Today is
Thursday June 18, 2026
TYLER – A Smith County couple is sentenced in Tyler federal court for health care fraud violations. Gerard Dengler, 61, and Suzanne Dengler, 52, pleaded guilty back in January. Judge Thad Heartfield sentenced Gerard to to 24 months in Federal prison. Suzanne received a sentence of five years of probation. Both were also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $161,695, which represented the loss to Medicare. Last December, the Denglers and Elite Lab agreed to pay the United States $3.75 million to settle a false claims act lawsuit in connection with the case. This stems from a lawsuit filed by former Elite Lab employee. Read the rest of this entry »
ATHENS – An Athens man who died in a fire on April 22nd has been identified. Authorities say it was Arthur Delmar Jones, 77, who died in that fire on East College Street. The fire was was reported just before 8:45 that night. Jones lived on the second floor of that two story home. Early the next morning, firemen found a his body in the debris. Athens Fire Chief John Mcqueary says the fire was started when two electrical cords, which had been connected, overheated the homes circuit box.
CANTON – Van Zandt County officials say volunteers are still needed in the cleanup and recovery efforts following last weekend’s tornadoes. Volunteers can go to the Van Zandt County Fairgrounds, 24742 St Highway 64 in Canton. Go to the Free State Building located at the end of road once you enter Fairgrounds. Sign in at the (VRC) Volunteer Reception Center. You can also go to the First Baptist Church, 181 VZCR 1910, Fruitvale. You are required to sign in and you will receive an arm band. You must wear the arm band while volunteering.
LONGVIEW – A consultant’s study indicates Longview can support a 7,500-seat outdoor amphitheater with the right private-public funding plan and event management. They are looking at building the $19 million facility southwest of the Estes Parkway-Interstate 20 interchange. The Longview Economic Development Corp. announced the results of the study during a Wednesday night Gathering. The Longview news Journal reports the consultants estimate such a venue could generate $4 million in operating revenues, incur $3.8 million in operating costs and turn a potential $200,000 yearly profit after paying management fees. They also believe it would pump $5.4 million yearly into Longview’s economy. So far, reviews have been mixed as they start work on how to fund the project.
CANTON – Van Zandt County Judge Don Kirkpatrick has issued a curfew for the areas of the county impacted by last weekend’s tornadoes. The curfew went into effect at dusk on Wednesday until dawn on Saturday morning. It covers the time frame of dusk to dawn each day. You can see the curfew map on the Van Zandt County website under the tornado information link.
TYLER — Hundreds turned out Thursday out for Tyler’s annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast at Harvey Convention Center, part of the National Day of Prayer. Mayor Martin Heines lauded the attendees, calling them “the fabric of this community.” Heines said, “If you want to compare us with any place in the world, I will tell you that I would want to live right here with each and every one of you, because we make our town special. We volunteer. We care for others. And if it wasn’t for the people in this room, Tyler would not be Tyler.” The event was highlighted by a variety of prayers along with music and videos.
TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for the suspect wanted in an early morning armed robbery. It happened around 3:30 at the Exxon gas station, 5502 Old Bullard Road. According to the store’s clerk, a black male, wearing a mask and wielding a rifle, entered the store. That’s when the clerk ran to the Best Western and called police. The suspect was able to steal an undisclosed amount of money from the store’s safe, then fled the scene. Responding officers noticed a man matching the suspect’s description riding a bike on Rieck Road near Donnybrook. He fled from officers and is still on the loose. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — Six people are still recovering in local hospitals following the East Texas tornado outbreak on Saturday, April 29. Four people were killed and 56 others were injured. According to KETK, as of 3:00 Wednesday, two patients in Athens are in fair condition and the four remaining patients are at a Tyler hospital. One victim is in critical condition, one serious, one fair and another good condition. The four victims killed have been identified as: James Clayton Young, 39, of Alba. Lucretia Yvette Sykes, 49, of Ft. Worth. Kenneth Hughes, 57, of Canton. Russell Rusty Barlow, 51, of Corsicana. Nine tornadoes touched down in East Texas during the severe weather day.
EAST TEXAS – East Texas schools affected by this past weekend’s tornado outbreak are getting back to normal. Canton schools reopened on Wednesday. But Fruitvale schools are still out. According to their Facebook page, Fruitvale schools will be out on Thursday and Friday.
GLADEWATER – We could know by tonight who the new Gladewater school superintendent will be. Gladewater school trustees have a meeting at 5:30 Thursday afternoon. The board’s agenda calls for a closed session to consider personnel matters and superintendent candidate interviews. Then, in an open session, the agenda says the board will consider naming a lone finalist for the position. That person would succeed J.P. Richardson. He resigned in March to become school superintendent in Tatum.
CANTON — The American Red Cross is putting out the word on how you can help victims of last weekend’s tornadoes. Katrina Farmer is executive director of the American Red Cross Serving Texas Big Country. Farmer says volunteers who want to help with cleanup efforts are being asked to sign-up at the Canton Fairgrounds. Donations of cleaning supplies have been requested. These can be taken to the Fairgrounds as well. Items needed are work gloves, heavy duty trash bags, and plastic bins to store recovered items. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Tyler police are looking for a couple who ripped off to local auto dealerships. A woman, using a fraudulent name, ordered $1,229 worth of tires over the phone. She gave credit card information that was compromised. She also ordered $2,546.25 worth of BMW car parts on the same date, again using fraudulent ID and credit card information. The following day a man showed up at the two dealerships to pick up the items. The woman remained in a black GMC, Yukon with temporary plates. If you recognize this man, please contact the Tyler Police Department (Investigator Royce Jordan 903-531-1032) or call Smith County Tyler crime Stoppers at 903-597-2833.
TYLER – A vehicle-pedestrian accident in Tyler has killed one person. And it appears to have been a suicide. Killed in the accident just before 2:00 Wednesday morning was Eliceo Esquivel Vences, 30, of Marshall. The accident happened in the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 271, by UT Health Northeast. The first report was the pedestrian walking on the outside lane of the highway when he was struck and killed. Now investigators say they believe the man intentionally ran in front of the vehicle from the far edge of the shoulder.
TYLER — Tyler ISD’s Teachers of the Year offered their reactions after garnering their awards Tuesday night during a banquet at Hwrvey Convention Center. Both winners drew attention to the top teachers on the other campuses and the other teachers on hand for Tuesday’s event. Secondary Teacher of the Year is Kala Morrow (pictured), who has classes in social studies, government, and economics at John Tyler High School. Morrow said said she was excited, describing the experience as “exhilarating” and “surreal.” She commented, “There’s so many amazing educators that do so much that were on the stage with me. And so really, it’s just a tribute to them — of their efforts and the time that they spend to do everything they can to educate the students of Tyler ISD.” Read the rest of this entry »
GREGG COUNTY — A Longview man who was recently released from jail is back behind bars. According to KETK, Keandre Zyshun Bailey, 18, has been arrested on an aggravated robbery warrant out of Harrison County. Bailey racks up his third jail stint for 2017 after having been previously arrested for theft of a fire arm and burglary of a habitation in January, as well as failure to identify and unlawful carrying of a weapon in April. He was released from jail for the April arrest on Monday, April 24. In March, Bailey was also named as a suspect in the December death of Daxtan Castleberry. Read the rest of this entry »