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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

EAST TEXAS — East Texans with early fireworks plans may want to reschedule as multiple fire departments urge against outdoor burning and activities involving sparks or flames while fire conditions remain elevated across the region.

According to our news partner KETK, the Rusk County Firefighters Association said weather conditions will remain favorable for wildfire growth on Monday until around 6 p.m.

Officials said vegetation ranges from dry to critically dry, while relative humidity is expected to stay between 20% and 30%.

“We’ve got quite a bit of wind that has picked up over the last 24 hours, which further dries out those fuels and creates fire behavior that’s pretty rapid growth,” Smith County ESD2 Operations Chief Eric Greaser said. “If you’re considering burning off trash or leaves, that might be legal because we’re not under a burn ban. But be very cautious with that and make sure you stay with it and watch it. Make sure that you also have some way to put those kinds of fires out.” Continue reading Officials warn against outdoor burning

UPDATE: According to the Longview Police Department, one person has been pronounced dead, and two others have life-threatening injuries following the crash that took place this morning. Two other people were also taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The crash is currently under investigation by the Longview PD Traffic Unit.

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department announced Monday, one person has been pronounced dead, and two others have life-threatening injuries following the crash that took place Monday morning. Two other people were also taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. According to our news partner KETK, the five vehicle accident took place on East Marshall Avenue. Due to the size of the accident, the area between Eastman Road and Industrial Drive was closed while cleaning crews cleared debris. The crash is currently under investigation by the Longview PD Traffic Unit.

SMITH COUNTY – On Monday afternoon, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference to provide updates and release the identities of the victims in the fatal shooting that took place at Valley Blues nightclub on Sunday morning. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith identified the victim who was killed in the shooting as 23-year-old Aaron Lamar Jackson, who was pronounced dead after being taken to a local hospital.

Smith also identified the other victim in the shooting as 23-year-old Aaron Gordon Johnson Jr. Smith said that Johnson is currently in the hospital and is expected to recover from his injuries after he was in critical condition following the shooting. Authorities do believe that the shooting was gang-related, claiming that rival gangs were both at the club, leading to the incident.
Continue reading IDs of victims released after Tyler shooting

ATHENS — The Athens City Council unanimously approved a $2.25 million engineering contract with Plummer Associates, Inc. for the city’s West and North Wastewater Treatment Plants on Dec. 22. According to our news partner KETK, the agreement includes improving the city’s wastewater treatment plants through major electrical upgrades and designing a new 1,500-square-foot administration building, which will be needed to support future expansion.

The purchase of a trailer-mounted mechanical sludge dewatering system will be used by both treatment plants to remove excess water from sludge, making it easier and less costly to handle and transport, the City of Athens said. A storage area will be built to house the equipment when it is not in use later on. Construction costs for the project are not included in the contract and will require separate approval by the city council.