Today is
Sunday November 24, 2024
SMITH COUNTY — Two juveniles are back in custody following their escape Tuesday. Officials said they were apprehended around 9:30 Wednesday morning by Smith County Sheriff’s Office deputies and taken to the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center. Law enforcement officials had been searching for two 16-year-old males that escaped the custody of a juvenile detention center after authorities said they scaled a fence. According to our news partner KETK, on Tuesday around 2:30 p.m., the two juveniles were in the welding shop of the H.O.P.E. Academy Vocational Residential Program when authorities said they ran away after scaling a fence while using welding gloves and jackets to help them “defeat the security wire on the fence.†The juveniles are on probation for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
TYLER – According to a release, the Tyler Public Library will be celebrating Banned Books Week by giving away pieces of literature beginning on Monday, Oct 2. through Friday, Oct. 6. There is limited supply and will be on a first come, first served basis. Some of the books being given away include Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, which is celebrating its 70th year in publication. Banned Books Week was first celebrated nationwide in 1982.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY – The shooting death of a woman on I-20 may be a case of road rage. The shooting happened around 1:20 Tuesday afternoon in Van Zandt County, near Canton. An unidentified woman traveling east was shot by a driver in a tractor-trailer rig, also going east. Jason Rashad Williams has been charged with murder and three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Williams was booked into Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center. His bond has been set at $1.75 million. Van Zandt County Sheriff Joe Carter says that road rage is suspected as the motive in the shooting, but the investigation is still underway.
TYLER – The Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health) announced on Thursday they now have flu vaccines available. According to our news partner KETK, they’re available at the main office located at 815 N. Broadway Avenue on the corner of North Broadway and Gentry Parkway. Their hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and the clinic is open until 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. Those enrolled on Medicaid or CHIP insurance plans can get their vaccinations for free. Children in the Texas Vaccines for Children Program will be assessed a $10 administrative fee. The price for adults is $25 and Medicare Part B is accepted. The high dose influenza vaccine is free for those on Medicare who are aged 65 years and older. Those without Medicare must pay $70. For more information, people are asked to contact the NET Health Immunizations Department at 903-510-5604.
CHEROKEE COUNTY, Texas – Our news partner KETK reports that the Texas 12th Court of Appeals upheld a life sentence for Jacolbe Rashad Kirby, who was was given the sentence for the death of Malcolm Hunter who was shot and killed in his Jacksonville home in 2018. Kirby was convicted in February 2022 after a three day trial, and filed his appeal a few months later.
LONGVIEW – Trevorris Rashomique Woodard, 35 of Longview, has a warrant our for his arrest by the Longview Police Department. Our news partner KETK reports that this is in connection with a 2023 aggravated assault with a deadly weapon case. Woodard is listed as a 5’7″ black man who weighs about 185 pounds.
Anyone with information about Woodard is asked to call the Longview Police Department at 903-237-1110.
HENDERSON COUNTY, Texas – Zacorian Deandre White, 30, will serve 7 years after a Monday sentance by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice after marijuana and oxycodone were reportedly found in his vehicle in 2022. According to our news partner KETK, White was pulled over by a DPS trooper on Dec. 18, 2022 on US 175 in Henderson County. During the stop, the trooper could reportedly smell the sent of marijuana coming from the vehicle. White then handed the trooper a joint on an ashtray along with a bag containing marijuana cigarettes. After a search was conducted, a backpack with more marijuana, a bottle that contained over 15 grams of oxycodone, a digital scale and a metal grinder were found in White’s possession.
LONGVIEW – Part of Judson Road could have traffic backups on Wednesday due to road work. Our news partner KETK reports that only two lanes will be opened for Longview drivers between Pegues Road and Montclair Street as asphalt repairs at the bridge over Guthrie Creek begin. The road work is expected to be completed by the end of the day.
BULLARD — Bullard ISD released a statement announcing the death of Bullard Elementary School teacher Kathy Sleeper. Our news partner KETK reports that Sleeper spent 20 years as a part of Bullard ISD. For the last seven years she was a STEM teacher for the district’s elementary school. According to the district, Sleeper died Sunday after surgery complications. Throughout the day on Tuesday, the district said counselors and administrators will be on campus to support students and staff.
KILGORE – During a traffic stop, a man with several warrants was arrested after allegedly attempting to run from police while being in possession of methamphetamines. According to our news partner KETK, on Aug. 12, an officer with the Kilgore Police Department said he saw Tucker Thedford as a passenger in a vehicle and recognized him as a suspect that had several warrants for his arrest including a parole warrant. After Thedford resisted, an officer was able to place him in handcuffs but police said he attempted to run away from the officer before shortly being caught. Thedford was reportedly found to be in possession of approximately 8.1 grams of meth and was taken to the Gregg County Jail on the warrant charges along with resisting arrest, search or transport and possession of a controlled substance.
TYLER – Three men have pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges that took place throughout the Eastern District of Texas, according to U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. According to our news partner KETK, on Monday, Nekia Euron Byrd, 48, Rodney Ignacio Castro, 41 and Terance Babe Green, 43, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. According to information presented in court, Byrd, Castro and Green had been trafficking cocaine throughout the Houston area, Port Arthur and various East Texas cities such as Texarkana and Lufkin.
Byrd, Castro and Green each face 10 years to life in federal prison for their involvement in the drug trafficking enterprise. Davilyn Walston, Public Affairs Officer/Law Enforcement Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office said, “A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.”
TYLER – The Tyler City Council approved on Wednesday a $873,961 contract to rehabilitate roughly 21,355 square feet of brick streets. Our news partners at KETK report that the contract is with Crown Civil Construction Corporation, and work is scheduled to begin this fall. As part of the project, Bois D’Arc Avenue from South Oakwood Street to the railroad tracks will be reconstructed.
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TYLER – This year marks the 90th annual Texas Rose Festival. The kickoff celebration was held at the Willow Brook Country Club in Tyler on Friday, July 12th. It comes at the end of a long week of practices and walk-throughs. 2023’s Rose Princess, Conley Cavender, took the time to welcome out-of-town guests, the committee and sponsors. 2023’s Rose Queen, Laura Bryan, taking the moment to thank all of the volunteers after a long week of coronation practices. Tickets go on sale to the public starting September 1st at the UT Tyler Cowan Center.
TYLER – Smith County law enforcement are investigating a shooting that left two people injured early Saturday morning. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, and our new partner KETK, deputies responded to a deadly conduct call in the 13300 block of Highway 64 West and found two people with gunshot wounds around 5:15 a.m. They started first aid at the scene until paramedics arrived.
While investigating, deputies reportedly talked with witnesses at the scene who said both of the gunshot victims were in an argument with each other. They were taken to different Tyler-area hospitals. One was in surgery for life-threatening injuries and the other is in stable condition. The identity of both people is being withheld pending notification of family.
DALLAS – The Texas Department of Public Safety has issued an Amber Alert for a 11-year-old girl who may have been abducted Friday night. Tanya Jackson was last seen at 8 p.m. in the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, according to the Waxahachie Police Department. She is 5’7″ tall, weighs 170 lbs., and has brown eyes and black hair. She was last seen wearing a white t-shirt with red lettering.
If you know where she is or if you have seen her, please call the Waxahachie Police Department at (469) 309-4400.