Today is
Tuesday November 26, 2024
TYLER — The trial has begun for Daniel Nyabuto, who was charged in the death of a Smith County deputy. According to our news partner KETK, Daniel Nyabuto’s trail began with opening statements from the prosecution and defense. Nyabuto was charged with intoxicated manslaughter in connection to the death of Smith County Deputy Lorenzo Bustos. In the first half of the day, multiple witnesses were called to the stand to share what they remembered from that night. “I got out and I ran towards the accident and just asked the other officer how I could help,†said Jacob Miller, a witness. The judge then took a 30 minute recess to allow both sides to discuss the evidence. Detective Michael Skinner, a witness, who was training deputy Bustos the night he was killed, explained what Bustos was doing when the incident occurred. Read the rest of this entry »
UPSHUR COUNTY — The man accused of murdering two East Texas sisters has been extradited from California. Alvin McKnight Jr. was captured in San Bernardino, California on November 15. He’s accused of fleeing to the Golden State after the capital murders of Dermetrica Dashaunda Waters, 37, and Mandy Ray, 35, at a home near Gilmer on November 4. McKnight, Upshur County Sheriff Larry Webb, deputies and DPS Officers landed at East Texas Regional Airport Tuesday afternoon. They flew in a DPS plane. McKnight was in handcuffs during the entire flight. McKnight was arraigned Wednesday in Gilmer. The 41-year-old is being held in the Upshur County Jail with bond set at $5 million. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — On Monday morning, Smith County’s 7th District Court conducted jury selection for the trial of Daniel Nyabuto vs the State of Texas. According to our news partner KETK, Nyabuto, 22, of Grand Prairie is charged in connection with killing Smith County Sheriff’s Deputy Lorenzo Bustos. In July of 2022, while Bustos was conducting a traffic stop on Highway 155 he was reportedly killed by Nyabuto’s vehicle rear-ending his patrol car. In October of 2022, Nyabuto was indicted on two charges in connection to Busto’s death: Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and intoxicated manslaughter causing the death of a peace officer. Opening statements were to be delivered Tuesday morning. Nyabuto’s defense preciously filed a motion to transfer venue to Cherokee County, but the trial will go on in a Smith County court. 7th District Judge Kerry Russell will oversee the trial.
WHITEHOUSE — The Whitehouse Area Chamber of Commerce said that they’ve filed a police report with the Whitehouse Police Department after alcohol was allegedly thrown out at their Christmas parade on Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, the incident was discussed at length in the Whitehouse Texas, Rants, Raves, & Recommendations Facebook group. Several members of the group reported that the truck was tossing bottles of alcohol and other items out to parade watchers. Ashley Westerfield with the Whitehouse Chamber of Commerce chimed into the Facebook thread to apologize for what allegedly happened: “I am the Admin for the Whitehouse Area Chamber of Commerce. The truck that did this was NOT a registered entry in the parade. He went behind Holloway and snuck into the parade line between floats. A complaint was filed with the Police department as soon as we were told about it. They have a picture of his truck, License plate and the name of his company. This was NOT an approved float. We apologize for anything that was handed out by this individual and his passengers.†Read the rest of this entry »
ARP — A man wanted in both Texas and Louisiana was arrested in Arp earlier this month after a pursuit with police. According to our news partner KETK, Arp PD announced on Wednesday that the Smith County Sheriff’s Office pursued a Chevrolet Camaro with a stolen license plate on Nov. 18 but were unable to continue their pursuit. Officials said a short time later an Arp police officer saw the car traveling on Highway 64 E and attempted to stop the car. The officer pursued the suspect for a short time before the Camaro experienced mechanical issues. The driver fled, and police said he was soon caught by the officer. Dealvin Darnell was arrested for evading arrest and possession of a controlled substance between four grams and 200 grams. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The Tyler city council voted on Thursday evening to suspend CenterPoint Energy’s filing to raise its costs. “The city has taken action by law that it can take,†said Tyler City Attorney Deborah Pullum. The city council took only a few minutes to suspend the filing, our news partner KETK reports. CenterPoint Energy gave the city of Tyler a notice of a proposed rate increase of 5.8% that would go into effect on Dec. 4 if no action was taken by the city. Hence why the city council met on Thursday. Pullum said they want to make sure the city and its businesses get to a fair number. “I think it’s important for all parties obviously and important to the customers because they only want to be charged fair rates but they also want to be able to get the services that they need,†added Pullum. Officials said they expect to have ongoing talks with the company and have 90 days to come to a decision with CenterPoint Energy on a rate.
