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TYLER — Smith County Judge Joel Baker has been honored by the Texas Judicial Academy for going the extra mile to prepare for his duties as County Judge. Judge Baker was inducted as a Fellow in the Texas Judicial Academy at a reception in Austin, during the 2010 Fall Judicial Education Session.

The Academy, a partnership between the Texas Tech University School of Law and the Texas Association of Counties, names as Fellows each year those judges who attain significant judicial education above that required by state law. The educational program of the Texas Judicial Academy is overseen by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and includes instruction by higher court judges, law school faculty as well as representatives of the Texas Probate College and the National Judicial College.

In the picture, Wichita County Judge Woodrow Gossom, on the right, presents Smith County Judge Joel Baker with his 2010 Fellowship certificate.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Fire Department is looking for individuals interested in becoming firefighter/paramedics as part of the Fire Apprentice Program. Apprentices receive salary and benefits, and the City of Longview pays education related expenses as well. The program includes 22 weeks of firefighter training followed by 12 months of paramedic school. After completion of firefighter training, apprentices are able to work as a Firefighter/EMT within the department while finishing paramedic school. This year, there are 6 openings in the Fire Apprenticeship Program. To be considered for the program, applications should be received through January 5, 2011.

According to Chief J.P. Steelman, �If someone has ever been interested in becoming a firefighter, now is a great time to pursue that dream. In Longview, we want all of our firefighters to also be fully certified as paramedics, but it is sometimes difficult to find applicants that have both certifications. The Fire Apprenticeship Program allows us to hire the best available individuals and then train them for the proper certifications, which will hopefully broaden our pool of eligible applicants.�

In addition to the Fire Apprenticeship Program, the Fire Department is also currently accepting applications for certified Firefighters and Paramedics. To apply or to learn more about the program, visit http://www.Fire.Longview.Texas.gov or contact Fire Training Chief Curtis Shaw at 903-237-1209.

MARSHALL — East Texas Baptist University will begin offering two master degrees next spring. The Marshall university will begin offering the Master of Arts in Religion and the Master of Education degrees in May 2011. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission On Colleges (SACSCOC) has approved for ETBU to offer the graduate programs.

Since 1995, over 1,300 students have graduated from programs in either religion or teacher education at ETBU. The University made the decision last spring to seek approval for these two graduate programs because of a need for such programs in East Texas. The graduate programs are an opportunity for current students to continue their educational training as well as to reach others in the area who are seeking an advanced degree. The ETBU Board of Trustees approved the curriculum for both graduate programs in September 2010.

According to Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, “Today�s students are looking for universities that offer a seamless transition from undergraduate to graduate study opportunities. The ability to offer graduate opportunities in a compacted format for our undergraduate students, as well as new graduate opportunities for people of our community who already have undergraduate degrees is a real addition to the ability of ETBU to provide quality lifelong learning to the region we serve.�

The Master of Arts in Religion will be offered by the School of Christian Studies. The 30 hours of coursework for this degree may be completed in three semesters, and is set to begin during the fall semester of 2011. According to the Dean of the School of Christian Studies, Dr. John Harris, the program is designed to provide opportunities for intensive study in Christian scriptures, theology, and ministry.

The Master of Education degree will be offered by the School of Education. According to the Dean, Dr. Donna Harrell Lubcker, the department is excited about the opportunity to offer two programs that will serve the needs of area schools. The 30 hours of coursework for the Master of Education degree may be completed in 13 months, and is designed to attract new teachers to the profession as well as provide new opportunities for graduate training leading to a master�s degree for licensed educators in our local P-12 schools. The first cohort will be admitted in May of 2011.

GILMER — An Upshur County jury finds 39-year-old Leslie Leon Spangler Jr. guilty of arson in a March 2008 fire in Big Sandy at the building where he lived. Spangler will be sentenced next week. According to KETK, he faces up to 20 years behind bars.

MINEOLA � A Mineola teacher who is also married to the high school principal is arrested after allegedly having a relationship with a student, and has now quit her job. A statement released by Mineola I.S.D Superintendent Mary Lookadoo says JoAnn Stephens has resigned and is no longer employed by the district. According to the district�s website, Stephens was a Physical Education teacher at the elementary and middle schools.

