Local Headlines

Reward increased after shooting

TYLER – A $25,000 reward has been offered by the FBI for information that results in the apprehension and conviction of those responsible for the shooting of a five-year-old. On the evening of May 29, Josiah Williams was shot at the Victory Parks Apartment in Tyler. For emergency care, Josiah was flown to a hospital in Dallas. Over thirty shell casings were found at the scene by investigators. Josiah was an innocent bystander, and officials believe the incident was gang-related. According to the FBI, multiple people are thought to have participated in the shooting, and all of the suspects are men.

Woman pleads guilty to child abuse

TYLER – On Thursday, a Frisco woman entered a guilty plea to first-degree child injury. Authorities accused Frisco resident Kamilla Musser, 47, of repeatedly abusing her child, leading to her arrest in Tyler in May 2024. She was sentenced to ten years of probation, which cannot be ended early, after entering a guilty plea to causing serious bodily injury or serious mental deficiency/impairment to a child through intentional, knowing, reckless, or criminally negligent actions. She is prohibited from communicating with the victim or the family involved in this case. She will also be imprisoned for ninety days. She will also not be able to renew her teaching license in Texas. (more…)

Californian sentenced after assault

MINEOLA – After attacking an elderly man, a California man was found guilty of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and given a 15-year prison sentence. The Wood County District Attorney’s Office reports that Arne Arthur Oliver, 46, of California, received a sentence for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon that was only five years short of the 20-year maximum. After less than an hour of deliberation, a Wood County jury found him guilty on June 16. Oliver must complete half of his sentence before being eligible for parole because the offense involved the use of a deadly weapon. (more…)

Suspect arrested for elderly abuse

SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man for financial abuse of an elderly person after an investigation connected him to victims who’ve lost over $2 million dollars, according to our news partner KETK.

On April 7, investigators met with a 77-year-old woman who had reported that one of her friends, whom she had known for years, had taken over $200,000 in checks from her. The friend reportedly told her that he’d been arrested and he persuaded her to post a $34,000 bail. A few days later, the bail bond company, to whom she gave a check, threatened to report her to the Smith County District Attorney’s office after her check bounced. (more…)

Fatal hit-and-run trial pushed back

TYLER – In the case against a Tyler woman accused of fleeing the scene of a collision that killed a 19-year-old bicyclist, a judge on Wednesday granted a 30-day continuance. The defense requested the delay, which was granted during a pre-trial hearing in the 241st District Court.

Andrea Somer Tanner is accused of being involved in a collision that occurred on December 7 on East Fifth Street in Tyler. A car hit a 19-year-old man riding a bicycle and then drove away, according to arrest records. After being transported to a hospital, the victim died from his wounds. (more…)

Truck crash leaves woman dead

RUSK – Charlotte Goff, 55, was identified by authorities as a bicyclist killed in an 18-wheeler collision on Wednesday night, according to Rusk police. The collision happened in the 1200 block of U.S. Highway 84 close to Loop 343 at approximately 8:50 p.m., according to investigators. Preliminary findings revealed that Goff was riding a bicycle when an 18-wheeler passed by and she fell into the road. Goff died at the scene after being hit by a truck. She was declared dead by Cherokee County Justice of the Peace Brenda Dominy. (more…)

Arrest made in 2024 arson case

TROUP – A Smith County Grand Jury has indicted a man for his involvement in the June 2024 arson of a Troup mobile home, leading to his arrest. The indictment states that Raymond Earl Thorndyke IV of Bonham was charged in August 2025 with arson of a mobile home located in the 700 block of East Paschal Street in Troup. According to the indictment, Thorndyke used a device to ignite an ignitable liquid inside the mobile home, setting it on fire. Natalie Nulf, a 35-year-old woman from Troup, was detained for the arson and entered a guilty plea in November 2025. (more…)

Traffic advisory for Juneteenth parade

Tyler – The Juneteenth parade begins on Saturday, June 20, from 8 a.m. to noon. Various roads will be closed, beginning at 9 a.m. The parade will start at Glenwood Boulevard and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, then proceed east on Martin Luther King Jr., turn north on Border Avenue. It will then turn west on West 26th Street, turn north on North Glass Avenue, and continue east on West 32nd Street, ending at the intersection of 32nd Street and North Broadway Avenue.

Motorists are encouraged to plan alternate routes and expect temporary traffic delays in the area during the event. Officers will be present to assist with road closures and detours.
City leaders appreciate the public’s patience and cooperation as they work to ensure a safe and successful Juneteenth celebration for our community.

Residents have data center water worries

HENDERSON COUNTY – Local leaders in Henderson County held a workshop on Tuesday to discuss a proposed data center near Key Ranch Estates on Cedar Creek Lake. During the meeting, community members voiced significant concerns regarding the project’s potential impact on the lake, particularly the risk of water depletion.

According to our news partner KETK, the proposed data center’s water requirements sparked worries among residents, who fear that water levels at Cedar Creek Lake, considered the heart of their community, could be depleted. The workshop aimed to inform the community and allow residents to understand the potential impact on their area. (more…)

Shooting leads to drug arrests

ATHENS – According to Henderson County authorities, a shooting investigation in Athens resulted in the discovery of suspected drugs and the arrest of three people on Tuesday night. Investigators were called to the 400 block of Jonathan Street in Athens on Tuesday after a building was hit by several bullets, according to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators found the following items in a backpack while they were helping at the scene: two big plastic bags that possibly contained cocaine, a big plastic bag containing what appeared to be marijuana, digital scales and smaller plastic bags that are consistent with the distribution of drugs. Additionally, a bottle that appeared to contain Xanax pills was taken from the home by investigators. (more…)

Scam calls on the rise

Smith County – Smith County and surrounding areas have seen an uptick in scam calls — specifically, calls that instill fear by making it seem a family member is in danger and you need to pay to save them.

Smith County Precinct 4 Constable Josh Joplin and a local woman, who had experienced one of these scam calls, say they can seem so real, even using the sound of someone in distress to sell their story. The calls from unknown people range from kidnapping a loved one to crying out that a daughter’s been in a crash. These scammers are capitalizing on the fear.

Tammy Humes says she received a phone call from a regular, wireless number with a local area code, urgently stressing that her daughter had been in a car crash, and money was needed to tow her car. In the background, she could hear a woman yelling, “Mom!”

“A parent’s gonna freak out hearing that their child’s in an accident,” Humes said.

Humes said she recognized the caller was not able to provide a location of the call or identify the daughter, instead only saying he needed her credit card information. (more…)

City names new police chief

TRINIDAD – The City of Trinidad named Cameron Bechham as their new interim police chief during a city council meeting on Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, Bechham was sworn in after the Trinidad City Council voted 4 to 1 in favor of naming him the new interim police chief.

The decision to name Bechham police chief was made following the recent resignation of Charles Gregory, who resigned less than two weeks ago, following ongoing controversy involving the city’s water rights.

During Thursday’s meeting, the city council also voted unanimously to establish a water advisory committee to address the ongoing water problems that have plagued Trinidad residents for years.

Smith County, Tyler Juneteenth schedule

SMITH COUNTY – All non-emergency Smith County offices will be closed for business on Friday, June 19, for Juneteenth.

TYLER – All non-essential City offices will observe the following schedule on Friday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth.

City Hall  
City Hall offices will be closed Friday, June 19.

Tyler Water Utilities
The Water Business Office will be closed Friday, June 19. The kiosk at the drive-through offers 24/7 access for water utility customers with its ability to accept checks, money orders, credit/debit cards, and cash payments. Those choosing to pay with cash should be aware that no change will be given. (more…)