Today is
Wednesday June 10, 2026
MELROSE – A Tyler lab has identified the victim of a Nacogdoches County mobile home fire. Caroll Eugene Bates, 77, of Melrose, died in the fire around 3:00 Tuesday morning. Arriving fire units found the home fully engulfed in fire when they arrived. The fire is still under investigation by the Nacogdoches County Sheriff Office and an arson investigator with the sheriff 0ffice. Sheriff Jason Bridges says it is believed that the fire started from an electrical problem at the residence on County Road 419 between Nacogdoches and Chireno.
TYLER – A joint law enforcement operation has resulted in arrests in southern Smith County. It was conducted Wednesday by units from the Smith County Sheriff’s Department along with Department of Public Safety, game wardens, precinct 5 constable’s office, Smith County Fire Marshal’s office and Arp Police Department K9. Also, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office deployed deputies to the north end of Cherokee County to assist with the operation. It is being reported that 12 arrests were made, 5 citations issued, and 25 warnings citations were issued. One firearm with a silencer was recovered. Also recovered were 2 stolen vehicles and several drugs, including marijuana, heroin, methamphetamine, and other controlled substances. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The 12th Court of Appeals in Tyler has upheld a ruling over a controversial sign in Hawkins. The sign reads “Jesus Welcomes You To Hawkins.” The dispute is over land along U.S. 80 where the sign is located. The Jesus Christ Open Altar Church bought the land from two funeral homes. The city sued the church over the ownership to the land as a way to avoid a lawsuit from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. That’s after the foundation threatened to sue the city because the sign was placed on what it considered public property. A trial court determined that the City of Hawkins holds an easement over church owned property. The appeals court affirmed the court’s ruling. The sign remains up. Hawkins City Secretary Dona Jordan says the next move is up to the Hawkins city council.
TYLER – The Smith County grand jury has returned nearly two dozen indictments. Among those named in the true bills is a a Tyler man accused of stabbing his girlfriend numerous times. Booked into the Smith County Jail on October 16, was Chrishawn Polk, 20, of Tyler. He is charged with aggravated assault and two charges of interfering with an emergency call. He is accused of attacking Allyson Smith, 26. The attack occurred at a home on Emerson Avenue where they lived with with some of Polk’s extended family members. Smith survived the attack.
LONGVIEW – Children hospitalized at Longview’s CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center got some special visitors Thursday morning. The Longview Police Department’s SWAT Team members, dressed as superheroes, rappelled down a wall of the hospital. Following that: a visit with the children in their unit and delivery of gifts. Longview Police Department social media coordinator Kristie Brian says Operation Christmas Cheer lets them demonstrate their abilities to the community and bring joy to children spending the holidays in the hospital. The hospital’s Clinical Director of Pediatrics and ICU, Metosha Brantley, says the children get very excited about the visit from the superheroes. This is the 4th straight year for Operation Christmas Cheer.
LONGVIEW – A Longview man is free on a $5,000 bond after being accused on hitting his stepson in the head. Lou Reynold Davis, 30, was arrested Tuesday at his home on Valley brook Lane. The Longview News Journal reports the 13 year old boy left his home Monday following an argument with his mother. When he returned home around 1:00 Tuesday morning, Davis is said to have hit the boy in the head with a metal flashlight. Davis was arrested and booked into the Gregg County Jail on a charge of reckless bodily injury to a child. He was released on bond the following day.
LONGVIEW – A Longview man remains jailed after shooting at a woman who ran over his dog. Jose Daniel Rodriguez Jr., 20, is in the Gregg County jail under a $50,000 bond. The charge is aggravated assault with a deadly women. The December 13th incident occurred on Idlywood Drive near where Rodriguez lives. The Longview News Journal reports the woman saw the dog run in front of her car, but was unable to stop the vehicle in time. Rodriguez is said to have yelled and their fired off several shots. The driver and her woman passenger and her 3 month old daughter were not injured.
