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HARRISON COUNTY — A Hallsville mother and her 3-month-old child were killed Sunday in a wreck in Harrison County. A Jefferson man also suffered life-threatening injuries in the wreck. According to the Longview News-Journal and the DPS report, Jessica Click, 19, and her son, Waylon Click, were pronounced dead Sunday at Longview hospitals. Jessica Click died at Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center and Waylon died at Longview Regional Medical Center. The wreck happened around 3:30 p.m. on FM 2208, about five miles from Alpine Road. Click was driving north on FM 2208 when her car swerved into the southbound lane of traffic and hit a truck, driven by 24-year-old Christopher Derr of Jefferson. Rescue workers used the Jaws of Life to remove Click from her car. Derr was taken to Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview to be treated for injuries. The wreck remained under investigation.

KILGORE — Kilgore Police are investigating a fatal shooting. It happened around 11:30 Sunday night at the Meadow Green Apartment Complex. According to officers, Tracy Lynn Reedy, 50, Kilgore, was found with multiple gunshot wounds outside of the apartment complex. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The unidentified suspect fled the scene before officers arrived. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information in regards to this crime can contact Detective John Rowe at 903-218-6906. You can give information anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP. Anonymous information may also be submitted through the Kilgore Police Department’s Website, facebook page or tip411.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Forecasters have issued an overnight hard freeze warning for a four-state region as an Arctic cold front pushes its way through the area. The National Weather Service issued the warning Sunday for parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana from midnight until 10 a.m. Monday. The service says temperatures will range from the teens in northeast Texas, southeast Oklahoma, southwest Arkansas and eastern sections of north-central Louisiana to the low 20s across east Texas and northwest Louisiana. Temperatures began plummeting Saturday as the front moved into the area, bringing light snow and freezing drizzle that coated some highways and bridges with ice. Continue reading Forecasters Issue Overnight Hard Freeze Warning

PALESTINE – Three persons have been arrested and a 4th is being sought in connection with a Palestine burglary. Arrested were Tomas Rosa, 30, Josephine Gonzales, 34 and Jennifer Turner, 46. All three are from Palestine. The three were booked into the Anderson County Jail on the charge of engaging in organized criminal activity. Still being sought is Armando Ortega, 26, of Palestine.(pictured) Ortega has an active arrest warrant in connection with the burglary as well as numerous warrants from other agencies. Continue reading Arrests Made in Palestine Burglary

LONGVIEW – The City of Longview’s emergency warning siren located at Stamper Park is temporarily out of service until maintenance can be completed on Tuesday, January 2. Maintenance on the siren will be conducted to repair the battery system. The city’s 19 other sirens are not impacted and are still operational. Fire Chief JP Steelman is quoted in a city news release as saying, “We expect to have the siren back online very soon. With the possibility of severe cold weather in the forecast, we encourage anyone who has not done so yet to sign up for our free CodeRed Emergency Warning service so you can receive notifications by phone call or text.”

TYLER – You will see a bright yellow decal on some area gas pumps, compliments of the Smith County Sheriff’s Department. The sheriff’s department fraud detectives are putting out the decals as a proactive measure against gas pump skimmers. They are to remind you to be aware of this type of credit card fraud. It also serves as a caution to any would be suspects that the detectives check many gas pumps throughout Smith County on a daily basis. They encourage you to report any suspicious activity at gas stations to the sheriff’s office. Also, be sure to check your credit card statements for potential fraud. And, should you become a victim of fraud, contact the sheriff’s office or your local law enforcement agency.

