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JACKSONVILLE – The East Texas Food Bank has a new mobile food pantry available for Jacksonville and Cherokee County. According to our news partner KETK, the mobile food pantry will be at Jacksonville’s Alexander Gym Tuesday July 11 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and the second Tuesday each month thereafter. The food bank will be offering fresh produce and meat during this stop. Continue reading East Texas Food Bank offers Jacksonville mobile food pantry

BOWIE COUNTY – Law enforcement is asking for help in finding two inmates who escaped from Bi-State Jail in Bowie County. According to our news partner KETK, the two men are Wayde Burton Land and JC Lee Kirby. Jail surveillance video showed the pair leaving the jail in street clothes and going toward Texas Boulevard in Texarkana. The Bowie County Sheriff’s office ask if you have information on Land or Kirby to call them at 903-798-3149.

TYLER – The Guardian of Seniors’ Rights Award is given by the 60 Plus Association in recognition of Members of Congress who vigorously fight and defend the rights of senior citizens. Congressman Moran in a statement said, “Our seniors have spent their lives working to serve and better our communities, and I’ve made it a priority in Congress to safeguard their voice and rights.”

SMITH COUNTY — A portion of County Road 370, also known as Howell Lake Road in Precinct 3, was closed beginning Monday, July 10, so a bridge can be replaced. The concrete bridge with wooden piers, which runs over the private Howell Lake, will be replaced with a wider concrete bridge with concrete piles, Smith County Engineer Frank Davis said. Signs are up alerting drivers of the closure and drivers will need to take an alternate route. Work is being done by True Roads Construction and is expected to take about three months. For current Smith County road projects, click here.

SMITH COUNTY — Unfilled positions continue to make life hard on local law enforcement. “Law enforcement across the country is shorthanded,” said Sgt. Larry Christian, Public Information Officer with Smith County Sheriff’s Office. The problem seemed to get even worse in 2020, according to our news partner KETK. “COVID hit county jails really hard in the state of Texas,” said Craig Harrington, Gregg County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy. The year 2024 is shaping up to be a critical one for Smith County. The county recently released a draft budget for fiscal year 2024 that includes an emphasis on trying to hire more people to fill detention center vacancies. Christian said getting the right budget passed could shape the county’s future. Continue reading Smith County hopeful 2024 budget fixes ongoing staffing problem

CHEROKEE COUNTY – An East Texas man was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison on Thursday for his part in a meth trafficking operation. According to our news partner KETK Darrell Horace, Jr., 29 of Crockett, pleaded guilty to selling meth in Cherokee County, as well as possession of meth and a firearm. Horace was indicted on his charges in November 2021. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Jacksonville Police Department. Continue reading Man sentenced to 5+ years in federal prison for meth trafficking

GREGG COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK State Rep. Jay Dean (R-Longview) announced Thursday that he will seek reelection next year for District 7. He has held that seat since 2017, serving Gregg, Harrison and Marion counties. Up until 2022, District 7 encompassed Gregg and Upshur County. He previously served as Mayor of Longview for a decade.
Continue reading Jay Dean announces bid for reelection

TYLER — The Athena Alert is now a law. Our news partner KETK reports that the new law is meant to speed up the law enforcement response time when a child goes missing. House Bill 3556, known as the Athena Alert, became law on June 13. Unlike other laws that were just recently passed, DPS said it is in effect immediately. Amber Alerts have to meet four strict rules before the public is notified. The Athena Alert is named after 7-year-old Athena Strand who was killed after being abducted in Wise County.
Continue reading Athena Alert law, officials can notify without confirmed abduction

LONGVIEW – A guilty plea Thursday gets a Longview man 22 years in prison. According to our news partner KETK, 33-year-old James Barron was convicted in the death of 58-year-old Llewellyn Williams. In 2020, Williams was found dead in his home after police were called to stop and perform a wellness check. After an autopsy and evidence gathered at Williams home, law enforcement ruled his death a murder. Barron was indicted for murder in September of that year and has remained in the Gregg County jail since then.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler hosted its first white coat ceremony last week for their inaugural class of medical students. According to our news partner KETK, 40 students said the physician’s oath and received a white coat with a humanism in medicine pin. University president Kirk Calhoun said, “This is a momentous occasion for UT Tyler, a day to recognize the impact these students will have on the health care of the East Texas region.” School officials say that 95% of students in this class are from East Texas.

