Today is
Saturday November 23, 2024
NACOGDOCHES â The Nacogdoches Police Department said a driver was killed when their vehicle crashed in the 2000 block of Old Tyler Road on Friday afternoon.
Our news partner, KETK, reports that the driver had already been taken out of the commercial vehicle by other motorists when when the Nacogdoches Police and Fire Departments responded to the scene. Officials said their reports indicate the vehicle was heading south on Old Tyler Road when it used the turn lane to try passing other vehicles. Thatâs when the vehicle left the roadway, hitting trees and rolling over. Nacogdoches PD said that the driver was declared dead at the scene by the Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace.
The vehicle was leaking diesel fuel, so the Texas Department of Transportation and a hazmat team responded to deal with the spill. Nacogdoches PD said theyâre withholding the driverâs name while they work to notify their relatives.
MOUNT PLEASANT â According to our news partner KETK, the Mount Pleasant City Council voted to cut longevity pay in half on Tuesday night, a bonus many city employees receive during the holiday season. According to the cityâs website, each full-time employee should have received ten dollars for every month employed. For example, if an employee has worked for 12 months, they would receive a 120-dollar bonus at the end of the year however council members voted Tuesday night to cut it in half from 10 dollars to five.
âFull-time employees receive $120 per year longevity pay [that is] paid at the end of the year,â the City of Mount Pleasantâs website said. âLongevity pay begins after completion of one year of service to the City.â
The Mount Pleasant Law Enforcement Association and the Professional Firefighters of Mount Pleasant Local 5069 posted statements expressing their disappointment with the city councilâs decision. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL â The Harrison County Sheriffâs Office is searching for a missing family from Marshall. According to our news partner KETK, Gerardo Roman, Alondra Rodriguez, Jazel Roman, and Gerardo Roman Jr. were last seen on Friday, November 15 leaving Trinity Episcopal School where Alondra is an employee.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Harrison County Sheriffâs Office at 903-923-4000 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 903-935-9969.
HENDERSON COUNTYâ A 66-year-old man is at the Henderson County Jail after authorities found him in possession of methamphetamine and supplies used in narcotic distribution during a Tuesday search. According to the Henderson County Sheriffâs Office, at around 6:30 p.m. investigators executed a narcotics search warrant at Singletree Trail just outside of Athens.
During the search, Ricky Clyde Hurt, 66 of Athens, was found in possession of âa large amount of suspected methamphetamine,â baggies and scales, the sheriffâs office said. Hurt was charged with manufacture of delivery of a controlled substance and is being held at the jail on a $150,000 bond.
OVERTON â A 2-year-old has been airlifted to an out-of-state hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound to the chest, Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said. According to our news partner KETK, at around noon on Wednesday, officials were dispatched to the 109000 block of CR 29 near Overton at the Smith and Rusk County line of a reported accidental shooting of a 2-year-old. When officials arrived, the child had already been taken to the Overton Fire Department and later air-lifted to an out-of-state hospital.
The child reportedly sustained a gunshot wound to the side of the chest, and was an in-and-out wound. Smith said the child is in stable condition after undergoing surgery. No arrests have been made.
HOPKINS COUNTYâ Our news partner, KETK, reports that two people are behind bars and three others have warrants for their arrest in connection to recent East Texas vehicle burglaries.
According to Hopkins County Sheriff, Lewis Tatum, the department began working with other East Texas law enforcement agencies that were also affected by the vehicle burglaries but the investigation proved to be difficult due to large crime spree area. âWe are proud to announce that at this time Hopkins County has issued warrants on five individuals for engaging in organized criminal activity,â the sheriffâs office said. âTheir bond is set at $1 million for each suspect. Two of the suspects are in custody in another county near Houston.â
In recent months, more than twelve East Texas sheriffâs offices including Wood, Van Zandt, Henderson, Rains, Rusk, Nacogdoches counties reported on vehicle burglaries with some saying the suspects were considered armed and dangerous.In October, Hopkins County shared that some firearms that were taken from vehicles during the crime spree were prevented from being smuggled into Mexico.
Sheriff Tatum said the Hopkins County Sheriffâs office will continue to work to protect the citizens of Hopkins County and their property.
TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler received a $2.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to fund initiatives designed to bolster retention and graduation rates. According to a news release from the university, the grant is part of a federal initiative aimed at strengthening the academic quality and management of institutions that educate under-served students.
âThis grant will significantly enhance our ability to support students from the moment they arrive on campus to the day they walk across the stage at graduation,â said UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD. âBy offering more tailored academic support, we are committed to fostering an environment where every student can achieve their full potential.â Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTYâ According to our news partner, KETK, multiple injuries have been reported following a multi-vehicle wreck north of Tyler.
According to the Smith County Emergency Services District 2 Community Outreach Coordinator, Nikki Simmons, officials were dispatched at around 4 p.m. to FM 14 near CR 326 after a four vehicle wreck. Simmons said there were six injured and of those, three were transported to a local hospital.
