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GILMER — A Monday morning fire has left an Upshur County family homeless. The Gilmer Fire Department got the call around 7:00 yesterday morning. It happened in the 11,000 block of Farm Road 1650 in Gilmer. The people in the home woke up to lights flickering, and then noticed that their house was on fire. Everyone was able to get out of the two-story home okay, but the house was a complete loss. Several fire departments were on scene until after noon. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department and other Smith County law enforcement agencies will be out in force during the New Year holiday on the lookout for drunken drivers, and they won’t be taking “no” for an answer. Starting Thursday and continuing through Sunday, a multi-joint effort between the Smith County District Attorney’s Office and police agencies from all over Smith County will participate in the “No-Refusal” DWI Campaign once again. Upon the arrest of a suspected drunk driver, he or she will be asked if they would submit to blow into a breath-test machine or take a blood test. If the driver refuses, officers will obtain an immediate search warrant signed by a judge on call to have blood drawn by a nurse on staff at the Smith County Jail. The blood is then analyzed to determine whether the driver’s blood-alcohol concentration is 0.08 or higher, the legal limit for driving in Texas.

Tyler police say this program has proven to be an effective tool to combat drunken drivers. According to a police department news release, it is the intent of all law enforcement agencies that this effort will act as a deterrent, persuading people to avoid driving while intoxicated because they know that police officers will be conducting sobriety testing with or without driver’s consent. Simply put, according to police: “Please don’t drink and drive!”

LONGVIEW — There is a movement afoot in Longview to have the city’s red light cameras taken down. Local barber Jim Martin says Longview doesn’t make any money off the 12 cameras. He says the money made goes to the city of Richardson, where the company that put in the cameras is located. The paper reports that since the lights were installed, car accidents have gone down significantly. But Martin says if Longview is not cashing in, they should go.

RUSK COUNTY – Authorities say a body has been found in a burned-down East Texas home. According to KETK, Saturday night, Rusk County officials got a 911 call from someone on County Road 2142A, near Tatum. The caller said his brother was drunk and shooting a gun in his front yard. When a deputy arrived, they didn’t find a man shooting, but they found the caller’s mobile home engulfed in flames. After the Tatum Fire Department put out the fire that destroyed the mobile home, they found a body inside.

Rusk County Chief Deputy Ron Duncan says three brothers lived in two different mobile homes on the property. “The one that lived by himself was apparently asleep when all this took place and…there’s still a lot of investigating we need to do,” Duncan said. Duncan says the body has been sent to Dallas for autopsy. He says there was no sign of foul play on the scene, and the fire seems to have originated at a wood-burning stove in the mobile home.

NACOGDOCHES — Two men are custody in connection with two bank burglaries in Cushing, the most recent of which occurred last Friday morning. Will Thacker and Emanuel Griffin, both of Alto, were booked in to the Nacogdoches County jail on two charges each of burglary of a building, according to Sheriff Thomas Kerss. In addition to burglarizing the bank Friday, the men are believed responsible for a similar burglary last week of the same Cushing bank, the sheriff said.

“At approximately 3:30am (Friday), the alarm activated at the bank in Cushing,” Kerss said, referring to a branch of Longview Bank and Trust. “This same bank was burglarized about a week ago.” As deputies responded to the alarm, officer Ben Curtis spotted a silver extended-cab Toyota Tacoma pickup leaving the Cushing area. The vehicle matched the description of the suspect vehicle used in last week’s burglary of the same bank, Kerss said.

LONGVIEW – A fire on Christmas morning heavily damaged a home in Northwest Longview. It was caused when fireplace ashes that had been removed from the home’s garage ignited some combustible materials. It then spread to the remainder of the house. While fighting the blaze, before firemen arrived, one of the residents of the house suffered minor burns.

