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LUFKIN — A Crockett man was arrested on Monday night and another man remains at large after a multi-agency task force in relation to the April shooting death of a man from Lufkin. According to our news partner KETK, just before 9:00 Monday night, Trederrick Dewayne Sherman, 17, was arrested on a murder warrant at a house on Briar Lane in Crockett. Jardon Lamontre Castle, 18, of Jasper, remains at large. Lufkin police said Richard Coutee was shot to death on his front doorstep April 3. Continue reading Lufkin homicide suspect arrested, another remains at large

LONGVIEW — Longview ISD announced that Longview High School Principal James Brewer died on Monday evening following a “sudden cardiac event.” According to our news partner KETK, Brewer was preparing to start his 17th year at Longview High School and the district said he dedicated his life to education. LISD called Brewer an “exceptional leader, mentor, and friend to all who knew him.” The high school will provide counseling services and support to students and staff to help them cope with the tragic event. “The legacy of Mr. James Brewer will forever remain a guiding light at Longview Independent School District,” said Dr. James WIlcox, LISD Superintendent. Continue reading Longview ISD announces death of beloved high school principal

TYLER — Whitehouse native, Super Bowl Champ and MVP Patrick Mahomes will be one of three NFL quarterbacks featured in the Netflix series “Quarterback”. According to our news partner KETK, the eight part series will follow Mahomes, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins and Marcus Mariota of the Atlanta Falcons during the 2022 NFL season. The series will look at the season from each quarterbacks point-of-view. Covering before, during and after the games and even following the players on their off days. And, each players will be “mic’d up” during the games. It’s an NFL first. To see the first minutes of the Netflix series “Quarterback”, click here. “Quarterback” has a July 12 release date.

EAST TEXAS – The East Texas Council of Governments was recently awarded a Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant of $1 million from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This grant will allow ETCOG to lead environmental site assessments and reuse planning throughout the region. With a primary focus on Longview, Marshall, Kilgore, and Gladewater, this funding aims to revitalize and re-envision contaminated properties, fostering sustainable redevelopment across the 14-county ETCOG region. Continue reading ETCOG Secures $1 Million Brownfields Assessment Coalition Gran

MARSHALL – The Marshall campus of the Texas State Technical College has received a $637,000 grant that will fund several new natural gas courses. The Natural Science Foundation Advanced Technical Education grant will fund around four or five new courses in the college’s Process Operations Technology program. The application process for the three year grant began in 2021 and the courses are planned to start being integrated in the Fall of 2024.
Continue reading Marshall TSTC campus receives $637,000 grant for natural gas courses

SMITH COUNTY — The suspect wanted in a Saturday night stabbing at the Flamingo Club on FM 14 in Smith County has been arrested. According to online records, Abiel Correa, 61, of Tyler, was booked into the Smith County Jail Sunday on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His bond has been set at $300 thousand dollars. The victim of the stabbing, whose identity has not been released, is said to be in stable condition following surgery at a local hospital.

MINEOLA – According to our news partner KETK the city of Mineola has found a time capsule in the post office. A local history buff came across a newspaper that referenced pieces of history being placed in a cornerstone vault. Postal employees said there had always been rumors of a time capsule but they thought it was all a lie. So the city of Mineola hired a company to find out. Saturday morning, surrounded by community members, the container was pulled from the vault but no one was expecting to find what they did. A treasure of historical artifacts was found inside the capsule.

An expert has been called in to restore pieces that need to be humidified. “We have newspapers from Tyler, from Longview, obviously the old Mineola Monitors, things like that and documents that we can’t quite open all the way yet and read everything that they have to say,” said Tiner. Once they can read them all, the fun of learning about this hidden treasure left behind from 1936 begins.

JACKSONVILLE – According to our news partner KETK the Jacksonville College board of trustees named Dr. David Erickson as the new college president during a meeting on Friday. Erickson’s family were founding members of the Baptist Missionary Association, which runs the BMA Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, according to a press release. He graduated from Central Baptist College in Conway, got his master of divinity degree from BMA Theological Seminary and a PhD in Baptist Studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Erickson has been a professor of Theological-Historical Studies at BMA Theological Seminary and was the seminary’s associate dean for eight years. He has also served as a trustee of the Texas Baptist Home for Children. Erickson’s plans as president include finding new resources for the school from the JC alumni association and the local business community. Erickson also hopes to find additional support for BMA of Texas churches.

LUFKIN – The City of Lufkin has announced that Twiga, who held the record for the oldest giraffe in captivity, died at Ellen Trout Zoo on Friday night. Twiga was 31 years, nine months and 7 days old, a record for giraffes which typically only live for about 25 years, according to our news partner KETK. She was born at the Los Angeles Zoo on Oct. 1st, 1991 and came to the Ellen Trout Zoo in 2008 from the Racine Zoo in Wisconsin. “Twiga helped our other two giraffes, Kellen and Luna, feel comfortable in their new home in Lufkin,” Ellen Trout Zoo director Gordon Henley said. “She will be greatly missed.”

