Today is
Sunday June 07, 2026
GILMER – There is another burn ban in northeast Texas. The latest was issued Thursday by Upshur County. It is a ten day outdoor burn ban. Other area counties under a burn ban include Henderson, Harrison, Rusk, Camp and Van Zandt.
LONGVIEW – Longview police say they now have an ID on a body found this week. The body has been identified as that of Felishia Marieann Pearson, 28, of Longview. She had been previously reported as missing. She had last been seen on July 14th. Her body was found Tuesday in the woods off a dirt road off West Birdsong Street. As the investigation continues, the body has been sent for autopsy to determine the cause of death.
TYLER – A power line is down on South Broadway in front of Wagner Cadillac. All traffic lanes are blocked. All north and south bound lanes are shut down to traffic until the line can be removed from the roadway. Because the power line is down, numerous traffic control lights are out in South Tyler, up and down South Broadway south of the loop – around loop 323 – Grande and the Old Jacksonville Highway. Motorists are advised to use caution in these areas.
TYLER – Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith has been elected Sergeant-At-Arms of the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas. It occurred at their 140th Annual Training Conference which ended earlier this week in Grapevine. The Sheriffs’ Association of Texas is one of the oldest law enforcement associations in the nation.
LONGVIEW – It’s time for the annual Great Texas Balloon Race in Longview, which has been proclaimed “The Balloon Race Capital of Texas” by the state legislature. Hot air balloon flights began Friday morning with a flight over Longview and continue each morning through Sunday over the East Texas Regional Airport. Launch and landing sites change each day as they are always determined by wind and the weather. The host of activities include balloon glows followed by live entertainment on Friday and Saturday evening. You can go to http://www.greattexasballoonrace.com for more details.
HENDERSON – Two persons have been arrested in connection with a string of burglaries in Henderson and Rusk County. They are identified as Jeremiah Tremaine Boone, 20, of Henderson and Christian David Cannon, 20, of Yukon, Oklahoma. Both are in the Rusk County jail, where they are facing numerous charges. The two were arrested during a joint operation between Henderson Police and the Rusk County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities believe the men are responsible for 8 church burglaries and two restaurant burglaries. Tyler police are said to have assisted with the investigation and recovery of some of the stolen property. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Some Tyler park improvements have been approved. The go ahead for the improvements came at Wednesday’s city council meeting. A $54,000 donation was recently received for improvements at Faulkner Park. These improvements include new picnic tables and shade structures. There will also be more playground equipment, including a “double-winged elephant” swing that’s ADA handicap accessible. There will also be some improvements at Hillside Park. Included will be benches and more playground equipment. Also in the works are proposed improvements for Gassaway Park on Martha Street. Work at Hillside Park could begin early next month. The work at Faulkner Park could start in late next month or early October.
HENDERSON – Arrests have been made in connection with Rusk County church burglaries. The Henderson Police Department reports, not only have arrests been made, but a large amount of property stolen in the burglaries have been recovered. A total of 9 churches were burglarized in Henderson and Rusk County. More information about the case is scheduled to be released Thursday morning.
LONGVIEW – A wanted sex offender in Longview has been arrested. The Gregg County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday had asked for the public’s help in locating is Joseph Wayne Burnette, 41. He was wanted for failure to register as a sex offender and indecent exposure. Sheriff’s department spokesman Cpl. Josh Tubb said had been caught and booked into the Upshur County Jail. The Longview News Journal reports that Gregg County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Kirk Haddix told them in 2013 that Burnette was a suspect in a 2006 unsolved murder. A woman’s body was found in October, 2006, face down on a burning wood pile. Known only as Jane Doe, the paper reports her body was exhumed in 2013 in hopes of finding hard evidence against Burnette.
NACOGDOCHES – Three Cherokee County residents have been arrested in Nacogdoches County for burglary. A witness called authorities to report a burglary in progress on Highway 21 West. Deputies found, in a metal building, two persons loading items into a car. They found a third person hiding in the building. Charged with burglary of a building were Ronnie Johnson (pictured), 37; Tommy Johnson, 37; and Margaret Kirby, 50, all from Rusk. Tommy Johnson also had additional warrants out of Anderson County for burglary of a building and theft. All three were booked into the Nacogdoches County Jail.
LONGVIEW – A body found in Longview has been sent off for autopsy to determine the cause of death. It was in the woods off a dirt road off West Birdsong Street. We will have more information when it becomes available
TYLER – A person has been arrested in a Tyler shooting that left two persons dead and one wounded. He is Tony Waters, 55, of Kilgore. He was arrested Tuesday in Longview through the efforts of the Longview Police Department’s Special Investigation and Apprehension Unit along with the U.S. Marshals’ Violent Crime Task Force. His bond has been set at $1,000,000 on a charge of capital murder. Investigators are still looking into the motive behind the shooting. The shooting happened just before 10:00 Monday night on West Dobbs. Killed was Charlie Verdell, 51, and Daquan Munson, 17. The teen’s mother, Ladidre Patrice Blevins, 32, was wounded. Her condition has not been released.
TYLER – Smith County Commissioners have approved a five year tax abatement for a business moving to the county. Wyoming Machinery Company plans to move a new division, Dragline Service Specialties, to just west of Tyler On Highway 64 on a property that has been vacant for years. This will be the businesses’ second location. They plan to start with 34 employees, but eventually hire 88 people and invest $14.9 million. Their plans are to start operation on August 1st. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Tyler police are investigating a body found Tuesday afternoon. A citizen found the body shortly before 1:45 in the woods behind the Valero Gas Station at East Front Street and SSE Loop 323. Investigators did not observe an evident signs of foul-play on the body, which was in a state of decomposition. Investigators have recovered he man’s identification. He is said to be 50. His name is being withheld pending notification of his family. The body will be sent to Dallas for an autopsy.
LONGVIEW – The Gregg County Sheriff’s Department is seeking the public’s help in locating a sex offender. He is Joseph Wayne Burnette, 41, who is wanted for failure to register as a sex offender and indecent exposure. He stands stands 6’1 and weighs 195 pounds. Sheriff’s department Public Information Officer John Tubbs says, if you see Burnette, do not attempt to stop, detain, or approach him, only observe and report his whereabouts to local law enforcement.