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ATHENS— Seven are behind bars after an Athens property was found with methamphetamine packaged for distribution.

On Sunday at around 7:35 p.m., officials executed a narcotics search warrant on East Tyler Street in Athens. During the search, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said “a quantity of methamphetamine was located inside the residence that was packaged for distribution along with several baggies, scales and syringes.” These individuals were found at the property and taken into custody. According to reports from our news partner, KETK, they have since been transported to the Henderson County Detention Center and booked for the following charges: Continue reading Seven arrested after meth found in Athens home

MINEOLA — A stolen vehicle pursuit in Mineola ended in a tense standoff Sunday when the armed driver refused to exit the vehicle. According to our news partner KETK, officers with the Mineola Police Department pursued a stolen vehicle from the city and into Van Zandt County before the suspect stopped on U.S. Highway 80 and FM 1255. The driver, identified as Jacob Swanson, of Gilmer, allegedly refused to exit the vehicle, was armed and threatened to commit suicide by cop.

Mineola PD then requested back up from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team due to the unavailability of closer resources. A SWAT operator, negotiators and two additional deputies responded to the scene.

“Upon their arrival, the hostage negotiator spoke with Swanson for about forty minutes with no desired results,” Smith County officials said. “Finally, CS and OC projectiles were deployed into the vehicle.” Continue reading Man arrested following standoff

SMITH COUNTY — A stolen vehicle pursuit on Interstate 20 Sunday evening ended in Smith County with the help of drones, which guided deputies to two suspects who fled after the vehicle was stopped with spike strips. According to our news partner KETK, the Canton Police Department pursued a stolen vehicle into Smith County eastbound on I-20 at around 5:30 p.m. DPS Troopers were able to deploy spikes at MM562 and stopped the vehicle at FM 14.

“The driver and front seat passenger immediately bailed out the vehicle on foot and fled the area. A backseat passenger surrendered at the vehicle,” the sheriff’s office said.

Smith County deputies were then dispatched to the location including a drone pilot. When they arrived, they were informed that the suspects hit a wooded area adjacent to I-20. When the drone was deployed, a suspect exited the wooded area and was taken into custody. Continue reading Drone helps deputies capture fleeing suspects after stolen vehicle pursuit

BULLARD — A Bullard man is behind bars this week after being charged with multiple crimes against children. According to our news partner KETK and the Bullard Police Department, Dylan James Black, 19, was arrested for sexual assault of a child on Monday. A report for sexual assault of a child, where Black was allegedly listed as the suspect, led to the first charge. The case was filed with the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office.

Additional warrants were issued on Tuesday including harboring a runaway child, enticing a child and a false report to a peace officer. The affidavits and arrest warrants were presented to Smith County Court at Law Judge Jason Ellis and these charges have been filed with the Smith County District Attorney’s Office.

“The charges to Black range from misdemeanors to 2nd degree felonies with bond amounts totaling $175,000,” officials stated.

Black was taken into custody and transported to the Cherokee County Jail.

Tyler – Bethesda Health Clinic is pleased to announce a generous $15,000 grant from the American Heart Association’s Circle of Red. The grant money will be used to buy cardiology equipment, ensuring the clinic can continue to provide high-quality care to underserved patients in East Texas.

The grant, awarded as part of the American Heart Association’s Circle of Red initiative. The initiative will allow Bethesda Health Clinic to expand its cardiology services by acquiring advanced diagnostic tools and medical equipment. These resources will help medical professionals at the clinic better detect, treat,and manage heart disease, a condition that disproportionately impacts many in the local community.
Continue reading Bethesda Health Clinic receives 15K grant from American Heart Association

HARRISON COUNTY— Residents near the H.W. Pirkey Power Plant in Hallsville can expect to hear a loud explosion on Wednesday morning, according to our news partner KETK. However, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office has advised residents this is a planned and controlled explosion. Officials say this is not open for the public to view. Residents are urged to avoid the area.

“This is part of a scheduled maintenance procedure and is being done with the utmost safety precautions in place,” county officials said. “There will be minimal disruption, but please be aware of some noise in the area.”

PANOLA COUNTY— Two people have been hospitalized following crash between a truck and train on Tuesday morning in Panola County.

According to the Panola County Sheriff’s Office and reports from KETK, a call came in from a passenger in a trash truck who said he and the driver were involved in a collision with a train on the County Road 129 and County Road 127 crossing in Gary.

Once authorities arrived at the scene, both occupants were taken to a local emergency room and the driver was airlifted for a higher level of care. The crash remains under investigation by the Texas Highway Patrol and BNSF Railroad Police.

