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TYLER — Not everyone shuts down for Christmas. From restaurants to retail stores, these East Texas businesses will be open to serve customers on the holiday. Our news partner KETK has compiled a list of stores and restaurants that will be open on Thursday. You can view that list here.

MOUNT PLEASANT — A 19-year-old East Texan has been arrested for allegedly killing his father, who was found with apparent gunshot wounds. According to our news partner KETK, a 911 call came in around 8 a.m. on Monday reporting an unconscious man bleeding inside a home on Red Springs Avenue. Upon arrival, officers found 51-year-old Rodney Harris deceased from apparent gunshot wounds. Detectives responded and immediately launched a homicide investigation.

Police identified 19-year-old Azion Jayden Harris, the victim’s son, as a person of interest. He was located and detained later Monday.

Azion Harris was arrested and transported to Titus County Jail on charges of murder, possession of a controlled substance and unlawful carrying of a weapon. The investigation remains ongoing.

UPSHUR COUNTY — A high-speed pursuit in Upshur County ended in a fatal crash that killed a minor Sunday night. According to our news partner and the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began around 9:48 p.m. on Sunday, when a sheriff’s deputy observed a dark-colored passenger vehicle speeding northbound near the intersection of State Highway 155 and Apricot Road. When the deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the driver, identified as Steve Reneau, did not stop and continued driving northbound. Reneau entered Gilmer and turned onto State Highway 271, where officials say he drove through the city at around 90 miles per hour.

Reneau continued increasing his speed to more than 100 mph and lost control of the vehicle, which led to the crash in the 3300 block of Chipmunk Road. Both Reneau and a passenger who remains unidentified were ejected from the vehicle, which ended up on top of them, officials said.

Fire and emergency medical services were dispatched to the scene and worked to remove the passenger from beneath the vehicle. Other personnel used equipment to free Reneau, who was airlifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Continue reading One dead in high speed chase

RUSK – The Rusk Police Department is currently searching for a missing man after his vehicle was found stopped on Highway 84 near the Neches River on Dec. 6. According to our news partner KETK, James David Blount is a 57-year-old white man who is 5’09”, weighs around 200 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes. Rusk PD said Blount was last seen on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said that a $25,000 reward is being offered for anyone who provides information leading to the location of Blount.

Blount’s vehicle was found on Saturday on Highway 84 west at the Neches River near the Cherokee and Anderson County line. Heal Corp search and rescue personnel have been searching the Neches River near where Blount’s vehicle was found but they hadn’t turned up anything as of Dec. 21.

Anyone with information about Blount’s disappearance is asked to call 911 or Rusk PD at 903-683-2677.

HENDERSON – The Henderson Police Department said a woman was shot on Sunday while in her vehicle near the intersection of FM 225 and Highway 79. According to our news partner KETK, the woman was shot around 1 p.m. by a suspect who reportedly fled the scene in a black truck. Department Deputy Chief Chase Berryhill confirmed on Monday that the victim has since died. The woman has been identified as Dora Morales-Ruiz, 39, of Henderson. Law enforcement immediately began looking for the suspected shooter and they eventually found the suspect dead in Rusk County. The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the death of the suspected shooter.

“The Henderson Police Department would like to thank the Texas Department of Public Safety, Rusk County Constable Stewart and the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance and cooperation during the search for the suspect,” Henderson PD said.

LUFKIN – A 52-year-old man has died after his truck crashed into an overpass pillar in Lufkin on Saturday according to our news partner KETK. A Ford F-150 truck hit a concrete pillar at around 4 p.m. under the overpass at Ellen Trout Drive and Kurth Drive. Lufkin Police said the 52-year-old man driving the truck was ejected and the vehicle caught on fire. Lufkin PD said the man was taken to a local hospital. He later died while receiving treatment. Officials haven’t released his name since they’re working to notify his family.

