Texas students, including those in Newton, Jasper, and surrounding East Texas counties, have an opportunity to receive financial support for college through the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (RodeoHouston) scholarship program, with the application deadline quickly approaching. RodeoHouston officials say scholarship applications are currently open and must be submitted by February 2. The program helps Texas students pursue higher education by providing financial assistance

BUNA, Texas — Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers have released additional information in connection with a fatal three-vehicle crash that occurred early Monday morning along State Highway 62 near County Road 784 in Jasper County. Troopers have identified the deceased driver as Dustin Spears, 43, of Many, Louisiana. Spears was pronounced dead at the scene by a justice of the peace. The crash occurred at approximately 4:45 a.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026. Accor

Reader advisory: Images associated with this case shared by law enforcement may be graphic in nature. Donald Lewis, 82, of Kirbyville, faces a cruelty to livestock charge following an investigation by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. JASPER COUNTY, Texas — A Kirbyville man was arrested Monday afternoon following multiple reports of livestock neglect, according to Jasper County Sheriff Chuck Havard. Sheriff Havard stated that on January 12, 2026, at approximately 12:40 p.m.

Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department firefighters battle a fully involved storage building fire in the 7600 block of FM 252 Monday afternoon. Crews were able to extinguish the blaze before it spread into nearby woods or homes. (East Texas Banner photo) JASPER COUNTY, Texas — Just before 2:30 p.m. Monday afternoon, Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the 7600 block of Farm-to-Market Road 252 for a fully involved storage building fire. The fire was clo

Joseph Kain Marshall, of Jasper, TX – Age 30 Abandon/Endanger Child (Intentional, Knowing, Reckless, Criminal Negligence) Possession of a Controlled Substance, Penalty Group 1/1-B (≥1g <4g) Arresting Agency: Jasper Police Department at 4:23 a.m. Warrant/Ref#: 15535JD; 15597JD Meriam Isabella Young, of Jasper, TX – Age 24 Theft Under $100 Arresting Agency: Jasper Police Department at 7:06 a.m. Warrant/Ref#: On View Crissy Marie Carter, of Colmesneil, TX – Age 44 Public Intoxic

JASPER COUNTY, Texas — Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers are investigating a fatal three-vehicle crash that occurred early Monday morning along State Highway 62 near County Road 784 in Jasper County. According to DPS, the crash occurred at approximately 4:45 a.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026. The preliminary investigation indicates that a 2019 Ram pickup was traveling southbound on Highway 62, followed by a 2003 Chevrolet pickup, while a 2017 Nissan passenger

BUNA, Texas — A 43-year-old man from Louisiana was killed in a three-vehicle crash early Monday morning along Texas Highway 62 near County Road 784, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. DPS troopers say the crash occurred at approximately 4:45 a.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026, near the Highway 62 and County Road 784 intersection. According to investigators, a 2019 Ram pickup, driven by the 43-year-old Louisiana man, was traveling southbound on Highway 62 and w

A log truck overturned Friday morning at the intersection of FM 1013 and FM 1005 in Mt. Union, marking the second 18-wheeler rollover there in less than 24 hours. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Southeast Texas Region has identified the driver involved in an 18-wheeler crash that occurred Friday morning, January 9, 2026, at the intersection of Farm-to-Market Road 1013 and Farm-to-Market Road 1005 in Mt. Union — the second such rollover at the location in less than

KIRBYVILLE, TX — The search for Joshua Larkin, a Kirbyville man who has been missing since November 17, 2022, gained new momentum this week as Texas EquuSearch officially joined the ongoing recovery efforts. The nonprofit search-and-recovery organization, led by founder Tim Miller, is now actively working alongside law enforcement in the region to bring closure to a case that has recently shifted from a missing person investigation to a murder investigation. Larkin, 38 at th

Oranda Gaika Davis, of Jasper, TX – Age 49 Possession of a Controlled Substance PG 1/1-B <1G Arresting Agency: Jasper Police Department at 5:09 AM Chelsea Sams, of Lumberton, TX – Age 30 Driving While Intoxicated Arresting Agency: Jasper Police Department at 6:38 AM Ashley Sawyer Wales, of Buna, TX – Age 42 Possession of a Controlled Substance PG 1/1-B <1G Arresting Agency: Jasper County Sheriff’s Office at 12:50 PM Sarah Renae Risley, of Natchitoches, LA – Age 34 Possession

