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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

TEXARKANA – According to our new partner KETK, Texarkana will now join more than 200 Film Friendly Texas Certified Communities from across the state. A title they hope will bring new life to the city.

When asked by a resident if this means a lot of new movies will be shot in Texarkana, a representative from the city responded, “Hopefully! This designation essentially gives us a stamp of approval from the governor’s office and shows filmmakers that we have gone through the proper steps to educate ourselves on being a community and city open and ready to welcome TV and film production. The sky’s the limit!”

Governor Greg Abbott welcomed the city and stressed the economic importance to cities like Texarkana. Continue reading Gov. Abbott officially names Texarkana as Film Friendly

TYLER – Three people were transported to a local hospital after a tanker truck and a car crashed on U.S. Highway 271 near Interstate 20 on Saturday, according to our news partner KETK.

Smith County Emergency Services District 2 said law enforcement and EMS responded to the scene of a two-vehicle crash between a Nissan Altima and a tanker truck at around 2:11 p.m. on Saturday. 3 people in the Nissan were severely injured or had life-threatening injuries and had to be extracted from the vehicle before being taken to a local hospital.

Smith County Emergency Services District 2 officials told KETK that one person in the tanker truck was also injured and that part of Highway 271 was blocked by the crash on Saturday.

TYLER – As officials continue to try and help survivors of catastrophic flooding, several East Texas firefighters from Smith County and Lufkin have been deployed to assist in central Texas, according to our news partner KETK.

The Lufkin Fire Department deployed Engine 3 to Central Texas with captains Petty and Grace and firefighters Jernigan and Maskunas, as a part of the TIFMAS program. The crew left just before 12 p.m. on Saturday in order to meet with other departments that are gathering together to form a strike team. On Friday, the Lufkin Fire Department also deployed Driver-Operator Byrum and Firefighter Barnes as a part of the Emergency Medical Task Force that’s assisting residents of central Texas.

Smith County Emergency Services District 2 said a member of their district was deployed to Llano on Friday to assist in search and rescue operations there. The district member was activated by the Texas State Operations Center as a part of the Texas A&M Task Force 2.

TITUS COUNTY – The Titus County Sheriff’s Office said a man has been arrested for cockfighting after officials were alerted to an “illegal cockfighting event” on Friday.

According to our news partner KETK, their deputies and investigators were given information about an “illegal cockfighting event” that was being held in the 900 block of County Road 3925 in the early hours of July 4th. Investigators reviewed statements and evidence before applying for a search and arrest warrant from 276th District Judge Michael Kopech. The warrant was issued and the sheriff’s office searched the property.

Timothy C. Thompson, 52 of Titus County, was then arrested for cockfighting and four counts of cruelty to a livestock animal, according to a post from the sheriff’s office. Thompson has been booked into the Titus County Jail and is currently waiting for his arraignment by a magistrate judge.

The sheriff’s office said they are continuing to investigate other potential suspects in this case.

TYLER – The Lindale Fire Department said a large storage building at the Harris Plant Nursery was destroyed by a fire on Friday night.

Lindale Fire Department Assistant Chief Troy Pritchard told our news partner KETK that their crews were alerted to a reported fire with multiple reports of explosions and tractors involved at the nursery at around 10:15 p.m. on Friday. When Pritchard arrived at the scene, he said firefighters found a large storage building on fire. According to Pritchard, nearby homeowners reported hearing explosions but didn’t think much of it at first because fireworks were going off for July 4th.

Pritchard said 30 firefighters from Lindale Fire Department and Smith County Emergency Services District #2 responded to the scene to fight the fire. The fire was eventually extinguished after firefighters used over 60,000 gallons of water to put it out. One firefighter was treated for heated exhaustion at the scene and released. Continue reading Harris Nursery storage building destroyed by fire

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County officials have confirmed that two people were injured in shootings that happened near clubs in Tyler on Saturday morning.

