Today is
Thursday July 23, 2026
TYLER – Four Tyler Junior College students have earned places in the Texas Two-Year College All-State Choir. They are:
• Janeen Baldwin, music major from Tyler
• Hunter Dickens, music major from Bullard
• Erin Maharrey, music major from Forney
• Taylor White, music major from Paris
The four will perform at the Texas Music Educators Association’s (TMEA) annual convention in San Antonio in February.
EAST MOUNTAIN – An Upshur County woman is in Jail in Gregg County following a weekend brawl at a trailer park. Lovella Lea Stewart, 39, of Diana, has been charged with assault causing bodily injury. Her arrest followed a fight between several individuals. The Longview New Journal reports the fight occurred around 2:00 Sunday afternoon at the Quiet Acres RV Park on Coulter Lane.
TYLER – A Henderson County man is heading to prison for his part in a fatal Smith County accident. Sean Eammon Waite, 34, of Murchison, pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced Monday to 28 years in prison. In mid June, Waite was being chased by Tyler police and sheriff’s deputies. The chase ended when his motorcycle crashed at the intersection of Highway 31 West and Farm Road 2661. Waite was arrested after a short foot chase. His passenger, Alicia Ann Adams, 28, was dead at the scene.
MARSHALL – The Marshall Police Department has available a safe area for the exchange of internet purchases. They have two parking spaces that are dedicated for internet purchase exchange. They are located in the public parking lot at the police department on East End Boulevard North. While officers will not be assigned to monitor the transactions, the parking spaces are located in a well-lit area with 24-hour recorded surveillance. Any reluctance by either party to meet there should be taken as a warning sign about the legitimacy of the sale. And they add, a buyer or seller that will communicate only by email, will not provide a telephone number, or attempts to make a last minute change in the venue should make you reconsider following through with the purchase.
WINONA – A man who fled authorities in Smith County has been arrested. The man fled a state trooper on Highway 155 in Winona just after midnight Friday morning. The officer had stopped the vehicle, which was suspected of being stolen. After a drone pilot found the suspect in a wooded area, he was arrested a short time later with the help of the drone, which was equipped with an infrared camera. Arrested was Justin Alan Meador, 27, of Tyler. He is now in the Smith County Jail on charges of criminal mischief, theft, evading arrest, possession of marijuana and two counts of possession of a controlled substance in a detention facility. His bonds total $32,500. You can go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6IkI5d58g8&feature=youtu.be to see the drone footage of the pursuit.
PAYNE SPRINGS – Three persons have been rescued after their boat capsized in Cedar Creek Reservoir. According to the Payne Springs Fire Rescue Facebook page, the call came in just before 11:00 Thursday night. One of the persons in the water was able to call 911 but they were not able to exactly tell their location. The boat was later found in the vicinity of Tom Finley Park. The three persons in the water were suffering from hypothermia and were treated by EMS on scene and transported to a hospital emergency room.
TYLER – You can tell the holiday season is here. The Center for Earth & Space Science Education at Tyler Junior College has announced its holiday shows. Dome shows with a holiday theme will be presented Tuesdays-Saturdays through December 29. The shows include the “Mystery of the Christmas Star” and “Season of Light,” which recounts the historical religious and cultural rituals practiced during the time of winter solstice. Then there is a program that features a mix of everyone’s favorite holiday music set to fantastic laser artwork.
And one show is called, “Let it Snow.” The 30-minute show features a variety of high-resolution scenery and artistic animation, enhanced with real-time and lighting effects for added variety and drama. All of the shows are in center’s 40’ Spitz nano-seam domed theatre, the first in East Texas.
You can go to http://sciencecenter.tjc.edu for more information.
MARSHALL – The 32nd Annual celebration of Marshall’s Wonderland of Lights Festival is officially underway. The switch has been thrown that lights up downtown Marshall for over 5 weeks. There is an outdoor skating rink, a trolly ride and the restored vintage 1948 Herschel carousel. You can even visit Santa’s Village, a collection of tiny homes each featuring a fun, free activity; build a train, decorate a cookie, and visit with the big guy himself.
Other activities during the festival include a Wassail Walk on Small Business Saturday, Lighted Christmas Parade, Tigers On Ice, Outdoor Christmas Market, Jingle Bell Run, Wonderland of Sites, and the new StoryFest. You can go to http://www.marshalltexas.net/public/warrants/wonderland-of-lights and get more information.
KILGORE – Renovations and upgrades are underway at the East Texas Oil Museum in Kilgore. And while the work is underway, the oil museum will be closed. While the museum is closed, several of the museum’s exhibits will be upgraded and the museum will receive an overall facelift. When the work is completed, and the museum is reopened in January, visitors will see a fresh, new look. The East Texas Oil Museum is located at the corner of U.S. Highway 259 and Ross Avenue, on the campus of Kilgore College.
