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GILMER — A two vehicle wreck near Gilmer claims the life of a 3-year-old boy. It happened Saturday afternoon around 3:40 on Hwy 155 just north of Golf Road. The Department of Public Safety says a Jeep Wrangler driven by a 16-year-old crossed over into oncoming traffic and hit a Chevy Malibu head-on. The occupants of the Malibu were Ken and Jennifer Danapas, Big Sandy, their newborn baby girl, along with their son, Luke. Luke was air-lifted to Children’s Hospital in Dallas where he was pronounced dead Sunday morning, his 3rd birthday and Mother’s Day. The family and the teen driver received minor or no injuries. All parties were wearing seatbelts and the children were in child safety seats. The driver received a citation for being on the wrong side of the road. It’s believed he fell asleep. The investigation is still underway.

A tragedy fund has been set up: “Ken Danapas Special Fund” and donations can be made at any Austin Bank with a notation that it is for the special fund or by mailing a check to Austin Bank, PO Box 748, Big Sandy, TX. 75755.

TYLER – Tyler police have released pictures of the suspect wanted for the robbery of Kohl’s on South Broadway over the weekend. Saturday afternoon around 5:15 a woman is said to have entered the store and selected several clothing and jewelry items. She then entered a fitting room and concealed the items in a black and brown colored purse that she brought into the store, as well as a red purse that she took from the store. After leaving the fitting room, she left the store without paying for the merchandise.

As the suspect walked to her vehicle, she was contacted by a Kohl’s loss prevention employee. The employee asked the suspect to return to the store with the stolen items. The suspect refused and continued to walk to her vehicle. After she backed out of her parking space, she drove directly towards the store employee, striking the employee’s right hand with the vehicle. The employee received only a minor injury.

The suspect is described as a white female, with long dark hair and 4 gold colored teeth (2 gold teeth on top and 2 gold teeth on bottom). She was last seen wearing a black cover-up shirt over a black and white striped shirt, black spandex pants and dark colored sandals. The suspects’ vehicle was described as a silver or gold colored 4 door car (possibly a Honda Accord).

TYLER — Tyler Junior College will hold its spring commencement ceremonies at 2 and 6 p.m. Friday, May 13, in Wagstaff Gymnasium, recognizing 841 candidates for graduation. Students graduating with an Associate of Applied Science or Certificate of Proficiency will participate in the ceremony for students graduating with an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science or Associate of Arts in Teaching. Associate’s degrees and certificates of proficiency will be conferred by college president Dr. Mike Metke.

SMITH COUNTY — A hearing Monday to decide if a Chapel Hill teen accused of murder should be tried as an adult is postponed. Nate Anderson is accused of fatally shooting his sister, Amanda Anderson, 19, in their Chapel Hill home in September. He will remain in the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center until his next hearing date, May 23rd.

NACOGDOCHES — A Nacogdoches woman was sentenced Monday to 12 years in prison on two counts of injury to a child. Joy Faye Yates pleaded guilty in District Judge Campbell Cox’s courtroom to having a role in the death of her 3-year-old daughter, Kaylan Broumley, by failing to protect her and failing to get immediate medical care for her after finding out she was injured. Yates also pleaded guilty to hitting Kaylan with her hands. She was sentenced by Cox to two 12 year stints in prison, to be served at the same time, and a $10,000 fine.

TYLER — Gregory Dewayne Polley, 26, of Longview, waived a jury trial Monday and pleaded guilty to the Christmas Eve shooting death of 15-year-old Nicole Cartwright. Jury selection had been scheduled to start Monday in a Smith County district court, with testimony beginning Tuesday. Instead, Polley chose to plead guilty and sentencing has been scheduled for May 31. Cartwright, also of Longview, was killed at about 1:30 a.m. Christmas Eve by a stray bullet. She was visiting family and friends at the time of the shooting.

Polley is the second man to be arrested in connection with Cartwright’s death. Adrian Earl Blankenship Jr., 22, of Longview, also is charged in the teen’s death. He remains in Smith County Jail on $500,000 bond and his trial is scheduled for July. Polley was initially arrested Jan. 4 for a parole violation in Longview, with Smith County officials tacking on the first-degree murder charge after an arrest warrant was issued.

LONGVIEW — One man is in custody accused of copper theft. Sunday evening around 5:45, a Longview Police Officer noticed a suspicious vehicle in the area of Mobberly Avenue and Humble Street. The vehicle fit the description of a vehicle that had previously been used in several copper and other metal thefts in Longview. Danny Wayne Milam, 29, of Henderson was arrested after authorities determined he had stolen copper, underground tank covers, and other items from several area locations. He was booked into the Gregg County Jail on charges of felony theft and driving while license suspended.

