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TYLER — Smith County law enforcement agencies will be out in force during the Memorial Day holiday, today through Sunday, and they won’t be taking “no” for an answer. A multi-joint effort between the District Attorney’s Office and police agencies from all over the county will participate in the “No-Refusal” DWI Campaign once again. Upon the arrest of a suspected drunk driver, he or she will be asked to blow into a breath-test machine or take a blood test. If the driver refuses, officers will obtain an immediate search warrant signed by a judge on call to have blood drawn by a nurse on staff at the Smith County Jail. The blood is then analyzed to determine whether the driver’s blood-alcohol concentration is 0.08 or higher, the legal limit for driving in Texas.

Authorities say the program has proven to be an effective tool to combat drunken drivers. According to law officers, it is the intent of all law enforcement agencies that this effort will act as a deterrent, persuading people to avoid driving while intoxicated because they know that police officers will be conducting sobriety testing with or without driver’s consent.

AUSTIN (AP) – Area Senator Bob Deuell weighs in as a ban on smoking in Texas bars and restaurants is snuffed out. Senators tell The Associated Press that the proposed ban has been stripped out of one of the final spending bills before the Legislature. Supporters have tried for several years to restrict smoking in public places on a statewide basis. They hoped tying one to a critical spending bill would get it passed. Supporters said it would save Texas hundreds of millions of dollars treating people who get sick from smoking-related diseases. The House passed the ban, but it ran into problems in the Senate. Deuell, R-Greenville, says lawmakers didn’t want to risk losing the spending bill and its critical school finance provisions by tying it to a controversial measure like the smoking ban.

TYLER – A 31-year-old Malakoff man has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to a massive credit card scheme. Nathan Michael pleaded guilty to access device fraud Thursday in Tyler before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.

According to information presented in court, on August 18, 2010, a federal search warrant was executed at Michael’s residence. During the search, law enforcement officers recovered counterfeit charge card making equipment, hundreds of counterfeit charge cards, and cash value cards. A forensic analysis of the equipment revealed that over 6,500 victim entries were fraudulently obtained by Michael.

According to authorities, further investigation revealed that Nathan Michael; his brother, Christopher Michael; Elizabeth Pickrell; and Corey Davis conspired together to commit access device fraud in Henderson and Smith counties. The four defendants allegedly obtained goods and services by using fraudulent credit card account numbers obtained through the Internet and at Chicken Express in Tyler, where Pickrell was employed at the time of the fraud. According to evidence, over 500 accounts were compromised in Tyler alone. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on November 3, 2010, charging the four individuals with federal crimes.

Nathan Michael faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing and possible restitution in the amount of $100,000. A sentencing date has not been set. Christopher Michael pleaded guilty on May 10, 2011, and Pickrell pleaded guilty on April 5, 2011. They are both awaiting sentencing. Corey Davis is set for trial on June 7, 2011.

TYLER — Tyler police report several arrests as narcotics warrants are served. Around 8:00 Thursday morning, The Tyler Police Department Narcotics Unit along with the Special Operations Team (SWAT) executed two narcotics search warrants at two separate locations in Tyler. The first search warrant was executed at 3102 Frankston Highway. Police say while they were conducting the search warrant, less than one gram of crack cocaine was discovered inside the residence along with assorted pills.

Investigators arrested Jerry Lewis Bowens, 28, and Brittany Michelle Cox, 21. Bowens and Cox were both charged with manufacture and delivery of controlled substance, a state jail felony, and possession of dangerous drugs, a class A misdemeanor. Bowens was additionally charged with theft of a firearm, also a state jail felony, and Cox was also charged with unlawful possession of firearm by a felon, a 3rd degree felony, after several weapons were reportedly located inside the residence.

After officers secured the residence and occupants on Frankston Highway, they proceeded to 1618 Outer Drive and executed the second search warrant. Upon completion of the search of the residence, investigators say they located 9.3 grams of crack cocaine. Investigators arrested Justin Demone Smith, 22, and Denise Sessions, 23. Both were charged with manufacture and delivery of controlled substance, a 1st degree Felony. Kara Crawford, 26, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (marijuana), a class B misdemeanor.

