Today is
Sunday June 14, 2026
HENDERSON – A Kilgore man remains jailed on a murder charge. Marvin Durrell Sanders, 37, of Kilgore, was booked Dec. 25 on $1 million bond, charged with murder. According to the Kilgore News Herald, the initial report says the suspect suddenly and inexplicably approached the Rev. Waylon D. Hunt during a family gathering and shot him at point-blank range. The killing occurred early in the evening. Reportedly, family members had been watching a football game at a residence outside the Kilgore City limits. From initial information, “The guy walked into the shop, put a gun to Hunt’s head and shot him,†Rusk Co. Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace Joe Sorrells said. According to the JP, there was no motive mentioned in the affidavit. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — An East Texas pastor has died after a heroic act on Christmas Day in Costa Rica. According to KETK, Kelly Clarke of New Covenant Church attempted to rescue a little boy who was drowning when he passed away. He and his family were in Costa Rica doing missionary work. The boy survived the the incident. The family has started a GoFundMe page to bring his body back to Texas. To donate, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/8wzp9x-bring-kelly-clarke-home
TYLER — Tyler Police have issued an arrest warrant for a man wanted on a deadly conduct charge. Zechariah Aacon Smith, 20, Tyler, is accused of firing shots into a home on west Queen Street around 8:00 last night. No one was home at the time of the shooting. The owners of the residence showed up at the same time of officers and advised them that he knows who the suspect is and that the incident is related to an earlier disturbance in the park between the two. Tyler Police request your help in locating Smith. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Smith are urged to contact the Tyler Police Department, at 903-531-1000, or Crimestoppers at 903-597-CUFF (903-597-2833).
TYLER — A Chandler man has died after crossing into oncoming traffic and hitting a car head-on. According to Tyler Police, the accident happened just before 11:30 Thursday night on west Grande. James Finkie was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Police said it appeared that Finkie lost control of the bike and crossed over into oncoming traffic. He hit a Ford Focus head-on. Officers do not believe alcohol was a factor in the wreck.
CHEROKEE COUNTY — The National Weather Service reports an EF-2 tornado hit Rusk Tuesday. The NWS earlier released storm damage information from the Rusk area and Reklaw. According to KETK, in Reklaw, the Emergency manager of damage reports some outbuildings have been destroyed by Tuesday’s storm. Some heavy equipment damage is also being seen on the east end of the town. There are reports of 3 houses without roofs 5 miles to the south-west of Rusk. The first house is located at CR 2210 near FM 1857. A second house is located at FM 23 and 2159. Information on the third house is limited. There are multiple reports of downed trees and power lines in the area. In Rusk ISD, school was canceled for Wednesday due to minor flooding and power outages,
GLADEWATER — Gladewater Police arrest a man wanted in connection with two recent church burglaries.According to KETK, Gary Dwayne Green, 31, of Gladewater, was taken into custody after he was released from the hospital. Officials said he suffered a medical event when he was reportedly busted breaking into a church. Officers responded to an alarm call at the First United Methodist Church in Gladewater and found Green inside the building. The same church was burglarized on December 10 and December 12. Church members said a Mac computer, flat screen t-v, keyboard and a DVD player were stolen. Those items have not been recovered. Green has been charged with burglary of a building.
UPSHUR COUNTY — An East Texas teenager died Tuesday after she crashed her vehicle four miles south of Gilmer. According to the DPS report, Cherish Kelley, 17, Big Sandy, was headed north on Highway 155 toward Gilmer when she hydroplaned and hit a tow truck traveling in the opposite direction. Kelley was killed in the wreck. The tow truck driver survived the crash. She has has been identified as Jessica Reed, 31, of Lone Star. DPS stated Kelley’s vehicle was traveling at an unsafe speed.
GREGG COUNTY — A Gregg County jury found Roger Benefield guilty of harassment of a public servant and sentenced him to 45 years behind bars for spitting on a police officer. According to KETK, Benefield was harassing a female at Magrill Plaza when officer Larry Solomon of the Longview Police Department intervened. Benefield became belligerent with Officer Solomon, eventually spitting on him. Benefield was sentenced as a habitual offender due to having two prior felonies on his record.
