Today is
Saturday June 13, 2026
KILGORE – The presidents of Kilgore College and East Texas Baptist University have signed an articulation agreement that will create a more seamless transition for Kilgore College students and graduates to attend ETBU It also establishes ETBU scholarships. The partnership between the two schools will encourage the completion of the associate’s and bachelor’s degrees available at the institutions. It will also provide students with academic and administrative advisement. According to a news release from the schools, the agreement will promote continuous advancement in learning and ensure that all students receive the resources necessary to be successful in their respective callings.
TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of November 6th. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.
In Smith County, motorists can expect daily lane closures on I-20 eastbound and westbound at Toll 49 for the next couple of weeks as the contractor for the Lindale Relief Route conducts work to install deck panels and overhangs of the Toll 49 Mainlane Bridge. Work will progress from south to north through about November 17th. The contractor will be closing lanes starting with the eastbound outside lane. Another closure is planned for November 9 from 2:00 to 5:00am to place concrete for the bridge deck at FM 16. Traffic will be stopped in both directions. Local law enforcement will be on site to assist with traffic control. No lane closures are allowed after noon on Friday’s. Read the rest of this entry »
RUSK COUNTY – One person has been killed and two injured in a one vehicle accident in Rusk County. The crash occurred Friday morning on Farm Road 2011, near County Road 2116, south east of Lake Cherokee. Killed was a passenger in the vehicle, Jamie Marie Ramirez, 31, of Tatum. Injured were the driver, Johnathan Tanner, 26, of Tatum and a two year old boy. Both were taken to a Longview hospital for treatment. The Department of Public Safety reports Tanner was passing another vehicle when he lost control of the car on the wet road. The car left the road and hit a tree.
LUFKIN – A customer at a Lufkin store has been shot and killed during a robbery. The holdup at the Dollar General on Kurth Drive occurred shortly after 9:45 Friday night. Lufkin police say the suspect entered the store, demanded money and then shot a customer who was standing at the register. He has been identified as Darrence Kindle, 31, of Lufkin. Kindle had just gotten off work at Georgia Pacific and went the store to buy cigarettes before going home. When officers arrived, Kindle had a weak pulse. He was taken to a Lufkin hospital for treatment, where he later died. Read the rest of this entry »
KILGORE – A Kilgore man is being accused of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Arrested Friday was Daniel Martin Rios Sanchez, 28. The incident is said to have occurred at the suspect’s home in late August. According to the Longview News Journal, the girl reported the incident to police September 28 during an unrelated forensic interview at Martin House Children’s Advocacy Center in Longview. According to an affidavit, Sanchez said he asked the victim how old she was, and she said she was 13 years old. He told Kilgore police he had sex with the girl several times, but he believed it was consensual.
JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville police say several burglaries have been solved with the arrest of two persons. They were arrested after they were seen dragging a toy capsule vending machine across a street. A juvenile was arrested hiding under a house on Nacogdoches Street. Later, when a search warrant was served at the house, Andre Dylan Helm, 18, was arrested. Officers were able to track items that had fallen out of the machine back to a restaurant on East Rusk Street that had been burglarized. Additional arrests are expected in the case. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Two gas skimmers have turned up at a Tyler service station. Investigators with the North Texas Financial Crimes Task Force found the skimmers at the Exxon station on Lake Placid Road. They were removed from the pumps and were processed for evidence. Skimmer devices will capture your credit card information allowing the suspect to clone a new credit card and charge on your account
TYLER – Tyler’s CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital is named as one of the top hospitals in the nation. CareChex, an information service of Quantros, Inc., has named the Tyler hospital number 1 in the state for Overall Hospital Care, Overall Surgical Care, Coronary Bypass Surgery, Gastrointestinal Care and General Surgery in the 2018 Award Rankings. The hospital was also named in the Top 100 hospitals in the nation and among the Top 10% nationally in Medical Excellence and Patient Safety for more than 20 clinical categories. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – Longview police are continuing the investigation into the city’s 9th homicide of the year. The shooting death was reported shortly before midnight Wednesday on Thirteenth Street. Dead at the scene was 26 year old Sandy Leon Brown of Longview. He was found dead in a carport at the residence. A second man was also shot. He received a non-life threatening injury. His name has not been released. According to police Sergeant Shane McCarter, they are still looking for witnesses.
TYLER – After over 35 years of service, Tyler police officer Larry Christian is retiring. He started as a patrol officer at the Tyler Police Department in 1982. Over the past three decades, he has served as a detective, internal affairs officer, accident investigator, field training officer and field training coordinator. Over the years he has received numerous awards and certifications, including Plain Clothes Officer of the Year award in 1994 and the Tyler Patrolman’s Association Excellence in Policing award in 2005. According to police chief Jimmy Toler, who is seen on the right in the picture, “his experience and professionalism will be greatly missed.”
PALESTINE – Palestine’s burn ban has been lifted. The temporary burn ban was instituted October 25th to coincide with the burn ban in effect in Anderson County. Now that Anderson County’s burn ban has been lifted, Palestine has followed suit. Palestine residents will be allowed to burn if they obtain a permit at one of the three Palestine Fire Stations.
AUSTIN – Tyler is running ahead of the state when it comes to home sales. When compared to the same quarter last year, Tyler home sales increased 3.3% to 847 single-family home sales. The median price increased 8.5% to $189,900. The figures are contained in the 2017-Q3 Texas Quarterly Housing Report. Statewide, it is a different story. Texas home sales volume decreased 0.3% to 91,401 home sales. Vicki Fullerton, chairman of the Texas Association of Realtors, says the slight drop in Texas home sales is because of the impact of Hurricane Harvey. The Texas home sales decline on quarterly basis is for the first time since 2012. The median price of a home in the state, however, increased 5.6% from the prior year to $225,000.
RUSK COUNTY – One person has been killed and two injured in a one vehicle accident in Rusk County. The crash occurred Friday morning on Farm Road 2011, near County Road 2116, south east of Lake Cherokee. The Department of Public Safety reports a driver was passing another vehicle when he lost control of the car on the wet road. The car left the road and hit a tree. A passenger in the car was killed and the driver, and another passenger, were taken to a Longview hospital for treatment. Their names have not been released.
ATHENS – Henderson County authorities are continuing their probe into the deaths of two young girls. The mother of the seven and five year old girls, 29 year old Sarah Nicole Henderson, of Mabank, is charged with one count of capital murder. A second capital murder charge is pending. She remains in Henderson County Jail under suicide watch. Her bond is $2 million. Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said, during an interview with investigators, she confessed to shooting the girls. Investigators say the mother had planned the girls’ deaths weeks in advance. Read the rest of this entry »
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Illinois – Sears is announcing it planned to close dozens more Sears and Kmart stores around the country. To close in late January of next year will be 45 Kmart and 18 Sears stores. One of the Sears stores that will be shuttered is on Medford Drive in Lufkin. For years, Sears and Kmart have been losing billions of dollars and closing stores. The parent company, Sears Holdings, hasn’t turned a profit since 2010.