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NECHES— Our news partner, KETK, reports that Neches ISD has canceled classes for Thursday and Friday after an “unbelievable amount” of health-related absences.

According to NISD, the trend of sickness has been worse over the past couple of days, with record-low attendance leading them to cancel classes. The district said they want to allow time for families to get healthy and for their staff to thoroughly clean their facilities.

“We believe we have made the decision that is in the best interest of our district,” NISD said. “We will use banked minutes in our calendar and no make-up days will be needed.”

NISD said Friday’s basketball games will take place as scheduled and all students will return to school Feb. 17 after winter break.

WILLS POINT — According to a report from our news partner, KETK, an East Texas teacher has been arrested following allegations of sex crimes against children.

Wills Point ISD released a statement on Monday regarding, Jimmy Hanks, who was arrested by the Rains County Sheriff’s Office. Hanks is a former high school teacher in Wills Point and owns a local business, Bulldog Nutrition, in Edgewood. School officials said that the alleged behavior did not occur on the school’s campus or property and that officers will continue investigating the allegations and take proper legal action.

The sheriff’s office said during the course of the investigation, probable cause was established, and an arrest warrant was issued. Hanks was later arrested and remains at the county jail for continuous sexual abuse of a young child. School officials said that the alleged behavior did not occur on the school’s campus or property and that officers will continue investigating the allegations and take proper legal action. Continue reading Former East Texas teacher arrested for child sex crimes

JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville Police Department  arrested a man in connection to the Nov. 27, 2024 hit-and-run death of Tayedrian Baker. According to our news partner KETK, Londedric Jayquell Taylor Sr., 30, of Jacksonville, was arrested for accident involving serious bodily injury or death and has been booked into the Cherokee County Jail.

Police said Baker was traveling on an electric bike when an unknown vehicle hit him. Baker was flown to a Tyler hospital but later died from his injuries. Baker was an organ donor and helped save six people’s lives following his death.

“Our hearts go out to Mr. Baker’s family during this difficult time. The case remains under investigation, and no further details will be released at this time,” the Jacksonville Police Department said.

KILGORE — The Kilgore Police Department arrested two suspects on Tuesday after more than 600 grams of meth and other drugs were found during a raid. According to our news partner KETK, members of the Narcotics Department, Drug Enforcement Unit and Proactive Community Engagement Team served a drug warrant at an apartment on Martin and Houston street. During the drug raid, officials reportedly found 643 grams of meth, 7 grams of Psilocybin, 27.2 pounds of Marijuana, 10 grams of Trazodone, 241 grams of ‘white powdery substance’, Glock 23, Mini Drako, Drako, Semi-automatic rifle, ammunition and two bullet proof vests.

Alston Antwone Lee has been charged with the manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, possession of dangerous drugs and weapon charges coming soon. His bonds total $235,000.

The Kilgore Police Department reminded dealers that their “time is numbered.”

WOOD COUNTY — Arrest records shed light on a former pastor who allegedly used the same ruse to lure children and sexually assault them at church. According to our news partner KETK, Timothy Nall’s affidavit indicates the sexual assault took place at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Mineola in Fall 2022. According to a deputy’s offense report, a counselor notified deputies of possible sexual abuse to a 4-year-old girl.

The parents of the girl had placed her in counseling sessions after they noticed strange behavior at home that highly alarmed them. The suspect was identified as Timothy Nall who was the full time pastor at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, where the family went to beginning February 2022.

A forensic interview was conducted at the Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center on Jan. 27 where the child made statements against Nall. Nall was booked into the Smith County Jail and was released the following day. Continue reading New details in sexual abuse case involving East Texas pastor

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Commissioners voted on Tuesday afternoon to honor the memory of two firefighters who were killed in the line of duty while battling a house fire in 2007. According to our news partner KETK, the court voted to rename a portion of FM 2493, or Old Jacksonville, as the “Captain Kevin Williams and Firefighter Austin Cheek Memorial Highway” in memory of the two firefighter who died after responding to a house fire. During the meeting Council member Neal Franklin reflected on the tragedy.

“It was a tough time in the fire service and a tough time for everybody. It brings back some hard moments but we are here to honor those individuals today,” Franklin said.

The Noonday Volunteer Fire Department crew, including Williams and Cheek, responded to a house fire located at 20188 FM 2493 on Aug. 3, 2007 at around 1:35 a.m. Continue reading Smith County Commissioner Court honors fallen firefighters

HARRISON COUNTY — A Marshall man was arrested on Tuesday following an ongoing investigation into crack-cocaine trafficking. According to the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office and our news partner KETK, officers searched a home on 329 Floyd Evans Road where they found crack-cocaine on the property.

