Local Headlines

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…)

One shot, one injured in police chase

PANOLA COUNTY – One man was shot and a woman was injured after she reportedly jumped from a vehicle that was involved in a pursuit near the Texas-Louisiana border in Panola County on Friday.

According to our news partner KETK, dispatchers got an open-line 911 call at around 10:30 p.m. on Friday. In the background of the call, they could hear a man and a woman arguing. The woman on the call then reportedly told dispatchers that she had jumped from the moving vehicle and was injured. Sheriff’s office deputies, a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper, the Flatwoods Volunteer Fire Department and UT Health EMS were all sent to where the woman’s phone was pinged on FM 2517 near County Road 4702 and the state border with Louisiana.

A deputy and sergeant with Panola County Sheriff’s office stopped the vehicle on FM 2517 near County Road 470. The driver was identified as the woman caller’s brother, Napolean Cordell “Polie” Lockett of Beckville. The sheriff’s office said Lockett then fled in his vehicle by turning onto FM 3359 and heading towards Louisiana before he reportedly turned onto County Road 455 where his vehicle crashed and rolled over. (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…)

Firefighter hit by burning tree

LINDALE – A firefighter from the Lindale Fire Department had surgery on Saturday after being struck by a burning tree that fell on him on Friday while they were responding to a call. Firefighters were dispatched to the 14000 block of County Road 496 at approximately 5:53 p.m. on Friday due to a reported burning tree, according to the Lindale Fire Department. A firefighter was struck in the arm when the tree suddenly collapsed while they were attempting to put it out. He received emergency care on the spot before being transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital. Garrett Rose was identified by the department as the injured firefighter. He will probably require another surgery in the future, according to a family friend.

Screwworm preventing pet flights

EAST TEXAS – Some rescued dogs and cats from East Texas are being prevented from leaving the state on transport flights due to New World screwworm concerns in Texas. More than sixty animals from East Texas shelters were scheduled to be transported by Wings of Rescue to adoptive homes and out-of-state partners, but as a precaution, some destination states are no longer accepting animals from Texas. Shelters claim that because fewer animals can be placed out of state as a result of the change, overcrowding may get worse. (more…)

City to rebuild police department

HAWKINS – Candidates running for Hawkins City Council seats informed voters a month ago that, if elected, they would deal with a number of issues, including the lack of a police department. They started the process of doing just that this month. Kayla Ross and her fellow council members unanimously decided to start accepting applications for the position of city police chief during her first full meeting as mayor on Monday night. That is the first step toward reviving the city’s police force, which was shut down a year ago by council members and former mayor Deb Rushing.

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.