GRAND SALINE – One person has been killed in a two vehicle accident in Van Zandt County. Pronounced dead at the scene Wednesday afternoon was Martha Jane Maxfield, 51, of Grand Saline. The Department Safety says she failed to yield at an intersection and pulled into the path of a pickup truck. Maxfield, who was not wearing her seat belt, was tossed from the vehicle. The pickup’s driver, a Dallas man, is in stable condition in a Dallas County hospital. The accident happened around 4:30 Wednesday afternoon in Grand Saline, at the intersection of Highway 80 and Farm Road 17.
TYLER – A senior at Robert E Lee High School is preparing for life after high school. Brandon Vittitow wants to become a firefighter. For the past four months, he spent four nights each week in an Emergency Medical Technician course through the Emergency Medical Services Program offered by Tyler Junior College. He recently completed the course and will take his National Registry EMT exam January 6 to earn EMT certification. With his EMT course completed, Brandon can continue to receive his Emergency Medical Services certification if he chooses. As of now, he is focused on volunteering with the Flint-Gresham Fire Department and applying to fire academies in College Station and at TJC.
CANTON – The Canton office of Workforce Solutions East Texas is closing. The office is closing on December 22nd. The organization’s board approved the action, which was confirmed by the Chief Elected Officials board. The action was taken because of funding reductions and low visitor traffic. They will continue to serve the area. They encourage new and existing customers to access services and assistance through its call center and website. You can also use the visiting mobile unit that will make regular visits to the county. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – A man wanted for two Smith County robberies has been arrested. Lance Cody Scott, 21, of Tyler turned himself in at the Smith County Jail. His bond was set at $400,000. He is accused of the December 1st robbery of the AZ Food Mart on Highway 69 North. Two days later, the AB Country Store on Farm Road 14 was held up. In both cases, a white male entered the business, armed with a handgun, and demanded money. When Scott turned himself in, Detectives had already obtained two arrest warrants charging him with two counts of aggravated robbery.
TYLER – A visiting judge has named longtime law officer Bobby Garmon as interim Precinct One Constable. Judge Richard Beacom selected Garmon for the post when he learned that Garmon was favored for the position by the county judge. County Judge Nathaniel Moran administered the oath of office Thursday afternoon. Garmon has over 30 years in law enforcement, including being a former chief deputy in the sheriff’s office. Garmon was selected for the post during a hearing in which Judge Beacom suspend Precinct 1 Constable Henry Jackson from office. Jackson is currently in federal prison, where he is serving a six month sentence for income tax evasion. A petition to remove Jackson from the post is currently moving through the legal system.
TYLER – Two persons in jail on unrelated charges have been named named in murder warrants by Tyler Police. Seydadrian Montrez Brown (pictured), 26, and Christopher Benard Hardy, 21, are both from Tyler. They were named in warrants for murder and aggravated assault in a shooting that occurred a month ago at the Chelsea Creek Apartments on Thistle Drive. Killed was Darryl Dewayne Washington Jr., 25. Wounded were Terry Demond Rogers, 23 and Nadarius Houston, 18. All three are from Tyler. Investigators say the shooting stems from narcotic activity. It wasn’t hard to find the suspects. Brown is in the Gregg County Jail and Hardy is in the Smith County Jail.
MINEOLA – An employee of the Mineola school system has been arrested as the result of an investigation that started last month. Arrested Thursday after being accused of an improper relationship with a student was Todd Karch of Lindale, the district’s Director of Transportation. He is currently free on a $40,000 bond. A news release from school superintendent Kim Tunnel said a student brought to the district’s attention a possible inappropriate relationship between a high school student and an employee. During the initial investigation, Karch was placed on administrative leave. Tunnell said the District then obtained his resignation. The Mineola Police Department is continuing their investigation in the case.
TYLER – Tyler police are looking for a woman who is accused of theft. She is said to have entered the office of a business and stole items from a purse while the employee had left the office. If you can identify her, please contact Detective Wayne Allen at 903-535-0121 or call Tyler Crime Stoppers at 903-597-2833.