after tornadoes tore through the area.
TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler has announced that it was recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as one of four public institutions in Texas to have shown noteworthy improvement in completions, or the number of degrees awarded. This is part of the 60x30TX initiative. This is a state plan designed to ensure that at least 60% of Texans ages 25 to 34 will have a certificate or degree by the year 2030. Over the last three years, UT Tyler has increased its completions in almost all of the areas the Coordinating Board monitored. Categories in which UT Tyler demonstrated high levels of improvement, compared to peers, were overall completions and completions among African-American students, economically disadvantaged students, Hispanic students, and male students. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL – Harrison County authorities are looking for a missing man. They are looking for Howard “Howie†Waldon, 34. He was last seen leaving Sammy’s Primetime Restaurant and Tavern in Jefferson Saturday night around midnight. They believe he was headed to his home in the Uncertain and Karnack area. He was driving a 2016 blue-gray four-door Dodge truck. If you know where he can be found you are asked to contact the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office of the Jefferson Police Department.
LONGVIEW – A Harrison County woman was sentenced Tuesday for her part in a double murder in Longview. Patricia Francine Baker, 22, of Hallsville, was sentenced to five years in prison. Last December she pleaded guilty to aggravated kidnapping. She, along with Dustin Bennett, 39, of Longview and Craig Davison, 54, of Hallsville, had been arrested for the shooting deaths of two men, whose bodies were found in March of 2016 near railroad tracks off Estes Parkway. The other suspects have been previously sentenced in the case. The three had been arrested in April, 2016, at a home on Roy Green Road near Hallsville as the result of a Crime Stoppers tip.
LONGVIEW – All Longview elementary students will get free meals starting with the new school year. Thanks to the federal Community Eligibility Provision program, Longview’s elementary students will get a free breakfast and lunch starting in August. School trustees approved it at Monday night’s meeting. A part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, a provision allows qualifying schools that serve populations with high poverty rates to provide free breakfast and lunch. The program is for an initial three years with a bonus fourth year if the board so chooses. The district’s Director of Child Nutrition, Phyllis Dozier, said the program will benefit students and parents as well as the district.
MARSHALL – The City of Marshall has resumed efforts to control mosquitoes. Weather permitting, fogging takes place on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, twice a month, beginning at 4:00am. The city is divided into seven “zones†for the spraying. The spraying will not occur during rain or if the wind speed is 10 mph or greater. In case of adverse weather conditions, spraying will be delayed until the conditions become favorable. The pesticides have been judged by the EPA “not to pose an unreasonable risk to human health.†Spraying is scheduled in the early morning hours to limit exposure to people. The spraying is not designed to eradicate the mosquito population, but is used as a method to help control the influx of mosquitoes that typically occur during the spring and summer months. Each season is different, but spraying efforts will normally continue through September.
EAST TEXAS – According to a posting on the district’s Facebook page, Alto schools will reopen on Monday, April 22nd. Weekend storms caused major damage to buildings of the Alto school system, prompting a temporary shutdown. No damage was noted at the elementary and middle school. More inspections are planned for the high school. There is a possibility that high school classes will have to be held on other district campuses. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The East Texas Center for Nonprofits has a new Director. She is Stephanie Lamb. She succeeds Gina Anderson. The new Program Coordinator for ETCN is Angel Davis who succeeds Lamb in that post. She had been with the United Way since last October.
TYLER – A Louisiana woman has pleaded guilty to stealing from a Smith County business. In state district court Monday, Ashley Robin Stephens, 34, pleaded guilty to stealing over $60,000 from a Lindale business. State District Judge Kerry Russell sentenced her to 4 years in prison. Last October, authorities started looking for Stephens, who was also known as Ashley Boyd. It was said she had been living in the Mineola area and changed her appearance to avoid arrest. She was arrested in late October in Reeves County, in west Texas.
TYLER – Time is running out for students to enter Fit City Tyler’s Youth Art Contest. The contest is for aspiring artists from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Students are encouraged to submit original artwork pieces following the theme of “Fit for Life.†The 3rd annual contest is open to all Tyler area students. The artwork will be judged in four age categories based on creativity in expression of the theme. Entries must be received by this Friday. You can go to http://www.fitcitytyler.com for entry forms and consent forms.
TYLER – From 8:00 till 5:00 on Tuesday, it will be international Day at Tyler Junior College. This marks the 26th year for the activities at TJC. There will be cultural exhibitions, international music, entertainment, food fair, and arts and crafts from countries all around the world. There will be over forty countries represented as well as other educational exhibits. Entertainment throughout the day includes Greek dance, African tribal dances and even the hula. The U.S. Post Office will have a table set up for passport applications and renewals. Read the rest of this entry »
HAWKINS – A two vehicle accident in Wood County over the weekend left one person dead and one injured. It occurred just before 10:45 Saturday morning on Farm Road 14, just over 2 miles north of Hawkins. Steven Joseph Almanza, 28, of Dallas, died in a Tyler hospital. His passenger, Jenny Paine, 31, of Dallas, is in serious condition in a Tyler hospital. The Department of Public Safety says the accident happened when a pickup driven by Emily Catherine Moore, 17, of Hawkins, hydroplaned and crossed the road and hit Almanza’s SUV. Moore was treated and released at a Tyler hospital. The crash remains under investigation.
TYLER – TxDOT is planning to conduct the following construction and maintenance work throughout the district during the week of April 15. Schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Tyler Maintenance crews plan to continue base repair operations on State Highway 110N near Farm Road 3271. Crews will also conduct ditch maintenance on roadways around the county. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS – Heavy thunderstorms rumbled through East Texas Saturday afternoon. Some produced deaths, injuries and damage. In Angelina County, two children, ages three and 8, were killed when a tree fell on their car. Some streets around Alto are closed to traffic because of storm damage. We have had reports of trees down and damage to homes and businesses. Over 20 persons were injured at the Caddo Mounds Historic Park, where they were part of a group celebrating Caddo Culture Day. The park has been closed till further notice. Public Information Officers Kathi White in the TxDOT Tyler District office says crews are assessing roadways after possible tornadic activity in Alto in Cherokee County. Current closures are on US 69, SH 21, and SH 294. Caution is advised for motorists traveling through this area. Visit DriveTexas.org or call 1-800-452-9292 for updated road conditions and closures. Read the rest of this entry »