Today is
Monday November 25, 2024
SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Road and Bridge crews have been working throughout the night and morning to clear roads with downed trees in the Bullard and Emerald Bay area.
Smith County Engineer Frank Davis said there were about 20 county roads that had trees down after Thursday night’s storms. There have been crews working throughout the night to clear the roads. Many roads still have trees on them but at least one lane has been cleared for drivers to pass through, he said.
For Smith County residents living on county roads – you can place your storm debris in the right-of-way of your county road (not on the road) and Road and Bridge crews will pick it up. It may take several days to be picked up. Smith County Road and Bridge crews will only pick up storm debris left in the right-of-way of county roads. They cannot go on private property or pick up debris on city or state roads.
If you received property damage due to last night’s storm, please report it here.
EAST TEXAS — Downed trees and structure damage has been reported in Coffee City as severe weather hit the area on Thursday. According to Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse and our news partner KETK, one person has been taken to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries. As of Thursday evening, no other injuries have been reported.
South Rather Street between Cain Street and West Main Street will be shut down for thru traffic until further notice, City of Bullard officials said.
A temporary shelter has been set up at the Coffee City Civic Building and they are working to get power turned on there with a generator. The Henderson County Senior Center at Regional Fair Park is also opening up as a shelter, according to Henderson County officials. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler received a $25,000 donation from the Texas Wounded Warrior Foundation for the Richard and Madeline Lewis Scholarship, which supports UT Tyler student veterans. The foundation annually matches funds by and are partners with the Dew Boys organization at Eagle’s Bluff County Club in Bullard. The check presentation was held Wednesday, May 22, at the UT Tyler University Center.
TYLER — The Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health) announced that nominations are being accepted for the 2024 W. T. “Doc†Ballard Award for Excellence in Public Health. According to our news partner KETK, the 25th annual award will honor an individual or organization “exemplifying the concept of public health distinguished by protecting and promoting the health of the community.†NET Health added that all nominations must be received or postmarked by 5 p.m. May 31, and that the nominee does not need to be a public health professional and that their services may be civic, cultural, health, welfare or philanthropic. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — Memorial Day weekend will bring increased traffic on Texas roads. Motorists are reminded that state law requires drivers to slow down or move over for emergency vehicles – including tow trucks, police cars and fire trucks – stopped on the side of the road with their emergency lights activated. Texas law requires drivers to slow down at least 20 miles per hour under the posted speed limit or, if able, to change lanes when they’re passing a first responder stopped on the road with their emergency lights activated, according to the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR).
Large numbers of travelers are expected on Texas roads, which means that more breakdowns and traffic stops are likely as well. Drivers should pay attention to what’s happening around them and prepare to react quickly. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The Tyler Police Department will be adding additional officers on the street utilizing STEP (Selective Traffic Enforcement Program) starting on Friday, May 24th through Monday, May 27th. According to a police department news release, with increased traffic in the city and at Lake Tyler for the Memorial Day weekend, the additional officers will be specifically watching for impaired or intoxicated drivers. Please be responsible and don’t drink and drive.
LONGVIEW — Longview ISD announced their lone finalist for superintendent as Dr. Marla Sheppard, a 29-year veteran educator. According to our news partner KETK, Sheppard has served as a math and science teacher, assistant principal and middle and high school principal in Houston ISD. She was also an assistant superintendent at Fort Bend ISD where she was responsible for 16 schools.
“I am honored to be chosen to serve the Longview community,†Sheppard said. “I am grateful to the board for their trust in me and I look forward to creating long-lasting relationships with the students, staff, and greater community.â€
Sheppard said she looks forward to the journey forward in the community and she is excited for the opportunity to lead Longview ISD. She will begin her tenure at the district after the state-required 21-day waiting period. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — A Gladewater man pleaded guilty to murder on Monday after being accused of killing Victor Hugo Herrera in 2022 with a claw hammer. According to our news partner KETK, Preston Wade Graham pleaded guilty on Monday in the 188th District Court in Gregg County and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
According to an arrest warrant, on Oct. 10, 2022 Longview officials received an emergency call from the roommate of Herrera. Officials said when police responded to the residence in the 1000 block of Baxley Lane in Longview, the roommate said Herrera was injured and appeared to be struck in the head sometime between Oct. 9 and Oct. 10. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — Smith County officials and others involved in the construction project held a Topping Out Ceremony for the County’s Parking Garage on Monday, May 20, 2024. The ceremony signifies the last of the 504 precast pieces being placed on top of the garage. Smith County Officials, representatives from Hoar Construction, SCI Construction and Fitzpatrick Architects, as well as employees, signed the 44,000-pound piece of concrete before it was hoisted by a 212-foot crane and secured on the top of the garage. The project is about halfway completed and is expected to open in October.