AUSTIN — Texans who serve in the reserves could find themselves with retirement benefits, courtesy of the State of Texas. That’s if a bill filed by East Texas Representative Dan Flynn wins approval next year. Flynn says it’s important to recognize the sacrifices made by those who serve in the state military forces. “Right now,” says Flynn, “when we have hurricanes, when we have natural disasters, when we have man-made disasters…we have people that are going out and they’re receiving a pittance of money.” Flynn’s bill would give benefits to those called up to active duty for more than 45 consecutive days. If they serve more than 90 days, they could get group benefits — including membership in the Employees Retirement System of Texas.

AUSTIN — An East Texan’s on board as the Legislature next month is poised to repeal the Driver Responsibility Program. It was supposed to punish bad drivers and raise money for the state, but State Representative Leo Berman of Tyler says it never accomplished either one. The idea was to slap surcharges of as much as $2,000 a year on motorists who were convicted of traffic offenses. Berman says, “I think it’s double, triple, and quadruple jeopardy, and I’ve been offered help in the Senate…by a Democrat who wants to help with that bill.” Most motorists either can’t afford to pay the surcharges or simply ignore them, meaning they are driving without a license or insurance — and that means the roads are even more dangerous. It’s estimated that one in six Texas drivers owe a total of more than a billion dollars in surcharges.

TYLER (AP) – A forensic psychologist says there is a “low probability” that a teenager accused of fatally stabbing his teacher in a Tyler classroom last year can maintain a level of competence required for trial. Dr. Emily Fallis wrote in a recent report to a juvenile court that the 17-year-old boy remains delusional and dangerous. The report was obtained by The Dallas Morning News and reported Sunday. The suspect’s mental health leaves him in legal limbo 14 months after 51-year-old Todd Henry (pictured) was killed at John Tyler High School. Prosecutors want to try the teen as an adult, but his attorney is fighting to keep proceedings in juvenile court. Fallis re-interviewed the teen in October after determining months earlier that he was too psychotic for a transfer to adult court.

TYLER – Meadow Lake, which spokespeople term a full-service senior living community for people ages 55 plus in Tyler, will celebrate its Grand Opening in early January with two celebrations. Both are to be held on the campus, located off County Road 165 near its intersection with Old Jacksonville Highway. On Friday, January 7, dignitaries are invited to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 12:00 noon at the community entrance. Immediately following the ceremony, a celebratory luncheon prepared by special guest Master Chef Sterling Burpee will be served in the Meadow Lake Center’s Azalea Dining Room. The community’s public event, an Open House, will be held on Sunday, January 9, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., with group tours of the campus available

Robin Baschnagel is the community’s executive director and licensed healthcare administrator. According to Baschnagel, “As Tyler’s first continuing care retirement community, or CCRC, we offer choices of residential living, including single-family homes and apartments, plus assisted living, nursing care and a full range of health, wellness and supportive services on one campus,” he explained. “The people who live here will enjoy an active lifestyle and gain peace of mind knowing that their future health care needs will be met without having to relocate.” The first Meadow Lake residents moved into the single-family Executive Homes in August, and approximately 80 percent of the community’s homes and apartments have been reserved. When fully occupied, the 92-acre campus will be home to 250 to 300 residents.

The community is backed by the not-for-profit Sears Methodist Retirement System, Inc. System CEO Keith Perry says Meadow Lake has had a positive impact on Tyler’s economy and will continue supporting the community at large. “At the peak of building, more than 300 construction jobs were filled locally, and the community will hire approximately 120 full-time employees with benefits. The greater community will also benefit from Meadow Lake’s Senior Health Clinic, which will be available to the public, as well as the Chamness Lodge, a beautiful meeting space on campus that will be open for local churches and organizations to use.”

Tom Mullins, president of both Tyler’s Chamber of Commerce and its Economic Development Council, says, “Having a high quality senior living option like Meadow Lake will help us continue to attract new people to our area and also encourage long-time residents to remain here during retirement.”

