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TYLER – Tyler has been ranked as the eleventh best place to live in the Southwest by Livability.com. Their rankings are created by taking into account economic variables, quality of life indicators and affordability data taken from more than 2,000 cities from across the country.

“In today’s landscape, where affordability is increasingly challenging, people are prioritizing locations where their money stretches further,” says Amanda Ellis, editor in chief of Livability.com. “Our rankings spotlight exceptional small and mid-sized communities that excel in providing residents with both affordability and a high quality of life.” Continue reading Tyler named one of top 25 places to live

WHITE OAK – The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said that a man was arrested on Saturday following a pursuit that started in Louisiana. A white Dodge Charger was originally being pursued by the Louisiana State Police before it crossed into Texas. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office was called to assist Waskom PD with pursuing the vehicle, according to our news partner KETK.

The Texas Highway Patrol joined in the pursuit which then headed into Marshall where the Charger eventually began to lose parts of one of it’s tires. The pursuit passed through Longview and ended when the Charger crashed into a White Oak oil change business.

The alleged driver, Salefu Amadou Sangaray, 38 of Lancaster, Texas, was then reportedly arrested after a short foot chase. According to the sheriff’s office, marijuana was found on Sangaray and a reportedly stolen Glock pistol, an AK-47 rifle and oxycodone were found in the Charger. Sangaray is being held in the Harrison County Jail for charges of evading arrest or detention with a vehicle, theft of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance between one and four grams, evading arrest or detention, unlawful carrying of a weapon and possession of marijuana.

LONGVIEW – The City of Longview Police Department said they’ll be increasing patrols of the city’s trails after a man was arrested for attempted kidnapping on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, a woman reported that she was attacked on Friday at around 5:33 p.m. while on the Paul Boorman Trail. The woman told Longview PD that a black man had reportedly grabbed her from behind and tried to cover her mouth before she escaped. Longview PD said that the woman’s description was similar to another incident that happened minutes earlier that day after 5 p.m. Officers from Longview PD searched the area and bystanders reported a man matching the woman’s description and he was arrested just before 7 p.m.

Jelan DeAaron Armond Williams, 27 of Kilgore, was determined to be the alleged suspect and has been charged with kidnapping and three Gregg County warrants. Williams is being held in the Gregg County Jail on a total bond of $30,500.

In response to the incidents on Friday, the Longview Police Department said they’ll have increased patrols throughout all the city’s trail systems.

UPDATE: The Tyler Police Department said that a woman injured in a Lake Tyler boat crash on Saturday has died. According to Tyler PD, Staci Sexton, 38 of Whitehouse, was taken to the hospital where she was in critical condition but later that same day she died. Sexton’s family has been notified.

TYLER – The Tyler Police Department has confirmed one person has died and two others were injured after two boats crash at Lake Tyler on Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, Tyler PD was contacted by the Texas Game Wardens at around 6 a.m. on Saturday morning to assist with responding to a boat crash. Their investigation found that a fishing boat with a man in it reportedly hit a flat bottom boat with two women and a man in it. One woman was reportedly unresponsive and has been taken to a local hospital, the other woman had non-life-threatening injuries and is being treated.

Jacob Ray, 38 of Troup, was in the flat bottom boat and was originally reported as missing but was later found dead, according to Tyler PD. Ray’s family has been notified.

The Texas Game Wardens are currently investigating the crash with the cooperation of the fishing boat driver. Smith County Emergency Services District #2 and Longview Fire Department Water Rescue also assisted in responding to the crash.

JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville Police Department said that a 29-year-old woman was found shot and killed on Gillespie Avenue on Saturday morning. According to our news partner KETK, Jacksonville PD, Jacksonville Fire Department and EMS responded to the 400 block of Gillespie Avenue at around 2:52 a.m. on Saturday morning after a report about a shooting. When Jacksonville PD officers arrived on scene they found Clara Deane Wilson dead from an apparent gunshot wound. The shooting is being investigated by Jacksonville PD and the Texas Rangers.

