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KILGORE — A Kilgore woman was arrested around 5:00 Wednesday afternoon after police say she punched a Kilgore College Police officer. The Kilgore College officer was assisting Kilgore police with a disturbance call at the home of Jacey Hendershott, 41, in the 1000 block of South Danville Road about one mile from campus. According to arrest reports, Hendershott became aggressive when the officer told her to turn her music down. Police say Henderschott then punched the officer in the chest. Hendershott was charged with assault on a public servant. She was held Thursday in the Gregg County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

DALLAS (AP) — Family and friends are mourning the death of a 30-year-old Dallas-area man who won the chance to fly in a plane that crashed in North Texas. A family friend of Fisher Floyd tells The Dallas Morning News that Floyd won at an auction the chance to fly in a single-engine L-29 Delfin plane with 77-year-old Noell Rather, an experienced former commercial pilot. Neither Floyd nor Rather survived the crash Thursday morning in Kaufman County near Scurry, about 30 miles southeast of Dallas. The newspaper reports Floyd attended high school in Highland Park, an enclave within Dallas’ city limits. He has two young sons, ages 1 and 2. A friend of Rather’s says he spent years restoring the Soviet-era plane he was flying Thursday. According to KETK, Rather, the pilot, was a lifetime member of the Historical Aviation Museum near Tyler Pounds Regional Regional Airport.

GLADEWATER — A Gregg County home has been destroyed by fire. It was reported around 6:00 Thursday morning northeast of Gladewater on Point Pleasant Road. Investigators say 90% of the house and two vehicles were destroyed by the fire. The fire is thought to have started around the garage. The cause remains under investigation. No injuries were reported.

LONGVIEW — Longview sees a 19% jump in sales tax revenue in December compared to December 2011. According to KETK, Longview brought in $1.7 million for the month; $1.4 million came in last December. The increase also gets the city back on track for its budget after being down the last couple of months. Officials hope the upswing continues. City spokesman Shawn Hara says, “Hopefully this a good sign of holiday months coming up, the holiday spending that’ll be happening in the area, ’cause that’s good for the Longview economy, and it’s good for us being able to provide services. This is one of our main sources of revenue to be able to provide services like police and fire and streets.”

TYLER — Tyler police need help identifying whoever ran off with a cash register. Last Saturday afternoon around 4:15 p.m. that day, police responded to the Just a $1.00 store at 2231 W. Gentry. The store clerk told police that a black male suspect had entered the store and walked around the aisles for several minutes close to the check-out area. The store clerk had opened the cash drawer to complete a purchase for another customer when the suspect entered the employee area, picked up the cash register, and ran out the door with it. The suspect was observed getting into a late 70s or early 80s two-tone tan and brown short-bed Chevy pick-up that was parked in the area. We’ll post additional identifying information as we get it.

NACOGDOCHES (AP) – A judge is allowing TransCanada to resume work on an oil pipeline being built on private property in Nacogdoches County before a hearing next week. Landowner Michael Bishop has filed suit against TransCanada in Nacogdoches County, claiming the company lied to Texans when it said it would use its Keystone XL pipeline to transport crude oil. The pipeline will carry tar sands oil, which TransCanada says is a form of crude but Bishop says is not. He also says he originally settled with the company under duress. Chris Wilson, of Stop Tarsands Oil Pipelines, said Thursday that Nacogdoches County Court at Law Judge Jack Sinz lifted a restraining order in advance of a Wednesday hearing. TransCanada spokesman Shawn Howard says no construction is likely to start before the hearing.

TYLER — Representatives for the Lon Morris College estate are asking a federal judge to give them permission to pay their employees before Christmas. KETK reports it’s called a “pre-holiday distribution,” and it would dole out about $130,000. Some former employees were not paid during the final weeks before the school was closed in May. The 158-year-old Methodist college, the state’s oldest junior college, filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year.

