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GUN BARREL CITY – The Gun Barrel City Fire Department said that they freed a driver who was trapped in their vehicle after crashing into a tree on Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, the crash happened around 9:25 p.m. in the 300 block of Legendary Lane when the vehicle left the roadway and hit a tree. According to Gun Barrel City Fire Department, the speed of the crash trapped the driver inside and they had to use Hurst Jaws of Life Rescue Tools to free the driver. The driver was transported to a hospital in Tyler by helicopter, officials said. Gun Barrel City Fire and Police Departments, the Seven Points Police Department and the Texas Highway Patrol responded to the scene.

TYLER– Tyler Junior College hosted a homecoming tailgate and solar eclipse watch party at the W.T Brookshire Conference Center in Tyler on Saturday according to our news partner KETK. Everyone wore their eclipse glasses and safely watched the spectacular astronomical event unfold. “With the annular eclipse, which is what we had today, the moon is further away from the sun and so, we wouldn’t see a total eclipse like we will in April,” said Jean Fuller, a TJC educator. “I’m more excited about it, although this one was cool.” During the eclipse in April, Fuller said it will be a total solar eclipse where you’ll have two minutes where you can look directly at the eclipse without hurting your eyes. Fuller added that East Texas won’t have another total eclipse in until the next millennium.

TYLER – Anderson, Henderson and Smith County Game Wardens responded to an anonymous call about alligator poaching along the Neches River and their investigations led to them discovering a suspect at the scene. According to our news partner KETK, they found an alligator shot with a compound bow behind the Lake Palestine spillway. The investigation also states that after the suspect allegedly injured the 4.5-foot alligator, he jumped into the river to retrieve the alligator. Two other accomplices assisted in dispatching the alligator with a knife before the trio began taking pictures and a video to post on social media. Continue reading East Texas Game Wardens catch alleged poacher

LINDALE – The City of Lindale’s boil water notice has been rescinded. The notice was put into effect Wednesday afternoon after contractors hit a water line on Highway 16 West. Darcey Harris from the City of Lindale, emailed the cancellation of the boil water notice Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.

MOUNT PLEASANT – Our news partners at KETK report that two people have been charged with capital murder in connection to the death of a 23-month-old child. According to the Mount Pleasant Police Department, 25-year-old Jermaine Tyrelle Hooks and 25-year-old Chelsea Lashaun Davis were arrested and later indicted for capital murder, and a warrant was issued for Davis for interference with public duties. Police said they received information on July 2 regarding the death of Davis’ 23-month-old daughter. The child had been taken to Children’s Medical Center where she died from her injuries. “After receiving the information and based on the child’s injuries, an investigation into the death was started,” MPPD said in a statement. “The investigation ultimately led to probable cause for the arrest of Davis and Hooks.” Davis and Hooks were arrested on Oct. 12 and booked into the Titus County Jail.

TYLER – Our news colleagues at KETK report that three East Texas men were arrested Thursday and Friday by the Department of Public Safety after an undercover sting. According to officials with DPS, the investigation was led by their criminal investigations division and coordinated stings led to the arrests. Ian Bell, 20 of Tyler, was arrested on Thursday for online solicitation of a minor. Sergio Rubalcava, 28 of Kilgore, was arrested on Friday for soliciting someone under 18 and Tyler Sieber, 28 of Whitehouse, was arrested on Friday for online solicitation of a minor. They are each being held on a $100,000 bond.

TYLER – A man was sentenced to 45 years in prison for aggravated robbery in connection to the fatal shooting of a Tyler teen. Our news partners at KETK report that Lorenzo Martinez entered a guilty plea and subsequently received a sentence on Friday. The charge of robbery arises from an incident that occurred in 2021, involving a shooting outside a residence on Omega Drive in Tyler, resulting in the death of 17-year-old Jesse McNeely. Martinez and his co-defendant, Andres Urrutia, were arrested a few days following the shooting incident in Galveston County. They were subsequently transported to Tyler and booked into the Smith County Jail.

UPSHUR COUNTY — A 43-year-old man, Carlton Grant, was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday in Upshur County after being convicted of a 2018 capital murder. According to our news partner KETK, the body of Rachel Rhoads, 24, was discovered on April 1, 2018 off FM 726, near Highway 154, just one day after she was reported missing. At the time of the discovery, the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office said circumstances surrounding Rhoads’ death “were suspicious” and then ruled her death a homicide. In a press release from the district attorney’s office, Grant and an accomplice, Lindsey Jo McFadden, 35, walked to Rhoads’ home in the Flamingo Trailer Park to visit her roommate. Neither of them had a vehicle and when they met Rhoads, and asked her for a ride, which she agreed to do. When the group got into the vehicle, Grant choked her with a device made of wire. He then pulled her into the backseat of the car and began punching her and placed a zip tie around her neck.

NATCHITOCHES, LA — Former Tyler Junior College safety Ronnie Caldwell, 21, died Thursday morning after being shot several times, according to reports by ESPN and our news partner KETK. Caldwell was a junior safety for the Northwestern State football team after transferring from TJC following the 2021 season. “The Northwestern State family has suffered a tremendous loss,” head football coach Brad Laird said. “Ronnie Caldwell was a young man who had a bright future ahead of him on or off the football field. He was our voice in the locker room. When Ronnie spoke, others listened. The respect our football team had for Ronnie was evident. He did not play a snap this year because of an injury, but his voice resonated with every member of our team from the first player to the 115th on our roster. Our hearts are broken and ache for Ronnie’s family and friends.” Continue reading Former TJC football player fatally shot in Louisiana

HENDERSON – According to a Rusk County Sheriff’s Office release and our news partners at KETK, a Henderson man was charged with felony of possession of a controlled substance. Joel Gibbs Jr., 47, of Henderson, was arrested at the scene where a search warrant was being executed after deputies allegedly found meth, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a prohibited weapon. His bond was set at $80,000.

GILMER – A Gilmer ISD teacher was placed on administrative leave after allegations of inappropriate communication with a student according to our colleagues at KETK. In a letter sent to Gilmer ISD parents Wednesday night, Superintendent Rick Albritton assured parents that the district “is taking all responsive action necessary and appropriate, including removal of the educator pending investigation and reporting to the appropriate authorities.” Albritton told KETK News that police have been notified and an internal investigation is underway. Parents or students with information relevant to the investigation are asked to contact Albritton at 903-841-7400.

RUSK COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK report that the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office announced on Thursday an internal investigation led to the arrest of a former employee. Officials said that Kaitlyn Rhodes was arrested for two felony offenses related to bringing prohibited items into a correctional facility and having an inappropriate relationship with a person in custody. “Rhodes has been separated from her employment with Rusk County,” officials said. “Since criminal prosecution is pending, no additional information can be released by the sheriff’s office at this time.” Her bonds totaled $50,000.

LONGVIEW — According to a release, U.S. Senator John Cornyn announced Thursday that the Longview ISD was awarded a federal grant of $3.2 million to support the development and implementation of magnet schools. Senator Cornyn is a member of the Senate Finance, Intelligence, and Judiciary committees. The Longview ISD has 5 magnet schools total: Longview High School, Forest Park Middle School, Ware East Texas Montessori Academy, Ned. E. Williams Magnet STEAM Academy and East Texas Montessori Prep Academy.