TYLER – With the possibility freezing drizzle coming to the area, the Texas Department of Transportation crews are preparing Interstate Highway 20 and other major roadways for winter conditions forecast for the area New Year’s Weekend and into next week. Pre-treating operations using a brine solution began Thursday and will continue through Saturday, targeting roadways and elevated structures that have the potential to freeze during winter conditions. Continue reading TxDOT Preparing for Winter Weather

LONGVIEW – Once again this year, Longview Transit, in partnership with R&K Distributors, are providing a “Safe-Ride-Home” on New Year’s Eve. For the tenth consecutive year, Longview Transit will give free rides to anyone within the Longview city limits. This is on New Year’s Eve between 8:00pm and 3:00am. The curb to curb service will be available to any destination within the city limits of Longview. The service is for persons who that have had a couple of drinks or those that simply do not want to drive that evening. To get more information about Safe-Ride-Home, or to schedule a reservation, you can visit the website at http://www.longviewtransit.com or call 903-753-2287 ext. 10.

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office have arrested an Arp man in connection with a child sex crime. According to KETK, a Smith County booking report indicated Danny Heldenbrand, 42, was arrested and charged with one count of indecency with a child sexual contact. He was arrested on a warrant issued by the 7th District Court. Heldenbrand is currently in the Smith County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

LONGVIEW — A wreck involving a truck and a train closed a Longview roadway for several hours. It happened around 4:45 Friday morning on Estes Parkway. Police said the Dodge pickup was traveling north bound when it struck the train. The railroad crossing lights were on and the train was moving across Estes Pkwy. There were two people in the truck and both sustained minor injuries. The roadway was briefly closed but has since reopened.

DALLAS (AP/STAFF) — Two men have been taken into federal custody on charges of trafficking a Texas middle-school student for sex. Federal prosecutors in Dallas said in a statement Thursday that Shenandoah West Moneypenny, 34, of Gladewater, and Shawn Dale Sanders, 43, of Dallas, each face one federal count of conspiracy to use a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. The 13-year-old victim told law enforcement she met Moneypenny online earlier this year. Using a Craigslist ad, Moneypenny arranged for the girl to have sex with men, including Sanders, who sent pictures to Moneypenny as payment. The two were arrested December 18 and are being held at the Kaufman County jail without bond. Continue reading Gladewater Man Held on Sex Trafficking Charge

LUFKIN – All three suspects wanted in a Lufkin murder are now in custody.The Lufkin Police Department and the U.S. Marshal Service on Thursday morning arrested two of three men wanted in the shooting death of a Lufkin man earlier this month. Taken into custody following a raid on an Orange County home, were Jermaine Gray, 34, and Clifford Gray, 32. The third suspect , McClendon Harrison, 29, turned himself in Thursday afternoon in Shelby County. The three are accused of the murder of Jerone Jones, 38. He died at a Lufkin hospital December 18, following an argument with the men in the front yard of a home on 1819 Spence Street.

TYLER – A Nacogdoches man has been charged with a Tyler robbery. Arrested by Tyler police Thursday morning was Christian Dean Jolley, 20. He is said to have robbed the Shamrock station on the East Southeast Loop around 10:45am. Armed with a silver revolver, he is said to have taken money from the cash register and then ran away. Police saw a man running north across the loop and, throwing down a back pack as officers chased him. He was arrested in a parking lot on the Troup Highway. A silver revolver was found in his backpack. He said the cash in his pockets came from the gas station. Jolley was booked into the Smith County Jail on charges of aggravated robbery and evading arrest.

BEAUMONT – Customers of Jason’s Deli are being warned that some of their credit card information had been for sale on the dark web. The problem was found by MasterCard security personnel. The information appears to have come from various Jason’s Deli locations. The company says they have activated a response plan to determine if there was a breach and if there is any continuing threat. They say customers should monitor their payment card accounts carefully and report any suspicious activity to their card issuer. With headquarters in Beaumont, it operates or franchises 266 restaurants in 28 states. Among the Texas locations are Tyler and Longview. You can go to https://www.jasonsdeli.com/security for a statement issued by Jason’s Deli.

