Today is
Thursday June 11, 2026
MARSHALL – 43 kilograms of cocaine were seized on Sunday by Marshall police after a traffic stop. According to our news partner KETK, a semi-truck was stopped around 3:30 p.m. in the 1500 block of South East End Boulevard. A search of the truck found 39 plastic-wrapped bundles of cocaine that police said is estimated to have a street value of $4 million. The driver, identified as Ariel Martinez, 34 of Elgin, Ill., was arrested and booked into the Harrison County Jail before being released on a $100,000 bond. The investigation is ongoing.
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a woman who was reported missing. Courtney Taylor Martin, 34, was reported missing by her family on May 24. Martin was last seen near County Road 42 and FM 724 on May 18. She is described as a white female, about 5’5″ and 250 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Officials said Martin is reported to have a mental illness and is not taking her medication for the illness. According to the sheriff’s office, she has been known to hang out in the area of “tent city†near the Super 1 Foods store on East Gentry Parkway. Anyone with information on Martin’s whereabouts is asked to call the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at 903-566-6600.
LONGVIEW – Two people are dead and nine others are injured after a five-car crash in Longview on Monday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, a white Chevrolet Sonic with one passenger was traveling at a high rate of speed southbound on South Eastman Road when the car “failed to stop and struck another vehicle.†Longview police responded around 5 p.m. to the scene in the 3100 block of North Eastman Road and Fourth Street. The driver of the Chevrolet Sonic, identified as Callie Bearden, 19 of Longview, was taken to a local hospital where she later died of her injuries. Shelby Partain, 32, a passenger of a separate car, was taken to a local hospital where she died of her injuries. Nine other people were taken to a local hospital for treatment, and police said they are continuing to investigate the crash.
TYLER – A Tyler man was charged with manslaughter in connection to the April 2022 death of a 17-year-old. According to our news partner KETK, 27-year-old Billy Bernard Maddox, Jr. was indicted for manslaughter in the overdose death of Preston Hawley. In September 2022, Maddox was charged with tampering/fabricating with intent to impair evidence and bonded out the same day. He was later arrested on a manslaughter charge on May 26 in connection to the same case. According to an arrest warrant, Hawley used to live with Maddox. The warrant states that detectives were told Maddox was “a known drug dealer.†On the afternoon of April 23, 2022, Tyler police detectives were called to a hospital in response to a patient who died of an apparent overdose, identified as Hawley. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – “Property taxes are suffocating Texans,†said Abbott. “We must fix that this session.†It’s been Governor Greg Abbott’s message from the very beginning. Even though the 88th legislative session is now over, lawmakers are still working around the clock to pass legislation according to our news partner KETK. This time they have two tasks: property tax relief and border security. Abbott called a special session Monday after republican leaders in the house and senate could not pass laws on his top priorities. Number one on the list in this special session is property tax relief for Texans. “Hard-working Texans produced the largest budget surplus in Texas history,†added Abbott. “That money belongs to the taxpayers. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The district attorney’s office elected to seek the death penalty for one of three men charged with capital murder in the June 2021 death of a Tyler 17-year-old. According to our news partner KETK, Andres Urrutia, 21 of Tyler and his two co-defendants were indicted for capital murder by terroristic threat in September 2021 after Jesse McNeely, 17, was found shot at his home on Omega Drive. Two of the men charged in this case, Urrutia and his co-defendant Lorenzo Martinez, 22 of Tyler, were arrested days after the shooting in Galveston County before being transported back to Tyler and booked into the Smith County Jail. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER– The East Texas Food Bank announced on Tuesday CEO Dennis Cullinane will retire at the end of their fiscal year on June 30. “It has been my honor and privilege to serve as the CEO of such an incredible organization since 2010,†Cullinane said. According to our news partner KETK, the food banks board of directors formed a search committee and hired a firm to help recruit candidates for the CEO position. Chair of the ETFB board, Jeff Johnson, said the new CEO will start in June in order to train with Cullinane before his depature. “The ETFB board is very thankful for the 13 years of service Dennis has provided,†Johnson said. “During his tenure, ETFB doubled its meal distribution where today we are providing 27 million meals to 117,300 households in 26 counties in East Texas. He led us through the pandemic where ETFB saw tremendous need with long lines of people seeking food assistance, some for the first time.â€
