Today is
Wednesday June 10, 2026
GREGG COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK State Rep. Jay Dean (R-Longview) announced Thursday that he will seek reelection next year for District 7. He has held that seat since 2017, serving Gregg, Harrison and Marion counties. Up until 2022, District 7 encompassed Gregg and Upshur County. He previously served as Mayor of Longview for a decade.
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TYLER — The Athena Alert is now a law. Our news partner KETK reports that the new law is meant to speed up the law enforcement response time when a child goes missing. House Bill 3556, known as the Athena Alert, became law on June 13. Unlike other laws that were just recently passed, DPS said it is in effect immediately. Amber Alerts have to meet four strict rules before the public is notified. The Athena Alert is named after 7-year-old Athena Strand who was killed after being abducted in Wise County.
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RUSK COUNTY – Rusk County Officials have located Jasmine Wheat, who was reported missing on Wednesday, safe and sound. According to Sheriff Johnwayne Valdez, she appears to be in good health and will be medically evaluated. According to our news partner KETK Wheat was reported missing in Rusk County on Wednesday, she allegedly experienced a mental health episode and walked off. Several agencies were involved in the search, including officials utilizing ATVs and horses. TDCJ bloodhounds also assisted in the search.
TEXARKANA – According to our news partner KETK on July 3rd Texarkana officers responded to a store in reference to a theft that had taken place. An employee of the store told police that after some quick talking to confuse a clerk at the store, two woman managed to walk out with more than $1,600 in stolen gift cards. An officer on the scene was able to get pictures of the alleged thieves and the vehicle they left in through surveillance video and sent them out to other officers. Read the rest of this entry »
BULLARD – Bullard ISD named their new director of safety and security and police chief. According to our news partner KETK, Pat Hendrix, a man who has spent almost 40 years dedicated to law enforcement, was approved for hire at a special meeting on July 5. He will take the place of Chief John Jones, who accepted a regional position with the Texas Education Agency as an Assistant Chief of School Safety and Security. Hendrix brings 20 years of service with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, working as jailer, patrol officer, patrol sergeant, SWAT officer, narcotics officer, major crimes detective and supervisor of the Criminal Investigation Unit. After retiring in 2006, he became the Chief of Police for the Troup Police Department. He stayed for 17 years working to grow the school resource officer program, K9 officer program, student tours of TPD, annual security audits and training exercises and more. Read the rest of this entry »
CROCKETT – Our news partner KETK reports that a man has been arrested after robbing a truck stop convenience store with a gun in Crockett on Tuesday at around 6 a.m. Crockett police responded to the Xpress Truck Stop located at 1409 East Loop 304 in reference to an armed robbery. Officials said an investigation unveiled that the suspect had allegedly entered the store pointing a handgun at employees and stole money from the cash register. According to the release, the suspect was seen leaving the store in a blue SUV and police said they were able to locate the vehicle nearby at the Cole Creek Apartments and determined which apartment it belonged to.
Officers said they talked to occupants of the apartment who identified the owner of the vehicle as 38-year-old Curtis Randle. Police then obtained a search warrant for the apartment and the release stated that they found “the stolen money, the handgun believe to have been used in the robbery, as well as other evidence.†Randle was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
BULLARD – The city of Bullard hosted their annual Blast Over Bullard July 4th celebration on Saturday. The event included activities for all ages like their Kids’ Bike Brigade bicycle decorating contest, food and live music. They had a beautiful fireworks show, which lit up the skies and brought the community together. “We just had Zach Mayberry here and we did our little Bike Brigade and we’re about to have Sarah Gamble. We’re blessed to have local talent here in Bullard to come out and enjoy the day with us and celebrate with us. Their music is just phenomenal,†said Shirley Coe, Mayor of Bullard.
GLADEWATER – Gladewater Police responded to a shooting near Highway 135 and Highway 271 on Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, EMS transported a 31-year-old man to a hospital in Tyler for medical treatment. The man was said to be in stable condition. A felony arrest warrant was issued for Robert Daniel Smith, 25. Smith is described as six foot tall, hazel eyes, brown hair and weighs 175 pounds. He was last seen reportedly driving a white Nissan Altima 4-door sedan with Texas license plate STP5900 and is considered to be armed and dangerous. Contact police with any information.
