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HARRISON COUNTY — Due to extremely dry conditions, Harrison County officials declared a seven-day burn ban on Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, outdoor burning and fireworks are prohibited in the unincorporated areas of the county. According to Harrison County, cities may or may not order a burn ban.

Violations of the ban will be considered a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500.

The order follows a period of unseasonably dry and windy weather, which increases the start and spread of wildfires.

WHITE OAK — The identity of a man suspected of killing a family member has been confirmed by the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office. According to our news partner KETK, Zachary Ryan Keys is suspected of killing a family member in White Oak on New Year’s Eve.

Gregg County deputies found the victim’s body after responding to a call for help on the north side of White Oak. Keys was arrested on a charge of murder and is currently in the Panola County Jail on a $1 million bond.

Additional details were not available.

SMITH COUNTY — Due to high winds and dry conditions, Smith County ESD 2 is seeing a high volume of wildland and grass fires today.

According to our news partner KETK and ESD 2 Fire Chief Eric Greaser, they have received roughly 40 calls Thursday regarding wildfires, some of which are threatening structures. Greaser said most fires have been three to five acres; however, one reached about 30 acres. Greaser believes dry fuels, low humidity and high wind conditions are causing the uptick in fires. Greaser also stated that most of the calls they have received regarding wildfires are in the southern part of Smith County, impacting areas including Whitehouse, Bullard, and Flint.

While Smith County is currently not under a burn ban, Greaser is asking residents to refrain from burning brush piles and be cautious while grilling due to the high volume of fires. Greaser also advised against discarding cigars or similar products in the grass and miscellaneous burning.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Two alleged heroin dealers were arrested following a New Year’s Eve traffic stop in Henderson County that led deputies to suspected meth, heroin and drug paraphernalia.

According to our news partner KETK, Henderson County sheriff’s deputies stopped a vehicle about 5:45 p.m. in the 600 block of Peach Tree Road in the Mabank area. A deputy identified the driver and passenger as Karin Elizabeth Beamon, 47, and Amanda Grace Hayes, 46. Additional deputies and a K-9 unit were called to the scene to conduct an open-air sniff. The K-9 alerted on the vehicle, and deputies searched the car where they found suspected methamphetamine in a plastic bag, a used glass pipe and other drug paraphernalia.

During the investigation, deputies learned the women were allegedly planning to travel to Dallas to purchase heroin and bring it back to Henderson County. Hayes also admitted to concealing a plastic bag containing a large amount of heroin on her person, according to deputies. Continue reading Deputies bust alleged heroin dealers

WHITE OAK — Authorities are investigating a fatality in the northern part of White Oak, according to Gregg County Sheriff’s Office. Gregg County Chief Deputy Craig Harrington said deputies were working a fatality case in the area and confirmed that a suspect has been taken into custody. According to our news partner KETK, No additional details about the victim, the suspect or the circumstances surrounding the incident were immediately released. The investigation is ongoing.

MARSHALL — Marshall Police made two arrests in connection to a shooting that occurred overnight on Wednesday. According to our news partners KETK, officers were dispatched around 2 a.m. to reports of gunshots in area of Circle Drive and Cross Street. When officers and Harrison County deputies arrived they found a male gunshot victim with wounds to both leg. He was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Investigators booked 18-year-old Cedric Wrighten, Jr., on charges of deadly conduct and possession of a controlled substance. A minor was also taken into custody on charges of resisting arrest and resisting search or transport. The shooter’s identity is still under investigation.

Detectives ask anyone who may have surveillance footage or other information to contact the Marshall Police Department.

ATHENS — A Henderson County Sheriff’s Departments search allegedly found methamphetamine in an Athens residence Tuesday evening. According to our news partner KETK, 54-year-old Johnny Angel Sieger was arrested after investigators found pre-packed bags with suspected methamphetamine and scales commonly used in narcotics distribution. Sieger is charged with manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance and is currently being held on a $75,000 bond in Henderson County Jail.

TYLER — Colten Parsell has been named the new Smith County Animal Control Supervisor.

“I wanted this role because animal control is a direct service to the community. It should be about helping people, protecting our animals and supporting the officers who are out there doing difficult work every day,” he said. “I hope to help strengthen how we serve the community by making sure our officers are supported, our approach is consistent, and our focus stays on safety, education and responsible animal ownership.”

Smith County Judge Neal Franklin said Parsell has a vast amount of experience in personnel management.

“I was extremely impressed by his communication skills and his attention to details,” he said. “He has developed a program from scratch in his most recent position, and he shares our excitement in leading our quality animal control officers.” Continue reading Smith County hires Animal Control Supervisor

UPSHUR COUNTY — Fire crews from multiple departments battled a wildfire near Lake O’ the Pines and U.S. Highway 259 on Monday afternoon that lingered into Tuesday. According to our news partner KETK, New Mountain, Ore City and Ewell Fire Departments were called to the scene, along with two dozers from the Texas A&M Forest Service. Upon arrival, crews found an active fire burning in a swampy area near the lake.

The New Mountain Fire and Rescue said that crews were able to stop the fire from spreading with the wind but part of the fire was surrounded by water and would continue to burn overnight.

A crew from the New Mountain Fire Department returned to the scene Tuesday as they predicted it would burn overnight within containment lines. The crew spent the morning mopping up the area that previously burned. Continue reading Abandoned campfire sparks 38-acre wildfire

TATUM — The second wanted suspect in the Tatum Police Department’s investigation of a series of June car burglaries has turned himself in.

According to our news partner and Tatum police, Cecil Deon Ruffin surrendered to the department on Dec. 8. He currently remains in Rusk County Jail on a $50,000 bond. Ruffin was one of three wanted suspects in the case, which involved multiple car burglaries across Tatum. The investigation began in June when authorities identified seven car burglary cases, six at Tatum Baseball Park and one elsewhere within city limits. Police determined the incidents were linked to organized criminal activity.

On July 2, another theft was reported when a woman allegedly drove through a Vera Bank in Lufkin and withdrew several thousand dollars from a victim’s account.

Authorities later identified the woman from the Vera Bank as Amanda Martin. Continue reading Second of three wanted suspects arrested

WASKOM — The two children killed in a Waskom house fire have been identified by Harrison County officials as brothers Isaac Nicholas Pedraza, 8, and Hector Cesar Pedraza, 11.

On Dec. 30, Harrison County emergency units responded to a call of a residential structure fully engulfed in flames with possible occupants trapped in the 300 to 400 block of Noble Street in Waskom. Officers arrived on the scene and immediately requested for additional emergency resources, confirming the structure was fully involved and that two children were believed to still be inside the residence.

According to our news partner KETK and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, the father of the children sustained injuries while attempting to rescue his sons and was later transported by air to a local hospital where he received treatment for his burns. Continue reading Officials identify children killed in house fire

ATHENS — Four individuals were arrested for drug related charges following two traffic stops by Henderson County K-9 Deputies and narcotics investigators on Monday night. According to our news partner KETK, Henderson County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted a traffic stop on East Tyler Street in Athens at approximately early Monday evening.The driver was identified as 65-year-old Herman Lindon Rogers Jr., and the passenger as 49-yearold Jerroid Dustin Miller.

During the search, Miller attempted to hide a black bag inside the front passenger wheel well cover. K-9 deputies discovered the bag which contained multiple pre-packaged plastic bags of suspected methamphetamine and digital scales which are used in narcotic distribution. Suspected Xanax were also located inside the vehicle, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said. Rogers and Miller were taken into custody and charged each with possession of controlled substance with $5,000 bonds in Henderson County Jail.
Continue reading Four arrested in two drug busts