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TYLER – The Tyler Police Department is increasing traffic enforcement during the New Year’s holiday which will continue through Wednesday, Jan. 1. Motorists will see an increased presence of law enforcement in high traffic crash areas throughout the City. Officers will be focusing their targeted enforcement efforts to deter speeding, seatbelt violations, running red lights, texting, and driving while intoxicated throughout the City. “We will have additional officers on the road during the holidays specifically to enforce traffic laws,” said Chief Jimmy Toler. “The safety of everyone remains a priority as they enjoy holiday events and festivities. We will work to deter drinking and driving, speeding, and distracted driving.” Continue reading Tyler PD increasing traffic enforcement during New Years celebrations

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County officials are warning residents of potential jury duty scams after multiple reports. According to reports from our news partner, KETK, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office said they have been receiving reports from citizens who are potential victims of a jury duty scam. The scammers are allegedly requesting money for the purpose of taking care of a warrant related to them missing jury duty.

The scams typically involve someone calling and identifying themselves as a law enforcement official or someone employed by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office.Officials said a law enforcement agency will never call on the phone demanding payment for any reason. Those who receive a phone call regarding this scam or suspicious calls asking for payment or money, simply hang up and ignore them. The sheriff’s office said people can call 903-566-6600 if they receive any suspicious calls. Continue reading Smith County officials warn of jury duty scams

TYLER — Pets Fur People, the oldest no-kill animal shelter in East Texas dedicated to the care, protection, and adoption of animals in Smith County, is pleased to announce the appointment of Holli Jones as its new Executive Director. She will officially begin her role on December 18, 2024. With over 25 years of experience in the animal care sector and many years of nonprofit work, Holli Jones brings a wealth of knowledge and a strong passion for animal welfare to the organization.

Holli along with her husband, the late Dr. Jesse Jones co-owned Green Acres Animal Clinic where she also served as Vice President, Manager and Veterinarian Assistant. She has also worked on various community projects such as the The Tyler Rose Festival Coronation, The Salvation Army, and the Tyler Symphony League.

“We are thrilled to welcome Holli to the Pets Fur People family,” said Angie Bullington, Board President of Pets Fur People. Continue reading Pets Fur People announce new director

Tyler — Pets Fur People, the oldest no-kill animal shelter in East Texas dedicated to the care, protection, and adoption of animals in Smith County, is pleased to announce the appointment of Holli Jones as its new Executive Director. She will officially begin her role on December 18, 2024. With over 25 years of experience in the animal care sector and many years of nonprofit work, Holli Jones brings a wealth of knowledge and a strong passion for animal welfare to the organization. Holli along with her husband, the late Dr. Jesse Jones co-owned Green Acres Animal Clinic where she also served as Vice President, Manager and Veterinarian Assistant. Continue reading New Director at Pets Fur People

EAST TEXAS – The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) announces $3.4 million in grants from the Governor’s Public Safety Office awarded to East Texas jurisdictions and nonprofits. The Governor’s Public Safety Office administers federal and state grant funding to promote strategies that improve public safety, support victims of crime, prevent terrorism and prepare communities for the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk to Texans.

ETCOG’s Public Safety Division assists jurisdictions in applying for these funds annually. Applications to be submitted for funding are ranked and scored by the ETCOG Criminal Justice Advisory Committee and Homeland Security Advisory Committee, which includes local subject matter experts from across the region.

The Governor’s Office has approved a total of $3,435,484.11 for funding the Victims of Crime Act, Justice Assistance, Violence Against Women Act, Juvenile Justice / Truancy Prevention, and Homeland Security grants in East Texas.
Continue reading $3.4M in Public Safety Grants for East Texas Region

TYLER — Tyler Transit is transforming its existing fixed route service into a MicroTransit service starting Monday, Jan. 13. New payment methods are being rolled out as well. Riders will be able to book a ride by calling (903) 533-8057 from the bus stop or through the Tyler Transit app. Public comment period will remain open until Monday, Jan. 6 at 1 p.m. Click here to submit questions and comments.

All Tyler Transit bus stops will be used as pick-up locations for riders. The ride will take them directly to the doorstep of a destination within sight of the closest bus stop on any existing route. The MicroTransit service will be split into three zones, with two drivers per zone. If a passenger’s destination is in a different zone from where they are picked up, they will be taken to Stop 400 near the Bergfeld Center and Fire Station 7, where a driver will be waiting or arriving shortly to complete the trip. Continue reading Tyler Transit launching MicroTransit service for all routes

MARSHALL — The Marshall Fire Department said the investigation into the fire that damaged the historic First Methodist Church earlier this month has been completed. According to our news partner KETK, investigators determined that the fire originated in the lower level of the church where administrative officers were located. The fire was identified “as electrical in nature and was found to be unintentional.”

