Today is
Thursday April 03, 2025
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriffâs Office is searching for a wanted 32-year-old man who has been missing for a year. According to our news partner KETK, the sheriffâs office identified the man as Brantaja Dewaye Holloway-Blevins who is wanted for manufactured delivery of a controlled substance since August 2024. Holloway-Blevins is described as a black man, with black hair and brown eyes, weighs around 160 pounds and is 6 foot 1 inch.
Anyone with information about Holloway Blevins is asked to contact the Smith County Sheriffâs Office at 903-566-6600 or the Smith County Crime Stoppers at 903-597-2833.
UPSHUR COUNTY — A man has been arrested for allegedly hitting a New Diana ISD student with his vehicle on Monday while she was crossing the road to board a school bus. According to our news partner KETK, the crash took place at the intersection of FM 726 and U.S. Highway 259 when a driver, who was later identified as Jerry Martin, 56 of Longview, ignored the red flashing lights on the bus and struck the student. Martin was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and is currently being held in the Upshur County Jail on a $100,000 bond. The student has been treated and released from a local hospital, according to New Diana ISD assistant superintendent Greg Pope.
New Diana ISD is being joined in warning drivers by others school districts like Palestine ISD and Mount Pleasant ISD, theyâve has accidents like this in the past. Both districts are urging drivers to be extra cautious for school busses. Read the rest of this entry »
CHANDLER — A traffic issue in Chandler, caused by a blocked railroad crossing, is causing traffic delays. A train is reportedly parked on the tracks at FM 315 south. No word on when the train will be moved. Drivers are urged to use an alternate route.
EAST TEXAS — The Texas Education Agency has added the names of two East Texas educators to their growing list of people flagged in a certification fraud investigation. According to our news partner KETK, these teachers, coaches and educators are under investigation to see if they were involved with an alleged Houston-based scheme to falsify TEA certifications for hundreds of people, according to NBCDFW. As of now, there are 163 teachers on the list.
The educator certification is an official recognition indicating that an individual has met all the requirements to work as a certified teacher. With an educator certification, people can potentially receive higher pay and are permitted to work at public schools.
The two East Texas educators added on Tuesday are Reginald Hill with Carthage ISD and Taishia Holt with Lufkin ISD. Carthage ISDâs website lists Hill as a teacher and assistant football coach. Read the rest of this entry »
HAYS COUNTY (AP) -A Texas crisis communications specialist has sued Blake Lively for defamation after the actor pulled him into her legal fight with co-star and director Justin Baldoni over their film, âIt Ends With Us.â
EAST TEXAS — Texas has carried out its first execution since the state tried to put a Palestine man to death, a battle that is still raging. Robert Roberson was to have been put to death three and a half months ago. He was convicted in the 2002 death of his daughter. The courts have upheld the conviction, but after hearing new evidence, a Texas House Committee became convinced Roberson was wrongly convicted based on shaken baby syndrome, and that the girl actually died from an acute illness.
The committee managed to derail the execution in October by issuing a subpoena for Roberson to testify. A stay was issued, then lifted it with the Texas Attorney General’s Office insisting that Roberson will not appear. Now with new members added to the court of criminal appeals, Roberson’s lawyers say they are close to filing a new appeal.
JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville Police Department arrested a man in connection to the Nov. 27, 2024 hit-and-run death of Tayedrian Baker. According to our news partner KETK, Londedric Jayquell Taylor Sr., 30, of Jacksonville, was arrested for accident involving serious bodily injury or death and has been booked into the Cherokee County Jail.
Police said Baker was traveling on an electric bike when an unknown vehicle hit him. Baker was flown to a Tyler hospital but later died from his injuries. Baker was an organ donor and helped save six peopleâs lives following his death.
âOur hearts go out to Mr. Bakerâs family during this difficult time. The case remains under investigation, and no further details will be released at this time,â the Jacksonville Police Department said.
KILGORE — The Kilgore Police Department arrested two suspects on Tuesday after more than 600 grams of meth and other drugs were found during a raid. According to our news partner KETK, members of the Narcotics Department, Drug Enforcement Unit and Proactive Community Engagement Team served a drug warrant at an apartment on Martin and Houston street. During the drug raid, officials reportedly found 643 grams of meth, 7 grams of Psilocybin, 27.2 pounds of Marijuana, 10 grams of Trazodone, 241 grams of âwhite powdery substanceâ, Glock 23, Mini Drako, Drako, Semi-automatic rifle, ammunition and two bullet proof vests.
Alston Antwone Lee has been charged with the manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, possession of dangerous drugs and weapon charges coming soon. His bonds total $235,000.