Roads have been reopened and at this time, the condition of those hospitalized is unknown.
TYLER — The arrest documents of a convicted murder who was charged on Monday in connection to a fatal house fire, allege that he threw gasoline on who he claimed to be his girlfriend, the day he was supposed to be evicted and less than 20 minutes later drove himself to the Smith County Jail. According to our news partner KETK, the Tyler Fire Department and police responded to the Shady Trail around 3:40 after someone in the neighborhood called about the fire.
Gregory Bargaineer, 67, went to the Smith County Jail around 3:55 a.m. âto turn himself in for throwing gasoline on his girlfriend.â Bargaineerâs alleged girlfriend was later identified as Marilyn Mceachin and her body was found on the floor near the remnants of a bed after the fire department put out the flames, the affidavit said.
Tyler PD detained Bargaineer and took him in for questioning where he made several claims. Later, investigators found discrepancies with his statements such as the victim threw gas on him. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The Glass Recreation Center will be closed from Sunday, Nov. 24, through Sunday, Dec.1, for annual maintenance. This includes resurfacing gym courts and repainting interior walls. Classes and programs will resume normal schedules when the center reopens on Monday, Dec. 2, at 7 a.m. For more information, contact the Glass Recreation Center at (903) 595-7271 or at their website.
TYLER â 
The Tyler ISD Board of Trustees held a first reading of the proposed 2025-2026 school calendar during its November regular meeting. Community members can view the proposed calendar and provide input by completing the calendar survey by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, December 2, 2024. Tyler ISDâs calendar development process emphasizes collaboration and inclusivity. According to Chief Communications Officer Jennifer Hines, community feedback plays a pivotal role in shaping a calendar that aligns with the needs and priorities of students, staff, and parents. Read the rest of this entry »
DIANA â Our news partner, KETK, report that a New Diana ISD student has been taken for medical treatment after they were hit while crossing a highway intersection Tuesday morning.
According to the school district, the student, whose identity isnât being released, was crossing Highway 259 where it intersects with Highway 154 near the school when a vehicle hit them. First responders arrived and quickly transported the student for a medical evaluation. The parents were notified and are with the student, said district officials.
âWe are grateful for the swift response of first responders and are closely monitoring the situation,â New Diana ISD said. âOut of respect for the family and their privacy, we will not be sharing further details at this time.â The school district also said that their students safety is always their top priority and asked parents to talk to their children about the expectation that once they arrive on campus they must remain there.
UPDATE: Our news partner, KETK, reports that Winona ISD and Big Sandy ISD are releasing students immediately today due to a power outage.
Big Sandy ISD -buses will begin running their regular routes. School administration noted if it appears that no one is home for elementary school students, they will be brought back to campus until a parent is able to come get them. Students who donât ride the bus are available for pickup immediately. Athletic events for Big Sandy will continue as planned and any changes will be communicated to students and parents as soon as possible.
WINONA â According to the district, the outage is city-wide, and parents are encouraged to pick up their children as soon as possible.
Buses will be available between the hours of 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. The district says they will continue to notify parents of any future developments and the status for Wednesday.
TROUP — The City of Troup gathered together for âHoliday in the Countryâ and to watch the second annual Christmas Tree lighting on Monday, according to our news partner KETK. The 30-foot-tall Christmas tree is now officially lit, kicking off the Christmas season in downtown Troup. It was a special night because the honorary tree lighter is Troup native, Cooper Reid. The family was asked to be the honorary Christmas tree lighters last year, but couldnât make it due to Cooperâs condition. Now, itâs one year later and he is greatly improving. In 2022, he was injured during a homecoming football game and since then, he has been on a journey to recovery since surviving a brain injury.
âWe were very honored and happy that we would be here this time, this year. Last year, I donât know that Cooper would have been able to even light the Christmas tree on his own, so I think that God worked it out just the right way, so that he was ready to do it on his time,â said Susanne Reid, Cooperâs mother. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER (AP) â Country singer Sundance Head, a winner on âThe Voice,â is recovering at home after he was accidentally shot in the stomach while handling a firearm on a hunting trip at his East Texas ranch, his agent said Sunday.
Head, winner of the 11th season of NBC’s âThe Voiceâ in 2016, was leaning into his vehicle to grab his .22 caliber pistol when it fell out of its holster and onto the exterior of the vehicle and fired off a shot that hit Head in the stomach, his agent, Trey Newman said in an email. Newman said Head was airlifted to a hospital in Tyler. He said no vital organs were hit and no surgery was needed. Head was released later Friday, he said.
Before his win on âThe Voice,â Head competed in âAmerican Idolâ on Fox in 2007, making it to the top 16 before being eliminated. Head, who has upcoming performances scheduled in Texas and Illinois, is from the community of Porter, located north of Houston.