JACKSONVILLE – The East Texas Food Bank has a new mobile food pantry available for Jacksonville and Cherokee County. According to our news partner KETK, the mobile food pantry will be at Jacksonville’s Alexander Gym Tuesday July 11 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and the second Tuesday each month thereafter. The food bank will be offering fresh produce and meat during this stop. Continue reading East Texas Food Bank offers Jacksonville mobile food pantry

BOWIE COUNTY – Law enforcement is asking for help in finding two inmates who escaped from Bi-State Jail in Bowie County. According to our news partner KETK, the two men are Wayde Burton Land and JC Lee Kirby. Jail surveillance video showed the pair leaving the jail in street clothes and going toward Texas Boulevard in Texarkana. The Bowie County Sheriff’s office ask if you have information on Land or Kirby to call them at 903-798-3149.

TYLER – The Guardian of Seniors’ Rights Award is given by the 60 Plus Association in recognition of Members of Congress who vigorously fight and defend the rights of senior citizens. Congressman Moran in a statement said, “Our seniors have spent their lives working to serve and better our communities, and I’ve made it a priority in Congress to safeguard their voice and rights.”

SMITH COUNTY — A portion of County Road 370, also known as Howell Lake Road in Precinct 3, was closed beginning Monday, July 10, so a bridge can be replaced. The concrete bridge with wooden piers, which runs over the private Howell Lake, will be replaced with a wider concrete bridge with concrete piles, Smith County Engineer Frank Davis said. Signs are up alerting drivers of the closure and drivers will need to take an alternate route. Work is being done by True Roads Construction and is expected to take about three months. For current Smith County road projects, click here.

SMITH COUNTY — Unfilled positions continue to make life hard on local law enforcement. “Law enforcement across the country is shorthanded,” said Sgt. Larry Christian, Public Information Officer with Smith County Sheriff’s Office. The problem seemed to get even worse in 2020, according to our news partner KETK. “COVID hit county jails really hard in the state of Texas,” said Craig Harrington, Gregg County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy. The year 2024 is shaping up to be a critical one for Smith County. The county recently released a draft budget for fiscal year 2024 that includes an emphasis on trying to hire more people to fill detention center vacancies. Christian said getting the right budget passed could shape the county’s future. Continue reading Smith County hopeful 2024 budget fixes ongoing staffing problem

CHEROKEE COUNTY – An East Texas man was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison on Thursday for his part in a meth trafficking operation. According to our news partner KETK Darrell Horace, Jr., 29 of Crockett, pleaded guilty to selling meth in Cherokee County, as well as possession of meth and a firearm. Horace was indicted on his charges in November 2021. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Jacksonville Police Department. Continue reading Man sentenced to 5+ years in federal prison for meth trafficking

GREGG COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK State Rep. Jay Dean (R-Longview) announced Thursday that he will seek reelection next year for District 7. He has held that seat since 2017, serving Gregg, Harrison and Marion counties. Up until 2022, District 7 encompassed Gregg and Upshur County. He previously served as Mayor of Longview for a decade.
Continue reading Jay Dean announces bid for reelection

TYLER — The Athena Alert is now a law. Our news partner KETK reports that the new law is meant to speed up the law enforcement response time when a child goes missing. House Bill 3556, known as the Athena Alert, became law on June 13. Unlike other laws that were just recently passed, DPS said it is in effect immediately. Amber Alerts have to meet four strict rules before the public is notified. The Athena Alert is named after 7-year-old Athena Strand who was killed after being abducted in Wise County.
Continue reading Athena Alert law, officials can notify without confirmed abduction

LONGVIEW – A guilty plea Thursday gets a Longview man 22 years in prison. According to our news partner KETK, 33-year-old James Barron was convicted in the death of 58-year-old Llewellyn Williams. In 2020, Williams was found dead in his home after police were called to stop and perform a wellness check. After an autopsy and evidence gathered at Williams home, law enforcement ruled his death a murder. Barron was indicted for murder in September of that year and has remained in the Gregg County jail since then.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler hosted its first white coat ceremony last week for their inaugural class of medical students. According to our news partner KETK, 40 students said the physician’s oath and received a white coat with a humanism in medicine pin. University president Kirk Calhoun said, “This is a momentous occasion for UT Tyler, a day to recognize the impact these students will have on the health care of the East Texas region.” School officials say that 95% of students in this class are from East Texas.

