Today is
Sunday June 14, 2026
KILGORE — A missing Kilgore man has been found safe, according to KETK. He is Chris Terry, 54. Rusk County Sheriff Jeff Price said “Bubba T” was found very close to his home in the Overton area. Kilgore residents say, the man they have come to know as “Bubba T” went missing around 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, after leaving his house. He was reported missing at approximately midnight. The 54-year-old can be seen carrying the flag for the football team on Friday nights. Numerous agencies and even a hospital helicopter took part in the search.
LONGVIEW – A man has been arrested after holding up a Longview bank. Charged with robbery is Justin James Johnson, 23, of Longview. He is said to have entered the East Texas Professional Credit Union on West Loop 281 around 11:00 Thursday morning. A police report say his face and body were concealed. They say he pulled an Airsoft gun and demanded money and threatened the clerk. He then left with no money. He was found shortly after leaving and arrested following a short foot chase.
TYLER – The 12th Court of Appeals in Tyler has upheld the murder conviction of a Tyler man. John Douglas Smith, 73, was sentenced to 50 years in prison. He had been convicted of the December, 2015 shooting death of Francisco Douglas, 47. The shooting occurred at the Sunset Valley Mobile Home Park off Highway 64 west. Smith was the caretaker of the park where Douglas lived. The two were arguing over rent when Smith shot him. Smith is the father of former Smith County Constable John Smith.
BERRYVILLE – A woman named in a Smith County warrant has been arrested on drug charges in Henderson County. Ashley Weisinger, 33, of Frankston, was stopped for a traffic violation on County Road 4117 near Berryville. After being arrested on the warrant, the sheriff’s deputy found, in a clear plastic baggie, methamphetamine and a glass pipe commonly used to smoke the drug. She was booked into the Henderson County Jail for possession of a controlled substance. Her bonds total $83,500.
JACKSONVILLE – A two vehicle accident a mile east of Jacksonville has killed a man from Troup. Dustin Michael Jones, 26, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which was reported shortly before 7:45 Thursday morning. He was tossed from his motorcycle when it collided with car driven by Shantell Lee Jernigan, 44, of Jacksonville. The Department of Public Safety reports that Jernigan was making a left turn into the path of the oncoming motorcycle when the accident occurred. The wreck remains under investigation.
LONGVIEW – Longview police say a woman was robbed by a man who had just lost a dice game. Arrested last weekend was Daqwaylon Nelson, 21, of Longview, who is in the Gregg County Jail under bonds totaling $154,500. He is charged with failing to identify as a fugitive by giving false information and assault/family violence causing bodily injury. He was also named in a robbery warrant signed by 188th District Judge David Brabham. According to the Longview News Journal, after losing in a dice game June 9, police say Nelson pointed a gun at a woman and took about $600. He then fled in a car. Officers say the woman later identified Nelson as the suspect in a photo lineup.
TYLER – Smith County has started work on updating and redesigning its website. They are looking for public input to help them develop a new website that will address the needs of the county’s residents. You can go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KCSX39W to take the survey.
RUSK – A stolen pickup in Cherokee County results in a chase that ended in Tyler. The pickup was reported stolen early Wednesday morning near Rusk. Around 1:30, it was found at the Whataburger in Bullard. The chase that followed came through Tyler where police used spike strips on Grande Boulevard. When the truck didn’t stop, they laid down another spike strip. That’s when the two suspects bailed out of the vehicle and ran into the woods. They were not found and the search was called off late Wednesday morning.
TYLER – An engaged couple from Tyler wants something different as a wedding gift. They want your blood. Caitlin Campbell and Lathan Pilcher met in 2013 at Carter BloodCare’s 50-gallon Challenge blood drive at TJC. Now they plan to get married. And, instead of wedding gifts, they want to receive blood donations from family, friends and anyone who would like to donate. They issued a 50-gallon Wedding Challenge, a first in the history for Carter BloodCare. All you have to do is go Carter BloodCare through October 30th, and say you want your donation to go to the wedding challenge. As the couple start a new life together, they also hope to save a life.
LONGVIEW – A man involved in a Longview police standoff last year has pleaded guilty. Sonny Dee Edwards Jr., 32, pleaded guilty to criminal mischief. He was sentenced Tuesday to 5 years in prison by state district judge Alfonso Charles. In June of last year, Edwards entered a Longview home, despite a protective order against him. Two women in the home were able to escape through a bedroom window. Edwards was said to have fired several rounds at a police robot, extensively damaging it. He surrendered after the over 7 1/2 hour standoff.
TYLER – Robert E. Lee High School senior Cody Olson has been named a 2018 National Merit Semifinalist by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. A Drum Major for the Lee band, Cody also plays trombone for the Jazz Ensemble. He holds leadership roles in the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta, a mathematics honors organization. After graduation, he plans to attend Harvard University to begin his pursuit of a career in medicine. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – A Longview woman’s run on the TV game show Jeopardy has come to an end. On Tuesday’s show, Angela Ward had a total of $15,000. That was good for a third place finish. She will take home $1,000 for her efforts. She won on Monday with a total of $11,800, which she also gets to keep. The Longview News Journal reports Ward is a former reporter for the paper. They report that about 18 months ago, she performed an online audition, which is a timed test. Based on that score, she was invited to a live audition in Oklahoma City. Her appearances on the show were filmed in Burbank, California in April.
TYLER – Some Smith County road projects have been completed. Smith County Engineer Frank Davis told Smith County commissioners on Tuesday County Road 149 (New England Road), which connects U.S. Highway 69 South and Old Jacksonville Highway, has been improved. County Road 46 has been widened, from 22 feet to 26 feet, and base repairs were made before it was overlaid. And, County Road 4227 had more base failures than they estimated so it cost more and took more time to repair before it before it was overlaid. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – A Tyler native has announced he is running for the city council next year. The announcement comes from Broderick McGee, who is running for the city council district 2 seat. That spot is currently held by Darryl Bowdre, who can’t run again due to term limits. McGee, who is currently on the city Planning and Zoning Commission, is a graduate of John Tyler High School, Tyler Junior College and LeTourneau University. He got his master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Columbia Southern University. He is currently the Human Resource Manager at Kluber Lubrication.
TYLER – Personal protective safety equipment has been given to Smith County to help keep county employee’s safe. The equipment is provided by the Texas Association of Counties Risk Management Pool. And, it’s free. The county has received 72 safety kits, each valued at $56. Each kit includes a reflective safety vest, gloves, hard hat, two pair of safety glasses and two sets of ear plugs. And the first kits are going to Smith County road and bridge crews. The equipment is intended to make employees more visible and to provide the employees with eye, head, hand and ear protection.