Illinois man arrested for theft of more than $30,000

LONGVIEW – According to our news partner KETK, the Longview Police Department is warning the public of a scam after they recently arrested a person for allegedly stealing between $30,000 and $150,000. Muhammad Muzammil, 23 of Bolingbrook, Illinois, allegedly used scam tactics to scam a local victim out of a “significant amount of money,” according to Longview PD.

“Unfortunately, these types of crimes are becoming more common and often target the elderly and young adults. Protect yourself and your loved ones by staying informed and vigilant,” Longview PD said. Visit the Federal Trade Commission online for more information on scams and how to protect yourself from them. (more…)

Kilgore College clarifies music dump

KILGORE — Kilgore College has released a statement after pictures were posted on social media of music being discarded in dumpster. According to our news partner KETK, the pictures causing many to question why the music was being thrown out by the college. Monday, officials from Kilgore College said in a statement they have been throwing away material that was stored in the music library. They added this does not indicate the school is reducing or removing any of their fine arts programs.

The statement said the majority of the material culled was older sheet music, CD’s or albums that have been stored on campus for years. Because of current technologies, this material being stored digitally.

The release also stated, “The fine arts department has been sorting through the collection this past year and has maintained a great deal of music, but from time to time, these inventories need to be reduced to allow for the addition of new materials, new technologies and new programs. Kilgore College wants to make it clear that it’s proud of the dedicated music faculty, talented students, and generous patrons and supporters over the years that have left such an amazing legacy.”

USPS reminds homeowners about mailbox maintenance

TYLER — The U.S. Postal Service is asking all homeowners to check their mailboxes as part of their Mailbox Improvement Week. According to our news partner KETK, the postal service designates the third full week of May as Mailbox Improvement Week to encourage customers to examine and potentially improve their mailboxes. The USPS said in a release,, “neat, attractive, mailboxes make a significant contribution to the appearance of the countryside and streets in suburban areas.”

Some changes homeowners could do include: Replacing loose hinges on a mailbox door, repaint a mailbox that may have rusted or started to peel, remounting a loosened mailbox post and replace or add house numbers.
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Romanian national given 12 years for fraud and theft

SMITH COUNTY – Romanian national Alin Nistor was given 12 years in prison on three separate charges of fraudulent use of debit card information, food stamp fraud, and theft of property. He was sentenced by Judge Reeve Jackson in the 114th District Court on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Nistor and his wife were identified by the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center to be connected to a large organized crime ring of other Romanian nationals committing fraud across the country. According to a release and an investigation headed by the Tyler Police Department, a traffic stop resulted in officials finding “345 large cans of baby formula in their car” with the intent to resell and several Lone Star welfare cards and gift cards that had modified information from California residents. Evidence was also presented of Nistor’s wife stealing over $5,000 worth of printer ink cartridges from a Walmart weeks prior.

Woman arrested with ‘large sum’ of cash, suspected cocaine

MALAKOFF – The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said that they arrested a woman on Saturday after suspected cocaine and a ‘large sum’ of cash was found during a traffic stop. According to our news partner KETK, Courtney Dawson, 29 of Malakoff, was arrested after Henderson County narcotics investigators Brad Beddingfield and Jonathan Daille found “a substance believed to be cocaine along with a large sum of U.S. Currency,” during a traffic stop, according to the sheriff’s office.

Dawson reportedly had an outstanding warrant for manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance and has been charged with manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance and tampering with physical evidence. She’s being held in the Henderson County Jail on a total bond of $1,550,000.

Game Wardens search for person who dumped alligator

SHELBY COUNTY – Shelby County Game Wardens are searching for someone who killed and dumped an alligator on Friday or Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, the alligator was captured, killed and dumped on either late Friday night or early Saturday morning at the Pinkston Reservoir boat ramp on County Road 1211. Anyone with information on the gator dumping is asked to call Game Warden Sam Anderson or Austin Cryer at 936-332-8487 or 936-591-7265.

Early voting began Monday in runoff election

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County residents living in the Commissioner Precinct 3 area began casting their ballots Monday during early voting for the Republican Primary Runoff Election. The only race on the ballot will be for the Smith County Precinct 3 Commissioner Runoff. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, May 20-24, Smith County Commissioner Precinct 3 residents can cast their ballots at The Hub, located at 304 E. Ferguson Street, in Tyler; or Lindale’s Kinzie Community Center, at 912 Mt. Sylvan St., in Lindale.

Because of the construction of Smith County’s parking garage next door to the The Hub, Ferguson Street is closed to drivers. The parking lot across from The Hub is still open for parking, but drivers will have to enter and exit at the intersection of Ferguson Street and Center Avenue. There will be voter parking-marked spaces, with the closest one to The Hub being used for curbside voting.

Smith County has launched a new, easy-to-use interactive map on its website. If you need to make sure you live in the area covered by Commissioner Precinct 3, and when and where you can vote for this runoff, click here and click on the “Interactive Map of Smith County” link. (more…)

TxDOT closes I-20 exit in Smith County

TYLER – Wednesday, TxDOT posted on X, formerly Twitter, announcing the closure of an exit on I-20. According to our news partner KETK, the closure is the eastbound I-20 SH 155 exit at mile marker 567. In the meantime, TxDOT has no reopening time as “crews assess the issue.”

TxDOT said that drivers can check DriveTexas for updates on the closure.

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