Today is
Thursday November 28, 2024
TYLER – The Tyler Police Department and the DEA are hosting a medication drop off. It will be Saturday from 10:00 till 2:00 in the northeast parking lot of the Broadway Square Mall. This is a good way to get unused and expired medications out of your home so they won’t be a temptation to children. The medications include prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, veterinary medicine, vitamins, minerals and medication samples. Just drive-up, and, without getting out of your vehicle, you can drop off the medications for safe disposal, no questions asked. And, the service is free.
TYLER – The Tyler city council has approved spending over $10 million for long-term infrastructure projects. Besides replacement of a drainage structure and the rehabilitation of two sanitary sewer basins, the money will be used to relocate and build two new fire stations. Fire Station 1 will move from Elm Street and Fannin Avenue to the more central coverage location of Gentry Parkway and Palace Avenue. And Fire Station 4, currently located on Martin Luther King Boulevard, will be relocated to Cherryhill Lane. Both capital projects are funded out of the Half Cent Sales Tax Fund.
TYLER – A Tyler jury has convicted a Tarrant County man in a fatal Smith County accident. The panel found Gilberto Gomez, 27, of Saginaw guilty of three counts of intoxication manslaughter. The trial is now in the punishment stage. The wreck he was involved in, which occurred in February, killed three persons and an unborn baby. The accident was on State Highway 110, 8 miles west of Lindale. The Department of Public Safety reports the pickup, driven by Gomez, was heading south when it crossed over the double yellow lines and hit a northbound car. Two Lindale residents, and their unborn child, in the car were killed as was a passenger in the Gomez truck.
TYLER – A Tyler pharmacy burglary is under investigation. It happened just before 4:00 Thursday morning at the the Woody Weaver Pharmacy on West Gentry Parkway. The suspects forced their way into the business. Then, surveillance cameras show them clearing shelves of bottles of pills and placing them into a bags. A similar pharmacy burglary occurred in Mineola late last month. Tyler police are are asking area pharmacies to keep an eye out for anyone that may be acting suspicious and to double check their security measures.
LONGVIEW – Another school threat is under investigation in Gregg County. On Wednesday, the threat was against Kilgore High School. Thursday’s Snapchat threat didn’t mention any school, but was said to be from a Longview High School student. Because of what is being termed a “vague threat,” extra police officers starting arriving at the high school around 7:00 Thursday morning. By Thursday afternoon the police said there are no credible threats against any LISD campuses. There will be a continued increase in police and LISD staff presence at district facilities and events as this investigation is ongoing. Longview police say they are coordinating with the Kilgore Police Department in their investigation. Kilgore police say they but don’t believe the two threats are related.
TYLER – Tyler will soon be testing drones to see if they can be a help to first responders. The city council on Wednesday approved an agreement with Phirst Technologies of Tyler. This will allow the company to conduct testing of its automated drone first response system. The drone and a port will be located in a secure enclosure at Fire Station #9 on South Paluxy. The testing will be done within FAA part 107 rules for drones and last six to ten months. The company is bearing all costs for the installation and testing. Phirst Technologies is developing a network of autonomous drones across the United States to allow first responders to see what is happening at a fire, accident, or disaster before they arrive. It will also have the ability to ‘sniff’ and report on volatile gasses at the scene.
TYLER – The Texas Department of Transportation has closed the westbound outside lane of Interstate Highway 20 at the Little Saline Creek Bridge, just east of Jim Hogg Road, for repairs. Work is underway and the closure will remain in place for several days. Motorists can expect I-20 traffic to flow a little slower at this location due to the lane closure. Use alternate routes to avoid delays. The work is expected to be completed by Monday.
LONGVIEW – An assault that occurred in Longview remains under investigation. Three persons were sent to the hospital, even the suspect in the incident. It occurred around 10:30 Wednesday morning on Avalon Avenue. Longview police were called to the scene after shots were reported to have been fired. They found two persons injured at the scene. A third person, the possible suspect, was later located. No other information has been released.
TYLER – A report of a suicidal suspect brought Tyler police to an East Front Street residence early Wednesday afternoon. He was reported by a family member. Officers started talking to the 53 year old man. After brief negotiations, the man surrendered to officers shortly before 3:15 Wednesday afternoon. He was taken to a Tyler hospital for a mental evaluation. No injuries were reported.
KILGORE – A threat posted on social media caused extra police officers to be stationed on the Kilgore High School Campus. The anonymous threat appeared on Snapchat Wednesday morning. It warned people not to go on the school campus. The person said they were shooting up the school because they were tired of “y’all making fun of me and it’s time for y’all to pay.” Assistant Police Chief Roman Roberson said Wednesday afternoon that “there’s no active threat” at the school. They are trying to determine who posted the message. The students were kept on the campus and were not released early.
TYLER – State Comptroller Glenn Hegar brought his “Good for Texas Tour” to Tyler Tuesday. The tour highlights women in the Texas workforce and their impact on the Texas economy. In Tyler, Hegar celebrated the work of Janie Clapp, founder of Janies Cakes. She started in 1987 selling all-natural pound cakes fresh from her bakery. The business, run by Clapps daughter, Katherine Crow, has been featured on “Good Morning America” and “The Jimmy Kimmel Show”. In 2016, it made Oprah Winfreys “Favorite Things List”.
TYLER – Early voting in the November general election is off to a roaring start in Smith County. On the first day of early voting on Monday, 4,963 ballots were cast in Smith County. This appears the be the largest opening turn out for early voting the county has ever seen. But, despite the turnout, the lines have been moving smoothly and quickly. Early voting will run through Friday, November 2nd. There are 5 early voting locations in the county, including Lindale Public Library, Noonday Community Center and Whitehouse Municipal Court. In Tyler, you can vote at the Heritage Building on Bellwood Road and at the HUB on East Ferguson. Smith County voters can use any of those locations. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Governor Greg Abbott is on the road, not only for his re-election, but in support of other Republicans. As the governor puts his campaign operation to use in down-ballot races, he has a stop scheduled in Tyler on Wednesday. Governor Abbott will be joined by State Representative Matt Schaefer of Tyler at 11:30 at Bruno’s Pizza & Pasta on the Old Jacksonville Highway. Also scheduled to join the two are state Senator Bryan Hughes of Mineola and State Representative Cole Hefner of Mt. Pleasant.
TYLER – The police are trying to find the persons who shot at a Tyler home. One man was slightly grazed by one of the shots, but did not require medical attention. It happened shortly before 3:15 Tuesday morning on Redbud Avenue, near Bell Elementary. The house had had numerous .223 rifle rounds fired at it. Officers found 29 spent shell casings in the street in front of the residence. Investigators believe that the residents and suspects know each other.
LONGVIEW – A man involved in a fatal Longview accident has been indicted by the Gregg County Grand Jury. Our news partner KETK says Christopher Roman Darden, 47, of Longview, was indicted on charges of intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault. The charges stem from an accident back in April. Darden was traveling north on Eastman Road near the East Marshall Avenue intersection when he veered into oncoming traffic and struck a southbound vehicle head-on. The driver was killed and her passenger was critically injured. Darden is still in the Gregg County Jail on bonds totaling $75,000.