GLADEWATER – The Gladewater Police Department said that a man has died after witness said he dived headfirst from a 40 foot high embankment into four-foot deep water on Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, a 9/11 call came in around 4:20 p.m. on Saturday about an unresponsive man and emergency services were dispatched to 1602 Lakeshore Drive at Gladewater Lake. Gladewater Fire Department, Christus EMS and Gladewater Police attempted to resuscitate the 34 year-old man but he died, according to Gladewater PD. Gladewater PD said their initial investigation “revealed that alcohol may have been a contributing factor in this unfortunate incident.†Upshur County Justice of the Peace Wyone Manes responded and held the inquest in this case.
CENTER – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is asking for public assistance in locating a man who has an active warrant for burglary of a habitation. According to our news partner KETK 31-year-old Therrin Keele out of Tenaha is described as a white male that weighs around 165 pounds, has brown hair and green eyes. According to the release, Keele has an active warrant for burglary of a habitation.
“If you have any information regarding his whereabouts, please contact Investigator Aaron Jones at 936-572-7559 or the SCSO (936) 598-5601.â€
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office
CHANDLER – The Chandler Police Department said that an officer was injured during a pursuit of an allegedly stolen vehicle on Friday night. According to authorities, a vehicle that was reported stolen from Barron Road was observed by officers who then tried to stop the vehicle before they were lead on a pursuit. Our news partner KETK reports that the pursuit went into Tyler and then down to Lake Palestine. The vehicle’s occupants eventually ran away from the vehicle and lead officers on a foot chase and that’s when Officer Passons sustained minor injuries, according to a Facebook post.
Officer Passons was then reportedly treated and released from UT Health Athens. The occupants of the vehicle are juveniles and Chandler PD said they will be charged after their investigation is completed.
TYLER — The Tyler Police Department has identified a man who was taken into custody after being barricaded in a house for four hours on Saturday. Our news partner KETK reports, Jerry Jamies, 29, who reportedly assaulted a female resident of the home, eventually came out and was subdued by officials using OC spray. Jamies was transported to a local hospital by EMS and will next be transported to Smith County Jail, according to a Tyler PD press release. Detectives have a obtained a warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for Jamies and the warrant has a $750,000 bond .
JOAQUIN – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office said they arrested a Joaquin man on Saturday around 7 a.m. after a gun and drugs were found during the search of a Faulkville Road home. According to our news partner KETK the sheriff’s office responded to the scene after they received reports of a man with a gun at the Faulkville Road home. Nickolas Shane Matthews, 22 of Joaquin, was arrested and charged with delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance felony 2, possession of a controlled substance felony 3, unlawful carry of a weapon by a felon, delivery of marijuana and assault, according to the sheriff’s office.
Officials said that the homeowner let them search the home where the following items were allegedly found: 271 grams of Xanax, 7 grams of methamphetamine, 5.8 ounces of marijuana, 1 gram of ecstasy packaging materials for narcotics distribution and a gun.
SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Professional Firefighters Association Local 5300 said that two of their firefighters were deployed to fight wildfires across Texas on Friday. According to our news partner KETK Captain Michael Van Winkle and Firefighter Joshua Bardwell were deployed to west and central Texas as a part of the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS). This TIFMAS deployment was done in conjunction with other resources across the Eastern Branch, Local 5300 said in a Facebook post.
“As some may know our firefighters and officers that are selected to go on these deployments, experience fire conditions and behavior that are not as common in our area of operation. This in turn can help us mitigate difficult situations in a more efficient manner. We are proud to be able to help serve other regions of Texas when called upon!â€
Smith County Professional Firefighters Association Local 5300
CLEVELAND (AP) — A man accused of killing five neighbors in Texas after some of them complained that gunfire was keeping a baby awake has been indicted for capital murder of multiple persons. The Friday charge allows prosecutors to seek the death penalty. Prosecutors said Wednesday they do not know whether they will seek it against 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza. He was charged with five counts of murder in May. Police say Oropeza stormed into his neighbor’s house on April 28 and shot and killed five people. Oropeza evaded capture for days as a manhunt grew to more than 200 officers outside Houston. He was eventually arrested about 20 miles from the home where the shooting took place.