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MARSHALL – A man was arrested on Monday in connection to a Harrison County homicide. According to our news partner KETK, Blake Edward Reddock, 31, of Avinger was found dead on the side of Hershel McCoy Road on Saturday Sept. 10, said the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. A vehicle connected to this case was also set on fire the same day. Canton Echols, 33, of Harleton was taken into custody by law enforcement, and he has been cooperating with them, said authorities. Reddock appears to have been stabbed several times, said the sheriff’s office. His body was identified through his tattoos initially because he did not have an identification on him. Echols was charged with first-degree murder and law enforcement secured two search warrants in this case. Continue reading Man arrested in connection to Harrison County homicide

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – A suspected murder-suicide is reported in East Texas. According to our news partner KETK, the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office received a welfare concern call Sept. 5 at a residence in the Whitton community. A couple was found dead at the scene. According to a press release, a man at the residence sent a text message to a friend that appeared concerning, prompting the friend to contact the sheriff’s office. Constable Precinct 2 Heath Burton was the first officer to arrive at the location. According to Burton, he located a dead male and female on the back porch of the residence. Burton reported the female suffered gunshot wounds and the male suffered a single gunshot wound. Continue reading Authorities probe suspected murder/suicide

TYLER – A Flint man has been indicted for a Tyler Memorial Day murder. According to our news partner KETK, 29-year-old Christopher Henry was arrested June 3, charged with the murder of Austin Lee Deweerdt, and indicted Aug. 18. Deweerdt was fatally shot after an altercation with Henry in his own driveway, police said. During the altercation, the two men reportedly wrestled on the ground and Deweerdt’s girlfriend and mother of his child broke them apart, according to an affidavit. The two stood up and Henry pointed and fired his gun multiple times at Deweerdt, which put him on the ground almost immediately, the affidavit stated.

ATHENS – An Athens man was arrested last week and is accused of breaking into a woman’s home, exposing himself, and chasing down another woman as she walked and physically assaulting her, according to documents. Our news partner KETK reports the cases date to late August. Andrew David Barlow is charged with indecent assault, burglary of habitation, with intent to commit other felony, and indecent exposure. Barlow is currently free on $60,000 bond.

RUSK COUNTY — The DPS reports four people have died and three have been seriously injured in a pre-dawn Sunday crash in Rusk County. According to Sergeant Gregg Williams, preliminary investigation indicates a Dodge Ram was traveling northbound in the southbound lane of U.S. 259 about nine miles north of Henderson, resulting in a head-on collision with a Chevrolet Silverado. The deceased in the Dodge were named as Kilgore residents Moises Rocha-Vanegas and Rosa Rodriguez, both 35. The two deceased occupants in the Silverado were Jesse Mueller, 29, of Henderson, and a male juvenile. Three unidentified boys in the Chevrolet suffered what were termed incapacitating injuries, including one whose injuries were deemed life-threatening. Williams says the crash remains under investigation.

TYLER — TxDOT schedules another week’s worth of roadwork in the Tyler District. In Smith County, Tyler maintenance will be performing mill and inlay on Spur 248, starting near Old Omen Rd. on Monday and Tuesday and moving towards Loop 323 the remainder of the week. Expect lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic. In Gregg County, Longview maintenance will be working on a drainage structure on FM 2207. A portion of the road will be partially closed from E. Wilkins Rd. to FM 1252. Expect delays and flaggers controlling traffic. Click here for a more detailed rundown of roadwork around the district.

KILGORE — Two women were arrested by Kilgore Police on Sunday night after they said the women shoplifted a store and ran over an employee’s foot during their escape. According to our news partner KETK, the women were also found to be in possession of over seven grams of meth. Police said “it’s becoming more common to find loaded syringes in the possession of meth addicts.” Field testing on the confiscated meth found the presence of fentanyl, according to officials. Continue reading Two women arrested after driving over employee following Kilgore robbery

TROUP — The Troup Independent School District is asking the community to wear blue on Monday, Sept 12 in support of Cooper Reid. Reid suffered a head injury during the school’s homecoming game on Friday night. According to our news partner KETK, community held a prayer vigil for Cooper Reid on Saturday night, a varsity football player who was injured Friday night in their football game. Community members shared that Cooper is in stable condition and the doctors are saying it’s looking better after CAT scans and they’re trying to relieve pressure from his brain. Troup ISD along with community members say they’re grateful for all of East Texas support during this difficult time. They asked for continued prayers for Cooper’s healing.

