Today is
Saturday June 06, 2026
TYLER – Funeral services will be held Saturday morning at 10:00 at Green Acres Baptist Church for East Texas philanthropist Louise Herrington Ornelas. She died Tuesday evening at her home, surrounded by family. She was 93. Over the years she, and her husband Joseph, donated to many schools, hospitals and charities. During that time she received many honors. In 2001, the couple received the T.B. Butler Award as Tyler’s most outstanding citizens. In 1996, she received the National Horatio Alger award. The organization says the award is given to outstanding Americans who exemplify dedication, purpose, and perseverance in their personal and professional lives.
LONGVIEW – A Longview theater is closer to a zoning change. The city’s Planning and Zoning Board has approved, and sent to the city council, a zone change for Carmike Cinema. The change would allow for the sale of alcohol at the theater. This would come along with with an over $4 million remodeling project. The remodeling would reduce seating in the theater by half. The measure now goes to the city council, with a vote scheduled next month.
TYLER – A problem with an over 200 foot crane caused it to fall at the Robert E Lee High School construction site. It happened around 10:45 Wednesday morning. No injuries were reported. It is not known at this time if the accident will affect the construction schedule. The work is being done in connection with the nearly total rebuild of the high school, which was approved of by voters in a 2017 bond package.
ATHENS – A reward is being offered in a double murder south of Chandler last week. Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said the county Crime Stoppers organization is offering up to $10,000 in the case. It is the shooting death of Gabriel McBride, 46, and his daughter, Beverly McBride, 17. Their bodies were found in a home on Woodridge West. She was dead at the scene and her dad later died in a Tyler Hospital. Hillhouse said his office is being assisted in the case by the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office and the Texas Rangers. The sheriff said, anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-545-TIPS or his office at 903-675-5128.
KILGORE – GoBus riders in East Texas will be have a lower fare after the first of the year. The executive committee of the East Texas Council of Governments approved the decrease. The cost of a one-way trip is dropping from $4 to $2 for all paying customers. It goes into effect January 2nd. GoBus is a rural transportation service providing 7,000 trips a month. It partners with the Area Agency on Aging of East Texas to sponsor trips for seniors to to medical appointments or senior nutrition centers. It recently announced free trips for all active military members or veterans. GoBus serves clients in ETCOG’s 14-county region, including Smith, Gregg and Harrison counties.
TYLER – Smith County’s fire marshal has been reappointed for another two year term. Smith County commissioner’s on Tuesday reappointed Connie McCoy-Wasson to the post. County Judge Nathaniel Moran told her that she has done a fantastic job responding to the county’s emergencies. The commissioners court voted unanimously to approve the two-year appointment, which will run from December 20, 2018, through December 20, 2020. When first appointed to the post in 2015, she became the first female to serve as Smith County Fire Marshal. McCoy-Wasson has more than 20 years of experience as a deputy fire marshal for Smith County and had served as interim fire marshal prior to her original promotion. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – A law enforcement task force says it has evidence linking a suspect in a weekend shooting with 4 area homicides. Kristian Perdomo, 25, of Tyler, was arrested following the wounding of Bradley Brockman, 45. He remains in critical condition in a Tyler hospital following the Sunday afternoon shooting at the Westwood Shopping Center. They have now received forensic confirmation from the Department of Public Safety Crime Lab that links the gun used in that shooting to four recent shootings in the area. Four men died in those shootings. The investigation into the shootings continues and Perdomo, who is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, is now facing additional charges. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON – A woman has died from a Rusk County accident earlier this month. Teresa Louise Clark, 64, of Henderson, died in a Tyler hospital from injuries received in the December 6th accident. The late afternoon accident occurred on State Highway 64, four miles west of Henderson. The Department of Public Safety reports the victim’s SUV was hit by a mini van which had crossed the center stripe of the highway. It was driven by Christopher E. Huss, 55, of Ben Wheeler. He was seriously injured in the wreck, which the DPS says, remains under investigation.
