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TYLER – A 26-year-old Athens man has been sentenced to prison for federal firearms violations. Paul Ray Jackson pleaded guilty on Feb. 1, 2010, to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced Thursday in Tyler to 100 months in federal prison.

According to information presented in court, on Nov. 28, 2008, an Athens police officer attempted to stop a vehicle being driven by Jackson for speeding. Jackson refused to stop and led the officer, and ultimately several additional patrol units, on a high speed chase before being stopped by a DPS spike strip in Kaufman. Jackson then fled the scene on foot. A search of the vehicle revealed a fully loaded .22 caliber pistol.

Not long after Jackson fled the scene, he was arrested by Kaufman County Sheriff’s deputies on marijuana charges. A review of police video footage of the car chase enabled officers to positively identify Jackson as the perpetrator in both incidents. On Dec. 2, 2008, Jackson voluntarily surrendered to authorities at the Athens Police Department and confessed to being the driver of the car in the Nov. 28, 2008 incident. Further investigation revealed Jackson was a convicted felon having been previously found guilty of possession of marijuana in 2007 in Parker County, Texas. As a convicted felon, Jackson is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.

Authorities say, “This conviction is yet another important outcome from Project Safe Neighborhoods, a national priority of the United States Department of Justice. PSN is designed as a partnership between federal and local law enforcement to reduce violent crime and gun-related crime through the vigorous enforcement of the criminal provisions of the federal firearms laws.”

TYLER– After one Florida pastor said his church will burn copies of the Koran on Saturday, religious leaders in East Texas have been working even harder to build relationships with one another. Wednesday, we spoke with Christian pastors in our community who say burning the Koran isn’t showing the love of God.

Imam Faisal is a Muslim leader in Tyler, and he says burning the Koran is burning down bridges between Muslims and Christians. He says, “I wish he (the Florida pastor) could learn a little about what the Koran teaches about being kind to our neighbors and being friends with Christians and Jews.” According to KETK, Rabbi Neal Katz says the Muslim community should be offended. He says, “Burning the Koran is like burning the New Testament or Torah.” The religious leaders’ comments came before Pastor Terry Jones’s announcement that he has called off the Koran burning. We’ll have more details on that as the story develops.

LINDALE – A car crashed into a wall at a local business in Lindale on Wednesday. According to KETK, police officials say the driver accidentally pressed the wrong pedal and took out a portion of a wall at the Lindale Cleaners. The damage to the business is minimal. Nobody was hurt in the accident.

TYLER — PATH officials today are putting a special emphasis on the PATH Week Prayer Luncheon. Executive Director Christina Fulsom is encouraging everyone to make a reservation for the free event. It’s to be held on Tuesday, September 14th, at noon, at Tyler’s all-new Green Acres CrossWalk Conference Center. A number of speakers are on the docket, and the event will also feature presentation of PATH’s Faith in Action Award and Community in Action Award. For a reservation, or more information, you can call Mitzie at 903-597-4044, ext. 125. You can also log onto to http://www.pathhelps.org for more information on the luncheon, other PATH Week activities, and PATH in general.

EAST TEXAS– The recent rain isn’t enough to lift burn bans across some East Texas counties. Even though temperatures have dropped, officials say it’s still too dry. They also say the threat of wildfires is still in existence. According to KETK, Burn bans remain in effect in Cass, Harrison, Marion, Morris, and Panola counties.

TYLER — An agency that helps Tyler-area families receives a check for $2,500 from Bank of America. The money, given Wednesday to Tyler Rescue Ministries, follows a $2,500 donation last week from Cavender’s Boot City in Tyler. Founder/CEO Maurice Barnes says the funds are for the agency’s Catch the Vision…Save a Family expansion campaign. According to Barnes, “This expansion when complete will allow us to provide assistance to intact families. This is an area of great need as there were 453 homes lost to foreclosure in Tyler and Smith County in 2009. That is potentially 1600 – 1800 people facing homelessness.”

Barnes adds, “We will be the only agency that will allow the intact family remain together in northeast Texas. Currently we are only providing assistance to single women and women with children at our Kathryn’s House facility. Everyone is invited to help.” You can log on to http://www.tylerrescueministries.org for more information about Tyler Rescue Ministries.

TYLER — The Mineola child sex ring case is back in a Smith County courtroom. Patrick Kelly’s attorney filed another motion saying Judge Jack Skeen is not fit to hear the case. It was a bail hearing for Kelly, who’s on trial for his alleged involvement in the 2007 “Mineola Swingers Club”. The allegation is Kelly forced children to perform sex acts in front of an audience. His original conviction was thrown out. According to KETK, Kelly’s attorney is challenging a regional attorney’s decision to keep Skeen on the case.