LONGVIEW — Rather than send trees to the landfill after the holiday, the City of Longview encourages residents to give their real Christmas trees new purpose as compost or fish habitats. Residents may drop off their Christmas tree at three locations from starting today and running through Friday, January 14. The drop-off locations are McWhorter Park, 1000 Toler Rd.; Stamper Park, 400 Fair St.; or the Compost Site, 280 Hearne Rd., during open hours. Christmas trees left for curbside pickup will not be recycled. When dropping off trees for recycling, residents are asked to remove all decorations from trees. Flocked trees will not be accepted.

According to Recycling Coordinator Dave Wimberly, “Each year, hundreds of trees are recycled in Longview, but we know that figure could be much higher. Whether it is a Christmas tree, a cardboard box, or a newspaper, it is a good thing whenever items are diverted from the landfill. Especially during the holidays, we encourage everyone to take a moment to separate your trash from the holidays into garbage and recycling.”

As a reminder, throughout the year Longview residents may drop off yard waste at the City’s Compost Site. Acceptable items include limbs, brush, leaves, grass clippings, and pine straw. The mulch and compost that is produced at the Compost Site is available at no charge to City of Longview residential solid waste customers with proof of residency such as a Driver’s License or water bill. Compost Site regular hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. The Compost Site will be closed for the New Year’s holiday on January 1. You can contact 903-237-1250 for more information about Longview’s recycling programs.

TYLER — The City of Tyler Solid Waste Department and Keep Tyler Beautiful are providing two locations for Christmas tree recycling in Tyler. Residents can drop off their undecorated, non-flocked, real Christmas trees. It will run through Sunday, January 9 in designated areas at Golden Road Park and Fun Forest Park in Tyler. Golden Road Park is located at the intersection of McDonald Road and Golden Road. Fun Forest Park is located in the 900 block of North Glenwood Boulevard. All lights, ornaments, garland and tinsel should be removed from the Christmas tree before dropping it off near the sign that says “Christmas Tree Recycling.”

The trees at the parks are available for area fishermen to pick up and sink in nearby lakes to create fish habitats. Small fish eat the aquatic insects that find a home in the tree branches. The fish also use the trees as a hiding place. As a result, fishing is improved around the “recycled trees” because more fish congregate in these areas. Christmas trees will also be picked up at the curb for disposal at the landfill. Only trees deposited at Fun Forest Park and Golden Road Park will be recycled.

TYLER — A Christmas Eve accident in Tyler has resulted in one death. At approximately 4:22 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 4500 block of Highway 31 West. On arrival officers located the vehicle, a 2009 Ford F-150 pickup, on its side. Police say the driver of the vehicle, Autumn Gipson, was eastbound when she lost control of the vehicle, which struck a curb and landed on its side. The front seat passenger, 25-year-old Jeff Jordan, was partially ejected. Jordan was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say he was not wearing a seat belt. Accident investigators were called to the scene and completed the investigation.

SMITH COUNTY – Friday morning, the Avila family lit a fire to keep warm while preparing for a big Christmas Eve dinner at their home in the 10200 block of Smith County Road 1141. KETK reports that when Maria Avila came back from buying some last-minute groceries, things had changed. “When I came back, I saw ambulance and firefighters. I couldn’t find one of my kids, so I was thinking the – you know, the worst,” Avila said. A fire in the chimney had spread to the rest of the house, destroying nearly everything — including Christmas presents for Avila’s two boys. But thanks to her family and friends, she quickly realized everyone was okay, including her missing son. “He came out of my neighbor’s house and I was so glad. I just hugged him so hard and thanked God for him,” Avila said.

Captain Matt York with the Dixie Fire Department says East Texans should be careful this holiday season when trying to keep warm. “Make sure that you get your chimney swept out. Do everything you can to prevent having fires in your chimney. Check all your space heaters, make sure you have all the correct clearance around your space heaters – it doesn’t take much to get one going…once you get a house fire it’s…you could lose everything.” Even though her home was destroyed, Avila is just glad her family is okay. “There’ll be other times we can all celebrate together…because we’re alive,” Avila said.

Since it’s gotten colder, many East Texans will be using their fireplaces this holiday season. Go to http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/home_fire_prev/heating/fireplace.shtm to link to some safety tips for using your fireplace.

