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LONGVIEW – A Longview mother has been arrested and charged with injury to a child. In the Gregg County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond is Cynthia Cecilia Gonzalez, 26. Her daughter, Aura Delgado, 2, is at Children’s Medical Hospital in Dallas. Investigators say the little girl suffered bruising to her right eyelid and on the right side of her chest, two absent front teeth, one loose tooth and a gum line laceration, along with a bone fracture underneath her skull and bleeding on the surface of her brain. Police spokeswoman Kristie Brian described the youngster’s injuries as life threatening. The woman’s four other children have been placed in foster care.

LAFAYETTE, LA. (AP) — A 53-year-old Northeast Texas man is in custody, accused of killing his older brother during a domestic disturbance in Lafayette. Police responded about 6:30 Thursday evening to calls of a shooting at a residence and found Michael Granstaff, 61, of Lafayette, dead from a gunshot wound. Investigators also found Granstaff’s brother, Danny Granstaff, of Sulpher Springs, Texas, injured. Police say he apparently shot himself in the leg and was listed in serious condition at an area hospital. Police said Friday that officers are guarding his hospital room and upon discharge, he will face a charge of second-degree murder in Michael Granstaff’s death. Authorities have not said what sparked the shooting.

GREGG COUNTY — A Longview restaurant has donated a percentage of last night’s sales to the family of a man who died in a recent motorcycle wreck. Johnny Carino’s Italian Restaurant is giving the funds to the family of Patrick Alexander Ramey, who died in the Tuesday crash. Ramey was a staff member at the restaurant. Carino’s General Manager Matt Langham also said donations to assist Ramey’s family with funeral expenses can be dropped off at the restaurant. Funeral services were held yesterday at Rader Funeral Home.

HAWKINS – The president of Jarvis Christian College has resigned. The action was taken by Dr. Cornell Thomas just weeks after it was announced the college’s accrediting agency had placed the school on warning. According to a statement on the school’s website, “The Board of Trustees of Jarvis Christian College is announcing that Dr. Cornell Thomas, President, will be pursuing other interests and is leaving Jarvis after three years of service. This decision is effective as of December 27, 2011. The board would like to thank Dr. Thomas for his contributions and wish him and his family the best in their new endeavors. The board has plans for succession in place and will be making a decision regarding Dr. Thomas’ replacement soon.”

According to the website, “Carolyn Hernandez, senior adviser to the president, and Reginald Dickens, vice president for administration and finance, are coordinating the “day-to-day activities at the college,”

The Hawkins college was placed on a six-month warning by the Southern Association of Colleges and School Commission on Colleges, in December after not being in compliance with several core requirements, mostly related to finances and audits.

COMO – The Superintendent of the Como-Pickton Consolidated School District is announcing her retirement. Sandra Billodeau has announced she will be stepping down at the end of the school year. Billodeau has been superintendent of the district since 2007. At their regular meeting Monday night, school trustees are scheduled to consider hiring the Texas Association of School Boards search team to help in finding her replacement.

TYLER — University of Alabama freshman Haley McGrede Anderson is named Queen of the 2012 Texas Rose Festival, set for October 18-21. The announcement was made Friday night at the Winter Gala held at the Tyler Rose Garden. Haley is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rowe McGrede Anderson. She graduated from All Saints High School, where she was a cheerleader. Haley also participated in the Junior Symphony League and danced with the Spirit of Tyler dance studio while growing up in Tyler. Haley was introduced Friday night just prior to the Winter Gala, the annual fundraiser for the Tyler Rose Museum. The Duchess of the Texas Rose Festival for this year is Joy Lynn Ramey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry King Ramey. The 2012 Rose Festival theme is “Indochine — Celebrating All Things Oriental.”

MARSHALL — The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office identifies two suspects after issuing a plea for assistance Friday from the public regarding oilfield thefts that had been captured on video. The images of a white female were very clear, as was the vehicle they were driving, according to authorities. Officials say thanks to the information that was broadcast by the local media and the information that was presented, a Rusk County Sheriff’s deputy recognized the image as Jamie Gardner, 35, of Overton, and Brandon Galloway, 30, of Henderson, whom he had spoken to on January 4.

