Elderly Smith County man dies after falling from ladder

SMITH COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that an elderly man has died after falling from a ladder while trimming trees Monday afternoon. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, around 4:30 p.m., deputies responded to a home in the Chapel Hill area off of Highway 64, where they found 76-year-old Bobby Finley dead in his yard.

Officials said Finley was standing on a ladder while trimming a tree in his yard with a chainsaw when a limb he cut fell into the ladder, knocking him to the ground. The sheriff’s office believes Finley hit his head and back area when he fell to the ground, ultimately causing his death.

Van Zandt County man arrested for meth found in vehicle

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – An Edgewood man was arrested after deputies reportedly found illegal narcotics inside his vehicle. According to the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office and our news partner KETK, on March 17, a Van Zandt County criminal interdiction deputy saw a vehicle committing multiple moving violations and initiated a traffic stop.

The deputy saw multiple indicators that the people in the vehicle were possibly concealing something illegal. A Wills Point PD K9 unit performed a search around the vehicle, and officers were alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics. During the search, officials said suspected meth was located on Timothy Dwayne Henson of Edgewood. (more…)

Retreat to educate students on suicide prevention

TYLER – Our news partner, KETK, reports that the fourth annual “Sources of Strength” Retreat is expected to host over 200 students from 11 different high schools from all over East Texas this week.

Next Step Community Solutions, a Texas-based nonprofit, will host this retreat on Wednesday at the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center in Tyler. Sources of Strength is a peer-led suicide prevention program. The evidence-based conference-style retreat will feature different groups and adult leaders that will rotate through sessions.

“Each year we are able to bring more students together and celebrate all that they’ve accomplished over the past school year while also teaching them new ways to grow,” Sources of Strength program manager Adriana Gonzalez said. (more…)

Food Pantry in Rusk dealing with thefts

RUSK – The Good Samaritan Food Pantry and Thrift Store is used to giving to people but over the past few weeks the nonprofit said they’ve had several thefts from the donation center in Rusk. Our news partner, KETK, reports that the Rusk Police Department has posted several photos of nine different thieves, and seven of them have been identified with assistance from the public.

“The donations are sold here in the thrift store, and then the proceeds are used to buy food for our food pantry and that feeds the community,” Good Samaritan Public Relations, Lana Z said. “So, when those donations are being stolen, it’s taking the funds that we are able to buy food for.” (more…)

East Texas man accused of killing his sister

HENDERSON COUNTY – A $2 million bond has been set for an East Texas man arrested for allegedly killing his sister Monday in Henderson County. According to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the shooting of 30-year-old Samantha Moore in the Bonita Point subdivision just outside of Gun Barrel City. Moore was transported to a local hospital where she later died from her injuries.

According to our news partner KETK, deputies learned Moore’s brother, John Tyler Clague, 37 of Mabank, had shot her and fled the home. Investigators learned that Clague had been taken to a home in the Harbor Point subdivision. (more…)

First ever East Texas Gamer Con coming to Longview

GREGG COUNTY — The Greater Longview United Way, LANFest and CableLynx Broadband are teaming up to host the inaugural East Texas Gamer Con this Friday and Saturday, according to our news partner KETK.

“Gaming has the power to bring people together, and through ETX Gamer Con, we’re channeling that connection into meaningful community support,” said Dr. Evan Dolive, the executive director of the Greater Longview United Way. “When you participate in this event, you’re not just playing games – you’re helping provide meals to families in need, supporting after-school programs for our youth, and ensuring our neighbors have access to vital health services.”

The convention’s lineup consists of the following exciting activities: (more…)

Couple arrested after stepfather accused of sexually assaulting stepdaughter

SMITH COUNTY – A Smith County couple has been arrested after a 9-year-old girl accused her stepfather of sexually assaulting her, according to our news partner KETK. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office became aware of the case on March 12 after a CPS worker reported a 9-year-old girl was reportedly being touched inappropriately by her stepfather, Damian Francisco.

The incidents were reported to have occurred in the family’s home in Tyler. The CPS worker was alerted to the case after the victim, records indicate, told teachers at her school that her stepfather had touched her inappropriately.

Following the report, the victim was taken to the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) where a forensic interview was conducted. The affidavit stated that the victim cried for the first portion of the interview and claimed that her mother told her that it was her fault they had to do the interview. The victim said the mother threatened she and her siblings may not see her again. (more…)

Officials arrest armed man after fatal shooting

GUN BARREL CITY – According to our news partner KETK, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man wanted in connection to a fatal shooting that happened near Gun Barrel City on Monday. The shooting happened near Bonita Point which is just outside of Gun Barrel City in Henderson County. Officials identified the man they were searching for as John Clague. The sheriff’s office reported that the body of Clague’s sister was found dead on Monday.

Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said Clague was in a travel trailer on a property in the Harbor Point subdivision. The tactical team responded to the property to try and contact Clague. He then allegedly tried to run from the trailer but was apprehended by a K9 unit. Hillhouse said that EMS was checking out Clague for injuries before he gets transported to the Henderson County Jail.

$150K grant for equipment, training to the SFA police department

NACOGDOCHES – Our news partner, KETK, reports that the University of Texas System Police Department at Stephen F. Austin State University has received a $150,000 grant to fund equipment and training.

The Nacogdoches Law Enforcement Foundation, a nonprofit that assists agencies serving in Nacogdoches, awarded the grant. The $150,000 grant will cover at least 30 duty tourniquets with carriers, along with two automated external defibrillators for new patrol vehicles.

Korey Kahle, a lecturer of computer science at SFA, has been the head of the foundation since it began in March 2022. Recently, the foundation also helped Cason Snider, who was injured in a Nacogdoches County two-vehicle crash in 2017.

Some Nacogdoches County residents under boil water notice

NACOGDOCHES -Caro Water Supply Corporation has issued a boil water notice for several areas affected in Nacogdoches County on Monday due to a generator failure.

The corporation recommends that customers boil their water for more than two minutes at a rolling boil to ensure that all bacteria and microbes have been destroyed. Customers may purchase bottled water or other suitable drinking water for consumption purposes.

Caro Water Supply Corporation will notify customers when they no longer need to boil water and the notice has been rescinded. Anyone with questions regarding the boil water notice can reach the water supply company .

Our news partner, KETK, has a full list of the public areas under the boil water notice. To see the full list, click here.

Wood County woman sentenced to 30 years for assault

WOOD COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that a Wood County woman was sentenced to 30 years in prison after “repeatedly striking” a woman with a metal pole.

According to the Wood County District Attorney’s Office, around 10:30 p.m. on April 6, 2023, Ruby Dee Isaacs and three other people arrived at the victim’s home uninvited, holding weapons including a knife, machete, pepper spray and a homemade metal pole with a sprocket attached to the end.

Officials said that after a verbal dispute, Issacs repeatedly struck the victim in the face and body with the metal pole. The attack caused serious injuries to the victim’s face, requiring several stitches in her chin and staples in her forehead. (more…)

East Texas student sells pig for over $500,000 at Houston Rodeo

CENTER – Our news partner, KETK, reports that a 12-year-old from Center ISD accomplished an impressive feat during the 2025 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo this week by selling a market barrow pig for a record $501,000.

Dallas Martinez, who is currently in the sixth grade, was named Junior Market Barrow Grand Champion and sold his championship market barrow pig for $501,000, which breaks the previous record by over $100,000.

Martinez has been competing in major stock shows since he was 9-years-old. The student’s father, Berto Martinez, is a member of the Center ISD faculty working for the maintenance department.

University of Oxford Somerville College Choir concert canceled

TYLER — The University of Oxford Somerville College Choir concert at Marvin Methodist Church in Tyler Tuesday night has been canceled. Due to the fire at Heathrow Airport last week, the group was not able to make their flight.

West Rusk CCISD proposes bond for new school

NEW LONDON, Texas – The West Rusk County Consolidated ISD is once again looking at voters to pass a proposed bond totaling $23,404,459. The funds would be used to build a new elementary school. This bond comes after voters rejected the district’s last two attempted bonds which aimed to fix aging or broken infrastructure, including mold and water damage, in the district’s schools. The district’s bond page breaks down what the new elementary school campus would feature, including a new music room and a multi-purpose gymnasium with a stage.
(more…)

Smith County Jail medication tech arrested for delivering pills

SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a contracted medical employee working at the Smith County Jail for allegedly bringing pills to an inmate according to our news partner KETK. Jessica Riley, 41 of Tyler, was working in the jail as a medication tech when she was arrested at around 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Officials said an investigation was started after investigators were given information claiming that Riley had been illegally dispensing controlled substances to an inmate.

The sheriff’s office said that investigators were able to review video that allegedly showed Riley passing something to an inmate from her medical cart.

Officials then searched the cell of Tyirese Ladale Dews, 24 of Tyler, who was arrested for the unrelated charge of promoting prostitution on March 6. Two tablets of Seroquel were found inside the bunkbed in Dews’ cell, according to a press release. (more…)

Go Back