Today is
Saturday June 13, 2026
TYLER – Former Texas House member Ted Kamel of Tyler has announced he will be running for the District 6 post now held by representative Matt Schaefer, in the March Republican primary. Kamel made the official announcement Monday night. He held the post for four terms, from 1991 to 1999. He Lost to Leo Berman in 1998. Kamel listed his top five reasons for running for the position. One is creating a medical school within the U-T System in Smith County. Two is pushing for term limits. Third is expanding the Texas education code to athletic events where our flags are honored. Fourth, mental health issues will be a top priority. And fifth,he wants to bring a track record of effective leadership back to Austin. He also said he wants to bring town hall meetings back to the district.
TYLER – A man remains in a Tyler hospital after being tasered while trying to flee Smith County deputies. Sheriff Larry Smith says the condition of DeAndre Demarcus Foster, 33, of Tyler, continues to improve. His vehicle was stopped for an expired vehicle registration Friday afternoon on Highway 64 West. When he pulled from his pants’ pocket a clear plastic baggie containing suspected illegal controlled substance, deputies started to arrest him. When he started to run away, a deputy used a Taser on him. He fell to the ground but got up and started to run again and a Taser was used on him again. As deputies tried to place handcuffs on Foster, he continued to resist and was tased a third time. Sheriff Smith said in a news release, “due to the immediate danger and continued resistance by Foster, two drive stuns were performed with the Taser. Deputies were then able to handcuff Foster.†When he started convulsions, EMS was called and he was taken to the hospital.
MARSHALL – Marshall’s new police chief has taken his oath of office. The swearing in ceremony for Cliff Carruth was held Monday afternoon at the Marshall Police Department. He replaces Ron Davis, who was hired in May as Interim Police Chief. Chief Curruth has a total of 26 years of experience in law enforcement, six of those were as a police officer with the Longview Police Department. He recently retired from the FBI where he was the Senior Supervisory Resident Agent at the Little Rock Division. Carruth is a graduate of Longview’s LeTourneau University as well as the East Texas Police Academy in Kilgore and the FBI Academy.
TYLER – State Senator Bryan Hughes of Mineola has been honored as a “Champion for Long Term Care.†He received the award Monday afternoon 30 in a ceremony at Tyler’s Providence Park Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing Center. The Texas Health Care Association presented him the award for his efforts to improve long term care in Texas during the 85th regular session of the Texas Legislature.
TYLER – It looks like it will a cold and wet night for trick or treating in the area Tuesday night. For those who do venture out, Tyler police want to make sure it is a safe time for youngsters. Some simple precautions will make sure the evening is an enjoyable one for the trick or treaters. Children should not accept, and especially not eat, anything that isn’t commercially wrapped. Parents, inspect the wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers. Throw away anything that looks suspicious. Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – A new director of public safety at Tyler Junior College is now on the job. Brent Chambers started his new duties Monday. Chambers retired from the FBI this month. Since 2010, he had served as supervisory senior resident agent for the East Texas resident agencies where he oversaw all FBI investigations and operations across 30 counties and offices including Lufkin, Texarkana and Tyler. In 2009, he was named Federal Agent of the Year by the North Texas Crime Commission.
WINONA – A two vehicle accident near Winona over the weekend has killed one person and left two injured. The accident occurred on State Highway 155 shortly before 1:15 Sunday afternoon. Dead at the scene was Nikisha Brooks, 34, of Gulfport, Mississippi. Her vehicle collided head on with an SUV driven by Christopher Suttle, 37, of Flint. Suttle and a passenger, Tara Suttle, 38, of Flint, were both taken to a Tyler hospital for treatment. The Department of Public Safety says the accident occurred when Brooks’ southbound vehicle crossed over to the northbound lane of traffic.
PALESTINE – A former Anderson County commissioner is among four arrested in a Palestine park. KETK reports Randy Watkins, 68, Montalba, was arrested on October 6 for indecent exposure. The four were arrested by Palestine police for indecent exposure and public lewdness stemming from actions at a city park. The investigation started from complaints received by the city’s Community Services department at Upper and Lower Lake Park. Throughout the month, detectives investigated the area and obtained evidence on several men using the park for lewd acts. The investigation is still ongoing and additional arrests may occur. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – A Smith County constable has started serving his time in a federal prison. Shortly before 2:00 Friday afternoon. Precinct 1 Constable Henry Jackson was booked into the federal prison at Seagoville. He pleaded guilty to four counts of willful failure to file a federal income tax return and was sentenced to six months in prison. He was also ordered to pay restitution of over $160,000. Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran sent Jackson a two-page letter asking him to resign. He also repeated the request in a face to face meeting. Jackson has refused.
TULSA, Okla. (AP/STAFF) – A federal judge has denied motions to dismiss a civil fraud lawsuit against an Oklahoma emergency medical services company and a Texas contractor. The Tulsa World reports a U.S. District Judge has rejected requests for dismissals by the Emergency Medical Services Authority, its former CEO, Texas contractor Paramedics Plus and others named in the case. The lawsuit filed in January claims that Paramedics Plus and its parent company, East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System, entered into a $20 million kickback scheme to obtain and keep a profitable public ambulance services contract awarded by the authority and its director. It claims the “pay to play” scheme violates anti-kickback statutes and the False Claims Act. Company officials say they “fundamentally disagree with the allegations” in the lawsuit and believe the claims are unsupported.
The 14th national prescription drug take back day is today. There is a site in Tyler to help you get rid of old medications. The Medication Cleanout Event is being hosted by the Tyler Police Department and the Broadway Square Mall. It will be set up from 10:00 till 2:00 in the mall parking lot on the northeast side of J.C. Penney. You just drive up and drop off your unused and expired medications for safe disposal without getting out of your vehicle. The event is free with no questions asked. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – Yahoo emails are once again being accepted by Gregg County. Earlier this month the county suspended Yahoo emails because of the recent increase in viruses and other suspicious activity. At the time, County Judge Bill Stoudt said the action was the recommendation of the county’s IT director, Donald Miller. Thursday, Miller lifted the suspension. But they will continue to closely monitor the system. Nearly seven years ago, an international cyber attack on the Gregg County Tax Assessor cost at least seven taxing entities a total of about $200,000. Investigators traced the malware to a Russian website.
TYLER – A Longview man has been arrested following a federal indictment on drug charges. The indictment against Joey Deshun Hymes, 39, was unsealed Thursday following his arrest. He is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The indictment says he distributed 28 grams of cocaine on December 20th of last year. He is scheduled to appear at a detention hearing next Tuesday. He remains in the Smith County Jail. He could get up to 40 years in prison if convicted.
LONGVIEW – What started out as a criminal trespass case turned into a drug arrest in Longview. Arrested was Tristan Ray Griffith, 20, of Longview. Officers were called to East Hawkins Parkway Thursday afternoon. When the officer and his K-9 arrived, they were told a suspect was selling drugs. When they found Griffith, he was arrested for possession of marijuana. He was also issued a criminal trespass warning for the location. Griffith is currently free on bond. Read the rest of this entry »
KILGORE – Several persons have been injured in a fire at a Kilgore apartment complex. The fire was reported just before daybreak Friday morning at the Stone Ridge Apartments on Stone Ridge Road. When they arrived firemen found one building, which contained 8 apartments, on fire. The injuries occurred when some of the residents jumped from their second story apartments. The injuries were said not to be serious. The fire was contained to that one building. The displaced residents were taken to Forest Home Baptist Church to await the Red Cross. Investigators are now trying to find out how the fire started.