Joni Waldrup, 47, of Kirbyville — courtesy of the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. KIRBYVILLE, Texas — On Sunday afternoon, October 12, 2025, at approximately 3:37 p.m., Jasper County Sheriff’s deputies were taking a report of a stolen vehicle in the Kirbyville area when the case took an unexpected turn. While the complainant was still on the phone with deputies, they spotted the vehicle traveling north on U.S. Highway 96 toward Kirbyville. Kirbyville Police quickly located an

All Kirbyville CISD campuses now qualify for federal assistance under Title I, which provides funding to support student achievement and family engagement. As part of that requirement, each school must complete a Parent and Family Engagement Compact. The district has sent the form to parents through Parent Square, and it must be reviewed, signed, and submitted digitally by October 31. District officials encourage all parents to take a few minutes to complete the compact as so

The following individuals were booked into the Jasper County Jail on Sunday, October 12, 2025: Victoria A. Kilcrease, of Jasper, TX – Age 28 Theft Class C Arresting Agency: Jasper Police Department at 5:25 PM Joni Michelle Merkelz, of Kirbyville, TX – Age 47 Possession of Controlled Substance PG 1/1-B ≥1G < 4G Possession of Controlled Substance PG 3 < 28G Arresting Agency: Jasper County Sheriff’s Office at 7:54 PM Omar Kawan Richards, of Jasper, TX – Age 36 Failed to Maintain

NEWTON COUNTY - The East Texas Banner reached out to the Newton County Auditor’s Office to get to the bottom of the Newton County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office overpayment to Deweyville Independent School District. According to the Auditor’s Office, the office made requests for the Assessor-Collector report starting in February but did not receive anything until July. On July 10 th , the Tax Assessor-Collector went to the Auditor’s Office; after contacting the District Atto

Two Legends, One Legacy: Jasper’s own Ann Thomasson-Wilson joins fellow angling great Rick Clunn as they’re honored at the Texas...

The following individuals were booked into the Jasper County Jail on Saturday, October 11, 2025: Kellian Ray Weathered, of Jasper, TX –...