~~May 30, 2025~~
5 people hurt in 7-car pileup on I-10, officials say
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Emergency officials confirmed five people, including two children, were taken to the hospital after a seven-car pile-up on the interstate on Thursday, May 29.
The multi-vehicle crash happened around 11:10 a.m. on I-10 East near Siegen Lane.
Officials said one patient is in critical condition, two patients are in serious condition, and two patients are stable.
According to the Louisiana State Police (LSP), troopers are working to open the lanes to traffic. They ask that drivers avoid the area until the scene is clear.
Details surrounding what caused the crash have not been released, but officials say an 18-wheeler was involved.
LSP is leading the investigation.
No other details have been released.
This is a developing story. Check back for more details.
Sendoff planned for Brookeland softball team as they head to the State Championship
The Brookeland Lady Cats softball team will be headed to Austin on Friday morning to play in the class 1-A Softball State Championship Game on Saturday.
There will be a sendoff for the team at Brookeland High School before they leave at 10:30am, and they’re expected to roll through Jasper at about 11:00am.
Fans are encouraged to gather on the First State Bank parking lot next to Highway 96 and show support for the team.
Brookeland will play Jonesboro at 10:00am Saturday at the University of Texas in Austin. You can hear the game LIVE on KJAS.
https://www.kjas.com/news/local_news/article_2e3ba873-1526-49e9-9e5c-0c969d48d629.html
Traffic stop resulted in a drug arrest
Jasper County Sheriff Chuck Havard says a late Wednesday night traffic stop resulted in a drug arrest. It happened shortly after 11:00 on Highway 96 just north of Buna.
Havard said the driver, 47-year-old Christopher Alan Cormicle, of Colmesneil, had just under an ounce of methamphetamine and a small amount of marijuana.
Cormicle was arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance.
Sheriff Havard said “The methamphetamine epidemic affects our entire region and we are going to do everything we can to eradicate it in Jasper County and keep it away from our families.”
https://www.kjas.com/news/local_news/article_ca575f96-2fa0-4880-a070-24408c4b2b2b.html
~~May 29, 2025~~
Armed robbery suspect arrested in Natchitoches
NATCHITOCHES PARISH, La. (KALB) – The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office said they arrested Anyia Davis, 20, of Campti, and Jeremiah Metoyer, 18, of Fort Bend, Texas, on Friday, May 24.
NPSO said Davis was wanted by the Tenth Judicial District Court in Natchitoches in connection with the armed robbery of Cowboy’s Truck Stop in Ajax on November 27, 2024. Authorities said shots were fired during the robbery and cash was taken, though no one was injured.
At around 5:10 p.m. on Friday, deputies with the NPSO Impact Team were reportedly patrolling on St. Clair Street when they pulled over a black sedan for a traffic violation.
Davis was reportedly driving the vehicle, while Metoyer and an unidentified person were passengers. During the stop, deputies were alerted that Davis had an active warrant.
During a pat down, deputies discovered that Metoyer had a concealed handgun in his waistband. Deputies said Metoyer attempted to run away, but was quickly captured and arrested.
After the gun was confiscated, deputies then searched the vehicle, where they found the following:
- Ten grams of marijuana
- $2,267 in cash hidden inside a camo ski mask
NPSO said the cash was seized as evidence and Metoyer was given a receipt in accordance with the forfeiture procedure. Both Metoyer and Davis were booked into the Natchitoches Detention Center on the following charges:
Davis:
- One count of armed robbery
Metoyer:
- Illegal carrying of a firearm
- Possession of marijuana
- Resisting arrest
All collected evidence was reportedly submitted to a crime lab for analysis. Both suspects remain in custody.
An investigation is ongoing.
Delivery driver charged with sexually assaulting woman after delivering groceries in Beaumont
A delivery driver has been arrested for sexually assaulting a woman in Beaumont after delivering groceries to her house. Beaumont Police say it happened Tuesday morning at a residence on North Street.
Aaron Middleton, 28, is charged with Sexual Assault and bond has been set at $250,000.00.
Police say the victim told them that she ordered groceries from a local store for delivery. She said Middleton brought the groceries into her house and then sexually assaulted her and then fled the scene.
According to police, they located Middleton’s car and soon after located him and took him into custody.
Police say during questioning Middleton confessed to the crime.
https://www.kjas.com/news/local_news/article_8e6d0803-9561-4935-ac93-afdb9a99713a.html
Deputies say Buna man stole a gun from his parents and sold it to a pawn shop
Jasper County deputies have arrested a Buna man after they say he stole a gun from his parents and then sold it to a pawn shop.