TYLER – A Smith County mother was indicted for abuse of a corpse after her newborn child’s body was found in March in a bucket outside a home. According to our news partner KETK, Jazzlyn Cooper-Holmes, 23 of Longview, was arrested on March 18 after officials with the sheriff’s office were called to the home in Lindale where the baby was found. The homeowner, who reported to live with Cooper-Holmes, showed deputies a red mop bucket that was reportedly placed outside. Continue reading Smith County mother indicted for abuse of newborn corpse

TYLER — For the month of July, Tyler Animal Services and CASA for Kids of East Texas are partnering to donate school supplies to foster children. All dog and cat adoption fees will be waived with the donation of a backpack with at least 10 school supplies, according to the City of Tyler. Animals adopted from Tyler Animal Services are spayed/neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. The standard adoption fee for dogs is $120 and $80 for cats. To adopt, view available animals or submit an application, click here. Continue reading Pet adoption fees waived with school supply donation at Tyler Animal Services

UPSHUR COUNTY — The Gilmer community is coping with the loss of Jared Maddox. According to our news partner KETK, the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that 58-year-old Jared Maddox died on July 4 due to a fireworks explosion. Residents who knew him well, are now talking about his impact in the Gilmer community. “Jared was a fantastic guy,” Joe Tillery said. “I mean he would help anybody anytime that anybody needed help. He was truly a man’s man. I guess you can say.” Maddox spent almost 30 years at the Longview Fire Department serving his community. Tillery said Maddox’s dedication to the department was second to none. “He would come up and spend the night with us before he ever became a paid firefighter, and he would stay all night and he would just stay at the fire station just waiting on the call to go try and help people,” added Tillery. Continue reading Community mourns loss of beloved Gilmer man killed in fireworks explosion

RUSK COUNTY – Rusk County Officials have located Jasmine Wheat, who was reported missing on Wednesday, safe and sound. According to Sheriff Johnwayne Valdez, she appears to be in good health and will be medically evaluated. According to our news partner KETK Wheat was reported missing in Rusk County on Wednesday, she allegedly experienced a mental health episode and walked off. Several agencies were involved in the search, including officials utilizing ATVs and horses. TDCJ bloodhounds also assisted in the search.

TEXARKANA – According to our news partner KETK on July 3rd Texarkana officers responded to a store in reference to a theft that had taken place. An employee of the store told police that after some quick talking to confuse a clerk at the store, two woman managed to walk out with more than $1,600 in stolen gift cards. An officer on the scene was able to get pictures of the alleged thieves and the vehicle they left in through surveillance video and sent them out to other officers. Continue reading 2 arrested for stealing $1,600 worth of gift cards from East Texas store

BULLARD – Bullard ISD named their new director of safety and security and police chief. According to our news partner KETK, Pat Hendrix, a man who has spent almost 40 years dedicated to law enforcement, was approved for hire at a special meeting on July 5. He will take the place of Chief John Jones, who accepted a regional position with the Texas Education Agency as an Assistant Chief of School Safety and Security. Hendrix brings 20 years of service with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, working as jailer, patrol officer, patrol sergeant, SWAT officer, narcotics officer, major crimes detective and supervisor of the Criminal Investigation Unit. After retiring in 2006, he became the Chief of Police for the Troup Police Department. He stayed for 17 years working to grow the school resource officer program, K9 officer program, student tours of TPD, annual security audits and training exercises and more. Continue reading Bullard ISD names new police chief

GREGG COUNTY — On July 2, a crash involving a Freightliner truck tractor left a woman dead and one injured person in Gregg County.

According to DPS and our neews partners at KETK, a 2014 Freightliner Truck Tractor towing a 2012 Heil semi-trailer was traveling south on State Highway 42 about a mile south of White Oak around 7:15 p.m.

Tonya Gonzales, 50, of Longview, was traveling east in a 2012 Nissan Altima on Texaco Road approaching the intersection.

Officials said the investigation revealed that Gonzales disregarded the stop sign and collided with the truck tractor in the intersection.

Gonzales was pronounced dead on the scene by Justice of the Peace Tim Bryan and the driver of the truck tractor was taken to a local hospital with non-incapacitating injuries.

According to the DPS report, Gonzales was not wearing a seatbelt.

VAN – Van ISD announced Wednesday that Jeremy Peterson has been named middle school principal. According to our news partner KETK, the Kirbyville native has been an educator for 18 years. The entire time in the Van school district. Van Superintendent Don Dunn said, “Mr. Peterson brings a wealth of experience, a strong passion for education and is well-equipped to guide Van Middle School toward continued growth and success.” Peterson earned his bachelor’s degree from UT Tyler and his master’s at Lamar University.

SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Commissioners Court on Wednesday approved the appointment of Tyler Fire Marshal Paul Findley to become the Smith County Fire Marshal.

Our news partners at KETK report his appointment is effective on July 10, County Judge Neal Franklin said. Findley received unanimous support from the commissioner’s court.

Findley works for the Tyler Fire Department as Fire Marshal and Public Information Officer. He has spent 26 years in the fire service and earned certifications as a Master Firefighter, Master Fire Inspector, Master Arson Investigator and Fire Instructor with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection.

He is also licensed as a Master Peace Officer with more than 16 years in law enforcement and has maintained his paramedic license in the mid 1990s. Continue reading Findley appointed Smith County Fire Marshal