TYLER – A $1,000 prize is currently being offered by Operation Game Thief for information regarding a recent unlawful killing and disposal of two deer close to Lake Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, a white-tailed doe and a yearling buck were shot either late on December 14 or early on December 15 in a residential area on Big Oak Bay Road close to Lake Tyler, according to Operation Game Thief. Reports say a small caliber gun was used to shoot the animals before their carcasses were dumped and wasted.
Continue reading Reward offered after deer killed

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office arrested a driver on Friday after they allegedly shot at a vehicle following a minor crash. Our news partners at KETK report that just before 6 p.m. on Friday, two vehicles were involved in a minor crash on State Highway 64 near Loop 49. As one driver left the scene, the other driver followed them while calling 911. As they reached the T intersection at CR 4915, the second driver allegedly caused a crash with the first vehicle in an attempt to stop it. Neither of the drivers were identified by law enforcement on Friday. Officials said the initial crash was not report-able and caused less than $1000 of damage.

SMITH COUNTY – Debby Gunter, a Smith County judge in the 241st District Court, has declared her intention to run for reelection in 2026. Gunter is seeking re-election in the Republican Primary on March 3. He was first elected as a judge of the court in 2023.
Continue reading Local district judge running for re-election

TYLER – One person involved in a pursuit was taken into custody on Friday after shots were fired during a traffic stop in Lindale. According to our news partner KETK and the Lindale PD, the pursuit started in Lindale near the Cracker Barrel as a traffic stop on a white Pontiac Grand Prix. During the stop, shots were fired from the vehicle by an assault rifle before the Pontiac drove off down Highway 69. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the pursuit before the Pontiac entered Tyler city limits.

Tyler Police Department officers responded to the pursuit which eventually came to an end when an officer did a pit maneuver on the Pontiac, near the intersection of Shawnee Boulevard and Highway 110. The driver was taken into custody and according to Lindale PD, the officer that performed the pit maneuver was evaluated for minor injuries at the scene. A woman whose vehicle was hit as the pursuit ended was also evaluated for minor injuries at the scene. Continue reading One arrested after Smith County pursuit

LONGVIEW — Longview Independent School District distributed an early Christmas gift of more than $3.17 million in performance-based incentive pay to high-performing teachers and staff on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, the funding was provided through the districts ‘Longview ISD Incentive for Teachers’ (LIFT) program, which rewards measurable performance, campus-wide achievement and specialized credentials earned during the school year.

“This is not a bonus for showing up,” Superintendent Dr. Marla Sheppard said. “These dollars reflect results and growth. They reflect the expectation that excellence in Longview ISD will be recognized in a meaningful way.”
Continue reading Longview awards over $3M in teacher incentives

WINNSBORO — Winnsboro ISD Board of Trustees dismissed its police chief following a unanimous vote on Thursday evening. According to our news partner KETK, the decision to consider Police Chief Heath Guy’s termination in a closed executive session was agreed upon by both parties. No additional details were given by the school district regarding the evidence presented by both parties that led to Guy’s termination. Guy was placed on administrative leave in June due to reportedly failing to notify the district about a Texas Rangers investigation of a sexual relationship between a Winnsboro ISD employee and a student. The employee, Nicholas Gabriele, was arrested in June after allegedly admitting to the improper relationship.

VAN – Our news partners at KETK report a man wanted for burglary of a building, criminal mischief and theft in Van was arrested last week after a pursuit through Smith County. According to the Van Police Department, they received reports of a building burglary on Nov. 28. Within 24 hours of these reports, law enforcement identified Daylan Blue as a suspect and issued warrants for his arrest. On Dec. 11, Blue was spotted by Smith County Sheriff’s Office deputies who attempted to stop his vehicle. Van PD said a pursuit ensued and Blue was subsequently arrested. Continue reading Burglary suspect arrested after pursuit

OVERTON — Our news partners at KETK report the Overton City Council voted Thursday night to appeal a Texas Department of Transportation demand to remove the horseshoes from Warren Street. TxDOT contacted the city in early December, stating the horseshoe markings did not meet state roadway standards and directed officials to remove them. On Thursday, city leaders instead chose to formally appeal the decision. The issue first gained attention in October when Gov. Greg Abbott announced that TxDOT had begun removing nonstandard surface markings from roadways across the state. City officials say the horseshoes represent Overton ISD’s mascot, the Mustang, and have been part of Warren Street since the early 1990s. While acknowledging TxDOT’s concerns, council members voted to challenge the order rather than remove the markings. Continue reading Overton appeals TxDOT demand