GILMER – In a statement released Saturday, 60-year old Jerald Dean Fowler II, of Gilmer, was charged with DWI misdemeanor B following an accident Friday night. The statement reported that at approximately 10 p.m. on Friday, Upshur County Deputies and DPS Troopers responded to a motor vehicle accident on Hwy 154, east of Gilmer. According to investigators, Judge Fowler was charged and booked into the Upshur County Jail. Judge Lyle Potter, Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, arraigned Fowler and set a bond at $1500.00. Fowler, who serves as Judge of the 115 District Court, posted bond and was released from jail according to the official statement.

LONGVIEW —The Gregg County Fair kicked off Friday and will run thru next weekend. Here are some attractions you can expect: Petting zoo, Live entertainment, Food vendors and rides like the Ferris wheel and carousel. There are also some more thrilling rides like the Drop Zone. Billy Clay has been the fair manager for more than 40 years. “In 1980 I took over to run it and it took a couple years to get things straightened out and it was so much fun and so I’m still sitting here. I really can’t give it to nobody,” said Clay. Clay said the fairgrounds are about 20 acres, so there are plenty of areas to explore. The fair is open from 6 p.m. to midnight. September 17th will be the last day for the fair. Tickets are $6. For more information, check out the Gregg County Fair website – https://greggcountyfair.com/

TYLER – Suspects in a Carrollton attempted bank robbery and shooting have been identified after being arrested Thursday in Smith County. They are Rayfiel Gill, 40, of Gulfport, MS; Lillie McCoy, 43, of Wiggins, MS; Katron Pittman, 17, of Gautier, MS; and Gary Taylor Jr., 17, of Purvis, MS. They are now held in Carrollton after spending Thursday night in the Smith County Jail, where a judge set each of their bonds at $1,000,000. Continue reading Suspects identified in Carrollton attempted bank robbery, shooting

TYLER — The East Texas Food Bank will expand its services in Anderson County by offering a new mobile pantry monthly with fresh produce and meat in Frankston on the second Tuesday of each month. Hours are 10 a.m.-noon, beginning September 13 at the United Methodist Church of Frankston on Weldon Street. “Anderson County has a great need for food assistance as 13.9% of the residents are food insecure or 8,060 people according to the latest data from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap,” said food bank CEO Dennis Cullinane as quoted in a news release. Continue reading East Texas Food Bank to offer new mobile pantry in Frankston

EAST TEXAS – Bassmaster Magazine has ranked Lake Fork as the seventh best bass lake in the United States. The popular lake covers parts of Wood, Rains, and Hopkins Counties. According to our news partner KETK, Bassmaster ranks lakes by using tournament data, state fishery information, catch rates, and angler access. “While the fisheries may change, our goal is to point anglers toward the most productive waters so that your time is spent with rod bent. These rankings provide a bucket list of destinations for anglers,” Bassmaster Magazine Editor-in-Chief James Hall said. Lake Fork is a favorite spot for fishers from all across Texas, and the numbers show why. It is reported that 33 of the 50 largest bass ever caught in Texas were caught in Lake Fork.

TYLER – City officials gathered Thursday at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport to attend a Fire Station 3 Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle push-in ceremony. A push-in is a tradition recognized in the fire service that reflects back to the horse-drawn carriage days when firefighters had to wash their trucks and actually push them into the station. “This truck is brand new, new engine, new pump, all those things that cause maintenance issues, on this truck is new and under warranty so that is a huge benefit,” said Chief David Coble. According to our news partner KETK, officials say the ARFF vehicle was paid for with funds from the Federal Aviation Administration and is equipped with high-tech features that will allow crews to put out fires more efficiently.