According to our news partner KETK, deputies responded to a disturbance at Club Exotic located in the 11800 block of Highway 64 West due to a large group fighting that was reported at around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday. While responding to the scene, the sheriffs’ office said gunshots were reported in the same area. Once deputies arrived at the scene, the crowd dispersed. A man was taken to a local hospital to be treated for an apparent gunshot wound to the abdomen, according to the sheriff’s office. At 4:30 a.m., a 16-year-old who had been shot while at the Jungle Club parking lot in the 12500 block of Highway 31 West was taken to a hospital to be treated for a gunshot wound to her leg.

Officials believe suspects in the Jungle Club shooting fired shots into the crowd from a black Ford Mustang.

The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about the shootings to call them at 903-566-6600.

TYLER – The East Texas Food Bank (ETFB) released a statement addressing their concerns after the U.S. Senate passed a bill that will cut an estimated $186 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Our news partner KETK is reporting that the bill will alter the program’s structure by shifting billions in costs to states, including Texas, and represents the most sweeping rollback of SNAP in U.S. history.

ETFB chief executive officer, David Emerson, spoke about how the cutting of SNAP funds will have a negative impact on East Texas families and urged lawmakers to act now to protect SNAP.

“Slashing SNAP will push even more families into crisis, especially in rural areas like East Texas where the program is a critical lifeline. These cuts will have immediate and devastating consequences — more empty refrigerators, more hungry children and more impossible choices between food, medicine and rent,” Emerson said. “The ripple effects will hit local economies hard, stalling recovery and deepening poverty. We urge lawmakers to act now — protect and strengthen SNAP before more lives are put at risk.” Continue reading East Texas Food Bank reacts to “Big Beautiful Bill”

CANTON – The City of Canton has applied to flood thousands of acres of land for a reservoir to combat city growth according to our news partner KETK.

In the letter the city said, ” The construction of this reservoir is a critical need for Canton’s drinking water supply to meet future water demands associated with future growth.”

Van Zandt County Commissioner Mitch Curtis said the city of Canton grew by 700 people in the last 20 years. He added that the city is not in a water crisis. Canton Mayor Lou Ann Everett did not comment on the project. According to the application, the reservoir would supply up to 3,950 acre-feet/ year. That amount of water is equivalent to nearly 1.3 billion gallons of water, equaling up to four football fields at a foot deep.

The construction would displace more than 140 homes in the Antioch, Oakland, and the East Center communities. Continue reading Canton residents pushback against Grand Saline Creek Reservoir

KILGORE – Kilgore Police are seeking the public’s assistance in finding two men accused of burglarizing a storage unit facility.

According to the department, they need assistance finding 47-year-old Aaron Fouse and 46-year-old Justin Taylor. Both were identified as the suspects in a burglary of the Clayton’s Security Storage facility on Danville Road.

If you have any information regarding the crime or their whereabouts, contact Detective Jacob Lira at 903-985-2442. The case number to reference is 2506-2086.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY, Texas (KETK)— A man was arrested in Van Zandt County on Wednesday after drugs were found inside of his vehicle during a traffic stop, according to our news partner KETK and the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office.

James Chandler Groessel was pulled over for a traffic stop by narcotics investigators while driving through the Rolling Oaks Subdivision. During the stop, investigators suspected that drugs were in Chandler’s vehicle and requested assistance from the Greenville Police Department K9 Unit to search the car. The K-9 Unit alerted investigators to the presence of illegal drugs, prompting a search of the vehicle. According to officials during the search of Groessel’s car heroin and meth were found.

Groessel was then arrested and transported to the Van Zandt County Jail. He was charged with manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance. Groessel is currently awaiting arraignment.

KILGORE – Kilgore Police are seeking the public’s assistance in finding two men accused of burglarizing a storage unit facility according to our news partner KETK.

They need assistance finding 47-year-old Aaron Fouse and 46-year-old Justin Taylor. Both were identified as the suspects in a burglary of the Clayton’s Security Storage facility on Danville Road.

If you have any information regarding the crime or their whereabouts, contact Detective Jacob Lira at 903-985-2442. The case number to referene is 2506-2086.

TYLER – After “One Big, Beautiful Bill” was passed, East Texas Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01) released a statement about how he believes the legislation gives American Families a chance to preserve the promise of the American Dream.