TYLER — Tyler’s sales tax figures continue to head upward. The state comptroller’s office reports Tyler’s sales tax revenues deposited for the month of December have grown 10.64% as compared to December of last year. This has resulted in a cumulative year-do-date increase of 3.16%. The reported revenue of $2,804,271 comprises $1,869,514 general sales tax revenue and $934,757 half-cent sales tax revenue. The figures represent receipts from October 2012 collections as there is a two-month lag before taxes are reported and remitted back to the City from the State.

“We are pleased to see an uptick in our sales tax revenue and hope that a positive trend from month to month will develop over the next several months,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel. “The three percent cumulative growth is just above what we were projecting, so we are on the right trajectory compared to budget.”

TYLER — Federal authorities say two fugitives wanted for federal gun trafficking violations appeared in a Tyler courtroom after their arrest in the Philippines. Andrea Jaine Burns London, 51, and Lucretia Beth Brown, 45, both of Yantis, were indicted on July 11, and charged with 26 counts of gun trafficking violations. London and Burns made their initial appearances in U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love’s court on Wednesday.

Federal agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Agents executed search warrants at their home and business in November 2011. A warrant was issued for their arrest, but according to authorities, the U.S. Marshals Service soon discovered that the pair had left the United States for the Philippines in February 2012. Assistance was requested from the International Investigations Branch and a lead was sent to the Diplomatic Security Service in Manila. On October 9, Philippine Immigration Agents arrested London and Brown in Cebu without incident.

According to the indictment, from January 2011 to July 2011, London owned and operated Lake Fork Gunslinger & Outdoors in Emory, Texas. Lake Fork Gunslinger was a federally licensed firearms dealer, and Brown was an employee. The indictment alleges that London and Brown conspired with one another to not keep the records as required by federal law and to not conduct the required background checks on gun purchasers. The indictment further alleges that London and Brown conspired to make false statements on the ATF Form 4473 that accompanies sales of dealership inventory and to not report multiple sales of handguns.

WOOD COUNTY — A Mineola man is behind bars after an alleged aggravated assault this week in Wood County. Sheriff officials tell KETK, they received a call about an assault in the 100 block of Wood County Road 223, near Mineola on Monday. When officials arrived, the suspect had fled. However, during the investigation, officials uncovered his name and issued a warrant for Joshua Allen Stine, 22, of Mineola. Stine was arrested later that day just before 3:00. He has been booked into the Wood County Jail, where he remains behind bars charged with evading arrest, criminal trespass, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His bond was set at a combined $62,000. Further details about the alleged assault were not immediately available.

LUFKIN — A jury in Lufkin deliberated around four hours Wednesday before finding Rafael Orta, 20, of Lufkin, guilty of the February shooting death of Darnell Bennett. Police believe Orta and four other men went to Bennett’s house to rob him of marijuana. Since prosecutors did not say they were seeking the death penalty, Orta is automatically sentenced to life in prison. The other four suspects have yet to be tried.

MARSHALL — A Marshall teen has been arrested on burglary and theft charges. Corey Lee Johnson, 19, was booked into Harrison County Jail on charges burglary of a vehicle, burglary of a building, theft of a firearm, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and evading arrest.

KETK reports it began just before 7:00 Tuesday evening with a report of an auto burglary and stolen rifle in the 600 block of Pinewood Drive. A little later a 911 call was received about a man runing with a rifle in the same area. Just before 10:00, officers were sent to the 700 block of Rosewood Circle on a report of a man armed with several rifles. The man fled from law officers but was quickly arrested.

TYLER — An assistant professor of nursing at The University of Texas at Tyler, is a recipient of the 2012 President’s Volunteer Service Award. Dr. Melinda Hermanns, a previous recipient, was recognized this year for 172 voluntary service hours on behalf of Parkinson’s disease advocacy, research and education.

