Today is
Sunday July 26, 2026
TYLER – The sale of the old Carlton Hotel by Smith County has been finalized. The 90,000-square-foot facility remained vacant for years. Tai Ly purchased the building for $537,500. Burns Commercial Properties LLC was the broker for Smith County on the sale. Closing documents for the sale were signed on Friday. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL – The Marshall Police Department is investigating a woman posing as a nurse. The Texas Board of Nursing notified the District Attorney’s Office about Stephanie Garcia. She is also known as Stephanie Halcomb. The action stems from an investigation that was prompted by a patient’s complaint at Davita Dialysis. The state board said Garcia went to work at the Marshall clinic in 2016, using information of a nurse with the same name and submitting an application with false information. According to a report in the Longview News Journal, Garcia no longer works at the facility.
IRVING – Susan Bufford Maleskey, 58, of Jacksonville was found shot to death Thursday night. A family member returned home to find the woman dead. A news release from the police department said “the motive for the shooting is unconfirmed, however, detectives do not believe it to be a random act.” They say they are following up on leads and have identified a suspect.
PALESTINE – Friday morning, the Palestine Police Department raided three gaming rooms. Over the course of several months, undercover investigators visited the rooms, collecting evidence that led to Friday’s raid. Several agencies assisted in the investigation. Chief Andy Harvey said the raids, dubbed “operation Game Over,” resulted in the seizure of 125 gaming machines, computers and standalone games, and $96,224. The warrants were served at Blow Vapor Zone and Dee’s Business Center, both on West Palestine Avenue and; and J&R Lounge on McNeil Street. The investigation is continuing and officials say charges could be filed in the case. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – A Tyler teen is going to prison for sexually assaulting a child. Justin Ray Dunford, 18, pleaded guilty Friday in 7th State District Court. Judge Kerry Russell sentenced Dunford to 25 years in prison. Last May, he is said to have assaulted a girl, under the age of 14, at a home south of the Chapel Hill area. Dunford had been living with the family but was not related to them. The girl had complained of soreness and went to the doctor where she told about the sexual assault. After an investigation, which included interviewing the girl at the Child Advocacy Center, Dunford was arrested.
SMITH COUNTY – A Smith County man claims a commercial scent spray to attract deer worked two well. The man tells a game warden he had to shoot two undersized bucks in self-defense. Their heads were found on top of a shed hidden in the woods. The man told a game warden he put the deer heads on the shed with the intention of turning himself in, but never got around to it. Multiple charges are pending. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – An East Texas man is facing sexual assault charges. Christopher Scott Sanders, 31, of Brownsboro was arrested in Tyler on Wednesday. He was booked into the Smith County Jail on charges of sexual assault of a child and possession of child pornography. His bonds total $200,000. His arrest stems from material in his car which a state trooper discovered during a traffic stop in Brownsboro late last month. Read the rest of this entry »
NACOGDOCHES – A Nacogdoches County homicide victim has been identified. The man’s body was found early Monday evening at Gravel Ridge Cemetery on Farm Road 225. With the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety, using facial imaging technology, the victim has been identified as Thomas Vaiden Sluterbeck, 43, of Nacogdoches. Sheriff Jason Bridges says there is evidence that the man was murdered. But, since the investigation is ongoing, only limited information can be released at this time. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – It is a first for the Texas Rose Festival. A Tyler Junior College student has been named queen of the festival. The 85th Texas Rose Queen is Amanda Elaine Hiles of Tyler, a freshman at TJC. The announcement was made Thursday night at a gala event and a news conference. But, according to a news release from TJC, her identity as queen had actually been a closely guarded secret kept under wraps since early November. On the morning of Thursday, Nov. 2, Texas Rose Festival President Brad Curtis and a small entourage of rose festival officials, members of the Hiles family and a huge bouquet of roses, made a surprise visit to the TJC main campus to drop in on an Apache Belles rehearsal. It was then when Curtis asked Amanda, “Would you be my queen?†He got a quick, “yes.†Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – An optimistic evaluation of the 2018 economy, from East Texas to across the nation, has been painted by noted economist Ray Perryman. The appraisal came in Tyler luncheon Thursday at his annual speech on the economic outlook. It was the largest crowd ever to attend the luncheon. They had to bring in extra tables and chairs. Perryman sees a 4.5% increase in gross domestic product in the Tyler area. That is compared to a 4% percent increase in Texas, and a 2.9% percent increase in the nation. Perryman said the Texas economy is generally doing better than the national economy. He said the Texas economy grew faster because of the rebound in the oil and gas industry. Perryman added, the state’s economy depends on undocumented immigrants, and that poverty in the Hispanic community is a major social issue Texas will need to address.