Photo Credit: Jace Roden Kirbyville High School’s cheer squad proved once again why they are a force to be reckoned with, bringing home multiple top honors from the Grapevine Mustang Invitational over the weekend. The Wildcats captured the 3A Championship and went on to earn the Overall Grand Champion title across Classes 2A–5A, outperforming teams from much larger schools. Kirbyville also took home Overall Crowd Leading, finishing first among all competing divisions. Adding

Mitchell Knight, of Jasper, TX – Age 55 Motion to Revoke Probation Arrested by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office at 7:01 a.m. on January 9, 2026. Heath Ray Baker, of Silsbee, TX – Age 39 Driving While License Invalid Possession of a Controlled Substance, Penalty Group 1/1-B (≥4g <200g) Arrested by Texas DPS at 5:17 p.m. on January 9, 2026. All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

A woman wanted on multiple charges in Jasper County has been taken into custody. According to Jasper County Sheriff Chuck Havard, Amber Lynn Mock, 35, of Jasper, was arrested early Saturday morning in Angelina County. Sheriff Havard said Mock was apprehended at approximately 5:30 a.m. while in possession of a stolen van connected to a church burglary in Tyler County. She was taken into custody without incident and is currently being held in the Angelina County Jail. Mock had

Zaylon Beatty, of Jasper, TX – Age 20 Possession of Marijuana < 2 oz Arresting Agency: Jasper Police Department at 4:08 AM Carol Lynn Duhon, of Woodville, TX – Age 59 Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Penalty Group 1 (≥4g <200g) Arresting Agency: Jasper County Sheriff’s Office at 2:13 PM Jake Tyrone Neal, of Buna, TX – Age 44 Harassment Terroristic Threat Causing Fear of Imminent Serious Bodily Injury Theft of Property ≥ $750 < $2,500 Arresting Agency: Jasper Co

Photo by East Texas Banner JASPER COUNTY, Texas — Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers investigated a crash involving an 18-wheeler Thursday evening that shut down a major roadway in the Mt. Union area of Jasper County for several hours. According to DPS, the crash occurred at approximately 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 8, 2026, on Farm-to-Market Road 1013 near Farm-to-Market Road 1005. A Freightliner truck tractor semi-trailer hauling lumber was traveling westboun

Jimmy Cauley, 62, of Jasper. JASPER COUNTY, Texas — A Jasper man was arrested Thursday after investigators determined he was not in compliance with state sex offender registration requirements. According to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, on January 8, 2026, Sergeant Chris Wade arrested Jimmy Cauley, 62, of Jasper, for Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registration Requirements, a second-degree felony under Texas law. Sheriff Chuck Havard said Cauley was found to be ou

Texas EquuSearch founder Tim Miller with Jasper County Sheriff Chuck Havard during a visit to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. JASPER, TX — Tim Miller, founder of Texas EquuSearch, visited the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday morning, continuing a long-standing partnership that has brought critical resources and support to Jasper County during times of need. Sheriff Chuck Havard said Miller and his organization have repeatedly stepped up to assist local law enfo

Patrick Dale Riecke, of Brandon, Mississippi – Age 63 Deadly Conduct – Discharge Firearm Arrested by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office at 11:45 a.m. on January 7, 2026 Randal Maurice Jeans, of Buna, Texas – Age 41 Parole Violation Arrested by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office at 1:14 p.m. on January 7, 2026 Justin Taylor James, of Kirbyville, Texas – Age 36 Bench Warrant – District Court Arrested by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office at 1:14 p.m. on January 7, 2026 Hunter P

The stolen truck was recovered in a wooded area of Jasper County following a tip from the community, according to Sheriff Chuck Havard. Photo Courtesy of Jasper County Sheriff's Office JASPER COUNTY, Texas — Jasper County deputies and investigators recovered a stolen truck Wednesday evening following a tip from the community, according to Jasper County Sheriff Chuck Havard. On the evening of January 7, 2026, deputies received information regarding a vehicle that may have be

Randal Jeans, 41, of Buna JASPER COUNTY, Texas — A follow-up investigation into a burglary that occurred several months ago in Cougar Country led to the arrest of a Buna man on a parole warrant Wednesday morning. According to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, on January 7, 2026, at approximately 8:30 a.m., Criminal Investigation Division (CID) investigators were conducting follow-up interviews related to the burglary. While interviewing a potential suspect, Randal Jeans, 4