Today is
Tuesday November 26, 2024
TYLER — The Fair Plaza Parking Garage at 208 S. College Ave. will be closed for maintenance on Sunday, Dec. 17. All vehicles must be removed from the parking garage by 5 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 17. Vehicles not removed will be subject to towing. The Main Street Department is working with drivers who reserve spaces and need overnight parking. The parking garage will be power washed to prepare for the restriping of the parking spaces and directional arrows. It will reopen to the public on Monday, Dec. 18. Once the garage is dry, the restriping process will begin and individual levels will be closed one at a time to allow drivers to park on other levels during the project. “We are excited about this project as it will allow markings to be easily identifiable and create a safe environment for those parking in the garage,” said Main Street Director Amber Varona. The project is anticipated to take about a week.
LONGVIEW — Tuesday morning, CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Hospital employees and patients gathered out front for a Christmas event that had been paused for the last few years. According to our news partner KETK, Longview SWAT, including a Blue Santa, rappelled down the side of the hospital for all to see. “[It] brings the city together, shows the police department and fire can all work together and all make the city better,†said Lyle Potter, a Longview Police Department Patrol Officer. Fittingly named Operation Christmas Cheer, it’s a way to bring the holiday spirit to those who spend a lot of time in the hospital. Once they land, the SWAT team hands out gifts and candy canes. “This is the first time they’ve done it since 2019, so I think it’s especially important today,†said Todd Hancock, CEO of CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Tax Office has closed early after an employee noticed water outside the building. On Tuesday afternoon, Smith County Tax Assessor-Collector Gary Barber reportedly noticed water coming up through the pavement in front of the tax office building on Front Street and notified the City of Tyler Water Utilities Department. The City said they shut off water to the Cotton Belt Building and Barber shut down the office. The Lindale, Noonday and Troup substation tax offices remain open. The Cotton Belt Building is expected to reopen Wednesday morning, officials said.
GREGG COUNTY — Gregg County authorities say there is no evidence of foul play in connection to the death of an inmate at their North Jail facility on Tuesday. According to a statement from the sheriff’s office, jail staff were conducting observation floor walks when they saw a 64-year-old inmate unresponsive in his cell. “Jail staff along with jail medical staff began immediate lifesaving procedures,†the statement read. “The inmate was transported to a local hospital by EMS personnel where he was later pronounced dead.†The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office notified the Texas Commission on Jail Standards about the death. Per policy, the Texas Rangers were notified and are investigating. The inmate’s identity will be released after his next-of-kin has been informed.
PALESTINE — The City of Palestine announced a water outage in some parts of the city for Wednesday morning. According to our news partner KETK, the water outage will occur on East Park Ave from Lakeview Ave to East Neches Street on Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., or until repairs can be completed. Officials said if the public has any questions or concerns to contact public works at 903-731-8423.
TYLER — A post office has been damaged after a man allegedly crashed into the building before 3 p.m. on Tuesday. According to our news partner KETK and Andy Erbaugh, the Public Information Officer for Tyler PD, it is suspected that the man was parked at front of the Azalea Post Office on 2627 S. Broadway Ave. when he put the car in drive instead of in reverse. The driver damaged the front of the building, going through the glass walls. No one inside was injured, but the driver sustained injuries due to the airbag opening, Erbaugh said. The post office reportedly remains open.
TYLER — Mary Ruth “Ruthie†Graham earned her Bachelor’s degree from UT Tyler School of Nursing on her 72nd birthday. According to the university, Graham walked across the stage to receive her diploma on Dec. 8. Graham said in a release that after bonding with the nurses that helped her with the births of her four children she had decided that she wanted to help women in the same way they helped her, our news partner KETK reports. “I’d wanted to complete college all of these years, and this was my opportunity,†Graham said. “I knew it was my time.†She had earned her RN license in 1994 and worked in labor and delivery for 13 years. While working she helped her children through their own academic endeavors including four bachelor’s degrees, two master’s degrees and one pursing their Ph.D. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — A former ranch manager was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to cattle theft. According to our news partner KETK, Jesus Sergio Perez-Sanchez, 67, was first investigated back in Dec. 2021, where he was accused of putting three yearlings up for auction and placed one of them in his name without the landowner’s consent. He was then accused of taking a bull and a cow to an auction where he placed the cow under his own name, again, without the landowner’s consent. Perez-Sanchez was arrested for two counts of theft in March 2022 after officials said the landowner “noticed discrepancies in cattle sales and called Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Rangers.†According to Smith County judicial records Perez-Sanchez pleaded guilty to theft of cattle/horse/exotic livestock less than $150,000 on Dec. 8. He was sentenced to six years in prison on Friday.
