Today is
Thursday June 04, 2026
SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County sheriff’s office has completed a compliance check of registered sex offenders who live in the county. Sheriff Larry Smith said it took two days to conduct the check with around 40 officers from 8 different agencies. Of the 406 persons who were checked, four were found to be out of compliance and two others were not at home and notices were left. The unannounced and comprehensive residential verification checks of this type are conducted on a regular basis in the county. The sheriff said sex offenders have strict requirements. If they violate any of their registration requirements, a warrant will be issued for their arrest.
SAN ANGELO – A former Smith County youth minister is heading to prison for sexually assaulting a teen. Before Clinton Douglas Brackett, 34, was the director of youth ministries at First United Methodist Church in Lindale, he was employed at a church in Ballinger. It was there where he began a sexual relationship with a girl younger than 17. The San Angelo Standard-Times reports that Brackett, on Wednesday, pleaded guilty to one of the four counts of sexual assault of a child. In a plea agreement, he was sentenced to eight years in prison. He will now have to register as a sex offender.
TYLER – A state trooper with the highway patrol in Athens is now a Texas Ranger. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced that Justin Cuellar has been promoted to a Texas Ranger, Texas Rangers-Company “Dâ€. Ranger Cuellar, who joined the DPS in 2007, will be stationed in Beeville starting the first of next month.
TYLER – A Tyler jury has found Daniel Aylor, 34, guilty of driving while intoxicated, second offense. In May of last year, he had been stopped in Smith County for speeding and failing to maintain a single lane. A blood sample showed his alcohol concentration was twice over the legal limit. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 22nd.
TYLER – A portion of a proposed large development in south Tyler has received city approval. The development, proposed by the Genecov Group, is in the Hollytree subdivision. The approval was for 294 of the proposed 318 acres. What was not approved was around 20 acres of apartment buildings. The vote came following several hours of comments from the area residents. Many of then felt that the Gennecov proposal would adversely affect their property values.
TYLER – A Chapel Hill School District employee has been arrested for election fraud. Arrested by Smith County sheriff’s deputies was Carolyn Lewis, 68 of Winona, who turned herself in at the county jail. The problem stems from 4 absentee ballots that were witnessed by the same person, which is a violation of the Texas Election Code. The ballots were for a position on the Chapel Hill school board. When an investigator contacted her in the parking lot of the high school, Lewis was in possession of two additional absentee ballots and appeared to be filling them out. The school district has placed Lewis on leave, pending an investigation. She has been charged with unlawfully witnessing absentee application, which is a Class B Misdemeanor and is currently free on a $500 bond.
JACKSONVILLE – OSHA is investigating a fatal accident at the Stryker Creek Power Plant in Cherokee County. Our news partner, KETK, reports a man was working on a crane Tuesday afternoon when he came in contact with a voltage box and was electrocuted. His body has been sent to a Tyler lab for an autopsy. The man’s name has not been released.
TYLER – Two teens have been arrested by Tyler police following an attempted robbery. Keith Whittington, 17, is charged with aggravated robbery and evading arrest. A 16 year old boy was charged with robbery. They are said to have tried to grab purses by force from a mother and daughter, knocking both to the ground and injuring the mother, but not seriously. The teens ran off and were chased by several persons who witnessed the incident. They caught both suspects before they were able to leave the area. They were both brought back to the scene on East Erwin, in downtown Tyler, where the 17 year old fled again and was later arrested by officers.
TYLER – Tyler police are asking the public’s help in identifying a woman who spray painted the Green Acres Baptist Church building. She rode up on a bike and spray painted the building with blue paint. It happened last Thursday shortly after 11:15pm. If you can identify her you are asked to call Detective Mike Kieny at 903-531-1045 or call Tyler crime stoppers at 903-597-2833.
TYLER – The Smith County Veterans Treatment Court for misdemeanor offenders has five new graduates. The court works with veterans charged with certain offenses. It helps them get the necessary treatment for any mental health issues. Goals set for those going through the program include finding a job and securing their finances; and going to alcohol, drug or anger management meetings and treatment. Since the program for misdemeanor offenders began in 2015, 10 veterans who have successfully completed it. The program takes one-to-two years to complete. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in finding a missing teen. He is Stacey David Ravencraft, 16. He lives in the portion of Longview which is in Harrison County. He left home on Friday and has not been heard from since then. The sheriff’s department says he is a runaway and believe he could be staying with some friends. They describe him as being 6′ 3″ tall, weighing 250 pounds and has blond hair and blue eyes. You are asked to contact the sheriff’s department if you know where he can be found.
GRAND SALINE – A Grand Saline man has been arrested following a high speed chase through several counties. The chase started Monday afternoon when a Grand Saline officer saw a stolen pickup. The driver would not stop and led the officer at speeds that topped 115 miles an hour. The chase went through Van Zandt, Smith and Wood counties. The stolen rental truck finally stopped just outside Mineola. After the vehicle stopped, the driver was observed putting on a camouflage jacket, like he was intending to run and hide. The officer then shot out the back window with a bean bag round. It was then that Anthony Lee Rodriguez, 30, was arrested. Rodriguez remains in the Van Zandt County Jail in lieu of a bond totaling $175,000.
LONGVIEW – A Longview man is in jail on capital murder charges. Arrested Monday was Jordan Malik Carter, 21. Carter, who is a known gang member, is charged in the shooting deaths of Melekia Montgomery, 25, and Alexis Johnson, 23, both of Longview. It occurred on Johnson Street in August, 2016. He was indicted by the Gregg County grand jury last September. Jail records show he is charged with capital murder of multiple persons. He is being held on a $1,000,000 bond.
TYLER – It’s time for the Tyler firemen’s annual fill the boot campaign. From Tuesday through Sunday, Tyler firemen will be at 7 locations around Tyler asking you to put money in those big boots. The funds go toward helping kids and adults suffering from muscular dystrophy and other muscle-debilitating diseases. The money will provide the MDA with funds that goes to support groups and care centers. It will also help kids attend the MDA Summer Camp at no cost to their families. The firemen’s goal this year is to raise $70,000. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Tyler Junior College has announced sophomore students Justin Crowe and Hannah Lair as the recipients of its annual Rotary Young Citizens and Watson W. Wise Incentive awards. Recipients are chosen by a vote of TJC faculty and staff.
The Rotary Young Citizens Award goes to two TJC sophomores each year, based on qualities including: dependability, service, honesty, courtesy, loyalty, leadership, sportsmanship and scholarship. Justin Crowe is a chemistry/pre-med major from Jacksonville. After graduating from TJC, Crowe plans to transfer to The University of Texas at Tyler and then attend medical school. Read the rest of this entry »