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LONGVIEW — A retirement reception will be held for Longview Chief of Police J.B. McCaleb from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m., Thursday, January 20. The recognition presentation will occur at 4:30 p.m. The event is open to the public and will be held at the Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Complex, 100 Grand Blvd. Chief McCaleb has served in law enforcement for 35 years, including 32 years with the Longview Police Department. He has served as Chief of Police since 2003.

TYLER — Tyler ISD graduation plans have been finalized for the 2010-2011 school year. A coin toss determined the schedule for both high school campuses. The schedule is as follows:

Robert E. Lee High School Graduation
Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium – Friday, June 3, 2011 8:00 p.m.

Robert E. Lee High School Contingency Plan
Outdoor Contingency Plan Options for Inclement Weather:
#1-Rose Stadium Saturday, June 4 10:00 a.m.
#2-Rose Stadium Saturday, June 4 2:00 p.m.
#3-Rose Stadium Sunday, June 5 5:00 p.m.

John Tyler High School Graduation
Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium – Saturday, June 4, 2011 8:00 p.m.

John Tyler High School Contingency Plan
Outdoor Contingency Plan Options for Inclement Weather:
#1-Rose Stadium Sunday, June 5 2:00 p.m.
#2-Rose Stadium Sunday, June 5 5:00 p.m.
#3-Rose Stadium Sunday, June 5 8:00 p.m.

Final Contingency
In the event that both graduations are cancelled due to inclement weather on Friday and Saturday, and bad weather is forecast for Sunday as well:

Both campuses would graduate at TJC Wagstaff Gym on Sunday, June 5:
Robert E. Lee High School at 2:00 p.m.
John Tyler High School at 6:00 p.m.
Any decision to move to Wagstaff would be made by 8:00 a.m. Sunday.

Those concerned are asked to please pay special attention to the contingency plans for both campuses that address alternate dates, times, and locations in the event of inclement weather. Contingency information will be distributed at each campus to all seniors with other graduation material. If there are any questions regarding graduation, school officials say please contact your campus principal or the district office at 903-262-1007.

SMITH COUNTY — Almost a year after being destroyed by arsonists, Smith County’s Dover Baptist Church has its first service in its new home today. The church was burned to the ground on February 8 of last year by convicted arsonists Jason Bourque and Daniel McAlister. KETK reports Dover Baptist will also have an official dedication of its new facility on February 6 at 2:00.

MARSHALL – Authorities have seized the assets of the National Truck Stop off Interstate 20 in Harrison County for failure to make payments. Employees say their checks have been bouncing and the owners owe thousands of dollars in taxes. Employees say one of the owners, Imran Khan, has spent the last few days cleaning the place out and taking money from the registers along with other items. Officials with the Harrison County Sheriffs Department tell our news partner KETK that the truck stop owes over $62,000. Authorities say Khan was gone before they got to the scene and they are now searching for him. The case remains under investigation.

TYLER — Tyler police have arrested a suspect in a burglary and assault that occurred early Saturday. At approximately 3:42 a.m., police received a telephone call regarding an assault that occurred at a residence at 2408 Plume Dr. As officers arrived on scene they were told that the suspect had entered the victim’s residence through a back bedroom window. Police say once inside the residence, the suspect struck the victim with a crowbar before attacking a second victim with the same crowbar. During a struggle for the crowbar, the suspect allegedly pulled a large kitchen knife from his person and reportedly began attacking the second victim with the weapon.

According to a police news release, as this was occurring, the first victim retrieved a firearm and fired once at the suspect; police say it is unknown whether the suspect was hit. According to authorities, the suspect then turned his attention back towards the first victim, and they reportedly began wrestling over the firearm. Police say in the process, the suspect managed to take the firearm from the victim but was unable to use the weapon before both victims fled the scene. Immediately following this, according to police, the suspect fled the scene in a 2002 maroon Impala.

The arrest happened after a warrant was obtained on Corey Jermaine Latham for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against a family member, a first degree felony. Judge Kennedy Christie Kennedy set bond at $500,000. Latham was arrested after he came to the Tyler Police Building at 711 W. Ferguson at about 2:00 p.m. Saturday. Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000.

BEAUMONT – A 29-year-old Nacogdoches man pleaded guilty Friday to charges related to a double homicide which took place in Nacogdoches in August 2007. Charles Cameron Frazier, aka “Mojo,” pleaded guilty to committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity. The plea came in Beaumont before U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone. Specifically, Frazier admitted that he had participated in the murders of David Mitchamore and Christy Rochelle Brown.

According to information presented in court, Frazier was a member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT), a powerful race-based state-wide organization that operates inside and outside of state and federal prisons throughout Texas and the United States. Authorities say the ABT enforces its rules and promotes discipline among its members, prospects and associates through murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, assault, robbery and threats against those who violate the rules or pose a threat to the enterprise. Authorities say members, and often associates, are required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members, often referred to as “direct orders.”

According to court documents, David Mitchamore, aka “Super Dave,” an ABT member, and his girlfriend, Christie Rochelle Brown, were murdered as a result of a “direct order” by members of the ABT because of Mitchamore’s failure to repay an outstanding debt he allegedly owed to an Aryan Brotherhood general. The bodies of Mitchamore and Brown were discovered in Nacogdoches County on Aug. 10, 2007.

