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SMITH COUNTY — On Tuesday, Smith County Constable Josh Joplin of Precinct 4 expressed concerns during the commissioners court meeting. He feels the scope of his job is being limited, according to our news partner KETK. Precinct 4 is the largest precinct in Smith County covering 322 square miles. Joplin said recent comments made to him and his deputies by some county commissioners are degrading to his badge. “We’ve received veil threats from certain commissioners that state that they don’t want us to do law enforcement work. They want us to do the bare minimum of our taxpayers serving papers and bailiff in court,” said Joplin. Continue reading Smith County Constable raises concerns over limitations to job

WHITEHOUSE — TxDOT has announced that repairs to the sinkhole on FM 346, between Pecanwood and Crepe Myrtle Road in Whitehouse are scheduled to be completed by the morning of Thursday, April 13. Currently, the westbound lanes of FM 346 are being diverted through the center lane, which will continue until repairs are complete. Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area if possible. If travel is necessary in this area, please reduce your speed and pay attention in the work zone.

TYLER — The Planning and Zoning Committee met on Tuesday, where they unanimously voted down the proposal to bring in a 35-unit residential property to a Tyler neighborhood. According to our news partner KETK, dozens of forms were submitted, 77 total, that expressed opposition to the potential housing development near the corner of Richmond Road and Timberwilde Road. “As one of 77 homeowners who submitted forms in opposition to this zone change, I am thrilled the planning and zoning commission unanimously denied this request,” Mitzi Rusk said. “Many of us presented information that prove R1A, the current zoning, can succeed and is best for our situation.” Continue reading Tyler committee votes against 35-unit housing development proposal

LONGVIEW — Longview ISD announced that the district will be taking additional measures to ensure the safety of their campuses thanks to the unanimous approval of up to $250,000 for glass reinforcement film on all campuses. According to our news partner KETK, the purchase of the materials for the glass reinforcement film is in line with the school safety standards that were put in place in November 2022, according to Scott Fisher, LISD Director of Safety and Magnet Grants. Purchasing the materials had to be approved by the school board since it was more than $50,000, per their policy, according to a release. Continue reading Longview ISD to enhance campus protection

TYLER – A Henderson man was arrested for sexual assault of a child and is in jail with bonds totaling $1 million. According to our news partner KETK, Russell Lewis Evans, 21, was arrested for continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and sexual assault of a child. According to his arrest warrant, Evans’ continuous abuse started when the victim was under the age of 10. His arrest warrant states that after each instance, Evans would threaten his victim if the victim ever told anyone of the abuse, one time even saying he would shoot the child in the head if they told anyone. His warrants were signed on April 5 and he was booked into Smith County Jail the following day. Continuous sexual abuse of a young child is a first-degree felony, punishable by 5-99 years in prison or a life sentence. Sexual assault of a child is a second-degree felony, punishable by 2-20 years in prison.

TYLER — Tyler Police are at the scene of a morning accident at Loop 323 and Broadway Avenue. Officers said an oversized load pulled down the intersection lights. All westbound traffic on the Loop at Broadway Ave is down to one lane only. Drivers should expect traffic delays as crews work to repair the lights, and are encouraged to take alternate routes and avoid the area while the repairs are made.

SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler man was arrested in March for aggravated sexual assault in connection to a serial rape investigation in Smith County that dates back to 2003. Our news partner KETK reports, Vincente Zavaleta, 44 of Tyler, was arrested on March 21 by the Texas Department of Public Safety. According to his arrest warrant, three victims reported to have been sexually assaulted in Smith County and Tyler in 2003, 2012 and 2016. Two of the victims reported they were abducted by their attacker. The warrant said the three victims had been linked to an unidentified DNA profile. Continue reading Tyler man arrested in connection to serial rape investigation

CHEROKEE COUNTY – On Monday, a man was convicted of injury to a child and sentenced to 30 years in prison. According to our news partner KETK, Mark Shuptrine was found guilty of assaulting his 12-year-old son in the 2nd Judicial District Court of Cherokee County after a 3 hour jury deliberation. In accordance with the jury’s verdict, Judge R. Chris Day, sentenced Shuptrine to 30 years for the offense of injury to a child. Shuptrine then waived his right to appeal and plead guilty to two other charges including continuous violence against family and failure to appear, the release stated. Shuptrine will serve his sentence in the Texas Department of Corrections.

TYLER – The third suspect wanted in connection to a double murder at the Royal Crest Apartment complex in Tyler has been arrested. Lakimbrick Horn, 19,  of Bullard, turned himself in on the capital murder warrant and has been booked into the Smith County Jail. His bond was set at $1,000,000 for the capital murder charge and $250,000 on a possession of marijuana charge. Two other suspects have also been arrested. Aaron Johnson, 20, who was reportedly shot during the incident, was arrested for capital murder with a $2 million bond. Nicholas Hudson, 18, was arrested for two counts of murder, each with a $1 million bond. Continue reading Tyler murder suspect surrenders to police

GILMER – An Upshur County man was sentenced to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a minor on Monday. Winston David Tackett, 73, was arrested after one of his victims reported the assaults to a teacher at her school. The teacher contacted Child Protective Services and the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office took over the case. “The defendant holds a position and respect in both the community and in his family and used that to hide his crime and keep his victim’s silenced,” Billy W. Byrd, criminal district attorney said. According to a press release, Tackett’s assaults go back to 2020 and each victim was assaulted multiple times. Officials said he will not be eligible for parole until he is 100-years-old. The family of the victims was in court to watch the plea, which required Tackett to waive his right to appeal and officials said the victim’s didn’t need to testify.

LONGVIEW — Longview ISD announced on Monday that Place 5 board member Shandreka “Shaun” Bauer has submitted her resignation effective June 1. The district said in her resignation letter, Bauer cited a new work opportunity that requires her family to relocate. Continue reading Longview ISD school board member submits resignation

TYLER — A group of more than 60 members of a Chinese Christian church will be starting a new life in Tyler after fleeing from China due to “extreme persecution,” according to Freedom Seekers International. According to our news partner KETK, the organization said that the Chinese citizens were previously in South Korea for more than a year, but will no longer be sheltered there due to political pressure from China to return them to “re-education camps.” According to ChinaAid, the group was granted humanitarian parole status by United States authorities. Continue reading Chinese Christian asylum seekers settle in Tyler

TYLER – Preparations are under way for the oldest part of Caldwell Zoo to be refreshed. According to our news partner KETK, Scott Maddox, Caldewell Zoo, COO, says the remodel will be from the ground up. The South American area will be called the Amazon River’s Edge. Maddox added that Amazon River’s Edge will will have a river running through it with an area for giant river otters, a sloth exhibit, a jaguar habitat and an over the top public sidewalk that flows into another habitat. Zoo officials are looking for completion of Amazon River’s Edge by early summer of 2024.

MARION COUNTY – A woman was taken to a local hospital in Marion County Friday morning after being rescued from a submerged Jeep in Lake O’ the Pines. According to our news partner KETK, a fisherman called the sheriff’s office after he found the black Jeep submerged in the south side of the lake. The fisherman told dispatchers that the Jeep was about forty feet from the Woody’s Camp boat ramp. When deputies and a local wrecker crew arrived, officials said they started preparing to remove the Jeep from the lake as they discovered a person was still inside and moving. With the help of the fisherman, wrecker crew and Marion County deputies, officials said that a woman was rescued safely from the vehicle and EMS took her to a local hospital. It was determined that the woman who was rescued was listed as a missing person from the Longview Police Department. The investigation continues.