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Austin — Republican Senator Kevin Eltife of Tyler has filed a proposed constitutional amendment to impose term limits on statewide officeholders in Texas. The legislation would apply to the Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Comptroller, Land Commissioner, Agriculture Commissioner, Railroad Commissioners and Attorney General, and would limit those officials to two consecutive terms.

I have always been a believer in term limits and feel that it allows for fresh ideas and perspectives in elected office,” said Senator Eltife. “I hope the other members of the Legislature will join me in allowing the voters of Texas to have a say on term limits for our statewide officeholders.”
If passed by the House and Senate, SJR 13 would be presented to the voters on November 5, 2013.

TYLER — Contractors for the City of Tyler will be making emergency repairs to a drainage structure located in the Woods Subdivision starting today. The street will be closed on Woods Boulevard between Rock Creek Drive and Brookview Court. According to city officials, citizens living east of Rock Creek Drive on Woods Boulevard should enter and exit the subdivision off of Old Omen Road onto Eastwood Drive to Winding Way then to Longleaf Drive to Woods Boulevard. Officials say more details about the length of construction time will be released as soon as the damage can be evaluated.

JACKSONVILLE — Judge Bill Parker of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Tyler has ruled in favor of the Lon Morris College bankruptcy estate by giving interim approval for a $500,000 debtor-in-possession loan to help complete the sale of the school’s remaining assets. That’s according to KETK and a news release from the college. In addition, the bankruptcy court cleared the way for an asset auction in Dallas on Jan. 14, 2013, when the majority of the school’s campus will be sold. Parker denied attempts by the Texas Attorney General’s Office to prevent the bankruptcy estate from securing the debtor-in-possession loan, which will be used to cover insurance, utilities and similar expenses, in addition to paying the professionals who are working to increase the estate’s value.

“We are extremely pleased that the Court has approved this loan and cleared the way for what we believe will be a successful auction,” says Dawn Ragan, the chief restructuring officer for the school’s bankruptcy estate. “The loan approved [Wednesday] will help maximize the value of the estate as we work toward satisfying the school’s creditors, which include more than 100 former Lon Morris College employees who have not yet been paid for their work.”

“Today’s ruling means the bankruptcy court agrees with our position that this loan and the upcoming auction are the best options available to pay the college’s creditors by maximizing the value of the estate’s assets,” said Lon Morris attorney Hugh Ray III Wednesday. “Our goal is to make sure the creditors are paid what they’re owed, and everyone involved is working hard to make that happen.”

TYLER — Tyler police have arrested Alvin Dwain Jones, 56, of Tyler, on a charge of attempted sexual assault. Sunday morning around 6:30, a 56-year-old woman was taking her morning walk. Police say she was in the area of Old Bullard and Fair Lane when she was approached by a man on foot who started a conversation with her. According to authorities, the woman attempted to change her direction in order to separate herself from him, but he attacked her. Police say the suspect took the victim down to the ground and dragged her into a semi-wooded area of that neighborhood. The suspect was allegedly attempting to sexually assault her. She began fighting and screaming, and the suspect ran away, according to officials.

Officers were notified of the incident and searched the area. They located Jones in the area. He matched the description given by the woman. Officers say they confirmed he was the suspect in the case and arrested him. Officers say Jones, who is a registered sex offender, was transported to the Smith County Jail.

TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for a person who they say is wanted for evading arrest. Police stopped an unknown woman for undisclosed reasons on Spur 248. Police say that when they confronted the woman in the vehicle, John Woods, who was reportedly in the passenger seat, exited the vehicle and fled the scene. Police say they canvassed the area but did not find Woods. KETK reports the unknown woman was taken into custody. If you have any information, you’re asked to contact the Tyler police.

