Today is
Sunday November 24, 2024
CHEROKEE COUNTY – Two people are dead and six people were injured after a pickup veered into oncoming traffic on US Highway 175, north of Jacksonville. According to our news partners KETK, in a release from DPS, a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado veered into oncoming traffic and hit a 2022 Honda Accord and then a 2022 Toyota Corolla. The driver of the Silverado, 69-year-old David Blakeney of Jacksonville, as well as the driver of the Accord, 23-year-old Antonio Santana III of Little Elm, were pronounced dead at the scene. The two passengers in the Accord and the driver plus three passengers in the Corolla were taken to a hospital.
PALESTINE — A Palestine woman has been arrested and booked into the Anderson County Jail after leading police on a chase that ended on a dead-end road. According to our news partner KETK, Shelby Lynn Beckham, 32, had an active warrant for alleged possession of a controlled substance in Navarro County. After running a stop sign, an on-patrol officer attempted to stop Beckham. She then attempted to evade the officer down a dead-end road before being arrested for her warrant. Palestine Police in a statement said the found Beckham was in possession of a methamphetamine pipe and a trace amount of methamphetamine in a small plastic container.
TYLER – After last week’s cyberattack, UT Health’s parent company, Ardent Health Services, has announced that records and other vital platforms have been restored. Our news partner KETK reports that although clinics and emergency rooms are back to full service, some non-emergency procedures are still at a halt as some repairs are still being made.
TYLER – A massive inflatable Santa Claus has appeared seemingly out of thin air in the Hollytree subdivision in Tyler. A Hollytree resident told our news partner KETK that the aired-up Chris Kringle has been up for about a week, but its origins are unknown. Another resident said it’s located on an empty lot and nobody knows where it came from. Others also believe it’s a sign that Jolly ‘Ol St. Nicholas is coming to Tyler on Christmas Day. It can be found on 6709 La Costa Drive, Tyler in Hollytree.
TYLER – In a press release from DPS Sgt. Adam Albritton, a three vehicle crash on State Highway 31 East, west of County Road 246 in Tyler Wednesday afternoon has killed one and left four injured. The preliminary investigation states that a 2009 Isuzu Truck, driven by Cameron Reeves, 18 of Hawkins, “failed to stay in single lane” and collided into a Ford F-150. Reeves continued driving and led to Cory Threadgill, 40 of Gladewater, hitting a tree to avoid him. Out of the 5 involved, only Aidan Kelley, 20 of Chandler was declared dead at the scene. Reeves, Threadgill, Robert Pierzchalski, 67 of Henderson and Brandon Carpenter, 42 of Gladewater, were all transported to a Tyler hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
WHITEHOUSE, Texas – In an updated provided by our news partner KETK, Whitehouse Police have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to charge anyone involved in the throwing of alcohol during the city’s Christmas parade. In a statement, Chief Paul Robeson said they were unable to find evidence that the driver of the vehicle was under the notion that the 3 and 4 year old children in the back seat has thrown out a small-sized bottle of alcohol during the festivities. To find Robeson’s full statement, KETK has provided it here.
WHITEHOUSE, Texas – Patient care is now being affected because of the recent ransomware attack on UT Health East Texas. According to our news partner KETK, Patricia Cowan and her sister have been forced to wait on daily phone calls in order to find out if she can receive urgent treatment for her case of cancer. The ransomware attack, that was almost two weeks ago, means that now Patricia must travel 45 minutes to get care. Director of Communications Allison Pollan spoke with KETK and said that, “safely caring for patients remains our highest priority.â€
TYLER – Our news partner KETK reports that Tyler ISD notified families on Thursday that internet and phone lines are down district-wide as of 11:40 a.m. In a statement, the district said that they are aware of the outage and are working to restore it. No timeline was given for a resolution.