TYLER— The New Summerfield Police Department  responded to a high-speed chase on Tuesday morning in Cherokee County that left a Pennsylvania man injured. According to our news partner KETK, the high speed chase occurred at around 7 a.m. on Highway 79 west of Highway 110 in the direction of Jacksonville. Chief Fred Butler attempted to initiate a traffic stop after noticing an SUV going well over the speed limit. The driver has been identified as a man from Pittsburgh, Pa.. police said.

The driver fled from Butler at a dangerous speed before he crashed his vehicle in route to Jacksonville. The suspect was taken to a local hospital for their injuries and once released, the suspect will be booked into the Cherokee County Jail.

ATHENS — Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC) and Abilene Christian University (ACU) announced a partnership to provide TVCC students with a pathway to continue their education at ACU.

TVCC students can now transfer completed coursework to ACU without losing credit, creating a simple transfer process for achieving educational goals as both undergraduate and graduate students.

“This partnership highlights the vital role community colleges play in higher education and demonstrates the power of collaboration between distinguished institutions,” TVCC President, Dr. Jason Morrison said. “TVCC is thrilled to partner with ACU to create more opportunities for our students to succeed. This agreement underscores our shared commitment to helping students achieve their goals and prepare for the future.”

According to reports from our news partner, KETK, TVCC currently has partnerships with 14 different universities to help students including the University of Texas at Tyler, the University of North Texas(UNT), Lamar University, Columbia College, and Texas Tech University.

TVCC commented, saying the ACU partnership reflects their mission to foster educational excellence and provide students with the resources needed to succeed.

MABANK– A family of nine was displaced on Saturday after a fire burned their home near the Cedar Creek Country Club in Mabank.

Ashley and Brooks Zabojnik along with their seven children have lived in their Mabank home since 2021, but in just one afternoon their house was reduced to rubble. “Lost a lot of sentimental things that can’t be replaced,” Brooks said. “But I know we were the most important thing and nobody was hurt or injured, but lost everything.”

Payne Springs Fire Rescue said they were called out to assist the Mabank Fire Department with a fire burning multiple structures and vehicles on Saturday afternoon. When firefighters arrived on scene they found the home, a carport, a detached garage and two vehicles on fire. Continue reading East Texas house fire displaces family of nine

TYLER— Two students at Tyler ISD were recognized as winners in the 2024 Hispanic Heritage Essay Contest, organized by Optimum and co-sponsored by the Univision Foundation. The contest spans 21 states and honors students who demonstrate creativity and the connections with Hispanic culture. The recognition highlights the importance of celebrating cultural identity and the power of storytelling.

Catie Espiricueta, a junior at Tyler ISD’s Early College High School, was awarded the Grand Prize in the high school category for the West region. As part of her win, Espiricueta received $3,000 that she plans to use to pursue her educational goals at the University of Chicago, where she will major in sociology or political science. In her essay, Espiricueta reflected on a simple yet deeply significant dish, which has been passed down through generations. Continue reading Tyler ISD students recognized for Hispanic heritage essay

TYLER — Customers of Optimum Cable Television lost local and national channels over the weekend in an ongoing rate dispute. Several cities in Texas have local television stations that are owned by Nexstar Media Group, which owns the most television stations in the U.S. They are among 63 Nexstar stations that are no longer accessible on Optimum. That includes local Nexstar stations serving Waco, Tyler/Longview, Midland/Odessa, Lubbock, Bryan/College Station, and the suburbs of Houston, Dallas, and Austin. Additionally, Optimum has dropped the Newsnation channel. Bryan/College Station is among the Optimum markets that also lost Nexstar’s antenna television channel.

TYLER – Two men planning the kidnapping, rape and murder of a Texas woman have been arrested according to our news partner KETK.

In the fall of 2022, the woman said she broke up with Dustin Adlai Yates, and blocked him on her phone and email. However, Yates would allegedly keep trying to contact her by using different phone numbers. By 2023, the woman filed a case of family violence with the Houston Police Department and a detective called Yates in October of that same year to warn him not to contact his ex-girlfriend again. A year later, the woman contacted the Smith County Sheriff’s Office after Yates started emailing her again on Oct. 31, 2024. She said she didn’t read all nine threads of emails he sent but he did mention one of her addresses.

