Today is
Monday June 08, 2026
LUFKIN— Our news partner, KETK, reports that a 22-year-old from Lufkin is creating a sobriety group for young adults, and it has already reached over 100,000 people on social media. Natalee Bates is kicking off her initiative Young, Wild & Sober next month. She created a Facebook page less than a week ago and nearly 150 thousand people have already visited her page.
Bates said she started drinking heavily as a teenager, and quickly realized she needed help. However, when she joined local support groups, she noticed there was no one her age attending the meetings. She decided to create her own group for young adults who struggle with alcohol or other challenges, such as substance abuse or eating disorders.
“It’s uncomfortable sometimes to go in a room and everybody be 20 to 30 to 40 years older than you and to feel alone because they’re not going through the same things you’re going through in that point in time,” Bates explained. “So I wanted to create this group so that we have just a support group within the community.”
Young, Wild & Sober’s first meeting is Feb.10, and anyone between the ages of 16 and 28 is welcome. Bates will host meetings on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month. Those interested in attending her meetings or helping in any way can go to her Facebook page by clicking here. Bates asks that those wanting to attend let her know, and she will decide the location once there is a head count.
MOUNT PLEASANT– Our news partner, KETK, reports that Former Mount Pleasant City Manager Ed Thatcher was indicted by a Titus County Grand Jury on Wednesday after he allegedly made a false entry in a government record.
Thatcher served as the Mount Pleasant’s city manager from 2019 until he resigned last May. An indictment alleges that on May 7, 2022, Thatcher made a false travel request form that said former city council member Tim Dale had driven 870 miles around the county for council purposes and was requesting reimbursement.
A Mount Pleasant city employee released this statement:
“On Jan. 15, 2025, the City of Mount Pleasant was made aware that former City Manager, Ed Thatcher, was indicted by a Titus County grand jury for making a false entry in a governmental record. The indictment stems from an investigation by the Texas Rangers into travel reimbursements issued to city council members. Mr. Thatcher served as city manager from 2019 until his resignation in May 2024. During the investigation of this matter, the City fully cooperated with the Texas Rangers. As this is an ongoing legal matter, the City cannot further comment at this time. Any questions regarding this matter should be directed to the Titus County District Attorney’s Office.” Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER– Our news partner, KETK, reports that Texans On Mission has boots on the ground in fire ravaged southern California. In times of crisis, the nonprofit tries to be there when people need their help the most. Right now, their focus is on the devastating wildfires that have ravaged parts of California. Four volunteers returned from California on Wednesday, and 10 to 12 volunteers left Wednesday morning to bring laundry and shower trailers. Rand Jenkins, Texans on Mission chief strategic officer, has been out west for days getting a first hand look at the damage on the frontlines.
“The first emotion is just that heaviness that even once we got here, we saw and could experience, it’s not out yet and so people are still kind of wondering what is next,” Jenkins said. “What we did the past few days is being with churches and beginning to build their capacity for wrapping their arms around their community from a distribution standpoint, from a management standpoint.” Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW– According to our news partner, KETK, on Wednesday, CHRISTUS Health broke ground on a new $36 million Cancer Center in Longview. Construction begins soon and should be finished by the fall of 2026. There’s one goal in mind for the state-of-the-art, 35-thousand-square-foot facility.
“We are going to reduce the incidence of cancer in northeast Texas and we’re going to improve mortality rates,” CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic physician vice president of operations John DiPasquale said. In 2024, across the United States, an estimated two million new cancer cases were reported. Nearly one hundred and fifty thousand of them here in Texas. The American Cancer Society reports that a new clinic of this type will provide access to treatment at home, reducing the financial burden of traveling to larger cities for care. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Our news partner KETK reports that Tyler Fire Department responded to a popular barbecue restaurant on Sunday night after it caught on fire. at around 10:30 p.m., Tyler firefighters were dispatched to the scene on 1410 SSW Loop 323 at Rudy’s “Country Store” and Bar-B-Q. When units arrived to the scene, they found the restaurant in flames. The firefighters were on scene for approximately 40 minutes extinguishing the fire, however Tyler officials said no one was injured.
The possible cause of the fire, officials said, was discarded ash and amber from cooking meat had accidently fallen over and caught a wall on fire.
Tyler Fire said that Rudy’s is already working to reopen.
LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department said an arrest has been made after multiple shots were fired at a Longview Amtrak station on Wednesday Afternoon. Longview Public Information Officer La’Darian Brown said that a man walked into the Amtrak station and fired multiple shots. It is unclear to Brown what caused the suspect to open fire. Longview PD has not identified the suspect at this time.
Brown confirmed that nobody inside the building was harmed. The suspect fled however officers were able to detain him, and he has since been arrested.
HAWKINS — Hawkins Police Chief Paul Holland has resigned, according to a member of the Hawkins Police Department and our news partner KETK.
This marks the third chief to resign at the police department in recent years. A member of the police department told KETK News over the phone that Holland stepped on Tuesday. Holland was appointed to the position back in June of 2024. Back in March 2024, the Hawkins City Council accepted the resignation of Chief of Police Guy McKee. In 2022, Manfred Gilow also resigned as chief of police. KETK spoke to Gilow back in 2022, who cited budget issues and a shortage of police staff as reasons that led to his resignation.
“The fact that we are understaffed in this police department. I have two openings in the last seven months. We cannot fill them. Nobody wants to do this job anymore and sure enough, not for 15-16 dollars an hour. Target has 25-dollar minimum wage,” Gilow said back in 2022. “Therefore, I think right now, it’s a time to make a decision.”
