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VAN ZANDT — Troopers responded to the scene of a fatal wreck on Interstate 20 in Van Zandt County, about 5 miles south of Wills Point, around 11:00 this morning. According to the DPS report, a 2004 Ford Explorer was traveling eastbound on I-20 in the left lane when it veered off the south side of the roadway. The driver, Lester Willis, 57, Dallas, reportedly over-corrected and the vehicle rolled. The vehicle came to rest on its roof. Willis was pronounced dead at the scene. Continue reading Victim in Fatal Rollover Accident Identified

ANDERSON COUNTY — The Department of Public Safety responded to a fatal crash involving two vehicles last night. According to the DPS report, a gray Toyota Tundra pickup was traveling North on US 287 near FM 860 when it crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a Jeep Grand Cherokee head-on. The truck rolled over on the driver’s side and caught fire trapping the driver inside. Tu Nguyen, 45, Ft. Worth, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Jeep also caught fire but the three occupants were able to escape. The driver of the Jeep was identified as Philip Harden, 32, Frisco, was taken to Mother Francis Hospital in Tyler. Continue reading One Person Killed in Anderson County Wreck

LONGVIEW – A teen is in custody in connection with a Longview shooting death earlier this week. Longview police have announced they have charged GeKainnon Ikemon-Kenyon Harris 19, of Longview, with the murder of Alexis Bell, 26. She was found shot to death in an apartment on Lake Lamond Drive early Tuesday afternoon. Originally, Harris was arrested at the scene on two unrelated assault family violence warrants. He has now been charged with manslaughter in Bell’s death. He remains in the Gregg County Jail.

MARSHALL – A jury in Marshall has found a Henderson police officer innocent of the charge of of indecency with a child by sexual contact. The jury returned the verdict Friday. Jeronimo Holguin Jr., 25, of Waskom, was arrested last October. He was put on administrative leave following his arrest. The victim, who is younger than 17, told Hallsville police that Holguin had touched her breast under her clothes on two occasions, first in June of 2014 and then in mid-January of last year. She repeated the testimony in court during the trial. But the jury came back with a not guilty verdict.

LONGVIEW – A man is in custody in Longview after a search warrant turned up drugs and stolen guns. Billie Kay Smith, 35, of Lancaster has been charged with manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance in penalty group one, possession of marijuana, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and three counts of theft of a firearm. His bonds total $226,000. He was arrested after County Organized Drug Enforcement agents served a search warrant Thursday at a home on Oden Street. Continue reading Dallas County Man Busted for Drugs in Longview

LONGVIEW – The Longview city council has approved a new budget. The $154.3 million balanced budget, which takes effect the first of next month, was approved at a meeting Thursday. Under the budget, there will be no increases in rates for water, sewer and sanitation services. According to the Longview News Journal, the budget includes no employee pay raises outside of public safety, but none of the city’s 880-plus workers will see layoffs, furloughs or pay cuts. Next Thursday, council members will consider a tax rate. The proposal calls for no increase in the rate of 50.99 cents per $100 valuation.

TUTTLE, OKLAHOMA – A Gregg County man has won Braum’s national ice cream competition. Andy Taylor of Kilgore is the grand champion of Braum’s Perfect Pair: The World’s Greatest Double-Dip Contest. According to the company’s website, Taylor won with his ’80s throwback entry of “Wake Me Up before You Fro-Yo”. The musically inspired flavor combination pairs Cappuccino Chunky Chocolate Frozen Yogurt and Light English Toffee. Besides receiving coupons for 52 cartons of free ice cream, Taylor will have the honor of having the entry featured at the Braum’s store in Tyler.

HENDERSON – An investigation is underway into the death of an inmate at the Bradshaw State Jail in Henderson. Foul play is not suspected in the death of Alfredo McCowan, 43. He was found unresponsive during a security check shortly after 11:45 Wednesday morning. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death.