TYLER – A man, who was one of three men accused of firing at Smith County deputies during a chase last year, has been found guilty of aggravated assault of a public servant. A Tyler jury on Thursday convicted Ricardo Martinez Pineda, 37, of Tyler. The jurors in the 241st State District Court will now consider punishment. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The Tyler district office of the Texas Department of Transportation will begin emergency preparedness operations on Friday in advance of wintry conditions that could show up in the area Monday night. Pre-treatment of elevated structures will be conducted throughout the day and completed Saturday. Crews will treat the bridges on the heavily traveled Interstate Highway 20 and elevated structures on other major roadways around the Tyler District. A brine solution consisting of salt and water designed to prevent ice and snow from sticking to surfaces will be used. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Tyler Junior College opened its Spring 2018 semester with convocation ceremonies this week in Wise Auditorium. Activities were kicked off with a performance by the Chapel Hill High School Jazz Band. TJC President Dr. Mike Metke pointed out that 15 of the 18 members of the high school group were connected to TJC through dual credit classes, Early College High School or the TJC Promise scholarship program. Classes at TJC resume next Tuesday.
TYLER – Brookshire Grocery Co. officials have presented a check to the American Red Cross’s Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts. The donation is $125,000. The company, along with customers to their stores, donated $100,000. The Western Union Foundation gave an additional $25,000. Tammy Prater, Executive Director, American Red Cross East Texas Area, said the funds will be used to provide assistance for the long-term needs of persons and communities affected by Hurricane Harvey in August.
TYLER – A man accused of an Oklahoma Robbery has been arrested in Smith County. Smith County Sheriff’s deputies were first called Wednesday morning to check on Bruce Hicks Junior, 28, of Copperas Cove for emotional issues. They then learned the SUV he was driving was stolen out of Love County Oklahoma during a robbery of the vehicles owner. The owner, an 89 year old man was attacked and beaten as he walked across a parking. A search of the vehicle turned up 19 pounds of marijuana. He is currently being held in the Smith County Jail under bonds totaling $120,000.
TYLER – Robert E. Lee High School Principal Dr. Dan Crawford has written an open letter in regards to hazing incidents. During the last half of the previous school year, Dr. Crawford received numerous reports of hazing and bullying of freshmen. It’s a “tradition” that is known as “T’ing.” Dr. Crawford says hazing and bullying is prohibited on and off-campus and they will investigate any reported incidents. You can go to https://www.tylerisd.org/cms/lib/TX01918383/Centricity/Domain/35/Letter%20from%20Dr.%20C_Hazing%20and%20Bullying.pdf to read the principal’s letter on the subject.
SMITH COUNTY – Work on the new Farm Road 849 bridge over I-20, at Hideaway will necessitate nighttime closures of I-20 with traffic moved to the ramps. The Texas Department of Transportation says the work will be conducted in the eastbound lanes one evening, and the westbound the next to allow the contractor to set the new bridge beams. Work will begin next Tuesday night. Motorists are urged to take alternate routes to avoid delays during this work. Following the beam installations, the contractor will continue bridge deck work, earthwork and various other activities. Daily lane closures will be utilized on the inside lanes in each direction for bridge work in the median of the interstate. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – Two men’s car was stopped for a traffic violation on Interstate Highway 20 near Farm Road 14. After talking with the driver, the state trooper had a police dog brought to the car. The dog uncovered 51 pounds of suspected marijuana. Booked into the Smith County Jail on a charge of possession of marijuana was Brandon Rohrer, 30 and Duy Min Ho, 43, both from Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Suspect Duy Min Ho
PALESTINE – Beginning the first of next month, all municipal court sessions in Palestine will move from Tuesdays to Wednesdays. Court Administrator Courtney Acklin said the move is for scheduling purposes. Currently, some court dates have to be rescheduled due to scheduling conflicts and Acklin says the move to Wednesdays will help alleviate future conflicts. Court will begin at the same time, 9:00am and 1:30pm. Those who have deadlines pending before the court will not see any changes in deadlines.
HOUSTON (AP/STAFF) — A chain of dental clinics, which has clinics in East Texas, has agreed to pay about $24 million in civil penalties to settle allegations that it submitted Medicaid claims for unnecessary dental procedures on children. A Justice Department statement Wednesday said the federal government would receive more than $14 million of the settlement reached by Marietta, Georgia-based Benevix LLC and its Kool Smiles clinics. Texas and 16 other states will share almost $10 million, and three whistleblowers will share more than $2.4 million. The business has two clinics in Longview and one each in Tyler and Lufkin. A Benevis statement denies wrongdoing, blaming “professional disagreements between qualified dentists” in determining the necessity and cost of care.
