Today is
Wednesday June 10, 2026
SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office said a female inmate died Sunday morning. In a release from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, the inmate, Tanya Williams experienced a medical emergency that morning around 6 a.m. Williams was taken to a local hospital where she later died. The sheriff’s office said Texas Rangers were notified, and will conduct an investigation, which is standard procedure. An autopsy was also ordered. The release also stated Williams was arrested Thursday on drug charges.
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TYLER – Smith County Jury Duty has been cancelled for Monday. According to Smith County public information officer Casey Murphy, if you received a jury summons for April 8, 2024, you do not have to report to the Courthouse. This is due to total solar eclipse occurring Monday April 8.
LINDALE – The city of Lindale is giving you a chance to be part of history after the solar eclipse Monday. According to our news partner KETK, the city is creating a time capsule for future generations. Officials say the capsule will be buried in Darden Harvest Park and anyone can leave one object. That object can be no larger that four by six inches and not liquid.
The capsule will be opened for anyone who wants their item to be stored inside after a ceremony on Saturday at Picker’s Pavilion at Blackberry Square. After Monday’s eclipse, the capsule will be sealed and buried for future Lindale residents to find.
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TYLER – The City of Tyler held the grand reopening of the historic Mayfair Building Thursday. The renovation is part of the city’s Master Plan to restore the Rose Complex. Mayor Don Warren, who hosted the event, announced that the Mayfair Building has earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places alongside the Tyler Rose Garden. The City of Tyler renovation plan was to update the building physically, while staying true to its almost century old roots.
Mayor Warren said about the look of the Mayfair Building before renovations, “I wish you could have seen this building a year ago. The floor was sunk in, there were termites everywhere. You could see daylight from inside. You can see the sun with the holes in the roof, so we have brought this back to life.â€
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TYLER – Monday April 8 is the eagerly anticipated total solar eclipse. Our news partner KETK shared some tips from state officials to keep you safe this weekend and Monday.
TxDOT issued a statement warning residents of some East Texas areas that they anticipate will see heavy traffic on Monday. TxDOT listed the following roads for potential heavy traffic: I-20, State Highway 64, State Highway 31, US 175, State Highway 198, US 69, State Highway 19, State Highway 155, Loop 323, US 79, US 271, US 80 and State Highway 243
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HARRISON COUNTY – A Harrison County Court sentences a man to a 30 year prison term for fentanyl possession. According to our news partner, KETK, 41-year-old Brian Okeith Tucker was arrested by Marshall Police in January 2022 after a traffic stop revealed that Tucker’s vehicle smelled of marijuana. The Harrison County District Attorney’s Office said in a release, the subsequent vehicle search yielded ecstasy pills, a small safe with six jars of marijuana, and two other bottles with 157 pills labeled as hydrocodone, A lab test of the pills shown them to be actually fentanyl.
Patrol officers at Tucker’s trial said they were familiar with him, And, that on two other times, Tucker had failed to have a valid drivers license. Jurors were also informed that Tucker had two previous drug convictions in 2016.
Assistant Harrison County District Attorney Brendan Roth stated that, ” it is hoped that this verdict does send a strong message to the drug dealers of Harrison County that those who choose to deal narcotics in here, will be vigilantly investigated and prosecuted.â€
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TYLER – On Thursday, April 4, Tyler Animal Services was notified by the Texas Department of State Health Services that one skunk submitted for analysis tested positive for rabies. The skunk was found near the 3000 block of Salado Creek Drive. Those people and animals found to have been exposed to the skunk was been identified.
Tyler Animal Services say its very important for people not to handle bats, skunks, raccoons or other wild animals. And, If a person is bitten by an animal, the incident must be reported to them. Tyler Animal Services advises all pet owners to make sure their dogs and cats are currently vaccinated for rabies. Preventative immunization for rabies is the only effective defense against this fatal disease.
City of Tyler and Smith County Ordinance requires regular rabies shots for all dogs and cats. Failing to do so, is a Class C misdemeanor. If you have questions about rabies control, click on Tyler Animal Services website.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY — The SPCA of Texas has removed 17 dogs from a Van Zandt County home, all were neglected and a man has been charged in the case. According to our news partner KETK, arrested was Kory Wayne Kimble who was charged with cruelty of non-livestock animals. The SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit removed 16 Cocker Spaniel dogs and a Boxer dog from a house, all that were “allegedly cruelly confined to deplorable living conditions.†The unit reportedly found the house to be covered in feces and urine.
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GROVETON – The Texas Department of Public Safety is seeking your help in finding a missing 72-year-old man.
According to our news partner KETK, W.J. Wallace was seen around midnight Monday March 25 on West First Street in Groveton. The DPS describes Mr. Wallace as an African American elderly man with brown eyes and gray hair. He was last seen wearing a red long sleeve shirt, brown pants, white shoes and a baseball cap.
Anyone with information on the location of W.J. Wallace is asked to contact the Onalaska Police Department at 936-646-5676.
UPSHUR COUNTY – A Diana man was sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to murdering a longtime friend with an ax. According to our news partner KETK, 34-year-old Jeffrey David Swanner of Diana was convicted in the murder of 60 year-old Kenneth Burcalow, also of Diana.
The Upshur County DA said in release, that in April of 2021, the two men were in a violent argunent influenced by alcohol and meth. Swanner hit Burcalow with an ax, causing him to bleed to death. Swanner told authorities at the time of the murder, he hit Burcalow with the ax after seeing “demons,†and believing Burcalow was attacking him.
Swanner left the murder scene, but was later found. He was sent to a state hospital after he was found to be incompetent. Swanner was later sent back back to Upshur County after authorities found him “being restored to competency.â€
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TYLER – Patrick Mahomes Sr. was indicted last week for driving while intoxicated a third time or more, a third-degree felony. According to our news partner KETK, the 53-year-old Mahomes Sr. was arrested in Tyler Feb. 3. At that time, a Tyler Police officer stopped Mahomes on West Gentry Park for driving slowly. The officer then discovered an open can of beer in the vehicles center console.
A driving while intoxicated third or more offense is classified as a third-degree felony, as opposed to the first two which are classified as misdemeanors. A conviction for a third DWI results in a prison sentence of no less than two years, no more than 10 years and up to $10,000 in fines.
The indictment was filed on March 28.