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RUSK COUNTY – 50 firearms, stolen property and suspected methamphetamine was seized from multiple East Texas homes by the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office last week, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

On July 1, Sheriff’s deputies searched a home in the 1600 block of East Main Street in Henderson, where they recovered 36 firearms, which were revealed to have been transported from a home on 8100 CR 334. Officials said during the search of the second home, 14 firearms, a stolen cargo trailer, body armor and meth were recovered.

Following the search, Bobby Blake Prior of Henderson, who was already in Rusk County Jail for a prior arrest, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, felony theft, unlawful possession of a firearm, and illegal possession of body armor by a felon on July 2.

He remains in Rusk County Jail with bonds totaling $55,000. The investigation remains active, and officials do anticipate more arrests will be made.

CHAPEL HILL — According to a report from our news partner KETK, a FedEx delivery truck driver has died after being ejected from their vehicle on Highway 64 near Chapel Hill on Tuesday.

Smith County Emergency Services District 2 said officials responded to the scene in the 16000 block of Highway 64 at around 1:26 p.m. on Tuesday. The driver was reportedly stepping out of their truck when another vehicle hit the truck and ejected the driver, fatally injuring them.

The identity of the driver has not been released to the media at this time.

SMITH COUNTY – According to a press release from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025, the Special Investigations Unit, along with Tyler DPS Criminal Investigations Division, followed up on a lead received from the Lindale Police Department in reference to illegal narcotics being shipped to an address in Tyler.

Investigators were able to establish probable cause for a search warrant for the address of 409 Sutherland Dr. A probable cause affidavit was presented to the Honorable 114th State District Judge Reeve Jackson. After reviewing the affidavit, Judge Jackson issued a search warrant.

On Thursday, July 3, 2025, Law Enforcement personnel executed the search warrant at 409 Sutherland Dr. During the search of the residence, Investigators located two kilos of cocaine, five pounds of marijuana, dangerous prescription drugs, two loaded handguns, and a loaded rifle. Also located was over $15,000 in US currency, a currency counter, as well as scales and packaging material used for re-distribution. Continue reading Smith County man arrested in drug investigation

GILMER — According to our news partner KETK, a 53-year-old man and an 11-year-old boy were killed on Sunday during a head-on collision with another vehicle on Farm to Market Road 852 in Gilmer.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Ignacio Aguillon Gonzalez and an 11-year-old boy died while heading eastbound on FM 852 in a 1997 Nissan pickup truck when a 2006 Cadillac Escalade crossed over the center stripe and collided head on with the Nissan. DPS said the Escalade contained a 16-year-old driver and two minors at the time of the crash. Officials are still investigating the crash and information regarding the survivors’ conditions are not available at this time.

ANDERSON COUNTY – The budget reconciliation bill was signed into law by President Donald Trump this weekend, leaving one East Texas organization concerned for the future of food aid for elder Americans according to our news partner KETK.

Tri-County Meals on Wheels serves more than 280,000 meals annually to senior citizens in Anderson, Cherokee and Rusk counties. This new budget suspension has caused them a $1,000 monthly loss of revenue, in a time when the service is needed. The program receives around five calls a week with seniors interested in receiving meal delivery but they may be redirected to a wait list. However the Meals on Wheels in-person cafeteria is continuing to serve lunch as usual.

The organization is encouraging the community to make monetary donations and to volunteer as Meals on Wheels delivery drivers. To learn more, visit Tri-County Meals on Wheels online.

TITUS COUNTY — A woman was charged with manslaughter last week after allegedly killing her daughter in a crash back in June.

According to our news partner KETK and the Department of Public Safety crash report, Margarita Josefina Barrera was driving her 2013 Nissan westbound on FM 899 with her 4-year-old daughter sitting in the third row of the car. According to the report, Barrera was distracted while driving due to another passenger asking for the music to be turned up. DPS said that Barrera was using her phone while driving the vehicle and was failing to drive in a single lane. Due to her distracted driving, Barrea eventually veered off the road and attempted to re-enter the roadway. Her tire caught the edge of the asphalt, causing the vehicle to overturn to its right side. Barrera’s daughter was ejected from the car and later died at Children’s Hospital in Dallas.

Further investigation revealed that the booster seat Barrera’s daughter was sitting in was not appropriate for her age. Following the investigation, Barrera was charged with manslaughter on July 2.