KILGORE – A missing persons case in Kilgore has become a criminal case. Kilgore police recently issued a missing persons report for Sheryia Grant, 20. At the time, they said she may be in danger. A police department news release says they now suspect she was the victim of foul play. And they added, since this is now classified as a Criminal Investigation the department will not be releasing details of the investigation. Continue reading Kilgore Missing Person’s Case Now a Criminal Case

LONGVIEW – Longview residents may see a higher or a lower water bill this month. It is because of a one-time adjustment. The adjustment comes as the City of Longview completes a utility billing cycle realignment project. the meter reading routes were realigned geographically from March through May to increase efficiency. As customers were shifted from one cycle to another, some customers had shorter or longer than normal billing periods. To properly prorate water, sewer, and garbage rates during those irregular periods, the September bills will reflect this one time adjustment. About half of the city’s total customers will see an adjustment. Continue reading Adjustments for Some Longview Water Bills

MARSHALL – The Marshall Police Department is requesting the public’s help in the identification a person wanted for a variety of crimes. He is a suspect in the theft of mail in the East Texas area. He is also wanted for forgery. If you know the identity of this person, please call Det. Rob Farnham with the Marshall Police Dept. Criminal Investigation Bureau at 903-935-4539 or if you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact the Harrison County Crime Stoppers at (903) 935-9969.

LONGVIEW – Longview police have released a picture of the suspect in the robbery of the LeTourneau Federal Credit Union. The suspect entered the business shortly before 11:30 Wednesday morning. He pulled a gun and demanded money from a teller. He fled with an undisclosed amount of money. He is described as a white male between 45 and 55 and around 5’9″ tall and weighing 250 to 270 pounds. No injuries were reported. Continue reading More Information On Longview Robbery

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott has appointed three men to the Texas Crime Stoppers Council. Among those the governor named is Joe Martino of Marshall. He works in office services for the McKool Smith Law Firm. Previously, he has served as assistant Head of School at Trinity Episcopal School and as an assistant principal at Marshall High School. Martino has served with Texas Crime Stoppers since 1989 as a certified trainer and founder of local campus programs. The governor also named to the council Greg New of Waxahachie and Steve Squier of Cleveland. The three men’s terms will expire on September 1, 2020.

GRAPEVINE (AP/Staff) – Authorities say a construction worker has died after falling into an elevator shaft at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Airport spokesman David Magana on Thursday identified the victim as 55-year-old Craig Rowell from Point, in Rains County. Magana says Rowell was a construction subcontractor employee. Magana says the accident happened Wednesday afternoon at Terminal A, near Gate 39, in an area walled off for construction. Rowell was transported to a Fort Worth hospital, where he died overnight. Magana says DFW airport has instituted a safety-related halt to its active construction programs amid a review of the accident. Further details weren’t immediately released.

TYLER – Smith County voters who cannot obtain one of the seven approved forms of photo identification now have additional options at the polls. Smith County Elections Administrator Karen Nelson says a voter can sign a declaration at the polls explaining why they were unable to obtain an approved photo ID. The voter could also provide one of various forms of supporting documentation. The can be an original, certified birth certificate or a valid voter registration certificate. You can also use a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, or paycheck, or other government document that shows the voter’s name and an address. Nelson said her office is working to make sure all the voters in Smith County are ready to cast a ballot in November. Continue reading Voter ID Options Added at the Polls

LONGVIEW – A man, identified as a Longview gang member, has been arrested fleeing police. Officers wanted Jordan Malik Carter, 19, for seven outstanding warrants. Police reports say officers saw Carter leave Motel 6 on Interstate Highway 20 on Sunday. When he got out of the car at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Cummings Street, officers turned on their car’s light in an attempt to arrest him. Carter then ran away with the officers in pursuit. During the foot chase, he was seen pulling a gun from his waistband and tossing it into the woods. He was arrested a short time later. Now, besides the original charges, Carter has also been charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon, evading arrest and possession or delivery of drug paraphernalia.

