Today is
Thursday June 04, 2026
VAN ZANDT COUNTY — The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office seized around 38 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, a deputy stopped a 2024 black GMC pickup truck on Friday while on Interstate 20. During the stop, the deputy discovered around 38 pounds of marijuana in bags inside the truck.
Malcom Hampton, 30, of Louisiana, was identified by the sheriff’s office as the driver of the truck. He was arrested and booked into the Van Zandt County Jail on a charge of possession of marijuana between 5 and 50 pounds.
The sheriff’s office connected the arrest with their criminal interdiction program. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Tax Office is mailing out 186,349 property tax statements. This week, 168,378 bills were mailed out, and another 17,971 statements will be mailed next week to residents who live in the Whitehouse Independent School District area. January 31, 2026, is the deadline for paying property taxes. Payments can be made by scanning the QR code on your statement — it will take you directly to the payment page on your account.
“It has been a game changer in how people pay their property taxes,” Smith County Tax Assessor-Collector Gary Barber said of adding the QR code. “If you want to skip the long lines at the Tax Office, I highly recommend you pay online.”
Taxpayers can click here to pay their tax bills with debit or credit card or e-check, which is the easiest and fastest way to pay.
The tax statements mailed and online reflect the new homestead exemptions that were approved in the statewide Constitutional Amendment Election. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — After protests were held in Smith County on Thursday afternoon regarding the county’s involvement in the Federal 287 (g) Immigration Enforcement Program, Sheriff Larry Smith released a statement defending his office and its policies.
In a statement, Smith reassured residents that the sheriff’s office has not changed its stance on immigration enforcement and public safety. Smith did, however, state that the sheriff’s office had joined the 287(g) program, claiming it strengthens their ability to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and to ensure that those who commit crimes in Smith County are held accountable.
“This program not only provides the Smith County Sheriff’s Office with the ability to ensure the immigration laws are enforced within Smith County, but it also mandates we enforce the Federal Immigration Laws,” Smith said. Read the rest of this entry »
Update – Gabrielle Erin Toon of Tyler, was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday after pleading guilty to physically assaulting a disabled minor.
SMITH COUNTY — A 27-year-old Tyler nurse has pleaded guilty four months after a video surfaced of her physically assaulting a disabled minor. According to our news partner KETK, Gabrielle Erin Toon pleaded guilty on Oct. 30 to a third-degree charge of injury to a child following her July arrest, her defense team confirmed. While the state offered a straight probation sentence, the defense requested deferred adjudication. Sentencing is scheduled for Friday.
Toon’s case first came to light after the child’s grandparents reported to the Tyler Police Department that Toon, a live-in nurse, had been seen on video smacking and aggressively pushing their granddaughter while responsible for her care during evening hours.
According to court records, the child is immobile, non-verbal, dependent on nighttime oxygen, has a chronic lung disease and had a kidney transplant. The video, captured on July 1, shows Toon slapping the child multiple times and pushing her head onto a pillow while demanding she go to sleep. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Brookshire Grocery Company (BGC) is making a major impact in the fight against hunger with a $500,000 donation to local food banks, responding to growing community needs during the ongoing government shutdown and the pause on SNAP funding. According to our news partner KETK, the contribution underscores BGC’s deep and enduring commitment to caring for its neighbors and strengthening the communities it serves.
“Our company was founded on the core value of serving others, and that mission remains at the heart of everything we do,” said Brad Brookshire, Chairman and CEO of BGC. “We know many families are facing difficult times, and we’re honored to support the incredible food banks working tirelessly to provide relief and hope.” Read the rest of this entry »
GREGG COUNTY — A man arrested for attempted kidnapping that happened on Paul Boorman Trail in Longview was sentenced to 5 years of probation on Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, Jelan DeAaron Armond Williams, 28 of Kilgore, was arrested for attempted commit kidnapping after an Aug. 2024 incident in which a woman reported that she was attacked on the Paul Boorman Trail in Longview.
The victim’s report was similar to another report that had come in earlier that day and Longview Police Department officers were able to locate a man matching the woman’s description. That man was later identified as Williams by law enforcement.
Williams was given deferred adjudication by 124th District Court Charles Alfonso on Thursday.
RUSK COUNTY — An East Texas Man has been sentenced to life in prison after he was found guilty of sexually abusing a member of his family every week for 10 years. According to our news partner KETK, Daniel Alton Flanagan, 51 of Mount Enterprise, was first arrested by the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 2 after one of his family members revealed that he was sexually assaulting her once a week from when she was 13 to 22 years old, according to his arrest affidavit.
After his arrest, Flanagan was interviewed at the sheriff’s office and admitted to sexually assaulting the victim. Flanagan was then charged with two counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child younger than 14, prohibited sexual conduct, and sexual performance by a child under 14 years old.