HARRISON COUNTY – Elysian Fields High School head girls basketball coach Crystal Roberts has resigned after being arrested for an alleged theft at Walmart’s Marshall location. Roberts, 44, was arrested on a property theft charge between $100 and $750. She was later released from the Harrison County Jail after posting a $700 bond the day of her arrest. Her resignation letter was effective as of Monday.

SMITH COUNTY — The man who vandalized a marble statue of Jesus at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Flint was sentenced Thursday to one year in state jail. Jordan Grey Clark, 36, pleaded guilty to criminal mischief at a place of worship in connection with the Sept. 7 vandalism. The statue, located outside of the church, was found with its nose and hands shattered. Deputies discovered the damage around 8:45 a.m. on Sept. 7. Surveillance footage later showed a suspect approaching the statue around 1:14 a.m. and using a hammer to break parts of the face and hands before walking south toward County Road 1299. Investigators noted the suspect was wearing gloves, which prevented them from lifting fingerprints from the statue or nearby objects.

According to our news partner KETK, an anonymous tip received days later led detectives to Clark, who lived nearby and was reportedly “acting strangely,” according to investigators. Authorities then contacted Clark’s father, who told deputies his son has schizophrenia and refuses to take medication because he believes it makes him feel uncomfortable. The father also said Clark does not own a vehicle or a smartphone, believing smartphones are possessed, and instead uses a flip phone. Continue reading Man who vandalized Jesus statue sentenced

BEN WHEELER — According to our news partner KETK, several firefighters, along with the fire chief of the Ben Wheeler Fire Department, have resigned from their positions recently. Following the resignations, the department’s Board of Directors released a statement on Thursday, stating that they are aware of the issues that led to the resignations, but they will not disclose them. The board also noted that the false claims being spread are inaccurate and have only caused drama and defamation to those who still serve the community.

The Board of Directors also addressed any financial concerns residents might have had, stating that the department is financially solvent with “more than satisfactory funds on hand.”

A new fire chief will be elected in January during the regularly scheduled elections, the board stated.

JACKSONVILLE – Community leaders, health care professionals and local officials gathered Thursday to celebrate the groundbreaking of CHRISTUS Health’s new state-of-the-art facility in Jacksonville that will significantly expand access to specialty medical services across the region, particularly for patients in surrounding rural communities. The 30,000-square-foot facility will house interventional pain management, pain management, orthopedic and vascular services under one roof. Once complete, the center will feature 24 exam rooms, six recovery suites, four procedure rooms and full-service imaging, creating a streamlined, patient-centered environment for both outpatient and procedural care.
  
A key feature of the new facility is a seamless integration into the hospital system’s broader network of care. The center will operate on the same electronic medical record (EMR) platform as the rest of the system, allowing physicians, specialists and care teams to access patient records in real time. This connectivity supports better care coordination, reduces duplication of services, and enhances patient safety and outcomes. Continue reading CHRISTUS breaks ground on new facility

PALESTINE – The Palestine ISD released a statement Thursday mourning the death of longtime teacher John Lamb, who was killed in a car crash on Wednesday evening. According to our news partner KETK, the crash occurred on U.S. Highway 79 after a Ford pickup struck Lamb near Country Road 367. Lamb was pronounced dead on the scene, while the passenger in his car was taken to the hospital. The district described Lamb as a positive impact on several generations of students during his time in Palestine. “His classroom was a place where students learned not only academic lessons, but lessons about perseverance, perspective and the world beyond the page,” Palestine ISD said.