Then on Dec. 1, 2024 at 12:30 a.m., Yates allegedly started messaging her with a 903 area code phone number and told her that “her expiration date was soon,” “she had a predictable schedule and daily driving routes.” Continue reading Two men arrested in Smith County for conspiracy to murder

BULLARD – The Brook Hill School in Bullard celebrated their Founder’s Day on Sunday by opening their new fine arts center, the Soules Center for the Arts. According to our news partner KETK, the multi-million dollar center was made possible by a gift from the Soules family, known for the John Soules Foods brand. The center includes facilities like classrooms for vocal, instrumental, dramatic and visual arts instruction, an orchestra room, a drama room, a choir room and an auditorium that will also serve as a chapel.

Braxton Brady, Head of The Brook Hill School, said in a release, “It’s very humbling. It’s humbling to know that we have a group, a community of donors, a founder that are willing to sacrifice and give of their resources so that our students can have the best, and I really truly believe, I’ve been in private school education for 30 years, and I’ve never seen a space as good as this one.”

The Brook Hill School is a private PreK-12 Christian school that was founded in 1997. Their Founder’s Day celebration was attended by musician Michael W. Smith and actor Kirk Cameron, who gave the event’s keynote speech

TYLER – A search is underway for three suspects who allegedly stole jewelry from Zales at the Village at Cumberland Park on Monday. Tyler PD Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh said the theft happened at 1:25 p.m. when two Black men dressed in black came into the Zales and smashed two cases of jewelry with hammers. While they were inside, a Black woman reportedly stood watch outside. Officer Erbaugh said the two men were in-and-out in less than a minute. Investigators believe the suspects must have left in a vehicle after heading further into the shopping center to the East. Anyone with information on the three suspects can contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000.

TYLER — Elkhart High School senior Jayden Chapman was recognized on Friday for reaching 1,000 points during his varsity basketball career.

Texas State Rep. Cody Harris recognized Chapman presenting him with a certification of recognition acknowledging his extraordinary achievement and stellar career to this point. Harris spoke highly of Chapman and praised his strong work ethic and dedication:

“I was proud to honor Jayden with a certification of recognition from the Texas House of Representatives for this outstanding achievement,” Harris said. “His dedication and hard work are inspiring. Keep making East Texas proud, Jayden!”

Chapman is a senior at Elkhart High School. He is a two-sport athlete, as he was a wide receiver for the Elkhart High School football team this past fall. During his junior year, Chapman was also a member of the All-District first team for football.

Chapman and the Elkhart team will continue their season as it nears the end of the regular season. Elkhart has a 7-14 record and six games left before its season concludes on Feb. 11

UPDATE: The Houston County Sheriff’s Office said Joe Cryer was arrested on Tuesday and has been booked in the county jail.

HOUSTON COUNTY — The Houston County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a man wanted for violating his parole and evading arrest near the Anderson County line on US Highway 287 North. According to our news partner KETK, Houston County deputies, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Crockett Police Department are reportedly searching the area for Joe Cryer, 44.

Cryer was reportedly last seen wearing a camo jacket and could possibly be armed, the sheriff’s office warned. Anyone who sees Cryer is asked to not approach him and to call 911.

Officials asked the residents on US Highway 287 near the Anderson county line to make sure their cars are locked and to report any suspicious people to to the sheriff’s office at 936-544-2862.

BULLARD — Bullard residents will soon see an increase in their water bill. According to our news partner KETK, the City of Bullard has increased expenses for residents and businesses “due to increasing expenses and high demand in providing quality water and treated water.” The rates will take effect beginning February and be reflected in the March billing cycle.

The city said the topic has been in discussion over the last few years as residential water and sewer rates have not been adjusted since 2018 and the new rate will be similar or some cases lower than other cities their size.

A technical assistant consultant was contracted by the city to study the billing rates of their water systems. The city said this study showed them the revenue they’d need per customer to maintain their water system and how much they’ll need for a future water reserve. Continue reading Bullard raising water bill rates starting in March

TYLER — The Tyler Water Department is working on a main water break Sunday morning. According to Tyler Police, as crews work on this issue, both north and southbound lanes of traffic Broadway between 7th and 8th Street will be shut down. Motorists are encouraged to avoid this area and seek alternate routes. Officials said an update should be released once the area is back open for normal traffic.

LONGVIEW — Thanks to a recent community petition, a portion of George Richey Road in Longview has been renamed in honor of Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt. According to our news partner KETK, the part of George Richey Road between Gilmer Road and Judson Road will now officially be known as Bill Stoudt Parkway. The change comes after the Longview City Council approved a resolution to rename the road in their meeting on Thursday.

According to the agenda for Thursday’s City Council meeting, more than 51% of the property owners along the road agreed to have the name changed in a petition that was submitted to the council.