MORRIS COUNTY – An East Texas man was arrested on Monday after authorities said they uncovered a plot to abduct and murder another person according to our news partners at KETK. Officials with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office said the plot was discovered last week, and during investigations, developed “solid probable cause” to obtain an arrest warrant and search warrant. Mark Anthony Johnson, 49 of Naples, was arrested on Monday and officials said a search of his property resulted in the recovery of supplies and materials collected for: se in the kidnapping, torture and murder, including deadly weapons, and a large quantity of chemicals and other materials “for the destruction of evidence of the crime.” Continue reading Man arrested over alleged plot to kidnap, murder

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating a fatal shooting. It happened around 11:40 Saturday, August 10, on Lorance Street. Arriving officers found a 17-year-old victim suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries. The suspect was identified as a 16-year-old male from Tyler. He was charged with manslaughter and manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance. He was arrested August, 15 and booked into the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center in Tyler.

MOUNT PLEASANT –Our news partners at KETK report that five people were arrested on Wednesday as well as cocaine, heroin and firearms seized, the Mount Pleasant Police Department said.
Texarkana bookkeeper arrested for alleged $700k embezzlement

According to the police department, at around 7:15 a.m. on Wednesday officers and detectives responded to a call about shots fired in the area of Private Road 3015. The police department reportedly obtained a search warrant of a residence involved.

“During the execution of that search warrant, detectives seized over half a pound of cocaine, 2 ounces of heroin and 8 firearms,” Mount Pleasant PD said. Continue reading 5 arrested after cocaine, firearms seized

HENDERSON COUNTY — A former Payne Springs police officer has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to meth distribution, according to our news partners at KETK. Jonathan Hutchison, a former police officer, pleaded guilty in April to manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance as part of an open plea. Hutchison was sentenced to two years for tampering with an electronic monitoring device, two years for possession of a controlled substance and 20 years for manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance. The sentences will run concurrently. Continue reading Former East Texas officer sentenced for meth distribution

UPSHUR COUNTY – An Upshur County man was sentenced to nearly 100 years in prison on Wednesday for drug and gun violations. According to our news partner KETK, 51-year-old Jimmy Wayne Skinner received the sentence for possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Upshur County District Attorney in a release said in February 2024, a search warrant was executed at a shop building on Bob-O-Link Road in Gladewater. A yearlong investigation revealed a room in the building with methamphetamine, marijuana, cutting agents, loaded syringes and multiple firearms.

The district attorney’s office said six other people were arrested at the location and they are currently awaiting trial.

MARSHALL – Eric Doung, of Alexandria, La., was arrested after nearly 100 pounds of marijuana and other drugs were found in his vehicle on Monday, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) said. Our news partners at KETK report that in a statement made by the HCSO, officials conducted a traffic stop on Highway 59 in Marshall and a probable cause search revealed 93 pounds of marijuana, 10 grams of cocaine and One pill of Lortab in the vehicle. Doung was arrested for possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance between four and 200 grams and possession of a controlled substance less than 28 grams.

LINDALE — A Smith County Emergency Services District 2 firefighter was injured while responding to a fire on Wednesday night. According to Smith County ESD2 officials and our news partner KETK, the firefighter responded to call at around 7:48 p.m. of a shed on fire that was reportedly endangering nearby structures on CR 468. “Lindale Engine 1 and Command 1 along with SCESD2 responded to the 13000 block of County Road 468 for a report of a structure fire. Units checked on scene and stated that a shed was fully engulfed. The fire was quickly brought under control,” the Lindale Fire Department said. The firefighter reportedly sustained minor burns after the fire went under the bottom of his bunker gear while fighting the blaze. Smith County ESD2 officials said the burns were limited to his leg. He was then taken to a local hospital where he was later released and is expected to make a full recovery.

TYLER – Smith County officials held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Smith County Courthouse on Thursday. The current Commissioners Court, as well as past members, posed for pictures after breaking ground on the future site of the new courthouse. The new courthouse is expected to be completed in the fall of 2026.

