Today is
Sunday June 07, 2026
TYLER — Smith County Emergency Services District 2 responded to a residential garage fire on Saturday that was caused by a lightening strike.
According to our news partner KETK, the fire occurred at a residence in Cook’s Crossing off Old Bullard Road in Tyler. Smith County ESD2 said engines 161, 151, 166, 156 and Battalion 1 along with Whitehouse Fire Department, chief 3 and other support crews worked to put out the fire. All of the home’s residents made it to safety and no injures were reported.
GUN BARREL CITY – According to our news partner KETK, a man was sentenced to ten years in state prison last week in connection to a motorcycle chase that started in Gun Barrel City, according to the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office.
A deputy with the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office attempted a traffic stop on a blue motorcycle in the 300 block of West Main Street of Gun Barrel City on Aug. 10, 2024, a press release from the district attorney’s office said. The motorcycle accelerated towards Mabank after the deputy turned on their emergency lights and siren. As the motorcycle sped towards Mabank, it went on the wrong side of the roadway at over 140 miles per hour, according to the press release. As the sheriff’s office, the Gun Barrel City Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety pursued the motorcycle, it attempted to drive on the grassy shoulder of FM 316 and crashed. The motorcycle driver then attempted to evade officers by leaving the wrecked motorcycle but was taken into custody.
Henry Lee Hyde II, who the attorney’s office identified as the driver, was then sentenced to 10 years in state prison by 3rd District Court Judge Mark Calhoon for the charge of evading arrest or detention with a vehicle.
TYLER – According to a media release from Smith County, all non-emergency Smith County offices will be closed for business on Monday, May 26, 2025, for Memorial Day.
Offices will reopen for normal business hours on Tuesday, May 27, and Commissioners Court will be held at the normal time – 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
RUSK COUNTY – According to a report from our news partner, KETK, a Henderson woman was arrested on Saturday after allegedly burning her family’s dogs in the front yard of her home.
The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office said they responded to a call from an 11-year-old boy who said his mother called him the devil, and was burning the family dogs.
Shortly after the first call, officials received another call about, Veronica Loredo, who went to a different residence with blood on her hands while claiming her parents were murdered.
During an investigation, officials found dog remains in an active fire in front of her home. Loredo’s four young children, ages 1-11, were present during her arrest.
Loredo was charged with two felony counts of cruelty to nonlivestock animals and four counts of endangering a child, with a bond set at $400,000, according to officials.
TYLER – Our news partner, KETK, reports a man was arrested after he shot and injured his 74-year-old wheelchair bound dad with a BB gun Thursday afternoon in Tyler.
A Smith County Sheriff’s Office affidavit reveals a deputy responded to a shooting at County Road 2208, where he found a woman saying Clarence James Beasley had shot his 74-year-old wheelchair bound dad with a BB gun.
The victim said he and his son had gotten into an argument when he gave him advice on “why he felt his son was not getting to see his own child,” the document said. He explained to the deputy that his son got mad and, out of range, shot him in the chest with a BB gun.
“He showed me the site, which was on his left nipple, stating it had not broken the skin but did cause pain,” the affidavit said. “The victim did wish to pursue charges.”
Beasley was located at the back of the property and was arrested around 4:26 p.m. on Thursday for injury to an elderly person with intent to cause bodily injury, but posted bond the following day.
BULLARD — Our news partner, KETK, reports that a man was arrested on Thursday evening in Bullard after striking his 89-year-old mother on the side of the head with a closed fist.
According to an affidavit from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy responded to an assault at a home near Lakeside Drive where a caregiver said between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. she saw Christopher Banks Dunn strike his 89-year-old mother with ‘severe dementia’ on the side of the head with a closed fist.
The caregiver explained that she was helping the victim change when Dunn became upset and hit the victim on the side of the head for arguing with him, the document said. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL – An Eastern District of Texas federal jury has awarded $278.8 million in damages to a Tyler research firm suing tech-giant Samsung for patent infringement.
Headwater Research LLC, a Tyler-based research firm lead by inventor Dr. Greg Raleigh, filed a lawsuit against Samsung on March 10, 2023 which alleged that Samsung phones and tablets had infringed against two wireless communication technology patents.