According to the report, 27-year-old Brett Matthew Jolly has been charged with Theft of a Firearm.
Meanwhile, the gun was recovered and returned to his parents.
https://www.kjas.com/news/local_news/article_704855c9-d901-47d2-aab9-bdaa35163087.html
Fugitive wanted for child sex crime in Newton County has been captured
A man wanted for a child sex crime in Newton County had been a fugitive since January, but he has now been captured and is in the Newton County Jail.
According to the report, 35-year-old Jonathan Gregory Alvarez, of Buna, was wanted on a charge of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child following an investigation that began in August of last year.
The report said investigators had learned that Alvarez had been staying in the DeQuincy, Louisiana area, so they collaborated with the U.S. Marshal’s Service to find him and arrest him.
Bond on Alvarez has been set at $150,000.00.
https://www.kjas.com/news/local_news/article_cfaea369-e545-46d9-9a35-d68fb49bfe4e.html
Premature stillborn baby found in linens at company on Hollywood Avenue in Shreveport
SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) – The Shreveport Police Department is investigating a bizarre situation involving the discovery of a premature stillborn baby.
A police spokesperson says early Wednesday morning (May 28) around 5:30 a.m., they got a call about a baby found in some linens at Alsco Uniforms in the 500 block of Hollywood Avenue. Employees had found the premature stillborn in some linens being unloaded from a truck making a delivery from Dallas. Police say they initially thought it was a doll, however, when they looked closer, they realized it was human.
Police say the premature baby was very small, and heavily decomposed, practically “mummified.”
Police go on to say the premature baby died May 3, and was not born alive. A funeral service was held May 17 at Golden Gate Funeral Home in Dallas. SPD officials were able to confirm details of the service with the funeral home.
A cremation of the stillborn was supposed to take place, however, that never happened.
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Somehow after the service, the stillborn was caught up in some soiled linens and put on the delivery truck. It’s unclear at this time how that happened.
The only obituary listed on Golden Gate’s website for May 3 is for Kendrell Dewayne Xavier Malone (May 3, 2025-May 3, 2025). Police confirm the initials of the stillborn found are KM.
Police say no homicide has occurred, and that it doesn’t appear a crime was committed, at least in Louisiana.
The Texas Funeral Service Commission has been notified of the situation, police say. They have an open investigation to figure out how this happened.
“This is a deeply distressing situation. Our thoughts are with the family of the child as this investigation unfolds,” said Chief Wayne Smith.
The vice president of sales & marketing for Alsco Uniforms, Ben Fox, sent this statement about the incident:
“A deceased infant was tragically discovered by one of our employees in a linen hamper received from a customer. Out of respect for the ongoing investigation, we are not disclosing further details at this time. We are fully cooperating with local authorities and remain committed to the safety of our team, the integrity of our uniform and linen services, and full transparency as required throughout this process.”
UPDATED – Names and details released in Deweyville shooting case
Newton County Sheriff Eddie Shannon says a late Tuesday morning shooting in Deweyville has left one man hospitalized, and another man in jail.
According to Shannon, it all began shortly before 11:00 when his deputies responded to a report of a disturbance with shots fired at a residence on County Road 4202, and arrived to find 36-year-old Clifford Stephenson with a gunshot wound to his abdomen.
Shannon said Stephenson was flown by medical helicopter to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont. There’s no word on his condition.
Meanwhile, Shannon said deputies initially detained, and then arrested 35-year-old Dustin Barlow. He was taken to the Newton County Jail, where charges are pending against him.
https://www.kjas.com/news/local_news/article_30034f10-4b4a-11e5-8b75-0f076e5144b3.html
~~May 28, 2025~~
1 dead, 1 arrested in Alto crash
ALTO, Texas (KTRE) – An Alto man is accused of driving intoxicated in a crash that killed an Austin woman.
According to the Alto Police Department, around 10:55 p.m. on Sunday, Samuel Lee Schlemmer, 21, of Alto, ran a stop sign at the intersection of U.S. 69 and FM 1911, colliding with another car carrying three people.
The driver, Kevin McGary, was treated and released while one passenger, Alesia Annette Sidney, 54, of Lufkin, is still in the hospital, and the final passenger, Yvette Nicole McVey, 54, of Austin, has died.
Schlemmer has been booked into the Cherokee County Jail on intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle, intoxication assault with a vehicle, unlawful carrying of a weapon, and disregarding a stop sign with a combined bond of $355,000.
https://www.kltv.com/2025/05/27/1-dead-1-arrested-alto-crash/
DeRidder student competes in 2025 National Spelling Bee
WASHINGTON (KPLC) – A Southwest Louisiana student competed today at the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
James Granger, 12, goes to Pinewood Elementary School in DeRidder. He was one of the kids put to the test at the 100th Scripps National Spelling Bee.