SMITH COUNTY — A Smith County road bond approved by voters nearly a decade ago now shows a $7 million discrepancy between financial reports and is projected to cost more than $135 million, prompting a local watchdog group to call for a forensic audit. Grassroots America, a Smith County-based conservative advocacy nonprofit that monitors government spending, raised the concerns Tuesday during the Smith County Commissioners Court meeting. Continue reading Watchdog flags discrepancy in road bond

RUSK — Our news partners at KETK report that Heal Corp is assisting local authorities in the search for James David Blount, a 57-year-old man who has been missing since early December, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. Blount was last seen Dec. 2 in Rusk. His vehicle was later found stopped on Highway 84 near the Neches River, close to the Cherokee and Anderson County line, Rusk police said. Cherokee County Sheriff Brent Dickson said Heal Corp is now helping investigators verify locations that have already been searched and eliminate potential areas of interest. Continue reading Cadaver dogs, divers join search for missing man

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County non-emergency offices will be closed Wednesday and Thursday, December 24-25, so that our employees can spend Christmas with their families. There will not be a Smith County Commissioners Court meeting on Tuesday, December 23. Commissioners will hold its next regular meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 30, in the Commissioners Courtroom. County offices will be closed Thursday, January 1, for New Years Day.

GREGG COUNTY — A former Gregg County deputy was arrested on two consecutive days this week for charges of driving while intoxicated. According to our news partner KETK, jail records revealed that former Gregg County Deputy Joshua Isaiah Tubb, 47, was arrested by Kilgore police on Sunday and again on Monday, both times on DWI charges.

Tubb was released after posting bail following his Sunday arrest. However, jail records show he remains in custody after his Monday arrest, with a bond set at $32,500.

Gregg County Chief Deputy Craig Harrington confirmed that Tubb resigned from the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office following the arrests. “We hold our deputies to the highest standards and accountability,” Harrington said.

SMITH COUNTY– One of the candidates running for County Clerk in the upcoming Smith County Republican Party Primary election has been removed from the ballot after she lacked the required signatures needed to be eligible.

According to our news partner KETK, on Dec. 8, Terry Morrow filed her application and petitions to challenge the incumbent Karen Philips for the county clerk spot. In lieu of paying the $750 filing fee, Morrow obtained 500 signatures and her application was accepted on Dec. 11. Phillips also submitted her application for re-election on Nov. 8, which was the first day of candidate filing. She also received the 500 signatures required to appear on the ballot and her application was approved on Nov. 14.

While the county chair is required to verify the total number of signatures, they are not required to confirm the validity of each signature unless challenged by an opponent. Continue reading Smith County candidate removed from ballot

BROWNSBORO — A Brownsboro elementary school teacher has pleaded guilty and received eight years of deferred adjudication probation after injuring a child in 2024. According to our news partner KETK, Kyle Lee Rocha, of Chandler, was arrested on Sept. 24, 2024, in connection with an incident that occurred earlier that month in a Chandler Elementary School behavioral classroom.

An affidavit describes the incident as captured on classroom footage, which showed Rocha picking up paperwork from the floor and placing the papers on the student’s desk, instructing the student to keep the pages on his desk. The student was reportedly seen throwing the paperwork into a clothes basket on his desk and tilting his desk several times as Rocha stood in front of him.

Footage reportedly showed the student rocking his desk backwards, tilting the front of the desk up. Rocha then allegedly “placed both of his hands onto the front of the desk and pushed the desk backwards, purposefully causing the desk to fall over” and the student to fall, hitting the back of his head and elbows against the desk behind him. Continue reading Teacher gets probation after injuring student

SMITH COUNTY – Two East Texas politicians were given recognition this week for their continued dedication to the counties they represent. According to our news partner KETK, State Representative Cole Hefner of Mount Pleasant, was presented with the Courage Award, which is annually given to a public official who demonstrates courageous leadership. The award was created in 1989 by members of President John F. Kennedy’s family to recognize and celebrate the political courage he admired most.

Also, East Texas State Senator Bryan Hughes of Mineola was named Lawmaker of the Year from State Armor. The title was given to Hughes in recognition of the significant legislative work he has accomplished this year. Congressman Nathaniel Moran praised both politicians for what they have accomplished this year, including preventing the Chinese Communist Party from infiltrating school districts, agriculture and local government.