Today is
Saturday June 20, 2026
CANTON — An East Texas dad wants barriers placed outside busy stores. Don Bunch’s 18-year -old daughter Jessica was nearly killed a couple of weeks ago while at a Redbox machine in Canton. An elderly woman plowed into Jessica, leaving the young woman with punctured lungs, a shattered pelvis, broken ribs, internal bleeding, and much more. Bunch says he wants pedestrians in front of shops protected. He says, “When those people pull in…if they get the brake and the gas mixed up, it’s gonna happen again.” He says he’s seen such barriers — big concrete posts in front of Walmarts. Jessica has had several surgeries, and Bunch says she’ll be recovering for months.
HARRISON COUNTY — A news director in Marshall is fighting charges of hit and run. According to KETK, Ashli Acker Dansby, 33, of Marshall, turned herself in to police just before 7:00 Tuesday morning. The accident happened last Saturday. Officials said Dansby’s husband called police and said his wife believed she struck a pedestrian. An arrest warrant was obtained. The pedestrian was treated at Good Shepherd Medical Center for a broken toe and lacerations to her head and face. Dansby, who is the news director for KMHT Radio in Marshall, was charged with failure to stop and render aid and for leaving the scene of an accident. But Dansby’s lawyer says he feels her actions were proper and hopes to clear her in the case.
LONGVIEW — A Longview motorcycle officer has been injured in a traffic accident. It happened yesterday in the intersection of Lake Lamond Road and Cotton Street. According to the Longview Police Department Facebook page, Officer Rodney Smith was traveling westbound on Cotton Street responding to a major accident. As he entered the intersection with his lights and siren on, the motorcycle was hit by a car driven by John Murphy Fruge. Officer Smith was transported to Longview Regional Medical Center with non life-threatening injuries. The driver of the car, John Fruge was not injured. He was issued a citation for fail to yield right-of-way to an emergency vehicle.
KILGORE — The Kilgore College TRIO Program will be awarded a $1.15 million federal grant to continue its services through the year 2020. According to a news release, the program’s primary goal is to help first-generation, low-income, and disabled students to earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. The TRIO Program at KC is in its 14th year and has helped 1,329 students, according to the release. The program, first introduced in 1968 under the Higher Education Act, was named TRIO because it consisted of three programs: Upward Bound, Talent Search, and Student Support Services. It now consists of seven.
TYLER – A 38-year-old former Hopkins County schoolteacher has been indicted in Tyler federal court on child exploitation charges. According to federal authorities, former Sulphur Springs resident Lucas R. Hill has been named in a three-count indictment returned July 15. Charges include producing child pornography, enticing and coercing a minor, and transferring obscene matter to a child younger than 16. The indictment was unsealed Tuesday, and Hill is scheduled to make his initial court appearance Wednesday. Read the rest of this entry »
CANTON — A missing East Texas teenager was found safe Monday night in Canton, according to the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office. KETK reports Cheyenne Cantrell, 15, was located around 9:30 p.m. at the local Walmart and reunited with her family. She had been missing since 3 a.m. on July 11. Authorities are still investigating where she was during the week she was missing.
MOUNT PLEASANT — The Department of Public Safety is seeking information on a fatal hit and run accident. It happened just before 4:30 Monday morning on Interstate Highway 30 at mile marker 173 near the Titus/Morris County line. A 13 year old boy was riding his bicycle east bound when he was struck and killed. It’s believed the vehicle that hit the boy will have damage to the hood, windshield and right front quarter panel or any similar combination. Investigators are asking area collision repair facilities to contact them if a vehicle with such damage comes in for repair. Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call 903-572-3616.
RUSK — Authorities say an East Texas fugitive wanted for indecency with a child has been caught after a couple of days on the run. According to KETK, the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office says Martin J. Francis, 19, entered a guilty plea on three counts of indecency with a child by contact on June 15 — but never showed up for the punishment phase of the trial. The DA’s Office said the jury had already assessed a two-year prison sentence for Francis. Authorities say they were able to track down Francis Friday night at a Palestine hotel. He’s currently in the Anderson County Jail.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP/Staff) – The NFL and the NFL Players Association have been ordered into settlement negotiations on the case filed in federal court by the union over Adrian Peterson’s suspension. U.S. Magistrate Judge Janie Mayeron issued her order Monday. She set a settlement conference for Aug. 13, a half-hour following a previously scheduled hearing on the case in front of U.S. District Judge David Doty. The NFLPA filed a petition last November, seeking a rejection of NFL arbitrator Harold Henderson’s decision to deny Peterson’s appeal of his suspension. The former Palestine star was punished by the league for the child abuse charge he faced in Texas regarding his young son. Doty sided with the union in February, and the league appealed.
NASHVILLE (ABC/Staff) — Another celebrity couple calls it a day — and this time it involves an East Texan. Blake Shelton and Lindale’s own Miranda Lambert, arguably country music’s most popular and adorable couple, are getting divorced. In a joint statement Shelton and Lambert say, “This is not the future we envisioned. And it is with heavy hearts that we move forward separately.” They end the statement by asking for privacy and compassion. Lambert and Shelton married in May of 2011. They have no children.
