Today is
Saturday June 13, 2026
TYLER – Two firms have been retained to prepare a comprehensive storm master plan for Tyler. The plan will help identify flooding issues within the city, to address some of the prominent drainage issues and limit future losses. Halff Associates has been retained because they specializes in storm water master planning. The C.T. Brannon Corporation was chosen because they have extensive knowledge of the city’s storm water infrastructure. The project will be funded through the Half Cent Sales Tax Fund and the contract amount will not exceed $500,000.
TYLER – Tyler has a new Managing Director of Public Works and Utilities. At Wednesday’s meeting, the city council approved the city manager’s appointment of Scott Taylor to the post. The position has been vacant since previous Managing Director, Gregory Morgan, retired in April Taylor will oversee Tyler Water Utilities (water and wastewater), the Street Department, Engineering Department and Capital Improvement Projects. He comes to Tyler from Conroe where he has been the Director of Public Works since October 2013. His first day on the job in Tyler is October 23rd.
VAN – State Representative Dan Flynn has announced his bid to seek re-election to House District Two, which covers Hopkins, Hunt and Van Zandt Counties. Flynn, a Republican, is in his sixth term. He serves as chairman of the House Pensions Committee and serves on the Defense and Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
NECHES – Farm Road 2574 in Anderson County will be closed at the railroad bridge from 8:00am to 4:00pm on Wednesday for repairs. Traffic will be detoured during this work. The roadway will be closed at the east end at U.S. Highway 79 as well as at the Farm Road 19 intersection. Alternate routes are encouraged to avoid delays. A news release from TxDOT says motorists should use caution and look for detours and signs to help navigate traffic through the area during the closure.
TYLER – The director of distance education at Tyler Junior College, Ken Craver, has been appointed to the Learning Technology Advisory Committee of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The committee serves as a forum for problem-solving and generating ideas to improve online education that reflect the goals of Texas’ higher education plan, 60x30TX. Craver came to TJC in 1989 as a computer science professor. He was named director of distance education in 2005.
HENDERSON – A Henderson man has been convicted on animal cruelty charges. Last October, Larry Antone Cadwell, 51, reported two of his horses missing. When authorities went to his property off Farm Road 1251, they found nearly two dozen emaciated horses. KETK reports authorities believe all the horses had parasites because of bad pond water, their only drinking source. Also, there was no grass to feed on in the area, and the animals were forced to eat leaves from trees. He could get up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine. A sentencing date has not been set.
TYLER – A suspect in a credit card scam is being sought by Tyler police. The man opened a fraudulent Target Credit Card account and immediately used it to buy two iPads. If you know who he is please contact Tyler Police Detective Wayne Allen at 903-535-0121.
TYLER – Smith County Commissioners learned about the community of Whitehouse during Tuesday’s commissioners’ court session. City Manager Aaron Smith discussed activities in the city with a population of 8,300. Smith said they could reach the 10,000 mark by the next U.S. Census. The city has a paid, full-time fire department; traffic counts are up; 346 permits for new construction were filed last year and there are six new additions or apartments under construction. Smith reported that new batting cages and a play area are being planned for the city’s sports complex and a new operator has taken over the former YMCA facility to provide similar services with a savings to taxpayers. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Tyler school trustees, at a called Tuesday meeting, got to look over the proposed renovations for John Tyler and Robert E Lee High Schools. The school board approved the schematic designs for the schools. The work is made possible by a $198 million bond package approved by voters in May. The John Tyler renovations will run $87 million. The Lee renovations are expected to cost $122 million because the only current buildings to remain will be the field house, auditorium and varsity gym. And the school will stretch south to Shiloh Road. Both facilities will be able to handle 2,750 students. Some demolition has already begun on both campuses. Groundbreaking ceremonies are scheduled for October 26th.
LONGVIEW – Two teens have been indicted in a July robbery in Longview. The grand Jury inticted Steven Williams, (pictured) and Robert Blackshear, both are 19 and both are from Longview. When arrested in late July, both were charged with burglary of a habitation. They were indicted for aggravated robbery because they stabbed a man in the back during the robbery. The two were arrested shortly after the robbery when they were involved in a one vehicle wreck. One of the teens were injured in the robbery and they were on their way to the hospital when the wreck occurred.
SEVEN POINTS – Henderson County sheriff’s deputies serving a search warrant has led to two drug arrests. Arrested at a home on County Road 2404 was Joseph Autry, 49, of Seven Ponts, and Christy Marie Rich, 44, of Kemp. Deputies found in the home methamphetamine, Marijuana and guns. Autry was booked into the Henderson County Jail on charges of manufacture and delivery of methamphetamine and is facing additional charges. Rich is charged with possession of marijuana.
PALESTINE – Palestine’s Assistant City Manager, Michael Hornes, will be the next City Manager. The city council made the announcement on Monday. He succeeds Mike Alexander, who left the post earlier this month. Hornes started working for the City of Palestine in 2013 as a GIS analyst. During that time, he has also served as a Deputy Director of Public Works. Last November, he became Assistant City Manager. He has also served the city as an interim Police Chief. Holmes will be a training facilitator for the city on a contract basis for the next fiscal year. Previously, he has served the city of Lubbock and the city of New York.
LONGVIEW – A Longview man has been sentenced to prison for a murder in late August of last year. GeKainnon Ikemoin-Kenyon Harris, 20, pleaded guilty Monday. In connection with a plea agreement, Harris was sentenced to 13 years in prison and fined $5,000. He was charged with manslaughter in the shooting death of Alexis Bell, 26, in an apartment on Lake Lamond Drive. Originally, Harris was arrested at the scene on two unrelated assault family violence warrants. He was later charged with Bell’s death.
TYLER – Motorists are experiencing some delays on Toll 49 From State Highway 31 North to Interstate Highway 20. This is because of improvements that are being made on the toll road. The work includes building a four foot flush medium between lanes, adding rumble strips and reflectors between lanes and additional signs stressing passing and no passing zones. According to the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority, the work will continue into 2018. You can keep up with the current work locations by signing up for text alerts, text Toll49 to 444222.
MURCHISON – Two person have been arrested after Henderson County authorities shut down Murchison horse track. According to a news release from the Henderson County Fire Marshal, state law requires the horse races to get a permit if over 100 persons will be there. Over 1,000 persons were counted Sunday when County Fire Marshall Shane Renberg and Sheriff Botie Hillhouse and deputies arrived. The track was shut down and arrested were Moises Antonio Hernandez of Murchison and Rebecca Rodriquez Chaffee of Dallas. They were charged with promoting a mass gathering without a permit, a class B misdemeanor. It carries a maximum fine of $1,000 and 90 days in jail.