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TYLER – A donation has made it possible for a member of the Smith County Sheriff’s Department to wear body armor. The bullet and stab protective vest goes to the department K9 named “Joker.” The vest comes because of a charitable donation from a non-profit organization. The vest, which is sponsored by an anonymous sponsor, will be embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.” Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks. Continue reading Sheriff’s Department Employee Gets Body Armor

AUSTIN – An unemployment record for Texas. And Tyler is running ahead of the state. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 3.8% in November. This sets a new record for the lowest unemployment rate recorded in four decades. Tyler’s unemployment rate fell last month. It went from 4.2% in October to 3.5% in November. A year ago it was 4.4%. Longview’s unemployment rate went up slightly, to 4.2%. It was 3.9% last month. But it is still far ahead of the November 2016 unemployment rate, which was 6%.

TYLER — Tyler Police have issued an arrest warrant for a man wanted on a deadly conduct charge. Zechariah Aacon Smith, 20, Tyler, is accused of firing shots into a home on west Queen Street around 8:00 last night. No one was home at the time of the shooting. The owners of the residence showed up at the same time of officers and advised them that he knows who the suspect is and that the incident is related to an earlier disturbance in the park between the two. Tyler Police request your help in locating Smith. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Smith are urged to contact the Tyler Police Department, at 903-531-1000, or Crimestoppers at 903-597-CUFF (903-597-2833).

TYLER — A Chandler man has died after crossing into oncoming traffic and hitting a car head-on. According to Tyler Police, the accident happened just before 11:30 Thursday night on west Grande. James Finkie was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Police said it appeared that Finkie lost control of the bike and crossed over into oncoming traffic. He hit a Ford Focus head-on. Officers do not believe alcohol was a factor in the wreck.

MELROSE – A Tyler lab has identified the victim of a Nacogdoches County mobile home fire. Caroll Eugene Bates, 77, of Melrose, died in the fire around 3:00 Tuesday morning. Arriving fire units found the home fully engulfed in fire when they arrived. The fire is still under investigation by the Nacogdoches County Sheriff Office and an arson investigator with the sheriff 0ffice. Sheriff Jason Bridges says it is believed that the fire started from an electrical problem at the residence on County Road 419 between Nacogdoches and Chireno.

TYLER – A joint law enforcement operation has resulted in arrests in southern Smith County. It was conducted Wednesday by units from the Smith County Sheriff’s Department along with Department of Public Safety, game wardens, precinct 5 constable’s office, Smith County Fire Marshal’s office and Arp Police Department K9. Also, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office deployed deputies to the north end of Cherokee County to assist with the operation. It is being reported that 12 arrests were made, 5 citations issued, and 25 warnings citations were issued. One firearm with a silencer was recovered. Also recovered were 2 stolen vehicles and several drugs, including marijuana, heroin, methamphetamine, and other controlled substances. Continue reading Southwestern Smith County Criminal Enforcement Operation

TYLER – The 12th Court of Appeals in Tyler has upheld a ruling over a controversial sign in Hawkins. The sign reads “Jesus Welcomes You To Hawkins.” The dispute is over land along U.S. 80 where the sign is located. The Jesus Christ Open Altar Church bought the land from two funeral homes. The city sued the church over the ownership to the land as a way to avoid a lawsuit from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. That’s after the foundation threatened to sue the city because the sign was placed on what it considered public property. A trial court determined that the City of Hawkins holds an easement over church owned property. The appeals court affirmed the court’s ruling. The sign remains up. Hawkins City Secretary Dona Jordan says the next move is up to the Hawkins city council.

TYLER – The Smith County grand jury has returned nearly two dozen indictments. Among those named in the true bills is a a Tyler man accused of stabbing his girlfriend numerous times. Booked into the Smith County Jail on October 16, was Chrishawn Polk, 20, of Tyler. He is charged with aggravated assault and two charges of interfering with an emergency call. He is accused of attacking Allyson Smith, 26. The attack occurred at a home on Emerson Avenue where they lived with with some of Polk’s extended family members. Smith survived the attack.

LONGVIEW – Children hospitalized at Longview’s CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center got some special visitors Thursday morning. The Longview Police Department’s SWAT Team members, dressed as superheroes, rappelled down a wall of the hospital. Following that: a visit with the children in their unit and delivery of gifts. Longview Police Department social media coordinator Kristie Brian says Operation Christmas Cheer lets them demonstrate their abilities to the community and bring joy to children spending the holidays in the hospital. The hospital’s Clinical Director of Pediatrics and ICU, Metosha Brantley, says the children get very excited about the visit from the superheroes. This is the 4th straight year for Operation Christmas Cheer.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man is free on a $5,000 bond after being accused on hitting his stepson in the head. Lou Reynold Davis, 30, was arrested Tuesday at his home on Valley brook Lane. The Longview News Journal reports the 13 year old boy left his home Monday following an argument with his mother. When he returned home around 1:00 Tuesday morning, Davis is said to have hit the boy in the head with a metal flashlight. Davis was arrested and booked into the Gregg County Jail on a charge of reckless bodily injury to a child. He was released on bond the following day.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man remains jailed after shooting at a woman who ran over his dog. Jose Daniel Rodriguez Jr., 20, is in the Gregg County jail under a $50,000 bond. The charge is aggravated assault with a deadly women. The December 13th incident occurred on Idlywood Drive near where Rodriguez lives. The Longview News Journal reports the woman saw the dog run in front of her car, but was unable to stop the vehicle in time. Rodriguez is said to have yelled and their fired off several shots. The driver and her woman passenger and her 3 month old daughter were not injured.