LONGVIEW — Police said four people were arrested Sunday morning after trying to burglarize Cash America Pawn in Longview. According to the Longview News-Journal, Bazaree Quintes Brown Jr., 17, and Cleivlend Zeunta Williams, 19, both of Jefferson, and Corterian Jamarion Garrett, 18, and Courtney Glenn Bradley, 19, both of Longview, were charged with burglary of a building after police responded to an alarm at the pawn shop on High Street. Garrett, Bradley (pictured) and Williams, who also were charged with evading arrest. Bradley was released Sunday on $7,000 bond. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A Smith County Grand Jury has indicted a local business owner who is accused of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 14. According to KETK, Grant Edward Cook, 56, of Flint, was indicted December 7 on one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child. He was arrested on July 17, 2017. The suspect is the owner of Grant Cook Music. The incident reportedly took place on July 4 in the 22100 block of Highway 155 S in the Flint area. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Cook’s girlfriend and two grandchildren were there for the 4th of July and spent the night at the location of the reported assault. The female victim, who is under the age of 14, made an outcry to her sister, who in turn told the grandmother. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A Salvation Army kettle was stolen Saturday night while volunteers were ringing bells at the Wal-Mart on Hwy 64. According to volunteers, a man picked up the entire stand before running away with it. No injuries were reported. This is the last week for the 2017 Kettle Campaign, and The Salvation Army said they have raised only 62% of the $375,000 needed to fund the programs they provide. Donations can be given at any Red Kettle, online at http://www.salvationarmytyler.org or by texting JINGLE to 41444. Read the rest of this entry »
KILGORE — A Kilgore man was arrested after police said he attempted to pass forged checks at an auto store in November. Aaron Slagle, 37, was charged with forgery and released from jail Dec. 8 on $20,000 bond. According to KETK, Slagle is accused of attempting to pass a $210.49 check with a woman’s name Nov. 24 at ABC Auto Parts in Gladewater. He tried to return the battery he purchased to a Kilgore auto parts store the same day. Three days later, a woman acting on Slagle’s behalf also attempted to return the battery but was denied and questioned by employees. Gregg County sheriff’s deputies recovered five laptops, a printer, blank checks, counterfeit money, drug paraphernalia and an “off-white crystal-like substance” from Slagle’s home in Kilgore, according to a warrant. Several checks “were in the process of being ‘washed’ in order to alter the original” when deputies arrested Slagle.
TYLER — Tyler Police Department announced they are participating in a Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) in Tyler, looking for Red Light violators in targeted areas of the City. They said due to the increased volume of traffic during the holidays, drivers have the tendency to become more impatient and often run red lights, which might result in a crash. So far this year, Tyler Police have issued 3,749 citations for a red light violation. The Tyler Municipal Court fine for running a red light is $301. The number of crashes in Tyler this year caused from someone running a red light is 161. The (STEP) program is a Texas funded grant that provides extra traffic enforcement for law enforcement agencies who participate within the guidelines. This enforcement program will run through January 15, 2018.
SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Fire Marshal Connie McCoy-Wasson is asking people to refrain from burning until the area sees a substantial amount of rainfall. There is a chance of rain this weekend. “With the low humidity and high winds, the fire danger is extremely high right now.” she said. With the New Year’s fireworks season approaching, Mrs. McCoy-Wasson cautioned residents who may use fireworks to be extremely careful. If fireworks cause a fire, the person setting them can be held liable, she said. On Wednesday, December 13, the National Weather Service out of Shreveport, La., issued a fire danger statement. Read the rest of this entry »
PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg Police Department has issued a ‘Be On the Look Out’ (BOLO) for a robbery suspect. According to KETK, Jamiriquan Enalls, 19, is wanted for aggravated robbery. He is believed to be in the south part of the city. Enalls is described as 6’1, 245 pounds. Authorities say he is considered dangerous and not to attempt to apprehend him. Call 911 immediately.