TYLER – A Smith County jail inmate had a brief taste of freedom Wednesday. He was recaptured northeast of the jail. Bob Lee Handy, 33, of Tyler, was being booked into the jail when he broke loose and ran. They were preparing to move him to a more secure area when he bolted through a door that had opened to bring another prisoner inside. Handy, who had his handcuffs removed, ran through the sally port and scaled a gate. He then jumped into a drainage ditch. He made it to Beckham Avenue where he was tackled by an officer. Handy, who was being booked into the jail on a felony felony theft of property charge, is also facing now an escape charge.

TYLER – The Tyler Cattle Barons’ Gala Committee has announced the winner in the 2016 Jewelry Chance Drawing. The Charles Krypell Designs donated by Susan Robinson Fine jewelry went to Tyler’s Ken Threlkeld. A long-time volunteer and supporter of the Tyler Cattle Barons’ Gala, Threlkeld purchased twelve chance drawing tickets, one of which was the winning ticket. The drawing raised $12,450 for the Tyler Cattle Barons’ Gala benefiting the American Cancer Society.

TYLER — Tyler police are joining law enforcement across the country in observing an increase of credit card abuse cases related to the skimming of credit cards, at gas pumps and ATMs. Suspects are placing skimmer devices inside gas pumps that capture your credit card information. The suspect will return for the skimmer device or use Bluetooth to download the credit card information that will allow them to duplicate your credit card. Police say when using your card to pay at the pump, be observant for the gas pump seal which should be in place around the outer door opening. Thieves normally target pumps that are on the outside isle of the station, shielded from the view of the clerk. Continue reading Be Aware of Credit Card Skimmers

TYLER — Smith County Assistant Fire Marshal Oren Hale has resigned. According to a news release, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office of Professional Responsibility Investigator completed and closed the internal investigation of Hale, which had been requested by the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office. Prior to the conclusion of the investigation, on August 24, Hale tendered his resignation to Fire Marshal Connie Wasson. Continue reading Assistant Fire Marshal Resigns

TYLER – Several church burglaries have been reported in the Tyler area over the past few days.The suspect forced his way into the church by breaking a window or door. Once inside the building he is looking for a safe or cash to take. The suspect has been caught on church video and with the story is a picture of the suspect. Continue reading Tyler Church Burglar Sought

GLADEWATER – A large marijuana growing operation has been uncovered in northern Smith County. It is south of Gladewater off County Road 373, near the Smith-Upshur county line. Over 4,000 plants, four to seven feet tall, have been found, along with an irrigation system. Water was being taken from a nearby creek. Investigators tell us several people have been seen living at a campsite on the property. They were not there when authorities raided the field and no arrests have been made. The owner of the property had no idea that these plants were being grown on their property. Continue reading Large Marijuana Field Found in Smith County

RUSK — Rusk Volunteer Fire Chief Donald Lankford has been cleared of an assault by physical contact charge, a class C misdemeanor. KETK reports the Donald Lankford v. State of Texas case stems from an incident December 30, 2015. Lankford was accused of grabbing 16-year-old Wayne Foreman and trying to pull him out of his SUV. This is after Foreman’s friend, Zachery Banks, said he threw a firework in front of Lankford’s firework stand. During Tuesday’s trial, Banks said he wanted to do it to “have a memory to look back on.” He also said he was “being stupid” and didn’t realize it was against the law. He apologized to Lankford. Continue reading Jury Rules in Favor of Rusk Volunteer Fire Chief

LONGVIEW — A Kilgore man who admitted to having sex with a 15-year-old girl in his care pleaded guilty Tuesday to child sexual assault and indecency with a child by sexual contact. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Neil Anthony Minnicks, 38, received two five-year sentences on the second-degree felonies. The maximum sentence for each was 20 years. The terms will run concurrently, 188th District Judge David Brabham ruled. Minnicks must serve half his dual sentence before he becomes eligible for parole. He also must register for life as a sex offender.