SMITH COUNTY — An East Texas family is homeless after losing its home to an assumed electric fire. If that weren’t enough on Christmas Eve, their family pets never made it out. Smith County Fire Marshal Jim Seaton told KETK that the family’s pets, a mother pit bull and her two puppies, were inside at the time of the blaze and were unable to escape. The blaze happened on County Road 3158, also known as Joy-Wright Mountain Road.

The homeowner was not at home at the time of the blaze, but was in Palestine. Her mother lives right next door, and when she saw the flames, she called 911 immediately. The grandmother told dispatch she believed her 15-year-old granddaughter was inside the house at the time. Fortunately, the teen wasn’t. Instead, authorities say, she was in Liberty City after allegedly sneaking out around 10:00 p.m. Thursday night to hang out with friends there. According to Seaton, the teen had left a heating blanket on for the puppies. It’s assumed that is what could have sparked the blaze.

Seaton wants residents to take extreme caution when it comes to space heaters and electric blankets. He says to turn them off before you leave the house — and if you’re home, don’t leave them too close to anything that will combust.

MT. SELMAN — Cherokee County sheriff’s deputies are on the lookout for an armed robber who hit a local convenience store earlier this week. According to KETK, it happened at the Hot Spot store along Highway 69 in Mt. Selman. A masked man entered the store and pulled a gun, demanding money. The man got away with some of the store’s cash.

TYLER — Tyler police say that the victim of the shooting at a car wash on West Gentry Friday morning was a 15-year-old Longview girl. Police say the girl, Nicole Cartwright, was not involved with the shooter but “was just unfortunate enough to be standing nearby.”

Sergeant Matt Smyser tells KETK that around 1:30 a.m. officers answered a disturbance call meant for Williams Chicken at 1118 West Gentry. While police were en route, shots were fired — and when officers arrived, the victim was found at the car wash, at 1103 West Bow. The wounded girl was taken to East Texas Medical Center. She later died from a single gunshot wound. Investigators have been interviewing neighbors and witnesses. You’re asked to call Tyler police at (903) 531-1000 or Crimestoppers at (903) 597-CUFF if you have any helpful information.

LONGVIEW – Longview police report the arrest of two massage parlor employees. On December 23 at 10:30 a.m., police conducted an undercover operation at 1011 NW. Loop 281 suite 4, Oriental Massage parlor. An undercover officer entered the location and made a deal for a two-person massage. Upon agreement, officers entered the location and requested to see licenses. Two females were detained who police say did not have licenses through the state of Texas to perform massages. Both females were placed under arrest for massage without license. The females were identified as Tu Duan, 53, and Guirong Song, 45, both of Longview. Song’s charge was enhanced because she had prior convictions for massage without license.

Earlier, in an exclusive story, KETK reported that the arrests follow an investigation over the past few weeks. Both suspects are here on work visas from China. There had been reports that the business had also been allegedly providing clients with sexual acts at the end of their massage. Police say the investigation will continue in order to determine who is the owner/operator of the business.

MARSHALL, Texas (AP) — A Northeast Texas woman has been sentenced to life in prison over the 2008 starving and beating death of her adopted son. The victim was Samuel Hudson, 13,.

A jury in Marshall deliberated nearly two hours Wednesday before convicting 47-year-old Cynthia Hudson of capital murder. Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty, so State District Judge Ralph Burgess sentenced Hudson to life in prison without parole. Investigators say the teen was beaten and his hands and feet were bound with plastic zip ties.

The trial was moved to Harrison County due to extensive publicity about the case in Cass County.

NACOGDOCHES — A 19-year-old East Texan gets a 13-year prison sentence. Danny Reeves pleaded guilty to hitting and robbing a 79-year-old census taker in May. Surveillance cameras helped police tie Reeves and an accomplice to the crime. The census worker has since recovered. The sentence was handed down in a Nacogdoches courtroom.

