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TYLER — It’s the final day of Tyler’s annual Azalea and Spring Flower Trails. Among the showcase events: the 2011 Azalea Trails Arts and Crafts Fair at Bergfeld Park, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. More than 90 vendors will offer handmade items such as pottery, clothing, jewelry, candles, floral arrangements, woodcrafts, oil paintings, and much, much more. You can go to http://www.tylerazaleatrail.com for more information on Azalea Trails.

VAN — A 78-year-old Van woman is dead in a two-vehicle accident that occurred in Van shortly after 3 p.m. Thursday. The DPS says Peggy Alexander was eastbound on Kansas Street when her car struck a vehicle driven by Amanda Cabler of Ben Wheeler. Cabler’s vehicle was southbound on FM 314. Alexander, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at Cozby-Germany Hospital in Grand Saline. Cabler was last reported in good condition at ETMC/Tyler. She was wearing a seat belt.

McKINNEY — Big trouble for a former East Texas police chief. Donnie Gene Lewis has been indicted by a grand jury in Collin County on five counts of sexual assault of a child and eight counts of indecency. No further details were immediately offered, except that all of this allegedly happened in Plano between 2001 and 2004. That was shortly after Lewis had retired as chief in Sulphur Springs. He’d been on the force there for 25 years. He’s now 61, and if he’s convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

AUSTIN (AP) – State health officials say people who attended horse shows in Belton and Lufkin last month may have been exposed to a horse that tested positive for rabies. About 150 people from Texas, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana and Mississippi attended the American Southwest Texas Cutting Horse Association show in Belton March 19-21 and the Lufkin Cutting Horse Association show March 25-27. The horse was a 7-year-old bay quarter horse gelding with a faint star on its forehead. The horse died April 4 and tested positive for rabies April 6. People can be infected if they are bitten or if the infected animal’s saliva gets in an open wound or cut or in the eyes, nose or mouth. A series of post-exposure shots, if given in time, can prevent rabies from developing.

LUFKIN — Thirteen suspects have been arrested following a year-long investigation into drug trafficking in the Lufkin and Nacogdoches area. A 12-count sealed indictment was returned by a federal grand jury on March 17, 2011, charging 11 individuals with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. Three of the individuals are also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. A separate sealed indictment in another unrelated case was also filed on March 17, 2011, charging Teodocio Carrera, also known as Maclovio Ocon, along with two other individuals, with conspiracy with intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.

The following individuals are in custody:

Jesus Pineda, 28, Nacogdoches
Antonio Mendoza, 25, Nacogdoches
Israel Colin, 28, Nacogdoches
Esteban Castro, 25, Nacogdoches
Robert Max Wilson, 24, Lufkin
Leocadio Garcia Rivera, 26, Nacogdoches
Eleazar Rivera Estrada, 22, Nacogdoches
Augustin Chacon, 44, Lufkin
Armando Colin, 27, Nacogdoches
Ramiro Samarripa, 41, Lufkin
Margarita Pineda, age unknown, Nacogdoches
Nelson Rodriguez, 37, Nacogdoches
Teodocio Carrera a/k/a Maclovio Ocon, 48, Nacogdoches

Federal authorities seek the forfeiture of $1 million cash in drug proceeds. Authorities also seek forfeiture of 6 pieces of real estate property in Lufkin and Nacogdoches and multiple vehicles that authorities say were utilized in the drug trafficking crimes.

WASHINGTON – A Tyler-based effort was among the honorees as Attorney General Eric Holder recognized seven individuals and three organizations for what was termed outstanding work on behalf of crime victims. It happened at an awards ceremony hosted by the Department of Justice. According to a news release, the Crime Victims Fund Award recognizes individuals or teams for their outstanding work in pursuing federal criminal offenders and imposing and collecting the criminal fines. This year’s recipient is the Tyler-based Financial Litigation Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas.

Officials say the honor recognizes the unit’s efforts to maximize fine collections on behalf of the Crime Victims Fund and the restitution payments to victims of crime. According to officials, the unit assures defendants meet their responsibilities to victims in restitution cases by coordinating with prosecutors and investigating agencies to prevent fraudulent asset transfers, or the hiding of assets, by defendants.

Holder remarked, “We commend these individuals and service providers who, when faced with emerging challenges, seek out new ways to protect our communities, and to more effectively assist and empower crime victims.” The Attorney General’s Annual Victims’ Service Awards are presented as a prelude to the nation’s observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 10-16, 2011. Officials say this year’s theme — “Reshaping the Future, Honoring the Past” — highlights the importance of crime victims’ rights and recognizes individuals and organizations that demonstrate a commitment to this effort.

TYLER – Mother Frances Hospital-Tyler was named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters. Mother Frances officials say Thomson Reuters is a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of health care. The study evaluates performance in several areas. Those include mortality; medical complications; patient safety; average patient stay; patient satisfaction; adherence to clinical standards of care; post-discharge mortality; and readmission rates for heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia. Hospitals do not apply, and winners do not pay to market this honor.

