Today is
Saturday April 20, 2024
SMITH COUNTY – Fireworks sales in Smith County end on Monday. Last month, the county commissioners voted to approve an order authorizing fireworks sales over the Memorial Day holiday period. The sales started last Wednesday. The state legislature previously approved three additional holidays for fireworks sales, as long as county commissioners authorize it. The extra holidays are Texas Independence Day, San Jacinto Day and Memorial Day. County Fire Marshal Connie McCoy-Wasson said Smith County residents are allowed to pop fireworks throughout the year, and are only restricted on when they can buy them.
AUSTIN – Both the Texas House and Senate voted unanimous approval to a bill that mandates seizure response training for all public school employees. The measure now goes to the governor’s desk. The bill, known as “Sam’s Law,” is named in honor of Samantha Watkins, an 18 year old Kilgore high school student. She died in December 2016 following a seizure. She’d been showing signs of the epilepsy a few months before. The measure will help students who have seizures by mandating all school employees watch a video on seizure recognition and first aid. School nurses will watch a much longer video. Plus, the child’s neurologist and parents will give the school a form detailing what to do if that child has a seizure. The bill got in just under the wire. Monday is the last date of the regular legislative session.
LONGVIEW – Longview police are investigating a shooting that left one person injured. It occurred just after 8:00 Saturday night on Hughes Street. The wounded person was taken by a private vehicle to the hospital where there were treated for non-threatening injuries. No other information is available at this time.
TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district for the week of May 27th and June 3rd. Weather conditions or other unforeseen issues could change these work schedules. In Tyler, night work to place the final surface is scheduled from 7:00pm to 6:00am, Tuesday through Thursday,on the FM 2493/Old Jacksonville Hwy Turn Lane Project at Grande Boulevard. Night work will be conducted on Rice Road starting June 2. Motorists can expect lane closures and delays during this work. Get more information on the project in the Smith County section of this release. You can go to https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/030-2019.html and see the project updates for TxDOT’s Tyler District.
TYLER – Those who drive or walk in downtown Tyler need to be alert for some pending work along South Broadway. The city of Tyler will be will be replacing a portion of a storm sewer pipe beneath South Broadway Avenue from West Erwin Street to approximately 140 feet south of West Elm Street. The purpose of the project is to increase the capacity of the storm sewer system and help alleviate flooding at the intersection of South Broadway Avenue and West Erwin Street. Construction is anticipated to begin mid to late June and be completed within 60 days. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The opening of the swimming pool at Tyler’s Fun Forest Park is being delayed. The delays in the pool’s renovations is caused by the recent heavy rains and storms. The Fun Forest pool opening has now been rescheduled for Tuesday, June 11 at 1:00pm.
AUSTIN – A Tyler man was remembered in Austin during a Fallen Heroes Memorial Ceremony. Army Specialist Alexander Missildine of Tyler died in an IED attack in Iraq in October 2017. He was one of five persons honored during the ceremony, which was attended by Governor Greg Abbott. The Governor recognized the five Texans who lost their lives serving in the United States Armed Forces since 2017, and honored all those who have died in military service since the founding of our nation. The Governor told the gathering, “Our fallen military heroes were more than remarkable soldiers. They were sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, siblings, friends, and members of our communities. May we use today and everyday as an opportunity to remember our fallen heroes.”
MINEOLA – The speed limit is being reduced by 10 miles an hour on a portion of State Highway 37 just north of Mineola. The Texas Department of Transportation has changed the speed limit as the result of recent speed studies conducted on the road. The 60 mph speed limit on SH 37 heading north has been extended 1.257 miles. The change from 70 mph to 60mph is designed to promote a more efficient traffic flow and is currently in effect as the new signs have already been installed.
TROUP – Smith County Road 2186, west of Troup, is now open. A portion of the road was closed after it was damaged by heavy rains. Smith County Road and Bridge crews have been working to reopen four roads that suffered wash outs or damaged culverts from storms two weeks ago. On Thursday, County Road 26 was reopened to drivers and on Monday, County Road 1133 was opened. The only road that remains closed is County Road 247, which is east of Tyler.
AUSTIN – The Texas Workforce Commission has awarded 27 grants totaling $5,718,073. The money will go to community colleges, public technical institutes, state colleges and independent school districts. It’s for programs that focus on supporting high-demand occupations through the Jobs and Education for Texans grant program. Some of those funds will be coming to East Texas.
The Mineola School District will receive $257,908. The funds will help purchase and install equipment to provide 155 students with training in the occupation of welder, cutter, solder and brazer. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS – East Texans can benefit over the Memorial Day Holiday from another sales tax weekend in the state. This time you can save on the purchase of certain water and energy efficient products during the state’s Water-Efficient Products and ENERGY STAR sales tax holidays. Both events will run from Saturday through Monday. This is the 4th year for this sales tax holiday. Products displaying a WaterSense label or logo can be purchased tax-free for personal or business use. These include showerheads, bathroom sink faucets and accessories, toilets, urinals and landscape irrigation controls. It also applies to lawn and garden products that help conserve water outdoors. Items qualifying for the exemption include soaker or drip-irrigation hoses; moisture controls for a sprinkler or irrigation system. These items can be purchased tax-free for residential use only. You can go to https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/publications/98-1018.php for more information.
DeBERRY – A Harrison County man has been killed in a Panola County shooting. Dead at the scene was Keileon Johnson, 22, of Waskom. He had been shot once in the chest. Another man was shot in the hand. Arrested, and charged with murder, was Tramaine Butler, 20, of DeBerry. The shooting is said to have followed an argument. It occurred shortly before 5:00 Thursday afternoon on County Road 3151 in DeBerry.
RUSK – A Cherokee County sheriff’s deputy has been indicted on five counts of indecency with a child. Jonathan Bryan Shobert, 46, was arrested by the Texas Rangers in the case back in February. He remains free on a $50,000 bond. According to our news partner KETK, Shobert is said to have “engaged in sexual contact with a child younger than 17 years of age” on September 15, October 1, November 13, December 18 and December 20, all in 2018.
TROUP – A man who was chased in the Troup area by law officers from a variety of departments last Friday has been arrested. According to the Troup Police Department’s Face Book page, Lyle Lee was arrested in Kilgore Thursday morning. He is said to have stolen a truck and a four-wheeler and then fled from officers. Later, he is said to have stolen another vehicle and some weapons. His outstanding warrants include unauthorized use of a vehicle, unlawful possession of a weapon by felon, possession of a prohibited weapon, evading arrest with vehicle, evading arrest, possession of CS Pg 1 and possession of marijuana. Judge Taylor Heaton signed all warrants with his bond totaling $670,000.
TYLER – It is official, Dr. Juan E. Mejia is the new president of Tyler Junior College. School trustees, at a meeting on Thursday, confirmed Dr. Mejia as the new president. He was named the lone finalist for the position on May 1st. He previously served as TJC’s President for Branch Locations & District Provost. He now becomes only the seventh president of the 92-year-old institution. Mejia will assume his new duties on July 1st, following the retirement of Chancellor and CEO Dr. Mike Metke.