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LONGVIEW – A Gregg County man has surrendered to authorities after it was learned he had failed to register as a sex offender. He is identified as Charles Franklin Williams, Jr., 49, who lives in the 400 block of Alexander Street in Kilgore. He was booked into the Gregg County Jail is lieu of a $10,000 bond. Seven years ago Williams was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison for sexual assault of a child. He had been accused of raping a 15 year old girl in December, 2003.

LUFKIN — A woman got more than she bargain for when she approached a man sitting in his car in Lufkin in an attempt to solicit prostitution. It was after she discussed exchanging money for sexual acts that she found out the man was an off duty police officer. He requested a uniformed officer meet him in the 400 block of Locke where Tracey Marie Bryant was arrested. But that was only the beginning of her problems. She was found to have a crack pipe, less than a gram of crack cocaine, eight Seroquel pills, and one Metronidazole pill in an over-the-counter pain reliever bottle. Bryant was booked into the Angelina County Jail for possession of a controlled substance – cocaine and possession of a dangerous drug.

LUFKIN – A woman said to be responsible for a rear-end collision in Lufkin has been booked into the Angelina County Jail. Investigators say Amy Jane Cox, 34, failed roadside sobriety tests. To make matters worse, Cox hand a one year old child in the SUV with her. She has been charged with driving while intoxicated with child under 15 years of age”.

BILLINGS, MONT. (AP) — The White House plan to seek alternate routes for a Canada-to-Texas oil pipeline presents a tangle of new problems for the project, with the potential to sink it altogether. Shifting the route around a major aquifer could mean more perilous stream crossings and put the line closer to populated areas. Major changes also risk alienating pipeline supporters. Some observers said Friday the dilemma could force TransCanada to bypass U.S. markets and ship fuel to China instead.

The company’s proposed $7 billion Keystone XL line would ship up to 700,000 barrels of crude daily from Alberta’s tar sands to Texas refineries near the Gulf of Mexico. On the current proposed route, the pipeline would go through eastern Smith County.

Following complaints from Nebraska’s governor and state lawmakers, federal officials plan to study new routes to avoid parts of the sprawling Ogallala aquifer which irrigates the High Plains.

LONGVIEW — A man shot during a holdup Wednesday has been released from the hospital. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Longview police continue their search for the people responsible for that shooting. It happened in North Longview at the intersection of Kathy and Skyline Drive shortly after ten Wednesday morning. Longview police say the victim was on his way to the bank when he was ambushed by three men.

LONGVIEW — A nearly $1 million demolition and replacement of the Longview Rodeo Arena received a necessary blessing Thursday from the Longview City Council, which could approve the plan in one month. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, the city closed the arena after learning of structural damage.

Public Works Director Keith Bonds said demolishing the arena and constructing new 5,060-seat grandstands with a 300-square-foot elevated announcer’s booth and arena lighting would cost $928,000, likely paid from municipal reserves and savings from past capital improvement bond packages. “I think we need to fix it and make it safe for our citizens,” District 2 Councilman Daryl Williams said. The council could make a final decision on the matter at its Dec. 8 meeting.

MARSHALL — The final suspect involved in a May aggravated robbery of an EZ-Mart on Pinecrest Drive in Marshall has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. The robbery ended with one suspect being shot and killed by a Marshall Police officer. The defendant, Roy Lee Martin Jr., 19, Longview, pleaded guilty to the charges. The sentence will run concurrently with a 10 year sentence and 15 year sentence from Gregg County that Martin is currently serving for burglary-related charges and probation violation.
In September, co-defendant, Anthony Lamar Harvey, 25, also of Longview, was sentenced to 40 years in prison in connection with the aggravated robbery. The other suspect, Kendrick Tyrone Hall, 24, died during a pursuit following the robbery. According to information released at the time of the incident, Hall tried to escape from the scene by foot through a wooded area just east of the store. The pursuit ended when a Marshall officer shot and killed him. The officer was “no billed.”