U.S. patents 8,406,733 and 9,198,117 are technologies that are used to improve Wi-Fi speeds, reliability and the battery life of devices, according to a press release. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Our news partner KETK is reporting that gas prices are down compared to last Memorial Day weekend. According to AAA, the national average that Americans are paying is 3.192. Only a week ago, the number stood at 3.152, climbing to a .04 cent increase. Texas has a current average of $2.79, which resulted in a .03 cent difference within the week. Compared to this time last year, the average Texas gas price is down by 39 cents. Tyler is down by 38 cents from last year, Longview is down by 41 cents and Texarkana is down by 39 cents, AAA reported.
Texas is one of the least expensive states when it comes to gas in between Alabama ($2.76) and South Carolina ($2.81), according to AAA. Prices are rising slightly from last week during this late spring season as family vacations and road trips start up.
Courtesy of AAA
TYLER – Tyler Police Department officers and other first responders helped save a 60-year-old man who got trapped in a creek bed on Saturday night according to our news partner KETK.
Despite severe thunderstorms moving through Smith County on Saturday, the officers and EMS personnel responded to a report of a missing 60-year-old man with health concerns that hadn’t taken his medication, according to the Tyler Patrolman’s Association Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 182. The man was found cold, injured and unable to move but thankfully he was still alive. The association said he was then lifted out of the creek and treated by EMS.
“With incredible teamwork, they extracted him safely and got him the medical help he urgently needed. Their dedication and bravery saved a life last night. This is the heart of service,” the Tyler Patrolman’s Association said on Sunday.
UPDATE: TYLER – The Texas Game Wardens have confirmed that a 75-year-old was killed when a jet ski crashed into a boat at Lake Tyler West on Saturday.
Stephen Ward, 75 of Tyler, was killed when his jet ski crashed into what game wardens called a “recreational vessel” that had four occupants. Those four occupants were uninjured in the crash and no alcohol was involved, according to a press release from the Texas Game Wardens.
An autopsy has been ordered and the Texas Game Warden State Forensics Reconstruction and Mapping Team is investigating the crash. Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE – Residents of Palestine can be assured that the city is taking steps to control the mosquito population this summer thanks to scheduled maintenance, according to our news partner KETK.
The City of Palestine will spray for summer mosquitoes starting on Monday, May 26. To ensure coverage, mosquito control is divided into six areas which are sprayed twice annually.
The first three areas will be covered on May 26, while areas four, five and six are scheduled to be sprayed on May 29.
The spraying will begin at 9 p.m. and continue until 5 a.m. on those days. Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE – According to our news partner, KETK, a Palestine family who lost their infant daughter last year, donated their infant preservation device to a local hospital so other families could spend more time with their recently deceased babies.
A Palestine family, who lost their infant daughter last year, donated their infant preservation device to a local hospital so other families could spend more time with their recently deceased babies. While nothing could sooth their pain, all they wanted was another moment with Skipper Kate. The moment may not have been the way they imagined it, but the family was able to use a Cuddle Cot to make it happen.
“This device gave us the gift of time,” Pierce said. “It keeps them cold. And by keeping them cold, it allows families to get time they otherwise would not have gotten without the aid of this cooling device.”
Now Sayler and Noah Pierce are giving the same gift to other families by donating the device to Palestine Regional Medical Center. Read the rest of this entry »
GUN BARREL CITY – Three people were injured with one person being airlifted to a local hospital on Thursday after three vehicles were involved in a major crash in Gun Barrel City, officials said.
Gun Barrell City Fire Department said they responded to a major accident in the 200 block of Legendary Lane where three passengers of a red sedan were injured. One passenger was flown to a local hospital.
Legendary Lane was closed for two hours while an investigation of the accident was conducted.
WOOD COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that four people have been arrested following a high-speed chase in Wood County where multiple shots were fired.
According to Wood County Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrived at Lake Holbrook recreational area on Thursday evening at around 10:03 p.m. after receiving reports about a suspect who had stolen a firearm, had threatened several people with it and had threatened to shoot at law enforcement.
Once on the scene, deputies witnessed a white SUV attempting to leave from the recreational area at high speed, nearly striking several officials. As deputies began to pursue the vehicle, shots were fired by a suspect from the SUV, according to officials. Read the rest of this entry »
VAN ZANDT COUNTY – The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in identifying a suspect who was caught on video breaking into a house in the Ben Wheeler area on Friday morning, according to our news partner KETK.
Video footage shows the suspect, who appears to be a man walking around the home at around 7 a.m. Friday morning. In the video, posted on Facebook, the suspect’s face remains partially covered by what appears to be a rag.
The Sheriff’s Office is requesting anyone who may be able to identify the suspect through the video to contact the Van Zandt County Criminal Investigation Division at 903-567-4133.