After sessions in both the House and the Senate, the bill was officially passed on Thursday afternoon. Moran was one of 218 members of the House who voted in favor of the bill, while 214 members voted against the bill.

The ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ is a fiscal package bill from President Donald Trump with the goal of cutting $1.5 trillion from the government’s budget to establish different tax laws, overtime pay, and more.

In his statement, Rep. Moran wrote about how the passing of the bill reinforces the government’s commitment to the American people and small businesses. Continue reading Rep. Moran optimistic on passing of the “One Big, Beautiful Bill”

HARRISON COUNTY – Harrison County officials have confirmed that a domesticated cat located in the Longview area has tested positive for rabies.

According to a release from county officials, the cat that was tested resided within the Honeysuckle Farms area of Longview. All residents are urged to take the necessary steps to protect themselves and their pets.

Make sure all pets are up to date on rabies vaccinations, including dogs, cats and ferrets. Avoid contact with unfamiliar animals, wild or domesticated. If a person or their pet has been bitten or scratched by an animal, they are asked to seek medical attention.

People are asked to contact the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office to report any animals displaying aggressive or abnormal behavior.

UPDATE: Dyke’s memorial service will be held at the Green Acres Baptist Church on July 9 starting at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers Dykes family requests that donations are made to the Green Acres Foundation.

TYLER — Former Green Acres Baptist Church Pastor David Dykes has died, sources close to the family confirmed on Thursday morning. The church said it will release additional information regarding arrangements later Thursday afternoon. Details into Dykes’ death are unknown. His family requests privacy during this time.

According to our news partner KETK, Dykes began preaching in 1970, and went on to serve as the senior pastor of Green Acres Baptist Church from 1991 to 2021. He then served as Pastor Emeritus of Green Acres.

He was also the author of several books, including Handling Life’s Disappointments, Ten Requirements for America’s Survival, and Angels Really DO exist. Continue reading Pastor Dykes funeral arrangements announced

GREGG COUNTY – Our news partner KETK reports that the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is searching for several men suspected of stealing fireworks from a stand in Liberty City on Monday night.

According to officials, multiple unknown men broke into the 582 Fireworks stand, and allegedly stole several packages of fireworks before the owner arrived. The owner attempted to stop the burglary while in progress. The suspects were seen driving away from the scene in a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu, according to officials.

Several pictures taken from surveillance footage during the incident were posted on Facebook by the Sheriff’s Office.

Anyone who may recognize any of the suspects or have information related to this case is asked to call Investigator Todd Chastain at (903) 237-2514 or call Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-7867.

UPSHUR COUNTY– An Upshur County man was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to aggravated robbery that took place two years ago, according to our news partner KETK and the Upshur County District Attorney’s Office.

On June 6, 2023, Dabrodrick Deondre Mathis, along with another person, convinced a man to drive from Texarkana after telling him he was meeting a woman. Once the victim arrived, Mathis and the other person involved pointed a gun at the victim’s face then stole his iPhone, Apple Watch, wallet, credit card, and forced the victim to send them money through Cash App. Once the victim left the scene, he reported the incident to authorities at the Gilmer Police Department, prompting an investigation. Continue reading Upshur County man sentenced to 30 years for robbery

BULLARD — According to our news partner KETK, eight people were taken into ICE custody on Wednesday following a traffic stop in Bullard with one man fleeing the scene. ICE spokesperson Dexter Henson said 8 people were taken into ICE custody after being contacted by Bullard law enforcement. According to Henson, this was a normal traffic stop and not part of any immigration task force investigation.

A Bullard police officer was reportedly conducting a traffic stop for a violation when a Hispanic man fled from the vehicle.

Officials said the man is still on the run, but is not believed to be armed or dangerous. The Bullard Police Department is asking anyone with information about the man to contact them at 903-894-7788.

RAINS COUNTY – Our news partner KETK reports that a second Rains County judge has been arrested for tampering with a witness.