TYLER — Tyler police have arrested a man on a charge of attempted sexual assault. On Sunday, December 2, around 6:30 a.m., a 56-year-old woman was taking her morning walk. Police say she was in the area of Old Bullard and Fair Lane when she was approached by a man on foot who started a conversation with her. According to authorities, the woman attempted to change her direction in order to separate herself from him, but he attacked her. Police say the suspect took the victim down to the ground and dragged her into a semi-wooded area of that neighborhood. The suspect was allegedly attempting to sexually assault her. She began fighting and screaming, and the suspect ran away, according to officials.

Officers were notified of the incident and searched the area. They located a person in the area who matched the description given by the woman. Officers say they confirmed this person as the suspect in the case. They arrested Alvin Dwain Jones, 56, of Tyler. Officers were advised that Jones is a registered sex offender. He was transported to the Smith County Jail.

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA (AP/Staff) – Alaska State Troopers say a man who killed himself after confessing to multiple murders across the country died in his Anchorage jail cell after cutting a wrist and using bedding material to strangle himself. Troopers say the state medical examiner hasn’t determined what injury was the primary cause of Israel Keyes’ death. Keyes, who was arrested in Lufkin, was found dead in his cell Sunday morning. Blood-soaked papers that appeared to have writing on them also were found, and have been turned over to the FBI. Keyes was awaiting a March trial in the death of 18-year-old Samantha Koenig. Authorities say he abducted Koenig in February from the Anchorage coffee stand where she worked. Investigators say Keyes sexually assaulted Koenig and strangled her, then left her body in a shed while he went on a cruise. They say he dismembered the body when he returned two weeks later.

LONGVIEW — A group representing an injured East Texas officer is speaking out after the City of Longview decided to fire to her. The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas sent KETK a release to inform the public of Officer Leigh Ann Snyder’s termination. Snyder, who CLEAT says is a long time Longview police officer, was critically hurt in a wreck involving an alleged drunk driver on December 11, 2011. Her patrol car, which had a passenger, was hit head on that morning in the 5000 block of West Loop 281 between Birdsong St. and Sabine St. Emergency crews had to use the “jaws of life” to remove her from the near fatal crash. Ramon Antonio Dominguez, 23, of Longview, was arrested and charged with two counts of intoxicated assault. His bond was set at $100,000.

Since the crash, Snyder has undergone multiple surgeries and has been unable to return to duty to due to her injuries. She spent four weeks in a local hospital before she was released. CLEAT claims Snyder requested similar, light-duty assignment that had been offered to other injured officers in the past, but was denied. The Longview Police Officers Association held multiple fundraisers and set up a personal donation account to help raise money for Snyder earlier this year.

Due to a Longview rule that states officers must return to duty within one year, Snyder will be terminated on December 11, 2012. Her representatives say this would not be possible in Tyler, Texarkana, or Marshall because of protection provided under the rules of civil service. Leaders with the LPOA have met with the city manager and other police officials asking for an exception to be made to the rule, but city leaders have not changed their decision. According to CLEAT, no court date has been set for Dominguez, but judicial records show him set to enter a guilty plea on January 11, 2013.

WINONA — While the Keystone XL Pipeline has fueled a bitter battle among industry, landowners, and environmentalists across East Texas, people living alongside the ruckus in Smith County voiced indifference Tuesday, to the pipeline and the protesters it has drawn from across the country. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. The construction has sparked protests in Franklin, Wood, and Nacogdoches counties and drew national attention when actress Darryl Hannah was arrested in Wood County. Three people, all from out of state, were arrested Monday outside Winona after they crawled inside a section of pipe to stall work on the $7 billion project that will carry crude oil from Canada to the Texas coast.

But people who live east of Winona, near where the arrests took place, watched the events with detachment and disinterest. Ross Prince said he’s lived in his house on County Road 363 for 33 years, and he voiced support for the pipeline. Linda Lane, who also lives on CR 363, said neighbors had to tell her people had been arrested less than a mile up the road. The only consistent complaint from homeowners along CR 363 was about the out-of-town protesters.