Serving UT Tyler since 1998, Hermanns is the vice president for the East Texas Chapter of the American Parkinson’s Disease Association and has been since its inception in 2006. She assists with fundraising activities to raise money for taxi vouchers as well as medication and dental assistance for East Texans with Parkinson’s disease. Hermanns, a UT Tyler alumna, also founded the Early Onset Parkinson’s Disease Care Partner support group in Tyler.

LINDALE — The Lindale Independent School District has won an appeal with the Texas Education Agency for 2012 Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) results. All campuses and the district have met the federal accountability standard.

Preliminary results indicated Velma Penny Elementary School was the only LISD campus to not meet AYP. LISD requested TEA reconsider the mathematics performance indicator for Velma Penny due to the reconfiguration of grades served by the campus during the 2011-2012 school year. Prior to 2011, Velma Penny served students in grades 3-4. In August 2011, the campus began serving students in grades 1-3.

LISD requested that TEA consider the reconfigured school a new campus after receiving guidance from the state agency. In a notification letter to LISD, Commissioner of Education Michael L. Williams wrote, “After careful agency review, the miscommunication with TEA staff may have had an impact on the district decisions. For this reason, the mathematics performance indicator appeal has been granted.”

AYP is the federally mandated accountability system required by the No Child Left Behind Act and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. All public school districts, campuses and the state are evaluated for AYP.

TYLER – The City of Tyler has launched an updated version of its web site. Officials say the new site enhances transparency through the addition of community engagement features and improved navigation. “Transparency in local government is our priority,” said Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass. “Our web site is an integral part of our overall communication strategy and is critical to making information available to our citizens. It has been several years since the site was updated and I am very pleased with the result.” Go to http://www.cityoftyler.org to see the site for yourself.

TYLER — Tyler school trustees met this week to discuss what may be included in a bond election this coming May. KETK reports the price tag this time is $161 million. The possible package includes a new career tech center, a remodel of both Dixie and Rice Elementaries, and three new middle schools. Boulter and Moore would get new facilities, and a campus called Three Lakes would become Tyler’s newest middle school. Tyler Proud is a new group that stands behind the possible plan. The group’s Leslie Strader says, “I don’t see any downside to it whatsoever. There’s no tax increase; it benefits a lot of children; it relieves overcrowding.”

Another group, the “No More Excuses, Tyler ISD!” Coalition, opposes the bond issue. Members of that group say the school district should address academic, student discipline, and personnel issues before constructing or revamping more buildings.

COLLEGE STATION — Three College Station people who were robbed at gunpoint and had their lives threatened if they went to the police can now sleep a little easier knowing the men police say are responsible have been caught. Additionally, one of the men has been sought by authorities in East Texas. That’s according to KETK and its College Station affiliate KYLE. College Station police arrested Bobby Garza and Michael Henderson Jr. (pictured) early Wednesday morning after they allegedly robbed an apartment off Harvey Mitchell Parkway last week. Both Garza and Henderson have been charged with two counts of aggravated robbery. Henderson also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest out of Rusk County for aggravated robbery.

TYLER — Tyler Junior Achievement is honoring the Brookshire Grocery Company at the JA Hall of Fame Banquet on February 28th at Tyler’s Rose Garden Center. Chad Cargile of Regions Bank is the chairman of the 2013 event. He says JA honors some of the local business leaders who have made a big contribution to the free enterprise system through their example, community involvement, etc. Junior Achievement’s mission is to teach the free enterprise system to students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Past honorees include Dub Riter, Elmer Ellis, and Isadore Roosth. Go to http://tyler.ja.org/ to find out more and register for the event.

TYLER – The Tyler Independent School District Board of Trustees unanimously named Gary Mooring, current Tyler ISD Interim Superintendent, as the lone finalist for the District’s superintendent position. The lone finalist announcement was made at a Special Board Meeting Wednesday. The District is required to wait 21 days before officially hiring the lone finalist. “I am honored to be named the lone finalist for the superintendent position,” Mooring said. “I am committed to Tyler ISD, and to this community. I will continue facing challenges head-on while working closely with the Board and District staff to make decisions that uphold our Core Beliefs.” Mooring joined Tyler ISD as interim superintendent in August when former Superintendent Dr. Randy Reid accepted the superintendent position with Keller ISD.