Mother Frances has been designated a 100 Top Hospital four times and is one of only four hospitals in Texas — and the only hospital in East Texas — to receive the recognition this year. “Our patients deserve this level of health care and I am proud of every Trinity Mother Frances employee for their dedication and focus that keeps Mother Frances Hospital an award-winning medical destination,” said Ray Thompson, FACHE, the hospital’s chief executive officer.

TYLER — A 40-year-old Tyler man is in jail after police say he escaped from Officer Kevin Mobley, who had him detained for possession of a controlled substance in the area of Trezevant Street and Tennneha Avenue, around 10:15 a.m. Friday. Markus Earl Glenn of Tyler is charged with escape causing bodily injury, a 2nd degree felony, and tampering with evidence, a 3rd degree felony.

According to police, Glenn was being placed under arrest and had one handcuff on when he struggled with Mobley and broke free. Authorities say Mobley suffered cuts to his hand during the struggle to maintain control of Glenn. Police report that Glenn was located on a roof top at 703 Trezevant Street, after a short foot pursuit. A police department news release says officers and negotiators responded to the scene to secure the area and talk the suspect into coming down off the roof. Authorities say Glenn was taken into custody after two hours of negotiations.

HENDERSON — Trial testimony Friday indicates a change in the Rusk County mother accused of beating her daughter to death — all during what’s been called an “exorcism.” According to KETK, Jessica Carson’s mother and brother say it was obvious when she moved in with her boyfriend, Blaine Milam, that she had changed. Her mother testified Jessica became withdrawn and cut off all contact between her and her grandchild. Milam was sentenced to death for his part in the torture and killing of baby Amora Carson.

JACKSONVILLE — After days of rumors about alleged money problems at Jacksonville’s Lon Morris College, a Lon Morris representative agreed to sit down and talk to our news partner KETK. Vice President of Business Affairs Tommy Ferguson says everyone should have received his or her paycheck by five Thursday afternoon. Employees’ paychecks were delayed five days, and Ferguson says there’s no guarantee there won’t be future delays.

Ferguson contends rapid growth and getting new sports like football added to financial woes. He says college officials knew financial problems were coming, but they didn’t know the extent. College officials say they’re doing all they can to keep the school running, but say bankruptcy is always a possibility at a private college. According to Ferguson, “There’s businesses all over the state and all over the country going bankrupt and closing their doors, but before Lon Morris would close the doors, they will look at all their options. Ferguson says those options include furloughs and cutting jobs and programs.

KILGORE — Friday classes for all students of Kilgore ISD were canceled due to vandalism against the district’s school bus fleet. According to KETK, 39 buses had their stem valves removed, causing flat tires — and officials said they could not be fixed in time for the buses to run their normal routes. Maintenance workers discovered the vandalism shortly after arriving at the bus barn, located behind the high school, at 3 a.m. Kilgore police are investigating the incident. The cost of vandalism is not known at this time, and KISD is not sure if students will have to make up the day or not. All teachers and employees were asked to report to work at the normally scheduled time.

NEW BOSTON – A New Boston High School student has died after collapsing while doing exercises in a gym class. Stevie Surratt, 15, a freshman at New Boston High School, collapsed just before 11:00 Thursday morning. The class instructor used use an automated external defibrillator on the youth. The student was said to have been in full cardiac arrest when the ambulance arrived. He was rushed to a Texarkana hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

NACOGDOCHES – A contingent of federal law officers have searched some offices in the Nacogdoches area. Taking part in the operation were city police officers along with agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the FBI. They were seen removing at least one box from Diamante Hair Salon on South Street. The U.S. Attorney’s Office would only confirmed an operation within Nacogdoches and said additional information will be released at a later date.

NACOGDOCHES — A Nacogdoches woman is in a Galveston hospital after being burned over nearly half of her body. Curlie Sparks, 77, who suffered first, second and third degree burns, is in critical condition at the burn center of the University of Texas Medical Branch. Investigators say she was using a newspaper to carry coals from a wood burning stove. As she headed outside in her motorized wheelchair, the coals ignited the paper which caught the woman on fire.

TYLER — Officials say a disassembled weapon was reported on the campus of Robert E. Lee High School. At approximately 12:15 Thursday afternoon, an anonymous tip was reported to the Tyler ISD Police Department that a student was in possession of a weapon on the campus. According to officials, the administration quickly responded to confirm the tip. Authorities say the student was immediately located, and that when it was confirmed that he was in possession of a rusty, disassembled handgun with no ammunition, he was taken into custody. According to a TISD news release, all students and staff remained safe and school continued on a normal schedule.

The statement concludes, “Although we hope we never have these types of instances, this is a great example of how reporting a concern can help keep each other safe. We applaud the efforts of our anonymous caller in communicating this information to school officials.”