Nacogdoches Body Identified


NACOGDOCHES – Nacogdoches police have identified the body of a man found in a duplex parking area. He is Jeffrey Dale Honea, 47, of Nacogdoches. His body was found just before 6:45 Saturday evening when a person in the area saw the body and called 9-1-1. Nacogdoches authorities say there were no signs of foul play. An autopsy has been ordered.

Honea was to appear in state district court Wednesday on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and impersonating a public servant. The charges are said to have stemmed from a road rage incident last May in which he is accused of attacking someone with a baseball bat.

Flint Man Arrested in Henderson

HENDERSON — A Smith County man is free on bond after being charged with several complaints in Rusk County. Arrested was Mark Richard Green, 30, of Flint. He has been charged with retaliation on a public servant, public intoxication and criminal mischief. His bonds totaled $10,670. His arrest followed a disturbance at a Henderson convenience store.

Tatum High School Student Dies in Weekend Wreck


LONGVIEW — A Tatum High School student has died after a Sunday evening one-vehicle crash in Rusk County. Lillian Propes, 16, was pronounced dead at about 5:45pm at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview after being taken from the scene of the crash, according to Justice of the Peace B.H. Jameson. The crash happened on Highway 43 between Tatum and Henderson. Jameson said the teen’s vehicle left the roadway, rolled and hit a tree. Reports indicate she may have been texting at the time of the accident.

Suspect in Deputy Shooting Out of Hospital


TYLER — Tyler police confirm Christopher Summerville, 26, has been released from a local hospital. Summerville was arrested last week after allegedly shooting Smith County Deputy Josh Caulkins in the chest. According to KETK, Caulkins was trying to serve Summerville a warrant. Caulkins was wearing a vest and received only minor injuries. Police say Summerville was hospitalized at East Texas Medical Center for an overdose of methamphetamine that he reportedly had injected into his body just prior to the arrest warrant being served. Summerville is currently being held in the Smith County Jail on a $500,000 bond. Two others were also arrested at the time the warrant was served on Summerville.

Deputy Dies From Injuries after Cow Attack

TYLER (AP) – An East Texas deputy has died of head injuries suffered when he was attacked by an injured cow while he directed traffic around the half-ton animal. Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith says Deputy Robert Britton of Tyler died Monday at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler, where he’d been since the incident early Thursday near Bullard, 95 miles southeast of Dallas and 15 miles south of Tyler. Smith had said the 54-year-old deputy had responded to a report of a stray cow struck by a vehicle and was directing traffic on Farm Road 344 when the cow charged him. He says Britton was knocked into the air and landed head-first on the pavement before the animal continued the attack until other deputies rescued Britton. Smith says the cow was euthanized. Britton had served as a deputy for the Smith County Sheriff’s Department since 1992.

Owner of Massage Business Charged with Prostitution


TYLER — A North Texas woman is in the Smith County Jail charged with operating a massage business without a license and offering to engage in sexual conduct for a fee. The woman is identified as Qin Zhang, 48, of Plano. The business is Healthy Massage, located at 1420 West Southwest Loop 323. Authorities say the Tyler Police Department received several complaints that the massage business was allegedly operating without a license and that illegal sexual conduct may have been occurring. Zhang was arrested by Tyler undercover officers Friday evening at the business after undercover officers entered the business and allegedly confirmed the illegal activity.

Help Sought in Diesel Theft Probe


HENDERSON — Rusk County officials are seeking public help as they investigate the theft of more than $5,000 worth of diesel fuel. Sheriff’s department officials said thieves broke into W.T. Byler Co. near CR 270 and stole 1,500 gallons of fuel from a 2,000-gallon tank earlier this month. The diesel is valued at about $5,250. Officials are asking anyone with information about the theft to contact Rusk County Crime Stoppers at 903- 655-TIPS or the sheriff’s department at 903-657-3581. A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for any information leading to the arrest of the people responsible for the theft.

TISD Solicits Input about Communication Efforts


TYLER — Tyler ISD is participating in a new study to help school districts improve communication with employees, parents and others in the school community. Approximately 100 school districts across the United States and Canada are participating in the survey at no cost to the school districts. Some 100 school districts throughout the United States have agreed to participate in the survey as part of a national study to make communication more effective at the classroom, school building and district levels.

“We see this survey being a “win-win” for Tyler ISD and the profession of school communication,” said Angela Jenkins, Tyler ISD Director of Communications. “We will receive new, valuable information on the type of content and delivery methods our parents and others prefer, at no cost to the District,” Jenkins added.