Congressman Nathaniel Moran, who served as Smith County judge when the courthouse bond was passed by voters, spoke to the crowd of more than 100 people, as well as current County Judge Neal Franklin.
 

TYLER — An investigation into a Tyler man for child pornography reopened a 2020 “suspended” sexual assault of child case. According to our news partner KETK, Austin Wayne Odell, 38, was arrested on possession of child pornography and sexual assault of a child on Aug. 3. According to an affidavit, a peace officer with the Texas Department of Public Safety obtained 99 videos and four images of child porn that were downloaded in 2023 from devices connected to an IP address that traced back to Odell’s address.

On Aug. 31, 2023, the officer executed a search warrant at Odell’s residence where he seized multiple devices but reportedly did not find any child porn. Later, the officer reportedly learned that Odell went out of town and took his computer with him. Continue reading Tyler man confesses to sexual assault of minor

KILGORE — With a nationwide truck driver shortage, Kilgore college is working to bridge the gap by opening a new training institution, focusing on safety in training. According to our news partner KETK, Kilgore College has been training truck drivers on campus since 2010, now their program is expanding due to a rising need. At their ribbon cutting, the college shared some staggering statistics saying the shortage of drivers has now topped 60,000 nationally.

According to the American Journal of Transportation by 2030 there will be a shortage of 160,000 drivers. The journal said several factors are causing the shortage including a high demand for truck drivers, a retiring workforce and a lack of new drivers. Continue reading Kilgore College’s new institution to help with truck driver shortage

SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler man was arrested for intoxicated manslaughter following a fatal crash on Highway 31 early Wednesday morning. According to an affidavit and our news partner KETK, Cesar Efrain Viramontes-Cocolan, 22, of Tyler, was driving a pickup truck traveling westbound on State Highway 31 near FM 2908. The document said that Viramontes swerved into oncoming traffic and struck another vehicle head on killing the driver. DPS confirmed that the identity of the deceased driver was Maria Hernandez, 58, of Tyler.

According to Sgt. Adam Albritton, DPS media and communications, the vehicle that was struck was an SUV that had an 18-wheeler driving behind it. Albritton said that the 18-wheeler attempted to avoid crashing into the other vehicles but was unable to.

According to the affidavit, it was observed that there were no “obstacles or anything that would necessitate that Viramontes veer onto the wrong side of the road.” The document said that when interviewed at the hospital, Viramontes told officials that the other driver was “swerving in and out of their lane” but was unable to explain why he swerved into traffic. Continue reading Tyler man arrested after fatal crash on Highway 31

UPDATE: Rusk County officials said one person is dead after the crash on US 79 Wednesday afternoon. The Rusk County Emergency Management said the highway has reopened and DPS is investigating.

RUSK COUNTY – At least one person is injured after a major crash on US 79, Rusk County officials said. The highway is currently closed and drivers are being rerouted. Our news partner KETK is reporting that Rusk County Emergency Management Coordinator Patrick Dooley, the crash affected eastbound and westbound traffic. “Traffic is being rerouted from FM 1798 South to FM 348 back to US 79,” Rusk County officials said.

Dooley confirmed at least one person is injured, but their condition is unknown at this time.

The Rusk County Emergency Management and Fire Marshal’s Office Facebook page will share when the highway has reopened.

LONGVIEW – According to our news partner KETK, a 19-year-old has been arrested and charged with murder in connection to a Longview shooting where the victim succumbed to their injuries. According to the Longview Police Department, Ja’Michael Devorea O’Quinn, 19 of Longview, was arrested on Monday for the Aug. 6 shooting at Hubbard Drive that led to the death of another teenager.

At around 6 p.m. on Aug. 6, Longview PD said they found a teenager with an apparent gunshot wound and they were taken to the hospital with life threatening injuries. On Tuesday, the police department said the victim died as a result of the shooting.

O’Quinn was charged with murder and he is being held at the Gregg County Jail on a $250,000 bond.