When the warrant was served, Child Protective Services was contacted and took custody of three small children who were inside the residence at the time. Police say the investigations were initiated after citizens’ complaints were received of illegal drug activity.

HENDERSON — East Texans living and working near Sadler’s Smokehouse in Henderson say they can’t stand the smell. The odor is said to come from three wastewater ponds on Sadler’s Smokehouse property. According to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the ponds hold leftover grease and animal by-products. The TCEQ issued Sadler’s a violation notice, which means the company has fourteen days to get rid of the smell. The TCEQ says if Sadler’s isn’t in compliance come June 6, the company will have to pay a fine and answer to authorities in Austin. Sadler’s President James Reed declined comment.

TYLER — Smith County commissioners are cracking down on people who smoke too close to county facilities, and Smith County prisoners will soon say goodbye to their cigarettes. County commissioners approved new penalty provisions Tuesday for the county’s smoking policy. The law already says every smoker must be 50 feet away from county buildings to smoke, but now smokers will get hit with a class C misdemeanor and a $200 fine. Another part of the law will be extremely unpopular with Smith County inmates. Officials say as of January 1, all inmates will have to go without their smokes. Officials say the new policy will be eased into, but it’s still the law.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County officials along with the SPCA of Texas served a warrant at 13513 Ronald Circle near Hwy 31 West in Smith County early yesterday morning searching for a suspected “puppy mill.” Officials reportedly found more than 70 dogs at the location. The dogs were said to be medically neglected and used in a large-scale breeding operation, and were all housed in a 1,400 square foot home on the property. The animals will be taken to the Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney where they’ll be examined by medical staff and cared for until a custody hearing. Officials said a woman, Torri Silvas, and her husband, Refugio Silvas, were being questioned at the scene. No word yet on possible charges.

The raid is the result of a lengthy investigation into the location. Authorities had received several complaints about the house from the public. People had reported purchasing puppies for $300 to $400 each. Some of the puppies would die only days later. Some of the dogs seized from the location are blind, others have matted fur and disease. There are two very small litters at the location.

LONGVIEW — One person was injured in an accident in Longview Wednesday night. Longview Police say it happened at North Judson Road and Pliler Precise in Longview when a van hit an 18-wheeler. The driver of the van was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries.

LINDALE — A one vehicle rollover accident near Lindale Thursday morning has left one person dead. The DPS says it happened around 4:30 on Farm Road 16, four miles east of Lindale. Blake Allen Owens, 24, of Lindale was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials say Owens was westbound in a pickup at an unsafe speed when the vehicle drove off the roadway, over-corrected, and rolled several times. The DPS says Owens was wearing a seat belt.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man was released from jail Wednesday after police said he shot the men repossessing his car. William Walton, 25, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Bond was set at $200,000.

Walton was arrested about 6 p.m. Tuesday he shot at two men who were attempting to repossess his Chevrolet Impala, according to police. Two men, including 22-year-old Joseph Castillo were injured in the shooting at the 1300 block of Birdsong Street, police said. Castillo and an unidentified man were taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center.

Police said Walton fired several rounds from a handgun. One employee was shot, and the other employee was injured from debris, police said. Both men were released from the hospital Wednesday.

TYLER – Tyler police are tying to piece together the events that led to two people being injured Wednesday night. The investigation began when Officer Cory Chamberlain noticed a man in the 300 block of Poplar Avenue with some minor injuries and a stab wound to his left forearm. He is identified as Billy Joe Smith, 42, of Tyler. EMS was called to the location.

A short time later Trinity Mother Frances notified police about a stabbing victim who had arrived at their emergency room by private transport. Officers contacted Russell Collins, 38 of Tyler, who said he had been involved in a fight with another male on Poplar Avenue. Collins had multiple lacerations, none appearing to be life threatening.