TYLER – A Tyler man has been indicted for capital murder by a Smith County Grand Jury, in the death of a two year old girl. Dramon Rashon Green, 20, was indicted in the death of one of his twin daughters, A’yanna Webb, back in August. The other little girl was not injured.

Green was taken into custody after investigators determined that he assaulted the little girl outside his apartment at 4400 Paluxy. Police contend Green beat the girl after his nap was interrupted by the noise the toddler and her twin sister were making.

Emergency room personal at East Texas Medical Center contacted police. They told officers that the child had been brought to the hospital by her parents and was being treated for major, life threatening internal injuries. She underwent emergency surgery to stop bleeding in her abdomen. However, she died as a result of her injuries.

LONGVIEW –A Longview man remains behind bars after being accused of attacking a woman with a Samurai sword. Placed under a bond of $10,000 bond was Arturo Rico Navarro, 31. He was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The woman told officers Navarro pulled her hair, threatened to kill her and her children, hit her with the case to a Samurai sword and attempted to strike her with the sword. She was able to escape him by climbing out a bedroom window.

TYLER – The Chick-Fil-A on South Broadway reopened Friday after smoke forced customers from the building Thursday night. An air conditioning unit on the roof pumped smoke inside the building around 7:00 Thursday night. There were no injures.

JACKSONVILLE – Cherokee County authorities are investigating the burglary of Craft Baptist Church, off U.S. Highway 69. It is thought to have happened sometime Sunday night. The safe from the pastor’s study was taken. Inside were the church’s legal documents dating back to 1891. A laptop and some jars with coins were also taken.

TYLER — Smith County officials tell our news partner KETK that Nate Anderson’s court date has once again been moved. His new court date is set for November 28th. Recently, officials with Judge Floyd Getz’s office said Anderson’s jury trial would begin November 14th with jury selection. The case has been moved to Judge Jack Skeen’s courtroom in the 241st District Court. Earlier, an October 24th trial date was continued to October 31st. Anderson has been indicted in the case of his sister’s murder. Amanda Anderson, 19, was found shot to death in their Chapel Hill home in September of last year. A short time later, then 15-year-old Nate Anderson was taken into custody in connection with the murder. Anderson’s bond was raised to $1.5 million.

BIG SANDY — The City of Big Sandy is lifting its burn ban for the incorporated city limits only, beginning today. According to information from the city and KETK, citizens may have small piles to burn, but are urged to keep a water hose handy. Officials note that this is only for citizens who live inside the city limits of Big Sandy.

TYLER – Authorities identify a man whose body was found this week in Smith County. The Mississippi resident is Keith Alexander Grant, 46, who also goes by the nickname “Red.” His death has been ruled a violent homicide. The body, which was wrapped in a shower curtain, was found around 8:00 Tuesday morning southeast of Winona off County Road 353. Investigators said it appeared that the body had not been there very long. The investigation of the death is continuing.

TYLER – The Tyler ISD Foundation held its annual Grant Patrol Thursday at campuses throughout TISD. The Tyler ISD Foundation has selected eight teachers to receive grants totaling more than $22,000. In addition, the Foundation will be granting $25,000 in funds toward district-wide programs such as the Teacher of the Year Banquet, Teacher Retirement and Service Recognition and Convocation. This is more than twice the amount for grants to campuses and the district than last year.

2011-2012 Grants:

“Brain Booster Backpack”
Caldwell Elementary—Katy Lee
$1000
• The Brain Booster Backpack Program allows students to take home a theme-centered backpack full of quality literature and follow-up activities.

“Red Light-Green Light”
Jones Boshears—Olga Salas, Teri de Jong, Andre Lampton, Amy Mahurin, Hollee Williams
$2,450
• The objective of this project is to provide students with a working model of a city street. The purpose is to teach the meaning of and obedience to a traffic signal, a crosswalk, a few simple road signs and basic bicycle safety.

“Happy Healing”

Rice Elementary—Robin Ewing and Tammani Frazier
$1878.00
• The long-term goal of this grant is to create a year-round program with Trinity Mother Frances Hospital and Tyler ISD schools that will allow artwork from every school and every grade to be displayed in the children’s wing of Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler.

