Today is
Sunday June 14, 2026
TYLER- The Tyler City Council has received a presentation outlining a new Historic Preservation Strategic Plan for the city. The city was awarded, last year, a matching grant from the Texas Historical Commission to conduct a Historic Preservation Strategic Plan. The Lakota Group was hired to formulate and identify specific, realistic and achievable strategies for enhancing the City’s current historic preservation program. A steering committee has been meeting on the plan. There also has been community workshops and multiple Historical Preservation Board review sessions to help refine the plan. You can go to http://www.TylerHistoricPreservation.com to view the digital version of the plan. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – A Longview man caught with a large quantity of drugs has drawn a long prison sentence. Brandon Dewayne Bush, 31, who pleaded guilty to possession and delivery of drugs, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. Bush was arrested in May of last year following a traffic stop. They found in his car, a large amount of drugs, including methamphetamine and marijuana. They also found drug paraphernalia, including empty bags and scales, and over than $7,000 in cash.
LONGVIEW – A Longview man is headed to prison for shooting his ex-wife. Jose Isabel Garcia, 41, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The Longview News Journal reports he has been sentenced to 38 years in prison. In July of last year, Garcia shot his ex-wife three times and then pushed her out of a moving car. She was shot once in the face and chest. Police reports say he also tried to choke her after the shooting, but drove away when he saw headlights approaching.
LONGVIEW – You will find out Friday morning why the Texas legislature, four years ago, declared Longview the Balloon Race Capital of Texas. The 40th Annual Great Texas Balloon Race brings to East Texas the best competitive pilots from around the world. Balloon flights begin over Longview Friday morning. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, the flights continue over the East Texas Regional Airport. Friday and Saturday nights you have the balloon glow followed by live concerts. And all of that is coupled with kids land and a variety of vendors, including food vendors. You can go to http://www.greattexasballoonrace.com to get a schedule of the various events.
LONGVIEW – A worker, helping erect a monument at Longview’s Teague Park, was injured when the monument fell on him. The accident happened around 12:30 Wednesday afternoon. Other workers used a tractor and chain to lift the 2,500-pound monument off the man. He is hospitalized at Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center with unknown injuries. A fire department report said the man’s injuries were not life threatening.
TYLER – A Smith County couple charged with sex crimes have a trial date. The Whitehouse couple, Johnny Floyd Crocker, 57, and Angela Elaine Crocker, 41, will be going to trial in Tyler October 2nd. Johnny is facing four counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Angela is facing two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and one count of indecency with a child by sexual contact. Arrested near Shreveport in February, they had been on the run as they faced charges a various charges. The pair had been considered to be armed and dangerous. In fact, they had said they would not be taken alive. Johnny is a former law officer and is a registered sex offender.
TYLER – A Tyler teen is in jail for the sexual assault of a child. Being held in the Smith County Jail under a $750,000 bond is Justin Ray Dunford, 17. He is said the have assaulted the girl, under the age of 14, at a home south of the Chapel Hill area. Dunford had been living with the family but was not related to them. The girl had complained of soreness and went to the doctor where she told about the sexual assault. After an investigation, which included interviewing the girl at the Child Advocacy Center, Dunford was arrested.
TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Department is looking for two suspects in an animal cruelty case. The two have been identified as Roderick Johnson and Vanessa Mederos, both are 23. They are wanted in connection with three dogs that were left chained without food or water. One died before they were found. Maderos has a warrant out for her arrest. Multiple warrants has been issued for Johnson. You are asked to contact the Smith County Sheriff’s office if you know where they can be found. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL – The Marshall Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a credit card thief. The woman is said to have entered the Central Perks Café last Saturday and stole credit and debit cards from employees purses. She then used the cards at various Longview businesses later in the day. The woman is also a suspect in several similar incidents in Longview and Tyler. Anyone with information about the identity of the woman is urged to call the Marshall Police Department at 903-935-4575. Those wishing to remain anonymous are encouraged to call Marshall/Harrison County Crime Stoppers at 903-935-9969. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the Marshall/Harrison County Crime Stoppers Facebook page.
PITTSBURG – Funeral services are scheduled Wednesday for Lonnie “Bo†Pilgrim, 89. Pilgrim, the co-founder and longtime Chairman and CEO of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, and Chairman Emeritus of Pilgrim Bank, died at his home on Friday. No word on the cause of death. According to the Erman Smith Funeral Home web site, a memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Pittsburg. Visitation with the family was held Tuesday evening. There will be a private family burial prior to the memorial service.
TYLER – A man suspected in several Tyler shootings has been arrested. Kadareawn Lee Mosley, 19, was arrested at his home on Tuesday. He had been named in two arrest warrants for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He is thought to have been involved in a drug related shooting at Fun Forest park on July 8th. He is also accused in a shooting last Thursday on McDonald Road where a 13 year old boy was wounded. The police say he was acting in retaliation for the shooting at Fun Forest. He is also thought to be the person who, last Friday, shot someone in the back on Nutbush Avenue over money and narcotics. He remains in the Smith County Jail with bond set at $500,000.
BEN WHEELER – A two vehicle accident in Van Zandt County has left a motorcyclist dead. Dead at the scene was James Kinnaird, 51, of Chandler. He was killed when a pickup pulled out in front of him at the intersection of State Highway 64 and Farm Road 773, north of Ben Wheeler. The pickup’s driver, Stacy Burkett, 48, of Ben Wheeler, was uninjured. The accident, which was reported around 7:15 Tuesday morning, remains under investigation.
TYLER – Work starts on a part of Beckham tonight. TxDOT says motorists might want to use alternate routes to avoid delays. The work is on Beckham Avenue from about half a mile south of East Oakwood southward to 5th Street. The work will be tonight and Thursday night between 7:30pm and 6:00am the following morning, and then again Sunday through Thursday nights of next week. Motorists can expect lane closures and delays. The project consists of making base repairs in the main lanes, conducting work on the side streets and applying a new surface and striping.
MARSHALL – The president of Wiley College in Marshall has announced his plans to retire next June. President Haywood L. Strickland submitted his letter to the school’s trustees at their meeting late last week. He announced his plans to the public on Monday. In its efforts to name a successor for Strickland, school trustees have formed a search committee. Strickland became the college’s president in 2000. In March of last year a former Wiley College employee named Strickland in a suit filed against the school in federal court in Marshall. He claimed he was fired after showing proof to the school administration of financial mismanagement by Strickland. No court date has been set for the lawsuit.
TYLER – Smith County commissioners took no action Tuesday on new ownership of the Carlton Hotel. The commissioners were scheduled to discuss, in executive session, the possible sale of the building, which was opened over 60 years ago. But, following the closed door session, the matter was not discussed and no action was taken. County Judge Nathaniel Moran had previously said they have received some proposals for the property. But he gave no details. It’s not known if those proposals are still on the table of if the county will continue looking. The county bought the building in 1977. The last county office moved out, for better facilities, nearly four years ago. Read the rest of this entry »