TYLER – Black Friday ushers in the Christmas shopping season. While being a busy time for shoppers, it is also a busy time for thieves. Thieves take the joy out of the season by stealing your gifts, purses wallets, packages or other valuables you leave in plain sight inside your vehicle. Tyler police have some basic safety tips for shoppers to prevent crimes or crashes from occurring during the holiday season. Such things as Hide your belongings and gifts from eyesight and lock them in your trunk. Don’t take your eyes off your purse or leave it unattended. And, Monitor your personal checking account on-line for fraud. Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE – Two Palestine men have been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after being accused of entering an apartment and threatening to kill the resident. The apartment is located on Memory Lane. The resident said the men were armed with a handgun and an AR-15 style handgun. The suspects were found in a nearby apartment and were arrested. Officers recovered, in the suspects’ apartment, a black semi-automatic handgun and the AR-15 style handgun. Arrested were Ricky Duncan Jr., 30, and Micah Coleman, 23. Both are now in the Anderson County Jail. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – Funeral services are pending for former State District Judge Alvin Khoury of Longview. He died Wednesday morning at Christus Good Shephard Medical Center in Longview after a brief sudden illness. After 28 years on the bench, here retired from the court in 2008. Before that, he had spent 8 years in the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office. His wife and soon wrote of his death in a Facebook posting.
HOUSTON – The Tyler Junior College Apache Belles will be kicking off the holiday season at the 69th Annual H-E-B Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Belles are feature performers in the parade and will perform their high-kick routine at the “performance stop†in front of the grand stands. The marks the 19th year for the Apache Belles to perform in the parade. The parade will be televised live beginning 9:00am Thursday on KHOU in Houston. Live streaming will be available on KHOU.com and the KHOU Facebook page.
KILGORE – The East Texas Council of Governments has announced a new change in GoBus fares for active members of the military and veterans. Tthey can now ride for free. Whether a veteran or military client is riding GoBus to healthcare appointments or to run errands, a trip that previously would cost $4.00 each way is now complimentary. To take part in this offer, riders will need to notify the dispatch office of their service as they are setting up an appointment and show their driver a form of service identification for their first trip. GoBus is a rural transportation service providing 7,000 trips a month to the 14-county region in East Texas. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Smith County Fire Marshal Connie McCoy-Wasson has received the J B Smith Award for Service. The award from the Greater Tyler Association of Realtors, was presented at the 24th Annual First Responders Appreciation Dinner at the Rose Garden. not only was she shocked to receive the award, she was also shocked when it was presented to her by her brother, Tyler Police Officer Wayne Thomas. The award winner is nominated each year by fellow first responders in the Greater Tyler Association of Realtors’ jurisdiction. This includes Smith, Wood, Cherokee and Franklin counties. The recipient must have a minimum of 20 years of experience with exceptional performance throughout their career. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – A truck driver is accused of shooting at a motorist on Interstate Highway 20. The motorist in a SUV had pulled along side the truck. The driver wanted to tell the driver he had a flat that caused the wheel to spark. When the trucker point a gun at him, the driver heard a gunshot as he sped away. A bullet hole was later found in the right rear bumper of the SUV. The truck was located at a restaurant at I-20 and U.S. Highway 271. The trucker, Brian Michael Busby, 29, from Oakgrove, Louisiana, is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He is in the Smith County Jail under a $75,000 bond.
REEVES COUNTY – A Troup man has died in a west Texas traffic accident. Pronounced dead at the scene was Boyd Andrews, 62. The accident on U.S. Highway 285 occurred just before 1:45 Tuesday morning. The Department of Public Safety says Andrews’ car crossed over the center stripe and hit a tractor-trailer rig. Andrews was not wearing a seat belt. The truck’s driver was not seriously injured.
TYLER – It is time for a Thanksgiving tradition in Tyler. A big meal served by the Salvation Army. They are planning on feeding up to 1,500 persons between 11:30 and 1:00 on Thanksgiving day. The feast is a community event and is open to anyone in need of a meal. The menu includes Greenberg Smoked Turkeys, dressing, fruit salad, green bean casseroles, candied yams and pie. Over 200 volunteers have signed up to help with the Thanksgiving festivities this year. Some started arriving Wednesday to start cooking for the meal. And, along with the food, will be musical entertainment provided by the 5-piece East Texas musical group, the Hubbard Family.