“Seussical”
Caldwell Elementary—Derek Johnson, Johnnie Patton, Katy Lee, Nikki Aubuchon
$2,500
• This elementary school fine arts team is seeking funds to produce the Broadway Junior Musical, “Suessical.”

“The Leader In Me: Building Leaders, One Child at a Time”
Jack Elementary—Kim Hill, Robin Walker, Thurndotte Ray
$5,000
• With “The Leader In Me” training component, this project seeks to teach children the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

“Greening Up the Future”
Hubbard Middle School—DeAnna Malloy and campus population of Hubbard Middle School
$5,000
• This project mixes fun in the sun with learning about solar energy.

“Falcon Leadership Ambassadors”
Dogan Middle School—Janna Dugle
$1000
• Dogan Middle School historically has had the reputation of being the school that does not excel in academics or community service. This year the students will participate in community service projects, school and community awareness programs, leadership techniques and school pride activities.

“Seeing is Believing” The College Application Process Made Clear
John Tyler High School and Robert E. Lee High School—Celia Tucker, Angela Jenkins, Pam Rodriguez, Jacob Walker and Greg McRae
$3375.00
• Applying for college can seem like a maze to those who are not familiar with the process. Project organizers say seeing and hearing the facts in vibrant colors on a screen together with support from the school can enhance understanding and empower individuals to be self reliant.

“Tyler ISD Communications/PR Events”
$25,000
Laura Jackson and Jessica Poe; District Wide Encouragement, Recognition and Incentive Events
• Teacher of the Year Banquet
• Teacher Retirement and Service Recognition
• Convocation

WASHINGTON (AP/Staff) — The State Department is ordering the developer of a pipeline that would carry oil from western Canada to Texas to reroute the project away from environmentally sensitive areas of Nebraska. That decision could delay a final U.S. decision on the project until after the 2012 election. The decision will require an environmental review – and that could take at least a year.

TransCanada Corp. is seeking to build the $7 billion pipeline, which would pass through much of East Texas, including eastern Smith County. Another part of the 1,700-mile pipeline would pass through Nebraska’s Sandhills region and an aquifer that supplies water to eight states. Two senior State Department officials who are familiar with the project described the decision to The Associated Press. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the decision before an official announcement.

LONGVIEW — Longview sales tax revenue for November represents the 15th consecutive month sales tax revenues for the city posted at least a 4 percent monthly increase over the prior year — although November’s increase was not as high as in October. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, the city collected $1.995 million this month, nearly 6%, or $112,500 more than November 2010, according to the Texas Comptroller’s Office. The figure represents receipts from September sales in Longview.

Through the first two months of Fiscal Year 2012, the city has seen a 6.85%, or nearly $230,000 increase in sales tax revenue. November’s numbers were not as strong as one month ago, when the city’s revenue increased nearly 8%.

WOOD COUNTY — A Dallas woman has been arrested Wednesday on several charges including possession of marijuana. According to the Wood County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called to the Silver Leaf Resort in Holly Lake Ranch for a possible burglary of motor vehicle. A security officer said he noticed a woman, later identified as Jackie Cornwell, 48, pulling a power washer across the property. When approached, she took off running to a condo on the other side of the complex.

Wood County authorities arrived and noticed marijuana in plain sight. Cornwell was place in custody. Her neighbor identified assorted power tools, masonry tools, extension cords, a work light and a tool box with assorted tools. The items were released to the owner. Cornwell was booked in to Wood County Jail for Burglary of a motor vehicle and possession of marijuana.

GRAPEVINE (AP) – The remains of a Korean War veteran from East Texas have been returned to his family more than 60 years after he was declared missing in action. Relatives of Sgt. 1st Class Benny Rogers were at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Thursday to welcome a Honolulu flight. The casket, draped with a U.S. flag, was solemnly lowered from a commercial jet’s cargo hold and placed in a hearse. His niece, Ruth Davis, said the family is happy to have “Benny back.” Relatives last heard from the corporal days before the 1950 Battle of Unsan. Military officials in March identified Rogers, using DNA, from several sets of human remains discovered more than a decade ago. Burial is planned Saturday near Athens. Rogers was promoted from corporal posthumously.

