Today is
Thursday June 18, 2026
CANTON — Things are beginning to transition in Van Zandt County regarding relief efforts from the April tornadoes. KETK reports the donation warehouse stopped taking donations Saturday. After next Sunday, May 28, the items left at the donation warehouse will be sent to Manna Food Bank in Canton. Assistance is still available to those who need it. A long term recovery committee will be taking over.
LINDALE – Lindale police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a theft suspect. The man is accused of leaving the store with merchandise after shorting changing a cashier during the transaction. If you recognize this person, contact Detective Chris Dworaczyk, or by email at [email protected] or call the Lindale Police Dept at 903-882-3313.
JACKSONVILLE – Two Cherokee County brothers are in custody in drug charges. Taken into custody were Joshua Dale Lindsey, 35 (pictured) and Jeremiah Daniel Lindsey, 32, both of Jacksonville. They were arrested Friday as members of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotic Division and SWAT Team and Jacksonville Police Department served a search warrant. They were arrested at the Pine Creek Apartments on Gay Avenue. Joshua’s bonds total $35,000 and Jeremiah’s bond is $10,000.
TYLER – A Smith County man has been arrested on charges of sexual assault of a child and kidnapping. Arrested Saturday by the Arp Police Department was 19 year old Micah Gage Shelburn of Troup. The incident was said to have occured on Saturday. Smith County judicial records show Shelburn was booked into the Smith County Jail on Saturday. His bonds total $100,000. Since the investigation is ongoing, further details about the case have not been released.
LINDALE – Work on the Toll 49 Lindale Relief Route will cause some closures for County Road 431, northwest of Lindale. The contractor for the Toll 49 Segment 4 project has told Smith County officials that construction of the new roadway will result in specific days where CR 431, also known as Mineola Highway, will be closed to traffic. On Tuesday, May 23, and Wednesday, May 31, they will be working on a bridge so CR 431 will be closed for the safety of the public. Signs will be placed in the area to alert and detour drivers. On June 5 and 6, CR 431 will close again for more bridge work, as well as later dates in June. The closure dates could vary due to weather and/or other delays.
EAST TEXAS — The Tyler Police Department is warning citizens of an online scam involving the purchase of stolen vehicles. Authorities said the East Texas Auto Theft Task Force has seen an increase of cases involving shoppers buying stolen vehicles through online apps and websites. They said in the past year, the task force has recovered around eight stolen vehicles in Tyler alone. Officials said in all the cases they’ve investigated, the price of the vehicle was much less than the actual blue book value of the vehicle. Officers warn potential buyers, if someone is selling a vehicle for much less than its value, it’s probably too good to be true. Read the rest of this entry »
AUSTIN (AP) — A transgender “bathroom bill” reminiscent of one in North Carolina that caused a national uproar now appears to be on a fast-track to becoming law in Texas, though it may only apply to public schools. Republican Representative Chris Paddie of Marshall authored the hotly-debated language, saying it had “absolutely no intent” to discriminate. Under it, transgender students would not be permitted to use their chosen bathroom but could be directed to separate, single-occupancy restrooms. “it’s absolutely about child safety,” said Paddie. “This is about accommodating all kids.†Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of May 22th. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.
An emergency contract has been implemented to remove debris, from the recent tornadoes, from Van Zandt County. Crews started working this week to remove mostly trees, and a small amount of other debris, from the rights-of-way on Farm Road 1651, Farm Road 3227, Farm Road 1256 and Farm Road 1861. Work on these roadways is scheduled to occur Monday through Saturday until complete. Work on higher volume roadways including U.S. Highway 80, State Highway 19, State Highway 64 and State Highway 198, will be performed on Sundays. The operation will be shut down Friday, May 26 – Tuesday, May 30, due to the Memorial Day holiday and First Monday Trade Days. The contract was awarded to Tom-Mac, Inc., of Houston. Read the rest of this entry »
GREENVILLE – A Van Zandt County man is in custody in Hunt County on a murder charge. He is Martin Ray Malone, 61, of Wills Point. He is charged in the shooting death of Jayme Malone Lopez, 54 of Wills Point. She was found wounded in her crashed vehicle shortly before 6:30 Friday morning on County Road 2475. She died in route to the hospital. Malone is being held in the Hunt County Detention Center. His bond has been set at $500,000. The investigation of the case is being handled by both the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Department and the Hunt County Sheriff’s Department.
AUSTIN (AP) — The Texas House has advanced a contentious property tax bill, one of two proposals that the head of the Texas Senate threatened could spark a special legislative session if they fail to pass. The proposal seeks to limit local governments’ ability to raise property taxes, which local officials oppose. A bill containing deeper property tax limits passed the Senate but stalled in the House. A scaled-back House version was attached to another bill Saturday, however, and passed 135-0, despite tea party legislators agitating for more.
HOUSTON (AP) — A black Texas congressman said Saturday that he’s been threatened with lynching by callers infuriated over him seeking impeachment of President Donald Trump. U.S. Rep. Al Green held a town hall meeting and played recordings of several threatening voicemails left at his offices in Houston and Washington, the Houston Chronicle reports. The seven-term Democrat told the crowd of about 100 people that he won’t be deterred
TEXARKANA – The 6th Court of Appeals in Texarkana has upheld last year’s conviction of a Hallsville man and his and his 380 year sentence for aggravated sexual assault of a child. Two young men said Gregg Lee Haden, 41, had assaulted them over a three year period. The former Diana construction company owner was arrested in June of 2011 after arriving at a Longview location where he had agreed, in a text, to meet what he thought as a 14 year old for sex. But, instead of a boy, he had been communicating with an undercover officer.
LUFKIN – Two persons have been arrested in Angelina County on charges of injury to a child, a 3rd degree felony. Charged is Steven Clayton Hunt, 33, and Britni Leann Rhodes, 32. The two were booked into the Angelina County Jail. The arrests follow a joint investigation by sheriff’s department investigators and Child Protective Services.
MARSHALL — A stolen car is found in an unusual place. A local fisherman, a Texas game wardens dive team, and Harrison County deputies were involved in the discovery of a stolen vehicle, upside down, in Caddo Lake. Lieutenant Jay Webb says the vehicle has been pulled from the water. The car was reported stolen nearly a year ago from a location less than a mile from where the car was discovered. The car had been submerged in the lake at least 10 months.
TATUM – A one vehicle accident between Marshall and Tatum has killed a Tatum High School sophomore. Killed in the accident on State Highway 43 around 8:00 Thursday evening was Sarah Paige Stanfield, 16. The Department of Public Safety said her Hummer was heading south when it veered off the roadway onto the west unimproved shoulder an hit the edge of a driveway embankment with its undercarriage. The vehicle was then vaulted over the driveway, landed and then rolled several times to the left and then end over end coming to rest upside down, facing north, on the west unimproved shoulder. Stanfield was pronounced dead at the scene. Read the rest of this entry »