Stoudt was chosen because of his past efforts to help expand the road and his many years of service in Longview and Gregg County. Thank you so much Judge Stoudt for your years of dedication, spearheading not only this effort but many others in our community,” Longview city councilwoman for District 5, Michelle Gamboa said in a recap of Thursday’s meeting.

NACOGDOCHES – Six firefighters from the Nacogdoches Fire Department are heading to California to assist with the deadly wildfires ravaging the state according to our news partner KETK. The team was deployed through the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System to help combat the wildfires burning near Los Angeles in southern California.

On Saturday morning, Battalion Chief Sean Black, Captains Shawn Dillon and Dusty Arreguin and firefighters Kalin Cobb, Garrett Lowery and Wesley Pietruszka began their journey westward. The Nacogdoches Fire Department is asking the community to join them in sending well wishes for the safety of their team as they face the fires.

SMITH COUNTY – A third person has been charged in connection to a multi-state Lego theft ring that allegedly stole more than $400,000 worth of products including from several stores in East Texas.

According to our news partner KETK, Semetric Danielle Baker of Burnet, TX, was arrested by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday. Her arrest comes after two other people were arrested in 2024 for alleged thefts from several Walmart and Target stores in Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Florida and Texas, including stores in Longview, Tyler, Kilgore and Gun Barrel City.

The two other people accused are Brian Fleming who was arrested on Dec. 6 and Shane Joel Gentry who was arrested on Nov. 21. Gentry would reportedly sell items on eBay and Amazon and, according to an arrest affidavit, he showed Amazon an invoice for the items from Fleming. Continue reading Woman arrested in connection to $400,000 Lego theft ring

TYLER — According to our news partner KETK, United States Attorney, Damien M. Diggs, announced that he will be resigning as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Eastern District of Texas in January. Diggs, 49 of Frisco, will be departing from his officer position where he led an office of nearly 100 employees, including 50 prosecutors, across six fully staffed offices in Beaumont, Lufkin, Plano, Sherman, Texarkana and Tyler. The district covers 43 counties from the Gulf of Mexico to Oklahoma.

Diggs was nominated by President Joe Biden on Feb. 2, 2023 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 4, 2023. He took the oath of office on May 7, 2023 from Chief U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap. During his time in leadership, he focused on public safety, fighting fraud, waste and abuse, civil rights and community outreach. Under Diggs’ leadership, the office achieved noteworthy successes in criminal matters like gun and gang violence, firearms trafficking, drug trafficking, public corruption, healthcare fraud, white collar crime, cybercrime, national security issues, child exploitation and human trafficking. Continue reading U.S. Attorney for Eastern District of Texas announces departure

PALESTINE — An East Texas representative has filed an ethics complaint against Abraham George, Chairman of the Texas Republican Party, accusing him of using coercive political tactics including threats and intimidation to silence dissent within his own party.

State Rep. Cody Harris (R-Palestine), one of the few Republicans to publicly oppose the party’s endorsed Republican caucus nominee for House Speaker, Rep. David Cook., is in the crosshairs of party leadership. Harris, alongside fellow East Texas Representatives Cole Hefner and Jay Dean, have instead thrown their support behind Rep. David Burrows (R-Lubbock), whom they argue represents a stronger conservative alternative to Cook.

KETK News spoke with Harris who asserted that East Texans have little tolerance for bullying. “Growing up here in East Texas, there’s only one way to deal with a bully and that’s to punch him in the nose, so that’s exactly what I’m doing. I’m not going to sit back and let him stifle the voices of the people of East Texas.” said Harris. Continue reading Lawmaker files ethics complaint after receiving political threats

LONGVIEW– The Longview Police Department is asking for the public’s help as they search for a missing 21-year-old woman. Officials said Nyah Newton was last seen on Tanglewood Road. She is described as being around 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs around 90 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes.

According to our news partner KETK, officials said Newton was last seen wearing a brown shirt and checkered black and white pajama pants. Anyone with information about Newton’s whereabouts is asked to call the Longview Police Department at 903-237-1199.

JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville Police Chief Joe Williams was “relieved” from his duties on Thursday afternoon. The City of Jacksonville said the action was made by City Manager James Hubbard after Williams held the position for nearly five years.

“A pattern of poor judgement, disengagement and disrespect culminated in my decision,” Hubbard said. “I wish Mr. Williams well and look forward to naming a new chief that will provide the service and professionalism deserved by the department, organization, and community.”

According to our news partner, KETK, Assistant Chief of Police Steven Markasky has been named as Acting Chief of Police, that will ensure a smooth transition.Plans regarding the process to install a new police chief will be released soon, the city said.