WOOD COUNTY — Wood County narcotics units assisted Wood County Child Protective Services investigators Tuesday at a residence on FM 2966 due to a search warrant. The welfare call came in after concerns for the children and possible drugs being at the residence. While executing the search warrant, Wood County officials came across 5lb 8oz of marijuana. Larry Odis Schoonover, 36, Quitman, was arrested for possession of marijuana and was booked into the Wood County Correctional Facility.

TYLER — This morning, CH2M Hill, the NET RMA’s Design/Build contractors, will be closing the eastbound lane of State Highway 64 at the Toll 49 intersection to place concrete bridge girders. SH 64 will be reduced to alternating one-way traffic during placement of the girders. Motorists are encouraged to find alternate routes to avoid potential delays in the construction area between 8:00am and 12:00 noon.

WINONA — Smith County fire officials have named the victim in a fatal north Smith County fire. A trailer caught fire just before 1:00 Wednesday morning in the 20,000 block of Highway 271 near Farm Road 16, in the Winona area. Smith County Fire Marshal Jim Seaton says the person found dead in the fire was Paula Renee Wilkins, 55. Officials say she was staying in a travel trailer next to a house which was being renovated. The owner of the house was not living in it at the time of the fire. A passer-by reportedly saw flames deep in the tree line, and attempted to help. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

KILGORE — Authorities have provided additional details in an accident in which one person was killed and one injured in Gregg County. According to KETK, officials say the man involved, Anthony Kevin Brown Jr. of Kilgore, was drunk and now faces intoxication manslaughter charges. The accident was reported shortly after 5:30 Tuesday afternoon near Kilgore, on Farm Road 2276, half a mile north of Farm Road 2204. The DPS says a GMC pickup driven by Brown was southbound when it crossed over and hit a northbound Ford Expedition driven by Nancy Gwen Huyser of Kilgore. Huyser, 55, was pronounced dead at 6:30 p.m. on scene. Brown was listed in stable condition with head injuries at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview. Both drivers were wearing seat belts.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A pipeline that transports crude oil from Canada through seven states is operational again after it was temporarily shut down. TransCanada Corp. isn’t saying much about what caused the shutdown, other than “mechanical issues.” Crude began flowing through the $5.2 billion pipeline last year. It’s designed to carry 590,000 barrels of oil daily. The Calgary-based company is seeking to build the $7 billion Keystone XL pipeline (seen on the map at left) that would carry tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada, to refineries in Texas. That project, which would run through much of East Texas, including eastern Smith County, is awaiting U.S. State Department approval.

TYLER – Three persons are in custody in connection with the robbery of a man doing volunteer work in the vicinity of Beckham and Locust. He tells officers, Wednesday afternoon, the men came up from behind him, took his wallet from his pants and fled.

A short time later, the victim’s wife reported the stolen card was used at a Whataburger in the area. Officers remembered a traffic stop from earlier Wednesday morning that matched the description of the vehicle and suspects involved. That led them to Grand Manor apartments off of 29th street where the three suspects were located. Officers say evidence linking them to the theft was found.

Taken into custody was Tommy Brattles, 19, Rodrick Horton, 21 and Gerard Lindsey, 19. They have been charged with theft and the use of a stolen credit card.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has voted unanimously to contract with Garfield Traub Developments, LLC (with PKF Consulting USA as a subcontractor) to conduct a market and feasibility study for the construction, financing, and operation of a conference center and/or multipurpose center. Tourism was identified as one of Tyler’s chief opportunities for economic growth in the Industry Growth Initiative that was adopted in mid-2010. It is estimated that nearly 20,000 visits are lost each year because Tyler has not had the facilities to accommodate large conferences. “Tourism brings fresh dollars to our economy,” said Mayor Barbara Bass. “This is money from outside our region being spent in Tyler. The result is jobs for Tylerites and economic vitality.”