The fire was first reported at 1:15 a.m. on Dec. 9 and quickly spread requiring multiple agencies to respond. After 15 hours of intensive firefighting operations, the fire was brought under control at 4 p.m., however officials remained at the scene for several days to ensure the fire was completely extinguished. Continue reading Electrical issues caused fire at historic Marshall church

HOUSTON (AP) — A bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers announced Tuesday they had issued a new subpoena that would require the state’s prison system to allow death row inmate Robert Roberson to testify in person this week about the state’s junk science law. An earlier subpoena ended up delaying Roberson’s Oct. 17 execution, which had been set to be the first in the U.S. tied to a diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome.

The House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence announced it had issued last week and served on Monday a subpoena compelling Roberson to appear before it at a meeting in Austin on Friday. Continue reading Texas lawmakers issue new subpoena for Roberson’s testimony

TYLER — Two people have died following a Tuesday afternoon multi-vehicle wreck involving an 18-wheeler on Loop 323, the Tyler Police Department said. Tyler PD’s Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh said at around 1 p.m., the police department was dispatched to a multi-vehicle wreck at West Elm Street and SSW Loop 323. According to our news partner KETK, a A preliminary investigation shows that a GMC SUV was on Elm Street on the west side of the Loop and was attempting to turn north on the Loop but pulled in front of a southbound 18-wheeler that struck the GMC.

The crash pushed both vehicles into the northbound lanes and caused three vehicles that were in the northbound turn lane to be hit. Officer Erbaugh said both occupants of the GMC died at the scene and have since been identified as William Connerly, 82, and Shirley Connerly, 79, both of Kerens. Their next of kin have been notified. Continue reading Identities released following fatal wreck in Tyler

TYLER — According to our news partner KETK, the Texas House will vote on a speaker in less than a month when the 2025 legislative session is set to begin, however Republicans are split on who to support in the race. Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock. and Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, are running for House Speaker after Dade Phelan removed himself from contention. Since then, Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine, said he received threatening messages Sunday night from the Chairman of the Texas Republican Party, Abraham George.

Harris said the message was clear, to unite behind the caucus and rules established by the party. If Harris does not comply, the chairman threatened Harris with a campaign mailer to his district encompassing all of Anderson, Cherokee, and Navarro Counties, and the majority of Henderson County. However, Cook and Burrows declared that they have enough votes needed to win the race in January. Continue reading ETX representative will support speaker candidate despite threats

SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler physician pled guilty on Monday in connection to his role in a $5.5 million over-the-counter COVID-19 test fraud scheme according to our news partner KETK.

According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Mark Mazzare, 57 of Tyler, purchased Medicare beneficiary identifiers (BINs) used to bill Medicare millions of dollars for test kits that had not been requested by the beneficiaries. Texas Medical Board’s records indicate that Mazzare is an internal medicine/pediatric specialist and worked at a clinic on Old Bullard Road in Tyler.

“Mazzare entered into a sham agreement with a purported marketer to conceal the purchase of BINs as ‘lead packages,’ which in reality consisted of BINs and fraudulently generated audio recordings purporting to be the voices of the beneficiaries requesting the OTC COVID-19 tests,” DOJ said. “Mazzare caused OTC COVID-19 tests to be shipped to Medicare beneficiaries whose BINs had been purchased, regardless of whether the Medicare beneficiaries had requested or needed the tests.” Continue reading Tyler doctor admits role in $5.5 million COVID-19 scheme

WINONA – Our news partner, KETK, reports that a Smith County firefighter with Sabine Fire & Rescue responded to a fire at his own home in Winona on Sunday. Nicholas Loftin and Sabine Fire & Rescue in Gregg County Emergency Service District 2 responded to the mobile home fire in the 22900 block of Interstate 20 East.Several other fire stations from Smith County ESD 2 and Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue also responded to the house, which was unoccupied when the fire started. Crews were able to put out the fire but the structure was unable to be saved.

No injuries were reported in the fire and foul play is not suspected. The Smith County Fire Marshall’s Office is investigating the cause, which they said started near the middle of the house.

TYLER – President Joe Biden has commuted the 9-year federal prison sentence of a former Deep East Texas Council of Governments executive director after he was found guilty of wire fraud back in 2017.

