Today is
Saturday June 06, 2026
SMITH COUNTY — After two weeks of work locating and plugging an old “Legacy Oil Week†head, Smith County Road 2162 has been opened back up to drivers. The Railroad Commission informed the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office that it had finished work on the road near Troup, according to Smith County Emergency Operations Coordinator Brandon Moore. The Fire Marshal’s Office was contacted on October 17 after an unknown gas leak was reported. It took days for Railroad Commission workers to locate the leak, dig deep enough and plug it with cement. The Railroad Commission will be working in the area, but on private property and will not be in the way of any traffic.
SMITH COUNTY — One person was arrested in Smith County for illegal dumping after materials were found along a bridge and creek on private property. The Texas Game Wardens announced on Tuesday that a Smith County Game Warden received a call from a landowner about the dumped materials. The materials included sheetrock, housing trim and various plastic items. “Among the litter, the warden found a box with a bar code,†Texas Game Wardens said. “He used it to track down a local store where the supplies were purchased and traced it to a credit card.†Officials said the warden interviewed the owner of the card who recently did a home remodel for his family. He reportedly told the warden he paid someone familiar to the family to haul their materials and trash. “Unfortunately, the suspect kept the money and dumped the trash onto private property,†officials said. According to the Texas Game Wardens, the suspect was arrested for commercial dumping over 200 pounds, and their truck contained more building materials and trash.
TYLER — The East Texas Food Bank will host their 12th annual Charlie Brown Thanksgiving event at the Bergfeld park on Nov. 3 at 5:30 p.m. According to our news partner KETK, children will be handed snack bags with jelly beans, juice, pretzels and popcorn. The snack selection symbolizes those depicted in the Thanksgiving meal of the Charlie Brown classic holiday special. The cartoon special will be shown at the amphitheater and attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs or seat cushions. “The Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is a great way for families to kick-off the holiday season,†said David Emerson, CEO of the East Texas Food Bank. “This event reminds East Texans about the true spirit of the Thanksgiving season and the needs of so many families impacted by hunger in our area. We are asking for donations of plastic jars of peanut butter. Peanut butter is high in protein and just one regular size jar can make 16 sandwiches for a hungry family.†Snoopy will be present and children are welcome to take photos after the movie. Children can also enter a drawing contest to win prizes.
SMITH COUNTY — Smith County announced on Monday they have completed a Road Bond Project for County Roads 1125, 1140 and 1141, west of Tyler, according to our news partner KETK. The reconstruction included widening, stabilization and asphalt of overlay of almost 5 miles of road. The projects cost $1,757,194. According to county engineer Frank Davis, one section of road had needed to have increased asphalt thickness because of heavy truck traffic. These projects were a part of Phase 2 of the Road and Bridge Strategic Planning Project. Phase 1 of County Road 1125 included the reconstruction of 1.7 miles of the road from Highway 155 to Lake Placid Road completed in 2021. Phase 1 improvements to CR 1125 also included the replacement of a concrete bridge at Butler Creek.
KILGORE — On Monday, Kilgore College held a groundbreaking ceremony for the CDL Driver Training Track, classroom facility and construction of the warehouse training building. According to our news partner KETK, this will aid efforts to the major expansion to the Kilgore College Transportation Institute. The college’s partnership with the Kilgore Economic Development Corporation secured the land the track will be on and will allow for future expansion. Their goal is to become a fully equipped transportation training institute. Kilgore College also worked with the City of Kilgore in the design and approval of the project that will be constructed by RLM General Contractors.
TYLER — An employee of East Texas Lighthouse in Tyler recently won the 2023 Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement Award from the National Industries for the Blind (NIB). According to our news partner KETK, Craig Ellis, had a 12-year career in management and owned a flooring business but in 2009 he became blind due to macular degeneration. Ellis struggled to find employment but, according to a press release, he impressed leaders at East Texas Lighthouse who created a job for him as an inventory planner. East Texas Lighthouse is a non-profit whose mission is to empower the blind. They have two divisions, a manufacturing operation and a community rehabilitation facility. According to a press release, they’re the largest employer of the blind across East Texas. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — On Thursday morning, the Tyler Rose Garden Center held its 90th Texas Rose Festival opening ceremony. According to our news partner KETK, Ronald Schoenbrun, the 2023 Texas Rose Festival Association President, welcomed attendees and spoke about the events coming over the next few days. This year’s queen, Laura Bryan said she is thrilled to have kicked off the weekend. “I cannot believe that it’s finally here and that we are able to celebrate the roses and celebrate the city,†said Bryan. Schoenbrun said that people come from all over to enjoy East Texas. “We get so many out-of-town people that want to participate, get to see Tyler and what Tyler is about,†said Schoenbrun. This year’s theme is the Story of Film, where duchesses will wear themed dresses based on different movies. “It will be like nothing anyone has ever seen if you’re coming from out of town, it’s going to be great so many amazing festivities throughout the week,†said Bryan. The 90th Texas Rose Festival runs through Sunday. Click here for a list of events.