TYLER – Tyler’s Christmas tree has arrived. It is a 22 foot Leyland Cypress. It was donated by the Scott Lyles family with Bright Star Farms in Alba. The tree will be decorated on the city square in anticipation of the Christmas Parade and the 33nd annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony to be held on Thursday, November 29
TYLER – For five days, starting January 21st, the Transportation Security Administration mobile preenrollment center will be in the terminal of Pounds Regional Airport. Travelers will be able to schedule their in-person appointment for that week to complete the background check and fingerprinting at the enrollment center beginning December 5. Before applying, be sure to go to the TSA website at https://www.tsa.gov/precheck for full enrollment details. The membership allows travelers to speed through security. If preenrolled, you don’t have to remove your shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 baggies of liquids, belts or light jackets in designated lanes. In October, prescreened passengers waited less than 5 minutes. Signs will steer you to the lobby area where the enrollment center is located.
TYLER – There has been two late night aggravated robberies of restaurants in Tyler in the past week. The Kilgore police department has posted tips for area businesses. The suspects hide outside a business at closing time, usually in bushes, and then rob the employees as they leave. Kilgore police recommend lighting and cameras around businesses. They also say, never leave the back door of a restaurant open or unlocked. Also, change up your closing routine often, and walk out with multiple staff members if possible. And, if you notice suspicious activity, call the police to come check it out.
LONGVIEW – A Wood County man is being held in the Gregg County Jail because of a variety of child sex crimes. Daniel Wayne McCormick, 42, of Quitman, is in jail on bonds totaling $255,000. He is also being held on a a U.S. Marshals Service detainer. The Longview News Journal reports a federal indictment against McCormick lists 10 dates, from June through August of this year, where he is accused of recording a child engaging in sexual acts with himself. The charges are indecency with a child/sexual contact, invasive visual recording, possession/promotion of child pornography and sexual assault of a child.
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott has named two men to the Correctional Managed Health Care Committee. One of the men, Dr. Rodney Burrow of Pittsburg, was named the chairman of the committee. His term is set to expire on February 1, 2021. is the Director of Medical Affairs and the Associate Director of Primary Care for Titus Regional Medical Center in Mt. Pleasant. He is also a practicing Board Certified Family Physician at the Family Care Center in Mount Pleasant and a registered pharmacist.
TYLER — Thanksgiving travelers using Tyler’s Pounds Regional Airport this week will be greeted by Therapet human-animal teams. The dogs were at the airport on Monday to greet arriving and departing travelers to help them beat holiday stress. They will be back on Wednesday from 9:30am till 1:30pm. Research has found that people’s blood pressure and heart rate go down, their positive hormones increase and it helps people relax when they love on a dog for a little while. A total of seven dogs are taking part in the project at the Tyler airport.
TYLER – Tyler Police are looking for the man who tried to steal TVs from the Walmart on Troup Highway. It happened shortly before 1:15 Saturday morning. He is said to have placed 3 TVs in a cart and tried to leave without paying for them. Employees tried to detain him, but he broke free and ran, without the TVs, to a dark colored pickup. The truck is believed to be an extended cab Chevrolet. The suspect and the driver left before police arrived. If you know who this suspect is please contact Detective James Holt at 903-531-1028 or call Tyler Crimestoppers at 903-597-2833.
ATHENS – Athens police continue their investigation into a shooting that left one person dead. April Nicole Taylor, 30, died after being taken to the hospital. The shooting was reported around 8:30 Sunday night at a Third Street residence.
LONGVIEW – A fatal Longview accident remains under investigation. Killed in the early Friday night accident was Benandre Wilson, 28, of Longview. His motorcycle accident was one of five vehicles involved in the accident around 6:30 Friday evening at the intersection of Gilmer Road and Heritage Boulevard. Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene. No injuries were reported.
TYLER – A new public safety and bachelor program is in the works at Tyler Junior College. School trustees have approved a Bachelor of Applied Technology degree at the school. This would be the third bachelor degree at TJC. School officials say they have been working in close partnership with city, county and state leaders to produce high quality public safety programs. TJC has in place other first responder programs including its Fire Science Academy as well as Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic. TJC’s first baccalaureate degree program, a Bachelor of Science in dental hygiene, began two years ago. Its second, a Bachelor of Applied Technology in healthcare technology and medical systems, will start next January.
NACOGDOCHES – What is being called large disturbances at a Nacogdoches club has left one person dead. A news release identified the victim as Lyric Polley, 21, of Nacogdoches. It appears as if Polley died from a gunshot wound to the head. The investigation into the incident is continuing.
TYLER – TxDOT is planning to conduct the following construction and maintenance work throughout the district during the weeks of November 19 and 26. Schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones.
Tyler Maintenance crews plan to conduct ditch maintenance on roadways around the county Thanksgiving week. The week of November 26, base repair operations resume on FM 2015 as well as on FM 2908. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control at both locations. Read the rest of this entry »