WOOD COUNTY –Authorities in Wood County believe they have found the man responsible for a murder back in 2007. According to our news partner KETK, Chad Carr remains in the Wood County Jail, charged with the murder of Brittany McGlone. He was arrested Sept. 1 in the Dallas area. Wood County Sheriff Kelly Cole says all signs pointed to him after years of investigating. 19-year-old McGlone was tragically beaten, sexually assaulted and murdered in the light of day back in 2007 in a small home by Lake Winnsboro. Brittany’s case was without a suspect being publicly named for more than a decade. Continue reading Suspect in 2007 Wood County murder remains jailed

BEAUMONT – A Stratford, Missouri, man has been sentenced in Beaumont to life in federal prison for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations violations stemming from his membership in the white supremacy prison gang the Aryan Circle. According to federal authorities, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office was one of numerous organizations investigating the case. Jesse Paul Blankenship, 39, was convicted last November of racketeering conspiracy, kidnapping in aid of racketeering, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping in aid of racketeering. Evidence presented at trial showed, among other thihgs, that Blankenship “put in work” by committing violence on behalf of the gang, including shooting at two victims inside their home and participating in a kidnapping and removal of another member’s gang tattoo by burning it from the victim’s skin.

TYLER – The Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans’ Assistance Thursday presented $655,000 in grants to six organizations for providing services to approximately 740 East Texas veterans and their families. Sabine Valley Regional MHMR Center received a check for $50,000 to provide people in 12 counties with supportive services. The East Texas Council Of Governments accepted a check for $100,000 to provide transportation programs and services in 14 counties. Habitat for Humanity of Smith County’s check for $200,000 comes in the form of a Housing For Texas Heroes Grant to provide home modification services. Continue reading $655,000 in grants presented to six East Texas veteran service organizations

TYLER – The Tyler ISD Foundation has earned a 100/100 rating from Charity Navigator’s Encompass Rating System. A Tyler ISD news release cites the foundation’s “strong financial health and ongoing accountability and transparency.” The score designates Tyler ISD Foundation as an official “Give with Confidence” charity, indicating that the organization is using its donations effectively based on Charity Navigator’s criteria. Charity Navigator is termed America’s largest and most-utilized independent charity evaluator. Since its creation in 1990, the Tyler ISD Foundation has gifted more than $3.5 million to Tyler ISD through innovative teaching grants, student and parent programs, academic and teaching recognition events, and scholarships, according to the release.

TYLER – Last week, Visit Tyler was presented with a Texas Destination Excellence Award at the 2022 Texas Association of Convention & Visitors Bureau (TACVB) Annual Conference. According to a news release, Visit Tyler won second place for a local public relations campaign. To win the award, the staff competed against destination marketing organizations from across Texas to position Tyler as a premier visitor destination by implementing new marketing and promotions to bring more publicity and tourism to the community, according to the release. The PR campaign that won the prize was a series of videos released to area partners, detailing the media coverage Visit Tyler was able to secure for local businesses throughout the year.

MARSHALL — A huge car collection will hit the auction block in two weeks. Sotheby’s will be in East Texas later this month when they auction the Gene Ponder Collection. Housed in a custom-built museum and state-of-the-art garages in Marshall, the collection boasts more than 120 cars, motorcycles, and boats, along with an expansive selection of automobilia. Worth an estimated $20 million, the collection has automobile models spanning 92 years. The highlight is a 1960 Mercedes Benz 300 SL roadster worth an estimated $1.9 million. Those wanting to place bids can attend the onsite auction in Marshall from September 22-24.

AUSTIN — Tyler and Longview continue to look strong in sales tax allocations as reported for this month by the state comptroller’s office. Longview brought in roughly $3.38 million, up from some $3.23 million last September. Longview’s year-to-date total is around $32.8 million, an increase from the approximately $28.5 million posted at this time in 2021. Tyler’s September figure is about $4.72 million, compared to the roughly $4.49 million announced last September. For the year to date, Tyler has brought in around $43.1 million, a jump from the approximately $39.5 million total reported a year ago.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Independent School District had a special board meeting Wednesday evening to discuss the former six employees indicted for abuse and accused of being violent toward special needs students.According to our news partner KETK, former district employees allegedly committed various offenses towards students at J.L. Everhart Elementary last school year. According to the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting, board members deliberated what actions to take during a closed session. Longview ISD officials were in closed session for more than an hour, and they ended their meeting shortly after the session without making a public comment about the gathering. Continue reading Longview ISD held special meeting to discuss abuse allegations