Glen Scott David Collins, 25, of New Orleans; Matthew Aaron Almonte, 21 of Lithia, Fla.; and Isabel Indingo Brooks, 20, of Portland, Ore., were the three arrested Monday, accused of sitting in a piece of the pipeline until removed by authorities. All three out-of-state protesters had been released Tuesday from the Smith County Jail. “I don’t approve of them coming here to protest,” Prince said. Not everyone disapproved, though. Tina Osby voiced gratitude to the pipeline opponents. She said they had made her aware of potential problems with the pipeline so near her home.

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Fire Marshall’s office said Dixie, Flint-Gresham, Whitehouse and Smith County crews responded to a house fire in the 12,500 block of County Road 1113, Lake Placid Road, just outside of Tyler. It happened just before 10:00 Tuesday night. Investigators believe the fire started in the carport. The two homeowners were reportedly taken to the hospital for injuries. Officials said half of the house was destroyed in that blaze.

OVERTON — A water line break in Overton has been keeping crews busy and the city has now issued a boil water notice, in effect until further notice. Officials said six feet of ten-inch pipeline would have to be replaced. Overton ISD students were released early Wednesday due to the problem. The water system has been failing to provide water to the east side, where the school district is located, according to Overton officials. KETK reports water supply was cut off at around 3:00 Wednesday morning, when the six foot pipe split. Due to the water outage, students were dismissed at 11:00.

NACOGDCOHES — Two Nacogdoches men are in custody in connection with a pair of armed robberies that occurred in Nacogdoches on November 25th. Denzel Neal, 19 and Christopher Elmore, 20, both of Nacogdoches, were arrested on December 1st by the Austin Texas Police Department on warrants from Nacogdoches for Aggravated Robbery. Both are charged in the robbery of the Holiday Inn on South Street and the Shell Station at 1000 East Main.

Both robberies occurred on the night of November 25th, within an hour of each other. Charges are pending on the two for the November 18th burglary of a grocery store in the 100 block of Beall Street, where the building was forcibly entered and cigarettes were taken. The two men are suspects in several other crimes in East Texas, but have not been formally charged. Nacogdoches Police Detectives identified the suspects from video tape footage from one of the robberies.

Warrants were obtained, and a tip to Nacogdoches Crime Stoppers led the investigation to Austin, where the two were arrested. NPD Detectives traveled to Austin yesterday and transported the two back to Nacogdoches, where they were placed in the county jail. In addition to the NPD and Austin Police, Agents with the Texas DPS Criminal Law Enforcement Division, Region 7 Headquarters assisted in the investigation.

TYLER — A bicyclist was injured Tuesday evening after he was hit by a truck in Tyler. It happened around 5:15 at the intersection of Loop 323 and Driftwood Lane. According to KETK, when emergency crews arrived on scene, they found a man trapped underneath the truck. Officials said he was removed safely and did not suffer major injuries.

The victim was taken by medical personnel to a local hospital. His current condition is unknown. Witnesses tell KETK, it appeared the driver of the truck was at fault. Police are investigating the incident.

PALESTINE (AP) — Testing of a nearly three-mile section of track to link the tourist attraction Texas State Railroad to commercial Union Pacific Railroad has been postponed.

Texas State Railroad officials say Tuesday’s scheduled testing will be rescheduled within the next week. Spokeswoman Janet Gregg says the railroad’s information was not yet entered into UP’s dispatching computers.

UP spokeswoman Raquel Espinoza says there were some mechanical issues with a Texas State Railroad locomotive.

Backers hope the connection in Palestine will help lead to short-haul freight contracts and new revenue. The last time the route was used commercially was by the Texas South Eastern Railroad in 1969.

Gregg says her organization this fall cleared and upgraded what had been 2.8 miles of abandoned track in an effort to link with UP’s yard.

LONGVIEW — Two East Texans may soon be in the race for Texas House speaker. According to KETK, the Texas Tribune is reporting that Representative David Simpson of Longview has been asked to consider a run for the post. Simpson has not filed yet, but if he does, he would join incumbent Joe Straus of San Antonio and challenger Bryan Hughes of Mineola. Simpson was on his way to Austin Tuesday and unavailable for comment.

