Today is
Sunday June 14, 2026
WASKOM – A weekend accident in Harrison County left one person dead and one injured. The accident occurred around midnight on Friday. It was not discovered until shortly after 5:45 Saturday morning. Killed was Angel Pace of Karnack. Listed in fair condition in a Shreveport hospital is Carl Johnson of Karnack. The accident occurred on Mt. Zion Church Road north of Waskom. According to the Department of Public Safety report, Johnson fell asleep at the wheel and his car hit a piped fence and came to rest against an oil storage tank. Both Johnson and Pace were not wearing seat belts.
TYLER – Tyler school trustees have a called meeting this morning. At that time they will see the future look of the city’s two high schools. At the 11:00am meeting, architects will show school board members the proposed renovations for John Tyler and Robert E Lee High Schools. In May, voters approved a $198 million bond issue to fund the renovations. Initial work has already started on the two campuses. When finished, Lee will stretch to Shiloh Road and the only current buildings to remain will be the field house, auditorium and varsity gym. At John Tyler, the basic structure will remain as a state of the art facility will be built along with a full size auditorium and better practice facilities.
TYLER – A professor at the University of Texas at Tyler has been recognized by the Hudgens Center for Art & Learning for outstanding artistry. Merrie Wright entered in the center’s 2017 National Juried and Invitational Cup Exhibition. She earned first place for her ceramic work. Her work will also be become a part of the center’s permanent collection. A ceramic sculptor, Wright serves as associate professor and chair of The University of Texas at Tyler Department of Art and Art History. She holds a master of fine arts degree.
SMITH COUNTY — A bicyclist killed in a wreck just after noon Saturday has been identified. Thomas Albert Marty, 73, of Lindale was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the Department of Public Safety report, Marty was riding the bike on the shoulder of Hwy 69 north, 2 miles south of Mineola. The bicyclist attempted to turn left, entering the outside lane of traffic in front of a 2009 Ford Focus, driven by Vanessa Cervantes, 20, of Tyler. DPS said she was unable to avoid the collision.
TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of September 25h. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.
District seal coat operations is continuing. Work on Monday is on Farm Road 2868 going westward to State Highway 155. Motorists should expect lane closures and delays during these operations. Additional information on this work is available in the Wood County section of this release. You can go to http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/048-2017.html for a complete rundown of Tyler District work for the next several days.
LONGVIEW – A second person has died from a Longview accident. Family members tell KETK that Rylee Malone 17, of Longview died early Sunday morning. Also killed in the crash was Meshebia Renee Johnson, 17, of Longview. Still hospitalized with life threatening injuries is Christa Tamara Wilson 32, of Harleton. They also told KETK that Chad Palmer Malone, 19, of Longview, was treated and released. The accident was reported around 8:30 Friday night on North Eastman Road near Hawkins Parkway. According to police reports, the accident occurred as a pickup driven by Wilson pulled out of the parking lot of Target to go south bound on Eastman Road, and she was hit by the car driven by Chad Malone. The investigation into the cause of this accident is continuing.
TYLER – Ms. Hopkins County 2017, Patsy Roan Crist of Cumby, has been crowned the 2017 Ms. Texas Senior Classic Queen in a pageant in Tyler. It was held Saturday night at the Holiday Inn on South Broadway in Tyler. Other winners include 1st runner up, Charlotte Adam Graves of Bullard, and second runner up, Judith Ward of Longview. Over 20 ladies from East and North Texas participated in the pageant. This marks the second straight year the pageant was held in Tyler after being held in the Metroplex for around 20 years. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – A runaway Smith County teen has been located. The Smith County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a Teenage Runaway. She is Valerie Coughlin, 16, who left her home on Stonebridge in Flint in the middle of the night on September 9th and has not been seen since then. On the department’s Facebook page it is noted that she has been found. No other information was available.
TYLER – The Tyler YMCA is closing. In a news release, it was announced the facility on South Vine will close, and cease its child care programs, on Saturday. It has been in operation for nearly 59 years. The President and CEO of the Y, Jeremy Bumgardner, said in the news release, “The YMCA of Tyler Texas serves approximately 1,154 members. Six full-time staff and 60 part-time staff will end their employment as a result of the YMCA’s closing. The Y is working with other community groups to help identify alternative child care options for families in the current Y programs. Both the Palestine YMCA and Corsicana YMCA will honor the memberships of current Tyler Y members through their paid date.â€
HENDERSON – An arrest has been made in a Rusk County murder dating back to 2006. Through the work of investigators with the Rusk County Sheriff’s office, Texas Rangers and Baytown police, Jarrett Murray was arrested on Thursday. He is charged in the May, 2006 murder of Joseph Michael Douglas. His body was found in a rural area off County Road 106, East of New London. Based on requests from the sheriff’s department, the case was added into the Texas Rangers Unsolved Crimes Investigation Program. After interviewing new and former witnesses, and suspects, they were able to come up with new leads and evidence. The findings were presented to the district attorney’s office earlier this month. That led to the issuing of a murder warrant and the arrest of Murray. According to the information they discovered, Murray spoke often of the murder of Douglas.
MARSHALL – A former Harrison County jailer has pleaded guilty to official oppression for punching an inmate. Under a plea agreement, Billy Joe Hopkins was sentenced to 18 months probation and ordered to perform 144 hours of community service. He also has to pay a $250 fine. The other jailer, Sansom Sanni, had already pleaded guilty to making a false report to a police officer. He was granted deferred adjudication on the charge and has paid a fine. The charges surround their actions in the booking of a combative suspect who was said to have spit on the jailers and even bit one.
TYLER – Visit Tyler has come home with three awards from the 2017 conference of the Texas Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus. According to a news release, the People’s Choice Awards are:
-Best Cooperative Marketing Campaign
-Best Advertising (in cooperation with Route2 Advertising)
-Best Convention Promotion
The awards are chosen by a group of people in the tourism industry.
GLADEWATER – Gladewater police have issued an arrest warrant in an August robbery. Named in the warrant is Taron Christopher Venter, 19. It is thought he is not from this area and may have ties to Waxahachie and Desoto. The robbery occurred on August 5th on East Broadway in Gladewater. Venter is said to have blindsided a man by hitting in in the face. The man was severely injured and has not returned to work. After taking his wallet, cellphone, handgun and a small quantity of cash, Venter then fled. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The East Texas State Fair is underway, and there’s a change of traffic flow in the area. A news release from the Tyler Police Department advises drivers that West Front Street, in front of Harvey Hall, will be shut down to one lane of traffic in both east and west directions all day Friday until midnight. Then, starting Saturday, all lanes will be open until 4:00pm each day. Then the traffic will revert back to one lane of traffic flow in each direction until closing time of the Fair that night. Officers will be on hand at the cross walk in front of the main gate, providing traffic control.
TYLER – The annual East Texas State Fair is underway in Tyler. It started yesterday morning with senior day activities. Fair goers will have some new attractions this year. There will be a countryfest on each Saturday at the fair with live country music. There will also be Matt’s Family Jam, an interactive musical attraction for everyone. There will be pony rides, a live tiger show, a street artist painting murals using only spray paint and a slingshot to shoot you 150 feet into the air. Then there’s the usual carnival, exhibits and fair food waiting for you September 22nd through October 1st at Tyler’s East Texas State Fair. You can go to http://www.etstatefair.com to keep tabs on the daily activities.