According to our news partner KETK, the White House released on Thursday, Walter Diggles, 72 of Jasper, was one of nearly 1500 people who were put on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those 1499 people are already back home with their families but the Biden administration has decided to commute their sentences meaning they’ll officially be out of custody much sooner. Diggles was convicted of 11 counts of wire fraud, three counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and three counts of money laundering on Aug. 3 of 2017, according to a 2018 press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas.

Information presented in court reportedly showed that Diggles, along with his wife and daughter, conspired to personally use money from federal block grants that Congress appropriated to help Texas recover from Hurricanes Rita, Katrina, Ike and Dolly, the press release said. Continue reading Biden commutes sentence of former DETCOG director

NACOGDOCHES – According to our news partner KETK, a professional angler and fishing YouTuber was arrested in Nacogdoches on Thursday for fraud in a freshwater fishing tournament.

Benjamin Milliken, 35 of New Caney, turned himself in to Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday for the charge of fraud at freshwater fishing tournament, according to a statement from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department(TPWD). TPWD said that Milliken turned in a Legacy Class ShareLunker bass caught at Lake Naconiche in February as an entry into the Toyota ShareLunker Program. The program rewards prizes over $10,000.

According to TPWD, their due diligence process discovered that Milliken allegedly didn’t have a valid fishing license when he caught the fish and filled out the program’s contest/tournament entry form. Continue reading Popular fishing YouTuber Ben Milliken arrested for fraud

LONGVIEW – The Longview Fire Department responded to a structure fire that caused an estimated $500,000 in damage to the Crosby Group on Friday. The department responded to 2414 Crosby Way at around 6:45 p.m. on Friday and found heavy smoke coming out of the east side of the building. Crews began suppressing the fire until they found the source of the fire which had been extinguished by fire sprinklers.

Longview Fire Department said that a hydraulic hose for a large forging hammer broke and sprayed hydraulic fluid which was then ignited. No injuries were reported by Longview FD. According to our news partner, KETK, the department responded with three fire trucks, two ladder trucks, an ambulance and four support vehicles.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A judge in Las Vegas sentenced a Texas man to 100 years in prison for his role in a two-state shooting rampage on Thanksgiving 2020 that included the killing of a man in Nevada and a shootout with authorities in Arizona. Christopher McDonnell, 32, pleaded guilty in October to more than 20 felonies including murder, attempted murder, murder conspiracy, weapon charges and being a felon illegally in possession of a firearm.

Clark County District Judge Tierra Jones sentenced him on Friday to a minimum of 100 years in prison, KLAS-TV reported. If he’s still alive, he would be eligible for parole in 2120 with credit for time served. McDonnell of Tyler,  his brother Shawn McDonnell, 34, and Shawn McDonnell’s then-wife, Kayleigh Lewis, 29, originally faced dozens of charges. Continue reading Texas man gets 100 years in prison for Nevada, Arizona Shootings

TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, Pets Fur People has announced that their executive director Gayle Helms has retired from the Tyler animal sanctuary after serving as their leader for 26 years. Under Helms’ leadership, Pets Fur People successfully transitioned from being a kill shelter to East Texas’ only selective admission no-kill animal sanctuary, according to a Pets Fur People press release.

“We are deeply grateful to have worked alongside such a talented and dedicated woman,” said Angie Bullington, president of the board of Pets Fur People. “Gayle’s heart is truly with the animals. She has been a tremendous asset to Pets Fur People, and we are incredibly grateful for her leadership. We are confident that her legacy will continue to inspire and shape the future of the Pets Fur People for years to come. On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I would like to express our heartfelt appreciation for her dedication and service.” Continue reading Pets Fur People announces retirement of Gayle Helms

KILGORE — With the holiday season in full swing, the Kilgore Police Department is highlighting an uptick in scams and frauds. The police department is warning residents of frauds and scams that pressure people for some form of payment in exchange for a prize or to resolve some type of problem such as tax issues, computer viruses or arrest warrants.

“Scammers often insist you pay them using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, wiring money through a company like Western Union, using gift cards or shipping a cashier’s check through a parcel company,” Kilgore PD said.

According to our news partner KETK, scammers have tried everything such as sweepstakes scams, warrant scams to ransom scams where they claim to be a government agent informing them they have detected illicit materials on their computer or device or their identity has been stolen. Continue reading Scams, frauds on the rise during holiday season

HENDERSON COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, an East Texas man, Daniel Richard Simpson, 38 of Malakoff, has been sentenced to 45 years in prison after admitting to ingesting a “block of meth” during police pursuit and tampering or fabricating with physical evidence.