LONGVIEW (Staff/AP) — A Longview man remains jailed, charged with setting his sleeping roommate on fire. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Jeremy Kellum, 32, was arrested around 5:30 Monday afternoon. He was charged with aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury after he lit Raymond Hellwig’s legs on fire Saturday. This is according to the criminal complaint filed by investigators for his arrest. According to the complaint, another roommate, Donnie Mayo, told police he saw “Kellum put lighter fluid on Hellwig’s pant legs and set Mr. Hellwig’s legs on fire.” The two had reportedly argued earlier that night, and Kellum allegedly made threats to burn the building in the 1200 block of Alpine Road to the ground.

Investigators said they spoke with Hellwig at Good Shepherd Medical Center, where he was immediately taken before being moved to the Burn Unit at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. According to the criminal complaint, Hellwig and Kellum were arguing about an assault Kellum committed on Mayo. Hellwig told police Kellum told him he would “burn him up.” Hellwig woke with “extreme leg pain” and “looked down at his feet and saw that his pants/legs were on fire,” according to his arrest affidavit. Hellwig had burns on his left leg below the knee and his right leg around the ankle, according to the criminal complaint. A nurse told police Hellwig had second-degree burns. He’s now listed in fair condition. Kellum is held in the Gregg County Jail on $250,000 bond.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — A Cherokee County man was arrested after officials discovered he was allegedly in possession of several stolen items from recent burglaries in the area. KETK and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department report that authorities arrested Jody Glenn Smith, 43, of Bullard, on December 2. Investigators executed a search warrant around 8:30pm at a house on the 300 block of Caroline St. in the Shady Brook subdivision near Lake Palestine. Smith has been charged with having a prohibited weapon, possession of marijuana, and theft of a firearm. Bonds have not yet been set, and more charges are expected in connection to other burglaries and thefts that took place over the past month.

Investigators have been contacting surrounding counties to see if any missing property can be matched to the items found in the house. Another search warrant has been executed at another location where stolen property is believed to be stored. No arrests have been made as a result of the second warrant.

Investigators have been contacting surrounding counties to see if any missing property can be matched to the items found in the house. Another search warrant has been executed at another location where stolen property is believed to be stored. No arrests have been made as a result of the second warrant.

TYLER — Many Tyler businesses submitted their beer and wine applications immediately after the local option votes were canvassed on November 19. At last report, the city of Tyler had received 41 completed applications and had completed 22 site visits. Both the city and TABC tell KETK the fastest and most efficient way to get through the application process is to approve them in lumped groups. For example, Brookshire Grocery Company has applied for seven of its locations. Jerry Kidd Enterprises applied for five of its Kidd Jones locations. City officials say that allows them to go through site inspections more quickly.

JACKSONVILLE — There’s no guarantee that the auction of Lon Morris College will take place later this month. KETK and the Jacksonville Daily Progress report that Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is intervening in the school’s bankruptcy proceedings. Court documents say it’s to protect charitable endowments and ensure a level playing field for unsecured creditors trying to get their money. Abbott is attempting to block a half-million dollar loan the college bankruptcy estate is seeking. The school says it’s to pay staff and maintain the campus through the conclusion of that impending auction and sale, scheduled for December 13.

SHREVEPORT — Authorities have identified an East Texas man who died following a motorcycle crash last week in Shreveport. KETK reports that officers were dispatched Saturday to a two-vehicle crash in the 5100 block of Bert Kouns Industrial Loop involving a motorcycle and a truck. When authorities arrived on scene, they discovered a man driving a motorcycle had died following a collision with a pickup. The cyclist was later identified Joseph Miciotto, 34, of Deberry, Texas.