CALGARY, Alberta – Nine members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas along with 30 members from 18 other states Thursday urged U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to expeditiously approve a permit for the TransCanada firm’s $7 billion Keystone XL pipeline project. Among those Texans is Jeb Hensarling, whose district covers much of East Texas. The pipeline, from Canada to the Nederland-Port Arthur area, would run through a significant portion of East Texas.

“The importance of the Keystone XL pipeline for American energy security and the economy are undeniable,” the Congressional members wrote to Clinton. “In a time when we need them most, the Keystone XL pipeline is expected to create 13,000 high-wage American construction jobs and generate millions of dollars in tax revenues for state and local governments. In addition, this pipeline will create thousands of auxiliary jobs by providing American energy security and reducing our dependence on other less stable regions of the world.”

But as our news partner KETK recently reported, some residents are concerned. Friday, a group of East Texans met in Tyler to voice their concerns about the pipeline and to learn more about how it might affect the area. They say their main concern is the sand and oil mixture running through the pipeline. They want to make sure that the quality of the pipe is kept to the highest standards to prevent corrosion and possible pollution. Eleanor Fairchild a owns a farm in Wood County and says, “I really wish it wouldn’t come across here… but if it does come across here it should be built in a way that’s as safe as possible.” TransCanada says the first phase of the pipeline has been completed, and commercial deliveries of crude oil to U.S. Midwest markets at Wood River and Patoka, Illinois, commenced on June 30. Texas is the last stretch of the project.

TYLER – A woman is taken to the hospital Thursday morning after having a seizure while driving in Tyler. It happened in front of Sweet Sue’s Family Restaurant on the 3000 block of SSW Loop 323. Police say after the seizure, the woman’s car veered off the road, rolled down a hill and hit a light pole. No one was seriously hurt in the wreck, but the woman was still taken to the hospital to be checked out.

MT. ENTERPRISE – Rusk County Sheriff’s Deputies are looking for a robbery suspect today. Derric O’Brien Blanton is accused of robbing the Conoco Station in Mt. Enterprise Tuesday night. Deputies have issued a warrant for aggravated robbery, and say Blanton should be considered armed and dangerous. If you have any information about Blanton’s location, you’re asked to contact the Rusk County Sheriff’s Department immediately.

DALLAS (AP) – Dallas police say a man sought over the killing of his girlfriend’s infant son in Tyler has fled after being shot at by an officer. Dallas police early Thursday said a man believed to be 26-year-old Simon Lopez had been located at a hotel. Police trying to serve the capital murder warrant had their guns drawn late Wednesday as they approached a room. Police say the suspect suddenly appeared and grabbed an officer’s gun. The officer fired his weapon and the suspect ran away. No officers were hurt. Police are not sure whether the fleeing suspect was wounded. Tyler police say Lopez is sought over the November death of his girlfriend’s 1-year-old son, Jeremy Silva.

KILGORE – The Kilgore School District and three of its staff members have been named in a federal lawsuit filed in Tyler. The suit was filed by a parent of a Kilgore student who claims the staff members violated her daughter’s privacy when they disclosed her sexual orientation.

Named in the suit were softball coaches Rhonda Fletcher and Cassandra Newell. The mother, Barbara Wyatt says in the suit, the two coaches confronted her daughter in a locker room in March of last year and questioned her about her sexuality. According to the lawsuit, “Fletcher, Newell and KISD have absolutely no legitimate state interest in the disclosure of students’ sexual orientation to parents. Doing so is a severe and traumatic violation of students’ privacy, and lacks any legitimate academic, disciplinary, or administrative purpose.”

Also named in the suit is Assistant Athletic Director Douglas Duke. The suit contends he did not properly train and supervise Fletcher and Newell.

The suit is seeking monetary compensation and that the district and its staff to be prohibited from disclosing students’ sexual orientation without their consent.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Fire Department hosted a ceremony Thursday to recognize the promotions of a new Assistant Chief, 3 Battalion Chiefs, 3 Lieutenants and 3 Fire Drivers.

