Today is
Monday June 08, 2026
TYLER – State District Judge Kerry Russell on Friday sentenced Dekenndrick Lekeith Ross, 41, to life in prison. He was found guilty earlier this month of prostitution and human trafficking. Last June, Ross and Crystal Leshae Lilly, 26, also of Tyler, were arrested following a Department of Public Safety investigation of a human trafficking organization in the Tyler area. Lilly’s trial date has not yet been set.
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott has appointed three persons to the Sabine River Authority of Texas Board of Directors. Their terms will expire on July 6th, 2023. One of those named to the board is Janie Walenta of Quitman. She is is a retired telecommunications manager. She is currently on the One Call Board of Texas. Her term on that board expires at the end of August.
MARSHALL – Marshall police say two March robberies have been solved. Acting on tips from the public, Marshall police have arrested Kiandre Handy, 19, of Marshall. He is charged with the March 1st robbery of the Coin Laundry on North Lafayette Street. And he is said to be the man wearing a witches mask who robbed a West Grand Avenue convenience store on March 13th. He is facing two charges of aggravated robbery. He remains in the Harrison County Jail under bonds totaling $300,000.
ATHENS – A Henderson County woman accused of killing her two children last year, will be getting a competency hearing. At a Friday hearing for Sarah Nicole Henderson, 30, of Mabank, a judge granted the request. A meeting was set for Monday to work out the details. The next hearing is scheduled for later this year. Henderson is said to have shot her children at their home. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The Tyler ISD Foundation’s New Administrative Director is Betsy Jones. She has been involved with the Tyler ISD Foundation board since September 2017. Jones brings to the position over 10 years experience in the nonprofit world including work with the Council of Tyler PTAs, local campus PTAs, Junior League of Tyler, Women’s Symphony League, and Nacogdoches Junior Forum.
EAST TEXAS – Area residents are invited to join other Texans in talking advantage of a tax free weekend. It starts on Saturday and will run through Monday. The tax free items are emergency preparation supplies. The list includes:
*batteries, fuel containers and flashlights priced at less than $75;
* hurricane shutters and emergency ladders priced at less than $300; and
* portable generators priced at less than $3,000.
There’s no limit on the number of qualifying items you can purchase.
There are some things that do “not”qualify.
You can go to https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/publications/98-1017.php for more on the emergency preparation supplies.
MURCHISON – A Henderson County man is accused of sexually assaulting two young girls. Arrested Thursday on two charges of aggravated sexual assault was Randy Dean York, 59, of Murchison. The charges were filed after the girls told child advocates he sexually assaulted them. Both are said to be under the age of 13. York is currently free on bonds totaling $150,000.
TYLER – Tyler Junior College has received the largest gift in the College’s history. The school says it may be the most significant monetary gift from an individual to a Texas community college and largest gift to an institution or organization in the city. The announcement was made Thursday by TJC officials. The gift is from the estate of Virginia and Jim Gatewood. When Virginia died last year, it resulted in the creation of the James F. and Virginia Hawkins Gatewood Memorial Fund at TJC. The school is working with the estate to determine the final dollar amount. The funds will ensure the long-term support of the TJC Presidential Honors Scholarship Program. The program helps attract academically talented student from throughout East Texas. Presently, 220 students benefit from the program.
LONGVIEW – Keep Texas Beautiful has named Keep Longview Beautiful a Gold Star Affiliate. Only 65 of of the statewide organization’s nearly 400 affiliates received this designation this year. Keep Longview Beautiful has received this recognition for the past 6 years.
TYLER – The Tyler city council has approved improvements at two of the city’s parks. The city council accepted a $40,300 donation for batting cages at Faulkner Park. The Rose Capital West Little League brought up the interest in funding construction of a batting cage. The cost of the project is being funded by the little league. And the City Council has approved spending nearly $32,000 on improvements to the irrigation system at Lindsey Park. By repairing a well pump at the park, the city should save around 50% in irrigation costs at the park.
TYLER – The Gustavo Zavala-Garcia capital murder trial is still on schedule for October, for now. Zazala-Garcia is charged with the November, 2016 death of 10 year old Kayla Gomez-Orozco. She was killed after being abducted from a Bullard church. At a pretrial hearing Thursday morning, DNA evidence and trace evidence analysis from the Texas Department of Public Safety was presented. But further DNA testing can be done on some of the evidence. A pretrial hearing is set for May 10th to determine which items will need additional testing.
TYLER – John Tyler students got a first hand look Thursday of the impact of drinking and driving. Juniors and seniors were dismissed to go to Lion and Leon Drive where they found a mock accident. Tyler police, fire and EMS units were there as was the Air 1 helicopter. There was even a coroner and a hearse on the scene. Some of the injured had to removed from the wreckage by jaws of life. Even a student portraying a drunk driver, was arrested at the scene. The Shattered Dreams event was designed to allow the students to experience the sensations of being involved in an alcohol-related collision.
GLADEWATER – Vandals have hit an historic Gregg County building. The vandalism was discovered Monday night at the Rock Springs School House on Old Highway 135 just south of Gladewater. The one teacher school was built with donated lumber in 1849. It ws in use until the 1930’s. The building was recorded a Texas Historic Landmark in 1966. The building has also been used for other functions, including a church. A sheriff’s deputy patroling the area noticed at open door at the building. He then found a significant amount of vandalism to the building. If you can help identify the vandals, you are asked to contact the Gregg County Sheriff’s Department.
LONGVIEW – An Overton man has been arrested in a Gregg County murder that occurred nearly three years ago. In the Gregg County Jail under a $75,000 bond is Joseph Scott Brown, 36. He is charged with the October, 2015 shooting death of 24 year old John Allen Franco. Brown was recently indicted by the Gregg County grand jury in the case. Franco was found shot to death in his car on a county road in Liberty City. Brown’s brother, Jessie Clifford Brown, 36, was arrested in the case last October
TYLER – A man who tried to rob a Tyler bank has been arrested. Arrested Wednesday at a home on East Erwin Street was 30 year old Robert Michael Freeman. He is now in the Smith county jail, charged with aggravated robbery. Tyler Investigators received a tip that led led to his identity and his vehicle, in which evidence from the bank was recovered. Freeman is said to be the man that entered Texas Bank and Trust last Saturday morning. He handed the teller a note telling her of the robbery. The man got nervous when the clerk started to walk away. He then took the note and ran away without getting any money.