TYLER – A jury trial date has been set for a Smith County woman who was accused of abusing her children. According to our news partner KETK, Cheryl Layne, 45, was indicted on four counts of injury to a child, which is a third-degree felony. Mark Randy Layne, 51, Cheryl’s husband and a longtime Tyler police officer, was also arrested and charged with injury to a child. Cheryl is scheduled to be in court on Oct. 24. The Laynes’ two twin boys under the age of 14 told a school official on Sept. 13, 2019, that they had experienced abuse, according to court documents. Cheryl allegedly held onto one of the boys by his hair, and an arrest affidavit said she slammed his head against the wall two times. Officials said she also used an archery arrow to strike the other boy on his back. Mark has been placed on administrative leave from the Tyler Police Department.

GREGG COUNTY- TxDOT and contractor crews have planned a lane closure for I-20 in Gregg County Thursday, Sept. 8, through Tuesday, Sept. 20. It’s set for the westbound, outside lane as crews perform bridge deck repairs on the Sabine River bridge, approximately 2.4 miles west of Estes Parkway in Longview. The lane will remain closed for the duration of the project. Motorists are reminded to slow down and follow the posted work zone speed limit and adjust your driving to match conditions. Also, you’re asked to pay attention and watch out for road crews.

TYLER — Tyler ISD launches CrisisGo’s Safe2SpeakUP app. According to a news release, it’s the only mobile emergency response system to provide a student-safe app for students to quickly and comfortably communicate with safety teams, counselors, or others based on the report type. Coordinator of Guidance and Counseling Lauri Anderson says the app allows students an anonymous way to report feelings of self-harm, bullying, or any incident that makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Using Safe2SpeakUP, students can report bully-related activity for themselves or their friends, submit safety tips about school incidents, and access safety resources during an emergency. The district can also allow student messaging within groups or with their school’s safety team in charge of bullying. Click here for more information.

TYLER — A Smith County grand jury did not see that there was enough evidence to prosecute a former UT Health Science Center certified nursing assistant who was accused of hitting a schizophrenia patient, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Our news partner KETK reports Lavinya Warren was arrested on Feb. 5, 2021 and charged with injury to the elderly with intent to cause bodily injury for an incident that officials said happened on Feb. 1, 2021. A representative from the district attorney’s office said that after being presented with information, the grand jury determined in October 2021 that there was no probable cause for a crime. The DA’s office said that prior to this ruling by a grand jury, surveillance video appeared to be missing, but was then recovered. Continue reading Grand jury: Not enough evidence to indict CNA accused of slapping patient

TYLER — Police say a train struck a car in Tyler at the intersection of Duncan Street and Angeline Avenue on Tuesday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, the crash happened around 5:50 p.m. according to online records. Police on the scene said that the driver tried to bypass the railroad crossing arms. A Union Pacific employee on the scene said that the crossing arm shattered the windshield of the car and stopped it, and the end of the car was hit by the train. Police say no one was seriously injured, but one person was taken to the hospital for evaluation.

ANDERSON COUNTY – TxDOT Tuesday afternoon reported the reopening of a section of U.S. Highway 79 near Neches. The stretch had been shut down for several hours. Our news partner KETK reported the road closed Tuesday morning after a major crash. Northbound and southbound traffic were rerouted onto FM 2574.

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court voted to approve the Fiscal Year 2023 budget and tax rate Tuesday after it held its final public hearing on the items. The approved tax rate of 33 cents per $100 valuation is a half penny less than the current tax rate of 33.5 cents. The package will go into effect October 1, which starts the county’s new fiscal year. “I am proud that during just the past three fiscal cycles, the County has reduced the property tax rate from 34.5 cents to 33 cents, and proud that I will be able to end my term as County Judge at the same property tax rate as when I started as County Judge in 2016, all the while significantly increasing needed funding for roads and bridges, law enforcement, and our judicial system along the way,” Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran said as quoted in a news release.