All responses are confidential. School officials will receive the results from the community survey in late spring. Tyler ISD plans to use the results to refine the district’s current communication effort and improve its effectiveness. The compiled results from the 100 school districts will be announced in July by NSPRA and no identification will be given to individual school districts.

The survey will be offered by NSPRA’s partner, K12 Insight, Inc. through an email system beginning on March 22 and concluding on April 8. The research is part of a communication accountability program of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). NSPRA is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving all facets of communication in school communities. The survey firm, K12 Insight, Inc., is donating its services for this project to NSPRA.

One Killed in Cherokee County Crash


JACKSONVILLE – A weekend accident in Cherokee County has killed one person. Killed in the two vehicle crash was David Lynn Davenport, 20, of Jacksonville. The crash occurred shortly before 10:45 Saturday night on Farm Road 347, about five miles south of Jacksonville. The Department of Public Safety reports it appears as if Davenport was traveling at a high rate of speed when his car hit a parked trailer. The report also said he was not wearing his seat belt.

Seven Arrested in Canton Drug Bust

CANTON – A weekend drug bust has resulted in seven persons being arrested at the Motel 6 in Canton. Authorities received a tip that that methamphetamine was being used and sold there. When officers raided a room at the motel they saw a large quantity of methamphetamine and as well as prescription medications. The suspects have been charged with two counts of manufacture and/or delivery of a controlled substance, They are identified as year old Russell Lynn Turner, 36, of Gilmer; Ian Joseph Daley ,25, Barbra Ann Pritchett, 29, and Holly Renee Hortman, 42, all of Mineola; Edward Robert Preston, 40,of Fruitvale and Kimberly Ann Herring, 21, and Matthew John Prough, 25, both of Canton.

Large Grass Fire Under Control

TYLER – A large grass fire, that consumed over 40 acres east of Tyler, is under control. It started early Friday afternoon off the old Kilgore Highway and Farm Road 757. The fire is said to have started from the land owner’s truck, which had developed a mechanical problem. He was able to escape the burning truck and was not injured.

TxDOT Project Updates


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

LONGVIEW — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement-repair operations on Loop 281 between State Highway 31 and U.S. Highway 259 (Estes Parkway). Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

Also this week in Gregg County, TxDOT contractor Knife River announced today its plans to shift traffic to the newly constructed lanes on the State Highway 135 project north of Interstate 20 beginning mid-week. Motorists are encouraged to use caution in and around the construction zone.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement-repair operations on State Highway 19 in Canton between Interstate Highway 20 and State Highway 64. A second crew will be performing fog-seal operations on Farm Road 751 between Wills Point and the Hunt 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.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform edge and pavement repairs on Farm Road 13, west of State Highway 42 in Price. 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 be at work on the following roadways in and around Wood County:
*U.S. Highway 80 east of Farm Road 1255;
Farm Road 778 north of Farm Road 49; and
Farm Road 857 south of U.S. Highway 80.
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.

One Arrested, Two Sought in Reported Burglary

LONGVIEW — Longview Police are searching for two burglary suspects after a car chase and one arrest. It happened Wednesday night around 10:30 in the 100 Block of Hubbard Drive. Officers were told by the victims that three black males armed with semi-automatic handguns had kicked in the door of the residence and stole an undetermined amount of cash. The victims stated the suspects brandished the weapons and demanded money. Once the suspects got the money, they fled on foot from the home.

While Officers were responding to the victim’s house another officer located what was determined to be the suspect’s vehicle traveling North on Estes Parkway and were attempting to pull the suspects over when a chase began. During the pursuit the suspects threw out several items from the moving vehicle. Two of the suspects jumped from the moving car and ran into the woods. The driver of the car stopped the vehicle and was taken into custody. Ledarvion Deante George, 24, of Longview was taken into custody. Authorities were unable to locate the other two suspects at that time. Officers went back to the location where the items were thrown from the vehicle and located 3 handguns and a bag containing approximately 11 pounds of marijuana. George was booked into the Gregg County Jail for evading arrest, possession of marijuana 5 – 50 pounds, and burglary of a habitation with intent to commit another felony. George remains in the Gregg County Jail on bonds totaling $120,000.00.

Two Injured after Truck Crashed into Creek

SMITH COUNTY — Two men were taken to a Tyler hospital Saturday for “significant” injuries after their 2002 Ford Ranger crashed into a creek bed on Farm Road 724 near Tyler Pounds Airport. The Department of Public Safety says the driver fell asleep and their pickup ran off of the road around 4:00 Saturday afternoon. The driver made the 911 call, but he was unaware of his location, so first responders had to “ping” his cell phone to locate the vehicle.