Assistant Chief: David Bates
Chief David Bates was recognized as the new Assistant Chief of Operations, replacing Chief Claude Ford, who retired in September. Chief Bates began his career as a firefighter in January 1991. He was later promoted to Fire Driver in 1997, Station Officer in 2000, and Battalion Chief in 2007. Bates’ training and service include working with the hazardous materials team, air pack maintenance team, hiring board, and strategic planning participation. Chief Bates holds an Associate degree in Fire Protection, a Master Firefighter Certification, and has numerous certificates from the National Fire Academy and the Texas Commission on Fire Protection.

Battalion Chief: Roger Groves, Steve Green, Buddy Anderson
Battalion Chief Roger Groves began his service with the City of Longview in July 1989 as a firefighter. Groves was promoted to Fire Driver in February, 2000 and Company Officer in March 2003. Chief Groves is a Master Firefighter and has an Instructor II certification with the State. He earned an Associate Fire Science Degree at Tyler Junior College. Groves has served on the Special Operations Team, on the hiring board, and as a member of the honor guard, and received the Firefighter of the Year commendation in 2007.

Battalion Chief Steve Green began his career in 1997 as a firefighter with the city. Chief Green was promoted to Fire Driver in 2000 and Captain in 2004. His education includes Associate degrees in Fire Administration and Fire and Safety Technology. He has served as shift vice president of IAFF Local 4331 since 2006. Green also served on the Standard Operations Procedures committee, as a Field Training Officer, and on the recruitment team.

Battalion Chief Buddy Anderson began his career in the fire service with Elderville-Lakeport. In April 1982, he began serving with Longview Fire Department as a firefighter/paramedic. Anderson was promoted to Driver/Engineer in November 1989 and Company Officer in March 1997. Chief Anderson has served on several committees and specialty teams within the department.

Lieutenant:
Jeff Walling
Cory Clanton
Steven McCarthy

Fire Driver:
Brandon Reeves
Jason Chamberlain
Weston Kay

LONGVIEW — City of Longview Public Works employees began clearing debris from Iron Bridge Creek Street Tuesday as part of an effort to improve drainage in the area. Over the next several weeks, the City will remove trash and cut vegetation from the creek area between Buchanan and 12th Street.

Iron Bridge Creek meanders through a southeastern portion of Longview and has been an area of concern for some residents. The cleanup project focuses on the beginning portion of the creek that is mostly wooded. To conduct the cleanup, the City first had to acquire temporary easements from the adjacent property owners in order to gain access. According to Mayor Jay Dean, “We realize that this type of cleanup is not a long-term solution. In the short-term though, cleaning the creek and removing vegetation should make a considerable difference.”

LONGVIEW — Officials say smoke alarms allowed the occupants of a burning home to escape with only one minor injury. The Longview Fire Department responded to 1314 America Drive shortly before 11 a.m. Wednesday. On arrival fire crews found a bedroom and contents of that room heavily involved with fire. Authorities say crews were able to extinguish the fire quickly, keeping it from entering the attic or other portions of the home. According to a fire department news release, the home did sustain moderate to heavy smoke damage. One occupant was treated on scene for a minor cut as a result of the fire. No firefighters were injured. Officials say the fire was caused by a 4-year-old child using or playing with a lighter or match.

MINEOLA — There may be more arrests made in the case involving a former Mineola teacher charged with having an improper relationship with a student. KETK and the Longview News-Journal are reporting 43-year-old Jo Ann Stephens was arrested last week and released from jail on a $25,000 bond. Stephens has also resigned. Sources tell the News-Journal there might be another arrest made related to perjury charges.

JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville police dispatchers say there was an armed robbery at the Corner Market in the 200 block of North Jackson. It happened around 2:00am. Police say the man was armed with a revolver. They’re looking for a black man, approximately 5’1”, wearing a red hooded shirt, dark pants, a ski mask, belt and a brown leather glove on his right hand. He was last seen traveling south from the Corner Market. If you have any information, you’re asked to call Jacksonville police at 903-586-8268.