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VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Investigators discover a meth lab while conducting a follow-up at a local known drug location. It happened Tuesday at a residence near the Kaufman County/Van Zandt County line. Shortly after arriving at the location it was learned that two males had fled on foot out the back from two out buildings that set toward the back of the property. Investigators say they noticed a smell that lead them to believe that methamphetamines were being cooked or had been cooked there recently. After being given consent by the owner of the out building to enter, authorities located what was believed to be a methamphetamine lab. Investigators located multiple bags of a white powdery substance believed to be methamphetamine, ranging in weight from the largest being just over 28 grams to some only having a few grams. Charges are pending for manufacture and delivery, felon in possession of a fire arm and possibly violation of parole.

TYLER — Another arrest has been made in the shooting death of a 15-year-old Longview girl. Gregory Dewayne Polley, 26, Longview was arrested Tuesday night in Longview on a parole violation. Tyler Investigators obtained an arrest warrant last night for Polley issued by Judge Kennedy for 1st degree Murder. Polley’s bond was set at $500,000 dollars and he remains in Gregg County Jail. Adrian Earl Blankenship Jr., 22, Longview was arrested Sunday on misdemeanor motor vehicle and driving violations. Judge Kennedy signed the arrest warrant for 1st Degree Murder and placed a $500,000 bond on Blakenship.

Authorities say Nicole Cartwright left Club REO December 24th to meet with family and friends, also from Longview, at the car wash on West Bow Street. Once at the car wash a disturbance occurred in the parking lot between four females in a gray or blue car with dark tinted windows, possibly a Pontiac, and a group of individuals in a red Dodge Challenger. Shots were fired, striking Ms. Cartwright who later died at a local hospital. Investigators have determined that Ms. Cartwright, who was also from Longview, was not involved in the disturbance nor was she in either vehicle.

GILMER (AP) – A state panel has suspended indicted Upshur County Judge Dean Fowler in an official oppression investigation that led some residents to protest by covering their mouths with duct tape. The suspension was announced Tuesday by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. Fowler attorney Todd Tefteller says the suspension, with pay, is standard procedure when a judge has been indicted. County commissioners in September decided to stop hearing public comment.

A protester in November who put duct tape over his mouth was removed from the public meeting. A grand jury December 29 indicted Fowler on charges of official oppression and abuse of power. Two other county officials also were indicted. No trial dates have been set. County commissioners on December 30 voted to lift the ban on public comment.

TYLER — The City of Tyler, Texas, is launching the second phase of its citywide Lean Sigma program. The first phase of the program enabled the City to reduce costs and improve processes, netting a 179% return on investment in just one year.

Tyler initiated 17 projects in October 2009 and to date nine projects have been Completed, resulting in $149,559 in reduced costs and 2,500 work hours saved.

City leaders deployed Lean Sigma in a proactive effort to reduce costs and address potential budget shortfalls caused by tough economic conditions.

“We wanted to be innovative in finding ways to save tax dollars, eliminate waste and improve customer service for our citizens,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel. “By all accounts, year one of our Lean Sigma program has yielded exceptional results citywide.”

Highlights from Phase One of Tyler’s Lean Sigma program include:
*Police: Reduced defect rate in evidence processing;
*Water: Improved variation of response time for customer call-outs (variation of 30-60 minutes to less than 20 minutes);
*Fire: Implementation of Total Predictive Maintenance program (estimated annual savings of $220,000); and,
*Legal: Reduced document review time from 16 days to 8 days.

Phase two projects, rolled out three months ago, will focus on improving urgent repair processes in Neighborhood Services, reducing the time required to get more police officers on the street, lowering the costs of chemicals in the City’s water treatment facility and lowering vehicle parts inventory on hand.

“Our employees are enthusiastic because they’re helping their departments cut costs and operate more efficiently,” said McDaniel. “This initiative has taken Tyler’s Blueprint focus on continuous improvement to the next level. The program is reaching all levels of the organization through project teams so improvements are driven by those involved in the process.”

