TYLER — In the first half of the year, Texans have lost more than $4 million to scams, our news partner KETK reports. The team in charge of preventing and investigating many of these fraud cases is the state agency, Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, which is based in Downtown Tyler. Director Adam Colby (pictured) said criminals move from city to city and they come into connect the crimes. After opening in January of 2022, FCIC has worked around 1,800 cases and some of them are linked. “We saw the need, because one agency may be working a case while another agency may be working the same case completely parallel of the other investigation, so that’s what we do. We are connecting all of this up,†said Colby. 
TYLER — Tyler Junior College said on Tuesday that they are mourning the death of their athletic director. According to our news partner KETK, officials with the college said Athletic Director Kevin Vest had lost a lengthy battle with melanoma. “Our prayers are with his family and all of the lives he touched during his illustrious career,†officials said. Vest was the fifth athletic director in TJC’s 92-year history, and came from Waubonsee Community College in Illinois in 2019.
TYLER — Tyler Parks and Recreation will host, for the second time, Pawchella at Fun Forest Pool, located at 900 N. Glenwood Blvd. The event is B.Y.O.D. (Bring Your Own Dog) and will take place on Saturday, Aug. 19 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The facility will be available for pups to use to play and cool off. Admission is free. Click 
SMITH COUNTY — The body of a Smith County man, who had been reported missing around midnight, has been found in a field early Tuesday morning. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Gilbert Lay, 60, was found about 100 yards from his residence on CR 3140, near Tyler State Park. Officials said they were contacted by family members around midnight Monday to report Lay had been missing for an extended period of time. Lay had a Corgi dog with him. They described him as legally blind, suffers from PTSD and high blood pressure. Lay was considered to be in grave danger. His body was found around 3:15 Tuesday morning. Lay’s Corgi dog was located alive near his owner. An investigation is underway.
TYLER — Officials are seeking information related to a February murder in Tyler. Warren Edward Rogers, 61, was found dead with a gunshot wound in a residence in the 1600 block of West Mims Street on Feb. 6, our news partner KETK reports. Tyler-Smith County Crimestoppers is offering up a $1,000 reward for information, and the family and friends of Rogers are providing a supplemental reward of $1,000. “Rogers was a U.S. Army Veteran and loved by many friends and family,†Crimestoppers said. Anyone with information is asked to call the Tyler Police Department or to remain anonymous, contact Tyler-Smith County Crimestoppers at 903-597-2833. Only tips submitted directly to Crimestoppers are eligible are eligible for the cash reward.
TYLER — TxDOT is getting ready to begin a major project on Old Jacksonville Highway and they’re already in the process of clearing trees along portions of the roadway. According to our news partner KETK, it’s all to expand the road to accommodate busy traffic, improve safety and mobility. “Section from FM 346 in Flint stretching south toward Bullard and U.S. 69 will extend that roadway from a two-lane into four lanes, it will have a continuous left turning lane,†said Jeff Williford, Tyler TxDOT district public information officer. 
TYLER — A dedication ceremony for a memorial called the “Hope Monument†was held in Tyler on Wednesday morning, our news partner KETK reports. The monument serves as a memorial to children who were lost due to miscarriage, accident or other circumstances. Dr. Lourell Sutliff and his wife Lynda donated the funds for the purchase of the memorial. “The loss of a child is such a sad situation that the physical depiction of a mother talking to Jesus while he’s comforting her child just sends a powerful message that there is hope, even in a sad and tragic situation,†said Dr. Lourell Sutliff. Dr. Sutliff said that it is a blessing for him and his wife to be an integral part of the monument. The monument is on display at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler at 800 East Dawson Street.
MARSHALL — Three adults and two juveniles were arrested in connection to the shooting death of a 16-year-old. According to our news partner KETK, on June 7, just after 1:30 a.m., officials were notified of a person lying in the roadway on Alexander Street. Upon arrival, officers found a young black male dead as the result of a single gunshot wound to the chest. An investigation found that the teen was lying in the road for more than an hour and a half before the police were called. Individuals reportedly drove around the body and took photos and video recordings of the body in the road. Two juveniles were charged with engaging in organized criminal activity for robbery. 
JACKSONVILLE — A woman is dead after being hit by a train in Jacksonville. According to our news partner KETK, on Wednesday around 1 p.m., Jacksonville police and fire departments responded to an accident in reference to a train hitting a pedestrian west of US 69 on the Union Pacific rail Line. The pedestrian was identified as 65-year-old Guillmerina Vera Perez of Jacksonville. 
CHEROKEE COUNTY — Authorities in Cherokee County are investigating an apparent homicide after finding a body early Wednesday morning. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office located a person of interest, Brandon Dale Fagan, 22, in the homicide investigation. According to our news partner KETK, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a dead person at around 2:20 a.m. When deputies arrived at the scene on CR 3429 near Mount Selman, they determined a homicide had occurred. The sheriff’s office requested assistance from the Texas Rangers. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 903-683-2271.
TYLER — A man was awarded $4.3 million by a jury in a lawsuit against Walmart after he was struck by a car in a 2020 incident. According to our news partner KETK, Arkansas native Scott Lacy was working as a subcontractor at a Walmart in Tyler in the lawn and garden center when in July 2020 multiple employees yelled for help in catching a shoplifter. “The employees and Mr. Lacy chased the shoplifter into the parking lot to retrieve the stolen merchandise, and then one employee instructed Mr. Lacy to release the suspect,†his lawyers said in a release. “Mr. Lacy was walking back toward the Walmart store when the shoplifter struck him with his vehicle and catapulted him into a pole, shattering his ankle, which later required multiple surgeries to repair. Mr. Lacy also suffered a traumatic brain injury.†
LUFKIN — Twelve members of Harmony Hill Baptist Church in Lufkin are currently stuck in Niger after a coup happened there last week, according to our news partner KETK. The church members arrived in Niger on July 21 and were scheduled to leave on July 30 but are still there as of Monday July 31, church officials confirmed. Todd Core, Lead Pastor Harmony Hill Baptist Church, said “We ask the public to join us in praying for the people of Niger, the safe and speedy return of our team, and for the families awaiting their return.†The church is holding a time of gathered prayer every night at 6 p.m. until their members return.
SMITH COUNTY — Fire officials continue to discourage outdoor burning, stressing caution as conditions worsen. Smith County Fire Marshal Paul Findley will give a report on current drought and fire conditions during Smith County Commissioners Court on Tuesday, August 1, at 9:30 a.m. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) moved into the low-600 range over the weekend for Smith County, and it will likely rise daily if the current weather pattern holds.
HENDERSON COUNTY — The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a man reported missing. Officials said Kevin Thompson, 34, was living in the Murchison area. He was last known to be driving a green 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee. If you have any information in reference to his location please call the Sheriff’s Office at 903-675-5128.
TYLER — The Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation is performing mill and inlay operations that will close several ramps on Interstate 20 near Loop 49 until Wednesday. The operations will be conducted daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. starting Monday, according to TxDOT. Officials added that crews will also be performing operations on I-20 near County Road 411. TxDOT asked motorists to buckle up, mind their speed and pay attention while driving through areas that crews are working in.