Today is
Thursday June 04, 2026
HENDERSON COUNTY, Texas – Nichalos Allen Hunt was sentenced to 10 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for possession of a controlled substance and four years for bail jumping and failure to appear in court. Our news partners at KETK report that Hunt allegedly admitted the baggie and a glass pipe were his and it was later determined the baggie contained 2.22 grams of methamphetamine. A Henderson County deputy received information on an individual with an outstanding parole warrant located in a hotel room in Gun Barrel City. Deputies on the scene reported seeing plastic baggie containing a crystal like substance was reportedly sitting in plain sight on the nightstand next to Hunt.
Take better care of yourself physically with David Rancken’s App Of The Day: BetterMe! You can find BetterMe in the app stores below.
This can help you keep up with gift-shipping this Christmas, it’s David Rancken’s App Of The Day: Fotor! You can find Fotor in the app stores below.
SMITH COUNTY, TX – According to a release from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, the SCSO received a transfer case from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office regarding allegations of physical and sexual abuse involving three children. During the investigation, authorities learned that two sisters, under ten years of age, made an outcry of sexual abuse to their father in July 2024 and he, in turn, reported the allegations to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. Two suspects were interviewed and subsequently arrested for aggravated sexual assault of a child on warrants issued by Judge Taylor Heaton. They are identified as Raywin Lyons, 65, and Melissa Branch, 38. Both suspects were incarcerated on two counts each of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child with bonds totaling $600,000.
This can help you keep up with gift-shipping this Christmas, it’s David Rancken’s App Of The Day: USPS Informed Delivery! You can find USPS Informed Delivery in the app stores below.
UPSHUR COUNTY – Gary Rumbaugh, 57, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for online solicitation of a minor. According to our news partner KETK, Rumbaugh spoke to multiple minors via Facebook Messenger, with one explicitly telling him she was 12 years old. He also invited the child to his home as well as inviting others to meet in Gladewater Park. In recovered messages, he told the victim that he’s had sexual relations with children her age before. In a statement from the Upshur County District Attorney’s Office, authorities were unable to contact the victims involved.
This is valuable for your holiday gift-giving this Christmas, it’s David Rancken’s App Of The Day: Giftster! You can find Giftster in the app stores below.
If you’re looking to become a better public speaker, you need to check out David Rancken’s App Of The Day. It’s called Speeko. You can find Speeko in the app stores below.
For the person who wants listen to music from around the world! Check out David Rancken’s App Of The Day. It’s called Radiooo. You can find Radiooo in the app stores below.
HUNT COUNTY, Texas – Our news partner KETK reports that after nearly 10 months since a man was accused of dumping puppies in a secluded county road, Hunt County authorities have arrested him for animal cruelty. Forensic exams were performed on the puppies that determined they were eight to nine-weeks-old when abandoned. West Tawakoni PD spoke with the puppies’ owner, Billy Joe Byerly, who reportedly admitted that he had abandoned them on a secluded county road. Criminal charges were later filed against Byerly and in September the Hunt County attorney’s office issued a warrant for his arrest. Byerly was charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals, a Class A misdemeanor.
SMITH COUNTY – The Texas Department of Public Safety said that 2 people died in a plane crash near Burleson Lake near Mineola on Wednesday night. According to our news partner KETK, the crash happened at around 10:20 p.m. on Wednesday at a private ranch on Live Oak Drive in northern Smith County. DPS said that the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.
The Smith County Sheriff’s office said deputies were first called out to look for the crashed small plane along with DPS and Smith County Emergency Services District 2.
EAST TEXAS – If you don’t want to roll the dice on your family’s cooking this Thanksgiving or need to pick up something last-minute, you’re in luck! Multiple local restaurants will be open for Thanksgiving Day, and our news partners at KETK have compiled a list of stores that’ll be open as well.
Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – On Tuesday, both the city of Tyler and Smith County announced their office hours for the Thanksgiving holiday. Tyler waste collection will be picking up as normal on November 25 and 26, while residents who’s pickup typically occurs on Thursday will be picked up on Wednesday. For the full solid waste holiday calendar, click here. All non-emergency City offices will close at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Non-emergency Smith County offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 28 and 29, for Thanksgiving. County offices will reopen on Monday, December 2, for normal business hours.
Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Michael Jones, 31, has had his bond reduction request denied by a Smith County Judge after he and Kerry Jones, 34, were arrested on charges concerning dogfighting after 60 dogs and two cats were seized from a Tyler property on Sept. 9. Michael’s mother, Brenda, took the stand during the Tuesday hearing. She testified the dogs belonged to Michael’s brother, Kerry. He is also facing charges. Brenda called Michael a “nurturer” and says he cared for his puppies. At one point, she tried pleading the fifth when asked about dogfighting. Michael’s bond will remain at $700,000. Kerry’s is set for $560,000.
JACKSONVILLE – James Warnell Phillips of Jacksonville has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty on Wednesday to two counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child. According to our news partner KETK and the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office, charges against Phillips were brought after it was determined he had continuously sexually abused minors for 11 years. The case against him was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Richey and Cherokee County District Attorney Elmer Beckworth.