Today is
Wednesday November 27, 2024
TYLER – The 12th court of appeals in Tyler has upheld the conviction of a child predator from Cherokee County. In April of last year, Kevin Ray Morris Sr., of Jacksonville, was handed 11 life sentences. In addition to the life sentences stacked with 450 years in prison, the jury also assessed a $340,000 fine against Morris. Morris had been molesting, raping, and threatening numerous children who ranged in age from 4 to 16 for more than twenty years before being brought to justice. When he was sentenced, State District Judge Chris Day told him, “Mr. Morris, there is really no other way to put it, you are a monster.”
MARSHALL – A Marshall man, said to have been intoxicated, has been arrested for hitting a pedestrian. Charged with assault with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury was Aaron Callaway, 49. He was booked into the Harrison County Jail under a $50,000 bond. The accident occurred October 25 at the intersection of West Pinecrest Drive and Washington Avenue. The pedestrian, who had serious injuries, and Callaway, who was also injured, were taken to the hospital. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Church security and safety is the topic of a meeting scheduled in Tyler Thursday. The town hall meeting starts at 5:30pm at the Smith County R.B. Hubbard Facility, also know as The Hub, at 304 East Ferguson. A letter was sent to area churches about the meeting, but the public can also attend the free event. Conducting the meeting will be Precinct 4 Commissioner JoAnn Hampton; Precinct 1 Constable Bobby Garmon; and Gary Pinkerton, Director of Pre-Trial Release and Personal Bond Office.
TYLER – The Smith County Animal Shelter has started a dog blood donor program. Shelter dogs Casper, Allistar and Lane donated two units of blood and two units of plasma to save another dog’s life. They are now known as Hero Dogs. The Smith County Animal Control is partnering with Tyler Animal Emergency Clinic and Tyler Junior College Clinic Vet Tech Program in the project. Hero Dogs are approved by in depth testing to become a blood donor. The blood will supply the veterinarians in the area as they work to save animal’s lives. Approved Hero Dogs need to be available to donate blood for a minimum of four times a year. In return, they will received Heart-Guard heart-worm preventative medicine and rabies vaccinations for life. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Tyler police are asking the public’s help in identifying an auto burglary suspect. He is said to have burglarized an auto at the Children’s Park on East Dobbs on Sunday. He then is said to have tried to use a stolen credit card at Walgreen’s to purchase a Visa gift card, but was declined. He was seen driving a 4-door white SUV. If you can identify this man, you are asked to contact Detective Tekell at 903-531-1046 or call Tyler Crime Stoppers at 903-597-2833.
TYLER – Centerpoint Energy has closed the intersection at Sunnybrook Drive and Robertson Avenue in Tyler till 2:00 p.m. Wednesday to cap off a natural gas line at the bridge. Sunnybrook Drive will be closed to thru traffic between Old Jacksonville Highway and South Azalea Drive. Robertson Avenue will be closed to thru traffic between Powers Drive and Hamvasy Lane. All people who live in the work zone will be allowed access to their homes.
TYLER – The East Texas Communities Foundation is taking applications from East Texas students for scholarships to be awarded for the 2019-2020 academic year. There are a total of 64 scholarships that will be handed out. They range from $500 to $5,000. A student may apply for every scholarship for which they meet the eligibility guidelines. The deadline for submission varies, but it is clearly marked on the applications. All of the applications must be submitted online. You can go to https://etcf.org/scholarships for detailed eligibility criteria and links to the applications.
ATHENS – The Athens School District is considering going to a four day school week. School district employees learned about it during a district wide meeting Monday afternoon. In order to comply with the state’s requirements for a minimum number of instructional minutes during a school year, the instructional day would increase by 50 minutes. They have been studying a possible change for the past six months. This includes discussions with district leadership in other states that have implemented a four-day school week. District officials stress, this remains only a proposal at this time, and, if implemented, it would be launched as a three-year pilot program.
TYLER – A new constable has been appointed in Smith County for Precinct 2. Smith County commissioners have appointed Deputy Constable Josh Black, on the left in the picture, to the post. He is replacing Constable Andy Dunklin who is stepping down to become Justice of the Peace. He ran unopposed for the position in both the primary and the general election. He steps down as constable December 31st and takes over his new duties on January 1st. Black served briefly in the Texas State Guard before he worked at the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, first in the jail and then on patrol. He became Dunklin’s deputy constable just over 4 years ago.
LONGVIEW – A man accused of a Friday shooting in Longview is in the Gregg County Jail. Justin Glenn Littrell, 29, of Longview is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Jail records show his bond is $50,000. He is charged with the early Friday morning shooting outside the Jaguars Gold Club on Estes Parkway. One man was wounded. Another man was injured after he rolled under a truck to keep from being shot. The driver drove off, not knowing someone was under his truck. Littrell was arrested Friday morning when he turned himself in at the police department.
TYLER – There is less than a week left in the Salvation Angel Tree program in Smith County. There are still a lot of angels on the tree. There are nearly 900 Angels remaining. In addition to the hundreds of Angels still in need of adoption, there are currently over 1,300 Angels needing to be returned by the deadline. Donors can adopt an Angel at the Broadway Square Mall, both Tyler Slim Chicken locations, Hideaway Country Club, Galaxy Vape Lounge and The Cotton Patch. The deadline to return the angels and their gifts is this Sunday at 6:00pm.
NACOGDOCHES – The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in East Texas in locating a wanted fugitive. He is Royce Earl Sessions 41, of Nacogdoches. Last week, Sessions is said to have forced his way into the residence of his estranged wife. She was able to get away and to seek help, but a man was stabbed. He remains hospitalized. If you know where Sessions can be found, you are asked to contact the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office or your local law enforcement agency.
TYLER – The Tyler Junior College Medical Laboratory Technology program has received accreditation for 10 years. That is the highest possible number of years awarded for continuing accreditation from the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. The medical laboratory technology profession combines medicine and science. Technicians perform a variety of laboratory procedures in both public and private labs within the health care sector. According to TJC, the job outlook is favorable as the need for registered lab techs is projected to grow by 26% over the next 10 years. TJC’s program currently has a three-year average of 89% Board of Certification pass rate, a 95% graduation rate, and a 100% placement rate.
MARSHALL – A friendly battle is underway in Marshall. It is the Battle of the Badges Blood Drive. The two day drive ends Tuesday evening at 7:00. It is being hosted by the Marshall Police Department in conjunction with Carter BloodCare. It pits the police department against the fire department. It’s being held at the Marshall Visual Arts Center on East Burleson Street. There will be free T-shirts, snacks and daily door prize drawings. Donors are encouraged to donate blood and cast their vote for one of the departments. The losing chief will be required to wash a vehicle belonging to the winning chief.
TYLER – Two honors students at the University of Texas at Tyler have won top awards for research presentations at the 2018 National Collegiate Honors Council Conference. Biochemistry senior Savannah Seely of Fort Worth and civil engineering senior Arthur Oenning Fagundes of Curitiba, Brazil, received Best Research Poster awards at the Boston, Massachusetts, event. Seely was awarded in the health sciences division for her poster titled “Investigating Programming of a Virus-Like Particle for Cell Specific Chemotherapy,’’ which was based on her research with Dr. Dustin Patterson, assistant professor of biochemistry. Fagundes was awarded in the business, engineering and computer science division for his poster titled “City of Tyler Hub-and-Spoke Bicycle Lane Network,’’ which was based on his work with Dr. Mena Souliman, assistant professor of civil engineering.