“Mr. Mooring is an outstanding leader who has brought a wealth of experience to Tyler ISD,” Michelle Carr, Tyler ISD Board of Trustees President, said. “We look forward to continuing to work closely with Mr. Mooring as we strive to reach our goal of being recognized as a premier school district in the state and nation.”

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA (AP) – The lead investigator in the February slaying of an Alaska barista by serial killer Israel Keyes says the Anchorage man also targeted the young woman’s boyfriend before changing his mind. Anchorage homicide Detective Monique Doll says Keyes abducted 18-year-old Samantha Koenig at the coffee stand where she worked and waited in the dark structure for the arrival of Koenig’s boyfriend, who was picking her up. Doll says Keyes changed his mind for some reason and left with Koenig. Keyes, who confessed to killing at least eight people across the country, raped and strangled Koenig, whose dismembered body was found in April. Keyes was arrested in Lufkin, Texas, in March, and killed himself earlier this month in his Anchorage jail cell, where he was awaiting trial next year in Koenig’s death.

JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville police are on the hunt for the driver who escaped the long arm of the law outside Jacksonville. Police tell KETK It all started just before 4:00 Monday morning at South Bolton and Larissa. The driver led police on a chase down Highway 79 and through a neighborhood heading back into town. The car chase then turned into a foot chase when the man started shooting at police. No one was hurt in the chase or subsquent gunfire.

LONGVIEW — A man is taken into custody after an alleged shoplifting/aggravated robbery incident in Longview. On Tuesday at 7:05 p.m., officers were dispatched to Sears, at 3500 McCann Road, for an aggravated robbery. When officers arrived they were told man identified as Rodney Leandre Webb, 44, of Longview, pulled a knife on the store’s loss prevention employee and also bit the employee during a shoplifting incident. The store employee stated that he observed Webb shoplifting and that when he attempted to stop him, Webb pulled a knife out of his pocket with the blade exposed. The employee reportedly knocked the knife out of Webb’s hand, and a short struggle ensued. During this struggle, Webb allegedly bit the employee in an attempt to get away. Store employees were able to subdue Webb until police arrived, according to authorities.

Webb was arrested for aggravated robbery and two outstanding warrants for engaging in organized criminal activity and possession of drug paraphernalia. Webb claimed he had been injured during the altercation and was taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center for evaluation before being transported to the Gregg County Jail without further incident.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department says it’s located a stolen vehicle allegedly used in the attempted theft of an ATM. The vehicle was located south of Tyler. Police are investigating the attempted theft from the Texas Bank and Trust at 2323 West Grande, which occurred around 2:00 yesterday morning.

Police say the ATM alarm was activated when the suspects attempted to pull it from its pedestal. When police arrived on the scene, the suspects had fled the area in an unknown direction. Bank officials reviewed the bank surveillance video and observed five suspects wearing hoods involved in the incident. The suspects used a 2004 Ford Van that was reported stolen from Dickey’s BBQ, at 1501 W.S.W. Loop 323.

If you have any information about the suspects involved in this crime, you are urged to contact the Tyler Police Department, at 903-531-1000, or Crimestoppers at 903-597-CUFF (903-597-2833). Crimestoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to arrests and charges filed against the suspects in this case or any felony case.

LONGVIEW — A veteran Longview Fire Department employee resigned after Kilgore police said they found nearly a pound of marijuana in her home in late November. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. City spokesman Shawn Hara said Monica Hanks resigned from her duties as fire inspector and code compliance inspector last Thursday, three days after she was placed on paid administrative leave. Hanks was not criminally charged after a search of her home, northwest of Kilgore, allegedly revealed marijuana and drug distribution paraphernalia. Eric King, 22, of Kilgore was arrested and charged with possession of between 4 ounces and 5 pounds of marijuana as well as evading arrest.

