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TYLER — Tyler Junior College officials have dedicated a wing of the Louise H. and Joseph Z. Ornelas Residential Complex in memory of a former Apache Belles director. The Eva Saunders Wing was dedicated in honor of the woman who served as Belles’ director from 1963 to 1976. The wing is located on the Ornelas complex’s fourth floor, which is occupied by the entire Apache Belles line.

Private donations for the dedication were raised by fundraising chair and former Apache Belle Mary Boles Blitch, a member of the precision dance team from 1948 to 1950. All gifts were placed in the TJC Belle Heritage Endowment. “The quintessential ‘Steel Magnolia’, Eva Saunders guided the Apache Belles in all aspects of life, manners, dress, speech and community participation,” Blitch said. “With Eva’s impeccable appearance, soft voice and genteel manner, she molded many ‘country girls’ into presentable young ladies.

During Eva Saunders’ tenure, the Apache Belles were the only college dance drill team to perform during televised halftimes for the Dallas Cowboys; and through this exposure, the group gained a worldwide reputation for excellence.

The Al Gilliam Wing and Mildred Stringer Lounge are also located on the Apache Belles’ floor and named in memory of the Belles’ former choreographer and director, respectively.

TYLER — Police in Tyler say a man arrested for indecent exposure is a registered sex offender. Shortly after 9:00 yesterday morning, officers responded to the French Quarter at 4500 S. Broadway in reference to a suspicious person. Officers were advised that a man in a black older model Dodge Stratus was exposing himself. The complainant wrote down the license plate number that was displayed on the Stratus. Investigators were able to determine that the vehicle was registered to a sex offender. They confirmed that the registered sex offender’s files listed this vehicle as belonging to him. Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Daniel Michael Swed, 53, of Tyler. They located Swed at his place of employment, which was documented in his sex offender registration file. Swed’s alleged offense is a class B misdemeanor. His bond has been set at $15,000.

NACOGDOCHES — A six-month undercover drug investigation by the Nacogdoches Police Department has resulted in charges being filed against ten defendants. According to police reports, NPD began the arrests Wednesday morning. Officials say the investigation targeted street-level narcotics trafficking within the city. At last report, seven of the defendants had been arrested. The arrested suspects and charges are:

– Jerry D. Holcomb, age 44, of Nacogdoches, Delivery of a Controlled Substance
– Bryant D. Gilyard, age 43 of Nacogdoches, Delivery of a Controlled Substance (2 counts)
– Rodney Woodson, age 33 of Nacogdoches, Delivery of a Controlled Substance
– Jerome R. Murchinson, age 23 of Nacogdoches, Delivery of a Controlled Substance (2 counts)
– Jeffrey R. Gates, age 36 of Nacogdoches, Delivery of a Controlled Substance (2 counts)
– Anthony D. Garner, Jr., age 21 of Nacogdoches, Delivery of a Controlled Substance (2 counts)
– Maxie Deckard, 31 of Nacogdoches, Delivery of a Controlled Substance (2 counts)

Three suspects remained at large. All were wanted on charges of Delivery of a Controlled Substance:

– Mongo J. Fite, age 36 of Nacogdoches
– Trevosky Freeney, age 20 of Nacogdoches
– Kiara K. Raindle, age 21 of Nacogdoches

TYLER — Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials left the scene of the China King restaurant on Broadway in Tyler Thursday afternoon after several hours of employee questioning. Employees say nobody was taken into ICE custody, and all employees complied with investigators. The restaurant was closed for the rest of the day. During the raid, ICE released a statement that said, “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement along with U.S. Homeland Security are conducting an ongoing investigation, which the China King is a part of because it is ongoing. No further details can be released at this time.” Tyler police assisted in the raid.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A Lufkin truck driver died in an accident Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 78 in Greenwich Township, Pa. According to KETK, Wiley “Thad” Russell, 58, was pronounced dead at the scene after his rig crashed and rolled, according to a Pennsylvania Law Enforcement crash report. Russell was eastbound in northern Berks County near the Lehigh County line when his 2010 Freightliner struck the embankment and lost control around 1:30 p.m., the report stated. The rig then rolled on the driver’s side, coming to rest in the middle of the highway blocking both left lanes.

According to television station WFMZ out of Allentown, Pa., initial reports from the scene were that Russell was trapped in his cab and semi-unconscious. State police troopers told WFMZ Russell died on the scene a short time after the crash. The station reported State Police were not sure whether Russell died from injuries sustained in the crash or from a medical condition.

