JASPER, Texas — The Jasper County Historical Museum will mark its 25th anniversary with a community open house titled Silver & Stories: 25 Years of Jasper County History on Friday, Feb. 6. The event is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Jasper County Historical Museum in downtown Jasper and is free and open to the public. Guests will have the opportunity to explore current museum exhibits, visit with local historians and share personal stories connected to Jasper County’s hist

Dr. George Fidone Photo Credit: Lufkin Police Department LUFKIN, Texas — New details have been released in the arrest of a Lufkin pediatrician charged in connection with a January crash that killed a Pollok man. According to the Lufkin Police Department, George Fidone, 65, was arrested Thursday and charged with one count of intoxication manslaughter and one count of intoxication assault stemming from a two-vehicle wreck that occurred Jan. 17, 2026, on College Drive. Fidone p

JASPER — The South East Texas Regional Planning Commission (SETRPC) has announced a change to the City of Jasper Public Transit Pilot Project, reducing service to one day per week due to low ridership. Beginning Wednesday, February 4, 2026, South East Texas Transit (SETT) will provide curb-to-curb pick-up and drop-off transportation services on Wednesdays only, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. within the City of Jasper. The transit pilot has been available to Jasper residents since Jul

Photo Courtesy of Beech Grove VFD BEECH GROVE, TX — Beech Grove Volunteer Fire Department responded to two separate motor vehicle accidents within a 16-hour period, both resulting in vehicles leaving the roadway. No injuries were reported in either crash, though both incidents resulted in arrests by state troopers, according to Beech Grove VFD. First Crash – FM 2799 at CR 099 BGVFD was dispatched at 11:07 a.m. to a motor vehicle accident on FM 2799 at County Road 099. Upon ar

Photo Courtesy of Jasper Volunteer Fire Department The Jasper Fire Department had its hands full today, responding to a series of emergencies across the city and surrounding areas, including multiple brush fires, a structure fire, and a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 190. Firefighters were dispatched to three separate brush fires that burned in dry, windy conditions: 3000 block of FM 252 County Road 166 & FM 2799 A brush pile fire that spread and ignited a shed in the 2100

A Jasper resident is among the Fall 2025 graduates of Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls. Harrison David Gibbs, of Jasper, earned a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health during the university’s Fall 2025 commencement. Midwestern State University awarded degrees to 485 undergraduate and graduate students during the Fall 2025 semester, according to university officials. Graduates were required to meet all academic standards and degree requirements set by the facult

Several East Texas students earned degrees from Sam Houston State University during the Fall 2025 semester, according to the university’s Office of Marketing and Communications. The following graduates represent communities across Southeast Texas and completed undergraduate and graduate programs in a wide range of academic disciplines: Fall 2025 Graduates Buna Jordan Clark — Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology Evadale Justin Rogers — Master of Science in Criminal Justice Leade

JASPER, Texas - Workforce Solutions officially opened its new Jasper office Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the former Rowe Elementary School building, marking a new chapter for workforce development services in the community. The facility is now home to Workforce Solutions Deep East Texas, which provides job placement assistance, training resources and employment support for residents across the region. The building also houses the Southeast Texas Food Bank, bringi

Amber Lynn Mock is wanted on multiple felony charges. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact law enforcement. The Jasper Police Department and the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a wanted fugitive with multiple felony charges. According to law enforcement, Amber Lynn Mock, a white female, is currently wanted on five felony charges, including multiple burglary offenses and a controlled substance charge. Mock is wan

Dr. Ron McMurry, President of the Jasper Hospital District and a longtime family physician in Jasper. Photo courtesy of the Jasper Hospital District. Dr. Ron McMurry, President of the Jasper Hospital District Board of Directors and a longtime family physician in Jasper, has passed away. McMurry brought decades of medical experience and passionate advocacy for rural healthcare access to his leadership role with the hospital district. Born and raised in Jasper, McMurry came fro