Both Smith and Collins were interviewed concerning this incident. Due to conflicting stories, this case will be investigated further by the Major Crimes unit.

KAUFMAN – A Kaufman County Justice of the Peace, who has been in office since the first of the year, has been arrested. Booked into the Kaufman county jail was Precinct One Justice of the Peace Eric Williams. His bond was set at $5,000 on a charge of burglary of a building. His arrest followed a week and a half long probe into missing computers from the Kaufman County I-T Department.

PALESTINE (AP) – A medical examiner has determined that the recent death of an 8-year-old East Texas girl was a suicide by hanging. Investigators had said the second-grader was found dead in a wooded area near her family’s home just northwest of Palestine the night of April 17. Anderson County Sheriff Greg Taylor told the Palestine Herald-Press that he concurs with the finding by Dr. John A. Stash of the Southwest Texas Forensic Science Center in Tyler. Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace James Westley says he’s not ready to rule the death a suicide, and he has the final say under Texas law. Taylor’s investigation and Stash’s autopsy concluded the girl died on her knees, leaning against baling wire tied around her neck and to a tree branch.

AUSTIN (AP/Staff) – Republican State Representative David Simpson of Longview has received a couple of setbacks in legislative activity. A bill that would prohibit federal agents from intrusive searches during airport security pat downs is likely dead in the Texas Senate after a threat from federal officials to close airports if the measure passed. Simpson introduced the bill in the House. The Senate bill sponsor blamed Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst for turning senators against his bill Tuesday night. Republican Sen. Dan Patrick said he lost votes to bring the bill to the floor for a debate because Dewhurst caved to pressure from the federal government.

The measure, already approved by the House, would make it illegal for anyone conducting searches to touch private parts under or through clothing. It also prohibits searches “that would be offensive to a reasonable person.” Patrick said he doesn’t have the support to bring the bill up again for a vote.

Meanwhile, a bill outlawing Salvia divinorum, a hallucinogenic known as Diviner’s Sage, has passed the Texas House – despite Simpson’s effort to kill it. The measure would place Salvia under Penalty Group 3 along with peyote, codeine and steroids, punishable as a state jail felony. Simpson said Wednesday he would speak on the bill for 10 minutes, a move that knocked it off the list of bills without opposition. That looked like the bill’s demise. However, the bill’s sponsor, Republican Rep. Charles “Doc” Anderson, attached a modified version to separate legislation on controlled substances. His amendment passed 142-2. The full bill then passed the House. It now heads back to the Senate for reconsideration with the new amendment.

TYLER – The realignment of the Tyler city council’s single member districts was the topic of a presentation and public hearing yesterday. Last month the city council adopted redistricting criteria for the consultants to use as the framework for developing options. City Attorney Gary Landers said yesterday council members heard two options for proposed new boundaries to achieve proportionate representation in our Council districts.

Option “A” is the consultant’s attempt to balance the total number of voters in each district as closely as possible. Option “B” incorporated recommendations from Option “A”, but involves fewer geographical shifts that result in changes in voting precinct boundaries and takes into account the need to ensure that in the majority-minority districts the new districting plan does not result in a reduction of the minority group’s ability to elect a candidate of their choice. According to Landers, there is “less change in voter precinct boundaries should result in less voter confusion during the next election,”

The Council expressed support for Option “B” and asked the public for comments in preparation for a second public hearing on June 8.

According to a city news release, Tyler last redistricted in 2000; since that time, there has been a sizable increase in the total population of the city, requiring the City to again redistrict. The United States Constitution requires that each district within a city have approximately equal population. Preliminary results from the 2010 Census indicate that the population of Tyler is 96,900, an increase of 15.84% from the 2000 Census. The distribution of that growth has not been evenly dispersed resulting in an uneven number of residents in some of the City’s single member districts. Given Tyler’s current population, each district should have 16,150 residents or be within 10 percent of that figure. To achieve this equity, district boundary lines must be adjusted to rebalance the populations in the districts.