TYLER — Officials are investigating recent gunshot incidents for possible links to the controversy surrounding several Whitehouse city officials. KETK reports shots were fired during the nighttime hours at the law office of the attorney representing Whitehouse Police Chief Craig Shelton, who is at the center of the case. The other targets were Shelton’s home and the front gate of Larry Cagle’s property. Cagle is an IT specialist contracted by the City of Whitehouse. He was in the car with Shelton and City Manager Kevin Huckabee the night of the May incident that led to the controversy. Read the rest of this entry »
ANGELINA COUNTY — One person was killed and two are injured following a Sunday morning wreck. It happened around 6:20 on Highway 69 in Angelina County. According to KETK, an SUV, driven by Daniel Lee Martin, 29, Lufkin, crossed the highway, struck a culvert causing the vehicle to overturn, and struck several trees. The two passengers in the SUV were identified as Michael Robert Mariana, 27, and James-Lee Marina, 22, both of Lufkin. Michael was taken to a Tyler hospital by helicopter. James was pronounced dead at the scene. DPS reports James was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Daniel was taken to a Lufkin-area hospital. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — In separate cases, two men have been booked into the Gregg County Jail for a third or more driving while intoxicated offense. One of those was John Allen Mumphrey, 64, of Longview. The Longview News Journal reports Mumphrey was arrested shortly before 11:30 Friday morning by Gregg County sheriff’s deputies in the 188th District Court. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of July 20, 2015. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.
Motorist traveling through the Loop 323 West Widening project in Tyler can expect delays Sunday afternoon, July 19, when the northbound outside lane closes in preparation for night operations to remove the final section of the old railroad bridge. Night work starts Sunday and will continue for the two or three days required for removal of the structure. Expect varying lane closures between 7:00pm and 6:00am. Motorists are advised to take alternate routes to avoid delays. This is an active work zone so use caution. More information on this project is available in the Smith County construction updates portion of this release. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — Jury Selection starts Today in the trial of a Winona man accused in a 2013 Longview murder. Alejandro Garcia, 23, is charged with the murder of Andres Chavez, 19. The Longview man’s body was found December 23rd, 2013, lying outside a car in the 1100 block of Sabine Street. The autopsy report indicated he died from blunt trauma to the head and sharp force injuries to the neck. Investigators said Chavez may have been lured to his death by a catfish. A catfish is a person who creates a false online identity to pursue an online romance. Garcia had allegedly set up a fake Facebook account. Authorities say he posed as a woman named Monica Ayalin and had several conversations with the victim. According to Facebook posts, Ayalin and Chavez were in a relationship and he believed he was meeting “her” for a date.
AUSTIN (AP) — Four additional counties have been added to the federal disaster declaration for Texans damaged by deadly severe weather that began in early May. The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday announced that Hood, Madison, Shelby and Wharton counties were added as part of the declaration. There are now residents in 46 counties who can apply for federal disaster assistance. The counties were the ones hardest hit by severe storms, tornadoes, damaging winds and flooding from May 4 to June 19. The disaster assistance for homeowners and renters include aid for rent, temporary housing, home and business repairs, and other disaster-related needs.
LONGVIEW — A Longview man wanted in Smith County has been arrested. Lawson Wayne Weatherby, 35, is charged with theft of property valued less than $20,000 but more than $1,500. He was arrested very early Saturday morning by Longview Police in the 400 block of Meadowview Road. He remains in the Gregg County Jail on a bond of $60,000.
LONGVIEW — An Overton man remains in the Gregg County Jail without bond following his arrest for DWI. Accused of a third or more driving while intoxicated offense is John Allen Mumphrey, 64. The Longview News Journal reports Mumphrey was arrested shortly before 11:30 Friday morning by Gregg County sheriff’s deputies in the 188th District Court.
TYLER — The countdown to the 2015 Texas Rose Festival is officially underway following Friday evening’s kickoff celebration at Tyler’s Willow Brook Country Club. Rose Queen Madeline Wynne says family tradition and the event’s economic impact make it special for her. Madeline told KTBB she’s just the latest in a long line of family members to take part in the festival and that she’s excited to be doing her part. She also pointed out that Tyler’s roses and the festival brought in about $2.3 million to the local economy in 2014. And Madeline took time to thank the festival’s numerous volunteers for their “amazing work” each year. The Rose Festival runs October 15-18. Go to http://www.texasrosefestival.com for all the details on his year’s event.
TYLER — Contractors continue efforts to repair damaged roadways and remove debris caused by the unrelenting storms that occurred during the spring. While several roadways have opened to traffic, numerous others are closed or down to one travel lane as repairs are made.