TYLER — According to Smith County judicial records, the State of Texas has decided to not seek the death penalty for Steven Alexander Smith, a man accused of killing two Tyler dentists in 2022. According to our news partner KETK, 59-year-old Dr. Blake G. Sinclair and 75-year-old Dr. Jack E. Burroughs were both shot to death at Affordable Dentures & Implants in March of 2022. At the time, Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said that Steven was a patient at the clinic when an altercation about dentures started. Steven allegedly went out to his vehicle, came back into the office, and shot Sinclair and Burroughs. “[He] went out and retrieved medium-caliber pistol from his vehicle, returned inside and started shooting,†said Sheriff Smith. Steven was later arrested outside of his home and indicted in May. His jury trial is scheduled for Jan. 22, 2024.
ATHENS — A former Athens school bus driver charged in connection to a fatal crash with a train in 2019 had his charges dismissed. According to our news partner KETK, in a Henderson County court on Nov. 21, 83-year-old John Franklin Stevens had his injury to a child and criminally negligent homicide cases dismissed. He was charged in connection to a January 2019 crash with a Union Pacific train that killed 13-year-old Christopher Bonilla and injured 9-year-old Joselyne Torres. He was driving the bus at the time when it was hit by the train and reportedly was pushed one-quarter of a mile before coming to a stop. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — The executive director of the Sheriff’s Association of Texas has resigned in lieu of termination after being accused of misappropriation of funds. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County Sheriff and President of SAT Larry Smith announced on Thursday that Executive Director Steve Westbrook is accused of misappropriating the association’s funds after receiving two tips from employees on Nov. 16. On Nov. 17, Smith received confirmation that the Texas Attorney General’s Office was investigating the case and secured documents. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The downtown Tyler area is now set for Christmas, but a big part of the celebration will be missing. In a public statement made on Monday, the Tyler Rotary Clubs shared why the Rose City Christmas Parade could not have been rescheduled. Locals were reportedly not happy with the decision, saying the event serves a vital purpose every year. “That parade is kind of important for the downtown businesses and for Tyler at large and for East Texas,†said Tyler resident, Aaron Thomas Hinds. The Rotary Clubs of Tyler released the following statement: Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — East Texas Council Of Governments announces its Executive Committee approved the renewal of purchasing the Smart911 mass notification system as a part of its public safety program for the thirteenth consecutive year. This system allows ETCOG to partner with East Texas’ city and county emergency management coordinators to send messages quickly notifying citizens about emergencies such as: tornadoes and storm events, drinking water contamination, utility outages, evacuation notices and routes, missing persons, chemical spills or gas leaks and other emergency incidents where rapid and accurate notification is essential. Read the rest of this entry »
KILGORE — The City of Kilgore kicked off their the holiday season with their 92nd annual Christmas parade. According to our news partner KETK, the streets were filled with families in downtown Kilgore to see all of the floats go by in the themed ‘Rocking around the Christmas tree’ parade. Sheroa Hennigan, a resident, has watched the floats go by for more than 30 years. “This is one of the big highlights is the parade and we just absolutely love our small time feel, get to walk the city and get to do fun things and enjoy the lights and all the friends we get to see,†said Hennigan. For some it is a long time tradition to bring your loved ones and set out lawn chairs. For others it is a tradition to be apart of the parade. “We put it in a lot of parades. This is about the tenth time it’s been in this parade. We enjoy doing this its a lot of fun,†said Tulley Borders, a parade participant. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A local food pantry received a donation to feed and clothe people in need. According to our news partner KETK, on Monday, St. Vincent De Paul received a $30,000 check from the Tyler Friends of the Poor at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Center. According to the organization, the money will be used to help feed and clothe those in need. “We have to supply the food for our food pantry, this is a tremendous support in that aspect for our ministry,†said Grace Vierling, the executive director at St. Vincent De Paul.
TYLER — The Rose City Christmas Parade, scheduled for Thursday, November 30, has been canceled due to potential severe weather. The announcement was issued by the parade committee on Monday. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The annual UT Health Tyler Tree-Lighting Ceremony will take place Tuesday, Nov. 28, from 5-6 p.m. at 1000 S. Beckham on the hospital’s front lawn. Santa arrives on the front lawn of the hospital at 5 p.m. Bring your own cameras for photos. Refreshments will be served at the event. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and free parking is available in both parking garages. The event is open to the public. At 5:20 p.m. our tree-lighting ceremony will begin. The tree will be lit by Rob Taylor, who underwent open-heart surgery this year at UT Health Tyler, where his wife and daughter work as nurses, and completed Pritikin Intensive Cardiac Rehab at the UT Health East Texas Rehabilitation Center in Tyler.