In addition to the one voter – one vote rule, cities in Texas must be aware of the federal Voting Rights Act requirements that govern the redistricting process. To ensure redistricting obligations are met, the City of Tyler along with Smith County and Tyler Independent School District, has contracted with the law firm of Bickerstaff and Health to assist with the redistricting process to increase coordination and cooperation. It is anticipated that this coordination will assist voters in the future.

Once a plan is adopted, the city must still get approval from the U.S. Department of Justice for the new district boundaries before they are implemented in an election. At the June 8th public hearing, the city council could vote to approve a redistricting plan. That plan will then be submitted to the Department of Justice after adoption and be implemented prior to the 2012 City Council elections.

BEAUMONT — A Lufkin man and woman have been sentenced to federal prison for their part in a double homicide which took place in Nacogdoches in August, 2007. Brent Stalsby, 30, pleaded guilty in January to committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity (VICAR) and was sentenced yesterday to life in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone. Stalsby admitted that he murdered David Mitchamore and Christy Rochelle Brown. Terry Stalsby, 29, pleaded guilty in January to charges of accessory after the fact in the murder of Christy Rochelle Brown and was sentenced to 162 months in federal prison by Judge Crone.

Federal prosecutors say Carl Carver was a general of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, a race-based state-wide organization which operates inside and outside of state and federal prisons throughout the state of Texas and the United States. The ABT enforces its rules and promotes discipline among its members, prospects and associates through murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, assault, robbery and threats against those who violate the rules or pose a threat to the enterprise. Members, and oftentimes associates, are required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members, often referred to as “direct orders.”

Mitchamore, also known as “Super Dave,” a member of the Aryan Brotherhood, and his girlfriend, Brown, were murdered by Brent Stalsby as a result of a “direct order” issued by Carver because of Mitchamore’s failure to repay an outstanding debt he allegedly owed to the Aryan Brotherhood general. The couple’s bodies were discovered in Nacogdoches County on August 10, 2007. Terry Stalsby was present when the “direct order” issued by Carver was delivered to Charles Cameron Frazier. Back in January, Frazier pleaded guilty to his roles in the murders and is awaiting sentencing. Terry Stalsby also actively participated in a plan to conceal the gang members’ roles in the murders after the murders took place. Brent Stalsby, a so-called sergeant in the ABT, was the actual triggerman for both murders.

TYLER — The state of the city is quite good these days. That’s according to Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass, who gave the Chamber of Commerce her annual report on the topic yesterday. Bass says, “We plan ahead, we make sure that we know what direction we’re going, and in spite of the challenging economic times the last couple of years, we have done really well.” Bass pointed to new master plans for parks and recreation, Lake Tyler, and Lake Bellwood. She also mentioned the community’s Industry Growth Initiative “that’s all about bringing jobs to Tyler and growing our economic base so that our citizens have good quality paying jobs.”

Bass also called for continued and additional citizen involvement to keep things rolling. In fact, she says the city is issuing a “call to serve” challenge to citizens, asking everyone to do his or her part. Bass remarked, “By us all working together for the greater good, we can achieve greater results.”

JACKSONVILLE — Residents follow up on a case involving battling teens caught on tape in broad daylight at a Jacksonville park. Last week, word got out about a violent brawl involving youths from Jacksonville and New Summerfield. Video of the fight was posted on YouTube, which has since removed the post. But now, community members have gathered to view the video for themselves — many for the first time. Some of the residents were said to be appalled — completely taken by surprise.

Jacksonville High School student Cynthia Quintana tells KETK she first saw the video at school. Cynthia says, ” I kind of know some of the guys, and I just don’t understand; why would they be fighting, especially during school time? And I saw how violent it was, and I just don’t like it.” Now parents say they want the teens in that video off the streets and in community centers, sports — “anything that would not get them involved in fights,” according to one resident. Parents say it’s the only way to make sure fights like the one in the video won’t happen again.

