Today is
Sunday April 20, 2025
WOOD COUTY â Two men from Mineola are dead after their vehicle crashed into a tree on Monday afternoon, according to reports from our news partner, KETK.
Texas DPS Sergeant Adam Albritton reported that the two men were traveling on County Road 2270 near Lake Holbrook at around 3 p.m. when the vehicle lost control and ran off the pavement, striking a tree. The driver, 22-year-old Nicholas Wilkins and 19-year-old passenger Brekeilyn Martin were pronounced dead at the scene, Albritton said.
The cause of the crash is currently unknown and remains under investigation.
SULPHUR SPRINGS â Our news partner, KETK, reports that a search is underway for the person responsible for a robbery on Sunday afternoon in Sulphur Springs.
According to the Sulphur Springs Police Department, a man reportedly robbed a T-Mobile on 151 Industrial Dr. E Ste 300 at around 3:45 p.m.
Detective Joe Scott of the Sulphur Springs PD said the suspect went into T-Mobile asking to look at three iPhones and when the store clerk brought them to him, he ran out of the store with the phones. Scott said the phones are worth a total of $4,900. Scott said the suspect is believed to be 6â4, around 240 pounds and not local to the area.
If anyone has any information regarding the investigation, call Detective Scott at 903-885-7602.
CANTON â Our news partner, KETK, reports that a morning house fire in Canton led to the tragic death of a 75-year-old woman.
According to Van Zandt County Fire Marshal Kevin Palmer, on Jan. 24 at 5:19 a.m., a unit arrived at Linda Raye Jonesâ home on 27866 State Highway 64 near Sundance Hall where they found Jones dead inside her home that was engulfed in flames. Officials said the fire began in the garage and spread to the home. Officials determined the house to be a total loss after firefighters were on the scene for five hours. According to Jonesâ obituary, her memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday at Eubank Funeral Home. Jones was a former member of the Canton Chamber of Commerce and was once elected Woman of the Year.
The family described Jones as fashionable, classy and feisty, often speeding along the roads of Van Zandt County. Jonesâs Daughter, Jessica Milligan says that people can support the family by donating to Jonesâs GoFundMe.
LONGVIEWâ Our news partner, KETK, reports that more than 40 employees in Longview are set to lose their jobs following the termination of a key contract.
A letter from S&Bâs Vice President of Human Resources Wendy Coker revealed that Eastman Chemical Company has notified S&B that it will end its engineering services contract, with the transition of services to another provider scheduled for March 31.As a result, S&B will shut down its operations at its Longview Facility on 814 S Eastman Road. Coker confirmed that the closure will lead to the layoff of all 43 employees assigned to this location.
âAll affected employees are expected to be separated from employment on March 28 and have been provided with sixty days of working notice,â Coker said.
The positions impacted by the closure include project controls, engineers, mechanical specialists, piping designers, electrical engineers and civil/structural engineers.
MOUNT PLEASANT â Our news partner, KETK, reports that two Mount Pleasant streets are closed after a man, arrested for a DWI, crashed into a power pole Tuesday night.
According to the Mount Pleasant Police Department, officers responded to a wreck and found that a truck had crashed into a power pole, almost cutting it off. Officials identified the driver as Jose Francisco Patino, and arrested him for driving while intoxicated. Officials said that East 1st Street and Lee Street are closed until the power pole has been replaced in front of the B&A Center. The power company is currently using a crane to keep the power pole in place until crews can replace it.
âWe will open East 1st as soon as we can and East 2nd, coming toward Jefferson, will remain open unless it becomes necessary to shut it down,â Mount Pleasant PD said.
Francisco was booked into the Titus County Jail and has since been released
UPDATE: The Rusk County Sheriffâs Office identified the victim as 46-year-old Timothy Mefford, from El Paso. The victim was flown to a Tyler hospital where he is now on life support. The dispute is suspected to be over a woman who was at the scene.
RUSK COUNTY — Rusk County deputies are investigating a shooting Tuesday night. According to the Rusk County Sheriffâs Office, deputies responded to Rusk County Road 411D to a reported gunshot victim. Upon arrival, deputies found a man with a gunshot wound to the head. The man was taken to a Henderson hospital, and later care flighted to Tyler. A person of interest has been identified and officers are following up on information and leads.
Officials said this is an active investigation and based on their initial findings there is no threat to the public. Anyone with information regarding the incident are asked to call the Rusk County Sheriffâs Office Criminal Investigation Unit at 903-657-3581.
HALLSVILLEâ Our news partner, KETK, reports that two Hallsville ISD employees were taken to the hospital Wednesday morning after a school bus was involved in a wreck.
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.
HENDERSON COUNTY- Our news partner, KETK, reports that two Gun Barrel City residents were arrested after narcotics officers allegedly found methamphetamine inside their home on Tanglewood Drive in the Gun Barrel City area.