TYLER — The city of Tyler will soon begin Christmas tree recycling, offered each year by the city’s Solid Waste Department and Keep Tyler Beautiful. Residents can drop off their undecorated, non-flocked natural Christmas trees starting the day after Christmas and continuing through Sunday, Jan. 21, in designated areas at Golden Road Park and Fun Forest Park. All lights, ornaments, garland, and tinsel should be removed from the Christmas tree before dropping it off near the sign that says “Christmas Tree Recycling.” Go to http://www.cityoftyler.org/News.aspx for more information.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — The National Weather Service reports an EF-2 tornado hit Rusk Tuesday. The NWS earlier released storm damage information from the Rusk area and Reklaw. According to KETK, in Reklaw, the Emergency manager of damage reports some outbuildings have been destroyed by Tuesday’s storm. Some heavy equipment damage is also being seen on the east end of the town. There are reports of 3 houses without roofs 5 miles to the south-west of Rusk. The first house is located at CR 2210 near FM 1857. A second house is located at FM 23 and 2159. Information on the third house is limited. There are multiple reports of downed trees and power lines in the area. In Rusk ISD, school was canceled for Wednesday due to minor flooding and power outages,

TYLER – Tyler Police are looking for a Houston man who was reported missing several days ago by his wife. According to KETK, police say they are searching for 37-year-old Alberto Arias-Nunez. His wife says he came to the area to buy a car. The man’s vehicle was discovered in the Waskom area. If you have any information on Arias-Nunez, you’re asked to contact Tyler Police at 903-531-1000.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been arrested on charges of sexual assault of a child. 28-year-old Michael Dashun Orange was arrested Monday morning at the Guest Inn on N. Access Road after a 16-year-old boy said he assaulted him. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, the teen told police Orange knocked on his door before sunrise. At the time, the teen thought Orange was a woman because he was dressed in pigtails, aqua blue pants and high-heeled boots, according to police. Authorities say when the teen opened the door, Orange pushed his way in. He was jailed on $25,000 bond.

LONGVIEW — Two men have been indicted in Gregg County, accused of attacks on children. 30-year-old Christopher Allen Squires of Gladewater is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child in a September incident; a White Oak mother told investigators her daughter said Squires assaulted her. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report he was jailed on $75,000 bond. 20-year-old Sergio Ari Roldan of Henderson was arrested in October by Longview police, who pursued him out a window in a house where a 14-year-old boy had told his mother that Roldan assaulted him. Roldan’s bonds total $125,000, along with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer.

TYLER — After expressing concerns earlier this month, Tyler’s Salvation Army is rallying in the closing days of its 2017 Red Kettle Campaign. The agency reported Wednesday morning that it had reached 85% of its goal of $375,000. But the organization was still around $55,000 short, and continued donations — big or small — are strongly encouraged. Donors can give by visiting any of the 37 red kettle locations throughout Smith County or by texting JINGLE to 41444. The campaign ends December 23.

GLADEWATER — Gladewater Police arrest a man wanted in connection with two recent church burglaries.According to KETK, Gary Dwayne Green, 31, of Gladewater, was taken into custody after he was released from the hospital. Officials said he suffered a medical event when he was reportedly busted breaking into a church. Officers responded to an alarm call at the First United Methodist Church in Gladewater and found Green inside the building. The same church was burglarized on December 10 and December 12. Church members said a Mac computer, flat screen t-v, keyboard and a DVD player were stolen. Those items have not been recovered. Green has been charged with burglary of a building.

GRAND SALINE – One person has been killed in a two vehicle accident in Van Zandt County. Pronounced dead at the scene Wednesday afternoon was Martha Jane Maxfield, 51, of Grand Saline. The Department Safety says she failed to yield at an intersection and pulled into the path of a pickup truck. Maxfield, who was not wearing her seat belt, was tossed from the vehicle. The pickup’s driver, a Dallas man, is in stable condition in a Dallas County hospital. The accident happened around 4:30 Wednesday afternoon in Grand Saline, at the intersection of Highway 80 and Farm Road 17.

UPSHUR COUNTY — An East Texas teenager died Tuesday after she crashed her vehicle four miles south of Gilmer. According to the DPS report, Cherish Kelley, 17, Big Sandy, was headed north on Highway 155 toward Gilmer when she hydroplaned and hit a tow truck traveling in the opposite direction. Kelley was killed in the wreck. The tow truck driver survived the crash. She has has been identified as Jessica Reed, 31, of Lone Star. DPS stated Kelley’s vehicle was traveling at an unsafe speed.