The emergency contract implemented following a May tornado is progressing with the contractor finishing up in Rusk County by early next week and moving to Cherokee County. Drewery Construction of Nacogdoches is in the middle of removing about 45,000 cubic yards of tree debris from state highway rights-of-way, city streets and other areas of the counties impacted by the tornado. The contract is a coordinated effort with the City of Henderson and the counties, and is being overseen by a state monitor and a TxDOT inspector. It is expected to wrap up by the end of the month. Drewery spent the month of June removing debris from another tornado that struck Van and Van Zandt County in May. Meanwhile, the Tyler District continues to monitor numerous emergency road repair contracts necessitated by the stormy spring weather conditions. Read the rest of this entry »
GRAPELAND — A Tyler man is being charged in Houston County sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by sexual contact. Edward Dwaine Justice, 35, was already in jail on drug charges when Grapeland Police filed the new charges on him. Justice is accused of performing sexual acts with an underage girl and molesting a young boy. Records show Justice has been booked into the Smith County Jail on numerous charges since 2002. Among those where two aggravated assault charges in 2009.
KILGORE — Thirty Six young women have become the newest members of the world-famous Kilgore College Rangerettes dance and drill team. The announcement was made yesterday morning in a closed ceremony in Dodson Auditorium on the Kilgore campus. It culminated a week-long process of 96 hopefuls vying for a coveted position on the 76th Rangerette line. The new Rangerettes will join 36 sophomores to make a line of 72. Known for their high kicks and the jump splits, the organization has traveled around the world, entertained millions and spurred a multi-billion-dollar dance/drill team industry worldwide. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is advising motorists traveling through portions of its Atlanta and Tyler districts to be prepared to change their travel routes when a “super load” being transported from the Port of Shreveport to a Longview chemical plant enters Texas on Sunday afternoon. The transport, which left the port this morning, will slow traffic significantly on its route. The load, measuring 275 feet long by 25 feet high and 18 feet wide, is expected to reach U.S. Highway 79 in Panola County at about 1:00pm Sunday, traveling at a maximum of 5 mph. It will travel through Rusk and Gregg counties eventually reaching its destination at 11:00am on Sunday, July 26. Read the rest of this entry »
WHITEHOUSE — Two Whitehouse police officers under investigation were reinstated and a third fired on Friday and Police Chief Craig Shelton placed on unpaid administrative leave. City attorney Keith Mayo tells KETK Shelton with be allowed 30 days of unpaid leave, beginning Monday. This follows the Whitehouse City Council’s review of a third party investigation into a May 14 incident involving five city employees, including the police chief. Read the rest of this entry »
WHITEHOUSE — Two Whitehouse police officers under investigation were reinstated and a third fired on Friday. According to KETK, Fire Chief and Acting Public Information Officer Madison Johnson says Officer Shawn Johnson was offered the option Thursday to resign or be terminated. The officer had until 9 a.m. to respond, but neither he nor his attorney contacted the city with a decision. He was terminated Friday afternoon. The fire chief also says two officers were brought back to the force, Captain Curtis Dinger and Detective Scott Bradley. Read the rest of this entry »
NACOGDOCHES — Law enforcement officials have released the names of two people who died in a Thursday murder-suicide in Nacogdoches County. According to KETK, Sheriff Jason Bridges says Ira Burgay, 81, shot and killed Dawn Lang, 72, then turned the gun on himself. The two had lived together since 2000. Authorities believe the crime was spontaneous. It’s not yet known what led to the shooting. Shortly after 4 p.m., a 911 caller reported receiving a text from a man on FM 138 near Garrison, who claimed he had killed his wife, according to Bridges. Responding deputies found two people dead when they entered the home’s living room. Justice of the Peace Dorothy Thompson sent the bodies for autopsy. The deaths remain under investigation.
JACKSONVILLE — A State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will open Monday, July 20, at 12 noon in Cherokee County. KETK reports the center is for homeowners, renters, and business owners who sustained damage as a result of the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding from May 4 to June 19. Specialists from the State of Texas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), nongovernmental organizations and the local community will be on hand. Officials say the specialists will answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors. Services are provided in English and Spanish. Read the rest of this entry »
QUITMAN — A Quitman mother accused of murdering her two children was indicted on two counts of injury to a child on Thursday. KETK reports the new charges have an offense date listed as January 1, 2013. It’s not known what the incident involved. Daphne Elizabeth McDaniels is already facing two counts of capital murder. Those charges were leveled after Quitman police responded last July to reports of two young children who were not breathing and would not wake up. When authorities arrived, they found two girls, Gabriella Guerrero, 3, and Natalye Price, 1. It was determined the children died from blunt force trauma. The bond set on the injury to a child is $50,000 for each charge.
SMITH COUNTY — Officials have identified the victims of a Friday morning Smith County crash. According to KETK, the deceased was Brodi Marsh, 20, of Lindale, and the injured victim is Jennifer Hurd, 36, of Tyler. According to the preliminary DPS report, Hurd was traveling west along FM 2767 and tried to turn left onto FM 850. Hurd turned in front of a City of Tyler solid waste truck and was hit. Hurd was taken to a local hospital, but Marsh died at the scene. The driver of the city truck was not immediately identified.
TYLER — The Tyler Police Department is assisting the Texas Department of Public Safety after a wreck that left one person dead. According to KETK, it happened in the 3500 block of Farm to Market Road 2767. Officials said a City of Tyler solid waste truck collided with a car. Details are limited at this time.