TYLER – SWEPCO released a consumer fraud alert on Tuesday, warning customers of solar panel salespeople claiming to be official partners with SWEPCO. According to our news partner KETK, the electric utility has reported an uptick in reports of door-to-door solar panel salespeople claiming to be officially partnered with SWEPCO.

William Bradford Jr., SWEPCO vice president of external affairs, said, “It’s important for our customers to know SWEPCO does not sell solar panels and is not partnered with any companies that do.”
Continue reading SWEPCO warns of solar panel scammers

TYLER – On Wednesday, Aug. 14, the Tyler City Council received the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) with a focus on serving all of Tyler efficiently and effectively. This budget continues Tyler’s tradition of responsible spending, addressing improved roadways and traffic flow, enhanced drainage systems, upgraded water and sewer infrastructure, and redeveloping public spaces. The FY25 proposed budget totals $255.9 million, reflecting a 6% increase from the previous year. Of this, $50 million will be allocated to capital expenditures upgrading water and sewer systems, and another $41.4 million will be devoted to traffic signal improvements, street reconstruction, increased drainage capacity, and the redevelopment of the Downtown Tyler square funded by Half-Cent Sales Tax revenues. Continue reading Tyler’s proposed 2025 budget

TYLER – On Wednesday, August 14, the City Council approved the 2024 Railroad Crossing Improvements project, which will enhance railroad crossings for Downtown street changes and other high-traffic areas. HDR Engineering, Inc. was awarded the contract for the project’s design for $600,000. In the 2022 Downtown Traffic Study, it was recommended that Downtown streets be changed from one-way to two-way. The railroad crossings on East Locust Street, East Ferguson Street and East Erwin Street must be reconfigured to switch from one-way to two-way streets. The City will work with Union Pacific Rail Road (UPRR) to accomplish this. It is estimated that the process with UPRR will take 18-24 months to get approved plans. Continue reading Council OKs $600k railroad improvement project

SMITH COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK report that one person is dead and another is injured after a three-vehicle crash Tuesday night on Highway 31 in Smith County. According to Smith County Emergency Services District 2, the crash happened at Highway 31 and FM 2908 after midnight. Officials said one person was dead at the scene and another was taken to the hospital. DPS is conducting the investigation.

TROUP — The remains of two dogs were reportedly dumped in Troup near an Austin Bank, the Troup Police Department said. According to our news partner KETK, two dogs were reportedly dumped months apart and were found “very decomposed” in black trash bags in the same area. The first dog was found on June 14 and was reportedly “a bag of bones” by the time the police department was notified. On Monday at around 10:15 a.m., Troup officers went to the same location and found the second dog also decomposing.

A public works employee took the dog from the scene and found no locator chip. Officials said the dog was in the late stages of decomposition and they could not tell if it had any physical wounds.

The Troup Police Department said they are investigating the case and are seeking the people who did this. Anyone with information relevant to the case is asked to contact the police department at 903-842-3211.

GUN BARREL CITY – Two people were taken to the hospital on Saturday following a structure fire on Cedarglen Street, the Gun Barrel City Fire Department said. According to our news partner KETK, firefighters and police responded to a structure fire at around 11:39 p.m. in the 100 block of Cedarglen Street where smoke and flames were visible. Officials said the departments worked together to rescue the elderly residents from the home. The residents were taken to the local emergency room and are receiving assistance from the Red Cross.

Crews were reportedly on scene for 90 minutes to bring the fire under control. The home sustained fire, smoke and water damage, the fire department said.

Gun Barrel City FD said the fire marshal’s office is conducting an investigation to figure out what caused the fire.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – An East Texas man was life flighted to a hospital on Monday after being stung by “hundreds of bees,” according to our news partners at KETK. Cherokee County Sheriff Brent Dickson said the man was stung outside of Rusk in the Reklaw community and the man’s condition is unknown at this time. According to the CDC, bees are most abundant during the warmer months and they recommend running away if attacked by several at once. A bee’s sting released a chemical that may attract other bees. “The average person can safely tolerate 10 stings per pound of body weight,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. “This means that although 500 stings can kill a child, the average adult could withstand more than 1100 stings.”