TYLER – A Smith County mother was indicted for abuse of a corpse after her newborn child’s body was found in March in a bucket outside a home. According to our news partner KETK, Jazzlyn Cooper-Holmes, 23 of Longview, was arrested on March 18 after officials with the sheriff’s office were called to the home in Lindale where the baby was found. The homeowner, who reported to live with Cooper-Holmes, showed deputies a red mop bucket that was reportedly placed outside. Continue reading Smith County mother indicted for abuse of newborn corpse

TYLER — For the month of July, Tyler Animal Services and CASA for Kids of East Texas are partnering to donate school supplies to foster children. All dog and cat adoption fees will be waived with the donation of a backpack with at least 10 school supplies, according to the City of Tyler. Animals adopted from Tyler Animal Services are spayed/neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. The standard adoption fee for dogs is $120 and $80 for cats. To adopt, view available animals or submit an application, click here. Continue reading Pet adoption fees waived with school supply donation at Tyler Animal Services

UPSHUR COUNTY — The Gilmer community is coping with the loss of Jared Maddox. According to our news partner KETK, the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that 58-year-old Jared Maddox died on July 4 due to a fireworks explosion. Residents who knew him well, are now talking about his impact in the Gilmer community. “Jared was a fantastic guy,” Joe Tillery said. “I mean he would help anybody anytime that anybody needed help. He was truly a man’s man. I guess you can say.” Maddox spent almost 30 years at the Longview Fire Department serving his community. Tillery said Maddox’s dedication to the department was second to none. “He would come up and spend the night with us before he ever became a paid firefighter, and he would stay all night and he would just stay at the fire station just waiting on the call to go try and help people,” added Tillery. Continue reading Community mourns loss of beloved Gilmer man killed in fireworks explosion

RUSK COUNTY – Rusk County Officials have located Jasmine Wheat, who was reported missing on Wednesday, safe and sound. According to Sheriff Johnwayne Valdez, she appears to be in good health and will be medically evaluated. According to our news partner KETK Wheat was reported missing in Rusk County on Wednesday, she allegedly experienced a mental health episode and walked off. Several agencies were involved in the search, including officials utilizing ATVs and horses. TDCJ bloodhounds also assisted in the search.

TEXARKANA – According to our news partner KETK on July 3rd Texarkana officers responded to a store in reference to a theft that had taken place. An employee of the store told police that after some quick talking to confuse a clerk at the store, two woman managed to walk out with more than $1,600 in stolen gift cards. An officer on the scene was able to get pictures of the alleged thieves and the vehicle they left in through surveillance video and sent them out to other officers. Continue reading 2 arrested for stealing $1,600 worth of gift cards from East Texas store

BULLARD – Bullard ISD named their new director of safety and security and police chief. According to our news partner KETK, Pat Hendrix, a man who has spent almost 40 years dedicated to law enforcement, was approved for hire at a special meeting on July 5. He will take the place of Chief John Jones, who accepted a regional position with the Texas Education Agency as an Assistant Chief of School Safety and Security. Hendrix brings 20 years of service with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, working as jailer, patrol officer, patrol sergeant, SWAT officer, narcotics officer, major crimes detective and supervisor of the Criminal Investigation Unit. After retiring in 2006, he became the Chief of Police for the Troup Police Department. He stayed for 17 years working to grow the school resource officer program, K9 officer program, student tours of TPD, annual security audits and training exercises and more. Continue reading Bullard ISD names new police chief

GREGG COUNTY — On July 2, a crash involving a Freightliner truck tractor left a woman dead and one injured person in Gregg County.

According to DPS and our neews partners at KETK, a 2014 Freightliner Truck Tractor towing a 2012 Heil semi-trailer was traveling south on State Highway 42 about a mile south of White Oak around 7:15 p.m.

Tonya Gonzales, 50, of Longview, was traveling east in a 2012 Nissan Altima on Texaco Road approaching the intersection.

Officials said the investigation revealed that Gonzales disregarded the stop sign and collided with the truck tractor in the intersection.

Gonzales was pronounced dead on the scene by Justice of the Peace Tim Bryan and the driver of the truck tractor was taken to a local hospital with non-incapacitating injuries.

According to the DPS report, Gonzales was not wearing a seatbelt.

VAN – Van ISD announced Wednesday that Jeremy Peterson has been named middle school principal. According to our news partner KETK, the Kirbyville native has been an educator for 18 years. The entire time in the Van school district. Van Superintendent Don Dunn said, “Mr. Peterson brings a wealth of experience, a strong passion for education and is well-equipped to guide Van Middle School toward continued growth and success.” Peterson earned his bachelor’s degree from UT Tyler and his master’s at Lamar University.

SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Commissioners Court on Wednesday approved the appointment of Tyler Fire Marshal Paul Findley to become the Smith County Fire Marshal.

Our news partners at KETK report his appointment is effective on July 10, County Judge Neal Franklin said. Findley received unanimous support from the commissioner’s court.

Findley works for the Tyler Fire Department as Fire Marshal and Public Information Officer. He has spent 26 years in the fire service and earned certifications as a Master Firefighter, Master Fire Inspector, Master Arson Investigator and Fire Instructor with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection.