LONGVIEW – Longview police have arrested two persons on burglary charges. Arrested Wednesday were Arthur Ray Delagarza Murphy, 25, and Nathan Ray Alexander, 21. Both are from Longview. They are said to have entered a storage building on Cole Drive and took bicycles, tools, and a compressor. Officers, who responded to an alarm at the home, found the suspects and the items they had taken. Both have been charged with burglary of a building. Alexander has also been charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle. Continue reading Two Burglary Suspects Nabbed in Longview

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Emergency crews responded a reported explosion off US Hwy 69, near Love’s Lookout. According to KETK, Department of Public Safety Troopers said the blast happened at an active gas well just before 7:00 Wednesday night. BreitBurn Energy Partners, L.P. owns the well. No injuries were reported. The explosion remains under investigation.

SMITH COUNTY — A three vehicle wreck in Tyler last night leaves an 11-month-old dead and several others injured. It happened just after 5:30 on Hwy 64 West, two miles outside of the Tyler city limits. According to the DPS report, a Jeep Liberty, driven by Jason Howland, 36, Tyler, was traveling west when he drifted into the neighboring lane and struck a Mazda. Howland over-corrected, swerving into oncoming traffic and was struck by a truck. Howland was not injured in the crash, nor was his 36 year-old passenger, Frederick Fitzgerald, of Dallas. Another passenger, identified as 11-month-old Jaylyn Howland, was transported to ETMC-Tyler where she was later pronounced dead. Continue reading DPS Identifies 11-Month-Old Killed in Crash

TYLER – The Salvation Army began this season with a goal of $375,000 for their 2017 Red Kettle Campaign. The 37 locations around Smith County raised $385,408.42. Two gold coins were even found in one of the kettles Christmas Eve night.The money raised during this time is put into programs run by The Salvation Army 365 days a year including their community dinner, after school program, Reconnect, which is a drug and alcohol recovery program, as well as running their shelter.

KILGORE – Kilgore police are asking for the public’s help in locating a man named in a couple of warrants. He is Brandon Sheppard, 34. He was in a car stopped for a traffic violation on Newton Street late Tuesday night. The officer saw the passenger, a man wearing a grey jacket and jeans, run from the vehicle. Sheppard is named in two warrants in Gregg County, one for assault family violence parole violation and one for aggravated assault causes serious bodily Injury. If you know where he can be found you are asked to contact the Kilgore Police Department.

LUFKIN – A Publisher’s Clearing House scam has cost an elderly East Texas woman $15,000. She lost the money between June and October. She was first called and told she had won $3.5 million. The man said for her to send $8,000 to collect her money. She took out a loan for the money. Later, another man called her and told her to send another $7,000 to collect her prize money. She took out another loan. When she didn’t receive her money, she contacted Lufkin police it in hopes that no one else would fall victim to the scam. She is still making payment on the loans.

LONGVIEW – Funeral services are scheduled for a long time Longview businessman. According to Rader Funeral Home, services for Ernest James Stith, 75, will be held Friday at 2:00pm at the funeral home’s chapel in Longview. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Rosewood Park. Stith, who was born in Jacksonville, died on Tuesday. Stith opened his first Pizza Hut franchise store on East Marshall Avenue in 1967. According to the Longview News Journal, His company, Pizza Hut of East Texas, has a total of 15 restaurants, 740 restaurant workers and five people in the business office in Longview, with an annual payroll of about $3.5 million. Continue reading Funeral Services Set for Longview’s Ernie Stith

TYLER – According to a drug store chain, East Texas has been hard hit by the flu. According to the Walgreens flu index, the Tyler, Longview, Luikin and Nacogdoches areas rank tops in the country for flu activity. The company says the index is compiled using retail prescription data for antiviral medications used to treat influenza across Walgreens locations around the country. They say the Index is not intended to illustrate levels or severity of flu activity, but rather, illustrate which populations are experiencing the highest incidence of flu. Number two on the list is the South Texas area. And the top state with flu activity is Texas. Continue reading Flu Activity High in Texas

