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MARSHALL — The Marshall Police Department disposed of 253 pounds of unneeded medications collected from the April 22nd Drug Take Back event and the ongoing collection of the past six months. The drugs were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration on April 24 for incineration. The Marshall Police Department encourages residents to properly dispose of unwanted or unused medications. The public can bring them to the green drop box in the lobby of the Marshall Police Department, 2101 N. East End Blvd., which is accessible all day, every day. Continue reading Marshall Police tout successful drug take-back event

SMITH COUNTY — K9 Joker officially retired on Tuesday after serving with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. He will retire with his handler Juan Cervantes. According to our news partner KETK, Joker is a seven and a half year old Belgian Malinois who has served Smith County for more than six years. Joker has aided officials with hundreds of operations from apprehension of criminals to finding missing persons.

TYLER – A woman charged in a November 2022 of kidnapping a 5-year-old boy pleaded guilty Monday in Smith County court.  Pamela Medlock, 59, of Overton, was sentenced to eight years deferred adjudication. According to our news partner KETK, Medlock made national news last year when she was identified as the prime suspect in the disappearance of an East Texas elementary school student. The child’s grandparents reported the child missing. He was found with with Medlock after a state trooper stopped her near Colorado City, Texas. After the boy was back with his family, it was revealed that She was a family friend and took the child out for his birthday and didn’t return. Thus the kidnapping charge. The adjudication means that if Medlock completes the eight-year probation, she be eligible to have the kidnapping taken off her record.

MARSHALL – A Smith County student will have their artwork hung in the United States Capitol for a year after winning a competition according to our news partner KETK. The 2023 Congressional Art Competition was created in 1982 to “encourage and showcase artistic talent from across the nation in each congressional district.” This year’s winner from Rep. Nathaniel Moran’s district is Phuong N. Nguyen, who won with a pencil piece that of artist’s mother, “Mom in the Midst of Happiness.” 22 high school students from 12 schools across the First Congressional District of Texas participated this year. For the last two weeks, each piece of artwork was on display at the Michelson Museum of Art in Marshall. Nguyen’s piece will now be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year, where members of Congress, staffers and visitors from around the world will see the winning artwork.

ANGELINA COUNTY — Two individuals have been arrested after forcefully tattooing their children and trying to remove the tattoos once CPS became involved, according to Lt. James Denby with the Zavalla Police Department. Denby said that on April 17, police were notified by CPS about parents tattooing their children and asked for Angelina County officials to be present when they went to the residence where the crime was taking place. According to our news partner KETK, during the visit the next day, April 18, two children ages 5 and 9-years-old were taken into the custody of CPS. Continue reading Parents arrested after ‘forcefully’ tattooing their children

TYLER — Tyler police are asking for the public’s help in searching for a Tyler woman last seen on April 7 around 4 p.m. According to our news partner KETK, Paula Belonga, 51, was last seen leaving her apartment complex on Paluxy Drive in her white Chevrolet Impala with license plate number SBV0432. “Paula was last seen wearing a red shirt and dark colored pants,” officials said. “She may have been heading toward the Chapel Hill area.” Anyone who has seen Paula is asked to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000. Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact Detective Chamberlain at 903-531-1058.

SMITH COUNTY — At least three Dallas-area people have been arrested for stealing many thousands of gallons of diesel fuel. Ramon Perez Torrez, of Mesquite, Duniesky Ondarza Gonzalez (pictured) and Camila Cruz Concepcion, of Dallas, are charged with organized criminal activity. They are being held in the Smith County Jail on $750, 000 bond each. Four other suspects are being sought. In a long series of thefts last summer, the suspects allegedly used a system in which the pump’s pulsar device charges for about 1/20th of the fuel that’s actually been pumped. For example, in a theft in the community of Heartland, east of Dallas, 2,100 gallons of diesel were stolen, valued at nearly $11,000.

TYLER — Real estate agents are gearing up for the summer buying and selling season with higher rates and the tightening of credit this year. “Our median home sale from March of 2023 was $327,500, which is up over 7% in comparison to last year,” said Kelly Raulston, board chairman of the Greater Tyler Association of Realtors. According to our news partner KETK, they’ve listed inflation and interest rates as the number one issue for real estate in the U.S. “With the increase of high interest rate, compared to last year is maybe shorter list of borrowers that are applying now because the tendency is I’m scared,” Hila Gama, Texas real estate agent. “If you’re looking into a home for the first time there’s a possibility you can be approved for a zero-dollar down payment,” said Gama. She suggests connecting with your bank to find out more about your personal credit. Raulston added, in this market it’s important to work with local banks and relators.

HENDERSON COUNTY — A Sunday morning fire at an apartment structure in Payne Springs has several living there being uprooted. According to our news partner KETK, Payne Spring Fire Rescue say the apartment units were constructed in what was formerly an old church. And this made it particularly hard to extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported and the Henderson County Fire Marshall is currently investigating the blaze.

SMITH COUNTY — Early voting for the May 6 City/School Election will be Monday and Tuesday, May 1-2. Polls will be open those days from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be five early voting locations throughout Smith County. They include: Continue reading Early voting concludes May 2nd

TYLER — The City of Tyler Solid Waste Department and Keep Tyler Beautiful are sponsoring a FREE bulky item collection for City of Tyler residential customers (excluding multi-family home communities and businesses) from Monday, May 1 through Friday, May 5. Those participating in this campaign should place bulky items on the curb by 6 a.m. on Monday, May 1, and no sooner than 5 p.m. on Friday, April 28. After crews have collected on your street, do not place more bulky items on the curb. These items will be charged a special pickup fee. Continue reading Tyler free bulky item collection week set for May 1

LONGVIEW — Longview Police Department said they responded to an apparent murder-suicide that was reported on the 4300 block of Gregg Tex Road around 1:40 p.m. on Saturday. Officials said that when Longview PD officers arrived on scene they found two people dead from apparent gunshot wounds. According to Longview Police Department, investigators determined that Michael Shane Headrick, 41, shot Ashley Lynn Headrick, 33, before shooting himself. Longview Police Department said that their next of kin has been notified and that this an active investigation. If anyone has any information they would like to report about the shooting, officials asked them to call 903-237-1170.

MARSHALL — The Marshall Police Department said they’re investigating the death of a pedestrian after two pedestrians where hit by an 18-wheeler on Saturday around 2:15 a.m. Officials said they responded to the scene at the 5100 block of South East End Boulevard at 2:15 a.m. and found the two pedestrians. One pedestrian was declared dead at the scene and the other was transported to a local hospital, according to officials and our news partner KETK. Authorities said that the driver of the 18-wheeler was uninjured and is not being charged at this time. The investigation is ongoing.