The vehicle they were allegedly driving in the images, ironically, matched a vehicle that Rusk County was interested in locating for oil field thefts in their county. Authorities say the vehicle had mechanical trouble and had broken down in Henderson when the Rusk County deputy spoke to them. By having this information, he provided the names of the suspects to Harrison County investigators, and a warrant has been obtained for their arrest. According to KETK, investigators are continuing their investigation and are currently seeking the suspects in the Rusk County area. Harrison County investigators believe the assistance of the media aided in the identification of these suspects and will assist in their arrest.

LONGVIEW – A Longview teenager has been arrested after being accused of assaulting a teacher and student at Longview High School. Arrested Thursday was Takeyah Terrell Carter, 18. Longview police say the teen went to a classroom and attacked a student. The teacher was injured when trying to keeping Carter from leaving. When police arrived Carter is said to have tried to flee, but officers were able to take her into custody. She is charged with assault of a public servant, evading arrest, assault causing bodily injury and is being held on a municipal warrant for failure to attend school dating back to February 8. Her bonds total $53,500.

LONGVIEW – A Longview animal control officer has sustained minor injuries by at least two pit bull dogs. The incident occurred shortly before 1:15 Friday afternoon in the
2300 block of South 12th Street.

Police say animal control officer Jacqueline Lynch was trying to take a loose pit bull dog into custody when another pit bull dog jumped a backyard fence and attacked her. She was able to escape the dogs by going into a neighbor’s home.

Officials will try and determine which dog bit Lynch, and then that dog or dogs will be quarantined for 10 days. The dogs have been taken to the Humane Society of Northeast Texas

TYLER — Tyler police are crediting some citizens with helping in an arrest. Shortly after 11:15 Friday morning, Tyler police were notified that several citizens were chasing an auto burglary suspect in the area of Paluxy and Loop 323. Police say the suspect, identified as Gabriel Harris, 23, of Tyler, was observed acting suspicious in a business parking lot located at 1828 ESE Loop 323. A witness reportedly saw Harris enter a parked vehicle and remove a woman’s purse.

Several men from the office building gave chase attempting to apprehend the suspect. Police say Harris threw the purse down in the nearby Texaco gas station parking lot and ran into a bathroom of an office building in the 3800 block of Paluxy. A City of Tyler waste disposal employee and Starbucks employee along with the original witnesses all chased the suspect and apprehended him until police arrived on the scene.

Harris is charged with auto burglary that is enhanced to a state jail felony due to prior convictions. According to a news release, “The Tyler Police Department would like to thank the citizens for their involvement in bringing this suspect to justice and recovering the stolen purse.” The Tyler Police Department reminds you not to leave purses or electronic items in your vehicle that may be stolen.

MARSHALL — The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office is currently seeking MARSHALL — The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office is currently seeking information on the location of a missing juvenile. Bailey Emerson, 13, left the residence of his mother on Page Road in Longview on December 26, 2011, and has not returned or had any contact with his family. According to KETK and the sheriff’s department, Bailey is currently taking prescription medication for anxiety and depression and does not have his prescribed medications with him. He is further described as 6’0” tall, dark short hair, and green eyes. The missing juvenile left his residence with a brown cloth jacket, boots, and unknown other items of clothing.

Deputies have worked with the Hallsville ISD School Police Chief, Jim Johnson, and he advised that the missing subject is enrolled in the alternative resource program and has not returned to school. Deputies are pursuing information as to locations where the subject may have gone, but have not been able to develop any further leads as to his whereabouts. Any information on the location of Bailey that will be helpful may be directed to the Investigation Section at the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office at 903-923-4000. All information is confidential.

MARSHALL — Harrison County officials have located a missing juvenile safe and sound. According to KETK and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, thanks to a broadcast from the media, a citizen noticed Bailey Emerson, 13, walking across a pasture close to Page One Rd. in western Harrison County and recognized him from a phone app that he had on his cell phone. The citizen contacted investigators and the juvenile was taken into custody. He will be returned home. He is well and does not need medical attention. Bailey left the residence of his mother on December 26 and had not returned or had any contact with his family until he was spotted by the citizen.