Former Jasper Bulldog Ty'Anthony Smith. (Texas Football) On New Year’s Eve, a former Jasper High School Bulldog delivered on one of college football’s biggest postseason stages. Ty’Anthony Smith, a sophomore linebacker for the Texas Longhorns, turned in the best performance of his young college career during Texas’ 41–27 Citrus Bowl victory over the Michigan Wolverines on Wednesday at Camping World Stadium. Smith recorded two interceptions — his first picks of the entire 2025

Photo Courtesy of Beech Grove VFD BEECH GROVE, Texas — A grass fire sparked by a brush burn spread rapidly Tuesday afternoon, resulting in the total loss of heavy equipment and prompting a response from the Beech Grove Volunteer Fire Department. According to BGVFD, crews were dispatched at 3:05 p.m. on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, to a reported grass and equipment fire along FM 1747. Upon arrival, firefighters found that a grass fire had already spread to a Caterpillar skid s

Photo Courtesy of East End VFD JASPER COUNTY, Texas — Firefighters with East End Volunteer Fire Department responded early Monday morning to a reported tree fire involving a power line along Highway 63 East near County Road 277. According to East End VFD, the call came in at 3:24 a.m. reporting sparks and a small fire caused by a tree that had fallen onto a power line. Upon arrival, crews found a small tree draped over the energized line and evidence of a nearby grass fire.

Photos Courtesy of Beech Grove VFD JASPER COUNTY, Texas — The Beech Grove Volunteer Fire Department handled multiple emergency calls Wednesday afternoon, responding to a large grass and woods fire, a multi-vehicle hit-and-run crash, and a downed tree that blocked a roadway — all within a span of just over two hours. Grass/Woods Fire on FM 254 North At 12:27 p.m., Beech Grove VFD was dispatched to assist Angelina River Fire And Rescue and the Jasper Texas Volunteer Fire Depar

A Jasper student is being recognized for academic excellence at Midwestern State University following the Fall 2025 semester. Emily Shierry of Jasper, a Psychology major at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, earned placement on the Dean’s Honor Roll, an achievement that reflects strong academic performance and dedication throughout the semester. Midwestern State University recently announced that 1,075 students were recognized on its academic honor rolls for Fall 2

Photo by Jasper County Sheriff's Office JASPER COUNTY, Texas — A residential house fire claimed the life of a 55-year-old Jasper man early Sunday morning, according to Jasper County Sheriff Chuck Havard. On December 14, 2025, at approximately 7:37 a.m., the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a fully engulfed house fire at a residence located at 1087 FM 2800 in Jasper. A Jasper County Sheriff’s deputy was the first to arrive on scene and was able to safely re

By Wyatt Winters JASPER, TEXAS- On December 13th, the Jasper Lion’s Club and the First Methodist Church hosted their 6th annual Pancake Breakfast in the Wesley Center. The community was invited to come and enjoy pancakes, sausages, and good company this holiday season. Families were treated to free food and appearances from Frosty the Snowman and Santa Clause as volunteers from both the Lion’s Club and Jasper High School served their fellow man by serving food and pouring cof

Photo by East Texas Banner JASPER COUNTY — Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers are investigating a two-vehicle crash that occurred Tuesday evening, December 9, 2025, on State Highway 63 East near Farm-to-Market Road 1408. According to DPS, the collision happened around 7:05 p.m. when a Chevrolet passenger car traveling eastbound struck a Chevrolet pickup that had entered the highway from the FM 1408 intersection. Preliminary findings indicate the pickup driver fa

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE From Chief Garrett Foster Jasper Police Department Jasper, Texas — A federal grand jury seated in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas has returned multiple indictments against Tyrone Grant, who now faces a series of federal charges stemming from an extensive narcotics investigation led by the Jasper Police Department and partnering agencies. Grant has been charged with: Two counts of Conspiracy to Possess

Musician Danny O’Flaherty, in conjunction with the United Methodist Church of the Pines, offers a festive Celtic Christmas evening of Irish & Celtic holiday music, familiar Christmas favorites and stories for a family-friendly evening of Christmas cheer. The event is Monday, December 15, 6pm, at UMC of the Pines, 740 Verna Street, Jasper, Texas 75951. Price of admission on site is $15 with children 10 and under admitted free of charge.    One-half of each ticket price will be