MOUNT PLEASANT – Our news partner KETK reports that a local bowling alley and activity center in Mount Pleasant caught fire early Monday morning. According to Mount Pleasant Deputy Fire Chief Brad Eubanks, the call came in around 5:56 a.m. and they responded to a fire at the MP bowling alley. State investigators are at the scene as of 10 a.m., looking into the fire and the cause of the fire is not known at this time. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
EAST TEXAS –Hundreds of East Texans gathered at Tyler Memorial Funeral Home to honor fallen members of the United States Armed Forces on Memorial Day. Several speakers and performers were there to pay tribute, including Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith and the Marine Corps League who gave a 21-gun salute. “We gather here today once again on this hallowed ground, to honor those men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving out country,†Sheriff Larry smith said. Musical performances included the National Anthem by the East Texas Men in Harmony and Taps by Tyler Police officer John Weaver. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – A child was hit and injured by a vehicle driving on West Morris Street in Tyler around 6:46 p.m. on Sunday. Tyler Police Department confirmed that it appears as if the child step out into the road before being hit. They were then taken by EMS to be treated at a local hospital. Officials said that the child was awake and alert. According to our news partner KETK, the vehicle driver stayed on the scene after the child was hit and no criminal charges are being pursued at this time.
BULLARD – The City of Bullard has issued a stage 3 water conservation notice in order to conduct emergency water well maintenance. The City decided to issue this notice and ration water following a declaration of emergency due to the needed “emergency water well maintenance. â€This notice puts the following water restrictions in place: Residents having even numbered addresses are permitted to water outside only on Sunday and Thursday. Residents having odd numbered addresses are permitted to water only on Saturday and Wednesday. Read the rest of this entry »
CHAPEL HILL — Chapel Hill ISD announced the distribution of nearly $40,000 to honor its long-serving staff members. $38,250 was given out to employees who have been with the district from five to 25 years during the district’s End-of-the-Year Ceremony on Friday. The district said it expresses deep appreciation for the staff’s exemplary service and lasting contributions to the district’s mission. “Chapel Hill ISD recognizes the unwavering commitment and valuable contributions of its staff. The loyalty stipends serve as a token of gratitude for their remarkable dedication in shaping the educational landscape of the district,†the district said in a release.
SMITH COUNTY – Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith announced on Thursday that he will be seeking reelection in 2024 setting the stage for a second Republican Primary showdown with Chris Green in March. Smith, 59, told a crowd of more than 80 supporters, including elected officials, friends and family inside the Smith County Courthouse, he would run on his three-year performance as sheriff and 39-year record in law enforcement. He started his career in the Gregg County Sheriff’s Department and later worked for the Drug Enforcement Agency before serving 22 years in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. If elected, Smith will begin his fourth term as sheriff. He said in 2022 that he will try to be sheriff as long as his health allows and as long as the people of Smith County want him to be.
LONGVIEW – The Longview Economic Development Corporation approved a $2.8 million expansion plan for the Dallas Plastics Jordan Valley Road facility on Thursday. Our news partner reports that the proposed expansion will invest $2.8 million into the facility by building material storage space and adding production equipment. On top of the new storage space and production equipment, the expansion will also create 19 full-time jobs, according to LEDCO.
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SMITH COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith announced on Thursday that he will be seeking reelection in 2024. Smith has served the county as sheriff since being sworn-in in 2013. If elected, Smith will begin his fourth term as sheriff. He said in 2022 that he will try to be sheriff as long as his health allows and as long as the people of Smith County want him to be.