Today is
Sunday June 07, 2026
TYLER – The Texas Agriculture Commissioner has reappointed a Tyler man to the Texas Agriculture Finance Authority (TAFA) Board on Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, Ted F. Conover will continue serving as the board’s chairman and agricultural lending representative.
Conover was the president and chief executive officer of Heritage Land Bank from 1985 to 2005 and the held the same positions at the Bank of Tyler from 2005 to 2010. Conover has served on the Greater Tyler Association of Realtors Board of Directors, the State Advisory Board for Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership and the Advisory Committee for the Dean of Agricultural Sciences at East Texas A&M University.
Conover received a master’s degree in general agriculture from East Texas A&M University in 1973 and graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University in 1999.
TAFA is a public authority designed to provide financial assistance to expand products, production, processing, marketing and exporting in Texas agriculture.
How about having all of your remotes, in one remote source? Go get David Rancken’s App Of The Day. It’s called Roomie Remote. You can find Roomie Remote in the Apple Store.
HALLSVILLE – 
Two Hallsville ISD employees were taken to the hospital Wednesday morning after a school bus was involved in a wreck, according to our news partners at KETK. According to the district, around 5:50 a.m. a bus was in a three-vehicle accident that left two employees injured. The school explained that at the time of the accident, there were no students on the bus. The driver and the bus monitor have been transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries, HISD said.
Tyler – 
More than 400 junior and senior Career and Technical Education (CTE) students at Tyler ISD sharpened their career readiness skills at the district’s annual CTE Student Resume Workshop. The workshop gave students the opportunity to meet one-on-one with representatives from more than 30 local businesses. Industry professionals offered feedback on students’ resumes, helping them refine their presentation of skills and experience. The event served as a crucial step for students as they prepare for the upcoming Opportunity Fair in April, where they will present their polished resumes to potential employers. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – 
The Smith County Commissioners Court accepted a donation of nine LIFEPACK CR2 Defibrillators to be placed in county buildings. Smith County Judge Neal Franklin thanked UT Health EMS for the generous donation of Automated Externa Defibrillators (AEDs), worth $21,000. The funds come from a First Responders Fund, he added during Commissioners Court on Tuesday, January 28. Franklin said UT Health EMS gave Smith County six AEDs last year and are helping the county greatly. The goal is to get an AED in every one of Smith County’s 29 buildings. “They are truly a lifesaver,” he said. “They are easy to use, with clear instructions … We are very thankful.”
Need a hand with those stray chores around the house? Check out David Rancken’s App Of The Day. It’s called Airtasker. You can download Airtasker in the Apple Store and Google Play below.
KILGORE – Kilgore Police are searching for the person allegedly responsible for a Saturday evening forgery incident in Kilgore. According to our news partner KETK, KPD said the crime occurred at the Walmart on Stone St. around 7 p.m. Authorities ask if you recognize the person in the picture shown, to call the Kilgore Police Department at 903-218-6904 and ask for Detective Justin Murphy or email [email protected].
TYLER – A Rusk County Game Warden was recognized by Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission during its January meeting for his contributions to the agency. According to our news partner KETK, Game Warder Kirk Clendening was named the 2024 Fish and Wildlife Agencies Texas Officer of the Year.
The TPW Commission said in a release, “A hardworking and proactive officer, Clendening consistently excels in marine patrol operations, investigations and public outreach. Both locally and for wardens across the state, he leads by example through his work ethic and teamwork on a daily basis.”
Clendening is a graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas with a bachelor’s degree in criminology in 2010 and began his tenure with TPW Department when he was accepted into the 56th Texas Game Warden Academy in 2011. He has previously served in Val Verde County, Smith County and was a full-time member of the Marine Tactical Operations Group in Corpus Christi. Clendening then moved to Rusk County and has served there for over seven years.
The idea is pretty novel, combine exercise and screen time. Get David Rancken’s App Of The Day. It’s called Steppin. You can find Steppin in the Apple Store.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY – Officials said three men were arrested in Kaufman in connection to an early Sunday morning feed store burglary in Van Zandt County, according to our news partner KETK. The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to the scene of a burglary at a feed store on State Highway 243 at around 3 a.m. on Sunday. While at the scene, deputies were reportedly notified that a vehicle matching a description they were given was stopped in the city of Kaufman by the Kaufman Police Department and the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office.
A Van Zandt County deputy went to Kaufman and identified three people stopped in the vehicle with people seen in video footage from the crime scene in Van Zandt County, according to a Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office press release. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – 
The deadline to pay your Smith County property taxes is Friday, January 31, 2025. The line at the Smith County Tax Office is very long today so Smith County Tax Assessor-Collector Gary Barber is urging people to pay their property taxes online. Payments can be made by scanning the QR code on your statement — it will take you directly to the payment page on your account.
“It has been a game changer in how people pay their property taxes,” Barber said of adding the QR code.
Those who pay online will immediately receive a receipt. For taxpayers who are mailing, go to the post office to make sure payments are postmarked on or before January 31. If they are dropped in the mail and are not postmarked, they most likely will not make it to the Tax Office in time to avoid late penalties, Barber said. The Tax Office mailed out 183,312 property tax statements in early November. Read the rest of this entry »
Tyler – 
More than 30 local businesses are lending their expertise to help more than 400 junior and senior Career and Technical Education (CTE) students prepare for the future. The Career and Technology Center is hosting its annual Student Resume Workshop with one-on-one resume review sessions, Tuesday, January 28 at 10:00 a.m. The event will be held at the Career & Technology Center at 3013 Earl Campbell Parkway. Students will present their resumes to human resources professionals from various industries to receive valuable feedback in preparation for the upcoming Opportunity Fair in April. For more information, contact Jennifer Hines at [email protected].
Normally your GPS system needs an internet connection. Not for David Rancken’s App Of The Day. It’s called Sygic. You can find Sygic in the Apple Store and Google Play below.
TYLER — 
Our news partners at KETK report East Texas nonprofits are raising awareness during National Human Trafficking Prevention month this January. Local nonprofits including Unbound Now, Selah Life Choices and 4Kids4Families all share the same mission to help human trafficking victims in a time of need. According to Unbound Now, human trafficking occurs when a person is forced, tricked or manipulated into providing labor or sexual service for someone else’s financial gain. Unbound Now Advocacy Coordinator Maria Villarreal said 50 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking with Texas being second for most cases reported. Read the rest of this entry »
GLADEWATER –
Our news partners at KETK says the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office said they have one person in custody after Union Grove High School received “extensive damage” last night. According to the sheriff’s office, surveillance camera footage from the school shows someone dressed in black damaging the building and a trophy case at around 11:30 p.m. on Friday. Union Grove ISD said several exterior doors, trophy cases, televisions, a set of restrooms and water fountains were also damaged. Read the rest of this entry »