LUFKIN — A Lufkin man has been arrested for allegedly robbing a cab driver. Justin Woodall, 28, is charged with aggravated robbery. Authorities say Woodall called the cab company asking for a ride. The owner of the cab company reportedly picked Woodall up and drove him to a driveway on Sayers Street. That’s when Woodall allegedly grabbed the driver’s neck from behind at knifepoint. Fortunately, the driver was able to get away safely. Close to $150 was reportedly taken from the center console of the cab.

LONGVIEW — The family of the good Samaritan killed trying to help a state trooper is seeking damages. The family of Trent Hepler filed a lawsuit against Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company and the driver of the truck carrying a trailer. Family members believe both are responsible for Hepler’s death. The 32-year-old Hepler was hit and killed on November 2 after he stopped to help the trooper during a wreck in Longview..

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Van Zandt County Precinct One Commissioner, Ricky LaPrade was arrested early Thursday morning for DWI, unlawful carry of a loaded weapon, and resisting arrest. Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Officials say LaPrade was taken into custody by a Canton K-9 officer in the parking lot of a Whataburger restaurant around 1:15. The commissioner has since been released from jail.

LUFKIN – After three hours of deliberations, a jury has found a Lufkin woman guilty of duct taping her children and beating them with an extension cord. Kathy Taylor, 38, was convicted of four counts of injury to a child and three counts of unlawful restraint. She headed back to court Thursday for the punishment phase of her trial.

AUSTIN (AP) — Republican Representative Leo Berman of Tyler is portraying his bill that would make English the official language of Texas as a cost-saving method. Presenting his bill before a House committee on Wednesday, Berman claimed the measure would save the state millions since it would only print things in English. The state comptroller did not produce a fiscal note on the bill, but Berman touted the amount of paper and effort that would be saved under his proposal. But opponents are skeptical.

Luis Figuera from the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund, argues that the legislation isn’t about saving money but is aimed at the immigrant population. Berman’s bill was one of several bills targeting undocumented workers being discussed Wednesday evening.

LONGVIEW – A temporary restraining order is being sought to keep Gregg County from extending its lease with Good Shepherd Medical Center. The injunction was filed on behalf of Diagnostic Clinic of Longview and one of its physicians, Dr. Andrei Gasic. The Longview News-Journal reports that the plaintiffs claim the county’s lease with Good Shepherd Medical Center to occupy county owned property is void — and ask that a proposed extension Good Shepherd is requesting be voided unless certain steps to allow more public input are taken.

AUSTIN (AP) — A bill that would make it a felony to touch someone in an intimate place during a routine search has moved to the full House for debate. The proposed law is aimed at people conducting security checkpoints at airports and public buildings. The bill makes it a crime to intentionally touch someone’s groin or breasts, even through clothing, unless the security officer has probably cause to believe that person is carrying something illegal. House Bill 1937 was authored by state Representative David Simpson, R-Longview, and is co-sponsored by 54 other state representatives. It could place federal workers at jeopardy of prosecution for conducting so-called enhanced pat-downs.

HENDERSON (AP) – A 20-year-old East Texas woman gets an automatic sentence of life in prison without parole after a jury convicted her of capital murder in the sexual assault and beating death of her infant daughter. A Rusk County jury found Jesseca Carson guilty Wednesday of capital murder in the December 2008 death of her 13-month-old daughter, Amora. Carson’s boyfriend, Blaine Milam, has been sent to death row for capital murder in the death, which Carson believed was an exorcism. Prosecutors didn’t seek a death sentence for Carson, saying she encouraged, promoted or assisted in the crime. Defense attorney Don Killingsworth told jurors that Milam dominated Carson, convincing her that a demon dwelled inside her daughter. Killingsworth said Carson thought Milam was helping her child and didn’t think he would hurt her.

LONGVIEW — Longview police are still on the hunt for suspects in a cash register burglary last month. Just before 7:45pm on March 24, officers were dispatched to Academy Sports located at 445 Forest Square. Upon arrival, store managers told the officer that one of their registers had been broken into and approximately $1,100 in cash and checks was missing from that register. After reviewing the video, officers learned that there were at least three people involved in this theft. Officers observed a black male open the register with an unknown object while a black male and a black female stood by as look-outs. The three suspects then left the location in an unknown silver car.

LONGVIEW – Two men are being sought in a Longview armed robbery. It happened around 1:00 Wednesday morning in the1200 block of South High Street. The victims told officers two black males had come into their residence and demanded money. At least one of these suspects was armed with a handgun and both were wearing all black. One of the robbers had on a ski mask and the other had a bandana over his face. The victims stated the suspects took cash and other personal items and ran out the door of the residence and toward Family Dollar store. No injuries were reported.