TYLER – Emergency rooms in the UT Health East Texas network are in “divert status” after a network outage caused by a possible security incident. According to our news partner KETK, The outage was first reported by UT Health on Thursday afternoon. In a statement provided by UT Health East Texas Director of Communications Allison Pollan, “Earlier today, we became aware of a network outage due to a potential security incident that is affecting UT Health East Texas. As we work to assess the impact of this outage and restore access, we are following established downtime protocols. As a precaution, our emergency rooms are currently on divert status as we work to bring our systems back online. We anticipate that network access will be restored in the next 24-36 hours,â€
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RUSK – Rusk Rural Water Supply (RRWS) has issued a boil water notice for some customers on Wednesday due to a main line leak. Our news partners at KETK report that some customers on Highway 84 who will be contacted by phone, and customers on FM 2962, CR 1316 and CR 1322 are all affected by the notice. According to officials, a notice will be sent out once the notice has been lifted. RRWS previously rescinded a boil water notice on November 13th.
TYLER – In a released Tyler ISD announced that Tyler Legacy High School’s athletic field-house will go under a new name. Monday night, the Tyler ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to name the Field House at Tyler Legacy High School after former coach Mike Owens. It will now be called the Coach Mike Owens Field House. Coach Owens led the former Robert E. Lee High School (REL) to the 2004 Class 5A Division I State Football Championship. He retired after the 2010 season in 2011.
UPSHUR COUNTY, Texas – Our news partner KETK reports that a double homicide suspect from Upshur County has been added to the Texas Most Wanted List. It was announced on Tuesday by DPS that Alvin “Pookie†McKnight Jr., 41, of Gilmer, was added to the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List and Texas Crime Stoppers. A cash reward of up to $7,500 is being offered in exchange for information leading to his arrest. Upshur County Crime Stoppers are also offering a reward for any anonymous tips leading to McKnight Jr.’s arrest. That reward is $10,000. He is wanted after two sisters were found dead from apparent gunshot wounds on Nov. 4, and McKnight’s sister has since been arrested for allegedly helping him flee Upshur County.
ANDERSON Co. – According to a preliminary investigation, a 2001 Ford F-150 Pickup operated by Terry McMillian, 49 of Seagoville, was traveling west on US 175 when he struck 67 year old Frankston native Russell Warrington. Warrington was stationary on a bicycle in the eastbound lane of US 175. This investigation is ongoing, and no additional information is available. Warrington was pronounced dead on the scene by Justice of the Peace Gary Thomas. McMillian was not wearing a seat belt.
TYLER – A 22-year-old woman was indicted for criminally negligent homicide in the 2021 death of a Tyler High volleyball player. Talia Smith, of Tyler, was indicted on Sept. 28 in the May 1, 2021 crash that lead to the death of 18-year-old Patrianna Pettigrew. Smith’s indictment states that she caused the crash due to her failure to control speed, making an unsafe lane change, passing another vehicle at a high rate of speed, operating a motor vehicle in an unsafe manner, and passing a vehicle when it was unsafe to do so. Pettigrew was declared dead at the site of the collision, while Smith was transported to the hospital in a critical state. She was subsequently discharged and apprehended for her involvement in the crash. Smith was able to secure her release from the Smith County Jail on the same day by posting a bond of $15,000. Smith’s next court date is Nov. 20.
TYLER — A Tyler doctor was temporarily suspended by the disciplinary panel of the Texas Medical Board on Oct. 24. According to our news partner KETK, Kenneth D. Haygood was temporarily suspended after violating a June 2023 Final Order which restricted him from seeing female patients. The order stated that he needed to complete multiple continuing medical education courses and pass exams, in addition to paying a $5,000 administrative penalty. According to the Texas Medical Board, Haygood did not get consent before doing a physical exam of a female patient, and inappropriately discussed the encounter with the patient’s family via text message “in an attempt to intimidate them as witnesses.†A temporary suspension hearing with notice will be held as soon as possible with 10 days notice to Haygood. Read the rest of this entry »