GREGG COUNTY — A Gregg County jury found Roger Benefield guilty of harassment of a public servant and sentenced him to 45 years behind bars for spitting on a police officer. According to KETK, Benefield was harassing a female at Magrill Plaza when officer Larry Solomon of the Longview Police Department intervened. Benefield became belligerent with Officer Solomon, eventually spitting on him. Benefield was sentenced as a habitual offender due to having two prior felonies on his record.

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court Tuesday approved the completion and final payment of two large road projects in the county. The Commissioners Court voted to accept the completion of the construction contract for road improvements to County Road 1261 (Big Eddy Road), as well as CR 1253. The contract was completed with an underrun of $145,204, Smith County Engineer Frank Davis reported. From Farm-to-Market Road 2661 to Texas Highway 155, west of Noonday, Big Eddy Road was widened from 22 feet to 26 feet, repaired, overlaid, and striped. Continue reading Two Major Smith County Road Projects Completed

LONGVIEW – A portion of I-20 reopened to traffic several hours after an accident that caused major problems. Crews began rerouting westbound traffic Tuesday afternoon as they worked a crash involving two 18-wheelers and two passenger vehicles at Mile Marker 590 in Gregg County. Traffic was being cleared to allow lifting equipment to enter the scene to remove the oilfield cargo from one of the trucks off the roadway. According to TxDOT, crews set up I-20 at FM 2087 to Loop 281 to SH 31 and back to I-20W as the diversion route. Motorists were advised to use alternate routes to avoid delays.

TYLER — Smith County has cancelled jury duty for Wednesday, December 20. Smith County residents who were planning to report for jury duty with their yellow cards don’t have to make the trip to the county courthouse. No new panels will be needed Wednesday, Smith County Jury Coordinator Lisa Bennett said. However, if you have been asked to return for jury duty by a specific court, you must still report.

GLADEWATER — Gladewater police captured a man Tuesday morning in connection with two recent burglaries at a local church. According to KETK, police said the man was expected to be arrested once he is released from an area hospital. Police say the suspect had an unspecified medical event when he was caught in the act. Officers report that they responded to an alarm call at the First United Methodist Church and found the burglar inside. Authorities are not sure if the man was working with others in the crimes. The same church was burglarized December 10 and December 12. Continue reading Man Captured in Church Break-Ins

LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been indicted for intoxication manslaughter in connection with a fatal Gregg County wreck in July. According to KETK, a DPS crash report says 62-year-old Danny Lee was driving a pickup north in the inside southbound lane of U.S. 259 while Benjamin Murphy, 34, of Diana, was traveling south in his car in the same lane. The vehicles collided head-on at the top of a hill. The pickup spun to the left before rolling onto its right side in the inside lane facing west, while the car spun around and came to rest in the outside southbound lane facing north. Murphy was pronounced dead at the scene. Lee was initially hospitalized but was arrested and indicted Monday. He was released the same day on $25,000 bond.

CANTON — An employee with the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s office has pleaded guilty in connection with a fatal wreck in February 2016. According to KETK, the Van Zandt County District Attorney’s Office says Emily Ann Grubbs entered a guilty plea Tuesday for causing a collision that led to the death of Lena’ Pettiet, 33. The accident report said on the day of the crash, Grubbs was en route to an emergency call near the intersection of Highways 64 and 243 in Canton when she t-boned Pettiet’s vehicle. The terms of the plea bargain resulted in Grubbs being convicted of deadly conduct, serving a day in the county jail, paying a $1,000 fine, permanently surrendering her Texas Peace Officer’s license, and issuing a public apology to the Pettiet family.

FLINT — Two homes on Spruce Hill Road in Flint have been destroyed by a fire Monday night. According to KETK, Flint-Gresham VFD initially responded and was assisted by units from Noonday, Bullard, Whitehouse, and the Smith County fire marshal. The flames were contained as of 11:00 p.m. Monday. Officials say there were no people in either home at the time of the fire. No word yet on the cause of the flames. We’ll update this story as more information comes in.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man previously charged with murder has pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated robbery. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report 21-year-old Kentrell Jorail Smith received a 10-year sentence with deferred adjudication — a 10-year probationary period. The case involves a May 2016 robbery that left one person dead at a convenience store on South Eastman Road. One person is now in prison in the case, with another awaiting trial.

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County District Attorney’s Office reports 21-year-old Cody Dewayne Fortman of Longview has been indicted for the October murder of 27-year-old Nicholas Trevion Johnson, also of Longview. According to KETK, police say Johnson’s body was found with multiple gunshot wounds October 15 inside a house on Annette Drive. Fortman was arrested the next day after police identified him as the suspect through the cooperation of a witness. He was booked into the Gregg County Jail on $175,000 bond.