Stephens, 43, was arrested Thursday afternoon after a four month investigation into the alleged relationship. Mineola police say they started the investigation after receiving a complaint from Child Protective Services on August 4. The alleged relationship was between Stephens and a male student who has since graduated.

AUSTIN — A proposal filed in the legislature would deny the children of illegal immigrants birth certificates if they are born in Texas hospitals. Instead they would be issued a temporary report of “alien birth” document, which would then be turned over to the consulate of the parent’s home country. The proposal by State Representative Leo Berman, of Tyler, would also make English the state’s official language. Berman says officials documents would only be printed in English. He says his proposal would not affect English as a second language, classes and schools would not bar people from speaking other languages and would not force San Antonio from changing its name to Saint Anthony.

LONGVIEW — City officials, friends and family members shuffled into Mobberly Baptist Church on Thursday afternoon to honor Longview police officer Jamie �Ellyn� Goodan. Goodan, 38, of Longview was found in her Towne Oaks apartment about 8:30 a.m. Saturday, dead of a gunshot wound to the head. Officers were dispatched to the residence by the victim�s husband. Ellyn Goodan�s day shift supervisor, Sgt. Richard Spruiell, responded to the call. When he arrived at the apartment, Goodan�s husband, 39-year-old Harry Goodan, invited crews into the residence and told them he killed his wife. Goodan, a 911 communications coordinator with the police department, has been charged with murder.

BEN WHEELER � A two vehicle accident in Van Zandt County has killed a motorcyclist. Dead at the scene Thursday afternoon was Eric Hall, 32, of Ben Wheeler. The Department of Public Safety reports his motorcycle drifted into the oncoming lane of traffic on a curve and hit a pickup head on. The accident happened South of Ben Wheeler on Farm Road 773.

TYLER — Tyler school superintendent Dr. Randy Reid has presented school trustees of budget concerns the district is facing for the upcoming school year. He told trustees last night the budget shortfall at the state level is $12 to $25 billion depending on the source of the data. On average, the state of Texas has 85,000 new students per year. Dr. Reid compared it to adding another Austin ISD to the state each year. He explained that public education receives the largest portion of funding from the state and until they know the depth of the shortfall, the District cannot completely plan for the situation.

Dr. Reid said looking at the District’s budget situation for the next school year, some of the funds will not be available. He said the stimulus dollars Tyler ISD currently receives will go away and the district is planning for this situation. He also said the District will see major reductions or total elimination of grant funding and the District will look at other ways to address these needs.

Reid said a large concern the school district will need to address is the Permanent School Fund (PSF). He explained that these are the funds received from the state and there is no way to fairly adjust the PSF amount throughout all of the districts in Texas. Dr. Reid told the board that as a district they are evaluating positions and programs and cost analysis to make some intelligent decisions regarding the future budgetary needs of the District.

He said Tyler ISD will be conducting a staffing and a curriculum audit that were both approved by the Board of Trustees. Dr. Reid said that in the future months Tyler ISD will look at our options and bring recommendations back to the Board regarding the upcoming school year budget.

The Board of Trustees approved the Resolution of Acknowledgment to “Make Education a Priority” and support our legislators by asking them to come together with a renewed sense of priority.

According to Dr. Reid, an alarming number of Texas school districts are facing a growing financial crisis. In 2006, legislators implemented a school finance system that has proven to fall short of properly working. An increasing number of districts are now forced to use dollars from their fund balance for daily operating expenditures.

The 2007 and 2009 legislative sessions failed to address the funding system’s shortcomings. A fear exists that the topic of school finance will meet the same fate during the 2011 session. To make sure the topic is addresses, a collective sense of educational priority must be found among us, our local communities and respected legislative leaders.

TYLER � At Thursday night�s school board meeting Jeff Collum, Executive Director of Student Services, presented for discussion a plan to hold both high school graduation ceremonies in June at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium. He shared the potential layout of the graduation procession and seating as well as a possible schedule.

