Today is
Tuesday November 26, 2024
AUSTIN – East Texas legislators have found out their committee assignments for the current legislative session in Austin. State Representative Matt Schaefer of Tyler has been named to the House Appropriations Committee. He is joined on the panel by representative Cole Hefner of Mount Pleasant. Schaefer was also appointed to the House Higher Education Committee. State representative Jay Dean of Longview was named to the House Corrections Committee and the House Juvenile Justice & Family Issues Committee. Read the rest of this entry »
ELKHART – State Highway 19 southeast of Elkhart has been reopened following a fatality accident. Rebecca Lynne Burke, 61, of Elkhart was pronounced dead at the scene following the Thursday morning wreck. For some reason, her car drifted into the on coming lane and collided with a truck-trailer rig. The truck’s driver was flown to Tyler’s Christus Trinity Mother where he was treated and released. The roadway had to be cleared of spilled diesel before the road could be reopened.
PALESTINE – The City of Palestine has issued a boil water notice for residents on East Murchison Street from Loop 256 to Academy Drive. The action was due to a water main replacement. To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and making ice should be boiled and cooled prior to use. The water should be brought to a vigorous, rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes. In lieu of boiling, you may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source. When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the water system officials will notify you that the water is safe for consumption. Instructions to discontinue boiling will be issued in the same manner as this notice.
TYLER – The Tyler Public Library’s material circulation continues to rise as the library continues to thrive in the digital age. The public has learned that the library is not just a place for books. It is also a a place where you can collaborate, attend classes and even check out games. The library provides a multitude of digital resources. You have digital access to electronic books and audiobooks as well as streaming video, online classes, research databases and so much more. Those with a Library card can gain immediate access to all digital resources. There are also e-cards available. The circulation of library materials has increased by more than 16% since 2014. Physical material circulation, include books, DVDs, games, literacy kits has grown by over 11%. Electronic materials which includes e-books and e-audiobooks, has shown an increase of 57% .
TYLER – There will be a retirement ceremony at the Tyler Police Department Friday afternoon. It is for patrolman Bart Lemons. He is retiring after 31 years of service. During that time he never had the desire to promote or move to another division. He says he likes being outside and interacting with the community. For all but one year, he has worked in north Tyler on all three shifts. Lemons awards include a Police Commendation, a Lifesaving Award, two Certificate of Merits, a Police Shield and an award for Meritorious Conduct. He has also represented the department in the Honor Guard at many events.
TYLER – A Smith County man has been arrested on child sexual assault and child porn charges. Taken into custody was Jonathan Gomez, 28. He was accused of was taking photographs and videos of a young girl without her knowledge. He was also accused of sexually assaulting the girl on numerous occasions over the course of four years. Sheriff’s department detectives got a warrant for Gomez and took him into custody on Wednesday. He is charged with continuous sexual abuse of a young child, sexual assault of a child and possession of child pornography. He was booked into the Smith County Jail under bonds totaling $1,000,000.
TYLER – The Tyler City Council has approved a smoking ordinance amendment to prohibit electronic smoking devices in public places and workplaces. The city says the move was made “in an effort to ensure the health of the public and reduce the risks of addiction and nicotine dependency.” City officials say the new trend called “vaping†is significantly increasing the likelihood of of these risks through the appeal of the devices and the accessibility to minors. The amendment approved by the city council will target the problem by prohibiting the use of electronic smoking devices in public areas where traditional cigarette smoke is not allowed.
LONGVIEW – Longview police are looking for a vehicle involved in a fatal hit and run accident that happened shortly before 2:00 Wednesday morning on North Eastman Road. Dead at the scene was Melinda McBroom Neal, 58, of Longview. It is believed she was hit by a black Ford pickup truck that was heading north on the road. As the investigation into the accident continues, Longview police are asking anyone with information on the accident to contact the accident investigator Brian Rodin at 903-239-5516, the Longview Police Department at 903-237-1170 or Crime Stoppers at 903-236-7867.
TYLER – Tyler Junior College will be hiring a firm to find a new chancellor for the school. The school’s trustees approved the action during a called meeting on Tuesday. The action is needed since school Chancellor Mike Metke announced last week he will be retiring at the end of June. He has headed up the school for over 11 years. Once the search firm is selected, a nationwide search for Metke’s successor will begin. The board hopes to start bringing candidates to the school in late April.
TROUP – For about a week, the water in Troup will have a greater “tint.” Due to maintenance on an above ground storage tank at the City of Troup well number 2, Troup will be utilizing well number 1 to provide water for about the next week to 10 days. Due to the iron content, the water from well 1 will have a greater “tint” that the water from well 2. They are having to use just one well because of the maintenance that is required on well 2. According to the city’s Facebook page, the maintenance is costing the city around $24,000.
KILGORE – The East Texas Oil Museum reopened Wednesday. The museum closed in mid-November for renovation and exhibit upgrades. Museum manager Jackie Reynolds encourages everyone to see the museum’s fresh, new look. She said she is excited for visitors to step back in time and relive an authentic recreation of oil discovery and production in the early 1930s. The museum is located at the corner of U.S. Highway 259 and Ross Avenue, on the campus of Kilgore College.
HAWKINS – One person has been killed in a one vehicle accident in Wood County. The victim has been identified as Bobby Ray Turbeville, 77, of Mineola. The Department of Public Safety report said his pickup was heading north when the vehicles’ right side tires went off the roadway. He took evasive action by steering sharply to the left, causing the vehicle to enter a side skid. It went across the road and into a ditch where the truck hit a tree. Turbeville, who was not wearing his seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident happened around 2:45 Monday afternoon 9 1/2 miles north of Hawkins.
WINONA – Residents of Winona are no longer under a boil water notice. It was put into effect Saturday when the city’s water pumps shut down when a tree fell on power lines, causing a power outage. The power was restored and the pumps are working again. The latest tests showed the water is safe to drink.
LONGVIEW – The Department of Public Safety confiscated over one million dollars in illegal drugs with the arrest of two men in Gregg County. A state trooper stopped the men’s car on Interstate Highway 20, about two miles north of Kilgore, because of traffic violations. When the trooper saw suspicious tooling holding down bolts to the truck’s fuel tank, he started a search. Inside a compartment that was built within an auxiliary fuel tank mounted in the bed of the truck, they found 200 pounds of marijuana and about 90 grams in edible marijuana candies. The Longview News Journal reports the two Florida men were arrested and booked into the Gregg County Jail. Each of their bonds total $150,000. The DPS says the two were transporting the drugs from the west coast to Florida.
CUNY – An Anderson County man has been killed in a one vehicle accident in Cherokee County. Dead at the scene Sunday night was Ronald Gene Fisk Jr., 48, of Frankston. The Department of Public Safety reports he was heading south at a high speed when he lost control of his pickup. It went into a side skid and hit a tree on the driver’s side. The accident occurred around 11:00 Sunday night on Farm Road 855, just under three miles south of Cuny.