JACKSONVILLE — Authorities credit Jacksonville Middle School students and local police with quick response in an incident that caused some concern following football practice Tuesday afternoon. School officials say several students witnessed a student in possession of what was perceived to be a gun and was later determined to be a cigarette lighter that was shaped like a gun. According to a school district news release, students reacted promptly and alerted the coaching staff of the incident. Officials say coaches took immediate action by contacting the Jacksonville Police Department. The cigarette lighter was immediately secured.

The news release says, “JISD administration appreciates the quick action and dedication of the Jacksonville Police Department in doing their part to keep our students safe. For the safety and security of the Jacksonville ISD students and staff, we take any perceived threats seriously. JISD prides itself in creating a safe learning environment and any incident that threatens that environment is handled firmly and promptly.”

LONGVIEW — Longview Firefighters answer the call for help at structure fire at the Parkway Garden Apartments on McCann Road. According to KETK, the fire was caused by a skillet left on the cook top which resulted in fire spreading to the cabinets and ceiling of the apartment. The apartment had smoke damage throughout; the smoke entered 3 other adjoining apartments. The fire caused approximately $5,000.00 in damages. There were no injuries.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department has arrested 50-year-old Jerdene Boyd of Tyler for intoxication manslaughter in a fatal September 2 crash. Bond was set at $250,000 by Judge Jack Skeen. Police say investigators received lab results back from East Texas Medical Center that indicated Boyd tested positive for the presence of cocaine, cannabinoids, and opiates in her system.

Officials say a Nissan driven by Boyd crashed into the rear of a White Toyota Camry that was sitting in the outside traffic lane, waiting for the light to change at South Broadway and Heritage. The driver of the Toyota was deceased in the overturned vehicle when emergency personnel arrived on the scene. The driver was a 55 year old man from Plano.

Police say before the crash occurred, a Tyler Patrol Officer was conducting radar enforcement on Highway 69 South and checked Boyd�s speed at 71 mph on radar. According to police, Boyd was observed driving in a reckless manner through heavy traffic and wet road conditions prior to the crash. Police say the officer was unable to catch up to Boyd to conduct a traffic stop due to speed, distance, traffic and weather conditions.

Investigators tested the vehicle driven by Boyd for any mechanical malfunctions in the brake system. The inspector found no indication of any brake failure. According to authorities, investigators also determined that Boyd has never been issued a Texas Drivers License and had no insurance. Boyd was arrested Tuesday at 4:30 p.m., transported to the Smith County Jail, and processed.

AUSTIN (AP/Staff) – With Tyler’s Leo Berman already in the running, a second conservative legislator is mulling a challenge to moderate Texas House Speaker Joe Straus. That raises the specter of a Republican leadership battle as lawmakers grapple with a huge budget shortfall early next year. State Rep. Warren Chisum told The Associated Press Tuesday that he would decide before the November elections whether to mount a challenge to the top House leader. Chisum is a Republican from Pampa. Berman earlier announced his decision to run against Straus when lawmakers return to Austin in January.

TYLER — September is Firefighter Appreciation Month, and throughout the period, Carter BloodCare offers the community an opportunity to say thank you to firefighters through blood donation. Donors will be given the opportunity in September to donate the Life Plan credit they receive for donating blood to the fire department of their choice. Those Life Plan credits can then be used, within the year, by that fire department to assist should anyone from their department need blood or blood product. Blood drives will be hosted at the Tyler Donor Center as well as at several Smith County fire stations throughout the month.

A press conference was held Tuesday at Carter BloodCare�s Tyler Donor Center to kick off the month-long campaign. In attendance were Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass, Tyler Fire Chief Neil Franklin, Carter BloodCare staff, and Fire Chiefs from surrounding fire departments.

According to press information, the Carter BloodCare Life Plan assures blood donors that they will receive financial assistance toward uninsured blood product fees if they or their immediate family members require blood transfusions within 12 months of their donation. The Individual and Family Life Plan offers up to $1000 credit toward uninsured blood product fees for the donor and the donor�s tax dependents. The Group Life Plan allows donors to donate an individual credit to a group of their choosing, while still maintaining their Individual Plan. That donor group receives a $10 credit, valid for one year for every registered donor. The donor group can then assign those credits as necessary to those within the group who need them to assist with the cost of used uninsured blood product. You can visit http://www.carterbloodcare.org for more information about Carter BloodCare.