Today is
Sunday April 20, 2025
WINNSBORO â According to our news partner, KETK, a Winnsboro High School student was detained after a loaded gun was found Friday morning.
According to WISD, a firearm was recovered from a studentâs backpack and the situation was handled immediately after staff was made aware. The Winnsboro Police Department said the student responsible was detained by the schoolâs police department and there is no ongoing threat to their campus.
âThe safety of our students is always our top priority, and we appreciate the swift response of our staff and law enforcement,â WISD said. âThank you for your support as we continue to ensure a safe learning environment for all.â
MARSHALL â Our news partner, KETK, reports that a traffic stop on Wednesday led to the arrest of a 17-year-old wanted for aggravated robbery and a man for drug possession.
According to Marshall Police Department, officers conducted a traffic stop on Woodland Road when they discovered a firearm and drugs inside the vehicle, resulting in the arrest of Zamaria Parker, 17, and Jakavion Adkins, 19, both of Marshall. Officials said Parker had outstanding warrants including aggravated robbery, traffic and weapon violations and was also arrested with possession of marijuana and additional weapon violations. Adkins was arrested for possession of marijuana. Parker and Adkins were booked and taken into the Harrison County Jail, where Parker is being held on a bond totaling $115,000, and Adkins has since been released.
ATHENS â According to our news partner, KETK, an Athens man was sentenced to eight years in prison after threatening to shoot at officers and his wife.
In reports from the Henderson County District Attorneyâs Office, the Athens Police Department responded to West College Street in Athens on April 24, 2024, after a man called 911 saying he was going to kill his wife and himself. The DA said that after officers approached the home, 35-year-old convicted felon on parole, Celso Seabo Garza II threatened to get a gun from inside to shoot at officers and his wife so she could watch him get shot.
Garza was sentenced to 8 years in state prison on Jan. 23 after he pleaded guilty to third-degree felony, obstruction or retaliation.
TYLER â Our news partner, KETK, reports that Bass Pro Shop will host a two-day hiring event in Tyler as they prepare to open their new location.
The event will take place on Feb. 19 and Feb. 20 at the Tyler Holiday Inn Conference Center from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The company is looking to hire over 130 full-time and part-time employees for all departments. The new store is set to include fishing and hunting equipment as well as hiking gear and will offer free seasonal experiences for the whole family. Construction for the new store remains ongoing, and a grand opening date is expected to be announced soon.
During the event, on-site interviews will be conducted and individuals who want to share their passion for the outdoors are encouraged to apply. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW â A beloved East Texas hot dog restaurant is closed until further notice after a vehicle crashed into their building on Thursday morning.
Longview Hot Dog Express, on 106 E Marshall Avenue in Longview, experienced damage to their building at around 6:30 a.m. after a vehicle crashed on the right side of the building. According to the restaurant, the driver fell asleep at the wheel when they crashed into the building, but was not injured.
The restaurant is expected to reopen on Friday after the owners realized the damage wasnât as bad as they thought.
KILGORE â Our news partner, KETK, reports that a high school student was detained after a weapon was found on a Kilgore ISD bus Tuesday night.
According to KISD, during an off-campus basketball game versus Henderson, school staff and police officers learned that a student may have a weapon on a Kilgore ISD bus. During a search of the bus, officials reportedly found a weapon and later detained a KHS student. Henderson ISD said investigators believe the student left the weapon on the bus before entering the school. Now, the Henderson Police Department with the cooperation of Henderson ISD and Kilgore ISD, will continue the investigation.
âThe safety and security of our students and staff both during the school day and at all school-related events remains our top priority and we appreciate all those who provided information during this incident,â Henderson ISD said.
NECHESâ Our news partner, KETK, reports that Neches ISD has canceled classes for Thursday and Friday after an âunbelievable amountâ of health-related absences.
According to NISD, the trend of sickness has been worse over the past couple of days, with record-low attendance leading them to cancel classes. The district said they want to allow time for families to get healthy and for their staff to thoroughly clean their facilities.
âWe believe we have made the decision that is in the best interest of our district,â NISD said. âWe will use banked minutes in our calendar and no make-up days will be needed.â
NISD said Fridayâs basketball games will take place as scheduled and all students will return to school Feb. 17 after winter break.
WILLS POINT â According to a report from our news partner, KETK, an East Texas teacher has been arrested following allegations of sex crimes against children.
Wills Point ISD released a statement on Monday regarding, Jimmy Hanks, who was arrested by the Rains County Sheriffâs Office. Hanks is a former high school teacher in Wills Point and owns a local business, Bulldog Nutrition, in Edgewood. School officials said that the alleged behavior did not occur on the schoolâs campus or property and that officers will continue investigating the allegations and take proper legal action.