Witnesses told police Miciotto was heading east on Bert Kouns Industrial Loop when the driver of the truck, Raymond Johnson, 81, of Shreveport, allegedly pulled out of a private lot into the path of Miciotto’s vehicle. The motorcyclist then hit the driver’s side of Johnson’s truck. Emergency crews arrived on scene shortly after the accident and pronounced Miciotto dead. Johnson, who was not hurt in the wreck, was taken to an area hospital for standard toxicological test. While no cause has been given, investigators believe speed may have been a factor in the deadly crash.

TYLER — The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler has been reaccredited for five years – the maximum term of accreditation – by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). UTHSCT is home to physician residencies in family medicine and occupational medicine, as well as serving as the program sponsor for an internal medicine residency program at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview. The ACGME is a private professional organization that accredits 8,887 residency education programs. It also monitors institutions that offer residency programs to make sure they provide enough educational, financial, and human resources to support these programs.

“By reaccrediting us for a full five years, the ACGME has shown confidence in our ability to offer a first-class education to the physicians enrolled in our residency programs,” said Jonathan MacClements, M.D., UTHSCT’s director of medical education. The committee that reviewed UTHSCT commended it for “its demonstrated substantial compliance with the ACGME’s institutional requirements.” The Health Science Center is accredited through September 2017.

Residency programs provide physicians just out of medical school with intensive, hands-on training in primary care – family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics – or in a specialty such as cardiology or pulmonology. UTHSCT residency programs have provided East Texas with a steady supply of new physicians for more than 25 years: about 60 percent of its 123 family medicine graduates and 50 percent of the 26 occupational medicine graduates now practice in this region. UTHSCT officials say that’s important because the Association of American Medical Colleges projects a shortage of 45,000 primary care doctors in the United States by 2020 and a shortage of 65,000 primary care doctors by 2025.

SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler Firefighter tells KETK that Jalen Smith has died at a local hospital after a wreck Friday night left him in critical condition. The rollover accident also injured two other Jackson Heights Volunteer firemen. According to DPS officials, the accident happened on Farm Road 2767 in Smith County just after 10:00. The injured were identified as C.J. Redwine, 21, and Gary Robinson, 18. Redwine and Robinson are said to have suffered minor injuries.

The three fireman were on their way to the fire station to respond to a tractor accident in the area when the wreck happened. Smith was ejected from the vehicle. The accident remains under investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Smith is a 2010 Chapel Hill High School graduate. He attended the fire academy. He also worked at Atwoods Ranch and Home store in Tyler.

BRYAN — Three men are behind bars after a routine traffic led to the discovery of more than $75,000 worth of drugs. According to KETK, it happened Saturday around 1:30. The Bryan Police Department reportedly conducted a traffic stop in the 5000 block of east State Highway 21 which led to the discovery of 9 ½ lbs of hydroponic marijuana, valued at approximately $75,500, and a little over $5,000 cash. Kevin Michael Zehnder, 23 (pictured) and Dakota James Zehnder, 20, both from Tyler, and Taylor Jerome Gadus, 21, Elgin were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana. Bond is set at $9,000 for each alleged dealer.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert appeared on FOX News Monday talking about the “fiscal cliff” negotiations. He said the president’s current proposal is not serious. According to KETK, Gohmert also said the debt ceiling is leverage for the Republicans. Gohmert observed, “No bill can get passed, no amount of money can get appropriated, not a dime — unless the House is part of it. That’s leverage.” According to Gohmert, it’s important to fix the country’s overspending problem before the U.S. turns into Greece or Spain.

TYLER — Authorities have arrested Justin Wayne Staples, 30, of Tyler in the Thanksgiving weekend death of Chad Everett Davis, also of Tyler. Staples is charged with manslaughter, a 2nd degree felony. Bond is set at $100,000. Staples surrendered to authorities on November 30 and was booked into the Smith County Jail. Earlier, the investigation into Davis’s death revealed that he was killed by a vehicle that struck him in a wooded area. According to police, the vehicle was driven by a male acquaintance with whom Davis, 38, had been drinking that night.