One campus would hold graduation Friday, June 3, 2011 at 8:00pm. The second school graduation will be held Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 8:00pm. In both cases there are three contingency times if inclement weather. If all contingencies fail due to weather, the graduation ceremonies would be held at Wagstaff Gymnasium on the Campus of Tyler Junior College. This proposed graduation at the District’s football stadium instead of holding at the Oil Palace, as has been done in previous years, would save the District about $15,000.

LONGVIEW � A truck driver is injured in Longview when his trailer was hit by a Union Pacific freight train. Charles Guidry was taken to good Shepherd Medical Center with minor injuries. The accident occurred Thursday afternoon near the Longview Loop off Private Road 2317 and Farm Road 2087.

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff Department is investigating the burglaries of two Dollar General stores. The break-ins were discovered Thursday morning when employees reported to work. In both cases entry was gained by prying open a door. One store is located on Highway 64 east and the other is on U.S. Highway 271.

CANTON — The Van Zandt County Jail has passed it annual jail inspection by the state agency that oversees the states county jails. The Texas Commission of Jail Standards inspector was impressed with the changes and improvements made in the facility this past year. The inspection was concluded Wednesday evening with an exit interview with Sheriff R.P.Burnett and County Judge R. Koches were the State Inspector discussed his finding and any recommendation he may have had the inspection took about 10 hours to complete.

The Van Zandt County Detention Center has undergone several improvements in the security aspect of the County Jail. An entire new locking system was approved and installed by Integrity Steel, a detention lock and door company. This was done after several months of work between the Sheriff�s Office staff, Commissioners� Court and Texas Jail Standards, the state agency that inspects and oversees jails in the State of Texas. �This improvement will greatly enhance the security and control of the jail and make for a much safer facility for the inmates housed here and the staff�, Sheriff Burnett said.

In addition to the new locks the jail is in the process of a new paint job that has lightened the interior of the facility considerably. The once dark green doors and cell bars trimmed in black have been repainted with shades of lighter browns. The lighter color has in the past made a definite change in the attitude and atmosphere of inmates and staff. This also contributes to the overall safety of the facility.

A technology grant was obtained by the Sheriff�s Office and a much needed surveillance camera system to also help with the security of the jail was obtained at no cost to the tax payers. It will allow Detention staff to monitor both other staff and inmates movement inside the jail. It is replacing a long out dated system that parts can no longer be obtained for. It will also allow for staff to maintain a much higher level of observation of the entire facility both inside and out. Sheriff Burnett has been seeking out ways to help better the Sheriff�s Office and the Detention Center with as little or no cost to the county as possible. The Sheriff stated, �This has been my goal since taking office to help control expense and improve on your Sheriff�s Office.�

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University President Dr. Dale Lunsford has named Dallas-based author and ministry leader Bill Peel as executive director of a new university initiative designed to equip, connect and mobilize Christians to live out their faith in the workplace. Peel will assume his new role effective Jan. 3, 2011.

“Bill will launch a new center that will begin implementation of our ‘Every Workplace; Every Nation’ strategic plan,” said LETU President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford. “Our vision is for workplaces led by men and women of professional competence and Christian character.”

Peel has more than 20 years experience helping people discover their calling, sharpen their work skills and become spiritually influential in their workplace settings. For the past seven years he has served as director of 24Seven Faith, a ministry he founded which focused on workplace discipleship, evangelism and leadership development. The ministry created resources and leading initiatives to equip and empower individuals to discover their role in God’s plan and build bridges of influence for God’s Kingdom to the workplace, community and the world.

Peel served as pastor of leadership development at Fellowship Bible Church-Dallas from 2000 to 2006, managing a staff of 80 people and leading the strategic planning process of organizational leadership change.

In East Texas, Peel was the founding pastor of Bethel Bible Church in Tyler, which grew from 40 individuals to more than 400 adults from 1983 to 1987. Peel earned his bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University and his Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary.

EAST TEXAS � Henderson and Van Zandt County district attorneys say they plan to bring their own charges against two men in a string of East Texas church arsons. KETK reports Jason Bourque and Daniel McAllister entered guilty pleas in a Smith County court Wednesday. Henderson County DA Scott McKee says those new charges will be brought sometime after the men are sentenced for the Smith County charges.