LINDALE — As a reminder to parents and the community, the Lindale Independent School District has extended the previously scheduled early release day on May 26 to a full-length instructional day. The action was approved by the school board in March. LISD received a waiver from the Texas Education Agency which exempts the district from holding classes on May 31 as a snow day make-up. May 31 was originally scheduled on the district’s school calendar to as the date to recover instruction time lost after LISD’s closure on February 4 due to winter weather. To meet the criteria for the waiver, LISD extended two early release days to full-length instruction days (March 22 and May 26). Classes will be released at the regularly scheduled end time on each campus.

TYLER – A 37-year-old Houston man has been sentenced to federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for his role in a multi-state health care fraud scheme that partially occurred in the Eastern District of Texas, Kevin Onwudiwe pleaded guilty last October to health care fraud charges. He was sentenced in Tyler yesterday to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider. Onwudiwe was also ordered to pay $251,000 in restitution.

In a related matter, on April 5, 2011, Jasper Ogbonna, 42, of Newark, Delaware, pleaded guilty on Sep. 27, 2010 to health care fraud and was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $822,411.44. Ogbonna, the owner of a West Virginia medical supply company, was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 30, 2009.

On January 6, 2010, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Ogbonna, Anthony Nnadi, Onwudiwe, Tony Ahi, and Emmanuel Gabriels with health care fraud violations. According to the indictment, from August 2005 through April 2008, Ogbonna controlled and operated Matrix Medical Equipment and Supplies, Inc. in Weirton, West Virginia, and Nnadi controlled and operated Nicco Medical Services, LLC in Little Rock, Arkansas. Nnadi was assisted in the operation of Nicco Medical Services by Onwudiwe and Ahi. Both companies did business providing durable medical equipment to Medicare beneficiaries.

During that time, Ogbonna, Nnadi, Onwudiwe, Ahi, Gabriels, and their co-conspirators devised and carried out a scheme to defraud Medicare through the marketing of “ortho kits,” which consisted of a bag of orthotic items such as braces, wraps, and supports. As part of the scheme, the defendants and their co-conspirators illegally obtained protected Medicare beneficiary health information, including names, dates of birth, and Medicare and Social Security numbers from elderly individuals. Approximately 509 Medicare beneficiaries in Texas and Louisiana were supplied with “ortho kits” which were not prescribed or authorized by a physician and which were not wanted by the beneficiaries. In many instances, physicians’ signatures were forged and false claims were submitted to Medicare in the names of Medicare beneficiaries who were deceased.

Using protected health information, the defendants and their co-conspirators billed between $4,850 and $6,550 for each “ortho kit”, causing the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare of more than $2.8 million. As a result of these claims, the defendants and their co-conspirators unlawfully obtained more than $1,095,000 from Medicare.

TYLER — ETMC is the first hospital system in East Texas to offer complete, online mammogram scheduling. “Online registration for digital mammography at ETMC will add convenience for East Texas women,” according to Regina Davis, director of the breast care center. “Women will be able to schedule their annual appointment at anytime on our secure website, by selecting the date, time and location.”

Patients can log on to http://www.etmc.org and click on the mammogram self-scheduling box, then follow the instructions. “The system will ask the patient questions to make sure she is the right age and meets specified guidelines to receive a screening mammogram. Women should have a baseline mammogram at age 35 to 40 and an annual mammogram beginning at age 40,” said Davis.

Officials say the system has other benefits as well. “We will also be able to generate e-mail reminders and provide additional services that will help East Texas women pursue healthy lifestyles through screening and early detection,” said Susan Shockey, referral services director. ETMC screens over 10,000 women a year for breast cancer.

TYLER — Texas Oncology-Tyler and Mother Frances Hospital of Tyler make a major announcement regarding a partnership with the International Genomics Consortium and the National Institutes of Health’s Cancer Genome Atlas project. Only 12 sites in the U.S. will be initially chosen within the IGC Network to participate in the project, which will look for the underlying mechanisms that cause cancer. Mother Frances spokesman John Moore says he and his colleagues are “very proud” to be a partner with Texas Oncology Tyler. Moore says Mother Frances does a lot of cancer surgeries and treatments every year. But according to Moore, the chance to actually participate in a large-scale study that will provide free data on ways to cure cancer is “just a great honor.”