MARSHALL – Work is starting in Marshall to find a new City Manager. Marshall City Manager Lisa Agnor has announced her intention to retire, effective April 15. The Marshall City Commission will begin discussions on a transition plan and finding Agnor’s replacement. She has been with the city for 15 and-a-half years, and was appointed as City Manager in April 2015. Prior to that, she served as City Secretary/Director of Finance. Agnor said she feels like now is the right time for me to make this move. her daughter is expecting her second child soon and she says she wants to be able to spend more time with her family and grandchildren.
AUSTIN – The state comptroller’s office is sending out the monthly sales tax allocation checks. Tyler and Longview are running ahead of last year’s numbers. The state is sending out $709.2 million in local sales tax allocations for January. That’s 9.5% more than last January. These allocations are based on sales made in November. Tyler’s check is $3,422,968.87. This is over 5% above the check for January of 2017. Longview’s January check is $2,590,117.50. This is an increase from last January of nearly 5 1/2%
TYLER – The Tyler city council on Wednesday approved $300,000 for four capital improvement designs to various parts of Tyler’s drainage system. Construction on all four is estimated at $1.5 million. According to Mayor Martin Heines, the improvements are part of the City’s 10 year, $100 million dollar plan to improve Tyler’s infrastructure. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – A dispute has led to a Longview shooting. One person received non life-threatening injuries in the shooting, which occurred shortly before 3:15 Tuesday afternoon on West Radio Street. The suspect had fled the scene by the time officers arrived. The investigation is ongoing.
GLADEWATER – The family of a man shot and killed by Gladewater police have filed a federal lawsuit. Patrick Michael Wise (pictured), 34, of Gladewater, was killed in April, 2016. The Longview News Journal reports the suit, alleges civil rights violations, excessive use of force and wrongful death. Named in the suit was the city of Gladewater and the police officer, Robert Carlsen. The suit seeks a jury trial. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL – A Marshall robbery suspect, who is said to have beaten two convenience store employees with a baseball bat, will be going to prison for a long time. On Monday, Broderick Maximillian McHenry, 32, of Shreveport, pled guilty to the July, 2016 robbery of the EZ Mart on West Pinecrest. Tuesday, he was sentenced to 60 years in prison. Following the robbery, A witness followed the suspect, relaying information to authorities. Sheriff Tom McCool located the vehicle at Highway 43 South near Cave Springs Road and a chase followed. Spikes across the road caused the suspect’s car to crash into a yard. After a brief foot chase, McHenry was arrested.
TYLER — Smith County has cancelled jury duty for today. Smith County residents who were planning to report for jury duty with their yellow cards don’t have to make the trip to the county courthouse. No new panels will be needed today, Smith County Jury Coordinator Lisa Bennett said. However, if you have been asked to return for jury duty by a specific court, you must still report.
AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety is adding an East Texas man to its 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list. He is Blake Everett Reed, 32. In September 2016, Reed is said to have assaulted a Wood County woman. He was arrested and charged with multiple felonies by the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Reed was released on bond several days later. Since last May the Wood County Sheriff’s Office has issued multiple warrants for Reed’s arrest. The DPS says Reed is a violent criminal who has ties to Wood and Smith counties, including the cities of Hawkins, Mineola and Tyler. A cash reward of up to $5,000 is now being offered for information leading to his arrest.
AUSTIN – Governor Gregg Abbott has announced that the state will be providing $23 million in grant funding for rifle-resistant vests to police departments across the state. Legislation was passed by the legislature creating the funding for the grant program. The grants will provide law enforcement officers from 453 different jurisdictions around the state with a total of 32,842 rifle-resistant vests designed to protect against high caliber rounds. Among the vests coming to East Texas, 72 will be going to Gregg County and 59 are earmarked for Van Zandt County. Read the rest of this entry »
NACOGDOCHES – Nacogdoches authorities are looking for a driver who may have seen a car driven by a murder suspect. Around 6:00 Monday night, the suspect’s vehicle pulled onto Farm Road 225 from the Gravel Ridge Church. The vehicle pulled out in front of a vehicle whose driver blew their horn at the at the suspect’s vehicle. They are urging for this witness to come forward with any information they may have of the vehicle. Details about the murder have not been released. The Nacogdoches County Sheriff Office and the Texas Rangers along with the medical examiner’s office are working to identify the victim in the case. The victim is a white male that appears to be in his mid-thirties to early forties.