The Kilgore Police Department reminded dealers that their âtime is numbered.â
WOOD COUNTY — Arrest records shed light on a former pastor who allegedly used the same ruse to lure children and sexually assault them at church. According to our news partner KETK, Timothy Nallâs affidavit indicates the sexual assault took place at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Mineola in Fall 2022. According to a deputyâs offense report, a counselor notified deputies of possible sexual abuse to a 4-year-old girl.
The parents of the girl had placed her in counseling sessions after they noticed strange behavior at home that highly alarmed them. The suspect was identified as Timothy Nall who was the full time pastor at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, where the family went to beginning February 2022.
A forensic interview was conducted at the Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center on Jan. 27 where the child made statements against Nall. Nall was booked into the Smith County Jail and was released the following day. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Commissioners voted on Tuesday afternoon to honor the memory of two firefighters who were killed in the line of duty while battling a house fire in 2007. According to our news partner KETK, the court voted to rename a portion of FM 2493, or Old Jacksonville, as the âCaptain Kevin Williams and Firefighter Austin Cheek Memorial Highwayâ in memory of the two firefighter who died after responding to a house fire. During the meeting Council member Neal Franklin reflected on the tragedy.
âIt was a tough time in the fire service and a tough time for everybody. It brings back some hard moments but we are here to honor those individuals today,â Franklin said.
The Noonday Volunteer Fire Department crew, including Williams and Cheek, responded to a house fire located at 20188 FM 2493 on Aug. 3, 2007 at around 1:35 a.m. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — A Longview gymnastics instructor, Matthew Orban, 52, has been charged with sexual assault of a minor. According to our news partner KETK, the incident involving Orban occurred on or around March 1, 2016. Orban reportedly turned himself into the Gregg County Jail on Dec. 12 and was released the same day on a $75,000 bond.
Orban is co-founder of Faith Flip alongside Nicole Orban, whose mission is to reach and teach children in a âloving, caring environment.â The nonprofit is located in the Longview Mall where they provide tumbling and trampoline instruction while teaching life lessons through the Holy Bible.
Orban is scheduled to appear in the 188th district court on April 9 at 9 a.m. for a status hearing.
LONGVIEW — The City of Longviewâs ordinance that requires owners to spay and neuter stray dogs and cats will go into effect starting this Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. According to our news partner KETK, the ordinance was proposed by the city in order to fix their stray animal problem and to prevent overcrowding. This push to limit the amount of stray animals in Longview comes after a man was attacked and killed by a pack of stray dogs last February.
The Longview Animal Advisory committee worked for months to find a solution to overcrowding and the safety of their residents. The ordinance will require owners of stray dogs and cats to be sterilized. Sterilization requirements and the intact pet permit include exemptions such as infertility or chronic health issues, according to the city. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler held a kickoff event to celebrate the School of Nursingâs 50th anniversary. The event paid tribute to the schoolâs beginning in 1975 as the Division of Nursing under Texas Eastern University, which became UT Tyler. Some highlights of the last five decades include the first class of traditional BSN students beginning in 1982 and the Palestine Distance Initiative being approved as UT Tylerâs first off-campus instructional site in 1995, followed by the Longview expansion in 1997. In 2008, the school introduced the PhD in nursing, the first doctoral program at UT Tyler.
âThe School of Nursing has been a cornerstone of UT Tyler since its inception,â said UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD. âItâs truly an honor to celebrate its 50th anniversary, and we couldnât have gotten here without support from the UT System and the East Texas community.â Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The Tyler Water Utilities (TWU) will be hosting the first of several community meetings on Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Greater Tyler Association of Realtors Headquarters located at 2772 SSE Loop 323. The meeting will be come-and-go format and will feature information stations with Water Customer Service Representatives to answer individual account questions.
Customers are encouraged to attend the meeting in order to learn more about TWU and to voice any questions or concerns they may have. Residents attending the meeting should have a copy of their water bill with them. Each council member will have a meeting for their respective district, according to our news partner KETK. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY — An East Texas man was sentenced to 35 years in prison on Thursday for the murder of a missing person, whose body was found in 2022 in a hand-dug grave. According to our news partner KETK, Dalan Clowdus will begin his plea deal prison sentence this week for the murder of missing person, Jimmy Dean Oldfield.
On May 26, 2022, authorities were notified of a missing personâs body and truck that were found at a home off Highway 85 just outside of Seven Points. After officials arrived, they located a truck that was âcut into several piecesâ and uncovered a hand-dug grave containing the missing personâs body. Officials identified the body to be Oldfield, who went missing earlier in May, however the sheriffâs office wasnât notified until May 15.
Dalan was the third man to be arrested for this incident after he turned himself into the sheriffâs office. Along with Dalan, investigators also arrested Steven Clowdus and William Hux. Read the rest of this entry »