The competition is no cake walk. In order to compete, spellers must go through two preliminary rounds and take quizzes.
For those who advance past the preliminaries, a written spelling and vocabulary test awaits, and the top 100-plus finishers move on to the quarterfinals.
From there, spellers are eliminated at the microphone through oral spelling or vocabulary questions.
James made it through the first round by correctly spelling “philistine.”
We challenged some locals to give it a try, and they also nailed it.
“I was so nervous. I was like, ‘Oh, a 12-year-old’s gonna beat me,’” Baylee Dickerson said.
Unfortunately, James was eliminated in the second round when he defined “quixotic” as “sarcastic” instead of “idealistic,” but he made the most out of his trip to the capital.
James enjoys soccer, basketball, playing trombone and video games, especially Minecraft. His favorite subjects in school are science and social studies.
You can keep up with the competition results HERE.
Man found dead inside parked vehicle on U.S. 90, Jeff Davis Sheriff’s Office says
JEFF DAVIS PARISH, La. (KPLC) – A man was found dead today inside a parked vehicle in Jeff Davis Parish, according to authorities.
Around 8 this morning, patrol deputies with the Jeff Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office spotted a parked vehicle on the side of U.S. 90 near Pousson Road, JDPSO said. When deputies looked inside, they found the man dead.
While the investigation is ongoing, no foul play is suspected at this time, the sheriff’s office said.
The man’s name will not be released at this time due to pending notification of next of kin.
One injured in Beaumont shooting, suspect still at-large
Beaumont Police say a person was shot in the north end of that city early Monday evening. It happened at about 5:40 in the 4600 block of Carnegie Avenue, two blocks south of East Lucas Drive.
According to police the victim had multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to St Elizabeth Hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, police are working to identify a suspect.
https://www.kjas.com/news/local_news/article_4f36aa45-0f23-446d-b0cd-57448cce9bc3.html
Piano class for beginners to be taught June 10
NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s Office of Electronic Learning and Global Education will present Instant Piano for Hopelessly Busy People on Tuesday, June 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The class will be taught via Zoom and is for those 13 and up. The fee is $85.
In just a few hours, those in the class can learn enough secrets of the trade to provide years of musical enjoyment. Participants will learn to play piano the way professionals do using chords. Since this class is being held online with Zoom, students will be able to sit at their piano or keyboard at home and take this course with no pressure at all. And since this course includes an online book and online follow-up video lessons, those in the class will be able to continue practice and study on their own. An optional periodic online question and answer session and recording of the class is also included.
Topics to be covered include how chords work in a song, how to get more out of sheet music by reading less of it and how to form the three main types of chords. Other topics in the class include how to handle different keys and time signatures, how to avoid counting and how to simplify over 12,000 complex chords.
For more information or to register for classes, go to checkout.nsula.edu or call (800) 376-2422 or (318) 357-6355. Stay up to date with course offerings by following NSU Electronic Learning and Global Education on Facebook at facebook.com/NSULA.ece.
Power sill out to many homes in North Newton County
As of Tuesday evening a large number of home in the north end of Newton County were still without power as crews from the Jasper-Newton Electric Cooperative and the Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative worked to clear downed trees, reset utility poles and restring power lines.
Shortly after 2:40 a.m., the Newton Volunteer Fire Department responded to a crash on Farm to Market Road 1012 after a pickup truck collided with a fallen tree. One person in the car was taken to a hospital by private vehicle. First responders worked to remove the tree from the road.
Trees also fell in other areas knocking out power to homes and businesses.
Estimates are that winds exceeded 40 mph in areas of Newton County, especially Burkeville which seemed to have recieved the most severe weather as rains and wind pummeled the area.
https://www.kjas.com/news/local_news/article_8e5e4f35-5ce8-4daf-8991-670ec474f2a6.html
Storm sent a dead tree onto power lines
Severe thunderstorms that rolled across the area early Tuesday morning knocked down a dead tree across power lines and knocked out power near the Erin Community.
Oliver Blount, who lives on Farm to Market Road 1005, said that the power went off at about 2:00am and remained off all day on Tuesday.
Blount said the tree is on private property and he had reported to Jasper-Newton Electric Cooperative that it was dead and posed a hazard to the power lines, but nothing was ever done.
https://www.kjas.com/news/local_news/article_bb787dda-6c3d-480c-a370-13b0a7fd37e8.html
~~May 27, 2025~~
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