He is also licensed as a Master Peace Officer with more than 16 years in law enforcement and has maintained his paramedic license in the mid 1990s. Continue reading Findley appointed Smith County Fire Marshal

TYLER – Our news partners at KETK report that a Tyler man was sentenced to life in prison in the June 2021 death of a Tyler teenager after pleading guilty to capital murder.

Andres Urrutia, 21, pleaded guilty on June 12 to the murder of 17-year-old Jesse McNeeley, who was found shot at his home on Omega Drive.

Two other men were indicted for capital murder in the case alongside Urrutia. Urrutia was arrested days after the shooting in Galveston County for murder and on four outstanding felony warrants unrelated to the case.

A few weeks before pleading guilty, the district attorney’s office elected to seek the death penalty in Urrutia’s case. His two co-defendants are set to appear in court in November.

CROCKETT – Our news partner KETK reports that a man has been arrested after robbing a truck stop convenience store with a gun in Crockett on Tuesday at around 6 a.m. Crockett police responded to the Xpress Truck Stop located at 1409 East Loop 304 in reference to an armed robbery. Officials said an investigation unveiled that the suspect had allegedly entered the store pointing a handgun at employees and stole money from the cash register. According to the release, the suspect was seen leaving the store in a blue SUV and police said they were able to locate the vehicle nearby at the Cole Creek Apartments and determined which apartment it belonged to.

Officers said they talked to occupants of the apartment who identified the owner of the vehicle as 38-year-old Curtis Randle. Police then obtained a search warrant for the apartment and the release stated that they found “the stolen money, the handgun believe to have been used in the robbery, as well as other evidence.” Randle was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department is asking for help in locating a missing person. According to our news partner KETK, she is 32-year-old Jasmine Lucky. Jasmine is 5’6″, weighs around 240 pounds and has a scar on her neck. Authorities say her last know location was downtown Longview near Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center. If you have information on Jasmine’s whereabouts, contact the Longview Police Department.

GILMER – One person is dead and four are injured after several fire departments responded to the scene of a fire at the Firehouse 9 Farm event venue in Gilmer, officials said. Officials said they responded Tuesday morning around 10:33 a.m. to the fire at 4101 Locust Road. Upshur County officials said the incident involved “fireworks explosions and other volatile incendiaries. Authorities said that 58-year-old Jared Maddox was found dead at the scene. According to our news partner KETK, the fire is being investigated by the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office and ATF. Sheriff Webb and Upshur County Emergency Management Coordinator Mark Nichols are also on the scene, a release stated. There is no indication of foul play.

HARRISON COUNTY – A man is dead after an early morning shooting in Harrison County on Tuesday. Our news partner KETK reports that EMS, the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office and Harrison County Sheriff’s Office responded to the shooting in the Ore City/Lazy Lakes area. Officials said they found Jeremy Vick, 35, had been shot and began receiving medical treatment. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. HCSO officials said they are currently investigating the incident as a homicide.

KILGORE – Kilgore Police announced on Tuesday that the city’s “Fourth of July Extravaganza” has been canceled after an accident.
According to our news partner KETK, Officials said the accident, involved the equipment carrying the fireworks for this year’s show. The band and fireworks show has been canceled, but the city pool will continue to be free for the day.

UPSHUR COUNTY — A wanted man out of Upshur County was arrested on Monday in Longview for his alleged involvement in a game room robbery. According to our news partner KETK, Dewayne Stevenson had an outstanding felony warrant for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and was wanted by Upshur County authorities who said he is a suspect in a game room robbery that took place back in May. According to the release, Upshur County Crime Stoppers received a tip about the possible whereabouts of Stevenson. The tip said Stevenson was seen in Longview, so officials said the Longview Police Department went to the reported location and arrested him on the Upshur County warrant. Stevenson was booked into the Gregg County Jail and officials said they will be moving him to the Upshur County Jail later this week.

KILGORE – Authorities in Kilgore Monday announced they are looking for a Kilgore man whose been reported missing. According to our news partner KETK, missing is 24-year-old James “Bud” Schilling. Kilgore PD says that Schilling is 6’2″, slender build with brown eyes and brown hair. He was last seen near the Post Oak Road Church of Christ. The Kilgore Police Department asks if you have information to please contact them. For additional photos of James Schilling, go here.

TYLER — Nearly 1,202 are without power in East Texas as of 9:50 p.m. Monday as thunderstorms popped up in East Texas according to our news partner KETK. To see a list broken out by county of outage data supplied by ONCOR, SWEPCO and other electric co-ops Click here.

TYLER – The Texas Department of Public Safety is making its presence known during the July Fourth holiday. According to our news partner KETK, the DPS is watching for violators of the Move Over, Slow Down law. The Move Over, Slow Down law requires all drivers to slow down when they encounter tow trucks or emergency vehicles on the side of the road with their emergency blinkers on. DPS Director Steven McCraw said “Please be mindful of our state’s traffic laws, be courteous of other drivers on the roads and make safety your first priority so everyone can have a good holiday.”