Today is
Monday June 15, 2026
ATHENS — Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse continues his crackdown on drug suspects as deputies arrest Zackary Ryan Clemons, 39, and Haley Danielle Middleton, 23. Hillhouse says the arrests came on Westwood Beach Drive, south of Chandler, after a substantial amount of methamphetamine was thrown out of a vehicle as Clemons was stopped for a traffic violation. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – Another traffic stop and a drug bust for Longview police. It all started when a car was stopped on South Access Road for a defective brake light. The driver, along with Ronnie Taylor, 52, of Longview, his passenger, was arrested for outstanding warrants. But that was not all of Taylor’s troubles. A jailer at the Gregg County Jail found crack cocaine inside one of Taylor’s shoes.
TYLER — Smith County is soliciting opinions from residents about their road concerns and suggested improvements. According to a news release, it’s part of the county’s commitment to strategic planning and to ensure the county road infrastructure remains solid for decades. Following Commissioners Court approval on Tuesday, residents can begin providing input by going to http://www.smith-county.com and submitting their comments electronically through an e-form. The Commissioners Court is also planning several public open houses to gather input. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A man accused of breaking into a Tyler restaurant has been taken into custody. An alarm at the Lindo Mexico Restaurant, on Gentry Parkway, sounded around 5:00 Tuesday morning. Arriving officers said the building was broken into and that the suspect had fled. After reviewing the security video with the owner, officers were able to locate the suspect a short distance from the restaurant walking down the street. Andre Lamont Coker Jr., 21, was detained and searched. Officers found a gun in his waistband, several types of illicit narcotics and evidence from the restaurant. Coker was charged with burglary of building, possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and three warrants out of Smith County Sheriff’s Office.
WOOD COUNTY — A former East Texas jail administrator has been sentenced to prison. According to KETK, ex-Wood County Jail Captain David McGee has been sentenced to two years in prison for his role in helping an inmate escape the Wood County Jail and tampering with government documents. McGee resigned back in February amid an investigation into inappropriate contact between the former administrator and an inmate. During the course of that investigation, McGee was arrested by the Texas Rangers and charged with two counts of tampering with evidence. He was booked into jail and later released on bond. Read the rest of this entry »
SULPHUR SPRINGS — The trusty that escaped from the Hopkins County Jail Tuesday morning is back in custody. According to the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, Barney Ebey, 53, escaped while performing work at the Hopkins County Civic Center just after 8:00. He was arrested in Henderson County Tuesday night after a manhunt through a wooded area. The person responsible for driving the get-away vehicle was arrested Tuesday afternoon. Ebey was initially incarcerated for a charge of engaging in organized crime related to the theft of heavy equipment.
LINDALE – Lindale police are looking for a man who is accused of leaving a store without paying for what he had. He is said to have walked out of the Brookshire’s in Lindale without paying. He may be doing the same thing at the Brookshire’s in Mineola. There is no vehicle description available. If you recognize the man, you are asked to contact Lindale police.
REKLAW – A one vehicle accident on a wet Rusk County road has killed a Galveston man. Dead at the scene was Austin Guilmette, 19. The DPS report said he was heading south of Farm Road 839 north of Reklaw at an unsafe speed. His pickup left the road as he exited a curve, and hit a tree. The accident occurred just before 9:00 Monday morning.
LONGVIEW – Longview police have arrested a Panola County man for trying to cash a forged check. Officers were called to a bank on East Whaley. That’s where they found Blake Ryan Stanford, 21, of Carthage. He told officers that he and another person had done some yard work for someone. He said the other person drove him to the bank and gave him a check. Stanford said he forged the check owner’s name on it and was attempting to cash the check for $100. He was charged with forgery and booked into the Gregg County Jail.
GILMER – An Upshur County woman has been found guilty of attacking a woman with a cooking pot. Francis Bailey Clark, 77, of Big Sandy, was found guilty of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She was was sentenced by the judge to five years in prison, probated for two years, along with community service and anger management. It all started in January 2016 when she confronted a woman about money she felt was owed her. Clark is said to have injured the woman when she hit her with a large heavy metal cooking pot. She claimed self-defense. The jury didn’t buy it.
JACKSONVILLE – The couple involved in a fatal train accident in Cherokee County has been identified. Killed in the June 13th incident was Michael Matthew Heiskell, 28, of Pampa. The woman, who was injured, is Shelby Laws, 26, of Conroe. The two had been riding on top of a Union Pacific freight train. Both were knocked from the train. The man fell off near Jacksonville. The woman was able to hold on, and jumped off when the train slowed down in the Troup area. She suffered a broken leg. Investigators say the two met in Austin where they traveled together to San Marcos, where they jumped on the train. The train, which had originated in Laredo, was carrying autos to Chicago.
GILMER – An Upshur County man has pleaded guilty to killing his stepfather. Clinton Ray Allen, 45, of Gilmer entered the guilty plea in state district court in Gilmer Tuesday morning. He was sentenced to 45 years in prison. He was charged in the April 6th shooting of James Earl Robertson. He was found with a gunshot wound to his head in his home on Holly Road, southwest of Gilmer. Following his arrest Allen told officers that he shot his stepdad because he had talked bad about his dead mother.
TYLER – Smith County Commissioners learned about the community of Bullard during Tuesday’s commissioners’ court session. Mayor Pam Frederick, who gave the presentation, believes Bullard is a shining star in East Texas and is proud to be a part of its progress. The presentation was part of the commissioners’ Connecting Communities initiative. The city was formed in 1867, but became known as Bullard in 1883. Mayor Fredreck says the town has seen a slow shift in focus over time. The mayor said from 2000 to 2010, Bullard experienced 114% growth in its population, and it is on track to have the same increase by the next Census. From 2010 to 2017, the city has grown 62.4%, to about 4,000 residents. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Tyler Police are asking for the public’s help in locating several suspects wanted for theft. According to authorities, on June 6th, three suspects attempted to steal a Snapper zero turn riding mower from the front of the garden center of Walmart on Hwy 64 West. An employee noticed the three attempting to load the mower into the bed of a blue pick-up truck. The suspects dropped the mower and fled after the employee yelled at them. The three suspects returned to the same location June 24, cut the lock on the Snapper mower, loaded it into the bed of the truck and left. The retail price of the mower is listed at $2,696.00. Anyone with information is asked to contact Dt. Craig Shine at Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1090 or call Tyler Smith County Crime Stoppers at 903-597-2833.
MARSHALL – Their was a promotion ceremony Monday afternoon at the Marshall Police Department. Officer Cory Adkinson was promoted to sergeant. He has been with the Marshall Police Department since 2011. He began his law enforcement career in 2011 with the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office as a Detention Officer. He left Gregg County to put himself through the Kilgore College Police Academy. During his police career in Marshall, Adkinson has worked in many capacities. He is currently assigned to the Patrol Division. He is a Field Training Officer and a member of the Marshall Police Department SWAT team.