According to the Henderson County Sheriffâs Office, around 6 p.m. narcotics investigators and a K9 executed a search warrant. While officers were searching the home, they found a quantity of methamphetamine that was packaged for distribution along with several baggies and scales. Several preloaded syringes filled with liquid methamphetamine that were ready for sale were also discovered. Upon completion of their investigation, residents John Joseph Stuart and Melissa Leigh Lenox were taken into custody and booked on Controlled Substance Charges. Stuart on the charge of possession of a Controlled Substance, and Lenox for the Manufacture or Delivery of a Controlled Substance.
RUSK â Rusk Rural Water Supply has issued a boil water notice for customers on 14 roads in Cherokee County on Thursday.
If customers have any questions, contact Rusk Rural Water Supply at 903-683-6178 or visit 1055 N Dickinson Dr. in Rusk.
This boil water notice was issued after a main line leak. Any customers on these roads should bring any water to a vigorous rolling boil for at least two minutes. Our news partner, KETK, has a full list of the roads in question. To view that list, click here.
GILMER â Our news partner, KETK, reports that the City of Gilmer has issued a boil water notice for residents on four streets on Monday evening. The boil water was issued after major water repairs. Any residents on the following streets should boil water until further notice for consuming and cooking: Pinecrest, Hollybrook, Woodway, Briarwood. Residents can call 903-843-2552 with any questions or for an after hours water emergency call 903-790-7556.
GREGG COUNTY — A Longview man is facing numerous charges following a raid at a Longview home. According to the Longview Police Department, on Friday Jan. 17, Gregg County Organized Drug Enforcement (CODE) Unit and the Special Investigations Apprehension (SIA) served a warrant at a residence on McCann Road.
According to our news partner KETK, arriving law enforcement agents reportedly located and seized 1,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills, 2500 xanax pills, hydrocodone, cocaine, percocet fentanyl pills and over $11,000.
Ladarrin Rayson, 36, was arrested and charged with five counts of manufacturing and delivery of a controlled substance officials said. Rayson was booked into the Gregg County Jail. His bond was set at $350,000.
ATHENS â Our news partner, KETK, reports that three people were arrested after officers found suspected meth in an Athens home over the weekend. According to the Henderson County Sheriffâs Office, on Sunday around 8:10 p.m. officers conducted a narcotics search at a home on County Road 1502. During the search, Terry Frank Alotto was found with a quantity of suspected meth that was packaged in a gallon sized bag, baggies to manufacture and distribute narcotics, a firearm and cash officials said.
Christi Lynn Pass and David Wayne Balser were also found with suspected meth. Alotto was charged with manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of firearm by a felon. Pass and Balser were both charged with possession of a controlled substance.
All three were booked and transported into the Henderson County Jail.
HENDERSON COUNTY â Our news partner, KETK, reports that an East Texas woman has been arrested after a Thursday traffic stop revealed she reportedly had meth and hydrocodone in her truck.
According to the Henderson County Sheriffâs Office, officers including a K-9 unit, conducted a traffic stop at around 5:45 p.m. in the 6200 block of Clear Creek Road in Mabank on a black Dodge Ram truck driven by Natasha Ann Longbine. During the traffic stop, an open air sniff of the vehicle was conducted by K-9, Valco, who gave a positive alert for narcotics, initiating a search of the vehicle. âDuring the search, deputies and investigators were informed by Natasha that she was concealing hydrocodone on her person,â the police department said. âAs the search continued Deputy Rodriguez located suspected marijuana inside of the vehicle.â
An officer witnessed Longbine lean on the front passenger side of the vehicle, and reach into the patrol vehicleâs wheel wells. Officers then found a small black zipper bag with a large amount of suspected methamphetamine and baggies used for packaging and distribution of narcotics.
Longbine was arrested for manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a dangerous drug, possession of marijuana and tampering or fabricating with physical evidence.
TYLER- Lance Phillips, the son of a Smith County elected official, is seeking to change the location of his upcoming trial due to family prominence. Phillips, 41, of Tyler, is charged with the assault of a peace officer or judge for accusations related to a County Commissioners Court meeting on April 2nd, where he was held in contempt of Court and removed.
Phillips’ attorney asked that the trial, which was set for February 4, 2025, to be postponed so that he may gather evidence to support a venue change. The lawyer cited that Lance Phillips’ parents (former Smith County Precinct 3 Commissioner, Terry Phillips, and current Smith County Clerk, Karen Phillips) are notable figures in the county, as well as the amount of news reports and views of videos involving Lance and his family. The hearing to address the venue change and other issues will be held on February 26th.
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LONGVIEW â On Thursday, a new Command Bus and Bearcat were unveiled after Gregg County and the City of Longview partnered to update old equipment.
The Gregg County Sheriffâs Office and the Longview Police and Fire agencies will be able to use these vehicles. This is the third command center for the city and county. The last time the mobile command post was updated was in 2006 and the last âBearcatâ was updated in 2009.
Longview Police Chief Anthony Boone shared how the new equipment will benefit the city in several ways. âIt could be used for natural disasters. It could be used for any type of larger crime scenes. If we have an ongoing active shooter or barricaded subject event, so it will have multiple uses at the city and the county level,â Boone said. Read the rest of this entry »