TYLER — The East Texas Food Bank has a new resource center opening later this month that they say will allow them to serve more people than ever. According to our news partner KETK, they plan to serve 500 families per week and provide 756,000 meals each year with the new Tyler Resource Center at Robertson Road. The Tyler Resource Center will include a “Healthy Food Pantry†as well as access to other services to help families reach self-sufficiency. Other services include health screenings, rental assistance and help with SNAP benefits. “It’s just really all of the type of services that are available in the community,†East Texas Food Bank CEO David Emerson said. “We’re able to bring them here because we’re going to have 500 families every week showing up to get services and so they’re going to be able to learn about these other services. And we can then cooperate with those other partner agencies to get them everything, hopefully, that they need.†Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Tyler Police closed a portion of Loop 323 Monday following a report of a suspicious package. According to officials, Tyler police and fire responded to a call of a suspicious property condition around 11:30 a.m. in the Whataburger parking lot located at 345 SSW Loop 323. The bomb squad was called to the scene. Around 2:20, the “suspicious property condition investigation†has been determined by Tyler PD to pose no real danger, and Loop 323 has been reopened. Tyler PD Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh said the item was an empty safe that was open with wires exposed that were likely connected to the keypad before the safe was pried open.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY — The Texas Department of Public Safety has announced two upcoming lane closures on I-20 in Van Zandt County this week. On Monday and Tuesday, the eastbound and westbound outside lanes at I-20 and FM 859 will be shut down as a part of a bridge replacement project at FM 859. According to DPS, this is east of Splash Kingdom in Canton. According to our news partner KETK, the eastbound and westbound outside lanes at I-20 and FM 47 will be shut down Wednesday and Thursday as a part of a bridge replacement project at FM 859.
SMITH COUNTY — An East Texas county rules that a Jewish menorah cannot be displayed on a public square. Commissioners in Smith County decided not to permit the display of the Jewish symbol during the observance of Hanukkah. County Judge Neal Franklin said in recent years the county has allowed only secular holiday decorations on the downtown Tyler Square to avoid lawsuits and demands from fringe religious groups demanding to display symbols. Tyler Rabbi Neal Katz says the menorah has been displayed in the past without controversy, but the display broke a few years ago and was only replaced this year. Katz says the decision is “antagonistic” to the Tyler Jewish community.
UPSHUR COUNTY — A man was sentenced to prison after injuring a man and pregnant woman in a drunk driving crash. According to our news partner KETK, Rodney Seahorn, 48, left a residence in White Oak and traveled North toward Gilmer in early April. He allegedly entered the intersection of FM 1844 illegally and in the wrong lane of traffic. Authorities said he collided with a husband and wife who were reportedly driving to Longview to celebrate the wife’s birthday, who was seven months pregnant at the time. Officials said the victims had to be cut from the vehicle and their bodies were crushed. The baby reportedly had to be surgically removed and was placed in the NICU for an extend time. Read the rest of this entry »
GLADEWATER — The shelter in place issued in Gladewater Wednesday following a gas leak has been lifted, according to Fire Chief Mike Simmons. Simmons said construction workers were installing a new utility pole when they accidentally hit a 4-inch gas pipe. The gas leak affected two schools, 12 businesses and nearly 50 homes, our news partner KETK reports. Though gas leaks can be serious, Simmons said he believes the quick response from all crews at the scene prevented anyone from getting hurt or sick. According to a release, officials ask anyone returning to the area affected by the gas leak to open all doors and windows and ventilate their homes for at least an hour or more. Officials warn people not to relight pilots or other flame and heat sources until ventilated to be safe. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The trial has begun for Daniel Nyabuto, who was charged in the death of a Smith County deputy. According to our news partner KETK, Daniel Nyabuto’s trail began with opening statements from the prosecution and defense. Nyabuto was charged with intoxicated manslaughter in connection to the death of Smith County Deputy Lorenzo Bustos. In the first half of the day, multiple witnesses were called to the stand to share what they remembered from that night. “I got out and I ran towards the accident and just asked the other officer how I could help,†said Jacob Miller, a witness. The judge then took a 30 minute recess to allow both sides to discuss the evidence. Detective Michael Skinner, a witness, who was training deputy Bustos the night he was killed, explained what Bustos was doing when the incident occurred. Read the rest of this entry »