GILMER – A head-on crash in Upshur county has taken the lives of a 53-year-old man and an 11-year-old boy. It happened on Farm to Market Road 852 east of Lake Gilmer at around 1PM Monday. A full-sized SUV was driven by a 16-year-old boy from Gilmer and in the vehicle were 16 -year-old girl and 17-year-old boy, all from Gilmer. Coming the other way on FM-852 was a mid-sized pickup driven by 53-year-old Ignacio Gonzales. Also in the truck was an 11-year-old boy. The SUV crossed over the center stripe on the road and slammed into the pickup, killing both people on board. The investigation is continuing.

NACOGDOCHES – A multi-state offender was sentenced to eight years in prison on Thursday after forcefully spitting in the face of a Nacogdoches police officer in 2024, our news partner KETK reports.

According to the Nacogdoches County District Attorney’s Office, around 1 a.m. on March 16, 2024 police officers were contacted by a citizen that said a person, later identified as 38-year-old Darin Brian Pagel of Nacogdoches, was lying in their yard.

Officers found Pagel to be intoxicated and he was taken into custody for public intoxication when he became agitated. Officials said while Pagel was being searched he “forcefully spat at the officer.” Continue reading Nacogdoches man gets eight years after spitting on police officer

TYLER – A man was arrested on the Fourth of July after he admitted to kicking and striking his dog with a surge protector power strip in Tyler, our news partner KETK reports.

According to the arrest affidavit from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, on Friday around 3:30 a.m. Tyler Police talked to Bryson Joe Jeffery at his home on Broadway Avenue after he tortured his dog.

“Jeffery stated upon returning home he found his female dog had caused damage inside his residence which upset him,” the document said. “In frustration Jeffery began to torture the dog by throwing the dog across the home, kicking it, hitting it and striking it with a surge protector power strip which was located broken inside the home.” Continue reading Tyler man arrested after using power strip to strike his dog

TYLER — Our news partner KETK reports that J-Star Ministries of Harleton headed to Kerrville on Sunday afternoon with supplies for people in their hour of need after catastrophic flooding hit Central Texas on Friday.

Patrick Johnson is the founder of J-Star and he goes to the hardest hit areas around the nation to bring relief to families in need. When he heard the death toll rise in Kerr County, he broke down in tears and said he had to do something to help.

Months ago, the Kilgore Lion’s Club chose to honor J-Star at their convention and gifted him with cleaning supplies, toothbrushes, deodorant, first aid kits, water and nonperishables items. He will distribute those items in central Texas and is asking for more donations for an upcoming second trip to Kerrville.

Johnson first left for Kerr County on Sunday afternoon and will return back to East Texas with a more specific list for their needs. He told KETK News a big need will be shoes for all ages. Continue reading Local organizations lead disaster relief for Kerr County

LAKE PALESTINE – Smith County Emergency Services District 2’s Marine 166 dive and swift water rescue boat had an eventful day at Lake Palestine on Saturday, our news partner KETK reports.

According to the district, the boat first responded to a fire that happened at a private dock at around 7 a.m. on Saturday morning. Marine 166 was able to quickly respond and the fire was extinguished with help from Smith County Emergency Services District 2’s Battalion 1.

Later on Saturday, Marine 166 and Engine 166 responded to a boat that sank on Lake Palestine. The two boaters onboard were able to make it into shore uninjured but the district warned that the boat is sticking out of the water and is a hazard for any traffic through that part of the lake.

The boat sunk at Lake Palestine East in the cove behind Lakeway Habor, around 30 yards from the nearby docks. Texas Game Wardens have been contacted to help remove the boat.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Our news partner KETK reports that a motorcyclist is dead after they ran into a pickup truck in Cherokee County on Sunday evening.

Officials received a call at around 7:25 p.m. of a crash on County Road 4401 between a pickup truck pulling a trailer and a motorcycle.

DPS said the pickup truck was traveling eastbound, and the motorcyclist was traveling westbound on the same roadway when the motorcycle struck the front left of the pickup. The person was ejected from the bike and was found dead on the scene.

The victim’s name has not been released to the media at this time, and more information will be added as it becomes available.

KERRVILLE – As the death toll from recent flooding rises in Central Texas, many organizations from across the state are stepping up to help raise money for flood recovery efforts.

On Sunday, the Associated Press reported that at least 70 people have been killed and 11 campers from Camp Mystic are still missing after flash flooding raised the Guadalupe River in Kerr County by 26 feet in under an hour on Friday.

Our news partner KETK has put together the following fundraisers and volunteering efforts that are being organized to help communities in Kerr County and across Central Texas. Continue reading Here’s how to help flood survivors in Central Texas