WHITE OAK — Brandon Gilliam, 42, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to the 2021 murder of Steve McDowell. According to our news partner KETK, Gilliam’s sentence comes only weeks after Regina Massie, 40, also pleaded guilty in connection to McDowell’s murder. Case records revealed that Gilliam and Massie were hired by McDowell to fix his truck but then he discovered money was missing from the truck. Massie reportedly told investigators that Gilliam hit McDowell in the head with a foot-long pipe after he was confronted about the money missing from McDowell’s truck. Gilliam then reportedly tried to suffocate McDowell by covering his mouth and nose. Massie also quoted Gilliam as saying “McDowell should not have died over $35.†Gilliam’s sentence started on Monday.
SMITH COUNTY — Smith County residents living in the Commissioner Precinct 3 area began casting their ballots Monday during early voting for the Republican Primary Runoff Election. The only race on the ballot will be for the Smith County Precinct 3 Commissioner Runoff. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, May 20-24, Smith County Commissioner Precinct 3 residents can cast their ballots at The Hub, located at 304 E. Ferguson Street, in Tyler; or Lindale’s Kinzie Community Center, at 912 Mt. Sylvan St., in Lindale.
Because of the construction of Smith County’s parking garage next door to the The Hub, Ferguson Street is closed to drivers. The parking lot across from The Hub is still open for parking, but drivers will have to enter and exit at the intersection of Ferguson Street and Center Avenue. There will be voter parking-marked spaces, with the closest one to The Hub being used for curbside voting.
Smith County has launched a new, easy-to-use interactive map on its website. If you need to make sure you live in the area covered by Commissioner Precinct 3, and when and where you can vote for this runoff, click here and click on the “Interactive Map of Smith County†link. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine received a $900,000 gift from Texas Mutual Insurance Company to support the occupational and environmental medicine residency. According to a university news release, the six-year gift will expand the residency by 50%. After medical school, physicians complete a three-to-seven-year residency to receive specialized training and obtain an unrestricted license to practice medicine.
According to the Texas Physician Pipeline Mode, 58.9% of physicians who completed their graduate medical education in Texas stayed in the state to practice.
“With the generous support from Texas Mutual, our occupational and environmental medicine residency program will be able to expand, allowing us to train more physicians who will remain committed to serving East Texas,†said Dr. Brigham C. Willis, UT Tyler School of Medicine founding dean. “Having physicians who are deeply rooted in the community is vital for understanding and addressing local health care needs.†Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) is seeking applicants for GoBus operator positions in East Texas. According to our news partner KETK, ETCOG previously said they were accepting applications for positions in Anderson, Camp, Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Marion, Panola, Rains, Rusk, Smith, Upshur, Van Zandt and Wood counties. They held a job fair on Tuesday in hopes of filling the positions.
ETCOG said they are seeking applicants with a high school diploma or equivalent, at least two years of professional driving and customer service experience.
“GoBus is integral to the region and its communities, providing connectivity, fostering economic activity, and ensuring safe, reliable, and friendly transportation services. GoBus staff are dedicated and caring individuals representing the core of East Texans, and in seeking new team members, we hope to present a culture that prioritizes the community and those that work to aid its citizens,†Vince Huerta, ETCOG’s Director of Transportation, said.
Click here for an application.
TYLER — Several Red Lobster seafood restaurants have reportedly closed across East Texas. According to our news partner KETK, the endless Cheddar Bay Biscuits will no longer grace the following cities in East Texas: Tyler, Longview and Lufkin. All three restaurants have their hours listed as “closed†all week and they could not be contacted over the phone. Many Red Lobster locations have reportedly closed across the country, according to various local outlets. On May 3, CNN reported that the restaurant chain was considering filing a Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Read the rest of this entry »
NACOGDOCHES — The Nacogdoches Police Department served search warrants on two massage parlors on Thursday, resulting in three arrests. According to Nacogdoches PD and our news partner KETK, at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nacogdoches PD officers and the Texas Department of Public Safety served search warrants on two massage parlors located in the 1300 and 3200 blocks of North University Drive.
Officials said that during the service of the warrants, three suspects who worked at the parlors were arrested. Nacogdoches PD reported that Mona Ma, 56 of Katy, and Xuefang Wu, 52 of Nacogdoches, were both arrested for indecent assault and Shuwen Xu, 54 of Nacogdoches, was arrested for indecent assault and prostitution. Read the rest of this entry »