Hara said the Longview police department had begun an internal investigation for possible personnel policy violations at the request of the Longview Fire Department, since Hanks worked in the division that normally conducts LFD internal investigations. Officials say they don’t anticipate making any further arrests based on the investigation. Hanks, who has served with the Longview Fire Department since 1998, was not available for comment at last report.

SMITH COUNTY — A wanted man has been captured by Smith County deputies. Joshua Kyle Henderson, 33, Bullard, allegedly burglarized his ex-girlfriend’s house in Tyler and assaulted her during the theft. According to Tyler Police Department Officer Don Martin, Henderson was caught in the Flint area following an anonymous tip. Other details of his arrest have not yet been released. According to KETK, Henderson was also wanted for two counts of fraud in Smith County.

TYLER — A Tyler jury has found a former nurse guilty of two felony drug charges. The charges against Davina Moore, 28, of Tyler, were enhanced because she lived in a “drug free” zone. Moore, who had previously worked at both East Texas Medical Center and Mother Francis Hospital, was arrested in March of last year. The jury returned Wednesday morning to begin the punishment phase of the trial.

SMITH COUNTY — A Smith County mobile home has been extensively damaged by fire. It was reported Wednesday night on County Road 328 in Western Smith County. A Lindale volunteer fireman was slightly injured in fighting the blaze. No other injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

LUFKIN — An Angelina County family has lost everything, including their home, in an early morning fire. It was reported Tuesday morning on Oates Lanes, just outside of Lufkin. No injuries were ported and the cause is still under investigation.

HAWKINS — Jarvis Christian College has received notice from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges that its accreditation has been continued for good cause and the institution has been placed on probation for one year. The review process for reaffirmation of accreditation will be deferred for a year. This action was taken yesterday after the Commission’s review of the College’s most recent monitoring report. The Commission on College’s decision will allow Jarvis Christian College to further improve its financial position.

In a news release from the school, James Atkinson, chairman of the Board of Trustees, commended the College administration for the progress made in addressing the concerns of SACS. “The President and his staff have made remarkable progress in addressing the concerns of the Commission on Colleges in a very short time. The Board feels certain that the remaining issues will soon be resolved and Jarvis will be judged in full compliance with accrediting standards,” stated Mr. Atkinson.

Celebrating its centennial anniversary, Jarvis Christian College continues to prepare students intellectually, socially, spiritually and personally to pursue professional and graduate studies and productive careers. The historically black liberal arts, baccalaureate degree granting institution affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), received its initial accreditation with SACS in 1967.

LUFKIN — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. in Lufkin with three repeat and four serious violations. This follows a June inspection as part of the agency’s Process Safety Management Covered Chemical Facilities national emphasis program. Proposed penalties total $99,000.

“Process safety management prevents the unexpected release of toxic, reactive or flammable liquids and gases in processes involving highly hazardous chemicals,” said David Doucet, director of OSHA’s Houston North office. “Exposure to highly hazardous chemicals can be fatal. OSHA will not tolerate a company’s failure to provide a safe and healthful working environment.”

The repeat citations issued for the process safety management standard violations include failing to inspect and test process equipment consistent with applicable manufacturers’ recommendations and good engineering practices, ensure that process equipment complies with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices, and properly label containers holding hazard chemicals. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. Similar violations were cited at the company’s work site in Live Oak, Fla., in April 2008 and at the work site in Russellville, Ala., in September 2010.

Serious violations include failing to correct deficiencies in process equipment, ensure that process safety information pertaining to equipment includes design codes and standards and establish and implement written procedures to manage changes of the process. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to comply, request an informal conference with the OSHA Houston North area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.