TYLER — A new treatment that was tested at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler has proven to be successful against a rare but serious lung disease called LAM, short for lymphangioleiomyomatosis. “Finally, a drug – sirolimus – has been found that can slow the progression of LAM, an unusual disorder that can lead to serious disability and death,” said James Stocks, M.D., a nationally known lung disease specialist. “LAM primarily strikes younger women who often still have young children at home. Though this is not a miracle cure, it is an important first step,” added Dr. Stocks, the principal investigator of the LAM clinical study at UTHSCT. Most women with the disease live only another eight to 10 years after their diagnosis.

Sirolimus, also known as rapamycin, is the first drug to effectively treat LAM, Dr. Stocks said. Because it suppresses the body’s immune system, sirolimus currently is used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs. It also is used as a coating for cardiac artery stents – metal mesh tubes that prop the arteries open – to prevent clotting. During one year of treatment, sirolimus improved the lung function and quality of life of the women who took it, according to the Multicenter International LAM Efficacy of Sirolimus (MILES). MILES is the first randomized, controlled study of a treatment for LAM. In this study, women were randomly assigned to receive sirolimus or a placebo, which is a substance that has no effect, such as a sugar pill.

In women with the disease, abnormal, out-of-control, muscle-like cells take over their lungs, lymph nodes, and kidneys. These mutant cells destroy normal lung tissue, making breathing difficult, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Sometimes the lungs of women with LAM collapse, causing pain and shortness of breath. LAM usually worsens over time, but how quickly it progresses varies greatly, the NHLBI says. Symptoms of LAM are shortness of breath, especially during physical activity; chest pain; frequent cough; and wheezing. The results of MILES were published in a recent online edition of The New England Journal of Medicine.

Besides UTHSCT, other institutions participating in the study included National Jewish Health in Denver; Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center; the Cleveland Clinic Foundation; the University of California at Los Angeles; Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston; the University of Toronto, Canada; and the National Hospital Organization Kinki-Chou Chest Medical Center in Osaka, Japan.

Funding for the study was provided by the NIH Office of Rare Disease Research; the Food and Drug Administration; the LAM Foundation, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare; the Canadian Institutes of Health Research; Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center; the University of Cincinnati; the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance Rothberg Courage Award; Vi and John Adler; and the Adler Foundation.

TYLER — Tyler Police investigate two drive-by shootings. They occurred yesterday morning between 2:30 and 3:30. Officers first responded to 2411 Live Oak then got another report of shots fired at a 1506 N Pegues. The residents were home at both locations. No injuries were reported. Authorities say they do not believe the two shootings are related. Anyone with information is urged to contact Tyler Police, at 903-531-1000.

HALLSVILLE – A Dallas man remains in guarded condition in a Longview hospital following a weekend shooting in Hallsville. The shooting was reported around 10:00 Sunday night at a residence on Farm Road 449.

Investigators say Richard Newland, 47, was found lying on the ground outside the house. He had been shot once in the stomach. A suspect identified as L. J. Harris of Dallas was arrested at the scene. He has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and placed in the Harrison County jail in lieu of a $50,000.

Investigators say Newland, Harris and a third Dallas man had been visiting at the Harrison County residence. As they were preparing to drive back to Dallas an argument erupted. Investigators say Harris went back into the house and found a .22 caliber rifle. When he came back outside, that’s when Newland was shot.

AUSTIN — Governor Rick Perry has appointed three members to the Sulphur River Basin Authority Board of Directors. The board handles construction, maintenance and operations of the Sulphur River and its tributaries in the state and watershed.