During the last Texas Legislative session, the City requested that Senator Kevin Eltife and Representative Chuck Hopson sponsor and carry bills to amend the Tax Code to allow for an additional two percent hotel occupancy tax to be collected within Tyler City Limits. This legislation was subsequently adopted by the Legislature and signed by the governor. An enabling ordinance was also passed by the City Council. By law, this additional two percent must be used for the construction, expansion, maintenance, or operation of convention center facilities, which may include a conference/convention center, multipurpose facility, arena or related facility. “A new facility will give us a competitive advantage when trying to bring large conferences to Tyler,” said Shari Rickman, general manager – vice president, conventions for the Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The City’s budget includes a separate accounting for this additional two percent hotel occupancy tax, and funds have been programmed to commence with a market/feasibility study for a new or expanded facility. Garfield Traub Developments will provide development economics, financing, planning and project support to the City to complete preliminary, yet realistic, financing models for development. The contractor would also examine any related studies performed by others, as well as gather input from the local hotel industry/association and other interested parties or potential partners.

“The need for larger conference/event facilities has been discussed for years. With the adoption of the IGI, we felt that the time was right to begin putting funding sources in place to address the call for expanded facilities. Now that some ‘seed’ funding is in place, we are exploring the facility and location that will be most beneficial for Tyler,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel. Officials say the entire study will be completed in approximately 90 days, at which time the consultants will report their findings to the Council.

LONGVIEW — Longview Rodeo Arena is closed to the public at perhaps the height of its popularity. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, the city must now decide whether to spend $1 million to demolish and replace the structure that has served Longview at least six decades.

The city closed the arena after a Houston-based civil engineering firm on Oct. 18 found structural damage and corrosion to the bleachers. In his report, Senior Structural Engineer Keith Burkholder with Lockwood, Andrews & Newman, Inc., said the arena’s grandstands are in disrepair and structurally unsound. He also found significant corrosion, design and construction deficiencies on all five grandstands and recommended that the facility be demolished and replaced because of the “substantial cost for complete restoration” of the arena to meet building code requirements. Burkholder said it was the first inspection in his 26-year career in which he recommended a facility’s closure.

“We’ve known for some time that this facility was in dire straits, because every year we spend money to patch it up,” Mayor Jay Dean said. “It has gotten to the point where we are not curing the problem, but instead postponing the inevitable.” Municipal leaders Thursday will present to council members a $1 million plan to demolish and replace the rodeo arena’s grandstands, lighting and announcer’s booth. If approved by the council in December, Public Works Director Keith Bonds said construction would be complete prior to the arena’s next scheduled event, Dalton Days on April 14-15.

FLINT — Smith County Firefighters battled two house fires in Flint. Fire Investigators say lightning may have been to blame. It happened around 12:00 Tuesday afternoon on Cass Circle. Authorities say they believe a lightning bolt may have jumped from one house to another. No injuries were reported.

LONGVIEW — Police are investigating a shooting in North Longview less than a half mile from Longview High School. Authorities say the victim, Wednesday morning, was on his way to make a deposit with company money from the night before. The man was traveling on Skyline Drive when three young men stopped his vehicle and ambushed him, shooting the driver in his upper body. The victim sped away to a nearby Austin Bank. His condition is unknown. Officials describe the suspects as three black males, wearing black clothing and in their late teens or early twenties. A Gregg County DPS helicopter and a K-9 unit were brought in to help in the search. Some road closures were instituted.

GREGG COUNTY — A popular eatery has reopened after closing due to health inspection violations. Cheddar’s Casual Cafe, in Longview, remained closed Tuesday early afternoon after city health inspectors found eight critical violations and gave the restaurant a score of D. Longview environmental health personnel inspected the restaurant, U.S. 259 North and Hawkins Parkway, Monday afternoon and found several violations.

According to municipal records, Cheddar’s had eight critical violations, including improper cooling of cooked and prepared foods, improper handling of ready-to-eat foods and poor hygienic practices. The restaurant was cited for its fourth-ever violation of temperature requirements, the kitchen salad cooler at 57 degrees – another fourth violation – and the inspector’s finding of an “infestation of flies on everything, clean equipment, utensils, food contact surfaces and walls.”