Tyler officials estimate that Lean Sigma will save $557,522 dollars during the first two phases of its implementation.

LONGVIEW — Longview Police say a woman was injured during a mugging Tuesday morning. It happened around 6:45 in the 300 Block of Lake Lamond Road. Officers say Ruth Miller, 57, Longview, was attacked by an unknown assailant as she went to her vehicle. Miller had been struck on the head by some type of stick, later determined to be a small tree limb. The suspect was described as a black male, wearing all black, approximately 5’5” and thin build. After striking Miller the suspect took her purse and fled the scene. Miller was transported to a hospital for treatment of her injures.

LONGVIEW — A man struck and killed by a train in Longview December 28 is identified as Sean Lee Holloman, 38, of Longview. Officers responded to a call of a pedestrian that had been struck by an oncoming train on the tracks located between Green Street and Fredonia Street. When officers arrived they located Holloman who was dead. A witness said the victim was walking down the railroad tracks waving at the train as it came towards him.

HALLSVILLE (AP/STAFF) — An overnight fire at the Tall Pines Mobile Home Park just outside Hallsville has killed Cody Cohen, 8. Two relatives were injured

The fire was reported around 12:30 Tuesday morning. Harrison County Fire Marshal Thomas Mock says the child was dead at the scene. Mock says the boy’s mother and grandmother were transported to a hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. A total of three children and three adults were in the home when the fire started. While investigators look for the cause of the fire, it is believed to be electrical in nature.

TYLER — Tyler Police have arrested a suspect wanted in the break-ins at the South Tyler Animal Clinic on Old Jacksonville Highway. Travis Carl Lemmert, 17, Tyler was charged with burglary of a state building. The burglaries happened December 26 and January 3. Police say surveillance video led to a tip which in turn led to the arrest. Some of the medications that were stolen have been recovered.

LONGVIEW – The investigation into the death of a Gregg County jail prisoner has resulted in five jail employees being fired and two of them being arrested. Arrested were Tomeka Cross, 34 and Brian West, 30.

Amy Lynn Cowling, 33, of Gilmer, was found unresponsive in a separation cell at the North facility before midnight last Tuesday. Cowling was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center and was dead on arrival early Wednesday morning.

Sheriff Maxey Cerliano said all documents, reports, logs, and electronic recordings pertaining to Cowling were secured and reviewed by investigators. It was discovered that a jail observation log had been falsified by a Gregg County Jail staff member. This information was forwarded to Texas Ranger Brent Davis and presented to the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office. An arrest warrant was issued by District Judge David Brabham charging Cross with tampering with a government document. She had been employed at the jail just over four months. Last Friday Cross was fired and booked into the Gregg County Jail. She appeared before Justice of the Peace B.H. Jameson and bond was set at $2,500. Brian West, 30, of White Oak was also arrested and charged with tampering with government records. The sheriff did not rule out more arrests or additional charges in the case.

Investigators determined that other employees were involved in conduct that was in direct violation of the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office general orders, code of conduct, and jail operational guidelines. Fired as a result of these violations were Corporal Kashena Davis, jailer Jacqueline Smiddy, jailer Gary Lewis, and jailer Brian West. During the investigation jailer Darrell McClenton resigned.

Sheriff Cerliano said information regarding the jail observation log as well as additional information was forwarded to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. The Commission determined that the jail was in Non-Compliance effective December 30, 2010. This finding resulted in the transfer of all Smith County contract inmates at the Gregg County Jail to the Upshur County Jail. Since Smith County is under a remedial order, those inmates can only be housed in a county jail in Compliance.

Sheriff Cerliano added that the investigation is ongoing and the autopsy report is pending. The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Rangers, and Gregg County District Attorney’s Office are conducting the investigation. Sheriff Cerliano stated that if anyone has done anything improper regarding the incarceration of Cowling or has failed to follow medical standards established to safeguard the health of all inmates, that employee will be dealt with quickly and severely.