NACOGDOCHES — One man is recovering after a brutal attack. A Nacogdoches man is being treated at a local hospital after being slashed across his face and stabbed in the back. Nacogdoches Police say it happened around 5:30 Saturday morning at Oak Hill Plaza. Nicholas Barnes, 28, was found with stab wounds. Police say he and a couple of others were “very incoherent.” One witness was arrested for public intoxication.

MT PLEASANT – A car-pedestrian accident has killed a young boy and injured a teenage girl in Mt Pleasant. The accident, around 11:00 Saturday night, killed Cameron Jones-Wheeler, 4, and injured Jocylyn Roberts, 13. She is listed in critical condition at Dallas Children’s Hospital. The driver who is believed to have hit the two was arrested shortly before 3:45 Sunday morning. He is identified as Edward Joseph Moya, 21. He has been charged with manslaughter and injury to a child and is being held in the Titus County Jail under a $2 million bond. Authorities report after the first vehicle hit the boy, a second vehicle also hit him. That vehicle has not been located.

NEW BOSTON (AP) — Hundreds of people turned out to bid on donated items to benefit the family of a northeast Texas sheriff’s deputy killed while escorting an inmate from a court hearing. Bowie County Sheriff’s Deputy Sherri Jones died April 18 from a gunshot wound to the head in the Bowie County Courthouse basement while escorting Tucker Strickland, 21, from a mental health hearing. Strickland remains jailed on a capital murder charge. Two T-shirts drew a top bid of $500 during Saturday night’s auction, the Texarkana Gazette reported in its Sunday editions. Hundreds of other items donated by individuals and businesses also were auctioned off. Organizers said they expected several thousand dollars was raised for the family.

UNDATED — Here’s a quick look at other work planned in the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

TYLER — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repairs in various locations on U.S. Highway 271 in Tyler between Farm Road 2015 and State Highway 31 (Front Street). Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

SMITH COUNTY — The Union Pacific Railroad, in conjunction with the Texas Department
of Transportation, is scheduled to close FM 2661 south of SH 31 to all traffic on
Wednesday, May 11 while the railroad makes repairs to the crossing at that location.
The work is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. and last through 7 p.m. Detours will be posted. The railroad is also scheduled to close South Loop 281 in Longview at FM 2087 on Sunday, May 15 for a similar repair.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation contractor A.L. Helmcamp, of Buffalo, is scheduled to begin reconstruction work Wednesday, May 11 on its $1.2 million contract to repair and resurface Ranch-to-Market Road 2329 between FM 316 south of Eustace and US 175 in Pickens. The project calls for closing RM 2329 to thru-traffic between US 175 and FM 3054 for approximately three months while crews completely rebuild the roadway in that area. That closure will be put into place on Wednesday. Detours will be posted.

KILGORE — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repairs on U.S. Highway 259 Business in Kilgore between Lantrip Street to the south end of the US 259 Bypass. The work is being done in preparation for a seal coat application later this summer. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue pavement repairs on U.S. Highway 79 east of U.S. Highway 69 before moving to the intersection of US 69 and State Highway 135 (Pine Street) to perform the same work. Once that work is complete, crews are scheduled to be at work on U.S. Highway 175 from Farm Road 347 west to the Jacksonville city limits; and SH 135 between Troup city limits and State Highway 110 in Troup. Also this week, District-Wide Seal Coat operations were postponed late last week and are scheduled to begin Monday on SH 110 between US 79 in New Summerfield and U.S. Highway 84 in Rusk. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid
delays.

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to conclude resurfacing operations on State Highway 19 north of Palestine between Farm Road 860 in Bois D’Arc and the Henderson County Line before moving to Farm Road 2961 between Farm Road 837 and Farm Road 59. The work is being performed in advance of a seal-coat application in the coming weeks. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

Later in the week and into next week, TxDOT’s District-Wide Seal Coat program is scheduled to apply a seal coat to the following roadways in Anderson County:
*US 84 in Palestine between US 287 and FM 3266 east of town;
*FM 645 between FM 320 and US 79;
*Spur 324 between US 287 and FM 321;
*and US 287 between the Freestone County Line and FM 321.
Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two lane areas. Loose gravel may be present for several days following a seal coat application. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue resurfacing operations on Farm Road 2892 between Farm Road 2495 near Lake Athens and the end of state maintenance. The work is being done in advance of a seal-coat application later this summer. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base repairs in various locations on U.S. Highway 259 north of Henderson between State Highway 322 and Farm Road 850. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

WOOD COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to conclude pavement repair operations in various locations on State Highway 37 south of Winnsboro near Farm Road 1647. A second crew is scheduled to perform edge repairs on Farm Road 69 between Farm Road 515 in Coke and the Hopkins County Line. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform resurfacing and edge-repair operations on State Highway 198 between State Highway 64 in Canton and Farm Road 1651. The work is being done in advance of a seal coat application later this month.