The Athens Police Department was dispatched to a Walmart Super Center in August 2021 in reference to two men suspected of shoplifting. Authorities approached the individuals, who at the time entered a black car in the parking lot. Simpson, the driver, was issued a criminal trespass warning for Walmart and learned that he had a warrant for his arrest for a parole violation. When Simpson learned of his active warrant, he reportedly fled through city limits of Athens and eventually lost control and slid into a ditch. Simpson reportedly admitted to officials he had ingested a “block of meth” and had traveled around 38 miles with speeds up to 105 mph. Continue reading Man sentenced after admitting to taking meth during pursuit

SMITH COUNTY, TX – According to a release from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, the SCSO received a transfer case from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office regarding allegations of physical and sexual abuse involving three children. During the investigation, authorities learned that two sisters, under ten years of age, made an outcry of sexual abuse to their father in July 2024 and he, in turn, reported the allegations to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. Two suspects were interviewed and subsequently arrested for aggravated sexual assault of a child on warrants issued by Judge Taylor Heaton. They are identified as Raywin Lyons, 65, and Melissa Branch, 38. Both suspects were incarcerated on two counts each of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child with bonds totaling $600,000.

TYLER – One of three people charged with killing an Tyler U.S. Army Veteran in February of 2023 has been sentenced to life in prison on Thursday, according to our news partners at KETK. Herbert Simpson, 56, Stephanie Brasher and Anthony Taylor were charged with capitol murder in August of 2023 after Warren Edward Rogers, 61 of Tyler, was found dead in his home with a gunshot wound. On Thursday, Dec. 12, a jury found Simpson guilty of capital murder by terror threat or other felony and he was sentenced to life in prison, according to Smith County judicial records. Brasher and Taylor currently have no cases listed by Smith County judicial records.

TYLER – UPDATE: The two missing boys have been found safe.

The Tyler Police Department has issued an AMBER Alert in the search for a 3-year-old boy and a 4-year-old boy who were reported missing on Friday. Legend Sandford, 3, and Kannon O’Neal, 4, were last seen at the Evergreens Apartments located at 4123 S Park Dr in Tyler at around 10 p.m. on Thursday. Legend was last seen wearing a blue Paw Patrol shirt and black, red and white pants and Kannon was last seen wearing a black shirt and black pants with blue and red stripes. Legend is described as a 3’9? tall Black child with brown eyes and brown hair who weighs around 42 pounds. Kannon is described as 3’2? tall Black child with brown eyes and brown hair who weighs around 35 pounds and he has a scar on his forehead, a scar behind his right ear, a right ear piercing and a gap between his teeth, according to the AMBER Alert. Continue reading Amber Alert Update: Two boys found safe

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK report the Cherokee County Electric Cooperative Association has announced they’re planning an 8-hour power outage on Tuesday, Dec. 17. The outage will start at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday so the cooperative can upgrade the electrical distribution system in Southeast Troup, Blackjack and Concord. Cooperative officials said that they’ll need access to every transformer. If the weather is inclement on Tuesday, officials said that they’ll push the outage to the next day of clear weather. Anyone with questions during the outage is asked to call 903-683-2248.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department said they’re searching for a 3-year-old boy and a 4-year-old boy who were reported missing on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, Legend Sandford, 3, and Kannon O’Neal, 4, were last seen at the Evergreen Apartments located at 4123 S Park Dr in Tyler at around 10 p.m. on Thursday.

Legend was last seen wearing a blue Paw Patrol shirt and black, red and white pants and Kannon was last seen wearing a black shirt and black pants with blue and red stripes. Police said that the boys were reported missing by their mother at around 7:10 a.m. on Friday. Officials said there’s currently no evidence of foul play.

Officers are searching the area and anyone who has seen them is asked to call 911 or 903-531-1000 with any information.

UPDATE: JACKSONVILLE – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said that Colton Maldonado has been found safe after he was reported missing on Thursday.

(PREVIOUS STORY) – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing man who was last seen on County Road 1401 on Friday at around 9:30 a.m. Colton Maldonado, 30 of Jacksonville, was reportedly last seen in a 2008 Chevy with the Texas license plate: NCR8520. according to our news partner KETK, Maldonado was heading towards Highway 204 on County Road 2401. Anyone with information is asked to call the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office at 903-683-2271.