Tyler Police received a call around 1:15 a.m. November 23 from East Texas EMS regarding an individual they were transporting to the East Texas Medical Center emergency room. EMS stated the man had somehow sustained serious injuries and police assistance was needed. Officers responded to the scene, which was located within a heavily wooded area northeast of Blue Mountain Boulevard in southwest Tyler.

Responding officers secured the scene and began speaking with those present at the time the individual was injured. During that time, officers were contacted by hospital staff and learned the individual, identified as Davis, had died. Major Crimes Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators were notified and responded to the scene. Davis’s body was sent to Dallas for autopsy.

AUSTIN — The reward for Jimmy Ray McMillan, 42, a Texas 10 Most Wanted Sex Offender and this month’s featured fugitive, has increased to $13,000 for information leading to his capture if the tip comes in during the month of December. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, in 1988, he twice sexually assaulted a 9-year-old girl whom he was babysitting in Dallas. KETK reports he is currently wanted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Texas Crime Stoppers tips are guaranteed to be anonymous. McMillan’s last known address was in Nacogdoches, and he has family in the Dallas area, where he was born. He has also been linked to Springfield, Ohio, and Hot Springs, Arkansas. He has been known to work construction, roofing, and carnival jobs.

McMillan is 5 feet 10 inches tall and was last known to weigh approximately 155 pounds. His tattoos include “TEX” on his right arm and “J+V” on his left arm, and he has scars on his abdomen and right forearm. Authorities say he should be considered armed and dangerous. You can view McMillan’s wanted poster at: http://www.dps.texas.gov/Texas10MostWanted/SexOffenderDetails.aspx?id=164 for more information.

One offender from the Texas 10 Most Wanted Program is featured each month in hopes the higher reward money from the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division will generate additional tips. The higher reward amount will only be paid if the tip comes in the same month the fugitive is featured. All calls, texts, e-mails and Facebook tip messages are anonymous. Anyone with information can provide anonymous tips on the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).

PALESTINE (AP) — A lieutenant at an East Texas prison has been charged with attacking his corrections-employee wife at their home.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office says Elton Shawn Sims was arraigned Monday on counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, deadly conduct and interfering with an emergency call. Bond is $32,500 for Sims, who didn’t immediately have an attorney.

Sheriff Greg Taylor told the Tyler Morning Telegraph that alcohol may have been involved Sunday. Sims allegedly beat his wife and fired a gun into the air. Further details on the woman weren’t immediately available.

Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Jason Clark says the lieutenant’s employment is pending the outcome of the investigation. Sims works at the Gurney Unit. Clark declined to release details on the wife’s job.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A congressman who represents part of East Texas has become the oldest member ever to speak on the floor and cast a vote in the U.S. House. 17-term Congressman Ralph Hall of Rockwall is 89 years old and was re-elected in November. Congressman Pete Sessions of Dallas recalls that he and Congresswoman Kay Granger of Fort Worth once missed a flight “because Ralph Hall was telling the funniest stories.” Sessions says Hall was really mentoring Granger and himself. Hall cast his 18,549th vote in Congress last week.

WOOD COUNTY — A man wanted in a Dallas shooting is thought to be in the Wood County area. According to KETK, Dallas Police officials are looking for Curtis Steward, 34. He is believed to have been involved in a shooting November 11th, in which the victim was shot once in the face. A warrant has been issued for Steward. Authorities said he may be in the Hawkins or Mineola area. Steward is described as 5’4” and 125lbs and is thought to be driving a 1998 White 4-door Jaguar with an Oklahoma license plate 510FFV.

Anyone with information regarding this suspect or the Jaguar is asked to contact the Dallas Police Department Crimes Against Persons Division, 214-671-3584 or Detective Chris Anderson, 214-671-3616 or Crime Stoppers.

LONGVIEW – A fire that appears to have started in a kitchen has extensively damaged a Longview apartment. It was reported around 3:30 Sunday afternoon at the Magnolia Ridge Apartments in the 1600 block of Eastman Road. Smoke and water damage was reported in neighboring apartments. No injuries were reported.