Today is
Friday November 29, 2024
HARRISON COUNTY — A 23-year-old man was killed Monday night after being struck by a freightl-iner truck tractor towing a utility trailer on I-20 near Waskom. According to the Department of Public Safety and our news partner KETK, a preliminary crash report found that the truck tractor was traveling westbound on I-20 when “the pedestrian ran into the roadway.†Hunter Dorram, 23, of Grand Prairie, was pronounced dead at the scene and the driver of the truck had no injuries reported.
TYLER — Committee members, past chairs, sponsors, and hospital partners joined the 2023 Tyler Cattle Barons’ Gala Chairs, Sara and Ryan Nash, for the announcement of the Gala’s 2023 headline entertainer Wednesday at The Potpourri House during the American Cancer Society Leadership Breakfast. Country star Jack Ingram will headline the 35th Annual Gala, Hope on the Horizon, June 10 at the Texas Rose Horse Park, home of the event for the past five years. 2022 Gala Chair Whitney Cain told attendees, “The work of the American Cancer Society is incredible. So many milestones and advancements in prevention and treatment have been made, but we are not done. To continue the work to literally put an end to cancer, we know that we are Stronger Together here in Tyler.†Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — An East Texas museum says it will not receive a major donation from the ex-wife of Muhammad Ali, as previously announced. The Texas African-American museum in Tyler has announced that the one-million dollar gift from Dr. Khalilah Camacho-Ali will be unfulfilled. The donation was announced at a fundraising gala in February of last year. But the Empowerment Community Development Corporation announced Wednesday on behalf of the museum that Camacho-Ali will not provide the contribution after all, saying only that she doesn’t have the funds.
TYLER — The City Council voted Wednesday to enter into an advanced funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for two Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Projects. The first project is an LED curve warning system and profile pavement markings, which will be installed through the reverse curve on West Grande Boulevard. The LED curve warning system and profile pavement markings were safety improvements recommended in the West Grande Boulevard Reverse Curve study. The total construction cost of the project is currently estimated at $134,704.79. Read the rest of this entry »
AUSTIN — On Monday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced Senate committee assignments for the 88th Legislature. Sen. Bryan Hughes was appointed chairman of the Committee on Jurisprudence and reappointed chairman for the Committee on State Affairs, our news partner KETK reports. Hughes is serving his second term in the Texas Senate, representing 16 counties in East Texas. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Emergency Services District 2 announced on Monday a new fire chief was hired “after an extensive search.†According to our news partner KETK, Fire Chief Eric Greaser assumed the role on Jan. 9. “I am honored to be of service to the citizens of Smith County and the members of Smith County ESD 2,†Greaser said. According to the department, Greaser comes to Smith County with over 30 years of fire service and most recently served as the fire chief for the town of Flower Mound. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — Local counties are seeing a big problem with animal dumping in rural areas. People who live in remote areas frequently see unwanted pets abandoned on county roads, which often turn to dirt or gravel, providing an easy spot to dump a dog or a cat without being seen. Upshur County Chief Deputy David Hazel says, “It would be a misconception to believe that most of these animals are taken in and given a good home.” Hazel  added that Upshur County handled 1,900 animal-related calls last year, many for stray or abandoned animals. He says dumping animals is a crime and the sheriff’s office will follow-up leads on anyone who dumps a dog or a cat. He says many deputies have adopted animals because the shelters are overwhelmed.
TYLER — UT Tyler has announced that Gov. Abbott will attend the groundbreaking ceremony for their new $308 million Medical Education Building on Monday, Jan. 23. According to our news partner KETK, the ceremony, which starts at 2 p.m., will be held at 1100 South Beckham Avenue. The ceremony will start with opening remarks and then they’ll break ground and take photos. The event concludes with a reception. UT System Chairman Kevin Eltife, UT Chancellor James Milliken and UT Tyler President Kirk Calhoun will be in attendance along with Gov. Abbott.
TYLER — No injuries reported following a fire Monday morning at the Sonic on South Broadway in Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, fire crews arrived around 5:30 and said the fire is believed to have started in the grease vent. Traffic delays were reported for a time as crews worked the scene. There was no immediate word on how the fire might affect operations at the restaurant.
TYLER — Eleven Texas Republican members of Congress have written a letter to the Homeland Security Secretary demanding that he change the way he’s dealing with the border. The letter, sent Wednesday from freshman Congressman Morgan Luttrell, of Magnolia, and 10 others to Alejandro Mayorkas, reads in part, “The Department of Homeland Security states the purpose of the secretary is to secure and manage our borders; you have failed to do this job.” The letter was obtained by Fox News Digital. In addition to Luttrell, U.S. Representatives Kay Granger, Michael Burgess, Brian Babin, Dan Crenshaw, Lance Gooden, Ronny Jackson, Pete sessions, Nathaniel Moran, Keith Self and Beth Van Duyne also signed the letter.
ARP — An animal cruelty investigation that began last summer has led to the arrest of an Arp non-profit founder. Kym McRee is the founder of the organization “K-9’s & Heroes” which was established in 2020 to train support and service dogs for veterans. She has been arrested on a charge of cruelty to non-livestock animals. Bond was set at $10,000. Twenty animals – including several dogs – were taken from McKee’s home last August 15th. Officers said the dogs were emaciated and filthy, living in dirty cages and with no fresh water. McRee says she had been hospitalized for weeks and had left the animals in the care of a relative.
TYLER — $86,000 was handed out Tuesday at 17 Tyler ISD campuses. The Tyler ISD Grant Patrol delivered the news to educators that were named 2022-2023 Grants for Great Ideas recipients, our news partner KETK reports. “Grant Patrol is one of the highlights of our year. It’s a rewarding opportunity to partner on these projects with an amazing group of educators who aim to engage their students in new and creative ways,†Tyler ISD Foundation Executive Director Suzette Farr said. The 29 grants given to educators on 17 campuses will fund projects like honey bees at Tyler Legacy High School to supporting the district’s literacy bus and expand student learning in the STEAM lab at Orr Elementary School. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler blocked social media app TikTok from all campus internet networks effective Tuesday, the university announced. According to our news partner KETK, UT Tyler said this comes in response to Gov. Greg Abbott’s recent directive that requires all state agencies to remove the app from state-issued devices and equipment to address cybersecurity risks. “UT Tyler is taking these important steps to eliminate risks to information contained in the university’s network and to our critical infrastructure,†the university said. The order does not apply to student-run accounts that are owned by student organizations, since they are not government or Texas state agency accounts. Read the rest of this entry »
CHEROKEE COUNTY — Law enforcement and a SWAT team took a man into custody around 9:20 p.m. after he barricaded himself inside a home Tuesday, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said. According to our news partner KETK, the man was identified as 34-year-old Lionel Charles. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office attempted to execute a search warrant at a residence on CR 4126 around 5:30 Tuesday evening. The sheriff’s office and Jacksonville Police Department were investigating the residence due to reported stolen property when Charles barricaded himself in a rear bedroom with firearms. Charles was arrested without further incident.
TYLER — On Tuesday, the Smith County Commissioners Court voted to approve the eminent domain proceedings for two businesses on the east side of the square. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County hopes to acquire MJL Holdings at 206 and 214 East Erwin and Rodney Kamel’s at 211 East Ferguson. Smith County Judge Neal Franklin explained this has been a work in progress for years. “We’ve been working for quite some time now, even multiple years for purchasing property on the east side of the square to build our new courthouse,†he said. Franklin is hopeful the two business will accept the final offer letter they sent out recently, so they don’t have to move forward with the eminent domain. Read the rest of this entry »