U.S. Attorney John Bales expressed his appreciation for what he termed the hard work performed by so many officers and agents, saying, “While this guilty plea is a very significant step in the process of addressing this savage crime and in dismantling the ABT, there is much work left to be done. But we will not rest until all those responsible for these senseless murders have been brought to justice. We are ever mindful about the loss experienced by the victims’ family; they continue to have our deepest sympathy.” Frazier faces life in prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

LONGVIEW — Longview police say four men from the area have been arrested on narcotics charges and warrants. On January 13 at approximately 3:45 P.M., officers responded to assist the United States Marshal’s Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force in apprehending a suspect who had allegedly fled from authorities on two prior occasions. Officers were called to a location in the 1800 Block of Nimrod Trail. There, they assisted in the arrest of three suspects.

The first, identified as Christopher Carl Lindsay, 40, of Longview, was arrested on three outstanding city warrants and Possession of a Controlled Substance less than1 gram. The second subject, Dennis Ray Seals Jr, 32, of Longview, was arrested on a Marion County warrant for Felony Abuse/Child Neglect.

The third subject, Michael Henry Goodson, 38, a transient, was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance over 4 grams but less than 200 grams, Evading Arrest and Detention, Violation of Parole warrant, and an Upshur County warrant for Manufacturing/Delivery of a Controlled Substance over 4 grams less than 200 grams. Also arrested in a related traffic stop was Gary Bradshaw, Jr., 29, of Diana. Bradshaw’s charges included Driving While License Invalid and Possession of a Controlled Substance over 4 grams but less than 200 grams. All four suspects were booked into the Gregg County Jail on their respective charges.

LONGVIEW — Longview police seek the public’s help solving a robbery. Around 7 p.m. Thursday, officers were dispatched to a robbery already occurred in the 3600 Block of McCann Road. Upon arrival officers were told two unidentified black males, with handguns, entered the unlocked residence and demanded money and other property. One suspect was described as 30 to 35 years old, approximately 5’6” to 5’7”, wearing a blue Lacoste jacket. The other suspect was described as 20 to 25 years old, 6’2” to 6’3”, wearing a white jacket and Michael Jordan tennis shoes. The suspects left the location in an unknown direction. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Longview Police Department at (903) 237-1199.

TYLER — Some Smith County prisoners are on the road again. Because of overcrowding, Smith County inmates are sent to jails in neighboring counties. The Gregg County Jail failed inspection in December — so inmates there were sent to Upshur County’s jail. Now, Sheriff J.B. Smith tells KETK Upshur County also failed its jail inspection. So 21 Smith County prisoners were transferred from Upshur to Henderson County.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Fire Officials say a structure fire on CR 244 was caused by an electrical overload in a bedroom of a house. Three people live in the house, a woman and her two children, but they were not at home at the time. Authorities say there is heavy smoke damage to the house, but the home is intact. The family will be staying elsewhere while repairs are made.

LINDALE — Five Lindale High School students were each awarded $109,000 Post 9-11 GI Bill scholarships Wednesday from the U.S. Navy. Alexander Jamieson, Jessica Berry, Nathan Gray, Seandrea Williams and Lydia Olsen accepted their awards from Petty Officer David Rodriguez. The money will be used to pay for full tuition and books for each student as they begin their post-high school education. In return for their scholarships, students will be obligated to a 4-6 year enlistment with the Navy, depending on which career each student chooses.

TYLER — Tyler Police are called to the scene of a rollover accident early Friday morning and make an arrest. It happened around 12:00 at Highway 271 and Highway 155 going to Winona. Tyler police Sgt. Matt Smyser says 31-year-old Lucas White of Tyler, the man involved in the accident, was driving while intoxicated. He reportedly lost control of his vehicle causing it to roll. Reports show that he was wearing a seat belt. He did suffer injuries and was taken to East Texas Medical Center. The man has been charged with Driving While Intoxicated.

HENDERSON – The hunter who shot a man he thought was a deer has been named in an arrest warrant for criminal negligent homicide. Rodney Connally, 54, of Ft. Worth, was first charged with unlawful possession of a firearm in the death of Louis N. Conner. After the sheriff’s department completed its investigation, the material was presented to the district attorney’s office. It was then the arrest warrant was issued for Connally.

TYLER — The Park of East Texas, Inc., has completed design work on Phase I of the planned entertainment complex known as The Park of East Texas. Park officials term the move a significant step toward fulfilling the vision set forth by the former East Texas State Fair Association board of directors.

“The Park, as it has come to be known, is an entertainment and conference development located in west Tyler. The Phase I plan includes an event center, meeting rooms, exhibit space and ballrooms. The event center will have 4,500 fixed seats with the ability to increase to 8,000 when floor seating is utilized,” said John E. Sykes, President and CEO of The Park of East Texas, Inc. “To accommodate the needs of local education institutions, business development and the growing economy, the board of directors of The Park of East Texas, Inc. initiated a search for a design team to establish a master plan for The Park. The search led to a collaborative effort between Tyler-based firm Ron Mabry Architects and GH2 Equestrian Architects of Oklahoma.”

The need for such a development has been explored in the Tyler community for decades; the recent findings of The Industry Growth Initiative and a local survey by the Tyler Convention and Visitors’ Bureau have reiterated the desire from the community for such a development. “The configuration of Phase I is now complete. In a cooperative endeavor with local entities, the first phase is being broken into sub-phases to best meet the needs of the community in the most efficient manner,” continued Sykes. Lonny Uzzell, Board of Directors Treasurer, says he recognizes the importance a project such as The Park can and will mean to the community. “A project of this scale will have significant impact on the local economy and will require a public/private partnership to commence construction,” says Uzzell.

Officials say The Park of East Texas will attract national tours, conventions and tradeshows in addition to national and regional equestrian events. They say The Park will create commerce for Tyler and East Texas through the development process and as the complex is utilized for various events. Phase I economic impact during construction is predicted to generate over $50 million according to an economic impact study prepared by Impact DataSource from Austin, Texas.