Assistant Rusk County and District Attorney Tiffany T. Conner said a jury found Flanagan guilty in this case on Oct. 23. According to Conner, Flanagan has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole or probation. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The Tyler Police Department is warning citizens about scam phone calls using fear tactics to steal money. Scammers often pose as law enforcement officers or bank representatives, claiming victims have warrants or suspicious activity on their accounts.
According to a news release from the Tyler Police Department, in recent reports, suspects impersonated members of Homeland Security, Tyler PD, and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, even using names of real employees and spoofed phone numbers. Victims were threatened with arrest unless they sent money for bonds, fines, or fees—often through gift cards, Green Dot cards, or cryptocurrency (Bitcoin) ATMs.
Other scams involve callers pretending to be from banks or credit card companies, asking for personal or account information and directing victims to transfer money to “secure accounts.” Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — Early voting continues this week at five polling locations throughout Smith County. Current totals as of Tuesday are, 5,381 in-person and mail-in ballots have been cast.
There are 17 Texas Constitutional Amendment Propositions on the ballot for the November 4 Election, as well as several city and school elections throughout Smith County. Smith County Elections Administrator Michelle Allcon is urging voters to do their research on the propositions before coming to the polls. Click here for that information.
CITY/SCHOOL ELECTIONS:
The City of Whitehouse and the East Texas Municipal Utility District, as well as the Arp, Troup and Whitehouse Independent School Districts will all be holding special elections on November 4.
Early voting is being held October 20-31, at five polling locations in Tyler, Lindale, Noonday and Whitehouse. Read the rest of this entry »
WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has posted a notice on its website saying federal food aid will not go out Nov. 1, raising the stakes for families nationwide as the government shutdown drags on.
The new notice comes after the Trump administration said it would not tap roughly $5 billion in contingency funds to keep benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly referred to as SNAP, flowing into November. That program helps about 1 in 8 Americans buy groceries.
“Bottom line, the well has run dry,” the USDA notice says. “At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01. We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats.” Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Karen Phillips, the current Smith County Clerk, announced she will seek re-election in the Republican Primary on March 3, 2026. According to our news partner KETK, Phillips announced during a gathering with family and friends that she intends to run for another term and continue to serve the citizens with accountability and conservative leadership. A county clerk is responsible for maintaining public records, administering elections, issuing licenses and certificates, and serving as the primary contact point between the county and its citizens.
Phillips has served as the Smith County Clerk for the past 15 years and claims to consistently deliver on her promises while operating with fiscal responsibility. She also said that during her first two years in office, she helped reduce the department’s budget by $150,000.
“I have worked hard to ensure efficiency, transparency, and accountability in the County Clerk’s Office,” Phillips said. “It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Smith County, and I look forward to building on these successes in the years ahead.” Read the rest of this entry »
ANGELINA COUNTY — A Huntington man has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2022 murder of his wife on Monday. According to our news partner KETK, Christopher Marriott, 54, of Huntington, was first arrested for murder on May 24, 2022, after officials said he called 911 on May 19 and told law enforcement that he and his wife, Sandra Marriott, had both tried to commit suicide, but only she died.
Angelina County Sheriff’s Office deputies and investigators later found that he caused Sandra’s death. Christopher pleaded guilty to murder before 217th Judicial District Court judge Bob Inselmann on Monday and was sentenced to serve life in state prison.
His life sentence in state prison started on Monday.
TYLER — After being notified this morning by the City of Tyler that the water would be shut off all day, the Cotton Belt Building is closed for the day, Wednesday, October 22.
The Smith County Tax Office, Record Services Department and Texas AgriLife Extension Agency are closed and will reopen for normal business hours on Thursday, October 23.
The Tax Office Substations in Noonday, Lindale and Troup remain open today and its online services are available.
RUSK — Rusk Rural Water Supply Company (RRWSC) has issued a boil water notice to several areas due to a main line leak, according to our news partner KETK.
Due to the leak, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the RRWSC to notify all customers in the following areas to boil their water prior to consumption: Read the rest of this entry »
LINDALE — A man is currently being held at the Smith County Jail after assaulting the Lindale Police chief on Saturday evening. According to an arrest affidavit and our news partner KETK, the incident occurred on 114 Cannery Row at around 7 p.m. as Lindale Chief of Police Dan Somes was directing traffic. While Somes was directing traffic, Andrew Hist was trying to turn down a street that was blocked off and proceeded to get out of his vehicle, walked over, and allegedly punched Chief Somes in his face.
Following the assault, witnesses helped Somes detain Hist until officers arrived on the scene. While witnesses and Somes attempted to detain Hist according to authorities, he tried to resist and was taken to the ground.
Hist was eventually placed under arrest after additional officers arrived on the scene and he was taken to the Smith County Jail. Following his arrest, Hist was charged with assaulting a peace officer and resisting arrest.