TYLER – A man connected to a Whitehouse murder was sentenced Tuesday. Colton Wade Tate, 22, of Tyler, pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence. He was sentenced by state district judge Christy Kennedy to 10 years deferred adjudication. Tate and Nathan Ryan Garcia, 21, of Whitehouse, were arrested last November. They were charged in the death of Andrew Carpenter, 19, of Tyler. He was shot at a home on Deerwood Drive. Garcia is scheduled to be in court Thursday for a plea hearing and sentencing on a charge of tampering with evidence.
TYLER – Time is running out to help some Smith County residents who are struggling. There is less than a week to donate to the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Drive. They have raised only 68% of this year’s kettle goal of $400,000. They are down from their total at this time last year and their goal is $25,000 higher than last year. The money helps them provide critical programs, such as their community kitchen and the emergency and family shelters. Currently there is an average of 160 men, women and children living in the Center of Hope’s 200 bed shelter. You can help by donating anytime you see one of The Salvation Army’s red kettles. There are at 37 locations around Smith County.
TYLER – A man arrested in a Sunday shooting in Tyler may be connected to four other shooting since December 7th. Kristian Perdomo, 25, of Tyler was charged with aggravated assault in the shooting. It occurred shortly before 4:15 in the Westwood Shopping Center. Witness information led officers to Perdomo. When asked during a Monday news conference about his link to the other shootings, all homicides, Police Chief Jimmy Toler said…they are closely looking at him in the four other shootings. And he said, depending upon what the forensic analysts shows, “we would anticipate additional charges at that time.” The man wounded Sunday, Bradley Brockman, 45, remains in critical condition in a Tyler hospital. Perdomo remains in the Smith County Jail, charged with aggravated assault. His bond is $1 million. Perdomo’s arrest Sunday marks his 7th arrest in Smith County since 2010. Previous cases include robbery, aggravated assault and engaging in organized criminal activity.
KILGORE – A Kilgore mother has received a written shout out from the Kilgore Police Department. On their Facebook page, the police tell about a mother who caught her child stealing and wanted an officer to talk to the youngster. The child was taken back to the store where they apologized and the mother paid for the item. The boy was placed on community service with the mom. They added, “Its tough being a parent, but raise them up knowing about consequences and holding them accountable, and chances are they will never visit the Bulldog B&B,” also known as the city jail.
TYLER – TxDOT is planning to conduct the following construction and maintenance work throughout the district during the week of December 17. 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.
Motorists traveling I-20 westbound can expect a slow-down near Toll 49 Monday through Wednesday as full depth concrete repair operations are conducted as part of the I-20 Total Maintenance Contract. The contractor will be conducting work in the westbound outside lane a quarter mile east of Toll 49. The outside lane will be closed until the repairs are complete. The work includes removal of the existing asphalt and concrete paving, repairing the subgrade and existing drainage, and placing the new concrete pavement and asphalt surface. Alternate routes are encouraged to avoid delays. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON – An ongoing human trafficking investigation in Rusk County has resulted in two arrests. The arrests occurred as officers executed a search warrant at a residence on Highway 64 in Henderson. Taken into custody was Kendrick Davis, 28, of Henderson. He has been charged with three counts of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of human trafficking as well as aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a firearm. His bonds total $2.6 million. Also charged with two counts of human trafficking was Charles Starling Jr., 43, of Henderson. His bond is $2 million. And we are told more arrests are expected in the case. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – A runway project at the Tyler airport has been completed. Tyler’s Pounds Regional Airport has fully opened Runway 4-22. The new extended length of the runway is 8,330 feet. Construction to rehabilitate, widen and lengthen the runway began four years ago. The runway pavement section includes 14 inches of concrete placed over 12 inches of a heavy base section. The runway is now capable of carrying much heavier loads and provides extended length for landing and takeoffs. In total, the budgeted cost for the project was about $48 million, with 90% of the cost covered through Federal Aviation Administration grants. The airport is currently working with the FAA to receive funding to rebuild the taxiway going towards the runaway. A ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate project completion is scheduled next month.