Today is
Tuesday June 09, 2026
UPDATE: A second juvenile was arrested on late Thursday evening in connection to the murder of 29-year-old Clara Deane Wilson, the Jacksonville Police Department said.
JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville PD Thursday said that a juvenile was arrested in connection to the murder of Clara Deane Wilson. According to our news partner KETK, the person was arrested after an operation involving the Jacksonville Police, the Texas Rangers, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Marshalls office.
Officials said that the 29-year-old Wilson of Jacksonville, was found shot to death early Saturday morning near Gillespie and Georgia Avenues. The juvenile arrested was left unnamed and law enforcement said more arrests are expected in this case.
UPDATE: The Nacogdoches Police Department said that Roselyn Navaeh Smith has been found safe after she was reported missing on Thursday. Officials said they are currently in the process of bringing her back together with her family.
NACOGDOCHES – The Nacogdoches Police Department said they’re currently searching for a 12-year-old girl named Roselyn Navaeh Smith. According to our news partner KETK, Roselyn is described as a black girl wearing a black shirt with gold letters spelling “QUEENâ€, blue jean shorts, black shoes, diamond stud earrings, a backpack, crossbody bag and a clarinet.
Officials said they were searching in the area of Tangleberry and Tanglewood Streets.
They ask anyone who has seen Roselyn Smith to call 911 immediately.
BOWIE COUNTY – 
Our news partners at KETK report that a woman was sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison for her part in distributing a lethal amount of fentanyl disguised as oxycontin pills. Nikkie Jo Mattison, also known as Nikkie Hall, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 204 months, or 17 years, in prison in federal court on Thursday. Prosecutors said Mattison conspired with three other people to distribute fentanyl, ultimately resulting in three deaths. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — 
A Tyler man has been charged with arson after reportedly setting his wife’s car on fire while intoxicated, according to our news partners at KETK. Smith County officials said the county’s fire marshal Chad Hogue was called to an RV park on Aug. 16 in the 8500 block of FM 14 to a vehicle on fire. When Smith County ESD2 officials arrived, they noted Justin Kennedy Hillard, 36 of Tyler, was spraying water from a garden hose on the vehicle that was on fire. The owner of the vehicle said her husband, Hillard, was intoxicated and had poured gas onto her vehicle but she was able to get out of the car before he set it on fire. “Hogue reported that damages to the car were consistent with the vehicle being set on fire after gasoline was poured onto it,†Smith County officials said. Hillard reportedly fled the scene and an arrest warrant was issued on Tuesday and he turned himself on Wednesday.
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TYLER – 
The Tyler Police Department would like to remind citizens to remain vigilant with regards to both online scams and phone scams. We have taken numerous reports of many types of frauds originating both online and through wireless communication devices. Read the rest of this entry »
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SMITH COUNTY — A Mesquite man who was a part of an organized criminal ring accused of stealing 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. According to our news partner KETK, Ramon Perez-Torres was convicted of engaging in organized criminal activity on Tuesday. The criminal group is accused of using fraudulent credit card information and using pulser tampering devices on motor fuel dispensers.
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation said in a release, “A pulser is part of the motor fuel metering system that counts fuel flow and determines the amount of fuel flow per penny. The criminal tampering device slows down the pulser, allowing suspects to pump hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel for pennies on the dollar.â€
The group is accused of stealing more than 10,000 gallons of fuel from gas stations in nine different counties across Texas. Authorities suspect a large number of people to be a part of the group and eight have been indicted.
TYLER — 
The Caldwell Zoo announced on Wednesday a big hatch of Texas Horned Lizards as a part of a dedicated conservation effort according to our news partners at KETK. According to the zoo, the Lone Star State’s official state reptile was almost threatened to extinction, which led to the Texas Parks and Wildlife department reaching out to Caldwell Zoo for conservation efforts. Caldwell Zoo said they established a Texas Horned Lizard Conservation which is now in it’s fifth year of operation, according to our news partners at KETK. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – On Wednesday, Tyler Animal Services was alerted by the Texas Department of State Health Services that one bat submitted for analysis tested positive for rabies. The bat was found near the 2200 block of Bateman Avenue and Troup Highway. The known individuals and animals with possible exposure have been identified and addressed.
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Tyler Animal Services Director Shawn Markmann reminds people not to handle bats, skunks, raccoons or other wild animals. It is important for children to tell their parents of any contact with wild animals or any sick animals. If a person is bitten by an animal, it must be reported to the Local Rabies Control Authority to be investigated
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Tyler Animal Services advises all pet owners to confirm their dogs and cats are currently vaccinated for rabies. Preventative immunization for rabies is the only effective defense against the fatal disease.
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Anyone with questions on rabies control may contact Tyler Animal Services at (903) 535-0045.
WHITE OAK – The White Oak Independent School District board unanimously named one person for the superintendent position on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, Jackson Parker, former White Oak High School principal and assistant superintendent, was named superintendent.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be named the lone finalist, and I will work each and every day to make it a place where all students thrive,†Parker said. “My job will be made much easier by the incredible staff at all campuses. The best is yet to come. Go Roughnecks!â€
After a 21-day waiting period passes, per state law, Parker can be offered a contract. He is scheduled to sign the contract for the superintendent position on Sept. 5. Mr. Parker has been in education for a total of 33 years.
White Oak ISD students returned to class on Wednesday for the new school year.
SMITH COUNTY – Firefighters responded to a trash truck that caught on fire early Tuesday morning. According to our news partner KETK, a call came in to Smith County Emergency Services District 2 around 10 a.m. Nikki Simmons, the Community Outreach Coordinator for Smith County ESD2, reported a trash truck caught fire in Overton on County Road 244. Fire officials stated that, the driver of the trash truck was able to get out and there were no injuries reported.
Simmons added, “Firefighters from Engine 141 and Engine 132 quickly arrived on scene to contain the fire and keep it from spreading to the woods. Smith County Fire Marshal’s office will handle the investigation. â€
HENDERSON COUNTY – With hot and dry conditions continuing throughout our region. Some counties in East Texas have enacted burn bans. Our news partner KETK has a list of those counties under a burn ban. You can find the list here.
AUSTIN — 
Smith County has earned a 2023 Excellence in Safety Award from the Texas Association of Counties Risk Management Pool (TAC RMP) for its record of excellence in involvement and commitment to safety in the workplace, as well as for controlling workers’ compensation claims.
To qualify for the award, the county must participate in TAC RMP’s Workers’ Compensation Program, have a safety program or accident prevention plan and have an active safety committee. This is the highest honor a county can receive from TAC RMP for its commitment to safety. Read the rest of this entry »
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