The sheriffâs office said during the course of the investigation, probable cause was established, and an arrest warrant was issued. Hanks was later arrested and remains at the county jail for continuous sexual abuse of a young child. School officials said that the alleged behavior did not occur on the schoolâs campus or property and that officers will continue investigating the allegations and take proper legal action. Read the rest of this entry »
HARRISON COUNTY â A Marshall man was arrested on Tuesday following an ongoing investigation into crack-cocaine trafficking. According to the Harrison County Sheriffâs Office and our news partner KETK, officers searched a home on 329 Floyd Evans Road where they found crack-cocaine on the property.
During the search, officials said they identified the property owner as 72-year-old James Earl Rudd who has an extensive criminal record, including prior convictions for drug trafficking and homicide.
Rudd was arrested for the manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance and was booked into the Harrison County Jail. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be filed officials said.
MABANK â Our news partner, KETK, reports that a Dallas man has died after his vehicle crashed into an embankment and was submerged under water on Saturday in Mabank.
Officers with the Mabank Police Department were dispatched to the 17000 block of eastbound U.S. Highway 175 in reference to a vehicle crash. Once officers arrived, they spoke with witnesses who said the vehicle left the roadway and crashed into the bridge embankment and was submerged under water. Authorities attempted to remove the man from the vehicle however after several attempts, âofficers realized that a rescue was not likely due to vehicle’s position in the water and the damage sustained during the crash.â
A short time later, officers pulled the vehicle from the water and located the man dead inside. The man was identified as Bradley Michael Leonard, 68 of Dallas. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
KARNACKâ Our news partner, KETK, reports that one man was injured in Harrison County after an officer-involved shooting occurred Monday evening. According to the Harrison County Sheriffs Office, around 7:12 p.m. their communications office received a 911 call regarding a white male trying to enter into a home on Pine Island Rd. Officers reported hearing a man yelling in the background as the situation unfolded through the phone.
While deputies were enroute, the person who called 911 informed them the man had successfully entered the home and had a gun. Everyone inside the home were able to escape safely to a neighboring property.
When deputies arrived, the man allegedly appeared on the front porch armed with a firearm. Officials said the subject then pointed the firearm in the direction of the deputies, prompting them to respond by firing their service weapons striking him. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW â Our news partner, KETK, reports that an East Texas woman was arrested for aggravated robbery after she allegedly tried to steal a womanâs purse at a Longview business.
According to Longview PD, on Jan. 31 around 4:40 p.m. officers responded to a robbery at a business in the 1000 block of North Eastman Road. Officials said that officers contacted the victim who said another woman had tried to steal her purse and left her with bodily injuries. The victim was transported by Longview Fire EMS to a local hospital where she was treated. Investigators later identified the suspect as 46-year-old, LaCarol Joyce Henderson of Longview.
Henderson was booked into Gregg County Jail on Sunday for aggravated robbery and was released on a $50,000 bond.
LUFKIN â Our news partner, KETK, reports that the Lufkin Police Department said that a man last seen on Friday was found dead in a wooded area.
Joe Flood, 66 of Lufkin, was reportedly last seen at his home in the 200 block of Echo Lane between the hours of 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31. A Lufkin Police Department lieutenant told KETK on Monday that Flood had been found dead in a wooded area. Lufkin PD is investigating his death but they do not believe he was the victim of a crime.
Lufkin PD said Flood left his phone, wallet and keys at home before leaving on foot.
TYLER â Our news partner, KETK, reports that a Bullard man has been arrested by college police after being in possession of child pornography.
According to the Henderson County Sheriffâs Office, the Henderson County Crimes Against Children Task Force received information regarding possible child pornography back in November. Following an investigation, officials obtained a search warrant and reportedly found child pornography after analyzing the electronic devices from a Bullard home. Task Force Investigators contacted the University of Texas at Tyler Police Department, and requested assistance in arresting Brandon Reeves Baschnagel, 41 of Bullard, for possession with intent to promote child pornography.
The UT Tyler PD then turned him over to investigators. Baschnagel is now booked into the Henderson County Jail and charges will be filed in Henderson County and Cherokee County, according to the sheriffâs office.
LONGVIEW â When Paul Guidroz heard his East Texas town could build an electric vehicle charging station, he began to think of what it could mean for the local economy.
Drivers traveling along Interstate 20 could pull into town, charge up and give a boost to small businesses, he said.
âThey could stop here, get a coffee at one of our local coffee shops or even lunch while they charge their vehicles,â said Guidroz, Longviewâs Main Street Coordinator who helps support local businesses.
The town of 83,236 sandwiched between Tyler and Shreveport, Louisiana, is on 56 stops the Texas Department of Transportation, or TxDOT, identified to establish the stateâs âElectric Alternative Fuels Corridor.â The corridor is largely paid for by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill signed by President Joe Biden. Read the rest of this entry »