During the search, officials said they identified the property owner as 72-year-old James Earl Rudd who has an extensive criminal record, including prior convictions for drug trafficking and homicide.

Rudd was arrested for the manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance and was booked into the Harrison County Jail. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be filed officials said.

MABANK — Our news partner, KETK, reports that a Dallas man has died after his vehicle crashed into an embankment and was submerged under water on Saturday in Mabank.

Officers with the Mabank Police Department were dispatched to the 17000 block of eastbound U.S. Highway 175 in reference to a vehicle crash. Once officers arrived, they spoke with witnesses who said the vehicle left the roadway and crashed into the bridge embankment and was submerged under water. Authorities attempted to remove the man from the vehicle however after several attempts, “officers realized that a rescue was not likely due to vehicle’s position in the water and the damage sustained during the crash.”

A short time later, officers pulled the vehicle from the water and located the man dead inside. The man was identified as Bradley Michael Leonard, 68 of Dallas. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

KARNACK— Our news partner, KETK, reports that one man was injured in Harrison County after an officer-involved shooting occurred Monday evening. According to the Harrison County Sheriffs Office, around 7:12 p.m. their communications office received a 911 call regarding a white male trying to enter into a home on Pine Island Rd. Officers reported hearing a man yelling in the background as the situation unfolded through the phone.

While deputies were enroute, the person who called 911 informed them the man had successfully entered the home and had a gun. Everyone inside the home were able to escape safely to a neighboring property.

When deputies arrived, the man allegedly appeared on the front porch armed with a firearm. Officials said the subject then pointed the firearm in the direction of the deputies, prompting them to respond by firing their service weapons striking him. Continue reading Man injured after an officer-involved shooting in Harrison County

LONGVIEW — A Longview gymnastics instructor, Matthew Orban, 52, has been  charged with sexual assault of a minor. According to our news partner KETK, the incident involving Orban occurred on or around March 1, 2016. Orban reportedly turned himself into the Gregg County Jail on Dec. 12 and was released the same day on a $75,000 bond.

Orban is co-founder of Faith Flip alongside Nicole Orban, whose mission is to reach and teach children in a “loving, caring environment.” The nonprofit is located in the Longview Mall where they provide tumbling and trampoline instruction while teaching life lessons through the Holy Bible.

Orban is scheduled to appear in the 188th district court on April 9 at 9 a.m. for a status hearing.

EDOM – Van Zandt County leaders held a townhall to inform residents of their future plans to move out of the current courthouse building. On Monday night, according to our news partner KETK, dozens of residents were able to hear two plans for the county. The first proposed project is to completely move their courthouse operations to a building downtown. The second proposed project is to build a brand-new jail and Sheriff’s office. The county’s current courthouse was built in 1937 and is need of major renovations.

County Commissioner Brandon Barton said documents and the amount of people living in Van Zandt County has outgrown the 88-year-old building.

“From 2010 to 2020, the county grew at 25% and they’re projecting that for the future also,” said Van Zandt Co. Precinct 4 county commissioner, Brandon Barton said.

“We’ve had water problems, we’ve had leak problems, the walls in the courthouse are crumbling. We’ve run out of space, we have no more room,” Barton said. Continue reading Van Zandt Co. leaders plan to move out of old courthouse

LUFKIN – The Lufkin Police Department is asking the public to help them locate two men who were last seen on Tuesday, Jan. 28. According to our news partner KETK, Robert Saxon is a 6’1? tall 79-year-old white man who weighs around 220 pounds. Michael “Mike” Allen is a 5’7? tall 44-year-old white man who weighs around 160 pounds.

Both men where last seen in Angelina County on Jan. 28, according to Lufkin PD. Officials are also searching for Saxton’s silver Ford F-150 pick-up truck with an extended cab and the dealer tag #31C883A. Anyone with information about the men or the truck is asked to call the Lufkin Police Department at 936-633-0356 or the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office at 936-634-3331.

HENDERSON COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK, a UT Tyler employee was reportedly hosting child pornography online before he was arrested on Thursday, arrest records have revealed. A criminal investigator for the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Crimes Against Children Task Force started an investigation after they found at least one file of interest to child porn investigations being hosted on the BitTorrent network, which is designed for people to share files with one another.

Using a computer running investigative BitTorrent software, the investigator was able to find a direct connection to a singular IP address which let them download files being hosted by that address.
On Tuesday, Nov.12 between 11:30 and 11:58 p.m., a download of two files of interest was completed.

One file was a video that depicted two white girls who were both under the age of 15 performing a various sexual acts. Another download was conducted later that same day and that video reportedly contained a girl under 7-years-old, according to arrest documents. Continue reading UT Tyler employee arrested for hosting child pornography online