SMITH COUNTY — A portion of Smith County Road 2162 remained closed as the Texas Railroad Commission continues to work to locate an old “Legacy Oil Well†head. Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue was called out Tuesday, October 17, to an unidentified gas leak in the right-of-way of Smith County Road 2162, near Troup. Since then, the Texas Railroad Commission has worked to locate and identify the possible gas leak. They have dug a “massive hole†but needed to bring in bigger equipment to dig deeper to find the casing and seal it with concrete. Smith County Emergency Management Coordinator Brandon Moore said, adding that the issue is not a public health concern.
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WHITEHOUSE — On Tuesday, Whitehouse ISD showed off its new emergency response system, called Mutualink, that aims to give officers real-time security. Inside the Smith County Emergency Operations Center, a dispatcher is the first to receive the call that allows law enforcement a live look at everything inside the building, on every floor and every angle. According to our news partner KETK, Mutualink gives the district the ability to relay real time and accurate information to first responders during an emergency. “It puts our eyes immediately inside that building during an incident,“ said Smith County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jimmy Jackson. “We think that’s critical.†Once first responders arrive on the scene, using information provided by Mutualink, they can clear the building of any danger. Jackson said this real-time information officers now have is crucial. “As we all know, time saved [equals lives] saved a lot of times,†said Jackson. “Being able to get that real-time information in the hands of our first responders first-hand is a big deal.†Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The Texas Rose Festival Parade is scheduled for Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., broadcast exclusively on KETK News. On Saturday starting at 6 a.m., Front Street will be closed from Palace Avenue to Glenwood Boulevard and Glenwood will be closed from Houston Street to Front Street. At 7:45 a.m. Front Street will be closed from Palace Avenue to Lyons Avenue and Glenwood Boulevard will be closed from Houston Street to Erwin Street. Handicap parking for the event will be at Mike Carter Field on Fair Park Drive. The parade route will start at the Rose Garden Center, turning onto Fair Park Drive and ending at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.
TYLER — The daughter of Rabbi Neal Katz, Rebecca, and Vera Banta flew from Israel to Rome to Boston and finally to Dallas. Early in the morning on October 6, the girls were awakened by bomb sirens, just a few hours after they danced and sang at Shabbat services the night before. That day, they sheltered seven times before noon, barefoot, confused and scared, not knowing when they would be able to come back to the US. While they were waiting, they made 1,500 bags of soap, food, towels and candy for hospitals … and visited soldiers and displaced families. Both say they hope to return to Israel someday.
TYLER — The Tyler Police Department responded to a call of a pedestrian and auto crash around 8:20 Tuesday night. According to a news release, “a semi-truck was reportedly northbound on Loop 323, north of HWY 64, when it struck a pedestrian that was in the roadway.†The unidentified pedestrian was not at a crosswalk or intersection when hit. The pedestrian was said to be alert when transported to a local hospital.
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office has installed a Weather System Station at the Emergency Operations Center to provide emergency management officials and members of the public a chance to access real-time, detailed weather data. WeatherSTEM offers a public-facing view that allows access to a multitude of information for every resident, without signing up. “WeatherSTEM’s accessibility makes it a useful tool for the whole community and will enhance the abilities of emergency services,” Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue said. “Realtime weather information, such as wind direction and speed, is vital during fire and hazardous materials incident responses.” Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Tyler police are searching for a teen reported missing. According to Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh, Allison Morley, 13, was said to have left her residence on Hudnall Drive around 11:45 Monday night. She’s described as 5’4 and 130lbs with brown/red hair and brown eyes. Police say she has a scar on her left arm. No word on what she was wearing. Allison has been entered as a missing person/runaway. If you see Allison or know her location, please contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000.
MARSHALL — The Marshall Police Department has arrested a man in connection to the murder of a woman found dead on Victory Drive. According to our news partner KETK, officers conducting a welfare check found Camri Johnson, 26, of Marshall, dead around 11:40 p.m. on Monday. An investigation later resulted in the arrest of Windell Moris Jr., 23. Moris is being held at Harrison County Jail on charges of homicide and abandoning/endangering a child with intent to return. Marshall PD detectives, patrol officers and investigators are continuing to gather information about the incident.