LONGVIEW — Longview Police have located some of the children’s Christmas presents stolen from a storage facility on Jahan trail sometime between November 30 and December 7, 2011. The toys and electronics were among many that belonged to the Gregg County Child Welfare Board. Police continue to investigate the crime, and believe some may have been purchased by unsuspecting citizens. Police have identified two alleged suspects, Racheal Bradley and Sarah Adams, both of Longview, in the thefts. They have also identified 3800 Gilmer Road and 30 Dawn Circle #A as two addresses where the items were allegedly sold from.

Police encourage anyone who may have either purchased some of the items or received the possible stolen items as a gift, to contact Longview Police Detective Melissa Dobbs at 903-237-1168. If anyone has more information concerning this or any other crime, and they wish to remain anonymous, they can contact Gregg County Crimestoppers at 903-236-7867.

LONGVIEW — Six Longview firefighters got new badges this week, including the department’s first woman firefighter to promote to officer. Longview Fire Chief J.P. Steelman said firefighters Amy Dodgen and Eric Karling were promoted to lieutenant; Olan Doxey and Josh Tanner were promoted to captain; and Tim Maricle was promoted to driver. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Steelman said Dodgen is the first woman firefighter in the department’s history to be promoted past a firefighter and paramedic.

MARSHALL — The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help from the public regarding the identification and arrest of two oil and gas field thieves. According to KETK, over the last few months, several gas well sites in East Texas and Louisiana have had some $1500 worth of items stolen from the production and distribution areas. These items have been batteries, copper wiring, and related equipment.

During a recent theft, a video camera captured the image of a white small 4 door vehicle with a missing right front wheel cover. Two white suspects, one man and one woman are observed driving into the area and pulling up to a satellite relay station during the daytime hours on January 2 at 3:22 p.m. The male suspect, who was driving, walks to the box containing the batteries and other equipment and pries open the box. After a few moments, the passenger, who is female, exits the vehicle and brings a large pair of what appear to be bolt cutters to the box. The female appears to be approximately 25-35 wearing a blue “hoodie”, blue t-shirt, and light blue jeans. She is a heavy-set female with either short or pulled-up blond hair.

The male suspect appears to be 25-35 and is slim. He has dark hair and was wearing a grey long sleeve t-shirt with a design, jeans, and a ball cap. The cables at the bottom of the box are then cut and the suspects remove items and place them in the car and drive away. The damage to this distribution site was over $1500.00. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office is asking for anyone with information, or anyone who may recognize the vehicle or suspect, to contact the investigation section at 903-9223-4000 or crimestoppers at 903-935-9969.

TYLER — According to Smith County Probation officials, a Brazoria County sex offender, Anthony Lawrence Taylor, was caught in the John Tyler High School area multiple times. Smith County authorities alerted Brazoria officials to the problem. Brazoria lifted the probation and issued a warrant for Taylor’s arrest. According to KETK, Taylor was arrested in early December.

Tyler ISD released the following statement:

“Earlier this week, John Tyler High School administrators initiated a thorough investigation into claims that Mr. Anthony Lawrence Taylor had been allowed on campus to wash cars. Through the course of the investigation, administrators learned that a Tyler ISD employee had allowed individuals on campus without following proper procedures. While Tyler ISD does not disclose internal personnel issues, we can confirm that the individual who failed to follow proper procedure is no longer employed by the district.

“Student safety is a top priority at Tyler ISD. Campus and district administrators will continue to review policies and practices and take appropriate actions to ensure our campuses remain safe places for students to learn.”

GULFPORT, MISS. (AP) – Texas fugitive Steven Ray Milam is now in the hands of federal authorities. Milam appeared in federal court Thursday in Gulfport to face 11 counts of bank robbery. The 44-year-old Milam, of Tyler, Texas, was denied bond by U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert H. Walker. Each bank robbery charge carries a penalty of up to 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Afterward, Milam was turned over to U.S. Marshals to await extradition back to Richardson, Texas. Authorities would not disclose where he was being held. Milam was arrested Tuesday after Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd shot out a tire on his vehicle during a westbound, high-speed chase on Interstate 10. Milam was wanted in Texas for shooting at officers during a New Year’s Eve robbery of a Richardson bank.