Named to the panel are Wally Kraft of Paris is a veterinarian and owner of the Animal Health Center, Michael Russell of Clarksville is owner and operator of Cuthand Creek Cattle Company and Patricia Wommack of Lone Star is retired from the U.S. Department of Defense. Kraft was appointed for a term to expire February 1, 2013 while the others were reappointed for a term to expire February 1, 2017.

These appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

TYLER — Tyler ISD trustees took care of a variety of business at a special Tuesday meeting. The Board of Trustees approved the canvass of votes from the May 1 trustee election as presented, proclaiming Orenthia Mason as trustee for Single Member District 2 and Shirley Jordan as trustee for Single Member District 4. The newly elected trustees took the oath of office and will each serve a three-year term. Trustees also approved Michelle Carr, Single Member District 6, as the Board President, and Mason as the Board Vice President. They will serve in these positions for one year.

The Board of Trustees also gave the green light to two new principals. Joanne Saul was authorized and approved as principal of Dixie Elementary School. Mrs. Saul has 14 years of education experience. She has been the interim principal of Dixie since January. Prior to joining Tyler ISD, Saul worked in Alief ISD where she was an assistant principal, a technology and science specialist, and a fourth grade teacher.

Misti Rasure was authorized and approved as Boulter Middle School principal. Mrs. Rasure has 15 years of education experience with almost 10 years in Tyler ISD. She has been the interim principal since March at Boulter, where she was previously the assistant principal of instruction. Rasure was also at Moore Middle School as an instructional specialist, a math department head and teacher, and summer school principal. Both principals begin their new positions immediately.

EAST TEXAS — Tyler and Longview officers are once again participating in the Click It or Ticket enforcement program, which targets seat belt and child safety restraint violators. The current program began Monday and continues through June 5. Texas law requires every person sitting in the front or rear seat of a vehicle to wear a safety belt. A child less than eight years old and less than four feet, nine inches tall must be secured in a child safety seat. Drivers can be stopped and ticketed for a safety belt violation if they, or any of their passengers under the age of 15, are not buckled up or properly restrained. Traffic fines for failing to use a seat belt or secure a child in a safety seat can run from $25 to $200, plus court costs.

TYLER — Smith County law enforcement agencies will be out in force during the Memorial Day holiday, this Friday through Sunday — and they won’t be taking “no” for an answer. A multi-joint effort between the District Attorney’s Office and police agencies from all over the county will participate in the ‘No-Refusal’ DWI Campaign once again. Upon the arrest of a suspected drunk driver, he or she will be asked to blow into a breath-test machine or take a blood test. If the driver refuses, officers will obtain an immediate search warrant signed by a judge on call to have blood drawn by a nurse on staff at the Smith County Jail. The blood is then analyzed to determine whether the driver’s blood-alcohol concentration is 0.08 or higher, the legal limit for driving in Texas.

Authorities say the program has proven to be an effective tool to combat drunken drivers. According to law officers, it is the intent of all law enforcement agencies that this effort will act as a deterrent, persuading people to avoid driving while intoxicated because they know that police officers will be conducting sobriety testing with or without driver’s consent.

LUFKIN — Lufkin Police Department Detectives have concluded their nine-month investigation into the August 29, 2010 deaths of two local residents. Around 7:30 that morning, officers were called to a house on the 300 block of Davis Street following a report of a man and woman bleeding in the front yard. When officers arrived on scene, they found the body of Brianna Shaw, 23, on the front porch of the residence and the body of Artha Griffin, 64, on the ground next to the porch. Each victim was dead and had suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

Evidence found at the scene indicated that Artha Griffin shot Brianna Shaw and then shot himself, but the gun was missing from the scene. Detectives did not find the gun used in this incident, delaying the investigation results, according to police. Authorities say all available evidence proved the deaths to be a murder-suicide and showed that a third party removed the gun from the scene. Detectives believe they have identified the person responsible for removing the gun from the scene following the deaths, but they say they have not developed enough probable cause to charge that person with a crime. The Lufkin Police Department says it will not release the name of this person because a criminal charge is not pending.