UPSHUR COUNTY — An East Texas man has plead guilty to murdering his wife with an axe. The Upshur County Criminal District Attorney’s Office said a Gilmer citizen called 911 to report a man attempting to get into their vehicle on Feb. 26, 2024 at around 1:43 a.m. Police were on the scene within two minutes of the call and located the suspect. The suspect “was soaking wet on the front of his clothes and dry on the back.”
When officers questioned who he was, he reportedly lied before telling them his real name, Craig Allen Smith, and admitted to lying. He told officers he did not want to reveal his identity because “his wife was dead and he did not want to get caught up in it.” According to our news partner KETK, Smith reportedly told police his wife had been dead for a few hours and that she was at a home on Walnut Street in Gilmer. He was booked into the Upshur County Jail for an outstanding warrant. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — Longview Police arrested a 25-year-old Longview ISD employee on Tuesday for sexual assault of a child. The police department said officers were dispatched to a residence on Saturday at around 3:49 p.m. in reference to a sexual assault. According to our news partner KETK, officials said during the course of the investigation, officers learned that a 15-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by D’Marjai Dearion, of Longview.
On Tuesday, Longview detectives obtained a warrant and Darion was arrested the same day for sexual assault of a child. He is being held on a $150,000 bond at the Gregg County Jail.
Longview ISD said Dearion was employed as a physical education teacher and coach since August 2023. He served at Judson Middle School during the 2023-2024 school year and at East Texas Montessori Prep Academy and Forest Park Middle School during the 2024–2025 school year. Read the rest of this entry »
ATHENS— Seven are behind bars after an Athens property was found with methamphetamine packaged for distribution.
On Sunday at around 7:35 p.m., officials executed a narcotics search warrant on East Tyler Street in Athens. During the search, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said “a quantity of methamphetamine was located inside the residence that was packaged for distribution along with several baggies, scales and syringes.” These individuals were found at the property and taken into custody. According to reports from our news partner, KETK, they have since been transported to the Henderson County Detention Center and booked for the following charges: Read the rest of this entry »
BULLARD — A Bullard man is behind bars this week after being charged with multiple crimes against children. According to our news partner KETK and the Bullard Police Department, Dylan James Black, 19, was arrested for sexual assault of a child on Monday. A report for sexual assault of a child, where Black was allegedly listed as the suspect, led to the first charge. The case was filed with the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office.
Additional warrants were issued on Tuesday including harboring a runaway child, enticing a child and a false report to a peace officer. The affidavits and arrest warrants were presented to Smith County Court at Law Judge Jason Ellis and these charges have been filed with the Smith County District Attorney’s Office.
“The charges to Black range from misdemeanors to 2nd degree felonies with bond amounts totaling $175,000,” officials stated.
Black was taken into custody and transported to the Cherokee County Jail.
HARRISON COUNTY— Residents near the H.W. Pirkey Power Plant in Hallsville can expect to hear a loud explosion on Wednesday morning, according to our news partner KETK. However, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office has advised residents this is a planned and controlled explosion. Officials say this is not open for the public to view. Residents are urged to avoid the area.
“This is part of a scheduled maintenance procedure and is being done with the utmost safety precautions in place,” county officials said. “There will be minimal disruption, but please be aware of some noise in the area.”
PANOLA COUNTY— Two people have been hospitalized following crash between a truck and train on Tuesday morning in Panola County.
According to the Panola County Sheriff’s Office and reports from KETK, a call came in from a passenger in a trash truck who said he and the driver were involved in a collision with a train on the County Road 129 and County Road 127 crossing in Gary.
Once authorities arrived at the scene, both occupants were taken to a local emergency room and the driver was airlifted for a higher level of care. The crash remains under investigation by the Texas Highway Patrol and BNSF Railroad Police.
TYLER— The New Summerfield Police Department responded to a high-speed chase on Tuesday morning in Cherokee County that left a Pennsylvania man injured. According to our news partner KETK, the high speed chase occurred at around 7 a.m. on Highway 79 west of Highway 110 in the direction of Jacksonville. Chief Fred Butler attempted to initiate a traffic stop after noticing an SUV going well over the speed limit. The driver has been identified as a man from Pittsburgh, Pa.. police said.
The driver fled from Butler at a dangerous speed before he crashed his vehicle in route to Jacksonville. The suspect was taken to a local hospital for their injuries and once released, the suspect will be booked into the Cherokee County Jail.
ATHENS — Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC) and Abilene Christian University (ACU) announced a partnership to provide TVCC students with a pathway to continue their education at ACU.
TVCC students can now transfer completed coursework to ACU without losing credit, creating a simple transfer process for achieving educational goals as both undergraduate and graduate students.
“This partnership highlights the vital role community colleges play in higher education and demonstrates the power of collaboration between distinguished institutions,” TVCC President, Dr. Jason Morrison said. “TVCC is thrilled to partner with ACU to create more opportunities for our students to succeed. This agreement underscores our shared commitment to helping students achieve their goals and prepare for the future.”
According to reports from our news partner, KETK, TVCC currently has partnerships with 14 different universities to help students including the University of Texas at Tyler, the University of North Texas(UNT), Lamar University, Columbia College, and Texas Tech University.
TVCC commented, saying the ACU partnership reflects their mission to foster educational excellence and provide students with the resources needed to succeed.