Richardson authorities say a bank employee’s quick thinking led to the eventual downfall of the “handsome guy” bandit suspect. According to KETK, police reports show that the gun-wielding robber was herding employees into the vault of a Richardson bank this past Saturday. A worker managed to hit a panic alarm before entering that vault.

RUSK COUNTY — United States Marshal services have captured a fugitive wanted in Rusk County for arson. Darrell Chadwick Mills, 32, Hallsville, has an active warrant for violating his probation on an arson charge. In May of last year, Mills pleaded guilty to the offense, a 2nd degree felony, and was placed on probation for a term of 7 years. He had since violated the conditions of his probation sentence.

TYLER — Tyler Junior College has launched a text-alert system that promises to send word to thousands of students, faculty and staff when emergencies, delays or cancellations arise. The TJC Alert Notification System will be used when weather or security issues warrant immediate notification of TJC students and employees.

The service is available to all faculty, staff and students of TJC. It offers the opportunity for TJC to send notification to subscribers via cellphone text, e-mail and voice-mail.

Though the service was first announced to faculty and staff during the fall semester as “opt in,” new State legislation requires that employees and students be included in such a system beginning with the Spring 2012 semester. TJC is working to make certain all faculty, staff and students are enrolled with at least one mode of emergency notification. “The service is the result of a contract with e2Campus,” said Larry Mendez, TJC chief information officer.

You can go to http://www.tjc.edu/it/training/e2campus/tjcanfaqsfinal.pdf for more information about creating or modifying an account.

TYLER — The first leg of construction for the $35 million, voter approved jail bond kicked off Thursday morning in Tyler.

This first phase of construction will include the relocation of Smith County kitchen and laundry facilities in order to streamline jail services. It will also include the addition of a video visitation station that will improve safety and security during the visitation process. Construction of the Low Risk Facility portion of the jail project is expected to last about 36 weeks. Construction on the downtown portion of the jail improvement plan is scheduled to begin late in the year.

“It’s been a long time comin’ and a long time overdue, but thanks to this Commissioner’s Court and the public’s confidence, we see a brighter future,” Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith said.

ANGELINA COUNTY — A registered sex offender was arrested Wednesday night after he was chased from a Lufkin home as a suspected chain saw thief. Clyde Jackson Sr, 52, of Diboll, was arrested on a charge of theft after the victims and witnesses identified him as the suspect, according to a Lufkin Police report.

A witness reported seeing Jackson hide the chain saws under the porch of a nearby residence, but the saws had not been recovered as of 3 p.m. Thursday. He was taken to the Angelina County Jail, where he remained on a $1,500 bond Thursday afternoon.

ackson’s sex offender status stems from a 1983 sex crime against a 5-year-old girl, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety sex offender registry. He has a lengthy criminal history with at least 10 arrests dating to 1996. Those charges include aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, forgery of a financial instrument, assault causing bodily injury, interfering with a 911 call, unlawful restraint, theft and robbery.

HALLSVILLE — Hallsville administrators have hired two police officers to fill positions that opened this past week after the mayor fired a former police chief and two officers and the city’s lone remaining officer resigned later the same day.

Hallsville Police Chief Lukas Reynolds on Thursday said he hired Shane Guthrie to fill the city’s sergeant position that was formerly filled by Sgt. Mack Fuller; and Paul Montoya was hired as a patrol officer. Guthrie, 47, is a patrol sergeant with the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office. Montoya, 32, was employed by the Longview Police Department as a patrol officer, where he worked on the SWAT team. He begins his employment with Hallsville today.

Since the officers were terminated, Harrison County Sheriff’s deputies have provided extra patrol of the area to ensure Hallsville had officer coverage.

BERRYVILLE – A Tyler man is in the Henderson County jail, charged with manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance. Joshua Seth Friedlander, 23, was a passenger in a car that had been stopped in Berryville by a sheriff’s deputy for a traffic violation. Inside the car the officer noticed narcotics paraphernalia on the floor along with a couple of baggies containing what appeared to be methamphetamine and marijuana. After Friedlander told the deputy the items belonged to him, he was taken into custody. His bond was set at $100,000.