LONGVIEW – Captain Mike Claxton with the Gregg County Sheriff’s Department confirms a street-arrest prisoner was found with a handgun while in custody. Claxton says the prisoner was transported to the Gregg County Jail, when they found a handgun inside a pant leg during his booking. It happened after he had been restrained in handcuffs and leg irons, which Claxton says is standard procedure. DeMichael Johnson, 19, now faces, besides the original arrest charge, a complaint of having a deadly weapon in a penal institute

TYLER — A Tyler Officer was injured while chasing a suspect. It happened Monday 2:25 a.m. Tyler Officers responded to 435 S.Bonner Apartment 8 on a residential burglary in progress. The suspect was attempting to enter the apartment through the bedroom window as the owner fled out the front door. When officers arrived on the scene the suspect fled the apartment on foot into the neighborhood with officers giving chase. The apartment owner said that she believed she knew the suspect who was attempting to retrieve some property from her.

Officer Wes Lawrence was one of the officers in foot pursuit of the suspect in a wooded area when he fell into a concrete drainage ditch after climbing over a chain-link fence. Officer Lawrence suffered head trauma after striking his head on the pavement and dislocated his shoulder. Officer Lawrence was transported to East Texas Medical Center and has been placed into ICU for observation. This case remains under investigation.

TYLER — Tyler Police Investigators have made an arrest in connection to the shooting of Nicole Cartwright, 15, that occurred on December 24. The suspect is identified as Adrian Earl Blankenship Jr., 22, Longview. Judge Kennedy signed the arrest warrant for 1st Degree Murder and placed a $500,000 bond on Blakenship. This case remains under investigation.

Authorities say Cartwright left Club REO to meet with family and friends, also from Longview, at the car wash on West Bow Street. Once at the car wash a disturbance occurred in the parking lot between four females in a gray or blue car with dark tinted windows, possibly a Pontiac, and a group of individuals in a red Dodge Challenger. Shots were fired, striking Ms. Cartwright who later died at a local hospital. Investigators have determined that Ms. Cartwright was not involved in the disturbance nor was she in either vehicle.

TYLER — Tyler Police investigate a Monday morning attempted sexual assault. According to the Tyler Police Department, officers responded to a call shortly after 5 a.m. regarding an assault that happened in the 1500 block of S. College, near Bergfeld Park. The victim said she was attacked by a man, dressed in all black while she was jogging. Evidently, the man was hiding in a wooded area and jumped the woman from behind…wrestling her to the ground. After touching her inappropriately, the victim was able to break loose from the attacker. Police say she was carrying pepper spray and an air horn. The suspect is described as around 6’6 between 220 and 240lb.

The Tyler Police Department advises women, never jog alone at night and always be prepared with something to protect themselves, like pepper spray, an air horn, or a large stick. If possible always take a friend when you exercise outside.

RUSK COUNTY — An East Texas robbery suspect is apprehended. It happened last Monday around 12:30. Derric O’Brien Blanton, Henderson, was arrested in Nacogdoches County in connection with an aggravated robbery in Rusk County. The robbery was reported December 21, around 10:00 p.m. at the Conoco Station in Mt. Enterprise. On Friday, Blanton was extradited to Rusk County where he remained in jail awaiting arraignment.

On Sunday at approximately 10:00 am, Blanton was arraigned by Honorable Judge Jerdy Wolverton, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, in Rusk County. Blanton was charged with aggravated robbery. His bond is set at $60,000. Blanton currently remains in the Rusk County Jail.

MARSHALL — Officials are celebrating the success of a holiday event in East Texas. Marshall’s 24th annual Wonderland of Lights Festival was a huge success with thousands of people visiting the event each night of the 5 week run. Tomi Johnson of the Marshall Convention and Visitors Bureau says a stellar concert series, the outdoor ice skating rink and thousands of Christmas lights in the downtown area helped to draw the crowd. Preparations for the 25th annual Wonderland of Lights Festival in 2011are already underway.