According to records obtained from the Rains County District Clerk, Judge Linda Wallace has been indicted for witness tampering in the case State of Texas v. Robert Jenkins Franklin. Franklin was a justice of the peace who was arrested in May for official oppression and witness tampering. He is accused of telling a victim, “You take that deal, boy – or dead man can’t testify.”

“Wallace….did coerce [victim] who was a prospective witness in an official proceeding, by pressuring her as supervisor of her employment with intent to influence [the victim] to withhold testimony,” the indictment reads.

Wallace was appointed to fill the vacant Rains County judge position for the unexpired term of Rains County Judge Wayne Wolfe in 2021.

ANGELINA COUNTY – One man is dead after threatening members of the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office with what was later revealed to be an airsoft gun, according to the sheriff’s office and our news partner KETK.

On Tuesday morning, deputies were patrolling Stubblefield Road off of US Hwy 69, northwest of Lufkin, searching for John Franklin Carter, who had an active felony warrant for assault family violence. The warrant was issued after investigators say Carter had strangled his girlfriend into unconsciousness and also cut another man with a knife who was attempting to get Carter off the victim.

While searching for Carter, deputies recognized his Toyota and immediately began to approach the vehicle. A female driver, along with Carter, then exited the car. According to officials, Carter began acting upset and was holding what appeared to be a black handgun. Continue reading One dead after officer involved shooting

TEXARKANA -A federal inmate has received an additional prison sentence for assaulting a correctional officer in the Eastern District of Texas, according to a press release from the office of Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

According to information presented in court, on November 29, 2022, Andrew Hunter, 23, of Mount Pleasant, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution in Texarkana, had an altercation with a correctional officer in a hallway at the Federal Prison Camp. During the altercation, Hunter shoved the officer causing him to strike the back of his head against a wall. The officer sustained serious injuries that required medical attention.

Hunter pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer and was sentenced to an additional 18 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III, on July 2, 2025.

TEXARKANA – A 29-year-old Texarkana mother was arrested on Sunday after leaving her children alone for nearly five hours at home, which later caught on fire.

At around 12:50 p.m., officers from the Texarkana Police Department responded to a fire in the 1900 block of Walnut Street, where they saw flames shooting from the roof. A neighbor was able to get the two boys out to safety across the street. As officials spoke to the children, they found out that their mother, Hilda Xona Cojoc, had left them alone since 8 a.m. to go to work. The children had been left alone for about five hours. Officers then contacted Cojoc, who came straight home.

Cojoc was arrested and taken to the Bi-State jail with a bond set at $150,000. Her children were placed in the care of Children’s Protective Services.

“We’re just incredibly grateful this didn’t turn into something even worse,” the Texarkana Police Department said. “This could have been ended in absolute tragedy.”

UPSHUR COUNTY – After an incident occurred on a Union Grove campus, a criminal investigation has been launched against a student and the district’s superintendent, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office received information on on June 11 from Union Grove ISD, and a parent of the alleged student victim who was involved in an incident on campus.

After speaking with the victim’s parents and members of the Union Grove ISD, a criminal investigation was opened against a student for allegedly engaging in invasive visual recording, which is considered a felony in Texas. During the investigation, information was revealed that led to Superintendent Mrs. Kelly Moore being investigated for failure to report, which is a class A misdemeanor.

According to officials, both cases are under active investigation, and no further information will be released at this time.

TITUS COUNTY — Authorities are searching for the driver accused of killing a cyclist after a fatal hit-and-run on Tuesday night in Titus County, our news partner KETK reports.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, around 8:40 p.m., officials received a 911 call of a hit-and-run fatality on FM 2152 involving an unidentified vehicle and a bicyclist.

A preliminary investigation indicated that the bicyclist was traveling northbound when the vehicle hit him from behind, throwing the man off the bicycle and into the ditch, and then the vehicle fled the scene.

DPS has since released a picture of a vehicle they believe to be involved in the crash. The bicyclist has been identified and the next of kin have been notified. Officials did not release the victim’s name to the media at this time.

Anyone with information regarding the crash or the vehicle is asked to contact DPS at 903-255-5701.