HENDERSON COUNTY — Three women were arrested on drug charges following two separate traffic stops in Henderson County. Debra Wade, 57 (pictured) and Sherri Green, 46, were taken into custody in the Trinidad area after midnight Tuesday following an initial traffic violation. The two women were charged with possession of the methamphetamine. Green was also charged with possession of a controlled substance in the form of a pill. Two glass pipes were also discovered in the vehicle. Continue reading Three East Texas Women Arrested on Drug Charges

HENDERSON – A Kilgore man remains jailed on a murder charge. Marvin Durrell Sanders, 37, of Kilgore, was booked Dec. 25 on $1 million bond, charged with murder. According to the Kilgore News Herald, the initial report says the suspect suddenly and inexplicably approached the Rev. Waylon D. Hunt during a family gathering and shot him at point-blank range. The killing occurred early in the evening. Reportedly, family members had been watching a football game at a residence outside the Kilgore City limits. From initial information, “The guy walked into the shop, put a gun to Hunt’s head and shot him,” Rusk Co. Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace Joe Sorrells said. According to the JP, there was no motive mentioned in the affidavit. Continue reading Kilgore Man Charged with Family Member’s Murder

TYLER — An East Texas pastor has died after a heroic act on Christmas Day in Costa Rica. According to KETK, Kelly Clarke of New Covenant Church attempted to rescue a little boy who was drowning when he passed away. He and his family were in Costa Rica doing missionary work. The boy survived the the incident. The family has started a GoFundMe page to bring his body back to Texas. To donate, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/8wzp9x-bring-kelly-clarke-home

TYLER – Tyler based John Soules Foods is announcing it is adding a third production facility. They have purchased of a 266,000 square foot facility in Valley, Alabama. According to a news release from the company, phase 1 of the expansion will see the company add 210 employees and invest $70 million into the new facility. Phases 2 & 3 will add an additional 300 employees and invest another $40 million. When all phases are complete, the purchase will increase fully cooked capabilities by over 100 million pounds annually. Besides the Tyler facility, the company also has a production facility in Gainesville, Geogia.

NACOGDOCHES – A Nacagdoches man was killed when the pickup he was a passenger in hit a horse. Killed in the accident around 1:00 Tuesday morning was Austin Blake Stewart, 20. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident on U.S. Highway 259, about six miles north of Nacogdoches. The driver, Joseph Blankenship, 20, of Nacogdoches, is in serious condition in a Nacogdoches hospital.

HENDERSON – A Kilgore man remains jailed on a murder charge. Booked into the Rusk County Jail Monday morning was Marvin Durrell Sanders, 37. His bond was set at $1 million. He is said to have shot his cousin in the back of the head while the family was watching the Dallas Cowboys’ game on Sunday. No word on what lead to the shooting.

EAST TEXAS – Hunters for the Hungry is a statewide hunger relief program benefiting member Food Banks. This program provides deer meat for persons throughout Texas. Through the program, hunters can donate legally tagged, field-dressed deer to participating processors. The East Texas Food Bank is partnering with two processors in our area: Carnes Packaging and Country Store in Troup and Massingill Meat Market in Lufkin. These processors prepare and package the venison, then contact the East Texas Food Bank which makes the meat available to their partnering food pantries. This ensures the donations support families and individuals in our local community. You can contact the East Texas Foot Bank for more information.

TYLER – Christmas trees are starting to come down. There are a couple of ways to dispose of them in Tyler. You can drop off natural Christmas trees through January 21st at two locations. They can be dropped off at designated areas at Golden Road Park and Fun Forest Park. Just look for the Christmas tree recycling sign. All lights, ornaments, garland, and tinsel need to be removed from the trees. No flocked trees will be accepted. The trees at the parks are available for area fisherman to pick up and sink in nearby lakes to create fish habitats. Christmas trees will also be picked up at the curb for disposal at the city landfill.