Today is
Sunday June 07, 2026
TYLER – Highway 64 East, in the vicinity of Big Oak Bay Road east of Tyler, has been reopened after being shut down by a large grass and pasture fire. Smith County Fire Marshal Connie McCoy-Wasson said hay raking equipment started the fire that quickly spread to about 10 to 15 acres. Two barns and a shed burned but the firefighters were able to save five structures in the area. The fire was brought under control by 3:40 Thursday afternoon. At one time, a total of 8 fire departments were on the scene, battling the large fire.
TYLER – An Athens man has been sentenced to prison for the unlawful possession of ricin. Abel Keith Fulton, 20, pleaded guilty back in March. He has now been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Robert Schroeder in Tyler. He was also ordered to pay $30,000 in restitution for costs incurred by law enforcement officials in connection with the removal of the hazardous materials and decontamination of his residence. Prosecutors say he possessed the drug at his home in August and September of 2016. Ricin is a biological toxin that can be fatal if ingested, inhaled, or injected. There is no known antidote or cure for ricin poisoning. He is said to have made the toxin using supplies that he purchased online.
EAST TEXAS – Three persons have died in three separate area accidents. They occurred in Gregg, Cherokee and eastern Smith County. The Smith County crash occurred around 12:15 Wednesday afternoon on Farm Road 850, one mile west of Overton. Slater Dylan Brabec, 17, of Arp, later died at UT Health-Tyler. The Department of Public safety says the accident remains under investigation. The preliminary report said that the victim’s car was heading east at an unsafe speed. The driver lost control of the vehicle in a curve and it left the road and hit a tree. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Law enforcement agencies gathered in Tyler Wednesday to talk about school safety for the new school year that is fast approaching. There was an increased number of school hoax threats since the first of the year. Tyler Police Chief Jimmy Toler said they take all threats seriously. Those responsible will be prosecuted. FBI-Dallas Special Agent-in-Charge Eric K. Jackson encouraged the public to report any suspicious activity by calling 911. Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Darrell Coslin encouraged area residents to take part in active shooter training. The hope of everyone is for a safe school year. You can go to https://www.facebook.com/TylerTexasPolice/videos/1921381654586238 and see the full news conference.
TYLER – The 12th Court of Appeals in Tyler has upheld the capital murder conviction of a Henderson County woman. Stacie Parsons, 29, of Athens had been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. She was convicted of killing her 4 year old daughter, Victoria Wyatt in July, 2014. According to court testimony, she tried to kill the little girl several ways, before drowning her. She then carried the body home in the trunk of her car. Parsons then went to the Athens Police Department and confessed to killing the girl. Officers found her body in the yard of her home.
TYLER – A couple of weather records were put on the books in Tyler in July. The National Weather Service says there were two temperature records set in the month. July 20th equaled the record high maximum first set in 1896 and on July 22nd, the 106 degree reading beat the previous record of 105 recorded in 1925 and 1963. July 12th was the wettest July 12th on record. The 2.03 inches beat the previous record of 1.62 inches set in 1893. July 2018 turned out to be 3.9 degrees warmer than normal and 2.2 degrees warmer than July of last year. The rainfall was 23% percent greater than normal. And year to date rainfall is 89% of normal. So far, 2018 is running 38% warmer than normal. The 30 day outlook for August calls for above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall.
AUSTIN – A Henderson County resident is a millionaire today. The Texas Lottery has announced a resident from Gun Barrel City claimed a second tier Mega Millions prize worth $3 million. It was for the drawing on July 24. The ticket was purchased at Food Fast #1063 on West Main Street in Gun Barrel City. The winning ticket with Megaplier matched all five of the white ball numbers drawn (1-2-4-19-29), but not the Mega Ball number (20). The Megaplier number was 3. The winner decided to remain anonymous.
TYLER – A woman wounded in a fatal Tyler shooting is out of the hospital. Investigators have been told that Ladidre Patrice Blevins, 32, has been released. Two persons were killed in the July 23rd shooting, the woman’s teenage son and a man who was said to be her boyfriend. The suspect, Tony Waters, 55, of Kilgore, the woman’s ex-boyfriend, was later arrested in Longview. Waters later died after he was found hanging in his cell at the Gregg County Jail. With Waters’ death, investigators say the case is now closed.
TYLER – There is no burn ban yet in Smith County, but we are getting close. That was the message Smith County Fire Marshal Connie McCoy-Wasson presented to the county commissioners on Tuesday. She said the drought index for Smith County was 651. Wasson said, in the past, the county has issued a burn ban when the drought index falls around 700. County Judge Nathaniel Moran said he plans to keep the discussion of a possible burn ban on the agenda for next Tuesday’s commissioners court meeting to keep the public informed.
TYLER – A proposed property tax hike for Smith County residents has been given preliminary approval. The county commissioners, at Tuesday’s meeting, approved a tax rate of 33.7311 cents per $100 valuation. The current tax rate is 33 cents. The slight increase in the tax rate is solely due to the amount of debt service funding needed on the voter approved bonds for road and bridge projects. The commissioners will make a decision on the property tax rate when when they approve the budget on August 28th. Public hearings on the proposed rate hike have been scheduled for August 7th and 14th.
TYLER – A Flint man is free on a $20,000 bond after being charged with sexual assault of a child. Tyler police arrested Jordan Davashun Taylor, 30, on Monday. Police said Taylor admitted to having consensual sex with the minor. But in Texas, a person 16 or under can’t consent to sex, otherwise it becomes known as “statutory rape.”
TYLER – The proposed merger of American State Bank and Texas State Bank has been announced. Steele Holdings, Inc., parent company of Arp, Texas-based American State Bank, has announced the agreement acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Joaquin Bankshares, which owns Joaquin, Texas-based Texas State Bank. Pending regulatory approval and meeting certain other closing conditions, they expect the merger to be finalized later this year. They expect the banks to merge early next year with the combined entity having thirteen offices in nine cities and four counties across East Texas.
JACKSONVILLE – A lengthy prison sentence has been handed to a man for a Jacksonville murder. Terry Woods, 46, of Jacksonville was sentenced Monday to life in prison. He had been convicted on July 18th of the 2015 shooting death of Michael Hatton, 44, of Frankston. The shooting, on Bethune Street, followed an argument between the two men over he value of stolen floor tile. Woods was also sentenced to ten years in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. In a statement played for the jury, the defendant told police that “I’ve got an anger problem†and that “the anger just took over.”
BULLARD – The Bullard school system has a Director of School Safety. At Monday’s meeting, school trustees approved the superintendent’s recommendation and hired John C. Jones for the post. Over the past 20 years, Jones has served as a staff sergeant for the mortar section, of the United States Army National Guard. He has also served as a Special Agent for the FBI. He will be joining Bullard ISD in the fall after his retirement from the FBI. Jones and his wife have three children in the Bullard school system.
LONGVIEW – The heat has caused the Historic Longview Farmers Market to close for a while. The market has closed till the fall. They said on their web site, number of days with temperatures over 100°F caused the farmers’ crops to die from the heat. They will be reopening sometime in September when the early fall crops are ready. A project of Preservation Longview, the market gives you the chance to buy locally grown produce directly from the farmers as well as other local farm and specialty products. It is located at the corner of Cotton and High Streets.