Bob Hallmark
Longview Bureau Chief
East Texas
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Bob Hallmark is a longtime reporter for KLTV 7. He grew up in Aldine, a south Texas town. At age 18, he joined the U.S. Navy. He later attended Chapman University in Orange, California.
Before moving to the Tyler-Longview area, Bob worked for Major League Baseball as network director of the Houston Astros Baseball Team. He was also network producer for Houston's International Hockey League, the Houston Aeros Hockey Team. Bob has also worked for radio/television stations in Boise, Idaho.
Bob is married to Norma Hallmark and has two sons: Jacob and Luke. Bob loves the outdoors. He owns a small farm in Hawkins where he raises livestock, including horses. He also does a little farming.
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With fuel eating away more of their budgets, the effort is to offset the cost, buying fresh at a lower price.
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Is a world food shortage looming in the future? Though the USDA says there is no food shortage problem yet, with numerous variables in play, market analysts say it is a possibility.
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The heat is on! As we move into the late spring and early summer months, game wardens on East Texas waterways are already warning about heat danger.
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While the weather has cleared out Friday, people at the Whispering Pines RV park in Rusk County are cleaning up after damage caused by storms Thursday.
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“I actually got behind the storm on highway 43 and I could tell it was starting to ramp up pretty good. Turn onto 1251 off of 43 just north of town. Trees down, debris in the air, definitely knew there was trouble,” said Rusk County OEM Michael Searcy.
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A Ukrainian minister who is good friends with a former East Texas college football coach has arrived safely in the United States with his family.
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Gregg County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Craig Harrington discusses the latest on the case in this webxtra.
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An East Texas man put his life in danger trying to get storm victims out of a frightening situation.
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The tornado cut a six mile path of damage near the Elysian Fields area, according to the Harrison County Fire Marshal. However, despite the large amount of tree damage, no homes received any damage.
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As the East Texas Winter fades, and we move into the Spring the temperatures will progressively get warmer, and with it comes the emergence of insects.
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“The burden of proof is on the veteran themselves. You have to prove to the VA that you were there. We help them gather all that evidence and submit it to the VA,” says Gladhill.
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Taking fewer vacations and doing less ‘non-essential’ spending are some of the things East Texans say that they're doing to save money.
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An East Texas school district begins using voter approved bond money to renovate and improve campuses, and give a facelift to a storied old stadium.
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Mercy Works director Debbie Lascelles talks about the efforts to help refugees and orphans who fled as the Russian attack advanced.
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His post-World War 2 act of compassion made him a legend with German children, who simply knew him as the ‘Candy Bomber.’
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The Texas A&M Forest Service says that trees were the vegetation most impacted by the winter “hammer blow” of 2021.
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Texans’ memory of “snowmaggedon” from last February is pushing consumers to prioritize preparing for a power loss or water pipes freezing.
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A candidate for public office has asked authorities to investigate campaign signs. She believes many of her signs are being stolen and vandalized in Upshur county.
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Achieving the American Dream is the subject that a foreign journalist has come to East Texas to write a book about.
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East Texas farmers, who suffered losses during the tumultuous weather year of 2021, have a chance to recover some of their losses through a government loan program.
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Investigators hope physical evidence will provide answers in the disappearance of an East Texas woman, after her vehicle is found in a remote wooded area, over two years after the woman vanished.
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It has been a difficult year for the lumber industry with supply shortages and the inflated prices that resulted from them.
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The City of Gilmer is showing support for the Buckeyes as they head off to the 4A state championship game in Arlington.
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Texas Lottery director of media relations Lauren Callahan talks on how gifting to children can create a real problem.
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Nine out of ten wildfires in Texas are caused by humans, TFS says
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Hunters are making last-minute preparations for the start of the traditional Texas deer hunting season, which starts the first weekend in November.
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One East Texas police department is looking back into a couple of cold cases in the hopes identification, and ultimately solving them.
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From snow to heavy rains to hot sun, it's been an eventful weather year in East Texas.
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KTRE’s Bob Hallmark spoke with Rusk County Sheriff Johnwayne Valdez about the circumstances leading up to the arrest of Cheryl Thibodeaux after meeting with an undercover officer investigating solicitation of murder.
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Sidewalk bistro's, the art district, the Eiffel tower, no it's not France, but East Texas.
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Rusk County Sheriff’s Office investigators told KLTV News that the shooting incident that occurred Thursday night was not a drive-by.
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Body was discovered in a wrecked car off the north side of Highway 80
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Over the next two months, several East Texas hunting seasons will intersect, and game wardens are hawking for safety.
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He was a national and East Texas treasure: A World War 2 and Korean War veteran who inspired his family and those around him.
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An East Texas gym is a throwback to the old days when boxers trained in dark confines with no air-conditioning, and became tougher for it. With only a fan to ease the heat, kids and adults choose to train in Spartan conditions in Longview.
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After a long battle with Covid-19, and a long recovery period, an East Texas deputy is back on the job. Gregg county sheriff's office corporal 'James Hagler' was once hospitalized in a comatose state with Covid 19. Today he made a much anticipated return to work.
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The suspect wanted in connection with a homicide investigation is now in custody, according to the Rusk County Sheriff.
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Texas law enforcement almost across the board is putting out the word that jobs and careers are available, and they need applicants.
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Game Warden Todd Long urges people enjoying water activities at the lake, pool, or fishing by the river to wear a life jacket or have one accessible, because “things can happen so quickly and quietly”.
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There may be some light at the end of the tunnel for East Texans who are feeling the effects of inflated lumber prices. Indicators show lumber prices are falling.
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Some East Texas businesses continue to have problems finding employees, especially restaurants. But one Longview business has overcome those obstacles, and the odds of opening during a pandemic. While most restaurants still have employee shortages, Judds Downtown Cafe in Longview is fully staffed.
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Four men, including Athens Mayor James Monte Montgomery, have been arrested and charged with online solicitation of a minor.
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East Texas' local produce crops have suffered due to so many weeks of overcast skies and rain.
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It started around a week ago when Hawkins police came to the aid of a resident who had medical issues, and the officers and citizens did much more than she expected.
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Texas game wardens are investigating a boating accident that left two people hospitalized.Game wardens were called to a single watercraft collision on the Sabine river just south of White Oak near the highway 42 bridge around 7:30 last night.
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An East Texas man comes away with top honors in a national drag racing event in Georgia, and the last trophy of it's kind. Longview native Tony Jones runs his own air conditioning-heating business, but in his spare time he's into 'high octane speed.'
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The long road to recovery for one East Texas deputy, once in a coma with 'Covid-19', is not over yet. Gregg county sheriff's 'corporal James Hagler', was released from the hospital last month, but his struggle to recover continues.
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The pandemic had numerous after-effects, among them, the rising cost of lumber and building materials, creating problems for East Texas home builders and re-modelers. Though new home construction has increased since February, lumber and other variables are making doing business a challenge.
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Some East Texas amateur boxers are getting their final weeks of training in, preparing for a 'Golden Gloves' competition, and for many it's the first competition they've had in nearly 2 years. Amateurs at 'Sniper-Wolf boxing in Longview', are feverishly stepping up their training.
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A successful opening weekend for an East Texas renaissance festival. 'Avalon Faire' in Kilgore off of FM 1252, had good crowds on it's opening weekend. The festival features music, acrobats , and of course the crowd favorite, jousting tournament.