Today is
Thursday June 11, 2026
GILMER – A Gladewater man has pleaded guilty in Upshur County to sexual assault. Shanon Carroll Wiess, 48, of Gladewater, pleaded guilty Friday, three days before his trial was to begin. He was sentenced to 55 years in prison. In August, 2015, Wiess is said to have driven the victim around Gregg and Upshur counties for 24 hours where he raped her repeatedly. He finally let her go at the Warren City Hall. The victim said Wiess displayed a knife. As a condition of the plea agreement, Weiss has waived his right to appeal.
BROWNSBORO – A Henderson County teen is arrested for showing nude pictures of an under age girl to school students. Arrested by Brownsboro ISD police was Braden C. Molloy, 18, of Chandler. The arrest follows an investigation that began about a week ago. Molloy was arrested on Thursday and charged with possession with intent to promote child pornography. He was released from the Henderson County jail on a $15,000 bond.
LONGVIEW – Since April, Longview police have arrested 8 persons for racing on city streets. The latest arrests occurred around 2:30 Friday morning on Spur 63. Arrested were Zachary Taylor Lampkin 22 (pictured) and Joseph Matthew Ballard 23, both of Longview. The men had their vehicles impounded. Lampkin was also charged with possession of a controlled substance.
MURCHISON – A convicted felon is facing a variety of charges following a Henderson County traffic stop. Corey Jason Jones, 34, of Murchison was stopped on a county road near his hometown because of an expired vehicle registration. But the expired registration and a suspended driver’s license was the least of his worries. In his vehicle, the sheriff’s deputy found a glass pipe with white residue believed to be methamphetamine and a clear, plastic baggie containing a crystal-like substance believed to be Methamphetamine. He also had a rifle. Jones was booked into the Henderson county jail on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a controlled substance.
TYLER – Tyler police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the person who is responsible for a series of thefts at Bishop T.K. Gorman and All Saints School. On Tuesday, a man got into the Gorman gym by telling a student that he was there to work on the floors. He then went to the boys’ locker room and stole several cell phones and personal belongings. On Wednesday, he used the same story to enter the All Saints locker room and steal the same type of items. If you can identify him, you are asked to contact Tyler Police or Tyler-Smith County Crimestoppers.
TYLER – A Tyler business man is still living on a platform on scaffolding in front of his business. He will stay there off the West Southwest Loop until he raises enough money to meet his goal. Clint Benefield started his quest at noon Wednesday to raise money to feed hungry in East Texans. Last year he raised $2,900 for the Salvation Army. This year he is attempting to raise $3,000 for the United Way of Smith County. The money he raises will be allocated to United Way partner agencies that deal directly with hunger. He says he will remain on that platform for up to a week if necessary. You can mail or drop off a donation to the United Way office in Tyler. You can also go to http://www.uwsmithcounty.org/FightHunger and make your donation online.
AUSTIN – Unemployment in Texas has fallen. The area report is slightly mixed. While the state added 71,500 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs in October, unemployment in the state fell to 3.9%. That sets a record for the lowest unemployment rate recorded in four decades. Tyler’s unemployment went from 3.7% in September to 3.9%. It was 4.5% last October. In Longview, unemployment went from 4.5% in September down to 4% last month. That is far below the 6.2% rate last October.
HENDERSON – A man said to be responsible for a fatal Rusk County accident will be going to prison for a long period of time. The jury that found Walter Todd Miller, 60, guilty this week of intoxication manslaughter, sentenced him to 99 years in prison. According to the district attorney’s office, because of Miller’s criminal past, the jury was able to return such a lengthy sentence. In November, 2015, Miller’s vehicle veered into the opposite lane of traffic and collided with an oncoming vehicle. One person was killed and three injured in the wreck on Highway 79 between Henderson and New Summerfield. Miller’s blood alcohol content was said to have been nearly three times over the legal limit.
VAN – In September, state house member Dan Flynn of Van said he would run again. He has now made it official. This week Flynn filed for re-election for Texas House District 2. It covers Hopkins, Hunt and Van Zandt Counties. Flynn, a Republican, is in his sixth term. He serves as chairman of the House Pensions Committee and serves on the Defense and Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
TYLER – The East Texas Human Needs Network is holding the annual “One Night Without a Home†event in Tyler. It is part of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Activities start Friday afternoon at 4:00 with a dinner at the Salvation Army. Then, everyone will walk to Fun Forest Park for a Face of Hunger and Homelessness program. That will be followed by a candlelight vigil for the homeless who have died. After spending the night in the park, it’s up at 5:00 Saturday morning for a quick breakfast and a lessons learned conversation. Then, it’s a walk back to the Salvation Army. If you would like to participate, you need to go to http://www.ethnn.org and complete the on line registration which is required.
TYLER – Friday is Smith County Adoption Day. And a special program will show how you can help with a problem facing the state. More than 5,000 abused or neglected Texas children were adopted from state care last year. But as of September nearly 4,000 children and teens in the state are still looking for a home. You can find out how you can help. There will be a special program on adoptions Friday morning at 9:00. It will be held in the Galilee Room in the Worship Center Building of Tyler’s Green Acres Baptist Church.
AUSTIN (AP/STAFF) – A Democratic mega donor, who grew up in Smith County, has died after a battle with a mental health issue. A powerful Texas trial lawyer and prominent backer of liberal causes and candidates, Steve Mostyn, grew up in Whitehouse. Mostyn gave generously for years to top Texas Democrats. Last year, he donated $1 million to a Hillary Clinton super PAC. Mostyn’s wife, Amber, did not confirm a cause of death but said, “If you or a loved one are thinking about suicide, or experiencing a health crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline right now.” Mostyn was 46. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – A Smith County man has been sentenced to prison for intoxication manslaughter. Michael Christopher Fielder Sr., 47, of Lindale, pleaded guilty Thursday morning in connection with the death of Gabriel Cocolan, 19. In connection with a plea agreement, he accepted a ten year prison sentence, and was sentenced by state district judge Christi Kennedy. On Super Bowl night, in February of last year,Fielder’s truck crossed over the center line on South Main in Lindale and hit the victim’s pickup, head-on. Fielder’s blood alcohol content was .117.
BERRYVILLE – Two persons have been busted following a traffic stop in Henderson County. Charged with possession of a controlled substance was Michele Leigh Myers, 48. Arrested on two outstanding warrants from Henderson County was Charles James Myers, 34. Both are from Tyler. The two were shopped after leaving a game room. Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said during the traffic stop a search of the vehicle, Michele Myers was found to be in possession of suspected methamphetamine and paraphernalia commonly used to smoke methamphetamine.
TYLER – The City of Tyler has received the Community Partner of the Year Award from Tyler ISD. It was presented during the annual State of the District luncheon on Wednesday. The award was established in 2014 through a partnership with Tyler ISD and the Tyler Area Business Education Council. The award is given annually to organizations that provide exceptional and innovative support to Tyler ISD. Read the rest of this entry »