A second crew is scheduled to perform fog seal operations on Farm Road 858 between State Highway 19 and Ben Wheeler. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

NOONDAY – Three hospitalized after a Sunday morning wreck on Highway 155 near Noonday. Officials say a major rollover accident sent 3 people to Tyler hospitals. Noonday firefighters were on scene near County Road 1198. Firefighters say the accident was a double rollover. Two vehicles were going opposite directions on 155 when one vehicle lost control and the two went into the ditch. Noonday firefighters had to use the jaws of life to get the victims out. Highway 155 was shut down for 30 minutes this morning while crews worked the scene. “The two drivers were flown to two different hospitals, the third one was transported by ground,” said Noonday Firefighter Patrick Baldauf. Baldauf said the passenger transported by ground was the daughter of one of the drivers. No word yet on the condition of the three accident victims.

TYLER — 101 East Texas students divvy up over $173,000 in scholarships given out through the East Texas Communities Foundation. The students were honored during an ice cream reception at Tyler’s Marvin United Methodist Church. ETCF President Kyle Penney told the honorees that a scholarship is “a valuable award that means a lot.” Penney said he wishes more scholarships could have been presented. He termed paying for four years of higher education “a daunting task.”

Penney had several words of advice for the students. He urged them to do their best, rise to challenges, and expand the world around them. He also said the students should stay true to their values and beliefs, but also enjoy college. Finally, he asked that the recipients honor the memory and legacy of those who have made investments in them. The foundation offers numerous scholarships, and Penney was pleased that there was a big spike in applications this year.

TYLER — After four months in office, Smith County Clerk Karen Phillips says newly implemented policies, restructuring, and research have saved the taxpayers of Smith County around $41,000. Phillips, who took office on the third of January, made some policy and personnel changes in the first few weeks that she says are already paying off. “We eliminated two paid part-time positions that were staffed by a “temp” agency and contacted the Smith County Volunteer Coordinator to help us find a match for our department,” Phillips said. Now trained volunteers visit the office at least twice a week at no cost to the County with a monthly saving estimated at $2,000 according to Phillips.

Phillips says she also upgraded the technology in the land records department to make records processing more efficient and convenient to the customer. “I observed as each document traveled from the customer’s hands to nine different clerks on two separate floors of our building while being processed and believed the methodology could be improved,” Phillips said. Now that the land records department has been consolidated to one floor and digital scanning has been integrated, customers can have their documents scanned and immediately handed back to them. Phillips says streamlining the process is saving time, manpower, paper, envelopes, labels, and postage. By Phillips’s estimate, the county saved $3,500 in April alone.

Phillips also has coordinated with the Tyler Postmaster to streamline document shipping and receiving, has started charging shipping and postage for data CDs, and is in the process of making on-site credit card readers available for customers. In review of the County Clerk’s invoices and contracts with Smith County’s current indexing and imaging vendor, Phillips discovered errors in billing resulting in a credit of $30,052 being returned to Smith County. “My goal is to make the County Clerk’s office as efficient and customer-friendly as possible and to save the tax payers money by watching every penny spent.” Phillips said.

TYLER — As a part of National Police Week, the nation payed tribute to peace officers from across the country who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. The Smith County memorial service was held on Tyler’s downtown square today at noon. Honor guards from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Smith County Sheriff’s Office, and Tyler Police Department were on hand to honor area law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for 2010-2011.

In 2010 (158 officers) and to date 2011 (65 officers), 223 peace officers joined the ranks of these officers nationwide. Once again, Texas led the country with the death of 17 peace officers in 2010 and 6 officers in 2011, including Smith County Deputy Robert Britton Jr. on March 28. In 2010, the average age was 40 and average tour of duty was 11 years, 6 months. The event will include the posting of the colors, a wreath ceremony, Taps, a 21-gun salute, a riderless horse, and a fly-over by a Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter. All families of fallen officers and the public are invited to attend this ceremony.