TYLER — It’s always tragic when a child dies. But according to KETK, one little girl who left this world this week claimed the hearts of many folks in East Texas because of her sweet disposition — and the family says community response has been overwhelming.

Three-year-old Haven Grace Davis had a difficult life, riddled with health problems — but it never seemed to slow her down. Haven was born with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and received a heart transplant when she was two, but her problems continued. She was flown from Dallas to Tyler for treatment at least six times. Haven took a turn for the worse just days ago and finally died Wednesday. But during the ordeal, Facebook posts drew hundreds, even thousands of posts from people praying for a miracle. Family members commented, “Our little angel has astounded and brought tears to the strongest of the strong. There have been so many people God has reached through this child.”

Funeral services will be held Monday at Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler. If you’d like to help the family out, you can go to any Austin Bank and make a donation under “Brandon Davis for Haven Grace.”

BULLARD — Bullard needs a new school building. But KETK reports that before going through the usual bond election and other ways to pay for it, townspeople are doing it the old-fashioned way — by just pitching in.

For years, an old run-down house has been used as an alternative school. But it was recently discovered to have significant termite damage — so school officials turned to the community for help. Now Campbell Custom Homes has agreed to build an 1800-square-foot metal building encased in brick for a very low cost. The city jumped on board too and said it would waive the building fees for the project.

BISD Superintendent Keith Bryant says the help will save the district at least $100,000. He remarks that the effort “says a lot for our citizens.” According to Bryant, the district plans to vacate the old building January 13 and will start demolition immediately thereafter.

LONE STAR (AP) – A 19-year-old man has been seriously injured in an explosion at a machine shop in Morris County. Lone Star Police Chief Larry Fleet says the man was burning the top off a barrel that contained flammable fuel in an unventilated area when the accident occurred Thursday afternoon. Fleet says the worker’s clothing caught fire and he suffered second and third degree burns from his torso on up. Tyler television station KLTV reports that the man was airlifted to a Dallas hospital for treatment. Although other employees were doing fabricating work at the shop, Fleet said no one else was injured.

LONGVIEW — A water leak forced part of Bill Owens Parkway to shut down. It has since reopened. Bill Owens between Fairmont and Stonewall was shut down for several hours yesterday as crews repaired the leak.

MARSHALL — A Marshall family was displaced from their home Thursday morning after a fire started in their living room. Marshall Assistant Fire Marshal Jack Hanson said firefighters were dispatched shortly after 2:15 to the 800 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in connection with a residential house fire.

“The family was actually awakened by their dog, and the children and parents were able to get out of the house without injuries,” Hanson said. Hanson said the home had “heavy damage” and the family was displaced. “The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it’s not considered suspicious,” Hanson said.

FRANKSTON — An Anderson County man accused of biting his child’s face during a domestic disturbance late last year, has turned himself in. County Sheriff Greg Taylor said his agency had a warrant for the arrest of Billy Ray Hicks, 31, of Frankston. He has been charged with a felony charge of injury to a child.

Authorities say on December 26th, Hicks reportedly bit his 7-year-old daughter on the left cheek after the girl attempted to intervene during a confrontation involving Hicks and his 31-year-old common-in-law wife at a residence on Kickapoo Street in Frankston. The sheriff said the girl suffered “bruising” and “swelling” to her left cheek as a result of the bite.

The charge against Hicks carried a $25,000 pre-set bond.

ANGELINA COUNTY — An Ellen Trout Zoo gift shop employee has been arrested after admitting to embezzling more than $14,000. On August 8, gift shop employee Rita Cambiano, 53, went to Ellen Trout Zoo director Gorden Henley and admitted she had not been making the daily deposits, according to an arrest report. She told him she had instead been keeping the money and presented him with the deposit slip receipts totaling $14,150.

Henley took the matter to the zoo board, which decided to fire Cambiano and pursue legal action. Cambiano provided investigators a written statement admitting to the crime. Cambiano booked out of the Angelina County Jail Tuesday on a $2,500 bond. If convicted, she faces up to two years in state jail. According to county records, Cambiano spent one year on probation in 2004 for Class A misdemeanor theft of property stemming from an August 2002 incident.